What is Islam?
I am a new Muslim and would like to learn about the tolerant Islamic Sharia.
Question
Answer
All praise is due to
Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and
his companions.
To briefly answer your
question about learning about Islamic Sharia:
Islam is the final religion with which Allah concluded
all previous religions. No other religion will be accepted by Him, as Allah
Almighty says: "And whoever desires a
religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the
Hereafter, he will be among the losers." (Quran 3:85). It is a
comprehensive and complete religion, suitable for every place and time. It is a
universal religion for all peoples and nations, and it is a religion of monotheism,
unity, justice, mercy, and equality. It guarantees
happiness in this world and salvation in the hereafter for those who adhere to
it.
Islam is built upon five pillars,
which the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned in the Hadith of Ibn Umar,
narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. He (peace be upon him) said: "Islam is built upon five: the testimony that there
is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing
prayer, giving zakat, fasting Ramadan, and performing Hajj to the
House for4 whoever is able." These are the pillars of Islam.
As for faith (Iman), it has six
pillars, which the Prophet (peace be upon him) explained in the Hadith of
Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) in the Sahihayn. He said:
"Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the
Last Day, and to believe in divine decree, both its good and its bad."
When a person reaches a level of awareness
of Allah and fear of Him such that when they worship Allah, they
worship Him as if they see Him, this degree is called Ihsan (excellence).
It was mentioned in the previously mentioned Hadith of Umar, at the end of
which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Ihsan
is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then know
that He sees you."
Islam takes care of all aspects of
life: the affairs of the individual and their health, family matters and their
rulings, such as marriage, divorce, companionship, fulfilling the rights of the
spouse, children, and parents, and the laws of inheritance. It also concerns
itself with matters of transactions like buying and selling, leasing, and so
on. It emphasizes the rights of others, such as the right of the neighbor and
friend, and encourages visiting the sick, maintaining kinship ties, and being
kind to all creations. Allah Almighty says: "Indeed,
Allah enjoins justice, good conduct, and giving to relatives and forbids
immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you
will be reminded." (Quran 16:90).
Furthermore, it encourages its
followers to adorn themselves with noble characteristics like truthfulness,
trustworthiness, forbearance, patience, and courage. Islam forbids Muslims from base and evil characteristics like betrayal, lying,
and deception.
Source: Islamweb
