Who is a Muslim?

I just had reason to say this in reply to a comment on this blog by a blogger I really respect and like:

It is really odd--about 50 years ago, the government of Pakistan convened a council of Ulema to decide "Who is a Muslim?" Having declared ourselves an "Islamic Republic" the matter was legally pressing. Their decision in the end was that the State and community must recognize anyone who claims to be a Muslim to be a Muslim. That was the official position of the 2nd largest Muslim nation in the world--then the only "Islamic Republic"around--and that of its Ulema. Today, only the most progressive of organizations--who you, it seems, do not want to consider properly Muslim--holds that position.

Technorati tags applicable to this post: Who is a Muslim? - Islam - Muslims - Shia-Sunni Relations