DRINKING ALCOHOL-JUST A LITTLE

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam ‘ala Rasulillah

Major Sins # 45

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“. . . Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, al-ansaab (stone altars for sacrifices to idols, etc.) and al-azlaam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaytaans handiwork. So avoid (strictly) all that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.”

[al-Maaidah 5:90]


The command to avoid these things is the strongest indication that they are forbidden.Khamr (“wine”, alcohol) is compared to al-ansaab, which were idols of the kuffaar; there is no excuse for those who argue that the Quraan does not say it is forbidden but only tells us to avoid it!


The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also issued a stern warning to the one who drinks khamr.


Jaabir reported that he said: “Allaah has promised the one who drinks khamr that He will make him drink the mud of khibaal.” The people asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, what is the mud of khibaal?” He said, “The sweat of the people of Hell, or the juice of the people of Hell.”

(Reported by Muslim, 3/1587).


Ibn Abbaas reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever dies and has the habit of drinking khamr, he will meet Allaah as one who worships idols.”

(Reported by al-Tabaraani, 12/45; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 6525).


Nowadays there are very many kinds of khamr, with many names in Arabic and other languages, such as beer, jiah (beer), alcohol, araq (“arrack”), vodka, champagne, etc.


There has appeared in this ummah the type of person described by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Some people of my ummah will drink khamr, calling it by another name.”

(Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 5/342; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 5453).


So they may call it “spirits” instead of khamr, as an attempt to distort the facts and deceive.


Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “They (think to) deceive Allaah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!”

[al-Baqarah 2:9]


Islam imposes strict controls on this matter, and deals with it decisively so that there is no room for misunderstanding.


The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Every intoxicant iskhamr and every intoxicant is haraam.”

(Reported by Muslim, 3/1587).


Everything that has the effect of clouding the mind is haraam, whether in large or small amounts. (The hadeeth, “Whatever causes intoxication in large amounts, a small amount of it is haraam,” was reported by Abu Dawud, no. 3681; see Saheeh Abi Dawud, no. 3128). No matter how many different names there are, they all refer to one thing, and the ruling concerning it is well-known.


Finally, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) issued a warning to those who drink khamr: “Whoever drinks khamr and becomes intoxicated, his prayers will not be accepted for 40days, and if he dies he will enter Hell, and if he repents Allaah will accept his repentance. If he drinks again and becomes intoxicated again, his prayers will not be accepted for 40days, and if he dies he will enter Hell, and if he repents Allaah will accept his repentance. If he drinks again and becomes intoxicated again, his prayers will not be accepted for 40days, and if he dies he will enter Hell, and if he repents Allaah will accept his repentance. If he drinks a fourth time, Allaah promises that He will make him drink from the mud of khibaal on the Day of Resurrection. The people asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, what is the mud of khibaal?” He said, “The juice of the people of Hell.”

(Reported by Ibn Maajah, no. 3377; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 6313).

Zakaat (or Zakath)

For those who give in charity, men and women, and loan to Allah A Beautiful Loan, it shall be increased manifold (to their credit) and they shall have (besides) a generous reward.” (Al-Qur`an 57:18)

A Beautiful Loan. How apt a metaphor for charity and spending in the cause of Allah.


And the Reward? Blessings and ample returns from our Lord.

At another place, Allah says in the Holy Qur`an: “The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn: it growth seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah giveth manifold increase to whom He pleaseth: and Allah careth for all and knoweth all things.” (2:261)

Charity in Islam is known as Zakaat. A vital element, one of the pillars on which rests the socio-economic and religious structure of Islam, it is only second to Salaah or the regular prayers. Allah has made Zakaat mandatory and says in the HQ, "Of their wealth take alms so that thou mightiest purify and sanctify them..." (Al - Qur`an, 9: 103)
At atleast 32 places in the holy Qur`an have Salaah and Zakaat been mentioned together… “And be steadfast in prayer and give Zakaat….” (2:110)

The attributes of the righteous and God-fearing man given in the Holy Qur`an among others are “…..who establish regular prayers and give Zakaat….”

While Salaah stands for bodily worship and helps us to fulfill Allah’s rights, Zakaat is the way to use our wealth (and possessions) in a way that pleases Allah and also helps us fulfill the rights of our fellow beings.

In a famous Hadith reported by `Umar Bin Khattab (R.A), the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.W) responded to Archangel Gabriel (A.S) and said: “... Islam is to testify that there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to perform the prayer, to pay Zakaat, to observe fasting in Ramadan, and to make pilgrimage to the house of Allah if you are able to do so....” (Bukhari, Muslim)

The word Zakaat literally means “to purify” and “to increase”. It is an important act of worship by which every affluent Muslim returns from his wealth the amount ordained by the Shariah to those who are in need.

Religious Importance

Zakaat cleanses our mind and soul of excessive love for this world and worldly desires. It instills in its place the love of Allah, that love which causes us to readily give out of our wealth in His way. It creates in a Muslim the passion to willingly sacrifice his wealth and his self and use his strengths and capabilities in the Way of Allah.

Zakaat is not important just for its socio-economic benefits but also for its necessity in the spiritual growth of the soul into a humble and devoted servant of Allah.

It is a way of thanking Allah for his countless gifts.

Economic Importance

The giving of Zakaat enables the proper distribution of wealth and ensures that it does not remain hoarded with just a few. Thus it helps in the building of a stable economy and maintains the circulation of wealth.It makes everyone responsible for the well being of the destitute and needy. Unlike taxes, Zakaat is the exclusive privilege of the poor and cannot be used for any other purpose. Thus it is used for the betterment of the poverty stricken, orphans, widows, old people and handicapped people, those ill with incurable diseases and those unable to work anymore. The Zakaat money is used to run free hospitals, orphanages, old age homes etc for them.

Zakaat in the Shariahs of the past

Zakaat has been mandatory on the people of all the Messengers of Allah in the past too. It was also an important part of the laws or Shariahs that they followed or brought during the period of their prophethood though the amount and the laws governing may have varied. Sura Al-Anbiyaa sums up the lives of the Messengers of Allah, Moses, Aaron, Abraham, Lut, Issac and Jacob peace be upon them all) with this verse-

“And We made them leaders, guiding (men) by Our Command, and We inspired them to do good deeds, to establish regular prayers, and to give Zakaat; and they constantly served Us (and Us only).”
The Holy Qur`an also speaks of the covenant taken from the Children of Israel at many places and in Al-Baqarah verse 83 says-

“And remember We took a covenant from the Children of Israel (to this effect): Worship none but Allah; treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need; speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer; and give Zakaat…”

And Jesus Christ (pbuh) when brought forth to his people for the first time in the cradle, and defended his mother Mary saying, "And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Zakaat as long as I live;”
What should be given for Zakaat

“O ye who believe! Give of the good things which ye have (honourably) earned and of the fruits of the earth which We have produced for you, and do not aim at anything which is bad , out of which ye may give away when ye yourselves would not receive it except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Free of all wants and Worthy of all praise” (Al-Baqarah verse 267)

The Zakaat given has value only if it is (a) something good, (b) honourably earned or acquired by the giver and (c) anything which can be referred to as the bounty of Allah. It may include things that are of use and value to others but superfluous to us on account of having acquired something better. For eg, old clothes, utensils, or a used car etc can be given but they should be in good condition and not in any position to harm the user.
Ill gotten gains cannot be purified of their taint by giving them in charity. The economic code of Islam requires that every gain be honest and honourable. Tainted things cannot be referred to as the bounty of Allah. To dedicate any tainted thing to Him is to dishonour Him, Who is Free of all wants. Hence care should be taken when giving out money or any other goods in Zakaat.

Who should give Zakaat?

The obligation of Zakaat is mandatory on every Muslim who possesses the minimum Nisaab, whether the person is man, woman, young, old sane or insane. This is because the proof in the Holy Qur`an and Sunnah is general and does not exclude anyone. In one hadith , reported by Anas bin Malik, the Messenger of Allah (S.W.T) said: “Trade with the money of the orphan, lest it is eaten up by Zakaat.” (At-Tabraani) In another Hadith `Amru bin Shuaib related from his grandfather that the Messenger of Allah said:

“Whoever is entrusted with money of an orphan should trade with it and should not leave it sitting to be used up by charity.” (Tirmidhi)

Nisaab

Allah has prescribed the minimum amount that is obligatory for Zakaat in different ranges of properties, and that minimum amount is known as Nisaab.

