ISLAM

WHAT IS RELIGION?

Religion is a divine system of beliefs, acts of worship, and rules of conduct to enable human beings to achieve nearness to Allah and to lead a peaceful life.


WHY TEACHINGS OF VARIOUS RELIGIONS DIFFER?ings of Various Religions Differ?

a). After Noah's time, it seems likely that people dispersed to different parts of the world, which were far apart. The means of communication were so poor that a prophet in one part could not communicate his message to the rest. Also, the development of the human mind varied from one area to the other. The All-Wize God therefore, sent a prophet to each nation with a teaching best suited to the needs of that nation. b). As the time passed, the teachings could not remain in their original form. In some cases, their followers themselves introduced changes in their Holy books. NEED OF A UNIVERSAL RELIGION: As time passed, the human race began to advance.  More and more countries began to be inhabited and means of communication between them began to improve. Through mutual contact, people of different countries began to appreciate the need for a universal religion. Also, as noted above, the adulteration of original teachings caused the need for fresh guidance from God Almighty, who is the Original Source.

God Almighty responded to the need of a universal religion by sending His final and perfect message to mankind through the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Thus, the final great religion, named Islam, was founded as a Universal religion, about six hundred years after Jesus Christ, may peace be upon him. WHAT IS ISLAM? Islam is an Arabic word which means: Obedience and Peace.  Islam thus means complete submission to the will of God and to be at peace with all the creatures of God. In other words, the fundamental purpose of Islam is to bring back mankind to its Creator and to improve the quality of human relationships. Islam is the only religion whose very name tells its believers what to do and how to do it.Islam provides a complete code of life.  Its teachings explain in detail how to co-ordinate beneficently all the human faculties and the bounties provided by Allah, our Creator.  The main source of Islamic teachings are the Holy Quran - Word of Allah and the Ahadith - Traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. SIX ARTICLES OF EEMAN (FAITH): Eeman or Faith is the foundation of Islam, Eeman means our acceptance of all the beliefs, which constitute the Islamic Faith.  These are defined in one of the Traditions of the Holy Prophet of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, as follows: “The requirements of faith are that you should believe in Allah and in His Angels and in His Books and in His Prophets and in the Last Day and that you should believe in Allah’s determination of good or of evil (Decree of Allah)”.  (Muslim) The Six Articles of Islamic Faith mentioned in the above tradition are as follows: Belief in Allah (One God) Belief in Angels of Allah Belief in Books of Allah Belief in Prophets of Allah Belief in the Last Day Belief in the Decree of Allah .

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