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THE
THE RILECION
RELEGION YOU
YOU CAN
CAN NO
NO LONGER
LONGER ICNOR
IGNORE
A Brief
A BriefIntroduction
lntroductionTo
To

ISLAIVI
ISLAM
- 1)
(Book-1)
(Book

by

Syed
Syed lqbal
Iqbal Zaheer
zaheer
 Copyright @
Copyright 2000 by
© 2000 by Al-Attique Publis~~r~ Inc.
AI-Attique Publis\ers Inc.

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Title: Islam:
Titte: Islam: The Religion You can
The Religion no Longer
can no Longer
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Copyright: All reserved
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 ln
In the nameof Allah,
thename Allah,the Kind the
theKnd Benefrcent
the Beneficent

Coilentt
Page
Page no.
no.

Introduction
I

PreCace
Preface iii

I. Allah I
Who
Who Is
Is Allah?
Allah? 1
What
What Does Want Of
DoesAllah Want Us?
Of Us? 2
II
II Prophets
Prophets 4
Who
Who Are The Prophets?
The Prophets? 44
Muhammad, the Seal
Muhammad,the Sealof the
the Prophethood
Prophethood 44
Muhammad's Personaliw?
Muhammad'sPersonality? 8I

III
III Revelations
Revelations 10
10
What
What Is
Is Revelation?
Revelation? l0
10
What
WhatOccasioned
Occasioned A New Revelation?
New Revelation? l0
10
IV The
The Qur'an14
Qur'an14 l5
15
What
What Is
Is The
The Qur'an?
Qur'an? 15
15
The
The Challenge the Qur'an
Challengeof the Qur'an t7
17
Predictions
PredictionsOf The
TheQur'an
Qur'an t9
19
Miracles
MiraclesOf Scientific Nature
ScientificNature 25
25
 page no.
pag€ no.

29
29
V Islam
V
29
29
What Is Islam?
What Islam? 30
30
The Pillars
The Pillars Of
Of Islam
Islam 34
34
The Rest
The Of Islam
Rest Of Islam 36
36
Mu'amalat
Mu'amalat 38
38
Jihad
Jihad 40
40
Ihsan
Ihsan
4l
41
VI
VI Crime and
and Punishment
Punishment
43
43
Death
DeathPenalty
Penalty 44
44
Amputation
Amputation of the Hand
the Hand
46
46
VII
VII The Hereafter
Hereafter
46
46
Death
Death 47
47
Resurrection
Resunection 47
47
Reckoning
Reckoningand
andJudgement
Judgement
49
49
Glossary
Glossaryof Terms
Terms
53
53
Suggested
SuggestedReading
ReadingMaterial
55
55
Addresses
AddressesOf Islamic
IslamicCentres
Centres
 INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The need
The needfor publicationthat
for aa publication that can introduceIslam
can introduce Islam briefly,
briefly,
and at the same time
and at the same time give angive anoverview
overviewofthis
of thisreligion
religionhas haslong
long
beenfelt.
been felt. This
This is is an
an effort
effort to
to meet the n~ed.
with the
meetwith need.However,
However,
this is
this is far
far easily
easilysaidsaidthan
thandone,
done,because
because Islamis
Islam is not
notsimply
simplyaa
set of creeds, customs and
set creeds, customs and rituals, butrituals, but aa complete
completeway way of life
life
that guidesman
that guides manin in every
everyfield
field of thought
thoughtandandaction
actionand andpre-
pre-
pareshim
pares him for
for aa swift
swift transition
transitiontoto the
theHereafter.
Hereafter.Accordingly,
Accordingly,
it neither
neitherneglects
neglectsthe the needs,
needs,hopes
hopesandand aspirations
aspirationsof this this
earthlyexistence,
earthly existence,nor nor does
doesit abandon
abandonman man to to the
the mundane
mundane
world with aa soul
world yearningfor
soul yearning peaceand
for peace andtranquility.
tranquility.There-
There-
fore, to present Islam in a brief
fore, present Islam in a briefform, form, evenifit
even if it be
beananoverview,
overview,
is just
is just out question.I endeavor
out of question. endeavorto to do
do it inin three
threevolumes,
volumes,
andthis
and this is
is the first of the
the first the series.
series.

This volume
This volumetries
triesto
to answer
answerthe
the very
very basic questions
basic questions that
thatone
one
unexposed Islamwould
unexposed to Islam wouldlike
like to
to ask.
ask.Such
Suchanswers
answers had
hadto be,
to be,
of necessity,
of necessity,very
very brief. The reader
brief. The readeris is advised,
advised,therefore,
therefore,to
consult
consult other
other works,
works, some
some of which are
ofwhich are listed
listed at
at the
the end
end of
ofthis
this
book.
book. He
He may
may also
also contact
contact one
one of the
the Islamic
Islamic centers,
centers, also
also
listed
listed at
at the
the end, further guidance.
end, for further guidance.

Syed
Syed lqbal
Iqbal Zaheer
 God's
GodnsRight
Right
Mu'adh
Mu'adh ibnibn Jabal (ra) reports:
Jabal(ra) reports:"Once happenedto be
"OnceI happened be
the
the pillion rider
rider on
on aa camel
camelbehind
behindthe
the Prophet, (on
Prophet,(on
whom peaceand He said
God). He 'O
said '0
whom be be peace and blessings
blessingsof God).
Mu'adh 'Here I am,
responded:'Here Mes-
am, 0O Mes-
Mu'adh ibnibn Jabal!'
Jabal!' I responded:
senger
sengerof God. Blessedbe
God. Blessed be thou.'
thou.' The
The Prophet
Prophetcontin-
contin-
ued
ued (to ride) (without speaking)
ride) for aa while (without speaking)and then
and then
said: 'O Mu'adh 'HereI am, Mes-
am,0O Mes-
said:'0 Mu'adh ibn
ibn Jabal!'
Jabal!'I said:
said:'Here
senger
sengerof Allah.
Allah. Blessed
Blessedbebe thou.'
thou.'
(BuQhe
(But) hecontinued
continued(to ride)
ride)for some
sometime beforespeak-
time before speak-
ing.
ing. Then
Then he 'O
said:'0 Mu'adh
he said: Mu'adh ibn
ibn Jabal!' repeated:
Jabal!'I repeated:
'HereI am,
'Here am,0O Messenger
Messenger ofGod.
of God. Blessed
Blessedbebethou.' He
thou.' He
'Do you know
said:'Do you
said: know what
what is
is God's
God's right
right upon
uponthe peo-
the peo-
ple?' I said:
ple?' 'God and
said:'God His Messenger
andHis Messenger know best.'
know best.'HeHe
said: 'Verily,
said:'Verily, it is
is His right upon
His right uponthe peoplethat
the people that they
they
worship (Alone) and
worship Him (Alone) and associate not aught
associatenot aught with
with
Him.'
Him.'
Then
Thenhehe continued
continued(to (to ride)
ride)for some
somemore
moretime
time before
before
saying: 'O
saying:'0 Mu'adhMu'adh ibn ibn Jabal!'
Jabal!' I said: 'Here
said:'Here I amam 0O
Messenger
Messenger of God.
Cod.Blessed
Blessedbebethou.' He said:
thou.' He 'Do you
said:'Do you
know
knowwhat
whatis is the
theright of peopleupon
rightofpeople upontheir
theirLord,
Lord,ifthey
do
do that?'
that?' I said: 'God and
said:'God and His
His Messenger
Messengerknowknow best.'
best.'
He said: 'It
'It
He said: is their right upon
is their right upon Him that He shouldn't
that He shouldn't
punishthem.'"
punish them."'

iii i
 PREFACE
PREFACE
cannot live peacefully
Man cannot peacefully in this knowing who
without knowing
this world without who
he is.
he is. Who
Who has created him and
has created sent him to this life? What is
and sent this life? What
his role
his role in it?
it? How can
can he
he fulfil that role to the
that role the best of his
best of his
what is there
ability? And what
ability? there for him
him after this life?
after this life?

These basic
These basic questions
questions cannot
cannot be answered by the
be answered human in-
the human
tellect alone
tellectalone - man
man needs
needs Divine
Divine guidance
guidance for finding the right
findingthe right
answers
answersto such questions.
basic questions.
suchbasic

Such
SuchDivine
Divine guidance
guidancehas been implanted
hasbeen implantedin thethe inner nature
innernature
ofman,
of man,has been taught
hasbeen Adam and
taughtto Adam andEve (pbuDat
Eve(pbut) atthe
the moment
moment
of their
their creation,
creation,has
hasbeen
beenrevealed throughaa long
revealedthrough long chain
chainof
messengers
messengers from
from Allah,
Allah, and,
and,has
hasbeen finally integrated
beenfinally in the
integratedin the
message
messageof Muhammad (pbuh),the
Muhammad(pbuh), the seal prophethood.
sealof prophethood.

This
This Divine
Divine guidance wasinvariably
guidancewas invariablycalled
called"Islam" whichis
"Islam"which is
aa word
word derived
derivedfrom
from two
two Arabic
Arabicroots: "Salam"which
roots:"Salam" means
which means
"peace"
"peace"and which means
"Tasleem"which
and "Tasleem" means"submission." Conse-
"submission."Conse-
quently,Islam
quently, Islammeans peacefulsubmission
meanspeaceful submission to
to the of Allah
thewill ofAllah
and
andHis
His complete
completeobedience.
obedience. Hence,
Hence,the
the long chainof mes-
longchain mes-
sengers
sengersfrom
from Adam
Adam to
to Muhammad (pbuh)were
Muhammad(pbuh) wereall Muslims
all Muslims
and
and their
their message
message was
was invariably
invariablyIslam. That list
Islam.That list includes
includes
(amongmany
(among many others):
others):Adam,
Adam, Enoch,
Enoch,Noah,
Noah, Hude, Saleh,
Hude,Saleh,
Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Lute, Jacob, Joseph,
Abraham,Ishmael,Isaac,Lute,Jacob,Joseph, Moses,
Moses, Aaron,
Aaron,

iii
ut
Dhulkifl, David,
Dhulkifl, David, Solomon,
Solomon,Job, Ilyas, EI-
Job, Ilyas, Yasha', Jonah,
El-Yasha', Jonah,
Zachariah, John,Jesus
Zachariah, John, Jesus Christand
Christ andMuhammad
Muhammad(pbut).
(pbut).And
Andany
any
humanbeing
human beingatatany placeor
anyplace ortime
timewho
whowould
wouldreceive
receivesomeone
someone
claimingto
claiming tobe
beaamessenger
messenger fromAllah,
from (someone
Allah,(someone with
withample
ample
evidenceto
evidence to support
supporthis
his claim),
claim),andandaccepts
acceptshis
his message
messageisis aa
Muslim.
Muslim.

HenceIslam
Hence Islam is
is not just aa religion.
notjust religion.It
lt is
is the
the religion,
religion,and
andthe
the
only religion
only religionacceptable
acceptable to Allah
to (swt).This
Allah (swt). This is
is not
notaaclaim
claimbyby
Muslims, but a Divine statement
Muslims, but a Divine statement in in the
theGlorious
GloriousQur'an
eur'an that
that
wasrevealed
was revealedfrom
from above
aboveseven
sevenheavens
heavensmoremorethan
than 14 centu-
14 centu-
riesago.
ries ago.

The four
The four basic foundationsofIslam
basicfoundations of Islamare:
are:Faith
Faith(creed),
(creed),Acts
Acts of
of
worship, Moral Code
Worship, code and
andaaCode
code for Transactions
Transactions with others.
others.
Thesefour basic
These basicareas
areasare
arebeyond
beyondthethecapacity
capacityofman
of manto tailor,
tailor,
and hence
and hence all human efforts in these
human efforts these directions have failed
directionshave failed
miserably,
miserably, ffid
and have led people
have led people astray.
astray.

It
It follows
follows from
from the
the discussion
discussion above
above that
that man
man cannot
cannot live
peacefully
peacefully and
and successfully
successfully without
without religion,
religion, and
and religion
religion can-can-
not be man-made,
man-made, but has has to be
be absolutely
absolutely Divine, without the
slightest
slightest human
human alteration.
alteration. If suchfacts
Ifsuch facts are
are accepted,
accepted, itit fol
follows
lows
that
that the
the only criteria
criteria that can
can bebe used
used for discrimination
discrimination be- be-
tween
tween thethe true
true religion
religion and
and aa false
false one
one would
would bebe the
the authen-
authen-
ticity
ticity of
of the
the revelation
revelation that
that was
was sent
sent down
down with
with the
the religion.
religion.
The only revealed book
The only revealed book in the in the hands
hands of
of man
man today
today that
that has
has

iv
iv
beenkept
been intact in exactly
kept intact the same
exactlythe languageand
samelanguage andexactly the
exactlythe
wordsin
samewords
same in which wasrevealed
which it was revealedis the Glorious
is the GloriousQur' an;
Qur'an;
all the previousrevelations
the previous revelationswere
wereeither lost or suffered
eithertotally lost suffered
endless humanmodifications
endlesshuman modificationsthat
that made
made them
them useless
useless hu-
for hu-
guidance.
man guidance.
man

Consequently,the
Consequently, the only solution
solutionto human problemsthat
humanproblems are
that are
piling up todayis
up today Islam,as
is Islam, integratedin
as integrated in the
the final
final message
message of
Muhammad (pbuh) which
Muhammad(pbuh) which isis the guidancein the
the only Divine guidance the
handsofman today.
hands today.Hence,
Hence,my heart-felt
heart-feltwelcome
welcomeofthis book
book
"Islam: TheReligion
"Islam: The Religion You
YouCan
Can NoNo Longer
LongerIgnore"
lgnore" by brother
brother
SyedIqbal
Syed Zaheer,which
Iqbal Zaheer, which has
hasbeen
beenwritten
wriffen in aa very concise,
very concise,
very clear
but very form. I pray
clear form. pray to the
the Almighty Allah to make
makeit aa
sourceofguidancetomanyfellow humanbeingsand reward
source ofguidance to many fellow human beings and to reward
the author
the authoramply
amply for his
his appreciated
appreciatedeffort.
effort.

Ilr. Zeghlul
Dr. Zeghtul R. EI-Naggar
El-Naggar
Professor oC
ProCessor of Geology,
Geology,
KFUPM, Dhahran
KFIIPM,Ilhahran
Saudi
Saudi Arabia

v
 In the
tn name of
the name of Allah,
Allah,the Kind, the Compassionafe
the Knd, Compassionate

I ALLAH
ALLAH

Who is Allah?

&lIah is
Attaft is the
the proper noun in
proper noun in Arabic applied to the
Arabic applied the
Only True
True Cod
God Who exists necessarily, by Himself,
exists necessarily, Himself,
encompassing
encompassing all the
all excellent Divine
the excellent Attributes of
Divine Attributes
perfection.
perfection.

Allahis
Allah isOne
One and
andUnique;
Unique;HeHe has partner,no equal.
hasno partner, equal.
He
He does
does not
not beget,
beget,nor was He
nor was begoften. He·
He begotten. He does
does
not
not inhere
inhereinin anything,
anything,nothing inheresin
nothinginheres in Him. He
Him. He
is
isthe
the sale
soleCreator
Creatorand
andSustainer
Sustainerof all thatexists.
all that He
exists.He
is
isthe
the One
One God,
Cod, besides
besideswhom thereis
whom there is no
no other god.
othergod.
And there is none
And there is none worthy
worthy of
of worship
worship save
save Him'
Him.

He
He has
hasno
no wife,
wife, nono son, and no
son,and father. He
no father. has no
He has no
formor
form or no
no material substance.He
materialsubstance. Hedoes notsleep
doesnot nor
sleepnor
does
does He
He take
take rest.
rest. He
He is
is the
the First,
First, with
with no
no beginning,
beginning,
and theLast,
andthe Last,with
withnonoend.
end. HeHe isisthe All-Knowing
theAll-Knowing who
who
knows passes
whatpasses
knowswhat throughaa man's
through heart.He
man'sheart. He isisthe
the
Omnipotentwho
Omnipotent whohashasthe freewi
thefree thatisisnot
wiIIllthat restrained
notrestrained
by
by any power. When
anypower. When He thingto
desiresaa thing
He desires to be,
be, HeHe
says,
says, "8e,"
"Be, and it is. He
and
II it is. He is
is also
also the
the Beneficent,
Beneficent, the
the
 Kindand
Kind andthe
theMerciful
Mercifulwhose
whoselove
lovefor
for man
manisisseventy
seventy
times greater
timesgreater than
thanthat of aa mother
thatof motherfor
for her
herchild.
child.

