Thursday 14 December 2006

Islam - The Name

The word "Islam" is derived from the Arabic word "Salam" which means peace, purity and submission. When an individual submits to the law of the Almighty, he is called a Muslim, "One who has submitted."

The name Islam is distinctly different from the names of other religions. Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism are named after their founders. Islam is NOT classified as "Muhammadinism" because Muslims do not worship Muhammad SAW, nor was Muhammad SAW the founder of Islam.

The originator of Islam is no other than Almighty Allah. All previous Prophets AS propagated submission to the Almighty, and ALL of them were Muslims.

The Holy Qur'an states:

"Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor Christian, in fact he was an upright Muslim." (One who has submitted to the law of the Almighty)

The Qur'an further states regarding the Prophet Nuh AS (Noah):

"I have been commanded to be from the Muslims."

Hence a Muslim is not only a believer in the prophethood of Muhammad SAW exclusively, he also believes in the prophethood of Ibrahim AS (Abraham), Musa AS (Moses), Isa AS (Jesus) and all the other Prophets. (May peace be upon all of them.) All previous Prophets are Muslims.

The previous Prophets AS were either sent to their families, communities or countries. Muhammad SAW was sent as a universal Prophet. The only one in mankind. Therefore Islam is not the specific religion of the Arabs, Indians or Malays. It is the religion of mankind.

No comments: