Islam means to achieve peace – peace with God, peace within oneself, and peace with the creations of God – through wholly submitting oneself to God and accepting His guidance. The Quran instituted the name Islam, the sacred scripture revealed to Muhammad. Faith means that you have faith in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day and that you have faith in the measuring out, both good and evil. Faith always leads a man to a life of obedience and submission to the Will of Allah. Allah says:
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
“Remember your Lord in yourselves with humility and in private without announcing it in the mornings and evenings, and do not be among the heedless.” (Surah Al-A’raf 7:205)
Happiness, tranquillity and inner peace can be achieved by converting to Islam. At the core of Islam is the focus on an individual’s relationship with God, their Creator. Islam gives a person a clear perspective on the events that happen in their life, both good and bad, as they are, in fact, tests from God. Islam encourages the believer to remain free from the extremes of worldly happiness that may cause one to forget God and the extremes of sadness that may cause one to lose hope and blame God. Allah says:
اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ
“Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Verily, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, but the remembrance of Allah is greater.” (Al-Ankabut 29:45)
The Key to understanding Islam combines the insightful, knowledgeable eye of the scholar with the empathy of a socially conscious researcher. The result is an informative, compelling narrative that treats the essentials of Muslim worship, as well as the Islamic interpretation of astrophysics, with equal clarity and balance. Islam encourages a person to understand events in the context of the overall purpose of life, which is to acknowledge God and obey Him.
The key to understanding Islam, here are some evidence for the Truth of Islam:
- Islam in Arabic means “peace,” “security,” and “surrender.”
- Islam regards human beings are pure and good
- Islam gives equal treatment to other religions
- Islam accepts personal morality and values
- Islam teaches one should not harm others
- Islam emphasizes both evidence and faith
- Islam stresses being kind to one’s parents
- Islam understands the Majesty of Allah
- Islam teaches us about good and bad
- Islam has a positive outlook on life
- Islam is an easy concept to beliefs
- Islam promotes all human resources
- Islam is to develop a peaceful society
- Islam is a religion based on clear proof
- Islam teaches a true living an Islamic life
- Islam has a pure and clear concept of God
- Islam is a practical and balanced way of life
- Islam teaches us to live in peace and harmony
- Islam has a close relationship with the Creator
- Islam has tolerant of other religions and regards
The Quran is the basic law that outlines the details of a Muslim’s life. In it, we find mention of political, social, economic, moral and other aspects. God does not call people to do evil, mischief or commit wrongdoings. We need to discover Islam in its purity, entirety and from its authentic sources. Islam is to submit to Allah in His Oneness to be subservient to Him in obedience and to shun associating any partners, rivals, and intercessors with Him. It is a religion of tolerance and ease.
Basic Muslim Teachings and Practices:
Five Pillars of Islam
- FAITH: There is no god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His messenger. This declaration of faith is called the Shahada, a simple formula that all the faithful pronounce.
- PRAYER: Salat is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God.
A translation of the Call to Prayer is:
4× الله اكبر
(اللہ سب سے بڑا ہے)-(Allah u Akbar): (God is The Greatest)
2× اشهد ان لا اله الا الله
(میں گواہی دیتا ہوں کہ کوئی خدا نہیں سوائے ایک اللہ کے)-(Ash-hadu alla ilaha illallah):(I bear witness that there is no gods except one God)
2× اشهد ان محمدا رسول الله
(میں گواہی دیتا ہوں کہ محمد اللہ کے رسول ہیں)-(Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah): (I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God)
2× حي على الصلاة
(نماز کی طرف جلدی کرو)-(Hayya ‘alas-salat): (Make haste towards prayer)
2× حي على الفلاح
(کامیابی کی طرف جلدی آؤ)-(Hayya ‘alal-falah): (Make haste towards welfare [success])
2× الله اكبر
(اللہ سب سے بڑا ہے)-(Allah u Akbar): (God is The Greatest)
1× لا اله الا الله
(نہیں کوئی خدا سوائے ایک اللہ کے)-(La ilaha illallah): (There is no gods except one God)
3. THE ZAKAT: One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word zakat means both ‘purification’ and ‘growth’.
4. THE FAST: Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations.
5. PILGRIMAGE (Hajj): The annual pilgrimage to Makkah – the Hajj – is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to perform it.
Faith in Allah enables humans to be thankful for the blessings they enjoy and to be patient in times of difficulty, for they believe that nothing can happen without His will. Faith in Allah means that when we hear a command, we obey it. We recognize that we are limited and that Allah has no limits. A true Muslim man is characterized by a balance of all of the virtues taught by Islam. Hence it becomes very important for a Muslim to take steps not only to preserve his faith but also to increase it. Islam is a religion in which faith is based on clear proof. Allah says:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْكَبِيرُ
“Verily, those who had faith and had done righteous deeds will have gardens beneath which rivers flow. That is a great achievement.” (Surah Al-Buruj 85:11)
The Quran explains that Islam is a faith that lays down a complete way of life. It also comprises a complete system of verbal and practical acts of worship. God loves the people who love Him and forgives their sins. A Muslim believes in all the Messengers and Prophets of God without any discrimination. Every letter in the Quran is the word of God, and every sound in it is the true echo of God’s voice. The Quran is the First and most authentic Source of Islam.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “Only the saying, “Peace! ” (Al-Waqia, 26)
- “Truly Allah loves the Muttaqin.” (Quran, 3:76)
- “Enter ye here in peace and security.” (Al-Hijr, 46)
- “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)
- “Truly, in remembering God do hearts find rest.” (Quran 13:28)
- “Have taqwa of Allah so that you might succeed.” (Quran, 3:200)
The Quran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran, the last revealed Word of God, is the prime source of every Muslim’s faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, and law, but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At the same time, it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and an equitable economic system. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
“O you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance and exalt Him in the morning and evening.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:41)
God creates in humans the mind to understand, the soul and conscience to be good and righteous, and the feelings and sentiments to be kind and humane. If we try to count His favours upon us, we cannot, because they are countless. God does not need anything from us, because He is Needless and Independent. We should pray to Allah Almighty to guide us towards the right path and help us become pious and righteous Muslims. Ameen!
