Anti-Islam Poison and its Antidote!!

Anti-Islam Poison and its Antidote


America, in particular. This cost, financially and politically, is great to Muslims individually, as well as to the Ummah. Muslims are paying individually as their businesses do not have much non-Muslim clientele. Their promotions and job stabilities depend upon their perception as Muslims, "Fundamentalist" or "Moderate".

Muslim women who insist upon wearing hijab are either denied jobs under false pretext or fired when they begin wearing it on the job. Muslim girls face difficulties in obtaining exemption from gender-mixed swimming and other sport activities at their schools. Islamic holidays, such as the Eids, are not recognized. Even time off for Salat al-Jumu'ah is hard to obtain or impossible in some cases.

The anti-Islam poison has created a condition in which many Muslims hide their identities as Muslims and in a large number of cases leave Islam altogether. Muslims themselves have a duty to do whatever is necessary to remove the anti-Islam environment from North America. There are many ethnic groups who have gone through similar hardship and were successful in becoming acceptable, for example, Jews, Irish, Italian, African, Spanish speaking, Chinese, Japanese, Germans and others. Now, it is the Muslims' turn to work hard and gain acceptance. But, Muslims have an additional responsibility of making Islam, perceived to be a totally alien and unacceptable religion, into an acceptable way of life, at least for the Muslims in North America.

There are hundreds of books, booklets, brochures, flyers, tracts, audio-tapes and videotapes against Islam spreading poison among the people, who are otherwise good-hearted people. These good-hearted people may easily be won over only if the Muslims give them an opportunity of education about Islam and Muslims.

As the Ummah, Muslim majority countries are ill treated and the West interferes economically, socially and politically to subvert Islamic movements, thereby stifling the establishment of Islam as a total system. Pakistan, Algeria and Sudan are some of the most obvious examples. Muslims have a duty and necessity to remove mis-information and dis-information and spread the truth about Islam worldwide.

Anti-Islam demagogues and liars come in all shapes and colors. Some have a reputation as "Orientalists" and "Scholars" and others are lowly street worms and there are others in between. Just to get some taste of the lies and anti-Islam poison read the following quotes. The Names of speakers, authors, publications and publishing organizations are omitted so that they do not get free publicity and notoriety.

"Muhammad was a violent man. If he were living today, he would be, perhaps, diagnosed as psychotic, a serial killer, a mass murderer, someone who was involved in having sex with children. .... And the religion of Islam produces terrorism which we see today." – From a radio interview broadcast.

"The historical background concerning the origin and meaning of the Arabian "Allah" reveals that Allah cannot be the God of the biblical patriarchs, the Jews, or the Christians. Allah is merely a revamped and magnified Arabian pagan moon deity." – From a book.

"The cult of the moon god which worshipped Allah was transformed by Muhammad into a monotheistic faith. Because Muhammad started with a pagan god, it comes as no surprise that he ended up with a pagan god." – From a book.

"One example of Arab racism is the myth that the Arabs are descendants of Abraham through his son Ishmael. This claim was made in response to the Jews who had boasted that Abraham was the father of their race." – From a book.

"There was no concept of civil or personal rights in seventh-century Arabia. The head of the tribe decided whether you lived or died. This is why Islamic countries are always inevitably ruled by dictators or 'strong men' who rule as despots. There are 21 Arab nations, and not one of them is a democracy." – From a book.

"Even today, Muslim women can be kept prisoners in their own homes." – From a book.

"For example, the very word 'islam' was not revealed from heaven or invented by Muhammad. It is an Arabic word which originally referred to an attribute of manliness and described someone who was heroic and brave in battle." – From a book.

"But when you turn to ecstatic, confused speeches of Muhammad as found in the Qur'an, you do not find anything outstanding. There is nothing which matches the beauty, substance, or style of the way Jesus preached the gospel during His lifetime." – From a book.

What is the antidote?

Darkness is the absence of light. Ignorance is the absence of knowledge. Ignorance is the mother of prejudice. With the exception of a few liars and demagogues, people in the West have good nature and are attracted to the truth and decency. Since the time of the Crusades, the West has been receiving small or big doses of poison against Islam and Muslims. While there were no Muslims or a very insignificant minority of Muslims were living in the West nothing could be done to bring the light of Islam in wide wilderness of darkness about the knowledge of Islam. Now, there is no excuse as the Muslims are living as significant minorities in North America and Europe. The status quo of wide spread poison against Islam should not be acceptable to Muslims. The knowledge of true Islam has to become common knowledge in the West. The question arises, who has the duty to educate people to the Truth about Islam and Muslims?

Will Jews and Zionists do this work? ... No!

Will Christians do it? ... No!

Will atheists and agnostics do it? ... No!

Will secularists do it? ... No!

Will the governments do it? ... No!

Will the media do it? ... No!

Will the schools do it? ... No!

Will the universities do it? ... No!

Naturally, it is the responsibility of Muslims themselves!