Reasons for Nisaab-

It ensures that no one is forced to give out of what he does not have. As a result, it protects the interest of the poor and the needy.

It is also a reference point for the average Muslim, and removes any doubt in his mind whether he possesses the minimum wealth on which Zakaat is obligatory.

Conditions for validity of Nisaab

1. “They ask thee how much they are to spend; Say: ‘What is beyond your needs.’” (Al-Baqarah verse219)

The amount reaching Nisaab must be surplus or in excess of the essential needs. Food, articles of clothing and personals, the house and all its things, vehicles, things used in business and anything given on rent do not fall under this category.

2. Nisaab is not liable for Zakaat unless and until it has remained for a whole year in the possession of the Zakaat giver.

However, the Zakaat for farm produce should be given on the day of harvest, as per stated in the Holy Qur`an-

“….but render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered…..” (Al-An`aam verse 141)

The concept of wealth being liable for Zakaat only if it has “matured” for a year increases the chance of eradicating poverty because the poor receives a lump sum at the end of the year which he can invest in such a way as to rise above the shackles of poverty, as opposed to receiving a little every month.

Zakaat is mandatory on gold, silver, money (or paper currency), cattle and farm produce and merchandise used in business.

Nisaab for:

1. Gold and silver: Zakaat is mandatory o gold and silver, whatever form it may be in, like coins, bars, nugget, jewelry (whether it is worn everyday or not) and any other item in which gold or/and silver is present.

The Nisaab amount for gold is 20 dinaar in accordance with a hadith where the Messenger (S.A.W.W) said: “No Zakaat on you is due until it reaches 20 dinaar.” (Abu Dawud). That amounts to approximately 85 gm.

The Nisaab for silver is 200 dirhams (also in accordance with a the hadith where SAW says “There is no Zakaat on less then five oqiyah.” (Muslim/Bukhari) Oqiyah is equal to forty Islamic dirhams.) this is equal to 612 gm of silver.

The Zakaat on both is 2.5% of the total amount.

2. Money/ Currency notes and coins: Though there is no Zakaat on the monthly paycheck a person receives, it is mandatory on his savings at the end of the Zakaat year. Sadaqah or optional charity can be given. The earned money should be added to any existing money, and the Zakaat should be given after it matures.

Since most paper currency nowadays is backed by gold or silver, the Nisaab of gold or siver multiplied by the cost of an ounce or that of ten gram gives the Nisaab for money. After the Nisaab has been determined, the Zakaat is 2.5% of it. For eg, if the Nisaab is 1,00,000/- then the Zakaat is 1,00,000 x .025 =2500/-
3. Cattle: This includes camels, cows, sheep and goats that graze freely and are raised for business (i.e. meat, milk etc.). If they have been tamed in the house for their milk or meat etc then there is no zakaat on them. Zakaat is mandatory only if they are intended for business. The Nisaab for camels is five, of cows 30 and of sheep and/or goats, 40. Zakaat is mandatory on any profit that is earned on cattle, if it reaches the nisaab by itself or in combination with others.

4. Farm produce:

“….but render the dues that are proper on the day that the harvest is gathered…..” (Al-An`aam verse 141) “Give of the good things which ye have (honourably) earned and of the fruits of the earth which We have produced for you,….” (Al-Baqarah verse 267). No farm product is liable for Zakaat unless it is a product that is considered as food and does not need refrigeration for preserving it. If the produce is perishable fruit, such as grapes, there is no Zakaat. But if they are sold then Zakaat is a must on the profit earned when it matures. The Nisaab is 612 kg. If the crops grown do not require manual irrigation, then the Zakaat is 1/10th or 10% of the total. If irrigation is done then it is ½ of 1/10th of the total.


5. Merchandise for business/trade and commerce: Anything that has been obtained for buying and/or selling is valid for Zakaat. The books of the establishment must be evaluated at the end of the year, and Zakaat must be given on the cash-in-hand, the stock-in-trade orders and credits. Any business activity that brings any profit to the investor should be assessed for Zakaat. If it has a prescribed Nisaab then Zakaat (as in gold, silver or money) must be paid accordingly otherwise the Nisaab for commerce is applied. It is not the business name that is charged for Zakaat, but the individual investors, share holders and owner(s). The rate of Zakaat for commerce is also 2.5%.

Intention (Niyyah)

The intention of the person giving Zakaat is of utmost importance because even a trace of false motives and feelings would result in the nullification of rewards in the hereafter and destroy the spirit of Zakaat. We should not do charity in such a way that we be seen by men and expect praise for our generosity. Our reward is with Allah (SWT) and not in the laurels of this world. These verses of the Holy Qur`an deal specifically with this aspect-

“Those who spend their substance in the cause of Allah, and follow not up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury,-for them their reward is with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Al-Baqarah verse 262)

“Kind words and the covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and He is Most-Forbearing.” (Al-Baqarah verse 263)
“O ye who believe! Cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury,- like those who spend their substance to be seen of men, but believe neither in Allah nor in the Last Day. They are in parable like a hard, barren rock, on which is a little soil: on it falls heavy rain, which leaves it (Just) a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing with aught they have earned. And Allah guideth not those who reject faith.” (Al-Baqarah verse 264)

“If ye disclose (acts of) charity, even so it is well, but if ye conceal them, and make them reach those (really) in need, that is best for you: It will remove from you some of your (stains of) evil. And Allah is well acquainted with what ye do.” (Al-Baqarah verse 271)

How to give Zakaat

The best and easiest way to give Zakaat is to decide on a month (preferably according to the lunar calendar, the month of Ramadan) and a year later pay your Zakaat that month. Whatever you have saved is due for Zakaat, whether all of it has been with you for the whole year or not.
Who should be given Zakaat

Allah (S.W.T) has specified in the Holy Qur`an the people eligible for receiving Zakaat.
“Charity is) for those in need, who, in Allah's cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land, seeking (For trade or work): the ignorant man thinks, because of their modesty, that they are free from want. Thou shalt know them by their (Unfailing) mark: They beg not importunately from all the sundry. And whatever of good ye give, be assured Allah knoweth it well.” (Al-Baqarah verse 273)

“Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.” (At-Tauba verse 60)

The poor and the needy: Those who have neither material possessions nor means of livelihood or those with insufficient means of livelihood to meet basic needs

Those who work in the Zakaat department: Workers associated with the collection and distribution of Zakat. They should only take the amount equal to the expenses they incurred during the process.

New converts to Islam: Whom we want to harmonize into the fold of Islam. They are given Zakaat to help them strengthen their faith and to adjust.
The bonds person: Zakaat should be given to one who wants to free himself from bondage or slavery. It can also be given to prisoners of war where money is the requirement for freedom. Blood money can also be paid off from Zakaat if the person who has killed someone accidentally has no other means.
The people in debt (money borrowed to meet basic, halal expenditure): Both the guarantor and the person who is in debt.

In the Way of Allah: by financing any efforts of striving in the way of Allah or Jihad.
The wayfarer: Anyone who has run out of money during a journey, even if his wealthy. (but he must pay Zakaat on reaching his destination)

Who should not be given Zakaat

Non Muslims cannot be given Zakaat. People who hail from the family of the Messenger of Allah (the Sayyeds and the Banu Hashims) cannot be given Zakaat.

Parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren or anyone whom the person giving Zakaat supports cannot be given Zakaat.

Special Cases

A loan cannot be written of as Zakaat by the creditor. It can be forgiven as Sadaqah.

Though Zakaat cannot be given to family members( wife, parents, children etc.) it is permissible if they are under debt. The Zakaat money can be given to them to pay off their debts.

Zakaat cannot be given as remuneration for any services rendered.

If some property was lost some years back but has been found again, there is no zakaat on it for all the years it was lost. Zakaat will however be due on it the next year.
Any joint holding or venture though totaling the Nisaab amount is not eligible for Zakaat if the individual holders do not have wealth reaching the Nisaab.

