muslim gate

TABLE OF CONTENTS
* The Historical Test
* A Prophet From Thy Brethren
* Divine Light From Paran
* The Earth Was Full Of His Praise
* The Prince of Peace
* Conclusion

The world today looks for rational and historical evidence to prove the truth of a person who claims to be from God. These criteria fully support the truth of our Holy Prophet Muhammad.

Rational Test

Rational thinking indicates that the world was in dire need of revelation, of water from the fountain of spiritual guidance, at the time when the Holy Prophet appeared. He led an ideal life, a perfect example to be followed throughout the future. He started his mission against immense difficulties. He and his followers met strong persecution and opposition. But he was protected and helped by God in miraculous ways. Before his death his mission was firmly established all over Arabia and was rapidly spreading to other countries.

He worked miracles. He foretold the future, and his prophecies were fulfilled not only in his lifetime but continue to be fulfilled in our time as well. He brought a teaching which has attracted countless adherents since he appeared. In short, all rational tests prove that the mission of the Holy Prophet Muhammad was truly from God.

The Historical Test

There is also another test, the historical one, which our present day world requires of a messenger of God. A notable American Bishop of the Catholic Church wrote in a nationally famous magazine that the test of history available to all men, all civilizations and all ages can be applied only to Jesus, because:

There were no predictions about Buddha, Muhammad, or anyone else -except Christ. Others just came and said: “Here I am, believe me”. Christ alone steps out of the line and answers: My coming was foretold, even to the smallest detail.

This statement is quite challenging and requires attention. We Muslims believe that Jesus was a true prophet of God. We also accept his advent as having been foretold in the previous scriptures.

But what about Muhammad?

We find that his coming was foretold in clear and precise terms not only by Jesus himself but by Moses and other Biblical prophets as well. In fact it seems from whatever words of Jesus are available to the world, that the bringing of glad tidings of a great coming prophet was one of the chief objects of his mission.

Again and again Jesus said that he was sent to the world only to give as much guidance as the people of his own time could bear. As for complete teaching which would stay forever with mankind, he said:

But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14-26)

Only the prophet of Islam could have fulfilled this prophecy of Jesus. Muhammad was truly sent in his name because he bore testimony to his truth. The Holy Quran says:

The Messiah, son of Mary, was a messenger, "surely messengers like unto him had passed away before him" (The Holy Quran 5:76)

The Holy Quran reports that the angels told Mary:

Surely Allah gives you good news with a word from Him of whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, worthy of regard in this world and hereafter. (The Holy Quran 3:46)

The Holy Prophet testified to the truth of Jesus as a divine and honored Teacher and Prophet, and declared them mistaken and misguided who thought him accursed. The Holy Quran described his teachings as "guidance and light ."Further elaborating the same prophecy, Jesus said:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will sent him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. ... I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. How be it when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak.. and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:7-14)

This prophecy clearly lays down that:

The Comforter will come after the departure of Jesus.
When the Comforter comes, he will reprove the world of sin, truth and justice.
He will guide the world into all truth.
The book revealed to him will contain no human word.
He will foretell things to come.
He will glorify Jesus and clear him of all charges.

Now when we take this prophecy point by point, it is unmistakably proven that it applies to none else but the Holy Prophet Muhammad. He came after Jesus. The Comforter was supposed to reprove the followers of Jesus. Obviously, he could not be a Christian or a Jew .The prophecy must relate to one who would belong to another people but should respect Jesus and promote reverence for him. The Holy Prophet was neither Jew nor a Christian. He was an Ishmaelite. But he defended the honor of Jesus. Thus says the Quran:

[The Jews] slew him not, nor crucified him, but he was made to appear to them like one crucified, and those who differ therein are certainly in a state of doubt about it: they have no definite knowledge thereof, but only follow a conjecture; and they did not convert this: conjecture into a certainty; on the contrary, Allah exalted him to Himself (The Holy Quran 4: 158)

Here the Holy Quran specifically says that Jesus was saved from that accursed death designed for him by his enemies. However, they only suspected that they had succeeded in crucifying him. But Allah had not only saved him but admitted him to the circle of His favored ones.

Of the promise, "He will show you things to come", we need only say that no prophet has told the world of things to come as much as has the prophet of Islam.

The prophecy said that "he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that he shall speak". This description can only apply to the Prophet Muhammad. The New and Old Testaments do not contain a single book in which man's word has not been mixed with God's. The Quran is nothing but the word of God from beginning to end. Not a word even of the Prophet is to be found in it.

When Peter appeared before the people of Jerusalem, his words were: "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you". John starts one of his conversations with "I, John, who am your brother". On the same lines we read the utterances of Philip, James and others in the Bible.

About the Holy Prophet, the Quran says:

He does not speak out of his own desire. It is naught but revelation that is revealed. (The Holy Quran 53:4-5)

The prophecy had said: "He will guide you unto all truth". Again Muhammad was the only prophet who claimed to have brought a universal and perfect law. The Holy Quran says:

Today We have perfected your religion for you and completed Our favor upon you. (The Holy Quran 5:4)

How clearly has the prophecy been fulfilled in the person of the Prophet Muhammad in all of its details. Sometimes an unsuccessful attempt is made to dim the glory of this marvelous prophecy by claiming that this Comforter was the Holy Ghost who came after Jesus to his disciples. One wonders how this claim can be harmonized with the fact that the person foretold in the verses is described with the pronoun "he," which could not possibly refer to a spirit. Then, was not the Spirit of Truth supposed to come only after the departure of Jesus? Should it be then assumed that the Holy Ghost was not with Jesus ? Obviously no devoted Christian will accept this assumption. One can also inquire where that truth is which is not found in the New Testament but was later brought by the Holy Ghost.