This is the modern day Jihad. The jihad of the pen, tongue and the media in the West, to help the West to know the Truth about Islam. Allah is calling you as we read in the Qur'an:

"And thus We have appointed you as a Model Community so that you may bear witness against mankind, and that the Messenger may be a witness against you." 2:143

"You who (claim) to believe, shall I show you a business that will save you from a painful torment? You should believe in Allah and His Messenger, and strive (tujahidoona) in Allah's way with your wealth and your persons; that will be better for you if you only knew." 61:10-11

"You are the best community that has been raised up for humankind (because you have been assigned the duty to) enjoin good and forbid evil and you believe in Allah." 3:110

"You who (claim) to believe, become Allah's helpers just as Jesus son of Mary asked the disciples: 'Who will be my helper towards Allah?' The disciples said, 'We are Allah's helpers.' A faction from the Children of Israel believed, while another faction disbelieved. We assisted the ones who believed against their enemy, till they held the upper hand." 61:14

THE PROPAGANDA WAR-KHUTBAH FROM MAKKAH!!

THE PROPAGANDA WAR-KHUTBAH FROM MAKKAH

Khateeb’s Name 'Abdur-Rahmaan As-Sudays

Edited By Nasim Chowdhury

Translated By:Hazem Ragab


حرب الشائعات

Summary
1) The struggle for power.
2) The dangers of propaganda.
3) Islaam prohibiting the spread of rumours.
4) Ascertaining news authenticity.
5) A warning against suspicion.
6) The evil of rumours.
7) The evil of those who spread rumours.
8) Propaganda during the eras of the Prophets.
9) The fabricated story against ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her.
10) The death of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
11) Rumours in our present time.
12) Propaganda via the Internet.
13) Our stance toward rumours.
14) Protection against rumours.
15) Condemning false rumours.

First Khutbah

Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah the Exalted and know that it is the fear of Allaah that protects us from all afflictions.

Brothers in faith! Ever since Allaah created the universe there has been a fierce struggle between different forces for the control of people’s hearts and minds; just as there has been for the physical control of mankind.

Nowadays, humanity as a whole is facing a psychological war in a form that is far more dangerous than any conventional military war. The war in question is the propaganda war.

Propaganda is one of the most lethal and destructive weapons of war. Its impact is great and it is not an overstatement to state that humanity as a whole is under siege from this.
Therefore effort must be exerted to study it with the view to uprooting it and eliminating its causes before it causes irreparable damage to the very essence of human life.

Brothers in Islaam! If one takes a studious look at the history of man, he will find that propaganda and rumour have been constant factors throughout the ages; in fact it has flourished with the advancement of all civilizations and has been a source of anxiety and distress for many a nation. We must know that no concrete effort was made to bring this demon under perpetual control until the advent of Islaam.

Islaam, being a religion that is a source of mercy, justice and peace for mankind, took a decisive stance at this undesirable phenomenon and put it under strict control through divine injunctions from the Qur’aan and Sunnah. It did this by prohibiting all utterances that could cause dissention among people. It prohibited backbiting, lying, gossip, calumny and tale-mongering and threatened those who carry tales with a severe torment in the hereafter. The Glorious Qur’aan says that which translates as: “Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread (or publicised) among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter.” (An-Noor: 19).

The Qur’aan also commands the verification of information; “O you who have believed! If there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.” (Al-Hujuraat: 6).

Allaah the Exalted also calls to the attention of man the fact that he will be held responsible for each and every utterance that he makes. Allaah says that which translates as: “He (i.e. man) does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared (to record).” (Qaaf: 18).

In actuality, propaganda and rumours are the basis of mankind thinking ill of the Muslims and this has been prohibited by Allaah when He says that which translates to: “O you who have believed! Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicions are sins.” (Al-Hujuraat: 12).

The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also condemned tale-bearing when he said: ‘It is enough for a man to relay all that he hears for him to be among the liars.’ In order to block the way of the rumour-mongers and detractors, he said, ‘Shall I not inform you of the wickedest among you?’ His companions said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allaah!’ He said, ‘They are those who go about gossiping and causing enmity among those who have love for each other.’

Fellow Muslims! Rumour-mongering and propaganda have caused havoc to all kinds of people. It has destroyed so many homes; brought about the collapse of so many dynasties and caused tribulations and war. Its perpetrators are ill-natured, weak-minded and completely lacking in manliness. They have no respect for the truth; in fact lying and falsehood are to virtuous acts to them. Their aim is to cause mischief in the land and many have perished by their heinous acts.

History is replete with accounts of propagandists and fabricators who spare no effort in blocking the truth from reaching the people. During the time of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam the pagans strove hard without success to terminate Islaam and eliminate its Prophet. They falsely labelled him in order to prevent people from listening to his message. They also launched different forms psychological warfare against him and his companions but all of this was to no avail.

One group of people who partake in propaganda campaigns are the Jews, who are well-known for their rebellion against the Creator and their killing of Allaah’s Prophets who were sent to them. They levelled the most terrible allegations against Prophet ‘Eesa and his mother, peace be upon them both, and committed treacherous acts against the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in Al-Madeenah through their acts of misinformation in which they have no rival.

