WHAT CAN ISLAM DO FOR YOU? PART 1

Many Muslims believe that Islam can do wonders and miracles for people. They say it can spare all their problems.
They say the reason why the Western countries follow corrupt culture is because there is not much Islam there.
They say it can also save them from death!

Now we are going to see how true this is in THREE - PART SERIES.

PART 2 will be posted next Friday if God is willing.

In the Quran God says:

"....for the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception." 3:185

"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives and the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere,---." 2:155

"You shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves;...." 3:186

The above verses tell us that Islam cannot spare anyone's problems. Everyone has problems, Muslim or not.

Are Islamic countries free from corrupt behaviour and culture? Muslims have started to follow the corrupt culture as well just as foretold by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that this will happen at the end of times. He also warned that a large part of the Muslim nation would follow the Jews and Christians so closely that if they entered the den of a lizard, Muslims would climb in after them as well and that before the Last Day some "Muslims" would actually worship idols, drink alcohol and commit adultery.

Can Islam save you from death?

"Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense...." 3:185

"Wherever you are, death will find you out, even if you are in towers built up strong and high!"...." 4:78

The above Quranic verses tell us that Islam cannot save people from death.

So why do these Muslims think that Islam is a panecea for all life's problems? These beliefs must have something to do with their psychology and not based on any real information.

Now we know that Islam cannot spare anyone's problems, nor it can save you from death nor it will make you live completely without sin. For that matter, we are going to see what CAN Islam actually do for you.

First, we are going to see what Islam did for this world and compare them with the situation in the modern-day world.

When Prophet Muhammad appeared, the world was divided between two main superpowers, the Persians and the Byzantines, who used to fight each other causing a lot of suffering to their people, let alone their tyrannical and repressive regimes.

At the same time, false beliefs and creeds prevailed; people were wandering away from the Heavenly revelations such as the Torah and the Gospels which were mixed up with fabrications and falsehood. Social conditions had also deteriorated; despotism, tyranny, bloodshed were dominant, and human dignity had been lost and morals were perverted.

Amidst this dark time, the Message of Islam arrived to steer mankind back to unblemished morality and right practices, and to anchor people to the infallible Revelation. Islam's Message arrived to provide guidance, to draw mankind to the light of God and to lead people to bliss and happiness.

The first thing that Islam did was to free people from the slavery of worshipping other deities and human beings and to relieve them from the shackles of tyranny.

The weak, the poor and the slaves rushed to Islam, where they found salvation. Islam raised them up to be on equal footing with the rich and the powerful. It opened the gates of creativity and excellence for everyone to prosper according to his/her capabilities. Take for example, Bilal the Ethiopian, Salman, the Persian and Suhayb, the Byzantine.

Now let's compare this with the modern-day world.

Ever since Islam came to this world it NEVER decreased in numbers. Why?

People embrace Islam because they find security, comfort and peace in it, they see a cure for their problems in it, and through it they are able to get rid of their feelings of confusion, anxiety and loss.

So Islam only provides cures for your problems, not spare them completely. And the Quran has the cures for all problems and mental and physical diseases and it also blocks the ways that lead to such problems.

For instance, the Quran says:

"....Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily God has been to you Most Merciful!" 4:29

If one knows that God has been most merciful to him then there will be no excuse for him to commit suicide.

Islam educates people and lifts them up to righteous conduct, good manners and virtue. Its call is distinguished from others by its realism, balance and moderation. Islam pays due attention to both the soul and the body. It neither suppresses physical desires (monasticism) nor allows extravagance in this regard (promiscuity); it makes a distinction between the natural inclination to enjoy the pleasures of this world (marriage) and forbidden desires that come under the heading of depravity and perversion (all types of illegal sexual activity).

Islam brings about for all mankind the good of this world and happiness in the Hereafter. It considers everyone's spirit as well as body, and cares for the individual as well as community. It makes lawful everything that is useful and beneficial and bans everything that is harmful. So those who abandon their own whims and desires and follow the way of Prophet Muhammad will be successful in this world and in the Hereafter.

