Islam: The Only True Religion and Complete Way of Life

Source: Sermons of Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Isḥāq Zāhid
Compiled by: Tawḥīd.com

Gratitude for the Blessing of Islam​

All praise is due to Allah Almighty, Who made us Muslims, granted us the ability to accept the true religion (Islam), and bestowed upon us the light of guidance. Islam is not merely a religious identity; rather, it is a complete code of life that provides clear guidance in matters of belief, worship, morals, and dealings.

In this article, it is clarified that the only true religion in the sight of Allah is Islam, that the religion of all Prophets was Islam, that after the advent of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ salvation lies only in the Sharīʿah of Muḥammad ﷺ, what the true meaning of Islam is, and what its major characteristics and fundamental teachings are—especially Tawḥīd, acts of worship, purification of hearts, mutual rights, justice, and the foundations of social peace.

The Only True Religion in the Sight of Allah Is Islam​

Allah Almighty says:

﴿اِنَّ الدِّیْنَ عِنْدَ اللّٰہِ الْاِسْلَام﴾

Reference: Āl ʿImrān: 19

Translation:
“Indeed, the (true) religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.”

Allah Almighty also declared Islam to be the chosen religion:

﴿اَلْیَوْمَ اَکْمَلْتُ لَکُمْ دِیْنَکُمْ وَ اَتْمَمْتُ عَلَیْکُمْ نِعْمَتِیْ وَ رَضِیْتُ لَکُمُ الْاِسْلَامَ دِیْنًا﴾

Reference: al-Mā’idah: 3

Translation:
“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion.”

Therefore, no religion other than Islam is acceptable to Allah:

﴿وَ مَنْ یَّبْتَغِ غَیْرَ الْاِسْلَامِ دِیْنًا فَلَنْ یُّقْبَلَ مِنْہُ وَ ھُوَ فِی الْاٰخِرَۃِ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِیْنَ﴾

Reference: Āl ʿImrān: 85

Translation:
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.”

Islam Is the Religion of All the Prophets (Peace Be Upon Them)​

From Ādam عليه السلام to Muḥammad ﷺ, all Prophets were sent with one religion—Islam.

Allah Almighty says:

﴿شَرَعَ لَکُمَ مِّنَ الدِّیْنِ مَا وَصّٰی بِہٖ نُوْحًا وَّالَّذِیْٓ اَوْحَیْنَا اِِلَیْکَ وَمَا وَصَّیْنَا بِہٖٓ اِِبْرٰہِیْمَ وَمُوْسٰی وَعِیْسٰٓی اَنْ اَقِیْمُوْا الدِّیْنَ وَلاَ تَتَفَرَّقُوْا فِیْہِ﴾

Reference: ash-Shūrā: 13

Translation:
“He has ordained for you the same religion which He enjoined upon Nūḥ, and which We have revealed to you, and which We enjoined upon Ibrāhīm, Mūsā, and ʿĪsā: that you establish the religion and do not divide therein.”

Regarding the religion of Ibrāhīm عليه السلام:

﴿وَ مَنْ یَّرْغَبُ عَنْ مِّلَّۃِ اِبْرٰھٖمَ اِلَّا مَنْ سَفِہَ نَفْسَہٗ … فَلَا تَمُوْتُنَّ اِلَّا وَ اَنْتُمْ مُّسْلِمُوْنَ﴾

Reference: al-Baqarah: 130–132

Translation:
“And who would turn away from the religion of Ibrāhīm except one who has made a fool of himself? … (Ibrāhīm and Yaʿqūb said): O my sons! Allah has chosen this religion for you, so do not die except as Muslims.”

About Nūḥ عليه السلام:

﴿وَ اُمْرِتُ اَنْ اَکُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِیْنَ﴾

Reference: Yūnus: 72

Translation:
“And I have been commanded to be among the Muslims.”

About Mūsā عليه السلام:

﴿وَ قَالَ مُوْسٰی یٰقَوْمِ اِنْ کُنْتُمْ اٰمَنْتُمْ بِاللّٰہِ فَعَلَیْہِ تَوَکَّلُوْٓا اِنْ کُنْتُمْ مُّسْلِمِیْنَ﴾

Reference: Yūnus: 84

Translation:
“Mūsā said: O my people! If you truly believe in Allah, then place your trust in Him, if you are Muslims.”

The statement of Bilqīs:

﴿قَالَتْ رَبِّ اِِنِّیْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِیْ وَاَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَیْمٰنَ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَ﴾

Reference: an-Naml: 44

Translation:
“She said: My Lord! I have wronged myself, and I now submit with Sulaymān to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

اَلْأَنْبِيَاءُ إِخْوَةٌ لِعَلَّاتٍ، أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ شَتَّى وَدِينُهُمْ وَاحِدٌ

Reference: al-Bukhārī: 3443; Muslim: 2365

Translation:
“The Prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers were different, but their religion was one.”