There is no Zakaat on any property in which people other than the Zakaat giver have shares.

If a person has the prescribed Nisaab at the starting of the year, then it falls below the prescribed amount during the middle, but goes on to reach the nisaab value at the end, he will be eligible for Zakaat on it. However if it does not reach the Nisaab at the end of the year, their will be no zakaat on it.

Consequences of not paying Zakaat in this world and the hereafter
Because of the extraordinary importance of Zakaat in Islam and its immense benefits, a very painful punishment has been foretold for those people who do not give Zakaat. They have been warned not to get so enamoured with this ephemeral world that they have no share in the hereafter.

“….And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah: announce unto them a most grievous penalty-”

“On the Day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, their flanks, and their backs.- ‘This is the (treasure) which ye buried for yourselves: taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye buried!’”

In the Ahadith, Prophet Muhammed(S.A.W.W) has warned of severe natural calamities like famine, drought, earthquake etc. if Zakaat is not paid.

Hazrat Umar (R.A) narrates that Prophet Muhammed(S.A.W.W) said, “Wealth is generally lost on the land and the sea because Zakaat has not been paid on it.” (Tabraani)

“The person on whom Allah has bestowed wealth, and he does not give Zakaat, on the Day of Qiyaamah, his wealth will be turned into a venomous bald serpent which will wind around his neck and bite his jaws and say: "I am your wealth, I am your treasure." (Bukhari)

Once Prophet Muhammed (SAW) saw gold bangles on the hands of two women. He enquired if they gave the Zakaat for the bangles. They replied "No." Prophet Muhammed (SAW) then said: 'Do you wish on the Day of Qiyaamah that you be made to dress in bangles of fire?" They replied: "No." He then said: 'Give Zakaat on them." (Tirmizi)

How to Deal with Peer Pressure

When interacting within a community or society, people often fall victim to the hands of peer pressure. Negative peer pressure, that I am referring to, takes one away from the deen of Allah(S.W.T) and brings him/her closer to Shaitan. Not only do children but grown ups as well are at times compelled to go against the laws of Allah(S.W.T) due to peer pressure. This deadly force is dangerous as it targets man's desire to be accepted by others around him and not be insulted or made fun of. So how does one deal with peer pressure and how does one guide their children to resist it.



It is most important for us to realize and recognize our utmost priority in life. Our primary purpose in this life is to worship Allah(S.W.T) as seen in the Quran:

"And I have not created the Jinn and man but that they worship Me" [Quran 51:57]

Thus we have to always remember that it is not important what other people around us will say or whether other people would laugh at us or what they would think about us. What is of any significance is that what will Allah(S.W.T) think of us.

Today many among the youth are getting readily involved in drugs, alcohol, illegitimate relationships etc. Not only the youth but the elder people are also giving in to the peer pressure and adopting activities that are contradictory to the religion of Allah(S.W.T). Why? Because they want to be part of the crowd. People around them do it and they feel that if they do not join in that their peers would make fun of them. A Muslim working in a top organization feels that it is obligatory for him to drink at the office party or get together. A school going child, who would be in his teens, feels that if he is not going to the school prom with a 'date' then he will be termed a 'loser'. They are more concerned with what others will think about them and hence they actively take part in such activities. It would be social suicide if they acted otherwise.

As much as everyone would like to blame the West for the youth adopting such practices, the hard fact is that only we are to be blamed for this. It is we who have failed this fight and it is only our fault. It's high time we all realize this fact.

So what are we missing here? Being part of the Muslim Ummah, not only do we have to install within us rock solid Islamic values but also impart these values to our children. Once we claim "I am a Muslim" we bear a lot of responsibilities. Not only do we represent ourselves and our family, we represent the entire Muslim Ummah and Islam. Thus it is important for us to have our own identity and be proud of our beliefs and practices.

Our youth are always eager to turn on the TV to watch their favorite band performing but they are never eager to watch a good lecture about Islam. They are eager to download the latest mp3 songs but never bothered to download the Quran. The problem here is that people have started to idolize celebrities. Our children would know more about the lives of their favorite celebrity and would know little or nothing about the life of Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.W).

Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.W) was sent to all Mankind as a blessing. He not only explained to us the commandments of Allah(S.W.T) but also lived his(S.A.W.W) entire life according to them. His humbleness was beyond any measure and his kindness had no limits.

"Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah." [Quran 33:21]

It is important for the Muslim Ummah to follow the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.W). He was sent as a teacher to us so that we may attain heaven as our final abode. Salah should be made regular and we should try to indulge in as much Dhikr as we can. We have to teach ourselves, people around us, our youth and our children the solid values which Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.W) taught us. In adopting the practices of our Propeht(S.A.W.W) there is nothing but countless blessings for us.

"And obey Allah and the messenger, that ye may find mercy" [Quran 3:132]

Children becoming slaves to the force of social pressures is actually a very serious issue especially for the parents who normally have no idea what their children are doing outside the house. There are boys who are becoming drug addicts and some have even died due to driving under the influence of alcohol. They drift away from studies as a result of drug abuse and indulge in many illegitimate and sometimes illegal activities. Many resort to small thefts to be able to purchase drugs or alcohol. The harmful effects of drug and alcohol addiction are no mystery to us.

There are cases where girls get pregnant before marriage. These girls then cannot tell their families about the pregnancy and thus try to go for abortion. One sin leads to another. Abortion itself has its dark realities that many are not aware of. With increasing new inventions in science and technology, there are still some physical side effects with abortion like secondary infertility can be induced. There have been cases where patients have had excessive uterine bleeding and have actually required blood transfusions. Many also develop breast cancer. Apart from these there are risks of future complications in labor, placenta previa, cervical lacerations, uterine perforation, and ectopic pregnancies which is actually life threatening. Endometritis is another condition which can occur after an abortion. This condition is likely to develop after abortion especially in teenagers.

These are only to list the few physical negative effects that leave a female exposed to due to abortion. Teenagers are also exposed to the risk of long term reproduction damage. Without a doubt, with these physical side effects there are psychological side effects as well. Researchers have no dispute regarding the psychological aspects and tend to agree unanimously on it. Abortion is thus established to be emotionally difficult and stressful for the female. The problem which arises is in the methodology used by the women to deal with such stressful conditions. Drugs and alcohol are seen to be stress relievers and hence many women including teenagers turn towards these in order to relieve them from the stress that they are experiencing. This leads to drug abuses and alcoholism which can in turn lead to death due to an overdose or could lead onto liver failure due to alcohol consumption. Drugs and alcohol are known to be harmful for the human body and there is no disagreement between scientists, researchers and doctors regarding this. With abortion when teenagers undergo depression, they tend to abuse these harmful substances. Using these substances to relieve stress is not a good idea or the right way to approach stress because "the underlying unresolved mourning will not be addressed, and they will then also be faced with all the problems associated with addiction" [Philip G. Ney et al, 'Abortion and Subsequent Substance Abuse.' American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 26.1 (2000): 61.].

The scope of this article was not intended towards the harmful effects of abortion but I mentioned them so that we know the exact magnitude of the dangers we put ourselves in for no reason at all. These are not made up tales but are the harsh realities. We can choose to turn our faces away from them or we can face them head on and bring a change in our lives so as to positively address these issues. We need to bring a change in our lives today for surely "never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves" [Quran 13:11]. Islam gives us the solution to save ourselves from all these negative effects. Islam has the answer to all such problems, we only need to apply Islam to our lives. Our primary focus should be what our position will be in front of Allah(S.W.T) at the Day of Judgment rather than 'what would my boss think if I don't drink at this social gathering' or 'all my friend will think that I am a coward if I don't smoke up'.

A Muslim does not care what others think about him. He only loves Allah(S.W.T) and His Messenger(S.A.W.W) and wishes to live his life according to the deen of Allah(S.W.T). That is the quality of a true believer whom the Quran describes as "never afraid of the reproaches of such as find fault" [Quran 5:54]

Remember when Noah(as) was building the ark, the chiefs of the people would often ridicule and make fun of him. That did not stop him from following the command of Allah(S.W.T). He would only reply to them saying "If you are scoffing at us-behold, we are scoffing at you [and your ignorance], just as you are scoffing at us" [Quran 11:38]. This should be the attitude of a true believer. He should not care about what others say or would say and continue to follow the commands of Allah(S.W.T).

