Many Muslims suffered hardships and great persecution for the sake of Islam, the Message of Allah.
Their impeccable characters and their closeness to Allah and His Prophet drew many people to Islam.
One of the greatest of these, one of the most humble, and one who endured horrific torture in order to become Muslim was Bilal ibn Rabah. Born in Mecca, the freed Ethiopian slave after accepting Islam was inseparable from the Messenger himself. He became the Prophet's first muezzin (caller to the five daily Prayers).
The story of Bilal's life and journey to Islam teaches us to hold fast to the message of the Oneness of Allah and to defend the reputation of His Prophet with every breath we take and every action we perform.
Bilal ibn Rabah was born as the son of an Ethiopian slave called Rabah. Because of his black skin, he was sometimes known as Bilal Al-Habashi (the Ethiopian). As a boy, he was sold as a slave to Umayyah ibn Khalaf ibn Safwan, leading member of the Quraish, head of the Bani Jumah, and a fierce believer in idol worship.
Not only did he believe in the worship of idols, but also believed that people worshipped idols according to the worshippers' dignity and social status. So he would worship an idol of gold, while his slave would worship an idol of wood or stone. Although Bilal was owned as a slave, it was his "master" who was the real slave. He was a slave of polytheism, that pernicious belief in many gods that held sway in the whole of the Arabian Peninsula at that time.
When Prophet Muhammad began to preach the message of the Oneness of Allah (tawheed, in Arabic), many people in Mecca suffered when they chose to embrace Islam at the hands of the idol worshippers. How can it be not so when even today, people feel threatened by goodness? Those idol worshippers did everything in their power to stop the spread of Islam, even though it was quite clear that these Muslims were good people who intended no harm to anyone.
Bilal saw more and more people embrace Islam in Mecca and, as they did, more and more people suffered and were tortured at the hands of idol worshippers. Abu Jahl was an important man in Mecca, noted for his cruelty and his hatred of Islam. It came to the ears of Bilal that the parents of `Ammar ibn Yasir had been tortured on the rack and had died on the orders of Abu Jahl. Ammar ibn Yasir also endured this torment and persecution of his own but he refused to return to idol worship. Touched by such heroism, Bilal decided to visit the place where Muhammad was staying.
Muhammad's words penetrated Bilal's heart and he became Muslim there and then. There was no musing over when the right time might be; no weighing up the pros and cons of what the consequences of declaring Shahadah would entail. Bilal saw that in this message he would find peace, the answer to his heart's desire.
Almost immediately, it came to the ears of his master, Umayyah, that Bilal had been heard talking about the Oneness of Allah and the futility of worshipping idols. He was made to pay a heavy price. Umayyah had him, at first, dragged through the blistering hot sand in the hottest part of the day and pulled around the city by his neck by young children. Bilal's only response was to cry out "Ahad" (God is One).
He was beaten, but to no avail. The worst was yet to come. With Bilal spread out on the burning sand, huge rocks were placed on his chest and stomach, almost squeezing life out of him, crushing his body and making it impossible to believe. None of it worked. Every time he was asked to renounce Islam and declare his belief once more in idols, he cried out, "Ahad. Ahad." Umayyah gave up the torture, leaving his slave almost dead.
Who knows how many of the people of Mecca were drawn to Islam because of the suffering of this simple and gentle man? How many renounced idol worship because of his example? Bilal did not give any speeches, did not lead any call-to-Islam workshops, and did not write books and pamphlets calling people to Islam. The witness of his life was enough.
Bilal was bought from Umayyah by Abu Bakr who then set Bilal free. Islam had made him a free man. For the rest of his life, he devoted every breath in his body to serving the message of Islam and to being by the side of its Messenger. In fact, he became Muhammad's spear bearer and was at his side in war and peace. It was this spear that was used to point out the direction of prayer from 624 CE onwards.
There was one further distinction for Bilal. Not only was he never away from the side of Muhammad, but he was also chosen by Muhammad to be the first human being to make the Adhan (call to five daily Prayers) after it had been revealed in a dream to Abdullah ibn Zaid, confirmed by Umar, and then approved by Muhammad as being from Allah. Bilal was chosen as the prayer-caller because his voice was strong and also very sweet. He would go to the rooftop of the mosque in Madinah and call out the Adhan.
Isn't the story of Bilal the story of every one who would be Muslim? His voice was strong and sweet, just as the message of Islam is strong and sweet.
Islam needs no one's approval, and Muslims do not need to seek it from anyone. Islam is strong and has nothing to be ashamed of. It is also very sweet, not the caricature that is so often portrayed on television and in newspapers. The message of Islam is both beautiful and sweet.
Bilal's story is proof of what Muhammad always taught: It is not social status or rank or education that makes one person better than another; it is piety. Those close to Allah are truly the best of people.
Bilal had suffered for Islam in his body. He was humble and gentle, faithful and loyal. He was strong and yet when he called the Muslims to Prayer, they could weep out of joy, so sweet was the sound.
"See you not that Allah sends down rain from the sky? With it We then bring out produce of various colours. And in the mountains are tracts white and red, of various shades of colour, and black intense in hue.
And so among men and crawling creatures and cattle, are they of various colours. Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge: for Allah is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving." [Quran -- Creator 35:27-28]
Friday 30 September 2016
Friday 23 September 2016
COLOURS AND COLOURED PEOPLE PART 1
There is a fierce and aggressive war going on against Islam. Why? Because the number of people who embrace Islam is rising daily and THEY do not like it. Islam is telling the truth and refuting all the falsehoods and THEY do not like it. So the evildoers are trying every mean way in order to distract people from Islam but everyone is going to seek the truth because of their schemes. Every cloud has a silver lining.