The Jews collaborated with the hypocrites to falsely and mischievously accuse the mother of the faithful ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, of fornication in order to damage the reputation of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and thereby cause a setback to his message. It is in this regard that Allaah strongly rebuked the Muslims who were innocently influenced by this propaganda when He said that which translates as: “And why, when you heard it, did you not say, “It is not for us to speak of this. Exalted are You, (O Allaah): This is a great slander.” Allaah warns you against returning to the likes of this (conduct), ever, if you should be believers.” (An-Noor: 16-17).

Brothers in Islaam! The propaganda war is now in its golden age, due to modern technology and the sophisticated means of communication which are used by vicious people to terrorise mankind psychologically and intellectually and weaken their morale through their evil-breeding agencies.

Propaganda and rumour-mongering are crimes against religion, society and noble values. It is truly saddening that many of these rumours are believed by the masses to be facts. Let those among the Muslims who indulge in these abominable acts remember that they may lose their religion and even their lives if they do not desist. Is it proper for us Muslims to forsake all of our principles and have ill-thoughts of our scholars just because of mere rumours that we hear about them?

Let the scholars of the Muslim nation and their students rise up and fight this ugly phenomenon. Let them realise that they are the principal target of this war. Let them hold fast to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam as their righteous predecessors have done during their times.

Mosques, schools, homes and the Muslim mass media also have a vital role to play in waging war against propaganda. Let all efforts be made with sincerity in order that we may achieve victory.

Brothers in Islaam! Our religion has laid down guidelines to be followed in fighting rumours, foremost of which is the fear of Allaah and verification of news before accepting it. It also enjoins objectivity in treating all matters.

Brothers in faith! We must not conclude this speech without condemning the mischievous war that the western media groups are waging against Islaam and the Muslims. Let us join hands to fight this propaganda and put up a concerted effort to show our enemies that we shall never compromise on any of our principles or values. Let us also adhere to the teachings of our religion in all areas of our lives and give our scholars and leaders a free hand to deal with any problems that arise.

SEARCHING FOR HAPPINESS?

SEARCHING FOR HAPPINESS?

Happiness is a common goal that everyone strives to attain. Philosophers, intellectuals, doctors and artists alike have all strived in search of the causes of happiness and ways to escape anxiety.

The reality is, however, that the proposed solutions achieve only partial or superficial happiness. They are more or less like drugs which only provide temporary relief; when their effect wares off, anxieties return two fold.

The following words invite you to ultimate happiness and will lead you to true success. But before you begin reading, I hope that you take a moment to try to open your heart and mind - as the intelligent one is he who searches for the truth no matter where it lies.

An undeniable reality is that permanent happiness cannot be achieved except by believing in God - The Creator - and following His guidance. Since it is He who created mankind, He is the one who knows what pleases and benefits them, just as he knows what saddens and harms them. A number of psychologists have affirmed that only a religious person lives with true content and serenity. So if believing in God leads to ultimate happiness, then how can this be achieved?

There are numerous religions and a variety of creeds. However, their critical differences in core issues make it impossible for all of them to be correct. So which is the correct religion? What is the correct creed that God requires us to believe in and in the end pleases Him? And which one of these creeds guarantees us happiness in this life and in the hereafter?

Before answering these questions, a criterion must first be established to be used as a basis for correctly determining the true religion. I firmly believe that all sensible people will agree that a religion is not deemed correct simply due to the fact that one was raised in that religion, had parents that adhered to it, or lived in a society that practiced it. Rather a religion's accuracy and authenticity are based upon substantial evidence and firm intellectual proofs. Intellect, the distinguishing factor between mankind and animals, must be applied when studying the issue of religion, which is undeniably the most important and gravest of all matters.

A short journey into the world of religions and sifting through various creeds could prove to be a good method in arriving at the desired conclusion. In order to save you the time and effort, I say with full conviction and confidence that no matter how much you investigate this issue, you will only arrive at one reality: that the true and correct religion is Islam and that true happiness and content lies within it.

Before you hastily rebut this statement and stop reading, please realize that completing the rest would not harm you at all, and it may in fact benefit you. Also, remember that you have an intellect by which you can distinguish things and determine truth from falsehood.

Why Islam?

This is an important question, indicating that the questioner is mature and enlightened. In response I say:

Islam is a religion that includes a number of merits and characteristics that are absent from other religions. These characteristics, alone, serve as convincing evidence that Islam is the true religion of God. You can determine the authenticity of this statement by contemplating them.

Islam's many merits and characteristics make it impossible to elaborate on all of them. However, some of the most important can be summarized as follows:

1. Amongst the greatest merits of Islam is that it fulfills the spiritual aspects of the human being and enables those who embrace it to have an ongoing connection with God. This makes it possible for them to be at ease spiritually. It shields them from chaos, being lost or feeling (spiritually) empty, and protects from mental instability.

2. Another of Islam’s merits is that it coincides totally with common sense. All of the Islamic legislation and its rulings are acceptable intellectually and are never contradictory. One man who embraced Islam was asked why he did so and replied, "Islam never ordered me to do anything that I later wished wasn't obligated, and it never forbade me from anything that I later wished wasn’t forbidden."

