Islam

Islam is the religion of Muslims. It consists of worshipping Allah, the One God without associate and creator of the Universe. Allah is not only the God of Muslims - He is the God of all creatures and all creation. Many tend to associate the word "Allah" with something Islamic, but Allah simply means God in Arabic.

Islam does not bear the name of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) because Islam existed before him. The message of previous prophets such as Adam, Ibrahim, Nuh and Musa was to submit to God. Therefore, the message of Islam did not begin with the last prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This religion began with Adam, has continued until today, and will last until the end of time.

Islam rests on 5 pillars: the declaration of faith (Shahada), prayer (Salat), fasting during the month of Ramadan, Hajj (pilgrimage) and Zakat (obligatory charity). The declaration of faith consists of testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His prophet and messenger.

For prayer in Islam, Muslims perform 5 obligatory prayers each day. Prayers are the direct link between the servant and God - there is no hierarchical authority or clergy. As for Zakat, it is a regulated charity that purifies those who fulfill it and contributes to the redistribution of wealth to those in need. It corresponds to a payment of 2.5% of capital.

Each year during the lunar month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. The last pillar of Islam is the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). It is an obligation for those who are physically and financially able to perform its rites.

Islam is the act of submitting to the commandments and will of God, not of a person. Other religions often bear the name of a person or people. For example, Christianity is named after Christ, Judaism is named after the tribe of Judah, and Buddhism is named after Buddha.

Muslims believe in the existence of one God, the creator of the universe, the only one worthy of worship. Nothing existed before Him. The Arabic name for God is Allah. The main message of the Quran is that God is One and Unique - He has no partner, no child and no associate.

Muslims also believe in the existence of angels. There are many angels and they all obey Allah. Unlike humans, angels have no free will and naturally obey all divine commandments. Angels have different roles and tasks. For example, the angel Jibreel was responsible for communicating Allah's message to the prophets and messengers. Angels also help and assist believers in difficult times.

Muslims believe in all prophets and messengers. A Muslim must believe in Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Joseph, Jesus and Muhammad, peace be upon them all. They all came with the same message: to worship one God and associate nothing with Him. Not believing in even one of these prophets takes one out of Islam.

The Muslim also believes in all previous scriptures that Allah sent to His prophets and messengers. Moses received the Torah, Abraham received the scrolls, David received the Psalms and Jesus received the Gospel. With the exception of the Quran, no previous scripture has been completely preserved in its original form. The Quran is God's final message to humanity - contrary to popular belief, it is the sacred book revealed for all of humanity, not just for Muslims.

Muslims believe in the afterlife. There will be a Day of Judgment where Allah will hold people accountable for their actions in this world. Everyone will be rewarded or punished according to the actions performed in this life, with the final destination being either Paradise or Hell.

Islam teaches Muslims the supremacy of the will and decree of God. Allah has knowledge of everything that will happen. He does not force humans to make decisions - we choose what we want to do. However, there are certain things that Allah has decreed which are beyond our control, such as the time and place of our birth. The Muslim's faith implies believing that everything that happens to him was destined for him, whether good or bad.

Islam is the most accessible religion. It requires no material or physical prerequisites, nor even passing a sincerity test. One enters Islam by testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His prophet and messenger. Those who lie about their conversion only deceive themselves, as they gain no benefit from it. Allah knows what is in hearts. Hypocrites are among those who will have a painful punishment on the Day of Resurrection. Sincerity is the foundation of every act.