Karima Burns, Ex-Christian, USA
The next day, when the tour attendant asked which language I wanted my tour book in, I answered, “Arabic.”
“Arabic?” she said, surprised. “Do you speak Arabic?”
“No,” I replied. “Can you give me one in English too?”
By the end of my trip I had a bag full of Arabic tour guides to all the sites I had visited in Spain. In fact, my bag was so full that at one point I had to give away some of my clothes so I could make everything fit. But, I hung on to my Arabic tour books as if they were made of gold. I would open them every night and look at the letters of the language as they flowed across the page. I imagined being able to write such beautiful script and I thought to myself that there must be something worth knowing about a culture that had such an artistic language. I vowed that I would study this language when I started college in the fall.
Only two months before, I had left my family in Iowa to take a trip through Europe, alone. I was only 16 years old and due to enter Northwestern University in the fall and I had wanted to “see the world” first. At least, that is what I told my friends and family. In reality I was searching for answers. I had left the church only a few months before and did not know where to turn. I knew that I was not comfortable with what I was being taught, but I did not know of any alternatives.
Where I grew up, in the Midwest, there was no room for confusion - you were either part of the church or you were not. So, I had no idea there was something else. When I set off for Europe I hoped that there was.
In my church we were not allowed to pray to God, we could only pray to Jesus and hope that he would relay the message to God. I had intuitively felt that there was something wrong with that and so, without telling anyone, I secretly prayed to “God.” I sincerely believed that there was only one entity to pray to. But, I felt guilty because this was not what I had been taught. Then, there was the confusing matter of what to do during one’s “daily life.”
“I dutifully went to church every Sunday and was very serious about what I learned regarding honesty, kindness and compassion. So, it confused me when I saw people from church acting so differently during the week. Were there no rules during the week? Did they only apply on Sundays? I looked for some guidance…but found none. There were the Ten Commandments that covered the obvious things like killing, stealing and lying, but other than that, I had no guidelines for how to act when I wasn’t in church. All I knew was: perhaps there was something wrong with wearing mini-skirts to church and only going to Sunday School because of cute guys that attended.
One day, I went to a teacher’s house and saw a shelf lined with Bibles. I asked what they were. “Different versions of the Bible,” my teacher replied. It did not seem to bother him at all that there were so many different versions. But, it bothered me. Some of them were really different and some chapters were even missing from the version I had. I was very confused.
I returned to college that fall disappointed that I had not found the answers I was hoping for in Europe, but with a passion for a language I had only just learned about - Arabic. Ironically, I had stared right at the answers I was searching for, on the walls of the Alhambra. But, it took me two more years to realize that.
The first thing I did when I reached the campus was…enroll in Arabic classes. I was one of only three people in the highly unpopular class. I immersed myself in my Arabic studies with such a passion that my teacher was confused. I did my homework with a calligraphy pen and I went into the Arab areas of Chicago just to track down a Coca Cola bottle written in the language. I begged him to lend me books in Arabic just so I could look at the script. By the time my second year of college came around, I decided I should consider a major in Middle Eastern Studies. So, I enrolled in some classes focusing on the region. In one class we studied the Quran.
I opened the Quran one night to “do my homework” and could not stop reading it. It was like I had picked up a good novel. I thought to myself, “Wow. This is great. This is what I have always believed. This answers all my questions about how to act during the week and it even states very clearly that there is only one God.”
It just all made so much sense. I was amazed that there was this book written about everything I believed in and had been searching for. I went to class the next day to ask about the author of the book so I could read more books by them. In the copy I had been given, there was a name. I thought it was the author of the book, akin to the Gospels written by St. Luke or the other religions I had studied…that all attributed their writings to some person who was inspired enough to write it down.
My professor informed me that it was not the author but the translator because “according to the Muslims no one had written the book.” The Quran was, according to THEM (referring to Muslims, he was Christian) the word of God and had not been changed since it was inspired, recited and then transcribed. Needless to say, I was fascinated. After that, I became passionate, not only about my studies of Arabic, but about studying Islam and about going to the Middle East.
