Islam

Islam
Total Submission to God

In its primary sense the word Islam, which is derived from 'Aslama' signifies submission to the will of God Almighty. That such submission should be total  and complete is specifically demanded by Allah :- ''O ye who believe ! Enter into Islam whole heatedly...'' (2 : 208). A Muslim is required to submit his whole self to Allah ; And devotion to Allah must be completely pure and sincere. Any one who enters into the fold of Islam, or claims to be a Muslim, has to obey Allah in all matters: Acceptance of some of Hits commands and non-acceptance of others is simply out of the question.

Islam God Given Name

Islam is undoubtedly the last of the revealed religions ; But it was not the Last of God's Prophets, Hazrat Muhammad (May Allah's peace and blessings be on him) who devised this name for the religion preached by him. It is Allah Who has conferred this name on us.

Religion Perfected by GOD

'.....This day have I perfected your religion for you, complete My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion....''(5 : 4).....''He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you religion; it is the cult of your father, Ibrahim. It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation), that the apostle may be a witness for you, and ye be witness for mankind...'' (22 : 78).

No Other Religion Acceptable to God

Not only was the name of the religion conferred by Allah, but it has been declared that :- '' The religion before Allah is Islam (Submission to His will)...'' (3 : 19); and that :- '' If any one desires a religion other than Islam (Submission to Allah), never will it be accepted of him; and in the hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good)'' (3 : 85).

Islam-God's Light- To Prevail

Islam which is metaphorically alluded to as Allah's Light ( 9:32 ; 61:8 ), is described as the religion of truth-Din-il-Haqq-(9:33 ; 48:28 ; 61:9), which is to prevail over all religion (ibid).

Muslim Best of Peoples, Enjoining Right, forbidding Evil

Muslims have been declared to be a ''Justly balanced'' people (Ummatan wasata- 2: 143); '' The best of people (Khaira Ummatin) evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah...'' (3 : 110). These two verses not only confer a signal honour, but also impose a very onerous duty, on the Muslims.

Religion of Previous Apostles too was Islam

Islam is not a new-fangled concept, or an exotic doctrine. and we are told :- '' The same religion has He(Allah) established for you as that which He enjoined on Nuh-the which we have sent by inspiration to the (Holy Prophet)-and that which We enjoined on Ibrahim(A.S), Musa(A.S) and Isa(A.S), namely that ye should remain steadfast in religion, and make no division therein....'' (42 ; 13). According to the Holy Qur'an, all the previous apostles Nuh, Ibrahim, Isma'ill, Is-haq, Ya'qub, Lut, Yusuf, Musa and Isa were Muslims. The Holy Prophet was commanded to be the first of the Muslims (6:163 ; 27:91 ; 39:12). Islam claims to be a universal religion ; and the mission of the Holy Prophet was universal (4:170 ; 7:158 ; 14:1 ; 22:49 ; 34:28).

Difference Between Entering Islam and Unshakable Faith

There is a great difference between embracing Islam and having an unshakable faith (49 : 14) ; and the desert Arabs ere told that their entering Islam was no favour to the Holy Prophet ; on the contrary, Allah had conferred a favour upon them by guiding them to the faith (49 : 17).

No Forcible Conversion ; No Compulsion

Forcible conversion to Islam has been definitely forbidden by Allah :- ''Let there be no compulsion in religion; truth stands out clearly from error ; whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks ; and Allah heareth and knoweth all things'' (2 : 256).  (cont)