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| The literal meaning of Islam is peace;
surrender of one’s will i.e. losing oneself for the
sake of God and surrendering one’s own pleasure for
the pleasure of God. The message of Islam was revealed
to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings on
him) 1, 400 years ago. It was revealed through angel
Gabriel (on whom be peace) and was thus preserved in
the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran carries a Divine guarantee
of safeguard from interpolation and it claims that it
combines the best features of the earlier scriptures.
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| The prime message of Islam is the Unity
of God, that the Creator of the world is One and He
alone is worthy of worship and that Muhammad (peace
and blessings on him) is His Messenger and Servant.
The follower of this belief is thus a Muslim - a Muslim’s
other beliefs are: God’s angels, previously revealed
Books of God, all the prophets, from Adam to Jesus (peace
be on them both), the Day of Judgement and indeed the
Decree of God. A Muslim has five main duties to perform,
namely; bearing witness to the Unity of God and Muhammad
(peace and blessings on him) as His Messenger, observing
the prescribed prayer, payment of Zakat, keeping the
fasts of Ramadhan and performing the pilgrimage to Mecca.
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| Islam believes that each person is born
pure. The Holy Quran tells us that God has given human
beings a choice between good and evil and to seek God’s
pleasure through faith, prayer and charity. Islam believes
that God created mankind in His image and by imbuing
the attributes of God on a human level mankind can attain
His nearness. Islam’s main message is to worship God
and to treat all God’s creation with kindness and compassion.
Rights of parents in old age, orphans and the needy
are clearly stated. Women’s rights were safeguarded
1,400 years ago when the rest of the world was in total
darkness about emancipation. Islamic teachings encompass
every imaginable situation and its rules and principles
are truly universal and have stood the test of time.
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| In Islam virtue does not connote forsaking
the bounties of nature that are lawful. On the contrary
one is encouraged to lead a healthy, active life with
the qualities of kindness, chastity, honesty, mercy,
courage patience and politeness. In short, Islam has
a perfect and complete code for the guidance of individuals
and communities alike. As the entire message of Islam
is derived from the Holy Quran and indeed the Sunnah
and Hadith (the traditions and practices of the Holy
Prophet, peace and blessings on him) it is immutable
in the face of change in time and place. It may appear
rigid to the casual eye, in actual fact it is most certainly
an adaptable way of life regardless of human changes.
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| Islam teaches that the path to spiritual
development is open to all. Any individual who searches
the One Creator can seek nearness to God through sincere
and earnest worship; it is central to establishing a
relationship with the Almighty. This positive message
for humanity fills hearts with hope and courage. |
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| At present there are 1.5 billion Muslims
worldwide and they form the majority in more than 50
countries of the world. Today Islam is the fastest growing
faith in the world - its beautiful message is reaching
millions in the far corner of the earth. |
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