or

WHAT IS ISLAM?
 On one hand we claim that Islam presents
solutions to all problems of mankind, but this
claim become weightless when we look at the
kind of Islam being practiced nowadays. We see
it is absolute contrast and it does not even relate
to our day-to-day needs. This is mainly due to
partial compliance on Deen of Islam.
 We know that all the books of scripture are no
longer available in their original text, except for
the Qur’aan. Therefore, the concept or theory
presented by Qur’aan is taken as Devine by
Muslims and for a secular person who is already
in search of truth can be made to understand of
the concept and that better understanding can
be achieved only when we will see the concept
is relevant to all spheres of life.
 Even the worst critics of Islam accept this fact
that the concept of Just Order Islam puts forward
is truly a Just System, since it remained
enforced for a period of 36 years. Which itself
negates the arguments about the practicability of
Deen of Islam.
 Obeisance, to comply, to surrender, to submit

                       

 “And who has a better ‘Deen’ than he, who submits

himself to Allah (swt) and he is doer of good.”
(An’Nisa: 125)
Islam is a Deen of Allah i.e. A system of life in which Allah
is obeyed submissively in all spheres of life.

            

“Surely, the Deen in the sight of Allah is Islam.” (Ale-Imran: 19

                                   
This day I have perfected your Deen for you and completed My Favor“
upon you and I have chosen for you Islam as Deen.” (Al-Mai’dah: 3)
 Literal: Path, way, practice, abode, credence
Connotative: A set of tenets and rituals, a
person has to accept due to some:
 Natural questions in his mind about universe and
himself
 Urge within him to worship an ideal (to relate
himself to a supernatural) during pleasant or sad
events in life.
Religion purely relates to personal, innate and private
life of a person and consists of following:
Set of beliefs
Modes of worship
Customs
The word religion is also used for different Islamic
schools of jurisprudence like Mazhab Hanfi, shafa’ee
religion etc.
Literal: ‘Badla’ Retribution (reward or punishment)

ِ ‫َمالِ ِك يَ ْو ِم ال ِّد‬
‫ين‬
“He is the Owner of the Day of Retribution.” (Al-Fatiha: 3)

Connotative:
 Code of law, under which retribution takes place.

‫ين ْال َملِ ِك‬‫د‬ِ ‫ي‬ ‫ف‬

ِ ُ ‫ه‬ ‫ا‬‫خ‬َ َ ‫أ‬ َ
‫ذ‬ ُ
‫خ‬ ْ‫ان لِ َيأ‬
َ ‫َما َك‬
ِ
“He could not take his brother under the king’s ‘Deen’ (law).” (Yousuf: 76)

 Constitution or system under which the codes of law are decided.

‫ون ال ِّدينُ ُكلُّ ُه هّلِل‬

َ ‫َو َي ُك‬
“The Deen (system) will all be for Allah (swt).” (Al-Anfaal: 39)
Subordination:
“Surely, the Deen (sincere obedience) is due to
Allah (only).” (Az’Zumr: 3)
A system is recognized when it is followed or
subordinated.
For instance ‘Deen ul Malik’ the constitution or
the system of the King, like the British
constitution runs under ‘Magna Carta’.
‘Deen-e-Jamhur’ or people’s constitution where
legislative power are granted to the elected
members of people.
‘Deen-ullah’ where Allah (SWT) is the legislator
and all His rules are enforced thoroughly.
Deen is a system of life, which enacts rules and
regulations for all spheres of life for determining
retribution. ‘Deen’ provides guidance for both
personal and public aspects of life. It comprises:
Set of beliefs – modes of worship – customs
Politics – Economics – Civics
Not at a single place in Qur’aan or in sayings of
Prophet (saw), the term ‘Mazhab’ has been used
for Islam. Everywhere, Islam has been regarded
as ‘Deen’. Allah (swt) acknowledges only Islam
as a ‘Deen’ as it is the only system of life that
provides guidance for all spheres of life.
“Surely, the Deen in the sight of Allah is Islam.”
(Ale-e-Imran: 19)

“And I have chosen for you Islam as Deen.”

