August 2006: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Submitters Perspective

Page 2

What Is Islam?

Cont’d from page 1

Fourthly, the first and true Islam proclaims itself the Religion of Truth (Quran 48:28; 9:33; 41:53 & 61:9) and the Religion of God (Quran 110:2), which will naturally prevail over all false religions in the future. This will come about, not through force, but through the inevitable but natural triumph of truth over falsehood.

Fifthly, the first and true Islam propagates a world legal system based on justice and compassion, whereas the second’s legal system, the so-called Shariah is arbitrarily based on many mistaken perceptions by traditional legal practitioners, as witness the so-called fixed Hudud laws. The Arabic word ‘hudud’ (sing. ‘had’) actually means ‘boundary.’ It has nothing to do with law. The word clearly refers to the parameters of the Islamic worldview, or in today’s terminology, ‘paradigm.’

Sixthly, the first and true Islam places human welfare as the highest priority on par with obedience to God, as witness God’s elevation of the human being to a status of His vicegerent in the Cosmos. Whereas the ‘Islam’ of the theologians almost crashes the human being beneath the weight of Divine Omnipotence, of course, under their self-proclaimed tutelage.

Seventhly, the first and true Islam has no priesthood, whereas the second has, giving themselves the false title of ‘Guardians of the Faith.’ In the first and true Islam, the individual approaches God directly without any intermediary, for the very idea of intermediary

automatically nullifies monotheism.

Eightly, the first and true Islam teaches and propagates democratic governance as opposed to a theocracy propagated by the second ‘Islam,’ as witness Iran under the mullah. Moreover, it teaches and propagates a humanistic and moral governance. It also advocates a just and fair economic and financial system, free from usury. For example, in Medina, Prophet Muhammad set up the first city-state (later to become the first nation-state to cover the whole of the Arabian Peninsula), with a written constitution, in the history of the world. This nation-state is not to be counter-posed to the idea of either a Universal Ummah or an international society, just as nationalism is not contradictory to internationalism.
Ninethly, the first and true Islam allows pluralism in religion, culture, politics and law, as it believes firmly in the triumph of truth, justice and compassion in the

end, as this is actually the Grand Divine Plan for mankind.

Tenthly, the first and true Islam, seeks, works towards and struggles for a just world, where as the second ‘Islam’ is a hotchpotch of confusion, leading mankind nowhere. It also envisions an unending moral and spiritual ascent for Man. The first and true Islam was that way at the time of the prophets and it has been that way since. It shall be realized, as this is God’s Grand Plan for His Humanity. None can frustrate it.
It is obvious that correction must now be made to bring forth the first and true Islam to the Muslims themselves and to the world. This clearly cannot be done by the detractors of Islam, the enemy from without and from within. The Muslims themselves must reclaim this Islam of the Prophets from their theologians who have falsely arrogated the power of God to themselves. But the Muslims must also realize that there exist true believers in the One God in other religions and they must work closely with them to bring about a better and just world for our children and for posterity.

Kassim A / Malaysia

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[Quran 8:8] For He has decreed that the truth shall prevail, and the falsehood shall vanish, in spite of the evildoers.

[Quran 29:46] Do not argue with the people of the scripture (Jews, Christians, and Muslims) except in the nicest possible manner—unless they transgress—and say, We believe in what was revealed to us and in what was revealed to you, and our god and your god is one and the same; to Him we are submitters.