And the
And the God
Cod ofof Islam
lslamisis neither
neitherremote
remotenor
nor abstract.
abstract.
He is
He isthe
the Real
RealLord
Lordofof the
theuniverse
universewhose
whoselove
loveswells
swells
the heartand
the heart and intoxicates
intoxicates the soul.
the Thosewho
soul. Those who seekseek
Him do
Him do not
not have
haveto to depend
dependon on the vicariousconvic-
thevicarious convic-
tion priest,orthe
tion of aapriest, arguments
orthearguments inthe
in thebooks,
books,to
to assure
assure
them that
them that He
He exists.
exists. They
They can feel His
can feel His existence
existencein in
themselves,
themselves, as well as
aswell asinin both the animate and
boththe animateand inani-inani-
mateobjects
mate objectsaround
aroundthem.
them.

And this
And is not
this is not the prerogativeof the
the prerogative the "spiritualists.
"spiritualists." It

Any layman,who
Any layman, who follows
followsHis guidanceand
Hisguidance andseeks
seeksHisHis
Presence,
Presence, will find
will find Him
Him close
closeto himself.
to himself.

This isthe
Thisis reasonwhy people
thereason peopleofall sorts- intellectuals,
of all sorts intellectuals,
scientists,
scientists, priests,as
priests, aswell
well as peoplefrom
as people from all walks of
all walks
life - enter into the
life - enter into the fold lslamevery
fold of Islam everyday.
day. In
In Islam
lslam
they find
they find a Cod
God who responds their call.
responds to their call.

What Does Allah Want of

of Us?

Since
Since Allah
Allah is
is One
One and
and Unique,
Unique, endowed
endowed with
with the
the
qualities
qualities of perfection
perfection that
that no one
one shares
shares with
with Him,
Him,
and
and since
since He is is the
the sole
sale Creator,
Creator, Sustainer
Sustainer and
and Nour-
Nour-

2
isher
isherof
of all
all that
thatexists,
exists,He
He demands
demandsthat
that man
man should
should
worship
worshipHimHim alone,
alone,not
not associate
associate anyone
anyonewith
with Him,
Him,
and obey
and obey HimHim by
by following
followingthe guidancehe
the guidance he has
hasre-
re-
from Him
ceivedfrom
ceived Him through
throughHisHis Prophets.
Prophets.

ItIt may
may be pointedout
be pointed out at
at this juncturethat
this juncture that byby nature
nature
man is
man is a follower
follower and
and a worshipper.
worshipper. If lf he
he is
is not
not
devotedto
devoted to Allah,
Allah, he
he will devote
devotehimself
himselfto others:
others:
saints,thinkers,
deities,saints,
deities, philosophers,
thinkers,philosophers, or national
nationalhe-he-
roes: followingthem
roes:following in thought
themin thoughtandandaction.
action.And they,
And they,
being human like
being human like himself
himself(or worse - in
(or worse the case
in the caseof
deities),will
deities), will lead
lead him
him nowhere.
nowhere. In In fact,
fact,they
they need
need
guidance
gu themselves,
idance themselves, althoughthey
although they are aretoo proudto
too proud
admit it.
admit it. Aren't
Aren'tthey
they who have
havebrought
broughtthe the world
world to
this pass?
this pass? The The Qur'an asks:"Say, 'Of
"S^y,'Of your your partners
partners
Qur'an asks:
(that you
(that you associate
associatewith
with Allah),
Allah),isis there
there anyone
anyone who
can guideto Truth?'
canguide Truth?'Tell
Tellthem,
them,'It'lt is
is Allah guides
Allahwho guides
Truth. Is
to Truth. ls He
He then
then who can can guide
guide to Truth Truth more
more
worthy of following
worthy than he
following than he who cannot
cannot guide guideuntil
until
hehimselfis
he guided?'Sowhat'swrongwith
himselfisguided?' So what's wrong with you? you? How
do you
do you judge?' (Ch.10,
judge?" (Ch.l verse35).
0, verse 35).

3
 IIII PROPHETS
PROPHETS

Who Are The Prophets?

Prophets?

Frophets are
[Prophets areAllah's
Allah'schosen
chosenmenmen sent from time
sentfrom time to
to
time with revealed
time with revealedmessages
messages that contain
that guidance
containguidance
for man.
for man. There
There have
have been seriesof Prophets
been a series Prophets
throughout history.The
throughouthistory. Theseries startedwith
seriesstarted with Adam
Adamand and
ended with Muhammad.
endedwith Muhammad.Nuh (Noah),Ibrahim
Nuh(Noah), (Abra-
lbrahim(Abra-
ham),Musa
ham), (Moses),
Musa(Moses), and 'lsaOesus,
and 'Isa (Jesus,the
the son
sonof Mary)
Mary)
were a few
were prominent ones
few prominent ones among
among them,
them, Allah's
Allah's
peaceand
peace and blessing
blessingbe
be upon
uponthem
themall. TheseProphets
all. These Prophets
were humans.
were humans. TheyThey ate and slept,
ate and slept,had
had wives
wives and
and
children (exceptJesus,
children(except Jesus, who will marry
marry at
at his second
his second
coming) and
coming) and earned
earned their
their living
living with
with their
their hands.
hands.
Theywere
They were neither gods,demigods,
neithergods, demigods,sons sonsof God,
Cod, an-
an-
gels, nor were
gels, nor werethey
theyendowed
endowedwith with any
any Divine quality.
Divinequality.
Theywere
They were absolutely
absolutelyhuman
humanexcept
exceptthat Allah chose
thatAllah chose
addressthem
to address them through
throughthe
the medium
mediumof angels.
angels.

Muhammad, the Seal

Seal of
of Prophethood

Muhammad
Muhammad was
was the final Prophet
the final Prophet sent
sent by God.
God. Born
Born
in Makkah 570 years
Makkah 570 years after his predecessor'lsa
after his predecessor 'Isa flesus),
Oesus),
he
he was
was up until
until the
the age
age of 40 indistinguishable
indistinguishable from
from

4
any
any other man except
other man except that
that his honestyhad
extremehonesty
his extreme had
earned
earnedhim
him the
the appellation
appellation"the Trustworthy." The
"the Trustworthy." The
Encyclopaedia
Encyclopaedia Britannicasays
Britannica abouthim:
saysabout "...amass
him: "...a mass
of detail in the
detail in the early
early sources showsthat
sourcesshows he was
that he an
was an
honestand
honest and upright
uprightman
man who had gainedthe
had gained respect
the respect
loyalty of others
and loyalty
and were like-wise
otherswho were honestand
like.wisehonest and
upright (Vol.12,
men."(Vol.
uprightmen." p.609)
12,p. 609) HeHe was
was unlettered.
unlettered.

fortyhe
At forty
At he was
wasaddressed
addressed by Allah,
by Allah,through
throughthethe angel
angel
Jibril
Jibril (Cabriel),
(Gabriel), andcommissioned
and commissioned to preach
preach H is
His One-
One-
nessand
ness and warn
warn the peopleagainst
the people againstthe worshipof false
the worship false
gods. What
gods. What he preachedcan
he preached can be summedup
be summed in the
up in the
wordsof one
words one of
of his
his followers
followerswho,
who, along
alongwith some
with some
fled to
others,fled
others, to Abyssinia
Abyssiniawhen people began
his people
when his beganto
persecute
persecute them for embracing
themfor lslam. After
embracingIslam. Aftertheir
theirflight
flight
the Makkan
the heathenssent
Makkan heathens sentanan emissary
emissaryto Abyssinia
Abyssinia
persuadethe
to persuade
to the King
Kingtoto return
returnthese
theserefugees
refugees to them.
them.
When Negus
When Negusthethe King,
King,asked
askedthe Muslimsto explain
the Muslims explain
presencein
their presence
their in his
his country,
country,one
one of them,
them,Ja'far
Ja'farb. b.
Talib, a cousin
Abi Talib,
Abi cousinof the Prophet,spoke
the Prophet, spokeinin the
the fol-
fol-
lowingmanner:
lowing manner:

"O King,
"0 King,we
wewere
werean
an uncivilised
uncivilised people,worshipping
people, worshipping
idols, eating
idols, eating carrion, committingabominations,
carrion, committing abominations,
breaking naturalties,
breakingnatural ties,treating guests
treatingguests badly,
badly,and
andour
our
strongdevouring
strong devouringthetheweak. Thuswe
weak. Thus we were
wereuntil
untilGod
God
sentus
sent us an
an apostle
apostlewhose lineage,truth,
whoselineage, truth,trustworthi-
trustworthi-

5
 ness,and
ness, andclemency
clemency weknow.
we know.He Hesummoned
summoned us
ustoto
acknowledge
acknowledge God'sunity
God's unityand
andto to worship
worshipHim Himandand
to renounce
to renouncethe thestones
stonesand andimages,
images,which
whichwe we and
and
ourfathers
our fathersformerly
formerlyworshipped.
worshipped.He Hecommanded
commanded
usto
us tospeak
speakthe truth,be
the truth, befaithfulto
faithful to our engagements,
ourengagements,
mindfulof
mindful theties
of the tiesofofkinship
kinship andkind
and kindhospitality,
hospitality, and
and
to refrain from crimes
to refrain from crimes and andbloodshed.
bloodshed.He Heforbade
forbade
us to
us to commit
commitabominations
abominations andto
and to speak
speaklies,lies,and
and
to devour
to devourthe propertyof
the property of orphans,
orphans,to vilifychaste
to vilify chaste
women. He
women. He commanded
commandedus us toto worship
worshipGod Godalone
alone
andnot
and notto associate
to associate anythingwith
anything withHim,
Him,andand hegave
he gave
us orders
us ordersabout prayer,almsgiving,
about prayer, almsgiving,and and fasting
fasting
(enumerating
(enumerating the commands
the commandsof of Islam).
lslam). We We con-
con-
fessed his truth
fessed his truth and andbelieved
believedin inhim,
him,andandwewefollowed
followed
him in
him in what
whathe he hadhad brought
broughtfromfromGod,God,and andwe we wor-
wor-
shippedGod
shipped God alonealonewithout
withoutassociating
associatingaught aughtwithwith
Him. We
Him. We treated
treated as as forbidden
forbidden what what hehe forbade,
forbade, andand
as
as lawful
lawful what
what he he declared
declared lawful.
lawful. Thereupon
Thereupon our our
people
people attacked
attacked us, us, treated
treated usus harshly
harshly andand seduced
seduced
us
us from our faith
from our faith to trytry to
to make
make us us go
go back
back to thethe
worship
worship of idols instead
idols instead of the the worship
worship of God, God, and
and
to regard
regard as lawful
lawful thethe evil
evil deeds
deeds we once once commit-
commit-
ted.
ted. So So when
when they they got
got the
the better
better of us,us, treated
treated us us
unjustly
unjustly andand circumscribed
circumscribed our our lives,
lives, and
and came
came be-be-
tween
tween us and and our religion,
religion, we
we came
came to to your
your country,
country,
having chosen you
having chosen you above
above all all others.
others. Here
Here we we have
have
been
been happy
happy in in your
your protection,
protection, and and wewe hope
hope that
that we
we

6
 not be
shallnot
shall be treated unjustlywhile
treatedunjustly we are
whilewe are with you,
with you,
o
O King. 1I
King." (Thelife
(The Lifeof Muhammad,
of Muhammad, P.,151
P., - 152,Tr.,
151-152, Tr.,
AlfredGuillaume).
Alfred Guillaume).

InitiallytheProphet
Initially.the Prophetwaswasable
ableto to win some followers.
somefollowers.
But the
But new religion
the new did not
religiondid not serve
servethethe interests
interests the
of the
classesthat
classes that held power and
held power influence. Itlt anguished
and influence. anguished
them deeplyto see
them deeply that their
seethat religionand
their religion and the
the entire
entire
hegemonythey
systemof hegemony
system had bu
they had built for themselves
iIt for themselves
aroundit,
around it, was
was being questioned.They
beingquestioned. Theyhad had no doubt
doubt
that if allowed
that allowedto flourish,Islam
to flourish, lslamwould
would destroy
destroytheir
their
privilegesand
privileges and bring
bring them
them down
down to the level of the
the level the
commoners.This
commoners. Thiswas
was unacceptable
unacceptable them. There-
to them. There-
fore, they
fore, they began
beganto oppose
oppose Islamlslam and persecutethe
and persecute the
Muslims.The
Muslims. Theweak
weakamong
amongthem,
them,the theslaves
slaves andthose
and those
in the
in lower strata
the lower strataof the
the society, becameeasy
society,became easytargets.
targets.
They were abused,
They were abused,beaten
beatenup,up, andand tortured
torturedwith such such
vengeancethat
vengeance ultimatelythe
that ultimately Prophethad
the Prophet had to allow
allow
themto migrate
them migrateto to other placessuch
otherplaces suchas asAbyssinia
Abyssiniaandand
later Madinah. Finally,
later Madinah. Finally,with
with hopes
hopesof the the Makkan
Makkan
heathensever
heathens everaccepting
acceptinghis his call recedingto zero,
call receding zero,hehe
was himself
was himselfordered
orderedby by Allah
Allah to to move
move to MadinahMadinah
whose people had
whose people had shown
shown interest
interestin in Islam
lslamandand had
had
invitedhim
invited him there, promisingto protect
there,promising protecthim. him. ButBut as
as
soon as
soon as he
he stepped
steppedon on the soil of Madinah,
the soil Madinah,the the sur-
sur-
roundingJews
rounding beganto conspire
Jewsbegan conspirewith with the the Makkans
Makkans
destroyhim
to destroy him and his call.
and his call. This
This led
led to thethe outbreak
outbreak

7
of hostilities
of hostilities betweenthe
between thetwo:
two:the Muslimson
theMuslims on the
theone
one
side,and
side, and thethe rest
restof
of the
the Arabs
Arabsspearheaded
spearheaded by
by thei r
their
most powerfuland
mostpowerful leadingtribe,
and leading tribe,the
theQuraysh,
Quraysh, on
on the
the
other. The
other. The battles that ensued
battlesthat ensuedsaw saw thethe Muslims
Muslims
emergevictorious
emerge victorioussometimes,
sometimes, while at
while at others
othersitit was
was
their enemies
their enemies who who triumphed.
triumphed.Finally peacedeal
Finallyaa peace deal
was struck
was struckin in the
the sixth yearafter
sixthyear aftermigration.
migration.This Thisal-
al-
lowed freeand
lowedfree andeasy
easyintermixing
intermixing of Muslims with
Muslimswith the the
non-Muslimsgiving
non-Muslims givingthe
the latter
latterfree
freeaccess
accessto to the
the mes-
mes-
sageof Islam.
sage lslam. During
During the the two yearsthat
two years followed
that followed
more peoplehad
morepeople hadsuccumbed
succumbedto the call of Islam
the call lslamthan
than
theyhad
they had in
in the pastnineteen
the past yearssince
nineteenyears sinceitsitsbirth.
birth. But
But
shortwhile later,
a short later,the peacetreaty
the peace treatywas
was breached
breachedby
theMakkans.
the Makkans.The Prophetmarched
TheProphet marchedon themwith
on them with ten
ten
thousand followers
thousand followers and andMakkah
Makkahwas wassubdued
subduedwithout
without
resistance.The
resistance. The rest
restof the
the Arabs,
Arabs,waiting
waitingfor for the
the out-
out-
come of the
come the struggle
strugglebetween
betweenthe the Prophet
Prophetand the
and the
paganleaders,
pagan leaders,began
beganto to embrace
embraceIslamlslamin in hundreds
hundreds
and thousands.The
and thousands. The Prophet
Prophetdieddied two yearslater.
two years later.

