How Islam Affects Our Lives

[Muslims Are Good Folks]

How Islam Affects Our Lives

Islam's effect on our lives is a very wide issue; we will try to
highlight how Islam affects, directs, and forms our lives.

The word Islam is derived from word istislam, which means "surrender,"
that is, surrender to God's laws. The word is also derived from the
word salam, "peace," for if we follow God's laws we will achieve
peace- be it peace of soul, peace of mind, peace between nations,
peace between people, and so on.

Islam a Religion of Nature

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not leave anything bad that
he did not forbid us from, and likely he did not leave anything good
that he did not order us to perform. I will present some hadiths that
show that Islam is a call for purity and peace and it does not
contradict with one's own nature.

By nature Man is not to hurt others but to be kind to others;
otherwise hatred will prevail and life will be distorted. We find
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) directs us to this behavior. Abu
Musa Al-Ash`ari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: I asked
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) which [believer] in Islam is
more excellent. Upon this he remarked, "One from whose tongue and hand
Muslims are safe" (Muslim).

There are many hadiths of the Prophet that call on the Muslims to
perform charity and to be good and kind to the poor and to everyone,
and we find this concern for the poor to be innate in Muslims' hearts
and souls. One of these hadiths is this: "There is a (compulsory)
sadaqah (charity) to be given for every joint of the human body (as a
sign of gratitude to Allah) everyday the sun rises. To judge justly
between two persons is regarded as sadaqah; and to help a man
concerning his riding animal, by helping him to mount it or by lifting
his luggage on to it, is also regarded as sadaqah; and (saying) a good
word is also sadaqah; and every step taken on one's way to offer the
compulsory prayer (in the mosque) is also sadaqah; and to remove a
harmful thing from the way is also sadaqah" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Abu Musa reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him)
said, "Giving charity is obligatory upon each Muslim." It was asked,
"What do you say of him who does not find (the means) to do so?" He
said, "Let him do manual work, thus doing benefit to himself and give
charity." It was asked, "What about one who does not have (the means)
to do so?" He said, "Then let him assist the needy, the aggrieved." It
was asked, "What do you say of one who cannot even do this?" He said,
"Then he should enjoin what is reputable or what is good." He was
asked, "What if he cannot do that?" He (the Prophet) said, "He should
then abstain from evil, for verily that is charity on his
behalf" (Muslim).

Another hadith, narrated by `Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased
with him), shows the importance of having compassion for poor people.
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked which merit is superior
in Islam, he replied, "That you provide food and extend greetings to
one whom you know and whom you do not know" (Muslim).

Following God's Rules and Prophet's Teachings

Allah says in the Qur'an what means:

*{Say: "If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and
forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Say: "Obey Allah and His Messenger," but if they turn back, Allah
loveth not those who reject faith}* (Aal `Imran 3:31-32).

Islam draws a framework for Muslims, whereby all can act freely as
long as they are within this framework; if they go astray, they will
have to repent and go back to Islam's true path or else they will get
punished. Let's ask ourselves why God has created us. The reply comes
from the Qur'an when it says what means:

*{I have only created jinns and men, that they may serve Me}* (Adh-
Dhariyat 51:56).

Thus all Muslims' lives are for achieving this end result-to worship
God, which includes studying, working, marrying, having children,
interacting with others, and so on.

Muslims have to study hard, as they are ordered to increase their
knowledge. The Qur'an says what means:

*{...O my Lord! advance me in knowledge}*

(Ta-Ha 20:114).

Muslims also have to work hard and not cheat. The Qur'an says what
means:

*{Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom
they are due...}* (An-Nisaa' 4:58).

While choosing a wife, a Muslim is directed to choose a woman for her
piety and not to choose her for wealth or ancestry. In raising
children, Muslims are ordered to teach them part of Qur'an and to do
good for them. In interacting with others, Muslims are directed to be
fair, not to cheat, and to be kind and forgiving. If all people have
to work to live, have to marry to have social life, and have to study
to get higher posts and to be knowledgeable, Muslims can do all these
things and have thawab (reward) by having the intention to please
Allah by these actions.

`Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the
Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "[The value of] an action
depends on the intention behind it. A man will be rewarded only for
what he intended. The emigration of one who emigrates for the sake of
Allah and His Messenger is for the sake of Allah and His Messenger;
and the emigration of one who emigrates for gaining a worldly
advantage or for marrying a woman is for what he has
emigrated" (Muslim).

If we let ourselves to our instincts, chaos will take place; we will
find all kinds of offenses taking place between human beings; all will
strive to achieve their welfare regardless of hurting or wronging
others. Thus, we find atheist communities tailor earthly rules to
preserve peace and make regulations to judge between people. God has
given us these rules summed up in Islam: it is not only a book to read
or rituals to perform, but answers to all your questions, a religion
of life.

Get The Holy Quran. It is absolutely FREE

http://www.freequran.org/

Useful Links:

Understanding Islam

http://tinyurl.com/2d4ogd

http://www.muslimheritage.com/Default.aspx

http://www.studying-islam.org/index.aspx

www.islamonline.com