Many people have a misconception that Islam is a new religion that was formulated 1400 years ago, and that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the founder of Islam. However, let me clarify that Islam is not the name of some unique religion presented for the first time by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who should, on that account be called the founder of Islam.The Qur’an states that Islam – the complete submission of man before his one and only Unique Creator – is the one and only faith and way of life consistently revealed by God to humankind from the very beginning. Noah, Solomon, David, Abraham, Moses, Isaac and Jesus (peace be upon them all) – prophets who appeared at different times and places – all propagated the same faith and conveyed the same message of Tawheed (Oneness of God), Risaalat (Prophethood) and Aakhirah (the Hereafter). These prophets of God were not founders of different religions to be named after them. They were each reiterating the message and faith of their predecessors.However, Muhammad (pbuh) was the last Prophet of God. God revived through him the same genuine faith which had been conveyed by all His Prophets. This original message was earlier corrupted and split into various religions by people of different ages, who indulged in interpolations and admixture. These alien elements were eliminated by God, and Islam – in its pure and original form – was transmitted to humankind through Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).Since there was to be no messenger after Muhammad (pbuh), the Book revealed to him (i.e. the Glorious Qur’an) was preserved word for word so that it should be a source of guidance for all times.Thus the religion of all the prophets was ‘total submission to God’s will’ and one word for that in the Arabic language is ‘Islam’. Abraham and Jesus (peace be upon them) too were Muslims, as Allah testifies in Al-Qur'an 3:67 and 3:52 respectively.
As a Christian I totally agree with you on total submission to God's will. And if Islam means total submission to God's will, as a Christian I see Jesus as being one who practiced Islam in that literal sense of the word. I know I try, but am not always successful. That is why I count on the forgiveness of God. I think we worship the same God whatever we call him. We do have different emphases in our particular religions. We practice our own beliefs and rituals. It is because God is love and wants us to be love that I practice tolerance and respect of all faiths, no matter what I may believe individually. If we could all only do that, the world would be a better place.
Thanks for your enlightenment about Islam to us who do not know as much about it. I am planning on reading a book about Mohammed which is fair and objective. I want to know more about how others see him. In the end we are all in a brotherhood and sisterhood in which we are trying to find God and to be in relation with him and his creation.
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Thanks for your enlightenment about Islam to us who do not know as much about it. I am planning on reading a book about Mohammed which is fair and objective. I want to know more about how others see him. In the end we are all in a brotherhood and sisterhood in which we are trying to find God and to be in relation with him and his creation.