Those who become Muslim in developed countries realize what their country’s civilization and laws, which have been fabricated from men’s whims and desires, have done to them, and they realize the extent of the misery in which people in developed countries are living. They see how prevalent psychological illnesses, nervous breakdowns, insanity and suicides are, despite the technological advances and great number of discoveries and inventions and modern systems of management. This is because all of that is concerned only with the physical and the outward, but it neglects the inward and fails to nourish and nurture the heart and soul. God says of these people in the Quran:

“They know only the outside appearance of the life of the world, and they are heedless of the Hereafter.”
[30:7]

Islam has been the only religion that completely abolished slavery of all types. There are four types of slavery in this world:

1. Slavery of human beings

2. Slavery of worshipping others besides God

3. Slavery of one's profession

4. Slavery of one’s own self

1. During the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad, a man had a flock of sheep and a Black slave-girl who tended it. One day, a wolf snatched away an ewe from the flock. The man was angry and slapped the slave-girl harshly. He regretted his action and hurried to the Prophet and told him what had happened.

The Prophet said to him:

"Bring her to me."

When the man brought her, the Prophet asked her:

"Where is Allah?"

She said:

"He is in heaven."

He said:

"Who am I?"

She said:

"You are the Messenger of Allah."

The Messenger of Allah said to the man:

"Set her free! She is a Muslim."

God says in many places of the Quran to set the slaves free:

11. But he has made no haste on the path that is steep.

12. And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?-

13. (It is:) freeing the bondman;

14. Or the giving of food in a day of privation

15. To the orphan with claims of relationship,

16. Or to the indigent (down) in the dust.

17. Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. 90:11-17

Islam honoured the woman after all the tyranny and suppression she experienced. Both Eastern and Western societies used to look down at her, denying her human rights. Then Islam came to raise her status, protecting her dignity and rights through imposing a set of laws. It put her on equal footing with man in terms of duties and obligations –in prayers, charity, pilgrimage and all other acts of worship. It made her financially independent and let her keep her name so that she remains belonging to her own family rather than acquiring a new name when she marries. It also gave her the responsibility of looking after her husband and children.

2. Now to the slavery of worshipping others besides God.

Islam came with the clear Message of Divine Oneness in which a person can liberate himself from the bonds of servitude to anything but the One True God, and he can free himself from earthly connections and religions that approve of the servitude to human beings such as leaders, personalities, idols etc, animals such as cows, snakes etc., statues and images such as Mary, Jesus, Hindu/Shinto dieties etc.

Man, whom God has honoured with reason and the soul which is created by Him, becomes a slave to those animals, humans, dolls etc etc which he regards as holy, and reveres and venerates them, although they have no power to bring him any benefit or ward off any harm; indeed they cannot do that for themselves, let alone others.

3. As for the slavery of one's profession.

There are people out there who become slaves to their own professions. A person might work from dawn to dusk for money at the expense of his/her religious commitment. An ambitious man might take the road of destruction or suicide if his plans go awry. It is widely believed that once the Westerners gave up all religions and freed themselves from them, they reached the level of civilized advancement that they have reached or attained huge success in business.

Whatever it is, God knows best. The point that needs to be understood by all is if one chooses his own ideas over the truth revealed by God there is no way he/she will enter the Gate of Paradise no matter how much wealth, good works or fame they amassed or how many people love them or speak good about them in this world.

4. The slavery of one's own self.

Self-worshipping or making one’s own ideas about God.

Following one’s or others' whims and desires or blindly following everything a leader, a personality or an idol says.

Islam came to free people from this type of slavery by making them obey God and His Messenger and NO ONE ELSE.

You should have known by now that Islam is not like any other religions and the Jews, Christians and others who embraced this religion will be enough proof for anyone who likes to doubt. But I know there are still some incredulous people among you so I will tell you about the truth in Part 2 next Friday.

Truth heals the world!

WHO IS ISA?

Who is Isa?

