What is Islam?

Islam is an Arabic term that “submission to Allah’s will.”. Religion Islam is the whole, complete and universal religion. It is the second-largest religion in the world after Christianity. The followers of Islam are called Muslims. Islam gives us the education of peace, love and  brotherhood. Our religion has described the rights for every Muslim even for non Muslim and minorities also because if believes in justice and dignity.

Allah revealed Islamic teachings (Wahi) to the beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Angel Jibril عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ was used to bring all those teachings to him. These teachings increased and flourished Islam throughout the world. Islam is the religion of peace, love, caring, sharing and aligned with human nature.

True meaning of Islam

It all starts with a belief. What is belief?

Accepting the existence of something/someone in its right/correct form without objection or proof is what belief entails. In conclusion, belief is a mental attitude in which a person perceives something to be true and accepts it or rejects it as false and rejects it. In the existence of belief, there is no in-between or middle situation.

If a person believes in Allah and accepts Him as the one and only divinely God by heart, he becomes a Muslim. But if a person counterfeits it by believing in the existence of many Gods, then he is said to be a disbeliever. It is a belief that (Allah) God has created the universe in six days then it is obligated for a Muslim to believe or have faith in it.

Allah, the Creator of the Heavens and the earth in six days is your Guardian-Lord
is firmly established on the throne.

 Surah Al-ayraf 53-54

When a person makes testimony (shahada) by reciting the first Kalimah (the word of purity) he becomes a Muslim. This Kalimah serves as the backbone of a Muslim’s belief. No one has seen Allah, but by reciting Kalimah Tayyaba,you have accepted or have faith in the existence of Allah without any proof. That is called a belief or should I say Iman.

What is Iman in Islam?

Iman is an Arabic word, and the letters A-M-N are frequently used in Quran for describing safety, faith, and trustworthiness. Iman means calmness, belief, trust, peace of mind, and everything in Islam. Without Iman, a Muslim cannot thrive standing as it clears your views regarding righteous and falsehood (Haq-o-Batil).

A Muslim who has complete submission to the Will of Allah and has strong faith/Iman established in his heartis called Mumin (Believer or faithful Muslim). Quran describes Imans a conviction based upon reasoning and knowledge that comes from full mental awareness, intellectual satisfaction, and acceptance by heart.

Allah is the Protecting Guardian of those who believe. He brings them into light out of darkness. As for those who disbelieve, their patrons are false deities (Evils). They bring them out of light into darkness. Such are rightful owners of the Fire of Hell. They will abide therein forever.

Surah Al-Baqarah 257

 Components of Iman

Iman consists of five within components that a Muslim is obligated to have faith in belief in their original context. They are usually called the pillars of Faith These are the key elements that provide a fundamental basis to a Muslim’s Iman. Denying any single pillar means denying the whole Iman The five pillars are:

1. Belief in Allah
2. Belief in his Angels (Malaika)
3. Belief in his books
4. Belief in his Prophets
5. Belief in the Day of Judgment

Belief in Allah: 

Muslims believe in the oneness of Allah (The divinely God) and that there is no God except Allah, and He is the creator of everything.

Belief in his Angels:

Angels (Malaika) serve and follow the orders of Allah. Allah has chosen some of the angles for particularly important duties as well. Hazrat Jibrael عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ delivered Allah’s message (Wahi) to his prophets on earth. Angels are countless, invisible, and made of light (Nur).

Four major angels and their duties are below:

1. Jibril (AS):  Jibrael عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ is the head of all angels, known as Gabriel in Christianity. He brings the revelation, the message of God to the prophets.
2. Mika’il (AS): Mika’il عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ is responsible for providing rain on the earth, which waters land and provides food for people.
3. Izrāʾīl (AS): Izrāʾīl عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ is the angel of death who separates souls from their bodies. He is known as the Angle of death.
4. Israfil (AS): Israfil عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ is responsible for blowing the trumpet to signal Qiyamah (the day of judgment) in Islam.

Belief in his books:

The third belief is to believe in the books of Allah that he has sent to his messengers at different intervals of time. Muslims believe in all Islamic books and follow Quran for guidance by implementing Islamic practices in everyday life.

1. Torah: Allah revealed to Prophet Musa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).
2. Injeel: Allah revealed to Prophet Isa (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).
3. Zaboor: Allah revealed to Prophet Dawood (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).
4. Quran: Allah revealed to the beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Belief in Prophets:

The fourth belief comprises believing in all prophets and messengers sent by Allah from Hazrat Adam عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ to the last prophet Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ. The process of Nabuwah ends on Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ. The number of prophets mentioned in the Quran is around 1,24000 but Allah knows the best about it.

Belief on the Day of Judgment:

Muslims believe that humans will be judged for their actions in this life on the Day of Judgment, with those who followed God’s guidance being rewarded with paradise and those who rejected God’s guidance being punished with hell. Al-Qiyamah is an Arabic term for the Day of Judgment.

Pillars of Islam

Muslims have some obligations to perform fundamental practices in Islam to worship Allah throughout their lifetime, and the purpose of these practices is to remind humans that Allah is our solely divine God. These are the pillars of Islam.

1. Salah
2. Sawm (Fasting)
3. Zakat
4. Hajj
5. Jehad

Shahadah (Oath to God)

The first pillar of Islam is Shahadah (Oath to God). The Shahadah is the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of Allah and acceptance of Muhammad ﷺ as His last beloved prophet.

Salah (Prayer)

it means prayers. To pray five times a day starting from dawn (Fajr), noon (Zuhr), mid-afternoon (Asr), sunset (Maghrib), and evening (Ishaa).

Zakat (Charity)

The third pillar of Islam is Zakat (Charity) means to help the neediest members of the community. It is a certain amount of fixed proportion of a person’s valuables or 2.5% of his total net worth.

Sawm (Fasting)

The fourth pillar is fasting in Ramzan. Sawm is an Arabic term for fasting. It gives us the lesson of self-control, patience and equality. Muslims celebrate a three days festival called Eid ul Fitr after Ramadan.

Hajj (pilgrimage)

Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to the Kaaba, or “House of God,” in the sacred city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Along with Shahadah (oath to God), Salat (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), and Sawm,(fasting of Ramadan) it is one of Islam’s Five Pillars.