Although the true place for the elaboration of the doctrinal frame-work brought by the Holy Prophetsa shall come ahead, at this point, it seems necessary to include a brief outline of Islām, so that our readers may become aware of the mission of the Holy Prophetsa and its principle injunctions. Thus, it should be known that the name of the religion presented by the Holy Prophetsa is ‘Islām’, which means complete submission to God, and this is the true essence of the teachings brought by the Holy Prophetsa. The first and foremost principle of the religion is the unity of God, the Exalted. In other words, the Creator and Lord of this world is one God, who in His being and attributes is alone and un-associated. He has existed from time immemorial and shall remain forever. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all that is in the earth and in the heaven. For this reason, none save Him, is worthy of worship and all deities fashioned by people, aside God, are fictitious and vain. This is the first and most important principle which the Holy Prophetsa presented before the people of Makkah. The second principle presented by the Holy Prophetsa was that Allāh the Exalted created this world for a particular purpose and that people should recognize Him and then adorn themselves with His attributes, thus creating a life of eternal advancement. For this purpose, He has divided human life into two parts. One is the life of this world, which is the Dārul-‘Amal1 and the other is the life of the hereafter, which is the Dārul-Jazā’,2 and death is the separating boundary between these two lives. The third principle which the Holy Prophetsa presented was that Allāh the Exalted raises messengers and prophets for the guidance of this world, who acquire divine knowledge from God and thus administer the guidance of man. Such prophets have passed in every nation, country, and era, and among them, the Holy Prophetsa is but one messenger of God. These are the three fundamental laws which were the basis of the initial mission of the Holy Prophetsa. However, as time passed on, various other principles followed by their derivative institutions of law and detailed elaboration continued to be revealed, until the teachings brought by the Holy Prophetsa attained perfection in the form of the Holy Qur’ān. The Holy Prophetsa was the chief of the peoples of ancient and modern times; the seal of the prophets and was the one to bring the last and perfect law.
1 The World of Deeds (Publishers)
2 The World of Recompense (Publishers)