Much of what is readily accepted in other religions causes great confusion. This confusion makes it difficult to believe many of the fundamental tenets/doctrines that these religions are based upon. On the other hand, we find that Islam respects the intellect, prohibits ignorance, and condemns blind following.

3. Islam is an all-inclusive way of life attending to both spiritual and physical needs. Practicing Islam does not mean that one has to be secluded or that he is prohibited from the finer things in life. Rather, according to Islam, a person can be religious and still enjoy a normal life - attaining prestigious ranks/positions and achieving the highest academic degrees.

4. Among the merits of Islam is that it is a comprehensive religion. Every aspect of a person’s life is managed by Islam. There is not a problem except that a solution for it lies in Islam, which makes it possible to embrace and practice in every time and place. How can this not be the case in such a well organized religion that has guidelines and positive instruction for every aspect of life including: conflict resolution, buying and selling, social and marital relations, greetings, public etiquettes, and even how a person eats, sleeps and dresses. These practices have not been addressed generally, but rather in precise detail, causing the mind to wonder in amazement. Know that Islam even provides direction on how to wear and remove footwear. It encourages people to use their right hand when eating, drinking, shaking hands, and when giving and receiving items. As for disliked affairs such as using the bathroom, the left hand is to be used.

Islam also has wonderful instructions regarding going to sleep and waking up. When two Muslims meet, Islam directs them on how they should greet each other; a rider should initiate greeting the pedestrian, the youth should initiate greeting the elderly, and a small group should initiate greeting a larger group. These are but a few of Islam’s many comprehensive guidelines for all aspects of life.

5. Another of Islam’s merits is that it establishes good for mankind in all its regulations and safeguards them from evil. It is man himself who benefits from these regulations. Islam's prohibition of alcohol and drugs for example is only because of the great harm they cause to a person's physical and mental health. You can witness the state of a drunken man, no longer human except in appearance. A lot of murders, disputes, traffic accidents and rapes would not have taken place were it not for consuming these mind-altering products.

Islam's prohibition of premarital sex relieves societies of destructive diseases (such as AIDS and other STDs), immoral behavior, and the existence of a generation of illegitimate children. This generation is often deprived of a mother’s love and a father’s upbringing which can lead them to become burdensome on society. Islam prohibits women from displaying themselves publicly. This is because Islam considers women to be valued, preserved pearls; not some cheap merchandise to be displayed for all to see. It does so to protect them from the wolves of mankind - those who are only concerned with satisfying their lusts, even if it is at the cost of a woman’s honor, nobility, status, and purity.

On the other hand, Islam permits all harmless and beneficial drinks. It also permits married couples to enjoy one another within a happy home.
In summary, Islam has not eliminated freedoms and desires. Rather, it regulates them for the benefit of mankind and the society at large.

6. A radiant aspect of Islam is that it pays a great deal of attention to values, character, and praiseworthy manners, while prohibiting mankind from oppression, transgression and bad character. Islam is a religion of love, unity and mercy. It defines an individual’s relationship with his parents, relatives, neighbors, friends and all people. Islam embeds the best of manners in those who embrace it and prevents them from living selfishly. It encourages its followers to help others and take others' feelings into consideration - especially the poor, orphans, elderly and widows. They all have rights in Islam that must not be taken lightly by Muslims. Muslims shouldn’t feel like they are bestowing favors upon others when giving them their due rights, rather these rights are obligations upon Muslims. It is considered to be a great sin in Islam for one to go to sleep with a full stomach knowing that his neighbor is hungry.

Islam even prohibits two people from whispering to each other in the presence of a third, taking his feelings into consideration. Islam goes even further than that, obligating kind treatment to animals and prohibiting harming them. More specifically, Islam prohibits slaughtering an animal while another watches, or sharpening a knife while it is watching, so that it is not tormented along with being slaughtered.
Truthfulness, trustworthiness, bravery, generosity, humility, abiding by promises, visiting the sick, attending funerals, being dutiful to parents, visiting relatives and neighbors, and striving to help others are all etiquettes that are encouraged by Islam.

On the other hand, Islam strictly prohibits oppression, lying, conceitedness, envy, and insulting or betraying others. It is impermissible in Islam to speak ill of a person in his absence, even if what is being said is true. Islam encourages people to moderate in spending, being neither excessive nor misers.

During times when a lot of societies complain about cold heartedness, materialism, selfishness and so on, we find that Islam has proven remedies for all of these problems.

This summarized introduction should make it clear that Islam is a logical religion that can be easily understood by all people. The doors to Islam are wide open and do not shut for anyone looking to enter.

Understanding all of Islam's teachings in a short article is impossible. However, briefly discussing some of its fundamental tenets should assist in further clarifying the religion for those who are interested.

All of Islam’s regulations and teachings are important, but some have precedence over others. There are six essential articles of faith that one must believe in, and five pillars that one's faith must be built upon.