(Al-Mai’dah: 3)
Beliefs: such as: Monotheism, The Institution of
Prophet hood, and the Day of Judgment
Modes of Worship: Salaat, Zakaaat, Saum
and Hajj.
Customs: ‘Aqeeqah’ (Celebration at birth of a
child), ‘Nikah’ (Matrimonial bonding), Tajheez-o-
Takfeen (in the event of death)
Politics: Allah is the ruler, a human being is not
a ruler but ‘Khalifah’ or vicegerent of Allah and
he cannot enslave human beings.
Economics: Allah is the divine owner, a human
being has guardianship. Feudal and capitalists
cannot suck the blood out of common people.
Civics: Allah is the Creator. All humans are
equal. The life, property and dignity of every one
should equally be respected and honored.
In Allah (swt’s) diction ‘Deen’ is only Islam;
however in this world secularism is a
predominant “ism”. Under the secular concept
people can practice whichever religion they
choose in their private lives; howsoever, there is
no role of Divine Guidance in the collective lives
of people. Allah’s commandments cannot be
chartered or made the guiding principles in
collective affairs of life. Under secularism, the
collective concerns will be decided by a popular
mandate of the people.
Therefore the secularism does not negate
‘religion’, however it negates a ‘Deen’ totally.
The secularism is the worst kind of mutiny
against Allah (swt) in the human history, where
the supremacy of Allah (swt) is being confined to
the places of worship only.
 A big majority of us considers Islam as a religion only. It
is contented to comply with a few religious traits at an
individual level. It has neglected the command of Allah:

‫ْاد ُخلُو ْا ِفي الس ِّْل ِم َكآ َّف ًة‬

“Enter into Islam entirely” (Al-Baqarah: 208)

 The worst part is, we have no remorse whatsoever that

Islam has been subjugated as a ‘Deen’.

‫وائے نا کا می متائے کارواں جاتا رہا‬

‫کا رواں کے دل سے احسا س زیاں جاتا رہا‬

The humanity who had lived under “the holiness
of” enforced dynastical system of tyranny over a
period of time, could not digest a fair and just
system, Islam had presented.
Through the connivance of rulers and religious
leaders of the time, the tyrannical system of
kingship and feudalism surfaced again, and this
time the roots were even deeper.
To suppress the emotions against the treachery and
exploitation, the rulers of the time encouraged everything,
but the knowledge of Qur’aan. Whosoever tried to standup
for truth, was blatantly crushed. People of the Book and
real practice had to go under or in hiding, and the real
teachings of the Book were confined to a book only.
Gradually the unanimity of ‘Deen’ disappeared, political
system and religion parted their ways, and a trinity of a
kind came into existence.
1. The kings and the feudal overtook politics or the political
system.
2. The scholars and muftis overtook the de jure or legal aspect.
3. The Sufis overtook the latent and innate attribute of the
religion.
People of ‘Deen’ were degraded to people of
religion.
Scholars were confined to acquiring and
imparting knowledge, establishing and running
education institutions. These institutions
produced ‘Khateeb’ (preachers or orators),
‘Muftis’ (Jurists) and ‘Qazis’ (Judges) for the
system of kingship. Sufis were left to the spiritual
cleansing. No body cared enough to get out and
speak, or standup against the exploitive
injustice. The little, but ongoing contention
against unjust system died down eventually.
 Later on, when the worst began hitting the climax, a
successor of ‘Sahaba’ (raa) Abdullah Ibn Mubarak (ra)
expressed his anguish in these words:
ُُ ‫ک َواَ ْحبَا ُر‬
‫سو ِء َو ُر ْھبَانُ َھا‬ َ ‫َھ ْل اَ ْف‬
َ ‫س َدا ْل ِّد ْی َن اِاَّل ا ْل َملُ ْو‬
“‘Deen’ has never been corrupted, but by the Kings, and
the Scholars, and the Sufis with ulterior worldly motives”.
 Initially people of the ‘Deen’ were forced to confine their
activities to religious aspects only. Eventually, the vision
itself became dismal and narrowed down to a level that
only the religious activities were adopted as Islam in toto.
Under the limited concept of Islam there is a
partial compliance to obedience of Allah, for
which there is a severe punishment in this world
and hereafter.
“Then, do you believe in a part of the Book and
reject the rest? Then, what is the reward of
those who do so among you, except disgrace in
the life of this world, and on the Day of
Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most
grievous torment.” (Al-Baqarah: 85)
 The object of keeping ‘Ummah’ unified, disappeared
from the sight. The forewarning of the Qur’aan:
َ ِ‫اقِ ْی ُم ْواال ِّد ْی َن َواَل تَتَفَ َّرقُ ْوافِ ْیہ‬
‫ے‬

Keep ‘Deen’ established and do not become disaccorded. (Ash’Shoora: 13)

