Islam and Muslims:
The word “Islam” is an Arabic word which means “submission to the will
of God”. This word comes from the same root as the Arabic word “salam”,
which means “peace”. As such, the religion of Islam teaches that in
order to achieve true peace of mind and surety of heart, one must
submit to God and live according to His Divinely revealed Law. The most
important truth that God revealed to mankind is that there is nothing
divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God, thus all
human beings should submit to Him.
Islam is a qualitative term – the quality of accepting God’s supreme
authority above one’s own. As such, being a Muslim does not mean having
to give up one’s culture or traditions; rather it means adopting the
simple and logical principles of Islam to better one’s life and attain
peace.
The word “Muslim” means one who submits to the will of God, regardless
of their race, nationality or ethnic background. Being a Muslim entails
wilful submission and active obedience to God, and living in accordance
with His message. Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is just a
religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth. Not
only are there converts to Islam in every corner of the world,
especially in England and America, but by taking a look at the Muslim
World from Bosnia to Nigeria, and from Indonesia to Morocco, one can
clearly see that Muslims come from many various races, ethnic groups
and nationalities. It is also interesting to note that in actuality,
more than 80% of all Muslims are not Arabs - there are more Muslims in
Indonesia than in the whole Arab World! So, though even though it is
true that most Arabs are Muslims, the large majority of Muslims are not
Arabs. However, anyone who submits completely to God and worships Him
alone is a Muslim.
Continuity of the Message:
Islam is not a new religion because “submission to the will of God”,
i.e. Islam, has always been the only acceptable religion in the sight
of God. For this reason, Islam is the true “natural religion”, and it
is the same eternal message revealed through the ages to all of God’s
prophets and messengers. Muslims believe that all of God’s prophets,
which include Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, brought the
same message of Pure Monotheism. For this reason, the Prophet Muhammad
was not the founder of a new religion, as many people mistakenly think,
but he was the final Prophet of Islam. By revealing His final message
to Muhammad, which is an eternal and universal message for all of
mankind, God finally fulfilled the covenant that He made with Abraham,
who was one of the earliest and greatest prophets.
Sufficient is it to say that the way of Islam is the same as the way of
the prophet Abraham, because both the Bible and the Quran portray
Abraham as a towering example of someone who submitted himself
completely to God and worshipped Him without intermediaries. Once this
is realized, it should be clear that Islam has the most continuous and
universal message of any religion, because all prophets and messengers
were “Muslims”, i.e. those who submitted to God’s will, and they
preached “Islam”, i.e. submission to the will of Almighty God.
The Oneness of God:
The foundation of the Islamic faith is belief in the Oneness of
Almighty God - the God of Abraham, Noah, Moses and Jesus. Islam teaches
that a pure belief in One God is intuitive in human beings and thus
fulfils the natural inclination of the soul. As such, Islam’s concept
of God is straightforward, unambiguous and easy to understand. Islam
teaches that the hearts, minds and souls of human beings are fitting
receptacles for clear divine revelation, and that God’s revelations to
man are not clouded by self-contradictory mysteries or irrational
ideas. As such, Islam teaches that even though God cannot be fully
comprehended and grasped by our finite human minds, He also does not
expect us to accept absurd or demonstrably false beliefs about Him.
According to the teachings of Islam, Almighty God is absolutely One and
His Oneness should never be compromised by associating partners with
Him - neither in worship nor in belief. Due to this, Muslims are
required to maintain a direct relationship with God, and therefore all
intermediaries are absolutely forbidden. From the Islamic standpoint,
believing in the Oneness of God means to realize that all prayer and
worship should be exclusively for God, and that He alone deserves such
titles as “Lord” and “Saviour”. Some religions, even though they
believe in “One God”, do not make all of their worship and prayers for
Him alone. Also, they also give the title of “Lord” to beings that are
not All-Knowing, All-Powerful and Un-Changing - even according to their
own scriptures. Suffice it to say that according to Islam, it is not
enough that people believe that “God is One”, but they must actualize
this belief by proper conduct.
In short, in the Islamic concept of God, which is completely based on
Divine Revelation, there is no ambiguity in divinity - God is God and
man is man. Since God is the only Creator and continual Sustainer of
the Universe, He is transcendent above His creation - the Creator and
the creature never mix. Islam teaches that God has a unique nature and
that He is free from gender, human weaknesses and beyond anything which
human beings can imagine. The Quran teaches that the signs and proofs
of God’s wisdom, power and existence are evident in the world around
us. As such, God calls on man to ponder over the creation in order to
build a better understanding of his Creator. Muslims believe that God
is Loving, Compassionate and Merciful, and that He is concerned with
the daily affairs of human beings. In this, Islam strikes a unique
balance between false religious and philosophical extremes. Some
religions and philosophies portray God as just an impersonal “Higher
Power” who is uninterested, or unaware, of the life of each individual
human. Other religions tend to give God human qualities and teach that
He is present in His creation, by being incarnate in someone, something
- or even everything. In Islam, however, Almighty God has clarified the
truth by letting mankind know that He is “Compassionate”, “Merciful”,
“Loving” and the “Answerer of Prayers”. But He as also emphasized
strongly that “there is nothing like unto Him”, and that He is high
above time, space and His creation. Finally, it should be mentioned
that the God that Muslims worship is the same God that Jews and
Christians worship - because there is only one God. It is unfortunate
that some people mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different
God than Jews and Christians, and that “Allah” is just the “god of the
Arabs”. This myth, which has been propagated by the enemies of Islam,
is completely false since the word “Allah” is simply the Arabic name
for Almighty God. It is the same word for God which is used by
Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians. However, it should be clarified
that even though Muslims worship the same God as Jews and Christian,
their concept of Him differs somewhat from the beliefs of other
religions - mainly because it is based completely on Divine Revelation
from God. For example, Muslims reject the Christian belief that God is
a Trinity, not only because the Quran rejects it, but also because if
this was God’s true nature, He would have clearly revealed it to
Abraham, Noah, Jesus and all of the other prophets.
What Are the Five Pillars of Islam?
The Five Pillars of Islam are the framework of the Muslim life. They
are the testimony of faith, prayer, giving zakat (support of the
needy), fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to
Makkah once in a lifetime for those who are able.
1) The Testimony of Faith:
The testimony of faith is saying with conviction, “La ilaha illa Allah,
Muhammadur rasoolu Allah.” This saying means “There is no true god
(deity) but God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of
God.” The first part, “There is no true god but Allah,” means that none
has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, and that God (Allah)
has neither partner nor son. This testimony of faith is called the
Shahada, a simple formula which should be said with conviction in order
to convert to Islam . The testimony of faith is the most important
pillar of Islam.
This simple declaration of faith is required of all those who accept
Islam as their chosen way of life. The words have to be uttered with
sincere conviction and under no coercion. The significance of this
testimony is the belief that the only purpose of life is to serve and
obey God; and this is achieved through following the example of Prophet
Muhammad.
Muslims believe that throughout history, God sent His chosen messengers
to guide humankind. The testimony that these prophets taught was
similar. The first commandment found in the Bible is “I am the Lord,
thy God; thou shalt not have other gods before Me.” This belief in the
Oneness of God is central to Islam and permeates all of Muslim life.
2) Prayer:
Muslims perform five prayers a day. Each prayer does not take more than
a few minutes to perform. Prayer in Islam is a direct link between the
worshipper and God. There are no intermediaries between God and the
worshipper.
In prayer, a person feels inner happiness, peace, and comfort, and that
God is pleased with him or her. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him) said: {Bilal, call (the people) to prayer, let us be comforted by
it.}Bilal was one of Muhammad’s companions who was charged to call the
people to prayers.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed, when one of you prays, he speaks privately with his Lord.”
Prayers are performed at dawn, mid-day, late-afternoon, sunset and
nightfall; reminding one of God throughout the day. Regular prayer
helps prevent destructive deeds and gives one opportunity to seek God's
pardon for any misgivings.
The Prophet once asked his companions: “Do you think if there was a
river by the door and one of you bathed in it five times a day; would
there remain any dirt on him?” The Prophet's companions answered in the
negative. The Prophet then said: “That is how it is with the five
(daily) prayers; through them God washes away your sins.”
Friday is the day of congregation for Muslims. The mid-day prayer on
Friday is different from all other prayers in that it includes a
sermon. Prayers at other times are relatively simple; they include
verses from the Quran and take only a few minutes to complete.
Muslims are greatly encouraged to perform their five daily prayers in
congregation, and in a Mosque. A Mosque, in its most basic form, is
simply a clean area designated for prayers. Mosques throughout the
world have taken on various architectural forms, reflecting local
cultures. They range from detached pavilions in China to elaborate
courtyards in India ; from massive domes in Turkey to glass and steel
structures in the United States . However, one unique and very obvious
feature remains-the “call to prayer.”
The first person to call Muslims to prayer was a freed African slave
from Abyssinia , Bilal ibn Rabah. He was a beloved companion of Prophet
Muhammad, whose rich and melodious voice called the Muslims of Madinah
to prayer five times a day.
A translation of the call to prayer (Athan) is:
Allah is the Most Great, Allah is the Most Great;
Allah is the Most Great, Allah is the Most Great.
I testify there is no deity except Allah;
I testify there is no deity except Allah.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah;
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success! Come to success!
Allah is the Most Great! Allah is the Most Great!
There is no deity except Allah.
A Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories, or universities.
3) Giving Zakat (Support of the Needy):
All things belong to God, and wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust.
The original meaning of the word zakat is both ‘purification’ and
‘growth.’ Giving zakat means ‘giving a specified percentage on certain
properties to certain classes of needy people.’ The percentage which is
due on gold, silver, and cash funds that have reached the amount of
about 85 grams of gold and held in possession for one lunar year is two
and a half percent. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a
small portion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this
cutting back balances and encourages new growth.
A person may also give as much as he or she pleases as voluntary alms or charity.
4) Fasting the Month of Ramadan:
Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown, abstaining from food, drink,
destructive behavior and sexual relations.
Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and a women who are
pregnant or nursing, are permitted to break the fast and make up an
equal number of days later in the year. Children begin to fast (and to
observe prayers) from puberty, although many start earlier.
God stated in the Quran: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for
you as it was prescribed to those before you that you may achieve
greater awareness (of God)” (Quran 2:183)
Although the fast is beneficial to health, it is regarded principally
as a method of spiritual self-purification. By cutting oneself off from
worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true
sympathy with those who go hungry, as well as growth in his or her
spiritual life.
5) The Pilgrimage to Makkah:
The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah is an obligation once in a
lifetime for those who are physically and financially able to perform
it. About two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner
of the globe. Although Makkah is always filled with visitors, the
annual Hajj is performed in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.
Male pilgrims wear special simple clothes which strip away distinctions
of class and culture so that all stand equal before God.
The rites of the Hajj include circling the Kaaba seven times and going
seven times between the hillocks of Safa and Marwa, as Hagar did during
her search for water. Then the pilgrims stand together in Arafa5 and
ask God for what they wish and for His forgiveness, in what is often
thought of as a preview of the Day of Judgment.
The end of the Hajj is marked by a festival, Eid Al-Adha, which is
celebrated with prayers. This, and Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day
commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the two annual festivals of the
Muslim calendar.
What do Muslims believe?
"Six Articles of Faith."
Muslims believe in the One, Unique, Incomparable, Merciful God- the
Sole Creator, Sustainer and Cherisher of the universe; in the Angels
created by Him; in the prophets through whom his revelations were
brought to humankind; in the Day of Judgment, and in individual
accountability for action; in God’s complete authority over destiny, be
it good or bad; and in life after death.
Muslims believe that God sent His messengers and prophets to all
people. Biblical prophets mentioned in the Quran include; Adam, Enoch,
Noah, Abraham, Lot, Ishmael,
Isaac, Job, Ezekiel, Jacob, Joseph, Jonah, Jethro, Moses, Aaron,
Elijah, Elisha, David, Solomon, Zechariah, John the Baptist, and Jesus;
peace be upon them all.
God’s final message to humanity was revealed to the last prophet,
Muhammad(peace be upon him), through the Archangel Gabriel. It
confirmed and finalized all previous revelations that were to human
kind through God’s messengers.
One becomes a Muslim by believing and proclaiming that, “There is no
deity except God, and that Muhammad is the messenger of God.” By this
declaration the believer announces his or her faith in all of God’s
messengers, and in the scriptures revealed to them.
1) Belief in Allah:
Who is Allah?
Islam is the complete submission and obedience to Allah (God).
The name Allah (God) in Islam never refers to Muhammad (pbuh), as many Christians may think; Allah is the personal name of God.
What do Muslims believe about Allah?
1. He is the one God, Who has no partner.
2. Nothing is like Him. He is the Creator, not created, nor a part of His creation.
3. He is All-Powerful, absolutely Just.
4. There is no other entity in the entire universe worthy of worship besides Him.
5. He is First, Last, and Everlasting; He was when nothing was, and will be when nothing else remains.
6. He is the All-Knowing, and All-Merciful,the Supreme, the Sovereign.
7. It is only He Who is capable of granting life to anything.
8. He sent His Messengers (peace be upon them) to guide all of mankind.
9. He sent Muhammad (pbuh) as the last Prophet and Messenger for all mankind.
10. His book is the Holy Quran, the only authentic revealed book in the world that has been kept without change.
11. Allah knows what is in our hearts.
Allah is the proper Arabic name for God. Muslims believe in and worship the same One God the Jew and Christians worship.
Allah says in the Quran:
“And do not debate with the People of the Book, unless in the best of
manner, but not with those who are unjust, and say: ‘We believe in the
Revelation that ha come down to us and in that which came down to you;
Our God and your God is One; And to Him do we wholly give ourselves.’”
(Quran 29:46)
Allah is unique term with no plural and no gender. It predates Muhammad
and was also used in the form of El, Ilah or Elohim by David, Moses,
Jesus and other messengers of God, peace be upon them all.
“He is God, the One that there is no deity but He; the Knower of the
unseen and the apparent; He is the Source of All Mercy, the Merciful.
He is God, the One that there is no deity but He; the King, the Holy,
the Sourse of All Peace, the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver, The
Mighty, the Compeller, the Majestic; Glory to God, beyond their
association (of partners with Him)!
He is God; the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. To Him belong the
most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and the earth
magnifies Him; He is the Mighty, the Wise.” (Quran 59:22-24).
2) Belief in Angels:
Muslims believe in the existence of the angels of Allah and that they
are "honored servants. They do not speak before He does, and they act
only by His command" (Quran 21:26). Allah created them, and they
worship and obey Him. Those who are in His presence do not disdain to
worship Him, nor do they weary" (Quran 21:19).
Angels are concealed from us, so we cannot see them. Allah may show
them to some of His servants. The Prophet Muhammad saw Gabriel in his
real shape with six hundred wings that covered the horizons (Bukhari
and Muslim). Gabriel took the form of a handsome human being who met
Mary and engaged in conversation with her. He came to the Prophet while
he was among his Companions in the appearance of an unknown man who did
not show any trace of long travel, with very white clothes, and very
black hair. He sat facing the Prophet, his knees to the Prophet's
knees, peace be upon him, and his palms on the Prophet's thighs and
talked with the Prophet. The Prophet later told his Companions that the
man they saw was Gabriel (Bukhari and Muslim).
Angels' Functions: We believe that the angels are assigned certain
functions. Among the angels is Gabriel, who is entrusted with
revelation. He brings it down from Allah to whomever He wishes among
His prophets and messengers.
Among them is Michael, who is in charge of rain and the growth of
plants; Israfil, who is in charge of blowing the horn at the time of
thunder-bolting and the resurrection; the Angel of Death, who takes
away people's souls at the time of death. Among the angels is the one
who is in charge of mountains; and Malik, the keeper of Hell.
Some angels are in charge of embryos in wombs, others are responsible
for protecting human beings, and others are busy recording men's deeds:
there are two angels for every person, "when the two angels receive
(his deeds), one sitting on the right and one on the left, not a word
he utters but by him is an observer ready" (Quran 50:18). Some other
angels are in charge of questioning the dead after he is placed in his
last abode. Two angels come to him and ask him about his Lord, his
religion, and his prophet. There "Allah confirms those who believe with
the firm saying, in the present life and the hereafter, and Allah leads
astray the evildoers and Allah does what He wills" (Quran 14:27).
Some angels are in charge of the dwellers of Paradise: "The angels
enter to them from every gate, saying: 'Peace be upon you for that you
were patient. How excellent is your final home"' (Quran 13:24).
The Prophet, peace be upon him, told us that "seventy thousand angels
enter or pray in the populous house in heaven every day. They never
come back to it as long as they live" (because their turn will never
come) (Bukhari and Muslim).
3) Belief in the Revealed Books:
We believe that Allah revealed books to His messengers as proof against
mankind and a guidance for the righteous workers. They purified and
taught them wisdom by these books.
We believe that Allah sent down a book with every messenger, because He
says: "Indeed We sent down Our messengers with the clear signs, and We
sent down with them the book and the balance, so that people may uphold
justice" (Quran 57:25).
Books Known:
Among the books that were revealed, we know:
I ) The Torah, which was revealed to Moses, peace be upon him. It is
the greatest among the Israelites' books: "Surely, We sent down the
Torah, wherein is guidance and light; by its laws the Jews have been
judged by the prophets who surrendered themselves to Allah, the rabbis
and the doctors of law, because they were entrusted the protection of
Allah's book and were witnesses thereto" (Quran 5:44).
2) The Gospel, which Allah revealed to Jesus, peace be upon him. It is
a confirmation of the Torah and a complement to it: "And we gave him
the Gospel, wherein is guidance and light and confirming the Torah
before it, as a guidance and an admonition to the God-fearing" (Quran
5:46); "And to make lawful to you certain things that, before, were
forbidden to you" (Quran 3:50).
3) The Psalms, which Allah gave to David, peace be upon him.
4) The Tablets of Abraham and Moses, peace be upon them.
5) The Glorious Quran, which was revealed to His Prophet Muhammad, the
Seal of the Prophets. It is "a guidance to the people and clear signs
of guidance and the criterion between right and wrong" (Quran 2:185).