As for the six articles that must be believed in:

1. Believing in Allah (God) alone, associating no partners unto Him in worship. This is done by believing that Allah alone is the Creator of this universe and everything that is within it, and that it is He alone who disposes its affairs as He sees fit. Consequently, worship can only be offered to Him alone. Worship is implementing the teachings of Islam and its legislation while believing that all other religions are false.

2. Believing in the angels. Angels were created by Allah but we cannot see them. They worship Allah and never disobey Him. Allah orders them to carry out many of the universe's affairs. The angel Gabriel, for example, (peace be upon him) delivers Allah’s revelation to the messengers. Another is Mikayeel (peace be upon him), who is entrusted with the affairs of rain. Still there are other angels responsible for writing the deeds of mankind - deeds which they will be held accountable for on the Day of Resurrection. It is essential to believe that all of the angels act solely upon the order of Allah and do only what He wills.

3. Believing in the Books of Revelation. This means to believe that Allah revealed books to His servants comprising of His words. These books contain bliss for mankind by clarifying what Allah is pleased with as well as what He dislikes. The Angel charged with delivering revelation to the Prophets is Gabriel (peace be upon him) - the greatest of angels. A prophet then conveys the revelation to the rest of mankind.

Allah has revealed many books, amongst them: The Torah, revealed to Moses (peace be upon him), The Psalms, revealed to David (peace be upon him), The Gospel, sent down to Jesus (peace be upon him) and the Quran, which was revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him).

One must believe that the Quran has abrogated all books prior to it, meaning that - after the Prophet (Muhammad) was sent - it is the only book that can be acted upon, especially since the Quran combines all the merits of past books and further supplements them.

Know that the Quran is from the greatest evidences that this religion is the truth revealed by Allah (God) the Most High. The Quran was revealed over 1400 years ago. Since then till this day, no contradictions or mistakes have been found in the Quran, not even in a single word. Many of the scientific discoveries of modern times were mentioned in the Quran. Since that time until today, nothing has been added to or subtracted from the Quran, while previous revelations have been tampered with and altered.

It is for this reason that you can pick up a copy of the Quran in the far East and find it to be exactly the same as one you pick up in the far West. If you were to come across a copy of the Quran that is hundreds of years old, you would also find that it is exactly the same as the one being printed currently - you wouldn’t be able to find even one letter that is different. This is because of Allah’s protection of this Book, the Book of the religion that sealed all other religions.

Speaking about the Quran would take a lot of time. However, it is enough for you to know that there is nothing like it whatsoever; not by way of (literary) style, its effect on people, nor its information about the unseen.

4. Believing in the Prophets. This is done by believing that Allah has chosen the best of mankind to be recipients of His revelation and ordered them to convey His religion to the people. There are numerous Prophets, among them are: Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, Lot, Joseph, Moses and others (peace be upon all of them). Also from them is Jesus. It is imperative to believe that he is among the best of Prophets and to love and respect him. Whoever despises him or denies his prophet hood is not Muslim. Likewise it is compulsory to believe that Allah created him from a mother only, with no father, just as Allah created Adam with neither a mother nor a father.

Having mentioned this, we now know that Jesus is a noble messenger and not God, nor is he a son of God. He foretold the coming of a prophet to come after him; Muhammad ibn (the son of) Abdullah, the last of the prophets.

Muhammad ibn Abdullah (peace be upon him) was sent 1400 years ago. It is compulsory for everyone who comes after him until the Day of Judgment to believe in him and his message, and obey his orders and prohibitions.

All those who studied the biography of this messenger have agreed that he is a great personality who has been bestowed with the best of manners and most noble etiquettes. He had characteristics which were not present in anyone before him and will not be present in anyone after him. Anything that you read about him, no matter how small it is, confirms what I am saying.
Allah has also granted him proofs and evidences that establish the authenticity of his prophet hood, thus having doubt in this fact is intellectually impossible. Having been given such proofs and evidences of his prophet hood, whoever denies his truthfulness, would make it impossible for that individual to establish the truthfulness of any other prophet.

5. The Last Day. This is fulfilled firmly believing that after this life of ours is over, there is another more complete life. In it, there are immense rewards and magnificent luxuries, as well as punishment. Luxury is in Heaven and punishment in Hell. So whoever is righteous and believes in the religion of Islam enters Heaven, a place that contains untold pleasure and unimagined bliss. All the luxuries on earth cannot be compared to it at all. Whoever enters Heaven will continue to live in such luxuries for eternity as death does not exist therein.

As for those who act upon evil and do not believe in Islam, they would end up in Hell, which contains fires and punishment that cannot be imagined, all of the fires of earth and forms of punishment cannot be compared to the punishment of the hellfire at all.
The existence of punishment and reward after this life is an issue that is intellectually acknowledged, because it is impossible for this world to exist and then just diminish into nothingness. This is trifling about, and our Lord, the Creator, does not engage in such activities.

6. Believing in Divine Decree. This is to believe that everything that happens in this world is due to Allah’s knowledge and will. Nothing except what He wills takes place, and what He does not will, does not take place. Allah has written everything in a great book (The Preserved Tablet). Believing in divine decree also includes believing that Allah created everything.

