_____________________________________________
THE BEAUTIFUL TEACHINGS
OF ISLAM
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The Clear Religion Series - Part 2
Excerpted from Who Deserves to Be Worshipped
www.saaid.net/The-clear-religion/017.pdf
Majed S. Al-Rassi
Edited by Ann Ronayne
Revised 2019
This book may be copied and distributed for free as long as no changes are made.
www.saaid.net/The-clear-religion/029.pdf
NO DOUBT THIS LIFE IS AN EXAMINATION
WHICH NEEDS YOUR FULL CONSIDERATION
AS TO WHAT YOU WILL TAKE TO
YOUR FINAL DESTINATION
ONLY TRUE BELIEF AND GOOD DEEDS ARE
YOUR WAY TO SALVATION
(Muhammad Sherif)
CONTENTS
HONORIFIC PHRASES IN THIS BOOK 4
ABOUT THE WORD ‘LORD’ 5
ABOUT THE WORD ‘ALLAH’ 6
INTRODUCTION 7
1. THE SIX ARTICLES OF ISLAMIC FAITH 9
1.1 Belief in Allah 9
1.2 Belief in the angels 10
1.3 Belief in the scriptures 11
Distortion of the Old Testament 14
Biblical proofs of the Bible’s distortion 18
Who distorted the Bible (Old and New Testaments)? 18
Distorting revelations is the biggest sin 21
An important note 21
Revelation of the Quran 22
The entire Quran is a proclamation of monotheism 24
The Prophet’s teachings 24
Preservation of Islamic teachings 25
1.4 Belief in the messengers of Allah 26
Obedience to the Prophet (bpuh) 30
Loving the Prophet (bpuh) 30
1.5 Belief in the Last Day 33
1.6 Belief in predestination 34
2. THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM 35
2.1 The declaration of the two testimonies of faith 35
2.2 Prayers 36
2 The beautiful teachings of Islam
2.3 Zakah (obligatory charity) 36
2.4 Fasting the month of Ramadan 37
2.5 Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) 38
3. MAIN ASPECTS OF THE MORAL SYSTEM IN ISLAM 39
3.1 Relationship with the Lord 39
3.2 Relationships with people in general 40
3.3 Relationships with parents 41
3.4 Relationships with other relatives 41
3.5 Relationships with neighbours 42
3.6 Food — moral conduct 43
3.7 Hygiene — Islamic moral conduct 43
3.8 Spiritual — Islamic moral conduct 43
3.9 Family structure and rights 44
3.10 Decency and veiling 45
3.11 The rights of the wife 45
3.12 Polygyny 46
3.13 Divorce rules 47
3.14 Protection of life 47
3.15 Protection of property 47
3.16 Animal rights 48
3.17 Maintaining health 48
3.18 Rights of the deceased 50
4. FEATURES OF ISLAMIC TEACHINGS 51
4.1 Rationality 51
4.2 Perfection 51
4.3 Clarity 52
Contents 3
4.4 Scientific validity and accuracy 52
4.5 Prophetic fulfilment 53
4.6 Moderation 53
4.7 Comprehensiveness 53
4.8 Uniqueness 53
4.9 Justice 54
CONCLUSION 55
BIBLIOGRAPHY 56
APPENDIX 57
GLOSSARY OF ISLAMIC TERMS 59
HONORIFIC PHRASES IN THIS BOOK
(bpuh): Blessings and peace be upon him; used after mention of the Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh): Peace be upon him; used after mention of any prophet or after mention of Angel Gabriel
ABOUT THE WORD ‘LORD’
he word lord in English has several related meanings. The original meaning is ‘master’ or ‘ruler’, and in this sense it is often used to refer to human beings: ‘the lord of the mansion’ or ‘Lord So-and-So’ (in the United Kingdom, for example). The word Lord with a capital L is used in the lexicon of Islam to refer to the One and Only God—Allah. In Islam, there is no ambiguity about the meaning of this word. While it is true that one may occasionally use the word lord (whether capitalized or not) to refer to a human being, in Islamic discourse the reference of this term is always clear from the context. Whereas for Christians, Hindus and other polytheists, the word Lord with a capital L may refer to Allah, to Jesus or to some imagined deity, for Muslims, there can be no plurality of meaning. Allah alone is the Lord, and the Lord is Allah—not Jesus, not Rama, not any other being.
