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The literal meaning of Islam is peace;
surrender of one𠏋 will i.e. losing oneself for the sake
of God and surrendering one𠏋 own pleasure for the
pleasure of God. The message of Islam was revealed to
the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings on him)
1, 400 years ago. It was revealed through angel Gabriel
(on whom be peace) and was thus preserved in the Holy
Quran. The Holy Quran carries a Divine guarantee of
safeguard from interpolation and it claims that it
combines the best features of the earlier scriptures.
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The prime message of Islam is the Unity
of God, that the Creator of the world is One and He
alone is worthy of worship and that Muhammad (peace and
blessings on him) is His Messenger and Servant. The
follower of this belief is thus a Muslim - a Muslim𠏋
other beliefs are: God𠏋 angels, previously revealed
Books of God, all the prophets, from Adam to Jesus
(peace be on them both), the Day of Judgement and indeed
the Decree of God. A Muslim has five main duties to
perform, namely; bearing witness to the Unity of God and
Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) as His Messenger,
observing the prescribed prayer, payment of Zakat,
keeping the fasts of Ramadhan and performing the
pilgrimage to Mecca. |
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Islam believes that each person is born
pure. The Holy Quran tells us that God has given human
beings a choice between good and evil and to seek God𠏋
pleasure through faith, prayer and charity. Islam
believes that God created mankind in His image and by
imbuing the attributes of God on a human level mankind
can attain His nearness. Islam𠏋 main message is to
worship God and to treat all God𠏋 creation with
kindness and compassion. Rights of parents in old age,
orphans and the needy are clearly stated. Women𠏋 rights
were safeguarded 1,400 years ago when the rest of the
world was in total darkness about emancipation. Islamic
teachings encompass every imaginable situation and its
rules and principles are truly universal and have stood
the test of time. |
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In Islam virtue does not connote
forsaking the bounties of nature that are lawful. On the
contrary one is encouraged to lead a healthy, active
life with the qualities of kindness, chastity, honesty,
mercy, courage patience and politeness. In short, Islam
has a perfect and complete code for the guidance of
individuals and communities alike. As the entire message
of Islam is derived from the Holy Quran and indeed the
Sunnah and Hadith (the traditions and practices of the
Holy Prophet, peace and blessings on him) it is
immutable in the face of change in time and place. It
may appear rigid to the casual eye, in actual fact it is
most certainly an adaptable way of life regardless of
human changes. |
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Islam teaches that the path to
spiritual development is open to all. Any individual who
searches the One Creator can seek nearness to God
through sincere and earnest worship; it is central to
establishing a relationship with the Almighty. This
positive message for humanity fills hearts with hope and
courage. |
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At present there are 1.5 billion
Muslims worldwide and they form the majority in more
than 50 countries of the world. Today Islam is the
fastest growing faith in the world - its beautiful
message is reaching millions in the far corner of the
earth. | |
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