What is Islam ?

What is Islam?! Many people don't yet know the true meaning of Islam and being a Muslim. And Unfortunately, media has limited Islam in what's called ' terrorism' and limited the Muslim in a man with a long beard and a machine gun while it's COMPLETELY not like that.

Well, let's first define the meaning of the word ' Islam'. 

Literally: It's surrender, submission, obedience, sincerity, & peace.

Terminologically: It's surrender to ALLAH ( One God, unseen ) by monotheism and docile to him by obedience and clearance of polytheism. Islam is the religion that ALLAH accepts. ALLAH Almighty said in the Qor'an after translation: " The religion with ALLAH is Islam".

#Islam is the religion of all the prophets and messengers:

_Islam is the religion of prophet Nooh (Noah) [PBUH] when he said to his people: 

" But if you turn away, then no reward have I asked of you, my reward is only from ALLAH, and I have been commanded to be of the Muslims" Sourat Yunus.

_Islam is the religion of prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) [PBUH] as ALLAH said:

" Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanifa (Islamic Monotheism - to worship none but Allah Alone) and he was not of of the polytheists".

_Islam is the religion of prophet Ya'qub (Jacob) [PBUH] as ALLAH said:

" Or were you witnesses when death approached Ya`qub When he said unto his sons, "What will you worship after me'' They said, "We shall worship your God (God ـ Allah) the God of your fathers, Ibrahim , Isma`il (Ishmael), Is-haq (Isaac), One God, and to Him we submit (in Islam))".

_Islam is the religion of prophet Mousa (Moses) [PBUH] as ALLAH said:

"…and Mousa said: “Oh my people! If you have believed in Allah, then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims (submitted)". 

_Islam is the religion of prophet ‘Eesa ( Jesus) [PBUH] and who believed with him as ALLAH said:

"Then when `Eesa felt disbelief of them, he said: "Who will be my helpers in Allah's cause'' Al-Hawariyyun (disciples) said: "We are the helpers of Allah; we believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims".

 _Islam is the religion of prophet Yusuf ( Joseph) [PBUH} as he said to ALLAH: 

" My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me the sovereignty and taught me something of the interpretation of dreams – the Creator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Wali (Lord, God, Protector, Guide, helper, guardian, supporter) in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous."

_Islam is the religion of the prophet Sulayman ( Solomon) [PBUH} as he said to ALLAH:

"Knowledge was bestowed on us before her, and we were Muslims".

_Islam is the religion of the Muslim jinn as they said :

"and that among us some are Muslims, and some of us are deviant. So those who became Muslims found the Right Course. but those who deviated from the Truth, will be the fuel for Hell" Sourat Al-Jinn.

_Islam is what was brought by the last of the Prophets and Messengers, Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] when ALLAH inspired him with Qor'an and ordered him:

"Say: "Behold, my prayer, and [all] my acts of worship, and my living and my dying are for God [alone], the Lord of the worlds, has no partner, Thus I am commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims".

So, Islam accepts : Mousa, 'Eesa, & Mohammad [peace be upon them all] as prophets and messengers were sent to people to spread one message and it is :" ALLAH is one god, has no partner".  

Still wondering, What are the advantages of Islam?! 

Well, in fact, Islam is a great word, greater than someone like me to talk about it but in the same time it is simple that any simple person can understand it.

Simply, Islam accepts every virtue and avoids every vice. Islam is the religion of peace, mercy, forgiveness, humanity, justice, respect, generosity, altruism, brotherhood, love, comfort, cooperation, democracy, safety, freedom, mediation, enjoyment, and it is a religion of simplicity not difficulty. All that? but MORE and more.

#Let's talk about peace in Islam:

Prophet Mohammad [PBUH} said in the issue of caring about people's lives:
"Any man who entrusted his life with another person and then that person killed him then I will have nothing to do with the killer even if the one killed was a disbeliever".

#Mercy in Islam:

Mercy is one of characteristics of ALLAH as He is called "The Merciful" _Al-Raheem_.

ALLAH Almighty said in the Qor'an: “Then I said: seek forgiveness from your Lord, [for] indeed He is the Most-forgiving; He would send down abundance of rain upon you; and aid you with wealth and sons; and make for you gardens and make for you rivers.”, and He also said in a Hadeeth, " O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partners to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great at it".             Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] said in the issue of showing mercy upon every living creature:

"A woman was punished in Hell because of a cat which she had confined until it died. She did not give it to eat or to drink when it was confined, nor did she free it so that it might eat the vermin of the earth".

