WELCOME
SALAMUN ALAYKUM - May peace be upon you!

At this site it is our objective to present the religion of Islam in a way that is stimulating and thought provoking, in a manner that encourages learning and in a format that fosters constructive discussion.

In line with the other Abrahamic faiths, namely, Judaism and Christianity, Islam has linked entire humanity to the unique and single Divine Authority through the affirmation of one God. Islam leads humanity to the essential knowledge, which integrates our existence by making us aware what we are and what we need to be. The acceptance of the Divine authority brings up the commitment of living according to the Divine Will. The root "salama" in Arabic, from which Islam is derived, has two meanings: one, ãpeaceä with a sense of security, and the other, ãsubmissionä to peace generating authority.

One who submits to the Divine Will - ãa Muslimä- gains peace and security in this world and the next. The core message of Islam is that through the use of reason, which discerns between right and wrong, and between absolute and relative, one should accept to do good and to submit to the Will of the Absolute Divine Being. This Divine Will was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) in the form of the revelation of the ãQurâanä, the Holy Book for the Muslims. This is the external expression of Godâs Will. Godâs Will also seeks expression internally in human creation, the vessel for Divine Nature ö ãfitrat Allah.ä This nature is the source for the guidance that all humans need as humans. Through constant performance of good and pursuing the right human mind is enabled to discover the laws of nature that guarantee the prosperity of all those who heed to the call of the Divine Nature in them.

Islam, then, is a universal message that includes humankind and the Universe about him. Its essential meanings and guidance need to be discovered in three areas:

á By practicing what God wants us to do (this is the meaning of the word 'ISLAMâ);
á By understanding the true nature of things (this is the meaning of the word `IMANâ); and,
á By transforming ourselves so that we can live in harmony and love with all other beings (this is the meaning of the word `IHSANâ).

In this way, Islam corresponds to the three dimensions of human activity in this world:

á To practice (Body);
á To understand (Mind); and,
á To transform oneself through perfection (Heart).

Essentially, the Quranic revelations to the Prophet Muhammad nearly fourteen hundred years ago are founded upon the principle of the Unity of God -tawhid, the sole Creator of the entire universe and the source of human unity as Godâs creatures. Every aspect of Islam revolves around the doctrine of Divine Unity, implanting in humanity the ability to realize its inner and outward life in such a way that every action should manifest sincerity, love, virtue and perfection.

The impact of Islam goes beyond the individual as it seeks the establishment of the Community öUmma - of the believers, expressing the moral and spiritual quality of its faith through a variety of religious as well as governmental organizations. Believers are assured through the revelations:

ãYou have become the best Community ever raised up for mankind enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong and having faith in Godä (Qurâan, Chapter ö Sura - III, verse 110).

There is, therefore, a system that governs the actions a human being performs in his/her journey through life. This is a divinely ordained system against which human actions cannot rebel. In reality, these acts all originate from a distinct source. That source leads human's desire to posses a felicitous life, a life in which she can reach to the greatest extent possible the object of her life, and prosperity. The Islamic system ö ãahkamä - is derived from the Qurâan and the "sunna" - the exemplary conduct of the Prophet Muhammad. In addition to these two main sources for ideal Muslim life, the third principle is ãijma" - consensus of the learned of the time, and the fourth is human reason -"al-`aql". There is a correlation between the divine command and the judgment of reason in order to arrive at a given decision that is compatible with the universal principles laid down in the Quran and the Sunna.

Thank you for coming on our site. Please browse through other sections of this site and if you have any suggestions or questions, post them on our Bulletin Board.

May your visit be a life-changing experience in the path that searches for the True and Sacred guidance.

www.shiamasjid.com/quran.htm