Who can become a Muslim?

Becoming a Muslim means acknowledging the greatness of The Creator and developing and maintaining a close relationship with Him by obeying Him. This will lead to happiness and contentment in this life and the next.

Allah has opened the doors of Islam to all of mankind, regardless of their past or current situation. Therefore, anyone can become a Muslim at any time by simply believing in, and uttering the following testimony of faith:

‘I bear witness that there is no God worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger’.

By becoming a Muslim, one will live a life of purpose and fulfilment, while being guaranteed eternal Paradise in the Hereafter.

Islam emphasizes both Faith and Evidence

Islam is a religion in which faith is based on clear proof. It encourages people to use their God given intelligence to think and ponder over their life and the universe. Although this life is a test, God has provided sufficient signs and guidance to people who are open-minded and sincere to be able to acknowledge the truth.

“We (God) have certainly sent down Signs that make things clear: and God guides whom He wills to the straight path.”Quran 24:46

Unlike other religions, there are many clear proofs, signs and miracles that the book of Islam, The Quran, is from God.

The Quran:

• Is free from any errors or contradictions, despite it being revealed over a period of 23 years.
• Is preserved, word-for-word, since it was revealed in its original Arabic language, unlike other scriptures which have been distorted, changed or lost.
• Contains a simple, pure and universal message that has a profound effect on all those who are sincerely searching for the truth.
• Contains a unique and inimitable style of language that is universally known as the pinnacle of Arabic eloquence and linguistic beauty – yet the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who was known to be illiterate.
• Contains many amazing scientific facts which have only been discovered recently, despite being revealed over 1400 years ago.

The most rational explanation for the many unique and miraculous aspects of the Quran is that it cannot be from other than God.

Pure and Clear Concept of God

Unlike other religions, Islam is not named after its founder or the community of its birth. Islam is an attributive title that signifies obedience to God, the Creator of the Universe. One of its main beauties is that it acknowledges the complete perfection, greatness and uniqueness of God with absolutely no compromises. This is reflected in Islam’s pure teachings of the attributes of God.

God is One and Unique:

God has no partners, no equals and no rivals.
God has no father, mother, sons, daughters or wives.
God alone is worthy of all worship.

God is the All-Powerful:

God has full authority and power over all things.
Obedience to God does not increase His Power, nor does disobedience decrease His power.

God is the Most High:

There is nothing above or comparable to God.
The attributes of God do not resemble that of His creation.
No part of God is present in anyone or anything.

God is Perfect:

God does not have any human limitations, such as resting on the seventh day after He created the universe.

God always maintains attributes of perfection and does not do anything to compromise this perfection such as “becoming a man” as claimed by other religions. God does not do ungodly acts, so if God became man and took on human attributes, he would, necessarily, no longer be God.

Positive Outlook of Life

Islam gives a person a clear perspective on the events that happen in their life, both good and bad, as they are, in fact, tests from God. It encourages a person to understand events in the context of the overall purpose of life, which is to acknowledge God and obey Him. He created humans with intellect and free will to test them as to who will wilfully choose to follow His guidance. This life is an ultimate testing ground and although we cannot control everything that happens to us, we can control how we react. Islam encourages a person to focus on what is in their control, to be grateful to God for blessings, and to be patient during hardships. Patience or gratitude – this is the formula for a happy life.

Islam encourages the believer to remain free from the extremes of worldly happiness that may cause one to forget God, and the extremes of sadness that may cause one to lose hope and blame God. By not being overly attached to the material world, a Muslim is empowered not only to better handle any calamities, but to be beneficial and generous to society. This leads to a more balanced and optimistic outlook on life.

Close Relationship with the Creator

At the core of Islam is the focus of an individual’s personal relationship with God, their Creator. It encourages a believer to have sustained awareness of God which is a key to lasting happiness.

Islam teaches that God is the source of peace. By focusing on this important relationship and following God’s guidance, believers will be able to acquire inner peace and tranquillity. Seeking lasting happiness through other means, such as following one’s desires or the accumulation of material possessions, will never fill the void we have. This need can only be filled with the awareness of God.

True contentment is found in acknowledging and obeying the Creator: “Truly, in remembering God do hearts find rest.” Quran 13:28

The primary reason for this close relationship is that Muslims have a direct connection with their Creator. There is no intermediary, such as praying to, or through, others, in worshipping God.

What is Halal Food?

