The Beauties of Islam (part 1 of 2): Ignorance cannot Overshadow Beauty and Truth |
    Description: A brief description of some of the beauties of Islam. By Aisha Stacey (© 2012 IslamReligion.com)Published on 08 Oct 2012 - Last modified on 15 Oct 2012 Viewed: 1395 (daily average: 85) - Rating: - Rated by: 4 Printed: 19 - Emailed: 1 - Commented on: 0 Category: Articles > The Benefits of Islam > True Happiness and Inner Peace |
 At this time in Islam’s history, when the entire religion is being
judged by the actions of a few, it is appropriate to step back from the glare of
the media spotlight and examine the beauties that infuse the way of life known
as Islam. There is greatness and splendour in Islam that is often overshadowed
by actions that have no place in Islam or by people who speak about topics they
only vaguely understand. Islam is a religion, a way of life that inspires
Muslims to try harder, reach farther and act in a manner that is pleasing to
those around them and most importantly pleasing to their Creator.
The beauties of Islam are those
things that are part of the religion and make Islam stand out. Islam answers
all of humankind’s eternal questions. Where did I come from? Why am I here? Is
this really all there is? It answers these questions with clarity and in a
beautiful way. So then, let us begin our journey and discover and ponder over
the beauties of Islam.
1. The answers to all your questions about life are in the Quran
The Quran is a book detailing the
glory of God and the wonder of His creation; it is also a testament to His Mercy
and Justice. It is not a history book, a storybook, or a scientific textbook,
although it does contain all of those genres and more. The Quran is God’s
greatest gift to humanity – it is a book like no other, for it contains the
answers to the mysteries of life. It answers the questions and asks us to look
beyond materialism and see that this life is little more than a transient stop
on the way to everlasting life. Islam gives a clear aim and purpose to
life.
“And I (God) created not the jinn and
humankind, except to worship Me (Alone).” (Quran 51:56)
Thus it is the most important
book and Muslims have no doubt that it is exactly the same today as it was when
it was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad. When we ask those most important
questions, we want to be sure that the answers we receive are the truth.
Knowing that the answers are coming from a book which is the unchanged Word of
God, gives comfort and solace. When God revealed the Quran, He promised to
preserve it. The words we read today are the same as those memorised and
written down by the companions of Prophet Muhammad.
“It is We Who have sent down the
remembrance (i.e. the Quran) and surely, We will guard it from corruption.”
(Quran 15:9)
2. True Happiness can be found in Islam
Rejoice and be happy, remain
positive and be at peace.[1] This is what Islam teaches us, for all God’s
commandments aim to bring happiness to the individual. The key to happiness is
in understanding and worshipping God. This worship serves as a reminder of Him
and keeps us always conscious of Him and hence we stay away from evil,
committing injustices and oppression. It elevates us to being righteous and of
good character. By following His commands, we lead a life that guides us to the
best in all our affairs. When we lead such a meaningful life, then and only
then are we able to see happiness all around us, at any given moment and even on
the darkest of times. It is even there in the touch of a hand, in the smell of
rain or newly mown grass, it is in a warm fire on a cold night or a cool breeze
on a hot day. Simple pleasures can make our hearts truly happy because they are
manifestations of God’s Mercy and Love.
The nature of the human condition
means that amongst great sorrow can be moments of joy and sometimes in moments
of despair we can find an anchor in the things that bring us happiness. Prophet
Muhammad said, “Indeed amazing are the affairs of a believer! They are all for
his benefit. If he is granted ease then he is thankful, and this is good for
him. And if he is afflicted with a hardship, he perseveres, and this is good
for him.”[2]
3. In Islam we can easily communicate with God at any time of day or night
Every member of the human race is
born innately knowing that God is One. However those who do not know how to
communicate with God or establish a relationship with Him tend to find their
existence puzzling and sometimes even distressing. Learning to communicate with
God and worshiping Him gives life a whole new meaning.
According to Islam, God is
accessible at any time and in any place. We need only call on Him and He will
answer the call. Prophet Muhammad advised us to call on God often. He told us
that God said,
“I
am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I
can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in
himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of
people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one
span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit
nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he
comes to me walking, I go to him running.”[3]
In the Quran God says, “Remember Me and
I will remember you…” (Quran2:152)
Believers call on God in any
language, at any time and in any place. They supplicate to Him, and give
thanks. Muslims also pray in a more ritualised way five times every day and
interestingly the Arabic word for prayer is ‘salah’, which means a
connection. Muslims are connected to God and can communicate with Him easily.
We are never alone or far from God’s Mercy, Forgiveness and
Love.
|
The Beauties of Islam (part 2 of 2): Islam is beautified by peace, love and respect |
| Description: Brief descriptions of several more beauties inherent in the religion of Islam. By Aisha Stacey (© 2012 IslamReligion.com)Published on 15 Oct 2012 - Last modified on 15 Oct 2012 Viewed: 1598 (daily average: 168) - Rating: - Rated by: 3 Printed: 19 - Emailed: 1 - Commented on: 0 Category: Articles > The Benefits of Islam > True Happiness and Inner Peace | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4. Islam gives us real peace The words Islam, Muslim and salaam (peace) all come from the
Arabic root word “Sa - la – ma”. It denotes peace, security, and safety. When a
person submits to the will of God he or she experiences an innate sense of
security and peacefulness. Salaam is a descriptive word that entails more
than tranquillity and calmness; it also encompasses the concepts of safety,
security and submission. In fact, Islam in the complete sense means submission
to the One God who grants us safety, security, peace and harmony. This is real
peace. Muslims greet each other with the words ‘Assalam Alaikum’. These
Arabic words mean ‘May God grant you protection and security (real and lasting
peace)’. These brief Arabic words let Muslims know that they are among friends,
not strangers. This greeting encourages believers to be a worldwide community
unencumbered by tribal or nationalistic loyalties and bound together by peace
and unity. Islam itself is inherently associated with inner peace and
tranquillity.
