Islam is a religion which is free of superstitions and silly tales; it rejects fallacious miracles; it accepts man not as a sinner, but as Allahu ta’ala’s created slave; it provides them with an industrious and prosperous life; and it commands physical and spiritual cleanliness. Islam’s essence is the belief in one Allah and His Prophet, Hadrat [1] Muhammad (sall-Allahu ’alaihi wa sallam) who is, like us, a human being and a slave of Allahu ta’ala. In Islam, a prophet is a man, but innocent and perfect. Allahu ta’ala has chosen him as His messenger to communicate His commandments to humanity. Islam recognizes all the Prophets (’alaihi-mus-salam), loves them all, and mentions their names with reverence. Essentially, the advent of the latest Prophet is written in ancient religious books as well as in the original Torah and Bible. Hadrat Muhammad (sall-Allahu ’alaihi wa sallam) is the latest (final) Prophet, and no other Prophet will succeed him.
To believe that Hadrat Muhammad (sall-Allahu ’alaihi wa sallam) is Allahu ta’ala’s Prophet means to believe that all the commandments and prohibitions written in the Qur’an al-karim, which he communicated, are Allahu ta’ala’s commandments and prohibitions. If a person who so believes does not obey some of these commandments, he does not lose his iman (belief); that is, he does not become a non-Muslim. However, if he does not feel sorrow over disobeying even one of them, but instead boasts about this state of his, he will not have believed in the Prophet; he will lose his iman and become a kafir (disbeliever). If his head hangs in shame and his heart feels broken for his improper actions against Allahu ta’ala’s commandments, it becomes clear that his iman (faith) is firm.
Various rites, reforms and numerous feasts have no place in Islam and holy days are very few. Islam holds it essential for people to lead an honest and chaste life, but to enjoy life at the same time. It allots only a short time for worship. Committing one’s heart completely to Allahu ta’ala while worshipping is essential. Worships are done not as customs, but for entering the presence of Allahu ta’ala, for thanking and calling upon Him with all one’s heart and soul. Allahu ta’ala does not accept a worship done for ostentation.
Islam’s holy book is the QUR’AN AL KARIM. The Qur’an alkarim was revealed by Allahu ta’ala to Hadrat Muhammad (sall-Allahu ’alaihi wa sallam) and was communicated to the Sahabat al-kiram [2] by him. While the Qur’an al-karim was being revealed, it was also being recorded with great care, and survives even today; none of its words has been defiled. No other religious book is as eloquent as the Qur’an al-karim. It has the same clarity and eloquence today that it had fourteen centuries ago.
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GLOSSARY
[1] Hadrat: title of respect used before the names of great people like and Islamic scholars.
[2] Sahabat al-kiram: Muslims who saw the Prophet (‘alaihi ‘s-salam) at least once; companions.
To believe that Hadrat Muhammad (sall-Allahu ’alaihi wa sallam) is Allahu ta’ala’s Prophet means to believe that all the commandments and prohibitions written in the Qur’an al-karim, which he communicated, are Allahu ta’ala’s commandments and prohibitions. If a person who so believes does not obey some of these commandments, he does not lose his iman (belief); that is, he does not become a non-Muslim. However, if he does not feel sorrow over disobeying even one of them, but instead boasts about this state of his, he will not have believed in the Prophet; he will lose his iman and become a kafir (disbeliever). If his head hangs in shame and his heart feels broken for his improper actions against Allahu ta’ala’s commandments, it becomes clear that his iman (faith) is firm.
Various rites, reforms and numerous feasts have no place in Islam and holy days are very few. Islam holds it essential for people to lead an honest and chaste life, but to enjoy life at the same time. It allots only a short time for worship. Committing one’s heart completely to Allahu ta’ala while worshipping is essential. Worships are done not as customs, but for entering the presence of Allahu ta’ala, for thanking and calling upon Him with all one’s heart and soul. Allahu ta’ala does not accept a worship done for ostentation.
Islam’s holy book is the QUR’AN AL KARIM. The Qur’an alkarim was revealed by Allahu ta’ala to Hadrat Muhammad (sall-Allahu ’alaihi wa sallam) and was communicated to the Sahabat al-kiram [2] by him. While the Qur’an al-karim was being revealed, it was also being recorded with great care, and survives even today; none of its words has been defiled. No other religious book is as eloquent as the Qur’an al-karim. It has the same clarity and eloquence today that it had fourteen centuries ago.
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GLOSSARY
[1] Hadrat: title of respect used before the names of great people like and Islamic scholars.
[2] Sahabat al-kiram: Muslims who saw the Prophet (‘alaihi ‘s-salam) at least once; companions.
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