What Are the Main Teachings of Islam?
by: Abdullah Rahim
The above question is a common query by many non-Muslims and many Muslims as well. In this article I am trying to answer this question.
First, in my understanding most of the instructions of Islam are not in the category of Teaching, rather, they are in the category of Reminding, Clarifying or Guidance. This is because what Islam expects us to do and to be are inline and inbuilt in our nature as human beings.
So instead of using the word ‘teaching’ I use the word ‘guidance’. The main guidance of Islam can be presented in three ways:
Abstract way:
In an abstract level Islam wants us to spiritually purify ourselves from anything that is not good (Qu’an, 91:1-10). This should result in the highest levels of morals towards God and towards fellow human being and other creatures as well as managing our own affairs.
Brief way:
In brief, this long for purification, according to Islam, can be achieved by having belief after being rationally convinced about the truth and then (as an outcome) to do righteous deeds in different spheres of life (Qur’an, 2:25).
Elaborated way:
In a more elaborated version, the beliefs that Islam wants us to have after rational conviction are:
- Belief in God
- Belief in God’s Holy Books
- Belief in God’s Messengers
- Belief in God’s Angels
- Belief in the Hereafter
(Qur’an.4:136)
The righteous deeds that Islam wants us to adopt and are the consequent of belief are in fact inbuilt in the human nature and most of them are already known and recognised as good deeds by every human being. The Qur’an has elaborated on what these deeds are in a number of places, including in 17:22-39:
- Serving no one but God (including praying to God)
- Being good to parents and to remain respectful and humble towards them
- Giving money and charity to the needy and remaining affectionate to them
- Not to waste our wealth for useless purposes
- Not to kill infants in the fear of poverty (this was a practice that was quite common among some Arabs at the time of the prophet - pbuh)
- Not to go near adultery
- Not to commit murder
- Not to go near the wealth of orphans
- Keeping our promises
- Being fair in merchandise
- Not to follow speculations
- Not to act conceitedly
(Qur’an: 17:22-39)
In order to fulfil the above guidance in the best way there are also certain standards and regulations to follow in different spheres of life, as detailed in the Qur’an and the Established Sunnah (i.e. Established Sunnah here means the religious practices that have originated from prophet Ibrahim and have been revived, reformed or completed by prophet Muhammad - pbuh).
The purpose of all the above (that was mentioned in an abstract, brief and elaborated form) is to become a better servant of the Almighty by becoming a better human being and therefore to fulfil the purpose of our creation and to deserve to be as close to Him as possible in the hereafter.
The above question is a common query by many non-Muslims and many Muslims as well. In this article I am trying to answer this question.
First, in my understanding most of the instructions of Islam are not in the category of Teaching, rather, they are in the category of Reminding, Clarifying or Guidance. This is because what Islam expects us to do and to be are inline and inbuilt in our nature as human beings.
So instead of using the word ‘teaching’ I use the word ‘guidance’. The main guidance of Islam can be presented in three ways:
Abstract way:
In an abstract level Islam wants us to spiritually purify ourselves from anything that is not good (Qu’an, 91:1-10). This should result in the highest levels of morals towards God and towards fellow human being and other creatures as well as managing our own affairs.
Brief way:
In brief, this long for purification, according to Islam, can be achieved by having belief after being rationally convinced about the truth and then (as an outcome) to do righteous deeds in different spheres of life (Qur’an, 2:25).
Elaborated way:
In a more elaborated version, the beliefs that Islam wants us to have after rational conviction are:
- Belief in God
- Belief in God’s Holy Books
- Belief in God’s Messengers
- Belief in God’s Angels
- Belief in the Hereafter
(Qur’an.4:136)
The righteous deeds that Islam wants us to adopt and are the consequent of belief are in fact inbuilt in the human nature and most of them are already known and recognised as good deeds by every human being. The Qur’an has elaborated on what these deeds are in a number of places, including in 17:22-39:
- Serving no one but God (including praying to God)
- Being good to parents and to remain respectful and humble towards them
- Giving money and charity to the needy and remaining affectionate to them
- Not to waste our wealth for useless purposes
- Not to kill infants in the fear of poverty (this was a practice that was quite common among some Arabs at the time of the prophet - pbuh)
- Not to go near adultery
- Not to commit murder
- Not to go near the wealth of orphans
- Keeping our promises
- Being fair in merchandise
- Not to follow speculations
- Not to act conceitedly
(Qur’an: 17:22-39)
In order to fulfil the above guidance in the best way there are also certain standards and regulations to follow in different spheres of life, as detailed in the Qur’an and the Established Sunnah (i.e. Established Sunnah here means the religious practices that have originated from prophet Ibrahim and have been revived, reformed or completed by prophet Muhammad - pbuh).
The purpose of all the above (that was mentioned in an abstract, brief and elaborated form) is to become a better servant of the Almighty by becoming a better human being and therefore to fulfil the purpose of our creation and to deserve to be as close to Him as possible in the hereafter.