XIV. Eleven Facts about Jesus In Islamic Teachings

XIV. Eleven Facts about Jesus In Islamic Teachings

The Qur‘an does not present a detailed biography of Jesus (peace be upon him). However, it does highlight the important aspects of his birth, his miracles, his mission and his ascension. The Qur‘anic account of Jesus' ministry confirms most of his miracles mentioned in the Bible and identifies some not mentioned in the Bible. What we know about the prophet Jesus Christ can be divided into two

topics: his personality and his message. Eleven facts are detailed below.

What you should know about Jesus

1- The status of Jesus in Islam    

Islam teaches that Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) is one of the most respected prophets because of his efforts in spreading the Word of Allah. It displays a true spirit of love towards him and his mother Mary. There is not a single disparaging remark against the Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) or any other prophet in the entire Qur‘an,

nor in other Islamic literature or Islamic history books. As an evidence of praise for Jesus (peace be upon him) is that the story of Jesus (peace be upon him) and his mother is 

mentioned in three places in the Qur‘an: Chapters 3, 4 and 19. In fact, Chapter 19, an entire chapter of the Qur‘an, is called ‗Maryam‘ (Mary) in her honour.46

Another evidence of praise is that the name of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) is mentioned 25 times in the Qur‘an; this is in contrast to the mention of Prophet 

Muhammad (peace be upon him), whose name is mentioned only 5 times. This proves that Islam honours all prophets for the message they have in common; it did not discard one prophet with the advent of another.

Jesus (peace be upon him) is referred to in the Qur‘an with many titles, Ibn Maryam (the Son of Mary), the Messiah (the anointed one), ‗Abdullâh (slave of Allah), and Rasool Allâh (the messenger of Allah).

This praise and glorification agree with what Jesus (peace be upon him) is reported to have said in John 14:1647 describing the prophet that would succeed him: “He will glorify me.”

2. The Beginning of his Lineage

The Qur‘anic account of Jesus (peace be upon him) starts with the story of his mother, Mary. When she conceived her, the mother of Mary vowed to dedicate her child (Mary) to the worship of Allah and His service in Jerusalem.

When Mary grew up, she was very righteous. She dedicated herself to the worship of Allah and was supplied with provision from Allah. Therefore, it is no mystery as to why she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. The Qur‘anic verses read:

[Remember] when the wife of ‗Imrân [the mother of Mary] said: My Lord, I have vowed to you what is in my womb, devoted to your worship and service in Jerusalem. So accept this from me. Verily, you are the Hearer and Knower of all things.

Then, when she gave birth to her (Mary) she said: My Lord, I have given birth to a female child and Allah was well aware of what she had delivered and the male is not like the female; I have named her Maryam (Mary), and I seek Your protection for her and her offspring from Satan, the outcast. So her Lord accepted her most

graciously and soundly nurtured her under the care of Zachariah (Zakariyya), whenever Zachariah visited her in her place of worship he would find her supplied with sustenance.48 He said: O Mary, from where have you got this? She said: From Allah; truly Allah gives without counting to whom He so wills. (Qur‘an 3: 35-37)

It is interesting to see that when the Mother of Mary conceived, she was a bit disappointed that she did not have a son. This was because she had always wished that her child be dedicated to the worship of Allah. However, little did she know that this very child would be extremely righteous, and end up being the mother of Jesus. This was better for her than a son. Hence, Allah‘s words: …and Allah was well aware of what she had delivered…

3. The Status of Mary

Mary is very highly respected in Islam. Allah says:

And when the Angels said: O Mary, Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above all women. O Mary, worship your Lord devoutly and prostrate yourself and bow down [in prayer] with those who bow down. This is a part

of the tidings of the unseen which We reveal unto you by inspiration. (Qur‘an 3: 42-44)

4. The News about Jesus

(Peace be upon him)

When Mary approached adulthood, she was informed about the honour of bearing this noble son well before his birth. It was the angel Gabriel (peace be upon him) who appeared to her with this news. The following verses in the Qur‘an describe the dialogue between Mary and the angels:

And when the angels said: O Mary, verily Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from Him whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and in the hereafter, and one of those brought near to Allah. He will speak to the people while in the cradle, and in maturity, and he is one of the righteous. She said: My Lord, how could I have a son when no man has touched me? He said: So it shall be; Allah creates

whatsoever He wills. If He decrees something, He says to it: Be! and it is. (Qur‘an 3: 45-47)

5. The Birth of Jesus

(Peace be upon him)

Mary conceived this child miraculously (the first miracle) and retired to a distant place where she waited for the birth of her child. This amazing story is related to us in chapter 19 of the Qur‘an, ‗Maryam‘ (Mary):

So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a far place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said: Would that I had died before this, forgotten and out of sight. Then he (Jesus) called to her from below her, saying: Do not grieve; your Lord has placed a rivulet beneath you. And shake the trunk of the palm tree towards you, causing ripe dates to fall down to you. So eat and drink and rejoice, and if

you see any human being, say: Verily, I have vowed a fast unto the All-Merciful, so I shall not speak to any human being this day. (Qur‘an 19: 22-26)

6. Subsequent Miracles of Jesus

(Peace be upon him)

Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) was blessed with the ability to perform many miracles. This supported his claim that he was a prophet from Allah. Allah Almighty says in the Qur‘an:

We gave Jesus the son of Mary the clear signs, and supported him with the holy Spirit. (Qur‘an 2: 87)

Muslims do not hesitate to accept the fact that Jesus (peace be upon him) performed miracles. At the same time, Muslims do not elevate Jesus (peace be upon him) to the position of Allah or describe him as the ‗son of God‘, or consider him to be anything more than a divinely-

The same applies to all the prophets, since many of them were blessed with different miracles as well.

The First Miracle

The first miracle associated with Jesus (peace be upon him) was that he was born from a mother without any human intervention (father). Allah gave the divine command ‗Be‘ and he was created.

The Qur‘an mentions the miraculous creation of both Adam and Jesus (peace be upon him) in the following verse:

Truly, the likeness of Jesus in Allah‘s sight is the likeness of Adam, He created him from dust. Then, He said to him: Be! and he was. (Qur‘an 3: 59)

The Qur‘an mentions that Jesus‘ miraculous birth did not change the state of his humanness; that is, he did not evolve from a human being to become Allah or to be a son of Allah, because, rationally, if that is the case, then Adam would have a greater right to such an honour, since he was born without a human father or mother.

Another Miracle was that Allah gave Jesus (one of only three people that Allah chose for this) the ability to talk while still an infant, a blessing which helped save his mother from the harsh slander of her own community. This remarkable story is narrated in the Qur‘an:

Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said: O Mary, indeed you have committed something truly outrageous. O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man who committed fornication and adultery, nor was your mother an unchaste woman. So she pointed to him. They

said: How can we talk to someone who is a child in the cradle? He said: Verily, I am the slave of Allah. He has given me the scripture, and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and enjoined on me prayers and charity as long as I remain alive, dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me proud,

perverse or unblessed. And may peace be on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive. (Qur‘an 19: 27-33)

Subsequent Miracles

Other miracles performed by Jesus (peace be upon him) are also mentioned in the Qur‘an:

Allah will say [on the Day of Resurrection]: O Jesus, son of Mary, remember my favour to you and to your mother, when I supported you with the holy Spirit, so that you spoke to the people while you were in the cradle and in maturity,49 and remember when I taught you the scripture and wisdom,50 the Torah and the Gospel,51 and

remember when you fashioned birds out of clay by My permission, and after you breathed into it, it became a bird by My permission, and remember when you healed those born blind and the lepers by My permission; and remember when you brought raised the dead [to life] by My permission. And remember when I restrained the

children of Israel from you [when they decided to kill him but Allah raised him up] when you came to them with clear proofs, but the disbelievers said: This is nothing but evident magic. (Qur‘an 5: 110)

Indeed, the Islamic account of the miracles bestowed on Jesus describes more miracles than those known to Christians. Also, facts 10 and 11 below are two more miracles associated with Jesus and his role as the Messiah.

Important Note

As shown in previous verse, it was emphasized after mentioning each miracle that whenever Jesus performed a miracle, he informed the people that it was by Allah's permission. He made it clear to his followers that he was not doing the miracle by himself.

As Dr. Philips points out:

There are texts in the New Testament which confirm that Jesus did not act on his own. Jesus is quoted in John 5:30 saying: ―I can of mine own self do nothing.‖ ...In acts 2:22, Paul writes: "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know...‖52

7. Humanness of Jesus(Peace be upon him)

Islam forbids the deification of human beings (going to excess in the exaltation of humans—prophets or otherwise—to the point where they seem divine). Addressing both the Jews and the Christians, Allah says in the Qur‘an:

O people of the scripture,53 do not commit excesses in your religion nor say other than the truth about Allah. Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, was certainly no more than a messenger of Allah, His Word which He bestowed on Mary, and a

spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and do not say, ―Three‖. It is better for you to desist. Verily Allah is (the only) one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Guardian. The Messiah will never disdain to be a slave of Allah,54 nor the angels who are close to Him. Whosoever disdains

worshipping Him and is proud and haughty, He will certainly gather them all unto Himself. So, as for those who believed and did deeds of righteousness, He will give them their rewards; and more out of His bounty. But as for those that refused to worship Him and were proud, He will punish them with a painful punishment, and they will not find for themselves besides Allah any

protector or helper. O humankind, manifest proof has come to you from your Lord; We have sent down to you a clear light [the Qur‘an]. As for those who believed in Allah, and held fast to Him, He will surely admit them to mercy from Him, and bounty, and will guide them to Him on a straight path. (Qur‘an 4: 171-175)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned against the deification of humans. He said: <<O people, beware of going to excesses in religion, for verily people before you were destroyed for going to excesses in religion.

Being a human prophet, Jesus (peace be upon him) did not call people to worship him. Allah informs us in the Qur‘an that on the Day of Judgment he will gather all the nations in front of Himself and He will ask the Messengers how they were received by their peoples and what they said to them. Among those who are going to be questioned is Jesus (peace be upon him):

And when Allah says (on the Day of Judgment): O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say to people: Take me and my mother as gods besides Allah? He will say: Glory be to you! It is not for me to say what I have no right to. Had I indeed said it, you would surely have known it. You know what is in myself and I do not know what is in Yourself. Truly, You alone are the Knower of the hidden and unseen. Never did I say to them anything except what You

commanded me to say: Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them

while I remained among them, but when You took me up to Yourself, You, Yourself, were the Watcher over them and You are the Witness over all things. If you punish them, they are your slaves, and if you forgive them, verily only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. Then Allah will say: This Day whereon the truthful benefit from

their truthfulness. They will have gardens under which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. Allah is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him. That is the ultimate triumph. (Qur‘an 5: 116-119)

8. Jesus‟ Prophethood

The Islamic view of Jesus (peace be upon him) is a moderate one, as it lies between two extremes. The Jews rejected Jesus (peace be upon him) in his role as a prophet of Allah and called him an impostor. The Christians on the other hand, considered him to be the son of God (Allah), and ‗God-incarnate‘ in some cases, and began worshipping him. Islam considers Jesus (peace be upon him) as one of the greatest prophets of Allah.

Allah says:

Christ, son of Mary, was no more than a messenger, who was preceded by many

messengers, his mother was a woman attributed with full truth.56 They both ate food. See how Allah makes His signs clear to them, yet see in what ways they are deluded away from the truth. (Qur‘an 5: 75)

9. The Mission of Jesus

(Peace be upon him)

Now one might ask: what was the real mission of Jesus according to the Qur‘an?

Jesus (peace be upon him) propagated the message of Monotheism, the Worship of Allah alone in the way prescribed in the Gospels. He worked hard to propagate this message, and talked to everyone about it. Allah says:

And he speaks to the people while in the cradle and in maturity, and he is one of the righteous. (Qur‘an 3: 46)

The prophecy of Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a successor to Christ was a part of Jesus‘ message. Allah says in the Qur‘an:

And when Jesus, the son of Mary, said: O Children of Israel, I am the messenger of Allah

sent unto you, confirming the Torah before me, and giving glad tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad.57 But when he (Muhammad) has come to them with clear proofs, they said: This is mere magic. (Qur‘an 61: 6)

Though the Bible has been altered a great deal, it contains remnants of the original true message revealed to Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). In this regard, the messenger of whom Jesus (peace be upon him) gave glad tidings and prophecies is still referred to in both the old and new testaments of the Bible. (See chapter XV of this book, ‗Muhammad in the Bible‘)

Jesus (peace be upon him) was a link in a long line of prophets and messengers sent by Allah to various civilizations and nations whenever they needed guidance or deviated from the teachings of Allah. Jesus (peace be upon him) was sent by Allah especially to preach to the Jews, who had deviated from the teachings of Moses (peace be upon him) and other messengers. Just as he was supported by Allah miraculously in his conception, birth

and childhood, he was also supported by numerous

miracles to prove that he was a messenger from Allah. However, the majority of the Jews rejected his ministry.

It must be realized that Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, was the last in the line of prophets sent to the Jewish people. (See chapter XV)

10. Jesus‟ Ascension

Jesus‘ ascension is the last Miracle which was given to Jesus (peace be upon him) when he was on earth. The Jews attempted to kill him. Allah replaced him with another person who looked like him. Jesus (peace be upon him) was not killed or crucified but raised to Allah. In fact, it was this other person that was killed. To this day, it is thought by Christians that Jesus himself was the one who was killed.

