Islam - the meaning of islam
Introduction
Nearly every religion in the world has been named aftel either the person it has been associated with or the people or nation from which it originated. Christianity, for example, derives its name from Jesus Christ; Buddhism from Gautama Buddha; Zoroastrianism from Zoroaster; and Judaism, the religion of the Jews, takes its name from both the tribe of Judah and the country of Judea where it was bom. The same is true of other religions. But not so with Islam. This religion enjoys the unique distinction of having no such association with any particular person or people.
The word "Islam" does not convey any such relationship - for it does not belong to any person, people, or country. Nor is it the product of any human mind. It is a universal religion and its objective is to create and cultivate within man the quality and attitude of Islam.
"Islam", in fact, is a descriptive title. Whoever possesses the qualities contained within this description, re- gardless of his race, community, country or family, is a Muslim. According to the Qur'an (the holy book of the Muslims) among every society and in all ages there have been good and righteous people who possessed these qualities - and all of them were and are Muslims.
This brings us to the question: What does Islam mean? And who is a Muslim?
ISLAM - What does it mean?
"Islam" is an Arabic word meaning submission, surrender, and obedience. As a religion, Islam stands for complete submission and obedience to God -and this is why it is called "ISLAM."
Everyone can see that we live in an orderly universe. There is law and order among all the parts that make up this universe. Everything is assigned a place in a grand scheme which is working in a magnificent and superb way. The sun, the moon, the stars, in fact all the heavenly bodies are knit together in a splendid system. These bodies follow an unalterable law and do not deviate even slightly from their ordained course. The earth rotates on its axis and in its revolution around the sun follows the path laid out for it with precision. Everything in the world, from the tiny whirling electron to the mighty galaxy, constantly and ceaselessly follows its own laws. Matter, energy and life - all obey laws, laws by which they must grow or change, live or die.
Even in the human world, the laws of nature are quite obvious. Man's birth, growth and life are all regulated by a set of biological laws. He derives nourishment from nature according to a law which cannot be changed. All the organs of his body, from the small tissues to the heart and the brain, operate according to the laws set out for them. In short, ours is a law-governed universe and every- thing in it is following the course that has been ordained for it.
This all-powerful and all-penetrating law, which governs everything that exists, from the tiniest particles of matter to the most awesome galaxies in the high heavens, is the law of God, the Creator and Ruler of the universe. Since all created things obey the law of God, the entire universe, therefore, literally follows the system of Islam - for Islam signifies nothing but obedience and submission to God, the Lord of the universe. The sun, the moon, the earth and all other heavenly bodies are thus "Muslims" (obedient servants of God). So are the air, water and soil, and all living things, the insects, birds and mammals of the animal world, the shrubs, trees, vegeta- bles and fruits of the plant world. Everything in the universe is "Muslim"; for they all obey God Almighty by submitting to His laws.
Even the man who denies the existence of God or decides to worship a power other than God, is obligated to be a "Muslim" as far as his bodily existence is con- cerned. For this man's entire life, from the embryonic stage to the dissolution of his body into dust after death, must follow the course prescribed for it by God's law. His every molecule, tissue and limb must endlessly obey the universal laws laid down for them by Almighty God. His tongue, which in his ignorance advocates the denial of God or states that several gods exist, is by its very nature a "Muslim". His head, which he willingly bows to others besides God, is a bom Muslim. His heart, where in his lack of true knowledge he cherishes love and reverence for others, is "Muslim" by intuition. They are all obedient to the Divine Law, and their functions and operations are governed by the commandments of that law alone.
This, in short, is the real position of man and the universe. Let us now examine the problem from a differ- ent perspective. Man's character is such that there are two separate aspects of his life, two distinct spheres of his activity. In one sphere he finds himself totally regulated by the Divine Law. He cannot budge an inch or move a step away from it. Nor can he in any way slip away from its all-embracing control. Man, for instance, has no control over the power of nature. Natural disasters occur and he can neither evade them nor limit their course. In one part of the earth, hurricanes and tropical storms rage, in another severely cold weather and snow storms, in yet another devastating tornadoes, earthquakes and volcanoes.
Man can find no refuge on the globe from such events and when they occur in full force, he often calls upon that very God Who controls these processes. Whose help he did not bother to seek until disaster struck.
But there is another sphere of his activity as well. He has been blessed with reason and intelligence. He has the power to think and make judgments, to select or reject, to adopt or spurn. He is free to follow whatever way of life he chooses. He can select any religion, assume any way of life, and fashion his living according to whatever ideologies he likes. He may prepare his own code of conduct or accept one followed by someone else. He has been bestowed with free will and can chalk out his course of behavior. In this respect, he, unlike any other creature, has been given freedom of choice, thought and action.
Both of these aspects are real, co-existing yet distinguishable parts of man's life
In the first, like all other creatures, man is a bom Muslim, constantly obeying the orders of Almighty God and is bound to do so. Regarding the second aspect, he is free to become or not become a Muslim. Here is where his gift of the freedom of choice becomes operative - and it is the way a person exercises this freedom which divides mankind into two groups: believers and non-believers. An individual who chooses to recognize the Crea- tor, accept Him as his real Master, honestly and faithfully
submit to His laws and orders and follows the system of life He has revealed for man, thereby becomes a perfect Muslim Such a man has achieved completeness in his Islam by consciously deciding to obey God through the use of those very abilities of free thought, choice and action which God Almighty blessed him with. Now his entire life has become one of obedience to God. There is now no conflict in his personality because he spends his time and energy working for the pleasure of his Creator. He is a perfect Muslim and his Islam is complete - as this submission of his entire self to the will of God is Islam and nothing but Islam.
