\ScAN |__| ‘Saso - fees Bs ie | si = - silica aa zen ea Ween means “Sell surrender fp Wve WANG GOK” cE Eye hee TY Arak all WPS ae ca Souda ACR CMaernonn , More Hes Ae Wak anh gna messeaden df dock, Whnaanence = | QbJO) - BOW Io ee, cae & i if = Two mage Duces dy Saeoic teachings Ise oo QUA Gack NACH.” CRavelation yarn God ‘ie eae ark Gras dy Me Moved) - TT AMOR Sct G QW VAG, IS @_Comprerere_ Tock complete oad iter dk Gods Gidea No human bans -Cleditature ~ QMS Goonies \ PAG , educa... i - “Te Fondant Aides Q fat. ©) | prasaaeae ss aan-“e a! Badges \0 Oncank wb -RAIwe nal Messengers di & Relves W accGuic suerues _ A. Setuues AY AGE : dn Belues 1 HE LoS) dos) of Mudgereede pase! Se eke seb pad 7 pat ~ | Tee Five Alls dy ‘soon. 6) 1 Baceatian,_ dy atin. regan) i : | Baya CSde) Ise ‘ A Ashings the codctec ch Rascadan, - i Sy Cehorty) 25% 3 el Vay Calgaerede kr mecca) |Islam Explained Page | of 4 Islam Explained wi i is Islam Itis the way of life that Through out history have taught, fiom those known WME Western world such as ‘Abraham, Moses and Jesus to those sent to other parts of the earth like Salih, Shuayb and Tagman, the African, The last and final Guide was Muhammad, may he be blessed, who lived in sixth century Arabia. A "Muslim,"{(ie. a self surrendered one, is a follower of this faith. Neatly one in every five persons alive today is a Muslim. Islam calls humanity to the service of the One, Omnipotent Creator, Who is known as “Allah, (The Deity) in the Arabic language. It further instructs people on how they may live together in peace and harmony regardless of race, class or beliefs. The unity of purpose brought by all previous religious guides is highlighted as well as traditional morality. the equality of the sexes efore God and the virtues of patience and humbleness. Mustims have & ir religious teachings. ‘The first is a book known as "the Quran” the d Muhammad, the Second source is the collected sayings and pronouncements of the Prophet which are complimentary to the Revelation. These are known as “the Hadith," ‘Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Arabia in the year 570. His father's name was Abdullah and his OTRETS was Antinah Abdullah died before is son Was born and his mother died when he was yet a small child. He was first placed under the care of his grandfather and then later his uncle, ‘who raised his nephew as his own. Asa boy, Muhammad (pbuh), disliked the prevailing custom of idol worship practiced by his people. How many @ night he must have paused to watch the stars and endless plains, while tending his uncle's flocks, and wondered at the real Creator of it all, He shunned the mischief of his fellow youth and soon developed a reputation for honesty, generosity and compassion. When he was a young man he took employment in the merchant trade and soon distinguished ttp://wenw islam 101 com/dawab/islam_explained himi 2/25/99Islam Explained Page 2 of 4 ‘wealthy, widowed employer, the noble lady Khadija. TTe was 25 and she was 40 when they got married. Theit marriage was based upon love friendship and trust “Thouich time and circumstances had changed as he grew older and wiser, Mubammad (pou) still remained restiess for the truth and he began to retreat to the solitude which could only be found outside the city of Meoca. He often went to a mountain where he would sometimes spend days thinking and contemplating about God, reality and the Divine way of life. Then on she glorious day, the Almighty revealed words of inspiration to him through His angel Gabriel "Read! the angel commanded him, "Read in the name of your Lord who created man from a clinuing embryo...” This was Muhammad (pbuh), for all is truthfulness, patience, piety tnd spirit, commissioned as the last and final Prophet of God to humanity. Though many tials, fests and triumphs lay ahead of him, he always called people to the service of the One God, to Shun myths and idols and to do unto others only what is good and right. He always lived a frugal life, and even afterall of Arabia was liberated from the darkness of ignorance, he, as the ‘ruler, still slept on a reed mat and mended his own clothes. He taught a now standard to people and brought civilization to an arca of the world where it had long ago passed by. His lips moved with the Revelation of God and his life put its precepts nto practice. Though persecuted by the idol worshipers for thirteen years in Mceea and followed faithfully by the believing citizens of Medina for ten thereafter, he remained unto bis death a devoicd father, husband, leader and Prophet, He was given the title of "Merey to the worlds’ by God Himself in the Quran and anyone who has studied the details and adventures Bris life must acecssarily declare the same, This mas Muhammad (pbuh) is truly the hero of hhis age as well as an inspiration to ours. No. Muhammad (pbuh) was only a man among men who received the special favor of God. No true Prophet of God taught that any man must be worshipped, as if any human body could contain the infinite, God instructs us in the Quran about him thus: "Muhammad is no more than Messenger. Many were the Messengers who passed away before him..."