Allah says in the Qur‘an:

And they said: We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, Messenger of Allah, but they did not kill him or crucify him, but that is how it appeared to them. Verily, those who disagree with this matter are in doubt and have no knowledge of it; they follow speculation. They certainly did not kill him. Certainly, Allah raised him up; Allah is All-Mighty and All-Wise. (Qur‘an 4: 157-158)

11. The Second Coming of Jesus

(Peace be upon him)

 In Islamic teachings there is clear evidence indicating the second coming of Jesus (peace be upon him) before the Final Hour and this is an additional and final miracle

for Jesus (peace be upon him). He will come back not as God, as the Christians believe, but as Jesus, Allah‘s messenger and slave, as he always been. The purpose of his coming will be to correct the misconceptions surrounding his message and mission. According to a statement of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he will stay for forty years, and these will be the happiest years of life on this earth. At that time, those who had

misconceptions about him will correct their understanding and believe in him as a messenger, not as the son of God (Allah). It is narrated by Abu Hurayrah58, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: <<By the one in whose hand is my soul, it will not be long before the son of Mary descends amongst

you, a just judge and ruler. He will break the cross, kill the swine and abolish the tribute paid by Jews and Christians. Money will be so plentiful that no one will accept it. At that time a single prostration will be better than this world and everything in it.

Abu Hurayrah then said, ―Read if you wish (the following verse of the Qur‘an),

And verily there is no one from among the people of the scripture60 except that he will believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness over them. (Qur‘an 4: 159)‖

In another narration Abu Hurayrah said, ―Among the things which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was recorded to have said regarding Prophet Jesus' return is the following: <<There will be no prophet between me and Jesus, and he will return. When he does, you will know him. He will be a well-built man of ruddy complexion and he will descend wearing a two-piece

garment. His hair will look wet, though no water touched it. He will fight people to establish Islam and he will break

the cross, kill the swine and cancel the jizyah.62 During his time, Allah will destroy all religions except Islam and the Antichrist63 will be killed. Jesus will remain on earth for forty years, and when he dies, Muslims will pray the funeral prayer for him.

Jesus' return will be one of the signs of the coming of Day of Judgment. It is the last miracle to be given to him before he dies.

Last breath

XIII. Islam and other Religions

XIII. Islam and other Religions

One may ask, ―If all true religions came with the same message, namely the worship of Allah alone, then why do we find such differences between them?‖ The answer is that the original forms of these earlier messages were either lost or distorted by later generations. Consequently, the pure messages of Monotheism became polluted with

myths, superstitions, idolatry and irrational philosophical beliefs; hence, those religions no longer represent the embodiment of Allah‘s revelations. However, Allah, the Compassionate, did not leave human beings without guidance. He ultimately sent Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to revive the original message and to call human beings back to the correct path: belief in the unique

Oneness of Allah and worship of Him according to His teachings mentioned in the Qur‘an. Consequently, Islam is the seal and completion of all religions, the Qur‘an is the seal and completion of all revealed books, and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the seal of all prophets—the final prophet.

XII. Islam is a Moral System

XII. Islam is a Moral System

Islam has unique moral teachings. They call for strengthening the relationship between humans and their Lord, as well as with one another. They also call for people to correct and straighten themselves, both inwardly and outwardly.

Concerning the correcting and strengthening of the relationship between a person and his Lord, the Qur‘an calls for people to draw close to Allah through both physical and mental acts of worship such as prayer, the pilgrimage, and sacrifice. In addition, the Qur‘an calls us to seek knowledge about Allah through His Names and Attributes. This instils fear and awe of the Lord in people‘s hearts and establishes discipline in applying Allah‘s commands and prohibitions.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also instructed people to remember Allah at all times and in every situation. This creates a permanent connection between people and their Lord and instils stability, strength and tranquillity in their hearts. It is one of the means of protecting against evil and vice, since a Muslim will be reminded constantly that Allah is watching his or her every action. The Prophet (peace be upon him), for

example, instructed that specific invocations be said at the time of sleep, before entering the lavatory, before sexual intercourse, while travelling, when in fear, upon entering or leaving one‘s house, first thing in the morning and in the afternoon, on being afflicted by distress, anxiety or misfortune, when burdened by debt or poverty, upon entering a graveyard, when stopping for a rest or setting up camp, and in many other situations

Concerning a person‘s relationship to others, the Qur‘an promotes behaviour which strengthens and reinforces social relationships such as the importance given to the role of the family. Treating parents kindly, maintaining good relations with other family members, seeing to the rights and needs of spouses and children and dealing with them with love and mercy, and supporting

orphans and the weaker members of society are all obligatory. Conversely, disobeying parents, severing family ties, neglect or abuse of spouses and children, and social isolation are all prohibited.

In addition, the Qur‘an instructs that all people should be treated with high moral behaviour and noble manners. One is encouraged to smile, forgive, return harm with good, and have patience when dealing with other Muslims. Since this high code of moral behaviour is quite trying,

Allah has promised immense reward for the one that achieves this.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed people to adopt good manners when in gatherings, such as not raising one‘s voice, respecting elders, being gentle with

youngsters, greeting those present by saying, ―Assalâmu alaykum warahmatuallah wabarakâtuhu,‖ which means ‗may the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you‘. Islam also demands that we guard our tongues against saying bad things about others, even if what we wanted to say was true.

Islam also tells us that agreements and contracts must be fulfilled, entrusted items returned, and rulers obeyed. It enjoins noble characteristics just as it forbids vileness, baseness, crime, oppression, hostility, aggression, and all other blameworthy and reprehensible qualities.

Islam highly recommends kindness to parents. This command is mentioned eight times in the Qur‘an. In one of the verses, Allah said to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be dutiful to your parents. If one or both of them become old, do not say to them a word of disrespect nor shout at

them, but address them in terms of honour. And be highly submissive out of mercy, and pray for them saying: My Lord, bestow on them your mercy as they brought me up when I was a child. (Qur‘an 17: 23-24)

Being kind to parents might seem obvious to most. However, this is the beauty of Islam: it emphasizes this point because in reality, being kind to parents may be more difficult than being kind to strangers!

<<A man asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): Whom should I honour most?

The Prophet replied: Your mother.

Then the man asked: And who comes next?

The Prophet replied: Your mother.

Then the man asked again: And who comes next?

The Prophet replied: Your mother.

Then the man asked again: And who comes next?

The Prophet replied: Your father

Kindness towards relatives has been promoted by most major religions. Islam, however, takes this aspect to a new dimension. Relatives have specific rights laid out by

the Sharia (Islamic law). We are obliged to assist our relatives by economic as well as social means. The rights of relatives are based on nearness in blood relationship. This can be seen mostly in the rights of inheritors, which are specifically laid out in the Qur‘an. The Qur‘an goes a step further, even assigning rights to foster relations. A Muslim is not allowed to make a bequest that excludes any of his relatives who have been given a share in the 

inheritance. Furthermore, even the amount of charity one can assign has been limited; the rights of the relatives must be fulfilled first.

A Muslim must treat all relatives with the utmost respect and kindness, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims. A Muslim is not allowed to boycott his or her relatives or cut off relations with them. He or she is encouraged to keep in contact with them even if these relatives were to abandon him or her. Indeed, maintaining family ties is of such great importance that a Muslim is greatly rewarded for doing any good actions that promote this.

