Islam is an Arabic word. It comes from the word ‘Salm’ which means peace
and from the word 'Silm',
which means submitting your will to Allah –
Almighty God. Thus, Islam means peace acquired by submitting
your will to
Allah* (swt). A Muslim is a person who submits his/her
will to Allah – the
Almighty God.
Many people have a misconception that Islam is a new
religion that was
formulated about 1400 years ago, and that Prophet
Muhammad^ (pbuh) was
the founder of Islam. However, Islam is not the name of
some unique
religion presented for the first time by Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh). Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) was not the founder of Islam but he was
the last and final
messenger of Allah (swt) sent to earth. Almighty God
revived through him
the same genuine faith, which had been conveyed by all
His previous
Prophets.
The Quran states that Islam – the complete submission of
man before his
only Unique Creator – is the only faith and way of life
consistently revealed
by God to humankind from the very beginning. Noah,
Abraham, Isaac,
David, Solomon, Moses, and Jesus – prophets who appeared
at different
times and places - all propagated the same faith and
conveyed the same
message of Tawheed (Oneness of God), Risaalat (Prophet hood) and
Aakhirah (the Hereafter). These prophets of God were
not founders of
different religions to be named after them. They were
each reiterating the
message and faith of their predecessors.
Islam thus makes it an article of faith to believe in all
the earlier prophets,
starting with Adam, and continuing with Noah, Abraham,
Ishmael, Isaac,
Jacob, Moses, David and Jesus amongst many others (may
peace be on them
all).
However, Muhammad (pbuh) was the last Prophet of God
conveying the
same message as all earlier Prophets. This original
message had been
corrupted and it split into various religions by people
of different ages, who
indulged in interpolations and admixture. God eliminated
these alien
elements, and Islam – in its pure and original form – was
transmitted to
* Out of reverence to Almighty God, the suffix (swt) is
added to affirm His Purity and
His Uniqueness.
^ Out of appreciation and respect for Prophet Muhammad
(or any of the prophets), the
suffix (pbuh) is added to pray to Allah to bestow peace
upon him (or any of the
prophets).
vi Preface
humankind through Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Hence, Islam
is the
culmination of the same Divine religion of God to
humankind since the
advent of humanity, purged and purified, from all human
adulterations and
restored to its original purity.
Since there was to be no messenger after Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh), the
Book revealed to him (i.e. the Glorious Quran) was
preserved word for word
so that it should be the same source of guidance for all
times.
Thus the religion of all the prophets was ‘total
submission to God’s will’ and
one word for that in the Arabic language is ‘Islam’.
Abraham and Jesus
(peace be upon them) too were Muslims, as Allah testifies
in the Quran 3:67
and 3:52 respectively.
It is mentioned in the Quran, “Surely, We have sent you
with the truth, as a
bearer of happy news, and as a warner: And there were
never any people,
without a warner who did not live among them (in the
past)” [35.24]
At the same time, the Quran says, “And the messengers We
have already told
you before, and others We have not (told you).” [4.164]
It means that some of the Prophets have been mentioned by
name in the
Quran while of the others there is no mention. Twenty-five messengers are
specifically mentioned in the Quran. It has been narrated
by Umama that
Abu Dhar said: “I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah,
altogether how many
messengers were sent?’ The Prophet (pbuh) said, ‘One
hundred and twenty
four thousand’.” [Mishkat-Ul-Masabih, authenticated by
Shaikh Nasiruddun
Albani, Vol. 3, Pg. No. 1599, Hadith No. 5737]
However, all the messengers that came before the last and
final messenger
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) came with a message that was ment
only for a
particular period of time.
For example, the Quran says, "And (We appointed
Jesus) a messenger to the
Children of Israel:” [3.49]
Jesus (pbuh) came as a messenger only to the children of
Israel. A similar
message is given in the Bible where Jesus (pbuh) says, “I
am not sent but
unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” [Gospel of
Matthew 15:24]
Jesus (pbuh) further says in the Bible. “Go not into the
way of the Gentiles,
and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go
rather to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel.” [Gospel of Matthew
10:5-6]. So Jesus (pbuh)
was sent only for the Jews and not for the whole of
humanity.
However, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was not sent only for
the Muslims or
only for the Arabs, but for the entire humankind. The
Quran says, “And We
vii Preface
did not send you (O Prophet), except as a mercy to all
worlds.” [21.107]
“And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as one to
give them good
news, and to warn them (of the punishment; As a messenger
and a guide to
mankind), but most men do not understand.” [34.28]. The
religion of all the
prophets was ‘total submission to God’s Will’ and the one
word for that in
the Arabic language is ‘Islam’; and the person who does
that is a ‘Muslim’.
Allah (swt) says in the Quran that Abraham (pbuh) was a
Muslim. “Ibrahim
(Abraham) was neither a Jew nor even a Christian; But he
was true in Faith,
and surrendered his will to Allah’s, (like a Muslim) and
He did not join gods
with Allah.” [3.67]
It is mentioned in the Quran that Jesus (pbuh) was a
Muslim [3.52]. Jesus
(pbuh) also says in the Bible. “I seek not my own will,
but the will of the
Father which hath sent me.” [Gospel of John 5:30]. And
anybody who seeks
the Will of God is referred to as a Muslim.
Islam is the first religion and the only religion, which
is acceptable in the
sight of God. Therefore Allah (swt) says: “If anyone
desires a religion other
than Islam (submission to Allah), it will never be
accepted from him; In the
Hereafter,
he will be with those who have lost (all spiritual reward).” [3.85]
No comments:
Post a Comment