Identity

I often wonder about identity. It’s a complex issue. Layers of history, ethnicity, geography, and religion. We all belong to multiple groups. I, for example, belong to the Australian, Fijian-Indian, Muslim, and Generation X groups. I admit a fair bit of confusion during my teens as to which of these groups I belonged to. Now, much older (and wiser I hope) I’ve settled into belonging to all. My personality is a harmonious blend of these groups, and I’m content with where and when I was born, my family background, and the faith and religion I profess.

But as I reflect about identity now there is one identity that rises above the others, and that’s the “God” identity. You may think that the “Muslim” identity would be adequate; why add a “God” identity?

My response is this...

We all identify with our parents because they were such an important part of who we are. We are connected to them for life since we came from them. In this same sense we are connected to God as we were created from Him. Thus, while not a part of Him or an extension of Him in some sense we do “come” from Him. This idea is supported by the Qur’anic words, "We surely belong to Allah and to Him we shall return" (Chapter 2, Verse 156). We can only return to something that we originally came from, or return to a place that we once were at. For this reason, I believe all humans should identify first and foremost with God.

May God give us the ability to truly identify with Him, by being “godly” people through practising spirituality and ethics. Aameen.