Religion (of Islam)

Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm. Those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) did not differ except, out of mutual jealousy, after knowledge had come to them. And whoever disbelieves in the Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, then surely, Allâh is Swift in calling to account.

So if they dispute with you (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) say: "I have submitted myself to Allâh (in Islâm), and (so have) those who follow me." And say to those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and to those who are illiterates (Arab pagans): "Do you (also) submit yourselves (to Allâh in Islâm)?" If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message; and Allâh is All-Seer of (His) slaves[1].

(The Holy Quran - Chapter: 3 (Al-imran), Verse: 19-20)

a) It is obligatory to have Belief in the Messengership of the Prophet (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "By Him (Allâh) in Whose Hand Muhammad’s soul is, there is none from amongst the Jews and the Christians (of these present nations) who hears about me and then dies without believing in the Message with which I have been sent (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism), but he will be from the dwellers of the (Hell) Fire." (Sahih Muslim , the Book of Faith, Vol.1, Hadith No.240). [See also (V.3:116)]

b) The asking of (angel) Jibrael (Gabriel) from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم about Belief, Islâm, Ihsân (perfection) and the knowledge of the Hour (Doomsday), and their explanation given to him by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said (to his companions): "Jibrael (Gabriel) عليه السلام came to teach you your religion." So the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم regarded all that as a religion. And all that which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained to the delegation of ‘Abdûl-Qais was a part of faith. (See Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.1, Hadîth No.50 and 87) And the Statement of Allâhعز وجل : "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him." (3:85).

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه : One day while the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Jibrael (Gabriel) عليه السلام came and asked, "What is Faith?" Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, "Faith is to believe in Allâh, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His messengers, and to believe in Resurrection."* Then he further asked, "What is Islâm?" Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, "To worship Allâh Alone and none else, to perform As-Salât (Iqamât-as-Salât), to give the Zakât and to observe Saum (fasts) during the month of Ramadân,"** then he further asked, "What is Ihsân (perfection)?" Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, "To worship Allâh عز وجل as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you." Then he further asked, "When will the Hour be established?" Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, "The answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its portents:

(1) When a slave (lady) gives birth to her master.

(2) When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of the five things which nobody knows except Allâh.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then recited: "Verily, the knowledge of the Hour is with Allâh (Alone)." (31:34). Then that man (Gabriel عليه السلام) left and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked his Companions to call him back, but they could not see him. Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "That was (angel) Gabriel عليه السلام who came to teach the people their religion."

Abu ‘Abdullâh رضي الله عنه said: He (the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) considered all that as a part of faith. (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.1, Hadîth No.47).

*In this Hadîth, only 4 articles are mentioned, while in another Hadîth, 6 articles are mentioned: (i) Allâh, (ii) His Angels, (iii) His Books (The Torah, The Gospel, The Qur’ân and all the other Holy Books revealed by Allâh), (iv) His Messengers, (v) Day of Resurrection and (vi) Al-Qadar (Divine Pre-ordainments), i.e. whatever Allâh has ordained, must come to pass.

**Again the principles of Islâm mentioned here are 4, but in other narrations, they are 5 - 5th is the pilgrimage (Haji ) to Makkah for the one who can afford it once in a lifetime

 Do they seek other than the religion of Allâh (the true Islâmic Monotheism - worshipping none but Allâh Alone), while to Him submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly. And to Him shall they all be returned

 Say (O Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "We believe in Allâh and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibrâhîm (Abraham), Ismâ‘îl (Ishmael), Ishâq (Isaac), Ya‘qûb (Jacob) and Al-Asbât [the offspring of the twelve sons of Ya‘qûb (Jacob)] and what was given to Mûsâ (Moses), ‘Îsâ (Jesus) and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to Him (Allâh) we have submitted (in Islâm)." Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "We believe in Allâh and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibrâhîm (Abraham), Ismâ‘îl (Ishmael), Ishâq (Isaac), Ya‘qûb (Jacob) and Al-Asbât [the offspring of the twelve sons of Ya‘qûb (Jacob)] and what was given to Mûsâ (Moses), ‘Îsâ (Jesus) and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to Him (Allâh) we have submitted (in Islâm)."

(The Holy Quran - Chapter: 3 (Al-imran), Verse: 83-84)