Islam in Brief

A. Individual Islam is the religion of the universe. The Quran says: Are they seeking a religion other than God’s when every soul in heaven and on earth have, willingly or by compulsion, bowed to His will? (3:83) This means that submission to God is the only true religion for both man and the universe. All the things on the earth or in space are following God’s commands to the letter. The revolution of the stars, the flowing of water, the growing of trees, in short, all things are following the same course which was determined for them by God. Nothing is allowed to deviate from the divine path. The Quran says: The sun is not allowed to overtake the moon, nor does the night outpace the day. Each swims along in its own orbit. (36:40) The same is required of all human beings. Everyone should strictly obey the commands of God without any deviation or alteration. The Prophet Muhammad , has declared: A believer with his faith is like a horse with its tether. The movement of the horse is restricted to the length of its tether. So is the case with the believer. His words and deeds are all restricted by the limitations set by his faith. (Mishkat al-Masabih, Vol. 2, p. 1226) The true Muslim leads a highly disciplined life, always adhering to the set of do’s and don’ts ordained by God Almighty. He is entirely pure in speech, and even subordinates his intention and thinking to the will of God. He always feels himself to be a servant of his Lord. The Quran depicts the true Muslim thus: And the servants of the Beneficent God are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant