describing the Deen of islam

Islam is a revival of the weak tradition of monotheism of the known Abrahamic religions.

It is the submission of one's body(tangible being), soul(spirit, ruh), mind(intelligence with which we are free to make choices, decisions), and heart, thus the whole self to Allah (the Lord).

The Deen(religion- way of life) of Islam is analysed along 3 (interlinking) dimensions -islam, imaan, ihsaan.

'Islam' lierally means
 submission or surrender -submitting or surrending one's will to Allah manifested in one's obedience to His commands (includes acts of obligatory worship, laws related to marriage, divorce, finance..) that regulates one's life.

The second dimension 'Imaan' is loosely translated as belief or faith. It includes the intangible, unquantifiable ..for instance-intention, sincerity, belief.

[ "Narrated Umar(ra)- One day when we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (May the blessings and the peace of Allah be upon him ), there came to us a man whose clothes were of exceeding whiteness and whose hair was of exceeding blackness. There were no signs of travel upon him although none of us knew him.

He sat down knee to knee opposite the Prophet (upon him blessing and peace), upon whose thighs he placed the palms of his hands saying, “O Muhammad, tell me what is Iman?"

The Prophet(saws) replied: "Iman is to believe in Allah, the Day of Judgment, His (Allah's) Angels, Books and Prophets and to believe in life after death; and to believe in Paradise and the Hell Fire, and the setting up of the Mizan (scales) to weigh the deeds; and to believe in the Divine Decree, the good and the bad of it (all).

He then asked him: "If I do all this will I be with Iman?" The Prophet said: "When you have done all of this, you will be having Iman ........Then the stranger went away, and I stayed a while after he had gone;

The Prophet (salallaahu alaihi wasallam) said to me, “O Umar, do you know the questioner, who he was?” I said, “Allah and His Messenger (upon him blessing and peace)know best.” He (upon him blessing and peace) said, “It was Jibril (Gabriel). He came to teach you your (Deen)religion.”

-this is part of the Hadith of Angel Jirbil(Gabriel) from Sahih Bukhari ]

The branch of 'Ihsaan' (arabic term for perfection or excellence) constitutes the highest form of worship (ibadat). It is one's inner faith(Imaan) reflected in one's behaviour, deed, actions, interactions -thus forming a sense of social responisibilty borne from religious convictions.

[The Hadith of Angel Gabriel from the Sahih Bukhari and Muslim, " Muhammad(sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) states, "[Ihsan is] to worship the Lord as though you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then indeed He sees you."]

Islam, Imaan, and Ihsaan hence clarifies WHAT one should do, HOW one should do, and WHY one should do.

Who do the followers of islam worship? The answer lies in 2 verses of the Qur'aan.

In The Name Of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful

"Say: He, Allah, is One.

 Allah is He on Whom all depend.

 He begets not, nor is He begotten.

 And none is like Him." [chapter 112]

"Allah! There is no god but He - the Living, The Self-subsisting, Eternal.

 No slumber can seize Him Nor Sleep.

His are all things In the heavens and on earth.

Who is there can intercede In His presence except as He permitteth?

He knoweth What (appeareth to His creatures As) Before or After or Behind them.

 Nor shall they compass Aught of his knowledge Except as He willeth.

His throne doth extend Over the heavens And on earth, and He feeleth No fatigue in guarding And preserving them, for He is the Most High.

The Supreme (in glory)." [chapter 2: verse 255]