1. What is Islaam?
Islam
(or Islaam) is the name of the religion, or more properly the ‘way of life’,
which God (Allaah) has revealed and which was practiced by all of the Prophets
and Messengers of Allaah that He sent to mankind. Even the name stands out
unique among other religions in that it means a state of being; it does not refer
to any particular person, such as Christianity, Buddhism or Zoroastrianism; a
tribe like Judaism; or a nation like Hinduism. The root Arabic word from which
Islam is derived implies peace, safety, salutation, protection, blamelessness,
wholesomeness, submission, acceptance, surrender, and salvation. Islam
specifically means being in the state of submission to Allaah, worshipping Him
Alone, and reverently accepting and obeying His Law. Through this submission,
the peace, security, and wholesome well-being implied in its literal meaning is
achieved. Hence, a Muslim or Muslimah is a person (male or female) in that
state of submission. A person’s Islam weakens through sins, ignorance, and
wrong-doing, and becomes nullified in totality by associating partners with
Allaah or disbelieving in Him.
2. What are Muslims?
The Arabic word “Muslim” literally means “someone who is
in a state of Islaam (submission to the will and law of Allaah)”. The message
of Islaam is meant for the entire world, and anyone who accepts this message
becomes a Muslim. Some people mistakenly believe that Islaam is just a religion
for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth. In actuality, over 80%
of the world's Muslims are not Arabs! Even though most Arabs are Muslims, there
are Arabs who are Christians, Jews and atheists. If one just takes a look at
the various peoples who live in the Muslim World - from Nigeria to Bosnia and
from Morocco to Indonesia - it is easy enough to see that Muslims come from all
different races, ethnic groups, cultures and nationalities. Islaam has always
been a universal message for all people. This can be seen in the fact that some
of the early companions of the Prophet Muhammad were not only Arabs, but also
Persians, Africans and Byzantine Romans. Being a Muslim entails complete
acceptance and active obedience to the revealed teachings and laws of Allaah
the Exalted. A Muslim is a person who freely accepts basing his beliefs, values
and faith on the will of Almighty God. In the past, even though you do not see
it as much today, the word “Mohammedans” was often used as a label for Muslims.
This label is a misnomer, and is the result of either willful distortion or
sheer ignorance. One of the reasons for the misconception is that Europeans
were taught for centuries that Muslims worshipped the Prophet Muhammad in the
same way that Christians worship Jesus. This is absolutely not true, since one
is not considered a Muslim if he worships anyone or anything besides Allaah the
Exalted.
3. Who is Allaah?
Often one hears the Arabic word “Allaah” being used in
discussions regarding Islaam. The word “Allaah” is simply the Arabic word for
Almighty God, and is the same word used by Arabic speaking Christians and Jews.
As a matter of fact, the word Allaah was in use far before the word God ever
came into existence, since English is a relatively new language. If one were to
pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word “Allaah”
being use where the word “God” is used in English. For instance, Arabic speaking
Christians say that Jesus is, according to their canon belief, the Son of
Allaah. In addition, the Arabic word for Almighty God, “Allaah”, is quite
similar to the word for God in other Semitic languages. For example, the Hebrew
word for God is “Elah”. For various reasons, some non-Muslims mistakenly
believe that Muslims worship a different God than the God of Moses and Abraham
and Jesus. This is certainly not the case, since the Pure Monotheism of Islaam
calls all people to the worship of the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and
all the other prophets, peace be upon them.
4. Who is Muhammad?
The last and final prophet whom God sent to humanity was
the Prophet Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him. At the
age of forty, he received the revelation from Allaah. He then spent the
remaining portion of his life explaining, and living the teachings of Islaam,
the religion that Allaah revealed to him. The Prophet Muhammad, may the Peace
and Blessings of Allaah be upon him, is the greatest of all prophets for many
reasons, but primarily because he was chosen by Allaah to be the last prophet -
whose mission to guide humanity would continue until the Last Day - and because
he has been sent as a mercy to all of mankind. The result of his mission has
brought more people into the pure belief in One God than any other prophet.
Since the beginning of time, Allaah sent prophets to the earth, each one to his
own specific nation. The Prophet Muhammad, however, was sent as the final
Messenger to all of humanity.
