The first characteristic of Islam that I can personally relate to is realism. I consider Islamic faith to be exceptionally realistic since it manages to reflect both positives and negatives of human nature. “Islam” means submission, which I do not give a negative connotation to. Instead, I believe that a person submits to pleasant and harsh realities and truths of the world by being a Muslim. Moreover, Islam rejects prejudice, selfishness, and bias, all of which constitute the second characteristic that I have a personal attachment to. The third quality of Islam that I value a lot is the idea of universal human brotherhood, which is reflected in the Qur’an. For example, Islam establishes that there is an unbreakable bond between all peoples, races, and genders because everyone is human. The fourth characteristic is the Islamic notion that everything that happens in the world has a reason since Allah serves as an ultimate authority. I can personally relate to the concept of destiny. Personally, I have experienced that I can never avoid certain conversations or even people. If it is bound to happen, it most certainly will.
Contrary to popular belief (popularised mainly by the Western stigmatization of Islam), I consider Islam to be the faith of liberation rather than oppression. By acknowledging the fact that Allah has all the control, a person realises that no one can harm or enslave him. Moreover, numerous restrictions associated with Islam serve as tools for improving oneself by cultivating self-discipline and integrity. Lastly, the sixth characteristic that I can relate to is Islam’s attitude towards drinking and gambling. Alcohol and other intoxicating substances are called khamr, which is considered haram by the majority of Muslim religious schools. I have personally experienced the effects drugs and other substances have on people’s minds and actions, which is why I am really appreciative of Islam’s intolerance to khamr.