Seven fundamentals of Islam

By Abu Yousuf and Abu Maryam

The word "Islam" is an Arabic word, which means "submitting and surrendering your will to Allah Almighty". The word comes from the same root as the Arabic word "Salam", which means peace. Unlike the names used for other religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, the name for the religion of Islam was revealed by Allah Almighty and carries a deep spiritual meaning--only by submitting one's will to Allah Almighty can one obtain true peace both in this life and in the life hereafter. Islam teaches that all religions originally had the same essential message, which was to submit wholeheartedly to the will of Allah Almighty and to worship Him and Him alone. For this reason, Islam is not a new religion but is the same divinely revealed ultimate truth that Allah Almighty revealed to all prophets including Nooh, Ibrahim, Musa and Isa (Alahimus Salaam).

The Arabic word "Muslim" literally means "someone who submits to the will of Allah Almighty". The message of Islam is meant for the entire world and anyone who accepts this message becomes a Muslim. Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is just a religion for the Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth, since in actuality over 80 per cent of the Muslims the world over are not Arabs. Even though, most Arabs are Muslims, there are Arabs who are Christians, Jews and atheists. If one just takes a look at the various people who live in the Muslim World--from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Morocco to Indonesia--it is easy enough to see that Muslims come from different races, ethnic groups and nationalities. From the very beginning, Islam had a universal message for all people. This can be seen in the fact that some of the early companions of Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) were not only Arabs but Persians, Africans and Byzantine Romans also. Being a Muslim entails complete acceptance and active obedience to the revealed will of Allah Almighty. A Muslim is a person who freely accepts to base his beliefs, values and faith on the will of Allah Almighty.

In the past, even though you do not see it as much today, the word "Mohammedans" was often used as a label for the Muslims. That label was a misnomer and the result of either willful distortion or sheer ignorance.

One of the reasons for the misconception was that the Europeans were taught for centuries that the Muslims worshipped Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) in the same way that the Christians worship Jesus. This is absolutely not true since a Muslim is not permitted to worship anyone or anything besides Allah Almighty.

Very often one will hear the Arabic word "Allah" being used in regards to Islam. The word "Allah" is simply the Arabic word for Almighty God, and it is the same word used by Arabic speaking Christians and Jews. If one were to pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word "Allah" being used where the word "God" is used in English. Actually, the Arabic word for Almighty God--Allah--is quite similar to the word for Allah Almighty in other Semitic languages--for example, the Hebrew word for Allah Almighty is "Elah".

For various reasons, some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that the Muslims worship a different God than the Jews and Christians. This is certainly not the case, since the pure monotheism of Islam calls all people to the worship of the God of Nooh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and all of the other prophets. However, even though the Jews, Christians and Muslims worship the same Allah--since there is only one Allah--their concepts concerning Him differ in some significant ways.

The last and final prophet that Allah sent to humanity was Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam). He explained and interpreted the teachings of Islam and act according to it. Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) is the greatest of all prophets for many reasons, but mainly because the results of his mission have brought more people into the pure belief in one Allah than any other prophet. Even though other religious communities claimed to believe in one Allah, over time, they had corrupted their beliefs by taking their prophets and saints as intercessors with Allah Almighty. Some religions believe their prophets to be manifestations of Allah Almighty, "God Incarnate" or the "Son of God".

All of these false ideas lead to the creature being worshipped instead of the Creator, which contributed to the idolatrous practice of believing that God Almighty can be approached through intermediaries. In order to guard against these falsehoods, Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) always emphasised that he was only a human being tasked with the preaching of Allah's message. He taught the Muslims to refer to him as "the Messenger of Allah and His Slave".