(3:144.) Istam, of, the Way of Self- Surrender to God, was taught by all Prophets whether their race was Jewish, Chinese, African, Arab or Cheyenne. ‘Accordingly, Moses, who is regarded as the pivotal figure in Judaism, and Jesus, who is the ccontral porsonality of Christianity, both taught Islam te their peoples. The teachings of these teat Messengers of God did not go unchanged, however, over the centuries, and one can find ‘hat many practices, beliefs and customs practiced by the adherents of those faiths today differ from the original purity of their founder’s message. ‘Muhammad (pbuh), simply brought the last installment of self-surrendcr (Islam) to the world in order to correct carlicr corruption in humanity's knowledge of the truth, So if the roots of Judaism and Christianity are the samc as islam, why docs Islam scem so exotic and strange? “The problem is two-fold. On the one hand, there are people in the world who claim to be “Muslims, but who do not follow the ethical or religious teachings of the faith, Unfortunately, hitpy/www.isiam 101 com/dawah/islam_explained kimi (25199Islam Explained Page 3 of 4 ine meata nas @ universat rascination with negative news ana a Feructance 10 nignNgNE Ine positive. On the other hand, much of what we read and learn about Islam in the west is written, interpreted and presented by those who either know very little about Tstam and the Mustiin world. or are even hostile towards it. ‘An even more important area of misunderstanding lies in the basic assumptions about religion that the Western world and the Islamic world make, Because of the West's negative experience ‘with religion, an altemate ideology known as secular-humanism had to be established to allow science, rationalism and free thought to flourish. Islamic civilization, in contrast, never impeded science nor the development of human thought, so a break between secular values and religious ones never occurred. This is why Islam is often mix-labeled "Theocratic.” Education and improvements in global awareness, however, are slowly wearing down barriers to understanding, but it will require some effort from all of us to finally reach a point of tolerance and mutual good-will ‘Muslims live in every country and region on earth from Norway to Malaysia and Morocco to ‘Mexico, Muslims form a large percentage of the population in Russia, China, India, and Eastern Europe, Some Islamic lands are Arabia, Indoncsia, Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia, Egypt and Nigeria, ‘Arab Muslims form a small minority of the worldwide Muslim population. There are nearly six million Muslims in North America alone. That's more than the population of some slates such as Alaska, Nevada and Rhode Island. nea Muslim “There are no elaborate rituals or ceremonies to perform to enter Islam (Self Surrender to God), for Islam is the faith of reason, and therefore if takes an exercise of reason te become a ‘Muslim, Simply by declaring and believing in one's heart the following phrase: "There is no abject oF devotion save God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God,” one thereby isa believer. As a consequence of making this statement sincerely, everything an individual did that was wrong or unethical in his life up to that point, is forgiven by God, no matter what it ‘was. From that moment onwards, the slate is cleared and you begin life again as a new person. if what we have briefly discussed interests you, please contact us at the address or telephone number below. We would be honored to share our faith and our friendship with you for all things must pass away but the presence of our Lord shall abide forever. 1. the Holy Qur'an. Abduilah Yusuf Ati (trans.) Amana Corp. Brentwood, 1983, 2. Muhammad. Martin Lings Inner Traditions, Rochester, 1983 3. Towards Understanding islam. Abul A'la Maududi, }CNA Book Serv 4. Jesus: A Prophet of Islam, M. Ataur Rahim Presidency of Islamic Rese: New York, 1990. , Ifta and Da'wah, 5, The Bible, the Qur'an and Science. Maurice Bucaille Seghers, Paris. 