Tuesday, January 23, 2007

What is Islam?

What is Islam?
By Sheikh Yusuf East, A Prominent US New Muslim.

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of al-‘ālamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam is His Messenger.

Islam means Surrender, Submission, Obedience, Sincerity and Peace.

Islam is an Arabic word and its means ‘peace’ and 'submission'. Peace from the root word Salaam. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: ‘The only 'deen' ['way of Islamic religion' or 'way of life'] approved by Allah is Islam [Submission].

“The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will): Nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account.” [Surah Ali-'Imran 3: 19]

It is submitting to the divine will and guidance of the One Creator Allah [SWT]. Islam connotes total obedience and surrender of the entire creation that obeys the law of Allah. The whole universe, therefore, literally follows the way of Islam.

Man through submission to the divine will and guidance of Allah, finds Peace in His Creator, peace within himself and peace with Allah’s creation.

The definition of Islam is grasped in a Hadith Qudsi, which explains the essence of the ‘divine’ plan. Allah says that He was a hidden treasure and wished to be known thus; He created Man and Jinn purely to worship Him. A clear understanding of this Hadith is the basis for all creation, which is love, obedience and worship of Allah.

Allah is the one God. He has no partner. He is All Powerful, Absolutely Just. He is The First, The Last and The Everlasting, He was when nothing was, and will be when nothing remains. He only grants life and knows what is in the Heavens and the earth. He knows what is in our hearts and listens to the entire creation. He sent all the prophets to guide man to Worship only Him.

Islam is the religion of Allah, which permeates Peace.

Islam simply means Peace.

One who accepts and follows the way of Islam is known as a Muslim. Muslim is an adjective to Islam, which means Peaceful and one who submits to the divine, will and guidance to no other god [ilah] accept Allah.

One of Allah’s name is As – Salaam which means Peace.

A supplication by His creation is Ya – Salaam which affects and enables one to inculcate a character of Peace.

The daily greeting of Muslims and Angels are Peace be upon everyone.

Islam is a religion of Unity, which is in the affirmation of the Oneness of Allah; a Unity, which is a consistent message in the worship of Allah, forms the origin of creation.

Islam enjoys a unique distinction that it is not a product of a human mind. It’s message and meaning, that whosoever submits to the One Creator and follows the divine order of creation, recognizing and submitting to His guidance and divine will, are Muslims. It’s a way from the beginning of creation to the end of the divine plan.

Islam is the natural religion of man, the way of nature; it is not an associate with any one person, people, period or place. All Allah knowing and truth loving Men have believed and lived this religion. They were all Muslims as all the prophets from Adam to Nuh to Ibrahim to Musa to Essa to Muhammad on all be Peace were Muslims.

All of mankind, like all creatures are born Muslims and invariably obey the injunctions of Allah and Men is further bound as everything in creation to remain as a Muslim.

And Allāh Almighty Knows best.

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