One of the ways they have found is to misinterpret the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and use fabricated sayings in order to make people hate Islam. For example, there is an anti-Islamic website called Wikiislam.net and it says:
"Islam's Racism Against Black People (Muhammad said, 'Whoever wants to see Satan should look at Nabtal.' He was a sturdy black man with long flowing hair... [Ishaq 243]')"
This is a totally fabricated saying. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) often likened the devil to an all-black dog or a black sheep but NEVER a black person! Take a look at these authentic traditions:
It was narrated that Abu Dharr said:
“I asked the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) about the all-black dog and he said: ‘(It is) a devil.’”
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "Stand close together in your rows, keep nearer to one another, and put your necks in line, for by Him in Whose Hands my soul is, I see the Satan entering through the opening in the row like Al-hadhaf (i.e., a type of small black sheep found in Yemen)."
And what's with the 'long hair' in that fabricated saying? Long hair has nothing to do with the devil either. Read these authentic sayings:
Narrated Abdullah bin Umar:
Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "I saw myself (in a dream) near the Ka`ba (the Sacred House in Mecca) last night, and I saw a man with whitish red complexion, the best you may see amongst men of that complexion having long hair reaching his earlobes which was the best hair of its sort, and he had combed his hair and water was dropping from it, and he was performing the Circumbulation around the Ka`ba while he was leaning on the shoulders of two men. I asked, 'Who is this man?' Somebody replied, '(He is) Messiah, son of Mary.' Then I saw another man with very curly hair, blind in the right eye which looked like a protruding out grape. I asked, 'Who is this?' Somebody replied, '(He is) anti-Christ, the False Prophet.'"
Baraa bin Aazib reports:
"I never seen someone with long hair and red clothing more handsome than the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). His hair reached his shoulders. The portion between his two shoulders was wide. He was neither very tall nor very short".
Now we are going to see what the Prophet actually did say about Black people!:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
A black man or a black woman used to sweep the mosque and he or she died. The Prophet (pbuh) asked about her (or him). He was told that she (or he) had died. He said, "Why did you not inform me? Show me his grave (or her grave)." So he went to her (his) grave and offered her (his) funeral prayer."
The Prophet said: “Do not marry women for their beauty for it may lead to their doom. Do not marry them for their wealth, for it may lead them to fall into sin. Rather, marry them for their religion. A black slave woman with piercings who is religious is better.”
"Indeed Allah Most High created Adam from a handful that He took from all of the earth. So the children of Adam come in according with the earth, some of them come red, and white and black, and between that, and the thin, the thick, the good, and the bad."
A bedouin came to Allah's Messenger (pbuh) and said, "My wife has delivered a black boy, and I suspect that he is not my child." Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said to him, "Have you got camels?" The bedouin said, "Yes." The Prophet said, "What color are they?" The bedouin said, "They are red." The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Are any of them grey?" He said, "There are grey ones among them." The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Whence do you think this color came to them?" The bedouin said, "O Allah's Messenger (pbuh)! It resulted from hereditary disposition." The Prophet said, "And this (your child) has inherited his color from his ancestors." The Prophet (pbuh) did not allow him to deny his paternity of the child.
Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "You should listen to and obey, your ruler (if he adheres to what is right) even if he was an Ethiopian (black) slave whose head looks like a raisin."
One day, Messenger of Allah (pbuh) delivered a very effective speech, as a result, eyes shed tears and hearts became softened. A man said: "O Prophet of Allah! It sounds as if this is a farewell speech, so advise us." He (pbuh) said, "I admonish you to fear Allah, and to listen and obey even if a black slave has been appointed as your leader. For whoever among you lives after me will see much discord. So hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who will come after me. Adhere to them and hold fast to them. Beware of innovation (in religion) because every innovation is a misguidance."
Islam regards all people, believer and disbeliever, black and white, Arab and non-Arab, rich and poor, noble and lowly as the descendants of one man and one woman.
It does not pay attention to differences in colour, race or lineage. All people come from Adam, and Adam was created from dust. In Islam, differentiation between people is based on faith and piety, by doing that which Allah has enjoined and avoiding that which Allah has prohibited. Allah says:
13. O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
[Quran 49:13]
Faith, truthfulness and piety all lead to Paradise, which is the right of the one who acquires these attributes, even if he is one of the weakest or lowliest of people. God says:
“And whosoever believes in Allah and performs righteous good deeds, He will admit him into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein forever. Allah has indeed granted for him an excellent provision”
[Quran 65:11]
Disbelief, arrogance and oppression all lead to Hell, even if the one who does these things is one of the richest or noblest of people. God says:
“But those who disbelieved (in the Oneness of God – Islamic Monotheism) and denied Our Signs (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.), they will be the dwellers of the Fire, to dwell therein forever. And worst indeed is that destination” [Quran 64:10]
The advisors of the Messenger (pbuh) included Muslim men of all tribes, races and colours. Their hearts were filled with Tawheed (Belief in the Oneness of God) and they were brought together by their faith and piety – such as Abu Bakr from Quraysh, Ali ibn Abi Taalib from Bani Haashim, Bilal the Ethiopian, Suhayb the Roman, Salman the Persian, rich men like Uthman and poor men like Ammar, and others.
