Meaning of Islam

Islam is a Arabic word which means peace, purity submission and obedience. In the religious sense. Islam means the complete submission to the will of God and obedience to His law.

Everything and every phenomenon in the world, other than man is administered totally by God-made laws; they are obedient to God and submissive to his laws. Therefore they are in a state of Islam.

Man possesses the qualities of intelligence and choice, thus he is invited to submit to the good will of God, obeying His law ie. Become a Muslim.

Islam dates back to the age of Adam and its message has been conveyed to man by God's Prophets and Messengers including Abrahim, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (may the peace and blessing of God Be upon them).

Islam's message has been restored and manifested in the last stage of the religious evolution by God's last Prophet and Messenger, Muhammad (PBUH).

Allah in the Arabic language refers to God, or more accurately The One and Only Eternal God, Creator of the Universe, Almighty, Omnipotent. Most Compassionate and Merciful.

• The various aspects of life are not separated into religious, worldly or secular. Life is viewed in its entirety and all its facets are considered to be for the worship of God whether it is ritual prayer or making a rightful living.

• A Muslim believes that man is the highest creation of God.

• Man alone is gifted with rational faculties, spiritual aspirations, powers of action and the freedom of choice. God has shown him the right path, and the life of Prophet Muhammad provides a perfect example for achieving success and salvation.

• A Muslim believes that every person is born free of sin.

• When a person reaches the age of maturity and if he is sane, he becomes accountable for all his deeds and intentions.

• There is no inherited sin. Man is free from sin until he commits sin. Adam committed the first sin, he prayed to God for pardon and God granted Adam pardon.

• A Muslim believes that man must attain salvation through the guidance of God.

• To obtain salvation, a person must combine faith and action, belief and practice. Faith without doing good deeds and doing good deeds without faith are insufficient.

• A Muslim believes that God does not hold any person responsible until he has been shown the Right Way.

• A Muslim believes that faith is not complete when it is followed blindly or accepted unquestioningly.

• Man must build his faith on well-grounded convictions through rational and spiritual avenues.

• Islam ensures freedom to believe and forbids compulsion in religion (one of the oldest synagogues and one of the oldest churches in the world is in Muslim countries).

• A Muslim believes that the Quran is the word of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel.

• The Quran was revealed from God in a piecemeal form to answer questions, solve problems, settle disputes and to be man's best guide to the universal truth.

• The Quran was revealed in Arabic and it is still in its original and complete version today. The Quran is the greatest miracle given to Prophet Muhammad. Its poetic nature and style are unrivalled by anything mankind can produce. It is memorized by millions.

God has ordained four major exercises of faith, some are daily, some weekly, some monthly, some annually and some are required at least one in a lifetime.

Obligatory prayers include the five daily prayers, the Friday's noon congregational prayer, and the funeral prayer.

It is a matchless Islamic institution, which teaches man the principal of sincere devotion to God.

Zakah has a deep humanitarian and social political value; for example it frees society from class welfare from ill feelings and distrust and from corruption.

Although Islam does not hinder private enterprise or condemn private possessions, it does not tolerate greedy capitalism.

Every Muslim, male and female at the end of the year must give Zakah at the minimum rate of 2.5% on the net savings after paying expenses, taxes etc.

The pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in a lifetime is obligatory upon every Muslim who is mentally, physically and financially fit.

It is the largest annual convention of faith on earth (2.5 million in '89). Muslims from every corner of the globe assemble to demonstrate the unity of mankind in response to the call of God.

Peace is the dominant theme. Peace with God, with one's soul, with one another, with all living creatures. To disturb the peace in any way is strictly prohibited.

Hajj commemorates the Divine rituals observed by Prophet Abrahim and his son Ishmael, who were the first pilgrims to the house of God; the Ka'bah. It is preformed in the remembrance of the grand assembly on the Day of Judgement when people will stand equal before God.

Islam is the God given system of life based on Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

Islam brings man close to God, taking into consideration his material and spiritual demands, thus elevating his spiritual status and controlling his physical desires.

Islam extends its sense of organization to all walks of life:individual and social behaviour, labor and industry, economics and politics, national and international relations, and so on.

Islam adopts a moderate but positive and effective course between individual and society, between citizen and state, between capitalism and socialism, between materialism and spiritualism.

Prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage, love for God and His Messenger, love for truth and humanity, hope and trust in God and doing good for the sake of God.

Islam demands faith in God on the basis of knowledge and research and leaves wide open all fields of thought before the intellect to penetrate as far as it can reach. The Quran itself is a rich source of knowledge about science and the universe.

Purity and cleanliness, a healthy diet, proper clothing, proper behavior, and healthy sexual relations within marriage.

Since the family is the backbone of society, Islam builds the family on solid grounds that are capable of providing continuity, true security, mature intimacy, sincere reciprocity and moral gratification. Marriage is a strong hond and a commitment to life itself, to society, and a dignified, meaningful survival of the human race.

Man is ordained by God to extend his utmost help and kindness to other family members, relations, and neighbors. There is no superiority on account of class, race, origin or wealth. The unity of humanity is not only its origin but also its ultimate aims.

Earning one's living through decent labor is not only a duty but a great virtue as well. Earning is man's private possession. The individual is responsible for the prosperity of the state and the state is responsible for the security of the individual.

Man comes to this world empty-handed and departs empty-handed. The real owner of things is God alone. Man is simply a trustee.

The sovereignty in the Islamic state belongs to God; the people exercise it by trust from Him to enforce His laws. The ruler is chosen from the best qualified citizens by the people to administer justice, provide security etc., through consultation, within the Laws ordained by God. A religious hierarchy or clergy does not exist. Non-Muslims are entitled to full protection and freedom to practice their religion.