Islam
Written for Free-Minds.Org (e-mail: free@free-minds.org)

What is Islam?

This must be the first and foremost question that comes to anyone's mind when they hear the word "Islam", especially for the first time.

"Islam" is an Arabic word which literally means "Submission".

A person may "Submit" to many things around him/her on a daily basis (money, power, people, family, fear, etc..). Yet in the context of religion, it is Submission to the system of the One GOD.

Islam = Submission to God.

Therefore any who follow this natural instinct of submitting to God are called "Muslims".

Who is Allah?.

Many people believe that the god of the Muslims (Submitters) is a GOD named 'Allah' who is unique to the Arabs.

"Allah" is simply Arabic for 'The GOD". The GOD of Submission is described as the 'Lord of the Universe' who Has created heavens & earth, and who Has created mankind and all that we perceive. He is a GOD of good, love, and justice...

"GOD advocates justice, charity, and regarding the relatives. And He forbids evil, vice, and transgression. He enlightens you, that you may take heed." (Quran 16:90)

He is One GOD, with no partners, no equals, and no son.

Who is Mohammed?.

A Prophet of GOD appeared in the Arabian Peninsula 1,400 years ago announcing a miraculous moment for mankind...GOD had chosen a new Prophet after nearly 600-years since the departure of Jesus Christ.

The description given to this new prophet was "Mohammed", which means "Most Praised".

This new Prophet re-delivered the laws of GOD to help bring mankind back into the light and away from evil and darkness...Through 'inspiration' he was given the words of the last testament to mankind, The Quran.

What is the Quran?.

The 'Quran' is the "Book of Reading" which was delivered by His last Prophet to mankind 1,400 years ago. It contains a repeat of all the laws given through Abraham, Moses, and Jesus...It is a 'culmination' of all the previous messages and a beacon and light to guide all mankind.

The Quran is split into 114 chapters (also called 'Suras' in Arabic). These chapters contain a mixture of 'law, history, prophecy, and science'. According to the words of the Book, it is the LAW which is the main purpose of its revelation:

"He sent down to you the scripture, containing law giving verses, which constitute the essence of the book-as well as similar/multiple-meaning verses..." (Quran - Chapter 3, verse 7)

The last testament OVERRIDES all previous scriptures and sets the standard for a new world order.

How do we know there is One GOD?.

The answer to this question is simpler than you may think. If you had a house and I came into it, you would tell me to leave because it is YOUR house (i.e. you would claim it as your own). You would probably even produce documents to prove it is yours, so I would have no option but to accept the fact that it is your house.

The Universe, Earth and all around it follow the same premise (i.e. they are like the house). The One who claims ownership to them MUST BE the owner if no one else can come forward and make the same claim:

"Have they found gods on earth who can create?. If there were in them other gods beside GOD, there would have been chaos. Glory be to GOD; the Lord with absolute authority. He is high above their claims." (Quran 21:21-22)

This is the same claim that came with all the Prophets, from Abraham to Moses to Jesus "Here Oh Israel, Your Lord is ONE GOD".

What is the 'proof' of Prophethood?

Messengers & Prophets have been constantly sent to humanity since the very beginning of our creation.

Noah, Abraham, Lot, Hud, Salih, Shuaib, Jonah, Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, Ismail, Moses, Aron, and Jesus are just some of the Messengers that GOD has sent to make His claim on the Earth and all who live in it.

The 1st requirement for an emissary of GOD is for the person to be an 'exemplary example' for mankind, and the last Prophet of GOD was certainly such as testified by the scripture:

'Those who follow the messenger, the gentile Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the Torah and the Gospel;- he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure);He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honor him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosper.' " (7:157)

"You have indeed in the Messenger of GOD a good example for any one whose hope is in GOD and the Final Day, and remembers GOD frequently." (33:21)

"No prophet could be false to his trust. If any person is so false, He shall, on the Day of Judgment, restore what he misappropriated; then shall every soul receive its due,- whatever it earned,- and none shall be dealt with unjustly." (3:161)

"And you (Mohammed) are of a great character" (68:4)

The 2nd requirement is that Messengers do not come empty handed, they were supplied with PROOF so that no one would doubt that they spoke with the authority from GOD.

Some of these messengers were given 'unique' gifts to show the people. Joseph knew the interpretation of dreams, Moses had a staff which produced great miracles, Jesus was given the ability to heal the sick and even resurrect the dead.

Other such as Abraham, David, Moses, Aron, Jesus & Mohammed all came with divine scriptures which contained information that no man could know. These scriptures talked about GOD, the creation of the universe, the different creatures in existence, man's purpose of Earth, the laws, death, the resurrection, and Judgment.

Why have more than one Messenger or Scripture?.

This is the first question that occurs to people when they hear of all the different messengers and all the scriptures they revealed to mankind.

If we were a sensible race of beings, then GOD would not have done that. But unfortunately such is not the case. Human beings have a history and a tendency to reject, fight, and corrupt any message sent to them:

"We have permitted the enemies of every prophet-human and alien devils- to inspire in each other fancy words, in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications." (Quran 6:112)

This arrogance usually ends-up with the Messenger either dead or his message rejected. Then after he has been killed or rejected, the people start to say: 'maybe he was a Messenger'. Then slowly but surely they start to elevate him using a 'distorted' message until he is no longer a man, but becomes at par with god Himself.

Will there be more Messengers?

Prophets are defined by the scripture as 'those who receive the revelation':

"The people used to be one community, then GOD sent the prophets as bearers of good news, as well as warners. He sent down with them the scripture, bearing the truth, to judge among the people in their disputes..." (Quran 2/213)

The bad news is: 'There will be no more Prophets bringing any new scripture'.

"Muhammad was not the father of any man among you. He was a messenger of GOD and the final prophet. GOD is fully aware of all things." (Quran 33/40)

The good news: 'There will ALWAYS be messengers" to remind the people of GOD.

"To each community is a messenger. After their messenger comes, they are judged equitably, without the least injustice." (Quran 10:47)

Why is the Last revelation so different?.

Since all the previous scriptures have been distorted/tainted (Torah, Psalms, Gospel), what makes the latest revelation any more different?.

The 'key' difference to the last scripture is the 'way it is structured'!.

As we mentioned before, the last revaluation contains various elements (law, prophecy, science, history), which have all been 'INTERMINGLED' within each other.

For example, a chapter which starts off talking about the universe, would suddenly shift to giving a law, then shift back to history or to prophecy.

This structure has two effects:

It makes the last testament near impossible to distort as taking out one law requires sifting through many non-related verses;
It makes understanding the law only possible with EFFORT.
Why are we here?.

This is possibly the 'most important' question which many people & religions simply try to ignore or skip.

Some think we are here to simply 'worship' GOD and carry-out His bidding (as slaves) in return for GOD sparing us the agony of hell.

Some think we are here because our parents sinned (Adam & Eve) and thus need to accept this or that person for our 'salvation'...

What is more serious than all those statements is the one that few are willing to believe: 'we are here for a CRIME committed by us before coming to Earth'!.

Yes, we were all existing BEFORE this life:

"Recall that your Lord summoned all the descendants of Adam, and had them bear witness for themselves: 'Am I not your Lord?' They all said, 'Yes. We bear witness.' Thus, you cannot say on the Day of Resurrection, 'We were not aware of this.' Nor can you say, 'It was our parents who practiced idolatry, and we simply followed in their footsteps. Will You punish us because of what others have innovated?. We thus explain the revelations, that they may redeem themselves." (7:172-174)

As bizarre as it may sound, this is exactly why we are all here...Earth is nothing but one giant 'prison' where redemption is only possible once we prove that we are capable of coming back to the heavenly community.

"Know that this worldly life is no more than play and diversion, and boasting among you, and hoarding of money and children. It is like abundant rain that produces plants and pleases the disbelievers. But then the plants turn into useless hay, and are blown away by the wind. In the Hereafter there is either severe retribution, or forgiveness from GOD and approval. This worldly life is no more than a temporary illusion." (57:20)

Know that you have not been created in 'vein', nor is this part of some great cosmic joke, nor is GOD out to punish anyone who does not deserve the retribution...We are here only due to GOD's mercy in giving us ONE LAST CHANCE to come-back to Him and attain forgiveness for all the things we have done...Wake-up and seize the opportunity before you miss your last and only chance!.

The only way for redemption is to show that we are capable of listening to the laws of the Almighty and implementing them in our life here on Earth...We must all be able to 'serve & obey' GOD Alone, and not serve our 'egos, leaders, humans, wealth, power, etc..' (we go back to the issue of Submission).

"Those who say: 'Our Lord is GOD', then they Straighten themselves, they shall have no fear nor will they grieve" (46:13)

And 'how' do we 'Straighten Ourselves'?.

If you take nothing else from the Scripture, then let it be the CORE of the revelation, the 'Straight Path' which leads us back to GOD:

The Straight Path (Quran 6:151-153):

1. You shall not incorporate anything besides Him (GOD).
2. You shall honor your parents.
3. You shall not kill your unborn children from fear of poverty-We provide for you and for them.
4. You shall not commit sins, obvious or hidden.
5. You shall not kill - GOD has made life sacred - except in the course of justice.
6. You shall not touch the orphans' money except in the most righteous manner, until they reach maturity.
7. You shall give full weight and full measure when you trade, equitably.
8. You shall be absolutely just when you bear witness, even against your relatives.
9. You shall fulfill your oaths made to GOD.