The True Muslim

Question:
Abu Hisham, via the program's phone line, asks: Who is the true Muslim from a Shari'ah perspective, given that the Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe?

Answer:
The Muslim is the one who upholds the religion of Islam with all its commands and avoids its prohibitions; he is the one who submits to Allah. Islam is submission to Allah through tawhid (the oneness of Allah), obedience to Him, and disavowal of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and its people. This is Islam. Among the characteristics of Islam is that a person keeps his harm away from people. The Muslim is the one from whom the Muslims are safe; that is, the Muslim who has complete Islam is the one from whose tongue the Muslims are safe, so he does not backbite, does not speak ill of people, and does not assault them with offensive words. He keeps his hand from striking, seizing, or killing. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah bless you,