Halal, or lawful, foods are those permitted by God for Muslims to consume. Generally, most foods and beverages are considered halal, with the main exceptions being pig and alcohol. Meats and poultry must be slaughtered humanely and correctly, which includes mentioning God’s name before slaughter and minimising the suffering of animals.

Are all religions same?

While most religions generally have the same teachings regarding good manners and kindness to others and so on, Islam additionally focuses on the Greatness of God with no compromises with his Oneness and Perfection. Unlike other religions, Islam primarily teaches that God is completely different and unique compared to His creation and that all praise and worship is due directly and exclusively to Him. Islam is also comprehensive, simple yet profound, has revelation that is preserved, does not reject any of God’s Prophets but states that they all came with the one and same message.

Does Islam condone terrorism?

In war, the targeting of innocent non-combatants is a despicable act which Islam clearly prohibits. In fact, Muslims are not even allowed to destroy plants and animals unnecessarily, let alone innocent humans. This is just but one example of many ethical guidelines of war stipulated in Islam. However, it is important to distinguish between terrorism and legitimate resistance to occupation, as the two are very different.

What is Jihad?

The essence of Jihad is to struggle and sacrifice for one’s religion in a manner which is pleasing to God. Linguistically, it means to “struggle” and can refer to striving to do good deeds, giving charity, or joining an Islamic military action. The most commonly known form is the military Jihad which is permitted in order to preserve the well being of society, to prevent oppression from spreading, and to promote justice.

Does the concept of 'Original Sin' exist in Islam?

The concept of “original sin” does not exist in Islam. God is just; so no person is held accountable for any sin they themselves were not responsible for.

How does Islam view women?

In Islam, men and women are viewed as equals before God, in terms of both receiving equal reward and accountability for their actions. Allah, the Creator of both genders, has assigned different roles and responsibilities for each, taking into account their differences. Women are given the utmost respect and honour, with no form of oppression condoned towards them.

What is the worst sin in Islam?

Worshipping others beside God or associating partners or equals with God is the worst sin in Islam. This includes ascribing some of God’s attributes to other objects or beings (e.g. idols); claiming that God has a son, mother or any other partner; or disbelieving in God.

What is the Purpose of Life?

God did not create humans to simply wander aimlessly. Rather, we have a higher purpose – to acknowledge and worship God alone, so that we live upon the guidance of our Creator. This guidance enables us to live a successful and blessed life in all aspects, as well as entry into Paradise and freedom from Hell. The test of one’s faith is in using one’s intellect and reasoning abilities to contemplate and recognise God’s signs and to live according to His guidance.

God gave humans free will as a test to see who will willingly follow His path.

What happens after Death?

Death is the passage from this brief life into the next eternal life. Each person will be resurrected to be held to account on the Day of Judgement. This Day ensures that justice prevails, as anyone who was wronged or oppressed in this life, will be compensated and dealt justly by Allah, the All-Knowing and Most Just. If a person lives a good, honourable life by worshipping and obeying Allah, they will be entered into Paradise, through Allah’s Mercy. If they choose to disbelieve, Hellfire awaits them.

If there was no afterlife in which the good were rewarded and the bad punished, that would contradict the perfect justice of God and life would not be fair.

Adam, Noah, Moses & Jesus : What do Muslims believe

Thousands of Prophets were sent by Allah, at least one to every nation, with the same message: to worship Allah alone and not associate any partner with Him. Some of these Prophets include Adam, Noah, Joseph, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). Jesus (peace be upon him) was one of the greatest Prophets sent by Almighty God. He was born miraculously without a father and performed many miracles– all by the permission and will of God.

The 5 Main Practices of Islam

The main practices of Islam are referred to as the five pillars.

1st Pillar: The Testimony of Faith. To declare that there is no God worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is His final Messenger.

2nd Pillar: Prayers. To be performed five times daily: once each at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, after sunset and at night.

3rd Pillar: Prescribed Charity. This is an annual compulsory charity paid to those less fortunate and is calculated at 2.5% of one’s total wealth. It is paid by those who have excess wealth beyond their basic needs.

4th Pillar: Fasting the Month of Ramadan. Throughout this month, Muslims must refrain from all food, drink and sexual relations with their spouses, from dawn to sunset. They also endeavour to refrain from all bad deeds.

5th Pillar: The Pilgrimage. If a Muslim has the means to do so, they are required to make the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, at least once in their lifetime. It involves prayer, supplication, charity and travelling, and is a very humbling and spiritual experience that unites the Muslim nation.

