Islam: A Divine Favor

The Greatest Gift.

Imagine the most delightful gift you’ve ever received. Was it a piece of art or perhaps something wearable? Now, consider this: as a Muslim, what is the greatest gift or blessing you have? Many of us sincerely believe that Islam is the greatest blessing bestowed upon us by Allah in this world.

Allah Himself describes Islam as His most invaluable gift to His servants, stating, ‘Today I have perfected your Din [way of life] for you, and I have completed My blessings upon you, and I have willed that Islam be the Way for you’ (Al-Ma’idah 5: 3).

Understanding True Faith.

To truly appreciate this tremendous favor, we must fulfill our obligations to Allah. How can we do this? By being true Muslims. But what does it mean to be a true Muslim?

Let’s discuss and start it with a point of fundamental importance, without which we cannot hope to discover true faith.

Firstly, can a person be a Muslim by virtue of his birth?

Is a Muslim born a Muslim simply because he is born into a Muslim family, similar to how an Englishman’s son is born English or a white man’s son is born white?

A person does not truly become a Muslim simply by being born into a Muslim family. It’s not something thats inherited; irrespective of ones attitude and actions. It is a continuous effort and striving to live according to the teachings of Islam, not merely a label or cultural identity passed down from parents.

Secondly, Is it just a Verbal profession?

Merely by saying, I’m a Muslim, – becomes a true Muslim? Instead, the answer for this will be a ‘NO’. Its is by accepting consciously and deliberately what has been taught by the Prophet Mohammed [PBUH] and act accordingly.

Islam, therefore consists, firstly of knowledge and secondly, of using that knowledge into practice.

Knowledge is the first step to be a conscious Muslim, it’s impossible to be a Muslim and remain ignorant.

A person who is completely ignorant is like someone walking along a track in complete darkness. Most likely, his steps will wander aside or onto another path without his awareness. Perhaps he will be deceived by the sweet words of the Devil.

Thus, A Muslim should at least acquire sufficient knowledge to enable him to understand the essence of the teachings of the Qur’an and the purpose for which it has been sent down.

The meaning of Islam is submission to God while the meaning of Kufr is denial and disobedience of God.

A Muslim becomes meritorious by recognizing his master, obeying his orders and fearing the consequences of disobeying him.

Recall, the first step is to Acquire Knowledge, that is to know who that master is, what his orders are, which deeds please him and which displease him, and the second step is to make yourselves true slaves of your master by giving up your wishes for what he desires, the more you know God and the more you obey His commandments, the more honorable you are in His sight.

Despite knowing that Almighty Allah has declared Hell as the abode of all who give and take bribes, denounced those who borrow and lend at interest as the worst of sinners, condemned slander and warned that obscene behavior will meet with the severest punishment, we still freely indulge in these vices as if we had absolutely no fear of God’s displeasure.

Quran – The Guidance

The truth is, Muslims are the only people in the world who are fortunate enough to have the word of God preserved in its original form, free from any distortions, and exactly as it was revealed to the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him.

For a minute, Think of our behavior with this book?

But now the Qur’an’s usefulness, for many Muslims, consists only in keeping it in their houses to drive away ghosts, or in reading its contents without comprehending their meaning in the hope of receiving some reward.

No longer we turn to this book, to know the basic things about existence and the conduct.

The Qur’an was sent to them for them to read it, understand it, act upon it, and, with its help, establish on God’s earth the rule of His law. The Qur’an came to grant them dignity and power. It came to make them true vicegerents of God on earth. And history shows that whenever they acted according to its guidance, it did make them the leaders of the world.

Imagine someone receiving a doctor’s prescription and then hanging it around their neck after wrapping it in cloth or washing it in water and drinking it. Wouldn’t you find such behavior laughable and foolish? We fail to realize that a prescription is meant to be followed, not treated as a charm.

Similarly, If you receive a business letter in a language you don’t understand, you seek someone who knows the language to translate it for you. You eagerly seek understanding, even though it may only bring you worldly gain.

Reflect on these facts, and you’ll realize the great injustice done to the Quran. Ironically, those who proclaim their faith in it and their willingness to sacrifice for it are often the ones who mistreat it. Despite their deep love for the Quran, they handle it disrespectfully, leading to clear consequences.

If people possess Allah’s Book and still live in disgrace and subjugation, they are surely being punished for doing injustice to Allah’s word. The only way to save yourselves from Allah’s anger is to turn back from this grave sin and start trying to render His Book its due. The condition will never change – even if you open colleges in each and every village, all your children graduate from universities, and you amass millions through unscrupulous means.

Essence of the Kalimah

Muslims, say:

 La ilaha il ‘llah Muhammadu ‘r-rasoolu ‘lah –

There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

A man is supposed to be radically changed after reciting this.

Why should the Kalimah make such a big difference in him? What is so special about it?

The effectiveness of words lies in their meaning. If they do not penetrate deep into your hearts and have an impact powerful enough to effect a change in your thoughts, in your morals, and in your actions, then their utterance is meaningless and ineffectual.

Mere utterance of six or seven words cannot conceivably transform a Kafir into a Muslim, or an impure person into a pure one. This transformation is possible only after you have understood the meaning of these words and made it penetrate your hearts and change your lives.

Saying La ilaha il ‘llah means two things.

First, you have acknowledged that the world has neither come into being without a God nor has many gods. God is there; He alone is God, and there is no other being except Him which possesses divinity.

Second, you have accepted that this same God is your Lord and Master as well as of the whole universe. You yourselves, and each and every thing that you have or is found in the world, belong to Him alone. He is the Creator and the Provider.

And when you say Muhammadu ‘r-rasoolu ‘llah, you pledge to follow the way and law given by him and to reject anything which runs counter to it. After making this pledge, you abandon the code of life other than that is brought by the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him.

Almighty says:

‘Surely Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their belongings and in return has promised that they shall have Paradise.’ (Al-Tawbah 9: 111).

In short, Kalimah Tayyibah demands two important actions; first is the ‘Submission to Almighty Allah’ and the second is the ‘Obedience to the Prophet’.

If we truly believe that our fate in the Hereafter depends on our behavior in this life, we would never risk being negligent in living as God wills us to live.

Only someone who does not really believe that what he is sowing will produce thorns and that these thorns will cause him harm would do such a thing. You never pick up embers in your hand knowingly because you know that they will burn you. Only children put their hands in the fire because they do not know what will happen. To conclude, Islam emerges as a divine gift, a source of guidance, and a pathway to enlightenment. It’s not a title inherited by birth or a superficial label. True Islam demands knowledge, understanding, and above all, action. It requires a conscious effort to live by its teachings, to understand its essence, and to implement its principles in our daily lives. Muslims are entrusted with the responsibility to uphold the sanctity of the Quran, to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and to strive for excellence in all aspects of life. Let us remember that being a Muslim is not just a title; it is a commitment to a way of life that embodies submission to the will of Allah and compassion for all His creation.