A Muslim believes in ONE GOD, Supreme and Eternal, Infinite and Mighty, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider. God has no father or mother, no son or daughter. Islam is not a mere ideological vision. Islam is a practical system of life that fully appreciates all the genuine needs of humankind and tries to realize them. Islam is the original religion that gives Muslims peace of mind and requires us to submit to the will of God. Allah says:
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا ۚ فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. Adhere to the nature of Allah upon which He has created all people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most people do not know.” (Surah Ar-Rum 30:30)
Islam affects the perfect balance between all areas of life and activity. It starts with the individual maintaining a balance between the requirements of body and soul, reason and spirit and in no case allows one side to dominate the other. It does not suppress the human instincts to make the soul ascend the higher planes, nor does it allow man, in his efforts to fulfil his bodily desires, to stoop down to the low level of animalism and hedonism. Allah says:
وَقَالَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ آمِنُوا بِالَّذِي أُنزِلَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَجْهَ النَّهَارِ وَاكْفُرُوا آخِرَهُ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
“A faction of the People of the Book say to each other: Belief in that which was revealed to the believers at the beginning of the day and reject it at its end that perhaps they will abandon their religion.” (Surah Al Imran 3:72)
Islam was revealed to the world as the ordained system of life, at a time when men attached no particular importance to economic factors, nor did they know anything about social justice in the sense we know it in modern times. Islam is not a mere ideological vision. It is a practical system of life that fully appreciates all the genuine needs of humankind and tries to realize them.
Here are some reasons, people choose Islam over other religions:
- Islam starts with the individual maintaining a balance
- Islam effects perfect balance between all areas of life
- Islam does not force a person to choose any religion
- Islam declares a person born with a clean slate
- Islamic belief is life has purpose and meaning
- Islam meet the genuine requirements of man
- Islam teaches one should not harm others
- Islam does not suppress human instincts
- Islam allows a person to truly God’s love
- Islam gives a solution to every problem
- Islam teaches that ultimately be judged
- Islam itself is an inherently inner peace
- Islam does not divide the soul and life
- Islam teaches us about good and bad
- Islam is the future of the world
- Islam trend to a believer in God
- Islam establishes a social order
- Islam views inter-religious dialogue
- Islam is to develop a peaceful society
- Islam gives a person a clear perspective
- Islam’s five daily prayers enrich the soul
- Islam emphasizes both evidence and faith
- Islam teaches that God is the Most Justice
- Islam accepts personal morality and values
- Islam always forbid to attack other religions
- Islam respects all human being’s innocence
- Islam gives equal treatment to other religions
- Islam has accountability and ultimate Justice
- Islam is tolerant of other religions and regards
- Islam sense us that everything is designed and made
In the social sphere, it proceeds to achieve equilibrium between the needs of the individual and those of the community. It does not allow an individual to transgress against other individuals or the community. Nor does it allow the community to commit transgression against individuals. Islam exercises a beneficent constraint on all these mutually opposing forces, prevents them from coming into collision with one another, and harnesses. Allah says:
فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّي لَا أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ ۖ بَعْضُكُم مِّن بَعْضٍ
“Their Lord responded to them: Never will I cause to be lost the deeds of any among you, whether male or female; you are of one another.” (Surat Al Imran 3:195)
Islam has an altogether independent existence of its own as a social philosophy and an economic system. Islam guarantees personal freedom and provides opportunities for individual enterprise, but not at the cost of society or ideals of social justice. Islam alone can help humankind shake off these chains. Islam is opposed to imperialism and all forms of exploitation. Allah says:
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُوا مُسْلِمِينَ
“(Being) those who have believed in Our Signs and bowed (their wills to Ours) in Islam.” (Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:69)
Islam harmonizes the individuals and the State in such a way that individuals have the freedom necessary to develop their potentialities and not to encroach upon the rights of their fellowmen. It
also gives the community and the State adequate powers to regulate and control the socio-economic relationships to guard and maintain this harmony in human life. Allah says:
وَلَا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّوا اللَّهَ عَدْوًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ
“Do not curse those they invoke besides Allah, lest they insult Allah in hostility without knowledge.” (Surah Al-An’am 6:108)
Considering the existing state of affairs in the contemporary world, humankind cannot reasonably afford to turn its back upon Islam or reject its system of life. Humankind is still afflicted with the most savage and odious forms of racial prejudices. Surely, the world in the twentieth century has yet a great deal to learn from Islam.
Islam is a religion of peace, Allah states the following in verses:
- “Truly Allah loves the Muttaqin.“(Quran, 3:76)
- “Truly the religion with Allah is Islam.” (Quran: 3:19)
- “Guidance for those conscious of Allah.” (Quran, 2:2)
- “Then We will save the ones who had taqwa.“ (Quran, 19:72)
- “It describes reconciliation as the best policy.” (Quran: 4:128)
- “Have taqwa of Allah so that you might succeed.” (Quran, 3:200)
- “And whoever fears Allah, He will make for his ease in his matter.” (Quran, 65:4)
- “O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah.” (Quran: 7:158)
- “Do not despair of God’s mercy; He will forgive you of all your sins.” (Quran 39:53)
- “It is He (Allah) who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the believers.” (Quran, 48:4)
- “O you who believe! If you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion (furqan).” (Quran, 8:29)
- “No reward I ask you for this (the Quran). It is only a reminder for the world.” (Quran: 6:90)
Islam is a religion in which faith is based on clear proof. Long ago, Islam freed humanity from all racial prejudices. It did not content itself with the presentation of a beautiful vision of equality alone, but it achieved in practice an unprecedented state of equality between all people, black, white or yellow, declaring that none enjoyed any superiority over the others except in virtue and piety. Allah says:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ ۖ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ
“All praise is due to Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and made darkness and light. Yet those who disbelieve claim equals (ya’dilun) with their Lord.” (Surat al-An’am 6:1)
Islam strikes a balance between the two extremes of Capitalism and Socialism. Being appreciative of their role, Islam harmonizes the individuals and the State in such a way that individuals have the freedom necessary to develop their potentialities and not to encroach upon the rights of their fellowmen. Allah says:
وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ
“The truth is from your Lord. So whoever will let him believe, and whoever will let him disbelieve.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:29)
Islam is the reciprocity of love between individuals and groups; it is not erected based on hatred and class conflict. Nor can such a religion ever become obsolete, as its objectives are the same as those of life itself and therefore, destined to live on so long as there is life on this planet. The basis of this whole structure as visualized by Islam is the reciprocity of love between individuals and groups. Allah says:
وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا
“The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say words of peace.” (Surat al-Furqan 25:63)
Islam has such laws and principles, that is comprehensive and includes the complete human existence, emotions, thoughts, actions, worship, economic dealings, social relationships, instructive urges and spiritual aspirations – all arranged in the framework of a single harmonious but unique system of life, can never lose its usefulness for mankind. Nor can such a religion ever become obsolete, as its objectives are the same as those of life itself and therefore, destined to live on so long as there is life on this planet. Allah says:
ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَىٰ شَرِيعَةٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“Thus, We have ordained a law (shari’ah) upon you in the matter, so follow it and do not follow the whims of those who know not.” (Surat al-Jathiyah 45:18)
Finally, the world with the shadows of war still hanging over it cannot but turn towards Islam – the only way to establish and maintain real peace on this earth. The era of Islam has in a way just started, not ended; it is not a spent force, but a living dynamic force, its future is as bright as its great historical past is glorious, when it illumined the face of the earth at a time when Europe was still groping its way in the dark recesses of Medievalism. We should pray to Allah Almighty to guide us towards the right path and help us become pious and righteous Muslims. Ameen!