To the Muslims, Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) is the supreme example for all people--he was the exemplary prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher, neighbour, husband, father and friend. Unlike other prophets and messengers, Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) lived in the full light of history. Even when his followers only numbered a few dozen, Allah Almighty informed him that he had been sent as a mercy to all of mankind. Because people had distorted or forgotten Allah's messages, Allah Almighty took it upon Himself to protect the message revealed to him. This was because Allah Almighty promised not to send another messenger after him. Since all of Allah's messengers preached the message of Islam, ie submission to the will of Allah Almighty and the worship of Allah alone, Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) is actually the last prophet of Islam, not the first. The foundation of Islam is belief in the Unity of Allah. This means to believe that there is only one Creator and Sustainer of everything in the universe and that nothing is divine or worthy of being worshipped except Him. Truly believing in Unity means much more than simply believing that there is "One Allah" as opposed to two, three or four.

There are a number of religions that claim belief in "One Allah" and believe that ultimately there is only one Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Islam, however, not only insists on this, but also rejects using such words as "Lord" and "Saviour" for anyone besides Allah Almighty. Islam also rejects the use of all intermediaries between Allah Almighty and man, and insists that people approach Allah Almighty directly and reserve all worship for Him alone. The Muslims believe that Allah Almighty is compassionate, loving and merciful. The essence of falsehood is the claim that Allah Almighty cannot deal with and forgive His creatures directly. By over-emphasising the burden of sin, as well as claiming that Allah Almighty cannot forgive you directly, false religions seek to get people to despair of the mercy of Allah Almighty. Once they are convinced that they cannot approach Allah Almighty directly, people can be misled into turning to false gods for help. These "false gods" can take various forms, such as saints, angels, or someone who is believed to be the "Son of God" or "God Incarnate".

In almost all cases, people who worship, pray to or seek help from a false god do not consider it to be, or call it, a "God". They claim belief in One Supreme God, but claim that they pray to and worship others beside Allah Almighty only to get closer to Him. In Islam, there is a clear distinction between the Creator and the created. There is no ambiguity in divinity--anything that is created is not deserving of worship and only the Creator is worthy of being worshipped. Some religions falsely believe that Allah Almighty has become part of His creation, and this has led people to believe that they can worship something created in order to reach their Creator. The Muslims, however, believe that even though Allah Almighty is unique and beyond comprehension, He has no "Son", partners or associates. According to Islamic belief, Allah Almighty "does not beget nor was He begotten"--neither literally, allegorically, metaphorically, physically or metaphysically--He is absolutely unique and eternal. He is in control of everything and is perfectly capable of bestowing His infinite mercy and forgiveness to whomever He chooses. That is why He is called the All-Powerful and Most-Merciful.

Allah Almighty has created the universe for man, and as such wants the best for all human beings. The Muslims see everything in the universe as a sign of creatorship and benevolence of Allah Almighty. Also, the belief in the unity of Allah Almighty is not merely a metaphysical concept. It is a dynamic belief that affects one's view of humanity, society and all aspects of life. As a logical corollary to the Islamic belief in the oneness of Allah Almighty, is its belief in the oneness of mankind and humanity. The Holy Qur'aan is the final revelation of the will of Allah Almighty to all of mankind, which was conveyed through the Angel Gabriel, in Arabic, to Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) in its sounds, words and meanings.

The Holy Qur'aan is a living miracle in the Arabic language; and is known to be inimitable in its style, form and spiritual impact. Allah's final revelation to mankind--the Holy Qur'aan--was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) over a period of 23 years. The Holy Qur'aan, in contrast to many other religious books, was always thought to be the Word of Allah by those who believed in it, ie it was not something decreed by a religious council many years after being written. Also, the Holy Qur'aan was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities during the life of Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam). The entire Qur'aan was also completely written down in lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam), and numerous companions of the prophet memorised the entire Qur'aan word-for-word as it was revealed. So, unlike other scriptures, the Holy Qur'aan was always in the hands of the common believers, it was always thought to be Allah's Word and, due to widespread memorisation, it was perfectly preserved. In regards to the teachings of the Holy Qur'aan, it is a universal Scripture, and it is addressed to all of mankind, and not to a particular tribe or "chosen people". The message that it brings is nothing new but the same message of all of the prophets--submit to Allah Almighty and worship Him alone.

