indeed, islam realizes and speaks to our innate natures. it speaks to our souls and our spiritual and intellectual needs and tendencies. allah, who knows the secrets and thoughts of our souls, minds, and hearts, reveals to us the secrets and keys of tranquility and contentment for them.

how to attain peace of mind, tranquility and contentment?

secret (key) 1: know your one true god.

secret (key) 2: believe in him alone.

secret (key) 3: follow his will.

secret (key) 4: believe in god’s prophets. (including prophet muhammad).

secret (key) 5: remember god.

secret (key) 6: seek god’s forgiveness.

secret (key) 7: worship him alone.

secret (key) 8: love for others what you love for yourself.

secret (key) 9: be generous to others and try to make them happy.

secret (key) 10: have sincerity and piety.

briefly, these top 10 secret keys through which we can achieve tranquility and contentment as well as spiritual, social, and global peace are among the magnificent treasures of the glorious qur’an and the prophetic sayings.

to sum up, islam teaches us through its two main authentic sources: the glorious qur’an and the prophetic sayings that we can attain peace of mind, happiness, and salvation, by knowing and believing in the one true god (allah) willingly and wholeheartedly. we must also believe in all god’s true prophets (including prophet muhammad) and follow their true guidance and teachings.

thus, the gateway to a happy, content, and eternal life is through believing in and uttering this testimony:

“i testify that there is no god but allah, and i testify that muhammad is the messenger of allah.”

however, islam tells us that belief alone in god and his prophets is not enough to have peace of mind, happiness, and salvation!

we have to do the will of allah through worshipping him alone and keeping his commandments.

submission to the will of god is the essence of the message of allah. confirming the true meaning of submission to him and the reward prepared for those who believe and do good deeds, allah points out in the qur’an:

“indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – they will have the gardens of paradise as a lodging.” (18: 107)

similarly, the holy bible reports the words of jesus’ brother, james, saying:

“for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead also.” (james 2:26)

interestingly, james (4:7) also referred to the meaning of islam that was previously discussed.

“submit yourselves therefore to god.”

therefore, muslims are true followers of jesus and the prophets. a muslim means a person who submits his or her will to the one true god.

muslims have faith in allah (the one true god) and do good deeds. they obey and follow the commandments that jesus and the prophets taught and did, like believing in one true god, praying, prostrating, kneeling down in worship, fasting, giving alms, and charity, saying ‘if god wills’ (insha allah), and using the greeting of jesus and the prophets: ‘peace be upon you’ (asalamu alaikum).

these are just some examples and pieces of evidence which clearly indicate the truth, unity, and universality of this great and beautiful religion of all prophets: islam.

practically speaking, a person who is a muslim or would like to be a muslim, must believe in six articles of faith.