A Prophet From Thy Brethren

The fact is that before Jesus, Moses had also foretold of a great prophet in clear and precise words. When Moses went to Mount Horeb under the command of God he addressed the Israelites saying:

The Lord thy God will raise unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me, unto him ye shall hearken. (Deuteronomy 18:15)

And again, God's words to Moses:

I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass that, whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. (Deuteronomy 18:18-19)

It is evident from these verses that Moses foretold a Law-giving Prophet who was to appear after him, and who was to be from among the brethren of Israel.That he was to be a Law-giver and not an ordinary Prophet is obvious from the words "like unto Moses", since Moses was also a Law-giver. The promulgation of "a new Law" means the initiation of a new movement, a new nation. A prophet with a new Law is obviously no ordinary teacher or reformer. He has to present a comprehensive teaching, incorporating fundamental principles as well as detailed rules.

Was Jesus such a prophet? Was he a Law-giver? Did he bring a new Law into the world to replace an old one? The answer, in his own words:

Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto You, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17-18)

And the followers of Jesus went so far as to declare:

And the Law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law. (Galatians 3:12-13)

Jesus laid no claim to a new Law; his disciples regarded the Law as a curse. It was the Holy Quran which announced from the very outset that:

This is the (complete and perfect) Book, there is nothing of doubt in it. It is a guidance for the righteous. (The Holy Quran 2:3)

The prophecy also said that the Promised One was to be raised not from among Israel but from their brethren. Muhammad was from the brethren of the Israelites, the Ishmaelites.

It also told that God would put his words in his mouth. The New Testament gospels do not consist of words which God put in Jesus's mouth. They only tell us his story and what he himself and his disciples said and did.

The Holy Quran, on the other hand, says:

Say,O Muhammad, I am a man like unto you: Only the word of God come unto me. (The Holy Quran 18: 111)

The prophecy spoke of "words which he shall speak in my name." Strange as it may seem, there is not a single example of words which Jesus may be said to have received from God with the command to pass them on. The Holy Quran, on the other hand, specifically claimed to be the word from God.

The words of the Lord had announced that the Promised One would be a prophet. Jesus, according to the Christian evangelists, did not claim to be a prophet. Matthew reports that he asked his disciples:

"Whom do men say that I the son of man ..?"
Peter replied that he was the Christ. the Son of the living God.
(Matthew 16:13-16)

Thus Jesus denied being either John the Baptist or Elias or one of the prophets. Muhammad was proclaimed as not only a prophet but also as "like unto Moses," when the Quran said:

Verily We have sent to you a Messenger, who is a witness over you, even as we sent a Messenger to Pharaoh. (The Holy Quran 73:16)

In short, one thousand nine hundred years before the advent of the prophet of Islam, Moses declared that his own Law was, in the divine scheme, not the last Law; that the world was to have a fuller Law later on; and that, for this God would send in the latter days another Messenger of His. This Messenger was to teach all truth; it was he who was to mark the last stage in the spiritual advance of man. The world had to wait for another book and another Prophet.

If, therefore, the Quran and the Holy Prophet have come after the Bible and after the Prophets Moses and Jesus, and if they claim to have come from God as guidance to man, their claim must be treated as just and true. It must be taken as the Fulfillment of ancient prophecies. The revelation of the Quran was not a gratuitous revelation, a redundance in the presence of other revelations. Indeed, if the Quran had not been revealed, promises made by God through His messengers would have gone unfulfilled, and the world would have become afflicted with doubt and disbelief.

Divine Light From Paran

The prophecies of the Bible had even led its followers to that part of the world where the great Prophet was to appear. Thus it was said:

And he said, the Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; and shined forth from Mount Paran and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. (Deuteronomy 33:2)

In this verse Moses is promised three manifestations of the glory of God. The first of these appeared on Sinai in the time of Moses. Time passed. The second manifestation promised in the prophecy was to take place at Seir, a part of the world near where the miracles of Jesus took place. "Rising up from Seir," therefore, meant the advent of Jesus.

The third manifestation of divine glory was to take its rise from Paran, and Paran (Arabic Faran) is the name of the hills which lie between Mecca, the birth place of Muhammad, and Medina, the town where he died. According to the Old Testament, Ishmael, the ancestor of Muhammad, lived in this part. Thus we have in the Bible:

And God was with the lad (Ishmael): and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran. (Genesis 21:20-21)

Historical and geographical evidence shows that the descendents of Abraham lived in Arabia. All of them held Mecca and Kaaba, the house of worship built by Abraham, in great reverence. His son Ishmael first settled in Mecca. Genesis gives the names of twelve sons of Ishmael including two named Tema and Kedar. (Genesis 25:13-16) This is further supported by the testimony of Isaiah where we read:

The burden of Arabia. In the forest of Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye traveling companies of Dedanim.The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they provided with their bread him that fled. For they fled from the swords, from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war. For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail: And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it. (Isaiah 21:13-16)

This prophetic passage is a picture of the Battle of Badr which took place about a year after the Holy Prophet's migration from Mecca to Medina. In this battle the sons of Kedar , the people of Mecca and the territories around, unable to withstand the fierceness of Muslim swordsmen and archers, sustained disastrous defeat. God made a handful of men, poorly armed and without provisions, the means of inflicting this humiliation on an army led by experienced generals.

The battles with the Meccans continued against heavy odds until such time that the Prophet Muhammad entered Mecca after a struggle of several years. This was the time when ten thousands of saints accompanied him. The Holy Prophet declared that the message of God had been completed in the form of the Holy Quran. Thus the prophecy of Moses was fulfilled that the Lord would shine forth from Paran with ten thousands of saints, with a fiery Law in his right hand. Thus also the prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled that the spirit of Truth "will guide you into all truth." His fiery Law, the Holy Quran, consumed all impurities of flesh and turned the grossest hearts into pure gold.

