CRITERION (3) "CONTAINS ABSOLUTE PRINCIPLES" .......

[B] Al-Islam: The religion of Abraham (Prophet Ibrahim a.s.) ................ to continue...

Let us consider these in further detail:

(1) SHAHAADAH

The first of these is, that they are to strive to be witnesses of God’s Absolute Oneness and the Finality of Prophethood in Muhammad s.a.w. before all mankind:

قُل لِّلَّهِ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقُ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبُ‌ۚ يَہۡدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٲطٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ۬

وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَـٰكُمۡ أُمَّةً۬ وَسَطً۬ا لِّتَڪُونُواْ شُہَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ

وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ شَهِيدً۬ا‌ۗ

“Say: ‘To God belongs whatever is in the east and the west; He guides whom He wills onto a straight way’. And thus have We willed you to be a community of the middle way, so that [with your lives] you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind, and that the Messenger might bear witness to it before you.”

(Qur’an: Surah al-Baqarah: 2: 143)

شَهِدَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمِ

قَآٮِٕمَۢا بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَڪِيمُ

إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمُ‌ۗ وَمَا ٱخۡتَلَفَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ

إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡعِلۡمُ بَغۡيَۢا بَيۡنَهُمۡ‌ۗ

وَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَرِيعُ ٱلۡحِسَابِ

فَإِنۡ حَآجُّوكَ فَقُلۡ أَسۡلَمۡتُ وَجۡهِىَ لِلَّهِ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِ‌ۗ

وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡأُمِّيِّـۧنَ ءَأَسۡلَمۡتُمۡ‌ۚ فَإِنۡ

أَسۡلَمُواْ فَقَدِ ٱهۡتَدَواْ‌ۖ وَّإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَلَـٰغُ‌ۗ

وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرُۢ بِٱلۡعِبَادِ

"There is no god but He: that is the witness of Allah His angels and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Power, the Wise.

The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His will): nor did the people of the Book dissent there from 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.

So if they dispute with thee say: "I have submitted my whole self to Allah and so have those who follow me." And say to the people of the Book and to those who are unlearned: "Do ye (also) submit yourselves?" if they do, they are in right guidance, but if they turn back, thy duty is to convey the Message; and in Allah's sight are (all) His servants."

(Qur’an: aali ‘Imran: 3: 18-20)

The beginning of becoming a Muslim is the declaration of this commitment to become witness to the Truth throughout ones life - that there is none to be worshipped except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. This is not mere verbal act, but a serious covenant, being ready to face trials and tribulations just as the Prophet Ibrahiim (Abraham) a.s. whom, Allah s.w.t. descxribed as "foremost amongst those who bow to the will of Allah i.e. as Muslims" ( أَوَّلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ ) had to. The fact that the Quraysh/Makkans have deviated from the true faith of Abraham, and it was only through Muhammad s.a.w. guided by the Qur'an that this claim was asserted, therefore, to follow the entire teaching of this Last Messenger of Allah is the only way.

(2) SWALAH

Their specific daily devotional worship (Swalah), which incorporates the actions of bowing and, especially, prostration[1], one of the hallmarks in the prayers of prophets:

وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ طَرَفَىِ ٱلنَّہَارِ وَزُلَفً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ‌ۚ

إِنَّ ٱلۡحَسَنَـٰتِ يُذۡهِبۡنَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ذِكۡرَىٰ لِلذَّٲكِرِينَ

And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: for those things that are good remove those that are evil: be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord):

(Qur’an: SuraH Hud: 11: 114)

أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمۡسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَقُرۡءَانَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ‌ۖ

إِنَّ قُرۡءَانَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ كَانَ مَشۡہُودً۬ا وَمِنَ ٱلَّيۡلِ فَتَهَجَّدۡ بِهِۦ نَافِلَةً۬ لَّك

عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَبۡعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامً۬ا مَّحۡمُودً۬ا

Establish regular prayers at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony.

And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee: soon will thy Lord raise thee to a station of Praise and Glory!