The Quran Is Protected from Change:
The Quran is "confirming the scripture that was before it and stands as
a guardian over it." Thus, by means of the Quran, Allah abrogated all
the previous revealed books. Allah has also guaranteed its protection
from any play or mischievous distortion: "Indeed, We sent down the
message and We will guard it" (Quran 15:9), for the Quran is a proof
against mankind till the Day of Judgment.
Previous Scriptures Changed:
The previous scriptures were meant for a limited period. Their use
ended with the revelation of the Quran, which abrogated them and
exposed their distortions and changes. That is why they were not
protected from corruption. They underwent distortion, addition, and
omission: "Some of the Jews pervert words from their meanings" (Quran
4:46); "So woe to those who write the Book with their hands, and then
say: 'This is from Allah,' that they may sell it for a little price. So
woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for
their earnings" (Quran 2:79); "Say, who sent down the Book that Moses
brought as a light and a guidance to people? You put it into sheets of
paper showing some of them and concealing much" (Quran 6:91); "And
there is a group among them who twist their tongues with the Book, that
you may think it is a part of the Book but it is not part of the Book.
And they say 'It is from Allah,' yet it is not from Allah, and they
tell a lie against Allah and they know it. It is not for any human
being to whom Allah has given the Book, the Wisdom and the Prophet hood
to say to men 'Worship me instead of Allah"' (Quran 3:79); "People of
the Book! Our Messenger has come to you, making clear to you many
things you have been concealing of the Book and forgiving you of much.
A light has come to you from Allah and a glorious Book, with which He
will guide whoever follows His pleasure in the way of peace, and brings
them forth from darkness into the light by His will" (Quran 5:15-16).
4) Belief in the Prophets and Messengers of God:
Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers of God, starting with
Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus
(peace be upon them). But God’s final message to man, a reconfirmation
of the eternal message, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Muslims
believe that Muhammad is the last prophet sent by God, as God has said:
Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the
Messenger of God and the last of the prophets... (Quran, 33:40)
We believe that Allah has sent to His people messengers who were
"bringing good tidings and warning, so that mankind might have no
argument against Allah after the Messengers. Allah is All-mighty,
All-wise" (Quran 4: 165).
We believe that the best among the messengers is Muhammad, then
Abraham, Moses, Noah, and Jesus, son of Mary. It is they who are meant
by the following Quranic verse: "And when We took a compact from the
prophets, and from you, and from Noah, and Abraham, then Moses, and
Jesus, son of Mary. We took from them a solemn compact" (Quran 33:7).
We believe that Muhammad's message, peace be upon him, includes all the
merits of the messages of those dignified messengers, because Allah
says: "He ordained for you what He enjoined on Noah and what He
revealed to you and what He enjoined on Abraham, Moses and Jesus;
namely, establish this faith and be united in it" (Quran 42:13).
Messengers Are Human Beings:
We believe that all messengers are created human beings who have none
of the divine qualities of Allah. Allah, the Exalted, said about Noah,
who was the first among them: "I do not say to you, 'I possess the
treasures of Allah.' I do not know the unseen, and I do not say 'I am
an angel"' (Quran 11:31) Allah directed Muhammad, who is the last among
them, to say: "I do not say to you I possess the treasures of Allah,
nor do I know the unseen, and I do not say to you I am an angel" (Quran
6:50); and to say that "I have no power to bring profit or hurt for
myself, but only as Allah wills" (Quran 7:188); and: "I have no power
to hurt or benefit you. Say none can protect me from Allah, nor can I
find any refuge besides Him" (Quran 72:91-2).
We believe that the messengers are among Allah's servants. He blessed
them with the message and described them as servants, in the context of
praising and honoring them. He says about Noah, the first among them:
"You are the descendants of those whom We carried with Noah, he was a
truly thankful servant" (Quran 17:3).
Allah said about the last among them, Muhammad, peace be upon him:
"Blessed be He who sent down the Quran to His servant, that he may warn
mankind" (Quran 25:1). As for some other messengers, he said: "And
mention Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, men of might and
vision" (Quran 38:45); "And remember Our servant David, who was a
mighty and penitent man" (Quran 38: 17); "And to David, We gave
Solomon, he was an excellent and penitent servant" (Quran 38:30).
Allah said about Jesus, son of Mary: "He is only a servant whom We
blessed and We made him an example to the children of Israel" (Quran
43: 59).
We believe that Allah concluded all messages with the message of
Muhammad, peace be upon him, to all people, because He said: "Say, 'O
mankind, I am Allah's Messenger to you all. To him belongs the Kingdom
of the Heavens and the Earth; there is no God but He. He ordains life
and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered
Prophet who believes in Allah and His words. Follow him so that you may
be rightly guided"' (Quran 7:158).
Islam: The Universal and Final Message:
We believe that the Shari'ah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon
him, is the religion of Islam, which Allah has chosen for His servants.
He does not accept any other religion from anyone, for He, the Exalted,
said: "Surely, the true religion in Allah's sight is Islam" (Quran
3:19), "Today I have perfected your religion for you and I have
completed My favor upon you, and I have chosen Islam to be your
religion" (Quran 5:3), and "Whoever desires a religion other than
Islam, it will never be accepted from Him, and in the Hereafter he will
be among the losers" (Quran 3:85).
It is our opinion that whoever claims that any religion other than
Islam is acceptable, such as Judaism, Christianity and so forth, is a
non believer. He should be asked to repent.
It is also our opinion that whoever rejects the universal message of
Muhammad, peace be upon him, rejects the message of all messengers,
even if he claims that he believes and follows His Messenger. Allah,
the Exalted, said: "Noah's people rejected the Messengers" (Quran
26:105). Thus, Allah considered them as rejecting all of the messengers
despite the fact that there was no messenger before Noah. This is also
clear from the following verses: "Those who disbelieve in Allah and His
Messengers, and wish to make division between Allah and His Messengers,
and say: 'We believe in some and disbelieve in others,' wishing to take
a midway course. Those indeed are the unbelievers, and We have prepared
for the unbelievers a humiliating punishment" (Quran 4:150-51).
We believe that there is no prophet after Muhammad, Allah's Messenger,
peace be upon him. Whoever claims prophet hood after him, or believes
in anyone claiming it, is a disbeliever and one who rejects Allah, His
Messenger, and the Muslims' consensus.