As for the five pillars that must be practiced:

1. Uttering a phrase that is the key to entering into Islam. It is a contract between a servant and his Lord, signifying that he is upon this religion:

“Ashhadu an la ilaha ila Allah, wa ashadu ana Muhammad ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu.”

“I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”

This testimony signifies the acceptance, admission, and adherence to the fact that worship must be offered to Allah alone. It also includes the acceptance of Islam as the only correct religion, Allah as the only true deity deserving worship, and that all other deities and religions are false. The second part of the testimony entails an affirmation that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and that he is to be obeyed and believed in all that he says.

2. The Prayer. It is a combination of statements, actions and invocations carried out in a specific manner. It is performed five times daily and doesn’t take much time at all. In fact, a prayer may not take more than five minutes. Prayer is the link between a servant and his Lord. It enables a Muslim to be confident, mentally and spiritually at rest, calm and untroubled.

3. The Zakaat. A wealthy Muslim must give a small portion of his money to the poor, 2.5% of his wealth to be exact. Even though it is a small amount, it enables the Muslim community to be conciliated and merciful amongst each other. It propagates brotherhood, love and concern amongst Muslims. And again, Zakaat is only to be given out by the wealthy, not the poor.

4. Fasting. What is meant by fasting is that a person withholds from eating, drinking and sexual relations during the month of Ramadan [which is the 9th month of the lunar calendar] between dawn and sunset. The sick, travelers, and those with valid excuses are pardoned from fasting. They are permitted to eat and drink but must make up the missed days once they become able.
Fasting has many health, personal, and social benefits. Amongst them are: giving the digestive system a break, allowing Muslims to grow spiritually and practice good mannerisms. It enables Muslims to be conscious of their needy brothers and sisters, those who are unable to find enough food to satisfy their needs throughout the year. Consequently, the Muslims humble themselves and strive to help them.

5. Hajj. It is a form of worship that must be performed only once in a lifetime, in Makkah. Those who are physically incapable or not financially able to perform it are pardoned from doing so.

Hajj contains many magnificent benefits; the gathering of Muslims from all around the globe in one place getting to know each other and displaying love for one another, not to mention what a Muslim achieves by way of spiritual purification and character refinement due to experiencing such a spiritual environment in the shade of Hajj.

Hopefully what has preceded is sufficient in clarifying - in a summarized fashion - some of the merits of Islam. I invite all who have not yet entered into the fold of Islam to listen to a sincere invitation from one who only wants good for you: save yourself before death takes you by surprise, and thus you die upon other than Islam - what a great loss that is!

Do you know what dying upon other than Islam means? It means that you would enter the Hellfire, abiding therein for eternity. This is what Allah has warned all those who die without embracing Islam. So why would you take a chance with an issue as grave as this?

I’m going to ask you a question that I want you to answer honestly:
What would you lose if you embraced Islam?

If you embrace Islam, you can continue living your normal ordinary life, but in a more spiritual, organized, and pleasant fashion…and after death, tremendous delight and eternal pleasure await you.

If you have reached a level of conviction, believing that Islam is the true religion, but fear that embracing Islam would prevent you from enjoying pleasures that you cannot live without, then compare these temporary pleasures with eternal pleasure. Which of the two should be given preference?

Furthermore, you can embrace Islam and then gradually try to reduce such pleasures. And if you were to honestly invoke Allah, He would surely aid you in leaving them. In any case, embracing Islam and having shortcomings is better than not embracing Islam at all.

If the barrier between you and Islam is due to having a weak personality, the inability to make such a big decision, or because you fear that people may talk about you or mock you, know that these are just unrealistic thoughts. You would not be the first person to embrace Islam; a lot of others have made the decision to do so. They did not lose anything, their lives were not ruined, nor do they have any regrets. Furthermore, does it make sense that you sacrifice your own wellbeing and happiness in this life and in the hereafter just because you fear mockery or admonishment?

This affair is worthy of your time. Contemplate upon it deeply.

My last words: Do not lose yourself! I ask Allah to bless you with true guidance.

One who wishes only the best for you,
Dr. Saleh Abdul Azeez As Sindee.

DO YOU KNOW THIS BOOK?

DO YOU KNOW THIS BOOK?

Of all the acclaimed masterpieces that the world has seen, nothing can be compared to the book known as the Qur'an. Millions have become Muslims upon simply hearing a verse from this amazing book, yet still the majority knows nothing of it. The Qur'an is the Final Revelation from the Creator to humanity. It was revealed in the year 610 CE to the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him), and completed over a period of 23 years. These 23 years of revelation resulted in a book which comprised of 114 chapters and over 6000 verses. All of this was to become the primary source of law for the whole of mankind to live and die by.


