How does the Qur'an differ from other Scriptures?
the qur'an was revealed over 1400 years ago. it states in no uncertain terms that it is a revelation from god conveyed by the angel gabriel to prophet muhammad. it is regarded, not only by muslims but by scholars of religion and historians, as the most authentic religious text in existence today. unlike earlier scriptures the qur'an has been preserved unchanged in its original arabic text since the time of revelation, as god had promised within it.[1]
history witnessed the fulfillment of that promise, for the book of god remains to date exactly as it was revealed to the prophet and recited by him. immediately memorized and recorded by large numbers of his companions, it was passed on in exactly the same form by thousands of muslims generation after generation up until the present day. the qur'an of today is literally the same scripture as was revealed to prophet muhammad. there is no other book in the history of man that in been memorized precisely and accurately, word for word, letter for letter, by millions of people over the centuries. this in itself is a miracle.
there is only one version of the qur'an; the same revealed words continue to be read, recited and memorized in their original arabic language by muslims throughout the world. translations of the meanings into other languages assist in understanding but cannot be called "the qur'an," as this term refers only to the actual revealed words of god.
the qur'an contains god's final message to humanity and legislation which encompasses all spheres of human life. it is allied to all peoples and all times. it appeals to logic, following clear reasoning and citing evidences from the created universe, from history and from the human soul to establish not only the existence of god but also his uniqueness and absolute perfection. it also contains answers to the questions which naturally occur to the human mind about the purpose of creation and what occurs after death.
it is the primary source of the islamic creed and its legislation. but in addition to religious guidance it contains numerous verses that speak of the universe, its components and phenomena - the earth, sun, moon, stars, mountains, wind, rivers and seas, plants, animals and successive stages of human development. as can be seen from examples in the previous chapter, the qur'an speaks with the perfect knowledge of the creator about his creation. being the final revelation to mankind, god has made the qur'an a continuing miracle containing evidences to be uncovered gradually as humans increase in knowledge of their universe.
but its main purpose is to guide mankind as to how one should relate to his creator, to his fellow men, and to the universe in general. it outlines the practical methods of earning the approval of god and obtaining peace and contentment in the permanent existence to come. by following its guidance, man can fully experience his human worth and his special position among created beings. the qur'an was revealed containing complete guidance in all matters of faith and its application to the affairs of human life in order that everyone might attain the happiness and contentment of this world and the next.
Didn't Muhammad write the Qur'an or borrow from the earlier scriptures?
opponents of islam sometimes allege that muhammad himself wrote the qur'an or that he copied or adapted it from previous scriptures. but it is known that the prophet's contacts with jews and christians was negligible before his emigration from makkah, and after it his role was that of a teacher, openly inviting the jews and christians to accept islam while pointing out how they had diverged from the true monotheism taught by their prophets.
it is true that there are some similarities between the qur'an and the bible, but this does not indicate that later prophets plagiarized from former ones. it merely reflects the common source, which is the creator of mankind, and the continuance of his basic message of monotheism. moreover, there was no arabic version of the bible in existence at the time of prophet muhammad. the earliest arabic version of the old testament is that of r. saadias gaon of 900 ce - more than 250 years after the death of prophet muhammad. and the oldest arabic version of the new testament was published by erpenius in 1616 ce - about 1000 years after his death.
historically and logically, it cannot be established that there was any human source for the qur'an or that the messenger of allah learned it from the jews or christians. his enemies kept a close watch on him hoping to find confirmation of their claim that he was a liar. but they could not point to a single instance when the prophet might have had secret meetings with people of other faiths.
it was a sign of muhammad's prophethood that he was illiterate. thus, he could not be credited with composing or editing the revelations, and suspicion that he learned what he preached from earlier scriptures is eliminated. at the time the qur'an was revealed, his contemporaries among the arabs, known for linguistic eloquence, acknowledged that its language was unique and distinctly different from the speech of muhammad, a man they knew well. the qur'an states that the prophet was an unlettered man, so if that had not been true, his opponents would surely have exposed him. there is, however, not a single report to this effect, and no one denied his illiteracy. at the same time, no one denied that the qur'an was unequaled in eloquence, impact and clarity, including those who rejected its message.
