What is Islam

Posted by Jawed Iqbal on March 31st, 2018

What is Islam?

Islam is the name of a religion. And Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ is the Prophet of Islam. The followers of this religion are called Muslims.  Islam says there is one and only God Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. He is from ever and forever without any beginning or end. There is no partner to him. Everything depends on Him. He has no father and has no son or daughter. There is none like unto Him. The Prophet of Islam, the beloved Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ came to propagate the same message which was brought and propagated by every other prophet came before him. And what was that message? It was the oneness of our creator Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ without associating any partner with Him.

The beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَis the last Prophet and there is no Prophet after him till the Day of Judgment. He is the most exalted and sublime among all the Prophets in the sight of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. And now everyone has to follow him as a Prophet. Ever since he announced his Prophethood in this world everyone is obliged to follow him as a Prophet in order to earn the pleasure of Almighty Allah. Anyone who wants to know the Great Lord and obey him he has to follow this religion. And the Creator will grant him eternal abode in Paradise. On the other hand, anyone who distracts from this straight path of Lord and chooses other religion he will be thrown into the hellfire forever.

Let’s learn the basics of Islam.

If you take Islam as a building, metaphorically, then it is standing on five pillars i.e. Shadah (The Declaration of Faith), Salah (prayer), Saum (fasting), Zakah (paying alms) and Hajj (pilgrimage). Let’s have a brief introduction of these.

1. The Declaration of Faith – It means to pronounce the faith with the conviction of heart. A new Muslim declares this by expressing his belief in the oneness of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and Prophethood of Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ. The following Arabic sentence is uttered for this purpose, “لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللَّه” i.e. “There is no true God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of Allah.”

2. Prayer – Muslims perform five obligatory prayers each day. These prayers are very important in a Muslim’s life. If a Muslim is regular in his prayers they strengthen his faith in and his connection with Almighty Allah.

3. Zakat – It means to give alms to the needy people. It is not obligatory for every Muslim. Giving alms is mandatory only when some certain conditions are found.

4. Fasting – Every year in the Islamic lunar month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. The fast is another method of self-purification.

5. Pilgrimage – A pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, is also an obligation. But not for every Muslim. Like zakat, it is an obligation only when some certain conditions are met.

At the end let’s read some characteristics of Islam which make it a unique and most beneficial to all other religions.

What Makes Islam Different from Other Religions?

• Islam is a universal and timeless message.
• It is not a man-made religion. It has been given to humanity By the Creator Himself.
• It ensures the success of its followers in Hereafter.
• Islam is a source of peace of heart and mind for the confused humanity.
• It is a complete manual which guides humanity in every stage of life.

May Almighty Allah keep us on the straight path and enable us to follow the way of His beloved Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ!