A Muslim differs from all other types of people on earth; they worship and prostrate to other than Allah; some of them worship the sun, the moon, stars, cows, and idols, such as those who worship Buddha. Conversely, a Muslim worships only Allah and believes that He is All-Capable; He is the All-Powerful; the Almighty; the Omnipotent; the Holy; the All-Dominant; the Sustainer; the Creator; the Causer of Death and the Granter of life. All these things reflect on the life of the believer and make him different to all other types of people on earth.

People usually attribute being cured to the doctor who treated them; they believe that he is the one who causes the sick to be cured, but a Muslim firmly believes that it is Allah who cures, and that the medical treatment is only to be used as a way of utilising the worldly means that Allah has commanded us to utilise.

Indeed Allah has ordered us to use all lawful means along with having the firm belief that they are only means, and that He is the One who actually causes these means to be effective, or stops their effect. Even in the case of those who go to pious people for them to recite the Quran over them as a means of treatment against an evil eye, envy or being possessed by a Jinn, a Muslim does not and should not believe that these pious people are the ones who have the ability to cure; rather, this lies solely with Allah.

The story of the People of the Trench is a clear evidence to prove this point; Allah honoured the boy in the story and gave him the ability to treat and cure people by His will.

The story is as follows: There once lived a king who had a court magician. As the magician grew old, he said to the disbelieving king: “I have grown old, send a boy to me so that I can teach him magic.” This magician wanted to make certain of having a successor who would also trick the people - so that the king could continue deceiving the people and forcing them to worship him. The king sent a boy to him so that he could train him in magic.

This story occurred in the interval between the era of the message of the Prophet Muhammad  and that of ‘Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention. The message of ‘Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, had been distorted and altered through time, and many people diverted from what ‘Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, came with.

Going back to the story: On his way to the magician, the boy found a monk sitting on the path. The boy listened to the monk's words and was impressed. He asked the monk about what he was saying and was informed that the words were from the message of monotheism with which ‘Eesaa, may Allah exalt his mention, came. Therefore, it became the habit of the boy to visit the monk on the way to each of his visits to the magician. This caused him to be late for the magician and so the magician would beat him. He complained about this to the monk and so the monk said to him: "When you feel afraid of the magician, say to him: Members of my family detained me, and when you feel afraid of your family, you should say: The magician detained me."

One day, it so happened that a huge beast of prey blocked the way of the people, and so the boy said: "I will come to know today whether it is the magician who is superior or the monk." He picked up a stone and said: “O Allah! If the affair of the monk is dearer to You than the affair of the magician, cause death to this animal so that the people would be able to move about freely.” He threw the stone towards the beast and killed it, and so the people could move along the path freely. This boy was then enabled by Allah to perform supernatural acts, such as bringing back the senses to the blind, deaf, and mute; he could also cure people afflicted with leprosy and all other types of sicknesses. The monk then said to him: “Son! Today you are superior to me. Your affair has reached a stage where I find that you will soon be put to a trial, and in case you are put to a trial, don't give any clue regarding myself.” A companion of the king who had gone blind heard about the boy, and so he came to him with numerous gifts and said: “If you cure all these problems, then everything that is collected here (i.e., the gifts) are yours.” The boy replied: “I myself do not cure anyone. It is Allah who cures, and if you affirm faith in Allah, I shall supplicate to Him to cure you.” The king’s companion affirmed his faith in Allah and Allah cured him.

Some people go to doctors, believing that the cure lies in their hands, which is a contradiction of sound belief; some of them say to the doctor whilst a relative of theirs is dying: ‘Doctor! Try harder to rescue him!’ This reflects weakness in faith and can lead to them associating with Allah; people ought to pay attention to this issue and must have it firm in their minds and hearts.

When one firmly believes that Allah is the Sustainer and Provider, he will never humble himself to anyone thinking that his sustenance lies in that person's hands, or that that person can deprive him from his provisions. Allah is the only One who can stop provisions, or decrease or increase them, and people are nothing but a means. Some people address their managers or company owners in a tone that reflects their belief that they are the ones who control their provisions, and if they (i.e., the owners or managers) were to dismiss them, they would rush to them, begging them not to prevent his provisions; but the fact is that Allah is the One in whose Hands lie the people’s provisions.

