ISL202 Highlighted Updated Handouts Lectures 1-15 by Haalim Study Insights

Lecture No. 1: Fundamentals of Islam – I

(Module 1-1: Introduction to Islam)

Islam is a religion that has a well-defined universal status as compared to others religions. This is the code of life that is based on the principles of nature. This religion also has a distinct and unique identity due to its principles, rules, and flexible laws. The law of Islamic Sharia is not based on the customs and traditions of any particular nation but on the principles of nature on which man is created. In fact, Islam is not just an ideology, but a complete and practical code of life.

The literal meaning of Islam:

The root word of Islam is (ََ .(سَلَم In the Holy Quran, this word is sued both with a Zabar ( )زبر and a Zair ) (زیرon (سَ،لَ،م ََ .س )َmeans peace, harmony, and security. In the Holy Quran:

وَإِن جَنَح · وإْ لِلسَّۡلم ِ فَٱ جمنَحم لَهَا · افنلا الا َ(۔

61:8)

“And if they are inclined towards reconciliation, then you too should be inclined.” (AlAnfal, 8: 61) Withَ () زیر on the word ,سit means” obedience, servitude, to obey, to bow and submit, and toَ surrender oneself to someone’s supremacy. In the Holy Quran: Allah Almighty says:

يَـ ٰٓٱَُّيه َا ٱ َّلَِّينَ ءَإمَن وإْ ٱ دم · خ ل وإْ ِفِ ٱ لس ِۡلم ِ ڪَآٰفَّة · َإلبقرۃ

،208:2)

“O believers! Enter Islam perfectly and wholly.” (Al-Baqarah, 2: 208) All the prophets (peace be upon them) preached Islam. All the divine orders that were revealed from Hazrat Adam (A.S) to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are called religion and Islam is the only religion in the sight of Allah. Allah Almighty says:

َإِنَّ إل ِيمنَ عِنمدَ إّلل ِ إۡلم ِسم ل

م(

آل رمعان، 19:3)

“Truly, Islam is the only Din (Religion) in Allah’s sight”. (Aal-i-Imran, 3: 19) In this way, the chain of religion that started with Hazrat Adam was completed on prophet Muhammad (PBUH).Allah Almighty says

ٱ ل

يَوممَ ٱَۡكمَلمت لَُك م دِينَُك م وَٱَتممَممت عَلَيمُك م افنِعممَِتِ وَرَضِيت لَُك ٱ ۡلم ِسم لَـ مَ دِين ً۬ا۔

إملائدہ)

3:5)

“Today I have perfected your Din (Religion) for you, and have completed My Blessing upon you, and have chosen for you Islam (as) Din (a complete code of life)”. Allah has clearly stated in the Quran that no religion other than Islam is acceptable to Allah:

َوَمَن يَبمتَغِ غَۡيم َ ٱ ۡلم ِسم لَـ مِ دِين ً۬ا فَلَن ي قمبَلَ مِنمه وَه وَ ِفِ ٱ ۡلم َخِرَۃِ مِنَ ٱ لمخَـ ِسِِين

ٱٰٓ معرإن

، 85:3)

“And whoever seeks a din (religion) other than Islam shall not at all be accepted by him, and will be amongst the losers in the Hereafter. (Aal-i-Imran, 3: Islam does not belong to any particular nation but is a universal religion. Before the Prophet's mission, the prophets were sent to a particular nation or region, but the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was sent as a messenger to the whole world, as the Holy Prophet (PBUH) says:

وََكَنَ إلنَِّبِه ي بْعَث إَِلَ قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّة ، وَب عِثْت إَِلَ إلنَّاسِ عَامَّة

َإلبخاری

،335 “Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only but I have been sent to all mankind.” In the same way, Islam is not a religion of a particular kind, i.e. only humankind, but this Allah Almighty has clearly stated this fact in the religion has been revealed to the jinn as well. Qur'an. Allah Almighty says:

وَمَآٰ ٱَرمسَلمنَـ كَ إِۡلَّ ڪَآٰفَّة ً۬ ل ِلنَّاسِ بَشِۡي ً۬إ وَافنَذِير ً۬إ

س با (۔28:34 )

“And, (O Esteemed Prophet,) we have not sent you but as a Bearer of the glad tidings and as a (Saba’, 34: 28) Warner to the entire mankind”

َِّق لم يَـ ٰٓٱَُّيه َا ٱ لنَّاس إِّن ِ رَس و ٱ ّلل · إِلَيمج مم عَِيع ا · الاعرإف

، 158:7 )

(al-A‘raf, 7: 158)” “O mankind! I have (come) to all of you (as) the Messenger of Allah”

(Module 2-2: Islamic Beliefs)

There are basically three branches of religion: Faith, worship, and affairs.

The literary Meaning of Belief:

Beliefs are related to faith. The word for belief in Arabic is Aqd. The verb Aqada means to tie a strong knot or tie up.