As such, Allah's revelation in the Holy Qur'aan focuses on teaching human beings the importance of believing in the unity of Allah Almighty and framing their lives around the guidance, which He has sent. Additionally, the Holy Qur'aan contains the stories of the previous prophets, such as Ibrahim, Nooh, Musa and Isa (Alaihimus Salaam), as well as many commands and prohibitions from Allah Almighty. In modern times in which so many people are caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and "political correctness", the Holy Qur'aan offer solutions to the emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today. In the Holy Qur'aan, Allah Almighty teaches human beings that they were created in order to worship Him, and that the basis of all true worship is God-consciousness. Since the teachings of Islam encompass all aspects of life and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs. Islam makes it clear that all human acts are acts of worship if they are done for Allah Almighty alone and in accordance with His divine law. As such, worship in Islam is not limited to religious rituals. The teachings of Islam act as a mercy and a healing for the human soul, and such qualities as humility, sincerity, patience and charity are strongly encouraged.

Additionally, Islam condemns pride and self-righteousness, since Allah Almighty is the only judge of human righteousness. The Islamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced. Human beings are not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally capable of both good and evil. Islam also teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand. Allah Almighty has given people free will, and the measure of one's faith is one's deeds and actions. However, humans have also been created weak and regularly fall into sin. This is the nature of the humans as created by Allah Almighty in His wisdom, and it is not inherently "corrupt" or in need for repair.

This is because the avenue of repentance is always open to all human beings, and Allah Almighty loves the repentant sinner more than the one who does not sin at all. The true balance of an Islamic life is established by having a healthy fear of Allah Almighty as well as a sincere belief in His infinite mercy. A life without the fear of Allah Almighty leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that Allah Almighty will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In the light of this, Islam teaches that only the misguided despair of the mercy of their Lord.

Additionally, the Holy Qur'aan, which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam), contains a great deal of teachings about the life hereafter and the Day of Judgment. Due to this, the Muslims believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by Allah Almighty for their beliefs and actions in their earthly lives. In judging human beings, Allah Almighty will be both merciful and just, and people will only be judged for what they were capable of.

Suffice it to say that Islam teaches that life is a test, and that all human beings will be accountable before Allah Almighty. A sincere belief in the life hereafter is the key to leading a well-balanced life and moral. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which causes human beings to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral.

Religion teaches harmony, peace, understanding

By Bint-e-Hussain

There is not a single religion in the world, which does not ask its followers to have good manners in their dealings in day-to-day life. But in Islam -- the religion of peace and harmony -- the focus is more than enough on good manners {Akhlaque-e-Hasna}. But unfortunately, we, Muslims, have been so far from our religion that we do not even know the basic teachings of our religion. And anyone who tries to know and follow the basic teachings of Islam, is labelled as an extremist. But a true Muslim who follows the two basic sources of Islam - Qur'aan and Sunnah -- cannot be an extremist, because both the sources teach human rights and good manners sincerely, purely and basically.

History witnesses the fact that savage and ignorant kuffars {non-Muslims} of Arab embraced Islam out of their own will just because they had been impressed by the life that Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) was living in front of their eyes.

"Muhammad's life and behaviour is the practical form of the Holy Qur'aan".

This was the answer of Hadhrat Aisha (wife of Prophet Muhammad [Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam]) to a question about his life. We, Muslims, have been so lucky in the way that we got a perfect code of life not only in written form as in the Holy Qur'aan, but also in practical form as in Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam). But today, some of the most deadly vices forbidden by our religion have become so much common in our society that we do not even realize that they are deadly vices and without being conscious of it our moral character is deteriorating day by day. This is the reason that people do not have good virtues like patience, tolerance and understanding for each other, and that is the reason that we do not have a morally balanced and established society as we ought to have.