They believed in Allah and strove for His sake, until Allah and His Messenger were pleased with them. They were the true believers.
“Their reward with their Lord is Adn' Eden) Paradise (Gardens of Eternity), underneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein forever, Allah will be pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord”
[Quran 98:8]
THE RELIGION REVEALED FOR MANKIND
Islam is the religion for all of mankind, no matter what their colour, land, tribe or language is. Prophet Muhammad [pbuh) is the Messenger to all of mankind, of all origins and countries. Allah says:
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of God – to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. None has the right to be worshipped but He; it is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in God and His Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believes in God and His Words, and follow him so that you may be guided.” [Quran 7:158].
In His wisdom, God has made mankind into different peoples and tribes so that they may know one another, not so that they may despise one another. He tells us that the differences in colour and languages are a sign of His Greatness and Power in creation. He says:
“And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the difference of your languages and colours. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge.”
[Quran 30:22]
The Prophet of Islam, (pbuh) affirmed the prohibition of racial discrimination and of despising coloured people, when he said in his famous speech:
“O people, your Lord is One and your father [Adam] is one. There is no superiority of the Arab over the non-Arab, or of the non-Arab over the Arab, or of the white over the black, or of the black over the white – except with regard to God-consciousness.”
(Reported by Imam Ahmad, 22391)
When a man insulted his brother (in Islam) for having a black mother, the Prophet (pbuh) said to him, “You are a man who still has ignorance in him.”
Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “There was an argument between me and one of my brothers whose mother was non-Arab. I insulted him about his mother, and he complained about me to the Prophet (pbuh). I met the Prophet (pbuh) and he said:
“O Abu Dharr, you are a man who still has ignorance in him.”
To be continued....
One of the ways they have found is to misinterpret the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and use fabricated sayings in order to make people hate Islam. For example, there is an anti-Islamic website called Wikiislam.net and it says:
"Islam's Racism Against Black People (Muhammad said, 'Whoever wants to see Satan should look at Nabtal.' He was a sturdy black man with long flowing hair... [Ishaq 243]')"
This is a totally fabricated saying. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) often likened the devil to an all-black dog or a black sheep but NEVER a black person! Take a look at these authentic traditions:
It was narrated that Abu Dharr said:
“I asked the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) about the all-black dog and he said: ‘(It is) a devil.’”
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, "Stand close together in your rows, keep nearer to one another, and put your necks in line, for by Him in Whose Hands my soul is, I see the Satan entering through the opening in the row like Al-hadhaf (i.e., a type of small black sheep found in Yemen)."
And what's with the 'long hair' in that fabricated saying? Long hair has nothing to do with the devil either. Read these authentic sayings:
Narrated Abdullah bin Umar:
Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "I saw myself (in a dream) near the Ka`ba (the Sacred House in Mecca) last night, and I saw a man with whitish red complexion, the best you may see amongst men of that complexion having long hair reaching his earlobes which was the best hair of its sort, and he had combed his hair and water was dropping from it, and he was performing the Circumbulation around the Ka`ba while he was leaning on the shoulders of two men. I asked, 'Who is this man?' Somebody replied, '(He is) Messiah, son of Mary.' Then I saw another man with very curly hair, blind in the right eye which looked like a protruding out grape. I asked, 'Who is this?' Somebody replied, '(He is) anti-Christ, the False Prophet.'"
Baraa bin Aazib reports:
"I never seen someone with long hair and red clothing more handsome than the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). His hair reached his shoulders. The portion between his two shoulders was wide. He was neither very tall nor very short".
Now we are going to see what the Prophet actually did say about Black people!:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
A black man or a black woman used to sweep the mosque and he or she died. The Prophet (pbuh) asked about her (or him). He was told that she (or he) had died. He said, "Why did you not inform me? Show me his grave (or her grave)." So he went to her (his) grave and offered her (his) funeral prayer."
The Prophet said: “Do not marry women for their beauty for it may lead to their doom. Do not marry them for their wealth, for it may lead them to fall into sin. Rather, marry them for their religion. A black slave woman with piercings who is religious is better.”
"Indeed Allah Most High created Adam from a handful that He took from all of the earth. So the children of Adam come in according with the earth, some of them come red, and white and black, and between that, and the thin, the thick, the good, and the bad."
A bedouin came to Allah's Messenger (pbuh) and said, "My wife has delivered a black boy, and I suspect that he is not my child." Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said to him, "Have you got camels?" The bedouin said, "Yes." The Prophet said, "What color are they?" The bedouin said, "They are red." The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Are any of them grey?" He said, "There are grey ones among them." The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Whence do you think this color came to them?" The bedouin said, "O Allah's Messenger (pbuh)! It resulted from hereditary disposition." The Prophet said, "And this (your child) has inherited his color from his ancestors." The Prophet (pbuh) did not allow him to deny his paternity of the child.
Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "You should listen to and obey, your ruler (if he adheres to what is right) even if he was an Ethiopian (black) slave whose head looks like a raisin."
One day, Messenger of Allah (pbuh) delivered a very effective speech, as a result, eyes shed tears and hearts became softened. A man said: "O Prophet of Allah! It sounds as if this is a farewell speech, so advise us." He (pbuh) said, "I admonish you to fear Allah, and to listen and obey even if a black slave has been appointed as your leader. For whoever among you lives after me will see much discord. So hold fast to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs who will come after me. Adhere to them and hold fast to them. Beware of innovation (in religion) because every innovation is a misguidance."
