Question :- What is Islam? Or what do you know about Islam? Or what do you know about meaning of Islam? How many pillars are there in Islam? Discuss with verses of Quran and Sunnah.

Question :- What is Islam? Or what do you know about Islam? Or what do you know about meaning of Islam? How many pillars are there in Islam? Discuss with verses of Quran and Sunnah.

 

Introduction :

          Islam is the complete code of life and surely the way of acceptable to Allah. It is the best universal model for all humanity. It covers all the things people do in their life time. Over all Islam shows us the best way to conduct our private, social, political, economical, moral and spiritual affairs of life. For this reason the Quran states that-

وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآَخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ  

         

          And whoever seek a religion other than Islam. It will never be accepted of him and in the here after he will be one of the losers. If Allah wants I am describing according to question about it’s details below.

What is Islam :

If we want to know about Islam properly we should know about it’s verbal meaning and definition.

Verbal meaning of Islam :

The word Islam is a verbal noun. It comes from the root ( سلم ) silm which means-

(a)  To surrender

(b)  To submit

(c)  To resign

(d)  To show loyalty

(e)  To abide by

 Thus, ( اسلم امره الى الله ) meaning : He committed his cause to Allah. Allah said in the holy quran-                    اذ قال ربه اسلم قال اسلمت لرب العالمين     

When his lord said him submit (be a Muslim), He said, I have submitted myself (as Muslim) to the lord of the alamin (mankind, jinn and all the exist)

         

          And Islam ( الاسلام ) also is from ( سلم ) salam means : 1. Peace

                                                                                            2. Tranquility

                                                                                            3. Comfort

                                                                                            4. Weal

          After all Islam means entering into peace, so the meaning of Islam is combined with one another (surrender and peace). In short speach Islam is to make peace in life by surrendering to Allah.

Definition of Islam :

          The best definition of Islam is the definition of prophet (saw). He said,

الاسلام ان تشهد ان لااله الا الله وان محمد رسول الله و تقيم الصلوة وتؤتى الزكوة وتصوم رمضان والحج البيت ان استطعت اليه سبيلا

Islam is to testify of you that there is no deity (owing the right to be worshipped) but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s messenger to offer the prayers, to pay zakat (poor tax), to perform Hajj and to do serve that during the month of Ramadan.

·       Imam Abu Hanifa said: Islam is surrendering to Allah by obeying the order of Allah and his prophet (saw) and avoiding form forbidden things by them.

·        The author of mujamul oasit states: To show modesty and allow everything what the prophet (sow) brought out from Allah.

·       Al Quamusul fiqhe: Islam is to abide by all what about the Allah’s apostle said to obey.

·       George burnudsahw said: Islam is not only s religion but also a complete, comprehensive, dynamic, and scientific code of life.

Pillars of Islam :

          Narrated ibn umar Allah’s apostle said,

 عن ابن عمر رضى الله عنهما قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : بني الاسلام على خمس شهادة ان لا اله الا الله وان محمد رسول الله واقام الصلوة وايتاء اللزكاة والحج وصوم رمضان – (الحديث متفق عليه)

Islam is based on (the following) five (pillars) –

1.    To testify that there is no deity (Appropriate for worship) but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s messenger.

2.    To offer the prayers.

3.    To pay Zakat.

4.    To perform Hajj.

5.    To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. (Bukhari and Muslim).

To testify about Allah and his prophet (saw) :

          According to sunnah the first pillar of Islam is to testify that there is no ilah but Allah. (None has the right to be worshiped but him) and that muhammad (saw) is the messenger of Allah. Thus, Hadith Zibrael said-

وقال يأمحمد : اخبرنى عن الاسلام- فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : الاسلام ان تشهد ان لااله الاالله وان محمدا عبده ورسوله  - ( الجزء من حديث جبرائيل)

          This is a part of Hadith of prophet (saw). That refers about testify to Allah and his messenger. This oral and cordial faith or trust about Allah demands that all kinds of power of source and only one owner of sovereignty is Allah. The second part of this faith about the messenger of Allah demands that all kinds of order and prohibition about every part of life will be recognized from his. It is obligatory to be a muslim or to enter into Islam because all performances of Islam is depended on the Testimony about this two things.

         

To offer the prayers :

          The second pillar of Islam is to perform the obligatory prays (Salat) (perfectly fulfilling all it its condition and with full submission to Allah). Allah states in the Quran-

 وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآَتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِين                                        (البقرة : 43(

         

          And keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and bow down with those who bow down. After trusting to Allah and his prophet. The most important duty of a muslim is to perform five times salat in a day. Allah said-               ((العنكبوت : 45              وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ

         

          And keep up prayer, Surly prayer keeps (one) away from indecency and evil. It is a sign of unity and brotherhood. The prophet (saw) said the only one variety between muslim and non muslim is salat. The five times prayer in a day refreshes as well as our body and mind.       

To pay Zakat :

         It is one of the most significant pillar of Islam to pay the poor-rate (the obligatory charity). If a muslim owns 7.5 tolas of gold or 52.5 tolas of silver or an equivalent amount of money. He should pay 2.5 percent as zakat. It is also the basic of Islamic economic system. We see in the holy Quran how many time Allah said about salat. He also said about zakat (poor tax).

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآَتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ (البقرة : 110)

         

          And keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and whatever good you send before for yourselves. You shall fond it with Allah. Surely Allah sees what you do.

          We know that to remove poverty from our society the zakat system is very very important.

To perform Hajj :

          We know that to perform Hajj is a pillar of Islam. The prophet (saw) said-   وتحج البيت ان استطعت اليه سبيلا

        

         To perform hajj for those who can afford it in terms of money, health, security and legal company in cas-of women is obligatory to be a complete muslim. The hajj eject () from people, all kinds of people, white, black, rich, poor. They gather in same place as like own brothers. There is no friction, no pride among them, so it is a symbol of world wise unity and universal brotherhood. Allah said-  

وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ( العمران : 97)

         

          At last we can say that the hajj is the greatest conference of muslim ummah/nation.

To observe fast :

          The holy prophet (saw) said :

وتصوم رمضان / وفى حديث اخ)(    : صوم رمضان

        

         To fast the month of Ramadan is another pillar of Islam. The fast is to abstain from eating, drinking, sex and all other things that are not permitted during fasting from dawn to sunset. It is very beneficial for our health that is proved by scientists. The fast also develops our mind. It is helps us to learn abstinence and how to we fear Allah. The fast also learn how to make a man his spiritual life. Allah said-  

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (البقرة : 183)

         

          O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you so that you may guard (against evil).

          The fast is likable worship to Allah. So Allah states in Hadith kudsi- الصوم لى وانااجزى به                                                                                

          Fasting for me and I will pay the return of the fast myself.

Conclution :

          Islam is the complete code of life. It describes all parts of life such as particular, social, religious, political, national, International and global life. So every people should know about Islam to bring out the peace in society. Allah states that:ان الدين عند الله الاسلام (العمران : 19)                                   Surely, the way of life acceptable to Allah is Islam.