it is not difficult to verify that muhammad did not possess knowledge of many things mentioned in the qur'an, such as historical events, natural phenomena and future occurrences. the kind of information he conveyed could not have been obtained through reading and research, so it was obviously something that could only have come directly from the creator. the qur'an states in several places that muhammad and his people did not know these facts, so had it been otherwise, his adversaries would have capitalized on that claim to discredit him. Пп1у recently, within the last two centuries, have advancements in research technology led to the discovery of facts that were mentioned in the qur'an by the unlettered prophet over fourteen centuries ago. here are a few examples:
the creation of the universe from a single entity and of life from water: "have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and we separated them and made from water every living thing?"[1]
all creation is based on duality, made up of pairs, counterparts or opposites: "and of all things we created
two mates."[2]
the different natures of the sun and moon: "it is he [allah] who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases - that you may know the number of years and account [of time]."[3]
the rotation of the earth: "he created the heavens and earth in truth. he wraps the night over the day and wraps the day over the night.”[4]
the expansion of the universe: "and the heaven we constructed with strength, and indeed, we are [its]
expander."[5]
the sun is not stationary but moves in a specific direction for a limited term: "and the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point."[6]
these are words recited by muhammad, the unlettered prophet. the qur'an addresses recently established scientific facts with the precision of a scientist. could the most highly literate, well read or scholarly man of that period, or even of the centuries that followed, possibly have come up with anything similar?
Why should Muhammad be the Final Prophet? Haven't there been others after him?
prophethood is not something acquired by a person who proves himself worthy, nor is it granted in recognition of piety. prophethood is an office to which god appoints a man in order to fill a particular need. the qur'an mentions four conditions under which prophets were sent to the world:
when no prophet had ever been sent to a people before and no divine message had reached them
when the message of an earlier prophet had been forgotten by the people or the teachings of former prophets had been altered with time
when a second prophet was needed to assist a first one
when a people had not yet received complete instruction from god
in each of these cases a prophet was appointed to convey divine revelation, updating previous messages and correcting deviations that man had introduced into the religion of god.
after god's message was completed through revelation to muhammad and its preservation guaranteed, there was no further need for messengers to convey revelation; only for teachers and reformers to remind people of what god had revealed.[1]from the time of muhammad's prophethood, conditions in the world have been conducive to the transmission of god's message to all civilizations, making the appointment of additional prophets unnecessary. this final message has undergone no amendment or alteration by man; not a single word has been added to it or deleted from it.
if god intended to send another prophet after muhammad, he would have made that fact clear in the qur'an or commanded his messenger to declare that a prophet would follow him. but the qur'an clearly affirms that god has now completed his divine mission through prophet muhammad.[2]therefore, the office of prophethood has been canceled, enabling the world to unite in allegiance to the final prophet and obedience to god. for everyone who accepts muhammad as the divinely appointed final messenger will seek instruction only within the message he conveyed.
Do Muslims worship Muhammad?
islam is based on uncompromising monotheism. god alone is to be worshipped and nothing else, so muslims cannot worship muhammad or any other human being.[1]like all prophets he was a man, and despite his extraordinary accomplishments he never claimed divine status. rather, he always maintained that he was human like everyone else, that he poke nothing of his own accord, and that the qur'an was a message from god, revealed to him by god, to whom alone belongs all glory and praise. he never took personal credit for any success. all the principles he taught, the legislation he pronounced, and the great achievements for which he could have attained personal renown and advantage were attributed to the guidance and support of god alone.
muslims strive to follow the example of prophet muhammad. additionally, islam teaches muslims to respect all of god's prophets and messengers. however, respecting and loving them does not mean worshipping them, for all forms of worship must be directed only to the creator.
muhammad was himself a devout worshipper of god. he gave away everything he obtained in charity, fasted often, and would spend a great portion of the night in prayer. he was constantly aware of his lord, remembering him in every situation, and his words of praise and supplication reflected the highest degree of sincerity and servitude. his entire life was dedicated to the cause of god. he called on people to worship god alone, and insisted that they refer to him as merely a servant of god, telling his followers, "do not exaggerate in praise of me as the christians did with jesus, son of mary. i am only his servant, so say, 'the servant of allah and his messenger.
