The Shariah [Legislative] meaning of Islaam Afdaal wa Akmaal

[Muwaahid]

Al-Haqeeqatul Ma’naa Al-Islaam
The Reality of the Meaning of Islaam

Indeed Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa has completed and perfected this religion for us, just as Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa says:
“This day have I perfected for you, your Deen [religion] and completed my favor upon you and I am pleased with Islaam as your Deen [religion],”
(5:3)
Likewise Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa says:
“indeed the religion in the sight of Allaah is Islaam”
(3:19)
Likewise Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa says:
“And who so ever desires a Deen [religion] other than the religion of Islaam, it shall never ever be accepted from them and in the hereafter they shall be amongst the losers”
(3:85)
Indeed Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa not only perfected and completed for us our religion but He Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa Al-Aleem (The All Knowing) Al-Hakeem (The All Wise) will not accept any other religion from humanity after the advent of our beloved Messenger Muhammad Ibn Abdillaah Ibn Abdul Muttallib ibn Haashim (Afdaalu salawaatu wa atammu tasleem).
But a question may arise in the minds of the Muslims, what is this Islaam that Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa has perfected and completed and is pleased with? This Islaam that no other religion will be accepted by Allaah after the advent of our beloved Messenger Muhammad Ibn Abdillaah (Afdaalu salawaat wa atammu tasleem) came?

It is incumbent upon the Muslims to have knowledge of the religion of Islaam with its proofs and evidences to acknowledge that Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa conferred a great blessing upon them by making them Muslims.

It is noteworthy to mention that when we look at the religion of Islaam seeking to understand it, it is of grave importance that not only do we look at the linguistical meanings of words but we must also look at the Shariah (legislative) meanings of the words.
Islaam has traditionally been defined linguistically as peace and submission but the true reality of Islaam is found in the Shariah [legislative] meaning which is:

“Al-Islaam Huwa Istislaamu Lillaahi Bit-Tawheed wal Inqiyaad Lahu Bit-Taw’aatee wal Baraa’atu Minash-Shirk wa Ahlihi”

Al-Islaam is to seek to submit willfully to Allaah with Tawheed (to single out Allaah alone for all acts of worship) and to Him is complete obedience and to have completed disassociation from shirk (associating partners with Allaah in worship) and its people [those who worship other than Allaah].

This definition of Islaam can be found in the Sharh of Al-Usoolu Al-Thalaatha by the Shaykh Saalih Bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan on page 157. In Tasheel Al-Wusool Ilaa Thalaathatil Usool which is another explanation of Thalaathatul Usool in question and answer format it says concerning Islaam on page 105:

“Huwa Istislaamu Lillaahi Bit-Tawheed, wal inqiyaadu Lahu Bit-Taw’aatee, wal Baraa’atu wal-Khuloos Minash-Shirk wa Ahlihi”

The translation has previously been mentioned above with the exception of the word khuloos which means purity and sincerity.

The Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) mentions in his risaalah entitled “Thalaathatul Usool” also commonly known as Al-Usoolu Thalaatha the meaning of Islaam listed above.

And this is alluded to in the following ayah where Allaah says:
And when Ibraheem said to his father and his people, indeed I have Baraa (complete disassociation from you) and that which you worship, except for Him who created me for verily He shall guide me, And He has made it a Kalimah [a word] to exist amongst his progeny that they might [return to it]
(43:26-28)
And this Kalimah [word] according to some of the Mufassireen (those who explain the Qur’aan) like Mujaahid and Qataadah: “The word is Laa Ilaaha illa Allaah” Qataadah said, “there will not cease to be a people from his progeny except that they worship Allaah until yaumal qiyaamah[the day of standing]. And Ad-Dhahaak said, “that none should be worshipped except Allaah” And Ikrimah said this kalimah is Al-Islaam because of the statement of Allaah:
“And He has named you Muslims before [in former scriptures]
(22:78)

So it should be clear from the above evidences that to simply say Islaam means peace or simply submission needs elaboration. Peace in what sense? Submission to who or what? If we say submission to Allaah then we should elaborate more as to what is intended by this submission. So we submit to Allaah with Tawheed (worshipping Allaah alone in all sincerity) and willful compliant obedience to Him alone and complete disassociation from shirk [worshipping others along with Allaah] and its people.