Islam encourages treating neighbours very kindly. There is a verse in the Qur‘an that sums this all up:

... [Show] kindness unto parents, and unto near kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and unto

the neighbour who is related [to you] and the neighbour who is not related, and the fellow-traveller and the wayfarer...40 (Qur‘an 4: 36)

Also, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: <<(The Angel) Gabriel continued to urge me to treat neighbours kindly and politely, so much that I thought he would order me to make them my heirs

The Prophet also said: <<Anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbour, and anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain guests generously, and anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should say what is good or keep quiet.

One of the Prophet‘s neighbours used to throw trash on him regularly, as he passed by. Once when she did not do this, he inquired about her, concerned that something was wrong. He found her ill in bed, and when she thought he would display anger or vengeance, she was surprised to find him merciful, despite all her rude behaviour towards

him. She then embraced Islam because of his kindness. Remember, kindness to neighbours is rewarded by Allah.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught many practical good manners, including the virtue of adopting the correct manners for eating and drinking. These include eating with one‘s right hand and not finding fault with the food but rather being satisfied with it. If you like the food,

you should eat it, but if you have no appetite for it, you should leave it in the dish without criticizing it. This is both out of respect for the blessing of the food and in order not to hurt the feelings of the person who cooked it or offered it. It is also preferred for us to eat with others and not alone, either by eating with family or by inviting a poor person to eat with us. The words ―In the name of

Allah‖ (in Arabic, bismillâh) should be said before beginning to eat, and ―All praise belongs to Allah‖ (Alhamdulillâh) after the meal, in order that people remember the blessing they have been given and the One who provided it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also prohibited people from blowing on food or drink or breathing onto it, out of respect for others who may be sharing it and to avoid the spread of contagious diseases.

Islam also enjoins both physical and spiritual cleanliness. It encourages that we keep our bodies clean, and our clothes and shoes as well. Islam has guided

Muslims for their well-being, even to the minutes detail. For example, a Muslim is encouraged to wash thoroughly after using the toilet, clean his or her teeth often (especially with the siwâk, or toothbrush), and shower after sexual relations.

Concerning spiritual purity, the Qur‘an instructs that the soul be straightened and corrected and that the heart be purified from spite, malice, jealousy, pride and inequity. It calls for integrity of heart and love, affection and humility towards people. It instructs that the tongue be purified from lying, backbiting, slander, and insult. It should then be replaced with truthfulness and softness in speech. Islam encourages unity, so much so that a Muslim is encouraged

to give as many excuses as he could for suspected bad behaviour or speech on the part of his or her fellow Muslim. Also, the wealth, property, and life of a Muslim are held sacred: this means that no one else has the right to interfere with these without the Muslim‘s express permission. The enormity of sins such as slander and backbiting is emphasized in many verses of the Qur‘an, and a chapter of the Qur‘an (Qur‘an 104) is dedicated to this very subject.

We should restrain our eyes from looking at that to which they are not entitled (such as the private parts of

others), and we should keep our ears from listening to loose and immoral talk, including lewd lyrics.

The Qur‘an praises and encourages knowledge and criticizes ignorance, saying that it leads to destruction. It commands people to action and dynamism while prohibiting wasteful talk and laziness.

It also orders that children be born within a legal marriage and that sexual desire be controlled and contained within these parameters.

To uphold the family structure and the well-being of society, the Qur‘an prohibits fornication because it is one of the worst assaults on a person‘s honour and dignity. It is something which causes disease and produces children who are looked upon by society as ‗illegitimate‘.

Likewise, the Qur‘an forbids everything which leads to fornication, so it prohibits looking at pornographic pictures and being alone with women who are not close relatives.43 It also commands that men should lower their gaze from looking or staring at women whom they have no right to look at. Muslim women thus enjoy protection and security and can be confident that a Muslim man will

not even look at her if not permitted to. The same prohibitions hold for women gazing at men unlawfully.

With this same reasoning, Islam enjoins morality in behaviour and appearance. Fashions that reduce women to sex objects are not acceptable. Islamic veiling is a means of protection from unwanted external attention. Allah says in the Qur‘an:

O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their bodies so that they should be known and not molested. (Qur‘an 33: 59)

That means, with their husbands women may wear whatever they wish in the privacy of their own homes, where they will receive only the type of attention they desire.

Islam urges men to be kind to their wives, Allah says in the Qur‘an:

He created mates from among yourselves for you to dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts. (Qur‘an 30: 21)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: <<The best of you are those who are kindest to their wives

This is because one can be kind in public where everyone is watching, yet be mean and cruel at home. Islam holds Muslims accountable even in this situation, where their true nature may be revealed. This is the true test of moral behaviour.

In Islam, the wife retains her independent legal status and family name. She is not the property of her husband in any way, but she has many rights due to her from him, as he does from her.

In Islam, it is the husband‘s obligation to give his wife a valuable gift at the time of marriage. The groom must present the bride with a marriage dowry. The bride retains her dowry even if she is later divorced. He must support his wife and children financially thereafter. The wife is never obliged to act as a co-provider for the family unless she herself voluntarily chooses to do so. It is the husband‘s

sole responsibility to support his family financially. Islam gives women (whether married, divorced or single) the right to inherit, own and trade.

Polygyny (having more than one wife) is permitted in Islam as a solution to social problems. It addresses the problem of orphans and widows in society. It is also a solution which promotes honesty and matrimonial trustworthiness (especially within the family) for those

who have a desire or need for more than one sexual partner, instead of having one wife and taking mistresses. Thus, instead of having an extramarital affair, Islam requires the man to take responsibility for his actions. Islam limits Polygyny to a maximum of four wives at one time. However, it requires the husband to maintain absolute equality in his treatment of his wives, caring for

each financially and emotionally in the same exact manner. It should be noted that if a woman is unhappy in this situation, and she fears that she will be unable to fulfil her responsibilities to her husband as well as to Allah, she could opt out of the marriage. A man is not allowed to force her to remain married.

Islam is a religion of moderation. Although divorce is allowed when necessary, family unity is encouraged. For example, in the event of a divorce, the two spouses are encouraged to bring arbitrators from their family members to help reconcile them. Islam discourages divorce, yet recognizes the rights of both partners to end their matrimonial relationship if circumstances dictate it. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: <<A believing man should not hate a believing woman. If he

dislikes one of her traits he will be pleased with another.>>45

Therefore Islam is realistic about the option of divorce, yet also encourages solutions to hold the marriage together.

It is clear that women in Islam are honoured for their roles as mothers. Islam acknowledges that a woman sacrifices her life for her children, and thus she is given an honour above that of the father.

The Qur‘an also calls for the protection and sanctity of human life and specifically mentions that the taking of an innocent life is one of the worst and most hideous crimes. The Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade breaking the bones of a dead person, so what about the taking of an innocent life? The Qur‘an prescribes a ‗life for a life‘ and an ‗eye for an eye‘ for all injuries, however large or small, unless the family of the person killed or the injured person accepts financial compensation instead.

The Qur‘an commands that a person‘s property and wealth be safe and inviolable and therefore prohibits theft, bribery, usury and deception. It calls for moderation in spending and so forbids extravagance, lavishness and the

squandering of money while at the same time forbidding the hoarding and amassing of wealth. It calls for balance and commands that people should neither be greedy, stingy and covetous nor extravagant and wasteful. It encourages people to seek their means of livelihood and for their provision in lawful ways such as buying, selling and renting (activities that bring financial or material benefit to all parties concerned). As mentioned Islam also

safeguards the rights and needs of the poor, especially those of them who are relatives or in one‘s own community, so that they do not have to go elsewhere to seek help.