Are there sects in Islam?
islam is one path, has one direction, and is based on one methodology -- that which prophet muhammad taught according to the instruction he received from god. the religion god ordained for mankind was meant to be a unifying factor. in fact, he addressed mankind in the qur'an, saying:
"and this is my path, which is straight, so followit, and do not follow [other] ways for they willseparate you from his way."[1]
this divine command emphatically makes it binding on all muslims to be united as one community of believers; thus, all forms of schism and sectarianism are un-islamic.
the prophet's companions and following generations adhered very closely to the path of god, and thus he protected them from separating in this manner. but with later generations certain factors led to the emergence of divisions and divergence, among them: increasing concern with worldly affairs, the influence of non-muslim cultures, and political rivalries. initially, some small groups split off from the path adhered to by the majority of muslims. they introduced innovations into the religion and followed opinions differing from the original teachings of the prophet.
these schisms were rejected and opposed by the recognized scholars of islam and the majority of muslims, which meant that initially they were contained and that their influence did not become widespread during the major part of islamic history. the majority of muslims remained on the sunni[2]path, and whenever forms of deviation emerged among them, the pious scholars always hastened to oppose them and point out their error.
prophet muhammad foretold that such divergences would emerge. he warned against schism and instructed muslims to remain within the main body of islam.
nevertheless, over the centuries a number of people have deviated and corrupted their religion, forming sects that claim to belong to islam but whose stated beliefs are clearly contrary to it. some have distorted the concept of god and attributed to him what is unfitting or incompatible with his divine status - claiming, for example, that everything in existence is god or that he is incarnate or present within his creation, while the qur'an states that he is superior to his creation and distinct from it. and some have been misguided regarding various major tenets of islam to the degree that they no longer submit to god and obey him, while others have innovated and changed some of the prescribed forms of worship.
those sects which deviated from mainstream islam are not the same as the schools of islamic jurisprudence[3]which developed within it and are based on the immutable principles of the faith. these eminent schools of thought have provided a vision of the highest degree of scholarship for islamic legislation and serve to complement one another. differences and disagreements within the framework of islam do not become matters of partisanship and intolerance except among the extremely ignorant.
islam recognizes the individuality of human beings and that not all diversity of opinion and difference in analysis is negative. however, the kind of dissension that leads to divisions and sectarianism has been denounced in the qur'an:
"indeed, those who have divided their religion and become sects -you, [o muhammad], are not [associated] with them in anything. their affair is only [left] to allah; then he will inform them about what they used to do."[4]
although muslims now appear to be divided more than ever before, the number of divisions in islam remain fewer than in other religions. one can still find many islamic associations calling people to truth, proclaiming god's original message, and naming against that which is contrary to it. salvation does not depend on affiliation with any specific group but rather on true faith proven by obedience to god and upright conduct in the manner revealed by him.
Isn't Islam fatalistic?
muslims know that all things are from god and occur by his will. thus, they tend to worry less about material matters and view the life of this world in proper perspective. a muslim believer relies completely on god and knows that whatever happens is always for the best, whether he recognizes it or not, so he graciously accepts whatever cannot be changed.
however, this does not mean that a muslim sits around awaiting destiny and takes no positive action in life. on the contrary, islam demands action and effort to change every undesirable situation, and this is a requirement of the faith. it totally rejects the teaching that one should not go to a doctor when ill but only pray to god for cure. if human beings had no ability to act, god could not justly expect them to do and not to do certain things. far from being "fatalistic," islam teaches that man's main obligation in life is to exert effort in obedience to god, which includes seeking benefit and avoiding harm.
islam teaches that human beings should take positive action in life and supplement it with prayer. some people are lazy and careless and then blame the negative result on destiny or fate. some even say that if god had willed, they would not have sinned or committed crimes. all this is entirely incorrect because he has provided complete guidance and instruction on how to live and has ordered upright conduct at all times. god has not ordered anything that man cannot do or prohibited anything he cannot avoid because his justice is complete and perfect. each individual is held responsible within the limits of his own ability, but not beyond it.
although our deeds and our destiny are decreed by god and known to him, it does not mean he compels us to do anything. rather, he willed to give us options about our course of action; and thus, whatever decisions we make are within the framework ill his will. god knows what every person will choose to do and then allows him to do it, while not necessarily approving of his choice. while he does not call anyone to account for what is beyond his control, human beings are indeed responsible for every free choice they make, and they will find the consequences of their choices and actions in both this life and the next.
