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Islam specifically means being in the state of submission to Allaah, 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.

Islam (or Islaam) is the name of the religion, or more properly the way of life, which God (Allaah) has revealed and which was practiced by all of the Prophets and Messengers of Allaah that He sent to mankind. Even the name stands out unique among other religions in that it means a state of being; it does not refer to any particular person, such as Christianity, Buddhism or Zoroastrianism; a tribe like Judaism; or a nation like Hinduism.

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 Allaah, 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. Hence, a Muslim or Muslimah is a person (male or female) in that state of submission. A person's Islam weakens through sins, ignorance, and wrong-doing, and becomes nullified in totality by associating partners with Allaah or disbelieving in Him.

What are the teachings of Islaam?

The foundation of the Islaamic faith is belief in absolute Monotheism (the Oneness of God). This means to believe that there is only one Creator and Sustainer of everything in the Universe, and that nothing is divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Him.

Truly, believing in the Oneness of God means much more than simply believing that there is One God - as opposed to two, three or four. There are a number of religions that claim belief in One God and believe that ultimately there is only one Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, but true monotheism is to believe that only the One True Deity is to be worshipped in accordance to the revelation He sent to His Messenger. Islaam also rejects the use of all intermediaries between God and Man, and insists that people approach God directly and reserve all worship for Him alone. Muslims believe that Almighty God is Compassionate, Loving and Merciful.

A common misconception is the claim that God cannot forgive His creatures directly. By over-emphasizing the burden and penalty of sin, as well as claiming that God cannot forgive humans directly, people often despair of the Mercy of God. Once they become convinced that they cannot approach God directly, they turn to false gods for help, such as heroes, political leaders, saviors, saints, and angels. We often find that the people who worship, pray to, or seek intercession from these false deities, do not consider them to be a god.

They claim belief in One Supreme God, but claim that they pray to and worship others beside God only to get closer to Him.

In Islaam, there is a clear distinction between the Creator and the created. There is no ambiguity or mystery in issues of divinity: anything that is created does not deserve to be worshipped; only Allaah, the Creator, is worthy of being worshipped. Some religions falsely believe that God has become part of His creation, and this has led people to believe that they can worship something created in order to reach their Creator.

Muslims believe that even though God is Unique and Exalted beyond speculative comprehension, He definitely has no partners, associates, peers, antagonists or offspring. According to Muslim belief, Allaah `neither begets, nor was He begotten' - neither literally, allegorically, metaphorically, physically or metaphysically. He is Absolutely Unique and Eternal. He is in control of everything and is perfectly capable of bestowing His infinite Mercy and Forgiveness to whomever He chooses. That is why Allaah is also called the All-Powerful and Most-Merciful.

Allaah has created the Universe for man, and as such wants the best for all human beings. Muslims see everything in the Universe as a sign of the Creatorship and Benevolence of Almighty God. Also, the belief in the Oneness of Allaah is not merely a metaphysical concept. It is a dynamic belief that affects ones view of humanity, society and all aspects of practical life. As a logical corollary to the Islaamic belief in the Oneness of Allaah, is its belief in the oneness of mankind and humanity.

Source:
http://www.islamhouse.com/en/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=127

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Islam - The Religion of God

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Islam - The Religion of Nature

For over one billion people in the world Islam is a religion and complete way of life. But more than that, Islam is a state of mind and being. "Islam" is an Arabic word that means "peace through the submission to God". And "muslim" means "anyone or anything that submits itself to the will of God". Now, if you were to observe nature you will find that everything is submitting to the laws that God has established. The planets, stars, trees, and animals perform their God-given duties with perfect obedience and, as a result, are in a state of peace through their submission. Therefore they are all Muslims adhering to the principle of islam.

Applying this principle to human beings, some choose to submit their will to God and some choose not to. Hence, some are muslims and some are not. But understand that one does not have to practice the "religion" Islam to be considered a muslim. Remember, "muslim" can be a general term that refers to anyone or anything that submits its will to God. Therefore, an isolated tribal civilization not having any exposure to "mainstream" religion, though submitting themselves to God in the best way they know how, may be muslims if they are worshipping God in a way that pleases Him. Such a people may refer to God as "the Great Spirit" or "the Supreme Being" and live a righteous life in service and submission to Him. Frederick Mathewson Denny wrote in his book entitled An Introduction to Islam, "All true religion is 'surrender' to God and, thus, Islam in the generic sense.'" Additionally, every newborn baby is a Muslim (see the definition above) because of an unwilling submission to God. The baby is completely humble and innocent since it is a natural creation of God in its purest state - the state of peace (or Islam).

Islam - The Religion of Responsibility

As a baby grows older it develops an intellectual awareness and free will, both of which are gifts of God that are unique to the human being. But along with these gifts comes responsibility due to the fact that we are now aware of right and wrong and are no longer forced to submit to God. The choice is now completely ours and we will be held accountable for all the choices we make. Some are influenced by their environment, family, and/or own desires and are subsequently led off the natural path of islam (peace through submission) to indulge in unnatural things. These things may include crime, drug use, racism, false worship, and/or the complete denial of the existence of God.

Islam - The Religion of Purpose

The purpose of Islam the "religion" and "way of life" is to bring the human being back to the natural state that it was originally created in: that of humility, piety, peace, and submission. The difference in submission now is that the human will is consciously choosing to be a Muslim, and the human intellect realizes the whole purpose of creation - to worship and please God in every activity and aspect of life. Consequently, a Muslim is always engaged in good thoughts, words, and actions in an attempt to please his or her Creator and live a peaceful life here on Earth and ultimately in the Hereafter. Islam gives purpose and meaning to life. It gives the Muslim an identity and an awareness of his or her position in this vast universe. To know that everything you think, do, and say is serving a purpose, fulfilling an obligation, and pleasing your Creator and Sustainer is greatest feeling that one can have in this life!

