The Meaning of Islam

by Abū Iyaaḍ Amjad bin Muḥammad Rafīq

The book in your hands is for new Muslims who have just accepted Islam and non-Muslims interested in Islam or almost about to accept Islam. It is also useful for Muslims wishing to revise or learn the basics of Islam in a concise manner. It can also be used by parents wishing their children a goof foundation in the basics. The book serves all the purposes at the same time and has been written with this in mind. Utterance of the two testifications (shahadatan) regarding monotheism (tawhid) and messengership (risalah) enter a person into Islam. This declaration has a meaning (ma'na) and the requirements (muqtada), conditions (shurut) and nullifiers (nawaqid) which must be understood well. After a person enters Islam, he or she establishes the remaining pillars of Islam whilst seeking knowledge to increase inward Iman, which is faith. Thereafter, he or she strives for Ihsan, which is excellence, and for the perfection of morals and character. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "I was not sent [as a messenger] except to complete [perfect] the noble manners." The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: "Both in this world and in the Hereafter, I am the nearest of all people to Jesus, the son of Mary. The prophets are paternal brothers, their mothers are different, but the religion is one." This religion only has one name and it is Islam. This book provides a concise introduction to its most important principles and teachings without which a person's knowledge is deficient and defective.

96 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2017

Reviews

[Shāhruq Sarfarāz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came across Abu Iyaad's written content in the form of refuting modern cosmology and he provided constructive arguments to support his text.

Being a Muslim myself, this book is an absolute must read to revise the most fundamental doctrines of Islamic faith and Abu Iyaad has amazingly managed to squeeze most of the important text in just 96 pages.

He begins with talking about Monotheism and how Islaam's most important foundation is 'Tawhid' - which means 'There is none worthy of worship in truth except Allaah alone' (he gently clarified the word Allaah in footnotes - worth a read for people who think Allaah means 'God of Muslims', which is incorrect). In the middle, he describes faith in Islaam and various branches connected to it. Finally, he concludes with what I call an extremely beneficial advice to New Muslims and non-Muslims on the verge of accepting Islaam, talking about falsehood and distortion in previous religions ascribed to Abraham and also provides fantastic insight regarding corruption caused in orthodox Islaamic teachings by terrorist groups like the ISIS.

Overall, a fantastic book to brush up basics, to gain beneficial knowledge and to understand Islaam from the orthodox perspective without any innovations.

[T. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Apart from the fallacious logic, bad arguments, unfalsifiable claims and obviously blasphemy against the God of the Bible, it nevertheless is a helpful primer for understanding what Muhammedans believe.