BY

BY
G N{ASRI
HALl B f\-1
GH]\LITI ASRI
 GLIMPSE OF
A GLIMPSE OF
ISLAMIC FAITH

BY
GHALIB
GHALIB MASRI
MASRI
CooperativeOmc.
Coopcrrdvc Officefor
for Crll
CaDrnd GuidancelnInAl'Brthe,
andGofthncc Riyadh, 1996
AI-Batha,Riyl[ 1996

KingFahad
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Musri, Ghalib
Musri, Ghalib
glimpse ef
AA dimpse of lslmic
Islamic faith
faith
. . . PP,, .......
..... . . . . .cem.
m.
ISBN: 9960-798'35-5
ISBN: 9960-798-35-6
1. Faith
1. (Islamic crecds)
Faith (Isleroic I. Title
creeds) 1. Title

dc
243 dc

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ISBN:9960-798-35-6
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 TABLE OF
TABLE OFCONTENTS
CONTENTS
SUBJECT
SUBJECT PAGE
PAGE
Dedication
Dedication ............ 44
lntroduction.........
Introduction 55
Man'sNeed
Man's Needfor for the CorrectCreed
theCorrect Creed,". 88
Monotheismin
Monotheism in Islam
Islam 11
l1
Religion and
Religion and Human
Human Nature Nature(Belief
in Allah)
in Allah) .. 13
13
Messengers
Messengers Allah
of Allah 28
28
The Message
The Message of Prophet Prophet Mu-
(PBUH)
hammad (PBUH)
hammad 33
33
Pre-IslamicTimes
Pre-Islamic Times 33
33
T h eMission
The M i s s i o n. . . . . . . . . 41l
4
Characterof the
Character the Gracious
Gracious
Prophe (PBUH)
Prophe(PBUH) 46
46
Scriptures(the
Holy Scriptures (the books Allah) 63
books of Allah) 63
The Holy Qur'an
The Qur'an 65
65
The
The Hereafter
Hereafter 82
82
Divine Destiny
Divine Destiny.................. 87
87
Angels
Angels of Allah 89
89
3
 DEDICATION
DEDICATION

** To the with an
Searchers for Truth with
the Searchers an
open mind and
open and anan enlightened
enlightened
heart...
heart...
** To those
those who
who are keen on saving
are keen saving
themselves from going
themselves and
astray and
going astray
living in the the broad exPanse of
broad expanse
Light.
** To every
every man
man and
and woman desiringto
womandesiring
know about
about Islam's
Islam's attitude towards
attitude towards
the
the major issuesof DIVINITY,
major issues DIVINITY, THE
UNIVERSE
UNMRSE and
and LIFE and about
and about
the
the position
position and
and role the
man in the
role of man
Universe.
Universe.

II dedicate
dedicatethis
this quick glimpseof
quick glimpse the
of the
Islamic
IslamicFaith.
Faith.

4
 Introduction
Introduction

In the
the Name
Name of Allah, the
the Beneficent,
Beneficent,
the
the Merciful

Islam
Islam has
has liberated
liberated man
man from
from mental
mental
bondage
bondageand and trained
trainedits followers to
its followers to search
search
for the
the truth
truth with open
open minds.
minds. Allah hashas
honoured
honouredthe the human
humanmind and and made
made it aa
means
meansof discovering
discoveringthethe tokens His ex-
tokensof His ex-
istence
istenceand glory in the
and glory the universe
universe and
and un-
un-
derstanding
derstandingHis His Glorious
GloriousRevelation.
Revelation.

In the
the time
time when
when the
the non-Islamic
non-Islamic world
was
was suffering
suffering from thethe abyss
abyss of the
the soso
called Dark Ages,
called Dark Ages, the
the Islamic
Islamic world
world was
was
already
alreadyliving in an
an age
age of enlightenment
enlightenment
and had advanced
and had fields of life-
advancedin all fields
spiritual
spiritual and
and material.
material. That
That is,
is, in fact,
fact, aa
5)
natural
natural outcome
outcome of the
the living
living faith which
is compatible
is compatible with undefiled
undefiled human na-
human na-
ture.
ture.

When
When in action,
action,the
the Islamic
Islamic faith
faith brings
brings
forth
forth other
other honourable
honourable examples
examples of hu-hu-
man civilization
man civilization and guides man
and guides man to thethe
Straight
StraightPath.
Path.This faith is
This faith is summed
summedup up and
and
pronounced in the
pronounced the following Arabic Arabic
Words:
Words:
gi
tJ
-r:l:i Is I,
. i ~i alJlU
dlJl U!
. .I U.
I "j
.lJ :rii "
i ~i
lJtJ;pi II

" ' dlJ

". oIJlI J....
Jg.r1J I,.)
l:or-l ..
It can be transliterated
can be transliteratedinto Roman
into Roman
Letters
Lettersas
asfollows:
follows:

'' ASH-HADU AN LA ILAHA

"ASH-HADU
ILLAL-LAAH,
ILLAL-LAAH, WA ASH-HADU
ASH-HADU
ANNA MUHAMMADAN
MUHAMMADAN RA-
SULUL-LAAH."
SULUL-LAAH.''

6
 meaning in English
Its meaning English is :
''I
"I BEAR WITNESS THAT THAT THERE IS
NO GOD BUTALLAH;
NOGOD BUT ALLAH; AND THAT
THAT
MUHAMMAD IS HIS MESSEN-
MUHAMMAD MESSEN-
GER."
GER.''

A brief explanation
A explanationof the faith
the Muslim faith
is given the following pages.
given in the this is
pages. Yet this
only a glimpse
glimpsefor those
those who are interested
are interested
to know about
aboutthe
the articles
articles of the
the Islamic
Islamic
Faith.It
Faith .It could
could also
also be
be aa step
step forward
forward onon
the
the way
way of studying
studying andand discussing
discussingthethe
foundations
foundationsof Islamic
Islamicbelief.
belief.

It could
could convince
convince sincere
sinceresearchers
searchers for
for
the
the truth
truth toto embrace
embracethethe true
true religion.
religion.An
impartial
impartialassessment
assessment of their
their beliefs
beliefs and
and
practices
practices should
should hopefully
hopefully lead
lead them
them toto
shift
shift their
their stand
stand and guide them
and guide them toto the
the
only
only straight
straightpath
path( that
thatis,
is, Islam).
Islam).
7
 MAN'S NEED
MAN'S NEED FOR
FOR
CORRECT CREED.
THE CORRECT CREED.

standsat
Man stands at the peak of creation
the peak creationand
and
holdsthe
holds positionof the
the position the master
masterin this
this uni-
uni-
verseowing
verse owing to to the
the unique qualities he
unique qualities he en-
en-
joys. He
joys. He isis provided
providedwith aa number
number of fa- fa-
culties and
culties qualities that
and qualities that enable
enable him to to
control and
control and build this world. He
this world. He isis en-
en-
dowed with sense
dowed senseto make him understand
to make understand
things and
things andacquire
acquireknowledge.
knowledge. He He is
is also
also
provided with the
provided means of power
the means power andand
control.He
control. He enjoys,
enjoys,too,
too, aa variety
variety of emo-
emo-
tions and
tions and feelings,
feelings, such
suchas love, hate,
as love, hate,an-
an-
ger, etc..
ger, etc..

These qualitiesare
Thesequalities are two-edged
two-edged weapons
weapons
that
that can
can be
be employed either for good
employed either good or for
evil purposes.
purposes. Power,
Power, for example,
example, can
can be
be
used
used either
either for helping
helping people and giving
people and giving
8
them happiness.or
them happiness. or for wronging the weak
wronging the weak
and oppressing
and oppressing them. human mind
them. The human
can be used
can used either for inventing the means
inventing the means
of and comfort or for manufactur-
of luxury and manufactur-
the devices
ing the devices of
of death
death and
and destruction.
destruction.

Therefore,
Therefore, therethere must
must bebe some
someother
other
force
force or drive that able to control these
that is able these
human
human qualities
qualities andand faculties
faculties and
and direct
direct
them
them in the the interest
interestof man
man and his com-
and his
munity.
munity. That
That is,
is, the
the sound
sound belief in the the
One
One andand Only true true God
God and
and His perfect
His perfect
attributes
attributes andand in the the resurrection
resurrectionafter
after
death
death when everybody is
when everybody is brought
brought to to ac-
ac-
count
count for his his past
past deeds.
deeds.This belief will
This belief
be the
be the main
main factor
factor that
that leads man in the
leads man the
right
right path
path and
and keeps
keeps him away from evil
awayfrom
and
andinjustice.
injustice. It helps
helpsto
to build real ideal
build aa real ideal
society
society as as it was
was witnessed
witnessedin in the past
the past
when
whenIslam
Islam was
was embodied
embodied in in actual life
actual life
9
and the
and the Muslim soceity
soceitywas
was aa concrete
concrete
representationof the
representation the Islamic
Islamic faith.
faith.

fact, Allah does

In fact, doesnotnot need
needour belief
belief
in Him, nor does
does HeHe need
need our worship
worship
and
and submission
submissionto to His
His exalted
exalted Will; it
is we
is we who
who need
need this
this belief in order
orderto
to be
be
correct conceptof life, the
corTectin our concept the universe
universe
and its
and its Creator, and to
Creator, and to achieve
achieveour
our happi-
happi-
ness and
ness and welfare
welfareboth
both in this
this world and
andin
Hereafter.
the Hereafter.
the

l10
0
 MO0 NNOT
M O T H EHI S
EMISM IIN
N IISLAM
SLAM

ISLAM, in general,
ISLAM, general, means
means surrender-
surrender-
ing one's Allah, getting
one's whole self to AUah, getting rid
of polytheism
of polytheism and
and complete submission to
complete submission
the orders
the orders and
and instructions of Allah.
instructions of

Submission to Allah is a thing

Submission thing which
Allah requires
AUah requiresof the whole humanity
of the humanity asas
He is its Creator;
Creator; He has
has created
createdthethe whole
universe
universeand
and He
He alone
alone dominates
dominatesover over it.
It is
is the
the duty
duty of creatures
creaturestoto their Creator
their Creator
and
and aa requisite
requisiteof their
their servility
servility to their
to their
Lord.
L,ord.

Islam
Islam was
was the
the religion
religion of Adam, Noah,
Adam, Noah,
Abraham
Abraham andand other
otherprophets
prophets up to Mu-
up to
hammad
hammad (peace
(peaceandandblessing
blessingof Allah bebe
upon
uponthem),
them), for
for their
their faith
faith was
wasone and
orte and
the
the same,
szune, although
although the the applied ethics
applied ethics
1l
11
might be
be different.
different.

The Islamic
The Islamic faith
faith consists
consistsof six
six funda-
funda-
mentals:
mentals:

11 -- Belief in Allah.
Allah.
2 -- Belief
Belief in His
His Angels.
Angels.
3 -- Belief in Divine Books.
Books.
4 -- Belief in His
His Prophets.
Prophets.
-
5 - Belief in the
the Last
Last Day.
Day.
6 -- Belief in Divine
Divine Destiny.
Destiny.

The first fundamental

The fundamental is
is the most im-
the most
all.
port of all.

T2
12
 RELIGION AND
RELIGION AND HUMAN
HUMAN
NATURE
NATURE
Belief in Allah ))
( Belief

Everyone is bom
Everyone born upright bY by nature.
nature.
Pure nature leads
Pure nature leads to Allah, the One and
the One
Only true
true God.
God. In fact, human nature
fact, human nature
awakes
awakes to Almighty Allah's Allah's existence
existence
very
very early
early in life, even
even earlier than we
earlier than
may generally think that only
may think. We generally
an
an older
older person
person ponders
ponders over Allah's
over Allah's
existence
existenceand Oneness.But if we
and Oneness. we ob-
ob-
serve
serve the
the life of aa little
little child, we notice
child, we notice
that
that in
in aa certain stageof his
certain stage he asks
his life he asks
his
his parents
parentsendless
endlessquestions the
about the
questionsabout
things
thingshe he sees
seesaround
aroundhim him in the universe.
theuniverse.

Who
Who made
madethe
theheaven?
heaven?Why is the
WhY is skY
the sky
blue?
blue? Where
Where does
does thethe sun go at
sun go night?
at night?
Why
Why doesn't appearto
doesn't itit appear to us
us at night?
at night?
r3
13
Where does
Where does light
light go
go when
when the the dark
dark
comes? Why
comes? Why do do stars
srars glitter?
glitter? Where
Where
does the
does the earth
earthend?
end?Why
Why does
doesone
oneflower
flower
havesmell
have smell while
while another
anotherdoesn't?
doesn't?Where
Where
did II come
did comefrom?
from? Where
Where waswas I before
beforeI
came?etc.
came? etc. What
What dodo all
all these
these questions
questions
mean and
mean and indicate?
indicate?

They indicate
They indicate that
rhat nature in this
narure III this child
child
has begun
has begun to to awake
awake andand recognize
recognize thethe
Creatorof the
Creator the earth
earthand
and heavens through
heavensthrough
His tangible
His tangibleand
and seen
seen creation. There are
creation.There are
severaleffects
several effects that
that touch
touch man's
man's senses
senses
and awaken
and awaken him to thethe fact
fact of Allah's
Allah's ex-
istence,
istence, Oneness
Oneness andand peerlessness.
peerlessness. The
universe,
universe, so
so vast
vast and
and wide,
wide, would
would certain-
certain-
ly awaken
awaken man that plain
man to that plain fact.
fact. Those
Those
great
great dimensions
dimensions in in the
the skies
skies and
and the
the
earth...
earth... those
those countless,
countless, immense,
immense, celes-
celes-
tial bodies...
bodies ... Who
Who has
has creared
created them?
them? TheThe
t14
4
earth, though
earttl, compared with
tiny compared
though too tiny with
other celestial
other celestial bodies, contains moun-
bodies, contains
tains, plains,
tains, plains, oceans,
oceans, seas
seas andand rivers
rivers
that would take the whole life of man to
life of
learn about
leam about a small Part
part of them. How,
of them.
then, about
then, about the
the solar system of
solar system of which
earth is only a part?
our earth part? How about the
How about
milky way of which our solar
milky solar sYstem
system
is
is considered
consideredaa small part?. And other
small part? other
celestial
celestial masses
masseswhich
which contain
contain millions
and galaxieslike
millions of galaxies
and millions like ours?
ours? And
millions and
and millions
millions of stars compari-
starsin compari-
son
son with which
which thethe large is consid-
sun is
large sun consid-
ered
eredto
to be
be too
too small?
small?