The impact of this book is such that Allah says : "Had We revealed this Qur'an upon a mountain, surely you would have seen it humble itself and crumble out of the fear of Allah. Such are the parables We put forward to mankind so that they may reflect" (Surah Al-Hashr 59:21)

However, it seems as if the hearts of the people have become harder then the mountains which tower above us. When the Qur'an is recited or even mentioned, people turn away with disgust. In the West, this is primarily due to the negative exposure from the media. It has resulted in many non-Muslims not even wanting to hear the name of this amazing book. Muslims too, have become hardhearted because of the cultural influences of the West. Many young Muslims perceive the Qur'an to be nothing more then an old wrapped up book, which comes off the highest shelf once a year during Ramadan!

If people were to truly reflect upon this book, they would realise that nothing in this world is quite the same. So why should this claim be accepted over others? Why should the Qur'an be given precedence over the likes of the Bible, the Gita or the Granth Sahib ? The following reasons will inshallah give an indication as to why this book deserves the attention of all humanity.

Preservation
"There is probably in the world no other book which has remained twelve centuries with so pure a text". Writing 200 years ago, these are the words of the famous English critic of Islam, Sir William Muir. But as Muslims we do not need Williarn Muir to tell us this. 1400 years ago, the Muslims accepted this reality when Allah revealed to them:

"Indeed it is We who have sent down the reminder (the Qur'an), and indeed it is Us who shall preserve it" (Surah Al-Hijr 15:9)

These words have proved true to this very day. From the moment the first words were revealed to Muhammed (saws), to this very day, every single letter and word of the Qur'an has remained unchanged.

Before Islam, all the revelations sent were not given this divine assurance. This is why we find that books like the Bible are riddled with corruption and inaccuracies. It is well known that man has tampered with the Bible to the extent that annually different versions are produced to suit trends and desires. In fact this has been going on for so long that it is almost impossible to see what of the words of the Creator are left, if any!

With the Qur'an it is the exact opposite. The contents of this amazing book are stored in the hearts of millions of Muslims worldwide. Children as young as 12 have memorised the entire book in its original language, Arabic. There is no other religious scripture on earth which is orally preserved in its original language by so many and over such a period of time, without having been tampered somewhere along the line. The Bible is a prime example of this. Many Christians believe that English is the divine language of the Bible. However Jesus (as) spoke Aramaic. From Aramaic, his life-story was translated into Hebrew. From Hebrew it was translated into Greek. From Greek to Latin, and then finally from Latin to English! There has not been a single vicar, priest or layman in recorded history who has even memorised the Bible in English, let alone the Aramaic! As Muslims we believe the Qur'an can only be in the language it was revealed in, i.e. Arabic. Anything else is a translation and not the divine words of the Creator. A true test of this divine preservation would be to burn all the books and manuscripts in existence, to see which can return as it was. The Qur'an would be the only book which would return in its original form, letter for letter, word for word.

Many Christians say that the Qur'anic claim of preservation needs to be backed-up by manuscript evidence. For us this is not a necessary criteria, but in order to quell the doubts, the Muslims have ample proof. Two copies of the Qur'an are in existence which date back to the Third Caliph Uthmaan, 20 years after the death of the Prophet (peace be upon him). These two copies are to be found in the Topkapi museum, Istanbul, Turkey and in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The Tashkent copy is thought to have been the personal copy of the Caliph as it still contains stains of his blood, which was shed when he was murdered whilst reading it. Any copy of the Qur'an which is compared to these copies, will show that there is not a single difference between what we have today and what was in existence 1400 years ago. Thus Allah's promise holds true.

No Mistakes

Man as a creature is fallible. For this reason anything which is produced by him will naturally have faults. With the Qur'an, such a notion cannot even be considered as it is from the one who is Infallible. In fact Allah clarifies this matter beautifully when he says:

"Do they not consider the Qur'an? Had it been from other then Allah surely they would have found much discrepancies within it" (Surah An-Nisa 4:82)

Throughout history many have tried to scrutinise and search the Qur'an for mistakes and errors. To this day no one has been able to bring a shred of proof showing that this book is not from Allah. Some Christians have even called it the work of the Devil because the book affected them so much when they read it! With other scriptures, contradictions, mistakes and absurdities are constantly present. When people contrast these ambiguities with the Qur'an, it often results in the acceptance of this faultless book.

The Arabic Language
Upon hearing Qur'anic recitation, you may be rather startled. Besides hearing the reciter of the prayer, you often hear people in the background sobbing and wailing heavily. So what is it that makes these people cry so much? It is nothing more then the beauty and eloquence of this book which moves millions to tears. This beauty is expressed in the language of Arabic. Allah says :

"Indeed We have revealed this as an Arabic Qur'an so that you may understand" (Surah Yusuf 12:2)

At the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) three modes of expression were used. There was normal speech, the speech of the soothsayer and poetry. The Arabs were the masters of their language, and poetry was their cultural highlight. Arabic poetry is split into 16 categories, each separate from the other. When the Qur'an was proclaimed to the Arabs it amazed them beyond all limits. It was like nothing they had ever heard before. It did not fit into the 16 categories of poetry, nor was it the speech of a soothsayer, and it certainly was not normal speech. If it was not all these, then it could only be the word of Allah.

