Belief System

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH – THE SOURCE OF MERCY – THE MOST MERCIFUL

BELIEF SYSTEM

THE BELIEVERS, MEN AND WOMEN, ARE PROTECTORS ONE OF
ANOTHER: THEY ENJOIN WHAT IS JUST AND FORBID WHAT IS EVIL:
THEY OBSERVE REGULAR PRAYERS, PRACTICE REGULAR CHARITY AND
OBEY ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER. ON THEM WILL ALLAH POUR HIS
MERCY: FOR ALLAH IS EXALTED IN POWER, WISE. (THE NOBLE QURAN
9:71)

THERE IS NO GOD WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH AND MUHAMMED (PBUH) IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH


ABOUT ALLAH

ATTRIBUTES OF ALLAH

THERE IS NO GOD WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH, THE LIVING, THE SELF-SUBSISTING,
ETERNAL. NO SLUMBER CAN SEIZE HIM. HE IS EVER AWAKE. (II. 255).

NO VISION CAN GRASP HIM, BUT HIS GRASP IS OVER ALL VISION. HE IS ABOVE ALL
COMPREHENSION. (VI. 103).

SUCH IS HE, THE KNOWER OF ALL THINGS, HIDDEN AND OPEN, THE EXALTED, THE MERCIFUL.
(XXXII. 6).

IT IS ALLAH WHO FORGIVES SINS, ACCEPTS REPENTANCE, IS STRICT IN PUNISHMENT AND
HAS A LONG REACH IN ALL THINGS. THERE IS NO ALLAH BUT HE, TO HIM IS THE FINAL GOAL.
(XL. 3).

IT IS HE WHO IS ALLAH IN HEAVEN AND ALLAH IN EARTH, HE IS FULL OF WISDOM AND
KNOWLEDGE. TO HIM BELONGS THE DOMINIONS OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND ALL
BETWEEN THEM. WITH HIM IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOUR OF JUDGEMENT AND TO HIM
YOU SHALL ALL BE BROUGHT BACK (XLIII. 84-85).

IT IS HE WHO GIVES LIFE AND DEATH. HE HAS POWER OVER ALL THINGS. HE IS THE FIRST
AND THE LAST, THE EVIDENT AND THE IMMANENT. HE HAS FULL KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THINGS.
(LW. 23).

ALLAH IS HE THAN WHOM THERE IS NO OTHER GOD. HE KNOWS ALL THINGS, BOTH SECRET
AND OPEN. HE IS MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL. (LIX. 22).

ALLAH IS HE THAN WHOM THERE IS NO OTHER GOD, THE SOVEREIGN, THE HOLY ONE, THE
SOURCE OF PEACE AND PERFECTION, THE GUARDIAN OF FAITH, THE PRESERVER OF SAFETY,
THE EXALTED, THE MIGHTY, THE IRRESISTIBLE, THE SUPREME, ABOVE ALL PARTNERS (LIX.
23).

HE IS ALLAH THE CREATOR, THE EVOLVER, THE BESTOWER OF FORMS. TO HIM BELONG THE
MOST BEAUTIFUL NAMES. (LIX. 24).

HE IS ALLAH THE ONE AND ONLY, ALLAH THE ETERNAL, ABSOLUTE. HE BEGETS NOT, NOR IS
HE BEGOTTEN, AND THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM. (CXII. 14).

ALLAH-MOST BEAUTIFUL NAMES

MOST BEAUTIFUL NAMES BELONG TO ALLAH AND THE BELIEVERS ARE ENJOINED TO CALL
UPON ALLAH BY SUCH BEAUTIFUL NAMES - ASMA-UL-HUSNA. ACCORDING TO TRADITIONS
THERE ARE 99 BEAUTIFUL NAMES OF ALLAH.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NAMES BELONG TO GOD. SO CALL HIM BY SUCH NAMES, BUT SHUN
SUCH MEN WHO REFER TO HIM WITH PROFANITY. WHAT YOU DO WOULD BE REQUITED. (W.
180).



CALL UPON ALLAH. CALL UPON RAHMAN. BY WHATEVER BEAUTIFUL NAME YOU CALL UPON HIM
IT IS WELL, FOR TO HIM BELONG THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NAMES. (XW. 110).

ALLAH; THERE IS NO GOD BUT HE. TO HIM BELONGS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NAMES. (XX. 8).

HE IS ALLAH THE CREATOR, THE EVOLVER, THE BESTOWER. TO HIM BELONG THE MEET
BEAUTIFUL NAMES. (LIX. 24).

