What Is Islam?

What is the meaning of the words “laa ilaahah illa allaah muhammadun rasool ullaah”?


Bearing witness “laa ilaahah illa allah” and that “muhammadun rasool ullaah” is the first pillar of the five pillars of Islam. And the meaning of “laa ilaahah illa allah” is that nothing worshipped is worthy of worship except Allah—it is simultaneously a denial and affirmation. “laa ilaahah” is denial of all worship other than that of Allah. “illa allaah” is affirmation that all worship is for Allah alone without partners.

As for the declaration, “muhammadun rasool ullaa,” its meaning is the assertion of the message of Mohammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and to believe in it and to adhere to it by speech, action and faith, and to avoid all that is against it, whether it be sayings, actions, or intentions… In other words, obeying him in what he ordered and believing in what he said and relayed and avoiding what he has forbid and denounced and not worshipping Allah except as he has ordained.

wa-sall-allahu wa-sallim ‘ala nabiyyina muhammadin wa-aalihi wa-sahbih. (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our prophet Muhammad and upon his families and companions).




Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Islam and Muslims:

The Arabic word "Islam" means peace, submission and obedience. The religion of Islam is the complete acceptance of the teachings and guidance of God as revealed to His Prophet Muhammad .

A Muslim is one who believes in God and strives for the complete reorganization of his life according to ) God’s revealed guidance and the sayings of His Prophet . He also works towards building human society on the same basis.

The word 'Allaah' is the proper name of God in Arabic. It is a unique term because it has no plural form or feminine gender.

Continuity of Message:

Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance which Allaah revealed to all Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention. The Quran says (what means): "Say: we believe in Allaah, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael; Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets, from their Lord. We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to Allaah do we bow our will (in Islam)" [Quran 3:84].

The message, which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad , is Islam in its comprehensive, complete and final form.

The Five Pillars of Islam

There are five pillars of Islam:

1. The declaration of faith: To bear witness that: “There is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger ” to all human beings till the Day of Judgment. The Prophethood of Muhammad , obliges the Muslims to follow his exemplary life as a model.

2. Prayers: Daily prayers are offered five times a day as a duty towards Allaah. They strengthen and enliven the belief in Allaah and inspire man to a higher morality. They purify the heart and prevent temptation towards wrong doings and evils.

3. Fasting the month of Ramadhaan: The Muslims during the month of Ramadhaan not only abstain from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset, but also from evil intentions and desires. It teaches love, sincerity, devotion and develops a sound social conscience, patience, unselfishness and willpower.

4. Zakaah: To pay annually 2.5 percent of one's net saving on which a year has passed, as a religious duty and purifying sum, to be spent on poorer sections of the community.

5. Pilgrimage to Makkah: It is to be performed once in a lifetime, if one can afford it financially and physically.
Besides these pillars, every action, which is done with the awareness that it fulfills the Will of Allaah, is also considered an act of worship.

Quran and Hadeeth:

The Quran is the last revealed word of God and the basic source of Islamic teachings and law. The Quran deals with the bases of creeds, morality, history of humanity, worship, knowledge, wisdom, the relationship between God and man, and human relationships in all aspects. The Holy Quran contains comprehensive teachings, which can be built into sound systems of social justice, economics, politics, legislation, jurisprudence, law and international relations.

Muhammad , himself was unlettered, he could not read or write. Yet, the Holy Quran was committed to memory and writing by his followers under his supervision during his lifetime. The original and complete text of the Quran is available to everybody in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed. Translations of the meaning into many languages are widely used. The teachings, sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad , (Ahadeeth) were meticulously reported and collected by his devoted companions, they explain and elaborate the Quranic verses.

Concept of Worship:

Islam does not teach or accept mere ritualism. It emphasizes intention and action. To worship God is to know Him and love Him, to act upon His law in every aspect of life, to enjoin goodness and forbid wrongdoing and oppression, to practice charity and justice and to serve Him by serving mankind.

The Quran presents this concept in the following sublime manner (which means): "It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West, but it is righteousness to believe in Allaah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; and 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 give Zakaah, to fulfill the contracts which you have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all period of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing." [Quran 2:177]


Historical Perspective:

Prophet Muhammad , was born in the year 570 CE in the city of Makkah in Arabia. He came from a noble family; he received the first revelation at the age of forty. As soon as he started preaching Islam, he and his followers were persecuted and had to face severe hardships. Therefore, he was commanded by God to migrate to Al-Madeenah, another city in Arabia. During a short span of 23 years, he completed his mission of prophethood and died at the age of 63. He led a perfect life and set an example for all human beings, as his life was the embodiment of the Quranic teachings.