Could Jesus have fulfilled this wonderful prophecy? He did not rise from Paran. He had only twelve disciples and not ten thousand saints. Isaiah had spoken of one that fled; the flight of Muhammad is such an important part of Muslim history that the Islamic calendar starts from the very year of migration.

"The Earth Was Full Of His Praise"

This advent was also prophesied by Habakkuk several centuries before Jesus. Thus we have:

God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the ea11h was full of his praise. And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand5: and there was the hiding of his power. Before him went the pestilence, and the burning coals went fo11h at his feet. He stood and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, and the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; and the cu11ain of the land of Midian did tremble. (Habakkuk 3:3-7)

This again shows that the third manifestation mentioned earlier was going to be by one who would appear from the land of Tema and Mount Paran. The earth was going to be full of his praise. It is not a mere accident, then, that the Holy Prophet of Islam was named Muhammad, which literally means, the Praised One. Only a man with a name as beautiful as his personality and character could answer to the description of Habakkuk.The enemies of Muhammad suffered destruction, pestilence and humiliation of "burning coals" in encountering him in spite of overwhelmingly stronger and larger forces.

Moses died while he was still fighting his enemies. Jesus was put on the Cross. The prophet who beheld and drove the nations asunder, as mentioned by Habakkuk,could be, there- fore, none else but Muhammad. His enemies who looked like "everlasting mountains and perpetual hills" with their immense power were completely routed. Later "the tents of Cushan" and the "curtains of the land of Midian," that is, the land of Canaan then under the Roman Caesar, also found their salvation in surrendering to the servants of the Holy Prophet in the time of that Caesar's successors.

The Prince Of Peace

Lets us go on now to Isaiah. Here we find many passages about a coming prophet which can be true only of Muhammad. We are told of a time when a man will call the nations of the world who would swiftly answer his call and gather around him (Isaiah5:26-30). We are told that the followers of the Promised One will be obliged to take part in wars. We are told that the advent of this prophet will be at a time when even the light will be darkened by the sin and corruption of land and sea. Isaiahalso tells us that at the time God will turn away His face from the house of Jacob (Isaiah 8:13-17).

And then: For unto us a Child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6- 7)

The prophecy gives promise of a king who will have five titles:

Wonderful
Counsellor
The Mighty God
The Everlasting Father and
The Prince of Peace

Was Jesus ever a King? Were the names enumerated in this prophecy ever applied to him? Wonderful he might have been called, because of peculiar birth, but while his deniers regarded his birth as illegitimate, his supporters were in doubt about his ancestry. He gave no exhibition of the might that is mentioned in the above verse. Nor could he be called Everlasting Father, because he himself had mentioned another one coming after him. He neither became king nor could he ever bring peace to the world. He remained oppressed by his opponents until he was put on the Cross. He could not, therefore, be rightly called the Prince of Peace. He never attained to any government and, therefore, the words, "of his government there shall be no end," have no meaning in terms of his life. These signs mentioned in Isaiah apply only to the Prophet of Islam.

It was he who had to shoulder the responsibilities of a state, and thus, quite against his will, had to be called king.

Muhammad was Wonderful both in his name and achievements. Jesus, in his parable of the vineyard, speaks of the householder who let his vineyards to husbandmen. These wicked men not only beat, killed and stoned his other servants but also his son. The lord, says Jesus, will come himself, destroy these wicked husbandmen and render the vineyard to those who "shall render the fruits in their seasons." This will be so because:

The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the comer; and this is the Lord's doing, and it marvelous in our eyes. (Matthew 21:33-44)

This is the way in which the "Wonderful" one had to appear. When the son would be slain, then the other one would be sent who would prove to be the head of the corner. And he would seem "marvelous" in the eyes of Jesus and the whole world.

And about his wonderful achievements we may quote Thomas Carlyle. He writes:

To the Arab nation it was a birth from darkness into light; Arabia first become alive by means of it. A poor shepherd people ,roaming unnoticed in its deserts since the creation of the world, a hero-prophet was sent down to them with a word they could believe: see, the unnoticed becomes world-notable, the small has grown world-great,' within one century afterward, Arabia is at Grenada on this hand, Delhi on that, glancing in valor and splendor and the light of genius, Arabia shines through long ages over a section of the world. Belief is great, long-living, The history of a nation becomes fruitful, soul-elevating, great, so soon as it believes. These Arabs, the man Mahomet and that one century-is it not as if a spark had fallen, one spark, on a world of what seemed black, unnoticeable sand, but 10, the sand proves explosive powder, blazes heaven-high from Delhi to Grenada. I said ,the great man was always a lightning out of heaven; the rest of men waited for him like fuel and then they too would flame.
(Thomas Carlyle in Heroes And Hero-worship)

The second name of the Promised One is Counsellor. This again applied to the Holy Prophet. A nation turned to him for advice. He, in turn, held regular consultation with his people, and made it obligatory on the State to consult the people in all important matters. The Holy Quran tells us that his companions sought his consultation regularly.

The prophecy had also described him as mighty God. The Bible has often mentioned the prophets as God himself. (Exodus 7:1 and 4:16)

Whenever a human being is spoken of as a "like of God" it can only mean that he is a manifestation of the Almighty .The Holy Prophet, again, answers the description of the prophecy. There are several references relevant to this in the Holy Quran. At the Battle of Badr, the prophet took a handful of gravel and threw it at the enemy. This proved a signal for a dust storm which discomfited the enemy and contributed to his defeat. Of this, God says to the Holy Prophet:

And thou threwest not when thou didst throw, but it was God who threw. (The Holy Quran 8:18)

Again it says:

Verily those who swear allegiance to thee indeed swear allegiance to God. (The Holy Quran 48:11)

Thus came the manifestation of mighty God, The Holy Prophet, who was able to subjugate all his enemies in his lifetime and to smash all opposition.