What is the Quran?

The Quran is the final revelation to mankind, and is a guide and criterion between right and wrong. It is the literal word of Allah, as revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the Angel Gabriel, and supersedes all previous revelations, such as the Gospel and the Torah. It explains and clarifies many issues like the purpose of our existence; the correct concept of God; the actions liked and disliked by God; the stories of the Prophets and their lessons; accounts of Heaven, Hell, and the Day of Judgement.

One of the great miracles of the Quran is that it has been preserved and unchanged since it was revealed over 1400 years ago. It also contains many scientific and historical facts that were unknown to the people of that time and have only been discovered recently, which is one of the proofs that it is from God.

Who is Muhammad?

Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final Prophet in the long line of Prophets, sent to call all mankind to the worship of God alone. He was an ideal father, husband, teacher, leader and judge, and a perfect example of an honest, just, compassionate and brave human being. Although greatly respected, he, like the other Prophets, is not worshipped by Muslims.

Sources of Islam

The Quran is the primary source of Islamic knowledge and lays out the principles of Islamic teachings. The Sunnah is the secondary source, and is a collection of thousands of sayings and actions by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as conveyed by his companions.

As they are rigorously authenticated, it provides an accurate way of life and guidance for Muslims to follow. All Islamic teachings are based on evidence derived from these two authentic sources.

Who is Allah?

Allah is the personal name of The One True God. Allah has no partners, equals, parents or children. All of Allah’s attributes are perfect, such as The Creator, The Most Merciful, The All-Powerful, The Most Just, The All-Wise and The All-Knowing. No human or object shares in Allah’s lordship and His divine attributes, as such, He alone deserves to be worshipped exclusively.

Islam and Muslims

Islam is a natural and complete way of life that encourages one to give due attention to their relationship with God and His creation. It teaches that souls find true happiness and peace through performing good actions that are approved by God and which benefit both the society and the individual.

The message of Islam is simple: to believe in and to worship The One True God alone, and to accept Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as His final Messenger. The word “Islam” means submission to God, and its followers are known as Muslims, who can be from any racial or ethnic background.

Only 20% of Muslims are Arabs. So who are the rest?

Islam is one of the world's largest religions yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. For various reasons - be they political, economic, biased media or fear of the "other" - mistruths and misconceptions have been spread about Islam. The key to understanding Islam and Muslims is to resist stereotypes and examine each situation according to Islamic teachings and authentic sources.

Only about 20% of Muslims in the world are Arabs, meaning that up to about 80% of Muslims are non-Arabs. For example, there are more Indian and Indonesian Muslims than Arab Muslims. Islam teaches that an individual is not superior to another because of race or colour, and is strictly against any form of racism. Islam has a universal message for all of mankind - that is, that everyone can gain peace and success only by acknowledging and worshipping the One True God.

Learning about Islam from unqualified sources without verification is dangerous and leads to misunderstandings. Do not be misled into accepting misconceptions and false information about Islam – the belief shared by more than a quarter of mankind.

Does not the guidance for all humanity, the message of Islam, deserve to be carefully pondered over and reflected on?

The Reality of Jihad

Islam is one of the world's largest religions yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. For various reasons - be they political, economic, biased media or fear of the "other" - mistruths and misconceptions have been spread about Islam. The key to understanding Islam and Muslims is to resist stereotypes and examine each situation according to Islamic teachings and authentic sources.

The essence of Jihad is to struggle and sacrifice for one's religion in a manner which is pleasing to God. Linguistically, it means to "struggle" and can refer to one's striving to do good deeds, give charity, or to join an Islamic military action. The most commonly known form is the military Jihad which is permitted in order to preserve the well being of society, to prevent oppression from spreading, and to promote justice. This can be either defensive or offensive, depending on the circumstance.

Learning about Islam from unqualified sources without verification is dangerous and leads to misunderstandings. Do not be misled into accepting misconceptions and false information about Islam – the belief shared by more than a quarter of mankind.

Does not the guidance for all humanity, the message of Islam, deserve to be carefully pondered over and reflected on.

Do Muslims worship Muhammad? Find Out

Islam is one of the world's largest religions yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. For various reasons - be they political, economic, biased media or fear of the "other" - mis-truths and misconceptions have been spread about Islam. The key to understanding Islam and Muslims is to resist stereotypes and examine each situation according to Islamic teachings and authentic sources.

