What is Islam (Introduction)

Islam is a faith based on commitment to God’s will, a faith of submission to Allah, the Supreme Truth, the Source of all creation, and to Whom everything returns, for God is the Source, Creator, Ruler, Bearer, and Rescuer of the Universe. Islam is also the path to peace (salam) through the very act of dedication to God. Islam is nothing but life in accordance with God’s will, to gain peace and harmony in this world and the hereafter. For Muslims, faith is not just a part of life, but rather life in its entirety and completeness. It encompasses all we do, think, and feel, as well as answers the questions of our origin and destiny. It includes all aspects of life without excluding anything from its scope. In the traditional Islamic perspective, nothing is in the sphere of secularism; nothing is outside the realm of God’s command.

At the same time, Islam strongly emphasizes an eternal truth, present since the beginning of time: the unity of God (Tawhid). According to the Holy Qur’an, humans bore witness to God’s unity and absolute power even before the creation of the material world. Before God created the material world, He created human souls and asked them, “Am I not your Lord?” To which they replied, “We bear witness.” This is the central truth of Islam expressed in the Islamic testimony of faith (shahada). This concept is so fundamental to Islam that it is said that God forgives all sins except associating partners with Him (shirk) and rejecting Him (kufr).

This act of witnessing that occurred in God’s creation of human souls is a kind of contract between God and man (mīthāq). God has given humankind many gifts and honors, and the greatest is that humans are God’s representatives on earth. As such, they are committed to the acknowledgment of God as the Supreme Lord and to eternally expressing gratitude for His gifts and honors. However, due to human nature, which is prone to forgetfulness (as the Arabic word for human, “insan,” is derived from the verb “to forget”), God, in His mercy, continually reminds humanity of this agreement through His prophets and revelations. This divine reminder began with the first human and first of God’s messengers, Adam (peace be upon him), and ended with the final Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him). All the prophets of God and all those who faithfully followed them were actually Muslims. Islam views divine revelation as a continuous message throughout human history.

In this sense, Islam did not introduce anything fundamentally new but rather reaffirmed the eternal truth of Tawhid that has always existed. It is the universal and primordial faith. It is a return to the fundamental and original agreement between God and humankind.

From another point of view, Islam is the last revealed religion. The Prophet of Islam is the Seal of the Prophets (Khatm al-Anbiya). The last fourteen centuries—also the fourteen centuries of Islam—stand as proof of this.
Since the passing of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), no new and completely original religious revelation has emerged, nor has anything comparable to the religions that preceded Islam, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism.

By affirming the purest and most complete doctrine of monotheism and applying it to all aspects of human life, Islam represents the highest and most perfected level of monotheism. Thus, in the last verse revealed, which the Prophet specifically emphasized in his Farewell Sermon, Allah states:

“This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion…” (Qur’an 5:3).

Hence, Islam is both the primordial faith that has always existed—innate in all creation and based on God’s oneness—and the final revelation, the last link in the chain of divine messengers, all of whom called to belief in one God. This view of Islam is essential for understanding its history and development, as it differs from other religions, which are often based on a specific founder, people, historical event, or national identity.

From an Islamic perspective, religion is embedded in human nature itself. It is not something accidental or optional, nor merely a source of spiritual comfort, but rather the very essence of human existence. Faith elevates human life with dignity, enabling individuals to live in harmony with the reality and nature that God has given them. It is faith alone that gives ultimate meaning to human life.

Islam teaches that faith is necessary for human existence. Without it, a person lives below their true dignity, experiencing only a fraction of their full potential. Only through sincere belief and acceptance of the original covenant between God and humankind can a person remain true to both themselves and their Creator.

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE ISLAMIC FAITH – IMAN, ISLAM, AND IHSAN

IMAN – BELIEF

Iman (إِيمَان ʾīmān, lit. faith or belief) in Islamic theology refers to a believer’s faith in the metaphysical aspects of Islam. Its simplest definition is belief in the six articles of faith, known as arkān al-īmān:

Belief in the existence and oneness of God (Allah).
Belief in the existence of angels.
Belief in the divine scriptures revealed by God: the Quran (the final revelation), the Gospel revealed to Jesus, and the Torah revealed to Moses.
Belief in the prophets, with Muhammad as the final messenger, Jesus as the penultimate, and Moses preceding them.
Belief in the Day of Judgment, when all humanity will be divided into those destined for paradise and those for hell, with subgroups among them.
Belief in divine predestination (qadar), whether it involves good or bad.

ISLAM – SUBMISSION TO GOD

The Five Pillars of Islam (arkān al-Islām أركان الإسلام; also arkān al-dīn أركان الدين, “pillars of the religion”) are five fundamental acts considered obligatory for all Muslims and form the foundation of Islamic life. They are outlined in the famous Hadith of Jibril:

Shahada – Declaration of Faith: Testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger.
Salah – Prayer: Performing the five daily prayers.
Sawm – Fasting: Observing the obligatory fast during the month of Ramadan.
Zakat – Charity: Giving a portion of wealth to those in need, as an obligation.
Hajj – Pilgrimage: Performing the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime, if able.

IHSAN – EXCELLENCE IN FAITH

Ihsan signifies the highest level of faith, where a person worships Allah as if they see Him, fully aware that He always sees them. It represents moral excellence, spiritual beauty, and sincerity in all actions. This concept is deeply connected to noble character and daily interactions, emphasizing ethics and virtue.

ZAKAT

The word “zakat” derives from the Arabic root meaning purification, growth, and righteousness. As one of the five pillars of Islam, zakat is a fundamental obligation that distinguishes Muslims and purifies their wealth.

Neglecting zakat is a grave sin, bringing consequences in both this world and the hereafter, and distancing a person from Allah’s mercy.

Obligatory Conditions for Giving Zakat:

Being a Muslim.
Full ownership of eligible assets.
Possession of the minimum threshold (nisab).
Sound mind and freedom.

How to calculate the zakat amount?

Calculation of zakat is carried out according to precisely defined rules, prescribed separately for each of the several types of possessions subject to the provision of zakat. You can calculate the zekat in one of several ways:

By using a simple Zakat calculator web app (in Bosnian language);
Applying the specific rules for zakat calculation.

For more information, please visit the official website at www.zekat.ba.