True meaning of islam
The first thing to look at when we talk about Islam is the meaning of the word "Islam" it self
Literally islam means " peace, surrender, purity"
The Islamic meaning of the word is the complete submission to God's commands, worshipping Him alone, which makes One lives in peace with himself & with others .
Let's answer together some questions that may be risen about Islam.
First of all, does Islam rejects others holly religions such as Christianity & Judaism???
The answer to this question stems from the Quran where Allah says
“
Say: We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and "
that given to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes, and
that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to all prophets
from their Lord: We make no difference between one and
another of them and we submit to Allah (Muslims)")”
2:136
Indispensable part of the Muslims faith is to believe in all the messengers of Allah & respect them as they do to Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon them all)
So being a muslim believing in Muhammed doesn’t mean to disrespect Jesus or Moses, in contrast if One does so he\she is not considered a true believer.
Did prophet Muhammed (PBUH) encourage people to be violent??
Before the revelation of the quran & before being a prophet people in Mecca used to call him , the truthful & the trustworthy .
In the quran Muhammed was addressed by Allah and told :
( Oh we sent you not but as a mercy for all the worlds)
21:107
So when Allah defied the mission of Prophet Muhammed he said that its core is mercy not less no more
Prophet Muhammed called for manners that are so civilized & noble and here are some of his saying s and teachings:
1-“None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother
" what he wishes for himself.“
Here he urges people to give up selfishness & greed , and to care about one another, something which all communities nowadays are lacking and suffering from as a result.
2- According to Islam, what is the criterion of a good muslim??
Allah says in the Quran:
"
“O’ Mankind! We created you from male &
female and made you into Nations &
tribes, that you may know each other. Verily
the most honored of you in the sight of Allah
is the most righteous of you , and Allah has full
knowledge and is well acquainted .” (49:13)
here we know that the most honored and the best muslim is not the richest , or the most powerful but rather the most righteous one who is good from the inside out .
Is Islam exclusive for a certain group of people??
Islam is a universal religion which is sent to all mankind regardless race, or color.
Allah says Prophet Muhammad in the Quran :
"
we sent you not but a mercy for all the worlds"-
-This is (Quran) is no less than a message to all the worlds"
38:87
-
Say "O mankind! Verily, I a
sent to you all as the Messenger
of God - to Whom belongs the
Dominion of the heavens and the
earth. (Q 7: 158)
So Islam is not for a certain group of people or it is not concerned with one society rather than the other , it is universal for all kinds of people& nations.
Does Islam calls for hatred between Muslims & othe people who differ in religion??
Being different in beliefs causes no problem for a Muslim
As freedom of belief is one of the fundamentals in Islam , anyone is free to believe in what he\she wants, Allah is the only responsible for the accountability of people, as there is no compulsion in religion, it’s a private relation between Man and his only Lord , with no mediation.
Allah says in the Quran :
Say: O People of the Book come to common "
terms as between us and you: that we worship
none but ALLAH; that we associate no partners
with Him; and that none of us shall take others as
lords besides Allah (Q 7: 158)
the common ground between Muslims & the people of the Book( Christians & Jews) is believing & worshipping the same God .