1987. 6. ‘The Road to Mecca Muhammad Asad Dar al Andalus, Gibraltar, 1980. hitp/www.islam 10 1 com/dawahlislam_explained htmi 2725/99Basic Beliefs of Christians and Mustims Table Page 1 of 5 Audhu billahe minishaitan Ar-rajim( seck refuge in Allah from the rejected Satan.) Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim(In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.) asic beliefs of Chris ians and Muslims side by side _ What Christians Believe | What Mustims. Believe | IGod is three gods merged | | into one God. This one | | God is called a Trinity. | God is onc God in the most basic, simple, and | ‘However, to say that God elementary meaning of the word, He has no jis three is a blasphemy of children, no parents nor any oqual. In Islam ‘God |the highest order. Ail three God is known by the name “Allah” and more | | [parts of the Trinity arc _| than 99 other venerated namics, such as "the [{eoequal’ Yeo-eteral” and | Merciful,” the Gracious," "the All-Powerful, "| riune God, the Son of the | a |A very elect and highly: a. partofthe Tune |OrGoy,'No Muslim iss MislinThe doce nol God, and at the same time [believe thi | "fully" God in every - ‘[Triune God, but also /Mully* God in every He is the angel Gabriel. The angel Gabriel is fighly esteemed as the "Trustworthy Spirit” | ‘respect. | |Acchaste and pious human“) chaste and pious human woman who was _| “Jesus Chr ete second, chosen, purified, and preferred over all of the [nember of the Trinity, the omeR oF ereation to be the one to give birth | [son ‘of God, and at the (0 Gods elcel messenger Jesus through the | eee eeec civ Gea Sommand of God without any father | | Almighty in every respect._[*halsoever |Part of God which was God's command "Be!" which resulted in Jesus) the Word ‘God va th Dut also "fally” conception inthe womb of Mary without the Trewsthe ear [ned fra human father, we filev/CAStuffichrist_islam.him 219/99of Christians and Muslims Table Page 2 of 9 pean ennpm anno nated |All accepted, respected, and believed. life to the |dead, heatin [the blind an lthe lepers [prophets __and believed na ee i " Muslims believe in the books of the previous i I prophets including the "Terah” which was | i | ‘sent to Moses, the "Zaboor" (Psalms) which “wore given io David, the "Iajecl" (Gospel) shich was given to Jesus, and the Quran ] \ 2 [which was given to Muhammad However, ‘The Bible {Accepted as 100% the “Muslims are told that the previous scriptures / | [wore tampered with by mankind and the Bible | | ‘ould oly be accepted in as far as its ! | ‘confirmed by the Quran. Itis to be treated | i | “with respect, however any statements which 1 | jcarly oppose those of the Qur'an are fo be | __ rejected as the work of mankind, ‘Varying beliefs. Some —_| The last messenger of God to all of humanity. ‘believe that he was a liar, He was known as “The Tru the some believe he was a "Trustworthy" before he received his first Muhammad inatic, some believe he revelation. He was sent by Ciod as a mercy to |was the False Messiah, and all creation. TTe was a human being but “yet others claim he was performed a number of miracles during his deceived by the Devil. lifetime by the will of God. “The last book of God sent io mankind. It was Varying beliefs ranging ison the aistincHiOn OF BEM pESOMAllY from it being a copy of the Ie sarded by God from human tampering, Itis roniteeeer the work mma literary level never before seen by The Quran | being the oe nee ankind. Ne Arab to this day has ever been TEST no Able to meet it's challenge to "write a work ristians and Jews who isnifar to it.” Ht shall remain safe from the eee ih ‘tampering of mankind till the day of 7 phan Judgment asa guidance for all Humanity, | { That he was sent by God | | i “(ho was at the same time | [“fully” Jesus) in order t Frat he was sont by God as a messenger to | SF eatiaTtac a or vm odertoretumtem oh pe | Message ot [Adam Wiout his thd te religion of Moss, and to rlive fa |them of some of the regulations which had | Jesus’ giving erformed them because ‘scree: all of humanity _was destined to perish in of Adam. After the ion all that is quired of humanity faith without any wor All accepted. He lbcen placed upon them in ancient times. He [taught them to have faith as well as works. [Neither onc can stand alone. | accepted. They were performed through \¢ will of God just as Moses, Noah, and all g_Pe was the Son of God and | 7 also at