Isa is Jesus. Because of the difference in pronunciation, many people may not be aware that when they hear a Muslim talking about Isa, he is actually talking about Prophet Jesus.

The spelling of Isa may take many forms – Isa, Esa, Essa, and Eissa.  The Arabic language is written in Arabic characters, thus any transliteration system tries to reproduce the phonetic sound.  No matter what the spelling, all indicate Jesus, the Messenger of God.

Jesus and his people spoke Aramaic, a language from the Semitic family. Spoken by more than 300 million people throughout the Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa, Semitic languages include, among others, Arabic and Hebrew.  The use of the word Eissa is actually a closer translation of the Aramaic word for Jesus – Eeshu.  In Hebrew this translates to Yeshua.

Translating the name Jesus into non Semitic languages complicated things. There was no “J” in any language until the fourteenth century, so consequently, when the name Jesus was translated into Greek, it became Iesous, and in Latin, Iesus.  Later, the “I” and “J” were used interchangeably, and finally the name transitioned into English as Jesus.  The final “S” on the end is indicative of the Greek language where all male names end in “S”.

Aramaic -- Eeshu

Arabic -- Isa

Hebrew -- Yeshua

Greek -- Iesous

Latin -- Iesus

English -- Jesus

In sixteen of the 25 places in the Quran where Isa is used, he is called "the son of Mary" (Ibn Maryam). Since he had no father, he was named so after his mother.

Now, we are going to see whether Maryam in the Quran was Mary or not.

Like Christians, Muslims believe that Mary, Maria in Spanish, or Maryam as she is called in Hebrew as well as in Arabic, was a chaste, virgin woman, who miraculously gave birth to Jesus. Jesus’ birth in itself was a miracle in that he had no father. God describes his birth in the Quran as follows:

“And mention in the Book (the Quran), Mary, when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her a spirit from Us, (the angel Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. She said: ‘Verily, I seek refuge with the Most Gracious (God) from you, if you do fear God.’ (The angel) said: ‘I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.’ She said: ‘How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?’ He said: ‘So (it will be), your Lord said That is easy for Me (God): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (God), and it is a matter (already) decreed (by God).’” (Quran 19:16-21)

Now let's see what the Quran says about Isa:

45. Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah gives thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah.

46. "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous."

47. She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?" He said: "Even so: Allah creates what He wills: When He has decreed a matter, He but says to it, 'Be,' and it is!

48. "And Allah will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel,

49. "And (appoint him) an apostle to the Children of Israel, (with this message): "'I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah's leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah's leave; and I declare to you what you eat, and what you store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if you did believe;

50. "'(I have come to you), to attest the Law (Torah) 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 Allah, and obey me.

51. "'It is Allah Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.'" [Quran 3: 45-51]

Who else could this Isa be other than Jesus, the son of Mary and the Word of God?

WHICH DENOMINATION DOES JESUS BELONG TO?

Many Christians have started to wonder what true Christianity is. They have stopped attending the church because they now realize that the priests are acting as intermediaries between them and their Lord.

They have also realized that there is only one high power over them and have begun personal relationships with God and have found happiness and peace there.

However, they are still confused about who Jesus was, how he conducted his life and what he preached. Some of them go through the experience of different Christian denominations in order to find out which one Jesus belonged to. They search here and there but cannot find it because one Christian sect condemns the other and there is a lot of enmity and hatred among them.

So which denomination Jesus belonged to? It will be too easy to find out if only they are open-minded and read this post. Here is the answer:

First, we are going to look at the appearance of Jesus. They would have seen beautiful paintings of him in the church or at people's houses.

Jesus was bearded, wasn't he?  Most Muslims are bearded too, but only the rare Christian.

Jesus was dressed modestly.  If we close our eyes and form a mental picture, we see flowing robes, from wrists to ankles—much like the loose Arabian robes and the Indio-Pakistani shalwar kameez, typical of the Muslims of those areas.  What we don’t imagine is the revealing or seductive clothing so ubiquitous in Christian cultures.

