ISLAM, THE WAY OF LIFE

by Steven Malik Shelton


Essentially, religion is a set of beliefs that regulate and give meaning to one's life. It is a set of ideals which answer the age old questions of the human soul, ''Why am I here, and what is the part I play in relation to my Creator and to His creation.''

Life is a very complicated and often mysterious journey. There are ,of course, numerous perils and pitfalls. There are also countless decisions and evaluations, which must be made constantly. When the correct decision is made, it not only benefits the individual but is also beneficial to the society as a whole. 

Likewise, if the wrong choice is made, there can be adverse consequences for not only those directly involved , but for the society in general. With this in mind, it is important that a religion or way of life provide for it's adherents a 
structure for felicity and a blue print for success. It must provide a ''Light'' which will allow the individual and consequently the society to share in the knowledge and the guidance which will equip them to make the right choice and to choose the correct path.

Of course, there are many who think that they can find the correct way on their own, without any help or direction from the Divine Source.  It is certain that the way of life that Allah formulated for his creation would remain intact, for as long as those ideals were vital and relevant. And it would stand to reason that any way of life which was not intended for human guidance and growth; would run it's course with no Divine protection and thus, either weaken, dissipate or die. In other words, any religion that Allah designed for His creation would remain vital and pure, without alteration or interpolation.  

Before the ascendancy of Islam, the theme that ran through much of the religious and philosophical ideas of human consciousness was one of fragmentation. In these other worldly mindsets, the universe is ruled by conflicting
mutually antagonistic forces. All natural phenomenon is given a particular deity or ''god'' which has power and authority over some realm or aspect of the creation. There is a ''god'' that controls the wind. There is another which 
has domain over the oceans and the seas. There are others that rule over a certain planet or star.

Islam takes the position that to worship anything or anyone other than one's Creator, is the gravest of sins. The Creator [Allah] fashioned the human being from the earth and breathed into him ''of his spirit''. Thus, making him the 
crown of creation.

It should be mentioned that Shaitan, the arch enemy of man, is ever diligent in his quest to seduce and delude the human being away from the worship of Allah. And it is every human beings struggle [jihad] to seek refuge with Allah
and to strive with might and main to worship Him and to give the glad tidings and to relate the merciful revelations of Al Quran.

Allah appeals to human intellect, when He reveals that if there were more than one Creator, the universe would be in total chaos. And He obliterates the falsehoods of ''other gods'' by revealing that He is One, Eternal Being. Who is completely Unique and Incomparable.

Islam provides the believer with true guidance and direction. It sustains him with patience, and fortifies him with perseverance. The Muslim is like a captain of a ship who embarks on a journey. He doesn't' just take off in any direction that suits his fancy; He has a definitive pathway which he is under the highest obligation to pursue. He also has a plan. He has charts and various kinds of  instruments to guide him on his voyage. He may hire a navigator to chart a course, or he may utilize other methods to guide him and direct him. Yet it all springs from the same source.