Introduction to Islam - CSS Level Complete Notes

Compiled from Pages 3-7 | Covers EVERY Point | To-the-Point & Concise

1. INTRODUCTION: MEANING & ESSENCE OF ISLAM

• Literal Root: Islam from SLM (■■■) = Submission + Peace.

Vertical Level (God-to-man): Submission to moral imperatives of One and only God.

Horizontal Level (man-to-man): Peace with His creatures.

Purest Sense: Devoutly loving God + being just & benevolent to His creatures = guarantor of
peace & harmony.
• Allah is Al-Salam: One of 99 Most Beautiful Names. Source & originator of all peace that must
permeate cosmos & human society.
• Prophet's Dua after obligatory prayers: 'O Allah, You are Peace and from You emanates all peace,
blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honour.' Sunnah for every Muslim.
• Quran's Opening: 'Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem' - emblem of love, mercy, compassion. Repeated
114 times in Quran = significance of mercy.

Prophet (PBUH) in Quran: 'Mercy for all creation' (Rehmat-ul-lil-Alameen).

Paradise = Abode of Peace.

Quranic Terminologies for Islam:

• - Subul al-Salam = 'paths of peace' (Al-Maidah 5:16)
• - Sulh = reconciliation, banner raised (An-Nisa 4:128)
• - Fitnah = disturbance of peace, God abhors (Al-Baqarah 2:205)
• - Dar al-Salam = abode of peace, ideal society (Yunus 10:25)

War in Islam: Geared to actualization of peace & justice, not aggression. Peace = rule, war =
exception.
• Hadith on Gentleness: 'Allah grants through rifq (gentleness) what He does not grant by means of unf
(violence).' => Aggressive violent wars not liked by God.
• Punishments in Islam: Equitable, corrective, reformative. Manifest God's love for victims (ensures
justice). Also deterrent for peace & security of all.
• Principle of Forgiveness: In most cases, sincere apology + earnest plea for forgiveness + solemn
penitence can absolve perpetrator.
• Articles of Faith (Starting Points): 1) Absolute Unity of God (Tawhid) 2) Messengers 3) Angels 4)
Revealed Books 5) Last Day 6) Predestination of Good & Evil (Qadr).
• Action in Islam = Worship + Obeying human conduct rules as laid by Islam + Leading life per
prescribed principles.
• Islamic Devotional System: Daily prayers (Salat), Alms giving (Zakat), Fasting Ramadan (Siyam),
Pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj).
• - Purpose: Vivifies devotion to God + cultivates self-discipline, self-sacrifice, kindness, benevolence,
self-accountability.
• - In short: Devotional acts + punitive laws = comprehensive scheme of social rehabilitation, reformation,
promotion of peaceful & harmonious coexistence. Extension & manifestation of God's love, mercy &
justice.
2. LITERAL MEANINGS OF ISLAM (ROOT SLM - ■■■)
i. Linguistic Root: SLM means 'to surrender', 'to submit', 'to yield', 'to give one's self up'.
• - Aslama Amrahu lillah = he committed his cause to God / he resigned himself.
• - Aslama alone = he committed himself to the will of God / became a Muslim.
• - Other shades: 'to become reconciled with one another' or 'to make peace'.
• - Salm = peace. Silm = also 'the religion of Islam'.

ii. Imam Raghib al-Isfahani (d.1108) - al-Mufradat fi Gharaib al-Quran:

• - Islam in law is of two kinds: 1) Simple confession with the tongue 2) Belief in heart + fulfillment in
practice + resignation to whatever God brings to pass or decrees.
• - Further: 'Islam means entering into salam, and salam and silm both signify peace.'

iii. Syed Ameer Ali (1849-1928) - 'The Spirit of Islam':

• - Primary sense of Salam (Salaam): To be tranquil, at rest, to have done one's duty, to have paid up, to
be at perfect peace.
• - Secondary sense: To surrender oneself to Him with whom peace is made.
• - Derived noun: Greeting, peace, safety, salvation.
• - Important clarification: Word does NOT imply as commonly supposed, absolute submission to God's
will, but means, on the contrary, striving after righteousness.

3. CONVENTIONAL MEANING OF ISLAM

• As a religion: Complete submission and obedience to Allah — hence the name Islam.
• Other literal meaning 'peace' signifies: One can achieve real peace of body & mind only through
submission & obedience to Allah.
• Result of obedient way of life: Mental peace, stability in individual life, harmony in society, real peace in
worldwide human community at large.
• Message preached by ALL Prophets of God, who guided mankind to the right path.
• But man veered away time & again, lost & distorted the code of guidance bequeathed by prophets.
• This necessitated sending of other prophets for restating original message & steering man back to right
path.
• Last of these apostles: Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) presented God's guidance in its final shape for all
times & climes.
• This guidance is called Islam whose principles & injunctions are laid down in Qur'an and whose
practices are preserved in life-example of Prophet (PBUH) called Sunnah.

