Islam
Islam, a name given by Allah to this religion (Quran 5:4), is an Arabic word which literally means obedience and peace. ISLAM is derived from the Arabic root “SALEMA”: peace, purity, submission and obedience. So ‘Islam’ would mean the path of those who are obedient to Allah and who establish peace with Him and His creatures. Its follower are called Muslims.
Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance which Allah revealed to all prophets before Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Allah says in the Qur’ân:
“Say, `We believe in ALLAH and that which has been revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and in that which was given to Moses and Jesus and other Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and to HIM we submit.” (Qur’ân 3-85)
Six main Articles of faith in Islam
- To believe in the Oneness of Allah.
- To believe in all His Angels.
- To believe in all His Books.
- To believe in all His Prophets.
- To believe in the Day of Resurrection.
- To believe in the Decree of Allah
The Five Pillars of Islam (Declaration of the Islamic Faith)
In order to enter into the fold of Islam i.e. to be Muslim, one has to know, believe, accept totally and sincerely apply the five basic principles (Pillars) on which Islam is based: Ibn Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah – Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said: Islam is based on the following five pillars (principles).
- Bearing witness that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
- Observance of Prayer
- Paying Zakat
- Fasting during Ramadhan
- Pilgrimage to the house of Allah.
Why I believe in Islam
Some Books on Islam
- Islam – Peaceful Religion A Lecture by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V, Supreme Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community delivered at the University D’Abomey – C A L AVI Cotonou, Benin, During his successful visit to Ghana, Burkino Faso, Benin and Nigeria
- Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam:
- Essence of Islam: [ Vol. 1 ] [ Vol. 2 ] [ Vol. 3 (pdf) ] [ Vol. 4 (pdf) ] [ Vol. 5 (pdf) ]
- An Elementary Study of Islam
- Message of Islam
- Islam my religion
- Synopsis of Religious Preaching Part II: [ Islam (1) ] [ Islam (2) ]
- Muhammad in the Bible
- The Philosophy of Revival of Religion
- Victory of Prayer over prejudice
- Punishment of Apostacy in Islam
- Islam – Its Meaning for Modern Man (pdf)
- Why Islam is my choice? – Personal accounts of spiritual journeys (pdf)
- Short Stories of American Converts to Islam (pdf)
- Philosophy of Punishment in Islam
- More:
Categories: ISLAM
Beautiful definition of Islam and quite agree on it. Possible if a definition is published, WHAT IS DEFINATION OF MUSLIM, It is because I see so many definitions of Muslim in my country Pakistan.Thanks
Brief description of Momin, Muslim, Munafiq, Kaafir and Murtadd is given below. It may not be the best answer:
1. Momin is the one who has got the message and accepts it; and he/she recites the Kalimah and believes in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers and the judgement of the last day..
2. Muslim is a one who is a Momin i.e. a believer as described above and in addition, he/she prays five times a day and pays Zakaat and fasts in the month of Ramadhan and performs Hajj (if possible, in life time).
Moreover he/she, with good belief, willingly submits to the will of Allah that all his efforts and sacrifices and his life and death are for the Lord of the Worlds…
There is no Islam without Eimaan. (Belief).
3. Munafiq is a one who has accepted the truth (message) but he/she is undecided about the message and is not firm in belief. Such a one is considered a secret enemy of Islam. He/she will try to harm the Muslims in various ways. He/she is not an open enemy.
4. kaafir is a one whom the message has been given with love and peace. He/she does not accept the message and gets on the wrong side against the Muslims. He/she does not recite the Kalimah and rather tries to punish those who recite the kalimah.
Such a one is an open enemy, a declared enemy, a hostile, belligerent disbeliever.
Kaafir is not a simple disbeliever who may be a peaceful person and does not believe in Islam. Whoever is peaceful person of any faith, is not Kaafir, even though there may be an element of Kufr in him/her for denying Islam.
The word Kaafir is a technical word (Istilaahi). It has a set meaning and there is severe punishment mentioned in the Quran for the Kaafir.
5. Murtadd: Murtadd (apostate) is one who accepted Islam of his free will and went along very well as Muslim but later he found something wrong in Islam and his heart felt that he could not continue as a Muslim any more…
He may denounce his affiliation with Islam openly and say good-bye to Islam and may go back to his old faith…
There is no worldly punishment for such a person. He/She will be at a loss in this world or punished in next life by Allah.
Important: Murtadd is not a one whom people say, “Oh you have become a Murtadd (apostate).” It is the person who departs from Islam and says he/she has nothing to do with Islam.
Some of the above may not be the correct answer. I will welcome any amendment from all friends. wassalam.
MOHAMMED (pbuh) IS THE LAST AND FINAL MESSENGER OF THE GCD
AND NO MESSENGER WILL COME AFTER MOHAMMED(pbuh)
What about Jesus son of Mary? Is he not coming in the Latter Days, according to so many Hadiths of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace be on him?