Understanding Islam: The Complete Submission to the Will of God

Religion is often a fundamental part of one’s identity. The word religion originates from a Latin word meaning “to tie or bind together.” As new and modern religions continue to develop, religion defines as “an organized system of beliefs and rituals centring on a spiritual being or beings.” The pursuers of truth often reach some extent of uncertainty realizing that each and every religion, sect or philosophy claims to be correct. Similar to all religions, Islam also claims to be the genuine way to God. Reasonings advanced to support Islam’s claim to be the truthful religion of God include; Islam is based on the divine origin of the names and its meaning, deals with the unique teachings concerning the connection between God and creation and the ability to see the signs from god.

The adherents of Islam preach truth that reaches out to all-around the world. However, before preaching Islam, one should know and clearly understand what ‘Islam’ itself means; the complete submission to the will of god. The Arabic word “Islam” means the obedience and surrender of one’s will to the only true God, known in Arabic as “Allah”. Islam is not named after its people or person, as in the case of Christianity, which was named after Jesus Christ or Judaism after the tribe of Judah. Islam which was given to Adam, the first man and the first prophet of God, and it was the religion of all the prophets guided by Allah to mankind. The name ‘Islam’ was chosen by God Himself and clearly mentioned in the final scripture which was revealed to man, whereby Allah states the following: “This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”(Surah al-Ma’idah [Qur’an 5:3]). “He it is Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth.” (Surah Al-Fath [Qur’an 48:28]). Ergo, Islam does not claim to be a ‘new religion’ brought by Prophet Mohammed, but rather to be a re-expression in its final form of the true faith as it was originally revealed.

Religion, a system of life with divine laws, brings man closer to God with the idea of a thriving life in the hereafter, in genuine submission anchored with feelings of longing and love. To belong to a faith often means sharing its beliefs and participating in its rituals; being part of a community. There are many religions, sects and movements in the world, all of which claim to be the right way or the only true path of God. Through the principle of identifying the object of worship, we can easily detect false religions by clearing away the superficial teachings to the ultimate truth and identifying the central object of worship upon which they call, we can determine the true faith. Religions all have in common one basic concept with regard to God, they either claim that specific men are God, or that nature is God, or that God is a figment of man’s imagination. Qur’an: “That which you worship besides Him are only names and you and your forefathers have invented for which Allah has sent down no authority: the command belongs only to Allah He has command that you worship Him; that is the right religion, but most men do not understand.” (Surah Yusuf [Qur’an 12:40]).

In the Quran, God advises to refuse the blindly accepted beliefs and ideals society enforces on a person and to reflect life with no prejudices or constraints on their minds, to think about the general dismissal of life through “evolution” or “coincidence”. Man must think on how he came into being, what the purpose of his life is, why he will die and what awaits him after death, while doing this, he must relieve himself of all constraints and misconceptions. By thinking while isolating his conscience from all influences such as social or psychological the person should eventually perceive that the entire universe, including himself, is created by a superior power. “This is a communication to be transmitted to mankind so that they can be warned by it and so that they will know that He is One God and so that people of intelligence will pay heed.” (Surah Ibrahim [Qur’an 14:52]). Once a believer is being guided with the Quran, he soon realizes that the whole universe is a sign of God’s power. In the Quran, people are beckoned to study and observe events and purposes that clearly testify to the existence of God and His attributes. In the Quran, ‘signs’ beholding complete and genuine truth has been outlined through those who bear witness. Hence, the signs of God embrace all the beings in the universe in portraying and communicating the being and attributes of God.

The adherents of Islam practices obedience and the commands revealed by God, that covers seeking the truth. In the Quran, God guides us as to what we should reflect on and investigate. Religion is the collection of divine laws which designs a system of life, the following of which brings man closer to God and a prosperous life both here and in the hereafter. It has been shown the name ‘Islam’ was chosen by God, according to the holy scriptures of Islam. Islam alone teaches the uniqueness of God and His attributes, with acknowledgment of the uniqueness of God, along with the convincing support of signs revealed in the Qur’an. In conclusion, Islam’s claim that from the beginning of time has been and will be the true religion of God.