By A.

Zeynep Donmez – Ozlem Ata Translated from Turkish by Yilmaz Kaso

A chapter from the book of ‘Friday of the Youth” Sydney, AUSTRALIA

RELIGION, ISLAM AND MUSLIM

‫ِب ْس ِم ال َّل ِه ٱل َّر ْحم ٰـ ِن ٱل َّر ِحي ِم‬

‫َف َأ ِق ْم َو ْج َه َك ِلل ِّدي ِن َح ِنيف ًا ِف ْط َر َة ٱل َّل ِه ٱ َّل ِتى َف َط َر ٱل َّنا َس َع َل ْي َها ل َا َت ْب ِدي َل ِل َخ ْل ِق ٱل َّل ِه ٰذ ِل َك ٱل ِّدي ُن ٱ ْل َق ِّي ُم َوَل ٰـ ِك َّن َأ ْك َث َر ٱل َّنا ِس ل َا َي ْع َل ُمو َن‬
“Set your face directly to this religion that is the laws established by God (fitrah) that applies to all
beings. He has created mankind in accordance with it. There is nothing to replace that which God has
created. That is the upright religion, but most people do know.” (Al-Rum 30/30)

". " ‫ا ْل ُم ْس ِل ُم َم ْن َس ِل َم ا ل َّن ا ُس ِم ْن ِل َس ا ِن ِه َو َي ِد ِه‬

“A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the people are safe” (Sunan al-Nasâ’î, Book Of Faith
and its Signs, Chapter 8, 4998)

Dear Youth,

Today we are going to tell you about the description of religion and the natural laws (fitrah) according to
which God has created the humankind. All the general principles which apply to creatures, in other
words, natural order which God has set is called ‘fitrah’. Let’s make an analogy to tell you what ‘fitrah’ is.
Every human being is born with instinct for truth. These instincts are like the factory settings installed on
a computer. If you do not corrupt the settings, the computer functions correctly. Similarly, people who
preserve and follow the rightful instincts that God has granted them are directed to goodness, dislike
the evil and rejoice or grieve in similar situations. As a matter of fact, the religion is sent to us to
preserve these attributes which we have from birth. The verse which we read at the beginning of our
sermon also states that following the true religion is possible only by following the ‘fitrah’

Dear youth,

Islam is the name of the only religion which Almighty God has established for the people since Adam
(as). This religion has been conveyed to every part of the world in their own language by the thousands
of prophets throughout history. Although the people name it different in their own language “The only
true religion in God’s sight is Islam”. This is stated in the Surah Al ‘Imran 3/19.

Fundamental principles of revelation that God has sent down have been the same since the beginning.
We can see this clearly in the Surah Al ‘Imran 3/64;

“Say, ‘Oh, Experts of the Book! Come to a word that is common between us and you; let’s not be
servant of anyone or anything other than God; let’s not associate partners with Him; let none of us
consider anything else as deities by interposing those between ourselves and God.’ If they turn their
backs, then say, ‘Bear witness that we are people who have submitted themselves to God (We are
Muslims).’”
The Experts in the Book in this verse are connoisseurs who were given Books before Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH).

The word Islam comes from the same root as the word ‘Salam’ which means ‘inviolability’, ‘peace’ and
‘security’. The person who completely submits himself/herself to God is called Muslim. Full submission
to God means obeying God’s commands and prohibitions in all circumstances. We already mentioned in
the hadith at the beginning of our sermon that such people would never harm anyone with their hands
and tongue. In the Holy Quran, God names the believers before us as ‘Muslims’ or ‘the one who has
submitted himself/herself to God. Names such as Jews or Christians are the names given by societies to
them in their own language.

“And strive for God in a manner worthy of that striving. He has chosen you and has not placed upon
you in the religion any difficulty. (It is) the religion of your father, Abraham. He has named you
Muslims both previously and now (in this Scripture), so that this Messenger may be an example for
you and you may act as examples for mankind. Establish the prayer and give the charity (zakah) and
hold firmly to Allah. He is your intimate guardian. What a splendid Guardian and What a splendid
Supporter.” (Al-Hajj 22/78)

Muslims do not distinguish among prophets, because they are all prophets of Islam.

“Say, ‘we believe in God and what has been sent down to us; and what was sent down to Abraham,
Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and his descendants, and what was granted to Moses and Jesus and whatever
was granted to the prophets by their Master. We make no distinction between any of them. It is to
Him that we surrender ourselves’.” (Al-Baqarah 2/136)

In this matter the messenger of God said: “The similitude of mine and that of the Apostles before me is
that of a person who built a house quite imposing and beautiful, but for one brick in one of its corners.
People would go round it, appreciating the building, but saying: Why has the brick not been fixed here?
He said: I am that brick and I am the last of the Apostles.” (Sahih Muslim, The Book of Virtues, Chapter 7,
2286)

Islam is based on the fact that God is one and only. He maintains his validity for all times and locations.
Islam aims for the salvation of the person’s life in this world and the hereafter through the criteria
determined for every area of life. Islam is the order of life that our Creator has approved for all people.
According to the Surah Al-Ma’idah 5/3, with the descent of the Quran, this religion has been completed.
From the time of its revelation, no addition or removal has been allowed.

We shall obey God’s commands and prohibitions under all circumstances and be among those who do
not corrupt themselves. Thus, we hope that we will be among the saved ones.