We are Muslims and we should have our own identity. Following pop stars and rock stars should not be anywhere on our priority list. Those among us who invite us to ways contradictory to Islam should instead be invited by us to the Way of Allah(S.W.T). This way we stay away from that which is forbidden and also fulfill our duty to conduct da'wah. InshaAllah a little effort from us will be rewarded greatly so let's not waste anymore time and be a positive influence on those who would otherwise be a negative influence on us.

Ebrahim Saifuddin

Hadith and its Importance

"He does not speak from his hawaa (desire); it is nothing except Wahee revealed to him." ( Quran 53:3-4)

In his Tafsir, ibn Kathir had the following to say:

"Allah said, (Nor does he speak of desire), asserting that nothing the Prophet utters is of his own desire or wish, (It is only a revelation revealed.), means, he only conveys to the people what he was commanded to convey, in its entirety without additions or deletions."

Hadith are the collected traditions of Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.W) composed of sayings attributed to him(S.A.W.W) as well as his(S.A.W.W) actions in various situations. These are to serve as examples and guidelines for Muslim belief and practice. They are a very important part of Islam. It is important for one to understand that the sayings, sermons etc of Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.W) were divinely inspired and the above ayah confirms this.

It is through hadith that we have answers to lots of questions about life after death, Heaven, Hell, Day of Judgment, how to perform prayer correctly, wudu etc etc. It is very important, however, to read and follow hadiths that are authentic and trustworthy, because there is a number of inaccurate hadiths, which people have fabricated, and a few are considered extremely weak. And after finding an authentic hadith it is important to follow it accordingly, because Allah(S.W.T) says in the Quran,

"And OBEY Allah and the messenger, that ye may find mercy" (Quran 3:132)

"And whatsoever the Messenger allows you to do, do it. And whatsoever he forbids, abstain (from it.)" (Quran 59:7)

For people who think that the Hadith is not necessary and can be ignored are in great ignorance. Such people then would not be able to pray either or perform ablution and many other things. Moreover, we should not exaggerate in allegorical interpretations of the Sunnah, and try to philosophize it, because Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.W) did not intend that, rather he spoke in clear simple terms in order for people to be able to understand him, and be right in practicing their faith.

"Say: 'Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger. but if ye turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him and ye for that placed on you. If ye obey him, ye shall be on right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to preach the clear (Message)." (Quran 24:54)

"O ye who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and make not vain your deeds!" (Quran 47:33)

Ebrahim Saifuddin

Tests from Allah

Allah(S.W.T) has tested the people of the past in various ways and will keep on testing His creation. He has informed us about these tests in the Quran. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.W) also informed us that Allah(S.W.T) will test us from time to time. Sometimes hardships and losses occur in life due to our sins.


To wash off these sins in this world, Allah(S.W.T) inflicts upon us these hardships:

Narated By Aisha: Allah's Apostle said, "No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even though it were the prick he receives from a thorn." (Sahih Bukhari Vol 7, Book 70, #544)

And again by a different narrator:

Narated By Abu Said Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that." (Sahih Bukhari Vol 7, Book 70, #545) Paying for sins in this world is much easier than paying in the Hereafter. It is a blessing in disguise which Allah(S.W.T) bestows upon us and saves us from the payment of these sins in the Hereafter.

The Quran informs us what to do when we face these tests in our life and also tells us about the reward that we will receive if we are successful in dealing with the situation in the way we are expected to:

"Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, Who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return":- They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance. [Quran 2:155-157]

We are to be patient during hard times and always remember that Allah(swt) is the Creator of everything and We all will return to Him. No deed is lost in front of Allah and we will be rewarded for even the minutest good that we ever did do. Trials afflicting us can be signs of His Love. It is narrated that Prophet Muhammad(saw) said:

Narated By Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials." (Sahih Bukhari Vol 7, Book 70, #548)

Misfortune can bring a person towards the right path. It can make better Muslims out of people. Observing patience, remembering Allah(swt) and turning only to Him for help and guidance during such times, will help us attain Allah's forgiveness and His rewards.

Allah(swt) tests man through various agencies, both through adversity and prosperity. A person with a luxurious life is tested to see how much he spends in the way of Allah(swt) and how much he is thankful to Allah(swt) for the blessings bestowed upon him. Another can be tested by the things he desires but does not and/or cannot possess. What do these people do is actually their test. Does the person deviate from the way of Allah(swt) to pursue the worldly gains?

Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial. To Us must ye return. [Quran 21:35]

The Quran reminds us that in periods of hardships, we are to remain patient, remember Allah, and protect ourselves from committing that which is declared unlawful by Allah(swt):

Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and ye shall certainly Hear much that will grieve you, from those who received the Book before you and from those who worship many gods. But if ye persevere patiently, and guard against evil,-then that will be a determining factor in all affairs. [Quran 3:186]

An important thing that we should always remember is that everyone is tested. If we declare that we are Muslims, that does not mean that we will not be tested in this world. The Quran is very clear on this issue:

Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe", and that they will not be tested?

One should not think or feel that he is the only unique person going through such times or that Allah(swt) is displeased with him. Every single person faces difficulties to the best of their capacity. Surely Allah is not unjust and does not over burden a soul:

On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear [Quran 2:286]

This world is an abode for tests and one should not deny or avoid these but should face them and pass them successfully. A person can be put into hardships for a number of reasons and we might not know those reasons when undergoing a certain loss but what we must do is always remember Allah(swt), be patient, abstain from what is unlawful, give charity and ask Him to help ease out our hard times. If we do fail to do this then we should turn to Allah(S.W.T) and ask for forgiveness. Allah(S.W.T) is Most Merciful and InshaAllah He will forgive us for the wrong that we do.

Ebrahim Saifuddin

United Colors of Islam

Allah said: 'What prevented you (O Iblis,the Satan) that you did not prostrate when I commanded?'Iblis replied: 'I am better than he (Adam), You created me from fire and him You created from clay.' The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 7, Verse 12. So begins the history of racism. Satan thought himself superior to Adam on account of his origins.Since that day, Satan has misled many of Adam's descendants into also believing themseleves superior to others, causing them to persecute and exploit their fellow man. Quite often, religion has been used to justify the racism.


Judaism, for example, despite its Middle-Eastern origins is readily passed off as a Western religion.But the entry of Jews into all levels of Western society actually betrays Judaism's elitist reality. A pious reading of the Bible verse: 'There is no God in all the world but in Israel'(2 Kings 5:15) would be to suggest that in those days of God, or Allah, was not worshipped except by Israelites.However, Judaism today remains centred around its boast of 'chosen' racial superiority.

'Say: O you Jews!If you pretend that you are friends of Allah to the exclusion of the rest of mankind, then long for death if you are really truthful.' The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 62, Verse 6

Conversely, while most Christians are overwhelmingly non-Jews, Jesus, as the last of the Israelite Prophets was sent to none but the Jews. In the Bible, he is reported to have said: " I have not been sent except to the lost sheep of the House of Israel" (Matthew 15:24)

And remember when Jesus, son of Mary said:'O Children of Israel!I am the Messenger of Allah sent unto you, confirming the Torah before me and bearing the glad tidings of a Messenger after me whose name shall be Ahmad' The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 61, Verse 6

And likewise every other prophet was sent exclusively to his own people; every prophet that is, except Muhammad. “ Say (O Muhammad): People! I am the Messenger of Allah sent to you all” The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 7, Verse 158.

As Muhammad was Allah's final Prophet and Messenger, his mission,one intended for not only his own nation,the Arabs, but all the peoples of the world.The Prophet said 'Every other Prophet was sent to his nation exclusively, while I have been sent to all of humanity' Sahih Bukhari

“ And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) but to the whole of mankind as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner, but most people know not” The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 34, Verse 28

BILAL THE ABYSSINIAN

One of the first to accept Islam was an Abyssinian slave named Bilal. Traditionally, black Africans were a lowly people in the sight of Arabs who thought them to be of little use beyond entertainment and slavery. When Bilal embraced Islam, his pagan master had him brutally tortured in the scorching desert heat until Abu Bakr, the Prophet's closest friend, rescued him by buying his freedom. The Prophet appointed Bilal to call the believers to prayer.The athan heard from minarets in every corner of the world since, echoes the exact same words recited by Bilal. Thus, a onetime lowly slave won a unique honour as Islam’s first muezzin.