the same time |other prophets did so in ancient times through | "fully" God and the ‘the will of God. | ncarmation" of God. | filev//CAStuff\christ_istam.hom, 2719199Basic Beliefs of Christians and Muslims Table Page 3 of 9 The ‘crucifixion |Mlesus was given over to the i “Tews, He was spat on, cut, [Jesus was not forsaken fo the Jows tobe | humiliated, kicked, striped, abused and killed, however, it was "made to | sand finally hung up on the i ‘cross and killed very “Slowly and pai “raising him up unto Himself | [coming of Jesus. | The original isin Ihe “atonement ‘Accepted. Originally [Expoxtedto Happen during |, ccopted, Jesus did not die but was raised up | Mactpn mony hredtions tf heaven by God, He shall return to cath {Sisciples, many predictions ust before the Day of Judgment in order io eee aes ett any Kil the "Fase Messiah" and te cstblish peace seeeatt hetecurrentiy’ a4 justice on earth. He will Kill the pigs, | } ‘bredk the eross, and call all humanity to ‘anticipated to arrive =_o—eeeoe around the turn of the ee jeentury (2000C-B.) IThere is no such thing, Humanity is created [by God destined for heaven unless they chose | to disobcy Him and refusc His mercy. God sn very trivially and effortlessly forgive the ins of all of Humanity no matter if they were | to fill the lofty regions of the sky. Sucha | matter would be trivial and inconsequential | for Him since He has already done much | ‘more than that such as creating everything we | ‘ean ever see, hear or imagine, He lovesto | bestow His mercy and forgiveness on His | ‘Jesus can save one from creation and rewards the most trivial acts with] “this destiny e most tremendous rewards, In order to | achieve God's reward one must have faith as. al ‘of humanity has iberited the sin of Adam, |Only the death of the ‘sinless offspring of God ‘could crasc this sin. No one is born clean, no matter if his life is only for a single day. Only baptism i have sinned and ifyou do not forgive me ee |and have merey upon me then | shall indeed | “eat that God could vot ‘have lost.” So God forgave him. Simifarly, all Haagen ee cimlk calling lan beings have the door to forgiveness | i ther it was necessary ~ eft open to them by God until the day they | is Seay die. There are no intermediaries between | [fo erase il withthe blood of Lind and God. If they sincerely repent to [Asinless innocent 204 go |Clod, ask His forgiveness, and forsake their hall" God evil deeds before their hour comes then Tle | ‘Shall forgive them and there is nothing more | pleasing te [lim than to forgive the sins of one, filev/C\Stuffichrist is “IF you have faith in God, believe in His “[messengors, and obcy His commands then He | | Tf you have faith in the shall multiply every single good deed that you | |atoncment of Jesus for the do many, many times and crase your evil | | who comes to Him in sincere repentance. —_| | lam.htm 2/19/99Basic Beli s of Christians and Mustims Table Page 4 of 9 the path [S89E Asam wnien you jeeas, una on ne Lay oF JUagmentAus | [ene eth! “have inherited then you _merey shall eause your good deeds to far shail be saved. You only outweigh your evil deeds and grant you | ‘need faith. No work is passage into an ecstasy and Paradise so great | inecessary. “that we can not even imagine it, to abide there |etemally. In the Hereafter there is only reward) “and no We i In this book it will be demonstrated (by God's will), through the words of the Bible and some of history's most eminent conservative Biblical scholars and references only, how most of the founding beliefs of Christianity today were indeed inserted by mankind into the message of Jesus long after his, departure. Jesus (pbuh) himself never had anything whatsoever to do with them. These beliefs include: ‘The "Lrinity.” ‘The claim that Jesus (pbuh) is the Son of God in the later “orthodo: ‘The “original sin” of Adam which mankind is alleged to have inherited. ‘The “atonement,” or death of Jesus (pbuh) on the cross in order to erase this sin of Adam. ‘the "incarnation" of God in the form of a human being, namely, Jesus (pbuh). It will further be demonstrated that the true message of Jesus (pbuh) was: “That God is One. He is indivisible. He has no equal. God has no children nor parents, There is no other god in existence other than God Himself, ‘Jesus (pbuh) was a human being. He was not God, but only an elect messenger of God. God does not hold anyone responsible for the sin of anyone else, nor does He forgive the sins of ‘one man by sacrificing another. God does not give preference