Who is a Muslim – A Brief Introduction and Guideline

A Muslim is someone who has professed belief in Islam, worships the One God, and reveres Prophet Muhammad as the last messenger of Allah. Muslims believe in the oneness of Allah, the prophets, the holy books, angels, the Day of Judgment, and fate. They follow the Five Pillars of Islam, which include the profession of faith, prayer, charity, pilgrimage, and fasting. Muslims can come from diverse backgrounds and regions worldwide, with over 1.9 billion adherents globally, living in various countries across continents. Its Estimates that almost more than 24.1% of the world’s population is Muslim, and there almost 56 Muslim countries where Muslims lives. 

Who are Muslims

Muslims believe in the unity and oneness of God, who is the creator and sustainer of the universe. They also believe in the prophets of God, including Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, and the holy books, such as the Torah, the Psalms, and the Gospel, which were revealed to these prophets. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last and final messenger of God, who brought the final and complete revelation in the form of the Quran. The Quran is the central religious text of Islam, which contains guidance and teachings for all aspects of life. Muslims believe that by following the teachings of the Quran and the example of the Prophet Muhammad, they can achieve spiritual growth, inner peace, and ultimately, salvation in the hereafter. They are a diverse community, with different ethnicities, cultures, languages, and schools of thought, but they are united by their belief in the oneness of God and the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad.

What is Islam and Relationship of a Muslim with Islam

Islam is a monotheistic religion founded by Prophet Muhammad in the early 7th century in Arabia. The Arabic word “Islam” means “surrender” or “submission” to the will of Allah, the one God, who is the creator and sustainer of the universe. Muslims believe in the unity and oneness of God and regard Prophet Muhammad as the last and most perfect of God’s messengers, who include Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. The sacred scripture of Islam is the Qur’an, which contains God’s revelations to Muhammad. The sayings and deeds of the Prophet, recounted in the Sunnah, are also an important source of belief and practice in Islam. The religious obligations of all Muslims are summed up in the Five Pillars of Islam, which include the profession of faith in God and his Prophet, prayer, charity, pilgrimage to Mecca. The fundamental concept of Islam is the sharia, its law, which embraces the total way of life commanded by God. 

Why Islam is Prominent as Compared with Other Religions

Islam is a prominent religion compared to others due to its unique approach to the concept of religion and its relationship with other faiths. Islam views itself as the final and most complete revelation of God’s message to humanity, building upon the teachings of previous prophets such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muslims are encouraged to engage in dialogue and discussion with non-Muslims, particularly those from the Abrahamic faiths, focusing on commonalities rather than differences. The Quran directs Muslims not to argue with the People of the Book but to find common ground and emphasize the shared belief in one God. Islam’s historical engagement with other religions has also played a role in its prominence. Over the centuries, Muslim rulers, scholars, and ordinary Muslims have held various attitudes towards other religions, ranging from tolerance and coexistence to intolerance and persecution.