What is the Religion, Islam?

[Habeeb Rahman]

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

 

There are several isms, religions and ideologies in the world. But to get acceptance before Almighty Allah and to achieve the eternal success, we should live as Muslim. Allah proclaims in holy Qur’an:

إن الدين عند الله الإسلام

“The (acceptable) Religion before Allah is Islam.”

A Muslim is the bearer of Truth. He is the possessor of a magnificent ideology too. He has been provided with a fabulous framework to lead a regal life. His soul, notwithstanding his being rich or poor, employer or employee, fit or feeble, always feels peace and serenity.

 

What is the Religion, Islam?

What is meant by Islam? Is it a mere ideology? Or is it a confinement made out of certain deeds? No, never. Holy Islam, apart from inculcating belief and action, consists of Ihsan which leads him to Almighty Allah, the Creator and the Sustainer. This is the Islam, which comprises of Belief (الإيمان), Action (الإسلام) and Ihsan (الإحسان), introduced by Prophet Muhammad T.>

Umar Bin Qathab (R.A) says:

بينما نحن عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ذات يوم إذ طلع علينا رجل شديد بياض الثياب شديد سواد الشعر لا يرى عليه أثر السفر ولا يعرفه منا أحد حتى جلس إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فأسند ركبتيه إلى ركبتيه ووضع كفيه على فخذيه وقال يا محمد أخبرنى عن الإسلام. فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: الإسلام أن تشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله وتقيم الصلاة وتؤتى الزكاة وتصوم رمضان وتحج البيت إن استطعت إليه سبيلا. قال صدقت. قال فعجبنا له يسأله ويصدقه. قال فأخبرنى عن الإيمان. قال أن تؤمن بالله وملائكته وكتبه ورسله واليوم الآخر وتؤمن بالقدر خيره وشره . قال صدقت. قال فأخبرنى عن الإحسان. قال: أن تعبد الله كأنك تراه فإن لم تكن تراه فإنه يراك.

“One day we were sitting in the company of Allah's Messenger when there appeared before us a man dressed in pure white clothes, his hair extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on him. None amongst us recognized him. At last he sat with the Messenger T. He knelt before him placed his palms on his thighs and said: Muhammad, inform me about al-Islam. The Messenger of Allah T said: Al-Islam implies that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and you establish prayer, pay Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the (House) if you are solvent enough (to bear the expense of) the journey. He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth. He (Umar ibn al-Khathab) said: It amazed us that he would put the question and then he would himself verify the truth. He (the inquirer) said: Inform me about Eiman (faith). He (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil. He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth. He (the inquirer) again said: Inform me about al-Ihsan (performance of good deeds). He (the Holy Prophet) said: That you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, for though you don't see Him, He, verily, sees you.”

قال ثم انطلق فلبثت مليا ثم قال لى: يا عمر أتدرى من السائل؟ قلت: الله ورسوله أعلم. قال:  فإنه جبريل أتاكم يعلمكم دينكم. 

“He (the narrator, Umar ibn al-Khathab) said: Then he (the inquirer) went on his way but I stayed with him (the Holy Prophet) for a long while. He then, said to me: Umar, do you know who this inquirer was? I replied: Allah and His Messenger know best. He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: He was Jibreel (the angel). He came to you in order to instruct you in matters of religion.”

Out of this Holy Hadeeth we got a thing, that is, to become the holder of the Perfect Islam, the three elements Islam, Eiman and Ihsan should unite in our life. Only then can we realize the success. The Swahaba, through their life, conveyed this prolific message of Islam.

Dear brother,

Have you ever thought of how to lead the journey of life? Have you ever bothered of what means should you accept to conquer the beguiling zeniths of spiritual success? Have you ever put your efforts into work to get blessed with the blissful vision of Allah, the Master? Have you felt any sort of pleasure in your prayers and worships?  I question you for not question; but with an intention to make you question your own notion.

How can we sanctify our life and soul? Who are our torchbearers? And which is the True Path?

No need of too much thinking to get an answer. Prophet Muhammad T and Swahaba are the ideals before us. The way of life they practiced should be the mode of our living. There are none but them deserved to be followed.