The fourth name in the prophecy is Everlasting Father. Jesus was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel and, therefore, could not possibly have an everlasting character. On the other hand, the Holy Prophet was referred to in the Quran as "bringer together of all mankind". (The Holy Quran 34 :29). He was promised that his teaching would abide forever with the people because at the end of days, the Promised Messiah would appear from among his followers and would revive the teachings of Islam and prove conclusively that the spiritual dominion of the Prophet of Islam was everlasting and there would be no heavenly teachers then except from his followers.

The fifth name in the prophecy is Prince of Peace. Can Jesus be truly called such? He did not become a sovereign in his life. He did not ever gain power to administer forgiveness to his enemies, and therefore, there was not much occasion for him to perform what he preached. On the other hand, the very religion of Muhammad is called Islam, meaning peace. As for the performance of peace and forgiveness in Muhammad's life we have ample evidence.

Through thirteen long and weary years the prophet of Islam and his little band of devoted followers bore with calm dignity and patience the bitterest persecution at the hands of the Meccans. Starvation, flogging, scoffings, humiliations, degradations and outrages of every description were the order of the day. When the Prophet took refuge in Medina, even there he was not left in peace. Over a period of seven years of sustained and brutal persecution the Prophet of Islam appeared suddenly on the heights of Paran, at the head of ten thousand saints, with no battle fought and not a drop of blood shed, when any penalty inflicted upon these Meccans would have been light in comparison to their long record of misdeeds, the Prophet announced, gently and mercifully:

There shall be no retribution exacted from you, you shall all go free. (The Holy Quran 12:93)

Is it the same way that the Christians treated their enemies when they came to power? Who should then be called a true Prince of Peace, Jesus or Muhammad? Jesus could not afford peace to others. His followers were able to afford it, but they did not give it. The prophet of Islam had the power to punish his enemies but he chose to forgive. Muhammad, therefore, was the Prince of Peace of Isaiah's prophecy. It was he again who also attained government and thus could fulfill the last part of this prophecy saying, "Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end."

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many prophecies found in the Bible about the advent of that great prophet who was going to lead the world into all truth.

Muhammad was going to be, in the words of Solomon, "altogether lovely" which in Hebrew is expressed as Mahmaddim. (Song of Solomon 5: 10-16) He was the fulfillment of the "stone" of Daniel's dream. (Daniel 2:34-35) He was the coming of the lord of the vineyard himself as foretold by Jesus.

True, there are some prophecies about Jesus as well in the Old Testament but it is also a fact that there are many which cannot rightly be applied to him. These could be fulfilled in the person of the one who was coming with a Law and whose mission was to be not just to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" but to the whole world, one who was spoken of by Jesus as the Comforter and Spirit of Truth. The predictions about Muhammad in the Bible are clear and precise.

The door to the Kingdom of Heaven has been opened by the fulfillment of these prophecies. Blessed are those who accept the call of the Lord of Heaven and Earth to enter His Kingdom and receive His communion.

And our last observation is that all praise is due to God, the Sustainer of the Universe.

FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

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The foundation of Islam are five:

Bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
observance of Prayer,
paying Zakat,
fasting during Ramadhan,
and Pilgrimage to the house of Allah.

The Foundations of Islam

Q What are the fundamental principles of Islam?

A There are five principles of Islam:

Affirmation of the creed:

There is none worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle.

Observance of Salat (obligatory Prayers).
Paying of Zakat (poor rate).
Observance of Saum (Past) during Ramadhan.
Performance of Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca.

Q What is the first principle of Islam?

A The first principle of Islam is to declare that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle.

Prayer (Salat)

Q What is the second principle of Islam?

A The second principle of Islam is to offer the Obligatory Prayers.

Q How many Obligatory prayers are there in Islam?

A There are five obligatory prayers. These are called: Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha.

Q What are the timings of these prayers?

A Fajr or morning prayer is said an hour before sunrise.

Zuhr or noon prayer is said at the decline of the sun.

Asr or afternoon prayer is said two hours before sunset.

Maghrib or sunset prayer is said immediately after sunset.

Isha or evening prayer is offered affer dark.

The timings are approximate.

Q What do you mean by Nafl prayers?

A These are optional prayers which could be offered whenever one likes except at forbidden times which are as follows:

During the rising of the sun.

When the sun is at its zenith.

During the setting of the sun.

After Asr prayer till the Azan of Maghrib prayer and after Fajr prayer till after the rising of the sun.

Q What is the person who leads the prayer in congregation called?

A He is called Imam which literally means leader.

Q How many kinds of prayers are there in Islam?

A There are three kinds of prayers:

Farz. This has been enjoined by Allah.

Sunnat. These were offered in addition to the Farz prayer regularly by the Holy Prophet.

Nafl. These are optional prayers such as Tahajjud etc.

Q What benefits could we derive from offering Prayer regularly?

A The Holy Quran says that regular Prayer wards off evil and indecency. It is the best means of self purification. It brings us nearer to our Creator and makes us obedient to Him. Prayer brings peace of mind and removes worries from our minds. It makes us punctual and regular in life.

Zakat (Poor Rate)

Q What is Zakat (poor rate)?

A It is a cess paid in cash or kind by Muslims of means who posses for one complete year, money, gold, silver, or cattle beyond a minimum. The proceeds of Zakat are distributed among the poorer sections of the community.

Q What is the annual rate of Zakat on money, gold, and silver?

A The annual rate is two and a half percent

Saum-I-Ramadhan (Fasting)

Q What is a fast?

A Fast means abstention from food, and drink from dawn to sunset for the pleasure of God.

Q Should everybody observe the fast?