Muhammad's Personality

The personality
The personality ProphetMuhammad,
of Prophet Muhammad,on on whom
whom be be
peace, is one
peace, is one of the
the most
most fascinating
fascinating in history. No
in history.
reformer
reformer has
has been
been tested
tested with harsher
harsher conditions
cond itions than
than
he.
he. Appearing
Appearing in
in Arabia
Arabia when was passing
when it was passing through
through
its darkest period,
its darkest period, he was given
he was given a people
people that
that were
were

I8
considered
consideredthe the lowest
lowestof the the low inin those
thosetimes. They
times.They
were
were held
held inin such esteemthat
suchlow esteem thatthe neighbouring
the neighbouring
Romans
Romansand Persians,
andPersians, thoughtthem
who thought incorrigible,
themincorrigible,
did not
did not wish
wish to expand
expandtheir rule over
their rule over them. Also,
them. Also,
the Prophetdid
the Prophet did not
not enjoy
enjoythethe help
help and
and support
supportof his his
people.
own people. On the the contrary, they opposed
contrary, they opposed him him
tooth and
tooth nail. Nor
and nail. Nor diddid hehe have
havethe nobilityon
the nobility his
on his
side. In
side. fact,one
In fact, one of the complaints the
the complaints of prominent
the prominent
chieftains
chieftainswaswas that
that the Prophetwas
the Prophet was all all the
the time sur-
time sur-
roundedby,
rounded by, what
what they
they considered
consideredas, as, lowly people
lowly people
whose
whose company
companythey they detested.
detested.Finally,
Finally,he he was op-
was op-
posed even
posed even by the the Jews
Jews and
and Christians,
Christians, to whom a
Messenger
Messengerfrom from God
Cod was was not
not a new phenomenon.
new phenomenon.
Yet, overcoming
Yet, overcomingthe the universal oppositionto his
universalopposition his mis-
mis-
sion,hewas
sion, he was able
able to transform
transform the
the unruly
unruly desert-dwell-
desert-dwell-
ers into
ers into the mostcivilised
the most civilisedand and dynamic
dynamicpeople peopleanyany
age
age has produced. Shortly
has produced. after him
Shortlyafter him thethe Muslims
Muslims
defeated
defeatedthe the centuries-old
centuries-oldRoman Roman and Persianem-
and Persian em-
pires,and
pires, subduingthe
and subduing the best part of the
bestpart the then known
then known
world, established
world, established their own
their own rule, religion,culture,
rule, religion, culture,
and language
and languagethat that have lastedto this
have lasted day. No man
this day. man
has achieved
has achievedthis this in history. No doubt,
in history. doubt, his his own
own
charmingand
charming andvery powerfulpersonality
verypowerful personality playeda very
played very
importantrole
important role in
in this
this transformation. deserves,
transformation. lt
It deserves,
therefore,closer
therefore, closerexamination.
examination.

9
 III REVELAliONS
III REVELATIONS

What Is
What ls Revelation?
Revelation?

Eiuin" revelations
@ivine revelationsare aremessages
messages of
of God
cod to to mankind
mankind
sentdown
sent down through
throughProphets.
Prophets.Revelations
Revelations give
giveaa de-
de-
taileddescription
tailed description ofthe qualitiesand
of thequalities attributes
andattributes of God
of cod
in whom
in whom man manis is required
requiredtoto believe
believeand andwhom
whom he he is
is
requiredto
required to serve
serveandand worship.
worship. In addition,
In addition, DivineDivine
revelationsalso
revelations also contain
containthe
the code
code of life life on
on which
which
depends people'swell-being
dependspeople's well-beingin this life and salvation
in this life and salvation
in the
in the Hereafter.
Hereafter.Somesomeof the
the existing
existingrevealed
revearedBooksBooks
are the
are the Torah (the Pentateuch,
Torah (the Pentateuch,or the the first
first five
five Books
Books
of the
the Old
old Testament)
Testament) which was
which was revealed
revealedto Musa Musa
(Moses),Zabur
(Moses), (Psalms)revealed
Zabur (Psalms) revealedto Da'ud Da,ud (David),
(David),
/njiJ (the
/niil (the New Testament) revealed to ,lsa
Testament) revealed 'Isa flesus),
(Jesus), and
and
finaf ly, the
finally, the Qur'an,
Qur'an,revealed
revealed to Muhammad,
Muhammad, (peace (peace
be upon
upon him andand on all prophets).
Prophets).

What
What Occasioned
Occasioned A
A New
New Revelation?

The Qur'an tells

The Qur'an tells us
us that
that its
its revelation
revelation was
was occasioned
occasioned
by
by the
the corruption's
corruption's that that previous
previous messages
messages ofof Cod
God
suffered
suffered at
at the
the hands
hands ofoftheir
their fof
followers. The Torah
fowers.The Torahfor for
instance
instance has
has been
been re.written
re-written entirely
entirely from
from memory
memory

l10
0
afteritit was
after was lost
lostfor
for aa long period. Itlt contains
longperiod. containsstories
stories
of Prophets
of Prophets gettingdrunk
getting (Cenesis,
drunk(Genesis, 9:20),others
9:20), othershav-hav-
ingsexual
ing sexualintercourse
intercourse with none
with noneother
otherthan
thantheir own
their own
daughters (Cen.,20:30-38),
daughters(Gen., 20:30-38),and yet others
and yet worship-
othersworship-
ping idols
ping idols(1(1 Kings,
Kings,11:
11:1-8). Eventhe
1-8). Even theconcept
conceptof of the
the
One Universal
One UniversalGod Cod hadhad been replacedby
been replaced by that
that of
Yahweh,the
Yahweh, nationalGod
thenational Cod ofthe
of theJews. Max I.l. Di
jews. Max Dimont
mont
the well
the well known
known jewish
Jewishscholar writesin
scholarwrites in his
his famous
famous
work "Jews,God
work "Jews, Cod and History':"The
and History": "The final
final fusion
fusionof
the five
the five books
booksof Moses,
Moses,called
calledthethe Pentateuch,
Pentateuch, (the
(the
Testament)
Old Testament) occurredaround
occurred around450 B.C.-- in
450 B.C. in other
other
words, eight
words, eight to sixteen
sixteenhundred yearsafter
hundredyears after some of
some
the events
the eventsnarrated
narratedin in them
themtook place."This
took place." Thistime
time laglag
obviouslyled
obviously ledto
to many
manyerrors
errorsand
andinterpolations
interpolations creep-
creep-
ing into
ing intothe
thetext,
text,which
which ledledto
to innovations
innovations in
in religious
religious
practices,warranting
practices, warrantingthe the raise
raiseof a newnew Prophet
Prophetwith with
new revelation.
a new revelation.

It was
It wasJesus
jesus Christ, peacebe
Christ,peace be upon
upon him,
him, who was was sent
sent
reformJudaism,
to reform reinstallthe
judaism, reinstall ruleof Divine
the rule DivineLaw Lawas as
stated in the
stated in the Torah,
Torah, and
and sweep
sweep away
away all innovations
all innovations
introducedafter
introduced Moses. But
after Moses. But he
he was rejectedby the
was rejected the
majoritywho tried
majority tried to get him crucified.
get him crucified. But Allah
But Allah
Most High
Most High raised
raisedhim
him to the heavensalive.
the heavens alive. He de-
He de-
parted
parted saying: "Neverthe/ess,
saying: "Nevertheless, I tell you
you thethe truth; is
truth; it is
expedient for you that
expedientfor that I go away;
away; for if if I go not
not away,
away,
the Comforter
the Comforterwill not come
will not unto you;
comeunto you; but if I depart,
but if depart,

l11
l
 will send
II will sendhim
him unto
unto you." (John,16:7).
you." (John, was of
F-|ewas
16:h. He of
course referring
coursereferring toto Muhammad,
Muhammad,may may Allah's peace
Allah'speace
and blessings
and blessings be upon
be him.
uponhim.

The message
The message revealedto
revealed to jesus was also
Jesuswas alsodistorted
distortedby by
hisfollowers.
his followers.ThisThishappened primarilybecause
happenedprimarily because the
the
message
message revealed
revealed to him
to himdid
did not
notsurvive
surviveinin its
itsoriginal
original
form. What
form. What areare known
known as as the
the Gospels
Cospelsof Matthew,
Matthew,
Mark, Luke
Mark, Lukeandandjohn (theNew
John(the Testament)
New Testament) notthe
arenot
are the
writingseither
writings eitherof Christ,
Christ,oror of Christ's Apostles.They
Christ'sApostles. They
are worksof later
areworks laterand
andobscure
obscureauthors
authorsand
andthe
theearliest
earliest
them was
of them probablycommitted
was probably committedto writing at
to writing least
at least
half a century
half centuryafter
afterJesus
JesusChrist, not later. Eventhe
Christ, if not later. Even the
originalsof these
originals theseGospels
Cospelshavehave not
not survived.
survived. The The
oldest manuscript
oldestmanuscript (whichdates
(which datesaround
around135 yearsafter
135 years after
jesus) is in
f esus)is in ancient
ancientGreek, whichwas
Creek,which wasnotnotthe
thelanguage
language
eitherChrist
of either Christor his
his Apostles.
Apostles.Therefore,
Therefore,it cannot
cannot
be said
be saidabout
aboutany portion
anyportion ofthe
of theGospels with certainty
Cospelswith certainty
that is the
that it is the word
word of God.
God.

The followingis
Thefollowing isa statement
statement from "TheJerome
from "Thejerome Biblical
Biblical
Commentary,"
Commentary," a voluminous
voluminous work
work which
which has
has been
been
preparedby leading
prepared leadingCatholic
Catholic and Protestant
and Protestant scholars:
scholars:
"The term "divine
"The term inspirationof Scripture"
"divine inspiration Scripture" denotes
denotes
the
the special
special influence
influence of God
God upon the human
upon the human writers
writers
of the
the Bible,
Bible, an
an influence
influence of such
such a nature
nature that
that Cod
God
is
is said
said to be
be the
the author
author of the
the biblical books" (p.,
biblical books" (p., 500).
500).

t122
 is to say
This is
This say that
that they that these
admit that
they admit theseareare not the
not the
actual
actual words
words of God but
Cod but only
only written
written under
under the
the divine
divine
guidance. The
guidance. The same
samework statesfurther:
work states "Although
further:"Although
God
Cod isis the
the author
authorof Sacred Scripture,itit is
SacredScripture, is also
alsotrue
true
that humanbeings
that human madetheir
beingsmade theirown genuine
own genuine contribu-
contribu-
productionof the
the production
tion to the
tion the sacred books-- a point
sacredbooks point
firmly stated
firmly statedby (Pope) Pius XII
by (Pope) Pius in Divino
Xll in Afflante
Divino Afflante
Spiritu" (p.,503).
Spiritu"(p., 503).

Thus,the
Thus, lossof the
the loss the original revelation,and
originalrevelation, and the fact
the fact
that
thatJesus wasworshipped
Christwas
JesusChrist worshippedin place
in place of the One
the One
necessitated
Cod, necessitated
God, a fresh revelation.Itlt was
freshrevelation. wassent down
sentdown
about600
about yearsafter
600 years afterJesus
Jesusand is in
and is in our handstoday
our hands today
in the
in the form
form of the
the Qur'an. As against
Qur'an. As againstthe previously
the previously
revealed books,the
revealedbooks, the Qur'an
Qur'an has
has been
been preserved
preserved in its
in its
original form. A well
originalform. well known Arabist,Arthur
known Arabist, ArthurJ. Ar-
J. Ar-
berry, writesin
berry,writes in the forewordto
the foreword his work
to his "The Koran
work "The Koran
Interpreted": "Apart from
Interpreted": "Apart from certain
certain orthographical
orthographical
modifications
modifications of the originally
of the originallysomewhat primitive
somewhatprimitive
methodof writing,
method writing,intended
intendedtoto render
render unambiguous
unambiguous
and easy
and the task
easythe taskof reading
readingand recitation,the
and recitation, Koran
the Koran
printedin
as printed
as in the twentiethcentury
the twentieth centuryis identicalwith
is identical with
the Koran
the Koranasasauthorised
authorised by Uthmanmore
by Uthman morethan 1, 400
than1, 400
yearsago."
years ago."

(ra),itit may
Uthman (ra),
Uthman may be
be noted, was the
noted,was caliph
third caliph
the third
Muhammad,peace
afterMuhammad,
after peacebe
be upon
uponhim, gotcopies
h im,who got copies

l3
13
of the
of the original
originalcompilation
compilationcirculated
circulatedwidely
widely in
in the
the
world of Islam.
world lslam.

t144
 IV THE
IV THEQUR'AN
QUR'AN

WhatIs
What ls The
TheQur'an?
Glur'an?
m.
Ll he Qur'an
lrhe Qur'an is isthe
the final
final Revelation
Revelationof of God
Cod to
to man.
man. Itlt
was revealed
was revealedto to the
the final
final Prophet,
Prophet,Muhammad,
Muhammad,on on
whom be peace.
whom be peace. Its ltsmain
maintopics
topicsare:
are:the
theExistence
Existence of
of
Cod,the
God, theUnity
Unityof of His
HisBeing;
Being;His
HisQualities
eualities and
and Attrib-
Attrib-
utes,episodes
utes, episodesfrom fromthe thelives
livesof the prophetsthat
theProphets thatwere
were
sentto
sent to various
variousnations
nationswithwith the
the special
specialemphasis
emphasis on
on
the account
the accountof the the struggle
strugglebetween
betweenthem them and
and those
those
who rejected
rejectedthem,
them, the the ultimate
uftimateoutcome
outcomeof the the re-
re-
jectionof God's
jection God'smessage;
rnessage; principlesof a good
theprinciples
the goodandand
virtuouslife;
virtuous life; the
the frame-work
frame-workof rules rulesand
and regulations
regulations
for organising
for organisingpersonal,
personal,family,
family,andand community
communitylife, life,
the return
the return to cod, the setting
God, the setting up of the the scale
Scale and
and the
the
judgement
judgement of each each man's
man's faith
faith and
and deeds
deeds on the
the Day
Day
of Resurrection
Resurrection and and Reckoning
Reckoning followed
followed by entry
entry into
into
everlasting
everlasting Heaven
Heaven or Hell. Hell. TheThe eur,an
Qur'an also
also men-
men-
tions
tions in passing
passing somesome historical
historical truths,
truths, scientific
scientific facts,
facts,
makes
makes observations
observations on natural natural phenomena
phenomena and and
prophesizes
prophesizes certain
certain events.
events.

Here
Here are
are some
some examples
examples of
ofeur'anic
Qur'anic revelations.
revelations. The
The
first chapter says:
first chapter says:

l15
5
 "ln name of
the name
"In the of Atlah, the Compassionate,
Allah, the the Merciful'
Compassionate, the Merciful.

;4.[[praise 6e
flffpraise 6e toAffafr, tlie Lor[of
to ;4.ffali, tfre Worffs.
LordofWorCdS.
rITu
fJ1ie Cotnpassiorute,
Compassionate, tfic tlie frlercifu[
:Merciful
Lordof
Lor[ oftfic, ofTu[gemcnt-
ClJay of
tlie Da1 Judgement. .
lJ1iee atorc
Itfiee alone f,o
do we
we worsfitp, andlJ1iy liefp alone [o
worsliip, arrtlfrl hefp atonr we seefr
do we seeR.:.
guide us to tlie
Suilt tu tfrestraigfrt straiglit patli.
Patfr.
lJ1ie patli
Itfrepatfr oftliose
of tfrose lJ1iou
tftou lias
fras favoured.
favoure['
:Not
Notofoftliose
tfiose eamedrzTiy aryer,
tliat earnedllfry
tfint anger, nor
nor of tfrose
ofthose Cost tfre
tliat fost
tfrnt tlie
Way."
eloyJ'

One
One of the
the shortest chapterof the
shortestchapter the Qur'an says:
Qur'an says:

"In
"Intlie
tfrename
nrtmrofjtffali, tfteCompassionate,
ofAttafr,the ComPf,ssiotute,the:Merciful
the fulercifu[

rI'(I swear)
swear) (By
$y tlie
tfrerrime.
fiffia.
Verify
IltritJ :Man
fuIanisisin
inperil
Peri[
Save
Saae tliose
tftosewho
wfro anl fr[ gooffeeds.(JIntf
6e[ievedanddidgooddeeds.
6e[iwed saae)
(Ani save) tftose
those
qJUzt
tfut enjoinedtlie
enjoin^eI tfrerr'rutli an"d (Cfrnp tet
eryioircdpersw er4nce'""(Cliapter:
llrutfiandenjoinedperseverance.
103)
103)

The
Thefollowing pieceisisthe
followingpiece thefirst partof
f irstpart chapter
ofaachapter entitled
entitled
"The
"TheSun":
Sun":

16
l6
 ''In
"In tfie nnmeof
tficmzme ofAtkt
AlCali, tfie gompassionnte,
tficCompassioTUlte, tfie:MercifuL
tlie fuIercifuf

'81tlie
ItBy antritsmomino
sunantiits
tficsun firigfttness
moming6riglitness
on[ 6y
and 6Jtlie
tftemoon
moonwfi.en sfrcfo[Iaws
wfien sfiefo«OWs it,
it,
q
6y
arr[ tfiedaywfrpn
and tfie tfay wfien it dispfuys
d'ispCays it
n r[ 6y
and nigfitwhen
tfrcnifjlit
b tlie ensfrrouf,s
wfrenit enshrouds it!
it!
<By tfu freaven
{fi tlie antrI{imwho
fieaven antiHim Suittit
wfro6ui{t
n t[ 6y
and eartftand'
tfrcearth
fu tlie arr[ 6y
6JJfim e4enfef it!
wftoeJ(J:end'ed'it!
I{im who
cBytfie
<By tfrc sout,an^[t{imwfroperfecte[it
sou£, andJfim who perfected'it
antrhupire[jt.(witfr
and'inspired'it conscicnce
(witli conscience ofl wliat
of) is wrono
wfratis wrongfor an[
for it atuf
(what
(wtut zs)ts)right!
rwttt!
Prosperous
Wosperous is he
is fiewho purifies it,
wfio punfics it,
anf,faitefisis frc
and'fai£ed' fie who
wfio seduces
sef,uces /Iit.
it."

