Understanding Islam

1) The deen (religion) of Islam: It is the way of life that Allaah sent the Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) with. By it, Allaah terminated the validity of all other religions, perfected this religion for His worshippers, completed His favour upon them and has chosen only this religion for them - no other religion will be accepted by Him from anyone. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:



{Muhammad is not the father of any man amongst you. Rather he is the Messenger of Allaah and the khaatim (last and final) of the Prophets}, [Soorah al-Ahzaab, Aayah 40]



{This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion}, [Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 3]



{Indeed the religion with Allaah is Islam}, [Soorah Aal-'lmraan, Aayah 19]



{Whosoever seeks a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers}, [Soorah Aal-'Imraan, Aayah 85]



And Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) obligated all of mankind to take Islam as their religion. So Allaah said, whilst addressing His Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam):



{Say: O mankind! Indeed I have been sent to you all as the Messenger of Allaah; to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. None has the right to be worshipped except Him; it is He who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allaah and His Messenger - the Prophet who can neither read nor write - who believes in Allaah and His Words. So follow the Messenger of Allaah so that you may be rightly-guided}, [Soorah al-A'raaf Aayah 158]



And in Saheeh Muslim (1/93), from Abu Hurayrah radhi-yallaahu 'anhu that Allaah's Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:



«By Him in whose Hand is the life of Muhammad! There is no one from this nation, be he a Jew or a Christian, who hears of me and then dies without believing in the Message that I was sent with, except that he will be one of the Companions of the Hellfire».



And eemaan (faith) in the Prophet implies: affirming that which he was sent with, along with acceptance of it and submission to it. Without these two matters, mere affirmation is not sufficient. This is why even though Abu Taalib (the Prophet's uncle) affirmed what was sent to the Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and that Islam was the best of religions, yet he did not accept his message nor submit to it; and thus he did not have eemaan, in the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam).



2) The religion of Islam contains all that was beneficial from the previous religions. It is suitable for implementation in any age, anywhere and by any nation. Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said, whilst addressing His Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam):



{And We have sent down to you the Book in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it testifying to the truth contained therein whilst exposing the falsehood that has been added therein}, [Soorah al-Maa.idah, Aayah 48]



That Islam is suitable for implementation in any age, anywhere and by any nation does not mean that it becomes submissive to nations - being altered and changed by them - as some people falsely think. But rather it means that whenever it is truly adhered to then it brings benefit and goodness to that nation, as well as reforming and correcting it - in whatever age or place.



3) The religion of Islam is the religion of truth. It is the way of life that Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) guaranteed His help and victory for those who truly adhere to it, and that He would make it dominant over all other religions.



Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:



{It is He who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that it may prevail over all other religions, even if the pagans detest it}, [Soorah at-Tawbah, Aayah 33]



And Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:



{Allaah has promised to those amongst you who truly have eemaan (true faith and belief) and act in obedience to Allaah and His Messenger, that He will grant them rulership upon the earth, just as He granted it to those before them, and that He will establish their Religion for them and grant them the authority to practice their Religion which He chose and ordered them with. And He will certainly change their situation to one of security, after their fear. Providing that they worship and obey Me, not associating anything else in worship with Me. Then, whoever rejects this favour by disobedience to their Lord - then they are the rebellious transgressors}, [Soorah an-Noor, Aayah 55]



4) The religion of Islam is a complete religion comprising both 'aqeedah (beliefs) and Sharee'ah (laws).



It commands them with tawheed (to single out Allaah alone for worship) and prohibits them from shirk (associating partners with Allaah in that which is particular to Him).



• It commands them with being truthful and prohibits them from lying.



• It commands them with 'adl (justice) and prohibits them from injustice and oppression.



• It commands them with fulfilling trusts and prohibits them from acting treacherously.



• It commands them with keeping promises and prohibits them from breaking them.



• It commands them with kindness and good treatment of parents and prohibits them from disobedience to them in that which is not sinful.



• It commands them with joining the ties of relations and prohibits them from severing them.



• It commands them with good treatment of neighbours and prohibits the causing of harm to them.



In short, Islam orders all that is good, from manners and morals, and prohibits all that is evil from it.



Likewise, it orders all actions which are righteous and good and prohibits all actions that are evil and harmful.



Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala) said:



{Indeed Allaah enjoins upon you justice, kindness and the giving of good to relatives and near ones. And He prohibits you from all shameful and evil deeds, oppression and transgression. Thus He admonishes you, that you may take heed and be reminded}, [Soorah an-Nahl, Aayah 90].



Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen

Sharh Usool al-Eemaan - Pages 4-7