WHAT IS ISLAM ?
The term Islam derives from the three-letter Arabic root s-l-m, which
generates words with interrelated meanings, including “surrender”, “submission”,
“commitment” and “peace.” Commonly, Islam refers to the
monotheistic religion revealed to Muhammad b. (son of) Abdullah in 610
CE. The name Islam was instituted by the Qur’an, the sacred scripture
revealed to Muhammad. For believers, Islam is not a new religion. Rather,
it represents the last reiteration of the primordial message of God’s
Oneness, a theme found in earlier monotheistic religious traditions. And
in this meaning Islam is the religion of all the Prophets with which God
sent them for the guidance of His servants.
Though Islam can be described as a religion, it is viewed by its adherents
in much broader terms. Beyond belief in specific doctrines and performance
of important ritual acts, Islam is practiced as a complete and
natural way of life, designed to bring God into the center of one’s consciousness,
and thus one’s life. Essentially, by definition Islam is a worldview
focused on belief in the One God and commitment to His commandments.
Islam is the way of Universal Peace and Harmony. If we look around,
we see that everything including the Sun, the Moon and the Stars, the high
hills and the mighty oceans are obeying a law (the law of Allah) we find no
disorder or chaos in them. Have we ever noticed any violation of the law
of Allah by these objects of nature? Of course not. Then, why? Simply,
because they are made to obey Allah. They have no choice but to obey.
Allah has given us the knowledge and will to choose between right and
wrong. He has also sent messengers and books for our guidance.
Therefore we can summarize Islam as;
a) Islam is an Arabic word which means submission and obedience.
b) Islam is a complete way of life. It is the guidance provided by Allah,
the Creator of the universe for all mankind.
c) Islam is the way of universal peace and harmony.
d) Islam is the message of all the prophets and messengers from
Adam (peace be upon him) to Muhammad (pbuh). They asked people to
obey Allah and none other. This message sent through prophets was
completed at the time of Muhammad (pbuh) who was the last of the
chain of prophethood.
The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) transmitted Islam from Allah to
Human-Being by Qur’an.
e) Islam is the Primordial Religion that based on Divine Unity.
f) Islam is the Universal Religion of brotherhood and solidarity and the
Religion of an ideal Social Order.
g) Islam is way to perfection for man from past to future. It shows us
the best way to conduct our private, social, political, economic, moral and
spiritual affairs of life.
@TheHalalMedia