My senior year in college I finally went to Egypt to continue my studies. My favorite place to go became “Islamic Cairo,” where the mosques always gave me a sense of comfort and awe. I felt that by being in them, one could really feel the beauty, power and awe of Allah. And, as always I enjoyed staring at the elegant calligraphy on the walls.
One day a friend asked me why I didn’t convert to Islam if I liked it so much. “But I am already Muslim.” My answer surprised me. But then, I realized that it was a simple matter of logic and common sense. Islam made sense. It inspired me. I knew it was right. Why did I then have to convert? My friend informed me that in order to “be official,” I needed to actually go to the mosque and state my intention in front of two witnesses. So, I did. But, when they gave the certificate to me, I just filed it in my file cabinet with my “other” medical and personal records…because to me, I had always been Muslim. I didn’t need to hang a piece of paper on my wall to tell me that. I had known it the minute I picked up the Quran. The minute I opened it, I felt like I had found my long lost family. I hung a picture of the Alhambra Mosque on my wall instead.
Islam
Who Are the Muslims?
And Who is Allah?
The word "Islam" comes from..
the Arabic root 'as-la-ma' and immediately implies a relationship between two entities, one who is to be obeyed, the other is the one who must obey. One of them is superior and the other one is the subjegated or servant. This then, describes the proper relationship between the human beings and their Creator, Almighty God. Whoever chooses to submit to the authority of the One God, and obeys His Commandments and is at peace with the outcome of things in this life is one who "islams" (surrenders, submits, obeys and sincerely does so in peace) and is called in Arabic a "Mu-islam" or Muslim.
Is Allah the "moon-god" mentioned by some people attacking Islam? No. Read this article: www.GodAllah.com
The word Allah in Arabic means the Only One True God. Arab Christians and Jews use this word in their Bible for the God of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all the prophets, peace be upon them. For Arabs regardless of religion, the word indicates the only One to be Worshipped and there is no other god worthy of any worship except 'Allah' - the Supreme One, Creator of all that exists and everything that exists. He is the One Who Controls and Has Power over all things. He provides food and sustenance to the tiniest insect and to the biggest creature.
As the Almighty said in the Qur'aan: All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alameen (all that exists). [Surah Fatihah: 1]. This is the beginning verse of the Qur'aan, a prayer that He taught us, to praise and thank Him, and then it goes on to seek His Help and guidance. There are 7 verses in it, which we pray in all our prayers.
When Allah (Almighty God) created mankind, He prescribed for them one religion which He Himself revealed through Prophets and Messengers. He did not leave us wandering without guidance. He showed us the path, the religion. The one religion was the religion of submitting to God and His commandments. All creation, the sun, the moon, the stars, trees etc are submitted and they do what they have been created for, obeying the Lord. Where as, Mankind (the best creation of all) and Jinn were given the choice. If they obey and worship Him Alone, they have from their Lord an everlasting reward, if they disobey, they have from their Lord a severe punishment.
Mankind was created for this noble purpose of obeying the Almighty and Worshiping Him which gives them the perfection, raises their status and gets them an everlasting reward of paradise.
Almighty God says: O mankind! Worship your Lord, Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become pious. Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals to Allâh (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped). [2: 21-22]
And He also says: And I created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).
So when Mankind was created; they were one single nation, obeying their Almighty Lord. Allah said in the Qur'aan. Mankind was one community and Allâh sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, [2:213]
As time and generations passed people got deviated from the truth and innovated false things in their religion which God didn't prescribe them and they started drifting away from the way of God into many different religions.
The Last and Final Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, said that Allah, the Almighty, said: "I created all my servants upon the true religion, then the devils came to them and led them astray from their true religion. They made unlawful to people that which I had made lawful for them, and they commanded them to associate in worship with Me that for which I had sent down no authority." [Saheeh Muslim]
More . . PowerPoint with audio . . www.WhatsIslam.com (with vocal by Yusuf Estes)
When people started deviating and went into darkness by forgetting their Lord and by submitting and worshiping to besides Allah, that which doesn't benefit them and started spreading evil and were deluded into wrong deeds by devils, Almighty God sent Prophets and Messengers to remind them, to guide them towards light and teach them. To give good news of reward and forgiveness for those who return back to the right path and warn those who continue to spread mischief of punishment.
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût (all false deities)." Then of them were some whom Allâh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). [16: 36]
When Prophets came with the message, some people believed, and some who loved mischief and their evil ways, arrogantly disbelieved. Not only did they disbelieve, but they also started ridiculing the prophets and those who believed, they started harming them and torturing them. All they called them was to shun evil and to do good. To Obey what their Lord commanded, and the Almighty commands nothing but good and what is beneficial, the prophets didn't ask them of any reward or money, they called them towards Allah and for just this reason they were ridiculed and shown hostility. So after the message reached them and the prophets called them for years and years but it didn't change them except that they were becoming more and more hostile and mischievous, Allah sent down punishments destroying them completely and saving those who believed and obeyed. Look around us in history, there were so many civilizations, some of them we remember because of their remains, some have fallen to their humility and some who have been wiped off so completely without even a trace remaining. Allah destroyed the people of Aad, people of Thamud, the people of Lut, the Pharaoh and his kingdom and many more. Think about it... what happened to these civilizations that the archaeologists discover... their families and their generations just don't disappear and their remains just don't get buried, even though they were so very advanced... they were destroyed because of their sins.
This believing and obeying our one true Creator and worshiping Him was the religion of the first 10-20 generations of people on earth. When people deviated, Allah sent Nuh as the first Messenger to remind them and call them back to the straight path. He called them for 950 years but very few returned. Allah says about them in Surah Nuh.
Nûh (Noah) said: "My Lord! They have disobeyed me, and followed one whose wealth and children give him no increase but loss.
"And they have plotted a mighty plot.
"And they have said: 'You shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave Wadd, nor Suwâ', nor Yaghûth, nor Ya'ûq, nor Nasr' (these are the names of their idols).
"And indeed they have led many astray. And (O Allâh): 'Grant no increase to the Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong doers, and disbelievers) except error.' "
Because of their sins they were drowned, then were made to enter the Fire. And they found none to help them instead of Allâh.
The scholars like Ibn Abbas and many others explained that the names Wadd, Suwa, Yaguth, Ya'uq and Nasr were names of very righteous people. They were very much loved by their people due to their piety. When religious and pious people started dying, people started becoming concerned about their religion and knowledge. They also felt deeply moved and missed them after their death. So Satan whispered them to sit near their graves and remember them. After a period of time when this habit became common, he came and whispered to the people after them to create images and idols that would resemble the righteous people. So that when they see it, they will get reminded of such great people and they would be reminded of being pious. After this, Satan left them for a period of time, until the next and the next generation came and they were even more far away from religion and didn't know the purpose of the idols. Then Satan deviated them by saying these are the idols whom your parents used to worship, so you too worship them. This is how first people started worshiping idols in the world.
If devils would have directly come to the first people and said to worship righteous people or to make idols and worship, they wouldn't have listened... because they knew that the one Who has Power to provide them and Help them or Destroy them is the One Who Created them and the all-Powerful... knowing this how could one turn towards things who themselves are weak, things they themselves created and are themselves dependent on the Almighty Lord. But Satan took a common devilish approach of slowly misleading them until finally they forgot who is Allah, the Powerful and who deserves to be worshiped.
Allah says in the Qur'aan.
O mankind! A similitude has been coined, so listen to it (carefully): Verily, those on whom you call besides Allâh, cannot create (even) a fly, even though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly snatches away a thing from them, they will have no power to release it from the fly. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought.
The above is one of the great examples that Almighty God gives us. How is it that people realize and know that Allah created them and gave them hearing and seeing and eyes and body and so many of the bounties without even asking for it, how is it that when people realize that He is the all Powerful, yet they seek help and worship things which cannot them nor see them nor can they give them anything.
Say (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]): "All praise and thanks are Allâh's, and peace be on His slaves whom He has chosen (for His Message)! Is Allâh better, or (all) that they ascribe as partners (to Him)?".
Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth, and sends down for you water (rain) from the sky, whereby We cause to grow wonderful gardens full of beauty and delight (better than your gods) ? It is not in your ability to cause the growth of their trees. Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Nay, but they are a people who ascribe equals (to Him)!
Is not He (better than your gods) Who has made the earth as a fixed abode, and has placed rivers in its midst, and has placed firm mountains therein, and has set a barrier between the two seas (of salt and sweet water) ? Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Nay, but most of them know not!
Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls on Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations ? Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh ? Little is that you remember!
Is not He (better than your gods) Who guides you in the darkness of the land and the sea, and Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His Mercy (rain) ? Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? High Exalted is Allâh above all that they associate as partners (to Him)!
Is not He Who originates creation, and shall thereafter repeat it, and Who provides for you from heaven and earth (better than your so-called gods)? Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Say: "Bring forth your proofs, if you are truthful."
Say: "None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (Unseen) except Allâh, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected."
Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth, and sends down for you water (rain) from the sky, whereby We cause to grow wonderful gardens full of beauty and delight (better than your gods) ? It is not in your ability to cause the growth of their trees. Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Nay, but they are a people who ascribe equals (to Him)!
Is not He (better than your gods) Who has made the earth as a fixed abode, and has placed rivers in its midst, and has placed firm mountains therein, and has set a barrier between the two seas (of salt and sweet water) ? Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Nay, but most of them know not!
Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls on Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations ? Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh ? Little is that you remember!
Is not He (better than your gods) Who guides you in the darkness of the land and the sea, and Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His Mercy (rain) ? Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? High Exalted is Allâh above all that they associate as partners (to Him)!
Is not He Who originates creation, and shall thereafter repeat it, and Who provides for you from heaven and earth (better than your so-called gods)? Is there any ilâh (god) with Allâh? Say: "Bring forth your proofs, if you are truthful."
Say: "None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghaib (Unseen) except Allâh, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected."
When we submit to God we obey to what He tells us is right and wrong, so the religion is His alone, means He prescribes it for us, sets down its principles. The one who believes and does righteous righteous deeds, Allah Has promised for them paradise. Its a wrong notion that people think that they won't be questioned about what they do. But rather Allah says that whatever we do or say is being recorded and we would have to give the account for our actions. Death is a reality which hits everyone which takes them from the temporary life of this
world into the next. When we die, we are in a state of barrier, we leave this life and are waiting for the next life, until the Day of Resurrection, when all people will be raised back to life and will be dealt according to their deeds.
world into the next. When we die, we are in a state of barrier, we leave this life and are waiting for the next life, until the Day of Resurrection, when all people will be raised back to life and will be dealt according to their deeds.
Allah says in Surah Mulk of the Qur'aan
Who has created death and life that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving;Allah also says in Surah Mu'minoon
And it is He Who has created you on the earth, and to Him you shall be gathered back.
When the Prophets reminded them to fear their Lord and not to commit evil deeds and mischief, they scorned and thought none would question them about their deeds.
Allah says in Surah Yaaseen
And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. He says: "Who will give life to these bones after they are rotten and have become dust?"
Say (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] ): "He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is All-Knower of every creation!"
He also said in Surah az-ZalzalahaSay (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] ): "He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is All-Knower of every creation!"
When the earth is shaken with its (final) earthquake.
And when the earth throws out its burdens.
And man will say: "What is the matter with it?"
That Day it will declare its information (about all that happened over it of good or evil).
Because your Lord will inspire it.
That Day mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds.
So, whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it.
And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it.Allah says in Surah al-Qariah
Al-Qâri'ah (the striking Hour, i.e. the Day of Resurrection).
What is the striking (Hour)?
And what will make you know what the striking (Hour) is? It is a Day whereon mankind will be like moths scattered about.
And the mountains will be like carded wool.
Then as for him whose Balance (of good deeds) will be heavy,
He will live a pleasant life (in Paradise).
But as for him whose Balance (of good deeds) will be light,
He will have his home in Hâwiyah (pit, i.e. Hell).
And what will make you know what it is?
(It is) a fiercely blazing Fire!
As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, Allah has promised a great ever lasting paradise which is as wide as the heavens and the earth for His sincere servants, and they'll have mansions and enjoy its luxuries for ever. As for those who disbelieve and commit great sins and evil and oppress, for them He has warned of a great punishment. This my friend was the simple true call of all the Prophets. They were sent to remind people about the truth of their Lord and the truth that people are going to meet Him and will be questioned. They were sent to guide them towards the religion of God through which they went astray. Some would believe and be saved from punishment. After them when time would pass their generations would slowly drift away from knowledge and start corrupting their religion and would do evil, so Allah would send Prophets as and when and where it was needed to call them back to the religion of truth, the Religion of God.
Muslims believe in all the Prophets and respect them without making any differentiation between them. You would have seen people blaspheming Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, by making blasphemous cartoons and would have seen an uproar amongst Muslims, but you will never find any Muslim who would have retaliated by making blasphemous images of Jesus or Moses, may peace and blessings be upon them, because we believe in them as our Prophets of God and we love and respect them. One cannot be a Muslim until he believes and ascertains all prophets of God.
The people of Makkah (who didn't believe) when the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, called them towards this simple message, showed great hostility towards him. They harmed him and those who believed in him. They killed and tortured. He and the Muslims with him left Makkah and went to Madeenah, and even there they were not left at peace. They violated peace treaties and wanted to destroy Islam and Muslims completely. Allah revealed assuring the Muslims peace and security:
And truly He did help, and the evil people who wanted to destroy Islam couldn't do so. Allah established Islam such that, in the life of the Prophet himself, the whole of Arabia accepted Islam. A beautiful history if one learns how it all happened, the miracles through which Allah established His religion on the Earth, such that today Islam is spread all over the world and the world's fastest growing religion. Today media claims it oppresses and is backward, yet Islam is the fastest growing religion esp. in the most modern west, because it has in it nothing but simplicity and a plain message calling towards truth.
Islam is a peaceful religion and doesn't spread hate. The Prophet was an example of mercy and peace if one knows his biography.
Examples of his sayings and advices to the believers (Muslims):
n {The believers, in their love, mercy, and kindness to one another are like a body: if any part of it is ill, the whole body shares its sleeplessness and fever.}1
n {The most perfect of the believers in faith are the best of them in morals. And the best among them are those who are best to their wives.}2
n {None of you believes (completely) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.}3
n {The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and God will show mercy to you.}4
n {Smiling at your brother is charity...}5
n {A good word is charity.}6
n {Whoever believes in God and the Last Day (the Day of Judgment) should do good to his neighbor.}7
n {God does not judge you according to your appearance and your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and looks into your deeds.}8
n {Pay the worker his wage before his sweat dries.}9
n {A man walking along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well, he descended into it, drank his fill, and came up. Then he saw a dog with its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst. The man said, "This dog is feeling the same thirst that I felt." So he went down into the well again, filled his shoe with water, and gave the dog a drink. So, God appreciated him and forgave his sins.} The Prophet was asked, "Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?" He said: {There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human.}
And truly He did help, and the evil people who wanted to destroy Islam couldn't do so. Allah established Islam such that, in the life of the Prophet himself, the whole of Arabia accepted Islam. A beautiful history if one learns how it all happened, the miracles through which Allah established His religion on the Earth, such that today Islam is spread all over the world and the world's fastest growing religion. Today media claims it oppresses and is backward, yet Islam is the fastest growing religion esp. in the most modern west, because it has in it nothing but simplicity and a plain message calling towards truth.
Islam is a peaceful religion and doesn't spread hate. The Prophet was an example of mercy and peace if one knows his biography.
Examples of his sayings and advices to the believers (Muslims):
n {The believers, in their love, mercy, and kindness to one another are like a body: if any part of it is ill, the whole body shares its sleeplessness and fever.}1
n {The most perfect of the believers in faith are the best of them in morals. And the best among them are those who are best to their wives.}2
n {None of you believes (completely) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.}3
n {The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and God will show mercy to you.}4
n {Smiling at your brother is charity...}5
n {A good word is charity.}6
n {Whoever believes in God and the Last Day (the Day of Judgment) should do good to his neighbor.}7
n {God does not judge you according to your appearance and your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and looks into your deeds.}8
n {Pay the worker his wage before his sweat dries.}9
n {A man walking along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well, he descended into it, drank his fill, and came up. Then he saw a dog with its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst. The man said, "This dog is feeling the same thirst that I felt." So he went down into the well again, filled his shoe with water, and gave the dog a drink. So, God appreciated him and forgave his sins.} The Prophet was asked, "Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?" He said: {There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human.}
Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, was sent as the last and final prophet to mankind. We are living in the last of age and are very close to the Day of Judgment. Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, was sent to the whole of mankind and his message is not only for Muslims or Arabs. He was sent as the last prophet after him there won't be any other prophet, which shows how close we are to the Day of Judgment.
Allah says in Surah al-Ahzab
Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allâh and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allâh is Ever All-Knower of everything. Allah says in Surah al-Anbiya
Draws near for mankind their reckoning, while they turn away in heedlessness. He was sent as a guide and as a mercy for the entire mankind. To call them back to the religion of God. Today there are many paths that leads to many directions. People think they all lead to God, however its not so. How does one know that this path leads to Him or not? Is there any way he could verify, is it based on certainty? Rather the path which God Himself legislated is, in truth, the straight path. And He also revealed so many proofs for anyone to verify and know that its the truth. The first and foremost is the supreme and true message, a message which is so simple. A Call to Worship and Obey the Creator alone Who in truth Has Power over everything and to leave the worship of all others who in reality are weak and themselves dependent on the Almighty God..
He revealed a revelation so supreme (The Qur'an). The one who reads it, is amazed at its miracles and the reality of which it speaks. It has no contradictions and it speaks about science and creation which modern scientists discovered recently. It revealed laws to govern mankind and community from the smallest to the largest, covering all aspects of life, a miracle which is far from a work of man and that too when the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, was an illiterate. He could not read nor write.
1428 years have passed and there's not even a small change in it, but its been preserved as it was, the original manuscript written down by the companions of the Prophet is still present for verification. This is a unique reality, no other book has ever been preserved in this manner. This was because Allah Himself promised in the Qur'aan that He would protect it. Not only is the Qur'an preserved but even the language has been preserved. We know that all languages undergo change over a period of time after which it is not usable and it becomes antique. But as for the arabic of the Quran, it is still preserved and used as it used to be in the olden days. There are no contradictions in it, it doesn't have any mistakes. A work of man is bound to be fallible, but the speech of the Creator is free from any imperfections. The Book is so supreme that no similar book could be produced by human beings ever in history and this challenge remains for mankind.
Allah says in Surah Baqarah.
And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'ân) to Our slave (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]), then bring a Sûrah (chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allâh, if you are truthful.
But if you do it not, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.
Allah puts this challenge to show mankind that this Qur'aan is truly from Allah (God) Himself.
He also says in Surah Nisa
Do they not then consider the Qur'ân carefully? Had it been fer rom oth than Allâh, they would surely have found therein many a contradiction.
This my friend is a simple introduction to God, the religion of Islam, the Prophets and the final Prophet, the final revelation Qur'aan and the Day of Judgment.
We must also know that the one religion which Almighty God prescribed for mankind is the only true religion and the only path that leads to Him and the only path that is successful. Any other path, which is not from God but work of man, has to be but deviated. The authority of legislating something belongs to God alone.
As Allah says in Surah Aal-Imran:
Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm (submitting to Him).
and He also says:
And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.
and also says
Say (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam]): "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allâh (Alone), and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allâh." Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims [i.e. those who submit]."
So we invite you to Islam. We invite you to accept it and be rest-assured of forgiveness for all your past sins and expect great mercy and bounties from the Most Merciful Creator and Sustainer. The one who is saved from the fire in the Hereafter and gets paradise as his everlasting abode, he truly would achieve the real success!!
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