Similarly, ruling and legislating exclusively belong to Allah, because He Says (what means): “…The decision is only for Allah…” [Quran 6:57] Thus, one who resorts to other than Islamic rulings in order to solve his problems or disputes, while accepting such man made rulings, has exited from the fold of Islam. His eminence Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Baaz  said: “One who believes that it is lawful to use legislation other than that set by Allah, or believes that other legislations are better than that of Allah, or who even believes that they are equally good, is a disbeliever."

One of the apostates said: “French law is part of the four schools of Islamic law.” This is a mockery of Islamic legislation.

Many people have committed prohibitions after having accepted resorting to other than Islamic legislation; this is why we see some people giving Fatwas that Ribaa (interest or usury) is permissible and that the interest rate is a form of profit; these people began naming things with other than their real names in order to pass such rulings. Many people were confused when some of these rulings were passed with such unfamiliar names given to the prohibitions in order to make them lawful, such as the name 'profit' for Ribaa, 'talent' for singing and music, 'art' for making statues and idols, 'spiritual drinks' for intoxicants, and so on. Those who pass these rulings, and those who propagate them, have sold their faith for worldly gains, whether these gains are in terms of wealth or positions. They have forgotten the Day in which they will stand before Allah for reckoning. What will their situation be then, after having misguided millions by their words and Fatwas?Not all people can differentiate between the truth and misguidance; some follow others simply based on trust, and such people, who misguide others, will therefore shoulder the responsibility of their sins, as Allah Says (what means): “That they may bear their own burdens [i.e., sins] in full on the Day of Resurrection and some of the burdens of those whom they misguide without [i.e., by lack of] knowledge. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear.” [Quran 16: 25]

Resorting to the Quran and the Sunnah is not an optional matter; one has no choice in this matter. Under no circumstances can any Muslim take his legislation and rulings from any other sources, otherwise, he cannot even be called a Muslim.

Another issue that is related to faith is bowing down to other than Allah, such as what some people do during their martial arts training where they bow down to their instructor. This is prohibited because it reflects submission to other than Allah.

Islam instils honour and dignity in the hearts of Muslims, and it is only Islam that can grant such honour and dignity; therefore, those who resort to the disbelievers for support and assistance are in reality humiliating themselves. These Muslims may feel honour under the protection of these disbelievers, but in reality they are humiliated and have become slaves to them; they follow their commands precisely and cannot do other than what they are commanded to by them.

After the death of the Prophet  the Muslims conquered the two most powerful forces on earth at the time: the Romans and the Persians. The Muslims ruled and commanded for a very long time after the Prophet  but now they live an era of weakness, and others have power and control the world; but for how long have these disbelievers had control? Two to three hundred years. We Muslims had power for more than a thousand! Allah has decreed that we would now be living in an era of weakness, but we must always remember the saying of Allahwhich means: “…And these days [of varying conditions] We alternate among the people…” [Quran 3: 140]

One who reads the narrations that address the last days before the Hour and the signs that precede them can realise that we are very close to the final confrontation against the disbelievers. This confrontation will undoubtedly occur, but the Muslims need some time to prepare, strengthen and educate themselves regarding their religion. It will take much more than a day or two, it could take years, during which the efforts of those who are sincere will appear; whether it is their teaching, calling to Islam or performing Jihaad, each in his own field, until the decree of Allah comes for the moment of strength and power for the Muslims, and they regain control, as the Prophet  said: “Allah enabled me to see the east and the west, and the control of my Nation will reach as far as I was enabled to see.”

Al-Miqdaad ibn Al-Aswad, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet  said: “There will not remain a house on earth, made of clay or wool, but Allah will make Islam enter it, with which He will honour those who accept Islam, and humiliate those who reject it.” [Ibn Hibbaan]

We are currently living in an era where the Muslims are oppressed and overpowered, but will we live long enough to see and enjoy the victory of the Muslims? Allah knows best. Allah Says what means: “…And ever is the command of Allah a destiny decreed.” [Quran 33: 38]

We believe that everything that takes place has been decreed before our creation, and indeed before the creation of the Heavens and earth, and having this belief is one of the qualities of a Muslim and a believer. Believing in the unseen is one of the first qualities by which Allah describes and praises the true believers. He Says what means: “Alif, Laam, Meen. This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah. Who believe in the unseen, establish the Prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them.” [Quran 2: 1-3]

