Islam is categorized technically as a religion. More so it is a complete way of life instead of something done out of mere ritual. It is not empty rhetoric but rather an implementation of daily life full of meaning and purpose. To practice Islam is to be one who submits to the will of God by means of our divine scripture The Quran. As credit to the author Gary Wills, in his speeches he points out that the Quran does not negate former books or scriptures but rather confirms them. The Quran is a beautiful expression that allows a person’s spirituality to decipher what God is saying to us. Solomon spoke to the birds and ants, Moses didn’t just speak on the mountain but the mountain witnessed his speech with the Lord, Jesus not only was sent as a messenger but was a miraculous healer. And to add to the thoughts that Gary Wills expressed, animals and trees spoke to Mohammad and he was not sent to one community rather was sent as a mercy to all communities of mankind. May Peace and Blessings be upon all of them.
The Quran is a beautiful expression that allows a person’s spirituality to decipher what God is saying to us. Solomon spoke to the birds and ants, Moses didn’t just speak on the mountain but the mountain witnessed his speech with the Lord, Jesus not only was sent as a messenger but was a miraculous healer.
To be a Muslim is actually a spiritual way of life, not that of pseudo spirituality (where people say I am more spiritual than religious). Islam is a lifestyle that separates the truth from falsehood. It demands self-restraint and character building under the order of the Creator. Islam is a way of life that demands of us to forbid evil and enjoin good. The Prophetic tradition encourages those who believe to increase their capacity to assert this belief. If one were to witness acts of immorality they are obligated to prevent it physically if their faith is strong enough to do so, if they cannot do so, then to speak out against it, and if they cannot reach this point, then the least they can do is condemn it from within their heart and that is considered faithful but the weakest form of faith. Condemning corruption of any kind and condemning immorality is a prophetic teaching, In fact this is a direct teaching of the prophet himself, Muhammed PBUH.
“What will finally destroy us is not communism or fascism, but man acting like God.”
— Malcom Muggeridge
By Imam K. Mohammad–San Quentin Muslim Chaplain
