Islam- The Ultimate & True Religion

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful

"Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth; In the alternation of the night and the day; In the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind; In the rain which Allah sends down from the skies and the life He gives therewith to an earth that is dead; In the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the earth; In the change of the winds and the clouds which they trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth; (Here) indeed are the signs for a people that are wise". (Holy Quran 2:164)

Praise be to Allah (Subhanahu wa-Ta'ala) the Almighty, the Creator and Sustainer of the worlds (universe). I bear witness that there is no God but He (Allah), and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sall-Allah u alaihi wa sallam- Peace be upon him) is his servant and messenger (and prophet). I believe in Allah, his angels, his books, his prophets, the day of judgement, resurrection after death, and fate- good and evil. I pray to Allah for guidance and to keep me on the right path. I am grateful to Allah for granting me the good fortune to have been born a muslim.

Introduction

The word Islam is derived from an Arabic root word which means, among other things, peace, purity, submission and obedience. In the religious sense the word Islam means submission to the Will of Allah and obedience to His Law.

In a very short summary, Islam has five fundamental pillars:

1. Shahadah (Testimony)

This is the most important pillar of Islam, without which one's faith would not be complete. Every  muslim (a believer, one who follows Islam) has to bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad (PBUH- peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah.

2. Salaah (Prayer)

Every muslim is required to pray five times everyday, at their ordained times, in the same manner as instructed by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

3. Zakaah (Poor-due or Giving alms)

Every muslim with the means to do so, must pay zakaah which is a fixed percentage of savings and earning in alms to the poor, every year.

4. Saum (Fasting)

Every healthy muslim is required to fast in the month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Arabic Hijrah calendar). The fast starts everyday early at dawn and is to be broken at sunset.

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Every muslim with the means to do so, must perfrom pilgrimage to the Holy city of Makkah Al-Mukarramah at least once in his/her lifetime. The Hajj occurs every year in the the second week of Dhul-Hijjah (the 12th month of the Arabic Hijrah calendar).

Aside from these five basic pillars, all muslims are required to encourage each other to perform righteous deeds and to stay away from sinning.

Forbidden for muslims, are drinking intoxicants (wine, alcohol, etc), gambling, eating pork, eating the meat of an animal which was not sacrificed in Allah's name (not sacrificed the Halal way), eating an animal which was gored to death, taking or giving interest (from banks or loans), bribery, sorcery, lying, killing another person, stealing, fornication and adultery and all other forms of sin and injustice.

Da'wah or inviting people from other religions to embrace Islam is also a part of faith, but it is not something that has to be done by force.

The Holy Qur'an is the book revealed by Allah to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was the last Prophet sent by Allah, and the Qur'an is Allah's last book of guidance which will continue to guide mankind and jinns till the day of Qayamah (the day of judgement). The Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet in his lifetime about 1400 years ago, and it still exists in its original form and will stay this way until the end of the world. This is Allah's promise, and verily Allah has power over all things.

Aside from the Qur'an, a muslim has to follow the teachings of the Prophet and try to model his/her life based on the way Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did. The Hadith (the sayings and teachings of the Prophet) and the Sunnah (his traditions) serve as a guideline.

Islam is a religion of peace, and contrary to what many people suggest, it does not order or encourage violence, terrorism or injustice.  

Conclusion

I have tried to give a very brief idea about Islam, and I have avoided going into details because I am neither a religious scholar nor an authority on religion. I pray to Allah that in writing this, I have not misinterpreted or become the source for somebody's misguidance, and I seek His Mercy, Blessings and Forgiveness. Aameen!!

All praise be to Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds (universe).

Your brother in Islam,

- Ajwad Ansari

For more details on Islam, I suggest you check out the Islam links on my Links Page.

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