He has now consciously submitted to Him Whom he had already been obeying unconsciously. He has now willingly offered obedience to the Master Whom he had already owed obedience unintentionally. His knowledge is now real- for he has acknowledged the Being Who blessed him with the power to learn and to know. Now his reasoning and his judgment are set on an even plane - for he has correctly decided to obey the Being Who in fact gave him those abilities of thinking and judging. His tongue is now in its natural state for it truthfully asserts that it is the Lord Most High Who gave it the faculty of speech. His entire existence is an example of truth for, in all areas of life, he voluntarily as well as involun- tarily obeys the laws of the same One God - the Master of the universe. And by so doing he worships Him whom the whole universe worships. This is the natural condition. And such a man is truly God's representative on earth. The whole world is for him. And he is for God.
THE NATURE OF DISBELIEF (KUFR)
In contrast to the man described above is the man who, although bom a Muslim, does not use his skills of reason, intelligence and intuition to recognize his Lord and Creator. Rather, he misuses his freedom of choice by choosing to deny Him. Such a man becomes a disbeliever in his rejection of God.
The Arabic word for disbelief is kufr , which literally means "to cover" or "to conceal". The man who rejects God is called a concealer (kafir) because he conceals by his disbelief what is inherently in his nature and what is embalmed within his soul. For indeed, his nature is instinctively imbued with "Islam". His whole body, every cell and each atom, functions in obedience to that instinct. Each and every particle that exists - living or lifeless - functions in accordance with "Islam" and is fulfilling the duty that has been assigned to it. But the vision of this man has been blurred, his common sense has been befogged, and he is unable to see the obvious. His own nature has become hidden from his eyes and he thinks and acts in complete disregard of it. The real truth has become separated from him and he gropes in the dark - such is the nature of disbelief.
Disbelief (kufr) is not a form of ignorance; it IS ignorance, pure and simple. What ignorance could be greater than to be ignorant of God, the Creator, the Lord of the universe? A person observes the vast panorama of nature, the superb mechanism that is ceaselessly working, the grand design that exists in every nook and comer of creation - he observes the endless machinery, but does not know who is its Maker and Director. He looks at his own body, the wonderful organism that operates in an intelligible and systematic fashion, and uses it to achieve whatever goals he wishes.
Yet he is unable to comprehend the Force thai brought it into existence, the Engineer Who designed and produced this machine, the Creator Who made this unique living being out of lifeless matter: carbon, calcium, sodium and so on. He sees how impressive is the plan by which the universe operates but fails to see the Planner behind it. He sees great beauty and harmony in its workings - but not the Creator Who allows it to work. He observes the wonderful design of nature - but is blind to the Designer!
No matter which way he turns , he sees magnificent examples of skill in science and wisdom, mathematics and engineering, design and purpose. Yet he ignores the Being Who brought into existence all that is in this endless universe. How can a man who has blinded himself to this great and important reality approach the true perspectives of knowledge? How can the prospects of truth and knowledge be opened to such a man? How can anyone who has started out in the wrong place reach the right destination? He will fail to find the clue to Reality. The Right Path will remain hidden from him, and whatever his efforts in science and the arts, he will never be able to discover the light of truth and wisdom. He will be groping in darkness and stumbling in the gloom of ignorance.
But this is not all; Disbelief is also a form of tyranny. The worst, in fact, of tyrannies. And what is "Tyranny?" It is an act of cruel and unjust use of any force or power. If you force a thing to act unjustly or to act against its true nature, its will and natural inclination, that is tyranny, root and branch.
We have seen that whatever is in the universe is obedient to God Almighty, the Creator of all that the world contains. To obey, to live according to His Will and Law, or to put it more precisely, to be a Muslim is ingrained in the nature of things. God has given man power over these things, but it is superimposed upon their nature that they should be used to fulfill the Will and Law of God and not otherwise. But the person who disobeys God and resorts to disbelief perpetrates the greatest of injustices, for he uses all the God-given powers of body and mind to rebel against his natural state and becomes an unwilling instrument in the drama of disobedience. He forces his head to bow before gods other than the One True God. He cherishes in his heart the love, reverence and fear of other powers and utterly disregards the instinctive urge of his mind. He uses his power and the power of all those things upon which he has authority against the natural inclination of things, against the expressed will of God. In this manner he establishes a reign of tyranny. Can there be a greater example of injustice, tyranny and cruelty than the one exhibited by this man, who exploits and misuses everything under the sun and forces them to follow a course that is against nature and justice?
And disbelief is not mere tyranny. It is, at the very least, sheer rebellion, ingratitude and treachery. After all, what is man's real nature? What kind of power and authority does he have? Is he himself the creator of his mind, his heart, his soul, and other parts of his body - or have they been created by God? Was it he who created the universe and all within it - or has it been created by God? Who has harnessed countless powers and energies for the service of man, oil and electricity, sunlight and atomic forces - man or God? If everything has been constructed by God and God alone, then to whom do they belong? Who is their real owner? Who is their rightful guardian? Clearly, it is God and none else. And if God is the Creator, the Master and the Sovereign, then who could be a greater rebel than the man who uses God's creation against His own regulations - who forces his mind to plot against God, harbors in his soul thoughts against Him, and uses his various abilities against the Almighty's will. If a servant betrays his master, you denounce him as faithless. If an army officer becomes disloyal to the state, you proclaim him a traitor and renegade. If a person cheats on his friend, you do not hesitate to condemn him as an ingrate. But what match can this betrayal, this ingratitude and this rebellion be to the one which the disbeliever commits by his denial of God? Who is the source of all power and authority? Who gave man command over the resources? Who elevated people to positions of authority and power? Who gave presidents, kings and governors the power to rule and Who is the true provider and distributor of wealth? All such things which men possess and anything good which man uses to help others, are gifts from God. The greatest obligation a man has is to his parents. But who has implanted in the parents' hearts the desire to love and cherish their children? Who gave the mother the will and the power to nurture and nourish her children?
A little reflection will reveal that God is the greatest caretaker of man. He is the Creator, Master, Nourisher, Sustainer, as well as the real King and President. And this being the position of God as contrasted to man, what greater betrayal, ingratitude, rebellion and treason can there be than kufr (disbelief), through which a man denies and disobeys his real Master and Ruler?
Do you think that man, by living the life of disobedience and denial, can do any harm to God Almighty? Not in the least. Man is an insignificant speck on the face of a tiny sphere within this limitless universe. What harm can he do to the Master of the universe, whose territories are so infinitely vast that we cannot even come close to exploring their boundaries with the help of the most powerful telescope or the fastest spacecraft? What harm can he do to a God Whose power is so great that uncountable heavenly bodies like the earth, moon, sun and stars are at His command, whirling like tiny balls; Whose wealth is so boundless that he is the sole Master and Controller of the entire universe; Who provides for all and needs none to provide for Him? Man's revolt against Him can do Him no harm. On the contrary- by his disobedience, man walks the path that will lead him to total ruin and disgrace.
The inevitable result is a failure to achieve the basic and furthest-reaching purposes and concepts of life. These great concepts of truth were created for man by God Himself. But this rebel will not find the thread of true knowledge and vision. He will never find this knowledge, for he has denied the existence of the One Who created it. His intelligence and reason will always run astray. For reasoning which fails to recognize the Being Who created it cannot brighten the walkways of life. And without this clear light brightening his way, man can never recognize and put these truths into practice in his daily life.
The result is that a man like this will meet with failure in all affairs of his life. His moral, civil and social life, his struggle for prosperity and his family life, in short his whole life, will be in turmoil. Disorder and confusion will be spread on the earth by him. He will, without the leasi reservation, shed blood, violate the rights of others, be cruel to them and tyrannize them. By this behavior he will create a general atmosphere of disorder and destruction in the world. His perverted mind, blurred vision, distorted values and evil-generating activities will make life miser- able for both himself and those associated with him. Such a man will destroy the peace and calm of life on earth: tyranny and arrogance, destruction and decimation will follow. And in the life hereafter, he will be held guilty for the crimes he committed against his nature, skills and resources. Every organ of his body - his brain, eyes, hands and feet - will complain against the injustice and cruelty done to them. Every tissue of his body will belittle him before God Who, as the fountain of all justice, will award him the full punishment he deserves. This is the inglorious consequence of disbelief. It leads to the blind alley of total failure, here and in the hereafter.
THE BLESSINGS OF ISLAM
We have surveyed the evils and disadvantages of disbelief. Let us now examine the blessings of Islam.
In the world around you, as well as in your immediate surroundings, you find countless indications of God's divine power. This majestic universe which ceaselessly operates with unmatched order and organization, which functions in harmony with laws that cannot be changed, is in itself witness that its Creator, Designer and Governor is a Great Being Who has knowledge and power over all things. It is witness that this Being has command over limitless resources, a Being Whose wisdom is perfect, and Whom nothing in this universe dare disobey. It is within the nature of man and everything else in the universe to obey Him. In fact, man is constantly obeying His Law even though he may be unaware of it; and the moment he disrupts this Law, he is exposed to death and destruction. This is the law of nature, our everyday observation.
Besides giving man the capability to gain knowledge, the ability to think and to ponder and the sense for distinguishing right from wrong. God granted him a cer- tain amount of will and action. It is within this freedom that man's real test in this world lies. His knowledge and intelligence, his ability to tell the good from the bad, and his freedom of will and action are constantly being tried and tested. In this trial, man has not been forced to follow a specific direction, for the objective of the trial would be defeated by compulsion. If, while taking an exam, you are forced to write down a specific answer to a question, the examination will be of no use. Your proficiency can be properly judged only if you are allowed to answer the question freely and according to what you know about the subject at hand. If your answer is wrong you will fail and your failure will hinder your future success and progress.
The situation faced by man in this world is precisely the same. God has given man freedom of will and action so that he can be free to select whatever way of life he likes and considers proper for himself- Islam or disbelief.
On one hand, there is the type of man who understands neither the nature of himself nor that of the universe. He errs in recognizing who his real Master is, fails to visualize His qualities and misuses his freedom by pursuing the path of disobedience and revolt. Such a man has failed in the trial of how his knowledge, intelligence and responsibility were supposed to be used. He has failed to rise to the standard for which he was made, and does not deserve a better destiny than the one outlined above.
On the other hand, there is another man. A man who emerges successful in this trial. By correctly using his knowledge and intelligence, he recognizes his Creator, firmly believes in Him and, in spite of being under no compulsion to do so, chooses the path of obedience to Him. He does not err in telling the right from the wrong, and chooses to follow what is correct despite having the potential to lean towards evil. He understands his nature, realizes the laws and truths of that nature and , despite being free and able to select any direction, adopts the way of obedience and loyalty to God the Creator. He is suc- cessful in this trial because he has properly used his ability to think and to reason. His other skills bear witness to this truth as well. His uses his eyes to see the reality, his ears to listen to the truth, his mind to form correct opinions and puts his whole heart and soul into following the correct way he has chosen. He chooses truth. He sees the Reality; and willingly and joyfully submits to his Lord and Master. He is intelligent, truthful and dutiful, for he has chosen light over darkness. And seeing this light, he has re- sponded to it with enthusiasm. Thus he has proved by his conduct that he is not only a seeker after Truth but recognizes it and worships it as well. Clearly he is on the Right Path and is bound to succeed in this world and in the life to come.
Such a man will always select the right path in every field of knowledge and activity. The man who knows God by recognizing all His attributes knows the beginning as well as the ultimate end of Reality. He can never be led astray, for his first step is on the right path. He is sure of his direction and the destination towards which his life is moving. In philosophy, he will ponder the secrets of the universe, and will try to understand the mysteries of nature, but, unlike an unbelieving philosopher, he will not lose his way in the maze of doubt and skepticism. His path is illuminated with Divine Vision; every step he takes will fall in the right direction. In science, he will try to understand the laws of nature, uncover the hidden treasures of the earth and direct all the hitherto unknown forces of mind and matter - all for the betterment of mankind. He will try his level best to explore all avenues of knowledge and research, to harness all that exists in the earth and the heavens in the interest of mankind. At every stage of his inquiry, his God-consciousness will save him from using science and the scientific method for evil and destruction.