Jesus’ mother covered her hair, and this practice was maintained among the Christian women of the Holy Land up to the middle of the twentieth century.  Again, this is a practice maintained among Muslims as well as Orthodox Jews (of which Jesus was one), but not among modern day Christians.

Now, let's look at the manner of Jesus.

Jesus was always praying everyday.  How many “righteous” Christians fit this “It’s not just on Sundays” profile?  Now how many “five prayers a day, every day of the year” Muslims?

Jesus spoke with humility and kindness.  He didn’t “showboat.”  When we think of his speeches, we don’t imagine theatrics.  He was a simple man known for quality and truth.  How many preachers and how many evangelists follow this example?

Jesus taught his disciples to offer the greeting of “Peace” (Luke 10:5), and then set the example: “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36, John 20:19, John 20:21, John 20:26).  Who continues this practice to this day, Christians or Muslims?  “Peace be with you” is the meaning of the Muslim greeting, “Assalam alaikum.”  Interestingly enough, we find this greeting in Judaism as well (Genesis 43:23, Numbers 6:26, Judges 6:23, I Samuel 1:17 and I Samuel 25:6).

Now for Jesus' religious practices.

Jesus was circumcised (Luke 2:21).  Paul taught it wasn’t necessary (Rom 4:11 and Gal 5:2).  Muslims believe it is.

Jesus didn’t eat pork, in keeping with Old Testament law (Leviticus 11:7 and Deuteronomy 14:8).  Muslims also believe pork is forbidden.  Christians … well, you get the idea.

Jesus didn’t give or take usury, in compliance with the Old Testament prohibition (Exodus 22:25).  Usury is forbidden in the Old Testament and the Quran, as it was forbidden in the religion of Jesus.  The economies of most Christian countries, however, are structured upon usury.

Jesus didn’t fornicate, and abstained from extramarital contact with women.  Now, this issue extends to the least physical contact with the opposite sex.  With the exception of performing religious rituals and helping those in need, Jesus never even touched a woman other than his mother.  Strictly practicing Orthodox Jews maintain this practice to this day in observance of Old Testament law.  Likewise, practicing Muslims don’t even shake hands between the genders.  Can the adultrous people of the ancient times with crosses hanging from their necks make the same claim? Can the modern-day Christians with premarital affairs, extramarital affairs and other types of sexual liberation make the same claim?

Now how did Jesus worship?

Jesus purified himself with washing prior to prayer, as was the practice of the pious prophets who preceded him (see Exodus 40:31-32 in reference to Moses and Aaron), and as is the practice of Muslims.

Jesus prayed in prostration (Matthew 26:39), like the other prophets (see Nehemiah 8:6 with regard to Ezra and the people, Joshua 5:14 for Joshua, Genesis 17:3 and 24:52 for Abraham, Exodus 34:8 and Numbers 20:6 for Moses and Aaron).  Who prays like that, Christians or Muslims?

Jesus fasted for more than a month at a time (Matthew 4:2 and Luke 4:2), as did the pious before him (Exodus 34:28, I Kings 19:8), and as do Muslims in the annual fast of the month of Ramadan.

Jesus made pilgrimage for the purpose of worship, as all Orthodox Jews aspire to do.  The Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca is well known, and is alluded to in the Bible (see The First and Final Commandment).

And finally what did Jesus believe in and preach?

Jesus taught the oneness of God (Mark 12:29-30, Matthew 22:37 and Luke 10:27), as conveyed in the first commandment (Exodus 20:3).  Nowhere did he declare the Trinity.

Jesus declared himself a man and a prophet of God (see above), and nowhere claimed divinity or divine sonship.  Which creed are the above points more consistent with—the Christian formula or the absolute monotheism of Islam?

As everyone can see for themselves, Jesus conducted his life just as how a Muslim male should conduct his life in Islam.

Now that everyone knows which denomination Jesus belonged to, will they join it?

Peace be upon those who follow the truth.

ONE COMMUNITY

God loves unity, harmony, peace, and togetherness.

To achieve all that God wants us to be in One Community.

God hates divisions, sects, pride, arrogance, and falsehoods.