"cause and effect" is a natural law created by god to be utilized by his creatures. it is the law by which one's destiny is determined. so the destiny of each individual is predetermined by god, but it is also the direct result and consequence of his or her own choices and actions, and this is what the creator has willed and decreed.
Why should someone be a Muslim? Can't we follow any religion we please?
there are many people who follow the teachings of a religion as best they can and others who believe in god in some way without practicing any formal religion.[1]many have abandoned the thought that there could be any true religion because nearly all religions claim to be true. and some allow that all religions are legitimate paths to god and are acceptable to him. so how is islam different from other religions?
islam has several unique features which can be confirmed through deeper study:
islam is the only religion whose sources have remained free of human alteration and interference.
its divinely revealed scripture is in harmony with established facts of science, clearly bearing the signature of the creator of this universe.
islam provides answers to the essential fundamental questions which occur to the mind of every intelligent person, those related to the purpose of creation and life, and concerning a further existence after death.
islam is the only religion which insists upon worship of the creator alone and completely rejects the worship of any aspect of creation.
islam dispenses with all intermediaries between man and god and allows every individual to contact him directly, thus eliminating religious hierarchies and other sources of exploitation which have characterized the history of religions throughout the ages. in islam no cleric or establishment can come between a person and his creator.
while monotheistic faiths share a fundamental belief in god, their understanding of him differs greatly. islam declares that god is unique and in no way similar to any of his creation; nor does he merge with it in any form. his attributes are those of complete and absolute perfection without the slightest deficiency or limitation.
unlike other religions and ideologies which emphasize some aspects of human nature at the expense of others, islam accommodates the physical, intellectual and spiritual aspects of man. islamic beliefs and practices are natural and appeal to common sense. they present a balanced program of life that fulfills both physical and spiritual needs.
islam prohibits blind following without knowledge and is based upon evidence and logic. the rational mind is the basis for religious accountability and responsibility. all aspects of islamic belief are clear, without any obscurity or ambiguity. it contains no tenet that contradicts reason or observable reality, and it calls on people to study and contemplate as a means of strengthening faith.
islam's religious, moral, economic, political and social ethics are permanent and remain constant. they are governed by a set of unchanging principles which include such universal values as justice, freedom, equality, brotherhood and social responsibility. history provides an outstanding example in the model islamic society established by prophet muhammad and his companions and maintained for decades by devoted muslims, where truth and transparency, justice, and compassion were implemented as a vital expression of the religion.
islam also declares that it is the religion of truth, for this is stated unambiguously in the qur'an. however, the creator does not force his preference on anyone. he wants people to accept right guidance by their own choice and free will because that is what makes them worthy of his approval and reward. the qur'an states:
" there is no compulsion in [accepting] religion. the truth has been made distinct from falsehood."[2]
"had allah willed, he would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [he intended] to test you in what he has given you; so hasten to [all that is] good. to allah is your return all together
Are the Good Deeds of Non-believers Rewarded?
prophet muhammad disclosed that god rewards according to the intention of each individual. the non-believer expects to be rewarded for his deeds in the present life because he denies or doubts the existence of another life after his death. thus, he is keen that people should recognize what he does; when he is praised and his deed publicized, he is pleased, for this is the reward he sought. he might also obtain a sum of money in payment for it or a prize. this is the compensation he likes most, and god grants it to him. but he is not given additional reward in the hereafter simply because he neither desired it nor worked for it.
the believer, on the other hand, is not duly concerned with compensation in this life because he is striving for the greater eternal reward of the hereafter. he does so by worshipping god as he stipulated and by working patiently, honestly and correctly to the best of his ability, even when no person appreciates his efforts. because his deeds are done seeking god's acceptance, they are appreciated by him and rewarded.
islam teaches that there are two conditions for god's approval and reward of any deed: 1) that it is done explicitly for his acceptance and approval and 2) that it is consistent with the methods ordained by him. in other words, a person must work for god according to the terms he has specified and not according to his own preferences or those of other people. in order to know exactly what god expects of his servants, it is necessary to refer to the legislation revealed by him in its final form through muhammad, the final prophet.
