Rediscovering Islam (Submission)

Most people know but do not recognise and comprehend what the word “Islam” really means. It is high time that it should be re-discovered. This is because what is going around under the “brand” of Islam is not just a fake but a totally shameful, disfigured and mutilated copy of the immaculate original. True Islam is under an enormous assault from various quarters almost entirely and most regrettably from people who claim to be “Muslims.” We can, Insha Allah (God willing), argue our case rationally, persuasively and convincingly and rebut the charges.

Islam is not named after a person as in the case of Zoroastrianism after Zoroaster, Buddhism after Gautama Buddha, Confucianism after Confucius and Christianity after Jesus Christ. Nor was it named after a tribe – Judaism – after the tribe of Judah or a geographical area – Hinduism - after the inhabitants of the land of the River Indus.

Islam is not a religion brought by Prophet Muhammad in 7^th Century Arabia.

It is the true religion of God re-expressed in its final form.

[5:3] …. Today, I have completed your religion, perfected My blessing upon you, and I have decreed Submission as the religion for you.

It is the religion given to Adam, and it was the religion of all the Prophets and Messengers sent by God to humankind from time to time. It is the one religion approved by God.

[3:85] Anyone who accepts other than Submission as his religion, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, he will be with the losers.

[3:67] Abraham was neither Jewish, nor Christian; he was a monotheist submitter. He never was an idol worshiper.

We do not find anywhere in the Bible, God saying to the Children of Israel, to Prophet Moses or their descendants that their religion is Judaism, or to the followers of Christ that their religion is now Christianity.

The essence of worship is a complete submission to the Will of God and thus the core understanding of Islam is that we must worship God alone and directly and reject the worship of any person, place, animal, event or thing. Since everything in the universes is God’s own creation we can say that Islam in its spirit calls us away from the worship of creation and invites to worship only the Creator. A Creator will always be greater than a creation.

When we are aware that God is One and is distinct from His creation we become a true Muslim both in body and soul.  However, merely recognising will not do, we have to submit and choose between right and wrong and such a choice involves accountability. Only then can we start the process of eligibility to Paradise. 

We are responsible for our choices and as such we should try our utmost to do good and avoid evil. The ultimate good would be the worship of God alone and the ultimate evil would be the worship of anything beside and/or besides God.

Cont’d on page 2