Women In Islam

Islam: Introduction

lslam is a complete way of life. It is the guidance for all mankind from Allah, the Creator of the Universe. It covers all the things people do in their lifetime. Islam tells us the purpose of our creation, our final destiny and our place among other creatures. It shows us the best way to conduct our private and public affairs, including socal, political, economic, moral and spiritual activities.
Islam is an Arabic word which means submission and obedience. Submission is acceptance of Allah's commands. Obedience means putting Allah's commands into practice. Submission obedience to Allah bring peace, which is why Islam also means peace. A person who accepts the Islamic way of life and acts upon it is a Muslim.
Allah, another Arabic word, is the proper name of God. Muslims prefer to use the word Allah rather than the word God. Allah does not mean the "God of the Muslims", as some people wrongly believe. Rather, it is the name the Creator has chosen for Himself Allah in the Creator of everyone and everything. He is unique and has no son or daughter. Muslims should begin their actions by saying Bismillah, which means in the name of Allah.

lslam in the way of peace and harmony. If we look around, we see that all things- the sun, the moon and the stars, the high mountains and the mighty oceans-obey a law : the Law of Allah. We find no disorder or chaos in them. Everything is in its right place. We see perfect onder and total harmony in the system of Nature that Allah has created. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west and there has been no excepcion to this rule. The moon and the stars shine at night. Night passes, a new day comes, and so the process goes on. Flowers blossom and the trees have green leaves in the spring. Everything has a set course that cannot be violated. Have you ever noticed any violation in the Law of Allah by these objects of Nature? No, of course not. Why? Simply because they are made to obey Allth. They have no choice but to obey.

This is why we find eternal peace in the system of Nature. But human beings are different: Allah has given us the knowledge and ability to choose between right and wrong. Not only this, in case we forget He has also sent us constant reminders, by sending His prophets and books for our guidance. The final messenger of Allah is Muhammad, and the final book of guidance is the Qur'an.

Yet He does not force us to obey Him. He has given us the choice either to obey se disobey Him. Why? Because He wants to test us. After this test there will be a Day of reward and punishment. This is the Day of Judgement (Yaumuddin). Those who pass the test will be rewarded with everlasting happiness and peace in Paradise (al- Jamat) and those who fail will suffer terrible punishment in Hell (al-Jahannam). We can earn this reward and escape punishment by obeying and worshipping Allah. We know there is peace and harmony in all of Nature, because nothing ever disobeys Allah. Neither e sun nor the moon, the mountains mor the trees, the ammals on land or in the sea, can disobey Allah- they just behave as He has created them to behave. They have no choice.

The only exception are human beings and the Jinn (creatures we cannot see); they have freewill, which means they can choose whether to obey or disobey Allah. But, if we follow the guidance given to us through the prophets, we are sure to have peace in the world we live in.