Introduction of Islam

Subject: Introduction of Islam Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:29 pm

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
» O AłłaH! YΘµ are fΘrgiviηg, aηd γΘµ łΘve fΘrgiveηess. SΘρłease fΘrgive мe.
The literal meaning of Islam ispeace; surrender of one’s willi.e. losing oneself for the sakeof God and surrendering one’s own pleasure for the pleasure of God. The messageof Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) 1, 400 years ago. It was revealed through angel Gabriel (on whom be peace) and was thus preserved in theHoly Quran. The Holy Quran carries a Divine guarantee of safeguard from interpolation and it claims that it combines the best features of the earlier scriptures. The prime message of Islam is the Unity of God, that the Creator of the world is One and He alone is worthy of worship and that Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) is His Messenger and Servant. The follower of this belief is thus aMuslim - a Muslim’s other beliefs are: God’s angels previously revealed Books of God, all the prophets, from Adam to Jesus (peace be on them both), the Day of Judgement and indeed the Decree of God. A Muslim has five main duties to perform, namely; bearing witness to the Unity of God and Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) as His Messenger, observing the prescribed prayer, payment of Zakat, keeping the fasts of Ramadhan and performing the pilgrimage to Mecca. Islam believes that each person is born pure. The HolyQuran tells us that God has given human beings a choice between good and evil and toseek God’s pleasure through faith, prayer and charity. Islam believes that God created mankind in His imageand by imbuing the attributesof God on a human level mankind can attain His nearness. Islam’s main message is to worship God and to treat all God’s creationwith kindness and compassion. Rights of parentsin old age, orphans and the needy are clearly stated. Women’s rights were safeguarded 1,400 years ago when the rest of the world was in total darkness about emancipation. Islamic teachings encompass every imaginable situation and its rules and principles are truly universal and have stood the test of time. In Islam virtue does not connote forsaking the bounties of nature that are lawful. On the contrary one is encouraged to lead a healthy, active life with the qualities of kindness, chastity, honesty, mercy, courage patience and politeness. In short, Islam has a perfect andcomplete code for the guidance of individuals and communities alike. As the entire message of Islam is derived from the Holy Quran and indeed the Sunnah and Hadith (the traditions and practices of the Holy Prophet,peace and blessings on him) itis immutable in the face of change in time and place. It may appear rigid to the casual eye, in actual fact it is most certainly an adaptable way of life regardless of human changes. Islam teaches that the path to spiritual development is open to all. Any individual who searches the One Creator canseek nearness to God through sincere and earnest worship; it is central to establishing a relationship with the Almighty. This positive message for humanityfills hearts with hope and courage. At present there are 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide and they form the majority in more than 50 countries of the world. TodayIslam is the fastest growing faith in the world - its beautiful message is reaching millions in the far corner of the earth.