Islam promotes the protection of good health and has therefore commanded that only wholesome and nutritious food be eaten, and eaten in moderation, and has prohibited the consumption of all harmful food and drink such as pork, carrion, tobacco, alcohol and other intoxicants (mind-altering substances), and so forth. It also prescribes fasting, which has many benefits for the body, especially the digestive system.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed that even animals be treated fairly and with kindness, instructing that they should be fed and watered and promising that such action would be rewarded on the Day of Resurrection. He also instructed that they should not be

made to carry a burden more than they could bear, nor tormented or caused undue suffering or killed unless they were harmful. If an animal is to be slaughtered as food then it should not be slaughtered in front of other animals, to avoid causing undue suffering.

Islam maintains respect for the person even after death. When a Muslim dies, he or she must be buried according to the tradition taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The body of the person is washed and perfumed. Then it is wrapped in two pieces of white cloth and the body is buried facing the Ka‗bah.

We are advised to hold the body deceased‘s gently to ensure that its bones do not break. Before and after the burial, people are encouraged to pray that Allah forgive the deceased and admit him or her into paradise. Islam prohibits sitting on or walking over the grave, in another sign of respect for the dead.

XI. The Meaning of Worship In Islam

XI. The Meaning of Worship In Islam

The meaning of worship is, simply, total submission and complete obedience to Allah's Commandments in belief, intentions, statements, and actions. This is achieved by striving to do what Allah has encouraged, avoiding what He has forbidden, and worshipping Him alone according to His teachings. This is the true meaning of the worship of Allah in Islam. May Allah enable his followers to achieve this level of worship

X. The Five Pillars of Islam

X. The Five Pillars of Islam

Worship in Islam is an all inclusive term for all action and statements that Allah loves and approves of. Every virtuous action which is performed with the intention of carrying out the commandments of Allah and seeking His pleasure is considered as an act of worship. Islam is built on five acts of worship which are the foundations from which all deeds emanate. They stand as the framework of

spiritual life on which the structure of Islam rests. They are the following:

1. The Declaration of the two Testimonies of faith:

―I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.‖ The sincere declaration of this testimony (also referred to as the testimony of Monotheism) and

adherence to this teachings automatically brings one within the fold of Islam and dying while believing it guarantees one a place in paradise. This is why this testimony is considered as the cornerstone of Islam. The acceptance of this belief distinguishes the Muslim from the non-Muslim. Hence, all actions depend on this pillar; deeds (no matter how great) are of no avail to a person if he does not make this testimony. However, there are many acts which may contradict this declaration and expel its doer from Islam as quickly as he or she came in. The most serious of those acts is worshipping other than Allah whether in the form of supplication, prayer or other acts that signifies worship or belief in other than Allah.

2. Prayers:

Formal prayers are prescribed five times daily as a duty to Allah at the following times: dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and nightfall. A Muslim may offer formal prayers almost anywhere as long as the location is clean. Muslim males are enjoined to pray in congregation in a mosque, while females are encouraged to pray in their homes. Prayer provides humans with regular contact with Allah, which helps them, avoid evil. Furthermore, it is symbolic of equality of poor and rich, ruler and subject, black and white. Human beings from every conceivable background stand together, united in rows, shoulder to shoulder, and prostrate themselves before Allah. Prayer

strengthens the belief in Allah and elevates the human being to a higher morality. It helps to purify the heart and prevent temptation towards wrongdoing and evil. This act of worship compels the believer to remember his Lord no matter where he is, night or day. In this way, prayer is continuously taking place throughout the entire world at any given moment.

3. Zakah (Obligatory Charity):

Every Muslim whose net annual savings are above a certain specified minimum must pay an annual amount of 2.5% of his savings to the poor and needy people in the community. Zakah fosters generosity and helps purify the soul of selfishness and greed. Zakah also helps reduce resentment and envy between poor and rich members of the society. Islam is a practical religion. Not only does it safeguard the average individual and his/her rights, it protects the rights of the weaker members of the community as well. 

4. Fasting the month of Ramadan:

Fasting in Islam means abstinence from food, drink and sexual acts from dawn to sunset. It is an annual obligation during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Fasting was imposed on former communities of believers in earlier divine religions. The Qur‘an states that the main purpose of fasting is to help us to be more conscious of Allah and more obedient to Him. It teaches sincerity and engenders devotion. It helps us develop a sense of social conscience,

patience, self-restraint, will power and compassion for needy members of the society.

Someone might ask: Why has Allah, in His wisdom, prescribed fasting for many nations?

The answer is that the purpose of fasting is clearly defined as being for the development of Allah-consciousness (piety). Only Allah knows who is actually fasting and who is not. Consequently, one who is fasting refrains from eating and drinking based on an awareness of Allah. Regular fasting enhances that awareness, which subsequently leads to implanting righteousness in the heart of the individual.

As a secondary benefit, fasting is very beneficial to one‘s health. It purifies the body of toxins; a welcome rest from the useless waste cluttering the body. It allows the body to recuperate and heal. It trains the body, as well as the mind, to function with an amount of food that is sufficient. Also, the needs of basic instincts of survival are kept in check, and when the individual is able to control these, other needs will be easier to control. In return for this sacrifice, Allah grants the believers great rewards and forgiveness of their sins.

5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah):

The Hajj is obligatory for every Muslim once in a lifetime, if one can afford it financially and bear it physically. During the Hajj, Muslims from all corners of the world meet in an international congregation dedicated to the worship of Allah. It is a great lesson in patience. The huge gatherings for the Hajj are a reminder of the Day of Judgment when all of humankind will gather for their reckoning. It emphasizes the belief that all Muslims are brothers and sisters, irrespective of their geographical, cultural, racial or social origins.

Prophet Muhammad‘s followers owe him two things: obedience and love.

Prophet Muhammad‘s followers owe him two things: obedience and love.

Obedience to the Prophet

Obedience to the Prophet is mentioned in thirty different verses in the Qur‘an. It implies following his commands and avoiding what he prohibited. Obedience to the Prophet indicates the true fulfilment of the second part of the declaration that brings a person into Islam, ―I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah‘s Messenger.‖

When we examine anything the Prophet encouraged, urged or ordered, we find that all is from Allah, and that all lead to something good, for us personally, to others who are close to us in our families, to our wider community, to the Muslim community in general, or to humanity at large. He only prohibited what is harmful or of no benefit, like adultery, gambling, alcohol, lying,

disrespect to parents and so on. The Prophet (peace be upon him) prohibited satanic ways in many statements, because these tend to pull a person away from the right path.