He will never imagine himself nor claim to be the master of all that is in the universe, boasting to be a conqueror of nature, arrogating to himself godly and sovereign powers, maintaining the ambition of subverting the world. He will not seek to subdue the human race or to oppress the people. Nor will attempt to establish his supremacy over everyone and everything by any means fair or foul. Such an attitude of revolt and defiance can never be entertained by a Muslim scientist - only an unbelieving scientist can become a victim of such delusions and, by serving them, expose the entire human race to the danger of total de- struction and annihilation.
In contrast, a Muslim scientist will behave in a radically different way. The deeper his insight into science, the stronger will be his faith in God. His head will bow down before Him in gratitude. He will feel that since his Master has blessed him with greater power and knowledge, he must work hard for his own good as well as the good of humanity. His freedom will not be used to promote violence and destruction. He will be guided by the tenets of morality and Divine Revelation. Thus, instead of becoming an instrument of destruction, science becomes an agency for the welfare of humanity. In this manner, he will express his gratefulness to his Master for the gifts and blessings He has given man.
In the same way, in history, economics, politics, law and other branches of arts and science, a Muslim will nowhere lag behind an unbeliever. Yet the way they view these fields and the procedures they use to gain knowledge in them differ widely. A Muslim will study every branch of knowledge, but will keep that knowledge in its proper perspective. He will work hard to pursue the proper objective of life and, through his study, will arrive at proper conclusions. In history, he will leam from the past experiences of mankind and will discover the true causes for the rise and fall of civilizations. He will try to benefit from all that was good and correct in the past and will be careful to avoid anything which led to the decline and fall of nations. In politics his sole objective will be to strive for the establishment of a government where peace, brotherhood and goodness reign. He will seek to build that government in which every human being is a brother to one another, where no forms of exploitation or slavery are rampant, where the rights of the individual are respectfully upheld. He will seek to build that government in which the powers of the state are considered a sacred trust from God and are used for the common welfare of all. In the field of law, the Muslim will seek to offer a true example of justice and to prove an authentic protector of the rights of all - particularly of the weak. He will make sure that all get their due share and no injustice or oppression is inflicted on anyone. He will respect the law, make others respect it and will see that the law is administered justly and fairly.
The moral life of the Muslim will always be filled with godliness, righteousness and truthfulness. He will live in the world with the belief that God alone is the Master of all, that whatever he and other men possess is a gift from God, that the powers he wields are only a trust from God. He will think that the freedom he has been endowed with is not to be used indiscriminately, and that it is in his interest to use it in agreement with God's Will. He will constantly keep in mind that one day he will have to return to God Almighty and submit an account of his entire life. Such a sense of accountability will remain so firmly implanted in his thoughts that he will never behave in an irresponsible manner.
Think of the moral excellence of the man who lives within this mental framework: his will be a life of purity, piety, love and altruism. He will be a blessing unto mankind. His thinking will not be polluted with wicked thoughts and perverted ambitions. He will abstain from seeing evil, hearing evil and doing evil. He will guard his tongue and never utter even a single lie. He will earn his living through just and fair means and would rather go hungry than eat food which was acquired through exploitation and injustice. He will neither oppress the people nor violate human life and honor regardless of its form or color. He will never yield to the forces of evil and corruption, regardless of what such opposition may cost him. He will be an example of goodness and excellence and will uphold truth and justice even at the cost of his life. He will abhor all forms of injustice and will stand for truth, undaunted by the storms of adversity. Such a man will be a power to be reckoned with. He is bound to succeed. Nothing on earth can discourage him or impede his way.
He will be the most honored and respected one. No one can surpass him in this respect. How can humiliation ever overcome a person who is not prepared to bow his head or even spread his hand for any favor before anyone except God Almighty, the Master of the universe?
He will be the most powerful, the most effective. No one can be more powerful than he - for he fears none but God and seeks blessings from no one but Him. What power can make him deviate from the right path? What force can mold his conscience? What could possibly coerce his behavior?
He will be the most wealthy and rich. No one in the world can be richer or more independent than he - for he will live a life of simplicity, satisfaction, and content- ment. He will neither be impure, indulgent, nor greedy. He will be satisfied with whatever he earns fairly and honestly. Even if heaps of ill-begotten wealth are put before him, he will not look at them, let alone try to benefit from them. His heart will be full of peace and contentment - and what wealth can be greater than this?
He will be most respected, popular and loved. No one can be more lovable than he -for he lives a life of charity and kindness. He will do justice to everyone and everything he meets, discharge his duties honestly and work foi the good of others with sincerity. People's hearts will naturally be drawn to him and they will love and respect him.
He will be most trusted and honored. No one can be more trustworthy than he - for he will not betray his trust, nor will he be led astray from righteousness. He will be true to this word and honest in his transactions. Fairness and justice will be the rule in all his affairs, for he is certain that God is present everywhere and is always aware and watching. Words fail to describe the credit and goodwill that such a man commands. Can mere be anyone who will not trust him? Such is the life and character of a Muslim.
If you understand the character of a true Muslim, you will be convinced that he can not live in humiliation, debasement, or subjugation. He is bound to prevail. No power on earth can overwhelm or subdue him. Islam instills in him the qualities which cannot be overshad- owed by any attraction, pleasure, or illusion.
And after living a respectable and honorable life on earth he will return to his Creator Who will shower upon him the choicest of His blessings. God will bestow these blessings on him because he discharged his duty ably, fulfilled his mission successfully and emerged from the trial triumphantly. He is successful in life in this world and in the hereafter and will live in eternal peace, joy and happiness.
This is Islam., the natural religion of man, the religion which is not associated with any person, people, period or place. In every age, in every country, and among every people, all God-knowing and truth-loving men have believed and lived this very religion. They were Muslims all, whether they called their way Islam or not. Whatever the name, it signified Islam and nothing but Islam.
