What is the differance between Muslim and mu'min?

Answer 1

One of the verses in the Qur'an makes a distinction between a mu'min. a believer, and a Muslim:

(Rodwell 49:14) The Arabs of the desert say, "We believe." (tu/minoo) Say thou: Ye believe not; but rather say, "We profess Islam;" (aslamna) for the faith (al-eemanu) hath not yet found its way into your hearts. But if ye obey God and His Apostle, he will not allow you to lose any of your actions: for God is Indulgent, Merciful.

According to the Western academician Carl Ernst, contemporary usage of the terms "Islam" and "Muslim" for the faith and its adherents is a modern innovation. As shown in the Quranic passage cites above, early Muslims distinguished between the Muslim, who has "submitted" and does the bare minimum required to be considered a part of the community, and the mu'min, the believer, who has given himself or herself to the faith heart and soul. Ernst writes:

"The Arabic term islam itself was of relatively minor importance in classical theologies based on the Qur'an. If one looks at the works of theologians such as the famous al-Ghazali (d. 1111), the key term of religious identity is not islam but iman, or faith, and the one who possesses it is the mu'min, or believer. Faith is one of the major topics of the Qur'an; it is mentioned hundreds of times in the sacred text. In comparison, islam is a relatively less common term of secondary importance; it only occurs eight times in the Qur'an. Since, however, the term islam had a derivative meaning relating to the community of those who have submitted to God, it has taken on a new political significance, especially in recent history." [1]

Answer 2

Well the literal sense of Mu'min is 'a believer,' which can include a Muslim, but is not restricted to Muslims. For example, Jesus, Moses, Abraham, Adam (peace be on them all) were all Mu'minoon (plural of Mu'min). Although it isn't often said that Christians and Jews (People of the Book) are mu'minoon, we can't realy deny that either, and the use of the word Mu'min in the Qur'an opens the door to it.

There is a beautiful chapter in the Qur'an called Al-Mu'minoon, if you get the chance, I would recommend reading it.

Answer 3

A muslim is someone who has submitted himself/herself to Allah, and believes in the five pillars and the basic tenets of faith.
A mu'min is someone who has all of the above, but a stronger deeper belief and stronger faith, so that he/she keeps away from all that is forbidden and does everthing that is compulsory and more.
I think the most distinct difference it that a simple muslim who is not a mu'min might go to the fire (to be removed later of course), or might be forgiven, there is no guarantee, but anyone who dies a mu'min is safe from the fire and will go to Jannah, Allah will not punish a mu'min. Thus, a mu'min is a person with the minimum amount of faith that will save a person from the fire and admit them into paradise, with Allah's permission and mercy.

Answer 4

I liked the answer of "monotol"
I would like to add, that a Mu'min, is the one who dose have a strong belief in Allah and all teaching of Islam, plus practicing Islam to the best of his ability. Where as a Muslim might be a good Muslim but might has little knowledge of faith, or might be practicing Islam without much understanding or being faithful about it, he might do it for the society or just to cover his personality. Without "Iman" he can't be a perfect Muslim

Answer 5

It isn't a question of whether there is a difference, a muslim is some one who submits to God (Allah) and at the same time Following the 5 pillars of islam. (Bearing witness there is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet and messenger, Prayers, Charity, Fasting and going for Hadj).

Where as a Mu'min, the word comes from Imaan. and Imaan is believing in Allah swt (i.e. the oness), his angels, his 5 books, his prophets and messengers, the day of judgement, and finally the Destiny (good of it and bad of it).

So I don't see how you could be a muslim and not a Mu'min.

God bless.

Answer 6

i been via this Muslim = you need to be muslim because you born muslim or you've conventional islam to be ur faith. sometime he ought to have doubts, sometime he question his faith. Mu'min = is the single which God has placed seem after in his heart about this faith, he's widely used with that Islam is from God, he's not guessing yet he's widely used with for effective without doubts. Mu'wken = it is more effective than Mu'min, it is like someone who became in Hell and paradise and got here back. and he completly is widely used with that Islam is genuine. Al-sadikin = those who've proved to God that they extremely believing no doubt.

Answer 7

There are 3 grades of believe for Muslims according to their good deeds:
1- The first is Islam, it is static and it is the lowest (just to perform the will know five pillars of Islam).
2- The second is dynamic and it increases and decreases according to good deeds (it is more than seventy branches the least is to remove bad things from the way (road) and the highest is to practice the Shahada (la elah ella Allah, Mohammad rasol Allah), and to feel shy from doing bad deeds is one branch.
3- The third and the highest is Ihsan (and it has two sub stages: the first is to worship Allah as if you see him, and the lower, to worship Him and feel that He sees you.)

Answer 8

Every one that believes that there's no God but Allah and that Mohamed is his last prophet, after many other prophets such as Abraham, Mousa, Noah, Joseph, Jesus Christ, and others is a Muslim.

While the Mo'men is a higher level in Islam who will obey Allah as much as he can and when they do a sin, however small it may be, they ask for forgiveness from Allah.

Answer 9

Muslim-a person who practice Islam
Mukmin-a pious and righteous Muslim

Answer 10

well good qeustion ....i think so
Muslims are those ppl who follwo the true religion of ALLAH ..i.e Islam
while Mu-mins are those ppl who are Muslims too ... but also have faith in Allah v.v.v.v. much
..