A very common of these vices is that any person who in any way does not qualify our self-made standards is considered inferior and obviously it is the sense of superiority and arrogance -- the most deadly sin, which makes others appear before us as inferior. Making ridiculous and scornful targets of the features, complexion and social status of a person is in every way a sin but who cares that no one is superior than the other on the basis of complexion, tribe or race but only the one with having feelings of awe and respect for the Creator in his heart according to the last Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam).

Having a sincere smile on face for every rich or poor, black or white, Muslim or non-Muslim is the Sunnah of our beloved prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam). It is the sign of humbleness as well. And humbleness in turn is the lustre and dignity of a true Muslim. But we people always display stoned expression for others except for our near and dear ones just to make an impression of a sober and decent person. But a man is considered decent and dignified because of his polite expressions and way of talking.

Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) said, "A polite and sweet way of talking is also a kind of charity."

Backbiting is another deadly sin. It is considered more deadly than Zina (illegal intercourse). But in our society, it is a common habit and a necessary part of our conversation. About half of any conversation is about telling some ill-things of a colleague, relative or any acquaintance who is not present among us at the moment.

Allah said, "You do not do backbiting; is there anyone among you who wants to eat the meat of your dead brother? You will feel disgust for it."

In the Holy Qur'aan it is clearly said, "Destruction is for that person who is in the habit of Backbiting."

The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) said, "Anyone who believes in Allah and on the Day of Judgment should always say good things or better be quiet." (Bukhari)

Jealousy is a sin, which is like a fire that kills a jealous person from his inside and blackens his own heart. Prophet Muhammad (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) said, "Jealousy destroys all your good deeds just as fire destroys the woods." (Bukhari)

It is indeed jealousy that compels a person to have ill-wishes for his own friend or relative. And a man with low character and having no self-control can be so easily overpowered by jealousy that he can execute anything to satisfy his jealous nature.

Then comes anger, which is not a deadly sin as such but one moment of anger can lead to any of the deadly sins, for example killing a person in anger as a result of harsh arguments. In many cases men have divorced their good wives just because they got overpowered by anger and then soon they repent over their mistake but in vain. Once Jesus Christ advised John {Hadhrat Yahya} that getting angry is quite human but to have control on anger in time is more human. A person asked the last Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) that what would keep him safe from the wrath and anger of Allah on the Day of Judgment. The Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) replied, "Your control on your anger in this world will control the anger of Allah on you on the Day of Judgment."

Our religion gives so much importance to good manners and human rights that it teaches its followers: "A Muslim is the one who does good even to the one who does bad to him." (Surah Ra'ad)

And the fruit of good manners and fulfilling the rights of others should be expected from no one else but Allah. Those discussed in the article are only few but basic teachings of our religion regarding our dealings and behaviour. But we have almost forgotten them and the reason is our own ignorance about our own religion.

Islam teaches and expects harmony, love, peace and understanding from us. Thus, becoming a good Muslim is too easy, but we have labelled it as difficult, because we have kept ourselves in darkness about it. But the fact is that we can get the light of guidance from nowhere else but the Holy Qur'aan and Sunnah. These two are the sources that need not to be modernised, for both have the ability for each society and age to adjust itself according to them, because both teach simple and sincere rules. None of the two teach something beyond our understanding.

'So many things led me to feel Islam was the right religion'

By Diana Freundl

Huda, Nadia and Selvi-all converts to Islam, standing outside the Taipei Grand Mosque in Taiwan, after a noon prayer service, said their faith had given them strength. It was a list of questions that brought Huda to the Taipei Grand Mosque. "Why can't they eat pork? Why must women cover up? And why, if men can take four wives, can't women take four husbands?"

After enrolling in a six-week course on the fundamentals of Islam, she found her answers, and she found religion. "When I first heard about the course, I told myself, 'This is your time to learn something new.' I discovered how to live my life according to the Qur'aan, and now I feel very peaceful," she said.

While stories of suicide attacks and beheadings permeate news coverage from Afghanistan and the Middle East, Taipei Grand Mosque Imam Ma Shiao-chi said the number of people visiting the mosque with questions about Islam had increased.

