What is Islam ?
Collected and edited by: Mohammad Hashim Bastawi
The Arabic term ‘Islam’ meaning «submission», points to the fundamental religious creed which dictates that a Muslim submit to the will of Allah, conforming inwardly and outwardly to His laws.
The religion of Islam lays great emphasis on uncompromising monotheism and strict adherence to certain creeds and acts of worship. It enjoins submitting to the will of Allah and following the exemplary way of the life of Muhammad, the last of the Prophets and Messengers, may peace be on them all.
Allah, the Exalted created the universe and what is in it that He be recognized as the One and only God. He created man and jinn only to celebrate His praise and worship Him. His words signify:
{وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ} [الذاريات: 56]
“I have only created Jinns and men, that they may Serve Me. [51: 56]
The ways and acts of worship are not left to man’s option or choice. Allah is the One Who ordains and decrees all acts of worship and the means in which they must be observed. Since Islam deals in every aspect of life, spiritual and physical, its jurisprudence is based on creeds, acts of worship and ordinances regarding social, economical and political transactions. Because Islam is a perfect way of life, it enjoins maintaining a refined code of manners.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “إِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ لِأُتَمِّمَ صَالِحَ الْأَخْلَاقِ” (مسند أحمد: 8952)
The Messenger of Allah said: ”Verily, I have been sent to accomplish the fine manners”. [Musnad Ahmad: 8952]
Allah has praised the fine manners of His Messenger saying:
{ وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ} [القلم: 4]
“And surely thou hast sublime morals”. [68: 4]
A’ishah the wife of the Messenger of Allah, peace be on him, was asked about his manners. She said:
عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ هِشَامِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ: أَتَيْتُ عَائِشَةَ، فَقُلْتُ: يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَخْبِرِينِي بِخُلُقِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَتْ: ” كَانَ خُلُقُهُ الْقُرْآنَ، أَمَا تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ، قَوْلَ [ص:149] اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: {وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ} [القلم: 4] ” (مسند أحمد: 24601)
“His manners were al-Qur’an”. [Musnad Ahmad: 24601 ]
A’ishah meant that the Prophet, peace be on him, clung to the Qur’an, it rules of discipline. its commands. its prohibitions, and the excellent, beautiful and gracious things comprised in it. For this reason Allah commands the believers to follow the exemplary life of His Messenger, peace be on him. saying:
{لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ } [الأحزاب: 21]
”Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exempler”. [33: 21]
Islam enjoins good manners for every occasion. seeking permission, greeting, sitting, eating, learning, teaching. sporting. travelling. dressing. visiting, sleeping, marriage, treating people, particularly relatives and neighhours with kindness. etc.
Codes of all such great manners are found in both the Qur’an and the Prophetic traditions of the Messenger of Allah . peace he on him. The family enjoys a high status in Islam. It is the core of society; a healthy family means a healthy society; hence Allah, the Exalted commands to treat them with gentleness and submissiveness saying:
{وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِنْدَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُلْ لَهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُلْ لَهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا (23) وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُلْ رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا} [الإسراء: 23، 24]
“Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye he kind to parentsWhether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them aword of contempt, nor repel them but address them, in terms of honour. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: ‘My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood”. [17: 23, 24]
Next to family comes the kindred. The Messenger of Allah, peace be on him, said:
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الرَّحِمُ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِالْعَرْشِ تَقُولُ مَنْ وَصَلَنِي وَصَلَهُ اللهُ، وَمَنْ قَطَعَنِي قَطَعَهُ اللهُ» (صحيح البخاري: 5989، صحيح مسلم: 2555)
that Allah has promised to he kind to him who behaves kindly to his kindred, and to sever him who severs his kindred by unkind behavior.
[Excerpted: from Maktabah Dhahbiyah]
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