To get rid of all that God wants us to be in One Community.

To be in One Community everyone should be under God's Direction. To be under God's Direction, we have to be united and follow that One Direction. If we follow different directions we will not agree with one another and end up being conquered and divided.

Mankind was once staying in harmony with their belief in the One true Lord then due to the conditioning of the world they started to differ. Some of them believed, some disbelieved and some associated others with God. So God sent the Prophets with glad tidings to those who believed in them and warnings to those who disbelieved in them.

13. The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which We have sent by inspiration to thee (O Muhammad!) - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that you should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than God, hard is the (way) to which thou call them. God chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).

14. And they became divided only after Knowledge reached them,- through selfish envy as between themselves. Had it not been for a Word that went forth before from thy Lord, (tending) to a Term appointed, the matter would have been settled between them: But truly those who have inherited the Book after them are in suspicious (disquieting) doubt concerning it.

15. Now then, for that (reason), call (them to Islam), and stand steadfast as you are commanded, nor follow their vain desires; but say: "I believe in the Book which God has sent down; and I am commanded to judge justly between you. God is our Lord and your Lord: for us (is the responsibility for) our deeds, and for you for your deeds. There is no contention between us and you. God will bring us together, and to Him is (our) Final Goal.

16. But those who dispute concerning God after He (His Religion) has been accepted,- futile is their dispute in the Sight of their Lord: on them will be a Penalty terrible." [Quran 42:13-16]

Here God says that He established the same religion to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Prophet Muhammad but mankind became divided through selfish desires, envy and doubts.

With the unity of prophetic religions, mankind shares one true religion and, thus, bound to a single community:

"Mankind was one single nation, and God sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them He sent the Book in truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they held divergent views; but the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) who had been granted this revelation (Quran) began, out of mutual jealousy, to disagree about its meaning after all evidence of the truth had come to them. But God by His Grace Guided the believers to the Truth, concerning that wherein they had disagreed. For God guides whom He will to a path that is straight." [Quran 2:213]

God says the Prophets and the true believers also make one single religious community and are called Muslims:

"Verily this community of yours is one single community since I am a Sustainer of you all, worship then Me (alone). But mankind have torn their unity wide asunder, (forgetting that) unto Us they all are bound to return." [Quran -- the Prophets: 92-93]

Therefore, Islam is the religion for all of mankind, and God has commanded us to convey it to all people. God has commanded us all to adhere to His religion and to be united, and not to be divided. He says:

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of God (this Quran), and be not divided among yourselves
[Quran 3:103]

Division, differences and disputes are the cause of mankind's defeat, as God says:

“And obey God and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs, and be patient. Surely, God is with those who are patient”
[Quran 8:46]

Islam regards all people as equal before the laws of God. Black and white, Arab and non-Arab, male and female, rich and poor – Islam brings them all together and addresses its commands and prohibitions to them all.

Islam came with clear beliefs based upon the Oneness of God, acts of worship that link all human beings with their Creator, morals that strengthen the ties between all humanity, and laws that organise society and bind it with justice and virtue. In this state, everyone can live in harmony and peace.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:

“God likes three things for you and He dislikes three things for you. He likes you to worship Him (alone) and not associate anything with Him; to hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of God (Quran), and be not divided among yourselves; and to be sincere to the one who God has appointed over you. And He dislikes for you three things: gossip, asking too much and squandering wealth.”

God says:

"And be not as those (Jews and Christians) who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs (Islam) had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment”
[Quran 3:105]

“Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad) have no concern in them in the least. Their affair is only with God, Who then will tell them what they used to do”
[Quran 6:159]

Here God is warning those who divide their religion into sects, each of them calling himself by a name, like the Jews, Christians, Sufis, etc.. Some of them do not complete their faith; they take something from the Law of God and make that their religion, and ignore something of greater importance. This is the case with the people of sects who follow innovations and misguidance and divide the Community.


HOW DID DIFFERENT RELIGIONS COME ABOUT?

