Islam Is More Than a Religion

Islam cannot be defined as a religion in the Western sense of the word; neither can it be termed as a faith.  Muslim scholars state that Islam is an all-encompassing system — a sociopolitical, socioreligious system, as well as a socioeconomic, socio-educational, legislative, judiciary, and military system governing every aspect of the lives of its adherents, their relationships among themselves, and with those who are non-Muslims. . . . 

In Islam, the very idea of a “choice” is not only an anathema but is also regarded as an anti-Islamic concept.  Freedom of choice does not exist in Islam; neither is religion a private or personal matter.  All decisions have already been made by Allah and his prophet Muhammad, so Muslims have no choice but to follow these divine regulations, as we see prescribed in Sura 33:36: “It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision.  And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in plain error.”

Sam Soloman, “Challenges from Islam,” in the book, “Beyond Opinion,” Ravi Zacharias, author and general editor, p.62, 70