What Is Islam ?

“Establish prayer and give zakat and bow with those who bow in worship and obedience” (Baqarah, 2/43) Are you grateful for the blessings our Lord has given us? So, how do we show our gratitude to Allah for giving us a perfect body, mind and ability to communicate? Without any doubt with prayers...

“The key to heaven is prayer and the key to prayer is wudu” (Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w) (Tirmidhi, Taharah,1) A Muslim who is preparing to establish prayer is indeed preparing to stand in the presence of Allah. A person who does not have ablution or is in the state of ritual impurification cannot establish prayer.

“Cleanliness is half of the faith.” (Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w) (Tirmidhi, Da'wat,86) Islam commands us to be clean,both materially and spiritually. A good Muslim keeps clean his body, clothes, belongings, living place and the world. A good Muslim purifies his soul and keeps his heart and mind clean by being purified from the darkness of evil and the filth of sin.

“Islam is based on five pillars: To testify that there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger, to perform , to pay zakat, to perform Hajj, and to fast during the month of Ramadan.” Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) (Sahih al-Bukhari, İman, 2) I testify that there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad (s.a.w) is Allah’s servant and messenger. Islam is the greatest wealth a person can have... The first condition of becoming a muslim is to recite the kalima shahadah!

“Ihsan is when you worship Allah as if you see Him, even if you do not see Him, He sees you”. Prophet Muhammed (s.a.w) (Bukhari, Tafsir, Luqman, 31) He created humans in the perfect manner. He equipped with superior abilities. And put everything in the universe at his service. He expected only one thing from humans in return for all this… To Worship Him!

“Indeed, all things We created with predestination.” (Surah Al-Qamar, 54/49) Can a person change the way the universe works? Is he capable of preventing rain , and lightning strikes ? Is he able to prevent earthquakes from occurring? Who can choose their family before they are born? Who can determine their color, race, gender at birth? There is no doubt that Allah created everything out of nothing. He created everything that has happened and yet to happen in the universe in a cause and effect relationship.

“They establish prayer, give zakah and have sure faith in the Hereafter” (Luqman, 31/4) Death is a reality and it is getting closer day by day. With each passing day, they people are getting closer to death. There is no doubt that every living thing will pass away and leave this world. However, it is not only us humans whose lifespan will end… the universe we live in will also end.

“O Prophet! Indeed, We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And one who invites to Allah, by His permission, and an illuminating lamp.” (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33/45-46) There is no god but Allah and Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is his servant and messenger. Every person who accepts Islam has to recite this. He was known as "Muhammadu'l Amin" in Mecca even before he became a Prophet. He was the epitome of virtue and morality. He never compromised on honesty.

“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and wish to discriminate between Allah and His messengers and say, ‘We believe in some and disbelieve in others’ and wish to adopt a way in between - Those are the disbelievers, truly.” (Surah An-Nisa, 4/150-151) Prophets are chosen by Allah to deliver divine messages to humans. prophets sometimes displayed miracles with Allah’s permission. Allah has never left humanity without a guide, example and leader. He has sent many prophets. All of them invited people to be servants of Allah.

“I have left behind you something which, if you adhere to it, you will never go astray, that is the Book of Allah” Prophet Muhammed (saw) (Muslim, Hajj/147) The Holy Qur’an is the final revelation and divine book by which Allah the Almighty addressed humanity through the Prophet Muhammad. Allah (s.w.t) explicitly states that He sent down the Qur’an and will protect it until the Day of Judgment. The Holy Qur'an is the main source for Islam. In order to become a Muslim, it is obligatory to have faith in the Holy Quran.

“Mankind was of the one religion before their deviation; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed” (Baqarah, 2/213) Allah the almighty created humans as the most honorable being. The history of humanity, on the other hand, began with the revelation and the divine word. Our Lord conveyed his words and wishes to us through his books and prophets.

“Whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His prophets, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray.” (Surah An-Nisa 4/136) The history of humanity is full of beliefs in powerful and invisible creatures. The battle between good and evil is mostly explained through these creatures. But how much of the things told is true? Only the last religion, Islam, sent by the Ruler and Owner of the visible and invisible worlds can provide solid and true information on this matter. In this respect, believing in the existence of angels who were created out of divine light is one of the principles of faith in Islam.

"Whoever sincerely testifies that none is worthy of worship but Allah and Muhammed is his messenger, Allah will save him from the Hellfire" (Bukhari, 'Ilm, 49) These waterfalls, mountains, and seas… They all came into existence out of nothing. At first there were no people, no plants, no animals, none. Allahs (swt) created the entire universe, from the smallest atom to the infinite galaxies and he is the one who rules it. He is the One who creates, sustains, kills and then resurrects all beings. Allah is ahad there is no god but Him (swt). And this is the main fundamental of Islam.

"By Him in whose hand my soul is, you will not enter paradise unless you believe and you will not believe unless you love one another." (Sunan Abu Dawud, Adab, 130) Accepting something whole heartedly and believeing it sincerely is called iman (faith). Faith according to İslam is to sincerely believe that the message prophet Muhammed(s.a.w) delivered is from Allah and that it is true.

This day I have perfected for you your religion, and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5/3) Islam means peace. Islam is defined as submitting to Allah the one who has no partners nor equals and following the path He (s.w.t) showed us and not our desires. It means to turn towards Allah with devotion and unconditionally accept His (s.w.t) commands and prohibitions. The one who adopts Islam as their religion and complies with its rules are called “Muslim”.

“Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.” (Surah Ali Imran 3/19) Religion is the set of divine rules sent to humans by Allah (swt) through prophets. These rules are the sole source of truth, and have been sent to humans in order to enable them to find happiness both in this world and in the Hereafter with their own choices.

Allah the Almighty, the one and only Owner of the earth and the heavens, has created human in the perfect form.