Many people DM’d me to seek clarification regarding the subject of what label one must give themselves; hence I will elaborate here for their benefit إن شاء الله. And I am only concerned with pleasing Allah with my speech, and to only speak about His Deen on the basis of the knowledge He taught to His final Messenger ﷺ. And these points are what I have compiled from the speech of our Shaykh Zubair Marjalvi حفظه الله and the works of our Shaykh Muhammad Al-Amari حفظه الله.

Allah Is the Most Truthful in Speech

Allah informed us that no one is more truthful in speech than Him, hence I only follow whatever He has taught us in His Deen about the issue of using labels for ourselves. Allah said:

وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حَدِيثًا

“And who is more truthful in speech than Allah?” [Surah An-Nisa 4:176]

Allah Gave the Name “Muslim”

Allah gave us the name Muslim, hence I call myself a Muslim. Allah said:

مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّىٰكُمُ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِى هَـٰذَا

“It is the Deen of your father Ibraham. He [Allah] named you as Muslims earlier and in this [Qur’an].” [Surah Al-Hajj 22:78]

It Is What the Prophets Were Commanded With

Allah commanded the Prophets عليهم السلام to ascribe to the label “Muslim”, hence I ascribe to that which the Prophets were commanded to ascribe to; and I call myself a Muslim. Allah said:

وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

“I have been commanded to be from the Muslims.” [Surah An-Naml 91]

Our Prophet ﷺ Commanded It, Also

The Prophet ﷺ commanded us to call ourselves Muslims, hence I call myself a Muslim. The Prophet ﷺ said:

تَدَاعُوا بِدَعْوَى اللهِ الَّتِي سَمَّاكُمْ بِهَا المُؤمِنِينَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، عِبَادَ اللهِ”

“Call one another by the call that Allah named you with: Al-Mumineen (Believers), Al-Muslimeen (Muslims), Ibad Allah (Servants of Allah).” [Mustadrak Al-Hakim 1546; Sahih]

Allah Commanded It for Da’wah to Muslims

Allah commanded us to invite the Muslims to the correct understanding of Islam by calling ourselves Muslims and praised those who do so; hence I give Da’wah to the Muslims towards Allah’s Deen and call myself a Muslim. Allah said:

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًۭا مِّمَّن دَعَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

“Who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah, does righteous deeds, and says, “I am one of the Muslims?” [Surah Fusillat 41:33]

Allah Commanded It for Da’wah to Disbelievers

Allah commanded us to invite the disbelievers to Islam by calling ourselves Muslims; hence I give Da’wah to the disbelievers towards Allah’s Deen and call myself a Muslim. Allah said:

وَلَا تُجَـٰدِلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَأُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَإِلَـٰهُنَا وَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ وَٰحِدٌۭ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ

“Do not argue with the People of the Book except in the best manner, unless with those of them who transgress [against you]. And say, “We believe in what is sent down to us and what was sent down to you, and our God and your God is One, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.” [Surah Al-Ankabut 29:46]

We’ve Been Commanded to Die as Muslims

Allah commanded us to die while we ascribe to the label ‘Muslim’, hence I will call myself a Muslim till my last breath. Allah said:

وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

“And do not die except as Muslims.” [Surah Aal-Imraan 3:102]

We Have Not Been Permitted Any Other Label

Allah did not allow us to use any ascriptive label for ourselves besides that which He approved in His Deen; hence I do not use any label for myself which Allah did not teach the Prophet ﷺ to use for himself. I am free from all of these labels, because the Prophet ﷺ was free from these labels, and the Prophet ﷺ is the only Imam we follow. Allah said:

إِنْ هِىَ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءٌۭ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا ٱلظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى ٱلْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ

“These are no more than names which you and your forefathers have made up, for which Allah has not sent down any authority. They follow nothing but conjecture and what their souls desire, although guidance came to them from their Rabb.” [Surah Al-Hajj 53:23]

Arguing About Labels is Falsehood

Allah declared arguing about using ascribing labels which he didn’t legislate for the Muslims as falsehood, hence I do not entertain any argument where someone tries to legislate an ascriptive label which Allah didn’t legislate in His Deen. Allah said:

أَتُجَـٰدِلُونَنِى فِىٓ أَسْمَآءٍۢ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّا نَزَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍۢ ۚ

“Do you dispute with me concerning mere names that you and your forefathers have made up which Allah has never authorized?” [Surah Al-A’raaf 7:21]

Other Labels Lead to Misguidance

Allah mentioned that the one who turns away from the label “Muslim” or gives another label precedence to it is misguided. Hence, I do not turn away from calling myself a Muslims out of fear of being misguided. Allah said:

وَأَنَّا مِنَّا ٱلْمُسْلِمُونَ وَمِنَّا ٱلْقَـٰسِطُونَ ۖ فَمَنْ أَسْلَمَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ تَحَرَّوْا۟ رَشَدًۭا

Among us are some who are Muslims and some who are deviant. Those who become Muslims have sought the true guidance. [Surah Al-Jinn 72:14]

Other Labels Lead to Arrogance

Allah declared presenting yourselves to others other than the label “Muslim” as arrogance, hence I stay away from arrogance by calling myself a Muslim. Allah said:

أَلَّا تَعْلُوا۟ عَلَىَّ وَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِينَ

“Do not be arrogant towards me, but come to me as Muslims.” [Surah An-Naml 27:31]

When Pressed: Haneef

If there is a scenario which necessitates one to differentiate from the people upon innovation and falsehood, Allah only mentioned one label in His Deen to add to the word Muslim, and that is Haneef. Hence, I call myself a Haneef Muslim to differentiate myself from the people upon innovation and falsehood. Allah said:

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّۭا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّۭا وَلَـٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًۭا مُّسْلِمًۭا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a Haneef Muslim, and he was not one of the polytheists. [Surah Aal-Imraan 3:78]