Submitters
Cont’d from page 1
Although the word “Submitter” is the English equivalent
of the Arabic word “Muslim,” and the word “Submission”
is the English equivalent of the Arabic word “Islam,”
the underlying implication of these words is very profound, and
far from the superficial meanings that are traditionally understood
or used. Therefore, Dr. Khalifa initiated extensive usage of these
words in his newsletters and translation of the Quran in order for
people to differentiate between a so-called Muslim and a true Muslim
or Submitter, and between the corrupted religion of Islam and the
true Islam or Submission.
A Submitter can be defined as a person who submits to the will
of God. The state of Submission, which can only take place between
the person and God Almighty, is considered to be the only acceptable
form of worship by God. (3:19, 85). Therefore, Submission is not
just a name of a religion; rather it describes one’s devotion
to God alone.
Submission is a religion whereby one recognizes God’s absolute
authority, and reaches a conviction that only God possesses all
power; no other entity possesses any power that is independent of
Him. The natural result of such a realization is to devote one’s
life and one’s worship absolutely to God alone. This is the
First Commandment in all the scriptures, including the Old Testament,
the New Testament and the Final Testament (The Quran).
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Hear , O Israel!
The Lord our God is One God!
Therefore you shall adore
the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
[Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Mark 12:29-30, Quran 3:18]
The commandment to worship God alone is also found in the Hindu
scriptures:
Let us meditate on God,
His glorious attributes,
who is the basis of everything in this universe as its Creator,
who is fit to be worshiped
as Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient
and self existent conscious being,
who removes all ignorance
and impurities from the mind
and purifies and sharpens the intellect.
[Gayatri Mantra, Yajur Veda]
Submitters only in Islam?
While every religion has been corrupted by innovations, traditions,
and false, idolatrous doctrines, there may be “Submitters”
within every religion. There may be Submitters who call themselves
Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or anything else. This
is a concept the traditional and ignorant Muslims will fiercely
object to, even though it is in the Quran, and we experience it
constantly.
They are not all the same; among the followers of
the scripture, there are those who are righteous. They recite GOD's
revelations through the night, and they fall prostrate. [3:113]
One of the reasons for this objection could be due to the implication
of the terminology used. For example,
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the phrase “Christian submitter”
may seem to introduce a conflict, since the traditional definition
of a Christian is the belief in the divinity of Christ. However,
there are Christians who consider this idea to be blasphemous, and
consequently they believe that Jesus was only a messenger of God.
Similarly, there are people in other religions who believe in God
Almighty, believe that they are accountable for their works, and
they are righteous. A criterion of the true submitters is that they
will find nothing objectionable in the Quran when they encounter
it.
All these people are Submitters, and they collectively constitute
the only religion acceptable to God.
Minimum Criteria
There are many more people out there who are Submitters in heart,
but we may not be aware of them. Furthermore, they themselves may
not know where to fit in. How can one know if he or she might qualify
to be called a Submitter? The minimum criteria to be a Submitter
are given in the following verses.
Surely, those who believe,
those who are Jewish,
the Christians,
and the converts;
anyone who
(1) believes in GOD, and
(2) believes in the Last Day, and
(3) leads a righteous life,
will receive their recompense from their Lord.
They have nothing to fear,
nor will they grieve.
[Quran 2:62, 5:69]
Organizations
The Submitters have set up non-profit organizations over the years
so that they can work in the cause of God more efficiently.
cont'd on page 3
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