With all
all its
its bulkiness,
bulkiness, the
the umverse
universe IS is
marvellously
marvellously accurate. Night and
accurate. Night and day
day
follow
follow each
eachother
otherso preciselythat
soprecisely we ad-
thatwe ad-
just
just our
our watches
watchesto to them.
them. In fact, the
In fact, the
whole
whole universe
universeisis so
so exact
exact in itsastro-
in its astro-
l5
15
 nomical revolution
nomical revolutionthat
thatclocks
clocksin
in observa-
observa-
tories, which
tories, which are
are the
the most
most accurate·
accurate
clocks we
clocks we have
have and
and toto which
which clocks
clocks in
in
broadcastingstations
broadcasting stations are
ane adjusted,
adjusted,are
are
themselves
themselves adjustedto
adjusted to the
theextremely
extremelyaccu-
accu-
rate astronomical
rate astronomicalrevolution
revolution which
which isis
neverdisturbed
never disturbedin
in the
thecourse
courseof time
timeun-
un-
less,of course,
less, course,Allah
Allah willed
willed it otherwise.
otherwise.

Everybeing,
Every being,animate
animateand
andinanimate,
inanimate,en-en-
joys suchmiraculous
joys such miraculous accuracy.Have
accuracy. Have youyou
seen the extremely
seenthe extremelyminute
minuteliving
living cell
cell that
that
can be
can be seen
seen only
only under
under the
the microscope?
microscope?
Yet it grows,
Yet grows, splits and performs
splits and performs highly
highly
wonderful tasks which
wonderful tasks which make
make manman helpless
helpless
and humble
and humble towards
towards the
the omnipotence
omnipotence of
Allah!
Allah! Who,
Who, other
other than
than Allah,
Allah, has
has in-
fused
fused it with thethe secret
secret of
of life and
and guided
guided
it to such
such surprising
surprising activity?
activity?

1166
 A germcannot
A genn cannotbe be seen
seenwith
with thetheunaided
unaided
eye.A
eye. A minute
minutekind kind called 'virus'
called'virus' cannot
cannotbe
be
seen even
seen evenunder
underthe the ordinary
ordinary microscope.
microscope.
Yet, you
Yet, you know
know from from your studies
studies in
sciencethat
science that itit might cause
eausethe
the most
most dead-
dead-
ly disease
ly diseaseunless
unless man man immunized
immunized him-
self against
self againstit by meansmeansof medicines and
ofmedicines and
serums.The
serums. The multicellular being,being, man man at at
the top,
the top, was
was originally one one impregnated
impregnated
cell which went went on splitting and and growing
till it became
till became an an integral being.
being. What
power, other
power, other than
than that
that of Allah, has has giv-
en it life and
en and activity?
activity? Most surprising
surprising
in that splitting processprocess is the fact that
those
those cells
cells appear
apPear similar in their begin- begin-
ning, then
then orders
orders areare given to them
them to spe-
spe-
take certain forms -- one cell
cialize and take
moves
moves to a certain place place and becomes
becomes an
ear or part ofof an ear; ear; another
another cell
cell goes
goes to
to
another
another position and becomes becomes an an eye
eye or
or
t17
7
part of
part of it;
it; aa third becomes one
third becomes of the
one of the
brain cells;
brain cells; a fourth turns into
fourth turns bones... etc.
into bones... etc.
What order
What order did
did those
those invisible cells re-
invisible cells re-
extraordinary ex-
such extraordinary
ceive and obey in such
actitude? ItIt is the order of
actinrde? of the Creator.
Creator.
orders them and
He orders and theY obey Him, and
they obey and
move and accordance with His
and form in accordance
Divine Will.
Divine

Have
Have you observed aa multi -- coloured
you observed coloured
fragrant
fragrant beautiful
beautiful flower?
flower? Who has be-
has be-
stowed
stowed it with that fragranceand
that fragrance and howhow
have
have these
these colours
colours combined
combinedin it? it? Sup-
Sup-
pose
poseyouyou tried
tried to perfume aa flower so
to perfume that
so that
it would diffuse
diffuse fragrance
fragrance from moming
from morning
to
to evening,
evening, and and toto paint in all
paint itit in colours
all colours
so
sothat
thatitit would
would notnot lose
losecolour
colour so solong as
long as
itit exists.
exists. How
How hard would itit be
hard would for
be for
you,
you,and
and how how far
far would your attempt
would your attemptbe be
successful?
successful?If If all
all people
people onon earth busied
earthbusied
l8
18
themselves
themselveswith suchsucha.task
a.taskwith all flow-
ers
ersgrowing
growing on on earth
earttror in the
the sea,
sea, could
could
they perform it?
they perfonn even if
it? And even if they
they could,
could,
what
what time and effort would be
time and be left for oth-
er
er activities?
activities?

Yet millions of flowers

flowers on earth
earth grow
scented,
scented,coloured
colouredand pleasant. Allah has
andpleasant. has
created
createdall without
without the
the least
least effort or dis-
dis-
traction
traction from directing
directing the
the immense
immenseuni-
verse,
verse, for He (Glory be
He (Glory be to
to Him!) only
says
saystoto aa thing: "Be! And it is".
thing: "Be! is". For
For Him,
it is
is so easy.
so easy.

phenomenaof death
The phenomena
The death and
and life also
also
attract man's attention
attract man's attention to the miraculous
the miraculous
Power that
Divine Power gives life and
that gives and death.
death.
What is
What is life in reality?
reality? It is a marvellous
marvellous
secret which no
secret no one
one can
can explain.
explain. All
All that
that
man has
man has soso far attempted
attemptedis the interpreta-
is the interpreta-
19
19
tion of some phenomena
of some phenomena of such as
of life such as
movement, growth
movement, and physiology.
growth and physiology. As for
life itself - what does it exist
what is it? How does exist in
things? How does
living ttrings? direct them
does it direct them to
fulfil their
fulfil functions? AU
their functions? this is a vague
All this vague
incomprehensible to man.
mystery incomprehensible
mystery man. Man,
Man,
especially biologists, has
especiallybiologists, employedall his
has employed his
knowledge to
scientificknowledge
scientific one cell
create one
to create cell of
billions
billions of living cells which the
cells with which the di-
vine
vine creation
creationabounds,
abounds,but wasin vain.
but all was vain.

As
As for man's
man'slivelihood, whether in the
livelihood,whether the
rain falling
form of rain
form from the
falling from crops
sky; crops
the sky;
growing from earth;
growing from fish, birds
earth; fish, andani-
birdsand ani-
mals;
mals;treasures
treasuresand
andminerals underground;
minerals underground;
the air we
theair we breathe;
breathe;thethewind
wind driving ships
driving ships
on
on the
the sea;
sea; or power driving
or power machines
driving machines
such as
such as steam power, electric
steam power, power;
electric power;
atomic
atomicenergy,
energy,the powerof fuel
thepower wa-
or of wa-
fuel or
ter
ter falling
falling down
down from mountains-- who,
from mountains who,
20
other
other than
than Allah,
Allah, provides
providesallall these? "Lo?
these?"Lo?
Allah, He it is
Allah, He is that
that gives
gives livelihood,
livelihood, the
the
Lord of unbeatable
Lord unbeatable might". (Qur'an,51:58)
might". (Qur'an, 5l:58)

Man yeamsafter
Man yearns after the
the unseen
unseenwhich
which only
Allah knows,
Allah knows,but but all
all his
his attempts
attemptsfail.
fail. He
He
longsto
longs know what
to know what isis in store
storefor him in
his future
his future life,
life, what
what his
his lot
lot will be
be next
next
year, what
year, what is going to
is going happen to
to happen to him aa
month or aa week
month weekor aa day day later
later and
and what
what
is going to
is going to take place in
take place in aa moment.
moment. He He
cannot discover
cannot discover what what is going to
is going to take
take
placein
place in aa moment,
moment,whether
whethergood
goodor evil.
evil.
Who, other
Who, other than
thanAllah alone,
alone,enjoys
enjoys om-
om-
niscience,since
niscience, sinceHe He has
has created
created everything
everything
and nothing in the
and nothing the heavens
heavens andand the
the earth
earth
escapesHis
escapes His infinite
infinite knowledge?.
knowledge?

Many things
Many things impress the human
impress the human mind,
mind,
awakening it to the
awakening the idea
idea of the
the One
One God,
God,
2
21l
 partner. ItIt perceives
with no partner.
with perceives that He
alone possesses
alone perfection, might, glory,
possesses perfection,
greatness and
greatness and limitless
limitless power.
power.

and Only; Allatr,

"" He is Allah, the One and Allah,
the Eternal,
the Eternal, Absolute; begetteth not,
Absolute; He begetteth not,
begotten; and
Nor is He begotten; there is none
and there none like
unto Him."
Him." (The Holy Quran
Quran 112:1-4)
ll2:l-4)

Thus,
Thus, man would
man WOll ld enjoy
enjoy righteous nature
righteousnature
and
and be
be an
an upright
upright believer.
believer.

But the
the human
human nature
nature sometimes
sometimessuf-suf-
fers
fers from derangement
derangement andand relapse. The
relapse.The
faculty
faculty of perception
perception may
may bebe dulled; so
dulled; so
man
man fails
fails to
to perceive
perceive the
the signs
signsof inimita-
bility in the
the universe
universeand
and life. He forgets
He forgets
the
the miraculous power that
miraculous power gives liveli-
that gives liveli-
hood,
hood, controls
controlsevents
eventsand possessescom-
andpossesses com-
prehensive
prehensiveknowledge
knowledgeof of the
the seen
seenand the
andthe
22
22
unseen.
unseen.

undergoes a new experience,

When man undergoes experience,
all his senses will be
senseswill alert to it. If
be alert he no-
If he no-
tices
tices a scene
sceneor hears
hearssomething
something new for
the first time or goes
the goesto a new town,
town, street
street
or house,
house, hehe will
will be
be careful
careful to recognise
recognise
the detailsof the
the details the new place. He is
new place. is high-
high-
ly impressed
impressedsince
sinceit isis new
new to him; but as as
he growsfamiliar
he grows familiar with
with the sceneor
thescene place
or place
seesit several
and sees
and severaltimes, his senses
times, his sensesno no
longer paymuch,
longerpay much,or perhapsthe
or perhaps least,at-
the least, at-
tentionto
tention it.
to it.

Sometimes
Sometimes man man behaves
behaves likewise
likewise to-
wards
wards Allah. He He forgets
forgets that is the
that Allah is the
Creator,
Creator,the
the Director, the Giver of life and
Director, the and
death.
death. HeHe overlooks
overlooks the multitudes of
the multitudes
signs
signsin this
this universe.
universe. HeHe neglects
neglects to
to ob-
ob-
serve
servethe
the rising
rising sun
sunand
and light until they
they are
are
23
23
swallowed
swallowedup up in the dark. He
the dark. fails to no-
He fails no-
tice the
tice the fragrant, flowers with
beautiful flowers
fragrant, beautiful
joyous
joyous colours
colours and melodious notes
the melodious
and the notes
of song -birds. He
song -birds. He ignores thunder, light-
ignoresthunder,
ning
ning and
and rain
rain falling from the
the clouds. He
clouds. He
disregards
disregardsthe
the new-born
new-bom babybaby andand the dead
the dead
man.
man. He
He forgets
forgetsabout
about his
his complete weak'
completeweak-
ness relation to the
ness in relation the absolute powerof
absolutepower
Allah.
Allah.

Other
Otherthings
thingsmay
may dull man's senses-- He
man's senses He
may be
may be busy
busy with
with his
his food,
food, drink, whims
drink, whims
and
and transient
transient worldly comforts, which
comforts, which
would divert
would divert his
his mind
mind from considering
from considering
the portents in the
the portents the universe, seeking
universe, seeking
Allah's
Allah's favour
favour and
and remembering
remembering thethe
Hereafter
Hereafter and
and the
the reckoning
reckoning and retri-
and retri-
bution it.
bution in it.

Another perceptionmay
cause of dull perception
Another cause may
24
24
 be deviation
be deviation from
from Allah's
Allah's orders.
orders. ManMan
would be
would rebeilious against
be rebeilious against Allah
AUah on on
earth and
earth tbllow his
and follow his own lust -- He
own lust He would
would
go beyond
go beyondwhat
what Allah
AUah allows
allows himhim to to do
do
becauseof his
because his greediness
greedinessand andhishis desire
desire
to have mastery
to have mastery overover others
others andand make
make
them slaves
them slavesto
to his
his desires;
desires;so so he
he encroach-
encroach-
es upon
es upon their property, honour
their property, honour or blood
blood
and wantsto deify
and wants deify himself
himself so so as
astoto be
be wor-
wor-
shippedbeside
shipped besideAllah.
Allah. HeHe may
may bebe too
too proud
proud
to serve
to serveAllah, or he he may
may be be fascinated
fascinated
by what he possesses
what he possesses -- his
his talents,
talents,health,
health,
power,
power, money
money or anything
anythingAllah has has bes-
bes-
towed
towed on him. He thinks thinks hehe has
has acquired
acquired
them
them by his
his own power
power and and forgets
forgets that
that
all these
these bounties
bounties emanated
emanated from Allah.