The Challenge
Ghallenge of the Qur'an.
Qur'an.

Many questionscan
Many questions can be raisedabout
be raised about the
the Qur/an.
Qur'an.
What is
What is the proof that
the proof that it is
is the
the revelation
revelationof God?
Cod?
MaybeMuhammad
Maybe Muhammadmade madeitit up Also, if the
himself.Also,
up himself. the
previousrevelations
previous revelationshavebeen
have tampered,what
beentampered, what isisthe
the
proof that
proof that the
the Qur'an has been
Qur'an has preservedas
been preserved as it was
was
revealed?
revealed?

The answerto the

The answer the first questionis
firstquestion is a counter-question.
counter-question.
ls there
Is anotherexample
there another examplein in history
historyof anan unlettered
unlettered
man
man producing
producing a literary
literary masterpiece?
masterpiece? lts
Its great
great relig-
relig-

l7
17
ious
iousmerit apart,the
meritapart, the Qur'an hasbeen
Qur'an has acknowledged
beenacknowledged
as
as an
an unparalleled piece of Arabic
unparalleledpiece literature. How
Arabic literature.
could
could Muhammad, receivedno education,
Muhammad,who received education,who
could not even
could not read and
even read write, and
and write, produced
and who produced
nothingtill
nothing till the 40, suddenly
ageof 40,
the age comeup
suddenlycome with an
up with an
all-time masterpiece,
all-timemasterpiece, and at one
and at stroke?
one stroke?

There isevidence
Thereis galoreto
evidencegalore provethat
to prove thatneither Muham-
neitherMuham-
mad nor any
mad nor other human
any other humancould haveauthored
could have authoredthis
this
Book. Beforediscussing
Book. Before discussing any of it,
any it, let
let us
us look into the
look into the
Qur'an
Qur'an itself
itself to find
find out
out how it clears
clears these
these doubts.
doubts.

find that
We find thatthe
the Qur'an repeatedly
Qur'an repeatedly asserts
asserts thatit is
that isno
no
writing but
man'swriting
man's but a direct revelationof God.
directrevelation Cod. Itlt also
also
tellsus
tells us that
thatAllah Himselfhas
Allah Himself hasundertaken
undertaken preserve
to preserve
in its
it in itsoriginal form. To
originalform. To further
furtherits claimitit challenges
itsclaim challenges
its readersthat
itsreaders thatif they
theyare
areinin any doubtabout
anydoubt aboutits its0
Divine
ivi ne
origin, thenthey
origin,then they may produceanother
may produce writingequal
anotherwriting equal
in merit.
to it in
to The logic
merit. The logicbehind thischallenge
behindthis should
challengeshould
be obvious.
be obvious. If lf this Book is
this Book not God's
is not revelationbut
Cod's revelation but
product humanmind,
a product of human mind,then, what is
then,what possible
is possible forfor
one man
one man is possiblefor
is possible for another.
another. If lf the
the challenge
challenge
cannot be
cannot be answered
answeredby one people it can
set of people
one set can bebe
answered
answeredby by another
anotherset people. If
set of people. lf it is not an-
is not an-
sweredin
swered in one
one age,
age, it will bebe answered
answeredin in another.
another.
And the
And challengeis
the challenge is simply producethree
simplyto produce verses,
threeverses,
singlechapter
or a single equalmerit.
chapterof equal merit. But
But if it could
could notnot

18
18
be done
be done in
in 14
14 hundred years-- and
hundredyears and itit has
hasnot not been
been
done-- then
done then itit must
mustbe admittedthat
be admitted that itit isis of
of Divine
Divine
origin. The
origin. Thechallenge
challengeofof course
courseremains
remainsopen opento to this
this
day.
day.

Nonetheless,
Nonetheless, otherthan
other thanthe
thechallenge,
challenge, whichwe
which we can-
can-
not ignore,
not ignore,we presentsome
we present someother
otherreasons
reasonsto
to demon-
demon-
stratewhy
strate why Qur'an could not
Qur'an could not have
have been
been written
written by
by
Muhammad,
Muhammad, or, by any
or, by otherhuman.
any other human.

PREDIGTIONSOF
PREDICTIONS THE QUR'AN
OF THE QUR'AN

About Arabs and Islam

About lslam

Dur,ingits
During its revelation,
revelation,which
which tooktook 23 yearsto com-
23 years com-
plete, the Qur'an
plete, the made several
Qur'an made predictionsof the
severalpredictions the
ultimatedestruction
ultimate destruction of those
those who opposed
opposed itsits mes-
mes-
sage.
sage. When revealed,the
When revealed, predictionssounded
the predictions sounded a
wishful
wishful thinking
thinking as
as the
the response
response to the
the Prophet's
Prophet's mes-
mes-
sage had been far from
sage had been far from encouraging.
encouraging. During
During the
the first
first
2O the 23 years
20 of the years of his
his Apostolic
Apostolic mission
mission he could
could
win very few people
people to his
his side. However, one pre-
side. However, pre-
diction
diction was
was so
so clear
clear and
and specific that it can
specific that can be given
given
no other
other explanation
explanation except
except Divine.
Divine.

l19
9
In
In the
the sixth yearafter
sixthyear aftermigration from Makkah
migrationfrom Makkahto Mad-Mad-
inah,
inah, the Prophetset
the Prophet setout with about
out with hundred
sevenhundred
aboutseven
followers
followers for Makkah
Makkah with the
the intention
intention to perform
perform
the pilgrimageknown
lesserpilgrimage in Arabic
Arabicas 'Umrah.
as'Umrah. He He
the lesser knownin
was stopped
was stopped by the the Quraysh
Quraysh outside
outside Makkah
Makkah at
at a
place called
place Hudaibiyyahand
called Hudaibiyyah and refused
refusedentry
entry toto the
the
holy city.
holy city. This was against
Thiswas againstall prevalentrules.
all prevalent Nev-
rules. Nev-
ertheless the Prophet
erthelessthe Prophetappl
applied peace. Itlt was
ied for peace. was ac-
ac-
cepted.
cepted. ButBut the
the conditions
conditionsset set by the
the Quraysh
Quraysh were
were
so humiliatingthat
so humiliating that some
some senior
senior Companions
Companionsex- ex-
pressedtheir
pressed their strong
strongdispleasure.
displeasure. One of the
One the condi-
condi-
tions was that
tionswas thatthe
the Muslims would return
Muslimswould from where
returnfrom where
theycame
they camewithout performingthe
withoutperforming thepipilgrimage. Forthat
Igrimage. For that
they would have
they haveto come the next
come the year.
next year.

Buttruly
But truly speaking
speaking the Muslims
the Muslimshad hadno
no choice.
choice. They
They
were too
were too weak
weakagainst
againstthe paganArabs.
the pagan Arabs.During
Duringthose
those
days the Prophet
daysthe Prophetsaw in a dream
saw in dreamthat
that he
he would
would enter
enter
Makkah triumphantly
Makkah triumphantlyand also received
and also receivedrevelation
revelation
confirminghis
confirming vision.Itlt said:
hisvision. said:"Truly hasAllah
"Trulyhas fulfilled
Allahfulfilled
vision He
the vision
the He showed
showedto His His Messenger.
Messenger.You You shall
shall
surelyenter
surely the Holy
enterthe Mosque,with
Holy Mosque, with Allah's
Allah'sWill,
Will, inin
(someof you)
security,(some
security, you) shaving your heads,
shavingyour (others)
heads,(others)
(theirhair)
cutting (their
cutting hair) short,
short,notnot fearing (anyone)"[The
fearing(anyone)" ffhe
Qur'an
Qur'an -
- 48:
48: 271.
27]. The
The prophecy,
prophecy, however,
however, seemed
seemed
impossible fulfilment.The
impossibleof fulfilment. The Prophet
Prophetthen
then had with
hadwith
him seven
him sevenhundred
hundredmenmen and perhapstwice
and perhaps tw'iceas many
as many

20
?0
able bodied
able bodied men men at at Madinah.
Madinah. As As against
againstthisthis the
the
Christians
Christians Najranalone
of Najran alonewere
werecapable
capableof raisingan
of raising an
armyof
army hundredthousand
of aa hundred thousandsoldiers
soldiersat shortnotice.
at short notice.
And the
And the Christians
Christians werenot
were notthe
the most
mostnumerous
numerouspeo- peo-
ple in
ple Arabia,nor
in Arabia, nor were
were they
they the
the most powerful. A
mostpowerful.
singletribe,
single tribe,the BanuHawazin,
the Banu Hawazin,devoid
devoidof thethe help
helpof
Quraysh,
Quraysh,was ableto raise
wasable 22,OOA
raise22,000 peopleagainst
people againstthe
the
Prophettwo
Prophet yearslater.
two years later.The
TheMakkans
Makkansthemselveshad
themselves had
casuallycollected
casually collectedan an army
armyof 20,000
20,000to raidMadinah
to raid Madinah
an yearearlier.
an year earlier. HadHad the Makkans,Jews
the Makkans, Jewsand other
and other
tribeswanted,
tribes wanted,theytheycould
could have jointly
havejointly raised
raisedanan army
army
quartermillion
of a quarter million against
againstthethe Muslims,
Muslims,although,
although,
just 10,000
just 10,000would
would have
havebeen
beensufficient
sufficientto
to wipe
wipe Mad-
Mad-
inahoff
inah off the
the map.
map. With
With such
suchan imbalanceof power,
an imbalance power,
what chance
what chancedid did the
the ageing
ageingProphet,
Prophet,then
then59,59, have
haveof
enteringMakkah
entering Makkahtriumphant?
triumphant?But, But,true
truetoto the predic-
the predic-
tion, itit did
tion, did happen.
happen. In just two
ln just yearsMakkah
two years Makkahwas was
subduedwithout
subdued without resistance.
resistance.No humanhumancould
could have
have
foreseenthis
foreseen this turn
turn of events.
events.

About
About The Romans

The
The above
above was prophecyin
was a prophecy in the
the Qur'an
Qur'an concerning
concerning
an
an event
event in Arabia. But Arabia
Arabia. But Arabia was
was a remote corner
remotecorner
of the
the then
then known
known world,
world, known
known to the
the outsiders
outsiders for
for
its
its hungry,
hungry, ferocious,
ferocious, untamed
untamed desertdwellers.
desert-dwellers. The
The
civilised
civilised world
world was
was divided
divided into major powers.
into two major powers.

21l
2
Both vast,
Both powerful, and
vast,powerful, severalcenturies
and several old: the
centuriesold: the
Romanand
Roman andthe
the Persian.
Persian.TheThe Romans
Romans(known(knownby by the
the
laterhistorians
later historians as
asthe
theByzantine)
Byzantine) ruledover
ruled oversome parts
someparts
Europe,the
of Europe, the whole
whole of Syria,
Syria,Palestine,
Pafestine,Egypt, and
Egypt,and
North Africa.
North Africa. The PersianEmpire
The Persian Empirehad had its
its roots
roots in
in
Persia.The
Persia. The two
two super powersof
superpowers the time
of the had long
time had long
been warringwith
been warring with each
eachother
other in
in anan effort
effortto
to expand
expand
territories.Lately,
territories. Lately,the
the Persians
Persians particularlysuc-
were particularly
were suc-
cessfulunder
cessful underthe greatestof their
the greatest their emperors
emperorsChosroes
Chosroes
IIll who
who had
hadbegun
begunhis hiscampaigns
campaigns against
againstthe Romans
the Romans
earlyin
early in the
the seventh
seventhcentury
centuryof the
the Christian
Christianera (Mu-
era(Mu-
hammadwas
hammad was then
then about
about 30 yearsold
30 years old and yet a
not yet
and not
Prophet).Chosroes
Prophet). Chosroestoretorethrough
throughthethe Roman
Romandefences
defences
and within
and within 30 yearsreduced
30 years reducedthe illustriousempire
the illustrious empireto to
shambleshaving
shambles havingwrested
wrestedaway the best
away the part of Syria,
bestpart Syria,
Palestine,
Palesti Egyptand
ne, Egypt and all
all the areasbelow
the areas belowthe the Capital
Capitalof
the empire,
the empire,Constantinople
Constantinople (today'sIstanbul).
(today's lstanbul).

Twelve of the
Twelve the thirty yearsof victory-filled
thirty years victory-filledcampaigns
campaigns
Chosroeswere
of Chosroes were conducted
conductedduring
during the
the reign
reignof the
the
Romanemperor
Roman emperorHeraclius,
Heraclius,who,
who, being
beingmore
more a man
man
of the pleasantries
the pleasantries of the palacethan
the palace than the
the battlefields,
battlefields,
watched
watched with complete helplessness
complete helplessness the destruction
the destruction
of his
his empire. The greatest
empire. The greatest blow came
came when
when the
the
Persians wrested from
Persians wrested from hishis hands
hands Jerusalem
Jerusalem and
and carried
carried
away the relics
away the relics of the
the holy
holy city
city to Persia,
Persia, including
including
the
the "Holy Cross,"
Cross,lI on which
which Christ
Christ was
was supposed
supposed to

72
22
havebeen
have beencrucified.
crucified. Itlt was
was atat this juncturethat
thisjuncture thatthethe
Prophet,then
Prophet, then in
in his 4th or
his 4th or 5th yearof
5th year of Apostleship,
Apostleship,
receivedthe
received followirigastonishing
the following astonishing prediction:"Alif.
prediction: "AIif.
Lam.M7m.
Lam. Mim.Ihe Romanshave
The Romans havebeen
beendefeated,
defeated,in (the
in (the
Iand)lowest
land) /owestonon earth. But after
earth. But (this)
after(this) defeat
defeatof
af theirs
theirs
theywill soon
they soonbe victorious.Within
be victorious. Withinaa few years.With
fewyears. With
Allah is
Allah is the
the decision,
decision, in in the past and
the past in the
and in future.
the future.
that day
On that shallthe
day shall the faithful
faithful rejoice" (Ch.AI-Rum:
reioice"(Ch. AI-Rum:
1-4).
1-4).

Referring
Referring to predictionthe
thisprediction
to this famousEnglish
the famous Englishhisto-
histo-
rianEdward
rian EdwardGibbon (1737-17941wrote
Cibbon(1737-1794) wrote the
thefollowing
following
lines in
lines in the greathistorical
the great historicalwork
work of the
the eighteenth
eighteenth
century,"The
century, "TheDecline
DeclineAnd
And Fall
Fall Of The
The Roman
RomanEm-Em-
(vol.5 P.,
pire" (vol. '1911):
pire" P.,79,
79, London,
London,1911):

'At thetime
timewhen
whenthe prediction
theprediction
"At the is said
is saidto
to have
havebeen
been
delivered,no
delivered, prophecycould
no prophecy couldbe
be more
moredistant
distantfrom
from
its accomplishment,
its accomplishment, sincethe
since first twelve
the first yearsof
twelveyears
Heraclius
Heraclius announced
announced theapproaching
the approaching dissolution
dissolution of
the empire."
the empire."

