The Way of All of the Messengers of God.
Today, almost 2 Billion human beings out of the 7 Billion humans on this planet follow the tenants and teachings of Islam. That would make 1 out of every 3 people a Muslim.
The word Islam comes from two Arabic root words. Silm - Which means Submission and Salaam - Which means Peace. So, the word Islam means Peace gained by Submission to the Creator -Allah. One who gains peace by submission to the Creator - Allah is known as a Muslim.
Muslims believe that all prophets from Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Jesus, and Muhammad (Peace be Upon them All) were Muslims as they all submitted their free will back to the Creator - Allah. Muslims do not make any one of these men at a higher status than the other as they all came with the same universal message - Worship God, he is One and follow the Prophets example.
The word Islam comes from two Arabic root words. Silm - Which means Submission and Salaam - Which means Peace. So, the word Islam means Peace gained by Submission to the Creator -Allah. One who gains peace by submission to the Creator - Allah is known as a Muslim.
Muslims believe that all prophets from Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Jesus, and Muhammad (Peace be Upon them All) were Muslims as they all submitted their free will back to the Creator - Allah. Muslims do not make any one of these men at a higher status than the other as they all came with the same universal message - Worship God, he is One and follow the Prophets example.
The Universal Message.
The last and final Prophet, Muhammad ibn Abdullah (Peace be upon him) made a profound statement, he said: "Submission to the Creator started as something strange and it will return to something strange."
When the Children of Israel spoke of the Oneness of Almighty God they were surrounded by a world of Polytheism - Or belief in many Gods. This belief started to grow and would eventually become the dominant belief of the entire world. The majority of the worlds population follows either Islam, Christianity, or Judaism.
Today that trend is reversing itself though with the emergence of Atheism - Belief that God doesn't exist , Agnosticism - Belief that Religion is evil, Sectarianism - Belief that differences divide us, and occult religions that violate the concept of the Oneness and sanctity of God.
All prophets taught the Universal Message of the Oneness of God. For example, Moses (Peace be upon Him) was given the Ten Commandments which were the laws given to the Children of Israel. The first three commandments dealt with the Oneness of Almighty God which are outlined in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:4-21. The first commandment says: I am the Lord God thou shalt have no other Gods before me. The second commandment says: Thou shall not make any graven images. The third says that: Thou shall not take the Lords name in vain. As we can see all three show the sanctity of God as One.
Another example is from the New Testament and the words of Jesus (Peace be Upon Him). He states in Mark 12:28-31, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord Our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." As we can see Jesus taught the Universal Message of the Oneness of God.
There are many other examples from the Torah, Gospel, and Qur'an that show the Prophets teaching this universal message.
When the Children of Israel spoke of the Oneness of Almighty God they were surrounded by a world of Polytheism - Or belief in many Gods. This belief started to grow and would eventually become the dominant belief of the entire world. The majority of the worlds population follows either Islam, Christianity, or Judaism.
Today that trend is reversing itself though with the emergence of Atheism - Belief that God doesn't exist , Agnosticism - Belief that Religion is evil, Sectarianism - Belief that differences divide us, and occult religions that violate the concept of the Oneness and sanctity of God.
All prophets taught the Universal Message of the Oneness of God. For example, Moses (Peace be upon Him) was given the Ten Commandments which were the laws given to the Children of Israel. The first three commandments dealt with the Oneness of Almighty God which are outlined in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:4-21. The first commandment says: I am the Lord God thou shalt have no other Gods before me. The second commandment says: Thou shall not make any graven images. The third says that: Thou shall not take the Lords name in vain. As we can see all three show the sanctity of God as One.
Another example is from the New Testament and the words of Jesus (Peace be Upon Him). He states in Mark 12:28-31, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord Our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." As we can see Jesus taught the Universal Message of the Oneness of God.
There are many other examples from the Torah, Gospel, and Qur'an that show the Prophets teaching this universal message.
The Original Forgiveness
Christianity has a concept called the Original Sin that was created by its clergy members to explain Adam's falling from grace by eating the forbidden fruit. The first reference to this is in the second century inspired by the teachings of Paul. Almost every denomination of Christianity has some reference to original sin its teachings.
Islam has a different outlook on the whole event. We are taught that our souls are prone to evil and that it is only through remembrance of God that we restrain ourselves from evil and misdeeds. Adam being tricked and deceived by Satan or the Devil caused him to feel shame, guilt, and remorse for disobeying God. God taught him through inspiration the words of forgiveness. "O our Lord, indeed we have wronged our own selves. If you do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, Indeed we shall be among the losers." 7:23 Qur'an. Beutiful words of repentance by the first man that saved all of us and gave us a way back to our Lord. Allah - the Creator, promises the sons of Adam the following: "O son of Adam, so long as you call upon me and ask of me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to me with sins as great as the earth, and were you then to face Me ascribing no partners to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it." Allah wants to forgive us, but only if we are worshiping Him and Him alone. Many Christians believe that because of the original sin of Adam, that Jesus needed to die on the cross to atone for that sin. In the last and final revelation we find that God does need blood to atone for sin, but piety or righteousness. "Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good." 22:37 Qur'an
Islam has a different outlook on the whole event. We are taught that our souls are prone to evil and that it is only through remembrance of God that we restrain ourselves from evil and misdeeds. Adam being tricked and deceived by Satan or the Devil caused him to feel shame, guilt, and remorse for disobeying God. God taught him through inspiration the words of forgiveness. "O our Lord, indeed we have wronged our own selves. If you do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, Indeed we shall be among the losers." 7:23 Qur'an. Beutiful words of repentance by the first man that saved all of us and gave us a way back to our Lord. Allah - the Creator, promises the sons of Adam the following: "O son of Adam, so long as you call upon me and ask of me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to me with sins as great as the earth, and were you then to face Me ascribing no partners to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it." Allah wants to forgive us, but only if we are worshiping Him and Him alone. Many Christians believe that because of the original sin of Adam, that Jesus needed to die on the cross to atone for that sin. In the last and final revelation we find that God does need blood to atone for sin, but piety or righteousness. "Their meat will not reach Allah, nor will their blood, but what reaches Him is piety from you. Thus have We subjected them to you that you may glorify Allah for that which He has guided you; and give good tidings to the doers of good." 22:37 Qur'an