4. CONCEPT OF ISLAM (6 Dimensions)

• i. Comprehensive Submission: Islam requires obedience not only in belief & mode of worship but also
in ethics, morality, politics, culture, social behaviour, laws, economics, national & international affairs both
individual & collective spheres.
• - Safeguard of peace & harmony. Enables man to make peace with himself & fellow being and with
human community & Allah.
• - Does NOT take away individual freedom. Frees mind from superstitions & fills it with truth &
metaphysical reality.
• ii. Universe as Trust & Test: Whole universe created by Allah. Man created for fixed period on earth as
trust & test. Allah prescribed divine code & granted freedom to follow or not. Ref: Surah Al-Kahf 18:29:
'Faman shaa falyumin wa man shaa falyakfur' - 'Whosoever wants, he should believe; and whosoever
wants, he should disbelieve'. Those who follow in toto = Muslims (believers), those who decline = kuffar
 (disbelievers).
• iii. Guidance for Mankind: Islam revealed for guidance. For proper development, man needs: (a)
Resources to maintain life & fulfill material needs of individual & society, (b) Knowledge of principles of
individual & social behavior to fulfill himself & maintain justice & tranquility.
• - Lord of universe provided both in full measure: All nature's resources at his disposal for material
needs. For spiritual/social/cultural needs, raised His prophets from among men & revealed code of life to
guide to right path. This code = Islam, religion preached by all prophets.
• iv. Total Implementation - Sovereignty of Allah: Not enough to practice in personal life only. Quran &
Sunnah must be implemented in totality in social, economic, political fields. Implies establishment of
sovereignty of Allah in 'sacred' as well as 'mundane' domains, removal of dichotomy between collective
life & state authority on one hand and Divine guidance on other.
• - Underlying & pervasive idea, integral to Islamic evolutionary thought: Struggle to establish unqualified
& unconditional ascendancy of Holy Qur'an & Sunnah of Prophet (PBUH) is obligatory upon all members
of Muslim Ummah.
• v. Fiqh-i Akbar II (2nd-century AH, Hanafite theology): Islam = total surrender (taslim) and total
obedience (inqiyad) to divine laws.
• vi. Syed Ameer Ali's Summary - Essence in Quran Al-Baqarah 2:2-5: 'This is the Book, there is no
doubt in it—a guidance to the pious, who believe in the Unseen, who observe prayers, and distribute
(charity) out of what We have bestowed on them and who believe in that which We have commissioned
thee with, and in that We commissioned others with before thee, and who have assurance in the life to
come;—these have received the direction of their Lord.'

5. PRINCIPAL BASES OF ISLAMIC SYSTEM

• a. Belief in the unity, immateriality, power, mercy, and supreme love of the Creator;
• b. Charity and brotherhood among mankind;
• c. Subjugation of the passions;
• d. Outpouring of a grateful heart to the Giver of all good; and
• e. Accountability for human actions in another existence.
• Entry into Islam: By testifying Unity of God and Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). Both
epitomized in Kalimah: La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad Rasul Allah (There is no god except Allah;
Muhammad (PBUH) is His Prophet).

6. EXPOSITION OF RELIGION OF ISLAM - Ahmad A. Galwash (The Religion of

Islam)
• Word Islam literally 'resignation' (to God's will) is comprehensive name for religion of followers of
Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Embodies various sections of law of Mohammad (PBUH) which God
established for guidance of His people, both for worship of their Lord and for duties of life.

Five Sections:
• i. Beliefs (Aqaid - ■■■■■■■■)
• ii. Practical Devotions (Ibadat - ■■■■■■)
• iii. Transactions (Muamlat - ■■■■■■■)
• iv. Moralities (Akhlaqiyat - ■■■■■■■■)
• v. Punishments (Uqubat - ■■■■■■)

