The liberation afforded to us by virtue of this label ‘Quranist’ amazes me. By declaring myself a Quranist and having materials bearing the name there is simply no confusion anymore: I am NOT an orthodox Muslim and my non-acceptance of orthodox (read: Traditional) Islam is apparent to whoever sees this name. At worst, they will see the name, ignore it but my job is still done. I have entered my disclaimer. I do NOT represent orthodox Islam. The onus is on the reader to find out what a Quranist is.
As I said, the term is liberating.
I am very surprised at the insistence of some quranists (with a small ‘q’, that is people who believe in the Quran as a sole divine source but don’t necessarily adopt the term ‘Quranist’) to use the term ‘Muslim’. They insist there is only just one Islam (theirs obviously) and that any kind of deviation from that Islam is sectarianism. I term them as Quranic Fundamentalists (QF’ists) because while they are Quranic, despite the Quran’s spirit of openness and tolerance, they do not follow suit.
Having witnessed some of their activities recently, I’m afraid I have to say that I am rather disappointed in the lack of honesty being displayed in their activities. One such group, ‘Support for New Muslims’, is run by quranists who are ordinarily very critical of hadith. However, in this particular group, they have sublimated their criticisms presumably not to scare off their ‘customers’.
I admit, their actions may actually bring the Quran to many new Muslims but at what price? These new Muslims went to their group sincerely seeking what is likely to be Traditional Islam (due to its overwhelming prevalence). By hiding the fact that they are not representatives of Traditional Islam, they are selling the product that the customer did not seek. Of course, they are selling what they believe is a better product but isn’t it simply honesty to tell the New Muslim, at the very least, that their views are not just unorthodox but also outright heretical in some circles?
If I was the new Muslim in question, I would feel cheated and betrayed. I would expect these quranists to be open and honest. Tell people who you are. Let them make an informed decision rather than acting as if you are what you’re not.
This is what the Quranist term is for. To give the signal to people that we are not orthodox. If they wish to find out why, it is up to them.
At this present time, the group ‘Support for New Muslims’ is having posts by New Muslims who have found Islam through the hadith and sunnah. These New Muslims are discussing concepts of Traditional Islam without the awareness that the group itself does not accept such concepts. Of course, the quranists admin of the group are cheering on these posts as if they agree to what is being talked about. Why do they not inform the New Muslims that they disagree to such concepts?
Very disappointing indeed.
Names do not create sects. Attitudes create sects. Names create awareness of the spaces one enters. When one enters the Quranist space, one would know that the space does not recognise the authority of hadith, sunnah or the Traditional ulama and so one would act accordingly. These quranists who reject the term and call themselves ‘Just Muslim’ are denying the rights of others to differ from them. They are denying the numerous debates taking place in the Muslim world about the nature and teachings of Islam. It would be better for them to be honest and declare who they are and what they believe in. Honesty really is the best policy.
16 comments
2 pings
RizSona says:
May 21, 2011 at 11:39 pm (UTC 0)
You should post this on their page, in the spirit of honesty and openness.
Quranist Muslim, Quranic Muslim, Quran Based Muslim, Qurani, Quraniyoon, Quranites – call it what you want to – just dont forget the Quran. I consider myself to be any of the above titles, which in itself denotes that I tolerate all viewpoints based from the Quran itself and I applaud any person who bases themself on the truest Islam, which no doubt, is any Islam which is based on the Quran itself far as im concerned
Anwar says:
May 24, 2011 at 12:50 am (UTC 0)
Another great article. Good job.
Asfora says:
May 25, 2011 at 12:04 am (UTC 0)
Thanks Anwar maashaaAllah
TruthBehindIt says:
May 24, 2011 at 10:46 pm (UTC 0)
Salam and Peace!
—"The Deceptive ‘Just Muslim Label’ by quranists"—
If these people are doing what has been mentioned in the article, they are doing wrong.
Anyways, they are responsible for their deeds (and one's deeds always depend on his understanding of Al-Quran).
========================================
Still, I would adhere to the idea that we, the Quran-alone-followers, should call ourselves "Muslims" only.
Yes, indeed, we should make it clear to people that we follow Al-Quran alone, the way our dearest Prophet made it clear that he followed The Revelation only.
—–"Say (O Messenger): “If I go astray, I shall stray only against myself, and if I am guided, so it is because of what my Lord has revealed to me. Indeed, He is Hearer, Near." (22: 50)
Asfora says:
May 25, 2011 at 12:17 am (UTC 0)
Walaikum salam TBI – thanks for your comments .
In theory, I could introduce myself and say, "Hi, I'm Asfora, I'm a muslim-and-I-want-to-make-it-clear-to-you-that-I-follow-Al-Quran-and-believe-it-to-be-the-sole-source-of-divine-guidance." Or I could say "Hi, I'm Asfora, I'm a Quranist." which means the same thing.