Islam regards all people, believer and disbeliever, black and white, Arab and non-Arab, rich and poor, noble and lowly as the descendants of one man and one woman.
It does not pay attention to differences in colour, race or lineage. All people come from Adam, and Adam was created from dust. In Islam, differentiation between people is based on faith and piety, by doing that which Allah has enjoined and avoiding that which Allah has prohibited. Allah says:
13. O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
[Quran 49:13]
Faith, truthfulness and piety all lead to Paradise, which is the right of the one who acquires these attributes, even if he is one of the weakest or lowliest of people. God says:
“And whosoever believes in Allah and performs righteous good deeds, He will admit him into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein forever. Allah has indeed granted for him an excellent provision”
[Quran 65:11]
Disbelief, arrogance and oppression all lead to Hell, even if the one who does these things is one of the richest or noblest of people. God says:
“But those who disbelieved (in the Oneness of God – Islamic Monotheism) and denied Our Signs (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.), they will be the dwellers of the Fire, to dwell therein forever. And worst indeed is that destination” [Quran 64:10]
The advisors of the Messenger (pbuh) included Muslim men of all tribes, races and colours. Their hearts were filled with Tawheed (Belief in the Oneness of God) and they were brought together by their faith and piety – such as Abu Bakr from Quraysh, Ali ibn Abi Taalib from Bani Haashim, Bilal the Ethiopian, Suhayb the Roman, Salman the Persian, rich men like Uthman and poor men like Ammar, and others.
They believed in Allah and strove for His sake, until Allah and His Messenger were pleased with them. They were the true believers.
“Their reward with their Lord is Adn' Eden) Paradise (Gardens of Eternity), underneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein forever, Allah will be pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord”
[Quran 98:8]
THE RELIGION REVEALED FOR MANKIND
Islam is the religion for all of mankind, no matter what their colour, land, tribe or language is. Prophet Muhammad [pbuh) is the Messenger to all of mankind, of all origins and countries. Allah says:
“Say (O Muhammad): ‘O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of God – to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. None has the right to be worshipped but He; it is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in God and His Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believes in God and His Words, and follow him so that you may be guided.” [Quran 7:158].
In His wisdom, God has made mankind into different peoples and tribes so that they may know one another, not so that they may despise one another. He tells us that the differences in colour and languages are a sign of His Greatness and Power in creation. He says:
“And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the difference of your languages and colours. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge.”
[Quran 30:22]
The Prophet of Islam, (pbuh) affirmed the prohibition of racial discrimination and of despising coloured people, when he said in his famous speech:
“O people, your Lord is One and your father [Adam] is one. There is no superiority of the Arab over the non-Arab, or of the non-Arab over the Arab, or of the white over the black, or of the black over the white – except with regard to God-consciousness.”
(Reported by Imam Ahmad, 22391)
When a man insulted his brother (in Islam) for having a black mother, the Prophet (pbuh) said to him, “You are a man who still has ignorance in him.”
Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “There was an argument between me and one of my brothers whose mother was non-Arab. I insulted him about his mother, and he complained about me to the Prophet (pbuh). I met the Prophet (pbuh) and he said:
“O Abu Dharr, you are a man who still has ignorance in him.”
To be continued....
Friday 16 September 2016
ONE RELIGION, ONE GOD
The religion has been one and the same throughout all human history. God has never allowed a break nor a change or replacement of His religion with the advent of the new Prophets. Every Prophet, stressed on the unity of God and the essence of religion. The essence of God's revelations remained the same as God says:
"And before thy time (O Muhammad!) We never sent any apostle without having revealed to him that there is no God save me; therefore you shall worship and serve Me (alone). " [Quran -- the Prophets:25]
The THREE Abrahamic religions?
Was Abraham a Jew or a Christian?
Judaism was not established until after Moses and Christianity was not established until after Jesus so who was Abraham? Let's see what the Bible says:
Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods. 'Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him through all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac. [Joshua 24:2-3]
And he said, "Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, 'LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.' [Acts 7:2-3]
The above verses tell us that Abraham was a monotheist and he preached Monotheism. In Joshua we read that the father of Abraham served other gods and in Acts we read that the Glory of God appeared to Abraham. The Quran confirms both events:
120. Abraham was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to God, (and) true in Faith, and he joined not gods with Him.
121. He showed his gratitude for the favours of God, who chose him, and guided him to a Straight Way.
122. And We gave him Good in this world, and he will be, in the Hereafter, in the ranks of the Righteous.
123. So We (God) have taught thee the inspired (Message), "Follow the ways of Abraham the True in Faith, and he joined not gods with Allah."
[Quran 16:120-123]
The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: [Matthew 1:1]
If Jesus was the son of Abraham, then how could he be the son of God or let alone God Himself???
MOSES
Now we are going to see whether Moses preached Judaism or not.
(Aaron said:) For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ [Exodus 32:23]
And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot,....
[Exodus 32:19]
The Quran confirms the above events:
86. So Moses returned to his people in a state of indignation and sorrow. He said: "O my people! did not your Lord make a handsome promise to you? Did then the promise seem to you long (in coming)? Or did ye desire that Wrath should descend from your Lord on you, and so you broke your promise to me?"
87. They said: "We broke not the promise to thee, as far as lay in our power: but we were made to carry the weight of the ornaments of the (whole) people, and we threw them (into the fire), and that was what the Samiri suggested.