5) Belief in the Day of Judgment:
Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) when
all people will be resurrected for God’s judgment according to their
beliefs and deeds.
We believe in the resurrection, which is Allah's bringing to life all
those who have died, and when Israfil shall blow the horn for the
second time: "And the trumpet shall be blown, and all who are in the
heavens and who are in the Earth shall fall down fainting, except those
that Allah shall spare. Then, it shall be blown again and they shall
rise gazing around them" (Quran 39:68). People will arise from their
graves, answering the call of the Lord of the universe. They will be
barefooted, naked, and uncircumcised: "As We started the first
creation, so We shall bring it back again. This is a promise from Us,
so We shall assuredly fulfill it" (Quran 21: 104).
The Records and Scales:
We believe in the records of deeds that will be given to people in
their right hands or behind their backs, in the left hands: "As for him
who is given his book in his right hand, he shall surely receive an
easy reckoning and he will return to his family rejoicing. But as for
him who is given his book behind his back, he shall call for
destruction on himself and will burn in a blazing fire" (Quran
84:7-12); "Every man's work We have fastened on his own neck, and on
the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a book which he will see
spread open, saying: 'Read your own book! Enough for you this day that
your own soul should call you to account"' (Quran 17:13-14).
We believe that scales of deeds will be set up on the Day of Judgment,
and that no soul shall be wronged: "Whoever has done an atom's weight
of good shall see it" (Quran 99:7-8); "Those whose scales are heavy,
they are the successful; but those whose scales are light, they are the
ones who have lost their souls in Hell dwelling forever. The fire will
burn their faces, and there they will be gloomy with lips displaced"
(Quran 23: 102-4); and "He that does a good deed shall be rewarded ten
times the like of it, and he that does evil shall only be rewarded the
like of it, and they shall not be wronged" (Quran 6:160).
The Prophet's Intercession:
We believe in the special great intercession of the Prophet Muhammad,
peace be upon him. He will plead with Allah, after His permission and
on behalf of mankind, to judge among His servants when they suffer from
worries and troubles that they cannot bear. They will go to Adam, then
to Noah, then to Abraham, then to Moses, then to Jesus, and finally to
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
We believe in the intercession that concerns some believers who were to
be taken out from the fire. This mediation is granted to the Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him, and to others among the prophets, the
believers, and the angels.
We believe also that Allah will save from hell some of the believers
without the intercession of any one, but by His grace and mercy.
6) Belief in Al-Qadar:FATE AND THE DIVINE DECREE
Muslims believe in Al-Qadar, which is Divine Predestination, but this
belief in Divine Predestination does not mean that human beings do not
have freewill. Rather, Muslims believe that God has given human beings
freewill. This means that they can choose right or wrong and that they
are responsible for their choices.
Belief in Fate has four levels:
1) Knowledge: We believe that Allah, may He be exalted, knows
everything. He knows what has happened and what will happen and how it
will happen. His knowledge is eternal. He does not acquire a new
knowledge nor does he forget what He knows.
2) Recording: We believe that Allah has recorded in the secured tablet
(al Lowh al Mahfuz) whatever is going to happen until the Day of
Judgment: "Did you not know that Allah knows all that is in heaven and
Earth? Surely that is in a book. Surely that for Allah is an easy
matter" (Quran 22:70).
3) Will: We believe that Allah has willed everything in heaven and
Earth. Nothing happens except by His will. Whatever He wills will take
place, and whatever He does not will not take place.
4) Creation: We believe that "Allah is the Creator of all things; He is
the Guardian over all things, and to Him belong the keys of the heavens
and the Earth" (Quran 39:62-3). This level includes whatever Allah
Himself does and whatever His creatures do. Thus each saying, deed, or
omission of the people is known to Allah, Who has recorded, willed, and
created them: "To those among you who will to be upright. But you shall
not will except as Allah wills, the Lord of the Worlds" (Quran
81:2829); "And had Allah willed they would not have fought one against
the other; but Allah does whatever He desires" (Quran 2:253); "Had
Allah willed, they would not have done so, but leave them alone and
their false inventions" (Quran 6:137); and "And Allah created you and
what you do" (Quran 37:96). Man's Free Will:
We believe, however, that Allah has granted man a power and a free will
by which he performs his actions. That man's deeds are done by his
power and free will can be proven by the following points:
1) Allah says: "Had they desired to go forth, they would have made
some preparation for it" (9:46). In this vers, Allah affirmed for man
"a going forth" by his will and "a preparation" by his desire.
2) Directing man to do or not to do. If man has no free will and power,
these directions mean that Allah is asking man to do that which he
cannot do. This proposition is rejected by Allah's wisdom, mercy and
truthful statement: "Allah does not charge a soul beyond its capacity"
(Quran 2:286).
3) Praising the virtuous for his deeds and blaming the evildoer for his
actions and rewarding each of them with what he deserves. If the action
is not done by the individual's free will, then praising the virtuous
is a joke and punishing the evildoer is an injustice, and Allah is, of
course, far from joking and being unjust.
4) Allah has sent messengers who are "bearing good tidings, and
warning, so that mankind might have no argument against Allah after the
messengers" (Quran 4:165). If the individual's action is not performed
by his free will, his argument is not invalidated by the sending of
messengers.
5) Every doer of actions feels that he does or does not do a thing
without any coercion. He stands up and sits, comes in and goes out,
travels and stays by his own free will without feeling anybody forcing
him to be any of these actions. In fact, he clearly distinguishes
between doing something of his own free will and someone else forcing
him to do that action. The Islamic law also wisely distinguishes
between these states of affairs. It does not punish a wrongdoer for an
action done under compulsion.
Who was Muhammad?
The human need for role models:
Have you ever heard of Moses, Jesus, Confucius, Krishna or the Buddha?
How about Gandhi, Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King? If you live in
the West, there's a good chance that you know a bit about these people
and their accomplishments. In man's eternal search for immortality and
meaning, many leaders and heroes, both true and false, have made their
appearance on the world stage. The respect and reverence shown to such
figures among people of every nationality, in every age, points to a
deep human need to believe in someone greater than oneself, in an
attempt to transcend the confines of one's own limited existence. We
see this theme recur in world myths, legends, hero stories, and in the
idealization of people who have been raised by their followers to
superhuman or godly status.
