The Seat at the Table

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

From a jurisprudential aspect, every religion has that line in the sand that demarcates a follower from a non-follower.  This is how religions decide who to address for the purposes of the practical application of their laws. 

In Christianity, it is the acceptance of the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus (a.s.).  Most aspects of the Christian faith tie that to the acceptance of Jesus’ (a.s.) divinity.  The physical manifestation of that acceptance is the sacrament of baptism. 

In Islam, it is acceptance of the finality of prophethood in Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), and the Absolute Oneness of God.  Its manifestation is the physical utterance of the shahadah, the declaration of faith, before two witnesses. 

From the perspective of faith, these are borders between countries, and countries are artificial divisions that do not change the reality that the forests, the plains and the mountains, and all the creature therein go as they please. 

The reality of faith is that it is ever-evolving, growing.  And sometimes, we wake up and realise that we have moved across one of these borders.  A passport would say Christian, but the owner are standing in the world of the Muslims, or vice versa.  Coming to Islam is like the man who watches the sunrise.  There is a dawning of faith, and the Sun is risen.  But he cannot tell you the precise moment the Sun arose.  He only knows that it is now there, where once, there was twilight. 

In the Realm of the Absolute, God does not go by labels.  He Addresses the reality of our hearts.  So we find our God in that stillness, where the world is silent, and we have moved beyond labels to one who loves and is Loved.  Ultimately, that is what matters.  Religion is a suit we wear to the Divine Palace.  Instead of worrying about the colour, and the cut, ensure that the suit is pressed, free of stains, laundered, and perfumed.  That is by our sincere worship and our good deeds.  The one who is dressed well is afforded a seat at the Table.  God need not ask us what we are when He Knows who we are.