Due to the fact that Muslims have been receiving information from poisoned sources, they have started doubting many things - including some fundamentals of Islam. For example, no one could dare argue the prohibition of Ribaa in the past, but after people became exposed to untrustworthy sources, they saw no problem in arguing about some of these fundamentals. An example of this is when a man came to me recently and asked me: “What is the proof from the Quran that intoxicants are prohibited?” I replied: "Allah Says what means: “O you who have believed! Indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.” [Quran 5: 90] He said: “Yes, Allah Says avoid it, but He does not Say 'abstain from it' as a prohibition.” This is pure ignorance, because he did not know the meaning of 'avoid' here, he did not know that the word 'avoid' in this context is stronger in conveying the meaning than the word 'abstain'; this lack of understanding is due to people’s ignorance.

One feels that the narration which mentions the estrangement of Islam certainly applies to our time. The Prophet  said: “Islam began as something strange and it will return as strange as it started.” [Ibn Hibbaan] Indeed it is a strange thing nowadays to adhere to Islamic legislations because people have removed them from their daily lives, their legal rulings, and all other aspects of their lives. A Muslim is looked at as being strange when he adheres to Islam and sticks to his faith; he is looked at as extreme when he adheres to his Islamic attire and calls people to adhere to the Sunnah. Estrangement is of different levels, according to the strength with which one sticks to his religion; conversely, those who are loose in their commitment to Islam are not criticised openly, but deep inside, others degrade those who give up their principles under pressure. A Muslim is proud of his faith and would never give it up under any circumstances.

A Muslim is serious and straightforward; his behaviour is constant, regardless of which class of person he is in the presence of; he never changes his commitment, regardless of the circumstances. Conversely, some people have two scales of measure when they deal with others: when they meet righteous people, they appear as if they are committed and so they pray and perform a variety of other good deeds in their presence, but as soon as they meet evil company, they begin listening to music with them and indulge in many other prohibitions. Such people think that they are being wise and intelligent, but in reality it is hypocrisy.

Some Muslims completely change when they travel abroad; as soon as they arrive in a foreign country and leave the aircraft, their ladies take off their Hijab, and when they return, they put it back on, as if it is a community custom and not a command from Allah that has to be implemented during all times and under all circumstances. Our Lord is One, regardless of our location; He sees us wherever we go; He knows what we conceal and what we do or say openly.

When Ramadan arrives, one witnesses some people in that month praying, fasting and reciting the Quran, but as soon as the last day is over, their lives totally flip to the opposite; we are not suggesting that people should not perform these righteous deeds during Ramadan, but rather, what we are saying is that people should always perform such deeds, while increasing in them during the month of Ramadan. What is the mistake? The mistake is that people abstain from prohibitions during this month and adhere to obligations, whereas before and after it, they commit all prohibitions and abstain from fulfilling their Islamic obligations.

Such behaviour reflects deficiency and misconceptions in people's understanding of Islam as well as their faith. The fact that they can so easily fluctuate between good and evil, and vice versa, reflects serious problems – namely that worship has no effect on them, which means that they did not perform it with attentive hearts.

The condition of a Muslim can never change this easily between two extremes; he is rather in continuous righteousness, recitation of the Quran, the five daily prayers, spending in charity, mentioning Allah in the mornings and in the evenings, and upon entering the mosque and leaving it; he also mentions Allah whenever he enters his house or leaves it, before eating and after finishing, when he hears thunderstorms, or sees lightening, and so on. All day long and under all circumstances he performs different types of worship.

Islam always connects the person with his Lord, and warns against being heedless of Allah under any circumstances. This is illustrated by the saying of the Prophet : “Any people who sit in a gathering during which they do not mention the name of Allah, it will be as if they ate from a dead donkey, and they will bitterly regret it.” This makes the Muslim attentive and heedful of Allah.

Additionally, a Muslim conceals his sin if he were to commit one, unlike those who openly commit sins, or, if they were not seen by others doing it, they afterwards go and boast about it to others.

Finally, a Muslim is attentive whenever he hears the verses of the Quran during a prayer or in a lecture - he endeavours to implement as much as he can from what he hears.