Definition Of Islam

Definition Of Islam

The word ISLAM has a two-fold meaning: peace, and submission to God.

This submission requires a fully conscious and willing effort to submit to

the one Almighty God. One must consciously and conscientiously give

oneself to the service of Allah. This means to act on what Allah enjoins all

of us to do (in the Qur'an) and what His beloved Prophet, Muhammad

(pbuh) encouraged us to do in his Sunnah (his lifestyle and sayings

personifying the Qur'an)


Once we humble ourselves, rid ourselves of our egoism and submit totally

to Allah, and to Him exclusively, in faith and in action, we will surely feel

peace in our hearts. Establishing peace in our hearts will bring about

peace in our external conduct as well


Islam is careful to remind us that it not a religion to be paid mere lip

service; rather it is an all-encompassing way of life that must be

practiced continuously for it to be Islam. The Muslim must practice the

five pillars of the religion: the declaration of faith in the oneness of Allah

and the prophet hood of Muhammad (pbuh), prayer, fasting the month of

Ramadan, alms-tax, and the pilgrimage to Makkah; and believe in the six

articles of faith: belief in God, the Holy Books, the prophets, the angels,

the Day of Judgment and God's decree, whether for good or ill

There are other injunctions and commandments which concern virtually

all facets of one's personal, family and civic life. These include such

matters as diet, clothing, personal hygiene, interpersonal relations,

business ethics, responsibilities towards parents, spouse and children,

marriage, divorce and inheritance, civil and criminal law, fighting in

defense of Islam, relations with non-Muslims, and so much more