Eman Sakina

To understand the essence of Islam is to understand the very essence of humanity. More than a religion, Islam is a complete and comprehensive way of life leading to a balanced way of living. Islam brings civilization and happiness to man. Islamic principles and teachings can provide realistic, fair, and objective solutions to the prevention of individual, familial, social, and international problems that are threatening the existence of human communities throughout the world.

Friday Musings

A belief system that supports and guides all a person's essential activities towards development and growth is desperately needed by both the individual and the society. Humanity may achieve seemingly amazing feats when individuals and society embrace this notion and put it into practice. This is only possible when a man joins forces with the Eternal Power that guides his personality potential in the correct direction.

History has shown that Islam is unique in its ability to guide the entire range of human activity. It does not separate spiritual and secular life as unrelated entities.

Islam unifies all facets of life, many ways the various bodily systems work together to form a whole human being. A malfunctioning system must have an impact on the entire body. Like this, Islam suggests legal frameworks that unite all facets of human society to provide contentment and harmony for all its constituents. Islam is the only religion that encourages active worship of Allah in the broadest and most complete sense.

For example, Islam teaches that Muslims should fast for a month every year (i.e., Ramadan) to acquire piety and self-discipline and to develop awareness of the needs and problems of others who are starving or in desperate need of food.

A very important universal concept in Islam is “Ummah” (Nation). Ummah transcends all limitations implied by the term ‘nation’ by encompassing all people regardless of race, colour, or sex. Allah emphasized this great Islamic principle in the verse (which means);

"Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over it [i.e., Scripture] except those who were given it after the clear proofs came to them- out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allah guided those who believed in the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path." [Quran 2:2 13]

Ummah is the domain of government, positivism, ethics, and knowledge. Islam's ummah is a mechanism that allows individuals to integrate despite having various religious beliefs. It is an all-encompassing philosophy of justice and peace that accepts those who support the right to free thought and the calling of people—individuals or groups of people—to the truth.

And what about the present-day Muslim world? Unfortunately, some “educated” Muslims now pay only “lip service” to Islam. They think that Islam is a slogan to be raised or a word to be uttered.

Islam is the lifestyle that ought to be followed in every aspect of life. These hypocrites seem to have forgotten that Allah detests those who boast about virtues they do not uphold. In Allah's eyes, a person's behavior is objectionable when their words and acts do not match.

"O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do." [Quran 61:2-3]

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May Allah let the Muslim World never forget that Islam provides a complete and comprehensive way of life. Islam creates harmony in the mind, the soul, and the body in a marvelous way.