A good believer reaches a state of mind when his desires and pleasures in this life are in line with what Allah wants from him. Every individual should be obedient to Allah and His Prophet, and observe strictly the instructions from Allah. Following Islamic teachings

develops the spirit, but abandoning it leads to a state of decay and spiritual loss.31

Loving the Prophet

Islam teaches that loving the Prophet is part of the Islamic faith. The Prophet is quoted as saying: <<None of you is a true believer unless I am dearer to him than his parents, his children, and all other people.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: <<There are three qualities which are certain to give anyone the sweetness of faith: to love Allah and His Messenger more than anyone else, to love a person for no purpose other than for Allah‘s sake, and to hate to relapse into disbelief after Allah has saved him from it as much as one would hate to be thrown into the fire

We are required to love Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) more than all others (except Allah) because it was through him that we learned who Allah is, His attributes, our position in relation to Him, what Allah wants from us, and how to worship Him. He guided us through practical example along the way, and following

this is certain to earn for us Allah‘s acceptance and the ultimate bliss. He has spared us the worst calamity that can ever befall anyone, which is incurring Allah‘s anger and punishment. He sacrificed everything to deliver Allah‘s message to us. He sacrificed his health and wealth and his whole life. If we realize all this, how can we not love him more than we love ourselves and all others?

We love Prophet Muhammad because, as described in the Qur‘an, he was a ‗mercy for all nations‘. His compassion extended to all, friends and enemies. Consider this: that, enemies often became his beloved companions and followers. They embraced Islam, saying that his character was proof that he was a true messenger of Allah.

It should be noted that we must love Allah more than the Prophet; the Prophet comes next. Loving Allah, the Prophet and his followers is an act of worship for which one will be rewarded. And vice versa; hating Allah or His Prophet expels one from the bounds of Islam. Correspondingly, hating those who hate Allah or the Prophet is part of Islamic belief, for which the individual will be accounted for and rewarded.

It needs to be clarified here that the emotion of ‗hate‘ that is meant in this context does not lend itself to the commonly known evil type of hate which is the imperfect

human emotion; rather, it is the type of hate that perfects one‘s faith as it is directed in the right measure against those who have taken a defiant stance against the Creator and His chosen messengers. It is a lot like the negative feeling one may hold against the actions of a man who defies and abuses his elderly parents in an evil manner, or an outlaw who fights the justice system and spreads fear and corruption in society. It is clear that hating the actions

of such individuals is a natural feeling that good people are expected to have. Although Islam teaches love in all its many forms, it instructs the faithful believers not to love those who do not love Allah and His messengers, until they change their ways, in which case, they commanded to love them! In a nutshell, a Muslim loves for Allah as well

as hates for Allah. And here is the great fact about this emotion of hate; a Muslim is instructed not to hate anyone for personal reasons. For example, if a person insulted a Muslim, he is instructed to forgive; surely the difference is great between hating for Allah (well placed emotion) vs. hating for satisfying the self (a destructive) emotion).

The love we should have for the Prophet must be a genuine love, not a mere verbal statement. It should be supported and proven by obedience, following his commands and avoiding what he prohibited. Correspondingly again, the expression of our feelings of

hate or revulsion at the refusal of our fellow human beings to believe in Allah‘s Oneness and follow the monotheistic teachings of His prophets should be in our positive and pro-active approach to those who disbelieve. We want and pray for them to be guided to the truth, and we need to work for that and work with them for that.

5. Belief in the Last Day

Islam teaches that this life is but a test of conduct for each individual, to see whether or not he or she will follow the commands of Allah. In the hereafter, people will be resurrected and stand before Allah for a just reckoning of their deeds and actions while they were alive on earth. People with good deeds will be generously rewarded and warmly welcomed to the heaven of Allah. However, those with records of many bad deeds will be punished and cast

into hell. People have been given knowledge of right and wrong, instinctively and through revelation, and they must choose their path in this short life. Their choices in this life will ultimately determine their places in the eternal life to come. Allah says in the Qur‘an: Whosoever has done an atom‘s weight of good will see it, and whosoever has done an atom‘s weight of evil will see it. (Qur‘an 99: 7-8)

Belief in the Day of Judgment implants in the human heart the consciousness of Allah, impelling people and

society at large to obey Him sincerely without any external pressure. Effectively, the hereafter for the individual starts right after his soul departs his body. Shortly after his burial, two angels come to the grave and ask the following three questions (like a final exam):

Who is your Lord?

What is your religion?

Who is your prophet?

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that the believer would not have difficulties in answering them correctly, while the unbeliever would not be able to give the right answers.34 Depending on the result, the person will start to suffer or enjoy his/her stay in the grave after this brief questioning. The grave will expand or contract to give comfort or torture to its dweller depending on what

they deserve.35

6. The Belief in Predestination

It includes the belief in the following:

a) Allah knows everything. His knowledge is not bound by time. Past, present and future are all known to Him.

b) Everything which takes place is already written in a book called the ‗Preserved Tablet‘.

c) Allah has created everything, including the actions of people, the good and the bad, but He commanded people to do good deeds and forbade them from doing evil.

d) One must believe that everything that happens in this universe is happening with Allah‘s permission, and nothing can take place against His Will.

It should be noted that Allah‘s prior knowledge of things does not mean that human beings have no choice. Human beings choose, but Allah knows their choices prior to their choosing and action. He merely allows them to follow through with their decisions.

IX. The Six Articles of Islamic Faith

IX. The Six Articles of Islamic Faith

Islamic belief is based on six fundamental articles of faith.

1. Belief in Allah.

This includes the following beliefs:

- Belief in Allah‘s existence. The existence of humankind and the entire universe is not a mere accident or the product of chance. This universe and everything that is in it manifests and points to the realization of a Creator.

- Belief that Allah is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Owner of the Universe and its contents, the provider of everything, the Giver of life and the Causer of death.

- Belief that Allah is the only One who has the right to be worshipped

- Allah has revealed both in His Final Revelation, the Qur‘an and through his Prophet‘s teachings ninety-nine names and attributes that offer some insights into the absolutely unique, wondrous and perfect nature of Allah. The most frequently used name is Allah, which means the ‗Worshipped‘. Some of those attributes are: the Everlasting, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-

Hearing, All-Seeing, Self-Sufficient and Self-Sustaining. Allah Almighty is above all comprehension, and He does not resemble His creation, Allah says in the Qur‘an:

There is nothing like Him (Qur‘an 42: 11).

