ISLAM AND IMAN:

1} ISLAM

                  THE WORD ISLAM IN ARABIC MEANS TO “SURRENDER” TO “SUBMIT” OR TO “YIELD”. THE ARABIC NOUN (SILM OR SALAAM) IS DERIVED FROM IT, AND IT DENOTES PEACE, SAFETY, SALVATION AND GREETINGS. IT DENOTES PEACE WITH ALLAH AND PEACE WITH ALL THE CREATURES OF ALLAH.

ISLAM MEANS THE ATTAINMENT OF PEACE THROUGH CONSCIENTIOUS AND WILLING SUBMISSION TO THE WILL AND GUIDANCE OF ALLAH.

IT IS (ISLAM) RAISED ON FIVE PILLARS:

1} SHAHADAH (TESTIFYING THAT THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH AND MUHAMMED IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH)

2} THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SALAT (PRAYER/ NAMAZ)

3} PAYMENT OF ZAKAT (POOR DUE)

4} THE FAST OF RAMADAN

5) THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOUSE OF ALLAH IN MAKKAH IF ONE IS ABLE TO DO SO.

THE SINIFICANCE OF ISLAM

FROM THE DEFINITION OF ISLAM WE UNDERSTAND THAT ISLAM IS THE TOTAL AND COMPLETE SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE OF ALL THE PROPHETS, MESSENGERS AND PEOPLES IN HUMAN HISTORY TO ALLAH. EVERY THING IN THE UNIVERSE IS CREATED BY ALLAH, OBEYS ALLAH AND SUBMITS TO HIS DIVINE LAWS.

THE FOLLOWING POINTS HELP TO SHOW THE GREATNESS AND SIGNIICANCE OF ISLAM:

Ø      IT IS ABSOLUTE SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF ALLAH

Ø      ISLAM IS THE RELIGION OF THE ORIGINAL TRYE NATURE OF MAN (FITRAH) I.E A HUMAN BEING IS CREATED BY ALLAH IN A NATURALLY GOOD AND PURE STATE WHICH IS ISLAM. SO ANY HUMAN BEING IS A MUSLIM BY BIRTH AND BEING A NON-MUSLIM IS FALSE TO HIS NATURE.

Ø      IT IS THE ALL-INCLUSIVE RELIGION REVEALED BY ALLAH I.E A MUSLIM BELIEVES IN ALL RELIGIONS REVEALED BEFORE ISLAM. ISLAM ALSO INCLUDES ALL THE PREVIOUS REVEALED RELIGIONS.

Ø      ISLAM IS THE LAST RELIGION CHOSEN AND NAMED AND COMPLETED BY ALLAH. ITS RULES ARE ADAPTED TO ALL AGES, PLACES, RACES AND ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS NOT CONFINED TO ANY PEOPLE, PLACE OR TIME. IT IS THE UNIVERSAL RELIGION FOR ALL MANKIND.

Ø      ISLAM, BEING THE LAST AND COMPLETE RELIGION, IS THE BEST AND THE ONLY WAY OF LIFE THAT HELPS MAN TO DEAL WITH AND SOLVE ALL HIS PROBLEMS. ISLAM, FOR HIS PURPOSE DEALS WITH ALL WALKS OF HUMAN LIFE. IT DEALS WITH POLITICS, FOODS , FAMILY, MARRIAGE, DIVORCE, INHERITANCE, ETHICS, WORSHIP, WAR, PEACE, ,ECONOMICS, DRINKS AND ALL THE OTHER ASPECTS OF EVERY DAY LIFE.

Ø      TO ATTAIN ITS NOBLE OBJECTIVES ISLAM ADOPTS THE PRINCIPLES OF BELIEF IN LIFE AFTER DEATH, JUDJEMENT, AND IN JUST RECOMPENCE.