#Forgiveness in Islam:

There was a man who hated Prophet Mohammad [PBUH], and used to throw garbage everyday in his path. One day Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] didn't find garbage. So, he asked people about that man and they said that he was ill. So, prophet Mohammad went to visit him.

#Humanity in Islam:

Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] was sitting with his friends then a funeral passed by them; he stood up. He was told: It's a Jewish funeral, he said: Isn't he a human?.

#Justice in Islam:

 Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] said in the issue of applying fairness on every person whoever he is:

"What destroyed the nations preceding you, was that if a noble amongst them stole, they would forgive him, and if a poor person amongst them stole, they would inflict Allah's Legal punishment on him. By Allah, if Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad stole, I would cut off her hand."

knowing that the Islamic punishment of the thief is to cut off his hand in order to be example for anyone thought to steal. P.s: ' Muhammad' who's mentioned in the previous Hadeeth is the prophet Mohammad himself.
And our master, Abou Bakr AL-Seddiq may ALLAH be pleased with him ( Kind of the best friend of prophet Mohammad [PBUH] ) said these words immediately after him being a caliph for Muslims:

" O people, I've been your guardian and I'm not the best of you. If I'll do good, help me, and If I'll do bad, fix that fault in me. Honesty is loyalty & Lying is a betrayal. The weak amongst you is strong to me until I return his right In sha' ALLAH (by God's will), and the strong amongst you is weak to me until I take right from him In sha' ALLAH."

#Respect in Islam:

Our master, Omar Ibn Al-Khattab may Allah be pleased with him ( One of the best friends of prophet Mohammad [PBUH], and his companion) respected human being so much, and when they were about to open Egypt ( to spread Islam in it) he ordered his companion: " not to destroy any church, treat the Christians in Egypt as your families and clans, don't do something unless you consult saint Benjamin (The head of the Egyptian church then)".

#Generosity in Islam:

Generosity, a word which is basically emerged from one of the names of ALLAH which is ' The Generous" _ AL-Kareem_. Its is an attribute loved by ALLAH and his Messenger.

ALLAH said, "If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]".

Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] said, "Every day two angels come down from Heaven and one of them says, 'O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your Cause,' and the other (angel) says, 'O Allah! Destroy every miser.' "

And prophet Mohammad was the most generous human ever, he was more generous than the blowing wind. And as his friends described him saying: "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was never asked for anything to which he said, 'No," And he him self said: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak goodness or be silent; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his neighbor; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest." 

#Altruism in Islam:

Altruism in Islam means to prefer others on you in the fortunes of this world for the sake of the fortunes of hereafter. Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] said: "Do not someone believe, until love for his brother what he loves for himself" means that a human is not a true believer unless wishes for others what he wishes for himself.

#Brotherhood in Islam:

Allah Almighty said,"The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy."

And Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] said: "Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales. Do not look for other's faults. Do not spy one another, and do not practice Najsh (means to offer a high price for something in order to allure another customer who is interested in the thing). Do not be jealous of one another and do not nurse enmity against one another. Do not sever ties with one another. Become the soldiers of Allah, and be brothers to one another as He commanded. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He should neither oppress him, let him down, nor humiliate him.

#Love in Islam:

Love is a grand word that is misunderstood by many people who limit its meaning in loving the other gender. But no! Love is a sincere feeling and a grace from ALLAH to all people. We all do love. Yes, all of us do love. We do love ALLAH, w do love our prophets, we do love our families, we do love our friends, we do love our countries. Experts of human development always advice people to live with love, to love who you are, love what you have, love what you're doing as long as you're doing the right thing. It's one of the most feelings that provide the human with energy and power to work more and produce more.

Love is purity, love is fineness, love is cleanse, love is giving, love is sacrifice, love is patience, but love is the life of the life.

#Freedom in Islam:

 Islam came to raise the human dignity of which he is a human being, as it honored him by mind and preferred him on a lot of other God's creatures. Islam has put the basics to ensure the finish of slavery and the end of  enslavement of a man by a man like him. Islam has ensured for everyone the thinking freedom, expressing opinions freedom, and belief freedom and other kinds of freedom in Islam. For instance: belief freedom: as it means that non-Muslims are not forced to be Muslims and they're supposed to be respected by Muslims. 

ALLAH Almighty said, "There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error" Sourat AL-Baqara. And also said to his messenger, "Will you, then, force people until they believe?" Soura Yunus. And here ALLAH said: "You are not a controller over them" Sourat AL-Ghashiyah.

#Safety & Security in Islam:

After Prophet Ibrahim had built the Ka'ba (house of ALLAH) he asked ALLAH: "My lord, make this country safe and provide its inhabitants whosoever of them believes in ALLAH and the last day with fruits", and ALLAH replied : "And when We made the House (the Ka'ba in Mecca) a resort and a secure sanctuary for the people".