What is the Purpose of our Creation?
non-believers are unable to provide any convincing reason for the existence of this universe or of human life. people who believe there is a creator assume that creation occurred by his will. but in a world where everything is shown to have a purpose, it is natural for a human being to wonder about the purpose of his own creation. one is surely justified in expecting the creator who put us on this earth to inform us why he did so and what he expects of us.
the qur'an informs us that he did just that. it says god created us for a test here on earth, conveying his words:
"then did you think that we created you uselessly and that to us you would not be returned?"[1]
a non-believer might decide that the objective of his life will be to collect wealth, obtain position or pursue pleasure to the greatest extent possible. but none of this will benefit him in the long run. according to his final scripture, god created man to test him with certain responsibilities[2]. he did not intend life on this earth to necessarily be comfortable or satisfying but merely a trial of limited duration, the punishment and rewards of which will be due in the hereafter.
as mentioned previously, most of creation is "muslim" in that it is programmed to obey the physical laws set by god, and (his is why the universe functions with balanced equilibrium. man, however, was given a free will and the ability to either obey or disobey. but god will not allow his universal balance lo be upset indefinitely by defiant, corrupt and sinful people, so he only grants human beings a measure of freedom in a temporary world. the scheme of birth, development, decline and death provides each with the opportunity to prove to himself without a doubt what he will deserve on the day of judgement, which god created for the manifestation of his ultimate justice.
this life is very meaningful and purposeful to the believing muslim because he realizes that it will determine his outcome and permanent position in the next life. he lives to earn the approval of his creator in preparation for the final return to him.
we all recognize that people make things to perform specific functions for them, in other words, to serve them. god has made us to serve him, but with one major difference; it is not for the benefit of the creator himself but for the benefit of us, his creation. the purpose of our existence is thus stated in the qur'an:
"i did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship me.”[3]
but man's worship of god is not automatic like the vast majority of created beings but by his own choice and effort, and this is what entitles him to honor and reward.
"how should one worship god in order to fulfill that purpose?" this question can undoubtedly best be answered by him. god has provided every element of his creation, living and inanimate, with guidance. we can thus expect that he would provide us with guidance as well. his revelation instructs humanity what to do, what to avoid, and the reason for it. it informs man what is expected of him, how to accomplish it, and the results of continual positive effort. through prophet muhammad, god revealed to man the ways of worship suitable to his physical and psychological nature and individual talents, and in harmony with his particular role on the earth. these, in combination, are what enable him to fulfill the purpose of his creation.
Why only one God? Could He not create another God like Himself?
the implication here is that the existence of dual or plural deities is possible and hence probable in the view of a polytheist. however, if the questioner claims that god can create another like himself, we ask, "how can this created being be god, who created all things, when it has itself been created? how can it be like god since it has a beginning, whereas god has existed from eternity? in reality, the phrase "create another god" is an erroneous contradiction because the mere fact that something is created means that it cannot be god. it is obviously illogical and irrational to say that something is god and cannot be god simultaneously.
the other implication in this question is that if we answer, "he cannot," then the power of god must be limited, negating his divinity. these suggestions are not valid because the absolute and unlimited power of god pertains to what is rationally possible and not what is rationally impossible. so when we say no, which is correct, it does not mean that the power of god is limited. rather, it affirms the perfection of his power, meaning that he is not incapable of doing anything that is rationally possible.
our minds cannot grasp the extent of his power, nor can our imaginations. therefore, we must admit our inability to contain the essence and nature of god within the limits of our intellect.
What is the purpose of worship, and why should people worship at all?
the idea of servitude has become distasteful to the modern secular mindset which concerns itself with individual liberties. some might say that humanity has no need to worship, and that doing so compromises freedom. they forget, however, that absolute freedom is neither possible nor even desirable for all members of a society, and that is why every social order has its laws and restrictions.
studies in human psychology confirm that man is a worshipper by instinct, that worship is instilled in him as part of his nature, and that he tends to direct it to whatever he considers worthy - other human beings, revered customs or superstitions, materialist ideologies, or his own personal inclinations. an object of worship is that to which one devotes the greatest portion of his thought and effort. so one either worships god or he worships something other than him - along with him or instead of him. the worship of god alone is liberating in that it frees one from servitude to all else.