Nearly every religion in the world has been named aftel either the person it has been associated with or the people or nation from which it originated. Christianity, for example, derives its name from Jesus Christ; Buddhism from Gautama Buddha; Zoroastrianism from Zoroaster; and Judaism, the religion of the Jews, takes its name from both the tribe of Judah and the country of Judea where it was bom. The same is true of other religions. But not so with Islam. This religion enjoys the unique distinction of having no such association with any particular person or people.
The word "Islam" does not convey any such relationship - for it does not belong to any person, people, or country. Nor is it the product of any human mind. It is a universal religion and its objective is to create and cultivate within man the quality and attitude of Islam.
"Islam", in fact, is a descriptive title. Whoever possesses the qualities contained within this description, re- gardless of his race, community, country or family, is a Muslim. According to the Qur'an (the holy book of the Muslims) among every society and in all ages there have been good and righteous people who possessed these qualities - and all of them were and are Muslims.
This brings us to the question: What does Islam mean? And who is a Muslim?
ISLAM - What does it mean?
"Islam" is an Arabic word meaning submission, surrender, and obedience. As a religion, Islam stands for complete submission and obedience to God -and this is why it is called "ISLAM."
Everyone can see that we live in an orderly universe. There is law and order among all the parts that make up this universe. Everything is assigned a place in a grand scheme which is working in a magnificent and superb way. The sun, the moon, the stars, in fact all the heavenly bodies are knit together in a splendid system. These bodies follow an unalterable law and do not deviate even slightly from their ordained course. The earth rotates on its axis and in its revolution around the sun follows the path laid out for it with precision. Everything in the world, from the tiny whirling electron to the mighty galaxy, constantly and ceaselessly follows its own laws. Matter, energy and life - all obey laws, laws by which they must grow or change, live or die.
Even in the human world, the laws of nature are quite obvious. Man's birth, growth and life are all regulated by a set of biological laws. He derives nourishment from nature according to a law which cannot be changed. All the organs of his body, from the small tissues to the heart and the brain, operate according to the laws set out for them. In short, ours is a law-governed universe and every- thing in it is following the course that has been ordained for it.
This all-powerful and all-penetrating law, which governs everything that exists, from the tiniest particles of matter to the most awesome galaxies in the high heavens, is the law of God, the Creator and Ruler of the universe. Since all created things obey the law of God, the entire universe, therefore, literally follows the system of Islam - for Islam signifies nothing but obedience and submission to God, the Lord of the universe. The sun, the moon, the earth and all other heavenly bodies are thus "Muslims" (obedient servants of God). So are the air, water and soil, and all living things, the insects, birds and mammals of the animal world, the shrubs, trees, vegeta- bles and fruits of the plant world. Everything in the universe is "Muslim"; for they all obey God Almighty by submitting to His laws.
Even the man who denies the existence of God or decides to worship a power other than God, is obligated to be a "Muslim" as far as his bodily existence is con- cerned. For this man's entire life, from the embryonic stage to the dissolution of his body into dust after death, must follow the course prescribed for it by God's law. His every molecule, tissue and limb must endlessly obey the universal laws laid down for them by Almighty God. His tongue, which in his ignorance advocates the denial of God or states that several gods exist, is by its very nature a "Muslim". His head, which he willingly bows to others besides God, is a bom Muslim. His heart, where in his lack of true knowledge he cherishes love and reverence for others, is "Muslim" by intuition. They are all obedient to the Divine Law, and their functions and operations are governed by the commandments of that law alone.
This, in short, is the real position of man and the universe. Let us now examine the problem from a differ- ent perspective. Man's character is such that there are two separate aspects of his life, two distinct spheres of his activity. In one sphere he finds himself totally regulated by the Divine Law. He cannot budge an inch or move a step away from it. Nor can he in any way slip away from its all-embracing control. Man, for instance, has no control over the power of nature. Natural disasters occur and he can neither evade them nor limit their course. In one part of the earth, hurricanes and tropical storms rage, in another severely cold weather and snow storms, in yet another devastating tornadoes, earthquakes and volcanoes.
Man can find no refuge on the globe from such events and when they occur in full force, he often calls upon that very God Who controls these processes. Whose help he did not bother to seek until disaster struck.
But there is another sphere of his activity as well. He has been blessed with reason and intelligence. He has the power to think and make judgments, to select or reject, to adopt or spurn. He is free to follow whatever way of life he chooses. He can select any religion, assume any way of life, and fashion his living according to whatever ideologies he likes. He may prepare his own code of conduct or accept one followed by someone else. He has been bestowed with free will and can chalk out his course of behavior. In this respect, he, unlike any other creature, has been given freedom of choice, thought and action.
Both of these aspects are real, co-existing yet distinguishable parts of man's life
In the first, like all other creatures, man is a bom Muslim, constantly obeying the orders of Almighty God and is bound to do so. Regarding the second aspect, he is free to become or not become a Muslim. Here is where his gift of the freedom of choice becomes operative - and it is the way a person exercises this freedom which divides mankind into two groups: believers and non-believers. An individual who chooses to recognize the Crea- tor, accept Him as his real Master, honestly and faithfully
submit to His laws and orders and follows the system of life He has revealed for man, thereby becomes a perfect Muslim Such a man has achieved completeness in his Islam by consciously deciding to obey God through the use of those very abilities of free thought, choice and action which God Almighty blessed him with. Now his entire life has become one of obedience to God. There is now no conflict in his personality because he spends his time and energy working for the pleasure of his Creator. He is a perfect Muslim and his Islam is complete - as this submission of his entire self to the will of God is Islam and nothing but Islam.