“And those who believed (in the Oneness
of God and His Messengers and whatever they brought) and did righteous deeds,
will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow, - to dwell therein for
ever (i.e. in Paradise), with the Permission of their Lord. Their greeting
therein will be, salaam!” (Quran 14:23)
5. Islam allows us to know God
The first principle and focal
point of Islam is belief in one God, and the whole of the Quran is dedicated to
this. It speaks directly about God and His Essence, Names, Attributes and
Actions. Prayer connects us to God, however truly knowing and understanding the
Names and Attributes of God is an important and unique opportunity, one that is
only available in Islam. Those who do not make the effort to really know God may
find the nature of their existence puzzling or even distressing. A Muslim is
encouraged to remember God and be grateful to Him and a person can do this by
contemplating and understanding God’s beautiful Names and Attributes. It is
through this that we are able to know our Creator.
“God! (None has the right to be
worshipped but He)! To Him belong the Best Names.” (Quran 20:8)
“And (all) the Most Beautiful Names
belong to God, so call on Him by them, and leave the company of those who belie
or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names…” (Quran 7:180)
6. Islam teaches us how to care for the environment
Islam recognises that human
beings are the custodians of the earth and all that is on it, including
vegetation, animals, oceans, rivers, deserts, and fertile land. God provides us
with the things we need to survive successfully and flourish, but we are
obligated to care for them and preserve them for future generations.
In 1986 Prince Phillip the then
president of the World Wildlife Fund invited the leaders of the world’s five
major religions to meet in the Italian city of Assisi. They met to discuss how
faith could help save the natural world, the environment. What follows is from
the Muslim statement in the Assisi Declarations on Nature:
Muslims say that Islam is the middle path and we
will be answerable for how we have walked this path, how we have maintained
balance and harmony in the whole of creation around us.
So
unity, trusteeship and accountability, that is Tawhid (Oneness and uniqueness of
God), Khalifah (Vicegerent) and Akhirah (Hereafter), three central concepts in
Islam, are also the pillars of the environmental ethics of Islam. They
constitute the basic values taught by the Qur’an. It is these values which led
Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, to say: ‘Whoever plants a tree and diligently
looks after it until it matures and bears fruit is rewarded.’
For all
these reasons Muslims see themselves as having a responsibility towards the
world and the environment, all of which are the creations of Allah.
Unlike
many other religions, Muslims do not have any specific festivals in which they
give thanks for the harvest or the world. Instead they give thanks to Allah
regularly for his creation.[1]
7. Islam is respect
Another beautiful aspect of Islam
is respect for humanity and the universe in which we live. Islam states clearly
that it is the responsibility of each member of the human race to treat creation
with respect, honour and dignity. The most deserving of respect is the Creator
Himself and of course respect begins with loving and obeying His commandments.
Total respect for God allows all the manners and high standards of morality
that are inherent in Islam to flow into our lives and the lives of those around
us. Because Islam binds respect to peace, love and compassion this involves
respecting the honour, reputation and privacy of others. Respect involves
staying completely away from the major sins of backbiting, lying, slander, and
gossip. It means avoiding sins that will sow discord among the people or lead to
destruction.
Respect also
includes loving for our brothers and sisters what we love for ourselves. It
involves treating others the way we expect to be treated and the way we hope God
will treat us – with compassion, love and mercy. Major sins put a barrier
between humanity and God’s Mercy and cause all the torment, misery and evil in
this world and the hereafter. God commands us to stay away from sin and to
strive against our own destructive character flaws. We live in an age where we
often demand respect from others but may not respect those around us. One beauty
of Islam is that it allows us to regain lost respect by submitting
wholeheartedly to the will of God. However if we do not understand how and why
we surrender to God’s will we cannot gain respect we want and need. Islam
teaches us and God reminds us in the Quran that our sole purpose in life is to
worship Him.
“And I (God) created not the jinn and
mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).” (Quran 51:56)
Footnotes:
|
Excerpt: Quran states that all believers are equal and that
only righteous deeds elevate one person above another. Believers therefore have
an immense respect for pious men and women and Islamic history also tells us
that both men and women served and showed righteousness in all areas. A woman,
like a man, is obligated to worship God and fulfill His rights and the rights of
His creation. It is thus required that every woman testify that there is none
deserving worship but God, and that Muhammad is His Messenger; to pray; to give
charity; to fast; and to make the pilgrimage to God’s House if she has the means
and ability to do so. It is also required that every woman to believe in God,
His angels, His scriptures, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in
God’s decree. 
Response 'Innocence of Muslims'
Areeb Islam, Ex-Catholic, South Africa (part 1 of
4)
Excerpt: More than 2 million people surround me. We all have
one common goal, one purpose for being here together. I do not stand out from
anyone else. There are no signs of wealth or greatness upon me. No Rolex watch
or Nike shoes to mark me as a rich person. I am one person alone, in a sea of
humanity. I am black or white, yellow or brown, the colour of my skin is not
important. I am from Europe or Asia or South America, my homeland is any corner
of this wide earth. The people around me are young and old, male and female,
rich and poor. We represent humankind in our diversity, yet we are united. 
Pilgrimage (Hajj) with TheDeenShow
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