He also says:

Say (O Muhammad): He is Allah the One (in essence). Allah is the Eternal Absolute. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him. (Qur‘an 112: 1-4)

He is the most Rich, in the sense of ‗free of all needs‘. He says in the Qur‘an:

I have not created the Jinn and humankind except to worship Me. I require neither provision nor feeding from them. Surely Allah19 is the All-provider, the Possessor of all strength, the Firm. (Qur‘an 51: 56-58)

Allah‘s ninety-nine names are all mentioned in the Qur‘an and the statements of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The most frequently used is (Allah), which means the ‗worshipped‘. The attributes are many and are also

mentioned in the Qur‘an and the statements of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

2. Belief in the Angels

Angels are creatures created by Allah for specific functions. They are normally invisible and they have no free will; they do as Allah commands them. They are not to be worshipped. The Angel Gabriel was responsible for conveying the revelation to the prophets. Two angels are

assigned to every human being to record their good and evil deeds. Another angel accompanies each human being, encouraging him/her to do good deeds. Others blow the human spirit into the foetus when it reaches the end of the fourth month and others take the human spirit at the time

of its death by Allah‘s permission. There are other angels that have various responsibilities too many to enumerate in this small book.20

There are two main points of difference between the Islamic and the Christian view of angels. Although they are noble and are free of sin, the believing Muslim holds a status above the angels before Allah. The angels were commanded to bow down to Adam due to his superior

knowledge, and they all did as they were commanded. Christians, on the other hand, believe that angels are of two kinds: good/obedient and evil/disobedient. That is how they justify their belief that Satan is a ‗fallen angel‘—an evil angel who disobeyed God, when he did not bow

down to Adam with the other angels. According to Islam, angels worship Allah, and cannot disobey Him; angels have no choice whether to worship Allah or not. They are sinless beings because they obey Allah and commit no sins. This is part of the Islamic belief as well. However,

both angels and humans are creatures of Allah who are obliged to worship Him. So the second main point of difference between the Christian view and the Islamic view of angels is that of free will: whereas angels have no free will, the human being might obey Allah, might be sinful, might follow some commandments and might commit some sins.

3. Belief in the Scriptures

This article of faith refers to belief in all the scriptures revealed in their original form by Allah to His messengers. These scriptures form the enlightenment which the messengers received to show their people the right path of Allah. All the revealed books call to the worship of Allah alone and forbid worshipping other than Him or others

besides Him. They contain guidance for humankind in all

aspects of life. They define right and wrong, and offer human beings a complete system of beliefs and practices governing all of their affairs. The Creator alone knows best what is beneficial for His creation and what is not. Thus, the divine laws contained in those scriptures command and prohibit various acts and substances to protect the human spirit, the human body, and human

society from harm. In order for human beings to fulfil their potential by living a righteous life, they definitely need to abide by His commandments documented in His revealed books.

The revealed books do not differ from each other in their main doctrinal principles. However, due to the differences between nations in time and space, there were some differences in the practical teachings (Law) of the scriptures, according to the wisdom of Allah. Their basic message, however, remains the same.

Muslims believe in the previous books as mentioned in the Qur‘an: the Scripture of Abraham, the Torah of Moses, the Psalms of David and the Gospel of Jesus. The following verse from the noble Qur‘an emphasizes the fact that belief in all previous scriptures sent by Allah is an integral part of the Islamic belief system:

Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord, we make no difference between one and another of them, and we bow to Allah (in Islam). (Qur‘an 2: 136).

However, long before the advent of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), they had all been either lost or irretrievably corrupted by later generations over the centuries with myths, superstitions, idolatry and irrational philosophical beliefs, carrying contradicting thoughts. Hence, the existing forms of those scriptures cannot be described as Allah‘s revelation.

The Bible for example, is one of the remaining books in the hands of its followers. Since it was revealed to Jesus (peace be upon him) it has undergone so many changes until it has become four well-known Bibles instead of one: the Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John comprise the Bible (The New Testament), along with other documents.

These were written between 40 and 115 years after Jesus (peace be upon him) had left and are based on documents that have been lost. The

Gospel according to Mark, was the first one written in Rome, at least 40 years after the disappearance of Jesus (peace be upon him). The Gospel according to Mathew was written in the Greek Language about 90 years after Christ. The Gospel according to Luke was written in Greece

approximately 80 years after Christ. These three Gospels are called Synoptic because they originate from the same lost document and they have a lot in common. The Gospel according to John, on the other hand, has deep differences with the Synoptic Gospels. It is in this Gospel of John

where the Divinity and pre-existence of Jesus (peace be upon him) was mentioned, even though Jesus himself never claimed this. This Gospel was written between 110 and 115 years CE.21

Analysis of these Gospels reveals the following:

1. During the lifetime of Jesus, there was no written document containing his sayings, acts or lectures.

2. The first records of the sayings of Jesus, which were made close to the time of his disappearance, have been lost.

3. The Gospels were written between 40 and 115 years after Jesus' disappearance, and were based on lost documents. As a consequence, there was a loose manipulation of the content.

4. None of the Gospel writers knew, saw or heard Jesus.

5. The Gospels were written in the Greek language while Jesus spoke Aramaic.

6. For at least one hundred years after the Gospels were written; they did not have any canonical authority, and were changed by the writers of the different sects in order to adapt them to their own needs.

7. The present Gospels, seen as a whole, are full of contradictions.22

These factors have been brought up here in order to demonstrate that the Gospel of Jesus, his original message that was revealed by Allah; has not reached us in its original form. In this way, it can be affirmed that the four Gospels, included in today's Bible, cannot be considered similar or equivalent to the inspired Gospel of Jesus (peace be upon him).

Biblical Proofs of the Bible‘s Distortion

1. The Old Testament clearly testifies that it was altered by humans. God (Allah) is quoted in Jeremiah 8:8 as saying, ―How can you say, 'We are wise, and the law is with us?‖ But behold, the false pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.‖23

2. Dr. Bilal Philips explains:

About five years after the end of Jesus' ministry, a young rabbi by the name of Saul of Tarsus, who claimed to have seen Jesus in a vision, began to change Jesus' way. Paul (his Roman name) had considerable respect for Roman philosophy and

he spoke proudly of his own Roman citizenship. His conviction was that non-Jews who became Christians should not be burdened with the Torah24 in any respect. The author of Acts 13:39 quotes Paul as saying, "And by him every one that believes is freed from everything which you could not be freed by the Law of Moses." It was

primarily through the efforts of Paul that the Church began to take on its non-Jewish character.

Paul wrote most of the New Testament letters (epistles), which the Church accepts as the official doctrine and inspired Scripture. These letters do not preserve the Gospel of Jesus or even represent it, instead, Paul transformed the teachings of Christ into a Hellenic (Graeco-Roman) philosophy.25

3. The clearest evidence of biblical distortion from the original form is the revisions being made on the Bible, to the extent that it can be said that every edition is different from the previous one.

Distorting revelations, the biggest sin

The Qur‘an emphasizes in more than one verse that distorting Allah‘s revelation is a severe sin. Allah says in the Qur‘an:

Woe to those who write the scripture with their own hands and then say: This is from Allah, to

purchase with it (worldly gain) at a cheap price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earned by doing it. (Qur‘an 2: 79)

Revelation of the Qur‘an

Following the distortion of the previous scriptures, Allah, the Most Compassionate, did not leave human beings to go astray without an unadulterated reference. Indeed, He revealed the Qur‘an and promised to preserve

it as the final revelation to humankind for all times. It is the Word of Allah which He revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the Angel Gabriel. It was revealed in parts (fragments) of different

lengths over a period of 23 years. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recited the revelation to his companions who wrote it down during his lifetime on palm leaves, parchment, animal bones (the shoulder-blades of camels made a good writing surface), and flat

stones. At the same time, he indicated the precise location where each revealed section belonged in the body of the complete volume of the revelation. In addition, the Qur‘an was memorized by hundreds of Prophet Muhammad's Companions. One year after the death of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the first Caliph, Abu

Bakr, instructed the Prophet‘s Companions to collect the whole Qur‘an in one volume. Later, the third Caliph, ‗Uthmân, prepared several copies from the original text and sent them to the major centres of Islamic civilization.