ALLAH said, "It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong i.e. by worshiping others besides Allah), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided" Sourat AL-An'am.

ALLAH also said, "As to those who believe and work righteous deeds, they have, for their entertainment, the Gardens of Paradise" Sourat Al-Kahf.

And Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] said in the issue of safety between people: "None of you should point at his brother with a weapon because he does not know that Satan may make it lose from his hand and, as a result, he may fall into a pit of Hell-fire (by accidentally killing him).''

And also talked [PBUH] in the issue of horrifying people even if they're joking by saying: "It is prohibited for a Muslim to horrify another Muslim" 

#Cooperation in Islam:

Islam motivates people to cooperate and unite. ALLAH Almighty said, "And hold firmly to the rope of ALLAH all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers".

And also Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] encouraged people to cooperate. He said, "Whoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, ALLAH will remove from him one of the griefs of the Day of Resurrection. And whoever alleviates the need of a needy person, ALLAH will alleviate his needs in this world and the Hereafter. Whoever shields [or hides the misdeeds of] a Muslim, ALLAH will shield him in this world and the Hereafter. And ALLAH will aid His Slave so long as he aids his brother". 

#Mediation and Moderation in Islam:

Islam is a simple religion, it is against strictness and against extreme liberty but it is the intermediate of them. Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] said to his friends: "Preach and don't alienate". ALLAH wants people to live happy in both: world and hereafter. ALLAH Almighty connected worshiping Him by achieving life fortunes as in the following verses: " And eat of the lawful and good things with which ALLAH has provided you. have fear of ALLAH in whom you believe." Al-Ma'eda, and in another verse: " O messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness" Al-Mo'menen.

#Enjoyment in Islam:

Enjoyment and entertainment in Islam take a good place, the thing that many people ignore and don't know.

ALLAH has made all what's on earth and heavens for us, people. So, we are to enjoy these graces.

One of Prophet Mohammad's friends said, " Life is beautiful, & green".  

Muslims (Males and females) have realized that and did really enjoy life in the limits that ALLAH loves:

They wear good clothes, they eat good food, they drink good stuff ( as long as it's not banned), they play, they watch television, they use computers, they go to cinemas, they go to the beach, they go for picnics, they sing, they laugh, ALLAH made it halal for a Muslim male to marry four ladies (If it is in his ability), they respect women Prophet Mohammad said to all men: "Act kindly towards women", they participate in the society, they do sports...

They do everything any other person does but in the limits that ALLAH has put to us.

#Islam is a religion of simplicity not difficulty:

ALLAH Almighty said,  "ALLAH intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship".

And Prophet Mohammad [PBUH] said, "Allah is satisfied with easiness for nations, and hated hardship for them.", and also said, " You are sent facilitators not insolvents".

So, what are the conditions of being a Muslim?

Islam has five main pillars to guarantee that you are now Muslim.

#Five pillars of Islam:

1-Bear witness that there is no God but ALLAH and He has no partner, and that Prophet Mohammad is messenger of ALLAH. (Shahada)

2-Praying five times a day. (Salah)

3- Alms-giving [To give every year a fixed proportion (2.5%) of your savings to the poor who deserve] ( Zakat)

4-Fasting during daylight hours, in the Blessed month of Ramadan. (Sawm)

5-Making a pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in your lifetime, if you can afford it. (Hajj)

There are six pillars to be a believer:

1-To believe in ALLAH.

2-To believe in angels.

3-To believe in the heavenly book that were sent by messengers.

4-To believe in messengers.

5-To believe in the last day(doomsday).

6-To believe in fate the good and the bad of it. 

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I advise you, dear reader, to watch the following video maybe it will add what I haven't added.

Here it is:

#Comfort & calmness in Islam:

Prophet Mohammad, prayers and peace be upon him, said, " No people gather together in one of the Houses of ALLAH, reciting the Book of ALLAH and studying it among themselves, except that Sakeenah (Tranquility) descends upon them, and Mercy envelops them, and the angels surround them, and ALLAH mentions them amongst those who are with Him".

So, you can handle it yourself, dear reader by listening to the following Soura of Qor'an ( Sourat Yasin).

Just listen to it deeply and think that it is ALLAH's talk, then realize the mountain of troubles is just being destroyed.

Here it is:

Last but not least, Islam is a deep & peaceful religion. It never accepts violence as some people think, but it supports peace. Islam is deeper and deeper, and all what I've said is just a tiny dot in the deep meaning of Islam.