A Yes, except invalids, insane, infants or those on a journey. But those who do not observe the fast due to illness or incapacity of any sort or because of being on a journey should observe the fast on an equal number of other days. Those who cannot observe the fast at all should arrange to feed a poor and needy person during the period of the fast.

Q What is the month of obligatory fasting called?

A It is called the month of Ramadhan.

Q Should we fast during this month only?

A We can fast whenever we like during the year. The month of Ramadhan is the month of obligatory fasting.

Q What are the benefits of fasting?

A Pasting is good both for our physical as well as spiritual health. It promotes self discipline, physical, and moral strength. It reinforces the bonds of human sympathy. It is a great virtue to endure hunger and thirst for winning the pleasure of Allah.

Q What was the practice of the Holy Prophet in respect of voluntary fasts?

A The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) used to observe voluntary fast as follows:

Six in the beginning of the month of Shawwal (the lunar month after Ramadhan).
Three in the middle of every lunar month.
On the ninth of Zul-Hajj.
On the ninth or/and tenth of Muharram.

Q What is the congregational voluntary Prayer offered during the month of Ramadhan called?

A It is called Taraweeh. It consists of eight Raka'ats. It is offered immediately after the Isha prayers, but can also be offered in the latter part of the night.

Q What is Itikaf?

A One who can afford to spend the last ten days and nights of the month of Ramadhan in the mosque is called Mu'takif. To remain in the mosque for this period and to devote one's time wholly to the worship and remembrance of 'Allah is called Itikaf.

Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Q What is Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca.

A It is obligatory upon all Muslims who can afford the journey to perform Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life time.

Q What is Umra?

A Umra is a visit to Mecca at any time during the year in the state of Ihram to perform the Tawaf (circuits) of K'abah and the Saee (Running between the hillocks Safa & Marwa).

Q What are the ceremonies of Hajj?

A To be in the state of Ihram and to recite Talbiyyah. The stay at Arafat from the afternoon of 9th Zulhajj to sunset. To perform Tawaf(circuits) from 10th to the 12th Zulhajj. To offer sacrifice of an animal on 10th Zulhajj.

Q What is Ihram?

A The state of Ihram means to be clothed only in two seamless sheets. Hajj or Umra can only be performed in the state of Ihram.

Women are not required to be in Ihram.

Q What is Talbiyyah?

A The frequent repetition of the response:

Here am I, O Allah, here am I;
Here am I, Thou hast no associate, here am I;
All praise and bounty are Thine, and Thine the Kingdom;
Thou hast no associate.

Q What is Tawaf and how is it performed?

A Tawaf means performing seven circuits of the Ka'abah, starting from the position in which the Black Stone is on one's right. At the end of each circuit the Black Stone should be kissed, if possible, and if not, then symbolically.

Q What is the Ka'abah?

A The Ka'abah is the first place set up for the worship of God in the world in pre-historic times. It was restored by Prophets Ibrahim and Ismaeel (may Allah's peace be on them both) some four thousand years ago. Muslims all over the world face towards the Ka'abah when they offer their Prayers.

FIVE ARTICLES OF FAITH

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I believe in Allah, His Books, His Prophets and the Day of Resurrection.

Q What is Iman?

A Iman means belief or faith. One Who believes is, therefore, a Momin.

Q What are the main Articles of Faith (Iman) in Islam?

A The following are the main Articles of faith in Islam:-

To believe in the Oneness of Allah.

To believe in all His Angels.

To believe in all His Books.

To believe in all His Prophets.

To believe in the Day of Resurrection.

Allah

Q Who is the Creator of all the worlds?

A Allah created everything.

Q Tell me more about Allah.

A Allah is One and Almighty. He alone is worthy of worship. He has no partners. He begets not nor is He begotten. He is Eternal. He listens to our prayers and accepts them. He gives life and causes death. He created us in the best form. He has neither wife nor children. He is Perfect. He loves us all and shows mercy to us. He has knowledge of everything. He sends {is guidance to us through His Prophets. He is Master of the Day of Judgment. No sleep or slumber ever overtakes Him. He has neither beginning nor end. He is All-Knowing, All-Seeing Lnd Just.

Q What are His principal attributes?

A There are four principal attributes of His mentioned in Sura Fatihia, the first chapter of the Holy Quran, namely, Rabbul Aalameen, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, and Malik-i-yaumiddeen.

Q What are the meanings of these phrases?

A Rabbul Aalameen means 'Lord of all the worlds'. Ar-Rahman means 'the Gracious'. Ar-Rahim means 'the Merciful', and Malik-i-yaumiddeen means 'Master of the Day of Judgment'.

Q How can we establish relationship with Him?

A By obeying Him and praying constantly to Him.

Q Does Allah speak to people?

A Yes. He responds to our prayers. Those who obey Him and do good are favored with answer to their prayers.

Q In what language should one pray to Him?

A One can pray to Him in any language one likes. He knows all languages. He is the Creator of all lanugages.

Q Where is Allah?

A Allah is everywhere. He sees us at all times but we cannot see Him with our physical eyes.

The Angels of Allah

Q What are angels?

A Angels have been created by Allah. They are spiritual beings. They obey the commands of Allah. They are numerous in number and have been assigned various duties by Allah. They are also sent by Allah to help His prophets and their followers.

Q Name some of the most important Angels of Allah?

A There are four most important angels of Allah namely Jibraeel, Mikaeel, Israfeel and Izraeel.

Q Do we worship angels?

A No, not at all. We only worship Allah and none else whatsoever.

Q What is the name of the angel who brought Allah's revelation to the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be on him)?

A Hazrat Jibraeel.

The Books of Allah

Q 'What do you mean by Books of Allah'?

A Allah sends His guidance to mankind from time to time. This guidance is conveyed to mankind through Prophets of Allah. It contains laws for our day to day life. These laws and rules are called the Books of Allah. We must believe in all books of allah.

