Islam is a very simple religion. It is a religion of great joy and happiness. Muslims now make up about one fifth of the world's population and they believe that Islam is the natural religion of mankind, which has existed since the beginning of time. The word Islam comes from a root word which means both peace and submission. A Muslim is one who submits himself totally to Allah (the Arabic word for God). This submission brings real peace. All through his life, the Muslim tries to please Allah and to avoid doing what would displease him.
Muslims believe in one God, with whom there is no partner or equal. This God (Allah) created the heavens and the Earth and all that is in between. He is so great and so powerful that we cannot imagine what He is like, yet He is so close to us that He sees every leaf falling from every tree.
To become Muslim, you just have to proclaim with your lips and mean with your heart: I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
Prayer is essential to Islam. Muslims have been commanded by Allah to pray five times a day, at specific, set times. This routine of prayer makes the day holy and allows the Muslim to dedicate his or her whole life to Allah. When a person prostrates himself on the ground in prayer, his forehead touching the ground, his whole life is put into perspective. We may fool other people. We may even fool ourselves at times. But Allah is not to be fooled.
Sharing what we have with others, less fortunate than us, is also a command of Almighty Allah. Muslims give a portion of what they own to those who are poor. This Zakat is not charity towards them, but is their right. We are all created by Allah and we hold all things in this world in trust, as stewards, so Islam helps Muslims to care for those in this world who have less than they do. What a radical idea, to share the world's resources. And Allah gave this idea to Muslims fourteen centuries ago!
Muslims fast during the holy month of Ramadan because Allah has commanded them to do so. They look forward all year to this special month of prayer, when the Holy Qur'an was first revealed to mankind. In disciplining their bodies during daylight hours, the Ramadan fast reminds Muslims of those who have less than them, and it helps them to thank Allah for all His blessings. The most important reason for the fast, though, is that Allah has ordered it. Muslims do it for His sake.
The pilgrimage to Makkah, or Hajj, is what Muslims look forward to all their lives. All Muslims who are physically and financially capable of doing so are commanded to perform the pilgrimage, as all prophets have done before them. If Allah wills it to be so, the reward of a sincere Hajj is nothing less than the forgiveness of one's sins.
Finally, Muslims believe that God's final Messenger to mankind was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In the Holy Qur'an which was revealed to him, Almighty Allah perfected the teaching of all former prophets, such as Moses and Jesus. The Holy Qur'an is intended for all people and for all time.
Unlike the distortions of Islam which we see on our television screens, Islam is both beautiful and sweet. Muslims love God and their neighbour and they try to achieve life's goal, of being with Allah for all eternity, by living good lives.
