ISLAM FOR BEGINNERS BRS 107.pdf - CUEA

LESSON 7OVERVIEW OF ISLAMIC DOCTRINE AND BELIEFS1. What is Islam?“You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind. Enjoining what is right, forbidding whatis wrong, and believing in Allah.” (S.3: 110)“Say: ‘Shall I take for my protector any other than Allah, the Maker of the heavens andearth? And He it is that feedeth but is not fed’. Say: ‘’Nay! But I am commanded to be thefirst of those who bow to Allah and be not thou of the company of those who join gods withAllah’” (s. 6:14).According to Muslims, Islam is the last revealed religion, which confirms the basicdoctrines preached by earlier prophets but renewed by the last prophet (Q. 42:13-15). Theword “Islam” originally comes from the Arabic term salam (peace). But in the course oftime and actually Islam means “submission to the will of Allah God.” Islam means peaceattained through voluntary self-surrender to God. Therefore, “a Muslim is the one whostrives to submit himself to Allah.” However, Islam is more than this. The truth is Islam isnot a simple system of doctrines and religious practices. It is much more than that, it is acomplete civilization. 1. It is FAITH and 2. It is a RITE 3. It is a LAW and 4. It is ETHICS5. It is a POLITICAL INSTITUTION 6. It is a CULTURE and 7. It is SPIRITUALITYIslam is the world’s second largest religion with a following of more than one billion peoplecalled Muslims, in other words one-fifth of humanity.Islam, according to the Qur’an, is the religion before Allah Q. 3:19). Indeed, whenMuhammad was asked what is Islam, he replied: Islam is to worship Allah alone and noneelse, to perform Salat, to pay Zakat, and to observe Fast during the month of Ramadan.(Cf. Sahih Bukhari on the book of Belief). The mission of Islam is described in s.42,15 asit says: “Now then, for that reason, call them to faith, and stand steadfast as thoucommanded, nor follow thou their vain desires; but say: I believe in whatever Book Allahhas sent down; And I am commanded to judge between you. Allah is the Lord and yourLord...Allah will bring us together, and to Him is our final goal.”However, we should know that there is a difference between Islam and Islamism. PerhapsFrederic N. Mvumbi,OP Page 27 of 85