Is Islam and Muslim the same: Assalamalekum the readers of The Sunnah Times, many non-muslims always ask this question to Muslims and we keep on explaining to them that, Islam & Muslim are both different terms and they aren’t the same. Well in this article today, we’ll discuss this topic and will remove the confusion.
Is Islam and Muslim the Same?
No, Islam and Muslim are not the same, they have totally different meaning. Islam is the name of the religion which has been created by Allah (God) and the people who follow the religion of Islam are known as Muslims. Islam is perfect but Muslims are not.
When Islam came into Existence?
Many people have misconception about the religion of Islam, that it is only 1400 years old but, that’s not true. Religion of Islam came into existence since the time of Prophet Adam. Prophet Adam is the first human and the first prophet who was sent on earth by Allah SWT and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the last and final messenger in Islam.
Islam started since Prophet Adam stepped on Earth and Islam was perfected by Allah SWT at the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which was 1400 years ago. Some people also claim that Islam was founded by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and they also claim that he is the writer of Quran. These claims are totally false & bogus.
There were total of 124000 prophets sent on earth by Allah SWT and 25 Prophets are mentioned by name in Quran, out of which Prophet Adam is the first and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the last and final messenger of Allah SWT. Islam began itself since the time of Prophet Adam and Allah SWT perfected the Islam at the time of final messenger Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The Believers of Islam (Muslims)
People who believe in the religion of Islam are called Muslims. A muslim believes that there is no God except Allah and Prophet Muhammad is the last and final messenger of Allah SWT. A muslim does not associate any partners with Allah (God) because associating any partners with Allah SWT is Shirk.
Many people today compare the wrong actions of some muslims to Islam. They falsely accuse Islam by the actions of some fellow muslims who did wrong in this world. These people are totally ignorant because any person who has common sense will understand that we cannot accuse whole christianity for the actions of Hitler. Islam is Perfect, Muslims are not.
The Biggest Sin in Islam (Shirk)
Many muslims themselves are not aware today that Shirk is the biggest sin in Islam. Allah SWT clearly does not like any person who worships other man made Gods beside him. Only Allah SWT is truly worthy of worship alone and there is no partner equal or beside him. Worshipping any other gods beside Allah SWT is considered the biggest sin in Islam which is Shirk.
Shirk is the biggest sin in Islam, Allah SWT might forgive any sin he may like but, he will not forgive the sin of shirk, if not asked for forgiveness while being alive in this world. Any person who dies in the state of shirk or the one who committed shirk and never repented then this type of person will never be forgiven by Allah SWT.
Allah SWT (God) is the most merciful and he forgives every sin but the condition to get our sin forgiven from Allah is to repent. To prove our point here are some verses from Quran:
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.” (Quran 4:48)
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Quran 39:53)
“Turn to your Lord ˹in repentance˺, and ˹fully˺ submit to Him before the punishment reaches you, ˹for˺ then you can no longer be helped (Quran 39:54).
Salah Compulsory in Islam (Prayer)
There are 5 Fard (obligatory) prayers in Islam. Muslims are ordered to pray 5 times a day by Allah SWT at their respective time. The 5 fard (obligatory) prayers are as follows:
- Fazar Salah
- Duhur Salah
- Asr Salah
- Maghrib Salah
- Isha Salah
Any muslim who leaves or abandons salah then he is sinfull in the sight of Allah SWT. The first question that will be asked on the day of judgement will be about your salah (obligatory prayers).
Festivals in Islam
There are only two festivals in Islam:
- Eid-Al-Fitr
- Eid Al-Adha
Islam is a Perfect Religion
When Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was 40 years old, then Allah SWT started revealing the verses of Quran to him through Angel Jibreel. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) could not read or write, so he used to learn the verses of Quran as conveyed by Angel Jibreel. Later Prophet Muhammad use to convey among people, the revelations of Quran revealed to him by Allah SWT.
Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the month of Ramadan on Lailatul Qadr and the all the revelations of the Quran was completed around total 23 years. Allah SWT revealed, perfected and completed the religion of Islam in the month of Ramadan on the night of Lailatul Qadr. We have given below the verse of the Quran where Allah SWT has perfected the religion of Islam.
Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allāh, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin – then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful. Quran (5:3) Translated by Saheeh International
Prohibited to you are carrion, (i.e. dead meat) and blood, and the flesh of swine, and what has been acclaimed to other than Allah, and the strangled, and the beaten (to death), and the toppled (to death), and the gored (to death), and that eaten by wild beasts of prey-excepting what you have immolated-and whatever has been slain on the altars (for the idols), and that you adjure division (i.e. by gambling with arrows or in any similar way) by divining: that is immorality. Today the ones who have disbelieved have despaired of your religion, so do not be apprehensive of them and be apprehensive of Me. Today I have completed your religion for you, and I have perfected My favor on you, and I am satisfied with Islam as a religion for you. And whoever is constrained in scantiness, (i.e., compelled by need) without unfairly (inclining) to vice, then surely Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful. Quran (5:3) Translated by Dr. Ghali
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