many people misunderstand the concept of worship, assuming that it is merely the practice of certain rituals. but in reality it includes everything done seeking the acceptance of the one worshipped. according to islam, the worship of god means willing obedience to his orders and prohibitions which, besides prayer and other religious obligations, include the fulfillment of promises and agreements, honesty and precision in work, teaching and counseling, encouraging righteousness, assisting others, opposing injustice and so on.
worship is the right of the creator upon his creation. it is based on the perception that everything was brought into existence by god and is dependent upon him in whose hand is life and death, benefit and harm, and the outcome of every matter. further, it is based on the knowledge that man is an accountable being in need of god's continuing guidance and acceptance. islam confirms that although it is his divine right, god does not gain anything from the worship of his servants, nor is he harmed by their refusal. he ordains worship for the benefit of the worshipper himself, and this benefit is obtained by him or her in both this life and the next. when a believer understands that our creator and sustainer deserves to be worshipped, he wants to do so because of his gratitude and love for his lord and because it is inherently right and correct.
If Islam opposes idol worship, why do Muslims pray to a square structure?
the simple cube-shaped stone building located in makkah is called the ka'bah or the sacred house. it is the point toward which muslims face when they pray. although muslims face the direction of ka'bah during prayer, they do not worship it. muslims worship and pray only to god.
the ka'bah was built by the prophet abraham and his son ishmael in response to god's command over 4,000 years ago. abraham consecrated the house for the worship of the one true god and invited all of humanity to visit it for that purpose. even today muslims who are physically and financially able are required to make a pilgrimage to it once in a lifetime. the ka'bah has remained at the center of a continuous tradition of worship and devotion up to the present day, symbolic of permanence, constancy and renewal.
there were periods in human history during which mankind deviated from the monotheism taught by god's prophets. before the advent of muhammad, religion among the arabs had degenerated into polytheism and paganism, and makkah was completely submerged in idolatry; some 360 idols had been placed in and around the ka'bah to be worshipped there along with god. prophet muhammad was sent to restore to mankind the pure monotheism taught by all the messengers of god and reinstate the worship of him alone. this he accomplished, and the ka'bah was finally cleared of all manmade deities.
among the ancient religious rites particular to the ka'bah is walking around it. this suggests the integrating and unifying power of monotheism in human life and how a muslim's existence should revolve around a pure devotion to god. the ka'bah symbolizes the unity of all true religion, the brotherhood of all the prophets, and the essential consistency of their message.
when muslims pray facing toward this single central point, they are reminded of their common purpose and long-term goal. even when standing directly before the ka'bah in prayer, one is not to look at it but rather at the ground before him. the spiritual focus is on god alone and never upon any created object.
Do Muslims worship God or Allah?
one of the biggest misconceptions about islam concerns the name "allah." some people believe that muslims worship a different god than christians, jews and others, and some missionary organizations distribute literature in english in which they say such things as: "allah is the god of the muslims" and "muhammad told people to believe in the god, allah." they thus imply and reinforce the idea that "allah" is some sort of false deity.
this is totally incorrect because "allah" is the same word that arabic-speaking christians and jews use for god. if you pick up an arabic bible, you will find the word "allah" wherever "god" is used in english. "allah" is also the proper name of god. therefore, muslims use the name "allah" even when they speak other languages.
"allah" is a special word. it indicates the only entity in existence who truly possesses the qualities of divinity and lordship, the creator and sustainer of the heavens and earth. it is the name of the only being worthy of worship, the one upon whom all creation is dependant at every moment. this name belongs to god alone and no one else.
"allah" is the only word in the arabic language equivalent to "god" with a capital "g." it is also a unique word grammatically since it cannot be made plural or given a masculine or feminine gender. this is consistent with the islamic concept of god. in english and other languages the word "god" can be used in various forms such as "god," "gods" or "goddess," all with different connotations and meanings. the only difference between "god" (meaning a false god or any object of worship) and "god" (meaning the one true god) is a capital "g." thus, a more accurate translation of "allah" might be "the one and only true god."
but there is another important point, which is that islam is particularly concerned with the correct concept of god.
someone can have an erroneous concept of him whether he uses the name "allah" or the word "god." followers of previous religions gradually deviated from the original pure belief in god due to the fact that their scriptures were not adequately protected from loss and alteration. none of these are still available for study in their original form or language.
but this is not true of the last divinely revealed message, the qur'an. hence, the accurate concept of god can be found therein.