The human
human perception
perception or mind gets
gets dull
owing to one
one of
of the
the afore-mentioned
afore-mentioned rea-
rea-
sons
sons or to other
other deviations
deviations and
and relapses;
relapses;
25
25
 forgets Allah wholly or ascribes
so itit forgets
so ascribes a
partner to Him and
partner imagines that
and imagines that some-
some-
something in the
one or something
one universe shares
the universe shares
divinity, majesty
majesty and power with Allatt.
and power Allah.
Thus, the
Thus, the human nature gets
human nature corrupt and
gets cotrupt and
possessed by Satan,
is possessed Satan, who drives it away
who drives away
from Divine
from Guidance and
Divine Guidance Favour. Yet,
and Favour. Yet,
Allah does
AUah not let His
does not servantsgo
His servants go astray;
astray;
so He sent
so He them Prophets
sent them Prophets toto call them to
call ttrem
guidance
guidanceand andturn
turn them backto
them back to truth. He
truth. He
has
has sent
sent Muhammad
Muhammad(peace(peaceand blessing
andblessing
of Allah
Allatr bebe upon
uponhim)
him) as the last
as the prophet
last prophet
to be aa harbinger
to be good tidings
harbingerof good tidings andand aa
warner
wamer to to all mankind
mankindup uPto to the DaY of
the Day
Resurrection.
Resurrection.

He
He revealed
revealedto to him
him the
theQur'an
Qur'anand gua-
andgua-
ranteed
ranteedits preservation,"
its preservation," Lo! We,
Lo! even
We, even
We,
We,reveal
tevealthe
the Reminder (i.e.theQur'an)
Reminder(i.e.the Qur'an)
and Lo!
and L.o! We
We verily are its
verily are guardian".
its guardian".
26
26
(Qur'an,15:9).
(Qur'an, l5:9).

TheQur'an
The includesall
Qur'anincludes all that is essential
ttrat is essential
humannature
for human natureto
to be nobleand
benoble andvirtuous,
virtuous,
guidesto
guides to the realmeaning
thereal meaningof divinity
divinity and
and
acquaintswith
acquaints with the
the Rightful
Righfful God,
God, Creator
Creator
and Director
and Director of the
the universe,
universe,OwnerOwner of
Sovereigntywithout
Sovereignty withoutany parmer.
anypartner.

77
27
 MESSENGERS OF ALLAH
MESSENGERS ALLAH

One of
One of the
the fundamentals
fundamentals of of faith is the
the
belief in the Prophets (messengers
the Prophets (messengers of of
Allah). A
AUah). A manman cannot
cannot bebe considered
considered a
Muslim or a believer
believer unless
unless he
he believes
believes
ttrat sent to mankind Prophets
that Allah sent Prophets from
among
among themselves,
themselves, who conveyed
conveyed the the
revealed to them
Truth revealed them from their Lord,
ALLAH,
ALLAH, brought
brought them good tidings,
them good tidings,
warned
wamed them,
them, expounded
expoundedand interpreted
and interpreted
Allah's
Allatr's message
messagefor them. them. Hence,
Hence, man
man
will be
be considered
consideredaa Muslim
Muslim only he
only if he
believes prophets and
believes in all prophets and that they all
that they
brought
brought the
the same
sametruth
truth from Allah, with-
out
out making
making distinction
distinction between
between anyany of
them.
them.

"Say (0
"Say (O Muhammad):
Muhammad): We We believe
believe in
Allah and
and that
that which
which was
was revealed unto us
revealedunto us
28
28
and that which was
and was revealed
revealed unto
Abraham and
Abratram and Ismael
Ismael and
and Isaac
Isaac and
and Jacob
Jacob
and the
the tribes,
tribes, and
and that which was
was vouch-
vouch-
safed unto Moses
safed Moses andand Jesus
Jesus and
and the
the Pro-
phets from their Lord. We make
phets make no dis-
tinction between
between anyany of them,
them, and unto
and unto
have surrendered".
Him we have (Qur'an,3:
surrendered".(Qur'an, 3: 84)
84)

Why has enjoined belief in the

has Allah enjoined the
Prophets
Prophets and
and made
made it a fundamental
fundamental of
faith besides
besides belief in Him, though
though thethe
belief in Allah
AUah isis the
the basis
basisof everything?
everything?
The
The answer
answer isis obvious.
obvious. How can can man
man
know hishis Lord andand worship
worship Him in the the
right
right way
way without
without the
the Prophets
Prophets andand their
their
guidance?
guidance? Consider
Consider the the falsehoods
falsehoods of
mankind
mankind concerning
concerning their
their Lord through-
through-
out
out history,
history, how
how they
they imagined
imagined Him and and
worshipped
worshippedHim in their their various
variousages
ages of
pre-Islamic
pre-Islamic paganism.
paganism.OnceOnce they
they ima-
ima-
29
29
 ginedHim in the
gined thefonn
form of the
the sun's
sun'sdisc,
disc,as
as
was the
was the case
case with ancient
ancientEgyptians;
Egyptians;once
once
the form of superman,
in the superman,as asdid the
the Greeks
Greeks
and Romans;
and Romans; onceonce in the form of the
the fonn the
moon, another
moon, another in the form of aa star
the fonn star and
and
another in the
still another the form of an an idol.
idol. So
So
fancies differed and
fancies and all strayed
strayed from thethe
god because
true god
true because theythey sought
sought guidance
guidance
from their own imagination,
imagination, desires
desires and
and
knowledge and
limited knowledge and didn't
didn't follow the
the
truth in the
the right way as as confinned
confirmed by
that is through
Allah, that through Prophets
Prophetsto whom
whom
the Truth
the Truth had
had been
beenrevealed.
revealed.

No less wrong was

less wrong the perception
was the perception of
various
various times
times of ideological
ideological ignorance
ignorance
when there
when there were
were small
small gods besides the
godS besides the
Lord of lords
lords who
who enjoyed
enjoyed some
some of His
His
traits,
traits, such as a god
such as god of of rain,
rain, another
another of
lighnring,
lightning, another
another of thunder,
thunder, another
another of
30
the wind, another
the another of of the sea (Neptune)
the sea (Neptune)
as another
as of fertility,
another of fertility, another of progeny
another of progeny
and others
and of every affair of
others of of life.

If believe that
If we believe that Divinity and and Lord-
ship
ship are the major issues
are the the life of man
issues in the man
man and
man the worship
and that the worship ofof Allah is the the
object
object of human
human existence:
existence: "I created the
created the
jinn and
jinn and humankind
humankind only that that they
they might
worship (Qur'an,5l:56),
worship Me." (Qur'an,51 :56), then,
then, we
we
will
will understand
understandwhy belief in the the Pro-
Pro-
phets
phets is is aa principal
principal constituent
constituent of faith;
faith;
for asas we
we have
have seen
seen in historical
historical reality,
reality,
it is
is impossible
impossiblefor humanity
humanity to to be guid-
be guid-
ed
ed toto the
the truth
truth with regard
regardtoto divinity and and
worship
worship through
through other
other than
than thethe right
right and
and
authorized
authorized source,
source, that is -- the
that is prophets
the prophets
sent
sentby Almighty
Almighty Allah.
Allah.

The
The same
sameapplies
appliesto
to the
thenecessity be-
necessityof be-
31
31
 lief in
lief in all prophets without
all prophets without distinction
distinction
whatsoeverbetween
whatsoever betweenany
any of
of them.
them.They
They all
all
came for
came for one purpose. They
one purpose. They were
were sent
sent
to make
to makeitit known
known that
that there
thereisis only
only ONE
ONE
GOD in
GOD in the
the whole
whole universe,
universe, that
that isis
Almighty Allah
AUah (Be(Be He
He glorified and
andhigh
high
exalted!)with no
exalted!) partner.Theysaid
no partner.They saidto
to peo-
peo-
ple, "ServeAllah! Ye
ple, "Serve Ye have
have nono other
othergod
god
but Him".
but (Qur'an,11:50,11:61,11:84).
Him". (Qur'an, 11:50,1l:61, ll:84).

So, what
So, is the
what is the meaning
meaningof believing
believingin
prophet and
one prophet
one and denying
denying another?
another? In fact,
fact,
denying any
denying any of them
them is
is the
the same
same as
as deny-
deny-
ing them
them all, since they expounded
sincethey expoundedto menmen
the
the same
same thing revealed
revealed to them
them by Allah:

"We sent
sent no messenger
messenger before
before thee
thee but
we inspired
inspired him (saying):
(saying): There
There is no
god Save
Save Me (Allah), so worship
worship Me".
(Qur'an,2l:25)
(Qur'an, 21 :25)
32
32
 THE MESSEGE
THE MESSEGEOF
OFPROPHET
PROPHET
Peacebe
MUHAMMAD( Peace beUpon
UponHim)
Him)
---------------------------
Pre-- Islamic
Pre IslamicTimes:
Times:

Before the
Before the advent
adventof ISLAM all man-
man-
kind had degenerated
kind had degeneratedinto
into the
the worst
worst of
statesand
states thedarkest
andthe darkestof stages.
stages.

Not only Arabia was predominatedby

was predominated
such pagan ignorance;
such pagan ignorance; thethe whole
whole world
suffered
suffered from it. There
There were 'great'
were two 'great'
states:
states: Persia
Persiaand Byzantium; they
and Byzantium; ruled
they ruled
most of the
most the world at
at that
that time.
time. Either had
Either had
historic'civilization',
aa historic but what
'civilization', but what was
was itsits
basis and what
basisand what was
was the mental, psycholo-
the mental, psycholo-
gical and
gical material standard
and material standardof of its
its people?
people?

Persiaa 'Khosrau'
In Persia ruled. He was
'Khosrau' ruled. was not
'god'.
merely ruler; he
merely a ruler; he was
was a 'god'. The cere-
cere-
33
33
monies of
monies of greeting
greeting were
were nearest
nearest to thosethose
of worship.
of worship. Feople
People were
were really slaves to
really slaves
god, living -- whatever
that god,
ttrat whatever their rank rank and
and
class was - in the
class was the way that Khosrau' or his
that Khosrau'or
inherited royal
inherited royal traditions
traditions would
would allow.
allow.
'handful'
Only a 'handful' of people enjoyed the
people enjoyed the
riches of
riches country -- that
the country
of the that is,
is, the court of
the court of
Khosrau that
Khosrau that held
held sway
sway over
over thethe masses;
masses;
the latter were
while the were in an abject state
an abject stateofof
poverty,
poverty, slavery
slaveryandand humiliation.
humiliation. The The as-as-
pects 'pomp' 'civilization'were
pectsof 'pomp' and and 'civilization' were all
confined palace.As As for the 'people',
confinedto the the palace. the 'people',
they
they were
were important
important as as far asas they served
they served
the interests of these
the interests masterswith
these ruling masters
that 'god' were
that 'god' at at their
their head.
head. Yes,
Yes, there
therewere
arts
arts and
and material production, but
materialproduction, but all waswas
used,
used, along people, for
along with people, fbr the sake of
the sake
those
those interests.
interests.The worship was
The official worship was
that of fire.
that Morals had
fire. MOrdis had collapsed
coliapsedand and
Mazdek's
Mazdek'scommunisrn
communistnand permissiveness,
andpermissiveness,
34
3,1
 dissolutionand
dissolution andanarchy
anarchyhad
had spread.
spread.What
What
mental, spiritual
mental, spirinral and
and material
material contempt
contempt
'great'
man-under
man- under that civilization - had
that 'great' civilization had
lived in!
lived in!

Byzantium conditions
In Byzantium conditionswere
werenono better.
better.
Caesarwas
Caesar was surrounded
surroundedwith the the same
sameha-ha-
loes as
loes Khosrau, and
as Khosrau, people were,
and people were, as
as in
every state
every stateof ideological
ideologicalignorance,
ignorance,mas-
mas-
ters and
ters and bondsmen.
bondsmen. TheseThese bondsmen
bondsmen
fought and
fought and died greatnumbers
died in great numbersonly in
the cause
causeof the 'Empire'
the 'Empire' and
the and the
the personal
personal
gloriesof Caesar
glories Caesarand and his
his commanders.
commanders.
Like Persia,
Persia, there
there were
were arts, material pro-
arts,material pro-
ductionand
duction and building,
building, but
but for whose
whose sake:
sake:
The masters
masters or the
the bondsmen?
bondsmen? Are there
there
for bondsmen
bondsmen other
other than
than serving
serving their
their
masters?
masters? There
There was creed! -- a pagan
was a creed! pagan
creed guarded
creed guarded by the the church
church andand thethe
clergy: God is
clergy: God is One
One of three!
three! Christ
Christ was
was
35
35
the son of
the son of God! Bishops
Bishops and
and monks were
lords ruling the domain of of minds and
and
spirits
spirits contrary God's revelations
contrary to God's revelations and
and
taking the of people
the property of people unlawfully;
unlawfully;
whereas,
whereas, Caesar was ruling the
Caesar was the physical
domain in accordance
domain accordance with thethe Roman
Roman
(i.e. not in accordance
Law (i.e. with Divine
accordance with
Law). People were servants
People were of the
servants of the court
on the
the one
one hand
hand and
and servants of the Pope
servantsof Pope
and
and his bishops
bishops and
and monks
monks on the
the other.
other.

Beyond 'great' empires there were

Beyond the
the 'great' empires there were
the 'civilizations'
the Chinese
Chinese and
and Indian
lndian 'civilizations' in
Asia.
Asia.

