Distinctive features of Islam as Religion:

 Unique Significance in the Name of Islam:

Islam is an Arabic word which denotes submission, surrender and
obedience to the will of God. The word Islam gives a short but
comprehensive overview of the Islamic ideology of submitting will to Allah
Almighty. Other religions have their names, mostly based on after a tribe or
ethnic group such as Judaism, after their founders such as Christianity and
Buddhism or after a specific geographical location such as Hinduism. Islam
however processes a unique attribute as its name manifests not just the
outlook on life but also implies that the name Islam is not given by its
followers, rather, it was revealed by God Himself, and therefore, it asserts
the true will of the Lord. The significance of the message in the name of
religion Islam makes it distinctive and announces Islam as the ‘Religion of
Nature’.

 Complete code of conduct:

Islam is not an ordinary religion in any means, it is a constitution that
warns, directs and instructs for the guidance and betterment of mankind
for all times and under all conditions and requirements. Islam lays emphasis
on rules and regulations relating to social life, commerce and economics,
marriage and inheritance, penal laws and international conduct, embracing
all walks of life and covering aspects of entire human activity. Islam is not
merely a religion built on a few ceremonials, a few moral maxims and a few
miracles. It is “Deen”, namely, Complete Code of Guidance which covers
every conceivable department of human affairs. Thus, while Islam is
essentially a religion, it is also a self-contained culture and a self-sustained
civilization, and its goal is human success in this life as well as in the next.
Since the chain of prophets ended with Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) as seal of
prophets and Holy Quran as last Holy Scripture, therefore Allah Almighty
has made the religion Islam as a best source of guidance for not just the
existing followers but also for the generations to come.
 Allah (S.W.T) Says in this regard in Quran:
“This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favor
upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”. (5:3)

Thus even a cursory study on teachings of Islam delineate that Islam is the
all-embracing way of life and does not leave any human issue unaddressed
so the followers may not reach up to flashpoints nor the misleading
elements use the undressed subjects as their playgrounds.

 Based on Authentic:
Another distinctive features that Islam enjoys is that, preservation of its
scripture the Holy Quran was carried out using authentic sources and with
precisions to avoid any alterations, errors, additions and omissions in the
Holy text, which is common with other Holy Scripture previously revealed.
Holy Quran is the primary source of guidance for its followers, therefore
any sort of changings in its original form could have raised questions over
authenticity of the Islam so it was being preserved even after the demise of
Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) exactly the way Allah, Supreme Being desired. Allah
has promised to safeguard it from any violations in its purity:

“We have, no doubt, sent down the message, we will assuredly guard if
from corruption”. (15:9)

 Universality and Continuity of Message:

The message of Islam is for entire human as it is evident in Quran that it
addresses human beings by saying: “ O Mankind!”. Islam addresses itself to
the conscience of humanity, banishing all false barriers of status, wealth
and race. Islam not just claims the universality but also guarantees
continuity of the message from Adam (A.S) to Muhammad (S.A.W.W).
Fundamental message of oneness of Allah and Him being the Sole Creator
and Cherisher of the entire universe remained same throughout the chain
of prophets from first to last.
 Straightforward Concept of God:
Refer to Kips note.

 Flexible, dynamic and Stable at a time:

Human aspect of life is dynamic in nature thus it is not possible to deal with
routine life issues of human life unless the religious ideology is permanent
over fundamental beliefs but flexible with day to day changing vast human
affairs. Too much extreme reliance, either on flexibility or permanence can
result in shapelessness or rigidity, therefore proposes a balance between
stability and progress. An American judge Mr. Cardozo rightly says:
“That the greatest needs of our time is a philosophy that will mediate
between conflicting claims of stability and progress”.

Islam is the only religion whose ideology maintains the balances between
demands of stability and change.

 Balance between Individual and Society:

Refer to Khurshid Ahmed book page No 38.

 Saviour of Human rights:

Long paragraph to be written on human rights that Islam has granted from
rights of slaves to rights of parents to rights of war criminals to non-
Muslims.
Relevant details of this subject is mentioned in Khurshid Ahmed’s book in
the same section and help can also be taken from other sources such as
Farkhanda Noor Muhammad.

 Establishes a perfectly harmonized society:

 Spiritual guidance develops moral ethics
  Law and maintained
 Justice prevails
 Extremist approach rejected
 Anarchy prevented
 No Ambiguity in law and its implementation

 Conclusion:

Referred to ending lines of Section of basic characteristics of Islam in

Kurshid Ahmad’s book.