"And We indeed honoured (all) the Children of Adam" The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 17, Verse 70

Western romantics hail ancient Greece as being the birthplace of democracy. The reality was that, as slaves and women, the vast majority of Athenians were denied the right to elect their rulers. Yet, The Prophet said that a slave could himself be a ruler 'Obey your ruler even if he be an Abyssinian slave.' (Ahmad).

SALMAN THE PERSIAN

Like most of his countrymen, Salman was raised a devout Zoroastrian. However,after an encounter with some Christians at worship, he accepted Christianity as 'something better'. Salman then traveled extensively in search of knowledge,from the service of one learned monk to another, the last of whom said to him: 'O son! I do not know of anyone who is on the same (creed) as we are. However, the time of the emergence of a Prophet will shade you. This prophet is on the religion of Abraham'.

The monk then proceeded to describe this Prophet, his character and where he would appear. Salman migrated to Arabia, the land of the Prophecy, and when he heard about and met Muhammad, he immediately recognised him from his teacher's descriptions and embraced Islam.

Salman became renowned for his knowledge and was the first person to translate the Qur'an into another language, Persian. Once, whilst the Prophet (PBUH) was amongst his Companions, the following verse was revealed to him:

“ It is He (Allah) Who had sent among the unlettered ones (i.e. the Arabs) a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves ... and (also to) others (i.e. non-Arabs) among them who have not yet joined them” The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 62, Verses 2-3.

Allah's Messenger then placed his hand on Salman and said:' Even if the Faith were near (the star of) Pleiades, a man from amongst these (Persians) would surely attain it' (Muslim).

SUHAYB THE ROMAN

SUHAYB was born into the luxurious house of his father, who was a client governor for the Persian emperor. Whilst still a child, SUHAYB was captured by a Byzantine raiders and sold into slavery in Constantinople.

Suhayb eventually escaped from bondage and fled to Mecca, a popular place of asylum, where he soon became a prosperous merchant nick-named 'ar-Rumi' (the Roman) due to his Byzantine tongue and up-bringing. When SUHAYB heard Muhammad preach, he was at once convinced of the truth of his message and embraced Islam. Like all the early Muslims, SUHAYB was persecuted by the pagan Meccans. So, he traded all his wealth in exchange for safe passage to join the Prophet (PBUH) at Medina, whereupon the Prophet, delighted to see him, greeted him thrice:' Your transaction has been fruitful, (O Suhayb)! Your trade has been fruitful!'.

Allah had informed the Prophet (PBUH) of Suhayb's exploits before their reunion with this revelation:“ And there is a type of man who ransoms himself to earn the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to His servants” The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 2, Verse 207.

The Prophet (PBUH) loved SUHAYB a great deal and described him as having preceded the Romans to Islam. Suhayb's piety and standing among the early Muslims was so high that when Caliph Umar was on his deathbed, he selected SUHAYB - a foreinger, to lead them until a successor could be agreed upon.

ABDULLAH THE HEBREW

The Jews were another nation that the pre-Islamic Arabs held in contempt. Many Jews and Christians had been expecting a new Prophet to appear in Arabia during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. Jews from the Levite tribe in particular had settled in large numbers in and around the city of Medina. However, when the much-anticipated prophet came not as a Hebrew son of Israel, but as the Arab descendant of Ishmael, the Jews rejected him. Except that is for a few like Husayn bin Salaam. husayn was the most learned rabbi and leader of the Medinan Jews but was denounced and vilified by them when he embraced Islam.

The Prophet (PBUH) renamed Husayn, 'Abdullah', meaning 'Slave of Allah' and gave him the glad tidings that he was destined for Paradise. Abdullah addressed his tribesmen, saying:' O assembly of Jews! Be conscious of Allah and accept what Muhammad has brought. By Allah! you certainly know that he is Allah's Messenger and you can find prophecies about him and mention of his name and characteristics in your Torah. I for my part declare that he is the Messenger of Allah. I have faith in him and believe that he is true. I (for one) recognise him'.

Allah revealed the following verse about Abdullah:“And a witness from the Children of Israel testified that this Qur'an is from Allah like (the Torah). So he believed while (most of) you (Jews) are too proud (to believe)” The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 46, Verse 10.

Thus, in the ranks of the Prophet Muhammad's Companions could be found Africans, Persians, Romans and Israelites; representatives of every known continent. The Prophet (PBUH) said:'Indeed my friends and allies are not the tribe of so and so. Rather, my friends and allies are the pious wherever they may be' (Bukhari & Muslim).

The universal brotherhood was championed by the Prophet's Companions after him. When the Companion, Ubada bin as-Samit, led a delegation to Muqawqis, the Christian patriarch of Alexandria, the latter exclaimed: ' Get this black man away from me and bring in his stead another to talk to me! ... How can you be content that a black man should be the foremost among you? Is it not more fitting that he be below you?' 'Indeed no!' Ubada's comrades replied, ‘Though he is black as you see, he is still the foremost among us in position, intelligence and wisdom; for black is not despised among us'.

“ Truly, the Believers are but brothers.” The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 49, Verse 10.

It is the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, which remains the ultimate symbol of the oneness and brotherhood of man.Here, rich and poor from all nations stand and bow in unison before God in what is the largest gathering of humanity; testifying to the Prophet's words when he said:'There is truly no excellence for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over an Arab; nor for a white man over a black man, nor for a black man over a white man; except through piety.' (Ahmad)
"O humanity! We have created you from a single male and female and have made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another (not that you have pride over one another). Verily, the most honourable of you in Allah's sight is the one most pious." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 49, Verse 13

As for nationalism, with its factionalising of Muslims along ethnic and tribal lines, it is considered an evil innovation.

"If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your tribe, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving hard in His Cause, then wait until Allah brings about His Decision. And Allah guides not a rebellious people” The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 9, Verse 24.

The Prophet said:'...whoever fights under the banner of the blind, becoming angry for nationalism, calling to nationalism, or assisting nationalism, and dies: then he dies a death of jahiliyya (i.e.pre-Islamic ignorance and disbelief.)' (Muslim) In fact, the Muslims in and of themselves constitute a single body and supra-nation, as the Prophet explained:' The parable of the Believers in their mutual love and mercy is like that of a living body: if one part feels pain, the whole body suffers in sleeplessness and fever.' (Muslim)

" Thus We have made you (Believers into) a (single) justly balanced community” The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 2, Verse 143.

Perhaps one of the greatest barriers to the acceptance of Islam by many Westerners is the fallacy that it is primarily a religion for Orientals or dark-skinned people. No doubt, the racial injustices against many blacks, be they Abyssinian slaves of pre-Islamic Arabia or twentieth century Afro-Americans, has prompted many to embrace Islam. But this is beside the point. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was himself of pale complexion, described by his Companions as being 'white and ruddy'- a description many tens of millions of believing Arabs, Berbers and Persians share . Even blue-eyed blondes are not so rare amongst Near Easterners. Furthermore, Europe has more indigeneous white Muslims than it has 'coloured' immigrants.The Bosnians, for example, whose numbers were decimated at the end of the 20th century but who, due to their heroism and tradition of tolerance, have contributed most to Balkan peace and stability. Albanians too, descended from Europe's ancient Illyrians, are also largely Muslim. In fact, one of the 20th century's leading Muslim scholars, Imam Muhammad nasir-ud-Deen al-Albani, was, as his title suggests, Albanian.

