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The literal meaning of Islam is peace;
surrender of one’s will i.e. losing oneself for the sake of God and
surrendering one’s own pleasure for the pleasure of God. The message
of Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings
on him) 1, 400 years ago. It was revealed through angel Gabriel (on whom
be peace) and was thus preserved in the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran
carries a Divine guarantee of safeguard from interpolation and it claims
that it combines the best features of the earlier scriptures.
The prime message of Islam is the Unity of God, that
the Creator of the world is One and He alone is worthy of worship and
that Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) is His Messenger and Servant.
The follower of this belief is thus a Muslim - a Muslim’s other
beliefs are: God’s angels, previously revealed Books of God, all the
prophets, from Adam to Jesus (peace be on them both), the Day of
Judgement and indeed the Decree of God. A Muslim has five main duties to
perform, namely; bearing witness to the Unity of God and Muhammad (peace
and blessings on him) as His Messenger, observing the prescribed prayer,
payment of Zakat, keeping the fasts of Ramadhan and performing the
pilgrimage to Mecca.
Islam believes that each person is born pure. The
Holy Quran tells us that God has given human beings a choice between
good and evil and to seek God’s pleasure through faith, prayer and
charity. Islam believes that God created mankind in His image and by
imbuing the attributes of God on a human level mankind can attain His
nearness. Islam’s main message is to worship God and to treat all
God’s creation with kindness and compassion. Rights of parents in old
age, orphans and the needy are clearly stated. Women’s rights were
safeguarded 1,400 years ago when the rest of the world was in total
darkness about emancipation. Islamic teachings encompass every
imaginable situation and its rules and principles are truly universal
and have stood the test of time.
In Islam virtue does not connote forsaking the
bounties of nature that are lawful. On the contrary one is encouraged to
lead a healthy, active life with the qualities of kindness, chastity,
honesty, mercy, courage patience and politeness. In short, Islam has a
perfect and complete code for the guidance of individuals and
communities alike. As the entire message of Islam is derived from the
Holy Quran and indeed the Sunnah and Hadith (the traditions and
practices of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings on him) it is
immutable in the face of change in time and place. It may appear rigid
to the casual eye, in actual fact it is most certainly an adaptable way
of life regardless of human changes.
Islam teaches that the path to spiritual development
is open to all. Any individual who searches the One Creator can seek
nearness to God through sincere and earnest worship; it is central to
establishing a relationship with the Almighty. This positive message for
humanity fills hearts with hope and courage.
At present there are 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide
and they form the majority in more than 50 countries of the world. Today
Islam is the fastest growing faith in the world - its beautiful message
is reaching millions in the far corner of the earth.
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