But then
But then something happened.Heraclius
something happened. Heracliuschanged.
changed.
Assuming
Assuming the role of a hero,
the role hero,and
and borrowing all the
borrowingall the
gold that the
gold that the churches
churches could
could lend
lend him,
him, he
he set
set sail
sail
quietly
quietly into the Mediterranean
into the Mediterranean Sea
Sea with
with a small
small band
band
of soldiers.
soldiers. He landed
landed at
at the
the shores
shores of Svria
Syria and
and

23
defeated the
defeated the Persian
Persian army sent to intercept
army sent him. He
intercept him.
marched
marched on carrying
carrying in the
the process
process his
his victorious
victorious
armies as
armies far as
as far the royal
as the cities of Casbin
royal cities and lspahan,
Casbin and Ispahan,
never been
had never
which had approached by a Roman
been approached Roman em- em-
peror
peror before. There he
before. There faced the largest
he faced largest ever-Persian
ever-Persian
army, so
army, fearful that
so fearful that his bravest veterans
his bravest were left
veterans were left
speechless with awe.
speechless Although he
awe. Although he knew nothing of
knew nothing
the prophecyof the
the prophecy the Qur'an,
Qur'an, Heraclius addressed his
Heracliusaddressed his
commandersin
commanders in prophetic
prophetic words:
words: "Be
"Be not
not terrified
terrified by
multitudeof your
the multitude
the your foes.
foes. With the the aid Heaven,
aid of Heaven,
one Roman
one Roman may
may triumph
triumph over
over a thousand
thousand barbarians."
barbarians."
The victory
The victory waswas his. The decisive
his. The battle was
decisive battle was at at
Ninevah.
Ninevah. And little later
And a little he recovered
later he recoveredthe the "Holy
Cross."
Cross."In In seven yearsHeraclius
sevenyears Heracliushad had liberated
liberatedall all the
the
provincesthat
provinces that had lost in
been lost
had been in thirty years. The
thirty years. pre-
The pre-
diction
diction of the the Qur'an
Qur'an had had come true. And
come true. And
astonishingly
astonishingly again, Heracliuswent
again,Heraclius went back
backto the same
to the same
old pleasureand
life of pleasure
old life and ease, forcingGibbon
ease,forcing state:
Cibbon to state:

"Of
"Of the
the characters conspicuousin
charactersconspicuous in history,
history,that of
that of
Heraclius
Heracliusisis one of the
one of the most
mostextraordinary
extraordinary and in-
and in-
consistent.
consistent. InIn the "firstand
the "first and last years"of
last years" of aa long
long
reign,the
reign, emperorappears
the emperor appearsto to be the slave
bethe slaveof of sloth,
sloth,
of pleasure,and
of pleasure, of superstition,
and of superstition, the careless
the carelessand and
impotent spectatorof
impotentspectator publiccalamities."
of public calamities."

24
24
It
It was Heracliushad
as if Heraclius
was as had woken
woken up from his
up from his sloth
sloth
only fulfil the
only to fulfil prophecyof the
the prophecy the Qur'an.
Qur'an.

Miracles of Scientific Nature

The Qur'an
The is a Book
Qur'an is guidanceand
Book of guidance not a treatise
and not treatise
on But it does
science. But
on science. does make passingreferences
make passing references to
scientific and natural
scientificand phenomena. How do these
naturalphenomena. these
statements
statements aftera thousand
sound,after
sound, thousandand four hundred
and four hundred
years?They
years? Theyshould
shouldseem outdated.But
seemoutdated. not the
that'snot
Butthat's the
case.
case.

Embryology:
Embryology: Muslim
A Musl im scholar,
scholar,SheikhAbdul
Sheikh AbdulMajeed
Majeed
Zindani,says
Zindani, sayshe gatheredtogether
he gathered togetherthose versesof the
thoseverses the
Qur'an
Qur'an that
that speak
speak of the
the process
process of human
human concep-
concep-
tion, developmentand
tion, development and birth, put them
birth, put them in in order,
order,and
and
showedthe
showed the collection
collectionto world-knownProfessor
to a world-known Professor of
embryology,seeking
embryology, seekinghis his opinion.
opinion. The The scientist
scientisttold
told
him that
him thatif Sheikh Zindaniwrote
SheikhZindani wrotean
an article
articleon embry-
on embry-
ology, basingitit entirely
ology, basing entirelyonon the materialhe
the material he had
had onon
hand,no
hand, no one
one would
would believe
believethat
thatitit is from a book
is from book 1414
centuriesold!
centuries old!

25
25
Barriersin
Barriers in the Sea:In
the Sea: Inseveral placesthe
severalplaces theQur'an states
Qur'anstates
thatAllah
that Allah has placedaa barrier
hasplaced betweenthe
barrierbetween the seas. For
seas.For
instance: "He
instance: "He hashasset freethe
set free the two
two seas
seasso so that
that they
they
might meet;
might meet;yetyetbetween
betweenthem
them isis aa barrier which they
barrierwhich they
may not
may not transgress"
transgress" (ch. 55,
(ch. verses19&20).
55, verses 19&20).Similar
Similar
statements
statements appearinverse
appear in verse61 61 of Chapter
Chailter27. 27. Now
versesof this
verses kind had
this kind had remained
remainedenigmatic
enigmaticuntiluntilthe
the
verymodern
very moderntimes when itit was
timeswhen wasdiscovered
discovered when
thatwhen
that
straitseparates
a strait separates seas,as
two seas, asthe Redsea
the Red is separated
seais separated
fromthe
from theIndian
IndianOcean
Oceanby bythe
theStrait BabAI-Mandab,
Straitof Bab Al-Mandab,
the two seas
the seasare
aredistinctly separated
distinctlyseparated from each
from eachother
other
so that
so that both
both the physicaland
the physical and chemical
chemical properties
properties of
the two waters,
the waters,as well as
as well as the
the maritime
maritimelife life in both
in both
theseas
the seasisisdistinctly
distinctlydifferent
differentfrom
fromthe theother. Thestrait
other.The strait
actsas
acts asa wall
wall clearly
clearlyseparating
separating the two
the two into
into different
different
maritime
mariti worlds.
me worlds.

Some scholars
Somescholars who have
who havestudied
studiedthe
theQur'an
Qur'anandandcom-
com-
pared its
pared its statements
statements on scientific
on scientificmatters
matterswith
with those
those
in other
in revealedliteratures,
otherrevealed literatures, suchas
such as Dr.
Dr. Maurice
MauriceBu- Bu-
caille who is
caille is a French
Frenchsurgeon, have reached
surgeon,have reachedinter-
inter-
estingconclusions
esting conclusions concerning
concerning theDivine
the Divineorigin
originof the
the
holy Qur'an
holy Qur'an and
and the
the interpolations
interpolations of the
the previous
previous
revelations.Dr.
revelations. Dr. Bucaille
Bucaillehas publishedthe
haspublished the findings
findings
hisstudies
of his studiesinin a book
bookcalled: "TheBible,
called:"The Bible,the
theQur'an,
Qur'an,
and Science"
and Science"("La("LaBible,
Bible,Ie
le Coran
Coranet Ie Science"first
/e Science" first

26
26
publishedin
published in French
Frenchinin May
May 1976).
1976). He
He states his
stateshis
conclusions
conclusions in the
in thefollowing words:
followingwords:

'What initially
'What initiallystrikes
strikesthethe reader
readerconfronted
confrontedfor the
for the
firsttime
first with a text
timewith text of
of this
this kind
kindisis the
the sheer
sheerabun-
abun-
danceof
dance of subjects
subjectsdiscussed:
discussed:the the Creation,
Creation,astron-
astron-
omy,the
omy, explanation
the explanation of certain
of certainmatters
mattersconcerning
concerning
the earth,
the earth,the
the animal
animaland vegetablekingdoms,
andvegetable kingdoms, hu-
hu-
man reproduction,
man reproduction, etc. Whereas
etc. Whereasmonumental
monumental er-
er-
rorsare
rors are to
to be foundin
be found in the
the Bible,
Bible,I could
couldnot
not find
find a
single errorin
singleerror in the
the Qur'an.
Qur'an. I had had toto stop
stopand ask
and ask
myself:ifif a man
myself: manwaswasthethe author
authorofof the
the Qur'an, how
Qur'an,how
couldhe
could he have
havewritten factsin
writtenfacts in the seventhcentury
the seventh century
A.D. that
A.D. todayare
that today are shown
shownto to be
be inin keeping with
keepingwith
modernscientific
modern scientific knowledge"
knowledge" (p.,120,
(p., 120,English
Englishedi-
edi-
tion,American
tion, AmericanTrust
TrustPublication,
Publication, 1979).
1979).

Here is
Here further evidence
is further evidencefrom
from another
anotherauthority in
authorityin
science. This is
science. This is from
from Keith
Keith L.
L. Moore,
Moore, Professor
Professorof
Anatomyand
Anatomy and Associate
AssociateDean,
Dean,Basic
BasicSciences,
Sciences, Uni-
Uni-
versityof Toronto,
versity Toronto,Canada.
Canada. He writes in
He writes in his book:
his book:
"TheDeveloping
"The DevelopingHuman" (Saunders,
Human"(Saunders, 1982):
1982):

"lt is
"It is cited in the
cited in the Koran
Koran...that humanbeings
...that human are
beingsare
producedfrom
produced mixtureof secretion
from a mixture secretionfrom
from the male
the male
andthe
and the female. Severalreferences
female. Several references aremade
are madeto
to the
the
creationof a human
creation humanbeing
beingfrom sperm-dropand
from a sperm-drop and itit

27
27
 is also
is suggestedthat
alsosuggested thatthe resultingorganism
theresulting settles
organismsettles
in the
in the woman
womanlikelike a seed,
seed,sixsix days
days after its begin-
afterits begin-
ning:' (The Human
ning." (The Human blastocyst
blastocystbegins
beginstoto implant
implant
aboutsix days
about six days after
after fertilisation).
fertilisation). The
The Koran,
Koran, (and
(and
Prophet'ssayings)
theProphet's
the sayings)also statethat
alsostate thatthe
thesperm drop
spermdrop
developsinto
develops into a "clot congealedblood"
"clot of congealed blood"(an(an im-
im-
plantedblastocyst
planted blastocyst spontaneously
or a spontaneously
or abortedcon-
aborted con-
wouldresemble
ceptuswould
ceptus resemblea blood bloodclot). Referenceis
clot). Reference is
madeto
alsomade
also to the leech-likeappearance
the leech-like appearanceof the the em-
em-
bryo..."
bryo..."

Theseare
These just a few
arejust few of the instances
the instances from the
from the Qur'an
Qur'an
which demonstrate
which demonstrate that we will encounter
that encounterveryvery seri-
seri-
ous problemsin
ousproblems in explaining
explaining thecontents
the contents theQur'an
of the Qur'an
assumethat
if we assume Muhammadis
thatMuhammad is its
itsauthor.
author.

28
28
 ISLAM
V ISLAM

What is lslam?
What Islam?

TIn this simplest

[n this simplest term:
term: "lslam
"Islam is submission with love
is submission love
the Wi IIll of Allah.
to the Allah."" lt
It can also be
can also defined as
be defined the sum
as the sum
of those truths to which God's
thosetruths which Cod's Messengers Messengers have in-
have in-
vited
vited mankind
mankindsince immemorial.In
times immemorial.
sincetimes In practical
practical
terms and in the
termsand in the words an words of an ancient
ancient scholar,lmam
scholar, Imam
Shatibi: "lslam is
Shatibi:"Islam system by which
the system
is the which a man man is is per-
per-
suaded
suaded to submit
submit to Allah,
Allah, in
in that
that area
area of his
his existence
existence
in which
in which he he enjoys
enjoysfree will, just
free will, just as he is
as he is already
already
submitted
submittedin the area
in the areain which he
in which he has
hasno choice
choice but but
to liveby
to live by his
his instincts."
instincts."TheTheword lslamalso
word Islam alsosignifies
signifies
peace. And
peace. And so so it can
can also
also be definedas
be defined systemof
as a system
Iife
life and
and a code practicethat
codeof practice putsman
that puts manat peacewith
at peace
Allah
Allahand with His
andwith Hiscreation.
creation.Prophet Muhammad,on
ProphetMuhammad, on
whom
whom be peacehas
be peace hasdefined
defined"the"theMusl
Muslim asone
im as from
one from
whose
whosehandshandsand andtongue otherMusl
tongueother Muslimsimsare
areat peace."
at peace."
Let
Let usus now look look at some of the
at some practicalaspects
the practical aspectsof
lslam.
Islam.

29
29
 The Pillars
The Pillarsof
of Islam
lslam

Apartfrom
Apart frombeing
beingaafaith,
faith,Islam
lslamisisalso
alsoaasystem
systemof of life,
life,
followingwhich
following whichthe the individual
individualand andthethecommunity
community
are requiredto
arerequired to organise
organisetheir
theirlives.
lives. Therefore,
Therefore, there
there
are many
are manythings
thingsinin Islam
lslamthat
that are
areobligatory:
obligatory:those
those
withoutwhich
without which neither
neitherthe
thefaith
faithisiscomplete,
complete,nor nor thethe
responsibility
responsibility of being
of beingaa Muslim
Muslimcan can bebe shouldered.
shouldered.
Of these
Of theseobligations,
obligations,five
five are
areofof utmost
utmostimportance.
importance.
They are
They are traditionally
traditionallyknown
known as as the
the five pillarsof
five pillars of
lslam,i.e.,
Islam, i.e.,those
thoseonon and
andaround
aroundwhich
whichthe edifice
the edificeof of
fsfam is
Islam isbuilt.
built. They
Theyare
are1.1. Faith,
Faith,2.2. Salah
Salah (thefive
(the fivedaily
daily
Prayers),
Prayers), 3. Zakah
3. (or the
Zakah(or the welfare
welfaredue),
due),4.4. Fasts
Fastsand,
and,
5. Haii.
5. Hajj.

Faith:It
Faith: lt is
is the
the declaration, (shahadahin
declaration,(shahadah in Arabic)
Arabic)that
that
"Thereis
"There god save
is no god saveAllah (theOne
Allah (the One God),
Cod),and (that)
and (that)
Muhammadis
Muhammad is His
His Messenger."
Messenger."

Salah (Prayers):
Salah (Prayers): Every
Every believer
believer in lslam
Islam is
is required
required to
pray
pray five times
times every
every day:
day: before
before dawn,
dawn, at noon,
noon, mid-
afternoon,
afternoon, sunset,
sunset, and
and at nightfall.
nightfall. Although
Although it isis
obligatory
obligatory for men
men to offer prayers
offer the Prayers in the mosque
mosque
in congregation,
congregation, the Prayers
Prayers can
can be offered
offered anywhere.
anywhere.

Zakah (Ihe
Zakah (The Weffareduel: Zakah is the
Welfare-due): Zakah the welfar+.due
welfare-due
offered in the way
offered in the way of
of Allah
Allah to
to secure
secure His pleasure
pleasure and
and

30
30
to purify
purify one's
one's wealth
wealth and soul. There
and soul. There areare two kinds
kinds
of zakah:
zakah:thethe voluntary
voluntary and obligatory. The
the obligatory.
and the The vol-
zakah(known
untary zakah
untary (known as sadaqah in Arabic)
as sadaqah should be
Arabic) should
practised
practised by a Muslim
Muslim as as frequently
frequently as as possible,
possible, and
and
althoughits
although its literal
literalmeaning
meaningis is charity, can also
charity,it can in-
also in-
clude
clude anything
anythingthat that can
can bebe done
done to promote general
promotegeneral
happiness. ProphetMuhammad,
happiness.Prophet Muhammad,on on whom
whom be peace,
be peace,
has
has said:
said: "Your
"Your smile
smile in face of your
the face
in the brotheris
your brother is
sadaqah;
sadaqah; your
your (efforts
(efforts to)
to) promote
promote virtue
virtue and
and stamp
stamp
out the evil
out the is sadaqah;
evil is guide a ma
sadaqah;to guide ma who has lost
has lost
his way is
his way is sadaqah;
sadaqah;to help help a man
man who has has lost
lost his
his
sight is
sight is sadaqah,
sadaqah,to removeremove thethe stones, thorns, and
stones,thorns, and
bones
bonesfrom
from the pathof the
the path peopleis
the people is sadaqah,
sadaqah,andandthethe
emptyingof your
emptying your pail
pail into
into another pail (at
man'spail (at the
anotherman's the
well) is
well) is sadaqah."
sadaqah."