7. DETAILS OF FIVE SECTIONS

a. Beliefs: Five Articles of Faith
 • i. Belief in Oneness of God (Tawhid)
• ii. Belief in Prophets and guidance they bequeathed
• iii. Belief in Angels
• iv. Belief in Books
• v. Belief in Day of Judgment

b. Devotions / Worships: Five Articles of Practice

• i. Recital of the Creed (Kalimah)
• ii. Prayer to God (Salat)
• iii. Paying legal alms (Zakat)
• iv. Fasting in month of Ramadan (Siyam)
• v. Pilgrimage (Hajj) once in a life time, if means allow
• -> Also embrace legal warfare (Jihad) for defense of Islam.
• c. Transactions (Muamlat): Such duties as required between man and man and may be divided into
three sub-divisions, namely: Contests, Nuptials, and Merchandise. Almost all various sections of civil
jurisprudence relating to barter, sale, agency, larceny, marriage, divorce, dower, partnership, claims etc.
are covered under those three heads.
• d. Moralities (Akhlaqiyat): Consideration of all those moral excellences enjoined in Quran and
teachings of Prophet (PBUH), such as: sincerity, confidence in God, humility, resignation, keeping worldly
ambitions within bounds, giving good counsel and advice, contentment, liberality, love to God within
bounds, patience, ethical instructions and rules of conduct relating to everyday life transactions and
matters.

e. Punishments (Uqubat): Penalties exacted for:

• i. Manslaughter or serious bodily injuries
• ii. Theft by loss of a hand
• iii. Fornication and adultery, stoning for married person and 100 lashes for unmarried person
• iv. Slander by 80 lashes
• v. Inebriation by 80 lashes

8. CRITICAL ASSESSMENT (For CSS Analytical Portion)

• Professor H. A. R. Gibb (1895-1971) on Islam as a Deen: 'Within the Western world Islam still
maintains the balance between exaggerated opposites (body and spirit). Opposed equally to the anarchy
of European nationalism and the regimentation of Russian communism, it has not yet succumbed to that
obsession with the economic side of life which is characteristic of present-day Europe and present-day
Russia alike.'
• George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) in 1936 opus 'The Genuine Islam': 'I have always held the
religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which
appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phases of existence which can make
itself appeal to every age. I have studied him—the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an
Antichrist, he must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the
dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it
much needed peace and happiness. I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be
acceptable to the Europe of today... acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be
acceptable to the Europe of today.'
9. VOCABULARY TABLE - Difficult & New Words with Urdu Meanings

Word English Meaning Urdu Meaning

Imperatives Commands / Orders ■■■■■■■ / ■■■■■ ■■■

Benevolent Well-wishing, kind ■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■■■■

Permeate Spread throughout ■■■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■

Emanates Originates, flows out ■■■■■■ ■■■■■■

Emblem Symbol, sign ■■■■■■ ■■■■■

Guarantor One who guarantees ■■■■

Abode Home, dwelling ■■■■■ ■■■■■■

Abhors Hates strongly ■■■■ ■■■■

Actualization Making real ■■■■ ■■■■■

Succinctly Briefly, concisely ■■■■■■ ■■

Rifq / Unf Gentleness / Violence ■■■■ / ■■■■

Equitable Fair, just ■■■■■■■

Solemn Serious, sincere ■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■

Penitence Repentance ■■■■■ ■■■■■

Absolve Forgive, free from guilt ■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■

Vivifies Gives life, energizes ■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■ ■■

Reconciliation (Sulh) Restoring peace ■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■

Fitnah Mischief, disorder ■■■■■ ■■■■

Veered away Turned away ■■■■ ■■■

Bequeathed Handed down, left behind ■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■

Climes Regions, climates ■■■■ ■■■■■

Pervasive Spread everywhere ■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■

Dichotomy Division into two ■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■

Ascendancy Supremacy, domination ■■■■■■■■

Inqiyad / Taslim Obedience / Surrender ■■■■■ / ■■■■■

Epitomized Perfect example of ■■■■■■ ■■■■

Resignation Submission ■■■■■■■ ■■■■■ ■ ■■■

Subjugation Controlling, bringing under ■■■■■ ■■■■

Nuptials Marriage ■■■■■ ■■■■

Larceny Theft ■■■■

Dower Mahr ■■ ■■■

Liberality Generosity ■■■■■

Contentment Satisfaction ■■■■■

Slander False accusation ■■■■■■ ■■■■

Inebriation Drunkenness ■■■■ ■■■■■■

Exaggerated Overstated ■■■■■■ ■■■■

Anarchy Lawlessness ■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■

Regimentation Strict control ■■■ ■■■ ■ ■■■

 Assimilation Absorbing, adopting ■■■■■■■ ■■ ■■■■■

Vitality Energy, life ■■■■■■■■ ■■■

CSS Exam Tips: Memorize Quranic refs: 5:16, 4:128, 2:205, 10:25, 18:29, 2:2-5. Memorize Scholars: Imam
Raghib d.1108, Syed Ameer Ali 1849-1928, Gibb 1895-1971, Bernard Shaw 1856-1950. Use Kalimah + 5
Pillars + 6 Articles structure in answers. End answer with Gibb/Shaw quote for extra marks.