WHAT IS ISLAM?

Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim

Assalam alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatu

What is Islam anyway?

Islam is not a new religion, it has existed for ages all the way back to the first prophet Adam (AS). He was a Muslim and all the prophets that came after him. But how is that? Many have the misconception that Islam started 14 centuries ago and it was a religion that came with our beloved Muhammad (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) but no it was the religion of all the prophets of Allah that has existed since man first set foot on earth.

To understand better let’s first look at what the term Islam is. The word Islam means to “surrender” or “submit” to the will of God- Allah. It is strictly a monotheism religion since it restricts worship to the one supreme Lord who is the creator of the universe. Peace, or in Arabic Salam is the original root from which the word Islam is derived from, is attained through complete obedience to the commandments of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). Hence, all prophets of Allah submitted their will to God and abided by the laws which they had to follow. Islam teaches that Allah is the source of all creation and that human beings are the best of His creation, we have the Angels who we believe are created from light (nur) and the Jinns created from smokeless fire but Allah sees us as His best creation, the creation that was made from dust. Subhana Allah!!

When Allah sent different prophets to different regions across the globe, He inspired them towards goodness and then sent them to deliver the message to us, to guide humanity. And who are Muslims? Muslims are those who believe in One Unique Incomparable God and the chain of prophets starting from Adam (AS) to Muhammad as the final Messenger of Allah, believe in all the Holy books sent by Allah, believe in the Angels created by Him, in the Day of Judgment and that every individual is accountable for their actions. In God’s complete authority over human destiny and in life after death. They, Muslims devote their lives and submit to the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. And all the prophets believed in One God spreading and delivering what was taught to them to submit to only One God thus we know from Adam (AS) to Muhammad (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) were all Muslims. Allah says in Surah Al-Imran (Q3:84-85) “Say: ‘We believe in God, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord: we make no distinction between one and another among them, and to God do we bow our will (in Islam)’. If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good) “. And in Surah Al-Hajj (Q22:78) Allah says, “…He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on your religion; it is the religion of your father Abraham. It is He Who named you Muslims, both before and after in his (Revelation)…”

The word Islam and Muslim came to be clear when Allah was revealing His final word, the perfected religion to the last Prophet who was called Muhammad (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him). Born in Makkah he was known to be very truthful and honest even before his prophet hood. He was pious and detested the moral decadence of his society and at the age of 40, Allah proclaimed to him through arch Angel Jibreel about Islam and the Qur’an was Allah’s message to humanity. It deals with issues that affect human beings in their earthly lives, like piety, wisdom, upright human conduct, worship, law- the creation of a just and virtuous society and the practice of ethics even an equitable economic system. But the Holy Qur’an which contains 114 chapters wasn’t delivered at once but in bits for a period of 23years. And after 14 centuries the Qur’an is pure as Allah promised to take responsibility of protecting His final word from corruption unlike the previous books have been corrupted. He said in Surah Al-Hijr (Q15:9) “Verily I have revealed the Reminder (Qur’an), and verily I shall preserve it.” Thus the Qur’an has been preserved in both oral as well as written form in a way no other religious book in history has. No one word has changed over the centuries. Apart from the Qur’an, the second source of authority is Sunnah, the practice and example of the prophet together with Ahadeeth which is a reliable transmitted report of what the prophet said, did or approved.

1.9 Billion Muslims and still growing, from different vast range of races, nationalities and cultures from all over the world; from the southern Philippines to Nigeria are united by their common Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world. The largest Muslim community is in Indonesia, substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslims, while significant minorities are to be found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America and Europe. Among the reasons of the rapid spread of Islam is the simplicity of its doctrine, it calls for faith in only One God worthy of worship.

And Allah says in Surah Al-Maida (Q5:3), “…This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” When Allah sent our beloved prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) as His last messenger, it implies that He must have sent him with complete guidance, and clear proof, for all humanity for all times till the Last Day. Surah Al-Ahzab (Q33:40), “Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of God, and the Seal of the Prophets: and God has full knowledge of All Things.”

May Allah show us the straight path, the way of those on whom He has bestow His Grace, those whose Wrath is not upon, and who do not go astray.

And Allah knows best.