Bu yazıda cevabını bulacağınız sorular:

• What is Islam?
• How can Islam be my religion when I am of another faith?
• What is the difference between religion and Sharia?
• What does “Islam is in accordance with human nature” mean?
• Why did prophets emerge in the Middle East?
• What is the importance of Prophet Abraham in the Abrahamic religions?
• Was Prophet Abraham Jewish, Christian, or Muslim?
• Does the fact that prophets have different laws mean that they belong to different religions?
• What does it mean for prophets to confirm those who came before them and to foretell those who will come after them?

Yes… That’s a bold title. I’ll explain it with that in mind. If that’s the case, this article will answer the various questions that may arise in your mind, such as why you don’t know about this or why you don’t accept it. Whoever you are and wherever you are, whatever faith you belong to and whatever nation you grew up in, before moving on to these questions, you should first know that this religion is your religion: Islam.

The first scholars who studied the etymology of Islam, which is derived from the root silm (selm) meaning “to attain salvation, to submit, to surrender; to surrender, to give; to make peace,” explained it as “entering into a state of peace by submitting and voluntarily complying.”

In the Qur’an, Islam is defined as the true religion in the sight of Allah and its specific name, and it is clearly emphasized that no other religion’s beliefs and deeds will be accepted.

Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter. (3/85)

As conveyed in all heavenly faiths, the period that began with the descent of Adam and Eve to earth and lasted until the Flood of Noah was a trial for all humanity to live together, but it was unsuccessful in terms of humanity and servitude. As a result, based on the principle that “every piece of knowledge can be understood and comprehended through its opposite,” a new era began with Prophet Abraham, setting an example for humanity.

This process is expressed in the verse: “You were created from a single pair of a male and a female, and you were divided into different nations, tribes, and communities so that you may know one another.”

O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and divided you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. The most valuable among you in the sight of Allah is the one who fears Him most. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (49/13)

The detailed information in the verse is as follows: It indicates the purpose of the creation of the first exemplary nation, which began with Prophet Abraham. The one who fears Him (Allah) most…

Taken as a whole, it is stated that we created you from a single pair, divided you into groups so that you may know one another, and guided you to teach and live by the moral and human values of a tribe that would serve as an example, so that your previous disagreements may be resolved. In other words, after Adam and Noah, Allah chose Abraham and his family to set an example for all humanity in terms of worship and humanity.

However, the knowledge and distinction they received caused envy, jealousy, and divisions to arise over time. And while Allah had chosen Abraham’s family to be an example to other people, tribes, and groups, He began to select from among Abraham’s children the lineage, families, and individuals who would be examples to others. Through Isaac and Jacob, He chose the Children of Israel, then the Jews, and finally, from among them, the family of Ali Imran, and ultimately, as an individual, Jesus, peace be upon him. Unfortunately, these individuals, families, and lineages were not strictly regarded as examples to be followed.

Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. Those who were given the Book became divided only after knowledge came to them, out of envy among themselves. Whoever denies Allah’s verses, let him know that Allah is swift in reckoning. (3/19)

Those who should have taken them as examples began to legitimize their actions by claiming descent from these chosen ones. By doing so, they could attain positions of power and authority. Of course, the foremost name among those they claimed to follow was Ibrahim, peace be upon him. And when our Lord finally communicated with people, He explained this situation as follows:

Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian. He was only a Hanif Muslim/one who submitted to Allah. He was not one of the polytheists. (3/67)

This explanation sharply distinguishes Prophet Ibrahim from those who claim him as their ancestor but do not follow his path, and it also exposes the errors of other heavenly religions.

In the process of the formation of religion, it would decrease from macro to micro, from all of humanity to the family of Ibrahim, then to the tribe of Bani Israel, and finally to the family of Ali Imran, ending with Isa (Jesus) as an individual. What would happen now? Allah tested a nation for the understanding and exemplification of monotheism, but it did not become an example, and the religion of Islam was not completed. From this point onward, the concepts of family, lineage, and clan would be set aside after Jesus, and the definition of two distinct nations—believers and non-believers—would be introduced as the ummah. The step that would complete the religion of Islam would be taken by someone from the lineage of Ishmael, peace be upon him, who had never been tested, rather than those who had suffered all kinds of weaknesses, extending from Abraham to Jesus. That person was the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

