Why did you join this forum?

[Phatt Matt s]

Are you really a practicing muslim. Or is that a stupid question?

I would have to know what you mean by "practicing Muslim."

If you have in mind only ritual activities like the 5 daily prayers (Salah), then I cannot honestly consider myself a full-time practicing Muslim in that regards. I just go to the mosque on Fridays to pray. Occasionally, I pray at home also, but due to my laziness and other things I don't pray consistently throughout the day as we are supposed to.

But in Islam, the concept of worship is much more comprehensive than that. A Muslim's whole life is worship ("ibadah" in Arabic), both inside and outside of prayer. So we shouldn't just practice Islam, but as Muslims we have to live Islam.

"Worship" to us is a complete human experience: it starts from the heart, it involves the tongue, and it eventually requires dedication from the entire body. And therefore worship is not restricted to certain rituals only. Even things like learning about Islam, pondering on the verses of the Quran, taking care of people, helping someone, being patient with others, showing respect to our parents, eating, sleeping, earning a living, trying to develop a good character, being grateful, and so on, can all be turned into rewarding acts of worship if we simply remember God and we do them in order to attain His pleasure and His mercy. This is the way that I try to live every day of my life, which means that I'm not just practicing Islam but I'm living it as well.

In fact, the main objective that underlie all forms of worship in Islam is to remember God, and the same goes for the Muslim prayer: "... and establish the prayer for My remembrance" (Surah 20:14). So scholars say that we are already in a state of worship by just remembering God wherever we are, and the Quran tells us to do this abundantly: "O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance." This remembrance itself is a virtuous type of worship, which is emphasized in the Quran over and over again to signify the great importance of it.

So, the answer to whether or not I'm a "practicing Muslim" does not depend only on the observable rituals (like the prayer) as you probably thought before reading this post, because worship is both inward and outward, and there are many dimensions to it as I've explained above.

"Worship (Ibadah) is a comprehensive term covering everything that Allah loves and is pleased with - whether saying or actions, outward and inward." - Ibn Taymiyyah

I admire muslims getting down on their face and worshipping and submitting to that which they find is their sovereign and only good.

I don't like any Muslim Government or Regime because of their Intolerance, bigotry, terrorism, fanaticism, genocide, and forcing Religion down throats. It's true we see this from other Religions but not nearly with the same frequency and intensity.

I have Islamaphobia but I did pray in a mosque in Buffalo New York and met some Sufi Moslems who I love to death. I do not like their Religion but do like their devotion to what they believe.