t a certain race, color, nation, lineage or anything else above any other. Only a person's individual actions and worship will distinguish them in the eyes of God. God's justice refuses that any human being bear the sin of any other. God is a merciful god who bestows His forgiveness without a price or asking for any compensation Entering into heaven requires both faith and work. Neither one can stand alone. ‘Muslims are taught that throughont the ages, God sent messengers fo all tribes and nations all over the earth beginning with Adam (pbuh), the first prophet of God as well as the father of humanity. Every time a messenger of God would pass away, his people would begin to fall back on their evil deeds until a few generations later they would have managed to have completely corrupted His original message to them. When God's message was in danger of being completely obliterated by these people, He would chose from among them a new messenger to receive the original, uncorrupted message and convey it to them, Some of them would listen, Others would not, However, the message would always be available for those who wanted it. In this manner, God made sure that all of mankind would always have access to His truc religion, no matter where or when they lived. Tt ‘would then be up to them to seek out this knowledge. “Muslims are further taught that cach messenger was scat only to his own people. His message was then fine-tuned to suit them. Thus, the basic message would be the same for all messengers: "God is ‘one!, Worship Him alone!" However, the details of cach people's worship would be molded to suit their lifestyle, state of knowledge, and so forth, This was also true for Jesus (pbuh). Jesus was sent specifically to the Jews, and only to the Jews, It shall be demonstrated how one of the most file://C\Stuffichrist_islam hon 2/19/99Page 1 of 6 4 WHAT IS ISLAM # é (Parts from "Tian in Focus" by Dr. Hammudah Abdel Ati) # The book is obtainable frce from WAMY 0 # INTRODUCTION # 4 # * # ‘THE FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLES OF FAITH IN ISLnM u +’ 4 + + 4 THE FIVE PTETARS OF TSTAM # i - 5 @uAT TS TSTAM INTRODUCTION can we find an explanation of the great universe 7 Is there any convineing interpretation of Lhe secret of existence 7 Ne ceulive that no family can funct: properly without a responsible head, that no city can prosperously exist without sound administration, snd that no state can survive without a leader of some kind. We also realize Gal noLhing comes inte being on ils ows. Moreover, we observe Usel the universe exists and functio: in the most orderly manner, and that it has survived for hundreds of thousands of years. Can we, then say can we attr that all this is accidental and haphazard ? te the exisleave of mun and Lhe whole world lo mere chance. Man represents only a very small portion of the grest universe, And n make plans ond appreciate the merits of planning, then his files/C)StufPislam bun 2/19/99Page 2 of 6 own existence and the survival of the universe must also be based on his meana that there is a Designing will behind our material existence, and there is an extraordinary power to bring Bue MeL erhah sntevenee: | things into being and keep them moving in arder. a planned policy. in the world then there must be a Creat Force in action to keep everything in order. In the beautiful nature there must be a Great reator whe creates the most charming pieces of art and produces everything for a special purpose in life. The deeply enlightened people recognize this creator and call him Allah 'tod'. He is not a man because no man cen create or make ano! rman. He is not an animal, nor is He a statue of any kind hecause none of these things can make itself or create any thing elce, He is different from all these things, because He ig the maker and Keeper of them all. he maker of anything must be difterent from and greater than the things which he makes. ways to know God "ALLAH", and there are many things whe great wonders and impressive marvels of the world are iike open books in which we can read about God. Besides, God Himself comer t our aid through many messengers and revelations He has sent down to man. These messengers and revelations tell us everyting we need to know about God. The complete acceptance of the teachings and quidance of God ‘Allah’ ae revealed to # ¢ messenger Mohammad is the religion of Islan. ash faith the enjol: ty of Allah, which makes man aware of the meaningfulness of the Universe and of nis place in it. This belief frees him