What is Islam?

Islam and Muslims

Islam is an Arabic word which means total submission to God, peace,
purity, acceptance and commitment. As a religion, Islam calls for
complete acceptance of the teachings and guidance of God. A Muslim is
one who freely and willingly accepts the supreme power of God and
strives to organize his life in total accord with the teachings of God.
He also works for building social institutions which reflect the
guidance of God. "Muhammadanism" is a misnomer for Islam and offends
its very spirit since the Prophet Muhammad was a messenger of God, and
not a divine being worshipped by Muslims. Muslims use the word "Allah"
for the English word "God". The understanding of Deity in Islam differs
from some of the connotations in the English word, God. For the
convenience of English speaking readers, the word God is used in this
brochure except when the word "Allah" is in the quotations from the
Qur'an.

Continuity of The Message
Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and
guidance which God revealed to all His previous messengers. "Say: We
believe in Allah and that which was revealed to us, and that which was
revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and
that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to the Prophets from their
Lord; We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we
submit". Qur'an 3:83. The message which was revealed to the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) is Islam in its comprehensive, complete
and final form.

The Five Pillars of Islam
Every action done with the awareness that it fulfills the Will of God
is considered an act of worship in Islam. But it is the specific acts
of worship termed the Pillars of Islam which provide the framework of
Muslim spiritual life. These are given below:

1. The DECLARATION OF FAITH. "I bear witness that there is no one
worthy of worship except God (Allah), and that Muhammad is His servant
and messenger." The Prophethood of Muhammad obliges Muslims to follow
his exemplary life in every respect.

2. PRAYERS are prescribed five times a day as a duty towards God.
Prayer strengthens and enlivens belief in God and inspires man to
higher morality. It purifies the heart and controls temptation,
wrong-doing, and evil.

3. FASTING during the month of Ramadan. This means abstention from
food, beverages, and sex from dawn to sunset, and curbing evil
intentions and desires. It teaches love, sincerity, and devotion. It
develops patients, unselfishness, social conscience, and willpower to
bear hardship.

4. ZAKAH is a proportionately fixed contribution collected from the
wealth and earning of the well to do and rich. It is spent on the poor
and needy in particular, and the welfare of the society in general. The
payment of Zakah purifies ones income and wealth and helps to establish
economic balance and social justice in the society.

5. HAJJ, or pilgrimage to the Ka'bah in Makkah, once in a lifetime,
provided one has the means to undertake the journey.

Oneness of God
Islam enjoins faith in the oneness and sovereignty of God, which
creates an awareness of the unity and meaningfulness of the universe
and of man's place in it. This belief frees him from all fears and
superstitions by making him conscious of the presence of the Almighty
God and of man's obligations to Him. But this realization must be
expressed and tested in action. Faith alone is not enough. Belief in
one God requires that we look upon all humanity as one family under the
universal omnipotence of God - the Creator and Nourisher of all. Islam
rejects the idea that there is a "chosen people" making pure intention,
faith in God, and good deeds the only way to heaven. Thus a direct
relationship is established with God, open to all alike, without any
discrimination or intercession.

The Qur'an and Hadith
The Qur'an is the last revealed word of God and the basic source of
Islamic teachings and laws. It deals with a variety of subjects
including the basic beliefs of Islam, morality, worship, knowledge,
wisdom, God-and-man relationships, and relations among human beings.
Comprehensive teachings on which sound systems of social justice,
politics, economics, legislation, jurisprudence, law and international
relations can be built from an important part of the Holy Qur'an.
Though Prophet Muhammad did not receive a formal education, the Qur'an,
as soon as it was revealed to him in the spoken word, was committed to
writing by his secretaries. In this way every word was written down and
preserved during his lifetime by his companions. The original and
complete text of the Qur'an is in Arabic and translations of its
meaning in most known languages are available in major libraries and
bookstores. Hadith, the teachings, sayings and actions of Prophet
Muhammad, accurately reported and collected by his devoted companions,
explain and elaborate the Qur'anic verses.

Concept of Worship
Islam does not teach ritualism. It places great emphasis on intention
and action. To worship God is to love him and to act upon His commands
in every aspect of life, to enjoin goodness and forbid wrong-doing and
oppression, to practice charity and justice and to serve Him by serving
mankind. The Qur'an presents this sublime concept in the following
manner: "It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the East
or West, but righteous is he who believes in Allah and the Last Day and
the Angels and the Scripture and the Prophets; and gives his wealth for
love of Him to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer
and to those who ask, and sets slaves free; and observes proper worship
and pays the Zakah. And those who keep their treaty when they make one,
and the patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress; such
are those who are sincere. Such are the Godfearing". Qur'an 2:177.

Man, A Free Agent
Man is the highest creation of God and he has a free will to make his
own decisions. God has shown him the right path, and the life of
Prophet Muhammad provides a perfect example for achieving success and
salvation. Islam stands for the sanctity of human personality and
confers equal rights on all without distinction of race, nationality or
sex. The law of God set down in the Qur'an and exemplified in the life
of the Prophet is supreme in all cases. It applies equally to the
prince and the pauper, the ruler and the ruled, the saint and the
sinner.

Man's Accountability to God
Man's life is not limited to the short span of earthly existence. On
the day of judgement the entire human race will be resurrected;
everyone will appear before the Almighty God and face the consequences
of his deeds in this life. Thus, life in the Hereafter is a
continuation of the earthly life. Belief in man's accountability to God
gives a sense and meaning to life and differentiates human beings from
animals and inanimate objects. It serves as a reminder against crime,
corruption, immorality, and injustice.

Human Rights
Islam protects all noble values and human rights. Freedom, equality,
justice, and the right to life, liberty, and security of person are of
prime concern in Islamic law. "Whosoever kills a human being for other
than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had
killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as
if he had saved the life of all mankind..." Qur'an 5:32. Islam places
great emphasis on social justice. It opposes all those who exploit,
oppress and deal unjustly with people. " O ye who believe: Be steadfast
witnesses for Allah in equity and let not hatred of any people seduce
you that you deal not justly. Be just; that is nearer to piety". Qur'an
5:8.

Science and Technology
Islam encourages the use of science and the scientific method.
Acquisition of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim, male and
female. In Islam, science and technology should be used for moral ends
and serve all legitimate needs of mankind. Moreover, both are viewed as
yet another means to understand and see the power and glory of God. "He
it is Who created for you all that is in the earth." Qur'an 2:29. "It
is your Lord, the Most Bounteous, Who taught by the pen, taught man
that which he knew not..." Qur'an 96:2- 5. "We shell show them our
Signs on the horizons and within themselves until it will be manifest
unto them that it is the Truth..." Qur'an 41:53.

Islam: The Cure for Modern Ailments
Racism is a major problem in many materially advanced countries.
Prejudice and discrimination against racial groups is common phenomenon
even today. For 1400 years Islam has shown in practice how racism can
be ended. The Islamic social scene, particularly during the Hajj, is a
unique example of the brotherhood of men of all races and nations under
One God. Similarly, the family, the basic unit of civilization has also
become something of a problem in the West. It is in visible decay. The
family system of Islam brings the rights of husband, wife, children,
and relatives into a fine equilibrium. Islam nourishes generosity in
the family and holds it together under the clear Qur'anic laws and
teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Some Misconceptions About Islam
It is unfortunate that some teachings of Islam have been distorted and
misrepresented in the West and the communist world. The main
distortions relate to the status of women, marriage and divorce, jihad
or so-called "holy war", the authenticity of the prophethood of
Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the distinction between the Qur'an
and the Hadith. The accurate teachings of Islam on these matters can be
obtained only from authentic Islamic writings.