What is Islam and What Do Muslims Believe?

Islam is the lifestyle or religion practiced by more than 2 billion people around the world. Those who live a life style according to Islamic Values are called Muslims. Muslim, literally means, one who submits their self to Allah ( swt) GOD, and Islam means peace. A complete lifestyle that will lead ones heart to peace. So it is Islam not Muhammadanism that Muslims practice.

Muslims believe that there is no God worthy to be worshiped except God, the Creator of the Universe, the one who gives life and has the power to end it and the entire world as we know it. Muslims believe that there is no other in Comparison to him.

Muslims also believe that Allah, literally meaning The God, has had many prophets in which he has sent to earth to give his message to mankind. These messengers were also human, but were given specific purposes and abilities so that mankind will head their words. The Messengers also included Prophets. Prophets were those who could foretell something that was to happen before it happened.

And because mankind continuously did not act upon the words of God, he continuously sent messengers and Prophets to mankind through out the entire world during various times. Those prophets include Abraham, Moses, Noah, Jesus, David, Solomon, Muhammad and many others. Peace be upon them all.

One thing that Muslims believe is that Muhammad, peace be upon him was the last of Allah's Messengers and Prophets. God has sent his message to mankind through out time to remind them of the purpose and remind them of the responsibilities, but we have entered into a time, that does not have much time left and thus there are no other prophets to come.

There may be many claiming to be a prophet, but scriptures have told us to be weary of them, and that there are no other prophets to come again, except until the day of judgment in which is when Jesus, peace be upon him will return.

Another creation in which Allah has commanded to worship him are Angels. The Angels have many purposes, for some it is to delver a scripture or message to the prophets to give to mankind, for some it is to watch over mankind.

Muslim believe that the scriptures that we have today, such as the Torah, The Bible, the Quran, were sent from Allah by the Angels to the Prophets and that we must use them in order to guide us in our lives.

The Torah was given to Moses, (the first five books of the bible, aka the Old Testament) psalms was given to David, The New Testament was given to Jesus, and Finally the Quran was given to Muhammad. May Allah reward and bless them all.

The Torah was originally sent in Hebrew, The New Testament was sent in Greek and Aramaic. The Quran was sent in Arabic. The scriptures that we have today have been translated into many languages, and when something is translated it often looses meaning. Also as history tells us, there are even some scriptures missing from the Bible, as well as some have been edited.

So how can one use a scripture that has the Word of God edited, or missing parts as a guide for their life. It is very difficult to do so.

The Quran was sent in Arabic, and as well has been translated into many languages, including English. As an English speaking Muslim, I know for a fact that when I read the Quran in English compared to the Little Arabic I am learning, things are lost in translation. Which shows me the importance of learning Arabic.
But did you know that the Quran is memorized form cover to cover by many around the world. There are children at the age of five and six years old whom have the entire scripture memorized.

If you open a Quran today the Arabic is exactly the same, no matter which book you open, and has been that way from the very beginning.

Thus the Quran is the only, complete scripture, still currently in its original form that can be used by mankind as guidance for their life.

The Quran can be read in English, but it is highly recommended to learn Arabic and read it exactly for yourself. It tells of stories such as Jonah and the Whale, Noah's Ark, the Birth of Jesus from his Virgin mother Mary, it tell s of things to come and so much more.

One of the many things that the Quran teaches us about is our life here on earth as well as after. We call it the hereafter, Heaven, or Paradise. A place in which we will dwell permanently after we have completed our life here on Earth. There are stories with beautiful descriptions of what it will be like. Valley with clear fresh water, fruit trees and more. The Quran also tells of those who will not be able to smell the fresh scent of paradise do their wrong actions and intentions here on earth. They will dwell in Hell, or hellfire, in which is heated by men and stones. It is said that out of 1,000 only 1 will enter Paradise.

One's Deeds are measured and judged by Allah, on the Day of Judgment in which have been written down in a book from the day you arrived. There are good deeds and bad deeds, and if your good out weight the bad, than you are safe, Inshallah (God Willing) and if the bad out weight the good, you should be very fearful of what is to await you. The life that we live here on earth is a test, it is a preparation for what is to come. It's temporary and unreal. It like living in the Matrix, but it is the hereafter that is permanent and what we should be striving for. Not the temporary materials, and bling of today. You can't take it with you when you go.

Lastly, Muslim believes in Predestination. We believe that Allah knows what is to come before it happens; many things have all ready be written, like Fate. It is he who decided if you were to be a male or female, it was he that chose your parents for you.

But there are also many things left to our own free will. The ability to choose right and wrong. The ability to choose vanilla or chocolate ice cream, but these options are only given my Allah's mercy, and the choices in which we have are only those that have been made an option by Allah.

So let me ask you a few questions. Do you believe that there is only one God, one creator o the world? Do you believe that God has prophets and Messengers such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad? Do you believe that God has Angels? Do you believe that God has sent scriptures to guide mankind? Do you believe that there is life after your time here on earth/ Do you believe that God has knowledge and control of all things, but also provides man with the option to choose?

If you said yes, than you are a Muslim.

A Muslim is someone who submits there self to God. We were all born Muslim, with the purpose to love our lives according to Gods will. It is mankind who has said all yourselves Jewish, Christian, Buddhist or what have you. Its teachers did not create these names, theses names were created by man after the fact. Take a little time to study the history of theses religions. Where did they come from, what did their prophets teach. You will not find one that said worship me, but they all said worship the one who created you, and created the world. Do good deeds, give charity, feed the poor etc.

That is Islam. A lifestyle that leads the heart to peace.

To become a Muslim all one needs to say, with the best of intentions and holding up the right index finger is, " I bear witness that there is no God, except God and Muhammad is his last and final messenger."

Say this three times. Preferably in Arabic.

A Shadu An La Elaha Il Allah Aa Ashadu Anna Muhmmadan Rasu lulah.