The word Islam has an Arabic root that means, To accept peace, complete submission, surrender, and obedience.
The religion of Islam is defined as ”the complete and total submission to no other person than Allah (SWT)”.
This is the beauty of Islam: following one creator gives the follower strength, removes ambiguity, and increases their obedience.
Characteristics of Islam
Islam, which means submission to Allah, is the only true religion in the world. Islam has different characteristics, which makes it a unique, eternal, complete, and the true path of life.
Although Islam, which is completely indigenous and natural, is helping the followers in every aspect.
These properties are mentioned in the Qur’an and hadiths. The important and basic characteristics of Islam are summarised in the figure.
The Five Pillars of Islam
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad said Islam has been built on five pillars which are;
- Testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
- Establishing the Salah (Namaz, Prayer)
- Paying the Zakat (Obligatory charity)
- Performing the Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House of Kaaba
- Fasting in Ramadan.” (Bukhari)
The Spreading of Islam
Religion has a fundamental role in societal, political, financial, and international relationships.
Its role is also important, even in these modern and industrialised periods.
It is the blessing of Almighty Allah that created us Muslims and gave us the true, natural, and complete code of life.
In the world today, there are more than 4000 religions, faiths, and denominations. The top five dominant religions are Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism.
Currently, Islam is considered the world’s fastest-growing religion. The reasons behind the fast spreading of Islam are its truthfulness, completion, solution to every problem, natural versatility, freedom from race and region, and love.
Today, Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, with 1.8 billion followers. The major reason for its attractiveness is that it is the gift of Allah, the Creator, the Mighty, and the Lord of the Universe.
In the Qur’an, it is mentioned that Allah says to His messenger and last Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W);
‘Indeed, you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the rightly guided.
(Surah Al-Qasas; 56).
It’s clearly shown that accepting Islam is nothing more than the mercy and blessing of Allah. Being a Muslim, it is our prime responsibility to understand and learn Islam, and once we know more about our true religion, we definitely will follow it better and convey the message to others as well.
Therefore, the aim of this article is to provide meaningful and easy-to-understand materials to the followers (Muslims), and hence they will know more and will help in the preaching of Islam.
In conclusion, Islam is the true religion of the world and the only divine religion to follow. The basics of Islam are solid concepts and are like a building with five key pillars.
To sustain the building of Islam, it is mandatory to keep its pillars constant. Besides these basic pillars, other properties like universality, truthfulness, humanity, rights of others, and comprehensive nature are the main characteristics of the religion of Islam.
The followers of Islam are called Muslims, and their number is increasing rapidly.
May Allah keep us true followers of Islam.
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