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ABOUT THE WORD ‘ALLAH’
lthough the English word ‘God’ has often been used interchangeably in this book with the word Allah, there is a difference. ‘Allah’ is the word in Arabic that is translated as ‘God’. However, ‘Allah’ has a much more precise meaning than ‘God’. ‘Allah’ is not merely an Arabic term for the word ‘god’. Instead, the root word of the word ‘Allah’ is ilah, which means ‘a god’. There are countless numbers of made-up ‘gods’, but only One True God worthy of worship, Whose name is Allah. The word ‘Allah’ literally means ‘the worshipped’, or ‘the God’. Allah is, thus, the proper name for the only Being that is worthy of worship in truth, the True Creator of the universe. By saying ‘Allah’, Muslims are, in essence, negating every other entity which people wrongfully worship, while affirming worship to Him alone. The name ‘Allah’ is how God Almighty has referred to Himself in the Quran, and how Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) also referred to Him. Therefore, in this work, the term ‘Allah’ will often be used in reference to this One and Only God Who is worthy of worship.
A
INTRODUCTION
ome of the prophets sent by Allah, the Exalted, were supported by revealed books that were the basis of enlightenment for the people they were sent to. As a revelation from the Almighty, each of these books is easily distinguishable, in its characteristics, from books written by human beings.
The last of these books is the noble Quran, the primary source of Islamic teachings, which Allah Has promised to preserve from being altered. The sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) are the second source; they add to and detail the teachings of the noble Quran.
This booklet sheds light on the basic characteristics of those main two sources of Islamic teachings. It also includes a discussion of the Islamic moral system.
Islam has unique moral teachings that call for strengthening the relationship between humans and their Lord, as well as among one another. They also call for us to correct and improve ourselves, both inwardly and outwardly.
It should be noted that these moral teachings have been revealed from Allah; they are not a result of human work or experiences.
Enjoy the book.
Kind regards,
Majed S. Al-Rassi Phone: 966 50 5906761 e-mail: majed.alrassi@gmail.com
S
1. THE SIX ARTICLES OF ISLAMIC FAITH
slamic belief is based on six fundamental articles of faith.
1.1 Belief in Allah
This includes the following beliefs:
❖ Belief in Allah’s existence: The existence of humankind and the entire universe is not a mere accident or the product of chance. The universe, and everything in it, manifests and points to the certainty of there being a Creator.
❖ Belief that Allah is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Owner of the universe and its contents, the Provider of everything, the Giver of life and the Causer of death.
❖ Belief that Allah is the only One Who has the right to be worshipped.
❖ Allah has revealed, both in His final revelation, the Quran, and through his Prophet’s teachings, ninety-nine names and numerous attributes. They offer some insight into the absolutely unique, wondrous and perfect nature of Allah. The most frequently used name is Allah, which means ‘the Worshipped’. Some of those attributes are: the Everlasting, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-Hearing, All-Seeing, Self-Sufficient and Self-Sustaining. Allah Almighty is above all comprehension, and He does not resemble His creation, as He has said in the Quran:
{…There is nothing like unto Him…} (Quran 42: 11)
{Say: He is Allah, [Who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.}
(Quran 112: 1-4)
He is the most Rich, free of all needs. He has said in the Quran:
I
10 The beautiful teachings of Islam
{And I did not create the jinn and humankind except to worship Me. I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.} (Quran 51: 56-58)
Allah’s ninety-nine names and attributes have all been mentioned in the Quran and the statements of the Prophet (bpuh).
1.2 Belief in the angels
Angels are creatures created by Allah for specific functions. They are normally invisible and have no free will; they do as Allah commands them. They should not be worshipped. The angel Gabriel (pbuh) was responsible for conveying the revelation to the prophets. Two angels are assigned to every human being to record their good and evil deeds. Another angel accompanies each human being, encouraging him or her to do good deeds. Others blow the human spirit into the foetus four months after conception, and still others take the human spirit at the time of its death, by Allah’s permission. There are other angels that have various responsibilities.1
There are two main points of difference between the Islamic and Christian views of angels. In Islamic teachings, angels are noble and free of sin, yet righteous Muslims hold a greater status in the eyes of Allah. The angels were commanded to bow to Adam (pbuh) due to his superior knowledge, and they all did as they were commanded. Christians, on the other hand, believe that angels are of two kinds: good/obedient and evil/disobedient. That is how they justify their belief that Satan is a ‘fallen angel’―an evil angel who disobeyed God.
1 For more detail, see al-Uthaymeen, Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Islaam.
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According to Islamic belief, both angels and human beings are creatures of Allah, and both are obliged to worship Him. Angels have no choice, though; they worship Allah and never disobey Him, so they commit no sins. Thus, the second main point of difference between the Christian and Islamic views of angels is that of free will. Whereas angels have no free will, human beings do, so humans might choose to obey Allah, to be sinful, or to follow some commandments while disobeying others.