Even though other religious communities have claimed to
believe in One God, over time, some corrupted ideas entered into their beliefs
and practices leading them away from the pure sincere monotheism of the
prophets. Some took their prophets and saints as intercessors with Almighty
God. Some even believed that their prophets were the manifestations of God, or
“God Incarnate” or the “Son of God”. All of these misconceptions lead to the
worship of created beings instead of the Creator, and contributed to the
idolatrous practice of believing that Almighty God may be approached through
intermediaries. In order to guard against these falsehoods, the Prophet
Muhammad, may the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him, always emphasized
that he was only a human-being with the mission of preaching and obeying
Allaah's message. He taught Muslims to refer to him as “the Messenger of God
and His Slave”. Through his life and teachings, Allaah made Muhammad, may the
Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him, the perfect example for all people -
he was the exemplary prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher,
neighbor, husband, father and friend. Unlike other prophets and messengers, the
Prophet Muhammad, may the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him, lived in
the full light of history, and all his sayings and acts were meticulously
recorded and collected. Muslims don't need to have mere ‘faith’ that he
existed, or that his teachings are preserved - they know it to be a fact.
Allaah took it upon Himself to protect the message revealed to Muhammad from
distortion or from being forgotten or lost. This was necessary because Allaah
promised that Muhammad, may the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him, was
to be the final Messenger to mankind. All of Allaah's Messengers preached the
message of Islaam - i.e. submission to the law of God and the worship of God
alone – but Muhammad, may the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him, is the
last prophet of Islaam who brought the final and complete message which was
never to be changed until the Last Day.
5. What are the Teachings of
Islaam?
The foundation of the Islaamic faith is belief in
absolute Monotheism (the Oneness of God). This means to believe that there is
only one Creator and Sustainer of everything in the Universe, and that nothing
is divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Him. Truly, believing in the
Oneness of God means much more than simply believing that there is “One God” -
as opposed to two, three or four. There are a number of religions that claim
belief in “One God” and believe that ultimately there is only one Creator and
Sustainer of the Universe, but true monotheism is to believe that only the One
True Deity is to be worshipped in accordance to the revelation He sent to His Messenger.
Islaam also rejects the use of all intermediaries between God and Man, and
insists that people approach God directly and reserve all worship for Him
alone. Muslims believe that Almighty God is Compassionate, Loving and Merciful.
A common misconception is the claim that God cannot
forgive His creatures directly. By over-emphasizing the burden and penalty of
sin, as well as claiming that God cannot forgive humans directly, people often
despair of the Mercy of God. Once they become convinced that they cannot
approach God directly, they turn to false gods for help, such as heroes,
political leaders, saviors, saints, and angels. We often find that the people
who worship, pray to, or seek intercession from these false deities, do not
consider them to be a ‘god’. They claim belief in One Supreme God, but claim
that they pray to and worship others beside God only to get closer to Him. In
Islaam, there is a clear distinction between the Creator and the created. There
is no ambiguity or mystery in issues of divinity: anything that is created does
not deserve to be worshipped; only Allaah, the Creator, is worthy of being
worshipped. Some religions falsely believe that God has become part of His
creation, and this has led people to believe that they can worship something
created in order to reach their Creator.
Muslims believe that even though God is Unique and
Exalted beyond speculative comprehension, He definitely has no partners,
associates, peers, antagonists or offspring. According to Muslim belief, Allaah
“neither begets, nor was He begotten” - neither literally, allegorically,
metaphorically, physically or metaphysically. He is Absolutely Unique and
Eternal. He is in control of everything and is perfectly capable of bestowing
His infinite Mercy and Forgiveness to whomever He chooses. That is why Allaah
is also called the All-Powerful and Most-Merciful. Allaah has created the
Universe for man, and as such wants the best for all human beings. Muslims see
everything in the Universe as a sign of the Creatorship and Benevolence of
Almighty God. Also, the belief in the Oneness of Allaah is not merely a
metaphysical concept. It is a dynamic belief that affects ones view of
humanity, society and all aspects of practical life. As a logical corollary to
the Islaamic belief in the Oneness of Allaah, is its belief in the oneness of
mankind and humanity.
6. What is the Qur'aan?
The Qur'aan is the final revelation of Allaah to all of
mankind, which was spoken by Allaah the Exalted Himself and conveyed through
the Arch-Angel Gabriel in Arabic to the Prophet Muhammad, in sound, word and
meaning. The Qur'aan, (sometimes incorrectly spelled Koran), was then relayed
to the Prophet's companions, and they diligently memorized it verbatim and
meticulously complied it into written form. The Holy Qur'aan has been
continually recited by the companions of the Prophet and their successors until
the present day. In short, the Qur'aan is the revealed book of Divine scripture
from Allaah to all humanity for their guidance and salvation.