Here, religion refers to those fundamental principles that never changed: Tawḥīd, prohibition of shirk, belief in the Hereafter, accountability, and the prohibition of murder, theft, and immorality. Some subsidiary rulings differed temporarily according to circumstances.

Faith in the Qur’an and Its Preservation​

One of the core teachings of Islam is belief in the Qur’an as the final revealed Book of Allah—reciting it, reflecting upon it, understanding it, and making it a complete way of life. A unique distinction of Islam is that its primary source, the Qur’an, is protected from all forms of alteration. Allah Himself has taken responsibility for its preservation, and as long as the Qur’an remains preserved, Islam will remain preserved.

The World Is Temporary, the Hereafter Is Certain​

Islam teaches that worldly life is temporary. Death is inevitable, followed by either comfort or punishment in the grave, and then presentation before Allah on the Day of Judgment. Islam prevents immersion in worldly attractions and urges preparation for the Hereafter so that the believer never forgets the true destination.

Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar): Source of Inner Peace​

Islam teaches belief in destiny—good and bad alike:

❀ Whatever Allah wills happens, and whatever He does not will does not happen.
❀ Whatever has occurred, whatever will occur, and whatever did not occur—had it occurred how it would have occurred—all is within Allah’s knowledge.
❀ Allah is All-Powerful; He guides whom He wills and misguides whom He wills.
❀ Everything occurs according to Allah’s will.

Contentment with destiny frees a person from anxiety, confusion, and restlessness. One neither collapses over loss nor fears the future, but lives with peace and serenity.

Whoever knows that life span is fixed and provision is predetermined understands:

❀ Cowardice does not increase lifespan
❀ Miserliness does not increase sustenance
❀ Everything is already written

Thus, a Muslim should not panic over destiny but remain patient and confident that what is written will reach him, and what is not written will never reach him.

The Five Pillars of Islam​

① Testimony of Faith​

To bear witness from the depths of the heart that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and that Muḥammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.

② Five Daily Prayers​

To establish the five obligatory prayers regularly. Prayer is the pillar of religion and obligatory upon every accountable person.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

أَوَّلُ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الصَّلَاةُ…

Reference: al-Ṭabarānī; al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah: 1358

Translation:
“The first thing a servant will be taken to account for on the Day of Judgment is prayer…”

Allah commands:

﴿وَأمُرْ أَہْلَکَ بِالصَّلاَۃِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَیْہَا﴾

Reference: Ṭā Hā: 132

Children are also to be trained in prayer:

Reference: Aḥmad; Abū Dāwūd; Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ: 5868

③ Zakāh​

The wealthy give a fixed portion of their wealth to the needy. Zakāh prevents concentration of wealth and establishes social balance.

④ Fasting of Ramaḍān​

Fasting nurtures taqwā, restrains sins, grants forgiveness, brings closeness to Allah, and offers physical benefits.

⑤ Ḥajj​

Once in a lifetime for those able. It reminds of the Hereafter, expiates sins, demonstrates unity of the Ummah, and strengthens brotherhood.

Moral and Social Teachings of Islam​

Purification of the Heart​

The Prophet ﷺ said:

أَلَا وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً… أَلَا وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ

Reference: al-Bukhārī: 52; Muslim: 1599

Freedom from Envy and Hatred​

Reference: Muslim: 2563

Brotherhood and Sanctity of Muslims​

Reference: al-Bukhārī: 2442; Muslim: 2580

Reference: Muslim: 2564

Cooperation in Righteousness​

Reference: al-Mā’idah: 2

Unity and Avoidance of Sectarianism​

Reference: al-Mu’minūn: 52

Reference: Āl ʿImrān: 103

Rights of People, Justice, and Lawful Earning​

Reference: al-Nisā’: 135

Reference: al-Mulk: 15

Reference: al-Bukhārī: 2072

Moderation in Spending​

Reference: al-Furqān: 67

Trust, Governance, and Social Order​

Reference: al-Nisā’: 58

Conclusion​

Every Muslim must accept Islam completely, adhere to all its teachings, avoid innovations and desires, and remain steadfast upon Islam until death.

﴿یٰٓاَیُّھَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا ادْخُلُوْا فِی السِّلْمِ کَآفَّۃً﴾

Reference: al-Baqarah: 208

Translation:
“O believers! Enter into Islam completely.”

May Allah make us true Muslims and grant us death upon faith. Āmīn.