One of the misconceptions is that Muslims worship Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This is entirely untrue, and is easily refuted by the actual saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Do not over-praise me as the Christians over-praised Jesus, the son of Mary. I am His(Allah's) slave, so refer to me as 'God's slave and Messenger.' "

Islam teaches Muslims to respect all of God's Prophets and Messengers – but respecting and loving them does not mean worshipping them.

A related claim is that Muslims worship the "moon God" which is also totally incorrect. Worshipping the moon, or anything other than Allah, is strictly prohibited in Islam:

"Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if you really worship Him."Quran 41:37

Islam acknowledges the complete perfection, greatness and uniqueness of God with absolutely no compromises. He is the Most Just and the Most Merciful. Worshipping Him alone is the most important belief in Islam, as mentioned in the Quran in numerous places.

Learning about Islam from unqualified sources without verification is dangerous and leads to misunderstandings. Do not be misled into accepting misconceptions and false information about Islam – the belief shared by more than a quarter of mankind.

Does not the guidance for all humanity, the message of Islam, deserve to be carefully pondered over and reflected on?

Islam and Forced Marriages : Yay or Nay

Islam is one of the world's largest religions yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. For various reasons - be they political, economic, biased media or fear of the "other" - mis-truths and misconceptions have been spread about Islam. The key to understanding Islam and Muslims is to resist stereotypes and examine each situation according to Islamic teachings and authentic sources.

Arranged marriages are cultural practices which are predominant in certain countries throughout the world. Although not restricted to Muslims, forced marriages have become incorrectly associated with Islam.

In Islam, both males and females have the right to choose or reject their potential spouse, and a marriage is considered null and void if a woman's genuine approval is not granted prior to the marriage.Learning about Islam from unqualified sources without verification is dangerous and leads to misunderstandings. Do not be misled into accepting misconceptions and false information about Islam – the belief shared by more than a quarter of mankind.

Does not the guidance for all humanity, the message of Islam, deserve to be carefully pondered over and reflected on?

Uncover the Truth on Islam and Forced Conversions

Islam is one of the world's largest religions yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. For various reasons - be they political, economic, biased media or fear of the "other" - mis-truths and misconceptions have been spread about Islam. The key to understanding Islam and Muslims is to resist stereotypes and examine each situation according to Islamic teachings and authentic sources. God says,

"Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth has been made clear from error."
 Quran 2:256 

Although it is a duty on Muslims to convey and share the beautiful message of Islam to others, no one can be compelled to accept Islam. To accept Islam, a person must sincerely and voluntarily believe and obey God, so, by definition, no one can (or should) be forced to accept Islam.

Consider the following:

• Indonesia has the largest Muslim population yet no battles were fought to bring Islam there.
• There are around 14 million Arab Coptic Christians that have been living in the heart of Arabia for generations.
• Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the western world today.
• Although fighting oppression and promoting justice are valid reasons for waging jihad, forcing people to accept Islam is not one of them.
• Muslims ruled Spain for around 800 years yet never coerced people to convert.

Learning about Islam from unqualified sources without verification is dangerous and leads to misunderstandings. Do not be misled into accepting misconceptions and false information about Islam – the belief shared by more than a quarter of mankind.

Does not the guidance for all humanity, the message of Islam, deserve to be carefully pondered over and reflected on?

The beautiful relation between Muslims and Jesus

Many non-Muslims are surprised to find out that according to Muslim belief, Jesus, the son of Mary, is one of the greatest messengers of God. Muslims are taught to love Jesus, and a person cannot be a Muslim without believing in the virgin birth and miracles of Jesus Christ, peace be upon him.

Muslims believe these things about Jesus not because of the Bible or any other religion, but simply because the Holy Qur.aan says these things about him. However, Muslims always emphasize that the miracles of Jesus, and all other prophets, were by “God’s permission”. This having been said, many Christians feel to not believe that Jesus is the “Son of God”, “God Incarnate” or the “Third Person” of the Trinity. This is because the Quran clearly says that Almighty God does not have a “Son” — neither allegorically, physically, metaphorically or metaphysically.

The Pure Monotheism of Islam rejects the notion of “defining” God (which is basically what the “Doctrine of the Trinity” does), saying that someone is “like” God or equal to him, or praying to someone else besides God. Also, Islaam teaches that titles such as “Lord” and “Savior” are due to God alone.