The
The obligatory zakah is
obligatory zakah is due
due once
once every year from
every year from
everyone
everyone who holds
holds about
about 80
B0 grams
grams of gold,
gold, silver
si Iver of
equal price,or
equalprice, or equal amountof money
equalamount moneyin possession
in possession
for yearand
for a year above.The
and above. calculationand
The calculation and spending
spending
of the
the zakah-sums
zakah-sums are
arethe individual'sresponsibility.
the individual's responsibility.
The
Theamount
amountdue istwo
due is two and
anda half percentof the
halfpercent gold,
the gold,
silver or cash
silveror cashin possession.
in possession.

Fasts: One month,

Fasts:One month, every year,during
everyyear, during the month of
the month
Ramadhan,
Ramadhan, Muslimis
a Muslim is required
requiredto
to fast
fastfrom
from dawn to
dawn to

31
31
dusk, abstainingfrom
dusk, abstaining from food,
food, drinks,
drinks,smoke,
smoke,sexual
sexual
intercourseand
intercourse andall
all immoral
immoralacts
actsand
andutterances.
utterances.

Hajj (Pilgrimagelz
Haij(Pilgrimage): Hajj
Haijisis obligatory
obligatoryonce onceininaa lifetime,
lifetime,
on every
on everyadultadult Muslim,
Muslim,male male or female,who can
or female, who can
affordto
afford to travel
travelto to Makkah.
Makkah.The Therites
ritesinclude
includewearing
wearing
the garbof
thegarb pilgrim,circumambulating
of aa pilgrim, circumambulating the
theKa'bah
Ka'bah(a (a
cubicle structure,
cubicle structure,empty
empty fromfrom inside)
inside)seven
seventimes,
times,
walking seven
walking seven times
times between
between Safa Safa andand Marwah
Marwah
[mounts betweenwhich
[mountsbetween which Hajar,
Hajar,thethe wife
wife of Ibrahim
lbrahim
(peacebe
(peace be onon her),
her),ran
ran inin search
searchof of water],
waterl,tarrying
tarryingin in
the wide plain 'Arafat, spending
the wide plain of 'Arafat, spending nightin
a night in Muzdali-
Muzdali-
fahwhile
fah while returning
returning to the
to theMina
Minavalley,
valley,tarrying
tarryingin in this
this
valleyfor
valley for three
threedays
daysandand nights
nightsduring which
duringwhich an ani-an ani-
maf is
mal is to
to be
be offered
offeredin in sacrifice.
sacrifice.Itlt is
is here
herethat
that those
those
spotsare
spots areto bebe stoned,
stoned,where
whereIbrahim, (peacebe
lbrahim,(peace be upon
upon
him), threw stonesat
him), threw stones at Satan
Satanforfor trying
trying to tempt
tempt him him
away from
away from sacrificing
sacrificinghis his son,
son,asas ordered
orderedby AllahAllah asas
a test. The pilgrim shaves
test. The pilgrim shaves his his head (woman
head(woman take take off
onfy
only an inch)to complete
an inch) complete the the rites
rites of Hajj.
Haii.

Summary
Summary
To sum
sum up:
up: The shahadah
The shahadah sets
sets right
right a man,s
man's relation-
relation-
ship with Allah.
ship with Allah. lt
It also
also creates
creates the
the minimum
minimum condi-
condi-
tion for salvation
salvation in the Hereafter,
Hereafter, since
since he who
associated
associated others
others with cod
God will never enter paradise.
never enter Paradise.

32
32
However, in this
However, earthly life a line has
this earthly has to be drawn
drawn
between
between the believer
believer and
and the unbeliever:
unbeliever: the
the mini-
mum without
mum without which
which one forfeits right to be called
forfeits the right called
Muslim.
a Musf im. That minimum is
That minimum is salah zakah: one
and zakah:
salahand one isis
the right
the right of Cod,
God, and
and the
the other
other the right of man.
the right man. One
strengthens his
strengthens his soul
soul and
and the
the other creates proper
other creates proper so- so-
cial conditions
cial conditions for such strengthening.
such strengthening. The
The fourth
fourth
pillarof Islam,
pillar fasts, helps
lslam,fasts, helps the Muslim regain
the Muslim his natu-
regain his natu-
ral self: by abstaining
ral self: abstaining from
from the
the essentials
essentials of life,
life, he is
he is
freed
freedfrom
from his own self
his own and learns
self and learns that can survive
he can
that he survive
on
on very
very little.
little. He also
also realizes that for that
realizes that bare mini-
that bare mini-
mum
mum he he need
neednotnot compromise
compromisehimself. himself.On the the other
other
hand
handitit also
alsocleanses
cleanses his selfthrough
hisself abstinence from
through abstinence from
all that is
all that is vile
vile and
and wicked
wicked in word and
in word deed, thus
and deed, thus
purifying
purifyinghis his mind
mind and
and soul.
soul.

Hajj
Haij takes him off
takeshim off for while to
for a while to a new multi-racial,
new multi-racial,
multi-national
multi-national society
society where
where man
man is
is just
just man,
man, with no
with no
identity,
identity,a humble
humbleunitunitinin the seaof humanity,
thesea sharing
humanity,sharing
thesame
the samedress,
dress,the food,the
samefood,
the same comfortsand
samecomforts
the same and
discomforts,
discomforts,and learningthat
and learning the colours,
even ifif the
that even colours,
languages
languages facialand
andfacial
and andbodily features
bodilyfeatures are different,
aredifferent,
the
the ummah,
ummah,or or the nationof
the nation lslam,is
of Islam, isone
oneentity. He
entity. He
also
alsolearns,
learns,through
throughdirect observation
directobservation of a large
of num-
largenum-
ber of
ber of people,
people, that
that he
he is
is not
not alone
alone in
in his
his devotion
devotion to
to
Allah, thereare
thatthere
Allah,that millionsof
are millions of all colourand
all colour hue
and hue
who, livingunder
who, living undermore difficultconditions
moredifficult conditionsare yet
are yet

33
33
 more
moredevote
devoted
d to
to Allah
Allah than
than him.
him. This
This teache
teaches
s him
him
humili
humility.
ty.

The Rest of Islam

lslam

We
we have
have stated
statedearlier
earlierthat
that Islam
lsramis is also
also a codecode of
practice
practic guidesa Muslim
thatguides
e that Muslimin in all
all affairs
affairsof hishis life.
life.
This code
This code of practic
practicee is
is also
also known
known by by the
the term
term
Shari'a (theway,
h (the
Shari'ah way,or thethelaw). TheShari'a
Law).The Shari,a'h h isisdivided
divide d
into two catego
into categories: 'iba&tt or the
the 'ibacJa
ries: the the system
systemof wor-
ship, and
ship, and thethe mu~ma
mu?malat fat oror the
the world
worldly ly dealin
dealings.
gs.
what we
What we have
havediscus
discussed
sed under
underthe
thefive
fivepillars
pillarsof Islam
lslam
are the
are 'ibaffit.
the /ibacfiit. We
we shall
shallnow
now presen
present t the
the other
otheras-
as-
pectsof the
pects the Shari'a
shari'ahh very
very briefly
briefry. But first,
. But first,in
in order
orderto
getsome
get someidea
ideaof the
thespirit
spiritof the
theShari'a
shari,ahh the
thefollow
folfowing
ing
will be
will be useful.
useful.

Knowledge
Know ledge and Learn
Learning
ing
seeking
Seekin knowledge
g knowle shouldthe
dge should the first priority
first priorit in a be-
y in be-
liever'slife.
liever's life. Itlt is
is on
on knowle
knowredge
dge that
that the
the character,
character,
depth,and
depth, purity of action
and purity actiondepen
depends.
ds. "A man
man in the the
pathof knowle
path knowledge treadson
dge treads on the
the wings
wings of the
the angels,,,
angels,"
Prophet
Prophe Muhammad
t Muham hassaid.
mad has said. And
And knowle
knowledgedge is
is de-
de-
finedas
fined asthat pieceof inform
thatpiece information
ation that
that leads
leads toa
to a better
better

34
34
understanding of the
understanding the Wil
WillI of Cod, and the
God, and demand of
the demand of
Shari'ah upon
the Shari'ah upon an
an individual any given
individual at any given time.
time.

Cleanliness and Purity

Gleanliness

Cleanliness is
Cleanliness is part
part of faith.
faith. A believer is required
believer is required to
take a bath
take bath at least
least once week, as
once a week, as also after every
also after every
sexual intercourse.
sexualintercourse. Women
Womenare are additionally
additionally required
required
to take
take a bath
bath atat the
the end
end of thethe menstrual cycle. A
menstrual cycle'
prerequisite of the five
prerequisite the five daily daily Prayers
Prayers is
is ablution.
ablution. Ab-
Ab-
lution
lution is
is a state purity achieved
stateof purity washing the
achievedby washing the
exposed
exposed parts
parts of the
the body
body like
like the
the mouth,
mouth, nose,
nose, face,
face,
hands
handsand
and feet.
feet.

Clothes
Clothesand and one's
one'ssurroundings
surroundings should alsobe
shouldalso kept
be kept
clean.
clean. The instructedthat
hasinstructed
Prophethas
TheProphet thateven
eventhe back-
the back-
yardof a house
yard houseshould
shouldbe keptclean.
be kept However,it is
clean. However, is
not
not merely physicalcleanliness
merelyphysical cleanliness that is required.
that is required. A
believer
believeris is required to be
requiredto pure in thoughtsand
be pure in thoughts inten-
and inten-
tions
tionsalso.
also. The
The Prophet addressed
onceaddressed
Prophetonce young lad
a young lad
in the
in the following
following words:
words: "Son!
"Son! lf
If you
you can
can achieve
achieve it,
it,
that
that you your morning
passyour
you pass morningand and your your evening
eveningin in a
state
statethat you bear
thatyou grudgeagainst
no grudge
bearno anybodyin
againstanybody your
in your
heart,-- (go
heart, (go ahead
aheadand)
and) do it, for
do it, for that is my
that is way
my way
(Sunnah).
(Sunnah). And
Andhe who followed
hewho followedmy my way will be
waywill with
bewith
me
me inin Paradise."
Paradise."

35
35
 Mu'imalit
MuEmalEf (Dealings)
(Dealings)

Familyisisof
Family primeimportance
of prime importance in
in Islam.
lslam.Itlt isisconsid-
consid-
eredas
ered asthe firstsocial
the first socialunit
unit on the health of which
on the health of which
dependsthe
depends the health
healthof
of the
the society.
society. A A harmonious
harmonious
socialorder
social orderisiscreated
createdbyby the
theexistence
existence of
of families
familiesatat
peace with each
peace with eachother,
other,whose
whoseindividual
individualmembers
members
areat
are peacewith
at peace with each
eachother.
other.

A man
A man isis recommended,
recommended,therefore,
therefore,toto return
return to
to his
his
home
home as as soon
soonas possibleonce
as possible oncethe
the work
work outside
outsideis is
over. That
over. Thatapplies
appliesto journeysalso,
to journeys also,during
duringwhich
which itit
is preferable
is preferable that his
that his wife
wife accompanies
accompanies him.
him. He He isis
expectedto
expected to love
love her,
her,overlook
overlookher
her weakness,
weakness,as as she
she
must his,
must his, and
and both
both create peacefulhome
createa peaceful home forfor the
the
children. The
children. The Prophet
Prophethas
hassaid
said that Allah loves
that Allah the
lovesrhe
manwho puts
man putsinin a morsel (suchas
morsel(such pieceof cake)
asa piece cake)in in
his wife's mouth
his wife's mouth with with his
his very hand.
very hand.

The motheris
The mother isat
at the
the highest
highest rung of the ladder
rungofthe ladderof rights.
of rights.
A man
manwaswas carrying
carrying his
his aged
aged mother
mother on on his
his shoulders
shoulders
around
around the
the Ka'bah.
Ka'bah. He turnedturned to thethe prophet
Prophet and
and
asked
asked if he
he had
had fulfilled
fulfilled his
his duty
duty to hishis mother.
mother. He
was
was told:
told: "Not in the least.
least. Not even
even if you areare born
born
again
again and
and spend
spend the
the whole
whole of your
your life
Iife in her
her service."
service.II

The
The Prophet
Prophet told
told a man
man complaining
complaining aboutabout his
his earn-
earn-
ings
ings taken
taken away
away by his
his father:
father: "You and your
"You and your earnings
earnings

3366
 belong to
belong to him."
him." People by blood
related by
People related come next
blood come next
in righls
in rights starting with the
startingwith such as
closest such
the closest brothers and
as brothers and
sisters. To spend
sisteis. To spend one's
one's charity
charity on
on them,
them, if
if they
they be
be
needy, will
needy, will earn double the
earn double reward. A
the reward. A hadith (tradi-
hadith (tradi-
tion of the Prophet)
tion of the Prophet) says
says the
the he
he who
who wished
wished that his
that his
material share
material of this
share of this life be increased
life be and his
increased and his life life
lengthened,
lengthened, may
may treat
treat his
his relatives
relatives well'
well.

Neighbours have
Neighbours have their
their rights. "It is
rights. "lt right of a man
is not right man
that he
that he should
should fill his his stomach his neighbour
stomach while his neighbour
sleeps
sleeps hungry,"
hungry," said
said the
the Prophet. He also
Prophet. also recom-
recom-
mended housewifethat she
mended the housewife that she add
add a little
Iittle more
more gravy
gravy
the dish
to the dish in in order
order to be able to send
be able the neighbour
send the neighbour
a part of
part it.it. And,
And, in
in another
another tradition
tradition he
he is
is reported
reported
to
to have
havesaid
saidthat
thatArchangel Jibril spoke
ArchangelJibril "to me
spoke"to me so sooften
often
of
of the
the rights
rightsof thethe neighbour
neighbourthat thoughthe
that I thought would
he would
include
includehim
him in in the
the inheritance."
inheritance."

The
Theminimum
minimumright rightofofthe
thegeneral publicisto
generalpublic letthem
isto letthem
be
be inin peace
peacefrom
from one's evils.
one'sevi Is. And the best
And the way of
bestway of
doing them good
doingthemgoodisto is to guide
guide them
them to
to the
the path
path of
of Allah.
Allah.
Socialising
Socialising isisalso
alsorecommended.
recommended. Says hadith:"He
Saysaa hadith: "He
who
who mixes
mixeswith
with the masses
themasses and bearstheir
andbears company
theircompany
in patience,isisbetter
in patience, betterthan
thanhe who distances
hewho distances himself
himself
away
awayfrom
fromthem."
them."

37
37
 ItIt must
mustbe be remem
remembered,
bered, howev
however,er, that
thatIslam
lsramdoes
doesnotnot
rely on
rely on a fewfew moral
moralexhort
exhortations
ations alone.
alone.Individ
Individuals,
uals,
society
societyand and state,
state,everyo
everyone's
ne's rights
rightshave
havebeen
beenclearly
clearly
and minute
and minutely delineated
ly deline ated and guaranteed
and guaran teed by
by the
the Law.
Law.
This
Thiswe shall shalldiscus
discusss in
in later
laterbooks
booksof this
thisseries,
series, Af fah
Allah
w i l l i n .g .
willing

Jihad
Jihad

lslam is
Islam is an
an ideal
ideal and yet a practic
and yet practicalal and pragmatic
and pragm atic
religion.
religio n. Where
wherever ver establi
established,
shed, wheth
whether er in
in a home
home
in a nation
or in nation, , itit creates
createsthethe condit
conditions
ions of peace
peaceas as
well as
well as anan atmos
atmosphere phere of health
hearthy growth and
y growth and devel-
devef-
opment.
opmen But the
t. But the world
world we live live in
in is
is far
far from
from being
being
ideal. Itlt neithe
ideal. neither r encour
encouragesages virtue
virtuenornor suppre
suppresses
sses the
the
evil. Also,
evil. Also,at at the
the individ
individuaf
ual level,
revel,it isis neithe
neit-herr easy
easytoto
rise from
rise from bedbed an an hourhour and
and a halfhaff before
beforedawn dawn forfor
morning
morn ing Prayer
Prayers, nor to
s, nor giveaway
to give awaycheerf
cheerfu u Ily
Ily two and
and
percent
half percen
a half t of one's
one's saving
savings s every
everyyearyear in
in charity
charity. .
surely,
Surely lslamwill
, Islam wif f not
not be
be establi
estabf ished,
shed, neithe
neither r within
within
oneself
onese nor outsid
lf nor outside e withou
without t a struggl
struggle.
e. InIn the
the Islamic
lslamic
terminology
termin ology thisthis strugg
strugglele isis known
known by by the
the much
much
feared,
feared but little
, but littleunders
understood word jihad.
tood word jihad. The
The strugg
strugglele
to establi
establish lslam starts
sh Islam starts,:",ith
with one's
one's ownown self,
self, and
ano
spreads
spread thereon
s thereo n to the the outside
outsideworld,
world, where
where every
every
rightful
rightfu means,
l means except force,
, except force, maymay be be emplo
employed yed to
establish
establi sh thethe ways
ways approv
approved ed by by Allah.
Alfah. A Qur'an ic
eur,anic

38
38
verse
verseclearly
clearlysets
setsthe
the rule.
rule. Itlt says: 'Thereis
says:"There is no
no com-
com-
pulsionin
pulsion in religion."
religion.'