Today the Qur'aan is still memorized and taught by
millions of people. The language of the Qur'aan, Arabic, is still a living
language to millions of people. Unlike the scriptures of some other religions,
the Qur'aan is still read in its original language by countless millions of
people. The Qur'aan is a living miracle in the Arabic language, and it is known
to be inimitable in its style, form and spiritual impact, as well as the unique
knowledge that it contains. The Qur'aan was revealed in a series of revelations
to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. In contrast to many other
religious books, the Qur'aan was always believed to be the exact Word of
Allaah. The Qur'aan was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim and
non-Muslim communities during the life of the Prophet Muhammad, and thereafter.
The entire Qur'aan was also completely written down in the lifetime of the
Prophet, and numerous companions of the Prophet memorized the entire Qur'aan
word-for-word as it was revealed. The Qur'aan was always in the hands of the
common believers: it was always thought to be God's word; and, due to
wide-spread memorization, it was perfectly preserved. Never was any part of it
altered or decreed by any religious council. The teachings of the Qur'aan comprise
a universal scripture addressed to all of mankind and not to any particular
tribe or ‘chosen people’. The message that it brings is nothing new but the
same message of all of the prophets: 'submit to Allaah the One God and worship
Him alone and follow Allaah's Messengers for success in this life and salvation
in the hereafter'. As such, Allaah's revelation in the Qur'aan focuses on
teaching human beings the importance of believing in the Oneness of Allaah, and
framing their lives around the guidance which He has sent, which is articulated
in the Islamic Law. The Qur'aan contains the stories of the previous prophets,
such as Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, peace be upon all of them, as well as
commands and prohibitions from God. In our modern times, in which so many
people are caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and social and political
alienation, the Qur'aanic teachings offer solutions to the emptiness of our
lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today.
7. How Do Muslims View the Nature of Man, the Purpose of Life and
the Life Hereafter?
In the Holy Qur'aan, Allaah teaches human beings that
they were created in order to glorify and worship Him, and that the basis of
all true worship is God-consciousness. All of Allaah's creatures worship him
naturally and only the humans have the free will to worship Allaah their
Creator or to reject Him. This is a great test, but also a great honor. Since
the teachings of Islaam encompass all aspects of life and ethics,
God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs. Islaam makes it clear
that all human acts are acts of worship if they are done for God alone and in
accordance to His Divine Scripture and Law. As such, worship in Islaam is not
limited to religious rituals, and for this reason it is more properly known as
‘way of life’ than a religion. The teachings of Islaam act as a mercy and a
healing for the human soul, and qualities such as humility, sincerity, patience
and charity are strongly encouraged. Additionally, Islaam condemns pride and
self-righteousness, since Almighty God is the only judge of human
righteousness.
The
Islaamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced in that
human beings are not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally
capable of both good and evil; it is their choice. Islaam teaches that faith
and action go hand-in-hand. God has given people free-will, and the measure of
one's faith is their deeds and actions. However, since human beings have also
been created innately weak and regularly fall into sin, they are in need of
continually seeking guidance and repentance, which is, in itself , also a form
of worship loved by Allaah. The nature of the human being as created by God in
His Majesty and Wisdom, is not inherently ‘corrupt’ or in need of repair. The
avenue of repentance is always open to all. Almighty God knew that humans were
going to make mistakes, so the real test is whether they seek repentance for
their sins and try to avoid them, or if they prefer a life of heedlessness and
sin, knowing well that it is not pleasing to God. The true balance of an
Islaamic life is established by having a healthy fear of Allaah's rightful
punishment for crimes and sins, as well as a sincere belief that Allaah, in His
infinite Mercy, takes pleasure in bestowing His reward for our good deeds and
sincere worship to Him. A life without fear of Allaah leads to sin and
disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that God will not
possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In the light of this fact, Islaam
teaches that only the misguided despair of the Mercy of their Lord, and only
wicked criminals are devoid of the fear of Allaah their Creator and Judge. The
Holy Qur'aan as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, also
contains a great deal of teachings about life in the hereafter and the Day of
Judgment. Muslims believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by
Allaah, the Absolute Sovereign King and Judge, for their beliefs and actions in
their earthly lives. In judging human beings, Allaah the Exalted will be both
Absolutely Just, by only punishing the truly guilty and rebellious unrepentant
criminals, and Absolutely Merciful for those people who He, in His wisdom,
judges worthy of mercy. None will be judged for that which was beyond their
capacity, or for that which they did not actually do. It is sufficient to say
that Islaam teaches that life is a test designed by Allaah, the Creator,
Almighty and Most Wise; and that all human beings will be accountable before
Allaah for what they did with their lives. A sincere belief in the life of the
hereafter is the key to leading a well-balanced and moral life. Otherwise, life
is viewed as an end in itself, which causes people to become more selfish,
materialistic and immoral by their blind pursuit of pleasure even at the
expense of reason and ethics.
Writer: www.islamhouse.com
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