Islam - Continuation of the message
Islam is the religion of peace. The Arabic word ‘Islam’ simply means ‘submission
or surrender.’ Its very name is derived from the word ‘Salaam’ or peace.
Salaam is not only the absence of violence and aggression but it also means total
well being and happiness.
Islam is the second largest religion in the world as well as in the U.S.
There are 1.2 billion Muslims across the globe and over
7 million in the U.S. There are over 2,000 mosques in the U.S.
Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance which
God revealed to all His messengers.
Muslims believe that God sent His messengers and prophets to all people beginning
with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Elias, Elisha,
Jonah, Lot, Zechariah, John the Baptist, Jesus and Muhammad; peace be upon them all.
God’s final message to humanity, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a
summing up of all that has gone before, was revealed to the Last Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) through the Angel Gabriel.
"It is He who revealed to you (Muhammad) the scripture (The Qur’an) in truth
confirming what is in hand of (the scriptures) that went before it. And He revealed
the Torah and the Injeel (Bible) before this as guidance to mankind. And He revealed
the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong)"
(Qur'an 3:3-4)
"Say: we believe in God, and 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 any of them, and to God we submit."
(Qur'an 3:84)
Neither Muhammad nor Jesus (peace be upon them) came to change the basic doctrine
of the belief in one God, brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it.
In the Qur’an, Jesus is reported as saying that he came: "To attest the law
which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you;
I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey me."
(Qur'an 3:50)