He has now consciously submitted to Him Whom he had already been obeying unconsciously. He has now willingly offered obedience to the Master Whom he had already owed obedience unintentionally. His knowledge is now real- for he has acknowledged the Being Who blessed him with the power to learn and to know. Now his reasoning and his judgment are set on an even plane - for he has correctly decided to obey the Being Who in fact gave him those abilities of thinking and judging. His tongue is now in its natural state for it truthfully asserts that it is the Lord Most High Who gave it the faculty of speech. His entire existence is an example of truth for, in all areas of life, he voluntarily as well as involun- tarily obeys the laws of the same One God - the Master of the universe. And by so doing he worships Him whom the whole universe worships. This is the natural condition. And such a man is truly God's representative on earth. The whole world is for him. And he is for God.
THE NATURE OF DISBELIEF (KUFR)
In contrast to the man described above is the man who, although bom a Muslim, does not use his skills of reason, intelligence and intuition to recognize his Lord and Creator. Rather, he misuses his freedom of choice by choosing to deny Him. Such a man becomes a disbeliever in his rejection of God.
The Arabic word for disbelief is kufr , which literally means "to cover" or "to conceal". The man who rejects God is called a concealer (kafir) because he conceals by his disbelief what is inherently in his nature and what is embalmed within his soul. For indeed, his nature is instinctively imbued with "Islam". His whole body, every cell and each atom, functions in obedience to that instinct. Each and every particle that exists - living or lifeless - functions in accordance with "Islam" and is fulfilling the duty that has been assigned to it. But the vision of this man has been blurred, his common sense has been befogged, and he is unable to see the obvious. His own nature has become hidden from his eyes and he thinks and acts in complete disregard of it. The real truth has become separated from him and he gropes in the dark - such is the nature of disbelief.
Disbelief (kufr) is not a form of ignorance; it IS ignorance, pure and simple. What ignorance could be greater than to be ignorant of God, the Creator, the Lord of the universe? A person observes the vast panorama of nature, the superb mechanism that is ceaselessly working, the grand design that exists in every nook and comer of creation - he observes the endless machinery, but does not know who is its Maker and Director. He looks at his own body, the wonderful organism that operates in an intelligible and systematic fashion, and uses it to achieve whatever goals he wishes.
Yet he is unable to comprehend the Force thai brought it into existence, the Engineer Who designed and produced this machine, the Creator Who made this unique living being out of lifeless matter: carbon, calcium, sodium and so on. He sees how impressive is the plan by which the universe operates but fails to see the Planner behind it. He sees great beauty and harmony in its workings - but not the Creator Who allows it to work. He observes the wonderful design of nature - but is blind to the Designer!
No matter which way he turns , he sees magnificent examples of skill in science and wisdom, mathematics and engineering, design and purpose. Yet he ignores the Being Who brought into existence all that is in this endless universe. How can a man who has blinded himself to this great and important reality approach the true perspectives of knowledge? How can the prospects of truth and knowledge be opened to such a man? How can anyone who has started out in the wrong place reach the right destination? He will fail to find the clue to Reality. The Right Path will remain hidden from him, and whatever his efforts in science and the arts, he will never be able to discover the light of truth and wisdom. He will be groping in darkness and stumbling in the gloom of ignorance.
But this is not all; Disbelief is also a form of tyranny. The worst, in fact, of tyrannies. And what is "Tyranny?" It is an act of cruel and unjust use of any force or power. If you force a thing to act unjustly or to act against its true nature, its will and natural inclination, that is tyranny, root and branch.
We have seen that whatever is in the universe is obedient to God Almighty, the Creator of all that the world contains. To obey, to live according to His Will and Law, or to put it more precisely, to be a Muslim is ingrained in the nature of things. God has given man power over these things, but it is superimposed upon their nature that they should be used to fulfill the Will and Law of God and not otherwise. But the person who disobeys God and resorts to disbelief perpetrates the greatest of injustices, for he uses all the God-given powers of body and mind to rebel against his natural state and becomes an unwilling instrument in the drama of disobedience. He forces his head to bow before gods other than the One True God. He cherishes in his heart the love, reverence and fear of other powers and utterly disregards the instinctive urge of his mind. He uses his power and the power of all those things upon which he has authority against the natural inclination of things, against the expressed will of God. In this manner he establishes a reign of tyranny. Can there be a greater example of injustice, tyranny and cruelty than the one exhibited by this man, who exploits and misuses everything under the sun and forces them to follow a course that is against nature and justice?
And disbelief is not mere tyranny. It is, at the very least, sheer rebellion, ingratitude and treachery. After all, what is man's real nature? What kind of power and authority does he have? Is he himself the creator of his mind, his heart, his soul, and other parts of his body - or have they been created by God? Was it he who created the universe and all within it - or has it been created by God? Who has harnessed countless powers and energies for the service of man, oil and electricity, sunlight and atomic forces - man or God? If everything has been constructed by God and God alone, then to whom do they belong? Who is their real owner? Who is their rightful guardian? Clearly, it is God and none else. And if God is the Creator, the Master and the Sovereign, then who could be a greater rebel than the man who uses God's creation against His own regulations - who forces his mind to plot against God, harbors in his soul thoughts against Him, and uses his various abilities against the Almighty's will. If a servant betrays his master, you denounce him as faithless. If an army officer becomes disloyal to the state, you proclaim him a traitor and renegade. If a person cheats on his friend, you do not hesitate to condemn him as an ingrate. But what match can this betrayal, this ingratitude and this rebellion be to the one which the disbeliever commits by his denial of God? Who is the source of all power and authority? Who gave man command over the resources? Who elevated people to positions of authority and power? Who gave presidents, kings and governors the power to rule and Who is the true provider and distributor of wealth? All such things which men possess and anything good which man uses to help others, are gifts from God. The greatest obligation a man has is to his parents. But who has implanted in the parents' hearts the desire to love and cherish their children? Who gave the mother the will and the power to nurture and nourish her children?
A little reflection will reveal that God is the greatest caretaker of man. He is the Creator, Master, Nourisher, Sustainer, as well as the real King and President. And this being the position of God as contrasted to man, what greater betrayal, ingratitude, rebellion and treason can there be than kufr (disbelief), through which a man denies and disobeys his real Master and Ruler?
