In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Islam
Islam is comprised of three essential beliefs:
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The belief in Allah (God), obeying his moral laws, and believing in the after-life. Submission to God is directly followed by obeying the moral standards of everyday life. The Qur'an makes morality reign supreme and ensures that the affairs of life, instead of dominated by selfish desires, be regulated by norms of morality. These laws are the standard by which Allah subhan wa ta’ala determines the life of the believers, and the disbelievers on the Day of Judgement. The belief in life after death not only guarantees success in the Hereafter but also makes this world full of peace and happiness by making individuals responsible and dutiful in their activities. The Qur'an lays down a moral system which is the standard by which conduct a particular mode of conduct is judged and classified as good or bad.
It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards East and the West; but it is righteousness - to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity, to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing. [Qur'an 2:177, Translation by A.Yusuf Ali]
2. To elaborate further, our faith should be true and sincere, we must be prepared to show it in deeds of charity to our fellow-men, we must be good citizens, supporting social organizations, and our own individual soul must be firm and unshaken in all circumstances. Along with these standards, there are also the five pillars of Islam that is essential to ensure a rewarding after life. These pillars include:
- The belief that Allah is the one and only God and Mohammad is his slave and Messenger.
- Salah five times a day.
- Observe fasting ritual during the month of Ramadan.
- Zakat.
- Pilgrimage to Mecca.
These standards provide a sanction to morality in the love and fear of Allah, which will impel man to obey the moral law even without external pressures. Through belief in Allah and the Day of Judgement it furnishes a force which enables a person to adapt the moral conduct with sincerity and devotion straight from the heart and the soul. The Qur'an explains the Day of Judgement as the day when the whole universe will be destroyed and then again the dead will be resurrected to stand before Allah. That Day will be the beginning of the life that will never end, and on that Day every person will be rewarded and punished by Allah according to his or her good or evil deed.
But set thou thy face to the right Religion, before there comes from Allah the Day which there is no chance of averting: On that Day shall men be divided (in two). Those who reject Faith will suffer from that rejection: and he who work righteousness will spread the couch (of repose) for themselves (in Heaven): That He may reward those who believed and work righteous deeds, out of His Bounty. For He loves not those who reject Faith. [Qur'an 30:43-45, Translation by A.Yusuf Ali]
3. The reward for believing in Allah and the Day of Judgement is as follows:
But those who believe and work righteousness - no burden do We place on any soul, but that which it can bear - They will be Companions of the Garden, therein to dwell (forever). And We shall remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury - Beneath them will be rivers flowing - and shall say: "Praise be to Allah, Who hath guided us to this (felicity): never could we have found guidance, had it not been for the guidance of Allah: Indeed it was the truth that the Messengers of our Lord brought unto us." And they shall hear the cry: "Behold! the Garden before you! Ye have benn made its inheritors, for your deeds (of righteousness). [Qur'an 7:42-43, Translation by A.Yusuf Ali]
If one accepts Allah and His moral laws, then they have accepted life after death. The believers are those who sacrifice their life on earth, in return for eternal salvation promised by Allah. The Qur'an emphatically states that the Day of Judgement must come and Allah will decide about the fate of each soul according to his or her record of deeds.
The most perfect of believer in respect of faith is he who is best of them in manners. [ Abu Dawud Hadith no. 2199, Narrated Abu Hurayrah]
The people who believe know that no matter where they are, or what they are feeling inside, they are constantly being watched by Allah. The disbelievers reject this idea altogether, denying the After-Life, and therefore denying God's powers. The Qur'an clearly states that those who reject Allah and the After-Life will suffer for eternity. Life on earth is a test for all humans. The more good deeds one accumulates, the better the chances are of eternal bliss in the After-Life. The Day of Resurrection will be the day when God's attributes of Justice and Mercy will be in full manifestation. Allah will show his Mercy on those who suffered for his sake, and punish those who cared nothing about Allah and the After-Life. Believing in Allah, obeying His laws, and believing in the After-Life is what determines ones fate in the Hereafter.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
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