In India,
India, as
aseverywhere
everywhereelse, were
therewere
else, there
lords
lords and
andbondsmen.
bondsmen.But bondsmen there
bondsmen there
had
had aa peculiar position. They
peculiar position. were be-
They were be-
lieved
lieved to
to have
have been
beencreated
createdfrom the god's
the god's
foot,
foot, soso they
they were
were considered unclean.
consideredunclean.
36
36
They had had to endure
endure all humiliation, con-
all humiliation, con-
tempt and torture
tempt torture they underwent; for
they underwent; for on
hand, that was
the one hand, fate; and on
was their fate;
the other,
other, itit was sole way to salva-
was their sole salva-
through transmigration
tion through transmigration of souls. Man,
of souls.
according to them,
according spends his fixed life,
them, spends
then his soul passes
then another new bo-
passes into another
dy. If the enslaved
If the untouchables were
enslaved untouchables were
satisfied
satisfied with their fate,
fate, surrendered
surrenderedto hu-
miliation andand carried
carried out the
the hardest and
hardestand
dirtiest
dirtiestpieces
piecesof work,
work, their
their souls
souls might
pass
pass into other
otherpersons
persons superior
superior to slaves
to slaves
and
and getget thereby pursued salva-
thereby to their pursued salva-
tion,
tion, though
though they
they wouldn't acquire the
acquire the
rank
rank of their masters
masters who
who were created
were created
from
from thethe deity's
deity'shead
headoror arm!
arm!

There
There were
were countless
countlessforms
formsof worship
of worship
offered
offered to
to countless
countless deities,
deities, but
but they had
theyhad
one
one thing
thing inin common, that isis -- ERROR.
common, that ERROR.
37
37
 Perhapsthe
Perhaps themost
mostcurious
curiousthing
thing was 'tem-
was 'tem-
ple prostitutes'
ple prostitutes'who stayed in
who stayed in temples
templesforfor
the sake
the sakeof deity!
deity! No,
No, for the
the sake
sakeof Sa-
Sa-
tan! But
tan! But stranger
strangerstill might
might be
be the 'cow
the 'cow
worship' -- men
worship' men wallowing in its its dung
dung and
and
bathing its
bathing its urine,
urine, for the sake of god's
the sake god's
blessing! If
blessing! If the
the cow
cow could
could have
have spoken
spoken it
would have
would have laughed
laughed atat its
its worshippers
worshippen
and would have
and have been
beensurprised
surprisedto see
seeman,
man,
whom Allah has
whom hashonoured,
honoured, satisfied
satisfiedwith
suchdegradation!
such degradation!

the end
At the end of
of the
the earth
earth there
there was
was China.
China"
a vast expanseof land
vast expanse land ruled by an
an emper-
emper-
- sacredlike all rulers
or - sacred rulers of the time.
of the time. Rites
Rites
of
of worship
worship and
and sacrifices
sacrifices were
were offered
offered to
him and
and people
people prostrated
prostrated themselves
themselves be-
fore him. The god
fore god worshipped
worshipped was
was Bud-
dha, whose
dha, whose images
images were
were graven
graven and
and wor-
shipped by people.
shipped people. In Buddhism"
Buddhism, as as in
38
 the Indian
the Indian religions,
religions, the the body was de-
body was de-
spised and
spised and tornrred
tortured forfor thethe redemption
redemption
of the
of the soul,
soul, and
and worldly
worldly life was scorned
life was scorned
and rejected
and rejected for
for ttre attainment of
the attainment of immor-
immor-
Immortality! But where?
tality. Irnmortality! where? and and in
in
what form?
what fonn? It immortality with Bud-
It is immortality Bud-
dha in the
dha the world of imagination. There
of imagination. There
'wis-
were arts,
were arts, material production and
material production and 'wis-
dom'
dom' but all was was of no avail, for people
no avail, People
themselves
themselveswere werelost.
lost.

Arabia
Arabia waswas drowned
drowned III religiousig-
in religious
norance,
norance,like
like the
the rest
rest of mankind. There
mankind.There
were
were three
three religions,
religions, all which were
all of which were
misguided.
misguided.Jews, whowere
Jews, who in the
living in
wereliving the
outskirtsof
outskirts of Medina,
Medina,had their
distortedtheir
had distorted
'holy'
holy' book
book centuries
centuriesbefore, stuffed itit
before,stuffed
with
with lies
lies and
andlegends, changedthe
legends,changed Di-
the Di-
vine
vineRevelation
Revelationandand renounced wholly,
renounceditit wholly,
complying
complyingwith whimsand
theirwhims
withtheir interests.
andinterests.
39
 Therewere,
There were,also,
also,small
smallChristian
Christian groups
groups
who held
who heldfalse
falsebeliefs,
beliefs,such
suchas as the
theTrinity,
Trinity,
thedeification
the deifieationof of Jesus
Jesusor or considering
consideringhim him
aa son
sonof
of God.
God. Arab
Arab idolators
idolatorsthroughout
throughout
Arabia worshipped
Arabia worshipped idols idols which
which werewere
placed inside
placed inside AL- AL- KA'BA,
KA'BA, the the Holy
Holy
House of God
House God (Allah), the the place
place which
Abraham and
Abraham and Ismael
Ismaelhadhad been
beenordered
orderedby
Allah to build in orderorder that
ttrat Allah alone
alone
should be
should worshipped without ascribing
be worshipped ascribing
partner to
any partner
any to Him. Yet, Yet, they
they claimed
claimed
they were
they were followers of Abraham.Abratram.A A va-
riety of
of myths
myths hadhad nested
nested in their minds.minds.
Angels,
Angels, for example,
example, werewere the the daughters
daughters
of
of Allah
Allah and
and they were were worshipped
worshipped on
account. The jinn
that account. jinn (i.e.
(i.e. genies)
genies) be-
longed to Allah
Allah and were,were, therefore,
therefore, wor-
wor-
shipped.
shipped. Idols
Idols were
were carved
carved andand then
then wor-
wor-
shipped
shipped by by people.
people. Many Many new-born
new-born
girls
girls were
were buried
buried alive
alive for
for fear
fear ofof shame
shame
40
40
or poverty. Women were scomed scorned and
wronged.
wronged. Wine was was drunk, games
games of of
chance
chance (i.e. maysir) were
(i.e. maysir) were used
used to, and
and
adultery was allowed.
adultery was allowed. Life was
was spent
spent in
drinking, amusement
amusementand plundering raids.
and plundering raids.
'Man' was
'Man' 'Lost' as
was 'Lost' was his case
as was case in all
statesof religious
states religious ignorance. That was
ignorance.That was the
the
state
stateof the
the world before
before Muhammad
Muhammad was was
sent
sent to save
savemankind
mankind from the
the darkness
darknessofof
error;
etTor:

The
The Mission:
Mission:

In this
this extremely
extremelydark
dark atmosphere
atmospherethere
there
shone
shoneaa Light;
Light; it was
was Muhammad,
Muhammad, son son
of Abdullah, (peace andblessing
Abdullah, (peace AUah
andblessingof Allah
be
be upon
upon him).
him).

The
The Jews
Jews in
in Medina,
Medina, before
before the pro-
the pro-
phethood of Muhammad
phethood (PBUH), had
Muhammad (PBUH), had
4T
41
often saidto
often said to its
its inhabitants,
inhabitants,The time
time of aa
prophet has
prophet has almost
almost arrived.
arrived. WeWe shall
shall
fight with him against
against you
you and
and defeat
defeat
you'. The
you'. The Jews,
Jews, in fact, depended in
fact, depended
their claim upon
upon the Torah, which in-
the Torah,
dicates
dicates that
that the
the old copies
copies of the
the Torah
Torah
not mentionedProphet
not only mentioned ProphetMuhammad's
Muhammad's
name
nzuneand description, but
and description, but also pointed
also pointed
prophethood and
his prophethood
to his and its
its approximate
approximate
time.
time.

In his
'Muhammad in the Bible', Prof.
his 'Muhammad the Bible', Prof.
Abdul Ahad Dawud,
Abdul Ahad Dawud, former
former Bishop
Bishop of
Uramiah, quotes the
Uramiah, quotes following verses
the following verses
from Haggai, ii; 79,
from Haggai, which he
79, which he has
has trans-
trans-
lated from
lated from an
an Assyrian
Assyriancopy
copy of the
the Bible,
Bible,
'And
'And I will shake
shake all nations
nationsand
and the
the Hi-
mada of all the
mada the nations
nations will
will come and in
come - and
this place
this place I will give
give shalom,
shalom, says the
saysthe
Lord of hosts'.
hosts'.
42
42
 The word 'Himada' derived from an
'Himada' is derived an
archaic Hebrew
archaic rather Aramaic
Hebrew or rather Aramaic root
'bemed'. In Hebrew 'hemed'
Hebrew 'hemed' is generally
generally
hemed'.
used in the
used the sense of great
sense of desire, covet,
great desire, covet,
appetite and
appetite lust. In Arabic
and lust. Arabic thethe verb
verb
'hamida'
'hamida' means 'to
means 'to praise'
praise' andand soso on.
on.
more praised
What is more and illustrious
praised and illustrious than
than
that which is
that is most
most craved
craved for,for, covet-
covet-
ed
ed and
and desired. Whichever of
desired. Whichever oi the
the two
meanings
meaningsbe be adopted,
adopted, the fact that
the fact that Ahmad
Ahmad
is
is the
the Arabic
Arabic form of Himda remains in-
Himda remains
disputable
disputableand
and decisive. The Qur'an
decisive.The (61:
Qur'an (61:
6) declares
declares that
that Jesus
Jesus announced unto
announcedunto
the
the people
people of Israel
Israel the
the coming an
coming of an
Apostle
Apostle from
frorn Allah whose niune was
whose name was to
to
be 'Ahmad'.
be'Ahmad'.

The Gospelof St.

The Gospel St.John, beittgwritten
John,being in
written in
'Pariclytos', bar-
Greek,
Greek, uses
usesthe name 'Pariclytos', aa bar-
thename
barous
barousform
form unknown
unknown to classicalGreek
to classical Creek
43
43
 'Periclytos',which corres-
literafure. But 'Periclytos',
literature. which corres-
pondsexactly
ponds exactly with Ahmad
Ahmad in its its signi-
signi-
fication of 'illustrious',
fication 'glorious'
illustrious', 'glorious' and
and
'praised',
'praised', in its superlative
in its superlative degree,
degree,must
must
have been
have the translation
been the translation into
into Greek
Greek of
'Himda' 'Hemida'
probably 'Hemida' of the
'Himda' or probably the
Aramaic form,
Aramaic form, as
asuttered
uttered by Jesus
JesusChrist.
Christ.
Alas! there
Alas! is no
there is no Gospel
Gospel extant
extant in the
the
original language
original languagespoken
spokenby Jesus.
Jesus.

As toto the
the etymology
etymology andand significance
significance of
the Hebrew
the Hebrewwords words'shalom'
'shalom' and 'shalama',
and 'shalama',
and the
and the Arabic
Arabic words 'salam'and
words'salam' 'Islam',I
and 'Islam',
(i.e.,Prof.
(i.e., Prof. Abdul
Abdul Ahad)
Ahad) needneed not
not detain
detain
the reader
the dragginghim into linguistic
reader by dragging linguistic
details. Any semitic
details. semiticscholar knows that
scholarknows that
'shalom'
'shalom' and 'Islam' are derived
and'Islam'are derivedfrom
from oneone
and
and the same root
the same root and
and that
that both
both meanmean
peace,
peace, submission
submission and and resignation.".
resignation.".

44
 Allah chooses
AUah chooses His His ProPhets from the
prophets from the
best of
best of mankind.
mankind. And Muhammad (peace
And Muhammad (peace
blessing of
and blessing of AUah
Allah be upon him) is
upon him) is the
the
general, and of
of humanity in general,
best of of pro-
phets in particular.
phets particular. Allah
Allah takes care of,and
takes care
refines His prophets
refines prophets before charging them
before charging them
with prophethood
prophethood and and without their know-
ledge or expectation.
ledge They would thereby
expectation. They thereby
be, psychologically,
be, psychologically, spiritUally and mo-
spiritually and
rally, mor~
rally, morg qualified
qualified to to carry
carry out their
out their
message
messageand and fulfil
fulfil the
the task as fully
task as fullY as as
Allah wills. This
This applies
applies toto the Prophet
the Prophet
Muhammad
Muhammad (peace(peace and andblessing
blessingof Allah
be upon
be uponhim)
him) toto an
anextent
extent unequalled
unequalledbe- be-
fore.
fore. Even
Even inin his
his early
early youth, he had
youth,he hadthethe
manner of
manner of aa solemn
solemndeep-think-ing
deep-think-ingman man
'man'.
and
andenjoyed
enjoyed the
thenoble
noblefeelings of 'man'.
feelingsof

45
45
Characterof
Character of the
theGracious
GraciousProphet (PBUH)
Prophet(PBUH)

The Pre-Islamic
The Pre-Islamicperiod
periodwas was full
full of
of cor-
cor-
ruption, pleasure-seeking
ruption, pleasure-seeking and waste of
and waste of
time, though
time, though there
there were
were some
some respect-
respect-
able,sober
able, sober menmen here
hereand
andthere,
there,butbut they
they
wererarely
were rarelyyoung
young men;
men; forfor aa young
young man man
would be
would be unusual
unusualif he he didn't
didn'tseek
seek pleas-
pleas-
ure and
ure and entertainment
entertainmentat at that
that time.
time. IfIf he
he
addedto
added to his
his solemnity
solemnitythethe avoidance
avoidanceof li-
quorswhich
quors which were
were drunk
drunk even
even by respect-
respect-
able old men,
able men, shUIUling
shururingof those
thoseidols
idols set
set
up
up beside
beside the
the Holy Mosque
Mosque (i.e.Ka'aba),
(i.e.Ka'aba),
keeping
keeping away
away from inequity,
inequity, along
along with
other
other noble
noble qualities,
qualities, he
he would
would undoubted-
undoubted-
ly draw
draw others'attention
others' attention since
since none
none ofof the
the
old men
men possessed
possessed such
such qualities,
qualities, not to
speak
speak of the youths.
of the youths.