88. "Then he brought out (of the fire) before the (people) the image of a calf: It seemed to low: so they said: This is your god, and the god of Moses, but (Moses) has forgotten!"
89. Could they not see that it could not return them a word (for answer), and that it had no power either to harm them or to do them good?
90. Aaron had already, before this said to them: "O my people! you are being tested in this: for verily your Lord is Most Gracious; so follow me and obey my command."
91. They had said: "We will not abandon this cult, but we will devote ourselves to it until Moses returns to us."
92. (Moses) said: "O Aaron! what kept thee back, when thou saw them going wrong,
93. "From following me? Did thou then disobey my order?"
94. (Aaron) replied: "O son of my mother! Seize (me) not by my beard nor by (the hair of) my head! Truly I feared lest thou should say, 'Thou has caused a division among the children of Israel, and thou did not respect my word!'"
95. (Moses) said: "What then is thy case, O Samiri?"
96. He (Samiri) replied: "I saw what they saw not: so I took a handful (of dust) from the footprint of the Messenger, and threw it (into the calf): thus did my soul suggest to me."
97. (Moses) said: "Get thee gone! but thy (punishment) in this life will be that thou wilt say, 'touch me not'; and moreover (for a future penalty) thou hast a promise that will not fail: Now look at thy god, of whom thou has become a devoted worshipper: We will certainly (melt) it in a blazing fire and scatter it broadcast in the sea!"
98. But the god of you all is the One Allah. there is no god but He: all things He comprehends in His knowledge.
[Quran 20:86-98]
God gave the 10 Commandments from Mount Sinai. Moses recorded God’s words. They can be found in Exodus 20 and again in Deuteronomy 5.
Let us see the first and the second Commandment:
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them...."
The Commandments tell us that Moses was a monotheist and he preached Monotheism.
So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand. And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power.
[Exodus 4:20-26]
It was God Who put the miracles in Moses' power and it was the same God Who put miracles in Jesus' power! Therefore Jesus was only a Messenger from God like Moses was.
This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’
[Acts 7:37]
Christians believe that Moses was referring to Jesus as the prophet (not Muhammad). If Jesus was a prophet like Moses then why do they say Jesus was god?
JESUS
Did Jesus preach Christianity?
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”
[John 17:3]
“A certain ruler asked him: ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good – except God alone.’”
[Luke 18:18-19]
“The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
So if you worship me, it will all be yours.’
Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”’”
[Luke 4:5-8]
“One of the teachers of the law came and noticed them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’
‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the LORD IS ONE.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.’
‘Well said, teacher,’ the man replied. ‘You are right in saying that GOD IS ONE AND THERE IS NO OTHER BUT HIM.
To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’
When Jesus saw that he has answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’ And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
[Mark 12:28-34]
The Quran confirms the message of Jesus:
50. "(Jesus said) "(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear God, and obey me.
51. "'It is God Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.'" [Quran 3:50-51]
Jesus was also a monotheist and he preached Monotheism.
And lastly the Quran says:
"Say (to them, O Muhammad!): Will ye dispute with us about God, seeing that He is our Lord and your Lord; that we are responsible for our doings and you for yours; and that we are sincere (in our faith) in Him?
Or do you say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do you know better than God? Ah! Who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from God. But God is not unmindful of what you do!"
[Quran 2:139-140]
"And before thy time (O Muhammad!) We never sent any apostle without having revealed to him that there is no God save me; therefore you shall worship and serve Me (alone). " [Quran -- the Prophets:25]
The THREE Abrahamic religions?
Was Abraham a Jew or a Christian?
Judaism was not established until after Moses and Christianity was not established until after Jesus so who was Abraham? Let's see what the Bible says:
Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods. 'Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him through all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac. [Joshua 24:2-3]
And he said, "Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, 'LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.' [Acts 7:2-3]
The above verses tell us that Abraham was a monotheist and he preached Monotheism. In Joshua we read that the father of Abraham served other gods and in Acts we read that the Glory of God appeared to Abraham. The Quran confirms both events:
120. Abraham was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to God, (and) true in Faith, and he joined not gods with Him.
121. He showed his gratitude for the favours of God, who chose him, and guided him to a Straight Way.
122. And We gave him Good in this world, and he will be, in the Hereafter, in the ranks of the Righteous.
123. So We (God) have taught thee the inspired (Message), "Follow the ways of Abraham the True in Faith, and he joined not gods with Allah."
[Quran 16:120-123]
The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: [Matthew 1:1]
If Jesus was the son of Abraham, then how could he be the son of God or let alone God Himself???
MOSES
Now we are going to see whether Moses preached Judaism or not.
(Aaron said:) For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ [Exodus 32:23]
And as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot,....
[Exodus 32:19]
The Quran confirms the above events:
86. So Moses returned to his people in a state of indignation and sorrow. He said: "O my people! did not your Lord make a handsome promise to you? Did then the promise seem to you long (in coming)? Or did ye desire that Wrath should descend from your Lord on you, and so you broke your promise to me?"
87. They said: "We broke not the promise to thee, as far as lay in our power: but we were made to carry the weight of the ornaments of the (whole) people, and we threw them (into the fire), and that was what the Samiri suggested.
88. "Then he brought out (of the fire) before the (people) the image of a calf: It seemed to low: so they said: This is your god, and the god of Moses, but (Moses) has forgotten!"
89. Could they not see that it could not return them a word (for answer), and that it had no power either to harm them or to do them good?
90. Aaron had already, before this said to them: "O my people! you are being tested in this: for verily your Lord is Most Gracious; so follow me and obey my command."
