When someone asks what islam ...

Re: When someone asks what islam ...

The simplest explanation is that everything follows from the Shahadah (testimony). All Muslims must testify to this:
"There is nothing worthy of worship except God, and Muhammad is His Messenger".
Testifying to this statement means that you have actually witnessed this.

Then from this testimony follows that Quran is the Word of God and everything in it are His Commands. So one automatically believes in Paradise, Hell, Jinns, etc., etc. because all of this is in the Quran hence it was said by God.

Or you can look at the Quran and see the miracles of it, the beauty of it, the prophecies in it, or the poetry of it (need to know arabic for this) and you will realize that this can only be from God and Quran affirms that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.

As for the above testimony, the only way to witness this is to think about it on your own because I can't make someone else witness this.
Although we can point people in the right direction, like Wasim said the first thing for people wanting to learn about Islam should be to look into Tawheed (oneness of God).
When one grasps Tawheed then they can go to the next step which is Muhammad salAllahualaihiwasallam and the Quran.

Re: When someone asks what islam ...

PEOPLE ARE BECOMING MORE PRO- personal religion rather than organized religion.
do young Muslims also feel that they need to stay away and out of mosques and somehow never have to talk about religion linked to their every day lives?

instead, there is a sentiment to make the qualities asked for in the religion, become a common practice under the argument of humanity.

Re: When someone asks what islam ...

I feel Muslims should just talk about primary base of Islam, that Tauheed once you believe in this then everything is comprehended.
We dont have to talk about hijab, polygamy first talk about theology of God or Allaah its so simple read Surah Ikhlas thats the definition given by the Theologians, thats not by Muslims its by the Priests of the Church, Phds in this subject.
Why do u think Priests who know bible from the back of there hand reverted to Islam, not one but in scores because there was this beautiful structure of One God, One Creator. Period if they believe in thisfactor then we can talk about Islam.

Re: When someone asks what islam …

Here are these very first few verses of of holy quran revealed on Porphet Muhammad (pbuh)

Al-Alaq (The Clot, Read) (96) - Roukh 1

Re: When someone asks what islam ...

Moses is not ranked higher than Jesus.

For your kind information Jesus is not regarded to be a prophet by the Christians.