Easily Understand Islam

What Is Islam?

By F. Kamal
(An excerpt from a book about the religion of Islam called “Easily Understand Islam“)

Islam is a way of life. It is simple, practical, and easy to understand.

FIVE PILLARS
Islam is based on five pillars.

One
To declare ”There is no deity but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.” Islam is based primarily on the holy book of Muslims: the Quran (the word of God) and secondarily on the authentic sunnah (the example of the prophet).

Note: The ulema (Islamic scholars) have historically played an important role as leaders in Muslim societies and in explaining (called tafsir) the Quran and the sunnah (life and example) of the Prophet. Of themselves, however, they do not have the authority to forgive or to define right (halal) or wrong (haram). Rather they help elucidate concepts and define principles. There is no priesthood in Islam. A Muslim does not have to have any “intermediary” between himself and God.

Two
Salat: To worship God in prayer five times a day.

Three
Sawm: To fast during the month of Ramadan. (The purpose of fasting in Islam during Ramadan is not penance for sins, but rather to develop taqwa —God-consciousness.)

Four
Zakat: To give charity to the poor.

Five
Hajj: To perform pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime if one has the financial means and health to do so.

Note: It is important to recognize that God does not “need” or “require” anything from His creation. God is not a “needy god.” That would be to misunderstand God’s Power and Majesty. Thus, worship, for example, is for the benefit of the worshiper not God. And indeed prayer disciplines, purifies, and elevates the worshipper.

Islamic articles of faith
There are six basic articles of faith.

One
To believe in God.

Two
His Angels.

Three
His Apostles (like Abraham, Noah, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Jonah, David, Solomon, Moses, and Jesus ) .

Four
His revealed books (e.g. Taurat, Zabur to David, Injeel to Jesus, & Quran). (According to Muslim belief, only the Quran –alternative spellings: Qur’an or Koran – however is available today in an original, pure form.)

Five
To believe in resurrection, the Day of Judgment, and Heaven and Hell.

Six
Divine Decree: That God is omniscient (All Knowing) and has power over all things.

Who Is A Muslim?
If you believe, sincerely in your heart, the five pillars and the articles of faith you are a Muslim. It is that simple!

Summary
For Muslims, Islam is a very simple, practical, and balanced religion. One can communicate directly with God. There is no need for intermediaries like priests. There is no sharp delineation between worldly and spiritual realms. Perhaps an illustrative example of this is that, while some religious traditions may have encouraged clerical celibacy amongst their religious hierarchy Islam in contrast encourages marriage amongst its adherents.. “Marriage is one half your deen [e.g. religion]” (Baihaqi) is well known among Muslims. Almost all Muslim leaders have been married (and usually with lots of children!). Muslims thus view their religion as practical — and as a mercy from God.

Religion is not seen as something special to be isolated from life but as an integral part of everyday life. As one non-Muslim remarked a century ago while journeying in Muslim lands: “the average man on the street in Islam has the same intensity for his religion as we see in our priests.” Islam is not an abstract idealism but rather a complete way of life well within the grasp and understanding of the average individual. It forms the dynamic core of societal life in active Muslim communities.

Muslims would say that following Islam is like returning to a natural and intuitive path for humans that leads to peace and contentment of the soul.

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