One of his
One of his traits
traits was
was so
so outstanding
outstanding and
and
46
46
deep-rooted that
deep-rooted attracted the
that itit attracted the attention
attention
of people -- that
Qurayshi people
of Qurayshi was honesty.
that was honesty.
They used
They used to
to call
call him Honest" (Al-
him "the Honest" (AI-
trusted him with their pro-
People trusted
Amin). People
confidence in his
owing to their confidence
perty owing
honesty and
honesty and trustworthiness.
trustworthiness.

Muhammad's silence
Muhammad's silence during the the meet-
meet-
ings of
ings of Quraysh, wisdom and
Quraysh, his wisdom and equa-
equa-
nimity
nimity when
when hehe talked, respect
talked, won their respect
and
and admiration;
admiration; so so they consulted him
they consulted
about
about their
their affairs
affairsandand were satisfiedwith
were satisfied
his
his counsel.
counsel. The
The mostmost famous event in
famous event
this
this regard
regard was
was the appeal of Quraysh
the appeal Quraysh
(i.e.
(i.e. Makkans)
Makkans) to to him for aa decision
him for con-
decisioncon-
cerning
ceming the theBlack
Black Stone. They had
Stone. They de-
had de-
cided
cided to to rebuild
rebuild the Holy Ka'aba
the Holy twice
Ka'aba twice
its
its former
former height
height because
becauseof of the
the ruin of
ruin of
some
some parts
parts of
of it.
it. They
They worked together.
worked together.
But
But they
theydiffered
differedabout the Black
about the Stone;
Black Stone;
47
47
 for each
for eachtribe
tribe competed
competedwithwith the
theothers
othersto to
enjoy alone
enjoy alonethehonourof
the honour of putting
putting itit back
back
in its
in its place.
place.They
They almost
almostfought
fought with
with each
each
o*rer, but
other, but at lastagreed
at last agreedto to take
takethe
thecounsel
counsel
of the
of the first
first man
man toto come
come to to them.
them.That
That
first man
first man waswasthetheHONEST
HONEST (Le., (i.e., Muham-
Muham-
mad),who
mad), who tooktook off hishis mantle
mantle spread
spreadit
on the
on ground, put
the ground, put the
the Black
Black Stone
Stone on on
and asked
it and asked aa man man from each each tribe
tribe to
carry with him the
carry the mantle
mantle holding its its
edges.Thenhe
edges.Then he took
took the
the Stone
Stonein hishis hands
hands
and put it in its place.
and place. AUAll went away
away sat-
sat-
isfied
isfied with the the Honest's
Honest's decision.
decision.

In
In his wife Khadija's
Khadija's (May Allah be
pleased
pleased with her)
her) description of him,
description of
soothing
soothing his fears
fears on receiving
receiving the
the fint
first
revelation, she gave
revelation, she gave aa portrait
portrait of
of his
his man-
man-
ners
ners and their
their impression
impression on on people's
people's
minds.
minds. She
She said
said to
to him, 'Surely,
him, 'Surely, Allah
Allah
48
never will
never will discredit you! You
discredityou! You are
are kind
kind
to your relatives,
to your relatives,truthful, protecting or-
truthful, protecting or-
phans, generous
phans, generousto to the poor, hospitable
the poor, hospitable
and helpful
and helpful to
to the victims of
the victims of misfor-
misfor-
tune!'
tune!'

He was,
He was, during
during the
the hours
hours of silence,
silence,
much given
much given to meditation. He
to meditation. He spent
spent aa
month of retirement
month retirementevery year in Hira'
every year Hira'
cave on
cave on top
top of the
the Mountain
Mountain of Light
(in Arabic,
Arabic, Jabal-un-Nur),
Jabal-un-Nur), in worship
worship of
accordance with Abraham's
Allah in accordance Abraham's
monotheistic
monotheistic religion,
religion. away
away from the
the dis-
dis-
tortions addedthrough
tortions added through prevailing
prevailing idola-
idola-
trous
trous ignorance.
ignorance.

Allah was
was preparing
preparing him for the
the serious
senous
task -- for the
task the Message
Message addressed
addressed to the
the
whole
whole humanity.
humanity. The
The Messenger
Messenger of Allah,
Allah,
Muhammad (PBUH)
Muhammad (PB UH) told the
the truth
truth when
when
49
he said: "My
he said: "My Lord
Lord has
has disciplined me in
disciplined me m
the best refined
ttre refmed manner".
manner".

Muhammad's character
Prophet Muhammad's
The Prophet character is
greatest character
the greatest throughout human
character throughout human
unmatched by any other charac-
history, unmatched charac-
amongst great
ter, not only amongst
ter, men, but
great men,
also amongst
also prophets. If
amongst prophets. If we are are to
judge by the standardsof human
the standards great-
human great--
ness,
ness,let us
us consider
considerthe caseof aa political
the case
leader,
leader, dedicating
dedicating his political
his life to political
leadership.
leadership.He He found
found his his nation dispersed,
nation dispersed,
with nono common
common cause causeor link,[ink, and was
and was
able, means of his
able, by means his wise leadership
wise leadership
and
and impressive character,to
impressivecharacter, to unite
unite the di-
the di-
vided
vided nation
nation and
and found
found the which
the link which
firmly
firmly connected
conneetedits its various fac-
warringfac-
variouswarring
tions.
tions. He
He drew
drew for which
putpose which
for itit aa purpose
united
united itit and
and removed
removed its differences,
its differences,
Then
Then hehe raised
raised itit to
to aa lofty, respectable
lofty, respectable
50
50
position among
position among other
other nations.
nations. Shouldn't
Shouldn't
we call
we 'great
him aa 'great man',
call him man', though
thoughhe
he was
was
devotedmerely
devoted merelytoto such
suchaa task?
task?

What if this
What this was
was only
only one
one aspect
aspect
amongstmany
amongst many others
othersenjoyed
enjoyed by thethe great
great
prophet'scharacter?How
prophet's character?How if he
he has
hasexcelled
excelled
every other
every other specialist poliricizur,though
specialistpolitician, though
the latter was
the latter was devoted
devotedto
to such
suchaa task?
taskI

Suppose there
Suppose there were were aa social
social reformer
reformer
found injustice
who found injustice and and corruption
corruption pre-
pre-
dominant; therefore,
dominant; therefore, he he took
took it upon
upon him-
self to
self establishsocial
to establish social justice
justice and
and elimi-
elimi-
nate perversion
nate perversion and arrd decay
decay fromtrom society.
society.
He realized
realized baiance
balance between
between thethe individual
individual
and
and society,
society, iretween
between tire the ruier
ruler and
and the
the
ruled,
ruled, and
and caused
caused the the rich to sympathize
sympathize
the poor,
with the poor, so so that
that tlie
the whole
whole cofiunu-
commu-
nity lived asas ifif itit were
were oneone large
large family.
5511
Isn't such
Isn't such a man
man really
really GREAT?
GREAT?

How ifif this waswas one

one Part of Mu-
part of
hammad's character?
hammad's he, in this
character? How ifif he,
regard, surpassed
regard, surpassed those specialized in
those specialized
this field?
this field?

Suppose there were

Suppose there moral reformer
were a moral reformer
who found
found moral
moral corruption prevalentin
corruption prevalent
his
his society
societyand
and devoted
devotedhimself the im-
himself to the
provement
provementof social
socialmanners. Through his
manners.Through his
patience
patience andand struggle was able
he was
strugglehe able to lay
to lay
down
down an an ethic (moral code)
ethic (moral ruled
that ruled
code) that
their
their conduct,
conduct, so so that
that lying, drinking,
lying, drinking,
adultery
adultery andand gambling disappeared;an
gambling disappeared; an
owner
owner felt
felt his
his property was secure
property was even
secureeven
if
if he
he was
was aa weakling,
weakling, an olPhan or
an orphan or aa
woman;
woman; and and conscience
conscienceruled human re-
ruled human re-
lations.
lations.Won't
Won't wewe agree
agreethat
that such man
such aa man
was
wastruly
truly aagreat
greatone?
one?
52
52
 then, if
How, then, if that
that was
was only
only one
one side
sideof
the outstanding
the outstanding character
character of the Prophet,
the Prophet,
and his influence
and his influence was greater than
was greater than that
that of
any reformer in history
any reformer history who
who was
was devoted
devoted
to his career?
to his career?

SuppoSe,too,
Suppose, too, there
there were
were an
an educator
educator
who devoted
who devoted himself to to education
education and and
was
was able
able to bring
bring up generationof ex-
up aa generation ex-
traordinary people, everyone
traordinary people, everyone of whom whom
was leader in his
was aa leader his domain
domain of activity
activity
and an example
and an example of goodgood conduct
conduct andand
personality, as
towering personality,
towering as firm asas aa moun-
moun-
tain and
tain and of noble
noble character.
character.Dosen't
Dosen't such
such
man deserve
aa man deserve to be be called greateduca-
calledaa great educa-
tor? How, then,
tor? then, if
if this
this was
was only
only one
one
several aspects
of several aspects of thethe Prophet,
Prophet, who
who
excelled in this
excelled respecteven
this respect even the greatest
the greatest
educatorsin history,
of educators history, especially
especiallywith the
the
generationhe
generation had educated
he had introduce
educatedto introduce
53
53
summit leaders
leadersin every
every field of life?

Suppose
Suppose there were aa military com-
there were com-
mander,
mander,whowho devoted himseH to
devoted himself to his
his ca-
ca-
reer
reer and
and brought
brought up an army of heroes
an army heroes
- soldiers
soldiers and
and commanding officers -- ac-
commanding officers ac-
customed
customed to endurance
enduranceof inconvenience,
inconvenience,
steadfastness
steadfastness in adversity
adversity and
and daring
daring
despite danger. He
despite danger. He led them
them in battles
battles
and
and won. They obeyed obeyed his
his orders
orders and
and
instructions
instructions andand raced places of dan-
raced to places dan-
ger seeking
ger seeking martyrdom.
martyrdom. Shouldn't
Shouldn't he
he bebe
described
ciescribedas great commander?
as aa great commander?

If such
If such aa commander
commander had had trained
trained his
soldiers
soldiers not only to acquire
acquire individual
manners,
manners,but also
also to fight in the causeof
the cause
ideals
ideals and
and values,
values, would it suffice suffice to
describe him only as
describe great leader?
as aa great leader?

54
54
 How then,
How then, if the graciousProphet
the gracious Prophet had
had
exceededin this
exceeded respectevery
this respect every other
other mi-
litary commander
litary commanderthroughout
throughout human
humanhis-
his-
tory, and
tory, andthis
this was
wasonly
only one aspectof the
oneaspect the
various aspects
various aspectsof his greatchartacter?
his great chartacter?

Supposeaa man
Suppose gavehimself
man gave himself upup to
to wor-
wor-
ship. His spirit
ship. His washighly
spirit was· pure, and
highly pure, and his
his
heartalways
heart rememberedAllah, whether
always remembered whether
in his· prayer or work,
his prayer private or in
work, in private
public. So
public. So he was friendly
he was friendly toto other peo-
other peo-
ple, sincere
ple, sincerein hishis work,
work, and
and ruled
ruledcom-
com-
pletely by fear
pletely fear of Allah
Allah and
and observance
observance
His orders..
of His orders.. Suppose
Supposesuchsuchaa man were
man were
able to
able to collect number of worshippers
collect a number worshippers
of Allah and bring
Allah and them up
bring them up to develop
develop
a strong relationship with
strong relationship with the
the Almighty.
Almighty.
They
They would remember Him (Allah)
would remember (Allah) in
all circumstances and
all circumstances and would be influenced
would be influenced
by faith
faith in all their
their deeds,
deeds, thoughts
thoughts and
and
5
555
feelings.
feelings. Their love and
and fear
fear of Allah were
of AUah were
stronger than all earthly pleasures
stronger than pleasures andand
temptations. Should
temptations. Should we not say he was
say he was
great soul
a great soul in himself and
and a great teach-
great teach-
er to his
his companions?
companions?.

This and
and others
others were parts of the
were parts gra-
the gra-
cious
cious Messenger's
Messenger'scharacter
character in which hehe
was
was superior
superior to those
thosepersons
personsdevoted
devotedto,
to,
and
and specialized
specialized in them.
them. What are
are we to
call the
the man
man who combines gra-
combines in his gra-
cious
cious person
personall those personalities,each
thosepersonalities, each
of which would be make
be sufficient to make
him great?
great ?

The
The greatness
greatnessof Muhammad (Peaceand
Muhammad (Peace and
blessing
blessingof Allah be be upon
upon him) does
does not
not
lie
lie only
only in the
the combination
combinationof those
thosesever-
sever-
al
al personalities
personalitiesin his
his own person;in fact,
own person; fact,
he
he enjoyed
enjoyedaa superior
superiordegree
degreeof greatness --
ofgreauress
56
56
 that is,
that is,those
thoseaspects
aspectsdid
did not
not divert
divert him
him
from each
from eachother.
other.Political
Politicalactivity
activiry did
did not
not
distract him
distract him from
from military,
military, social,
social,moral,
moral,
educational or
educational or spiritual
spiritual tasks.
tasks. Even
Even allall
thosedid
those did not
not distract
distracthim
him from
from his
his family,
family,
sohe
so he was
was aa perfect
perfecthusband
husbandand and father.
father.