Terminological Meaning of Belief:

Beliefs refer to the firm and unwavering thoughts and ideas of a person whose validity he fully believes in and cannot be changed easily. There is a famous saying about this:

ما عقد علي · ه · إلقلب وإل · ضمۡي

“Those firm views on which one's heart and conscience are satisfied.” As if the basic ideas and thoughts of a human being related to life and the universe, which keep his words and actions and his individual and collective activities bound by a certain rule and regulation, are called beliefs. Islamic beliefs are called Imaniyat. Islamic beliefs mean having a firm belief and faith in Allah, His messengers, His angels, His books, the Last Day, and Destiny. The example of belief is like a seed, and human actions are the plant or tree that grows from this seed. It is evident that a plant or tree has the same characteristics that are found in its seed.

وَإِنَّ ِفِ إلْجَسَدِ م ضْغَة إِذَإ صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ إلْجَسَد ُك هه

“Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:” There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart. (Sahih al-Bukhari 52)”. The basic structure of faith is clearly described in the Qur'an and Hadith. The guidance of Allah is:

َ ”وَلَ َٰكِنَّ إلِْبَِّ مَنْ ٱٰٓمَنَ ِبِّللَِّ وَإلْيَوْمِ إۡلْٰٓخِرِ وَإلْمَلَئِكَةِ وَإلْكِتَابِ وَإلنَّبِي ِي

إلبقرہ

، 177:2َ )

“but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets.”(Al-Baqarah, 2:177) In the well-known hadith " Hadith Jibrail” the prophet said:

ِ ٱَنْ ت ؤْمِنَ ِبِّللَِّ وَمَلَئِكَتِهِ وَك ت بِهِ وَر س ِلِِ وَإلْيَوْمِ إۡلٰٓخِرِ وَإلْقَدَرِ خَۡيِْهِ وَشَِ ه

That you believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His Messenger, and the Day of Judgment, and in His fortune, good (Tirmidhi 2610)”

The Belief of Tawheed:

The first among Islamic beliefs is "to have faith in Tawheed." The word Tawheed is derived from the Arabic word " Wahd ( ")وحدthe literal meaning of which is to believe in oneness. The terminological meaning of Tawheed is to believe that Allah is One and only in His Being, attributes, to be worthy of worship, and in His actions. Although there are a number of pieces of evidence and arguments in the Holy Qur’an about the belief in the oneness of Allah Almighty, the most comprehensive concept is described in Surah Al-Ikhlas. This belief has a profound impact on human life.

The Effects of the Belief in Tawheed on Human Life:

The belief in Tawheed has many positive effects on human life, some of which are as follows:

1. Protection of Self-Esteem: The greatest advantage of belief in Tawheed is that it does not harm the self-esteem of a person because he bows down to only Allah and remains dignified due to the worship of Allah alone, as Allah Almighty has created him as the best of His creatures. Allah Almighty says:

َوَلَقَدم كَرَّممنَا بَِنِٰٓ ءَإدَم · بِن إرسإئيل · ، 17

“And we have indeed honored the children of Adam” (Bani Israel 17:70).

2. Humbleness and Humility: When a person accepts Allah as the Supreme God, then humility and reluctance arise in him, and negative feelings of pride and arrogance wipe out. Allah Almighty says:

ً۬ َوَعِبَاد ٱ لرَّۡحم َ نِ ٱ َّلَِّينَ يَممش ونَ عََلَ ٱ ۡلم َرمضِ هَومن

إللرقان

، 63:25)

“And the (favorite) servants of the Most Kind (Lord) are those who walk gently on the earth (al-Furqan, 25: 63)” And as a result of this humility, an atmosphere of love is created between humans.

3. Achieving Peace and Contentment: A believer in Allah feels that he is under the protection of Allah Almighty in all kinds of situations, good or bad. Apart from this, he also realizes that Allah Almighty is so much closer to him. This feeling of God's closeness and protection gives him satisfaction and peace. Allah Almighty says

ٱَۡلَ بِذِڪمرِ ٱ ّللَِّ تَطممَٮِنه ٱ لمق ل وب · (إلرعد · ، 28:13)

“Remembrance of Allah alone that brings calm to the hearts (Al-Ra'd 13: 28)”

4. Bravery and Perseverance: A person who believes in Tawheed considers only Allah Almighty as the owner of life and death, profit and loss, and complete faith in Allah Almighty makes a person fearless and courageous in front of his enemies. The supplication of a believer should always be:

َ(إلبقرہ وَثَب ِتم ٱَقمدَإمَنَا وَٱ افنُص منَ عََلَ ٱ لمقَوممِ ٱ لمجَـ لِرِين

، 250:2)

“Make our steps firm and give us victory over the disbelievers.” (Al–Baqarah, 2: 250)”

5. Tawakkul (Trust): Due to the belief in Tawheed, man has complete trust and reliance on Allah Almighty. He entrusts the results of all his efforts to Allah. As a result of which he gets divine love. Allah Almighty said:

َإِنَّ ٱ ّللََّ ُي ِبه ٱ لمم تَوَُك ِِي · ٱٰٓ معرإن، · 159:3)

“Surely, Allah loves those who trust Him.” (Al Imran 3:159).”

6. Avoiding Evil: A believer in Tawheed believes that Allah is closer than his jugular vein and knows his every move. Keeping this feeling in mind, he avoids evil in all kinds of