The eloquence and majesty of the early chapters of the Qur'an moved many to tears, and the beautiful Qur'anic Arabic converted millions of Arabs in the Middle-East. Not only did the Qur'an effect the lives of these Arabs, but it also transformed their culture. Even today, no serious study of the Arabic language is possible without reference to this book.

The reaction of some pagans was that they accused Muhammed (peace be upon him) of being a soothsayer and a madman. In order to silence them, Allah issued a challenge. At first he asked them to produce a book like the Qur'an. When it could not be done, Allah asked them to produce ten chapters like it. When this too could not be done Allah finally stated:

"And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed to Our slave, then produce a chapter like it" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:23)

The smallest chapter in the Qur'an is only 3 verses long (Chapter 108). The pagans at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) could not even produce something as small as this, and since then no one else has completed this impossible task. All of this is in light of the fact that the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) could not read or write, thus refuting those who say that the Qur'an was his own handiwork.

The Qur'an is the Final book of revelation. After it there will be no more. However, many have tried to deny this by producing their own new versions of the Qur'an. Among them have been the two false prophets, Musailama and Ghulam Ahmed. Many Chapters in the Qur'an are named after animals, such as the Ant, Spider etc. Musailama tried to copy this, and went about creating a chapter in his book called the Weasel! In Arabic it is called Al-Wabl and it hardly causes people to be struck in awe! On the other hand Ghulam Ahmed, the 'British stooge', claimed to receive revelation in cockney English!! Such foolishness could never compare to the beauty of the Qur'an with its clear and beautiful Arabic language.

Science

Over the past few decades much interest has been shown in the scientific content of the Qur'an. Scientific data which has been discovered in recent times, has been existent in this book for 1400 years. In fact the very common origin of this universe is stated clearly by Allah, the Most High:

"Do not the disbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together, then We parted them. And We made from water every living thing. Will they then not believe?" (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:30)

This parting of the heavens and the earth is more commonly known to scientists as the 'big bang'. It is also a fact that life originated from water and that every living cell is composed of 85% water. Without water life is impossible.

The mountains of the earth, like icebergs, have roots going deep into the ground. This ensures that they will not topple with their extreme heights - this is known as 'isostasy'. In this way the mountains are like the stakes which are used to anchor a tent. But this fact is already known to us when Allah says:

"Have We not made the earth an expanse and the mountains stakes?" (Surah An-Naba 78:6-7)

and "Allah has cast into the ground mountains standing firm so that it does not shake with you" (Surah Luqman 31:10)

The embryological data which is found in the Qur'an is astounding. Allah describes the formation of a baby inside the womb from the very moment the sperm reaches the ovum, to its formation into a human. This data, which was only discovered about 30 years ago, has amazed many westem scientists. Amongst them is Dr Keith Moore from the University of Toronto, Canada. Dr Moore is a recognised authority in embryological circles, with his university text book being set as a standard text in many universities throughout the world. When Dr Moore was asked as to how this information in the Qur'an could be explained, he replied: "It could only have been divinely revealed".

History

The Qur'an is a book of historical accuracy. One accuracy which has corrected the mistakes of many Christians and historians, is the fate of the pharaoh who drowned in the Red Sea whilst pursuing Moses. The Biblical story would have us believe that the matter ended when the pharaoh drowned. But the Qur'an explains further. When he was drowning the pharaoh confessed his faith in Allah. But it was too late, and Allah promised him: "This day We shall preserve you in your body, so that you may be a sign for those who come after you. But indeed many of mankind are heedless of Our signs" (Surah Yunus 10:92)

In 1898 the tombs of various pharaohs were discovered in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt. In 1975 Dr Maurice Bucaille, an eminent French surgeon was allowed to examine the mummified bodies of Rameses II and the pharaoh who had pursued Moses - Merneptah. Dr Bucaille discovered that Merneptah had received very violent blows to several parts of his body and had suffered a massive heart attack. Amazingly, these are the results which occur when someone dies from drowning! Thus Allah had saved the body of the transgressing pharaoh as a sign for all humanity.

For those who say that Muhammed (saws) knew his history and wrote it in the Qur'an, the following shall prove otherwise. In the year 615 CE the Roman army was defeated by the Persians. About this event Allah revealed: "The Romans have been defeated in the lowest land, but in a few years they shall be victorious again, within three to nine years. The decision of the matter, before and after, is only with Allah" (Surah Ar-Rum 30:2-4)

The words of Allah proved true as the Persians were defeated at the battle of Issus, 7 years later in 622 CE. There is no possible way that Muhammed (peace be upon him) could have known (if he wrote the Qur'an) that the Romans would be victorious. In fact he also did not know that the 'lowest land' at which the battle was fought was literally that. The battle in 615 CE was fought on the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point below sea level on earth, at 1300 ft.

A book with these credentials could only be from the Creator of the heavens and the earth. A book which we need to acquaint ourselves with. A book . . . "...which has been revealed to you (O' Muhammed) so that you may lead mankind out of the darkness and into the light" (Surah lbrahim 14:1)