1.3 Belief in the scriptures
This article of faith refers to belief in all the scriptures as revealed in their original form by Allah to His messengers. Revealed scriptures form the enlightenment which the messengers received to show their people the right path to Allah. All the revealed books call to the worship of Allah alone, and they forbid the worship of anything in place of, or in addition to, Him. They contain guidance for humankind in all aspects of life. They define right and wrong, and they offer human beings a complete system of beliefs and practices to govern all their affairs. The Creator alone knows best what is beneficial for His creation and what is not. Thus, the divine laws contained in those scriptures command and prohibit various acts and substances in order to protect the human spirit, human body, and human society from harm. Human beings need to abide by Allah’s commandments, as documented in His revealed books, in order to fulfil their potential by living a righteous life.
The original texts of the revealed books do not differ from each other in their main doctrinal principles. However, due to the differences among nations in terms of time and place, there were some differences in the practical teachings (laws) of the scriptures, according to the wisdom of Allah. Their basic message, however, remains the same.
12 The beautiful teachings of Islam
Muslims believe in the previous books as mentioned in the Quran: the Scripture of Abraham (pbuh), the Torah of Moses (pbuh), the Psalms of David (pbuh), and the Gospel of Jesus (pbuh). The following verse from the noble Quran emphasizes the fact that belief in all the previous scriptures sent by Allah is an integral part of the Islamic belief system:
{Say [O believers]: We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.} (Quran 2: 136)
Long before the coming of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh), all of these scriptures had been either lost or irrevocably corrupted by later generations, over the centuries, with myths, superstitions, idolatry, and irrational philosophical beliefs. The existing forms of those scriptures contain contradictions and hence cannot be described as Allah’s revelation.
The Bible, for example, is composed of many books written by various authors. The scripture that was revealed to Jesus (pbuh) has undergone so many changes that today we have the four well-known Gospels instead of one Gospel.
These were written between 40 and 115 years after Jesus (peace be upon him) had left and are based on documents that have been lost. The Gospel according to Mark was the first one written in Rome, at least 40 years after the disappearance of Jesus (peace be upon him). The Gospel according to Matthew was written in the Greek Language about 90 years after Christ. The Gospel according to Luke was written in Greece approximately 80 years after Christ. These three Gospels are called Synoptic because they originate from the same lost document and they have a lot in common. The Gospel according to John, on the other hand, has deep
The six articles of Islamic faith 13
differences with the Synoptic Gospels. It is in this Gospel of John where the Divinity and pre-existence of Jesus (peace be upon him) was mentioned, even though Jesus himself never claimed this. This Gospel was written between the years 110 and 115 CE.2
Analysis of these Gospels reveals the following:
1. There exist no written documents dating from the period of Jesus’ lifetime that record his sayings, actions, or lectures.
2. The Gospels were written 40-115 years after Jesus’ ‘disappearance’ and were based on documents that have since been lost. As a consequence, there was manipulation of the content.
3. The historical record of the Gospels points to the fact that they were written by people who never knew, saw, heard, or met Jesus. (They are named as Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John, although their actual identities are not known.) What they narrated as the Gospels was actually based on what they heard from the preceding generations. This points to the fact that the original message revealed to Jesus, which was in his possession, did not exist later (after his ascension). Otherwise, there would be no need for people to write it.
4. The Gospels were written in Greek, whereas Jesus (pbuh) spoke Aramaic; since they do not record his original speech, they cannot be the words of Allah.
5. For at least 100 years after the Gospels were written, they did not have any canonical authority. During this time, writers from different sects changed them in order to suit their own agendas.
2 Abdul Razak, Study Guide, Comparative Study — Islam and Christianity.
14 The beautiful teachings of Islam
6. The clearest evidence of biblical distortion is the revision of the Bible to the extent that every edition is different from the previous one.
7. There is a lack of authentication in documenting the original text of the Bible.
8. The present Gospels, seen as a whole, are full of contradictions.3
These factors have been brought up here in order to demonstrate that the Gospel of Jesus (pbuh), meaning his original message that was revealed by Allah, has not reached us in its original form. It can be affirmed that the four Gospels included in today’s Bible cannot be considered equivalent, or even similar, to the inspired message given to Jesus (pbuh). Based on these historical facts, these four Gospels should be treated as historical writings, like the other books in the New Testament, not as the true scripture (word of Allah) that was revealed to Jesus.4
Distortion of the Old Testament
Moving to the Old Testament texts, there are many verses that describe the Lord with weak and negative attributes. Some of them are even curses! This clearly indicates that the Old Testament cannot be the word of God because the Lord would not undermine Himself in the books He revealed to His people. The Lord is perfect, and hence His book must be perfect and free from contradictions.