If we
If we compare
comparethethe character prophet
characterof Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) with
Muhammad that of the
wirh that the
other prophets we
otherprophets we will grasphis
will grasp his superiori-
superiori-
ty to them.
them. All
All the grearqualities
the great qualitiesenjoyed
enjoyed
by them
them separately
separatelywere infusedin his
were all infused his
great
great personality
personality par excellence.
excellence. Noah
Noah
was
was known for his endurance
endurance of of his folk's
folk's
obstinancy; Abraham (Ibraheem,
obstinancy; Abraham (Ibraheem, in Ara-
bic) for his clemency;
clemency; Moses
Moses for his wise
wise
leadership
leadership ofof the sons
sons of of Israel;
Israel; Jesus
Jesus
Christ for
for his
his spiritual
spiritual aspect
aspect against
against the
the
prevailing
prevailing materialism.
materialism. ButBut Muhammad's
Muhammad's
character
character embodied
embodied allall those
those characteris-
characteris-
57
 tics and
tics and his
his influence was much
influence was greater in
much grcater in
every one
every one ofof those He was
aspects. He
those aspects. was the
the
final of prophets
final of prophets and message was
his message
and his was the
the
epitome and the crowning
epitome crowning ofof prophet-
prophet-
hood.
hood.

In the
In the Glorious
Glorious Qur'an, Allah tells us:
Qur'an, Altatl us:

'This day
"This day have perfected your religion
have I perfected reli.gion
for you
you and
and completed favour unto
completed my favour unto
you,
you, and
and have chosenfor you
have chosen you as relig-
as relig-
ion
ion AI-Islam". (Qur'an,5:3)
Al-Islam".(Qur'an, 5:3)

So
Sothe
the message
message Islamconfinns
of Islam belief
confirmsbelief
in all
in all previous prophetsand
prcvious prophets revelations.
and revelations.
Jews disbelieved in
Jews disbelieved in Jesus
JesusChrist and
Clrist and
Muhammad.
Muhammad. Christians disbelieved in
Christians disbelieved in
Muhammed
Muha.nmedand believedin
andbelieved Christ,
JesusChrist,
in Jesus
not
not as
as aamessenger
messengerbut but as godor
as aa god son
orson
of Allah. ItIt isis the
of Allah. the Muslims who
alonewho
Muslims alone
58
 believe in
believe in all
all prophets
prophers fromfrom Adam
Adam
through Noah
through Noah til!
ril! Muhammad
Muhammad (Peace
(peace
and blessing
and blessingof
of Allah
Allah bebeupon
uponthem
themall).
all).
BothJewish
Both Jewish and
andChristian
Christiannations
nationsare
areun-
rm-
fit to
fit to rule
rule humanity,
humanity, for
for they
they cannot
cannot get
get
rid of
rid of hatred
hatredand prejudice.
andprejudice.

Only the
Only theMuslim
Muslim nation
narion isis well
well quali-
quali-
fied for
fied for the
the leadership
leadershipof mankind (it led
mankind (it led
mankind once
mankind once for
for several
severalcenturies)
centuries) be-
be-
causeit is
cause is the
the only
only nation
nationthat
that rules
ruleswith-
with-
out any
out any hatred
hatredowing
owing to to the
rheDivine
Divineguid-
guid-
ance
ance that
that made
made it fit for leadership,
leadership, espe-
espe-
cially
cially itsits belief
belief in previous
previous prophets
prophets of
Allah
Allah without
without discnmination
discrimination or malice
malice
whatsoever.
whatsoever. Mrtreovcr,
Moreover, lhe the message
message of of
Islarn
Islam is is addressed
addressed to to the
the whole
whole mankind.
mankind.

Allah (SWT)
Allah (SWT) addresses
addresses Muhamrnad:
Muhammad:

5599
 'We sent
"'We sent thee
thee not save as
not save mercy for
as aa mercy for
the peoples". (Qur'an,
the peoples". (Qur'an, 2l:l07)
21:107)

to the
According to Prophet Muhammad
the ProPhet Muhammad
(Peace and blessing
(Peace of Allah
blessing of Allah be upon him)'
him),
"Every prophet before me was was sent
sent to
have been
people, but II have
his own people, sent to
been sent
of mankind".
the whole of

It is also an all -- embracing

also an message.
embracing message.
Earlier messages
messageswere certain
were limited to certain
aspects
aspects of human
human life, and were limited
and were
spaceas
in space as well. All
All of them
them included the
included the
major questionof divinity (i.e.
major question belief in
(i.e. belief
the 'Onenessof God' offering Him
the 'Oneness of God' andand offering
pure
pure worship).
worship). they
theyalso
alsoincluded instruc-
includedinstruc-
tions
tions and
and rules
rules that
that suited
suitedthe conditions
theconditions
and circumstancesof
and circumstances of each
each nation and
nation and
aimed
aimedat atthe bettermentof
thebetterment morals and
of morals the
and the
eliminationof
elimination of corruption.
cormPtion.
60
60
 The
The stage
stagehad
had come
come when
when thethe human
human
mind was mature enough
was mature enough to accept accept aa
world religion
religion which would last last on
on earth
earth
till the Day of Judgement;
till the Judgement; such such aa world
message
messagemustmust embrace,
ernbrace,too,
too, all human
humanre- re-
quirements in all fields
quirements fields of life, which is is
true
true of the
the Message
Messageof Islam.Islam. For it in-
cludes,
cludes, like other
other messages,
messages, the the major
major
question of Divinity which
question which is is essential
essential
the integrity of human
for the human life, and and also
also
canons
canons and laws ruling
and laws ruling all aspects
aspectsof
life:
life: economic, political, social,
economic,political, social, intellec-
intellec-
tual,
tual, spiritual,
spiritual, ethical,
ethical,etc.
etc. But it nevernever
opposes
opposesscientific progress.In fact,
scientificprogress. fact, it was
was
ISLAM
ISLAM that that moved
moved Muslims
Muslims to to set
setout aa
great scienific
great scienific movement,
movement, the the most
most im-
portant effect
portant effect of which
which waswas thethe experi-
experi-
mental
mental method
method of scientific
scientific research
research
which Europe
Europelearned
learned from
from thethe Muslims
Muslims
in Andalusea,
Andalusea, North
North i\frica,
Africa, Sicily and and
61
6l
South
South Italy, and
and upon
upon which
which our present
present
scientific
scientific renaissance
renaissance has
has been
beenbased.
based.

62
62
 HOLY SCRIPTURES
HOLY SCRIPTURES
(The Books
(The Books of Allah)

Allah,
AUah, Glory be provided every
be to Him, provided every
one of His
one FIis prophets
prophets with books
books which
He revealed
revealed to them.
them. Those
Those books
books or
scriptures
scriptures contained
contained the
the tenets
tenets and
and fun-
damentals
damentals of religion as as well asas the
the in-
structions
stnrctions andand commandments
commandments of Allah
conveyed
conveyed to various
various nations
nations through
through His
Messengers.
Messengers.The The holy books
books were meant
were meant
to be records
to be religion so
records of religion so that
that the
the var-
var-
ious people and
ious people nations of the
and nations the world might
refer to them
them to know thethe ordinances
ordinancesandand
laws
laws revealed
rcvealed by Allah
Ailah and
and comply with
them.
them.

On the
the one hand, W~
one hand, *'€ are
are required
requiredtotc be-
be-
lieve in allievealed
all :evealedbooks
iimks at
at large.
iarge. On the
the
other,
other,we
we ale
sie required
requiredto believe
believein certain
certain
63
books
books which Allah
AUah told us
us He had
had re-
re-
vealed,
vealed, namely:
namely:

1.
1. The
The Qur'an,
Qur'an, revealed
revealedto
to Muhammad;
Muhammad;
2. The Gospel,
2.1\e Gospel, " 'r Jesus;
II Jesus;
II

3. The Psalms,
3.ThePsalms, " II " David;
David;
II

4.
4. The
The Torah, " II " Moses;
IIMoses;
5. The Tablets
5. The Tabletsof Ibrahim, (i.e.,
lbrahim, (i.e.,
Abraham) and
Abraham) and Moses peace
Moses (May peace
and
and blessing
blessing of Allah bebe upon
upon
them).
them).

Although
Although books
books revealed
revealed toto .prophets
prophets
before
before Muhammad
Muhammad (the (the last
last Messenger
Messenger
were just temporary
of Allah) were temporary revela-
revela-
tions
tions each
each addressed particulartribe
addressedto aa particular tribe
or nation, yet it is
nation, yet is incumbent
incumbentuponupon Mus-
Mus-
lims to believe
believe in them general, and
them in general, and
in the
the Qur'an
Qur'anon
on detailed
detailedbasis particu-
basisin particu-
lar.
lar. The
The Qur'an
Qur'an is
is the
the [mal
final and
and compre-
compre-
&
64
 hensiveScripture.
hensive Scripture.It
It is
is the
the only
only book
book of
AUafrwhich
Allah whichhas
hasremained
remainedfree free from
from dis-
dis-
tortionand
tortion andchange,
change,and andhashasbeen
beentransmit-
transmit-
tedto
ted to us
us whole
wholein
in the
the most
most reliable
reliableways
ways
andin
and in its
its original
original text -
text aa feature
featurenot
not en-
en-
joyedby
joyed by any
anyof the
theearlier
earlierbooks
booksof revela-
revela-
tion.
tion.

65
65
 THE GLORIOUS
GLORIOUS QUR'AN

miracles brought
The miracles brought by earlier Prophets
Prophets
had been
had transient, so
been transient, so to say, and for that
say, and
reason, rapidly
very reason, forgotten, while that
rapidly forgotten, that
. of
of the verses (of the
the verses the Qur'an) may be called
Qur'an) may called
"The Permanent
"The Miracle". Its activity has
Permanent Miracle". has
Everywhere and
unceasing. Everywherc
been unceasing.
been and at all
hours, each
hours, believer, by reciting
each believer, the ver-
reciting the
ses,
ses, helped
helpedto realize
redize the miracle, and
the miracle, and in
this
this can
canbe
be found
found thethe explanation many
explanationof many
conversions,
conversions,incomprehensible
incomprehensibleto the Eu-
the Eu-
ropean
ropeanwhowho unfortunately knows little or
unfortunately knows
nothing
nothingof thethe Qur'an.
Qur'an. He may also
He may judge
alsojudge
it on
on the
thebasis
basisof inaccuracies
inaccuraciesfed to him
fed to
through
throughanti-Islamic
anti-Islamicmedia. wonder-
The wonder-
media.The
charm of this
ful chann this Book, resemblingno
Book, resembling no
other
other masterpiece
masterpieceof of the literature of
the literature
mankind,
mankind,need need not not be exPlainedto
be explained us,
to us,
Muslims,
Muslims, because
becausewe we consider that itit
considerthat
66
emanates
emanates fromthe
from thewords
words of
of Allah
Allah Him-
Him-
self,sent
self, sent down
down through
through the mouth of
the mouth of
prophet.
Hisprophet.
His

In this
In connection,itit may
this connection, may be
be interesting
interesting
quote the
to quote
to opinion of Savary,
the opinion Savary, aa cele-
cele-
brated orientalist,
brated orientalist, who
who waswas the
the first to
translatethe
translate meaning of the
the meaning the Holy Qur'an
Qur'an
into French.
into French. He He says,
says, "Muhammad
"Muhammad was
was
leamed in the
learned the study
study of his
his language,
language, the
the
richest and
richest and the
the most
most harmonious
harmonious in the the
world, and
world, and which,
which, by the composition of
the composition
its verses,
its permits thoughts
verses, permits thoughts as they soar
as they soar
to be
to be correctly
correctly described....
described....Poets
Poets were
were
greatlylooked
greatly looked up to in Arabia.
Arabia.

Labid Ibn Rabyah,

Rabyah, anan illustrious
illustrious poet,
poet,
nailed
nailed one
one of
of his poems
poems on the the door ofof
the
the Temple
Temple of Makkah (Al
of Makkah (AI Kabah). His
reputation
reputation and
and the
the value of his work kept
value of kept
67
 competitors away.
all competitors away. None came forward
None came forward
to compete prize.... The second
compete for the pize.... second
chapter of
chapter of the Qu/an
Qur'an was then placed
was then placed by
the side
the side of the poem.
of the poem. Irbid, although a
Labid~ although
worshipper of
wonhipper of graven images, was
graven images, was seized
seized
fit of
with a fit of admiration reading the
after reading
admiration after the
verses and
first verses and confessed himself van-
confessed himself van-
quished".
quished".

He
He became
becameaa convert
convertvery soonafter
very soon and
afterand
one
one day,
day, his
his admirers
admirersbeing desirous of
being desirous
gathering
gathering together
together his
his complete works,
complete works,
'I haveno
questioned
questionedhim him of this subject.'I have no
this subject.
recollection
recollectionof any poetry,' he
my poetry,'
any of my re-
he re-
plied, 'for
plied,'for mymy entire
entire memory has been
memory has ab-
beenab-
sorbed
sorbedby by the
the verses
versesof the
theBook Reve-
Book of Reve-
lation'.
lation'.

As
As for
for the
theArab
Arabof
of Hijaz, comprehending
Hijaz,comprehending
the
the most
most subtle hints of
subtlehints thelanguage
of the of
languageof
68
the
the Qur'an
Qur'an - his own language
language- and
and who
welcomed
welcomed the the Surahs
Surahs asas they
they came
came out
the lips of his fellow -- countryman:
from the countryman:
the genial, inspired
the genial, inspired Messenger
Messenger of Allah
AUah
(PBUH), thatthat listener
listener was
was overwhelmed
overwhelmed
by such
such sudden
sudden surprise
surprise that
that hehe re-
re-
mained
mained as as if
if petrified. Could this
this super-
super-
natural
natural language
languagecomecome from Muhamnlad
Muhamnrad
(PBUH), known to be be completely
completely illite-
rate
rate and
and possessing
possessingno no other
other knowledge
knowledge
than
ttran that
that duedue to nature
nature and
and intuition?
intuition?
This seemed perfectly impossible.
seemed perfectly impossible. TheThe
Arab was
was therefore
therefore forced
forced to admit
admit that
that
Muhammad's
Muhammad's words words were
were dictated
dictated by
the
the Almighty.