from ali fears and superstitions by making him conscious of the presence of the Almighty Allah and of m. his faith must be expressed and tested man's obligations towards in action. Faith alone is act God requires that we look upon all humanity as one iversal omnipotence filev/CAStuffislam.htm 2/19/99Page 3 of 6 the Creator and Nourisher of all, Tslam rejects the idea of way to people, making belief im Uod and good action the only heaven. Thus, a direct relationship is estabil d with God, without any inkercessar. mis not a new n. Jt is, in essence, the same message and Jah revealed to 4 prophets Adam, Noah, Abranam, Ismael, Issac, David, Mo es, Jesus (PBUT). Suh the message which was revealed to prophet Mohammad (PRIM) is Talam in its comprehensive, complete and final. The Quran is the last the basic source of Tslamic teachings and laws, ‘The Quran deals with the hasis of creeds, morality, tory of humanity, worship, Imowledge, wisdom, good-man relation ip, and human relationship in all aspects. Comprehensive ching on wh A can he built. so systems of soc: economics, polities, Tegisietion, 5 spradence, law and international relations, are important contents of the Quran, Hadith, the teachings, sayings and actions of prophet Mohammad (PBUH), meticu. reported and cn) ted by his devoted companions, explain and elahorate the Quranic verses "HE FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLES OF FAITH IN ISLAM true faithful Muslim believes in the ng Principal ar! of faith: Mighty, Merciful and Compassi nd Steenal, infinite and nate, Creator and Provicer. file/CAStuffistam bin 2019/99Page 4 of 6 2. He believes it all messengers of God without any disc among then. Every known nation had a warner or messe! God. They were chosen by God to teach mankind and de! Divine message. The Quran mentions the name of twenty-five them, Among them Muhammad stands as the last messenger and the crowning glory of the founda prophethood, 3. Muslim believes in all the scriptures and revelations of God. ‘They were the guiding light which the messengers received to show their respective peoples the Right vath of God. in the guran a special reference is made to the books of Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus. But long before the revelation of the Quran to Mohammad some of those books and revelations have been lost or corrupted. the only authentic and complete book of God i existence today is the Quran. 4, ‘The true Muslim believes in the Angels of Allah. They are purely spiritual and splendid bein! 2 whose nature requires no food or drink or spend their days and nights in the worship of God. 5, Muslim believes in the las! Day of judgement. This world will come to an end someday, and the dead will rise to stand for their #: 1 and fair trial. People with good records will be generously rewarded and warmly welcomed to the Keaven of Allah, and those with bad x rds wt be punished and cast in Jwosiin believes in the timeless knowledge of God and in His power abt. —_—_—_Eee a SS Same ness Knowledge of God te tan and execute His plans and nothing could happen in Ais Kingdom against his Will, His knowledge and power are in action at all time command over His creation. He is wise and merciful, and whatever He does must have a meaningful purpose. If this is established in our minds and hearts, we should accept with good Faith all at He does, file//C\Stuffistam. hum 2/9/99Page 5 of 6 although we may fail t understand it fully, or think it is bad. THE FIVE RS OF ISLAM Faith without act: and practice is a dead end, as tar as Islam is concerned. Faith hy nature is very a: tive and can be most effective. When it is out of practice or out of use, it quickly loses it liveliness and motivation power. 1. the declaration of fai worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad (PBUH) is His vo bear witness that there is none messenger to 11 human beings £111 the Day of judgement. The Prophethood of Muhammad obliges the Muslim to follow his exemplary prayers are offered five times a day as a di: ‘They strengthen and enliven the belief in Allan v and inspire man to a higher mor, they purify the heart an prevent temptation towerds wrong-doings and evils. trom dawn to sunset but aiso from evil intentions and desires. Th teaches love, sincerity and devotion. It develops a sound 1 conscience, patience, unselfishness and will-power. 