3 Source for points 1-7: Caraballo, My Great Love for Jesus Led Me to Islam, 14-15.
4 At one time, there were a number of Gospels, but only four are accepted as part of today’s Bible. Some scholars believe that these were chosen by the First Council of Nicaea, convened by the Roman Emperor Constantine in 325 CE.
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In the twelve passages cited below, a series of nine examples prove conclusively to the sincere researcher that the current Old Testament is not the true Old Testament, the revelation that was in Jesus’ hands. It is the word of ‘men’, not the word of ‘God’, the Lord.5
1. Here it says that the Lord acted as if he had slept and drunk wine! If this verse is true, then who controlled the universe while He acted this way?
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine. (Psalm 78:65)
2. Here it says that the Lord will not hear. This is not an appropriate characteristic for Allah.
Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? (Habakkuk 1:2)
3. Here it says that the Lord forgets.
How long, O Lord, Will you forget me forever? (Psalm 13:1)
4. Here the Bible says that the Lord was not strong enough to displace some people because their chariots were made of iron.
And the Lord was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but he could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain because they had chariots of iron. (Judges 1:19)
5. Here it attributes more negative characteristics to the Lord.
Therefore will I lament and howl: I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and a mourning like the ostriches. (Micah 1:8)
5 The great researcher Ahmed Deedat had a book titled 50,000 Errors in the Bible, which is available online.
16 The beautiful teachings of Islam
6. These two verses say that the Lord got tired after creating the heavens and earth and then had to rest. This attribute fits the human being, not the Lord, Who is the Most Strong.
…In six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:17)
And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. (Genesis 2:2)
But the following verse contradicts the previous two verses:
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40:28)
7. Here it says that the Lord will sound the trumpet. Is this fit for the Lord?
…The Lord God will sound the trumpet and will march forth in the whirlwinds of the south. (Zechariah 9:14)
8. Here it implies that the Lord has failed and is hurt.
For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and I will bring distress on them, that they may feel it.” Woe is me because of my hurt! My wound is grievous. But I said, “Truly this is an affliction, and I must bear it.” My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken; my children have gone from me, and they are not; there is no one to spread my tent again and to set up my curtains. (Jeremiah 10:18-20)
9. Psalm 89:38-46 describes the Lord acting badly against Jesus!
38 But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed.
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39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust.
40 You have breached all his walls; you have laid his strongholds in ruins.
41 All who pass by plunder him; he has become the scorn of his neighbours.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You have also turned back the edge of his sword, and you have not made him stand in battle.
44 You have made his splendor to cease and cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short the days of his youth; you have covered him with shame.
46 How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?
10. Here is the cursing of a prophet (Balaam) in the Bible! Could this be the word of God? Could it happen that God sends a prophet and then rebukes him for his transgressions and then accuses him of not being in his right mind?
but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. (2 Peter 2:16)
11. Genesis 19:30-38 narrates a very wicked story about a prophet (Lot). According to this, his daughters got him drunk and then had sexual relations with him while he was unaware of it; they both bore children as a result. Even a very indecent person would not do this.
12. Here is a Biblical curse for the Prophet Solomon:
18 The beautiful teachings of Islam
Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. (1 Kings 11: 1-6)
There are hundreds of verses in the Bible which are against logic and common sense.
Biblical proofs of the Bible’s distortion
The Old Testament itself clearly testifies that it was altered by humans. God (Allah) is quoted as saying:
How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us’? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie. (Jeremiah 8:8)
Who distorted the Bible (Old and New Testaments)?
Dr Bilal Philips has explained:
About five years after the end of Jesus’ ministry, a young rabbi by the name of Saul of Tarsus, who claimed to have seen Jesus in
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a vision, began to change Jesus’ way. Paul (his Roman name) had considerable respect for Roman philosophy and he spoke proudly of his own Roman citizenship. His conviction was that non-Jews who became Christians should not be burdened with the Torah in any respect. The author of Acts 13:39 quotes Paul as saying: And by him every one that believes is freed from everything which you could not be freed by the Law of Moses. It was primarily through the efforts of Paul that the Church began to take on its non-Jewish character. Paul wrote most of the New Testament letters (epistles), which the Church accepts as the official doctrine and inspired Scripture. These letters do not preserve the Gospel of Jesus or even represent it, instead, Paul transformed the teachings of Christ into a Hellenic (Greco-Roman) philosophy.6
Based on these facts, it can easily be concluded that the Bible in its present form is no more than a collection of historical books written by various writers over many years. The accounts of the life of Jesus were written after his ascension, by men who never met him. (They are named as Mark, Matthew, Luke and John, although their actual identities are not known.) These are partial accounts, which contradict each other and have no authentication. The current version(s) of the Bible does not represent the original revelations and cannot be described as the word of God (Allah).