TruthBehindIt says:
May 25, 2011 at 8:27 am (UTC 0)
Salam and Peace on you, good sister!
If we call ourselves "Muslim" only,—we are then obeying our Allah, Alhamdolillah!
—–"Allah has named you muslims in the bygone days and in this (Quran) also" (22:78)
So, calling ourselves "Muslim" only is obedience to Allah and not creating "Sect".
And this is exactly what all the Messengers and their Sahaba did.
And if we call ourselves "Quranist", we are then going against Allah's Commandment, and creating another "Sect" in the ummah.
Say, we are muslims and follow Al-Quran alone:
—–”Say (O Messenger): “If I go astray, I shall stray only against myself, and if I am guided, so it is because of what my Lord has revealed to me. Indeed, He is Hearer, Near.” (22: 50)
==============================
This is my understanding of Al-Quran.
Peace!
usman says:
June 13, 2011 at 3:48 pm (UTC 0)
"You are the best of the nations raised up for
(the benefit of)men: you enjoin what is right and
forbid the wrong and believe in Allah." (3:llO)
http://freeislamicebooks.blogspot.com/
Bakari Zaki Tajuddin says:
July 22, 2011 at 6:06 am (UTC 0)
As salaamu Alaikum,
As others have already mentioned. We are ¨Muslims Only¨,and Follow Quran Only as did Prophet Muhammad(swt)…We Must not create another SECT as there is No Where in The Holy Qurán that states we are called Quranist or Quran Only !
Allah(swt),calls us MUSLIMS and that is all we should consider OURSELVES. As this is considered THE BEST OF SUBMITTERS to Allah(swt)…
Please not IMMULATE those of the Sunnis,Shias,Etc…giving one another INNOVATION Names..As we are Much Better Than that and also Now Know Better,Insha Allah….
May Allah(swt) continue to Guide & Protect Us MUSLIMS……..
Salh says:
July 22, 2011 at 3:15 pm (UTC 0)
You never adressed the main problem, ITS HARAM TO CREATE MORE SECTS.
We are not decieving anyone, unlike you, we accept hadith whole heartedly, BUT, hardly any hadith exist. THUS concluding that we are not sure which hadith to follow, we just use them as history books, but we still are part of the "La ilaha illallah muhammad urasool allah" community.
Asfora says:
August 9, 2011 at 3:05 pm (UTC 0)
"hardly any hadith exist" – Can you clarify please?
Muslim says:
October 26, 2011 at 5:32 pm (UTC 0)
Salam alaikoum,
You talk of Islam as a product, and new muslims as customers, which shows up your flaws. People who believe in the quran are simply trying to sift the lies from the truth and god almighty clearly warned us against following ANY hadith except his. When the prophet mohammad (salla allah alaihi wa sallam) said in his sermont before his death 'today, i have completed your religion for you,' which he meant that the quran was fully delivered and practiced by himself (SAS) and his sahaba, which translates into sunna nabawiya, but hadith came about 250 years later but alas became the basis for sharia and muslim way of life, which is why we are where we are because by committing this act we are associating human words with god's, which is SHIRK, astaghfiour allah.
We follow God alone and worship god alone, not prophet or leader and certainly not our ancestors.
We follow the quaran alone as it is the absolute word of god…anything else and we might suspect that the devil might have had a hand in it, as we can't possibly think he is not behind the devisions in the world and withing the UMMA.
JUST MUSLIM PLEASE says:
December 30, 2011 at 2:46 pm (UTC 0)
Muslim has got it RIGHT!!! The name QURANIST in and of itself is a man-made term which inherently has flaws and this is why you are receiving flack about it. There is no conjecture necessary – We have the Quran, with its perfect guidance, and guessing if it is kinda ok or not ok is not necessary – dividing up the deen is not good for us! IF you got tired of explaining to people that "I believe x,y and z and I am Muslim just as much as you are" — this is not our fault!! Now you created your own establishment (sect) where people will come to follow YOUR path and rules. Insha Allah those people will find truth, but it is falsehood to say that there is nothing wrong with the name. The name further delineates what kind of muslim you are when in fact all of humanity is a part of one ummah charged with striving to become muslims!! Not everyone knows it as the "term" muslim – you have turned this into a play on words – almost as if you have caved into the overwhelming pressure that the largest sects of Islam have on the Arabic words found in the Quran. Capital M and lowercase m!!! – this is a good way to describe how YOU see the culturalization and watering down of the QUranic directive of the word muslim versus someone who actually seeks that – but it is nonsensical in actual deployment because they are all muslims!! JUST SOME ARE ON THE PATH and others are really lost – and some adhere to sects while others shun the idea of grouping onself or having to present onself of a certain ideological standpoint. Simply remind people of what is clearly wrong to do based on the truthful evidence in the Quran. On top of that it seems like you think they own the darn word!!! This is such a sad thing to read! They don't own the word just as much as you don't own the term "Quranist". I applaud you for the effort to call people's attention to Islam and to approach their faith without associating other authorities with Allah – but please, don't go saying that people are liars because they don't do what you think is right. You flashing in people's faces that you are different is off-putting to people who have been taught that the ummah is a unified body – what they havent been taught is that unified body is humanity and we are all working within the framework of Islam and under God's command -whether they are aware of it or not, or if they are conscientious objectors or willing participants
I am a Muslim!! I submit myself to my lord, to seek truth, to follow the path of righteousness. Calling myself another name, promoting a certain ideology of existential quranism over any other is not going to help the ummah unite because not everyone believes that they have to have a name – why can't it just be YOUR journey as a muslim, Asforas journey as a muslim?
