 Islam
is the eternal message of Allah to all people without any exception.
It emanated from our father Adam (peace be upon him) and then was passed
on to other chosen messengers reaching its completed word to mankind
with the final prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Linguistically,
Islam means the deliberate “submission and surrendering” to the
Almighty’s commands. Practically, Islam as a religion is based on six
basic concepts of faith and five fundamental pillars without which one’s
belief is not accepted. The six beliefs are:
1. The belief in One God, Allah,
2. the belief in His Angels, 3. the belief in His Scriptures, 4. the belief in His Messengers, 5. the belief in the Day of Judgment. 6. and the belief in the divine decree, the good and the bad of it. As for the five pillars of Islam, they are as follows:
1. Al-Shahadatan: 'ašhadu 'al-lā ilāha
illā-llāhu wa 'ašhadu 'anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh; I bear witness that
there is no God worthy of worship except Allah and I bear witness that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." This testimony is considered as
one of the most foundational pillar in Islam as it is used by Muslims in
prayer, and for non- Muslims to formally convert to Islam.
2. Performing prayer (Salat): Muslims are required to pray five times on a daily basis at specific times. It was until Allah’s revelation to Muhammad that all Muslims started to face the Kaaba in Mecca and not Jerusalem. Salat is the natural and the direct relationship between Muslims and Allah. It goes beyond the concept of a pillar to embrace the pure feeling of gratefulness and satisfaction. 3. Giving Alms (Zakat): it is the Muslim’s personal commitment to help the poor and the needy by providing them with a fixed amount of money in order to facilitate their lives in an attempt to get rid of inequality.
4. Fasting (Sawm): not only does fasting
mean the act of abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse
from dawn to dusk in the month of Ramadan, but also it is meant to
purify the soul from the worldly aspects and to seek an exceptional bond
with the Merciful.
5. Performing Pilgrimage (Hajj): It is a
significant and a compulsory practice for Muslims who are able to
perform it in the month of Dhu Al Hijja in the city of Mecca. It is the
symbol of equality between mankind in that all muslims regardless of
their race, gender, status, nationality, and colour are to fulfill the
act of Hajj, wearing the same clothes and doing the same rituals.
Last but not least, it goes without saying that Islam’s teachings are simple, rational, and straightforward. They link the practical side with the moral one, the body with the soul. Islam is an encompassing as well as a moderate religion; it speaks to both individuals and groups, it establishes a balance between its beliefs to work harmoniously and fluidly. Islam does not expel life; on the contrary it encourages the true fulfillment of life. It is the very religion of tolerance, freedom, equality, and fraternity. Islam is the religion of ethics par-excellence. It seeks spiritual elevation as it abhors all kinds of vices for instance, greed, envy, hatred, selfishness, arrogance, and so on. Islam cannot be defined in one word because it is a way of life as it deals with the spiritual, social, economic, cultural, political and international aspects. Islam is the light given by the Almighty to facilitate our life, lighten our heart, and guide us to the right path. It stems from a special call from your heart then that call touches all the parts of your body and soul and lets you feel peace and true happiness. |
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What
is Islam?
Islam is not a new
religion, but the same truth that Allah revealed through all His prophets
to every people. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and
forgiveness, and the majority has nothing to do with the extremely grave
events that have come to be associated with their faith.
All the prophets sent
by Allah brought the same message, i.e. believing in the oneness of Allah
and the prophet Mohammad (Sal-Allaho-Alay-hay-Wasal-lam) as his last
messenger.
We, Muslims, believe
in the Bible as the word of God and that it’s not in its exact and right
form. We believe that Old Testament, Muslims call it Torat, was revealed
to Prophet Moses (Musa) and New Testament, Muslims call it Injeel, was
revealed to Prophet Jesus (Isa) peace be upon them. Since they were
changed by people Allah sent the last testament, that is, the Holy Quran
revealed to Prophet Mohammad (Sal-Allaho-Alay-hay-Wasal-lam) and it’s been
1400 years and not even a vowel of the Quran has been changed. It’s in
its exact and perfect form.
Christianity is closer
to Islam than any other religion. We don’t believe in Jesus Christ (May
peace be upon him) as Son of God but believe in him as a mighty messenger
of Allah. We believe in his miraculous birth. There is one chapter in
the Quran in the name of the mother of Jesus Christ (P.B.U.H) as “Chapter
Mary”.
We believe that
idolatry started at the time of Prophet Nuh (Noah) (P.B.U.H) when people
started making pictures, sketches, and statues of righteous and religious
people. Then they started putting flowers on them and eventually started
prostrating and worshipping them.
Allah sent prophets
and messengers to guide the humanity and bring them to the right path and
this process ended, which was started with the first human being Hazrat
Adam (P.B.U.H), with the last prophet of Islam Mohammad (Sal-Allaho-Alay-hay-Wasal-lam)
since the Quran and the life of Prophet Mohammad (Sal-Allaho-Alay-hay-Wasal-lam)
are enough for the humanity till the last hour, i.e., the day of Judgement.
Allah says is the
Quran:
“He (Allah) has
ordained for you the same religion (Islam) which He ordained for Nuh
(Noah), and that which We have inspired in you (O Mohammad S.A.W), and
that which We ordained for Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses) and 'Iesa
(Jesus) saying you should establish religion (i.e. to do what it orders
you to do practically), and make no divisions in it (religion) (i.e.
various sects in religion). Intolerable for the Mushrikun (idolaters,polytheists),
is that to which you (O Muhammad S.A.W) call them. Allah chooses for
Himself whom He wills, and guides unto Himself who turns to Him in
repentance and in obedience.”
Surah
Ash-Shurah (42) Ayah 13.
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