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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Islam

What is Islam?



Islam is a religion which is sent by the creator of this universe ALLAH through his selected messengers. It guides its followers in every aspect of their lives. It is a way of life.

Islam is the modern version of the message sent by Allah the Almighty through Adam, Noah, Ibrahim, Moosa and Isa. Islam was perfected to mankind through the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wasallam (peace be upon him).
Islam is a religion which seeks to give a meaningful purpose to life of both human beings and Jins. It seeks to guide us in fulfilling that purpose by creating harmony between ourselves, our Creator and fellow human beings.

Islam presents a complete code for life on earth and its message extends to the eternity.

Islam teaches the mankind what should be the goal of life here and warns the people of a life hereafter which is more important than the present life.

Islam is a system for all people, whatever race or background they might be. That is why Islamic civilization is based on a unity which stands completely against any racial or ethnic discrimination. Such major racial and ethnic groups as the Arabs, Persians, Turks, Africans, Indians, Chinese and Malays in addition to numerous smaller units embraced Islam and contributed to the spread of Islam.

It tries to inculcate in the mind of each man and woman a feeling of belongingness wherever in the universe he /she may be. Islam breaks the shell of narrow nationalism and tribalism and calls for a universal brotherhood which is exemplified by the pilgrims at the time of Hajj to Makkah, the holiest city on earth. The sense of brotherhood and sisterhood was so much emphasized that it overcame all local attachments to a particular tribe, race, or language, all of which became subservient to the universal brotherhood.

Once one enters into Islam he becomes a person with a vast and deep outlook about the life. He is not moved by the momentary joys or by passing sorrows. The pains that he undergoes, he believes, are destined by Allah, the Almighty even before the creation of the whole universe. So he is not bothered about the dark side of the present life. But all that matters is his life hereafter. Anything that hinders his spiritual progress makes him worry.

But this does not mean that a Muslim should keep abstinent from the whole joys of present life. The Holy Qur'an itself has clarified the importance of the life here. While explaining an exemplary Muslim it stated that a Muslim is one who prays
O Allah give us the good here and the good hereafter. (Qur'an)

Islam very strongly emphasizes on the rights and duties which people have over each other. It seeks to preserve peace in society by training and urging its followers to fulfill the rights of each other. In Islam, salvation is not possible by just fulfilling the rights of God; one has to fulfill the rights of other human beings also.

The One & Only God
Islam is a monotheistic religion. It teaches that there is only one God who is the creator of the universe. This is the foundation of Islam, and is reflected in the famous testimony which says لا اله الا الله محمد رسول الله (LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAH, MUHAMMADUN RASOOLULLAH) (There is no god but Allah And Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is the messenger of Allah.

The belief in ALLAH relates us to our CREATOR and guides us throughout our life. The belief in one God shows that man should not worship any material/spiritual thing or person in this universe.

By teaching that there is only One God for all humans, Islam promotes the sense of brotherhood and equality in human society--all are equally related to God in the same way. The Qur'an, the last message of ALLAH says:

قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (١) ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ (٢) لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ (٣) وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُ ۥ ڪُفُوًا أَحَدُۢ (٤)


Say He (ALLAH) is One,

ALLAH is Eternal;

He has neither begotten,

nor has He been begotten;

and there is no one equal to Him.

(Chapter 112)


The Purpose of Life

Our life on this earth has a specific purpose; it is not the result of nature's accident, nor is it a punishment for eating the fruit of the forbidden tree. We are here according to God's plan. The worldly life is a test; it is a chance to prove ourselves as deserving of the eternal blissful life hereafter. God did not create us just for few years of this life. To be created just for this world's life would amount to a joke played by the Creator with the human species.

According to Islam, the final destination of mankind is the life hereafter. At the end of time, all human beings will be resurrected and will be held accountable for their worldly life. The life hereafter will be an eternal life. However, whether it will be blissful or full of sorrow depends on how we spend our present life.

It was to help mankind in achieving this objective that ALLAH sent various prophets and messengers to guide them. Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wasallam is the last prophet, and Islam is the final and complete version of Allah's message.

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