When God took the Messiah (peace be upon him) up into heaven, his followers split into different groups. Some of them believed in what God had sent him with, that he was His servant and messenger , the son of His female servant. Some of them exaggerated about him and made him the son of God, and others said that he was God, or that he was the third of three (trinity). God described what they said in the Quran, and refuted all of them.

A person is called a Muslim when he submits himself to God and believes in Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), having faith in all the angels and in all the Books (Psalms, Torah and Gospel in their original forms) without exclusion, believes in all the Prophets, including Abraham and Jesus, and acknowledges them with open hearts, and dares not to make any distinction among them.

Muslims submit to God in the manner that God wishes it to be as taught by the Prophet (pbuh) through the Quran. In this excellent Path, people can find peace and harmony.

"They say: "Become Jews or Christians if you would be guided (To salvation)." Say thou: "Nay! (I would rather) the Religion of Abraham the True, and he joined not gods with Allah.

Say you: "We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to (all) prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between one and another of them: And we bow to Allah (as Muslims).

So if they believe as you believe, they are indeed on the right path; but if they turn back, it is they who are in schism; but Allah will suffice you as against them, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." [Quran 2:135-137]

The Children of Israel were the holders of the Torah and the Gospels and their teachings were meant only for them. God did not assign them to establish new religions called Judaism or Christianity nor authorized them to preach their teachings to all mankind. The Torah was only valid for a certain period of time and became self-terminated and invalid with the advent of the Gospels. And the Gospels were valid for a certain period of time and became self-terminated and invalid with the advent of the Quran. This is why God urges the Christians and Jews to leave their religions and to place faith in Islam and become Muslims:

"O People of the Scriptures (Jews and Christians), come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but God, that we associate no partners with Him, that we shall not take lords and patrons other than God. If then they turn back, say you: 'Bear witness that we are Muslims'."
[Quran 3:64]

"...By the Quran, Full of Admonition: (This is the Truth).

But the Unbelievers (are steeped) in self-glory and Separatism." [Quran 38:1-2]

Here God tells us He hates Separatism among mankind, each calling himself by a name and stirring up enmity and hatred among themselves.

"Those who split up their Religion and become Sects---each party rejoicing in that which is with itself!" [Quran 30:32]

"Those who deny God and His Messengers, and wish to seperate between God and His Messengers, saying: "We believe in some and reject the others": and wish to take a course midway,---

They are in truth Unbelievers; and We have prepared for Unbelievers a humiliating punishment."
[Quran 4:150-151]

God warns us that if anyone believes in Moses and rejects Jesus, they are Unbelievers. And this is the same for those who believe in Jesus and reject Muhammad or those who believe in Muhammad and reject Jesus and others.

Many people have started to put away religion and cultivate personal relationships with God as they believe this will bring them peace and happiness. But this type of peace and happiness is only short-term. There will come a time when one wants to know what God's Commandments are and feel isolated and abandoned if they do not know what to do. They will start to follow their own whims and desires and become wanderers and losers in the end.

This is why God sent down the Glorious Quran to teach us about Faith in the Oneness of God, Love for God, the Messenger and Believers, Compassion and Justice for all and selflessness. It also preaches utopian high morals, and it contains scientific facts and all-comprehensive legal rulings that are just and valid for any time and anywhere. Besides, the Quran is free from any contradictions or disagreements, as God says:

"Do they not then consider the Quran carefully? Had it been from other than God, they would surely have found therein many contradictions."
[Quran 4:82]

If we accept Islam and follow it as God says, we would not need any other religions or any other walls that keep us divided and conquered.

“And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path. This He has ordained for you that you may become the Pious”
[Quran 6:153]

With the perfection of Islam and God's direction in the Quran, we can strive together towards all that is good as one community and transform this world into a place of freedom and joy.

"The Messenger (Muhammad) believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the people of faith (Muslims). Each one (of them) believes in God, His angels, His books, and His apostles. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His apostles." And they say: "We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys." [Quran 2:285]

May God send peace and blessings to all the Apostles and their righteous families.