admin1. What is Islam?
Islam is the name of the religion, or more properly the ‘way of life’, which God (Allah) has revealed and which was practiced by all of the Prophets and Messengers of God that He sent to mankind. Even the name stands out unique among other religions in that it means a state of being (ie. ‘submission’); it does not refer to any particular person, or founder,etc.
The root Arabic word from which Islam is derived implies peace, safety, salutation, protection, blamelessness, wholesomeness, submission, acceptance, surrender, and salvation. Islam specifically means being in the state of submission to God, worshipping Him Alone, and reverently accepting and obeying His Law. Through this submission, the peace, security, and wholesome well-being implied in its literal meaning is achieved.
2. Who are Muslims?
The Arabic word “Muslim” literally means “someone who is in a state of Islam (submission to the will and law of God)”. The message of Islam is meant for the entire world, and anyone who accepts this message becomes a Muslim. Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is just a religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth.
In actuality, over 80% of the world’s Muslims are not Arabs! Even though most Arabs are Muslims, there are Arabs who are Christians, Jews and atheists. Being a Muslim entails complete acceptance and active obedience to the revealed teachings and laws of God, The Exalted. A person’s Islam weakens through sins, ignorance, and wrong-doing, and becomes nullified in totality by associating partners with God, disbelieving in Him, or rejecting and denying His commands.
3. Who is Allah?
The meaning of “Allah” is in fact simply “Almighty God” and it is an exclusive title which no-one else besides Him has been given, in all of human history.
The Arabic word “Allah” is in fact the same word used by Arabic speaking Christians and Jews. As a matter of fact, the word Allah was in use far before the word God ever came into existence, since English is a relatively new language. If one were to pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word “Allah” being used where the word “God” is used in English.
Furthermore, the word “Allah” is a very unique Arabic word which does not have a plural (like in the case of God and Gods); nor does have a feminine equivalent (like God and Goddess). When we use the word “Allah” we mean the same God who created Adam and his wife Eve, the same God who sent Prophets such as Abraham, Noah, Lot, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them).
We do not mean a different God than the God who spoke to Moses, and split the sea for him. We mean the exact same God who saved Noah in the ark and Jonah in the whale. We mean the exact same God who created Jesus in the womb of Virgin Mary. We mean The Supreme Sovereign, The Creator of the entire universe and all that it contains!
4. Who is Muhammed?
The last and final Messenger / Prophet whom God sent to humanity was the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). At the age of forty, he received the revelation from God. He then spent the remaining portion of his life (a further 23 years) explaining, and living the teachings of Islam, the religion that God revealed to him. The result of his mission has brought more people into the pure belief in One God than any other prophet.
Since the beginning of time, God sent prophets to the earth, each one to his own specific nation. The Prophet Muhammad, however, was sent as the final Messenger to all of humanity.
5. Do Muslims worship Muhammed (peace be upon him)?
Muslims do not worship Muhammed (peace be upon him) in any way. Muslims believe that he was the last and final Messenger sent by God Almighty, and like all other Prophets and Messengers, he was a human being. However, some people mistakenly assume that Muslims worship Muhammed and this is one of the reasons that Muslims were erroneously called “Mohammedans”.
Muslims strive to follow the great example of Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) but do not worship him in any way. Islam teaches Muslims to respect all of Allah’s Prophets and Messengers. However, respecting and loving them does not mean worshipping them. Muslims know that all worship and prayer must be directed to God alone.
In fact, the worship of Muhammed (peace be upon him) – or anyone else – along with, or instead of Almighty God is considered an unpardonable sin in Islam. Even if a person claims to be Muslim but worships or prays to anyone or anything other than God Almighty, it invalidates one’s claim to Islam. The Declaration of Faith makes it clear that Muslims must worship God alone.
(… to be continued next week)
For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact:
MajlisulUlama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars
Publications Department
P.O. Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare
Tel: 04-614078 / 614004, Fax : 04-614003
e-mail: [email protected].
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