In order to avoid misunderstanding, it should be clarified that when Muslims criticize the Bible or the teachings of Christianity, they are not attacking “God’s Word” or Jesus Christ, peace be upon him. From the Muslim point of view, they are defending Jesus and God’s Word, which they have in the form of the Quran. Muslim criticism is targeted at writings that some people claim are God’s word, but Muslim’s simply don’t accept their claim that they are really God’s word.

Additionally, Christian doctrines such as the Trinity and the Atonement are criticized by Muslims precisely because they did not originate from Jesus, peace be upon him. In this way, Muslims are the true followers of Jesus, peace be upon him, because they defend him from the exaggerations of the Christians and teach the Pure Monotheism that Jesus himself followed.

Teachings of Islam

The foundation of the Islamic faith is belief in the Unity of God. This means to believe that there is only one Creator and Sustainer of everything in the Universe, and that nothing is divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Him. Truly believing in the Unity of God means much more than simply believing that there is “One God” – as opposed to two, three or four.

There are a number of religions that claim belief in “One God” and believe that ultimately there is only one Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. Islam, however, not only insists on this, but also rejects using such words as “Lord” and “Saviour” for anyone besides Almighty God. Islam also rejects the use of all intermediaries between God and Man, and insists that people approach God directly and reserve all worship for Him alone. Muslims believe that Almighty God is Compassionate, Loving and Merciful.

The essence of falsehood is the claim that God cannot deal with and forgive His creatures directly. By over-emphasising the burden of sin, as well as claiming that God cannot forgive you directly, false religions seek to get people to despair of the Mercy of God. Once they are convinced that they cannot approach God directly, people can be mislead into turning to false gods for help. These “false gods” can take various forms, such as saints, angels, or someone who is believed to be the “Son of God” or “God Incarnate”. In almost all cases, people who worship, pray to or seek help from a false god don’t consider it to be, or call it, a “god”. They claim belief in One Supreme God, but claim that they pray to and worship others beside God only to get closer to Him. In Islaam, there is a clear distinction between the Creator and the created. There is no ambiguity in divinity – anything that is created is not deserving of worship and only the Creator is worthy of being worshipped. Some religions falsely believe that God has become part of His creation, and this has led people to believe that they can worship something created in order to reach their Creator.

Muslims believe that even though God is Unique and beyond comprehension – He has no “Son”, partners or associates. According to Muslim belief, Almighty God “does not beget nor was He begotten” – neither literally, allegorically, metaphorically, physically or metaphysically – He is Absolutely Unique and Eternal. He is in control of everything and is perfectly capable of bestowing His infinite Mercy and Forgiveness to whomever He chooses. That is why is called the All-Powerful and Most-Merciful. Almighty God has created the Universe for man, and as such wants the best for all human beings. Muslims see everything in the Universe as a sign of the Creatorship and Benevolence of Almighty God. Also, the belief in the Unity of God is not merely a metaphysical concept. It is a dynamic belief that effects ones view of humanity, society and all aspects of life. As a logical corollary to the Islaamic belief in the Oneness of God, is its belief in the oneness of mankind and humanity.

What is Islam?

The word “Islam” is an Arabic word that means “submitting and surrendering your will to Almighty God”. The word comes from the same root as the Arabic word “salam”, which means peace.

Unlike the names used for other religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, the name for the religion of Islam was both revealed by God and carries a deep spiritual meaning – only by submitting one’s will to Almighty God can one obtain true peace both in this life and in the life hereafter. Islam teaches that all religions originally had the same essential message – which was to submit whole-heartedly to the will of God and to worship Him and Him alone.

For this reason, Islam is not a new religion but is the same divinely revealed Ultimate Truth that God revealed to all prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus.

Who is Allah?

Very often one will here the Arabic word “Allah” being used in regards to Islam. The word “Allah” is simply the Arabic word for Almighty God, and is the same word used by Arabic speaking Christians and Jews.

If one were to pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word “Allah” being use where the word “God” is used in English. Actually, the Arabic word for Almighty God, “Allah”, is quite similar to the word for God in other Semitic languages – for example, the Hebrew word for God is “Elah”.

For various reasons, some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different God than Jews and Christians. This is certainly not the case, since the Pure Monotheism of Islam calls all people to the worship of the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all of the other prophets. However, even though Jews, Christians and Muslims worship the same God - since there is only one God – their concepts concerning Him differ in some significant ways.

Prophet Muhammad - The Perfect Role Model

The last and final prophet that God sent to humanity was the Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad explained, interpreted and lived the teachings of Islam.

