Islam Way of Life

Sub-Title: How to build inner-peace, lasting personal relationship and progressive nation.

The Arabic word: الإسلام‎ (al-’islām) means "to accept, assent, surrender or submit" to what is essentially a scriptural discipline. Most people believe that Islam is a religion. Even some of the followers of Islam believe it is indeed a religion and just started by Prophet Muhammad around 1, 5 millennium ago.

In classical Arabic, Islam is not a proper noun, but a reference to acceptance or assent. Therefore, this book uses the term "The Assent" to refer to Islam as a monotheistic way of life, common to all major religions. This book then uses the term "Islam" to refer it as the religion of follower of Prophet Muhammad. Similarly, The Assenter refers to the followers of the way of life, while Moslems refers to the followers of the religion. The title of this book uses the word Islam instead of Islamic to further emphasize its descriptive use rather than a proper noun.

This book discusses Islam as a way of life behind the religion. This way of life was broadly followed by people all around the world many millennia before the reformation initiated by 'the recitation'. This is generally known by its Arabic name: القرآن‎ al-qur’ān,” (also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran or Al-Qur’ān) This scriptural text is still today studied and revered as the authentic Word of God by many people around the world.

Most Moslems today regard their religion as the complete and universal version of a monotheistic faith revealed to many times and places before, including, notably, to the prophets Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Islamic tradition holds that previous messages and revelations have been changed and distorted over time, so that the path of Islam was and still is eternal, and the Holy Prophet merely corrected an aberration. For this reason, the Moslems when mentioning the name of the prophet Muhammad usually add "Peace be upon him" as a reminder of his central theme.

Chapters

The complete title of this book is, "Islam Way of Life, How to build Inner-Piece, Lasting Personal Relationship and Progressive Nation".

In Straight Path, we will learn that the inner-peace, having no fear nor regret, is something natural and common among Abrahamic religions.
In Spirituality, we will learn on how the followers of Prophet Muhammad grow spiritual relationship with the Creator and Maintainer of the universe.
In Limits, we will learn that God's legal limits are both flexible and aimed to protect common interests, such as human rights.
In Guidance, we will learn that God's book is not only a guidance for humankind, but also a critical test. So, use it wisely.
In Success, we will learn on how to have a fulfilling life and move the society forward.
Practising Islam step-by-step implemention of the religion, such as the Believe System, Religious Rituals and guide of raising an Islamic family.
Legislation implementation of Islam in Public Policies, comparing legislations among Islamic and Secular countries around the world.

The Assent as a message has many ideals but also has challenges. The first three chapters of this book talk about those underlying and common ideals in practical way. The two chapters after those will talk about the challenges. Those five chapters hopefully bring new understanding both to those who already practice the discipline in one way or another, but also reduce the fear of people who reject the idea of an Islam way of life as something strange and unapproachable. The last chapter is about how to contribute to the development of the society and its challenges.

Appendixes

There are two appendixes for this book.

Glossary list the keywords used in this book and the reasons why.
Bibliography contains the sources used to compile this book.

Other books

This book is positioned as a quick introduction as well as a quick reference to Islam as a Personal Way of Life, Personal Religion and Source of Public Policies. Therefore, any discussion about history or ritual details are outside the scope of this book. There are other books that covers materials that are out of scope for this introductory book:

Islam In The World about Muslims' current affairs in the world.
Koranic Law of Nature explains the relationships between God and the Nature, religion and science.
Quranic Supplications collections of supplications taken from the Quran.
God and Religious Toleration/Islam about a world of love and peace.