But what
But what nappenswhen
happenswhen forces forcesopposed
opposedto change,
change,
opposedto non-conformation,
opposed non-conformation,opposedopposedto submis-
submis-
sion to
sion to Allah
Allah take
take up
up arms
armsagainst
againstthethe faith
faith and
and the
the
faithful? What
faithful? What will happen
happenif thethe believers
believersin in truth
truth
show
show timidity? We all
timidity? We all know
know the
the answer.
answer. No! No! How-
How-
ever muchwe
evermuch maydislike
we may dislikethe ideaof losing
the idea losinga limb,
limb,
an eye,
an eye,oror the whole self,
the whole self,force
forcewiwillII have
haveto be be met
met
with force. Without
with force. Without that,
that, virtue
virtue will never gain an
never gain an
upper hand. God's
upperhand. revelationtells
God'srevelation tellsus:
us: "Fighting
"Fightinghas
has
been presuibed for
been prescribed you, although
for you, althoughit is is much
much disgust-
disgust-
ing you. But
ing to you. But it is possiblethat
is possible that you dislikeaa thing,
you dislike thing,
and may be
and it may good for
be good you. And
for you. And it isis possible
possible that
you may
you likeaa thing
may like thingandandit may
may be bad
badfor you. Allah
for you. Allah
knows. And
knows. you know
And you know not." (2:2161
not." (2:216)

However, let
However, let there
there be
be no confusion.
confusion. What What is is this
this
fightingfor?
fighting for? To
To force peopleto fall
force people fall down
down on their
on their
kneesbefore
knees Allah? Not
beforeAllah? Not at
at all.
all. Allah
Allah does
doesnotnot accept
accept
deeds performedunder
deedsperformed underduress.
duress.The Thetrial
trial of man
man con-
con-
sists in determining
sists in determining heif he will succumb
succumbto his base
to his base
desires,or
desires, he will use
or he use his
his free
free will to to follow
follow thethe
guidance given to him.
guidance given him. Force goes
Forcegoes against
against the
the whole
whole
scheme. Therefore,force
scheme.Therefore, forceis
is to be usedonly to remove
be used remove
those who,
those who, to safeguard
safeguardtheir
their own interests,
interests,keep
keep a

3
399
hold
hold on
on the
the masses,
masses,and preventthe
and prevent the message lslam
messageof Islam
from
from reaching
reachingthem;
them; whereas
whereas it is
is the
the right
right of the
the
people that
people that they
they should
should be
be allowed free access
allowed free accessto
Allah'smessage.
Allah's message.

IhsEn
Ihsin

Finally, what is
Finally,what is all
all this
this struggle
struggleabout?
about? Isls it simply
simplyto
establ i sh a set
establish setof laws
lawsandand try
try and
and Iive
live by them
them asasbest
best
as you can?
asyou can? WhatWhat is is the
the relationship
relationshipbetween Allah
betweenAllah
us? Is
and us?
and justthat
ls it just thatHeHe isisthe
the lord
Lordso
so He
He commands,
commands,
and we His
and His slaves
slavesso obey? Or is
so we obey? is there more to
there more
it? There
it? Thereis.is.

At the
the beginning
beginningof this this book
book we defined
defined Islam as
lslam as
submissionto the
submission the will of Allah
Allah with
with love.
love. Love
Love of
Allah,therefore,
Allah, therefore,is is the
the moving force. It
movingforce. is true
lt is true that
that to
obey Allah
obey Allah is also an
is also an expression love. But there
expressionof love. there
are fieldsthat
are fields that can
can bebe traversed,
traversed,horizons
horizonsthatthat can
can be
be
reached,stages
reached, thatcan
stagesthat canbe
be climbed,
climbed,until one reaches
until one reaches
thatstage
that when he
stagewhen he actually
actuallysees Allah when
seesAllah when he he wor-
shipsHim.
ships Him. This
Thisis is known
known as
as ihsan.
ihsan.

The subject
The subjec'tof course needs further
course needs further elaboration,
elaboration,
which we shall,
which shall,Allah
Allahwilling,
willing,attempt
attemptin
in other
otherbooks
books
this series.
of this series.

40
40
 VI CRIME
VI CRIME AND
AND PUNISHMEN'I
PUNISHMENT

~rom what has

Fror has preceded
preceded it should clear that lslam
should be clear Islam
begins
beginswith the the individual.
individual. lts Its call
call is
is to the
the individual
individual
to accept Allah as
accept Allah as the
the only Lord Lord worthy of worshipworship
and obedience.Its
and obedience. belief is
lts belief is that
that without
without the the reforma-
reforma-
tion of the
tion the individual, attempts at
individual,attempts at reforming
reforming the the hu-
hu-
man societywill end
man society end in failure.
failure. It also be seen
lt will also seen
that
thatits
itsbasic
basicphilosophy
philosophyis persuasion.lt
is persuasion. It believes
believes that
that
no lasting
lastingchange
changecan can bebe brought about through
broughtabout through com-
com-
pulsion.
pulsion. However,
However,it does doesnot stopwith the
not stop individ-
the individ-
ual.
ual. Itlt realises
realises that
thatthe individualwill find
the individual find it very
very hard
hard
to lead
leada virtuous
virtuouslife,
life, were
were not not the communityand
the community and
the
the state
stateto help help him
him in in his
his efforts creating an
effortsby creating an
atmosphere
atmosphereconductive
conductiveto it. it. Accordingly,
Accordingly,Islam lays
lslam lays
down guidelinesfor
down guidelines forthe state,and
creationof a state,
thecreation defines
anddefines
and
and delineates
delineatesits its duties
dutiesand functions. We shall
and functions. shall
briefly
brieflytouch
touchupon
upononlyonly one
onefunction
functionof the the state here:
statehere:
that
thatof
of maintaining
maintaininglaw law and
andorder throughthe
orderthrough preven-
the preven-
tion
tion of
of crime
crimeandandadministration
administration punishment.
of punishment.

ItIt must be understood

must be understoodatat the
the outset that neither
outsetthat neither all
all
crimesare
crimes are committed
committedby by the mentallyderanged,
the mentally deranged,as as
some legalexperts
modern legal
some modern expertsbel
believe, nor are
ieve, nor all hu-
are all hu-
mans
mansevil,
evil, and proneto
and prone crimes,as
to crimes, as Christianity
Christianity sug-
sug-
gestsby
gests by implication. greatmajority
implication.A great majorityof crimes
crimescan can

4l
41
be preventedifif the
beprevented thecommun
community ity and
andstate
statewi II open
will open
the ways
the ways forfor free
freeeconomic
economicactivities, and do
activities,and do not
not
hinder peacefulpursuits.
hinderpeaceful pursuits.Also,
Also,they theyshould
shoutdcome
cometo to
the rescueof
the rescue of the
the individual
individualifif he he fails
failsto
to obtain
obtainhishis
basicneeds.
basic needs.This precisely
Thisprecisely isisthe
thefunction
functionofofthe
thestate,
state,
whichitithas
which hastotofulfill
fulfillbefore
beforeititcan
canassume
assume the
theauthority
authority
to enforce
to punishments. An
enforce punishments. An incident
incident from
from the
the
Prophet's
Prophet's timewill
time will clarify
clarifythis
thispoint.
point.

When there
When therewas
was famine
faminein in the
the provinces
provincesa starving
starving
Bedouinarrived
Bedouin arrivedat
at Madinah.
Madinah. He He entered
entereda farm,
farm,
plucked corn and began
pi ucked corn and began to to eat
eatsome
someandandpack
packthe
therest.
rest.
The owner
The owner of the
the farm
farm surprised
surprisedhim.
him. He He beat
beathim
him
and took
and took away
awayhis
hiscloak.
cloak. The
The man
man reported
reportedthe inci-
the inci-
dent to
dent to the
the Prophet.
Prophet. TheThe Prophet
Prophetreproached
reproachedthe the
owner of the
owner the farm
farm saying:
saying:"You
"You didn't feed him
didn,t feed him if he
he
was hungry,and
was hungry, anddidn't
didn'tteach
teach him
him if he
he was
was ignorant.,'
ignorant."
Then he
Then he ordered
ordered him
him to return
return the
the man
man his
his cloak
cloak and
and
give him something
give him something for for his
his sustenance.
sustenance.

According
According to lslam
Islam then,
then, the
the state
state and
and the community
community
are responsible
are responsible for thethe basic
basic needs
needs of the
the individual,
individual,
if the
the individual
individual fails
fails to obtain
obtain them
them through
through his
his own
own
honest
honest efforts.
efforts. But
But if the
the individual
individual resorts
resorts to
to criminal
criminal
ways,
ways, despite
despite the
the state
state and
and community
community having
having taken
taken
care
care ofof him,
him, then
then lslam
Islam comes
comes down
down heavily
heavily upon
upon
him.
him. ltIt recommends
recommends exemplary
exemplary punishments
punishments so so that
that

42
42
 criminal is
a cri'minal is forced
forcedtoto think
think many
manytimestimesover
over before
before
heventures
he ventures to commit
to commita crime. Punishments
crime.Punishments in Islam
in lslam
not a means
arenot
are meansof reformation,
reformation, asthey
as theyare in secular
arein secular
legalsystems,
legal systems, ratherdeterrents.
rather deterrents.Itlt is
isin
in the
the light
lightof this
this
that the
that followingmust
the following mustbebe understood.
understood.

Death Penalty
Death

Islam prescribesdeath
lslamprescribes penaltyfor:
deathpenalty for:

1) Premeditatedmurder,
1) Premeditated murder,
Adultery,
2) Adultery,
2)
3) H ighway robbery
3) Highway robbery&
4) Rebellionagainst
4) Rebellion againstan
an established govern-
lslamicgovern-
establishedIslamic
ment.
ment.
However,certain
However, certainconditions
conditionshave
haveto
to be
be met for the
met for the
impositionof the
imposition the maximum punishment.For
maximumpunishment. in-
For in-
stance,in
stance, in case
caseof adultery followingconditions
adulteryfollowing conditionsmust
must
be fulfilled:
be fulfilled:

.. The
The adulterer
adulterershould
should be
be a married person.
marriedperson .
.. The
The crime
crime must
must have
have been proven beyond
been proven beyond a
shadow of doubt
shadow doubt and
and in
in the absence
absence of
confession,four
confession, adult men
four adult integrity must
men of integrity
bear witness
bear witness to having
having seen
seen the very
very act.
act,
(The emphasis
(The emphasisonon the
the very may be
very act may be noted.
noted.

43
43
 Anything
Anything less,
less, however
however close
close to the act,
act, will
not be
be considered
consideredenough
enough for imposing
imposing the
maximum penalty).
maximum penalty).
·. If
lf the accused
accused recants
recants the confession
confession at any
any
time,
time, death penalty will
death penalty will be
be rescinded
rescinded for
reasons
reasonsof doubt
doubt having
having entered
enteredthe case.
case.
.· The
The offender
offender must
must be
be a Muslim.
Muslim.
·. The
The offender
offender must
must be
be sane.
sane.
.· The
The offender
offender must have
have reached
reached the age
age of
puberty.
puberty.
ItIt is
is only when all
only when all the
the above
aboveconditions
conditionshave
have been
been
satisfactorily
satisfactorily met that
met the maximum
that the penaltymay
maximumpenalty may be
be
imposedalthough
imposed althoughthe headof the
the head the State
Statewill have the
havethe
rightto
right to exercise
exercisehis prerogative
hisprerogative of final
finalverdict
verdictinvolv-
involv-
ing certainkinds
ing certain kinds of cases
casesthat
that cannot
cannot bebe discussed
discussed
here.
here.

Amputation of
Amputation of the Hand

The punishmentfor
The punishment for theft
theft is
is amputation
amputationof the
the hand
hand
from the
from the wrist.
wrist. However,
However,the following conditions
the following conditions
mustbe
must be fulfilled:
fulfilled:

· The property stolen

The property stolen must
must have
have been
been stored
stored
in a secure
in place, requiring
secure place, requiringforce
force to open.
open.

44
44
· The
The property
property stolen reach aa certain
must reach
stolen must certain
value
value (niiab)'which
(nisabl which will
will vary
vary according
according to the
to the
financial status
financial status of the state.
of the state.
· Either
Either aa confession
confession by the accused
by the or testi-
accused or testi-
mony by
mony by two
two righteous males of
righteous males integrity is
of integrity is
required for conviction.
required for conviction.
· The article
article stolen food, fruit,
stolen must not be food,
game, grass
game, forest wood.
grass or forest
· The criminal
criminal should been in a des-
have been
should not have des-
perate need
perate straitened circum-
need or in very straitened circum-
stances.
stances.
· The
The offender
offender must be an adult.
be an adult.
· The
The offender
offender must be
be sane.
sane.

45
45
 VII THE
VII THEHEREAFTER
HEREAFTER

Death
Death

Accordingto
According to Islam,
lslam,this life isis transient
this life transientand and aa trial.
trial.
The trial
The trial consists
consistsin in determining
determiningifif man man uses
usesthe gift
the gift
'free
of 'free wi II' that he
of will'that he enjoys
enjoysto to follow
followthe
the wayway shown
shown
by the
by prophets;or
the prophets; or does
does he he insist
insistonon following
following his his
own desires.
own desires.And, just as
And, just as any individualhas been
any individual has been
given a certain
given certaintime which is
time which is the period of trial
the period trial for
for
him, the
him, the human
humanrace racehashasalso
alsobeenbeenallotted
allotted a period
period
trial. When
of trial. When corruption
corruptionwill will become
becomeso so rampant
rampant
thatno
that goodwill
no good will remain
remainon on this
thisearth,
earth,all life will be
all lifewill be
destroyed.
destroyed. Aftersome
After sometime,time,every
everysoul souI that
thatonce
oncelived
Iived
be resurrected
will be resurrected for the
for the evaluation
evaluationof how how he he or
she used
she usedthethe free given. In
free will given. In other words,
other words, every-every-
one'sfaith
one's faithand
and deeds
deedswill will be
be examined.
examined.Those Thosewho
answeredthe
answered call of the
the call prophetsand
the prophets and followed
followed the the
commandmentsof God
commandments Cod will be be rewarded
rewardedwith Para- Para-
dise,while
dise, while those
those who deniedwill
who denied be punished
will be punished with with
Hell-fire
Hell-fire in in which
which they
they will abide abide forever.
forever. The The
Qur'an,
Qur'an, as
as well
well as
as the
the traditions
traditions of the
the Prophet,
Prophet, have
have
extensively
extensively dealt
dealt with thethe subject
subject of Resurrection
Resurrection and and
Reckoning.
Reckoning. We shall shall state
state some
some of the high points
the high points
here.
here.