Q What are the well known books?

A The well known books are the following:-

The Holy Quran which is the last and perfect Book. It was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings Allah be on him). It took nearly 23 years to be revealed. It came in bits and small portions. The Torah was given to Prophet Musa (Moses) (peace be on him). The Psalms or Zaboor given to Prophet Daud (David) (peace be on him).

The New Testament or Injeel given to Prophet Isa (Jesus)(peace be on him). The Mus'haf was given to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (peace be on him).

Q What are the main features of the Holy Quran?

A The Holy Quran is a book of guidance for us all. Every word of the Quran is the word of Allah. The Quran has been preserved in its original form as promised by Allah in the in itself (15:10).

It was preserved by the Holy Prophet Muhammad and his companions (peace be on them all) by committing it memory. There have always been hundreds of people in ages who have learnt the whole of the Holy Quran by heart. This practice still continues. The Quran is in Arabic language. The style and language of the Quran are excellent. The Quran has been translated into many languages including English. It contains many prophecies about the future of mankind and also a complete code of conduct for us. Those who follow the Holy Quran become the most successful people in life. We should read and ponder over the meaning of the Quran more often so that we could achieve success in life. The Quran has 114 chapters and is also divided into 30 equal parts.

Q Will there be other Books after the Quran canceling some or all of its teachings?

A Not at all. Quran is the perfect and most complete Book. There is no need for mankind to look forward to anything else because the Quran gives guidance in all aspects of life. The Quran is a living Book and will remain so for ever.

Q What other Revealed Books exist today in their original forms?

A None. All other books have been changed partly by their followers and are not the original ones. Some of them have not even been preserved in their original languages, such as the New Testament. We only have belief in the fact that these books originally had contained the message of Allah but the present day version of these is open to criticism.

The Prophets of Allah

Q Who is a Prophet?

A In Arabic there are two words used for a Prophet. Rasul means 'one who is sent' or 'messenger', and Nabi means 'one who receives and conveys Divine Commands'. Both these words are used for a person who is chosen by Allah for the reformation and guidance of mankind.

Q Mention some of the qualities of a Prophet.

A The Prophets of Allah are chosen from among human beings. They set the best examples of moral and spiritual conduct. They lead mankind to Allah by conveying to them the Divine revelation and also by their own example of purity and righteousness. They are the most truthful of men. Their hearts are full of love of Allah and His creatures. All of them proclaim the Oneness of Allah and ask people to submit to Him completely.

Q Who is the chief of the Prophets?

A Muhammad (peace be on him) is the chief of the Prophets. He is Khatamun-Nabiyyeen i.e. the Seal of the Prophets. He brought perfect guidance for us from Allah. He came as a blessing for mankind. He is an excellent Exemplar. He showed mercy not only to human beings but also to animals.

Q Name some of the other Prophets of Allah.

A Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Nuh (Noah), Musa (Moses), Daud (David), Suleiman (Solomon), Isa (Jesus), Ahmad (May peace of Allah be on them all.)

Q When was the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) born and when did he die?

A He was born on 20th April, 570 A.D. at Mecca in Arabia, and died at the age of 63 at Medina. He is buried at Medina.

Q Tell me more about the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him).

A Muhammad (may peace beon him) was left an orphan, and was brought up by his grandfather Abdul Muttalib, and later, by his uncle Abu Talib. Abdullah is his father's name and Amina is the name of his mother. His mother died when he was only six years of age. Muhammad (peace be on him) was twenty five when he married Khadija, who was forty. She bore him several children. Muhammad (may peace be on him) used to retire for meditation to the cave of Hira which is a few miles from Mecca. At the age of forty he received revelation from Allah that he had been appointed a prophet whose duty it was to reform mankind. He started his divine mission but was opposed by all except a few. They even tortured him and killed some of his followers. They laughed at him and ridiculed him when he spoke to them about his sacred mission. Even his own relatives turned against him. He continued his work under these circumstances until such time as Allah ordered him and his followers to leave Mecca and migrate to Medina. The Meccans were so opposed to him that they would not even let him leave the town. He along with his dear friend and follower, Abu Bakr, decided to leave Mecca. One night they left Mecca in the dark and took refuge in a cave called Thaur for nearly three days. During this time the Meccans left no stone unturned to trace him but to no purpose. After three days he and Abu Bakr started on their journey to Medina. This is called the Hijra or the migration. He was welcomed warmly by the people of Medina. Soon after settling down in Median the news started coming in that the Meccans had started raising an army to attack Medina and to destroy Islam and its founder. The Prophet and his followers were worried when they heard this news but had full faith in Allah about their safety. The first battle that was fought by the Prophet and his ollowers is called the Battle of Badr as it was fought near a well of that name. The Prophet had 313 followers as against he Meccans who were more than 1,000 in number. They vere well equipped whereas the Prophet and his followers had not much weapons and food. The non-believers were defeated at the hands of the Muslims and were routed.

After this battle he had to fight several other battles in self defence till eventually he entered Mecca as a conqueror in 630 A.D. and the hostilities ceased for the time being. The Holy Prophet died at Medina at the age of 63 and was buried there. Muhammad (peace be on him) is an excellent exemplar for us all. Allah wanted to make him a model for us all so He made him pass through various stages of human life. He showed kindness to his wives, mercy to his enemies and laid down standards of equality for men to follow. He commanded armies and was an excellent General. He was obedient to his elders and kind to the young.

Q Has the advent of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) been mentioned in other scriptures?

A Yes. Prophet Moses (may peace be on him) told the Israelites that God had told him of the advent of the Holy Prophet in the following words:

I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (Deuteronomy 18:18)

This was a prophecy about the Holy Prophet made in about 1451 B.C. by the Prophet Moses.