The Prophet Muhammad is the greatest of all prophets for many reasons, but mainly because the results of his mission have brought more people into the pure belief in One God than any other prophet. Even though other religious communities claimed to believe in One God, over time they had corrupted their beliefs by taking their prophets and saints as intercessors with Almighty God.

Some religions believe their prophets to be manifestations of God, “God Incarnate” or the “Son of God”. All of these false ideas lead to the creature being worshipped instead of the Creator, which contributed to the idolatrous practice of believing that Almighty God can be approached through intermediaries. In order to guard against these falsehoods, the Prophet Muhammad always emphasised that he was only a human-being tasked with the preaching of God’s message. He taught Muslims to refer to him as “the Messenger of God and His Slave”.

To Muslims, Muhammad is the supreme example for all people – he was the exemplary prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher, neighbour, husband, father and friend. Unlike other prophets and messengers, the Prophet Muhammad lived in the full light of history. Muslims don’t need to have “faith” that he existed and that his teachings are preserved – they know it to be a fact. Even when his followers only numbered a few dozen, Almighty God informed Muhammad that he had be sent as a mercy to all of mankind. Because people had distorted or forgotten God’s messages, God took it upon Himself to protect the message revealed to Muhammad. This was because Almighty God promised not to send another messenger after him.

Since all of God’s messengers have preached the message of Islam – i.e. submission to the will of God and the worship of God alone – Muhammad is actually the last prophet of Islam, not the first.

Who are Muslims?

The Arabic word “Muslim” literally means “someone who submits to the will of God”. The message of Islam is meant for the entire world and anyone who accepts this message becomes a Muslim.

Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is just a religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth, since in actuality over 80% of the world’s Muslims are not Arabs! Even though most Arabs are Muslims, there are Arabs who are Christians, Jews and atheists.

If one just takes a look at the various peoples who live in the Muslim World – from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Morocco to Indonesia – it is easy enough to see that Muslims come from all different races, ethnic groups and nationalities.

From the very beginning, Islam had a universal message for all people. This can be seen in the fact that some of the early companions of the Prophet Muhammad were not only Arabs, but also Persians, Africans and Byzantine Romans. Being a Muslim entails complete acceptance and active obedience to the revealed will of Almighty God. A Muslim is a person who freely accepts to base his beliefs, values and faith on the will of Almighty God.

In the past, even though you don’t see it as much today, the word “Mohammedans” was often used as a label for Muslims. This label is a misnomer and is the result of either wilful distortion or sheer ignorance. One of the reasons for the misconception is that Europeans were taught for centuries that Muslims worshipped the Prophet Muhammad in the same way that Christians worship Jesus. This is absolutely not true since a Muslim is not permitted to worship anyone or anything besides Almighty God.

Why we need to Worship God

Muslim scholars have defined “worship” as, “An all-inclusive term for those internal and external sayings and actions of a person that are pleasing to Allah.”

In other words, the concept of worship in Islam is not limited to rituals such as praying, fasting, giving charity, and performing pilgrimage - it is much more.

A person can turn everyday activities into acts of worship by purifying his or her intention and sincerely seeking Allah’s pleasure through these activities. Allah’s Messenger (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Greeting a person is charity. Acting justly is charity. Helping a man with his horse is charity. A good word is charity. Every step taken on the way to performing prayers is charity. Removing an obstacle from the road is charity.”

Even earning a living can be done for the sake of God if done for the right reasons (e.g. working to support a family). If however one works to show off or earn fame then this can not be considered worship.

The above might sound strange to those who view religion only as a personal relation between the individual and God and as having no impact on those activities that are not connected specifically with any religious rituals. For Muslims however, Islam is not just a religion, but a complete way of life.

Who is Prophet Muhammad?

Muslims believe that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the final Prophet in a long chain of Prophets sent to call the people to the obedience and worship of God alone. Some of these Prophets include Adam, Noah, Joseph, Jacob, Abraham, David, Jesus and Moses (peace be upon them all).

Muslims do not worship or ask divine guidance of Muhammad (peace be upon him). He warned:
“Do not exceed bounds in praising me as the Christians do in praising Jesus, Son of Mary. I am only the Lord’s servant; then call me the Servant of Allah and His Messenger.”

Just as Muslims believe that Moses (peace be upon him) was sent with the Torah* and that Jesus (peace be upon him) was sent with the Gospel*, Muslims also believe that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent with The Qur’an to demonstrate how its teachings should be applied.

