What is Islam?

  

Islam is to know first and then to act on it.  A person can be a non-Muslim without knowledge as that person was born a non-Muslim, but any person can’t be a Muslim without knowledge, as a human being isn’t a Muslim by birth but becomes a Muslim through knowledge.  As long as a person doesn’t know what the teachings of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) are, how can that person believe in them and act upon them!  Thus, it is now understood that with ignorance it is not possible to be a Muslim and to remain a Muslim.

 

Every person who was born in a Muslim household, whose name is like Muslims’ name, who calls himself Muslim isn’t (necessarily) a Muslim.  Instead that person is a Muslim who knows what Islam is and then believes in it.  The difference between a Muslim and non-Muslim isn’t only of name and clothing, but the real difference between them is one of knowledge.  That person is a non-Muslim who doesn’t know the relationship of the Lord Almighty with him and his relationship with the Lord Almighty and what is the straight path to lead a life in this world as per the will and intent of Almighty Allah.

 

The person who doesn’t know at all the difference between Islam and apostasy and the difference between Tauheed and Shirk is like the person who is walking down a narrow path in utter darkness.  It might be that while walking down the path, he might set off on another path and may not even know that he has swerved from the right path and it might be that Satan misguides him and takes him to somewhere else.  That person faces these difficulties only because he doesn’t have a light with him and can’t see the milestones of the path himself.  If that person has light, then neither will he forget the path nor can anyone else mislead him.  By analogy, the greatest danger for a Muslim is that he, himself isn’t aware of the teachings of Islam.  That he himself doesn’t know what the Holy Quran teaches and what instructions the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given.  Because of this ignorance, that person himself can swerve off the right path and Satan can also mislead him.  If that person has the light of knowledge, then at every step of life, that person can see the right path of Islam.  Whatever paths of misguidance and sins cross that path, he can recognize them and protect himself from them.  When he meets those who want to misguide him, after a few words only that person will understand that this person wants to misguide him, I shouldn’t follow him.

 

Only 2 things separate a Muslim from a non-Muslim.  One is knowledge.  The other is deeds.  What it means is that first that person should realize who his Lord is?  What are His rules?  What is the method of obeying His intent?  What deeds please Him and which displease Him?  Then when one gets to know this, that person should make himself a slave of the Lord.  Whatever the intent of the Lord, he should obey it and whatever isn’t, he should abandon it.

 

This is knowledge and deeds through which a Muslim can become a beloved slave of Almighty Allah and the mercy of Allah descends on him.  And Almighty Allah grants him honor.  A non-Muslim doesn’t have this knowledge and because he is unaware, he doesn’t act upon it.  Thus, he becomes the disobedient slave of Almighty Allah and Almighty Allah will deprive that person of His mercy.

 

The person who is more cognizant of Allah Most High and obeys Him more, that person is more honorable with Almighty Allah.  Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon him) was born in the house of an idol maker, Aazar, but he recognized Almighty Allah and obeyed Him.  Thus, Almighty Allah made him a great Prophet on whom, Allah-willing, until the very Day of Judgment, Muslims will keep sending greetings and salutations (Durood) in Salaat along with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

The son of Hadhrat Nooh (May peace be upon him) was born in the house of a Prophet, but he neither did he recognize Almighty Allah nor did he obey Him.  Thus, Almighty Allah paid no attention to his family and punished him so severely that the whole world draws lessons from it.

 

Understand clearly that in the opinion of Almighty Allah, the difference between Muslims is on the basis of knowledge and deeds.  In this world and in the hereafter as well, the mercy of Almighty Allah is only for those who recognize Him and the path which He has ordained and obey Him.  Those people who don’t have these qualities will not receive any share from that mercy.

 

When you see a house, you see that there are pillars in it.  There is a roof in it.  There are walls as well and this compendium is called a house.  Then that house has a foundation as well on which that house stands.  In the same way, Islam is also a compendium.  It also has parts and a foundation as well.  The 5 articles are the basic principles of Islam, without which Islam can’t remain and along with it, affirmation from the heart is also the most important part of it, which is hidden in the heart of a Muslim.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  There are 5 articles, which Almighty Allah has declared Obligatory (Fardh) in Islam:

 

1.    Testifying to the Unity of Allah and the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

2.    Salaat

 

3.    Fasting

 

4.    Zakaat

 

5.    Hajj

 

Numbers 1 to 3 are obligatory on every Muslim.  Numbers 4 and 5 are obligatory only on wealthy Muslims.

 

Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) says:  The person who doesn’t give Zakaat in spite of being wealthy, his (or her) Salaat is also not accepted.

 

The specialty of Islam is that it presents a picture of great civilization and culture to the world.  Islam, which calls to it, demands its followers to practically present the proof of its claim.  Those Muslims who fulfill this demand, their faith is true and absolute.

 

Islam is a powerful document of the pleasure and approval of the Lord Almighty and is a divine unchangeable code of life for every department and aspect of life.

 

By describing the reality of Islam, one can understand who the perfect Muslims are.  Islam has 5 parts.  When pillars, roof and walls are not there for a house, then it will not be called a house and neither can any benefit be drawn from it.  Similarly, Islam has 5 constituents.