Question N Answer (Part 3)

Question 11:

What is the religion that Allah The Most High has commanded us to exclusively worship Him with?

Answer:

It is Al-Hanafeeyah1, the religion of Ibraaheem (allayhe salam). Allah, Blessed be He The Most High says:

Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm...” (Surah Aali-Imraan 3:19)

And He The Most High says:

Do they seek other than the religion of Allâh (the true Islâmic Monotheism worshipping none but Allâh Alone), while to Him submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly. And to Him shall they all be returned. (Surah Aali Imran 3:83)
And He The Most High says:

And who turns away from the religion of Ibrâhim (Abraham) (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism) except him who befools himself?...” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:130)

And He The Most High says:

And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers. (Surah Aali Imran 3:85)

And He The Most High says:

Or have they partners with Allâh (false gods), who have instituted for them a religion which Allâh has not allowed...” ( Surah Ash-Shoora 42:21)

Footnotes:
1) Al-Haneef is the Muslim. And it is said that it means one who stays away from the worship of idols and is an upright person who follows the truth. And it is said that Al-Haneef is the one who believes in all of the messengers. And it is said that he is one who turns away from all false religions and inclines towards the truth. Refer to Lisaan Al-`Arab (9/57), Mukhtaar As-Sihaah (page 159) and Tafseer Ibn Katheer (1/186-187).


Question 12:

How many levels are there in Islam?

Answer:

There are 3 levels:
1. Islam
2. Eemaan
3. Ihsaan


Question 13:

What is the meaning of Islam?

Answer:

It means perfect submission to Allah with Tawheed, compliance to Him with obedience and to be completely free from shirk. Allah The Most High says:
And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allâh (i.e. follows Allâh's Religion of Islâmic Monotheism)...” (Surah An-Nisaa 4:125)

And He The Most High says:

And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allâh [i.e.(follows Allâh's Religion of Islâmic Monotheism), worships Allâh (Alone) with sincere Faith in the (1) Oneness of His Lordship,(2) Oneness of His worship, and (3) Oneness of His Names and Qualities], while he is a Muhsin (good¬doer i.e. performs good deeds totally for Allâh's sake without any show-off or to gain praise or fame etc. and does them in accordance with the Sunnah of Allâh's Messenger Muhammad allayhee salat wassalam), then he has grasped the most trustworthy hand¬hold [Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh)]... (Surah Luqman 31:22)

And He The Most High says:

And your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh (God Allâh), so you must submit to Him Alone (in Islâm). And (O Muhammad allayhee salat wassalam) give glad tidings to the Mukhbitin1. (Surah Al-Hajj 22:34)

Footnotes:
1)The mukhbitin are those who are at ease with and pleased with His Fate and Divine Decree and perfectly submit to Him. Allah The Most High has described them in His Saying after mentioning them:
Whose hearts are filled with fear when Allâh is mentioned; who patiently bear whatever may befall them (of calamities); and who perform As¬Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and who spend (in Allâh's Cause) out of what We have provided them. (Surah Al-Hajj 22:35)


Question 14:

What is the proof that (the word) Islam encompasses the Deen (religion) in its entirety whenever it is mentioned generally?

Answer:

Allah The Most High says:

Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm...” (Surah Aali Imraan 3:19)

And the Prophet (allayhee salat wassalam) said:

“ Islam began as something strange and it will return to being something strange, just as it began.”1

The Prophet allayhee salat wassalam also said:

“The best Islam is Eemaan (faith) in Allah.”2

Footnotes:
1) Reported by Muslim from Ibn ‘umar and Abu Hurairah, (radhiAllahu `anhoom), (Kitaab-ul-Eeman 1/90)
2) Reported by Ahmed ( as part of a hadeeth) upon the authority of Amr Ibn Abasah(radhiAllahu `anhoo) who said:
“ A man asked : ‘O messenger of Allah, what is Islam?’ He (the Messenger of Allah , allayhee salat wassalam) replied: ‘ It is to submit your heart to Allah The Mighty and The Majestic, and to safeguard the Muslims from your tongue and your hand.’ (The man) said: “ Which islam is the best?’ He ( allayhee salat wassalam) said: ‘Eemaan (faith) in Allah...’” (Al-Musnad 4/114)
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (allayhee salat wassalam) was asked, "Which is the best deed?" He said, "To believe in Allah and His Apostle." He was then asked, "Which is the next (in goodness)?" He said, "To participate in Jihad in Allah's Cause." He was then asked, "Which is the next?" He said, "To perform Hajj-Mabrur (successful). (Kitaab-ul-Eemaan 1/12)


Question 15:

What is the proof that the definition of (the word) Islam, when mentioned specifically, that it then refers to the five pillars of Islam?

Answer:

It is his (allayhe salat wassalam) saying in the hadeeth in which jibeeel questioned him about the religion:

“ Islam is that you testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; that you establish the prayer; that you pay the Zakaat (the obligatory charity); that you fast the month of Ramadaan and that you make the pilgrimage to the Sacred House (in Makkah) if you are able to.”1

And his (allayhe salat wassalam) saying:

“Islam is based on five (pillars)...”2

So, he (allayhe salat wassalam) mentioned these (five pillars) except that he mentioend ( in this preceding narration) the Hajj (the pilgrimage) before the fasting of Ramadaan, and both of them (the narrations) are in Bukhaari and Muslim.

Footnotes:
1) Narrated by Bukharee from Abu Hurairah (radhiAllahu ‘anhoo) (Kitaabul Eemaan 1/18) and also from Abu Hurairah by Muslim (kitaabul Eemaan 1/30-31)
2) Reported by Bukharee from Ibn Umar (radhiAllahu `anhooma) (Kitaabul Eemaan 1/8) and also from Ibn Umar by Muslim (Kitaabul Eemaan 1/34)