was not heeded to. The unified binding of ‘Ummah’ was
tattered to pieces.
 The major differences between the various sects of
Muslims are related to religious affairs. Due to emphasis
on religious affairs these differences have turned into the
menace of sects. Yielding its final dividend, it is serving
us the last course of meal, the desert of infighting and
mutual insolence.
Practice of division in ‘Deen’; i.e., to obey a few and
disregard the others is ‘Shirk’.
“And be not of ‘Mushrik’ (Polytheists). Of those who
divided their ‘Deen’ and became sects.”
(Ar’Rum: 31-32)
‘Shirk’ is the worst of all sins, Allah will never
forgive it, unless a person atones and asks for
Allah’s forgiveness.
“Verily, Allah (swt) does not forgive that anything
should be associated with Him, and forgives what is
besides that to whom He pleases.” (An’Nisa: 48,
116)
Practicing partial Islam is not acceptable to Allah
(swt) and is very detrimental in the hereafter.
People who practice partial Islam are deprived of
guidance and imprecated by Allah and His
angels and all humans.
“And whoever desires a ‘Deen’ other than Islam,
it shall not be accepted from him and in the
Hereafter he shall be one of the losers. How shall
Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their
Belief and after they bore witness that the
Messenger is true and after clear proofs had
come to them and Allah does not Guide the
unjust people. They are those whose reward is
that on them is the Curse of Allah, of the Angels
and of all mankind all together.” (Ale-Imran: 85-87)
Due to implementation of an unjust un-Islamic
order, the humanity is under a constant
oppression. We will be accountable for this
excessiveness and should be prepared for the
divine vengeance.
Here’s a Hadith, let’s see how it foretold the present prevalent situation - And
said the prophet of Allah (swt),

‫ان اَل یَب ْٰقی ِم َن ااْل ِ ْساَل ِم اِاَّل اِ ْس ُمہُو َواَل یَب ْٰقی ِم َن ْالقُرْ ٰا ِن‬ ِ َّ‫ک اَن یَّاتِ َی َعلَی الن‬
ٌ ‫اس َز َم‬ ُ ‫ُی ْو ِ َش‬
َ ْ‫اج ُد ہُ ْم َعا ِم َرةٌ َّو ِہ َی َخ َرابٌ ِّم َن ْالھ ُٰدی ُعلَ َمآ ُء ھُ ْم َش ُّر َم ْن تَح‬
‫ت اَ ِدی ِْم‬ ِ ‫اِاَّل َر ْس ُمہُو َم َس‬
‫ َّوفِ ْی ِھ ْم تَع ُْو َد‬#ُ‫س َمآ ِء ِم ْن ِع ْن ِد ِھ ْم تَ ْخ ُر ُج ْالفِ ْتنَ ُْْۃ‬
َّ ‫ال‬

“A time will come on people that Islam would be just a phrase void of its
spirit and Qur’aan just a script void of its essence and the places of
worships ‘Masajid’ will be filled with people but void of guidance, their
scholars will be worst of living beings under the sky: They would be
involved in nothing, but raising and boomeranging tumults.” (Bayhiqi)
The world will never be desolate of true scholars. On one
side if pseudo scholars are busy in keeping people
involved in petty religious issues, on the other side there
are true scholars who are giving the vast and holistic
concept of ‘Deen’.
Another Hadith of Prophet (SAW):
‫بَ َدأَااْل ِ ْساَل ُم َغ ِر ْیبًًاا َو َسیَع ُْو ُد َک َمابَ َدأَ فَطُ ْو ٰبی لِ ْل ُغرْ بَا ِء‬
“Islam originated like an alien to the people and it will be
like an alien to the people once again; therefore, glad
tidings to those who will follow it at that time.” (Muslim)
It is imperative to get the real knowledge of
‘Deen’ so that one can become a part of a
revivalist movement involved in a struggle to
breathe back the true vigor into Islam.
According to a Hadith:
‫ساَل ُم فَبَ ْینَہ‘ َوبَ ْی َن النَّبِیِّ َن‬ ُ ِ‫َمنْ َجا َء ہُ ا ْل َم ْوتُ َو ُھ َو یَ ْطل‬
ْ ِ ‫ب ا ْل ِع ْل َم لِیُ ْح َی بِ ِہ ااْل‬
‫اح َدةٌ فِی ا ْل َجنّ ِۃ‬ ِ ‫َد َر َجۃٌ َّو‬
“The one who faces death in the process of
acquisition of knowledge, intending to
reinvigorate Islam, his place in heaven would be
just a grade away from the Prophets.”
The schooling of Qur’aan has a vital role in
acquiring the knowledge of ‘Deen’ therefore it is
necessary to give due priority to teaching and
learning of Qur’aan to empower Islam. Saying of
the Holy Prophet (saw):
“Indeed Allah (swt) will, exalt nations who are
the true bearers of Qur’aan, and Allah (swt) will,
debase the one’s who abandon it.” (Muslim)
As the awakening will grow deeper that Islam is not
a religion but a ‘Deen’, it will be realized that ‘Deen’
by virtue of its specific nature, needs its own
empowerment. There is no ‘Deen’, which is
subdued. In a given society many religions can be
practiced at one time, but ‘Deen’ will only be one.
Islam, in that case will either be empowered, or
subjugated.
Muslims should realize the demand of ‘Deen’ that a
simple practice of rituals and customs or just having
a belief will not render its due. Instead
implementation of Islamic orders in our collective
lives will have to be taken seriously and struggle for
it should be taken as a goal of life.
               

                  

                 