AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM

Islam means complete peace, i.e., peace within one’s soul, peace within our societies, peace with all human beings, and peace in the whole world. Islam also means complete submission to the Will of God.

A TRADITION OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD [PBUH] ABOUT 3 LEVELS OF ISLAM:
Narrated by Omar (May God be Pleased with him): “One day while we were sitting with the messenger of God there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of journeying were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He walked up and sat down by the Prophet. Resting his knees against his and placing the palms of his hands on his thighs, he said:"O Muhammed, tell me about Islam". The messenger of God said: "Islam is to testify that there is no god but God and Muhammed is the messenger of God, to perform the prayers, to pay the zakat (helping the needy), to fast in [month of] Ramadhan, and to make the pilgrimage to the House [of God i.e. the sacred mosque in Makkah] if you are able to do so." He said:"You have spoken rightly", and we were amazed at him asking him and saying that he had spoken rightly. He said: "Then tell me about Iman."He said:"It is to believe in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in Divine destiny, both the good and the evil thereof." He said:"You have spoken rightly". He said: " Then tell me about Ihsan." He said: "It is to worship God as though you are seeing Him, and while you see Him not yet truly He sees you”…. Then he took himself off and I stayed for a time. Then he said: "O Omar, do you know who the questioner was?" I said: "Allah and His messenger know best". He said: ‘He was Archangel Gabriel, who came to you to teach you your religion.’ ” (Taken from Hadith [Traditions of Prophet Muhammad [PBUH]] collection “Sahih Muslim”).

According to scholars, this event took place 45 days before the death of Prophet Muhammad [PBUH]. By that time, the Divine revelation of entire Qur'an (Koran) was completed and the famous verses were revealed saying: Today I have completed the Deen (Path to God) for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have named it (i.e. the Path to God) “Islam” (Quran, Chapter 5, Verse 3). In the above hadith, God told Prophet Muhammad through Archangel Gabriel that Islam has the following three levels:

ISLAM - The first level of Islam is also called “Islam” and it refers to following the teachings of Islam for conducting our outward lives, i.e., acts of worships, dealings with people, societal responsibilities, etc., things which can be observed by an external eye. This level is considered to be Islam’s horizontal dimension and it’s the foundation of the Islamic faith.

IMAN - The second level of Islam is called “Iman” or faith and it refers to the beliefs that a Muslim should have along with an effort to increase one’s certitude in God and in His Guidance in all matters of life by sincerely acquiring knowledge and applying it in our daily lives until no doubt is left. This level is considered to be the vertical dimension of Islam that gives Islam its height.

IHSAN – The third level of Islam is called “Ihsan” or spirituality symbolized by Prophet’s words: “Worship God as if you see Him, and while you see Him not yet [have a living perpetual consciousness that] truly He sees you”. It refers to the beautification of one’s soul by ridding one’s heart and soul of all evil qualities like anger, hatred, jealousy, envy, arrogance, greed, injustice, impatience, egoism, racism, fanaticism, extremism, self-righteousness, vengeance, hard-heartedness, ignorance, cowardliness, entertaining evil thoughts, desire for fame/control/power, etc. and by beautifying one’s soul by developing all good qualities like love, patience, gratitude, forgiveness, kindness, compassion, generosity, mercy, sincerity, trust in God, developing an intimate relationship with God thus receiving Divine protection and guidance in all matters of life etc. Ihsan can be considered as Islam’s third dimension that gives Islam its depth and beauty. It is the highest level of Islam that one strives to reach in order to realize the full human potential by completely eliminating the darkness within one’s soul and consequently receiving the Divine light of wisdom in which he/she finds answers to all questions of life such as who I am, where have I come from, where am I heading to, what is the purpose of life, why God created everything, and what really is true happiness and success. This is where ALL seekers of God attain a state of total inner peace and an endless bliss. Interestingly, this highest level of Islam is also the least understood by many Muslims.

A list of some available resources on Internet (as well as some recommended books) is presented as follows with the view of providing information about all three levels of Islam:
FIRST LEVEL OF ISLAM – ISLAM:
University of Georgia Professor Dr. Alan Godlas’s comprehensive website on all aspects of Islam: http://www.uga.edu/islam View pages on Quran, Hadith, Faith, Practice, and Law, etc.
“Understanding the Four Madhabs” by British Muslim Scholar T.J.Winter (Abdal-Hakim Murad) that explains the four schools of thoughts of the Islamic Law, the necessity of having these four schools and how they evolved at: http://www.masud.co.uk then click on “Sh Abdal-Hakim”.

