►Islam is a universal religion. It is applicable in all times and all places.
►Islam is not restricted to any nation or region.
►There are many things that make Islam universally acceptable.
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By the mercy and wisdom of Allah ﷻ , people are not left to their own devices without guidance. Allah ﷻ sent messengers to guide them to the truth. The Final Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ came with the universal message, containing the best way of life, Islam.
For any way of life to be good for all people at all times and places, i.e. being universal, there are certain criteria with which it must comply. The following are some of the most prominent ones with which Islam is in total compliance.
- Islam does not address people of a specific period nor is it ethnically or geographically oriented.
Islam’s universal nature is evident from various aayaat from the Glorious Qur’aan. The first and most significant would be the aayaat where Allah ﷻ addresses humankind in general as opposed to many other aayaat where Muslims are addressed in particular. For example, Allah says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍۢ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًۭا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۭ (سورة الحجرات: ۱۳)
“O mankind, Indeed We have created you male and female, and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” [Soorat al-Hujuraat:13]
Allah ﷻ further says:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَلَـٰلًۭا طَيِّبًۭا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۭ مُّبِينٌ ( سورة البقرة: ١٦٨)
“O mankind! Eat from whatever is on the earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.” [Soorat al-Baqarah:168]
There are many similar aayaat in the Glorious Qur’aan that address the entire humanity (whether they be black, white, Arab, non-Arab, Asian, African, European, Man, Woman, since the creation of man until the Day of Judgment). This implies that the whole of humanity is included in the call towards Islam thus making it universally applicable to all people, of all times.
The Glorious Qur’aan also mentions,
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةًۭ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ( سورة الأنبياء: ۱۰۷)
“And We have not sent you [O Muhammad] except as a mercy to the worlds.” [Soorat al-Anbiyaa:107]
This aayah speaks about the message of the Prophet ﷺ and it clearly points out the fact that the message of Islam is directed at all of humanity, thus once again showing that all people are included in the invitation to Islam, and making it universal.
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا ٱلَّذِى لَهُۥ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ( سورة الأعراف: ١٥٨)
“Say [O Muhammad], “O mankind! Indeed, I am the messenger of Allah to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth.” [Soorat al-A’raaf: 158]
- Islam contains guidance for all aspects of life.
In Soorat Al-Maa’idah, Allah states that He has perfected the religion. He says:
ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمَ دِينًۭا (سورة المائدة : ۳)
“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-Maidah: 3]
This aayah undoubtedly points toward the fact that Islam is complete as far as covering all aspects of life is concerned.
Islam shapes all aspects of human existence. It particularly sets itself apart from other systems of belief and life styles in the following fields:
- Worship:
Islam places great emphasis on worship as a part of life. Worship in Islam is noticeably different from what some religions consider religious observances. Intention is at the heart of the Islamic definition of worship. Whatever is done solely for Allah’s pleasure is considered a form of worship in its general sense no matter whether it is a prescribed ritual or a mundane human activity such as working to support one’s family financially. The other pivotal idea here is the functionality of worship, no action is prescribed or lauded by Islam except that it serves a definite purpose; thus making Islamic worship beneficial to all humanity at all times and different places. This will be discussed in greater detail in the lessons to follow.
- Social
As far as distinguishing social factors are concerned, the importance of family in Is- lam deserves special mention in this chapter. The family is at the foundation of the Islamic social life. This is in sharp contrast to some religions and certain viewpoints prevalent in the world today that are of the opinion that individual rights deserve priority over all else. Other important social characteristics unique to Islam will include among others the emphasis on marriage, human rights, the status of women etc. Islam also stresses the importance of rights but lays greater emphasis on the fulfillment of responsibilities alongside those rights.
- Financial
The attitude of Islam towards the financial part of human life has become more crucial in the past number of decades where adherence to an oppressive, interest based economic system grew to such proportions that it has virtually taken over the entire world and people are desperately looking for an escape from its strangling grip. Islam’s interest free, just and humane economic system has the answers. This will be fully discussed at a later stage.
- Political
In the past decades, politics in Islam has also become a topic of discussion as a solution to unfair political systems in vogue at present. The political ideas espoused by Islam are the answer to the political needs of people of all times and in all places.
