Throughout the history of mankind all religions, the first of which was revealed to Adam, have in essence been the same. The only religious changes that have occurred have been in regard to social laws since the communities of man have been in a continual process of development. Nevertheless, these changes have not pertained to the essence of these faiths. Thus, all religions which have been revealed from Adam (a.s), who was the first human being and the first prophet, up to the last Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam are in fact at the core level essentially the same as Islam.
Therefore the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said:
- Narrated by Abu Huraira radiallahu anh:
“I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘I am the nearest of all people to the son of Mary, and all the prophets are paternal brothers, and there has been no prophet between me and him (i.e. Jesus)’.” (Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 651)
Therefore, it is a wrong supposition to think that Islam is restricted solely to the Qur’an, since it contains all the previous religions that have been revealed by Allah. Of course, here the word religion signifies their original forms prior to their distortion by human beings. The Qur’an confirms this in the following verse:
“The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will): Nor did the People of the Book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account.”(Al-i Imrân, 3:19)
This verse also demonstrates that Islam is the sole solution for the problems of humanity. Here we are referring to the Qur’anic declaration that it is salvation both in this world and in the Hereafter. The following verse clarifies this fact even more clearly:
“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah), never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter He will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good).” (Al-i Imrân, 3:85)
Hence, Islam is a religion that has been continually revealed from Adam through to the last Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, and has been perfected through the stages of human history, finding its most perfect form in the Qur’an.
- The description of Islam can be summarized in two principles:
- Faith (Iman): To believe in the five principles of Islam sincerely.
- Good deeds (‘amal al-sâlih): To do good deeds that are demanded by Allah with sincere faith.
Islam practiced under these two principles organizes our life, thought, and behavior in a balanced way. Islam is a path that leads the believer to Allah by connecting logic, ear, tongue and heart to divine light. If the beauties of Islam were to fall on a piece of rock, it would turn the rock into soft fertile soil. On the other hand, the hearts of those far from Islam are turned into hard rocks. Only Islam has the ability to soften and cure them.
Islam perfects the intellectual and practical life of human beings and takes them from darkness into light. Those who embrace Islam are elevated from the lowest of states to the highest peak. It has the capacity to transform an ordinary human being into a perfect man. Islam achieves this spiritual transformation by returning man to his original form.
Islam is a robe of guidance extended from Allah to all of humanity. Those who submit to it, will rise above their mortality and will attain the elixir of immortality. Allah has summoned all prophets, who are beings at the peak of servanthood to Allah, to one condition: “When Allah said unto them: Surrender! Each of them said: I have surrendered to the Lord of the Worlds.”
In the personality of the great prophet Abraham alaihissalam this reality is declared in the Qur’an:
“When his Lord said unto him: Surrender! he said: I have surrendered to the Lord of the Worlds.” (Baqara, 2:131)
This submission is realized in experiencing the closeness of Allah through mentioning His names. In fact, the aim of all forms of worship is to attain proximity to Allah, to attain to the knowledge and love of Allah.
One preacher was speaking in a mosque about death and its aftermath. He was explaining those questions that we will be asked after burial such as: “How did you spend your life, where did you spend your wealth and health, did you practice what you learned, were you following the commandments of Islam and did you refrain from what was forbidden? He was speaking about details and was not addressing the essence. Among the listeners, the great Sufi Master Shibli was present, and in order to remind the preacher of the essence of the matter he said:
“O preacher! You have forgotten the most important question that Allah will ask His slaves in the Hereafter. When we meet Allah in the Hereafter, He will ask: O my servant! I was with you at all times, whose company were you in?”
Based on this form and level of respect, Islam is to lead a life where we feel the presence of Allah at all times:
“And He is with you wheresoever ye may be.” (Hadîd, 57:4)
The well being of the earth and the sky is dependent upon our obedience to Allah. In the absence of this obedience, the wrath of Allah will descend upon us.
“Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea (the order of the universe has broken, natural calamities appeared) on account of what the hands of men have wrought, that He may make them taste a part of that which they have done, so that they may return (from the wrong path that they follow).” (Rûm, 30:41)
What this verse means is that abandoning Islam causes corruption of the harmony and order of nature. Here natural disasters are perceived as warnings to return to Islam.
People of insight can perceive the difference between the Creator and His products. Such an individual looks at the outer form while he perceives its inner form. He understands the reality of this world as he remembers the Hereafter. He gazes at the boundless heavens as he leads a life constantly remembering the divine majesty behind them. He knows his weakness as a servant and never ceases behaving like a servant. On his travel to the eternal world, Allah bestows upon him many of His divine secrets. Thus, the servant falls into prostration in yearning for his Lord. In this way, the purpose of creation is fulfilled and the servant gains eternal bliss as stated in the following verse of the Qur’an:
“And whomsoever it is Allah’s will to guide, He expandeth his bosom unto the Surrender,” (An’âm, 6:125)
However, the verse proceeds to go on and state that some of creation runs away from His divine mercy.
“And whomsoever it is His Will to send astray, He maketh his bosom close and narrow as if he were engaged in sheer ascent. Thus Allah layeth ignominy upon those who believe not.” (An’âm, 6:125)
In short, salvation for mankind is only possible in Islam as the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam states:
“Whoever accepts Allah as his Lord, Islam as his religion, Muhammad as prophet and is pleased with them Allah rewards him with Paradise.” (Abu Dawud, Salât, 36; Tirmidhi, Salât, 42)
Sheikh Osman Nuri Topbas