SECOND LEVEL OF ISLAM – IMAN:
Imam Al-Ghazali’s book “The Foundations of Islamic Belief” at http://www.ghazali.org

THIRD LEVEL OF ISLAM – IHSAN:
“The Interior Life in Islam” by Seyyed Hossein Nasr at: http://www.al-islam.org/al-serat/interior-nasr.htm
“Islamic Spirituality – The Forgotten Revolution” by British Muslim Scholar T.J.Winter (Abdal-Hakim Murad) at: http://www.masud.co.uk then click on “Sh Abdal-Hakim”.
“Place of Tasawwuf (i.e. Ihsan/spirituality) in Traditional Muslim Sciences” by American Muslim scholar Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller at http://www.masud.co.uk then click on “Sh Nuh Keller”.
“Dhikr (Remembrance of God )”: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ABewley/Page16.html . Also at: http://sunnipath.com/resources/Questions/qa00004294.aspx
Inspirational teachings of great saint Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani at: http://www.al-baz.com
Dr. Alan Godlas’s home page on Islamic spirituality at: http://www.uga.edu/islam/Sufism.html

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
An introduction to the message and essence of Quran with translations and explanations of selected verses called “The Essential Koran” by Thomas Cleary available from http://www.alhambraproductions.com . Click on “Store” then click on “Bookstore” then click on “Quran”.
English translation and explanation of the entire Holy Quran called “The Meaning of Holy Quran by Abdullah Yusuf Ali” available from http://www.amana-publications.com
Introductory book on Islam called “Islam in Focus” by Dr. Hammudah Abdulati, available from http://www.amana-publications.com
The best book available on the first level of Islam (i.e. Islamic law) which also leads to the second and third levels called “Reliance of the Traveller” by Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller, available from http://www.amana-publications.com
Biography of Prophet Muhammad called “Muhammad – His Life Based on the Earliest Sources” by Martin Lings, available from http://www.halalco.com . Click on “Books” then click on “Seerah – Life of Prophet Muhammad [PBUH]”.
“On Disciplining the Soul & on Breaking the Two Desires” by Al-Ghazali, translated into English by T.J.Winter, available from http://www.fonsvitae.com Click on “Spirituality”.
“The Best Way for the Worshipper” by Imam Al-Ghazali that beautifully defines seven stages of spiritual evolution, available from http://www.halalco.com Click on “Books” then click on “Imam Al-Ghazali”.
“Ihya Uloom id Din (Revival of Religious Knowledges)” by Imam Al-Ghazali that explains all three levels of Islam and the deep inner wisdom behind all teachings of Islam for reaching God’s nearness, available from http://www.halalco.com Click on “books” then click on “Imam Al-Ghazali”.
“Mishkat al Anwar (The Niche of Lights)” by Imam Al-Ghazali that explains the veils of ignorance and heedlessness on the human soul that hamper the realization of the truth, available from http://www.halalco.com Click on “Books” then click on “Imam Al-Ghazali”.
“The Mysteries of the Human Soul” by Imam Al-Ghazali that explains the inner secrets of the soul, available from http://www.halalco.com Click on “Books” then click on “Imam Al-Ghazali”.
Following books for spiritual guidance by a contemporary saint Bawa Muhaiyeddin, available from http://www.bmf.org : “A Book of God’s Love” (also available online at: http://www.bmf.org/godslove/main.html ), “A Mystical Journey”, “The Divine Luminous Wisdom that Dispels the Darkness”, “The Guidebook to the True Secrets of the Heart”, “Questions of Life – Answers of Wisdom”, “Islam and the World Peace” (also available online at: http://www.bmf.org/iswp ), etc.
“The Mathnavi of Jalaluddin Rumi” translated by R.A.Nicholson which is the world famous collection of mystical poetry by the best selling poet of America, available from http://www.halalco.com Click on “Books” then click on “Jalaluddin Rumi”. Significant parts of this book are available online at http://www.dar-al-masnavi.org