ISLAM: MEANING AND CONCEPT.

	What is Islam?
	Islam: Continuity of Divine Message
	The Five Pillars of Islam, The Shahada (Declaration of the Islamic Faith)

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What is Islam?

The word Islam is an Arabic word meaning peace, submission and obedience. In the religious context the word Islam means total submission to the Will of Allah and obedience to His Law. The connection between the original and the religious meanings of the word is strong and obvious. Only through submission to the will of Allah and by obedience to His Law can peace be achieved.

The proper name of the religion is Islam and its followers are properly called Muslims. The proper name of God, in Arabic, is Allah, and it is a unique term because it has no plural or feminine gender. Hence Islam points to the fundamental religious creed which dictates that a Muslim should submit to the will of Allah, conforming inwardly and outwardly to His Law.

The Will of Allah, as defined in His Revealed Guidance to all His Prophets, is good and compassionate, and His Law is the most beneficent and equitable. The religion of Islam is the complete acceptance of and compliance with the teachings and guidance of Allah as revealed in His Last sacred Book, the Qur'ân, to His last Messenger Muhammad - The Prophet of Islam.

The religion of Islam lays great emphasis on uncompromising monotheism and strict adherence to certain creeds and acts of worship. It enjoins submitting to the Will of Allah and following the exemplary way of life of Muhammad, peace be upon him.

A Muslim, accordingly, is one who believes in Allah and strives for total reorganization of his life according to His Revealed Guidance and the Sunnah (Legal ways, orders, acts of worship statements) of the Prophet. He also works for building human society on the same basis.

Islam: Continuity of Divine Messages

Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance which Allah revealed to all prophets before Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Allah says in the Qur’ân:

"Say (O Muhammad) peace be upon him: We believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqub (Jacob) and Al-Asbat (the offspring of the twelve sons of Yaqub (Jacob) and what was given to Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus) and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to Him (Allah) we have submitted (in Islam)" (Qur’ân 3-84)

The Five Pillars of Islam (Declaration of the Islamic Faith)

In order to enter into the fold of Islam i.e. to be Muslim, one has to know, believe, accept totally and sincerely apply the five basic principles (Pillars) on which Islam is based: Ibn Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allah - Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said: Islam is based on the following five pillars (principles).

1. To testify "La Ilaha Illallah Wa Anna Muhammadan Rasul Allah" (none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
2. To perform (Iqamat) As-Salat (prayers), {five times a day at the prescribed times and according to the way that the Prophet Muhammad used to perform it with all its rules and regulations}.
3. To pay Zakat {obligatory fixed proportion of the wealth and of every kind of property liable to Zakat of a Muslim to be paid yearly for the benefit of the poor in the Muslim community}.
4. To observe Saum (fasting) during the month of Ramdan - i.e. not to eat or drink or have sexual relations from before Adhan (call) of the Fajr (dawn) prayer till sunset.
5. To perform Hajj (i.e. pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in his life-time on condition that he is capable of doing so physically and financially).