Many Christians have found that when they do research to discover the true teachings of God, the Bible cannot answer their questions. Dr David Liepert is a Canadian physician who began learning about Islam in order to convince Muslim co-workers that his Christian beliefs represented the truth. As he combed through the Bible, however, he was surprised to find that it did not contain the evidence for his beliefs that he had assumed was there. After a great
6 Philips, The True Message of Jesus Christ, 52-53.
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deal of soul-searching, and extensive research into Islam, he realized that it had the strongest evidence supporting it, and he embraced Islam as the true religion. His story is described in his book Choosing Faith.
Although the original revelations were not preserved and have been replaced with the current Bible (including the four Gospels attributed to Luke, Matthew, John, and Mark), the Old and New Testaments still contain some remnants of the original truth. The Quran confirms these parts, because it confirms the truth and denies all falsehood. Islamic teachings set out a criterion for either accepting or rejecting passages from the Bible, as described in the following verse:
{And We have revealed to you [O Muhammad] the book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the scripture and as a criterion over it...} (Quran 5: 48)
This verse emphasizes two main aspects of the Quran:
1) The Quran confirms only those teachings or passages of the previous scriptures whose meaning have remained intact.
2) The Quran is the final, complete, authoritative, and authentic revelation from Allah. It is the final arbiter and the only criterion to correct any inaccuracy or misinterpretation which might have occurred in the transmission of scriptures throughout the ages. It helps us to discover, expose, and disclose human additions to, or interpolations of, previous revelations. Indeed, one of the names of the Quran is al-Furqan (the criterion which distinguishes between right and wrong, truth and falsehood).
It follows, therefore, that Muslims have no reason to reject the essence of any passage in the Bible if such a passage is confirmed by the Quran. For example, we read in the New Testament a reiteration of one of the Ten Commandments:
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Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (Mark 12:29)
Muslims who read this passage in the Bible can find no objection to its essence. After all, the Quran confirms:
{Say: He is Allah, [Who is] One.} (Quran 112: 1)
{They have certainly disbelieved who say, “Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary,” while the Messiah has said, “O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” Indeed, he who associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.}
(Quran 5: 72)
If, however, Muslims read in the Bible (or in other previous scriptures, for that matter) accusations of major moral sins levied against great prophets, or doctrines which are totally negated in the Quran, they can accept only the Quranic version as the original unadulterated truth, revealed by Allah.
Distorting revelations is the biggest sin
The Quran has emphasized, in more than one verse, that distorting Allah’s revelation is a severe sin.
{So woe to those who write the ‘scripture’ with their own hands, then say: This is from Allah—in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.} (Quran 2: 79)
An important note
It should be noted that those who followed the scriptures in their pure and unadulterated forms, and then died before hearing the message of Islam, are considered to be on the right religion; they will have nothing to fear on the Day of Judgement.
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Revelation of the Quran
Following the distortion of the previous scriptures, Allah, the Most Compassionate, did not leave human beings to go astray without an unadulterated reference. Indeed, He revealed the Quran as the final revelation to humankind, and He promised to preserve it for all time. It is the word of Allah, which He revealed to Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) through the angel Gabriel (pbuh). It was revealed in parts (fragments) of different lengths over a period of twenty-three years. Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) recited the revelation to his Companions, who wrote it down during his lifetime on palm leaves, parchment, animal bones (the shoulder-blades of camels made a good writing surface), and flat stones. When he recited it to them, he indicated precisely where each revealed section belonged within the body of the complete revelation. In addition, the Quran was memorized by hundreds of Prophet Muhammad’s Companions. One year after the death of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) in 632 CE, the first caliph, Abu Bakr (d. 634 CE, may Allah be pleased with him), instructed the Prophet’s Companions to collect the whole Quran in one volume. Later, the third caliph, Uthman (d. 656 CE, may Allah be pleased with him), prepared several copies from the original text and sent them to the major centres of the Islamic civilization. One of these reproductions can still be found in Istanbul, Turkey.
From that time onwards, for more than 1400 years, the same Quranic text has been in use, with the exact same wording, order, and language (Arabic). Not a single word of its 114 chapters, 6200 verses, and approximately 80,000 words has been changed since it was revealed.7 Indeed, Allah has promised to preserve it forever:
7 This refers to the original Arabic Quran. There are differences in its translations because they are merely interpretations of its meaning by different individuals.