Most educated people today are skeptics, and view such stories as the
charming remnants of a simpler age. And with globalization and the
steady stream of new religions and ideologies that people are exposed
to, it may be hard to know what to believe. Some find it easier to
ignore spiritual questions altogether, focusing instead on their
relationships, careers and 'getting ahead'. Yet we know that excessive
materialism stifles the mind and spirit; despite technological
advances, the deep yearning to believe in a Higher Power, true
leadership, and an ultimate purpose in life remains. In this day and
age, who can be trusted as a guide in both spiritual and worldly
matters?
There is one leader, still largely unknown to the West, who is an
extraordinary role model that people of all backgrounds can relate to:
the Prophet Muhammad. The details of Muhammad's remarkable life have
been carefully preserved and have been subjected to the scrutiny of
historians, east and west. In contrast to others who have achieved
renown for their accomplishments in a limited sphere of activity,
Muhammad's achievements span all major areas of life. The historian
Michael H. Hart wrote:
My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential
persons may surprise some readers and be questioned by others, but he
was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the
religious and secular levels. Hart, Michael, The 100: A Ranking of the
Most Influential Persons in History
Why does the average European or American know so little about a man
whose life was so exceptional? Irrational fears and negative
propaganda, dating back to the Crusades and exaggerated by the media,
have created a 'mental block' for many people against all things Arab
or Islamic, and the two terms are often mistakenly confused. As we
enter the age of the global village, is it not time for those who pride
themselves on being unprejudiced, independent thinkers to put aside
these mental relics from a bygone era? We invite you to take a few
minutes to explore a new understanding of religious leadership, and in
so doing, to catch a glimpse of a man who is loved by one-fifth of the
people on this planet.
The concept of prophethood in Islam
For a Muslim, a Prophet does not primarily imply someone able to
foretell the future - although most of Muhammad's predictions have
already been fulfilled in astonishing ways - but a man sent by God to
call people to repent, have faith, and dedicate their lives to doing
good, thereby helping them rediscover the purpose for which they were
created. Prophets are not considered to be Divine, and are not prayed
to or worshipped - though they were men of outstanding character and
spirituality who were protected from committing sins, performed
miracles, received revelation and communed with God. Islam teaches that
God is One, without partner or associate; no human being can share in
any of the qualities that are unique to the Intelligent Creator and
Sustainer of our vast and complex universe. Muhammad was no more than
God's honored servant and Messenger, yet he embodied the best of human
potential, and that is what continues to make him so appealing and
accessible today. Last in a line of Prophets and Messengers sent by God
to all people on earth - including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus - who
effected the large-scale transformation of individuals and society,
Muhammad was unsurpassed as teacher and guide. Speaking of his own role
as the last true Prophet before Judgment Day, he said:
'The parable of me in relation to the Prophets who came before me is
that of a man who built a house beautifully and well, except that one
brick in its corner was missing. The people went around it and wondered
at its beauty, but said: "If only that brick were put in its place!" I
am that brick, and I am the last of the Prophets.'
Muhammad's personal life
Muhammad was born in 570 AD to a noble family of Makkah, and was a
descendant of the Prophet Abraham. Orphaned at six, Muhammad was a
thoughtful youth who worked as a shepherd and helped his uncle with the
trade caravans. As a teenager he rejected the immoral customs of his
people, who had become steeped in idolatry, and joined a chivalrous
order, earning the nickname 'The Trustworthy'. At age 25 he found
employment with a wealthy widow of 40 named Khadija, managing her
business. Impressed by his honesty and character, Khadija proposed
marriage and he accepted. Despite their age difference, they were
happily married for 25 years, and were blessed with six children. After
Khadija's death Muhammad married several women for political and
humanitarian reasons, as was expected of a man of his position; all but
one were widows and divorcees. He was a loving and considerate husband
and father, and his family was devoted to him despite his voluntary
poverty, for he put into practice his own advice, 'the best of you is
the one who is best to his own family.'
Muhammad, the Prophet
Muhammad received his first revelation from God at 40, through the
Angel Gabriel. He continued to receive revelations for 23 years, on
topics ranging from the Oneness of God and His wondrous handiwork, to
stories of earlier prophets, morality and ethics, and life after death.
These revelations became collectively known as the Quran, and are
considered by Muslims to be the literal word of God; the Prophet's own
words were collected separately. Muhammad's call to monotheism and
social reform was heavily opposed by the Makkan elite; after enduring
thirteen years of intense persecution, he and his followers were
invited to relocate to Madinah, a town to the north that had been torn
apart by generations of intertribal warfare. Muhammad successfully
settled their differences and forged a bond of brotherhood between the
two warring factions, as well as between the locals and the new
emigrants. For Arab tribal society, this was an amazing accomplishment.
The early Muslims learned to implement the golden rule under the
Prophet's tutelage: 'No one truly believes until he desires for his
brother what he desires for himself.'
Muhammad's legacy: the Madinan model
For Muhammad, religion was not a matter of personal conviction alone
but a complete way of life, and Madinah flourished under his
leadership. The Madinan model of government, based on justice, respect
for human dignity and God-consciousness, became the template to which
Muslims have looked for guidance and inspiration ever since. The
Prophet drew up the world's first constitution in which the rights of
religious minorities were protected, and entered into treaties and
alliances with neighboring tribes. He sent letters to the rulers of the
Persians, Egyptians, Abyssinians and Byzantines, announcing his message
of pure monotheism and inviting them to accept Islam. For the first
time in history, women, children, orphans, foreigners and slaves were
granted extensive rights and protection. Many of the Prophet's concerns
seem surprisingly 'modern': he condemned racism and nationalism, saying
'there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or a white man
over a black man, except in righteousness.' He established laws
protecting animals, trees and the environment. He encouraged free trade
and ethical investments, but secured workers' rights and forbade usury.