Truly, We created humans in the best stature. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 5, Verse 4

Whites have been called 'caucasian' ever since anthropologists, declared the Caucasus Mountains, home to Europe's highest peaks, to be the 'Cradle of the White Race'. Today, the natives of these mountains are Muslims.Amongst many a lesser-known tribe of fierce mountaineers and fair maidens are the Circassians: famed for their bravery and beauty and who, as Mamluke rulers of Syria and Egypt, helped defend the civilised world and safeguard its holy lands from the ravages of the Mongol hordes.Then there is the brutalised Chechen, arguably the most unwieldy of all God's creatures. While over 1,000,000 American and North European Caucasian whites - Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Germans,Scandinavians and Celts included - now profess Islam.In fact, Islam peacefully entered parts of Europe before Christianity, when: 'In times long ago, when the Russian Slav had not yet started to build Christian churches on the Oka nor conquered these places in the name of European civilisation, the Bulgar was already listening to the Qir'an on the banks of the Volga and the Kama.' [On 16 May 1922, Islam became the official state religion of the Volga Bulgars, with whom today's BUlgarians share a common ancestry.]

Every faith besides Islam calls for the worship of creation in some way, shape or form. Moreover, race and colour play a central and divisive role in almost all non-Islamic belief systems. A Christian's deification of Jesus and the saints or a Buddhist's deification of Buddha and the Dalai Lamas has people of a particular race and colour being worshipped in derogation of Allah. In Judaism, salvation is withheld from the non-Jew Gentile. Hinduism's caste-system likewise checks the spiritual,socio-political and economic aspirations of the 'unclean' lower castes. Islam, however, seeks to unite and make one all the creatures of the world upon the Unity and Oneness of their Creator. Thus, Islam alone liberates all peoples, races and colours in the worship of Allah alone.

"And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the (wonderful) differences of your languages and colours. Verily, in that are indeed signs for people of sound knowledge." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 30, Verse 22

A Brief Introduction to Islam

Islam and Muslims

The word "Islam" is an Arabic word which means "submission to the will of God". This word comes from the same root as the Arabic word "salam", which means "peace". As such, the religion of Islam teaches that in order to achieve true peace of mind and surety of heart, one must submit to God and live according to His Divinely revealed Law. .

The most important truth that God revealed to mankind is that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God, thus all human beings should submit to Him. The word "Muslim" means one who submits to the will of God, regardless of their race, nationality or ethnic background. Being a Muslim entails willful submission and active obedience to God, and living in accordance with His message. Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is just a religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth. Not only are there converts to Islam in every corner of the world, especially in England and America, but by taking a look at the Muslim World from Bosnia to Nigeria, and from Indonesia to Morocco, one can clearly see that Muslims come from many various races, ethnic groups and nationalities. It is also interesting to note that in actuality, more than 80% of all Muslims are not Arabs - there are more Muslims in Indonesia than in the whole Arab World! So though even though it is true that most Arabs are Muslims, the large majority of Muslims are not Arabs. However, anyone who submits completely to God and worships Him alone is a Muslim.

Continuity of the Message

Islam is not a new religion because "submission to the will of God", i.e. Islam, has always been the only acceptable religion in the sight of God. For this reason, Islam is the true "natural religion", and it is the same eternal message revealed through the ages to all of God's prophets and messengers. Muslims believe that all of God's prophets, which include Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, brought the same message of Pure Monotheism. For this reason, the Prophet Muhammad was not the founder of a new religion, as many people mistakenly think, but he was the Final Prophet of Islam. By revealing His final message to Muhammad, which is an eternal and universal message for all of mankind, God finally fulfilled the covenant that He made with Abraham, who was one of the earliest and greatest prophets. Suffice it to say that the way of Islam is the same as the way of the prophet Abraham, because both the Bible and the Qur'an portray Abraham as a towering example of someone who submitted himself completely to God and worshipped Him without intermediaries. Once this is realized, it should be clear that Islam has the most continuous and universal message of any religion, because all prophets and messengers were "Muslims", i.e. those who submitted to God's will, and they preached "Islam", i.e. submission to the will of Almighty God.

The Oneness of God

The foundation of the Islamic faith is belief in the Oneness of Almighty God - the God of Abraham, Noah, Moses and Jesus. Islam teaches that a pure belief in One God is intuitive in human beings and thus fulfills the natural inclination of the soul. As such, Islam's concept of God is straightforward, unambiguous and easy to understand. Islam teaches that the hearts, minds and souls of human beings are fitting receptacles for clear divine revelation, and that God's revelations to man are not clouded by self-contradictory mysteries or irrational ideas. As such, Islam teaches that even though God cannot be fully comprehended and grasped by our finite human minds, He also does not expect us to accept absurd or demonstrably false beliefs about Him. According to the teachings of Islam, Almighty God is absolutely One and His Oneness should never be compromised by associating partners with Him - neither in worship nor in belief. Due to this, Muslims are required to maintain a direct relationship with God, and therefore all intermediaries are absolutely forbidden. From the Islamic standpoint, believing in the Oneness of God means to realize that all prayer and worship should be exclusively for God, and that He alone deserves such titles as "Lord" and "Savior". Some religions, even though they believe on "One God", do not make all of their worship and prayers for Him alone. Also, they also give the title of "Lord" to beings that are not All-Knowing, All-Powerful and Un-Changing - even according to their own scriptures. Suffice it to say that according to Islam, it is not enough that people believe that "God is One", but they must actualize this belief by proper conduct. In short, in the Islamic concept of God, which is completely based on Divine Revelation, there is no ambiguity in divinity - God is God and man is man. Since God is the only Creator and continual Sustainer of the Universe, He is transcendent above His creation - the Creator and the creature never mix.

Islam teaches that God has a unique nature and that He is free from gender, human weaknesses and beyond anything which human beings can imagine. The Qur'an teaches that the signs and proofs of God's wisdom, power and existence are evident in the world around us. As such, God calls on man to ponder over the creation in order to build a better understanding of his Creator. Muslims believe that God is Loving, Compassionate and Merciful, and that He is concerned with the daily affairs of human beings. In this, Islam strikes a unique balance between false religious and philosophical extremes. Some religions and philosophies portray God as just an impersonal "Higher Power" who is uninterested, or unaware, of the life of each individual human. Other religions tend to give God human qualities and teach that He is present in His creation, by being incarnate in someone, something - or even everything. In Islam, however, Almighty God has clarified the truth by letting mankind know that He is "Compassionate", "Merciful", "Loving" and the "Answerer of Prayers". But He as also emphasized strongly that "there is nothing like unto Him", and that He is high above time, space and His creation. Finally, it should be mentioned that the God that Muslims worship is the same God that Jews and Christians worship - because there is only one God. It is unfortunate that some people mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different God than Jews and Christians, and that "Allah" is just the "god of the Arabs". This myth, which has been propagated by the enemies of Islam, is completely false since the word "Allah" is simply the Arabic name for Almighty God. It is the same word for God which is used by Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians. However, it should be clarified that even though Muslims worship the same God as Jews and Christian, their concept of Him differs somewhat from the beliefs of other religions - mainly because it is based completely on Divine Revelation from God. For example, Muslims reject the Christian belief that God is a Trinity, not only because the Qur'an rejects it, but also because if this was God's true nature, He would have clearly revealed it to Abraham, Noah, Jesus and all of the other prophets.

The Qur'an

The Arabic world "Al-Qur'an" literally means "the recitation". When used in regards to Islam, the word Qur'an means God's final message to mankind that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The Qu'ran, sometimes spelled Koran, is the literal the word of God - as it clearly says time and time again. Unlike other sacred scriptures, the Qur'an has been perfectly preserved in both its words and meaning in a living language. The Qu'ran is a living miracle in the Arabic language; and is know to be inimitable in its style, form and spiritual impact. God's final revelation to mankind, the Qur'an, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. The Qur'an, in contrast to many other religious books, was always thought to be the Word of God by those who believed in it, i.e. it wasn't something decreed by a religious council many years after being written. Also, the Qu'ran was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities during the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The entire Qur'an was also completely written down in lifetime of the Prophet, and numerous companions of the Prophet memorized the entire Qur'an word-for-word as it was revealed. So unlike other scriptures, the Qur'an was always in the hands of the common believers, it was always thought to be God's word and, due to wide-spread memorization, it was perfectly preserved. In regards to the teachings of the Qur'an - it is a universal scripture, and it is addressed to all of mankind, and not to a particular tribe or "chosen people". The message that it brings is nothing new, but the same message of all of the prophets - submit to Almighty God and worship Him alone. As such, God's revelation in the Qur'an focuses on teaching human beings the importance of believing in the Unity of God and framing their lives around the guidance which He has sent. Additionally, the Qur'an contains the stories of the previous prophets, such as Abraham, Noah, Moses and Jesus; as well as many commands and prohibitions from God. In modern times in which so many people are caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and "political correctness", the Qur'anic teachings offer solutions to the emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today. In short, the Qur'an is the book of guidance par excellence.

