The literal meaning of Islam is peace;
surrender of one’s will i.e. losing oneself
for the sake of God and surrendering one’s own
pleasure for the pleasure of God. The message
of Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) 1, 400
years ago. It was revealed through angel
Gabriel (on whom be peace) and was thus
preserved in the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran
carries a Divine guarantee of safeguard from
interpolation and it claims that it combines
the best features of the earlier scriptures.
The prime message of Islam is the Unity of
God, that the Creator of the world is One and
He alone is worthy of worship and that
Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) is His
Messenger and Servant. The follower of this
belief is thus a Muslim - a Muslim’s other
beliefs are: God’s angels, previously revealed
Books of God, all the prophets, from Adam to
Jesus (peace be on them both), the Day of
Judgement and indeed the Decree of God. A
Muslim has five main duties to perform,
namely; bearing witness to the Unity of God
and Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) as
His Messenger, observing the prescribed
prayer, payment of Zakat, keeping the fasts of
Ramadhan and performing the pilgrimage to
Mecca.
Islam believes that each person is born pure.
The Holy Quran tells us that God has given
human beings a choice between good and evil
and to seek God’s pleasure through faith,
prayer and charity. Islam believes that God
created mankind in His image and by imbuing
the attributes of God on a human level mankind
can attain His nearness. Islam’s main message
is to worship God and to treat all God’s
creation with kindness and compassion. Rights
of parents in old age, orphans and the needy
are clearly stated. Women’s rights were
safeguarded 1,400 years ago when the rest of
the world was in total darkness about
emancipation. Islamic teachings encompass
every imaginable situation and its rules and
principles are truly universal and have stood
the test of time.
In
Islam virtue does not connote forsaking the
bounties of nature that are lawful. On the
contrary one is encouraged to lead a healthy,
active life with the qualities of kindness,
chastity, honesty, mercy, courage patience and
politeness. In short, Islam has a perfect and
complete code for the guidance of individuals
and communities alike. As the entire message
of Islam is derived from the Holy Quran and
indeed the Sunnah and Hadith (the traditions
and practices of the Holy Prophet, peace and
blessings on him) it is immutable in the face
of change in time and place. It may appear
rigid to the casual eye, in actual fact it is
most certainly an adaptable way of life
regardless of human changes.
Islam teaches that the path to spiritual
development is open to all. Any individual who
searches the One Creator can seek nearness to
God through sincere and earnest worship; it is
central to establishing a relationship with
the Almighty. This positive message for
humanity fills hearts with hope and courage.
At
present there are 1.5 billion Muslims
worldwide and they form the majority in more
than 50 countries of the world. Today Islam is
the fastest growing faith in the world - its
beautiful message is reaching millions in the
far corner of the earth.