(Qur’an: Surah Isra’:17: 78-79)

This form of specific devotional worship is so vividly remeniscent of the ways of worship of ancient Biblical prophets. It is amazing that every Muslims, irrespective of the various schools of interpretation (madzaahib) perform basically similar forms - standing, bowing and prostrating, in their performance of swalah. One non-Muslim observer once remarked that, according to him: "Muslims are indeed the most worshipful people in the world!" And their diligence in doing it five times a day, being unanimous in regarding its performance as obligatory for every Muslims - even though Islam do not have priesthood or Church to enforce rites or rituals - can only demonstrate the awesome authoritative force of this Holy Book (Al-Qur'an) as the Book of Guidance.

(3) ZAKAH

Serving God requires us to do good towards others – especially the poor and the needy. The practice of alms giving and tithes (Zakah), a compulsory spending out of the wealth which God has bestowed and to spent it in God’s Way, is the next important pillar of Islam explicitly taught in the Qur'an - side by side with Swalah:

وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرۡكَعُواْ مَعَ ٱلرَّٲكِعِين

And be steadfast in prayer; give Zakat, and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship).

(Qur'an: Baqarah: 2: 43)

إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلۡمَ

سَـٰكِينِ وَٱلۡعَـٰمِلِينَ عَلَيۡہَا

وَٱلۡمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُہُمۡ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلۡغَـٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ

وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ‌ۖ فَرِيضَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَڪِيمٌ۬

“Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.”

(Qur’an: Taubah: 9: 60)

خُذۡ مِنۡ أَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ صَدَقَةً۬ تُطَهِّرُهُمۡ وَتُزَكِّيہِم بِہَا

"Of their wealth take alms, that so thou mightest purify and sanctify
them;"

(Qur'an: Taubah: 9: 103)

In fact, Zakah has become a cornerstone of Islamic welfarism which taught Muslims regarding utilization of worldly possession ond wealth in the path of serving God. It opens up the practical application of Islamic concept of economics, eradication of unjust or oppressive means, to ensure equitable, nay, a altruistic and caring society exuding charity for the poor and needy.

(4) FASTING

The compulsory daily Fasting in Ramadhan:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡڪُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ

كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِڪُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ

“O You who have attained to faith! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) self-restraint.”

(Qur’an: Surah al-Baqarah: 2: 183)

أَيَّامً۬ا مَّعۡدُودَٲتٍ۬‌ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوۡ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ۬ فَعِدَّةٌ۬

مِّنۡ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ‌ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ ۥ فِدۡيَةٌ۬ طَعَامُ مِسۡكِينٍ۬‌ۖ

فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرً۬ا فَهُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّهُ ۥ‌ۚ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ

إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُون

"(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (with hardship) is a ransom, the feeding of onethat is indigent. But he that will give more of his own free-will―it is better for him, and it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew."

(Qur'an: Baqarah: 2: 184)

The observance of 'Fasting' by every Muslim in every country on Ramadhan, again demonstrate the universality of the message of the Qur'an - reasserting the practice of self-restrain in servitude to God, observed by every prophets [2] of the past, when even those who claim to follow these prophets, have themselves neglected them.


(5) HAJJ

Pilgrimage to the Ka’abah and Makkah and re-enactment of rites of Hajj.

وَأَذِّن فِى ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡحَجِّ يَأۡتُوكَ رِجَالاً۬ وَعَلَىٰ ڪُلِّ ضَامِرٍ۬

يَأۡتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ۬

“And proclaim the pilgrimag among men: they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through distant mountain highways”

(Qur’an: Surah Hajj: 22: 26)

This pillar of Islam. the Hajj has a direct and very clear connection to the Prophet Ibrahim a.s. The Ka'abah, the City of Makkah, Mount Safa and Marwa, the well of zam-zam, the pilgrim city of Mina and Muzdalifah, and the gathering of 'Arafah - symbolises the teachings of al-Islam (guided by the Qur'an) established by Muhammad s.a.w. as being truly the restored creed of Abraham, when even the Makkan/Quraysh had forgotten or had deviated from them. Although the Muslims (followers of Muhammad s.a.w.) may be regarded as the youngest religious community to share common ancestry to the Abrahamic religion - yet to them was given the 'temple' or referred to as "the first House of worship ever built" which was restored by Abraham, and indeed historical sites and the whole way of worship (manasik) connected to his life-struggle.