The Prophet Muhammad

Unlike the founders of many religious, the final prophet of Islam is a real documented and historical figure. He lived in the full light of history, and the most minute details of his life are known. Not only do Muslims have the complete text of God's words that were revealed to Muhammad, but they have also preserved his saying and teachings in what is called "hadeeth" literature. This having been said, it should be understood that Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad was only a man chosen by God, and that he is not divine in any way. In order to avoid the misguided wish to deify him, the Prophet Muhammad taught Muslims to refer to him as "God's Messenger and His Slave". The mission of the last and final prophet of God was to simply teach that "there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God", as well as being a living example of God's revelation. In simple terms, God sent the revelation to Muhammad, who in turn taught it , preached it, lived it and put it into practice. In this way, Muhammad was more that just a "prophet" in the sense of many of the Biblical prophets, since he was also a statesman and ruler. He was a man who lived a humble life in the service of God, and established an all-encompassing religion and way of life by showing what it means to be an ideal friend, husband, teacher, ruler, warrior and judge. For this reason, Muslims follow him not for his own sake, but in obedience to God, because Muhammad not only showed us how to deal with our fellow human beings, but more importantly, he showed us how to relate to and worship God, worship Him in the only way pleasing to Him. Like other prophets, Muhammad faced a great deal of opposition and persecution during his mission. However, he was always patient and just, and he treated his enemies well. The results of his mission were very successful, and even though his mission started in one of the most backward and remotes places on earth, within a hundred years of the death of Muhammad, Islam had spread from Spain to China. The Prophet Muhammad was the greatest of all of God's prophets, not because he had new doctrines or greater miracles, but because the results of his mission have brought more human beings into the pure and proper belief in the One True God than any other prophet.

The Islamic Way of Life

In The Holy Qur'an, God teaches human beings that they were created in order to worship Him, and that the basis of all true worship is God-consciousness. Since the teachings of Islamic encompass all aspects of life and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs. Islam makes it clear that all human acts are acts of worship if they are done for God alone and in accordance to His Divine Law. As such, worship in Islam is not limited to religious rituals. The teachings of Islam act as a mercy and a healing for the human soul, and such qualities as humility, sincerity, patience and charity are strongly encouraged. Additionally, Islam condemns pride and self-righteousness, since Almighty God is the only judge of human righteousness. The Islamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced. Human beings are not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally capable of both good and evil. Islam also teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand. God has given people free-will, and the measure of one's faith is one's deeds and actions. However, human beings have also been created weak and regularly fall into sin. This is the nature of the human being as created by God in His Wisdom, and it is not inherently "corrupt" or in need of repair. This is because the avenue of repentance of always open to all human beings, and Almighty God loves the repentant sinner more than one who does not sin at all. The true balance of an Islamic life is established by having a healthy fear of God as well as a sincere belief in His infinite Mercy. A life without fear of God leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that God will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In light of this, Islam teaches that: only the misguided despair of the Mercy of their Lord. Additionally, the Holy Qur'an, which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, contains a great deal of teachings about the life hereafter and the Day of Judgment. Due to this, Muslims believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by God for their beliefs and actions in their earthly lives. In judging human beings, Almighty God will be both Merciful and Just, and people will only be judged for what they were capable of. Suffice it to say that Islam teaches that life is a test, and that all human beings will be accountable before God. A sincere belief in the life hereafter is key to leading a well-balanced life and moral. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which causes human beings to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral.

Islam for a Better Life

Islam teaches that true happiness can only being obtained by living a life full of God-consciousness and being satisfied with what God has given us. Additionally, true "freedom" is freedom from being controlled by our base human desires and being ruled by man-made ideologies. This stands in stark contrast to the view of many people in the modern world, who consider "freedom" to be the ability to satisfy all of their desires without inhibition. The clear and comprehensive guidance of Islam gives human-beings a well-defined purpose and direction in life. In addition to being members of the human-brotherhood of Islam, its well-balanced and practical teachings are a source of spiritual comfort, guidance and morality. A direct and clear relationship with Almighty God, as well as the sense of purpose and belonging that ones feels as a Muslim, frees a person from the many worries of everyday life. In short, the Islamic way of life is pure and wholesome. It builds self-discipline and self-control thought regular prayer and fasting, and frees human-beings from superstition and all sorts of racial, ethnic and national prejudices. By accepting to live a God-conscious life, and realizing that the only thing that distinguishes people in the sight of God is their consciousness of Him, a person's true human dignity is realized.

Sincerity: A sign of a true believer

God has set forth Ibrahim (as), Ishaq (as) and Yaqub (as) as examples for true believers, as in the following:

And remember Our servants Ibrahim, Ishaq and Ya’qub, men of true strength and inner sight. We purified their sincerity through sincere remembrance of the Abode . The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 38, Verses 45-46


God also stressed that Musa (as) reached a high level of purification. A verse states as follows:

Mention Musa in the Book. He was truly sincere and was a messenger and a prophet. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 19, Verse 51
We must ponder deeply the high morality of God’s prophets, and strive like them to become purified servants.

The Qur’an announced that only those who are blind and deaf will not benefit from the reminders and verses of God. True believers, on the other hand, are "those who, when they are reminded of the Signs of their Lord, do not turn their backs, deaf and blind to them." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 25, Verse 73. Those who fear God and guard against evil are capable of perceiving the wisdom of the verses of the Qur’an. They draw lessons from them, and thus, acquire sincerity. Therefore, believers could never be indifferent to such reminders from God. Even if someone has until then failed to think about the importance of sincerity, just one moment spent to check his intentions would be sufficient to purify himself. With God’s permission, this improvement converts later deeds into pious ones, and grants the person the honor of being "the best of creatures" in God’s sight.

Otherwise, if one sullies his deeds done to acquire God’s assent, by letting worldly ambitions interfere and invalidates them, instead of aiming to acquire sincerity, then he will certainly be acting immorally. This person may strive day and night and consider himself guided on the straight path of morality. However, he will not be among those who turn to God purely, as he does not strive to acquire sincerity. Surat al-Kahf puts forth the example of such losers as follows:

Say: "Shall I inform you of the greatest losers in their actions? People whose efforts in the life of this world are misguided while they suppose that they are doing good." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 18, Verses 103-104

However, when he looks back upon his life, he will realize that there is nothing left to indicate that he had spent those years in this world. Neither the people whose consent he strove to acquire, nor the worldly goals he pursued, nor his arrogance, nor the devil who deceived him to damage his sincerity, will stand by him. He will stand in God’s presence alone and unaided, as he failed to turn to Him with a pure heart, and had harmed his sincerity by combining his faith, service and worship with other impurities. In Surat al-Hadid, God announces that this worldly life is nothing but a great deception:

Know that the life of the world is merely a game and a diversion and ostentation and a cause of boasting among yourselves and trying to outdo one another in wealth and children: like the plant-growth after rain which delights the cultivators, but then it withers and you see it turning yellow, and then it becomes broken stubble. In the hereafter there is terrible punishment but also forgiveness from God and His good pleasure. The life of the world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 57, Verse 20

Would one like to see that he has been striving in vain, in spite of his greater effort, merely because he had failed to endeavor to acquire sincerity, and did not live in accordance with the spirit of the Qur’an? Or, would one like to be one of the "best of creatures" who is granted "a wage which never fails" by purifying his intentions, heart and conscience and turns to God with heartfelt devotion, firmly embraces Him, and desires to acquire nothing but His consent? It is apparent that, for anyone who loves God, and who wishes to befriend Him and to turn to Him, the latter option is the only option to be taken.

