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| The literal meaning of Islam is
peace; surrender of one’s will i.e. losing
oneself for the sake of God and surrendering
one’s 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’s other
beliefs are: God’s 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’s 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’s main message is to
worship God and to treat all God’s creation with
kindness and compassion. Rights of parents in
old age, orphans and the needy are clearly
stated. Women’s 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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