91. They had said: "We will not abandon this cult, but we will devote ourselves to it until Moses returns to us."
92. (Moses) said: "O Aaron! what kept thee back, when thou saw them going wrong,
93. "From following me? Did thou then disobey my order?"
94. (Aaron) replied: "O son of my mother! Seize (me) not by my beard nor by (the hair of) my head! Truly I feared lest thou should say, 'Thou has caused a division among the children of Israel, and thou did not respect my word!'"
95. (Moses) said: "What then is thy case, O Samiri?"
96. He (Samiri) replied: "I saw what they saw not: so I took a handful (of dust) from the footprint of the Messenger, and threw it (into the calf): thus did my soul suggest to me."
97. (Moses) said: "Get thee gone! but thy (punishment) in this life will be that thou wilt say, 'touch me not'; and moreover (for a future penalty) thou hast a promise that will not fail: Now look at thy god, of whom thou has become a devoted worshipper: We will certainly (melt) it in a blazing fire and scatter it broadcast in the sea!"
98. But the god of you all is the One Allah. there is no god but He: all things He comprehends in His knowledge.
[Quran 20:86-98]
God gave the 10 Commandments from Mount Sinai. Moses recorded God’s words. They can be found in Exodus 20 and again in Deuteronomy 5.
Let us see the first and the second Commandment:
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them...."
The Commandments tell us that Moses was a monotheist and he preached Monotheism.
So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand. And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power.
[Exodus 4:20-26]
It was God Who put the miracles in Moses' power and it was the same God Who put miracles in Jesus' power! Therefore Jesus was only a Messenger from God like Moses was.
This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’
[Acts 7:37]
Christians believe that Moses was referring to Jesus as the prophet (not Muhammad). If Jesus was a prophet like Moses then why do they say Jesus was god?
JESUS
Did Jesus preach Christianity?
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”
[John 17:3]
“A certain ruler asked him: ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good – except God alone.’”
[Luke 18:18-19]
“The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
So if you worship me, it will all be yours.’
Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”’”
[Luke 4:5-8]
“One of the teachers of the law came and noticed them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’
‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the LORD IS ONE.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these.’
‘Well said, teacher,’ the man replied. ‘You are right in saying that GOD IS ONE AND THERE IS NO OTHER BUT HIM.
To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’
When Jesus saw that he has answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’ And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
[Mark 12:28-34]
The Quran confirms the message of Jesus:
50. "(Jesus said) "(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear God, and obey me.
51. "'It is God Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.'" [Quran 3:50-51]
Jesus was also a monotheist and he preached Monotheism.
And lastly the Quran says:
"Say (to them, O Muhammad!): Will ye dispute with us about God, seeing that He is our Lord and your Lord; that we are responsible for our doings and you for yours; and that we are sincere (in our faith) in Him?
Or do you say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do you know better than God? Ah! Who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they have from God. But God is not unmindful of what you do!"
[Quran 2:139-140]
Friday 9 September 2016
THE CLOSEST OF PEOPLE TO GOD
Islam surpasses all other beliefs – the Islamic faith is above all religions and is an understanding that each moment of our lives we stand before God, Glorified be He.
According to Islam, God is accessible at any time and in any place. We need only call on Him and He will answer the call. Prophet Muhammad advised us to call on God often. He told us that God said,
“I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.”
In the Quran God says, “Remember Me and I will remember you…” [Quran 2:152]
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that when God, Glorified be He, made Adam from the dust and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, Adam sneezed. After the sneeze Adam's first words were these:
"All praise be to God"
No one practices this act today except Muslims.
When a Muslim sneezes, he says:
"All praise be to Allah"
When a Muslim yawns, he seeks refuge in God.
"I seek refuge in Allah from the Rejected Devil"
When a Muslim initiates a permissable act, he says:
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful".
Muslims pray in a ritualised way five times every day and interestingly the Arabic word for prayer is ‘salah’, which means a connection.
The most recognisable posture in the Muslim prayer is touching the forehead to the ground. This posture is mentioned in the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad as the position in which a believer is as close to God as it is possible to be:
"The nearest one comes to his Lord is when he is kowtowing."
This was how the Prophets and Messengers prayed towards their Lord. The Bible says:
Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. "No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
[Bible -- Genesis 17:3-6]
"And he (Jesus) went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed..." (Matthew 26:39)
"And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship..." (Joshua 5:14)
"And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces…" (Numbers 20:6)
"…and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God." (Revelation 7:11)
"…then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground." (Nehemiah 8:6)
"…Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces." (1 Chronicles 21:16)
In many others places in the Bible where we find the method of prayer mentioned, it calls to mind the way Muslims pray.
"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did a foretime." (Daniel 6:10)
It is interesting to note that Prophet Daniel prayed towards Jerusalem. In the early days of Prophet Mohammad’s mission the believers also prayed towards Jerusalem. About sixteen months after Prophet Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to the city of Medina the direction was changed to facing the sacred House of God in Mecca.
"Stand in awe, and sin not."(Psalms 4:4)
"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker." (Psalms 95:6)
"…all that go down to the dust shall bow before him…" (Psalms 22:29)
And in the book of Kings we find Prophet Elijah casting himself upon the earth in the position of kneeling before touching the forehead to the ground.
