In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"
Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with
Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah
guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one
can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness
that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
ISLAM: MEANING AND CONCEPT
What is Islam ?
A Muslim, accordingly, is one who believes in Allah and strives for total
reorganization of his life according to His Revealed Guidance and the Sunnah
(Legal ways, orders, acts of worship statements) of the Prophet. He also works
for building human society on the same basis.
The word Islam is an Arabic word meaning peace, submission and obedience.
In the religious context the word Islam means total submission to the Will of
Allah and obedience to His Law.
The connection between the original and the religious meanings of the word is
strong and obvious.
Only through submission to the will of Allah and by obedience to His Law can
peace be achieved.
The proper name of the religion is Islam and its followers are properly called
Muslims.
The proper name of God, in Arabic, is Allah, and it is a unique term because it
has no plural or feminine gender.
Hence Islam points to the fundamental religious creed which dictates that a
Muslim should submit to the will of Allah, conforming inwardly and outwardly to
His Law.
The Will of Allah, as defined in His Revealed Guidance to all His Prophets, is
good and compassionate, and His Law is the most beneficent and equitable. The
religion of Islam is the complete acceptance of and compliance with the
teachings and guidance of Allah as revealed in His Last sacred Book, the Quran,
to His last Messenger Muhammad - The Prophet of Islam.
The religion of Islam lays great emphasis on uncompromising monotheism and
strict adherence to certain creeds and acts of worship. It enjoins submitting
to the Will of Allah and following the exemplary way of life of Muhammad, peace
be upon him.
Islam: Continuity of Divine Messages
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 Quran:
(Declaration of the Islamic Faith)
"Say (O Muhammad) peace be upon him: We believe in Allah and in what has been
sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael),
Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqub (Jacob) and Al-Asbat (the offspring of the twelve sons of
Yaqub (Jacob) and what was given to Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus) and the Prophets
from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to
Him (Allah) we have submitted (in Islam)" (Quran 3-84)
The Five Pillars of Islam
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).
1: To testify "La Ilaha Illallah Wa Anna Muhammadan Rasul Allah" (none has the
right to be worshiped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
2: To perform (Iqamat) As-Salat (prayers), {five times a day at the prescribed
times and according to the way that the Prophet Muhammad used to perform it
with all its rules and regulations}.
3: To observe Saum (fasting) during the month of Ramdan - i.e. not to eat or
drink or have sexual relations from before Adhan (call) of the Fajr (dawn)
prayer till sunset.
4: To perform Hajj (i.e. pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in his life-time on
condition that he/she is capable of doing so physically and financially).
5: To pay Zakat {obligatory fixed proportion of the wealth and of every kind of
property liable to Zakat of a Muslim to be paid yearly for the benefit of the
poor in the Muslim community}.
Assalamualaykumhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/Seekers-Of-Islam/ Asma BintSaeed
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveIslam_LiveIslam/
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