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{Indeed, it is We who sent down the Quran and indeed, We will be its guardian.} (Quran 15: 9)
Just ponder over the fact that the Quran, in its entirety, is memorized by millions of people, regardless of age, sex, social class, or ethnicity! It is the only book that has been thus preserved, not only on the shelf but in the hearts of humankind.
The Quran supersedes all previous scriptures. Allah has said to Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) about it:
{And We have revealed to you [O Muhammad] the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the scripture and as a criterion over it…} (Quran 5: 48)
An essential point to understand about the Quran is that it is a miracle in terms of both its revelation and its content. Since the time of its revelation, there have been those who denied the divine and miraculous nature of the Quran, saying that Muhammad (bpuh) was either taught by others or that he wrote it by himself! In order to counteract this claim, Allah has presented a challenge to the whole of humankind:
{And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our slave [Muhammad], then produce a chapter the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful.}
(Quran 2: 23)
This is one of the prophecies which the Quran accurately foretold, for no one, from the time of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) until this day, has been able to produce the like of one chapter or even one verse of the Quran. As such, Muslims do not need any other scriptures to base their faith on, either fully or partially. The Quran remains clear and easily understood by anyone who has a good command of the Arabic language, and even when the meanings of its words are translated into
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any of the world’s other languages, all of its legal injunctions and instructions are clear.
The entire Quran is a proclamation of monotheism
1. Some of the verses inform us about Allah: His names, attributes, acts, and speech. Those verses indicate the Oneness of Allah with respect to His most excellent names, essence, and perfect attributes.
2. Other verses point to the necessity of worshipping Allah alone, without any associate or partner, and of renouncing the worship of anything other than Him. These verses indicate the focus of worship and the necessity for people to single out their Lord in their intentions, when requesting His help and when turning to Him in repentance, for example.
3. The Quran also contains injunctions and prohibitions; doing something that has been enjoined or refraining from what has been prohibited is the fulfilment and perfection of the affirmation of the Oneness of Allah.
4. The Quran includes stories and information about prophets and other righteous people of true and sincere belief. It tells about their immediate rewards in the life of this world as well as the immense rewards reserved for them in the hereafter.
5. The Quran also contains stories about those who associate partners with Allah. It describes their punishment in this life and the punishment they are promised in the hereafter. These are the just deserts for those who deviate from the affirmation of Allah’s Oneness.
The Prophet’s teachings
The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) are the second source of Islamic knowledge, after the noble Quran. They explain and elaborate
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on the Quranic verses. They also explain, in minute detail, the manner of worship as performed by the Prophet (bpuh). The Prophet’s statements provide further clarification and details as to how to fulfil what Allah has ordered and refrain from what He has forbidden. These teachings have been meticulously collected and reported by the Prophet’s Companions (may Allah be pleased with all of them).
Preservation of Islamic teachings
Preventing Islamic teachings from alteration does not stop at the preservation of the Quranic text; it is also forbidden to introduce into the Prophet’s guidance (by saying or writing) anything that is contrary to its premise, values, or teachings.
The Prophet (bpuh) said:
«Whoever introduces into this matter (the Islamic teachings) something that does not belong to it, shall find it rejected.» (Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim)
«One of the Prophet’s Companions said: The Prophet (bpuh) gave us a highly effective admonition, such that many of us were tearful and felt our hearts shudder.
Someone said to him: O Messenger of Allah! This sounds like the admonition of someone bidding his audience farewell. Please outline for us what you recommend.
The Prophet (bpuh) said: I urge you to always remain conscious of Allah (God-fearing), and to listen to and obey your leaders, even if the leader is an Abyssinian slave. Any of you who lives long will witness much strife and conflict, so hold tight to my way and the way followed by the Rightly-Guided Caliphs.8 Hold on to it and bite it with your molars (do not let go of it), and steer away from any innovation (in religious affairs and laws), for such innovations are deviations
8 He meant specifically the four caliphs who came after him.
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(from the right path).» (An authentic hadith recorded by Ibn Hibban, Abu Dawood, and Tirmidhi)9
Thus, in matters of religion, one is not permitted to change fundamental principles of Islamic teachings. Whatever is contrary to them is wrong and unacceptable. With this strict protection, Islam has been kept as it was revealed, pure from myths and superstitions as well as from changes that reflect the whims of people and leaders.
1.4 Belief in the messengers of Allah
Allah has conveyed His message through prophets and messengers, individual human beings who were selected by Allah to be examples of how the scriptures were to be understood and implemented. Prophets demonstrated practically, for their followers, how they should live in accordance with the law. The way of the prophets is the only way to Allah, because it is the way prescribed by Allah Himself. Without prophets, people would not know Allah, His attributes, or how to worship Him.