He worked for peace, but defined the parameters of the judicious use of
force, when force was needed. He convinced people to give up alcohol,
drugs, prostitution and crime, and promoted healthy living. He
condemned domestic violence, encouraged his wives to speak their own
mind, and granted Muslim women many rights not dreamed of in Europe
until centuries later, including the right to own property, reject
arranged marriages, and seek divorce because of incompatibility. And
the Prophet encouraged his followers to seek beneficial knowledge
wherever it could be found, with the result that Muslims never
experienced a conflict between science and religion, and led the world
in many fields of learning for centuries afterwards. Although his
enduring legacy can be observed in everything from art to politics,
Muhammad's greatest achievement by far was to re-establish pure
monotheism. As simple and straightforward to understand as the nucleus
at the center of an atom, the concept of One God lies at the heart of
Islamic culture. Muslims turn to their Creator for guidance, without
the need for intermediaries, or the loss of dignity that idolatry and
superstition bring.
The Prophet accomplished all this through the strength of his character
and personal example; he inspired in his followers a love, devotion and
sense of awe that was unparalleled. While other men would have been
corrupted by the absolute power that he wielded in his later years,
Muhammad remained humble, ever aware of the Source of his blessings. 'I
am just God's servant,' he said, and 'I have only been sent as a
teacher.' Although he spent his days in serving people and his nights
in prayer, he preached religious moderation and balance; he forbade his
followers to adopt a monastic lifestyle and preferred that they
establish strong families and engage themselves in bettering the world
around them, while remaining deeply conscious of God.
In the brief space of one generation and during his own lifetime, the
Prophet Muhammad* successfully transformed the faith, mentality and
culture of the people of Arabia; within 100 years his message had
touched the hearts and lives of millions in Africa, Asia and parts of
Europe. The Prophet foretold that each succeeding generation would be
worse than the one before it, and true to his prediction, Muslims have
not always understood or honored his example. But Muhammad's teachings,
speeches and customs were carefully noted down by his Companions, and
compiled into books of authentic sayings which are available in
translation. Along with the Quran, they form the holistic foundation of
a satisfying way of life for practicing Muslims, while for others, they
provide a fascinating glimpse into the heart and mind of an exceptional
man and role model from whom much can be learned.
Examples of the Prophet:
Muhammad’s Sayings
A man who treats his relatives well in
order to return their good treatment of
him shows no real love for them. The man
who really shows love for his relatives is
one who treats them well despite their
being unkind to him.
God has imposed certain moral obligations,
do not abolish them; He has forbidden
certain things, do not indulge in them;
He has laid down certain limits, do not
transgress them, He is silent on certain
Matters, do not knowingly argue over them.
When you pay zakat (alms), you have
done your duty, as is obligatory. But a
person who amasses unlawful wealth and
then makes gifts to the poor from it will
have no spiritual reward for so doing.
On the contrary, he will carry the burden
of it with him into the next world.
Wise is he who controls his desires
and prepares for the life which starts
after death and cast down is he who lives
for the love of this world and has false
expectations from God.
On the Day of Judgement the rightful
will be given their due. So much so that
a goat with horns will be avenged for
the goat without horns.
The man who enters Paradise will live
in eternal blessedness. He will never be
needy. Neither will his clothes wear out,
nor will he lose his youth. Paradise has
everything-things which have never been
seen or heard of, and which are quite
beyond human imagination.
The most perfect of the believers in faith are the best of them in
morals. And the best among them are those who are best to their wives.
None of you believes (completely) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.
The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and God will show mercy to you.
Smiling at your brother is charity...
Whoever believes in God and the Last Day (the Day of Judgment) should do good to his neighbor.
God does not judge you according to your appearance and your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and looks into your deeds.
Pay the worker his wage before his sweat dries.
A man walking along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well, he
descended into it, drank his fill, and came up. Then he saw a dog with
its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst. The
man said, “This dog is feeling the same thirst that I felt.” So he went
down into the well again, filled his shoe with water, and gave the dog
a drink. So, God thanked him and forgave his sins.} The Prophet was
asked, “Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards
animals?” He said: {There is a reward for kindness to every living
animal or human.
What Does the Quran Say about Jesus?
In His infinite Wisdom, Almighty God has not only measured and defined
succinctly the nature and role of every creation on earth, but has
included all human beings as well as His prophets and messengers.
The Islamic view of Jesus (peace be upon him) lies between two
extremes. On one hand, the Jews rejected him as a Prophet of God and
called him as impostor. On the other hand, the Christians consider him
to be the Son of God and worship him as such. Islam considers Jesus
(peace be upon him) to be one of the great Prophets of God and respects
him as much as Ibrahim (Abraham), Moses, and Muhammad (peace be upon
them). This is in conformity with the Islamic view of the Oneness of
God, the Oneness of Divine Guidance, and the complementary role of the
subsequent mission of God’s messengers. (Islamic Future, March/April
1997 issue vol. XII, No. 67).
In Surah “Maryam” (Chapter Mary), the Quran tells us how Mary gave
birth to Jesus (peace be upon him), and how the Jews accused Mary of
blasphemy when she brought home her child. The home folks were amazed
and thought the worst of her. They accused her that she disgraced the
house of Aaron, the fountain of priesthood. The Quran provided the
dialogue between her and her people:
“At length she brought the (babe) to her people carrying him (in her
arms), they said: “O Mary! Truly a strange thing has thou brought! “O
sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a
woman unchaste!” But she pointed to the babe. They said: “How can we
talk to one who is a child in the cradle?” He said: “ I am indeed a
servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation and made me a Prophet.
“And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me
prayer and zakat as long as I live. “(He hath made me) kind to my
mother, and not overbearing or unblest; so peace on me the day that I
was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to
life (again)” (Quran 19: 27-33)
Jesus is not the Son of God: he was, obviously enough, the son of Mary. The verses continue:
“Such (was) Jesus, the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about
which they (vainly) dispute. It is not befitting to (the majesty of)
Allah that he should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a
matter, He only says to it, “Be” and it is.” (Quran 19: 34-35).