One of these seven reproductions still remains, and is kept in Istanbul, Turkey.

From that time onward, more than 1400 years ago, the same Qur‘anic text has been in use with the exact wording, order and language (Arabic). Not a single word from its 114 chapters, 6200 verses, and approximately 80,000 words has been changed since it was revealed. Indeed, Allah promised in the Qur‘an to preserve it intact forever. He says:

Verily, I have sent down the Qur‘an, and indeed, I will guard it from corruption.26 (Qur‘an 15: 9).

Just ponder the fact that the Qur‘an, in its entirety, is memorized by millions of people, regardless of age, sex, social class, or ethnicity! It is the only book that has been thus preserved, not only on the shelf but in the hearts of humankind.

The Qur‘an supersedes all previous scriptures. Allah says to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about the Qur‘an:

And to you We have sent the Book in truth, confirming the scriptures that came before it, and superseding them. (Qur‘an 5: 48)

Therefore, one cannot claim that Allah accepts other religions merely because they were originally based on the true scriptures. Although these scriptures are from Allah, the last and final revelation (the Qur‘an) supersedes all the rest.

An essential point to understand about the Qur‘an is that it is a miracle in both its revelation and content. At the time of the revelation and since, there have been those who have denied the divine and miraculous nature of the Qur‘an saying that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was either taught by others or that he wrote it by himself! In order to counteract this claim, Allah lays down a challenge to the whole of humankind saying:

If you are in doubt concerning what I have revealed to My slave (Muhammad), then produce one chapter like it and you may call on your helpers beside Allah, if you are truthful. (Qur‘an 2: 23)

These are some of the prophecies which the Qur‘an has foretold, as no one from the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) until this day has been

able to produce the like of one chapter or even a verse of the Qur‘an. As such, Muslims do not need any other scriptures to base their faith on, either in full or in part. The Qur‘an remains clear and easily understood by anyone who has a good command of the Arabic language. All of its legal injunctions and instructions are clear when the meanings of its words are translated into any of the world‘s languages.

All of the Qur‘an is a proclamation of Monotheism:

1. Some of the verses inform about Allah, His names, attributes, acts and speech. Those verses indicate the Unity and Oneness of Allah with respect to His most excellent names, essence, and perfect attributes.

2. Other verses point to the necessity of worshipping Allah alone, without any associate or partner, and the renunciation of the worship of anything other than Him. Those verses indicate the focus of worship and the necessity for people to single out their Lord in their intentions, requesting His aid, and in turning to Him in repentance.

3. The Qur‘an also contains injunctions and prohibitions, and so doing something that has been enjoined or refraining from doing what has been prohibited is the

fulfilment and perfection of the affirmation of the Oneness of Allah.

4. The Qur‘an includes stories and information about people of true and sincere belief and tells of their immediate reward in the life of this world as well as the immense reward reserved for them in the hereafter.

5. The Qur‘an also contains stories about those who associate partners with Allah and describes their punishment in this life and the punishment they are promised in the hereafter. These are the just desserts of those who deviate from affirmation of Allah‘s Oneness.

Prophetic Teachings

The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are the second source of Islamic knowledge after the Holy Qur‘an. They explain and elaborate the Qur‘anic verses. They also explain in minute detail the manner of worship as performed by the Prophet. The Prophet‘s statements provide further clarification and details of how

to fulfil what Allah has ordered and what He has forbidden. Those teachings were meticulously collected and reported by the Prophet‘s Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).

Preservation of Islamic Teachings

Preservation of Islamic teachings from alteration does not stop at the preservation of Qur‘anic text, but also forbids introducing into his guidance (by saying or writing) anything that is at variance with its premise, values or teachings. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: <<Whoever introduces into this matter (the Islamic teachings) something that does not belong to it, shall find it rejected

One of the Prophet‘s Companions said: The Prophet gave us a highly effective admonition so that many of us were tearful and we felt a shudder in our hearts. Someone said to him: Messenger of Allah! This sounds like the admonition of someone bidding his audience farewell. Please outline for us what you recommend. He said: <<I urge you to always remain conscious of Allah (God-

fearing), and to listen to and obey your leaders, even if the leader is an Abyssinian slave. Anyone of you who will live long will witness much strife and conflict. Therefore, hold tight to my way and the way followed by rightly-guided rulers.28 Hold on to it and bite onto it with your

molars,29 and steer away from any invented thing (in religious affairs and laws), for such inventions are deviations (from the right path).

So, in matters of religion, there is no permission to make any change to Islamic teachings. Whatever is at variance with it is wrong and unacceptable. With this strict protection, Islam, as it was revealed, is kept pure from myths and superstitions, and changes that reflect the whims of people and leaders.

4. Belief in the Messengers of Allah

This article of faith addresses the belief that Allah conveyed His message through selected human beings. These individuals, called prophets and messengers, were selected by Allah to be examples of how the scriptures were to be understood and implemented. Prophets have demonstrated practically for their followers how one should live by the law. The way of the prophets is the only way to Allah, because it has been prescribed by Allah

Himself. Hence, without prophets, people would not know Allah, His attributes or how to worship Allah.

The role of the prophets can be summarized as follows:

1. Receive the message from Allah.

2. Deliver it to people.

3. Advise people to fear Allah and keep His commandments.

4. Advise people who deviated, disobeyed Allah, or worshipped other than Him to obey Him and worship Him only.

5. Tell people about the fundamental aspects of faith.

6. Teach their followers detailed religious and moral tenets.

7. Be a model example for their people, and lead them to eternal paradise.

Allah has sent a prophet or prophets to every nation to convey the message that He alone was to be worshipped and anything worshipped along with Him or besides Him

is false and unacceptable. The Qur‘an mentions the names of twenty-five of the prophets (see diagram opposite) while indicating that many others existed, yet were not mentioned by name. The first of these prophets was Adam and the last was Muhammad (mercy and peace of Allah be upon them all).

Every prophet was sent to a specific people for a specific era except Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who was sent as the last and final messenger until the Hour of Judgement. The proofs that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a messenger of Allah are innumerable; all are mentioned in his detailed biography.

The greatest proof is the miracle of the Qur‘an, which could not have been written by any human, nor conveyed but by a messenger of Allah.

Indeed, mention of the advent of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) can still be found in the books of the Bible in spite of the changes which have taken place in their texts (See chapter XV. ‗Muhammad in the Bible‘)

The Qur‘an and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) relate with reverence the lives of many of these prophets. Prophet Muhammad, the last prophet, remained as the absolute example for his followers. His teachings were even further elucidated in practice by his rightly guided successors. The Prophet encouraged his followers continuously to follow the prophetic way and warned against conflict over Islamic principles and values, so that his followers would not deviate from the right path, as had happened to previous peoples.