The Essence of Islam

The essence of Islam lay in losing oneself in love of God and in holding none worthy of worship except Him. Its purpose is to be lost in God and not in the world.

Towards this end, Islam divides its teachings into two parts— our obligation to Allah, and our obligation to His creatures. Our obligation to Allah demands implicit submission and our obligation to His creatures requires sympathising with them and helping them. Tormenting others simply because of religious difference is wrong. Sympathy and kindness are one thing, and opposition because of religion quite another. The group of Muslims which has wrong notions about Jihad and is grossly mistaken about it, has gone to the extent of justifying the unlawful seizure of property belonging to non-Muslims.

About me and my followers too they have issued an edict to usurp our goods and even to abduct our women, whereas the teachings of Islam never sanction such foul deeds. Islam is a clean and pure religion. Just as a father expects his children to perform the duties they owe to him and also be mutually helpful and not be at loggerheads with each other, similarly Islam lays emphasis on the Oneness of God and also underscores the need for concord and unity among mankind.¹

Endnotes