"The news always highlights the bad things. About 90 per cent of the news is negative. They hear stories about people getting their heads cut off and think Islam is a bad religion. They know very few things about Islam. They want to know what makes people do these things," he said.

Their reasons for converting to Islam vary, but these women are finding freedom in Islam.

Most of those going to the mosque are women, he said. Whether they were born into a non-practising Muslim family, converted for marriage, or, like Huda, are simply curious to learn more about the religion, the women Ma meets wanted to better understand the role of women in Islam.

Perhaps they have no intentions of converting, Ma said, but at least they take the time to dispel a few stereotypes about the religion.

Some, however, do convert. As a teenager, Sana researched various religions and recalls visiting several temples, but it was Islam that appealed most to her. "So many things led me to feel Islam was the right religion. Even, when I was a child, I never liked to eat pork," she said.

After living in Pakistan with her husband and children for eight years, Sana said she is now re-adjusting to being part of a minority religion in Taiwan.

Taiwan has an estimated 130,000 Muslims, less than half of which are Chinese-Muslims.

"I am Chinese and I am Muslim," said Sana giving the example of wearing a white headscarf, a colour often associated with death in Taiwan.

Sana and Huda describe wearing the hijab as an honour and affirmation of their faith. They agreed, however, that while its purpose is to prevent unwanted attention to their bodies, it in fact often draws more attention. This they said is part of learning to live in a non-Muslim society.

Likewise, Huda, who works in an international trading company, was originally told she could not wear her hijab to work, as it might make clients uncomfortable. "Eventually my colleagues and boss accepted it. It took time, but they know being Muslim is an important part of my life," she said.

While he criticised the unfair portrayal of Islam in the media, Ma said Muslim practitioners in Taiwan experience little persecution from the public. One reason, he said, might have to do with the small number of followers. "We are very few, so we are not really a risk to them," he said.

The majority of Chinese practising Islam are second-and third-generation Muslims, whose families came to Taiwan with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in 1949. As years passed, people started to relax their religious observations, Ma said.

"A lot of Muslims in Taiwan were born Muslim, but not all of them pray everyday. But Islam is a lifestyle. You need to do the Muslim practices [the Five Pillars of Islam] or else it is easy to lose the religion," he said.

Nadia was born into a non-practising Chinese-Muslim household. Following in her sister's footsteps, she made the transition to a more pious observance during college. As she learned more about the religion, she began to dress more conservatively, covering all but her face and hands. "It was just an outfit on the outside, but it changed my life on the inside. I felt more confident," she said.

In addition to Muslims rediscovering their lost faith, Ma said most women embracing Islam in Taiwan do so for marriage. Of the 20 new converts last year 12 were for marriage, he said.

According to the Qur'aan, a Muslim man can marry a woman from a monotheistic religion (Christianity, Islam and Judaism), but he is prohibited from marrying a woman from a polytheistic religion (Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, etc).

Marriage is how Aisha entered Islam 20 years ago. "In the beginning it was just for marriage. I could accept that there is only one god and not eat pork. I couldn't wear the hijab," she said.

A decade later she started reading the Qur'aan, attending classes and wearing the headscarf and feels her relationship with her husband is better for it. "Now we have the same way of looking at things. I can communicate better with my husband," she said.

Each of the women said Islam places a large emphasis on respect and equality for women. One of the most debated gender issues in the Qur'aan is the tradition that allows Muslim men to take four wives.

Sana said she would find it difficult to share her husband with another woman, but noted the practice is not exclusive to Islam.

"My (non-Muslim) father had three wives, but not the legal way. This hurt my mother and me a lot. He never asked my mother and he never treated all of his children the same," she said.

"Even if I agreed to a second marriage (of my husband), there are many rights to protect me and my property. He must still provide for me and our children," Sana said.

The women and the Imam said the conditions under which a man is permitted to take four wives make it virtually impossible for him to do so. As it is necessary that the husband must treat each of his wives equally, both financially and intimately.