Q Where can we read the events of the life of the Holy )rophet?

A In the Holy Quran where major events of his life have ~een mentioned by Allah Himself and from the Books of Hadith vhich consist of his sayings and doings. There are six major ~ooks of Hadith. These are Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi, Ibn Maja, qasaec, and Abu Daud.

The Day of Resurrection and Judgment

Q What do you know about the Day of Resurrection and Judgment?

A On the Day of Resurrection-we will be raised again by Allah and will be given a new life. He will then judge us according to our deeds on earth. Those who have been doing good deeds and have been obedient to Allah and His Prophets would be awarded the everlasting life of happiness and peace in Paradise or Heaven. Others who have been rebellious to Allah and His prophets and had spent their lives in evil would be punished in Hell.

Q How long will a person remain in Heaven or Hell?

A Paradise is ever lasting.

Hell is like a hospital where patients are kept for a limited time to be cured of their spiritual ailments. They would be transferred to Heaven after having been cured of their spiritual diseases. Hell is thus for a limited period of time.

Q What is sin?

A Any action done deliberately against the command of Allah is a sin.

Q Is man sinful by nature?

A No. Every child is born quite sinless in this world. It is only when he consciously and deliberately breaks the law of Allah that he can be called a sinner.

Q Do the Prophets of Allah commit sin?

A No. Never. They are all sinless. They are the most obedient of men to Allah. They are the best examples for mankind and as such they do not break the laws which they bring for mankind.

Q How do we know what is good and what is evil?

A By reading the Holy Quran and the Hadith (traditions) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him).

Q Could you give a list of some of the deeds that are good.

A Yes. In the Holy Quran, Allah commands us to be regular in our daily prayers, show obedience to our parents and elders, tell the truth, extend hospitality to guests, love our Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), and his Companions and pray for them, ask others to do good and refrain from loose talk and from wasting our time in useless pursuits.

Q Can you name some of the deeds that are major sins?

A The following are major sins:

To believe in anyone as partner of Allah.

To show disrespect to parents.

To steal.

To bear false witness.

To backbite.

To abuse anybody.

To be dishonest.

To break one's promise.

To commit adultery or fornication

1.ISLAM

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ISLAM

Q What does the word 'Islam' mean?

A Islam is an Arabic word which literally means obedience and peace. So 'Islam' would mean the path of those who are obedient to Allah and who establish peace with Him and His creatures.

Q What is a follower of the religion of Islam called?

A He is called a Muslim.

Q Who gave the name of Islam to our religion?

A Allah gave the name of Islam to our religion.

Q Can you quote the verse of the Holy Quran where the name of Islam has been given to our religion.

A Yes. In chapter 5 verse 4, Allah named our religion as Islam.

Q What are the main qualities of Islam?

A Islam is a perfect religion. Its teachings are simple and can easily be practised by everyone. It gives reason for each of its commandments and teachings. The Holy Quran, which is the religious scripture of the Muslims, is the word of Allah. This book is exactly the same as it was revealed to the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Allah has promised to safeguard it.

THE BELIEF IN THE UNITY OF GOD

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This seems to be a rather simple and elementary concept. It should not be difficult for anybody to understand the oneness of God, and there the matter seems to rest. But in fact there is far more to this than meets the eye. When one examines the concept of Unity in depth, the entire world of religion seems to revolve around this pivotal point. This belief influences man's life in all its aspects. It also implies the negation of all else but God. So belief in the oneness of God is not the end-all of belief, but all other beliefs spring from this fountain-head of eternal truth. This also delivers a message of liberation from all other yokes and releases man from all obligations except such as are born out of his submission to God.

This article has been further elucidated from different angles, both in the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Holy Prophet of Islam. For instance, the declaration 'La houl wala quat illa Billah' (There is no all-encompassing power except Allah) opens up new windows for a deeper and wider understanding of Unity. It negates all fears other than the fear of God. The second part of the same brings to the focus of attention another very important aspect of Unity. i.e. that the power to achieve good is solely dependent on God, and that He is Master of all sources of strength and energy. Hence while the first part relates to the negative aspects of power, the second part relates to the positive.

In application to human actions, intentions and motivations etc., these two forces are all-encompassing. Man's intentions and his subsequent actions are always guided and controlled either by fear or hope, and there is no exception to this rule. Those who do good deeds do so out of fear and hope, and those who indulge in vices are motivated by the same. The fears of non-believers belong to the negative ungodly category, and they shape their lives in accordance with these worldly fears. Sometimes they are afraid of earning the displeasure of monarchs and authorities, sometimes they are afraid of society in general or of despots and bullies. Again, sometimes they act evilly out of a fear of poverty and loss etc. So, in a world full of vices, a large part of human actions can be explained with reference to these fears.

The belief in Unity dispels these fears altogether and brings to one's mind the importance of the fear of God, which means that one must not be afraid of the displeasure of the ungodly, but should always endeavour to avoid displeasing God, and shape one's life according to that fear alone. In the positive sense, the same applies to all human motivations and consequent actions. Man always lives by some motive to please someone, himself being no exception. In fact, more often than not, he works to please himself even at the cost of those who are otherwise dear to him.

A more exaggerated form of this attitude renders man a worshipper of his own ego. To achieve his purpose, man has to please those on whom his pleasures depend. As such, again he has to constantly strive to win the favours of monarchs, authorities etc. What we are describing is the worst form of slavery. The hopes and fears of a slave are completely dependent on the whims. pleasures and displeasures of his master. But a godless man has not one master alone. Every other human being in relation to his personal interests can play as God to him. If you analyse the ultimate cause of social, moral or political evils, it is such human worship which destroys the peace of man's mind, and society as a whole begins to deteriorate endlessly.