4. Zakah: The literal and simple meaning of Zakah is purity. ‘Tne technical meaning of this word designates amount in files/CAStuffistam. htm 2/999Page 6 of 6 Mind or coin which a muslim with means must distribute among the rightful beneficiaries. wut the religious and spiritual significance of Zakah is much deeper end more lively. So it has humanitarian and sociopolitical value. (Pilgrimage to Makka lifetime, it one can afford it financially and physically. Jt ig to be performed once in a fitev/C\StuMislam bem 2/19/99\ Untitied Page | of 3 re nam OF, the HS Grass, a Hest Merc Ainaramaia Fourdation | WHAT IS saan ' | riya 19683 ? Sou Aral Phone: 966-1a#352210 . Fase 668-1505613 Can we find an explanation af the great universe? Is there any cor the secret of lis existence? We raalize that no family can function properly without @ responsible head, that no cily cen prospefously exist without sound administration, and thet no state car suvive wilhout a leader of some kind, We also realize that nothing comes ina being an its own, Moraover. we observa that tha universe exists and funstions in the mast orderly manner. that it has survived for hundreds of thousands of years, Can we, than. say thal al this fs accidental and haphazard? Can we attribute the existence of man and the whele world to 4 more chance? Man represents only @ very small partion of the great universe, and if he can make plans and appreciate the ments of planning, then his own existence and the survival of ine Universe must also be based on 8 planned policy. ‘This means that there is @ Designing Will behind cur material existence, and thal thare is an extraorcinary powst {9 ring things info being and keap them moving & ofcer, in the workl ist De a Graat Force in action t@ keep everything in order. In the beautiful nature there must be a Gr kes the great charming pieoes a} eeply enlightened segple recognize this crealor and cali Him Allah. He is not @ ina rake anather man, He is not an animal, nor is He e plent He is neither an Kio! nor is Fle = Staiue of any kind because rons of these things can maka foe of create anything sise. He is differant trom all these things, because Hs is the maker ‘and Keeper of thers ail, The Maker of anything must be different and greater than the things: thathe makes, There are various ways to know “Allah and there are many things to tel! about Him. The great wonder ‘of the world are tiles open books sn which we can read about Hin. Bes > our aid Inrough the many messengers and (evelatons He hes sent down to fu messengers and revelation telf us everything wa need to know about our Crestor ‘The complete aocaptance of the teachings and guidance of aur Creator as revealed to all His mossengers 's the religion of Islam. Islam snjoins faith in the oneness at sovereignty of Algh. which makes ma Lifie mearsngtiness of the uiverse 8 ‘of frees the fuman being Wom all fears and presence of the Almighly Allah, and al hes and tested in action, for faith alone is not enough. Belief in ons: ‘99k upon all humanity as one family under the universal http:/www.atharamain.ory/alharamain/articles/artOlisim htm 2/25/99Page 2 of 3 while'on the other hend. it spproves thet belief i the Creator, and doing rightacus ceeds = the only way io heaven. Thus. 2 direct relationship Is established with Allah snd without any intercessor at th Islam ig not 2 new religion. It is. in essence, the same message and guidance which Allah Tevealed to al His prophets. like Adam, Enoch, Noah, Aorenern. Ishreel, Isaac, David Moses, Jesus and Mohamined (Peace Be Upon Thai). Bul tne message which wes revealed to prophat Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him} is islam in its comprstiensive, compleie and final Form ‘The Qur'an is the revealed words of Allsh and tha basic sou Laws, Ef deals with the basis of ¢reeds, morality, history of hur worshia, knowledge, swisdor, god-man relation, and human celationship in all aspacts—comprehensive teachings: Of which, can be bull sound systems and social justice, economics, politics, legislation, jurigprudence, law and Intemational relations, all of which ere important contents of the ‘Quen, iamic teachings and The Hadith, which contains the teachings. sayings, approveis and actions of prophet hohamned (Peace Be Upon Him} meticulously reported and collected hy his devoted companions, explains and elaborates the Quranic verses, ‘The true faithful Musiim believes in the following principal articies of faith: 4{, Relloves in_one God Supreme and Etemal, infinite and Mighty. Merciful and salleves ino en on be Gompassionale, The Crealar and The Peovider, He begets not, nor was He begotten, and these is none equal or comparable unto Hi 2 Believes in