Do you think that man, by living the life of disobedience and denial, can do any harm to God Almighty? Not in the least. Man is an insignificant speck on the face of a tiny sphere within this limitless universe. What harm can he do to the Master of the universe, whose territories are so infinitely vast that we cannot even come close to exploring their boundaries with the help of the most powerful telescope or the fastest spacecraft? What harm can he do to a God Whose power is so great that uncountable heavenly bodies like the earth, moon, sun and stars are at His command, whirling like tiny balls; Whose wealth is so boundless that he is the sole Master and Controller of the entire universe; Who provides for all and needs none to provide for Him? Man's revolt against Him can do Him no harm. On the contrary- by his disobedience, man walks the path that will lead him to total ruin and disgrace.
The inevitable result is a failure to achieve the basic and furthest-reaching purposes and concepts of life. These great concepts of truth were created for man by God Himself. But this rebel will not find the thread of true knowledge and vision. He will never find this knowledge, for he has denied the existence of the One Who created it. His intelligence and reason will always run astray. For reasoning which fails to recognize the Being Who created it cannot brighten the walkways of life. And without this clear light brightening his way, man can never recognize and put these truths into practice in his daily life.
The result is that a man like this will meet with failure in all affairs of his life. His moral, civil and social life, his struggle for prosperity and his family life, in short his whole life, will be in turmoil. Disorder and confusion will be spread on the earth by him. He will, without the leasi reservation, shed blood, violate the rights of others, be cruel to them and tyrannize them. By this behavior he will create a general atmosphere of disorder and destruction in the world. His perverted mind, blurred vision, distorted values and evil-generating activities will make life miser- able for both himself and those associated with him. Such a man will destroy the peace and calm of life on earth: tyranny and arrogance, destruction and decimation will follow. And in the life hereafter, he will be held guilty for the crimes he committed against his nature, skills and resources. Every organ of his body - his brain, eyes, hands and feet - will complain against the injustice and cruelty done to them. Every tissue of his body will belittle him before God Who, as the fountain of all justice, will award him the full punishment he deserves. This is the inglorious consequence of disbelief. It leads to the blind alley of total failure, here and in the hereafter.
THE BLESSINGS OF ISLAM
We have surveyed the evils and disadvantages of disbelief. Let us now examine the blessings of Islam.
In the world around you, as well as in your immediate surroundings, you find countless indications of God's divine power. This majestic universe which ceaselessly operates with unmatched order and organization, which functions in harmony with laws that cannot be changed, is in itself witness that its Creator, Designer and Governor is a Great Being Who has knowledge and power over all things. It is witness that this Being has command over limitless resources, a Being Whose wisdom is perfect, and Whom nothing in this universe dare disobey. It is within the nature of man and everything else in the universe to obey Him. In fact, man is constantly obeying His Law even though he may be unaware of it; and the moment he disrupts this Law, he is exposed to death and destruction. This is the law of nature, our everyday observation.
Besides giving man the capability to gain knowledge, the ability to think and to ponder and the sense for distinguishing right from wrong. God granted him a cer- tain amount of will and action. It is within this freedom that man's real test in this world lies. His knowledge and intelligence, his ability to tell the good from the bad, and his freedom of will and action are constantly being tried and tested. In this trial, man has not been forced to follow a specific direction, for the objective of the trial would be defeated by compulsion. If, while taking an exam, you are forced to write down a specific answer to a question, the examination will be of no use. Your proficiency can be properly judged only if you are allowed to answer the question freely and according to what you know about the subject at hand. If your answer is wrong you will fail and your failure will hinder your future success and progress.
The situation faced by man in this world is precisely the same. God has given man freedom of will and action so that he can be free to select whatever way of life he likes and considers proper for himself- Islam or disbelief.
On one hand, there is the type of man who understands neither the nature of himself nor that of the universe. He errs in recognizing who his real Master is, fails to visualize His qualities and misuses his freedom by pursuing the path of disobedience and revolt. Such a man has failed in the trial of how his knowledge, intelligence and responsibility were supposed to be used. He has failed to rise to the standard for which he was made, and does not deserve a better destiny than the one outlined above.
On the other hand, there is another man. A man who emerges successful in this trial. By correctly using his knowledge and intelligence, he recognizes his Creator, firmly believes in Him and, in spite of being under no compulsion to do so, chooses the path of obedience to Him. He does not err in telling the right from the wrong, and chooses to follow what is correct despite having the potential to lean towards evil. He understands his nature, realizes the laws and truths of that nature and , despite being free and able to select any direction, adopts the way of obedience and loyalty to God the Creator. He is suc- cessful in this trial because he has properly used his ability to think and to reason. His other skills bear witness to this truth as well. His uses his eyes to see the reality, his ears to listen to the truth, his mind to form correct opinions and puts his whole heart and soul into following the correct way he has chosen. He chooses truth. He sees the Reality; and willingly and joyfully submits to his Lord and Master. He is intelligent, truthful and dutiful, for he has chosen light over darkness. And seeing this light, he has re- sponded to it with enthusiasm. Thus he has proved by his conduct that he is not only a seeker after Truth but recognizes it and worships it as well. Clearly he is on the Right Path and is bound to succeed in this world and in the life to come.
Such a man will always select the right path in every field of knowledge and activity. The man who knows God by recognizing all His attributes knows the beginning as well as the ultimate end of Reality. He can never be led astray, for his first step is on the right path. He is sure of his direction and the destination towards which his life is moving. In philosophy, he will ponder the secrets of the universe, and will try to understand the mysteries of nature, but, unlike an unbelieving philosopher, he will not lose his way in the maze of doubt and skepticism. His path is illuminated with Divine Vision; every step he takes will fall in the right direction. In science, he will try to understand the laws of nature, uncover the hidden treasures of the earth and direct all the hitherto unknown forces of mind and matter - all for the betterment of mankind. He will try his level best to explore all avenues of knowledge and research, to harness all that exists in the earth and the heavens in the interest of mankind. At every stage of his inquiry, his God-consciousness will save him from using science and the scientific method for evil and destruction.
