What does Islam mean?

  

What is “Islam”?

 

Islam means to lower one’s head.

 

It is mentioned in Tamheed Abu Shukoor that some jurisprudents differentiate between Islam and Imaan (faith).  The Shiites also hold the opinion that the one who obeys the Shariah but doesn’t know the sciences of revelation and reconciliation is a Muslim and a Momin is the one who knows them.

 

In the opinion of the Mutazilites, Imaan is the inward aspect and Islam is the outward aspect.  With a grave sin, a person goes out of the pale of Imaan, but not out of Islam.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has also differentiated between Islam and Imaan as He explained both of them using different words.  However, in the opinion of the majority of the Jurisprudents, the position of the Ahle Sunnah on this is that even though there is some linguistic difference between Islam, Imaan, Ma’arifah (gnosis) and Tauheed (Oneness of Allah Most High), there is no actual difference as the one who has all the 4 attributes is a believer and the one who lacks even one is not a believer.

 

Hadhrat Mulla ‘Ali Qari (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has written in Sharh Fiqh Akbar:

 

Islam means affirmation inwardly and obedience outwardly even there is some linguistic difference in them.  However, there can’t be any Imaan without Islam and vice versa.  They are like the outward and inward aspect and Deen (way of life) covers Imaan and Islam and all other rules of the Shariah.

 

It is mentioned in Sharh Maqaasid that Islam has become famous in the sense of Deen (i.e. way of life) and the word Imaan as the act of the heart.  For this reason, it is necessary to describe those things which come under Imaan (faith) like believing in the Lord Almighty, the Prophets, the divine books, etc.

 

It is known that on seeing the miracles and other proofs, the disbelievers would gain the certitude that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is the Prophet and that the Holy Quran is the Word of Allah Most High.  However, due to pride and such, they would remain insistent on their disbelief.  Some would affirm on the basis of that certitude and embrace Islam.  Even though the certitude is of the same kind, but the Muslims sweep aside everything and affirm, testify their faith, accept obedience to Islamic laws and hand over themselves to Almighty Allah and His Prophet that they exercise their authority and power as they wish.  This is because those body parts and faculties which are under the control of man are also subject to the authority of the Law-Giver.  This means that they should stop from some deeds and perform some so that it becomes clear whether they have fully accepted the authority of the Shariah.  For e.g., for hands the rule is that one should not commit any wrong deed with the hand and for legs that one shouldn’t walk towards any wrong thing and that nothing indecent or obscene should be uttered by the tongue.  By analogy, there are rules for doing something and not doing something for one’s ears, eyes, stomach, genitalia, etc.  Similarly for the inward faculties, like one’s thought process, etc. shouldn’t be directed towards evil and should be directed towards good, details of which are mentioned in jurisprudence and etiquette.

 

Thus, for all those body parts and faculties which are subject to the control of human beings, Almighty Allah has imposed His control as well to test them.  If one doesn’t accept the latter control, then one will be blamed with disobedience, which in turn will attest to the untruth of the claim of surrendering one’s outward and inward aspect to one’s Creator, even though it is necessary.  Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 

Surely, Allah has bought from the believers their souls and wealth in return for (the promise of) Paradise for them.  Surah Tauba (9:111)

 

Faith also demands that human being surrender their lives and wealth to Almighty Allah and His Prophet, which will authenticate the meaning of Islam.

 

This was the reason that no matter what incomprehensible thing the Companions heard from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), they would simply accept it.  And why would they not?  By seeing miracles day in and day out, their intellects had gained the certitude that the power of Almighty Allah is not bound by our intellects.  The Holy Prophet’s (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) journeying the heavenly realms with His physical body, Prophet ‘Isa’s (May peace be upon him) birth without any father, Prophet Moses’ (May peace be upon him) parting the river by striking his staff, birds being resurrected before Prophet Ibrahim (May peace be upon him), the genies and the angels having the power to conceal and reveal themselves, being resurrected with this body on the Day of Judgment, etc. which are mentioned in the Holy Quran and those which the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has informed of, a small mind cannot comprehend them.  However, they are nothing big for the power of Allah Most High.  Thus, those who claim Islam, it is necessary for them that along with their outward and inward aspect, they should surrender their intellects to Allah Most High and His Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Otherwise, along with Islam, they will have to bid goodbye to Imaan (i.e. faith) as well, as the aforementioned lines have shown that Islam is like the essence of Imaan.

 

The same is mentioned in the following verse of the Holy Quran:

 

Ibrahim (Abraham) said: ‘O my son, I have seen in a dream that I am sacrificing you. So think, what is your opinion?’ Isma‘il (Ishmael) said: ‘O my father, do that (immediately) which you are being commanded. If Allah wills, you will find me amongst the patient (and steadfast).’  So when both submitted (to the will of Allah i.e., both surrendered to Allah’s command), and Ibrahim (Abraham) laid him down on his forehead.  Surah Saffaat (37:102, 103)

 

The words of the verse “when both submitted” (Falammaa Aslama) are declaring what Islam.  On one hand, the affectionate father is ready with sword in hand to slaughter his beloved son and on the other hand, the son is laying his tender neck in the shade of that sword and saying:  Father!  Don’t delay in carrying out the order.  There is no thought as to what crime had he committed to be punished like this.  Neither is there any resentment that why should one be so zealous about a dream.  An ordinary mind can never accept that an innocent young man should be killed like this, but praise be to Allah! What Islam they had!  In spite of conferring with the son, he didn’t say that: Father.  A dream has its interpretation also.  Like milk in dreams is interpreted as knowledge.  You saw that you are slaughtering me.  This is not a certain command of Allah.

 

        Actually, Hadhrat Ismail (May peace be upon him) had understood from his father’s talk that Hadhrat Ibrahim (May peace be upon him) desired to slaughter him on the basis of that dream.  Thus, not finding any audacity to object in any way to the will of Prophet Ibrahim (May peace be upon him), he surrendered his outward and inward aspects and his intellect to him.

 

[Excerpted from Maqasid Ul Islam, Vol. 1]