What is Islam?

The Arabic word "Islam" means the submission or surrender of one's will to the only true god worthy of worship "Allah" and anyone who does so is termed a "Muslim", The word also implies "peace" which is the natural consequence of total submission to the will of Allah. Hence, it was not a new religion brought by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Arabia in the seventh century, but only the true religion of Allah re-expressed in its final form.

Islam is the religion which was given to Adam, the first man and the first prophet of Allah, and it was the religion of all the prophets sent by Allah to mankind. The name of God's religion Islam was not decided upon by later generations of man. It was chosen by Allah Himself and clearly mentioned in His final revelation to man. In the final book of divine revelation, the Quran, Allah states the following:

"This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion" (Soorat Al-Maa'idah 5:3)

"If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah (God) never will It be accepted of Him" (Soorat Aal'imraan 3:85)

"Abraham was not a Jew nor Christian; but an upright Muslim" (Soorat Aal'imraan 3:67)

Since the total submission of one's will to Allah represents the essence of worship, the basic message of Allah's divine religion, Islam is the worship of Allah alone and the avoidance of worship directed to any person, place or thing other than Allah. Since everything other than Allah, the Creator of all things, is Allah's creation; it may be said that Islam, in essence calls man away from the worship of creation and invites him to worship only its Creator. He is the only one deserving man's worship as it is only by His will that prayers are answered.

Tell me more about Islam

Discoverislam.com (Very nice introductory posters to Islam)

Islam-guide.com (Lots of introductory material to Islam including the wonderful "Brief Illustrated Guide to Islam"

Islamworld.net (An introduction to Islam for Muslims and non Muslims)

Al-Islam.org (About the belief of Muslims and their practices)

Islamic Affairs Department in The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia

Muslim Student Association at UBC [MSA-UBC]

Muslim Student Association at SFU [MSA-SFU]

The BC Muslim Association in Vancouver (Richmond)

The BC Muslim School (Richmond)

IQRA Islamic School (Surrey)

Islamic Society of British Columbia [TriCity] (Port Coquitlam)

Dar Al-Madinah Islamic Society (Vancouver)

Islamic Information Centre [IIC] (Burnaby)

Quran, Hadeeth and lectures in Islam

Islamweb.net

Al-islam.com (Lots of audio and video about Islam, Quran, and Hadeeth)

Islamway.com (Another site with Islamic multimedia)

Forislam.com (Islamic resources website)

Amr Khaled (A young caller for Allah)

Deen.com (Quran and Tajweed)

Ibn-Baz Foundation (excellent movies True Islam)

Fatwa and Islamic organizations

Al-Qaradawi (Shiekh Qaradawi's website. Want a fatwa?)

Al-Azhar (The Islamic organizations in Egypt. Another good place for fatwa!)

Islamic University in Madinah

Ibn-Baz (Sheikh Ibn-Baz website)

Ibn-Othaimeen (Sheikh Ibn-Othaimeen)

Islam in the media

Islamonline.net (News of Islam on the net)

Al-jazeera TV (Online TV broadcast and news website that is not biased against Muslims)

Others (still Islamic)

About Hajj (Pilgrimage) (All the information you need about this journey of faith for Muslims)

Raddadi.com (Guide to Islamic and Arabic sites)

Ajeeb.com (Arabic to English translation, games, email, ...etc.)

"A Brief Illustrated Guide to Islam", an excellent introductory booklet to Islam, by www.islam-guide.com.

Lecture by Prof. Jamal Badawi "Islam, World Peace and Sep. 11", Burnaby, BC, 01-02-2002. [Slides presentation only].

[The lecture video/audio]. Can be obtained from Tricity Islamic Center.

A map of Makkah and a space image of Makkah.

A map of Madinah and a space image of Madinah.