Some sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) include:

• “Among the best of you are they who have the best character.”
• “Allah will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy to others.” 
• “The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.” 
• “Look at the person who is below you; and do not look at one who is superior to you. Thereby you would be able to better appreciate the favours that God has bestowed upon you.” 
• “Do not consider even the smallest good deed as insignificant; even meeting your brother with a cheerful face.”
• “Be humble and do not harm or consider yourself superior to others.”

*Only the Qur’an has remained unchanged and preserved, while the other original revelations such as the Torah and Gospel have been lost or corrupted by human hands.

Qur'an - The Scripture protected by God

Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the literal word of God. Together with the authentic sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), it is the main source of Islamic knowledge. The following are some verses that confirm what has been discussed earlier about Islam and Allah:

“Allah is He, other than Whom there is no other god.”
Qur’an 59:22

“There is nothing like Him and He hears and sees all things.”
Qur’an 42:11

“Your Lord says: ‘Call upon Me, I will answer you.’ ”
Qur’an 40:60

“And worship Allah and associate none with Him.”
Qur’an 4:36

“So set no equals to Allah while you know (there is none equal to him).”
Qur’an 2:22

“Say: ‘How do you worship besides Allah something which has no power either to harm or benefit you?’ ”
Qur’an 5:76 

Any Quranic translation, either in English or any other language, is neither a Qur’an, nor a version of the Qur’an, but rather it is only a translation of the meaning of the Qur’an. The Qur’an exists only in the Arabic in which it was revealed.

Allah - The Only True God

Allah is the personal name of the One True God.

The name “Allah” is the combination of two Arabic words, “Al” and “ilah”. “Al” means “The”, and “ilah” means “God”. These two words come together and refer to “The God”, which implies “The Only God”, or “The Only True God”.

Nothing else can be called Allah. The term has no plural or gender. This shows its uniqueness when compared with the word “god” which can be made plural (i.e. gods) or feminine (i.e. goddess). Muslims believe that Allah is:

The One

• Allah is one and has no partners at all
• None of His creation resembles Him
• There is nothing comparable to Allah
• No part of Allah is present in anyone (although his knowledge encompasses everything)

The Praiseworthy

• No being or object is worthy to be worshipped except Allah
• Any worship and prayers directed towards (or through) saints, prophets, other human beings or nature is considered idolatry
• Allah hears all who praise Him
• Muslims have a direct connection with Allah without the need for any intermediaries [such as idols, saints, angels, priests, planets, Jesus (peace be upon him), animals, graves or statues]

The All-Just

• Allah judges everyone based on their own deeds and everyone is accountable for his/her own actions
• Humans may distinguish themselves and earn Allah's favor through virtue and piety only (not through race or wealth)
• Allah is over His creation separated from his creatures
• Allah is high above being compared to anything
• Allah is incomparably more merciful to His creation than a mother to her baby
• No one is “born into sin”.

The Most High

• Allah is over His creation separated from his creatures
• Allah is high above being compared to anything

The All-Merciful

• Allah is incomparably more merciful to His creation than a mother to her baby
• No one is “born into sin”
• Allah forgives all sins

The All-Powerful

• Allah has no rivals
• The concept that Allah rested on the 7th day of creation has no basis in Islam
• Allah has control over everything
• Obedience to Allah does not increase His Power, and disobedience to Allah does not decrease His Power in any way
• Not a leaf falls without the permission of Allah

To truly ponder the majesty of Allah makes one humble. This is what Allah calls us to do - to know Him through His attributes and names, realize His Omnipotence and Majesty, call upon Him, and humble ourselves to Him. Allah’s beautiful names and attributes also include:

• The Creator and Sustainer
• The Forgiver and Pardoner
• The Appreciative
• The All-Knower and All-Aware
• The One who answers the one in need if he asks The All-Powerful
• The One who is free from all deficiencies
• The incomparably Great

Courtesy

The Religion of Flawless Monotheism

Belief and Worship of The One True God is the cornerstone of a Muslim’s belief.

Many religions also claim belief in One God however, they associate partners with Him. The following are examples:

• Worshipping or asking forgiveness of God through His creation
• Delegating some of God’s attributes to other objects or beings
• Setting up rivals with God by elevating something to be in opposition to Him

The above mentioned beliefs or actions all go against the very principles of Islam.