"…and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees." (1 Kings 18:42)
"And he (Jesus) was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed." (Luke 22:41)
Even though the Jews and Christians today do not pray as we read in the Bible, Muslims continue to pray in the similar way to the Prophets, as intended by the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
Muslims are connected to God and can communicate with Him easily. They call on God in any language, at any time and in any place. They supplicate to Him, and give thanks. As God says:
"To God belong the East and the West: Wherever you turn, there is the Face of God. For God is all-Pervading, all-Knowing." [ Quran 2:115]
The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The (whole) earth has been made a place of prayer and a means of purification, so wherever a man of my community (a Muslim) may be when the time for prayer comes, let him pray."
According to Islam, the entire world (except graveyards and lavatories) is a place for prayer.
Wherever a Muslim is when the time for prayer comes, he should pray: in a mosque, if possible, or else in a hallway or park, on a sidewalk or in a parking lot, or in a corner of a store, or on a tree, in the forest, in the street – anywhere at all. A Muslim can also pray in every kind of a temple, such as a church or a synonogue if one can find no other place.
One of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
"The Prophet (pbuh) used to pray when travelling on his camel, no matter which direction it was facing...."
Muslims also pray to God at every moment of their life during communication with every human being. One example is greeting a Muslim with Salaam.
The Islamic form of greeting is universally comprehensive. It comprises the remembrance of God, it portrays the relationship of one Muslim to another, it is a perfect prayer and it also assures that you are safe from the evils of my hands and tongue. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said the following traditions:
"The closest person to God is he who initiates the Salaam"
"Salaam (which means Source of Peace ) is among the names of God which He has sent down to this earth. When a person comes to a gathering and offers Salaam to the people, he acquires a lofty status in the Sight of God because he reminded the people of God...."
"When a person enters his house, he should offer Salaam unto the people of the household as this entails blessings of God for him as well as the people of the household"
The Prophet (pbuh) enumerated a number of virtues, blessings and rewards for its implementation.
Another example is being just towards non-Muslims. God says in the Quran:
“Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear God. Verily, God is Well-Acquainted with what you do”
[Quran 5:8].
God has enjoined the Muslims to treat non-Muslims with justice as this is part of the faith.
It was reported that a sheep was slaughtered for 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr. He asked his slave:
"Have you given any to our Jewish neighbour? Have you given any to our Jewish neighbour? I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Gabriel kept on recommending that I treat my neighbours well until I thought that he would order me to treat them as my heirs.'"
Islam encourages people to honour one's neighbour and guest, and to remain silent unless one has something good to say, and regards all of that as part of the faith.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) observed:
"He who believes in God and the Last Day should either utter good words or better keep silent; and he who believes in God and the Last Day should treat his neighbour with kindness and he who believes in God and the Last Day should show hospitality to his guest."
Islam was revealed from God to Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). It was not made up by a human or any other creature nor it was influenced by other religions. The sole SOURCE of Islam is God Who guaranteed its preservation (not Zoroastrianism as some ignorant people believe it is).
All the Islamic beliefs, acts of worship, etiquettes, morals, laws and systems come from God. Muslims do not perform worship except in ways ordained by God, whether such acts of worship are prayer, fasting, alms giving or pilgrimage.
As this is a divinely-revealed religion, it connects a believer to his Lord with no intermediary. So a person worships his Lord whenever he wants, and calls upon Him when he wants. He is connected to his Lord by ties of worship, by turning to Him and beseeching Him. He does not need the intercession of priests or rabbis. Rather he turns directly to Allah, the One, the Subduer of all.
This is why it is not essential for the one who wants to utter the twin testimony of faith (al-shahadah) to have witnesses present. He may simply utter the words with his tongue, and that is sufficient for him to enter Islam.
The key to Islam is no more than two simple phrases: “Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa anna Muhammadan Rasool-Allaah (I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).” With these few words, a person enters Islam in a matter of seconds. There is no need for baptism or priests or any witnesses, or even to go to a certain place such as a mosque or anywhere else.
Muslims are the closest of people to God and are never alone or far from His Mercy, Forgiveness and Love.
107. Say: "Whether you believe in it (the Quran) or not, it is true that those who were given knowledge beforehand, when it is recited to them, fall down on their faces in humble prostration,
108. "And they say: 'Glory to our Lord! Truly has the promise of our Lord (to Abraham) been fulfilled!'"
109. They fall down on their faces in tears, and it increases their (earnest) humility. [Quran 17:107-109]
According to Islam, God is accessible at any time and in any place. We need only call on Him and He will answer the call. Prophet Muhammad advised us to call on God often. He told us that God said,
“I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.”
In the Quran God says, “Remember Me and I will remember you…” [Quran 2:152]
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that when God, Glorified be He, made Adam from the dust and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, Adam sneezed. After the sneeze Adam's first words were these:
"All praise be to God"
No one practices this act today except Muslims.
When a Muslim sneezes, he says:
"All praise be to Allah"
When a Muslim yawns, he seeks refuge in God.
"I seek refuge in Allah from the Rejected Devil"
When a Muslim initiates a permissable act, he says:
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful".
Muslims pray in a ritualised way five times every day and interestingly the Arabic word for prayer is ‘salah’, which means a connection.
The most recognisable posture in the Muslim prayer is touching the forehead to the ground. This posture is mentioned in the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad as the position in which a believer is as close to God as it is possible to be:
"The nearest one comes to his Lord is when he is kowtowing."