He will never imagine himself nor claim to be the master of all that is in the universe, boasting to be a conqueror of nature, arrogating to himself godly and sovereign powers, maintaining the ambition of subverting the world. He will not seek to subdue the human race or to oppress the people. Nor will attempt to establish his supremacy over everyone and everything by any means fair or foul. Such an attitude of revolt and defiance can never be entertained by a Muslim scientist - only an unbelieving scientist can become a victim of such delusions and, by serving them, expose the entire human race to the danger of total de- struction and annihilation.
In contrast, a Muslim scientist will behave in a radically different way. The deeper his insight into science, the stronger will be his faith in God. His head will bow down before Him in gratitude. He will feel that since his Master has blessed him with greater power and knowledge, he must work hard for his own good as well as the good of humanity. His freedom will not be used to promote violence and destruction. He will be guided by the tenets of morality and Divine Revelation. Thus, instead of becoming an instrument of destruction, science becomes an agency for the welfare of humanity. In this manner, he will express his gratefulness to his Master for the gifts and blessings He has given man.
In the same way, in history, economics, politics, law and other branches of arts and science, a Muslim will nowhere lag behind an unbeliever. Yet the way they view these fields and the procedures they use to gain knowledge in them differ widely. A Muslim will study every branch of knowledge, but will keep that knowledge in its proper perspective. He will work hard to pursue the proper objective of life and, through his study, will arrive at proper conclusions. In history, he will leam from the past experiences of mankind and will discover the true causes for the rise and fall of civilizations. He will try to benefit from all that was good and correct in the past and will be careful to avoid anything which led to the decline and fall of nations. In politics his sole objective will be to strive for the establishment of a government where peace, brotherhood and goodness reign. He will seek to build that government in which every human being is a brother to one another, where no forms of exploitation or slavery are rampant, where the rights of the individual are respectfully upheld. He will seek to build that government in which the powers of the state are considered a sacred trust from God and are used for the common welfare of all. In the field of law, the Muslim will seek to offer a true example of justice and to prove an authentic protector of the rights of all - particularly of the weak. He will make sure that all get their due share and no injustice or oppression is inflicted on anyone. He will respect the law, make others respect it and will see that the law is administered justly and fairly.
The moral life of the Muslim will always be filled with godliness, righteousness and truthfulness. He will live in the world with the belief that God alone is the Master of all, that whatever he and other men possess is a gift from God, that the powers he wields are only a trust from God. He will think that the freedom he has been endowed with is not to be used indiscriminately, and that it is in his interest to use it in agreement with God's Will. He will constantly keep in mind that one day he will have to return to God Almighty and submit an account of his entire life. Such a sense of accountability will remain so firmly implanted in his thoughts that he will never behave in an irresponsible manner.
Think of the moral excellence of the man who lives within this mental framework: his will be a life of purity, piety, love and altruism. He will be a blessing unto mankind. His thinking will not be polluted with wicked thoughts and perverted ambitions. He will abstain from seeing evil, hearing evil and doing evil. He will guard his tongue and never utter even a single lie. He will earn his living through just and fair means and would rather go hungry than eat food which was acquired through exploitation and injustice. He will neither oppress the people nor violate human life and honor regardless of its form or color. He will never yield to the forces of evil and corruption, regardless of what such opposition may cost him. He will be an example of goodness and excellence and will uphold truth and justice even at the cost of his life. He will abhor all forms of injustice and will stand for truth, undaunted by the storms of adversity. Such a man will be a power to be reckoned with. He is bound to succeed. Nothing on earth can discourage him or impede his way.
He will be the most honored and respected one. No one can surpass him in this respect. How can humiliation ever overcome a person who is not prepared to bow his head or even spread his hand for any favor before anyone except God Almighty, the Master of the universe?
He will be the most powerful, the most effective. No one can be more powerful than he - for he fears none but God and seeks blessings from no one but Him. What power can make him deviate from the right path? What force can mold his conscience? What could possibly coerce his behavior?
He will be the most wealthy and rich. No one in the world can be richer or more independent than he - for he will live a life of simplicity, satisfaction, and content- ment. He will neither be impure, indulgent, nor greedy. He will be satisfied with whatever he earns fairly and honestly. Even if heaps of ill-begotten wealth are put before him, he will not look at them, let alone try to benefit from them. His heart will be full of peace and contentment - and what wealth can be greater than this?
He will be most respected, popular and loved. No one can be more lovable than he -for he lives a life of charity and kindness. He will do justice to everyone and everything he meets, discharge his duties honestly and work foi the good of others with sincerity. People's hearts will naturally be drawn to him and they will love and respect him.
He will be most trusted and honored. No one can be more trustworthy than he - for he will not betray his trust, nor will he be led astray from righteousness. He will be true to this word and honest in his transactions. Fairness and justice will be the rule in all his affairs, for he is certain that God is present everywhere and is always aware and watching. Words fail to describe the credit and goodwill that such a man commands. Can mere be anyone who will not trust him? Such is the life and character of a Muslim.
If you understand the character of a true Muslim, you will be convinced that he can not live in humiliation, debasement, or subjugation. He is bound to prevail. No power on earth can overwhelm or subdue him. Islam instills in him the qualities which cannot be overshad- owed by any attraction, pleasure, or illusion.
And after living a respectable and honorable life on earth he will return to his Creator Who will shower upon him the choicest of His blessings. God will bestow these blessings on him because he discharged his duty ably, fulfilled his mission successfully and emerged from the trial triumphantly. He is successful in life in this world and in the hereafter and will live in eternal peace, joy and happiness.
This is Islam., the natural religion of man, the religion which is not associated with any person, people, period or place. In every age, in every country, and among every people, all God-knowing and truth-loving men have believed and lived this very religion. They were Muslims all, whether they called their way Islam or not. Whatever the name, it signified Islam and nothing but Islam.
