The word "Islam" itself means "Submission to God." The religion of Islam is not named after a person as in the case of "Christianity" which was named after Jesus Christ, "Buddhism" after Gotama Buddha, "Marxism" after Karl Marx, and "Confucianism" after Confucius. Similarly, Islam is not named after a tribe like "Judaism" after the tribe of Judah. The Arabic word "Islam" means the submission or surrender of one's will to the will of the one true God. Anyone who does indeed submit to the will of God as required by Islam is termed as Muslim.

Islamic creed is "There is none worthy of worship,except Allah(God Almighty) and Muhammad(pbuh) is the messenger and slave of God. Many people have a misconception that Islam is a new Religion, which was founded by Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him). In fact, Islam is there, for time immemorial -since man first put foot on earth. Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him), is not the founder of the Religion of Islam but last and final messenger of God. In fact, Qur'an says in Surah Fatir, Ch. 35, Verse 24.'There is not a nation or a tribe...there has never been a nation or a people, to whom a warner has not been sent'. The Qur'an says in Surah Raad, Ch.13, Verse 7 'And to every nation and to every people have we sent a guide'. That means, there were messengers and guides, send to all the nations of the world. But by name, only 25 Prophets of Almighty God are mentioned in the Holy Qur'an by name. For example Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, David, Solomon, Jesus, Muhammed (Peace be upon him). By name, only 25 Messengers are mentioned in the Holy Qur'an. But our beloved Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him), is mentioned in the Hadith, has said that... ' There were more than 1,24,000 Messengers sent on the face of the earth.'

'Islam is based on five principals, five pillars.(1)shahadah - testimony of faith. (2) salah (five times daily prayers) (3) fasting the month of ramadan (4) zakah (Alms tax for poor) (5) Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah atleast once in a lifetime)

The first is the Oneness of God almighty: 'La ilaha Ill Allah, Muhammed ur Rasulullah' -that... There is no god but Allah, and Prophet Muhammed(Peace be upon him) is the messenger. The Holy Qur'an says in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ch. 2, Verse 177... 'It is not righteous that you turn your face to the east or west, but it is righteousness that you believe in Allah (Almighty God), you believe in the hereafter, you believe in the angels, you believe in the messengers, and you believe in the Books'. The best definition that a Muslims can give you of Almighty God... Allah (SWT), is in the Holy Qur'an Surah Ikhlas, Ch. 112, Verse 1 to 4, which says.

'Say: Allah, He is one and only.
Allah, the absolute and eternal
He begets not, nor is He begotten
And there is nothing like Him'.


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