Excerpted from Sincerity Described in the Qur'an by Harun Yahya

The peril of heedlessness

In a society where people live only for the satisfaction of their own desires, it surely is not possible to maintain peace, love and amity. In such a society, human relations depend on mutual interests. An extreme feeling of distrust prevails. When there is no reason for one to be sincere, honest, reliable or well-behaved, nothing stands in the way of dissimulation, falsehood, or betrayal.


The members of such societies have "cast God away behind their backs (with contempt)" The Holy Qur'an,Chapter 11,Verse 92 and thus never acknowledged the fear of God. Since they cannot "make a just estimate of God", they are unmindful of the day of judgement and the day of account. For them, hell is nothing more than an idea appearing in religious books.None of them think that they shall have to give an account of themselves in the presence of God after their death for all the sins they have committed during their lives in this world, or that they may ultimately be doomed to an eternal life of torment in hell. Even if they do think about it, they suppose that they will enter paradise after they "pay for their sins", as it is expressed in this verse:

This because they say ‘The Fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days': For their forgeries deceive them as to their own religion. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 3, Verse 24.

Thus they are led to spend their lives doing their best to satisfy their own desires and needs.

This situation naturally brings on the ethical degeneration and moral collapse that we see in many societies today. In their own reasoning they suppose "we have come into this world but once and will live for only 50-60 years and then die, so let us get the best of things here". The thought system based on this erroneous reasoning may bring with it all kinds of injustice, prostitution, theft, crime and immorality. One subscribing to it may become involved in all kinds of crime, homicide, or fraud. When every individual thinks of nothing but the satisfaction of his own needs and desires, everyone else––including his family and friends––have secondary importance. Other individuals in society have no importance whatsoever.

In a social structure that rests on interest relations to a large degree, the mutual distrust of people hinders the formation of peace both at the social and individual level and it causes people to live permanently in a state of doubt, unease and irresolution. Not knowing by whom, when or how misdeeds will be committed in such a society, people live spiritually in a condition of great fear and distress. General distrust and suspicion cause them to lead very unhappy lives. In a society where all kinds of moral values are disregarded, the outlook of people on notions such as family, honesty and chastity is quite alarming, for they have no fear of God.

In such societies, the lives of people do not rely on mutual love and respect. Its members feel no need to show respect to each other. They do not display a caring attitude to each other without a good cause. Actually, they are quite right, in terms of their ignorant reasoning, in behaving this way. They are taught throughout their lives that they have evolved from animals and that their souls will be lost forever upon their death. They therefore deem it meaningless to respect a body of ape origin that will rot under the earth and that they will never see again. In their corrupt logic, "all the others as well as themselves are to die and be buried under the earth, their bodies will decay and their souls will vanish. So why would they bother to do good to other people, and be self-sacrificing?" Indeed, these thoughts permeate the subconscious of everyone who has no belief in Allah or, therefore, in the hereafter. In societies with no belief in God, there is no basis for peace, happiness, or confidence.

The purpose of all we have said is not to suggest that "degeneration occurs in societies where there is no belief in God, therefore there must be belief in God." God must be believed in because God exists and whoever denies Him commits a great sin before Him. Our intention in noting that societies where belief in Allah does not exist become corrupt is to emphasise that the fundamental viewpoints of these societies are wrong. Wrong viewpoints lead to ill consequences. A society that commits the biggest sin of denying God, is sure to suffer the worst outcomes. These outcomes are worthy of attention because they show how mistaken this society is.

The common characteristic of such societies is their being deceived as a whole. As stated in the verse,

"Were you to follow the common run of those on earth, they will lead you away from the way of Allah." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 6, Verse 116

That most of society share a common character creates a "mass" psychology that reinforces the already-existing disbelief. Allah describes such societies that are unmindful of Him and the hereafter as "ignorant" in the Qur'an. Even though the members of this society may study physics, history, biology or similar sciences, they do not have the sense and conscience to acknowledge the power and might of Allah. And they are ignorant in that sense.

Because the members of an ignorant society are not devoted to Allah, they go astray from His path in different ways. They follow people who are incompetent servants of Allah just like themselves, taking them as examples and adhering to their ideas as absolute truths. Ultimately an ignorant society ends up a closed society that increasingly blinds itself, becoming further and further divorced from reason and conscience. As we have stated at the beginning, the most notable aspect of this system is that members of such a society act in consonance with anti-religious indoctrination.

Allah describes in the Qur'an with a striking parable how such a life, resting upon a vain and corrupt basis, is destined to be ruined:

Which then is best? He that lays his foundation on piety to Allah and His good pleasure? Or he that lays his foundation on an undermined sand-cliff ready to crumble to pieces? And it does crumble to pieces with him, into the fire of hell. And Allah does not guide people that do wrong. The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 9, Verse 109

There is yet another point to be remembered: every society and every person has the opportunity to be rid of the indoctrination, way of life and philosophy of ignorance. Allah sends them messengers who warn them and inform them of the existence of Allah and the hereafter and who tell them the real meaning of life. And along with His messengers He sends righteous books that answer all the questions that are derived from the very conscience of people. This is the law of Allah that has existed since eternity. In our day, the guide of all people is the Qur'an, which shows the right way and leads people from darkness to light. People will be judged according to their own preferences. The messenger who brought the book to people thus called out to them:

Say: "O you men! Now Truth has reached you from your Lord! Those who receive guidance, do so for the good of their own souls; those who stray, do so to their own loss: and I am not (set) over you to arrange your affairs." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 10, Verse 108

They spoke of him thus (Part I)

Thomas Carlyle, the Scottish historian said:
"They call him a prophet, you say? Why, he stood there face to face with them, here, not enshrined in any mystery, visibly clouting his own cloak, cobbling his own shoes, fighting, counseling, ordering in the midst of them. They must have seen what kind of a man he was, let him be called what ye like. No emperor with his tiaras was obeyed as this man in a cloak of his own clouting. During three and twenty years of rough, actual trial, I find something of a veritable hero necessary for that of itself. "

Reverend Professor William Montgomery Watt said:
His readiness to undergo persecution for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as a leader, and the greatness of his ultimate achievement - all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad as an impostor raises more problems than it solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad ... Thus, not merely must we credit Muhammad with essential honesty and integrity of purpose, if we are to understand him at all; if we are to correct the errors we have inherited from the past, we must not forget the conclusive proof is a much stricter requirement than a show of plausibility, and in a matter such as this only to be attained with difficulty.

Reverend Bosworth Smith said:
"If ever a man ruled by a divine right, it was Muhammad, for he had all the powers without their supports. He cared not for the dressings of power. The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life" .

Washington Irving said:
" His military triumphs awakened no pride nor vain glory as they would have done had they been effected by selfish purposes. In the time of his greatest power he maintained the same simplicity of manner and appearance as in the days of adversity. So far from affecting regal state, he was displeased if, on entering a room, any unusual testimonial of respect was shown to him" .

Wolfgang Goethe, the German Poet said: "I looked into history for a human paradigm and found it to be in Muhammad".

They spoke of him thus (Part II)

They Spoke of him thus (Part II)

George Bernard Shaw said:
I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to possess that assimilating capability to the changing phases of existence which make itself appeal to every age - I have prophesized about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today. Medieval ecclesiastics, either through ignorance or bigotry, painted Muhammadanism in the darkest colours. They were, in fact, trained to hate both the man Muhammad and his religion. To them, Muhammad was an anti-Christ. I have studied him, the wonderful man, and in my opinion, far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of humanity.


Professor Keith Moore said:
It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, or Allah, because most of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God, or Allah.

Annie Besant said:
It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knew how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for the mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel, whenever I reread them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher.

Dr. Gustav Weil said:
Muhammad was a shining example to his people. His character was pure and stainless. His house, his dress, his food - they were characterized by a rare simplicity. So unpretentious was he that he would receive from his companions no special mark of reverence, nor would he accept any service from his slave which he could do for himself. He was accessible to all at all times. He visited the sick and was full of sympathy for all. Unlimited was his benevolence and generosity as also was his anxious care for the welfare of the community.

Edmund Burke said:
The Muhammadan law, which is binding on all from the crowned head to the meanest subject, is a law interwoven with a system of the wisest, the most learned and the most enlightened jurisprudence that ever existed in the world.