From this point of view, when you cast another glance at the fundamental declaration, that 'there is no God but Allah, the One and Only', all these fears and hopes relating to objects other than God are dispelled, as if by the waving of a magic wand. In other words, by choosing one master alone, you are liberated from slavery to all others. To be a slave of such others as are themselves slaves to numberless gods is a poor bargain indeed. But that is not all. The gods that such people worship are many a time products of their own imagination, which can do them neither good nor harm. Most men, on the other hand, worship nothing but mortals like themselves, their own egos being supreme among them all. Hence each of them bows to numberless egotistic gods, their interests being at clash with each other, creating a situation which is the ultimate of chaos.

The Islamic concept of Unity also inculcates in man the realisation of the oneness of the human species, and does away with all such barriers as divide man into racial, ethnic and colour denominations. This gives birth to the universal concept of equality in Islam, which is its distinctive feature. Hence from the vantage point of God, all human beings, wherever and in whichever age they were born, stand equal in His sight. As will be demonstrated shortly, it is this fundamental which gives rise to all other fundamental beliefs and doctrines in Islam. As briefly mentioned before, Islam's doctrine of Unity is absolute and unsplittable; it has no room for adding to the Godhead in any form. He has neither a father nor a mother, nor has He a spouse. For Him to give birth to sons and daughters is inconceivable.

Another important aspect of Unity of God as presented by the Quran relates to absolute harmony in His creation. It is this harmony concept which appealed so strongly to Einstein. He was compelled to pay tribute to the perfect symmetry in nature, which according to him required the oneness of creator. He was a scientist, and his perception of that harmony was limited to the material universe. But the Holy Quran speaks of the harmony in creation in all its possible applications. The Holy Quran claims that within nature, as created by God, and within the divine books revealed by God, there is no disharmony; that there is complete concurrence between one area of God's creation and another, and between one book and the other.

It goes further to declare that there is perfect consistency between the Word of God and the Act of God, and that there can be no contradiction between nature and the divine word as revealed to His prophets. This subject is beautifully expressed in the first five verses of Surah Al-Mulk, and is also taken up in many other verses of the Quran from various angles.

Coming to individuals, the belief in Unity plays a very important role in the education and upbringing of humans. It requires a consistency between man's views and actions, a consistency between his relationship with God and his fellow beings, thus binding creation in a single chain of unbreakable unity. This can be better understood by bringing to focus the practices of some so-called religious people, who preach hatred for one section of human society against another in the name of the one and only God. The principle of Unity of God is at variance with this practice, and as such does not permit people to create divisions between God and His creation and within the creation of God.

The Holy Quran

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The Holy Quran Click Here

What Is Isalm?

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Islam, a name given by Allah to this religion (Quran 5:4), is an Arabic word which literally means obedience and peace. ISLAM is derived from the Arabic root "SALEMA": peace, purity, submission and obedience. So 'Islam' would mean the path of those who are obedient to Allah and who establish peace with Him and His creatures. Its follower are called Muslims.

Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance which Allah revealed to all prophets before Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Allah says in the Qur’ân:

"Say, `We believe in ALLAH and that which has been revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and in that which was given to Moses and Jesus and other Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and to HIM we submit." (Qur’ân 3-85)

Introduction

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We as a community in Islam are not built on the same pattern as the commonly perceived image of Islam on the reflecting mirror of the so-called fundamentalists. Today, therefore, I will endeavour to present Islam to you not with reference to the Muslim behaviour in different countries, but with reference only to the basic teachings of Islam found in the Divine book, the Holy Quran, and the conduct and traditions of the Holy Founder of Islam.

Islam means 'peace'. Therein lies the soul and spirit of Islam. It is ironical that this religion of peace is understood today in the West as the religion of war, terrorism, chaos and disorder -- while in reality Islam is not only peace in name, but peace pervades all its teachings, and works as the key to its understanding. If translated literally, the second meaning of the word Islam is 'submission'. So the words 'peace' and 'submission' create a complete picture of Islam. While peace is in relation to the Muslim's attitude to his fellow human beings and also in relation to the deep content he finds in Islam, the word submission describes the attitude of the Muslim to God. So, in one single word, the entire philosophy of this religion is summed up. It is interesting to note that according to Islam, every true religion must have these two requisite features to indicate its divine origin. All religions, according to Islam, endeavoured to bring man back to his creator on the one hand, and to establish an ideal relationship with his fellow human beings on the other.

Islam has five fundamental articles of faith, which must be professed by everyone who desires to become a Muslim. Although Islam is already divided into many sects -- like all other religions -- on this issue there are no two opinions. By whatever title the sects are recognised, be they Sunnis or Shi'ites, all believe in these five fundamental articles.

The first of these is to firmly believe in the absolute oneness of God. It is a Unity which is unsplittable and indivisible, and one which cannot be multiplied or compromised in any form. The second article relates to the belief in angels. Although there are varying opinions among Muslims about the concept of angels, nonetheless all Muslims believe in the existence of angels.

The third article relates to belief in the books. The books in religious terms refer to such divine scriptures as contain a new teachings and bring a new religious law. They are mentioned after the angels because most often revelation is transmitted to man through the agency of angels, who play a central role in carrying the divine message to the messengers. Angels have many other tasks to perform, but of that we will discuss later.

The fourth article relates to the messengers or prophets, who sometimes bring a new code of life and a new law for a specific people in a specific age, and who sometimes are sent only for the purpose of reform. The fifth and last article of faith relates to the Day of Judgement. It also implies that every human being will be raised after death in some form, and will be held answerable to God with regards to the life he had led here on earth.

These are the five fundamentals of Islam. However, according to some there is a sixth constituent of Muslim belief included in the fundamentals by the Holy Founder of Islam, and that is belief in divine decree. Let us now turn to a more detailed study of these articles one by one.