all Messengers of Ash without ny discrimination among them, as every knoan HETGH Ras & VTaMEr of messenger from Allah. They were chosen by Allah to teach humanity and deliver His Divine message. The Quran mentions the name af some ef fhemn and Menammad(Paace Be Upon Him) stands as the last messenger and the crowning glory of the foundation of araphethood. Selleves im all original scriptures and revelations of Allah, accepting them as the Suda ght Tat Te receerges Teas Tsar Ine messengers Feckived to show thir respective people the right path to Him, In the Qur'an,special reference is made te the books of Abraham, Moses, David and ssus (Peaos Be Upon Them}, but long before the revelation of the Gur'an to Mohammad (Peace By Upon Him} some of these books and revelations hed been lost of corrupted The poly authentic and complete book of Allst in edstence taday a the Guan, which hae baen served asit vealed to pinphet Mohammad (Pears Be Upon Him) in ts pristine pure 4, Believes in the angels of Allah, recognizing them as purely spiritual end splendid beings: whose raure TEGUTES Tx: food of drink oF sleep. They are honored servanis whe are n furstions. and spend their days and nighis in the worship af Allah They do ciging that this world will end someday. People with good resards will of Allah, ard thos wah bad and that the dead wit nee 10 sland for thelr final be generously rewarded and warmly welecrned to records wil be pushed and cast ina Hell ‘http://www alharamain.org/atharamain/articles/artO Lisi htm 225/99Untitled Page 3 of 3 &, Believes in Fate, whether good or bad, which Allah, meceursd and ordained for all crcaluren Soon MSPS MoT id as deemed suitable by his wisdom, And in the tineiess knewiedge of Allsh, end in His pow ie His plans, nothing ould happen in His Kingdom agit always action command over His creation. He 1s wise and mercitsl ard whatever he does must hava 8 mipaningtal purposs, Ff ths is established m our minds and hearts, we chad accent wth ‘200d faith ail that He das, although we may fall fo understand It fully, af think its fad. Faith without action and practice is a dead end as fer as Islam is concemed, for fath by nature 1s very seneilive and can be snost influential. When itis oul of practice o out al ux loses its ivstiness: and motivational power THERE ARE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM (THE ACTIONE RARE FIVE BILL ARS OF ISLAM {THE ACTION 4. Shahadatain (Testimony): To bear witness thal there is non Alan(TRS Creaiar], and that Mohammest (Peace Be pon Hin) prophethoss af Mohermec (Peace Ba Upon Him) essen Mustins w bis examplary lite asa mode worthy of worship except His messange’, with the professed fo oblige the 2. Salah: Dally prayers are offered five times a day ase duty towards Allah, They strengthen an efliven tha belief in Alieh and inspire men to 2 higher morality. They purify the heer end prevent temptation toware Taey are - Salstub Fay (The Dawn prayer) = Selatu-fDubr (The noon prayer). ~ Salatu-LAsr (The alternoon presi) = Salatici-Maghnib (The sunsat prayer). - Selatul-/-lsha (Tha averong prayer nical 3.Zakah (Charity: The jiteral and simple meaning of Zakah is purity, while its naan ea jesigifates the anaual amount in kind or cash that a Muslim with means eu distribute ecrong the rightful benaiicieries Hum he yearty nat sevings at 2.5% Eul the religious and spiritual significance of Zakah is much deeper and more valuable than its Hemanitarian, and sosie-poltical value 4.SaxmiFasting): The Muslims during the month of Remacian de not only abstain from food, ok a intercourse from dawn to sunset But they are also required to abstain fram ev intentions ancl desires throughout the whole morins of the year in general and durin; the month of Ramagan in particular tt teaches love, sincerity arid tlevotion, and daw ‘Sound soca conscience, pabance, selflessness and will power as well S.Hall(Pitgrimage to Macea): it js t be porformed once in 2 lifetime, so jong as one can sited Tinencanyarererysically. and it is the largest annual convantion of faith where Muslins meet io Know one anuther, study their common affairs and promate their general welfare without prejudice or bias as 19 one’s color, rece, nationality 2s wall ax status in life, After ell, everyciie is equel in tna face of Allah, andl so hay therefore demonstrates in sffact the Universality of Isiam anc tha brotherhood and equality of Muslims, ‘THIS IS ISLAM, THE ONLY WAY FOR THIS LIFE & THE LIFE HEREAFTER Se httpy/www.alharamain org/alharamain/articles/ertO liskm him 27599