Now, there were those who boasted of their ancestors and held onto books that had been altered by their own desires. Although there were some references to monotheism and servitude, the beliefs that had been added over time were an obstacle to this. Examples of those referring to monotheism and servitude include: Man was created to know and recognize his Creator and to serve Him. (Exodus 20:2-3; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 4:10; Acts 17:26-28) The most fundamental principle emphasized in Judaism is the unity of God. According to the Torah, the first human and his children, Noah (Genesis 1:26-28; 4:26; 6:9), Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph called people to the one God. In the Psalms of David (Psalms), prayers are offered to the one God, and Jesus, who is presented as the son of God (God forbid), also emphasizes that the first commandment in the Sharia is the oneness of God (Mark 12:28-29). However, by distorting the definition of unity, the Trinity is introduced. In short, although the doors to such servitude and monotheism are open in words, the paths/beliefs that lead to it are based on acceptance of certain lineage, offspring, or the Trinity.

Whereas it should have concerned everyone as human beings, without any conditions or rules. God should not take sides, He tests everyone and if He is going to question them about this life, He should hold them accountable for only one religion. This, of course, should be a religion suitable for all human beings in terms of creation. Otherwise, the test would inevitably be unjust. Thus, Islam, as the religion of creation/nature, was completed with the Qur’an, declaring that it would be protected by its very owner, leaving no possibility for humans to change or destroy it. And the ummah mentality embraced everyone without any distinguishing characteristics such as belief, language, race, sect, or creed. Superiority was based solely on fear of Allah.

In a saying of the Prophet Muhammad that has reached us, he states, “Every human being is born with the nature of Islam, but this characteristic in their creation is altered by the influence of their family and environment, such as Judaism, Christianity, or fire worship.” (Bukhari, “Janaiz,” 80, 93, “Tafsir,” 30/1, “Qadar,” 3; Muslim, “Qadar,” 22-25)

In other words, the reality that our family or the place we live in directly influences our faith actually prevented us from correctly recognizing, accepting, or living the religion of Islam, which is in accordance with our nature. This truth and our summary explanation thus far actually reveal that we are all Muslims, but that there are beliefs, groupings, or narratives that prevent us from accepting Islam even if we hear about it.

The words of our Prophet are so important that they are the reason why millions of people, despite being Muslim and even living in a Muslim society, cannot truly recognize and submit to Islam. The situation of today’s Muslims can only be explained in such a clear and accurate manner. More than the People of the Book and polytheists in other regions, the ignorance or backwardness of the two billion-strong Muslim community, and their failure to feel the need to change their lives despite all their immoral behavior, has developed entirely based on the belief system created under the name of Islam in the region where they live. This is definitely the fault of Muslims, not Islam. Those who cannot make this distinction are as ignorant as those who do not feel the need to learn their religion correctly.

Let us now look at the verses that relate to what we have discussed so far. Please read the explanations carefully and reflect on them.

<<Who would turn away from the religion of Abraham except those who do not know themselves? We have certainly made Abraham a leader in this world. Surely, he is among the righteous in the Hereafter. When his Lord said to him, “Submit,” he said, “I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds.” Abraham also bequeathed this to his sons, and so did Jacob: “O my sons! Allah has chosen this religion (Islam) for you. So die as Muslims.” Were you present when Jacob, on his deathbed, asked his children, “What will you worship after I am gone?” They replied, “We will worship your God and the God of your fathers—Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac—the One God. We are Muslims, submitted to Him.” They are a nation that has passed away. What they earned is theirs, and what you earn is yours. You will not be held accountable for what they did. (The Jews) said, “Be Jews,” and (the Christians) said, “Be Christians, so that you may find the right path.” Say, “No, we follow the religion of Abraham, who was upright. He was not one of those who associated others with Allah.“ Say, ”We believe in Allah, in what has been revealed to us, and in what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the descendants of Jacob, and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and in what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [submitting to Him].” If they believe as you believe, then they are truly guided; but if they turn away, then they are in clear dissension. Allah will protect you against them. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing. Say, “We have been dyed in the color of Allah. Who has a better color than Allah’s? We are His worshippers.” Say to them, “Are you arguing with us about Allah? He is our Lord and your Lord. What we have done is for us, and what you have done is for you. We are those who have sincerely devoted ourselves to Him.“ Or do you say, ”Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the descendants of Jacob were Jews or Christians”? Say: “Do you know better, or does Allah?” Who is more unjust than one who conceals a truth that has come to him from Allah? Allah is not unaware of what you do. >> (2:130-140)