Islam - The Religion of Balance

This being the case, one may think that Islam is a religion of extremism or asceticism - that Muslims isolate themselves in mosques to pray all day and meditate on religious issues. However this is not the teaching of Islam. Muslims do integrate themselves into society and seek the bounties of God through worldly careers and recreational activities as long as they are within the bounds of the Islamic law. God says in The Holy Qur'an:

"But seek, with the (wealth) which God has bestowed on thee, the Home of the Hereafter, nor forget thy portion in this world: but do thou good, as God has been good to thee, and seek not (occasions for) mischief in the land: for God loves not those who do mischief." (28:77)

The Muslim believes that the Earth and all of creation were created by God to serve the human being as a means to achieve the purpose of life, which is the worship of God. Therefore, if a person works and earns money lawfully in an effort to provide for his or her family, this is viewed as worship. Likewise for sleeping, eating, or exercising if it helps the person in ultimately fulfilling their duties to God. Worship not only includes formal and ritual acts of devotion but any act, routine or otherwise, that is pleasing to God. And the key to worship in a Muslim's daily life is the remembrance of God no matter what activity is being undertaken.

Islam - The Religion of Discipline

In order to keep the remembrance of God amidst all the distractions of daily life the human being needs a reminder. And this reminder comes in the form of prayer, fasting, charity, and the like. Five prayers a day at certain times keep the Muslims aware of who they are and keeps them "in check" while living in a predominantly secular society. Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan brings a sense of gratitude for the nourishment that is usually taken for granted. The constant hunger also helps the person practice self-restraint against carnal desires. Charity ushers in a balanced society economically and paves the way for brotherly love and unity in the cause of pleasing God. Charity may also manifest itself in the giving of oneself to good deeds in helping others. Prophet Muhammad once said, "When you smile in your brother's face it counts to you as a charity" (Tirmizi).

Once a person makes the declaration of faith (shahadah) and becomes a Muslim, he or she takes on these and other responsibilities in an effort to remain on the straight path of righteousness and success. Islam is a disciplined religion because it teaches personal responsibility and complete submission to God. A Muslim must work for the pleasure of his or her Creator and hope for His mercy and acceptance. It may be a struggle at times but the wise person only welcomes struggle because it is a means by which the human will can be purified and by which the human spirit can move closer to its Creator. Besides, hard work results in a stronger, more dignified individual who is grateful and deserving, not lazy and complacent. The struggle (jihad) that Muslims may endure in trying to submit themselves is also a test of their true faith. It's not a test for God to know because He knows all; it's a test for the individual to know whether he or she is a true servant of God. Islam is a disciplined way of life that inspires people to be productive citizens working in the higher cause of their Creator.

Islam - The Religion of Simplicity

Islam is a religion that does not complicate the human being's relationship with God. There is no priesthood in Islam and no need for intermediaries to reach God. The concept of God is clear, logical, and simple. There is One unseen god whose name is Allah. He is Eternal, Merciful, Just, All-Knowing, All-Powerful, and the Creator of all that exists. He has no sons, daughters, or partners in His lordship. Our praise and worship are devoted solely to Him and Him alone. The Holy Qur'an, which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over 1300 years ago, is the preserved word of God. It is the instruction book for all humans to know how to worship God and live life in the most excellent way. It contains the originally revealed Arabic scripture which has never been tampered with or changed by humans. As a result, its teachings are clear and simple and can even be understood by a child!

Formal acts of worship in Islam are both practical and simple. In the daily prayers, the Muslim brings the highest part of the body (the head) to the lowest point (the ground) as a symbol of complete humility and submission (the Biblical prophets prayed the same way - see Joshua 5:14 and I Kings 18:42). Through fasting the Muslim denies the body of the physical needs in order to concentrate on the spiritual needs. In the pilgrimage to Mecca, the Muslim dawns a simple dress and embarks on a struggling journey that is meant to purify the soul and bring one as close to God as possible in this life, spiritually speaking. Each practice appropriately conforms to the innate human desire to submit to the Supreme Creator in simplicity and ease of understanding.

Islam - The Religion of God

Muslims believe in all the revealed books of God: the Torah (Moses), the Psalms (David), the Gospels (Jesus), and the Qur'an (Muhammad). The message in all of them is the same: submission to the One God in peace, unity, and righteousness. The Holy Qur'an is simply a summation and correction of all the scriptures that came before it since they were tampered with and changed by humans over time. What Muslims reject are the altered versions that exist today because they contain only a fragment of the original message. Human perversion of these original scriptures made it necessary for the Qur'an to come. And it has remained in its original form to this very day:

"We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)" (The Holy Qur'an 15:9)

"This is a Glorious
Qur'an, inscribed in a Tablet Preserved!" (The Holy Qur'an 85:21-22)

Now, since islam is the religion of nature, it has existed ever since the beginning of creation. And if we believe in the One God and in one human race, then we have to believe that there is one way of worship that is acceptable to Him. It is the Muslim position that God sent all the prophets to teach the same religion: submission to God (islam). However, the Holy Qur'an is the only revealed scripture that has remained free from human tampering.

The Muslims invite everyone to read the actual words of God and realize His will and the light of universal truth through Islam. A light which by the hand of man has been all but snuffed out in the scriptures revealed to the prophets before Muhammad.