The role of the prophets can be summarized as follows:
1. Receive the message from Allah.
2. Deliver this message to the people.
3. Advise people to fear Allah and abide by His commandments.
4. Advise people who have deviated, disobeyed Allah, or worshipped anything or anyone other than Him, to repent and to obey and worship Him only.
5. Inform people about the fundamental aspects of faith.
6. Teach detailed religious and moral tenets to their followers.
9 hadith: a statement or action of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) that was remembered and recorded by his Companions and followers.
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7. Be a model for their people, and lead them to eternal paradise.
Allah, the Exalted, has sent a prophet or prophets to every nation; their duty was to convey the message that He alone should be worshipped and that worshipping anything instead of, or along with, Him is false and unacceptable. The Quran and Hadith have mentioned twenty-seven prophets (see Illustration 1), while indicating that many others existed but were not mentioned by name. The first of these prophets was Adam, and the last was Muhammad (bpuh). May Allah’s mercy and peace be upon all the prophets.
Every prophet was sent to a specific people and a specific era. For example, in the present day Bible, Jesus says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24)
Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) was an exception in that he was sent as the last and final messenger until the hour of judgement. The proofs that Muhammad (bpuh) was a messenger of Allah are innumerable, and all have been mentioned in detailed biographical material about his life. The greatest proof is the miracle of the Quran, which could not have been written by any human and could not have been conveyed by anyone other than a Messenger of Allah (bpuh).
Indeed, the books of the Bible mention the coming of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh), in spite of the changes which have been introduced in their content.10
The Quran and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) relate, with reverence, the lives of many of these prophets. Prophet Muhammad (bpuh), the last prophet, remains the absolute example for his followers, and his teachings were further elucidated through the practice of his Rightly-Guided successors. The Prophet (bpuh)
10 See Chapter 15 of al-Rassi, The Amazing Prophecies of Muhammad (bpuh) in the Bible: Twenty-Eight Proofs from the Bible of Muhammad’s Prophethood.
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continuously encouraged his followers to follow his way, and he warned against conflict over Islamic principles and values. This was to ensure that his followers would not deviate from the right path, as did the followers of previous prophets.
Prophet Muhammad’s followers owe him two things: obedience and love.
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Illustration 1: The prophets mentioned by name in the Quran. Joshua is also listed here, although he was named in the Hadith and not in the Quran.
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Obedience to the Prophet (bpuh)
Obedience to the Prophet (bpuh) has been mentioned in thirty different verses of the Quran. It implies following his commands and avoiding what he prohibited. Obedience to the Prophet (bpuh) indicates the true fulfilment of the second part of the declaration that brings a person into Islam, “I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger.”
When we examine what the Prophet (bpuh) encouraged, urged, or ordered, we find that it is all from Allah and that it leads to something good for us personally, for others who are close to us, for our families, or for our wider community, whether it is the Muslim community in general or humanity at large. He has only prohibited what is harmful or of no benefit, such as adultery, gambling, drinking alcohol, lying, being disrespectful to parents, and so on. In many statements, the Prophet (bpuh) prohibited satanic ways such as these because these tend to pull a person away from the right path.
Good believers reach a state of mind in which their desires and pleasures in this life are in line with what Allah wants from them. Every individual should be obedient to Allah and His Prophet (bpuh) and should strictly observe the instructions from Allah. One’s faith develops and grows through following Islamic teachings and performing acts of worship, whereas it decays and suffers from a spiritual loss if these teachings and acts of worship are abandoned.11
Loving the Prophet (bpuh)
Islam teaches that loving the Prophet is part of the Islamic faith. The Prophet (bpuh) has been quoted as saying:
11 Compiled from Caraballo, My Great Love for Jesus Christ Led Me to Islam.
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«None of you is a true believer unless I am dearer to him than his parents, his children, and all other people.»
(Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (bpuh) also said:
«There are three qualities which are certain to give anyone the sweetness of faith: to love Allah and His Messenger more than anyone else, to love a person for no purpose other than for Allah’s sake, and to hate to relapse into disbelief after Allah has saved him from it as much as one would hate to be thrown into the fire.»
(Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim)
We are required to love Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) more than all others (except Allah) because it was through him that we learned Who Allah is, along with His attributes, our position in relation to Him, what He wants from us, and how to worship Him. The Prophet (bpuh) has guided us, through practical examples, along the way; following him is certain to earn us Allah’s acceptance and the ultimate bliss. He has spared us the worst calamity that can ever befall anyone, which is incurring Allah’s anger and punishment. He sacrificed everything— his health, his wealth, and his whole life—to deliver Allah’s message to us. If we realize all this, how can we not love him more than we love ourselves and all others?