Don't all World Religions have Similar Objectives?
there are many areas in which religions agree, but there are also significant theological and practical differences between them. undeniably, one will find in every religion expressions of wisdom, high moral values, warnings against evil, and promotion of good works. but what distinguishes islam from other faiths is that it goes beyond simply urging people to be generous and morally upright. islam identifies human problems and prescribes practical solutions to them, both individually and collectively.
although there are a variety of religious communities in the world, each of them content with its own version of "the truth," islam represents the completion of divinely revealed religion and the finalized legal code for mankind. for this reason the qur'an states:
"verily, the religion in the sight of god is islam."[1]
the divine messages revealed prior to that of prophet muhammad all called for the worship of god alone and contained some legislation. however, each of them was addressed to a specific people at a specific period of time in order to remedy particular problems and circumstances such as moral degeneration, economic injustices and excessive materialism, misuse of power and political oppression. the final message of islam addresses these same social evils but as part of a comprehensive program for the amendment, reform and benefit of every nation, community and individual that will exist until the end of the world.
the prophethood of muhammad launched an era in which divine guidance became openly universal, more comprehensive in scope, and precisely detailed. the responsibility for man's fate and moral well-being depends completely on his own free choice and willing initiative to respond to the invitation of his creator.
Isn't it True that Islam is an Arab Religion?
this mistaken assumption is possibly based on the fact that prophet muhammad was an arab, that most of the first generation of muslims were arabs, and that the qur'an is in the arabic language.
but in actual fact, only about 18 percent of muslims in the world today are arabs. the largest muslim populations are found in indonesia, the indian sub-continent and other parts of asia. islam is also widespread in many parts of africa, and there are substantial minorities in europe, north and south america, and oceania. islam is the fastest growing major religion in the world, and its adherents on all continents include both arabs and non-arabs.
further, not all arabs are muslims, for there are significant communities of christian arabs as well as a number who belong to other religions or profess atheism. while "arab" is a geographic and cultural term, "muslim" refers to an adherent to the religion of islam.
while the revelation was still in its early stages, the qur'an disclosed that islam is indeed a global religion. allah addressed his prophet therein, saying:
"and we have not sent you but as a mercy to [all] the worlds."[1]
"and we have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind, as a bringer of good tidings and a warner, but most of the people do not know."[2]
islam is meant for all people regardless of race, nationality, cultural or religious background. from the commencement of his mission, the prophet's companions came from a wide range of lands and races. among them was an african, a byzantine, a persian and a jewish scholar. all were united in the brotherhood of faith.
there are many references in the qur'an to the universal nature of islam. it frequently addresses humanity, saying, "o mankind" or "o people." the prophet, his companions and their followers made every effort to spread the message of truth to all nations and peoples. he naturally began the propagation of god's message among his own people, the arabs, but that does not mean it was restricted to them - rather, only that initially conveying it to those nearest him was the logical first step toward the realization of a long-term goal. later in his mission when conditions became more favorable, he sent letters of invitation to islam to the rulers of the byzantine and persian empires, abyssinia, egypt, damascus, bahrain, yamamah, omanand others who represented the influential world figures of the day. whatever, their response to it, the prophet's message was fully acknowledged by the major powers of his time.
What is a Muslim?
inherently submissive to god, functioning according to the natural laws created by him. human beings are physically "muslim" in that their bodies function according to the genetic program set by god for the period of time he has decreed.
a "muslim" in the religious sense, however, is someone who consciously commits himself to the worship of god alone, not according to his own inclinations or those of other men but according to the method conveyed by god through his appointed prophets. the qur'an gives many examples of people who lived before muhammad and believed in and obeyed the prophet that god had sent them. they entered paradise because of their obedience to god, and that is the meaning of "islam."
all the prophets of god, from adam to muhammad, and those who believed and followed each of them during the period of his prophethood[1] were called "muslims." but since prophet muhammad was the last of god's messengers to mankind, a "muslim" can now only be defined as one who accepts and complies with the final, completed message conveyed by god through him. for rationally, the most recently revised legislation always supersedes and invalidates whatever came before it.