The re-establishing of the Abrahamic creed, without being affected by the paganistic innovations and myths of the idolatrous Quraysh/Makkan of the time, and since then it has been unanimously adhered to, indeed is most astonishing credential of this Book (Al-Qur'an) which Muhammad s.a.w. has left to posterity that can still be access by all generation - must indicate an affirmatiuon to its claim of Divine authorship.

Some people may think (cynically) that these may simply be rites of later-day inclusion, a re-constituted practices developed much later after Muhammad's s.a.w., but present day Muslim scholars try to linked back to the verses of the Qur'an. They may entertain this because of what they had observed in other religion, with many innovations in their forms of worship, which they discovered to have no relation at all to teachings of its founder - but a later inclusion.

Levelling such allegation towards Islam only exposes their ignorance of:

[1] the Qur'an being a single reference book for every Muslim, and has remain unchanged - without addition nor subtraction, preserved since the time of Muhammad s.a.w. And all that was quoted had been there ever since.

[2] the detailed teachings of the Qur'an have been establishe by Muhammad s.a.w. in his life-time, through his sayings, deeds or consent (called "As-Sunnah") with many eye-witnesses to corroborate these practices in a separate body of records termed - 'Ahadith' (reports from the Prophet s.a.w.). Islam's aversion towards innovation in religion is well-known, as the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. had cautioned Muslims to be on guard against it.

The five pillars which I have enumerated above, has been uninamously confirmed to already been practiced or established ever since Prophet Muhammad's time; in fact as and when each of these the commandments was revealed it, would immediately be acted upon by Muhammnad s.a.w. and observed, followed, taught, disseminated and recorded. In one such reports, it states:

‏ عبد الله بن عمر ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏أبيه ‏ ‏قال ‏ ‏ ‏ ‏قال رسول الله

‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏بني الإسلام على خمس شهادة
أن لا إله إلا الله وأن ‏ ‏محمدا عبده ورسوله ‏ ‏وإقام الصلاة

وإيتاء الزكاة وحج ‏ ‏البيت ‏ ‏وصوم رمضان

صحيح مسلم

'Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, from his father ('Umar) who said: The Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said: "Islam is built upon five: To bear witness that there is no god except Allah, and Muhammad is His servant and Messenger; to establish (swalah) devotional prayers; pay out the Zakah; perform the pilgrimage (Hajj) and to fast in Ramadhan."

(Authenticated report by Muslim)

NOT MERE RITUALS

Some sceptics may simplistically regard these as mere rituals, mistaken it as similar to practices in other religion. This may perhaps be due to their bias and prejudicial aversion to religion or any practice which they could not understand its rationale or practical benefits for doing them. Actually these are essential programs, systematically inculcated beginning with the acceptance and acknowledgement of the creed of Tauhiid. These in fact are both educational as well as having spiritual connotations, which can have a profound impact towards the overall development and perfection of a Muslim’s personality as one who uphold Tauhiid (Attestation to the Oneness of God) – beginning with the kalimah of Tauhiid ( لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ ) “there is no god (none worthy of being worshipped) except Allah, Alone”. This is also called: Kalimah al-To-yibah (The Good Word). Allah s.w.t. has given a beautiful parable regarding this. (To read more – reflection of this parable - refer [click here] - )

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Footnotes:

[1] “Then Abram (Abraham) fell on his face …”(Genesis : 17 : 3)

“Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tent of meeting, and fell on their faces …” (Numbers 20: 6)

“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go yonder to pray….. And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt’”(Mathew:26:36-40)

[2] Biblical prophets are recorded to observe fastings as an important act of worship and for atonement, which confirmed what the Qur'an states: ".. as it was prescribed to those before you". It was even reported that Jesus a.s. "fasted for forty days and forty nights". Muslims, without fail would observe minimum of 29 to 39 days annually (as this is obligatory to Muslims). With other, superagatory fasting (voluntary). many would have observe 40 and more days in fasting like Prophet Jesus a.s.

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