Characteristics of A Mumin (Believer)

The person who declares ‘There is no true God except Allah and Muhammad SAW is His prophet and servant’, and keeps firm belief in those articles of belief  (The Pillars of Faith) which are fixed as the obligatory term of being a believer is a True Mumin. The believers are those who are devoted to Islam and at the same time, loyal servants of the Almighty Allah.  But only by reciting the Speech of Shahadah a person cannot become a true and complete believer. He has to possess several characteristics to be a complete Mumin (believer) and beloved of the Lord Almighty. Allah, the Almighty has described some noble characteristics of a Mumin in different verses of the Qur’an. We might have a sharp idea of those virtues:

Virtues of a Mumin (Believer)

Fearing Allah SWT

In the concept of Islam, the fear of Allah or Taqwa is one of the obligatory characteristics of a Mumin which has a strong influence on his Iman. A Mumin has to firmly believe that Allah, the Knower of the unseen and seen, unknown and known sees and hears everything. So, he remains always aware of the consequences of disobedience to Allah SWT and the punishment of the Hereafter. He fears Almighty Allah with all due respect and by doing all that He orders and by abstaining from all that He forbids. In the holy Quran, the Almighty has commanded the Mumin to fear Him properly:

“O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared.”– (Al Imran:102)

“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts” (Al Anfal:02

Abstaining from Shirk

A believer firmly believes that there is no godhood except Allah SWT, He is the One, Only, and Unique, and He has no partner in His oneness. Allah is Almighty over all things and he has no partner in this dominion. Almighty Lord is the only Worthy of Worship. A Mumin also believes that only Allah alone knows the seen and unseen, the known and unknown and only He reserves the right to reign the entire universe. So, this testimony of Tawhid is also one of the obligatory characteristics of a Mumin for being a proper believer. He never associates other entities with Allah. Verily, a true Mumin abstains from Shirk saying:

“Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah” (Al An’am:79)

Surrendering to Allah SWT

Surrendering to Allah SWT is one of the Great and Obligatory characteristics of a Mumin. A believer passes his whole life through the guidance of his creator and tries to achieve the satisfaction and pleasure of the Almighty. A completely surrendered person is a complete Mumin. A surrendering Mumin always submits his will only to Allah SWT and he dedicates his whole activity to his Lord for both worldly and hereafter success. In the Qur’an Allah, the Almighty is ordering the believers to become completely surrendered persons (Muslim) before their death.

“O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except being Muslims (the surrendered).”-Al Imran:102

Obedience of Allah SWT and His Messenger

This is also one of the noble and massive characteristics of a Mumin to be obedient to the Almighty and His Messenger in every term of his life. A believer always follows the HARAM and HALAL that are circumscribed by the Lord Almighty and His Messenger (on behalf of Allah SWT). He remains grateful and obedient in the worship of Allah SWT following the Sunnah of the Messenger Muhammad (PBUH). To achieve the pleasure and satisfaction of the merciful Almighty, he restrains himself from those which are prohibited by his Lord and does things according to the way that Allah has determined through Qur’an and His Messenger (PBUH). This is an order for the Mumin from the Almighty Himself:

“And obey Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad PBUH), if you are believers.”        – Al-Anfal:01

Taking care of Salat (Prayer)

A believer differs from a disbeliever mainly because of the great characteristic of being attentive to prayer. Salat is the second of the five pillars of worship upon which Islam is principally founded. A believer attaches as much importance to the five daily prayers prescribed by Allah SWT as he does to his Iman. The great path of world peace and salvation in the hereafter is therefore accepted by believers as the main means of attaining the pleasure of the great Lord. And in prayer, they are humble, obedient, considerate, sincere, and caring. They never abandon prayer in any complication of life. So, taking care of Salat is also one of the great and obligatory characteristics of a Mumin. In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says:

“Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours”.    -An Nisaa:103

“Indeed, Successful are the Believers. Those who offer their Salat with all solemnity and full submissiveness.”    -Al-Muminoon: 1,2

Fasting

Fasting is a great gift from Allah Almighty to the Mumin which helps them to attain self-restraint, self-correction, and self-control. And since Allah Almighty Himself has promised to give the great reward of fasting by His Glorious Hand, the believers never abandon the obligatory fasts prescribed for them. Through fasting, the Mumin (believers) refrain from all kinds of worldly temptations and sins. As well through fasting, they remain immersed in their devotion, concentration, obedience, and worship of Almighty Allah. According to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), fasting is a shield for believers. Just as a shield protects a warrior from an enemy’s sword, so fasting protects a believer from all kinds of sins.

“O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the Fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the Pious).”   -Al-Baqarah: 183

Paying the Zakat

Paying the Zakat is one of the obligatory characteristics of a Mumin. Almighty Allah has made the payment of Zakat mandatory for the believers subject to special conditions. Therefore, every believer covered by that condition is obliged to pay the annual Zakat prescribed to them in the appropriate sector. In the Holy Qur’an, Allah Almighty has given importance to Zakat after Salat. Therefore, Zakat is the name of a very important pillar of Islam. By paying zakat, believers claim their due rights to their wealth and ensure equitable economic distribution in society. This great virtue is not only limited to paying the obligatory Zakat, but by regularly donating Sadaqah, they seek the Lord’s pleasure and their own purity.

“Indeed, Successful are the believers. And those Who are active in paying the Zakat.”  -Al Muminoon: 01,04

Patience

Patience is also one of the inherent characteristics of a Mumin. A believer takes patience as his constant resource of motivation in any difficulty or adversity of life. He firmly believes that whatever is good and suitable for him, Allah the Exalted has decreed for him. At the same time, he considers all kinds of worldly crises as a trial by Allah SWT. So, he keeps patient and relies on Him alone to overcome. Therefore, he never gets depressed, stressed, or anxious by any danger or hardship in life. To get rid of these complications, he seeks Almighty Allah’s Help and Mercy through his ability, patience, and Du’a. Allah the Almighty reveals regarding the patience of the Mumin:

“Verily, We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, and with the loss of wealth, lives, and fruits. But give glad tidings to As- Sabirin (the patient ones).”    –  Surah Al Baqarah:155

Staying away from meaningless acts

This fleeting period of life on earth we got is nothing but a trial for us from the Lord Almighty. Therefore, the Mumin values every moment of this period for ultimate success in the trial. The fixed period of a trial should never let be wasted by involving in meaningless and unproductive acts. So, this is also one of the noble characteristics of a Mumin that he never lets any of his moments be trashed. Because vain actions are those actions in which there is no benefit in this world or the afterlife instead of harm. So, it is impossible to become a true Mumin or Servant of Almighty Allah by relating to these meaningless deeds. The Holy Qur’an states regarding this characteristic of a Mumin:

“Indeed, Successful are the believers. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (Vain, dirty, false, evil, and all that Allah SWT forbids).”      Al-Muminoon: 01, 03

Guarding the Chastity

A proper believer always refrains from all kinds of obscene, offensive, antisocial, and illicit sexual activities by restraining his chastity. Because through obscene and illicit sexual activities, the entire society of a civilized community goes astray and immerse in the darkness of anarchy. And the immoral appearance of a nation can never get purification. So, by guarding chastity, the Mumin remain Holy and innocent and make society sound, safe, and civilized for both men and women. This is also one of the great and magnificent characteristics of a Mumin according to the great ideal of Islam. Allah Almighty ensures their success:

“Indeed, Successful are the believers. And those who guard their chastity (private parts, from illegal sexual acts).”   Al-Muminoon: 01, 05

 

Honesty and Truthfulness

Truthfulness is alos one of the inherent characteristic of a Mumin. A true believer is always truthful according to the command of Almighty Allah. Neither a thousand worldly temptations nor severe threats can turn him from the truth. In any adverse situation of life, he remains strong in the consciousness of truth. He remains to cling to the truth, walks the path with truth, and lives with truth. And this truthful consciousness shows him the way to the ultimate success of the great truth of the Hereafter. Believers are truthful, seek the truth, and be companions of the truth. This is the instruction from the Lord Almighty for the Mumin:

“O you, who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.”  -At-Tawba:129

Fidelity and keeping promises

Believers are the most faithful personals in this world. Their tongue, voice, or any other sense is absolutely reliable and trustworthy for other people. Believers consider their all livelihoods and the wealth and honor of others as the trust of Allah Almighty. Therefore, they never enjoy themselves or lose any wealth or honor entrusted to them or let them accumulate in any other way. One of the great characteristics of a Mumin is that he always keeps his promises with honesty, courtesy, and integrity. The Holy Qur’an ensures:

“Indeed, Successful are the Mumin. And those who are faithful to their Amanat (all duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility, and trust, etc.) and to their covenants” -Al Muminoon: 08

Expecting the Hereafter

It is undoubtedly one of the unique characteristics of the believers that they always prioritize the Hereafter and seek its success. They never spend their precious life chasing the happiness, wealth, luxury, nobility, and pomp of worldly life. Rather, they invest their lives in the Success Hereafter by renouncing worldly love, illusions, and delusions. Because they are well aware that everything earthly is imperfect and perishable. On the other hand, whatever is destined for the Hereafter is complete and eternal. The Almighty declares reward in the Holy Qur’an for the Mumin:

“And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it while he is a believer (Mumin), then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, thanked, and rewarded (by Allah)” -Al Israa: 20

Conclusion

A true believer is undoubtedly a true Muslim. The Mumin Servants always receive the Pleasure and Mercy of the Lord Almighty. A sincere effort for human welfare in this world and ultimate success in the Hereafter are basically the overall characteristics of a Mumin. And these characteristics make him the most beloved and loyal servant to Allah SWT. As a result, He (SWT) declares for those righteous believers:

“Verily, who believe and do righteous good deeds, for them will be Gardens (Jannah) under which rivers flow. That is the greatest success.”     -Al-Burooj: 11

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