Utbah
Utbah Ibn Rabiyah,
Rabiyah, one
one of the noted
the noted
idolators
idolaton - known
known for hishis mastery
mastery of
Arabic - having
Arabic having heard
heardsome
someverses
versesof the
the
Qur'an
Qur'an from Muhammad,
Muhammad, said
said toto his
his
69
69
companions,
companions, "By our gods! I've
our gods! I've never
never
heard anythinglike it before.
heard anything It is neither
before. It neither
poetry,
poetry, nor sorcery,nor
nor sorcery, nor magic".
magic".

Allah had challenged

AUah had idolators several
challengedidolators several
times
timesto imitatethe
to imitate the Qur'an
Qur'anor compose ten
composeten
Surahs evenaa Surah
Surahsor even resemblingHis:
Surahresembling His:

"If thou
"If thou art doubt about
art in doubt what We
about what We
have
have revealed unto Our
revealedunto servant, then
Our servant, then
bnng
bring one
one Surah devising,
thy devising,
Surah like it of thy
and
and call
call to
to thy aid thy
thy aid witnessesbeside
thy witnesses beside
AUah, if
Allah, ye are
if ye men of truth".
are men (Qur'an,
truth". (Qur'an,
2:23)
2:23)

Eloquent men
Eloquent men of letters, Arab and
letters, Arab and
others,
others,could
couldnot standup
not stand up to
to the challenge
thechallenge
for fourteencenturies.
for fourteen centuries.

Besides
Besidesthe literarymiracle,
theliterary thereis
miracle,there is the
the
70
70
legislative
legislative miracle
miracle which becomes
becomes clear
clear
after reviewing man-made
man-made laws laws during
during
the
the thirty past centuries-- that
past centuries that is,
is, since
since
the existenceof historical records
the existence records which
can
can be
be referred
referred to up till
till the
the present.
present.

We taketake for example

example the
the contemporary
contemporary
laws
laws which are claimed to be
are claimed be the
the most
most ma-
ma-
ture human history owing to the
nrre in human the tre-
tre-
mendous
mendous development
development in human
human know-
ledge,
ledge,andand scientific
scientific and
and material
materialprogress.
progress.
Both blocs,
blocs, Eastern
Eastern and
and Western,
Western, deny
deny
man's
man's complete submission to Allah's
complete submission Allah's
Law.
Law. So So legislation
legislationin the
the Capitalist
CapitalistWest
West
is for the
the sake
sakeof capitalism
capitalismatat the
the expense
expense
of the
the working class,
class, and
and in the
the Commu-
Commu-
nist East in the
nist East the interest
interestof the
the ruling
ruling pow-
er at
at the
the expense
expense of thethe people,
people, which
means
meansthatthat justice
justice is
is missing
missingin both
both laws.
laws.
In the
the Western
Westem bloc,
bloc, constitutions
constifutions are are
7r
71
interested mostly
interested mostly in the political aspect
the political aspect
of the people'slife;
the people's life; in the
the Communist
Communist
bloc
bloc in the
the economic aspect.
economic aspect.

Both neglected
Both neglectedcompletely
completelythethe spirit-
spirir
ual,
ual, ethical
ethical and
and family codes.
codes. Western
Westem
laws consider
laws consider thethe individual
individual so
so holy that
that
they
they cause
cause the
the community
community to disintegrate
disintegrate
morally
morally and
and socially,
socially,whereas
whereasthethe commu-
comrnu-
nist
nist constitution
constitution sanctifies
sanctifies the
the communi-
communi-
fact, the
ty (in fact, the State)
State) in such
such aa way
way as
as
to crush
crushthe
the individual's
individual'scharacter.
character.

The constitutions
The constitutions of both
both blocs
blocs dodo not
not
lay down
down firm international
intemational laws;
laws; they
they
are
are changed according to
changed according to political cir-
cumstances.
cumstances.Besides,
Besides,the
the moral
moral element
element
is
is either
either missing
missing or very
very weak
weak in most
most
of those
those constitutions;
constitutions; the interestsof the
the interests the
ruling
ruling class
classare
are always
alwaysdominant.
dominant.
72
72
 In contrast,
In contrast, the
the miracle
miracle of
of the
the Qur'anic
Qur'anic
Legislation is
I-egislation is easily obvious. At
easily obvious. the very
At the very
beginning, the
beginning, the Qur'an
Qur'an decides that Allah
decides that Allah
alone is
alone is entitled
entitled to
to legislate. This proves
legislate. This proves
the justice legislation because
of this legislation
justice of because
Allah has
AUah interest in wronging people
has no interest people
or partiality to oneone class against another.
class against another.
Allah is also
Allah Well-- Aware of
also Well of the welfare
creatures, who would be
of His creatures, ruled by
be ruled
His Law on the basis of equality.
the basis equalitY.

The
The Qur'anic
Qur'anic Law comprehends
comPrehends all
fields of human
fields human life with the the same de-
same de-
greeof importance.
gree importance.TheThe Qur'an
Qur'anhas never
hasnever
neglected
neglectedany aspectsof life,
any aspects has it
nor has
life, nor
allowed
allowedone one aspect
aspectto
to outbalance others.
outbalanceothers.
The
The phenomenon
phenomenon of of comprehensiveness
comprehensiveness
and balanceisis one
andbalance oneof
of the
themost outstanding
mostoutstanding
featuresof
features of Islam
Islam and
and Islamic Legislation
Islamic Legislation
in
in all
all domains.There
domains.There isisaacomplete balance
completebalance
73
73
between
between the
the individual
individual and
and society,
society, for·
for
both
both have
haverights
rights and
andduties
dutiesand
andneither
neitherhas
has
aa sacred
sacred existence
existenceat at the expense of the
the expense the
other. Allah is
other. is the
the Lord of all,
all, and
and all are
are
equalin His
equal His service.
service.

The Islamic
The Islamic Law includes
includesfixed interna-
interna-
tional codes
tional codes in peace
peaceand
and war.
war. The
The moral
element is
element is an
an essential
essentialpart
part of the
the law,
law,
whether in politics,
whether politics, economics,
economics, society,
society,
organization,or individual
family organization, individual relations
relations
and transactions.
and transactions.

exampleof the
An example the Islamic
Islamic application
application of
of
is that
law is that relating
relating to the
the prohibition
prohibition of
of li-
li-
quors. All 'civilized'
quors. All 'civilized' countries
countries couldn't
couldn't
stop liquor addiction.
stop addiction. But the the Islamic
Islamic com-
com-
community
community is the the only one
one in which liquor
drinking
drinking has
has lessened
lessened to the
the lowest
lowest degree,
degree,
because
because the the Islamic
Islamic Law is basedbased on
74
74
belief, while non-Islamic
beliel non-Islamic I-aws
Laws are
are based
based
on power.
power.

aspect of
Another aspect Qur'anic miracle is
of the Qur'anic
the scientific one.
the one. The Qur'an
Qur'an spoke
spoke about
about
universal and
universal and scientific facts
facts unknown to
Arabs or any
Arabs any other nation at the time of of
its
its revelation.
revelation. It is only lately that
that science
science
has
hasdiscovered
discoveredsome
someof those
thosefacts.
facts.

This proves
proves unmistakably
unmistakably that Allah is
the
the Revealer
Revealer of the
the Qur'an
Qur'an andand nono manman
could
couldever
evercompose
composeit.
it. In fact, the Qur'an
fact, the Qur'an
is
is not
not aa book
book for teaching chemistry,
teaching chemistry,
geometry
geometryor medicine;
medicine; rather
rather it is Book
is aa Book
of
of Guidance.
Guidance.Yet pointsto
Yet it points Laws of
theLaws
to the
Creation
Creation and
and facts
facts of
of science. Allah, the
science.Allah, the
Creator
Creatorofof man
man and
and everything,
everythittg, hashas told
told
that
that He
He would
would uncover
uncover toto men, especial-
men, especial-
ly
ly learned
learnedmen
men and
and scientists,
scientists,the clear
the clear
75
75
signs in the
signs in the Qur'an
Qur'an inin order
order that
that they
they
may prove the
may prove the truthfulness
truthfulnessof the
the Mes-
Mes-
sageof
sage of Islam.
Islam.

" Soon will We

"Soon We showshow them
them Our
Signsin the
Signs (furthest)regions
the (furthest) regions(of the
the
earth)
earth)andand in their
their own souls,
souls,until it
becomes manifest to
becomes manifest to them
them that
that this
this
is the
is the truth.
truth . Is
Is it not
not enough
enoughthat
that thy
doth witness
Lord doth witnessall things"?
things"?
( Q u r a n ,41:53)
(Quran, 41:53)

1) "We made
1) made from water
water every
every
living thing'. (Qur'an, 21
thing'. (Qur'an, :30)
2l:30)

Water is
Water is essential
essential for life.No
life.No other
other liquid
suitable for biological
is suitable biological interactions.
interactions. It
It
has been proved
has been proved by some
some researchers
researchers that
some
some bacteria can live without air.
bacteria can air, but not
without water.
water.
76
76
 cattle (too) will
2) "And verily in cattle will ye
ye
fmd an
find an instnrctive sign. From
instructive sign. From
what bodies, bet-
what is within their bodies, bet-
ween excretions
ween excretions and blood We
and blood
produce, drink, milk,
produce, for your drink, milk.,
pure and
pure and agreeable those who
agreeable to those
drink it." ( Qur'an,
drink Qur'an, 16:66)
16:66)

After thethe recent developmentof anato-

recent development anato-
my
my andand magnifying instmments,biolo-
magnifying instruments, biolo-
gists
gists studied
studiedmilk.
milk fonnation
formation and found
and found
that
that digestive
digestiveenzymes
enzymeschange into
food into
changefood
excretions
excrctionsthat throughthe
thatflow through in-
small in-
the small
testines,
testines,wherewhereblood vesselabsorb
blood vessel dis-
absorb dis-
solved
solved alimentary
alimentary substance which is
substance which is
carried
carriedby by blood
bloodtoto the glands that
lactic glands
the lactic that
absorb
absort lactic matter from
lactic matter Thus
blood. Thus
from blood.
milk
milk isis fonned
formed from excretions
betweenexcretions
from between
and
and blood
blood as as mentioned
mentionedin in the
the Qur'anic
Qur'anic
verse.
verse.
77
77
 3) The
3) The Qur'an points to
Qur'anpoints to the
the stage
stageofof
embryonic development
embryonic developmentin in the
the
womb:
womb:

"Man We
"Man We did
did create
createfrom
from aa quintes-
quintes-
sence(of clay)
sence clay)
Then We
Then placed him as
We placed as(a(a drop
drop of)
sperm in aa place
sperm placeof rest,
rest,firmly fixed
fixed
Then We made
Then made the
the sperm
sperminto aa clot
congealedblood;
of congealed blood; then
then of that
that clot
clot
(foetus) lump;
made (foetus)
We made lump; then
then WeWe
made out
made out of thethe lump bones
bones and
and
clothedthe
clothed the bones
bones with flesh;
flesh; then
then
We developed
developedout
out of it another
anothercrea-
crea-
ture.
ture. So blessed be
So blessed Allah, the
be Allah, the Best
Best
to create"! (Qur'an,
to create"! (Qur'an, 23:12-l
23:12-1

Foetal
Foetal science
science and
and anatmoy
anatmoy have
have disco-
disco-
vered
vered those
those states of creation
states of creation onlv
only in the
the
present
present age.
age.
7788
 4) "Those whom Allah
Allah (in
(in His
His Plan)
plan)
willeth to guide,
willeth guide, He He oPeneth
openeth
breast to Islam whom He
their breast He
willeth to leave
willeth straying, -- He
leave straYing,
maketh their breast
maketh close and
breast close and
as ifif they had to
constricted as
constricted
the skies."
climb up to the skies."
(Qur'an, 6: 125)
(Qur'an,6:125)

After man
man was
was able
able to fly and up in
and go uP
the
the upper
upper layers
layers of atmospheric
atrnosphericair, he dis-
air, he
covered
coveredthatthat the
the higher
higher hehe went
went up, the
up, the
less
less oxygen
oxygen and and atmospheric pressure
atmospheric pressure
there
there would
would be, be, which
which would causeaa
would cause
great
greatdifficulty
difficulty in breathing
breathing and constric-
and constric-
tion in the
tion in the bosom.
bosom. That is what
That is what the Verse
the Verse
has
hasstated
statedthirteen
thirteen centuries
centuries before the
before the
flight of
flight of man.
man.

5) "Or (the
5) "Or (the unbeliever's is
state) IS
unbelievers state)
79
79
 like the
like thedepths
depthsof
of darkness
darknessinin aa
vast deep
vast deepocean,
ocean,overwhelmed
overwhelmed
with billow
with billow topped
toppedbyby billow,
billow,
toppedby
topped (dark)clouds;
by (dark) clouds; depths
depths
of darkness,
of darkness, one
oneabove
aboveanother."
another."
(Quran,24:40)
(Quran, 24:40)

Before AD 1900,
Before people had
1900, people had known
known
only one
only kind of waves
onekind waves seen
seenon
on the
the sea's
sea's
surface.Scandinavian
surface. Scandinaviansailors
sailors came
camelater
later
to discover
to discoveraa fact
fact hidden
hidden in thethe ocean's
ocean's
depths where
depths where there
there is another
anotherkind of
waves which
waves which tosses
tossesdivers
divers as
as the
the upper
upper
wavesthat
waves thattoss
tossswimmers.
swimmers.Allah revealed
revealed
this fact
this fact unto
unto the
the illiterate
illiterate Prophet
Prophet Mu-
hammad(peace
hammad (peaceandand blessing
blessing of Allah be
be
upon
upon him) who who had
had never
never seen
seen the
the sea
sea in
his
his life, about
about fourteen
fourteen centuries
centuries ago.
ago.

