From Darkness to Light ~ The Religion of Islam

How is Islam the ‘Perfect Way of Life’ ?

Allah says in the Noble Qur’an:

               إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإِسْلامُ

“Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.” (Surat Aal-‘Imran, 3:19 )

أَفَغَيْرَ دِينِ اللَّهِ يَبْغُونَ وَلَهُ أَسْلَمَ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ

“So is it other than the religion of Allah they desire, while to Him have submitted [all] those within the heavens and earth, willingly or by compulsion, and to Him they will be returned?” (Surat Aal-‘Imran, 3:83)

وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

“And whoever desires other than Islam as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.” (Surat Aal-‘Imran, 3:85)

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Embracing Islam as the True Religion of God

Allah says in the Noble Qur’an:

فَمَن يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَن يَهْدِيَهُ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلإِسْلامِ

“So Whoever Allah wants to guide – He expands his breast to Islam” (Surat Aal-An’aam, 6:125)

If you are convinced that Islam is the True Religion of God and you have the desire to be a Muslim, then congratulations. This is a very important step. All you have to do now is to pronounce the ‘Shahadah’ (in Arabic), which is a testimony of Faith. Do not delay. With the pronunciation of the testimony of Faith, you have entered into the fold of Islam.

The Meaning of the Testimony of Faith (Shahadah)

“Ash-hadu an la ilah illa Allah wa ash-hadu an-na Muhammad rasoolu Allah.”

Translation:

“I bear witness that there is no true god (deity) but Allah, and that Muhammad is a Messenger (Prophet) of Allah.”

Meaning:

I bear witness that there is no true god that is worth of worship and praise besides Allah, and that Muhammad is a Messenger (Prophet) of Allah. Prophet Muhammad is the servant and chosen messenger of Allah. This implies that one obeys and follows the commands of the Prophet. One must therefore worship God only according to his teaching alone, for all the teachings of the Prophet were in fact revelations and inspirations conveyed to him by Allah.

The testimony of faith affirms and resticts divinity to Allah alone. When a person pronounces the Shahadah (Testimony) in complete belief and understanding its meanings, they have  indeed repented from the beliefs of their previous life. The person’s record of deeds is clean like a pure white cloth  and it is now as if he/she was just born, delivered from his/her mother’s womb.

 “Do you not know that accepting Islam destroys all sins which come before it?” (Saheeh Muslim)

You’ve just entered Islam, Glory be to Allah. Now, is that all?

 Allah says in the Noble Qu’ran:

أَوَ مَن كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَاهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَن مَّثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِّنْهَا كَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ

“And is one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge therefrom? Thus it has been made pleasing to the disbelievers that which they were doing.” (Surat Aal-An’aam 6:122)

Dear new Muslim brother/sister, you should know  that you will be tested by Allah (subhanaahu wa Ta’ala)  as to how sincere and firm your faith is.

Allah says in the Noble Qur’an:

أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لا يُفْتَنُونَ
وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ

“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested.”

“And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test).” (Surat Aal-‘Ankabut 29:2-3)

These tests  separate the sincere Muslim from the insincere Muslim and also enable a Muslim to reach  higher ranks in heaven.

 Allah says in the Noble Qur’an:

  وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمْوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
 الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُواْ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient”

“Who, when disaster strikes them, say: ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.'” (Surat Aal-Baqarah 2:155 – 156)

 In order to go endure these tests easily, you need to be patient and constantly ask Allah (subhanaahu wa Ta’ala) to strengthen your faith. The way to increase your faith is by gaining more knowledge about the Religion.

The Fundamental principles of Islam  

The essential teachings of Islam are based on five principles, referred to as the ‘Five Pillars of Islam’. They are the framework of a Muslim’s life. Faith is referred to in Arabic as Iman.  It represents firm belief in the heart, and not simply blind faith. Islamic doctrine revolves around six aspects described by the Prophet (salla-Allaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) known as the ‘Six Articles of Faith.’

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 Knowing Allah and His Actions

The most honored and best knowledge is to know Allah’s (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) Beautiful Names and Qualities, because they concern and belong to the Most Honored and Blessed One, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala).

There are numerous verses in the Noble Qur’an that mention Allah’s (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) Qualities and His Beautiful Names.

The one who knows that Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) is able to do everything and that nothing can stop Him or make Him fail to do anything, will be more pious and righteous than the person who does not know this.

This is why Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) says in the Noble Qur’an:

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاء إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ

“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aala).” (Surah Fatir  35:28)

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) created the Jinn and Mankind to worship Him as He stated in Surat Adh-Dhariyat 51:56

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالإِنسَ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونِ

“And I (Allah) created not the Jinn and Men except they should worship Me (Alone).”

And they (Jinn and Mankind) will not be able to worship Him without knowing Him. They should know Him in order to accomplish the purpose and the wisdom of their creation.

Occupying oneself with other than what the slaves are created for is considered negligence and ingratitude towards one’s Lord, whose Grace and Bounty (Blessings) are bestowed upon him continuously.

Knowing Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala) leads to loving Him, fearing Him, having hope in Him, putting trust in Him, and returning unto Him; accordingly, the person will achieve success and happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.

The degree of faith will be according to one’s knowledge of his Lord; his faith will increase, as he knows his Lord better. The legal way to know Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala), His Names and Attributes is by contemplating the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and understanding the meaning of the verses of the Qur’an.

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  Importance of Prayers in Islam

As-Salaat is the distinction between the Muslim and the Kaafir (the disbeliever).

The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Between the slave and Kufr or shirk is the abandonment of the Salaat. If one abandons the Salaat he becomes a disbeliever (or he has disbelieved).” [Saheeh at-Targheeb no. 568 and authenticated by al-Albaani]

The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The first deed which a man will be called to account for on the Day of Resurrection will be as-Salaat (the prayer). If it is found to be perfect, he will be safe and successful, but if it is defective (spoiled), he will be unfortunate and a loser.” [At-Tirmidhi]

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The True Religion: A Call of Truth (Comparative Studies in the Religion)

The idea of servitude has become distasteful to the modern secular mindset which concerns itself with individual liberties. Some might say that humanity has no need to worship, and that doing so compromises freedom. They forget, however, that absolute freedom is neither possible nor even desirable for all members of a society, and that is why every social order has its laws and restrictions.

Distinct from the teachings of many religions which assume the incompatibility of faith and reason, Islam upholds the role of the mind and regards those who fail to use reason as intellectually deficient. Since the mind tends to seek out interrelationship wherever there is variety and multiplicity, it is satisfied by the Qur’an’s clear and unambiguous statement that everything is traceable to a single source, backed with sound arguments and evidence.

 Although there are a variety of religious communities in the world, each of them content with it’s own version of  “the truth,” Islam represents the completion of divinely revealed religion and the finalized legal code for mankind.”

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Dear Brothers/Sisters, Embrace the truth!
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