Introduction to ISLAM

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF ISLAM

The word Islam is a verbal noun originating from the triliteral root s-l-m, and is derived from the Arabic verb Aslama, which means "to accept, surrender or submit." Thus, Islam means acceptance of and submission to ALLAH, and believers must demonstrate this by worshipping him, following his commands, and avoiding polytheism. Hence, worshipping of IDOLS and any other GOD except ALLAH is prohibitted in Islam. Islam is also known as the Religion Of Peace. The person following Islam as his religion is known as a MUSLIM, which means "one who submits (to Allah)". Islam is a completed version of the same monotheistic faith that was revealed to all other prophets that are Adam (A.S), Nuh (A.S), Ibrahim (A.S), Musa (A.S) and Isa (A.S) before Rasulallah. Hence, Rasulallah is also known as the Seal Of the Prophets which means, HE is the last Prophet of ALLAH to lead mankind.

Before the revelations of the Quran, Rasulallah was a merchant and was involved in trade. It was when Prophet Mohammed's age was 40, when, the first Quranic revelation was revealed to him by Jibrael, Allah's angel at Mount Hira. He asked Rasulallah to say the following:

"Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created- Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- He Who taught (the use of) the pen,- Taught man that which he knew not."(Qur'an 96:1-5)

The first male person to bring Islam on the hands of Rasulallah was his cousin brother Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib who later married Maulatena Fatema-tuz-Zahra, the beloved daughter of Rasulallah. The first female to bring Islam was Prophet Mohammed's wife, Maulatena Khadija. While writing this I remember the word's of our beloved Aqa Maula, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, wherein he explained that there were people who said that Imam Ali cannot be the first person to accept Islam because he was a child, but then, were they greater than Rasulallah to comment on whether Ali's Islam is accepted or not??

Pillar's of Islam:

There are Seven Pillars of Islam:

1. Walayah - Love and devotion for ALLAH, His Prophets, The Imam's and the DAI's.

2. Taharah - This means purity and cleanliness of one's self.

3. Salat - Salat means prayers or in better words NAMAZ. It is mandatory for a muslim to pray Namaz 5 times a day.

4. Zakat - It means charity and purifying religious dues.

5. Sawm - Sawn relates to fasting or Roza. Fasting is an important pillar of Islam as it helps to purify one's soul from all the sins.

6. Hajj - It refers to pilgrimage to MECCA.

7. Jihad - It means holy war.