4466
 Resurrection
Resurrection

No one
No hasbeen
onehas giventhe
beengiven theknowledge
knowledgeof ofthis
thisDay,
Day,so so
that whenever
that wheneveritit occurs,
occurs,itit will
will be
be aa sudden
suddenaffair.
affair.
Accordingtothetraditions
According ofthe
to the traditions of Prophet
theProphet (asws)
(asws) ititwill
will
be preceded
be preceded by by signs
signssuch
suchas
asappearance
appearance of
of massive
massive
vegetationwatered
vegetation wateredby by canals
canalsand riversin
and rivers in the
the Arab
Arab
lands, a very disproportionate
lands, a very disproportionate increasein
increase in the
thefemale
female
population,rampant
population, rampantmoral perversion,
moralperversion, crime
crimeand andvio-
vio-
lence, the appearance of Dajjal (the
lence, the appearance of Dajjal (the Anti-Christ),
Anti-Christ), who
who
will claim
will claimtoto be
beGod,
Cod,andandhis
hisdestruction
destruction at
atthe
thehands
hands
Christwho
JesusChrist
of Jesus who will descend
descendfromfrom the
the heavens.
heavens.

And then,
And then, as peoplewould
as people would have
haveforgotten
forgottenall
all about
about
thesesigns
these -
signs- asas a long
long time
time would
would elapse
elapsebetween
between
each sign-- then,
eachsign then,onon a sudden,
sudden,they
theywill hear
heara terrible
terrible
noise, like million trumpets
noise, like a million trumpets being
beingblown together.
blown together.
That
That will cause
causeeveryone
everyoneto die.
die. With another
anotherblow,
blow,
people
people will start emerging
start emerging from their graves,
from their graves, or wher-
wher-
evertheir
evertheir remains
remains will be,be, even
even if in the
the form
form of atoms.
atoms.

Reckoning and Judgement

Judgement

The nextphasewillbethat
Thenextphasewill that of Reckoning.
Reckoning. In this
this phase
phase
people will given
people will be given their
their "Book
"Book of Deeds,"
Deeds," in which
which
they
they will
will find
find recorded
recorded everything
everything that
that they
they had
had said
said
or done in their
or done in their life
life on
on this
this earth,
earth, whether
whether good
good oror

47
47
bad, major
bad, major oror minor. Then "Scales"
minor. Then be set
will be
"Scales" will up and
set up and
the process
the process of of weighing each person's
weighing each good (or
person's good (or ap- ap-
proved) deeds
proved) deeds against
against his evil (or
his evil disapproved) deeds
(or disapproved) deeds
will begin.
will whose good
Those whose
begin. Those deeds will
good deeds will overweigh
overweigh
their evil ones
their allowed to
will be allowed
ones will to proceed
proceed toto Paradise,
Paradise,
whilethosewhose evil
while thosewhoseevil deeds deeds will overweigh
overweigh the good
good
ones will be sent
ones Hell-fire, where
sent to Hell-fire, stay in
they will stay
where they
proportion to
proportion their their evil
evil deeds:
deeds: some
some for a few days
days
and some
and some for a very long duration
very long - even a
although even
duration - although
moment
momentin in it will be too
be too long.
long.

However, those
However, denied Allah
had denied
those who had Allah and His Mes-
and His Mes-
sengers,
sengers, or had
had ascribed partnersor equals
ascribedpartners Him,
unto Him,
equalsunto
will not go through
not go throughthis processof Reckoning.
this process Reckoning.TheyThey
will be
be straightaway
straightawaydriven
driven to Hell-firewhere
to Hell-fire they
where they
wi II abide
will abideforever.
forever.

May
May Allah
Allahsave you and
saveyou andme
mefrom suchand
fromsuch Amin-
end,Amin.
andend,

48
48
 Tems
Glossaryof Tenns
Glossary

Abu: Father (of). Abu al-

Father (ot). al- Modem
Moderndayday"Ansaris"
"Ansaris"are not
arenot
Qasim meanfather
would mean
Qasimwould fatherof their descendants.
their descendants.
Qasim.
Qasim. ASWS:
ASTWS : Short
Shortform of Arabic
form ofArabic
A.C.: Short form of "After "'A/ayhi
Short form "'Alayhi a/-Sa/at
al-Salat Wa Wa a/- al-
Christ," andused
Christ,"and byMuslims
usedby Muslims Sa/am" meaning,"On
Salam"meaning, "On him
him be
be
placeof..
in place of.. peaceand
peace blessings(of Al-
and blessings
lah)."
lah)."
A.D.: Since
Death." Since
A.I).: "After Death."
Jesus
Jesus Christ,
Christ, on whom be
on whom be Barakah:
Barakah: Benediction,
Benediction,
peace,did
peace, not die
did not was blessing,
but was
die but blessing,or increase quan-
increasein quan-
lifted to the Heavenand
the Heaven will
and will improvementin
tity or improvement qual-
in qual-
be
be sent down again
sent down towards ity of aa thing
againtowards thing beyond
beyond its its
the
the end of the
end of world.
the world. normal,by
normal, bythe grace
the grace ofAllah
(swt).
(swt).
A.H.: Short form of "After
Short form
Hijrah," (of the the Prophet Bint: Also
Prophet - Dint: Also Ibnah;
lbnah; daughter
daughter
saws Madinah). Islamic
saws- to Madinah). (of), normally
Islamic (ot), normally occurs
occursinin the
the
calendar dates
calendar from this
dates from narratorsof an
chainof narrators
this chain an early
early
event.
event. report. For
report. For instance
instanceZam'ah
Zam'ah
bint Sudawill mean
bint Suda Zam'ah
ineanZam 'ah
(p1., Ansar):
Ansari (pl., Ansar): TheThe
the daughter
the daughterof Suda.
Suda.
Helpers; who helped
those who
Helpers; those helped
and supported the
and supported immi- Da'wab:
the immi- Mission, call
Da'wah: Mission, call or
grantsto Madinah
grants duringthe
Madinahduring preaching
the preaching of Islam.In
ofIslam. itsroot
In its root
time
time of the Prophet
the Prophet (asws).
(asws). it means invite.
means to invite.

49
49
Dhikr:
Dhikr: Remembrance
Remembrance of Al-
ofAl- Muslim, Nasa'i,
hari, Muslim,
hari, Nasa'i, Tir-
lah (swt).
lah (swt). midhi, Abu
midhi, Da'ud, and
Abu Da'ud, and Ibn
Ibn
pay- Majah are
Majah aresix
six major compil-
major compil-
Diyya: Blood-money
Blood-money pay-
ersofhadith.
ers of hadith.
able caseof
able in case an accidental
of an accidental
murder,or in case
murder, caseofa preme-
of a preme- Haram: Illegal
Illegalor the prohib-
theprohib-
diated murder,
diated if the
murder, if the legal
legal in Islam.
itedin
ited Islam.
heirs waive away
heirswaive away their claim
claim Hijrah:
IIij rah : Migration
Migration in the
theway
way
accepting
to life for life, accepting
Allah, i.e.,
of Allah, i.e., in
in the face of
the face of
monetarycompensation.
monetary compensation.
persecution.
religiouspersecution.
religious
Fiqh: Verbally under-
Verbally under- 'Ibadah: Primarily
'Ibadah: Primarilyworship,
worship,
standingor insight.
standing prac-
insight. In prac-
but generalany
but in general any deed that
deedthat
the word
tice the
tice word applies
applies to the
the
agreeswith the
agrees the requirements
requirements
compendiumof Islamic
compendium Islamiclaws
laws
the Shari'ah.
of the Shari'ah.
that regulate
that regulateevery
everyday
day life of
of
the individualor
theindividual orthe affairsof
the affairs Ibn: Also
Also bin;
bin; son (of).
son(of).
the State.
the State, Iman:Arabic
Iman: Arabic for "faith."
"faith."
Iladith: The
Hadith: The saying prac-
sayingor prac- Kalimah: Lit. word. word. But
tice of
tice of Prophet
Prophet Muhammad
Muhammad normally the
normally the term
term isis used
usedfor
(saws),aa report
(saws), report concerning
concerning Shahadah,
Shahadah, the basic
or the basiccreed
creed
him, or his
him, his approval
approvalor dis-
dis- Islam, or its
of Islam, its expression
expression
approvalofa report.
approval report.Also
Also re-
re- viz., "I bear
viz., bearwitness
witnessthat there
thatthere
ferredto as
ferred as"a tradition."
"atradition." For
For is no god
is no godsave
saveAllah, andandthat
that
instance, "He
instance, "He who guides
who guides Muhammadis
Muhammad is His
His Messen-
Messen-
(another)to aa virtuous
(another) virtuousdeed is
deedis ger."
ger."
like him
like him (in rewards)
rewards)whowho
practicesit," is
practices is aahadith. Buk-
hadith. Buk-

50
50
Masjid
Masjid al-Haram:
al-HarCm: The The Normally used
usedfor the
the Com-
Com-
Grand
GrandMosque
Mosqueat Makkatr,so
at Makkah, so panions of the
panions Prophet
the Prophet
referred
referred because many
because many (saws).
(saws).
things,
things, ordinarily lawful
ordinarily lawful Rasll: A Messenger
Rasul: Messengerof of Al-
(such as
(such as hunting),
hunting), are
are lah. Also
lah. Also used
usedfor the
the angel
angel
"haram" prohibitedin
"haram"or prohibited in its
its who carries
who revelationsto the
carriesrevelations the
vicinity.
vicinity. Prophets.
Prophets.
Muhajir (p1.,Muhajirun):
Muhajir (pl., Sadaqah: Voluntary
Sadaqah: Voluntary alms-
alms-
Immigrant. Applied
Immigrant. primar-
Applied primar- giving.
giving.
thosewho
ily to those who migrated
migratedto
Madinah
Madinah during the time
during the time of Sahabi (p1., Sahaba):
Sahabi (pI., Sahaba): A
the Prophet
the (asws).
Prophet(asws). Companionof the
Companion Prophet
the Prophet
(asws).
(asws).
Nabiyy: A Prophet
Nabiyy: Prophetof Allah,
Allah,
Salah: The
"Rasul" with aa Salah:
synonymof "Rasul"
synonYm The five
five daily
daily
slight difference
slight differencein in meaning.
meaning. Prayers.
Prayers.

Nisab: The
Nisab: The mInimum Salaf(p1.,Aslat):
minimum Salaf(pl., Aslaf): The prede-
Theprede-
amountofwealth
amount of wealthover
overwhich cessorsor elders
which cessors eldersin religion,
religion,
Zakahis
Zakah due.
is due. particularly
_
particularly applicable
applicable to the
the
three generationsafter
three generations after the
the
PBUH(T): Short Short form
form of Prophet,
Prophet,
"Peace
"Peacebe uponhim
be upon (them)."
him (them)."
Also used for Prophets
Also used Prophetsin Sawm:Fasting.
in Sawm: Fasting.
placeof asws
place aswsor or saws.
saws. SAWS: Short
SAWS: Short form of "Sal-
form of "Sal-
lah 'Alayhi
'Alayhi Wa Sal/am"
R.A: Short
R.A: form of "Radia
Short form "Radia Wa Sallam"
'Anhu"meaning, "May meaning,
Allah 'Anhu" meaning, more less the
more or less the
meaning,
Allah
Allah be pleasedwith
be pleased with him." sameas
him." same asasws.
asws.

51
5l
 Shahidah: The utterance
Shahadah: utterance of Exalted (be
and Exalted
of "Glorified and
the basic
basic creed
creed of
of Islam.
Islam. SeeSee Allah)." ItIt is used when Al-
used when Al-
kalimah.
kalimah. lah's nam€ mentioned to
name is mentioned
proclaim
proclaim Him above above any
Shari'ah: The
Shari'ah: The way of life as
ofHfe as
- outlined
outlined by thethe Qur'an
Qur'an and and weakness that people
weakness that people attrib-
attrib-
ute to Him, or freedom
ute freedom from
Sunnah.
Sunnah.
any partnership ascribed unto
partnership ascribed
Shirk: The
Shirk: The unforgivable
unforgivable sin sin Him.
Him.
ofassociating
of anyone or any-
associatinganyone any-
(swt). For Tewhid: Oneness ofAllah in
Tawhid: Oneness
thing with Allah Gwt).
Person
Person and
and Athibutes.
Attributes.
instance, to believe
instance, believe that
that any-
any-
one
one has of the fu- Umm:
knowledgeofthe
hasknowledge Umm: Mother (o0. For
Mother (of). For in-
ture
fure is "shirk."
"shirk." That
That someone
someone stance, Zaynab means
stance,Umm Zaynab means
has been associated
hasbeen with God
associatedwith the mother
God the motherof of Zaynab.·
Zaynab.-
in His Attribute of of thethe Zakah: The obligatory wel-
The obligatory
Knower,
Knower, WhoWho alone knows fare-due, which
alone knows amountsto
fare-due,which amounts
what
what is in the
the Unseen.
Unseen. the wealth
wealth
one-fortieth of
one-fortieth of the
Sunnah:
Sunnah: The The example
example or over the
over and is
Nisab, and
the Nisab, is due
due
practice of the
practice the Prophet,
Prophet,on
on everytwelve
every lunar months.
twelve lunar months.
whombe
whom peace.For
bepeace. For instance,
instance, Zina: sex
Adulteryor illicit sex
Zinar Adultery
give aa lift to
to give passerbyis
to aa passerby is
of aa married person,male
marriedperson, male or
aa Sunnah
Sunnatrof thethe Prophet.
Prophet. female.
female.
SWT: Short form of "Subha-
Shortform "Subha-
nahu
nahu Wa
Wa Ta'ala,"
Ta'ala," meaning,
meaning,

52
52
 SuggestedReading
Suggested ReadingMaterial
Material
'an,
Al-fur 'an, Text,
Al-Qur Tex! Translation
Translation The
The Four Pillars of of Islam,
Islam,
and Commentary,
and Commentary, YousufYousuf Abul
Abul Hasan
HasanAli Nadwi
Nadwi
Ali
The Natural Form
The Form ofof Man
Man -
Introduction to Islam, Dr. Islam,
to Islam, Islam,Abdalhaqq
AbdalhaqqBewley
Bewley
Hameedullah
Hameedullah The
The Spirit of Islam,
Islam, Syed
Syed
Islam, Ed.
Islam, Ed. John
JohnAlden
Alden Wil- Ameer
AmeerAli
liams
liams Towards Understanding
Towards Understanding Is-Is-
Islam -- Basic
Islam BasicPrinciples
Principles and
md lam,
lam, Syed
Syed Abul A' A'lala
Chracteristics,
Characteristics, A. Mawdudi
K. Ah- Mawdudi
med.
med. Understanding
UnderstandingIslam
Islam and the
the
Islqm: Faith and
Islam: Faith and Practic,
Practic, lufuslims,
Muslims, Prepared
Prepared by TheThe
ManzoorNo'mani
Manzoor No'mani SaudiEmbassy
Saudi Embassyin Washing-
Washing-
Islam
Islam in Focus,
Focus, H. Abdulati
Abdulati ton
ton

Islam TheoryqndPractice,
Islam in TheoryandPractice, What
What is Islam?,
Islam?, Manzoor
Manzoor
Maryam
Maryam Jameelah
Jameelah No'mani
No'mani

Islam the
the Misunderstood
Misunderstood Re-
Re-
ligion, Muhammad
Iigion, Muhammad Qutb
Qutb

5533
 IIIIVI.III
rsLttd
ISLAM
(BOOK~1)
{HSOK-.l}
TIte Work
TIE Work in In your
your deab with .t....
hand deals
hand lngl•tmrt
tlre clrryle •st
lmparbnt issu.
Imporblnt l*ue of Your
iaur life:
llfe: that af your
tIIatolyou, tdatlanrhlp
relatID_hIp tttdtft
with
€od -- Allah
God flhh In Arabic -- the
ln Arublc the One
One GodGodwho
who aeated
mtd yotlt
you,
nourlshesyou
nourishes youandandto whom
ruhomyou youshall nturn wtthd.th.
chall..tum wlth deth. If f
you have
you have set yourrelationship
rlght your
c*t right relatlonehipwith Him, then while
tllm, then uuhih
this
thic life bemmes A prelude
llfe becomes prdude to It, blasciqg of an
lt, blessing en
unlmaginablekind
unimaginable you In
await you
ldnd await ln the
the Hereafter.
Hercafter.On On the
the
other hand,if the
otherhand, the relationship
relationship has nat been
hasnot beenset then,
rlghtnthen,
cetright,
andassuredly,
and disasterof
assurtdly,a disaster of stupendous
rtupendousmagnitude awaits
megnitudeawaits
those
tfiose who refuseto
who refuse givetheir
to give their Lord
LordHisHlsdue:
due;love,
love,thanks,
thankst
obedience,
obedienae, andworship.
and worchip.

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