ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Discovering Islam Introduction What is Islam? Islam [^1] means “submitting or surrendering one's will to the will of Allah.”[^2] Humankinds' innate disposition naturally submits to the reverence of God; this natural feeling was born with him or her on the day of creation. In reality, the entire universe, through its ordered workings, all submit to the will of God.

Modern science calls these phenomena “the laws of nature,” but these laws of nature, from an Islamic perspective, are not just any laws of nature but the laws of God for nature. Human beings depend on, and are in need of God's sustenance and guidance throughout their entire lives; thus, man must yield his self-will and desires to the will of the Creator.

Submission to God does not entail self-humiliation or a denial of human intellect; rather, it means trusting the knowledge, wisdom, and fairness of the Creator. In some form of an act or instance, people involuntary trust and depend on the safety of their lives to others. Hence, the decision to trust a person with more knowledge is logical; therefore, trusting the wisdom of God would not constitute abandoning one's intellect, but rather, it would constitute following one's natural inclination.

Islam has other meanings; one of which is “to have peace.” God says in the Quran,[^3] “He is Allah, there is no Allah but Him—the King, the Holy One, and the Peace” (59:23). Moreover**,** the Quran states “And Allah invites to the abode of peace” (10:25). By its connotations of peace and safety, Islam indicates that the religion is free from any deficiencies or defects. As a religion, Islam is considered perfect because it was ordained by God and not invented or marked by humankind.

“This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion” (5:3). Commanded by God, Prophet Abraham was the first person to use the words Islam and Muslim .[^4] “It [Islamic monotheism] is the religion of your father Abraham. He [God] has named you Muslims both before and in this [Quran]“ (22:78). “Abraham was neither a Jew, nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim [submissive to God] and was not one of the polytheists” (3:67).

Not only did Prophet Abraham call his religion Islam, but the prophets after Abraham also called their religion Islam. Prophet Joseph, in the chapter entitled “Joseph” of the Quran states: My Lord!