Bragging about belonging to Islam
30-4-2017 | IslamWeb
Question:
Can we brag about what we have waiting for us in the Hereafter? Can we brag about our God? I want to show that Islam and God are better. May Allaah reward you.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
The Muslim has every right to be proud that his God is Allah, Who is the only God worthy of being worshipped, and that he belongs to the nation whose final destination shall be Paradise. Although the Muslim should have good expectations of his Lord and hope that he shall be among the people of Paradise, he should also fear being denied this great privilege (because of his sins), as no one can guarantee that he will not stray after having been guided to the straight path. Allah, The Exalted, says (what means): {They will say: Indeed, we were previously among our people fearful (of displeasing Allah). So, Allah conferred favor upon us and protected us from the punishment of the Scorching Fire.} [Quran 52:26-27]
Grasping this meaning urges the Muslims to seek all the possible means to adhere to the straight path by seeking useful knowledge, performing righteous deeds, attending religious gatherings, and keeping the company of righteous people. This is as far as feeling proud within himself is concerned.
As for bragging to people about it, this would most likely be purely evil, or its evil outweighs its benefit. The Muslim should be keen on guiding people to goodness and giving them sincere advice, hoping that they would become Muslims, guided to the truth, like him. So it is better for him to preoccupy himself with whatever helps him accomplish this noble objective; he should teach people the true religion, adhere to the noble manners of Islam, and treat people with kindness so that he would be a good example for them. The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to supplicate Allah saying, "O Allah, make us among those who guide and are rightly guided." [An-Nasaa'i]
Allah knows best.