This was how the Prophets and Messengers prayed towards their Lord. The Bible says:
Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. "No longer shall your name be called Abram, But your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
[Bible -- Genesis 17:3-6]
"And he (Jesus) went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed..." (Matthew 26:39)
"And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship..." (Joshua 5:14)
"And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces…" (Numbers 20:6)
"…and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God." (Revelation 7:11)
"…then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground." (Nehemiah 8:6)
"…Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces." (1 Chronicles 21:16)
In many others places in the Bible where we find the method of prayer mentioned, it calls to mind the way Muslims pray.
"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did a foretime." (Daniel 6:10)
It is interesting to note that Prophet Daniel prayed towards Jerusalem. In the early days of Prophet Mohammad’s mission the believers also prayed towards Jerusalem. About sixteen months after Prophet Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to the city of Medina the direction was changed to facing the sacred House of God in Mecca.
"Stand in awe, and sin not."(Psalms 4:4)
"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker." (Psalms 95:6)
"…all that go down to the dust shall bow before him…" (Psalms 22:29)
And in the book of Kings we find Prophet Elijah casting himself upon the earth in the position of kneeling before touching the forehead to the ground.
"…and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees." (1 Kings 18:42)
"And he (Jesus) was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed." (Luke 22:41)
Even though the Jews and Christians today do not pray as we read in the Bible, Muslims continue to pray in the similar way to the Prophets, as intended by the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
Muslims are connected to God and can communicate with Him easily. They call on God in any language, at any time and in any place. They supplicate to Him, and give thanks. As God says:
"To God belong the East and the West: Wherever you turn, there is the Face of God. For God is all-Pervading, all-Knowing." [ Quran 2:115]
The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The (whole) earth has been made a place of prayer and a means of purification, so wherever a man of my community (a Muslim) may be when the time for prayer comes, let him pray."
According to Islam, the entire world (except graveyards and lavatories) is a place for prayer.
Wherever a Muslim is when the time for prayer comes, he should pray: in a mosque, if possible, or else in a hallway or park, on a sidewalk or in a parking lot, or in a corner of a store, or on a tree, in the forest, in the street – anywhere at all. A Muslim can also pray in every kind of a temple, such as a church or a synonogue if one can find no other place.
One of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
"The Prophet (pbuh) used to pray when travelling on his camel, no matter which direction it was facing...."
Muslims also pray to God at every moment of their life during communication with every human being. One example is greeting a Muslim with Salaam.
The Islamic form of greeting is universally comprehensive. It comprises the remembrance of God, it portrays the relationship of one Muslim to another, it is a perfect prayer and it also assures that you are safe from the evils of my hands and tongue. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said the following traditions:
"The closest person to God is he who initiates the Salaam"
"Salaam (which means Source of Peace ) is among the names of God which He has sent down to this earth. When a person comes to a gathering and offers Salaam to the people, he acquires a lofty status in the Sight of God because he reminded the people of God...."
"When a person enters his house, he should offer Salaam unto the people of the household as this entails blessings of God for him as well as the people of the household"
The Prophet (pbuh) enumerated a number of virtues, blessings and rewards for its implementation.
Another example is being just towards non-Muslims. God says in the Quran:
“Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear God. Verily, God is Well-Acquainted with what you do”
[Quran 5:8].
God has enjoined the Muslims to treat non-Muslims with justice as this is part of the faith.
It was reported that a sheep was slaughtered for 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr. He asked his slave:
"Have you given any to our Jewish neighbour? Have you given any to our Jewish neighbour? I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Gabriel kept on recommending that I treat my neighbours well until I thought that he would order me to treat them as my heirs.'"
Islam encourages people to honour one's neighbour and guest, and to remain silent unless one has something good to say, and regards all of that as part of the faith.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) observed:
"He who believes in God and the Last Day should either utter good words or better keep silent; and he who believes in God and the Last Day should treat his neighbour with kindness and he who believes in God and the Last Day should show hospitality to his guest."
Islam was revealed from God to Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). It was not made up by a human or any other creature nor it was influenced by other religions. The sole SOURCE of Islam is God Who guaranteed its preservation (not Zoroastrianism as some ignorant people believe it is).
All the Islamic beliefs, acts of worship, etiquettes, morals, laws and systems come from God. Muslims do not perform worship except in ways ordained by God, whether such acts of worship are prayer, fasting, alms giving or pilgrimage.
As this is a divinely-revealed religion, it connects a believer to his Lord with no intermediary. So a person worships his Lord whenever he wants, and calls upon Him when he wants. He is connected to his Lord by ties of worship, by turning to Him and beseeching Him. He does not need the intercession of priests or rabbis. Rather he turns directly to Allah, the One, the Subduer of all.
This is why it is not essential for the one who wants to utter the twin testimony of faith (al-shahadah) to have witnesses present. He may simply utter the words with his tongue, and that is sufficient for him to enter Islam.
The key to Islam is no more than two simple phrases: “Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa anna Muhammadan Rasool-Allaah (I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).” With these few words, a person enters Islam in a matter of seconds. There is no need for baptism or priests or any witnesses, or even to go to a certain place such as a mosque or anywhere else.
Muslims are the closest of people to God and are never alone or far from His Mercy, Forgiveness and Love.
107. Say: "Whether you believe in it (the Quran) or not, it is true that those who were given knowledge beforehand, when it is recited to them, fall down on their faces in humble prostration,
108. "And they say: 'Glory to our Lord! Truly has the promise of our Lord (to Abraham) been fulfilled!'"
109. They fall down on their faces in tears, and it increases their (earnest) humility. [Quran 17:107-109]
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