The rejection of the idea of God having a son is re-stated with even stronger words:
“They say: “The Most Gracious has betaken a son!” Indeed ye have put
forth a thing most monstrous! At it the skies are about to burst, the
earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin,
that they attributed a son to the Most Gracious. For it is not
consonant with the majesty of the Most Gracious that He should beget a
son. Not one of the beings in the heavens and the earth but must come
to The Most Gracious as a servant.” (Quran 19:88-93)
Jesus had no human father, but this does not make him the Son of God,
or God Himself. By this criterion, Adam would have been more entitled
to be the son of God, because he had neither a father nor a mother, so
that the Quran draws attention to the miraculous creation of both in
the following verse:
“The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created
him from dust, then said to him: “Be”, and he was." (Quran 3:59, The
Quran)
The Quran rejects the doctrine of the Trinity, (e.g., God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) as strongly as it rejects the
concept of Jesus (peace be upon him) as the Son of God. It also,
rejects the doctrine of Crucifixion. Jesus (peace be upon him) was not
crucified but was raised to heaven. It was certainly the plan of his
enemies to put him to death on the cross, but God saved him and someone
else was crucified. The Holy Quran is clear on this:
“That they said (in boast), “We killed Christ Jesus, the son of Mary,
the Messenger of Allah”, but they killed him not, nor crucified him.
Only a likeness of that was shown to them. And those who differ therein
are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge. But only conjecture to
follow, for of a surety they killed him not: -Nay, Allah raised him up
unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, wise; - And there is none
of the People of the Book but must believe in him before his death; and
on the Day of Judgment he will be a witness against them.” (Quran
4:157-159).
The Quran went on in explaining the role of Jesus (peace be upon him)
as only a Messenger of Allah, being His Word and a Spirit proceeding
from Him. It explained further that Allah alone is One God and he alone
is the Supreme Ruler of the entire Universe.
“O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of
Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more
than) a Messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary,
and a Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and his
Messengers. Say not “Three”: desist: it will be better for you, for
Allah is the only one that (God), Glory be to Him: (Far Exalted is He)
above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on
earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.” (Quran 4:171)
Here are some Quranic confirmations regarding Who God is and what Jesus
(peace be upon him) says about Allah (God). All prophets advocated the
absolute Oneness of God. He alone is worthy of worship, to whom all
heads should bow down in submission and adoration. He alone is the
Omnipotent Being and that all are in need of His favor and obliged to
solicit His help.
“Certainly they disbelieved who Says: “Allah is Christ, the son of
Mary.” But said Christ: “O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord
and your Lord.” Whoever joins other gods with Allah, - Allah will
forbid him the Garden and the Fire will be his abode. There will for
the wrong-doers be no one to help."
"They disbelieve who say: Allah is one of three (in a Trinity): for
there is no god except One God. If they desist not from their word (of
blasphemy), verily a grievous chastisement will befall the disbelievers
among them."
"Why turn they not to Allah and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-forgiving, most Merciful."
"Christ, the son of Mary was no more than a Messenger; many were the
Messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a woman of
truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food. See how Allah doth make
His Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they are deluded away
from the truth!"
"Say: Will ye worship, besides Allah something which hath no power
either to harm or benefit you? But Allah, - He it is that hearth and
knoweth all things.” (Quran 5:72-76)
“And behold! Allah will say: “O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say
unto men, ‘take me and my mother for two gods besides Allah’/”. He will
say: “Glory to Thee. Never could I say what I had no right (to say).
Had I said such a thing, Thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou
knowest what is in my heart, though I know not what is in Thine. For
thou knowest in full all that is hidden."
"Never said I to them aught except what thou didst command me to say,
‘Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord’”. (Quran 5: 116-117).
God Almighty having the absolute power without limit over all things
may create anything He wishes. These Quranic verses below may enlighten
us about Him and Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him).
“Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about
which they (vainly) dispute. It is not befitting to the majesty of
Allah that He should beget a son. Glory is to Him! When He determines a
matter, He only says to it, “Be”, and it is. Verily Allah is my Lord
and your Lord; Him therefore serves ye: this is a Way that is
straight.” (Quran 19: 34-36).
“If you disbelieve, then verily,Allah is not in need of you, He likes
not disbelief for His slaves.And if you are grateful (by being
believers), He is pleased therewith you. No bearer of burdens shall
bear the burden of another. Then to Your Lord is your return …” (Quran
39:7).
Mary never claimed that she was a mother of God, or that her son was
God. She was a pious virtuous woman. And Jesus disclaims here any
knowledge of the sort of things that are attributed to him by those who
take his name. The worship of Mary, though repudiated by the
Protestants, was widely spread in the earlier churches, both in the
East and the West.
Some more reference about what Jesus (peace be upon him) says concerning God and himself:
In (Matthew 4:10) where Jesus (peace be upon him), reproves Satan for
desiring the worship of other than Allah (God): “Begone, Satan! For it
is written ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you
serve.” Jesus (peace be upon him) stressed the point that God alone
should be worshipped.
In (John 20:17) where he says to Mary Magdalene, “… Go to my brethren
and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God
and your God.” Jesus (peace be upon him) wanted to convey that he is no
different from us with regards to our relationship with the Almighty
God called by him as “Father”. Hence, he urged his disciples to pray
the “Lord’s Prayer”: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy
name. Thy kingdom come, they will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”
(Matthew 6:9)
In (Luke 18:19) where he rebukes a ruler for calling him God Master:
“Why do you call me god? No one is god but Allah (God) alone.” Godness
is one of God’s exclusive attributes and Jesus (peace be upon him)
emphasized to his listeners that no creator can arrogate to himself
anything that belongs to God.
In (John 14:1) Jesus (peace be upon him) says: “Let not your hearts be
troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.” In giving assurance of
glad tidings to his disciples, Jesus made it a point that in believing
in God, his disciples should also believe in him, which implies that he
was indeed separate and distinct from God.
And in (Mark 12:29-32), he says, “The first commandment is, “Hear O
Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One; and you shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
mind, and with all your strength.
Do Islam, Christianity and Judaism have different origins?
No. Muslims believe that the original, unchanged message given to
Muhammad, Jesus, Moses and all the other prophets came from the One
same God. This common origin explains their similarities in many
beliefs and values.
“Say: We believe in God and what has been revealed to us, and what was
revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and
what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord;
we do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him (God) do
we wholly give ourselves.” (Quran 3:84)
Jews, Christians and Muslims all consider Abraham their Patriarch.
Abraham is mentioned in the Quran as one of the great prophets. He was
blessed by God to be the father of many nations. From his second son,
Isaac, descended the tribe of Israel, and through them, Moses and
Jesus; and from his first son, Ishmael, came Muhammad (peace and
blessings)