Asfora says:
December 30, 2011 at 4:21 pm (UTC 0)
Salaam Aleykum "Just Muslim Please". I respect your right to your views, and thank you for sharing them here
I was once in a facebook group where the people claimed to be Just Muslim. They defined "Muslim" as "the ones who follow Quran, Sunnah and Hadiths of Bukhari et al" and held the view that Quran is not to be interpreted by anyone other than a qualified scholar/sheikh.
In another fb group, the people claimed to be "Just Muslim" and defined Muslim as those who believe the Quran is sufficient without needing Hadiths to interpret / understand Quran.
They both claimed to be "Just
Muslim" fb groups.
I was "Just Muslim" but got thrown out of the first group because I pointed out that a hadith they were promoting contradicted the Quran.
If someone introduces themself to me as "Just Muslim" without any qualifiers then I will be none the wiser what they mean because "Just Muslim" is an ambiguous term. It's a redundant term without qualifiers. Even quranists who claim to not use the term "Quranist" or "Quranism" still find themselves using the term, because it is an aid to communication. Even if they don't say they are a quranist themselves, they still refer to other quranists as "Quran Only Muslims" or "Quran Based Muslims" or "Muslims that believe the Quran is the sole source" or some other qualifying descriptive adjectives to describe the type of people they are talking about. I prefer to use the term "Quranist", it's quicker – it's "shortcode"/"a name"/"a term"/, for "Just-Muslim-who-believes- the-Quran-is-the-sole-source-of-islam" as opposed to "Just-Muslim-who-believes-the Quran-requires-hadiths-and- scholars-to-be-read-and- understood.
It does not mean your beliefs change or that anyone else tells you what to believe or how to interpret the Quran or that you are in a sect or follow anything other than what you believe. It's just for communication purposes. Hope the term proves to be useful to you in future, inshaaAllah. No compulsion, if you would rather not.
Salaam Aleykum and peace to all 
Asfora says:
January 6, 2012 at 12:07 am (UTC 0)
Salaam Aleykum
Here is a link to the new re-vamped Quranists Welcome Pack
Mubarak says:
February 11, 2012 at 10:07 am (UTC 0)
Salaam.
I think the problem here is that Asfora feels as though he has to call himself a Quranist due to the many traditional muslims that call themselves simply "Muslims". Like your example of joining that group and getting thrown out. I understand, but I think there's a problem there. I think you're too worried about what "traditional muslims" think of you and because they merely call themselves muslims, you feel the need to call yourself a Quranist aka a Muslim that follows the Quran alone. I think you shouldn't worry about what THEY think of you and worry about what Allah regards us as. Which is merely 'muslims'. He knows our hearts and intentions of course, but wouldn't it be right to simply call yourself what he calls you? I think you only need to bring up the 'Quran only' aspect of it when someone asks you questions. But what do I know, haha.
Sheila Dang says:
April 9, 2012 at 7:40 pm (UTC 0)
I am a muslim, and am not confused by what that means. Seeing as how my duty is to Allah. I won't worry about catering any part of what Allah desires for the sake of pleasing mortals. In my opinion that is why muslims are lost, trying to please a systems devised to lead mankind astray from the teachings of The Perfect, The truth. I am liberated, by Allah's grace and guidance. And I have to disagree with you about the name/sect thing. A label [name] is where it begins, and have a tremendous impact on the development of a divide.
Al-Salaamu Alaykum
More than anything else, muslims need to take refuge in Allah, read the book [qur'an] and learn to think for themselves. My name is Sheila Dang, I am a servant of The Truth… All praise to the sustainer
Definition of a Sect « Quranist Voices – Musings on Being Quranist says:
May 23, 2011 at 9:18 am (UTC 0)
[...] end up confusing and misleading people. But I prefer honesty. A couple of articles about the “Just Muslim term” and Upfront and [...]
apostateofhadith.blogspot: a response « Quranist Voices – Musings on Being Quranist says:
July 23, 2011 at 1:30 pm (UTC 0)
[...] an interesting article on apostateofhadith.blogspot in response to the article on quranists.net, The Deceptive ‘Just Muslim Label’ by quranists. In honour of the quranic way, I thought I might express a few of my thoughts on his views. “To [...]