Religion has been ordained for the happiness of mankind in this world, and in the hereafter. The word “ Islam” carries the meaning of submission and surrender to the will of Allah. This means that Islam is the religion of all the prophets Allah, most High said by tongue of Noah as stated in the holy Qur’an:
وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ (72) سورة يونس
“And I have been command to be among who conform to Islam.”*
By the tongue of Ibrahim:
رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُسْلِمَةً لَكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ (128) سورة البقرة -
“( And make of us both ) O God, our creator, two Muslims who conform their will to your will and of our progeny a Muslim nation who conform their will to your will.”*
By the tongue if Joseph:
“ Disembody my soul, O gad, impressed with the image of religious and spiritual virtues, and join me to those whose deeds had been imprinted with wisdom and piety.”
By the tongue if Moses:
)وَقَالَ مُوسَى يَا قَوْمِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ آَمَنْتُمْ بِاللَّهِ فَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلُوا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُسْلِمِينَ (84) سورة يونس
"My people, if you have really accepted God ant.! conformed to His will, then in Him you must trust, if indeed you have conformed to Islam. " *
Islam is the religion which Allah revealed to the prophet Mohammad (PBUH), to preach to all mankind. He has made it last of the Religions; and after it there shall be no other religion . Nor shall any other religion be acceptable, stated in the Holy Qur'an .
Allah Most High said:
إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الْإِسْلَامُ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِآَيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ (19) سورة آل عمران
" Religion as a system of faith and legislation commanded by god is Islam,
Allah the Almighty also said :
مَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا (الأحزاب : 40
'Mohammad is not the father of anyone of your men (so be prohibited to carry into effect the edict of God), is the Apostle of God and he is the ultimate of the prophet, the last of the long line of Apostles and the seal of the Apostleship and of Prophet hood . " *
He also said :
وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآَخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ (سورة آل عمران (85)
("And he who adopts a system of faith and worship other•,' than Islam, or submission to God's blessed will a lone¬ simply bends on a system of faith and worship which does not have the standing upon the vantage ground of truth; such system of faith shall not be accepted from him and he shall be a great loser Hereafter. " *
The Call of Islam is directed to all mankind; the same to those who believe in a religion as to those who do not believe in a religion.
Allah Most High said:
فَإِنْ حَاجُّوكَ فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّهِ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ وَقُلْ لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ وَالْأُمِّيِّينَ أَأَسْلَمْتُمْ فَإِنْ أَسْلَمُوا فَقَدِ اهْتَدَوْا وَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَاغُ وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ. سورة آل عمران - (20)
"And say to the people of the Book ( Torah and Gospel) and to the illiterates (Are you now satisfied with what you heard and have your doubts been satisfied?) (lf you are , then conform to Islam). If they do, then they are on the path of rectitude , but should they turn a deaf ear and their hearts have no ears for the truth nonetheless, you are only responsible for relating the massage, and God keeps a watchful eye upon His creation and the way they conduct themselves in life and He knows the attributes inherent in each and all .
UNDERSTANDING ISLAM
A simplified Introduction to The basic principles of Islam
Written By: DR. 'Atiya Saqr
Chairman of Fatwa Committee at AL - AZHAR
Translated By: Sheikh
Mohammed Gemeah 'ah Office of the Grand Imam. Sheikh AL-AZHAR