Meaning of Islam - Part One

Introduction

When you consult the dictionaries, you will find that the word ‘Islam’ means submission, obedience, surrender and compliance with the command and obedience of the Commander without objections. Allah has named the true religion, Islam, for it is an obedience to Him, submission to His Commands without any resistance, purifying acts of worship for Him, believing in His words and having faith in him. Islam then became a proper name for the religion brought by Muhammad (PBUH).

Definition of Islam

Why was this religion named Islam? Adherents of various religions all over the world have named their religions, either with the name of a man or a particular race like Christianity, which was named after Jesus Christs; and Buddhism named after its founder Buddha- and Zaradashtism named after its founder, Zaradasht. Judaism also emerged among the tribe of Judah and so on. It is only Islam that is not attributed to any particular man or nation.

Its name indicates a special characteristic that the meaning of Islam denotes. It is evident in this name that no man has any role in bringing this religion into existence and that it is not peculiar with any nation to the exclusion of others. Its only goal is to make all people of the earth have characteristics of Islam. So, whoever is characterized with the qualities of Islam among ancient people and contemporary people is a Muslim, just as he shall be called a Muslim, anyone who possess its qualities among the coming generations.

Reality of Islam

It is known that everything in this world subjects to a particular rule and established norm. The sun, the moon, the stars and the earth are all subjected to a general rule which they cannot march against or deviate from even for a hair’s breadth. Even man, when you ponder over him very well, it will be clear to you that he absolutely submits to the Laws of Allah.

He cannot breathe or feel a need for water, food, nourishment, light and heat except according to the Divine Decree that regulates his life; and all parts of his body submit to this Decree. The functions that these parts perform cannot be carried out expect according to what Allah has prescribed for him.

This comprehensive Divine Ordainment which man surrenders to and from which none in this universe- right from the planet in the heaven to the smallest seed in the sand of the earth-can escape from obeying is the Divine Ordainment of the Magnificent, the Sovereign and the All-Powerful Lord. If all that is in the heavens and the earth, and all that is in between surrenders to this Divine Ordainment, that means the whole world submits to and obeys that All-Powerful Sovereign Who created it.

In this aspect, it is then clear that Islam is the religion of the whole Universe. For Islam means, submission and obedience to the command of the Commander and His Prohibitions without objection as it has been previously asserted. The sun, the moon and the earth all surrender to Him. Air, water, light, darkness and heat, all surrender to Him; the tree, the stone and the animals all surrender. Even the man who does not know his Lord and denies His existence and signs or worships others besides Him, or associates others with Him in worship, surrenders by nature to Him.

If you have known all that, let us have a look at man, you will find that two factors are struggling to win his attention. Firstly, his natural inclination; like submission to Allah, loving to worship Him, seeking nearness to Him, knowing what He loves of truth, good and honesty; hating what he hates of falsehood, evil, injustice and wrong; and other natural factors like: love for money, family, children, desire for food, drink and sex and necessary physical functions that follow that.

Secondly man’s free will and choice. Allah has sent Messengers to Him and revealed Books so that he might distinguish between truth and falsehood; guidance and error; good and evil. He gave him mental power and understanding so that he can make his choice with pure knowledge. If he so wills, he takes to the good path that leads him to truth and guidance; and if he so wills, he takes to the evil path that leads him to evil and perdition.

If you, therefore, look at man in the perspective of the first factor, you will find that he is created to submit to Allah, conditioned to adhere to that submission without making any deviation whatsoever, just like any other creature. However, if you look at him in the perspective of the second factor, you will find him as a free creature, who chooses what he wants. He may choose to become a Muslim or to become an infidel. “Whether he be grateful or ungrateful.” (Holy Quran 76:3)

Conclusion

Sound reasoning and application of Islamic ideology results in a man who knows His Creator and believes in Him as His Lord and God whom He worships alone and follows His Law in his life voluntarily. He is also conditioned to submit to his Lord, from Whom he cannot deviate and Whose Ordainments he follows.

Such a man is the complete Muslim whose Islam is perfect and whose knowledge is sound; for he knows Allah, his Creator and Fashioner, Who sent Messengers to him and endowed him with the power of knowledge and learning.

His tongue speaks only the truth, for now, he believes in One Lord Who is Allah, the Exalted, Who gave his power to speak. It now becomes as if nothing remains in this life, but the truth; for he follows and surrenders to the Law of Allah in that which he has free will.

There exists between him and other creatures in the universe a bond of familiarity and friendliness, for, he worships none but Allah, the All-Wise, All-Knowledgeable, Whom all creatures worship, and unto Whose Commandments and Ordainments all surrender and submit. And Allah has subjected all these creatures to you, O man!