The Message of Islam can be briefly
stated in the following three topics Principles, Forms of Worship and Standards
of Behavior.
A. Principles:
There is a collection of
principles in Islam that one has to accept to be a Muslim. The most important
among them are:
(1)
This material world is not the be-all of existence.
(2)
Everything in this universe has been created from nothingness by one God, Allah
the Almighty.
(3)
Allah (God), Glory Be To Him, is the only One Who grants life and causes death.
It is He who has created everything, and if He wishes He will destroy and obliterate
it.
(4)
The Shari’a (Divine Law) is revealed so that they can guide humanity to it. The
Noble Qur’an has remained intact. The last of these Prophets is Muhammad Ibn
Abdullah, an Arab of the Quraysh tribe.
B. Forms of Worship:
These forms of Ibadah (worship) lead
human beings to success and righteousness in both this life and the Hereafter.
First:
One has to perform the prescribed Salah (prayer) at Dawn 2 Rak'as, Midday 4,
Later afternoon 4, After sunset 3, and at night 4 Rak'as during which one has
communion with his Lord. Before offering Salah (prayer) one has to perform Wudu
or take a bath if one is in a state of ritual impurity.
Second:
In the month of Ramadan (Fasting) of every year.
Third:
a Muslim has to render 2.5% of his wealth as Zakah (Charity) to the poor and
needy.
Fourth:
There is the annual world congregation, in Makkah, known as Hajj (Pilgrimage).
C. Standards of Behavior
Some actions which are deplored by all
sensible people and condemned as evil actions. They are acts such as killing
without a valid reason, encroachment and aggression on others all forms of
injustice, all intoxicants which affect the brain, zina (adultery and fornication),
Riba (usury), utterance of lies, cheating, betrayal and deserting military
service which seeks to uphold the cause of Allah (God) and above all, disobedience
to one's parents, making a false oath and producing false witness. The
punishment will, however, be only temporary and will not be equal to that of
Kafir (disbeliever).
D. The Sweetness of Faith
"You should worship Allah (God) as though you see Him; for
though you do not see Him, He sees you". This is the
essence of Islam. It enjoins upon every Muslim to be God-conscious in all his
actions, seen or unseen, serious or non-serious.
CONCLUSION
Islam is the religion articulated by the
Al-quran (the verbatim word of God) and by the teaching and normative example
(called Sunnah and Hadits) of Muhammad, the last Prophet of Islam. Adherent of
Islam is called a Muslim who also believe that Islam is the complete and
universal version of a primordial faith and believe that the purpose of
existence is to worship God.