6) "Does
"Does man
man think that
that We can-
can-
80
80
 not assemble
not assemblehis hisbones?
bones?Nay,
Nay,
Weare
We arcable
able to put together
to put togetherin
in
perfectorder
perfect order the the very
very tips
tipsof
of
hisfmgers
his tt
fingers". • (Qur'an,75:3-4)
(Qur'an, 75:34)

Whichis
Which is more
morc difficult:
difficulu the
the re-creation
re-crcation
of bones
of bonesor finger-tips?Both
or fmger-tips? Both may
may look
look
the same
the sameatat the
thefirst
first look.
look. But
But the
thefact
fact is
is
that no
that no man's
man's fmger-tips
finger+ips areare similar
similar to
those of anohter.
those anohter. So finger-prints have
So fmger-prints have
been used
been usedto
to recognize
recognizecharacter.
character.Only in
this age
this age has
has science
sciencediscovered
discoveredthethe true
true
meaningof the
meaning the indication
indication in these
these verses.
verses.

881l
 THE HEREAFTER
THE HEREAFTER
---------------
---------------

Belief in the Hereafter

Belief belief in
Hereafter is belief in the
the
Unseen, which is known onlY
Unseen, only to thethe
Omnipotent, Omniscient
Omnipotent, Creator. Allah
Omniscient Creator. Allah
(Exalted
(Exaltedbe He!) says:
says:

"Did ye
ye then that We had
then think that had
created you in jest, and
created and that Yeye
would not bebe brought back to us
broughtback us
(for account)?" (Qur'an,23:115)
account)?"CQur'an, 23:ll5)

"Not without
"Not purpose did
without purpose We
did We
create
create heaven
heaven andand earth all
and all
earth and
between!
between!ThatThat were
were the thought
the thought
of
of the
the unbelievers!
unbelievers! But woe to
But woe to
the
the unbelievers becauseof
unbelieversbecause the
of the
Fire (of Hell)!
Fire(of Hell)!
"ShallWe
"Shall We treat
treat those whobelieve
thosewho believe
82
82
 andwork
and work deeds
deedsof
of righteousness,
righteousness,
thesame
the same as
as those
those who
who do
do mis-
mis-
chief on
chief on earth?
earth? Shall
Shall We
We treat
treat
thosewho
those who guard
guardagainst
againstevil,
evil, the
the
sameas
same asthose
thosewho
who tum side
sidefrom
the right?"
the (Qur'an,38:27
right?" (Qur'an, 38:27 28)
28)

"Shall We
"Shall We then
then treat
treat the people
the people
faith like the
of faith peopleof sin?
the people sin?
What is
What is the
the matter
matter with you?
you?
judge ye?
How judge ye?" (Qur'an,68:
(Qur'an, 68:
3s-36)
35-36)

fact, life would

In fact, would bebe absurd
absurd if
if there
there
were no
were no Day of Judgement
Judgement on which all
the dead
the dead will
will be
be resunected and ques-
resurrected and ques-
tioned
tioned about
about their deeds
deeds in this
this earttrly
earthly
life.
life.

This can
can be easily
easily realized
realized by every-
every-
83
83
body without
body without need
need for material
material evidence.
evidence.
this world there
In this there arc
are many examples in
many examples
divine justice
which divine
which justice is not fulfilled and and
we naturally
we naturally come
come to the conclusion that
the conclusion that
there should
there should be some world or life other
be some other
than this
than this transient
transient one which all un-
one in which un-
settled issues and
settledissues deeds of injustice
and deeds injustice are
are
brought forward in the
brought forward the Divine Court of
Divine Court
justice,
justice, and the righteous
and the righteous and the wicked
and the wicked
receive their just deserts.
receive their Such a
deserts. Such a Day
Day
of Judgement
Judgementis is extremely necessary, for
extremelynecessary,
we
we see see many
many cruel wicked people
cruel or wicked PeoPle
who
who are devotedto
aredevoted sins and
to sins wrongdoing,
and wrongdoing,
and
and yet yet they lead aa happy
they lead comfortable
happy comfortable
life without getting their
withoutgetting their due punishment.
due punishment.
On
On the the other hand,there
other hand, aremany
thereare right-
manyright-
eous people who
eous people who lead miserablelife
lead aa miserable
during whichthey
during which theysuffer oppression,
from oppression,
sufferfrom
humiliation, povertyor
humiliation,poverty homelessness
or homelessness and
and
at
at last without being
die without
last die requited.Is
being requited. Is all
84
84
this
this consistent
consistentwith
with Divine
Divine Justice?
Justice? Not
in
in the
the least.
least. Then
Then there must be
theremust be such
such an
an
inevitable day
inevitable day devoted
devoted to
to aa lasting
lastingsettle-
settle-
mentof
ment of all
all accounts.
accounts.

But many peopleare

many people areblinded
blinded to
to this
this fact
fact
owing to
owing to various
various factors
factors such
suchas
as whims,
whims,
covetousness,
covetousness, lack of belief and
lack and deviation
deviation
from truth.
from truth.

Thus, everything
Thus, everything wewe do in this
do III this world,
every intention we
every intention we have,
have, every move
every move
we make,
we make, every
every thought
thought wewe entertain,
entertain,
and every
and every word
word we
we say,
say, all are
are counted
counted
and kept in accurate
and kept accuraterecords.
records. On thethe Day
Judgement, they
of Judgement, they will
will be
be brought
brought up.
up.
People with good
People good records
records will
will be
be gene-
gene-
rously
rously rewarded
rewarded and
and warmly welcomed
welcomed to
the Heaven
the Heaven ofof Allah, where there is etemal
where there eternal
and perfect
and perfect bliss,
bliss, and those with bad
and those
8
855
 will be punished
records will
records punished and cast into
and cast into
Hell.That is, in a word,
Hell.That the Day
word, the of Judge-
Day of Judge-
ment and
ment and final settlement of all accounts.
settlement of accounts.

86
86
 DryINE DESTINY
DIVINE DESTINY
(QADAA AND
(QADAA AND QADAR)
QADAR)

Almighty Allah's
Almighty Allah's knowledge
knowledgeis is limitless
limitless
andHis
and powerto
His power planand
to plan andtoto execute
executeHis His
plans is
plans is infmite.
infinite. He
He is
is also
alsothe
theCreator
Creatorof
manand
man and his
his deeds.
deeds.This
This does
doesnotnot inin any
any
waymake
way makemanmanfatalist
fatalistor
or helpless.
helpless.He He has
has
endowedus
endowed us with
with the powerof mind
thepower mind in or-
or-
der that
der we may
that we may have
have the
the freedom
freedomand and
ability to
ability to think, plan and
think, plan andchoose
chooseourour own
own
way of life.
way life. But
But ourour limited
limited sphere
sphereof
knowledge
knowledge and and power
power makes
makes us us fail to
to un-
un-
derstand
derstand fully or discover
discover Allah's
Allah's wisdom
wisdom
and justice
and justice in what
what HeHe creates
creates or does.
does. So So
we
we should accept in good
should accept good faith
faith and
and sat-
sat-
isfaction
isfaction all that
that Allah does,
does, as
as our
our know-
know-
ledge
ledge is limited and and our thinking
thinking is based
based
on individual
individual or personal
personal considerations,
considerations,
whereas
whereas He is Omniscient,
Omniscient, All-Seeing,
All-Seeing,
87
87
 Almighty -- His
All-Wise, Almighty
All-Wise, knowledge and
His knowledge and
Justice are
Justice are not limited or
not limited encompassed by
or encompassed by
the nalTow
the horizon or
narrow horizon or sphere of man's
sphere of man's
knowledge. Allatr's
knowledge. timeless knowledge
Allah's timeless knowledge
anticipates events, and
anticipates events, events take
those events
and those take
according to the
place according
place exact knowledge
the exact knowledge
of Allatr, without forcing
Allah, without take any
man to take
forcing man any
course of action,
course good or evil'
whether good
action, whether evil.

So
Soman bears responsibility
manbears responsibilityin so sofar as
far as
he
he enjoys
enjoys the
the freedom
freedom to andbe-
think and
to think be-
have.
have. Destiny, in so
Destiny, in far as
so far concerns
as it concerns
man's
man'sbehaviour,
behaviour,does
doesnot not bear
bear any hint
any hint
of coercion.
coercion.InIn its
its Islamic import, it de-
Islamicimport, de-
notes
notes the happeningof
thehappening according
things according
of things
to
to Allah's
Allah'sexact,
exact, infallible knowledge.
infallibleknowledge.

88
88
 ANGELS OF ALLAH
ALLAH

An essential
essentialarticle
article of Muslim's
Muslim's faith
faith
is belief in the
is the angels
angels of ALLAH.
ALLAH.

We cancan know about about the

the angels
angels andand
someof their attributes
some attributesfrom the
the Glorious
Glorious
Qur'an
Qur'an and
and the
the Prophet
Prophet Muhammad's
Muhammad'stra- tra-
ditions as
ditions as these
thesetraditions
traditions are
are reliable,
reliable, in-
fallible authorities
authoritieson on the
the articles
articles of faith
general, and
in general, and those
those relating
relating to the
the un-
un-
seen particular. For,
seen in particular. For, as
as it has
has been
been
proved in the
proved presentage
the present ageof scientific
scientificdis-
dis-
coveries, many unseen
coveries, many unseen facts
facts of science
science
were unknown
which were unknown in the past are
the past are now
well established
establishedtruths
truths after
after man
man has
hasac-
ac-
quired some
quired some means
meansandand instruments
instruments that
that
enable
enable him to learnleam about
about and
and discover
discover
many already unbelievable
many already facts of the
unbelievable facts the
unIverse; but all that
universe; that man
man so
so far knows
knows is IS

89
89
 than a drop of
more than
no more compared to
of water compared
the oceans
the of the
oceans of the ur*nown.
unknown.

So, as
So, as in every science or field of
every science
knowledge, we
knowledge, those specialized
tum to those
we turn specialized
authorities, here
well-informed authorities,
or to well-informed here too,
too,
we refer
we refer to the Prophet (May peace
the Prophet peace and
and
blessing of Allah be
blessing upon him) in mat-
be upon mat-
ters of religion
ters religion as he has
as he conveyed to
has conveyed
humankind
humankind the the revelations instmc-
and instruc-
revelationsand
tions of ALLAH, the
tions the Creator every-
Crcator of every-
thing
thing and
and the best to
the best know, with no
to know, no li-
mits to
mits to His
His knowledge
knowledgeand power as
and power He
as He
is
is the
the Absolute,
Absolute,Almighty, All-Knowing
Almighty, All-Knowing
and
andAll-Seeing
All-SeeingCreator.
Creator.

Accordingto
According to HADITH, i.e.,sayings
HADITII, Le., sayingsof
the
the Prophet (May peace
Prophet (May peaceand blessings
and blessings
of
of Allah
Aliah be
be upon him), ANGELS
upon him), ANGELSwere were
originally
originally created light, as
from light,
createdfrom Adam
as Adam
90
was
was originally
originally created
createdfromfrom clay.
clay. They
They
are purcly spiritual
are purely spiritualcreatures
creatureswho who never
never
eat,
eat, drink
drink oror sleep;
sleep;their
their major
major activity
activity
isis to
to serve
serveALLAH, obey obey HisHis orders
ordersand
and
glorify Him
glorify Him all thetime.
all the time.They
Theyarear€nume-
nume-
rousand
rous andeach
each of themthem isis charged
chargedwith
with aa
certain task.
certain task. Gabriel,
Gabriel, forfor example,
example,con-con-
veyed the
veyed the revelation
revelationof ALLAH unto unto
Prophets. Some
Prophets. Some of themthem observe
observeman's
man's
deeds and
deeds preserve aa comprehensive
and preserve comprehensive
record of them.
record them. On On the
the Day
Day of Judge-
Judge-
ment they
ment they will bring
bring forth
forttr aa full report
reporton
on
man's good
man's good or bad deeds
or bad deedsfor which which hehe
will be be rewarded
rewardedor punished.
punished. There
There are
are
other duties
other duties of angels
angelsindicated
indicated in the the
Qur'an.
Qur'an.

The creation
The creation of those
those great
great extraor-
extraor-
dinary creatures
dinary creatures testifies
testifies to the
the infinite
infinite
inimitable
inimitable power
power of ALLAH. They They also
also
991l
stand as
stand as a good example
example of of highlY
highly
righteous and industrious
righteous selVants of
industrious servants of
ALLAH to be imitated by man.
ALLAH At last,
man. At
belief in
belief in the angels ALLAH would
of ALLAH
angels of
enlarge man's
enlarge man's horizons
horizons of knowledge and
of knowledge and
make him never feel lonely in the vast
make vast
universe as he leams
universe as abounds with
learns that it abounds with
kind and
and friendly spirits come down
that come
spirits that
unto good believers
believers with composure
composure andand
comfort.

The closeof our words

The close words will
will be: "Praise
be: "Praise
be
be to Allah,
AUah,The Cherisher
Cherisherand Sustainer
and Sustainer
of the
the Worlds".
Worlds".

92
92
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