We love Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) because he was, as described in the Quran, a ‘mercy for all nations’. His compassion extended to all, whether they were friends or enemies. Consider this: his enemies often had a change of heart and became his beloved Companions and followers. They embraced Islam, saying that his character proved he was a true Messenger of Allah (bpuh).
It should be noted that we must love Allah more than we love the Prophet (bpuh); the Prophet (bpuh) comes only after Allah. Loving Allah, the Prophet (bpuh), and his followers is an act of worship for which we will be rewarded. The reverse is also true: hating Allah or His Prophet (bpuh) will expel us from the bounds of Islam.
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Correspondingly, hating those who hate Allah or the Prophet (bpuh) is part of Islamic belief, for which we will be accounted and rewarded.
It needs to be clarified here that the emotion of ‘hate’ that is referred to in this context is not the commonly known, evil type of hate which is an imperfect human emotion; rather, it is the type of hate that perfects one’s faith when directed—in the right measure—against those who take a defiant stance against the Creator and His chosen messengers. It is a lot like the negative feeling one has towards the actions of a person who defies and abuses his or her elderly parents in an evil manner, or towards the efforts of an outlaw who fights the justice system and spreads fear and corruption in society. It is clear that hating the actions of such individuals is a natural feeling that good people are expected to have. Although Islam teaches love in all its forms, it also instructs faithful believers not to love those who do not love Allah and His messengers, until they change their ways—in which case, they are commanded to love them! In a nutshell, a Muslim loves and hates for Allah’s sake. Here is an important fact about this emotion of hate: a Muslim is instructed not to hate anyone for personal reasons. If a Muslim is insulted by anyone, he or she is encouraged to forgive; surely, there is a great difference between hate for the sake of Allah (a well-placed emotion) and hate for self-satisfaction (a destructive emotion). Keep in mind that expressing our feelings of hate or revulsion at the refusal of our fellow human beings to believe in Allah’s Oneness and to follow the monotheistic teachings of His prophets should be part of a positive and pro-active approach to those who disbelieve. We pray for them to be guided to the truth; at the same time, we need to work for that and work with them towards that.
The love we should have for the Prophet (bpuh) must be genuine love, not a mere verbal statement. It should be supported and proven
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by our obedience, by following his commands and avoiding what he prohibited.
1.5 Belief in the Last Day
Islam teaches that this life is only a test of conduct for each of us, to see whether or not we will follow the commands of Allah. In the hereafter, we all will be resurrected to stand before Allah for a just reckoning of the deeds and actions we performed during our life on this earth. People with good deeds will be generously rewarded and warmly welcomed to Allah’s heaven, but those whose records are overwhelmed with bad deeds will be punished and cast into hell. We have been given knowledge of right and wrong, instinctively and through revelation; we must choose our own path in this short life. Our choices in this life will ultimately determine our places in the eternal life to come. Allah has said in the Quran:
{So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.} (Quran 99: 7-8)
Belief in the Day of Judgement causes the consciousness of Allah to be implanted in the human heart. It impels individuals and society at large to obey Him sincerely, without any external pressure.
In effect, the hereafter for any individual starts right after his or her soul departs from the body. Shortly after the burial, two angels come to the grave and ask the following three questions (as in a final examination):
Who is your Lord?
What is your religion?
Who is your prophet?
Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) said that the believer (one who believes in all six articles of faith) will not have any difficulty answering these questions correctly, while the unbeliever will not be
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able to do so. Depending upon the result, the deceased will begin either to suffer or to enjoy his or her stay in the grave, which will either expand (to give comfort to) or contract (to torture) its occupant. (As narrated in hadiths recorded by Bukhari and Ahmad)
1.6 Belief in predestination
This includes the following beliefs:
a) Allah knows everything. His knowledge is not bound by time; the past, present, and future are all known to Him.
b) Everything that takes place is already written in a book called the ‘Preserved Tablet’.
c) Allah has created everything, including our actions, both good and bad. He has commanded us to do good deeds, though, and has forbidden us from doing evil; hence we will be rewarded or punished based on our choice of good or bad actions.
d) Everything that happens in this universe is happening with Allah’s permission, and nothing can take place against His will.
It should be noted that Allah’s prior knowledge is not the same as control; it does not mean that we human beings have no free will. We choose, but Allah knows in advance what choices we will make and what actions we will take. He merely allows us to follow through with our decisions.
