Islam is explained as submission to God alone and deen as a complete way of life rather than a religion of rituals, in a study written by an incarcerated brother who teaches classes in prison. A Muslim is defined by devotion to God, not birth, so Jews, Christians, and others who meet the Quran's criteria are submitters. An anecdote recounts a dream of interviewing God about life's lessons.
Most people readily accept information given
to them without investigating it for themselves. Unfortunately, this is
how most so-called Muslims gain their information. They accept information
from their “imams” (religious leaders) who usually use other
sources besides the Quran, without questioning or investigating them.
This is a sad fact especially when the Quran expresses the importance
of reading, studying, reflecting and investigating so much.
You shall not accept any information, unless you verify
it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain,
and you are responsible for using them. 17:36
What is Islam?
Islam is often defined as a religion, but this does not give a clear
meaning of the word. Literally and in practice, it is self-surrender,
submission, absolute surrender to the will, service and the commands of
the One True God. It is a type of submission that will enable one to have
a sense of peace within and to be free from all fears, to feel completely
safe and protected. A submission and surrender that is given wholeheartedly
without any doubt, and will make one readily obedient to the commands
of the One True God. Therefore, Islam is not just some religion based
on a simple belief or faith in something, but a total submission that
is given to God alone.
GOD has proclaimed: "Do
not worship two gods; there is only one god. You shall reverence Me alone."
16:51
To Him belongs everything in the heavens and the earth
and therefore, the religion shall be devoted absolutely to Him alone.
Would you worship other than GOD? 16:52
Often submission is called “deen” or way of life.
The Arabic word deen is generally translated to mean religion,
creed, faith and belief. From careful study, limiting the meaning to this
alone takes away from the true essence of the word. We will look at different
views of this word deen, and then examine the word from a perspective
using the Quran.
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The word deen refers to all aspects of life and cannot
really be translated by the word “religion.” Deen
means life transaction, literally a debt or exchange situation between
two parties, in this context between God and His servants.
Islam is called “al-deen,” the way of life;
as it is not a religion of rituals but a complete way of life including
spiritual, social, economic and political systems providing guidance
for private, public, national and international issues.
O you who believe, you shall observe GOD as He should
be observed, and do not die except as Submitters. 3:102
We sent down to you this scripture, truthfully;
you shall worship GOD, devoting your religion to Him alone. Absolutely,
the religion shall be devoted to GOD alone. Those who set up idols
beside Him say, "We idolize them only to bring us closer to
GOD; for they are in a better position!" GOD will judge them
regarding their disputes. GOD does not guide such liars, disbelievers.
39:2-3
Therefore the way of life decreed by God is submission to His
will, and to Him alone, in service and worship.
The only religion approved by GOD is "Submission."
Ironically, those who have received the scripture are the ones who
dispute this fact, despite the knowledge they have received, due
to jealousy. For such rejectors of GOD's revelations, GOD is most
strict in reckoning. 3:19
Who is a Muslim?
The Arabic word “Muslim” is defined as the one who
surrenders or submits to the will of God. The word “Muslim”
stems from the same root (SLM) as “Islam.”
One does not become a Muslim automatically if his or her birth
certificate indicates so. A person’s name, his parents’
religious background, his race or language is no guarantee for him
to be a Muslim acceptable to God. Being a Muslim is a matter between
the person and God the Almighty who knows our innermost thoughts
and intentions. It is a matter of whether a person accepts God as
the only deity, submits to His will, and lives a righteous life
accordingly.
However, the term Muslim is more often given to those who say they
are followers of the Quran. But with careful study of the word,
it can also be used to describe those who follow the Old Testament
and the New Testament as well.
The Quran, which is the Final Testament, considers all religions
devoted to God alone as being valid and acceptable, as long as certain
minimal criteria are met. Devotion to God alone guarantees salvation.
It’s the duty of all humans—whether they consider themselves
Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, or any other religion—to
recognize the absoluteness of God as Lord of the Universe and not
place any idols besides Him.
Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish,
the Christians, and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in GOD,
and (2) believes in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life,
will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing
to fear, nor will they grieve. 2:62
Using the Quranic fact that certain
criteria must be met in all religions in order to be accepted by
God, it will become clear that there is only one religion regardless
of the name used for God or for the religion itself.
Anyone who accepts other than Submission as his
religion, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter,
he will be with the losers. 3:85
God’s words are Truth, and the truth will never change no
matter what we say or do. So it is made very clear that our natural
instinct is to worship God alone regardless of the names we use
to describe its practice as stated in the Quran:
Therefore, you shall devote yourself to the religion
of strict monotheism. Such is the natural instinct placed into the
people by GOD. Such creation of GOD will never change. This is the
perfect religion, but most people do not know. 30:30
Who would forsake the religion of Abraham, except
one who fools his own soul? We have chosen him in this world, and
in the Hereafter he will be with the righteous. 2:130
Absolutely, this is the narration of the truth.
Absolutely, there is no god except GOD. Absolutely, GOD is the Almighty,
Most Wise. 3:62
Abraham was neither Jewish, nor Christian; he was
a monotheist submitter. He never was an idol worshiper. 3:67
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Who is better guided in his religion than one who
submits totally to GOD, leads a righteous life, according to the
creed of Abraham: monotheism? GOD has chosen Abraham as a beloved
friend. 4:125
Such is your congregation—one congregation—and
I am your Lord; you shall reverence Me. But they tore themselves
into disputing factions; each party happy with what they have. 23:52-53
God willing this study will lead the reader in the direction of
questioning, investigating and studying all information being taught
on Islam, and encourage people to learn what the true Submission
is all about.
Ismaa’iyl Shariyf
[Ed’s note: Br. Shariyf is currently incarcerated.
He holds “Understanding Islam” classes in the prison
to teach and propagate the True Islam to other incarcerated brothers.]
Anecdote
Submitted by Brother Robert from Tucson
I dreamed I had an interview with God.
“Come in,” God said. “So you would like
to interview Me?”
“If you have the time,” I said. God smiled and
said, “My time is eternity and is enough to do everything;
what questions do you have for Me?”
“What surprises you the most about mankind?”
I asked.
God answered: “That they get bored of being children,
are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.
That they lose their health to make money and then lose their
money to restore their health. That by thinking anxiously
about the future, they forget the present, such that they
live neither for the present nor the future. That they live
as if they will never die, and they die as if they had never
lived...”
God took my hands and we were silent for a while and then
I asked: “As parents, what are some of life’s
lessons you want our children to learn?”
God replied with a smile: “To learn that they cannot
make anyone love them but what they can do is let themselves
be loved. To learn that what is most valuable is not what
they have in their lives, but who they have in their lives.
To learn that it is not good to
compare themselves to others for everyone is judged on their
own merits. To learn that a rich person is not the one who
has the most, but the one who needs the least. To learn that
it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons
we love, and that it takes many years to heal them. To learn
to forgive by practicing forgiveness. To learn that money
can buy everything except happiness. To learn that two people
can look at the same thing and see it very differently. To
learn that a true friend is someone who knows everything about
them...and likes them anyway. To learn that it is not always
enough that they be forgiven but that they have to forgive
themselves.”
I sat there for a while enjoying the moment. I thanked God
for His time and for all that He had done for me.
He replied and said “I am here 24 hours a day, and all
you have to do is ask for Me,” and with that He looked
into my eyes and whispered these words:
“My dear child, please remember that people will forget
what you said, people forget what you did, but people will
never forget how you made them feel….”
About this work
Kind
Document
Author
International Community of Submitters
Publisher
International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson