"GOD Alone" (Islam based on the laws of the Holy Book)
(This article was sent on August 21st, 2002 to be published in the magazine www.Renaissance.com.pk )

In the age of the internet, we hear time and time again the phrase ‘GOD Alone’ being used is some chat rooms and appearing on some websites…

What does this phrase mean and what are its origins?.

GOD Alone in its most basic form means: following the laws of GOD and NO ONE ELSE.

GOD, being represented by His words, is the ultimate authority with which all matters are to be returned and all matters to be judged:

“Shall I seek other than GOD as a JUDGE, when He has revealed to you this book fully detailed? Those who received the scripture recognize that it has been revealed from your Lord, truthfully. You shall not harbor any doubt. (Quran 6:114)

The Book of GOD has been revealed to take mankind out of the darkness and into the light…It has come after an age where the message of previous prophets was lost and/or distorted…It has come at a time of our great need.

What strikes traditionalists when reading the above statements is the question: ‘What about the prophet!’.

Traditional Islam places GOD through the Quran, and the Prophet through the Hadith & Sunnah (transmitted traditions). Traditional Islam justifies this union by the verses “Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger”, whereby obeying GOD is the Quran, and Obeying the Messenger is the Sunnah.

To claim that we need nothing but the laws in the Book is preposterous even to the most liberal Muslim of today…

However, this is where Islam based on ‘GOD Alone’ differs and splits from its counterparts.

The views of GOD Alone are that GOD inspired His words (Al-Quran) through the prophet and that the prophet was to use this book to judge amongst mankind:

"And We have revealed the Book to you which has the clear explanation of everything, and a guidance and mercy and good news for those who submit." (16:89)

“Surely We have revealed the Book to you with the truth that you may judge between people by means of that which GOD has shown you; and be not an advocate on behalf of the treacherous." (4:105)

"And We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, verifying what is in it of the Book and a guardian over it, therefore judge between them by what GOD has revealed, and do not follow their low desires (to turn away) from the truth that has come to you;" (5:48)

The Prophet was commanded not only to deliver the word of GOD (an honor in itself for any creature or being), but to LIVE the word of GOD and show its application.

“The messenger of GOD has set up a good example for those among you who seek GOD and the Last Day, and constantly think about GOD. When the true believers saw the parties (ready to attack), they said, 'This is what GOD and His messenger have promised us, and GOD and His messenger are truthful.' This only strengthened their faith and augmented their submission.” (33:21-22)

This is where GOD Alone and traditional Islam take different paths…

Traditional Islam believes that the example of the prophet was captured in the narrations of the Hadith, which were then compiled into several books by the 3rd century A.H. These example show us how he lived the life of the Quran, and thus following this example will attain salvation as well as fulfilling the command to obeying the messenger.

The view of GOD Alone is that the life of the messenger has been recorded and captured in the most detailed manner…not in the books of Hadith…but in the Holy Book itself. The questions that he was asked, and the answers (inspired by GOD) that he gave:

"They question thee about strong drink and games of chance. Say: In both is great harm and utility for men; but the harm of them is greater than their usefulness." (2: 219).

"And they ask you about menstruation: say, "It is harmful; you shall abstain from the women during menstruation and do not approach them until they are cleansed. Once they are cleansed, you may approach them in the manner ordained by GOD. GOD loves the repenters, and He loves those who are pure." (2:222)

The list of questions and answers goes on throughout the Holy Book…This is the life of the Messenger, and this is the most authentic narration authorized and inspired by GOD which we have been commanded to follow…

“Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him” (53:3-4)

It was not left to the companions of the prophet or Bukhari, Muslim or any other men to come along and complete GOD’s religion for us…The religion was complete on the day GOD said it was so:

“Today, I have completed your religion, perfected My blessing upon you, and I have decreed Submission as the religion for you…” (5:3)

By following the words inspired by the messenger, we have followed and obeyed the words of GOD.

Therefore:

"Whoso obeys the Messenger he has obeyed Allah; and he who turns away - We have not sent thee as a warder over them." 4:80

For to us the prophet ruled and lived by the word of GOD Alone…

"Say, 'Whose testimony is the greatest?' Say, 'GOD's. He is the witness between me and you that this Quran has been inspired to me, to preach it to you and whomever it reaches. Indeed, you bear witness that there are other gods beside GOD.' Say, 'I do not testify as you do; there is only one god, and I disown your idolatry.' (6:19)

It must be noted that GOD Alone only restricts itself to the Quran (word of GOD) when dealing with issues of ‘law’; as for all other matters in our world not covered by the law, they are left for the person to examine and comprehend using the miracles of the hearing, sight, and heart for us to examine…Followers of GOD Alone have a passion for science, for archeology, for nature, and for reason and logic…for GOD tells us:

“We will show them our proofs in the horizons, and within themselves, until they realize that this is the truth. Is your Lord not sufficient as a witness of all things?” (41:53)

Now, after having said and done all of the above, it might be important to HIGHLIGHT the core differences that occur when a person follows the laws of ‘GOD Alone’ Vs. ‘Traditional Islam’:

- The requirement to be a Muslim is to accept the ‘Straight Path’ (6:151-153) Vs. the 5-pillars of traditional Islam;

- In the Quran we do not have slavery, which the sects still accept in states of war...

- We do not forbid women from praying during menstruation (2:222), nor do we impose a dress code on them (ie. the headscarf).

- A man or women can leave a will (after settlement of debt) and is not only subject to the split of the Mirath (4:11)...

- Men are not allowed to marry more than one woman except in the case of sheltering orphans (4:3)...

- Divorce is applicable only after a 3-month waiting period, which may be cancelled anytime before that (65:1, 65:4)...

- Thieves do not have their hands cut-off, but are made to work until they return that which is stolen (12:75)...

- No one is allowed to be killed or stoned for adultery (24:2)...

- Freedom to practice worshipping any god is allowed (2:256, 4:90; 10:99; 18:29; 88:21-22)...

- War can only be declared in cases of self-defense (no offensive)...

- Zakat is ‘purification’ of the self, and one of the methods it can be achieved by is giving charity ‘sadaqa’ based on the ‘excess’ of what a person makes (2:219)...

- Salat and Fasting are an advanced form of spiritual worship for 'believers/mumins' who have attained a higher level of faith (49:14)...

- Salat does not involve ‘rituals’, but is a spiritual ‘linking’ with GOD by reading His words at specific times in a devout frame of mind (29:45)…

- We use the solar count of 365-days (17:12), with all the seasons fitting-in-place Vs. a lunar following which creates confusion of seasons…

- Hajj is a place for mutual gathering and discussions of events that plague humanity (not just rituals)...

- Males and females are not required to be circumcised (32:7)...

- Music and statutes and gold and silk are all lawful (5:48-49, 7:31-32)...

- Rule of government is by a 'consultation' committee (that rules out individual leaders or majority vote)...etc.

Therefore, Islam according to "GOD Alone" is a monotheistic, clear, consistent, dynamic, progressive, balanced system...a system that eliminates conjectures, hearsay, fairy tales and contradictions...therefore it eliminates hardship, confusion, chaos, and division. It is a system which puts more accent on the usage of intellect, reason, pondering over GOD, His Creation, meaning of life, pondering over everything.