ALLAH-THE OMNISCIENT

ONE OF THE ATTRIBUTES OF ALLAH IS THAT HE IS OMNISCIENT. HE HAS PERFECT
KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THINGS HIDDEN OR OPEN.

OF ALL THINGS ALLAH HAS PERFECT KNOWLEDGE. (II. 29).

ALLAH KNOWS THE SECRETS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, AND HE KNOWS WHAT YOU REVEAL
AND WHAT YOU CONCEAL. (II. 33).

DO NOT CONCEAL EVIDENCE FOR ALLAH KNOWS ALL THAT YOU DO (II. 283).

WHETHER YOU SHOW WHAT IS IN YOUR MIND OR CONCEAL IT, ALLAH IS WELL AWARE OF
THAT AND WILL CALL YOU TO, ACCOUNT THEREFOR. (II. 284).

FROM ALLAH VERILY, NOTHING IS HIDDEN ON EARTH OR IN THE HEAVENS. (III.5).

WHATEVER YOU HIDE WHAT IS IN YOUR HEARTS OR REVEAL IT, ALLAH KNOWS IT ALL. HE
KNOWS WHAT IS IN THE HEAVENS AND WHAT IS ON EARTH. (III. 29).

ALLAH KNOWS WELL ALL THE SECRETS OF THE HEART.(II.119).

ALLAH KNOWS WHAT YOU HIDE AND WHAT YOU REVEAL AND HE KNOWS THE RECOMPENSE
WHICH YOU EARN BY YOUR DEEDS. (VI. 3).

WITH ALLAH ARE THE KEYS OF THE UNSEEN TREASURES THAT NONE KNOW BUT HE. HE
KNOWS WHATEVER THERE IS ON THE EARTH AND IN THE SEA. NOT A LEAF FALLS BUT WITH
HIS KNOWLEDGE. THERE IS NOT A GRAIN IN THE DARKNESS OF THE EARTH NOR ANYTHING
FRESH OR DRY OF WHICH HE DOES NOT HAVE KNOWLEDGE. (VI. 59).

IT IS HE WHO TAKES YOUR SOULS BY NIGHT AND HAS KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THAT YOU HAVE
DONE BY DAY. (VL. 60).

ALLAH KNOWS WHAT YOU KEEP SECRET AND WHAT YOU MAKE KNOWN. HE IS THE WISE,
WELL AWARE OF ALL THINGS. (VL. 73).

ALLAH KNOWS BEST WHO STRAY FROM HIS WAY. HE KNOWS BEST WHO THEY ARE THAT
RECEIVE HIS GUIDANCE. (VI. 117).

ALLAH KNOWS WHAT EVERY FEMALE WOMB BEARS, BY HOW MUCH THE WOMBS FALL SHORT
OF THEIR TIME. EVERY SINGLE THING IS BEFORE HIS SIGHT. (XIII. 8).

ALLAH KNOWS THE UNSEEN AND THE SEEN. (XIII. 9).



IT IS THE SAME TO HIM WHETHER ANY OF YOU CONCEAL HIS SPEECH OR DECLARE IT OPENLY,
WHETHER HE LIES HIDDEN BY NIGHT, OR WALKS FORTH FREELY BY DAY. (XIII.10).

UNDOUBTEDLY ALLAH KNOWS WHAT THEY CONCEAL AND WHAT THEY REVEAL. (XVI. 23).

VERILY THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOUR IS WITH ALLAH ALONE. IT IS HE WHO SENDS DOWN
RAIN, AND IT IS HE WHO KNOWS WHAT IS IN THE WOMB. NOR DOES ANY ONE KNOW WHAT
IT IS THAT HE WILL EARN ON THE MORROW. NOR DOES ANY ONE KNOW IN WHAT LAND HE IS
TO DIE. VERILY WITH ALLAH IS FULL KNOWLEDGE AND HE IS ACQUAINTED WITH ALL THINGS.
[XXI. 34).

HE KNOWS ALL THAT GOES INTO THE EARTH AND ALL THAT COMES OUT THEREOF; ALL THAT
COMES DOWN FROM THE SKY AND ALL THAT ASCENDS THERETO, (XXXN. 2).

ALLAH KNOWS WELL THE SECRET OF ALL HEARTS. (LXIV. 4).

ALLAH-THE PLANNER

WHEN THE QURAISH OF MECCA CAME TO KNOW THAT THE HOLY PROPHET AND HIS
FOLLOWERS WERE PLANNING MIGRATION TO MADINAH, THEY HELD A COUNSEL OF WAR AND
HIT UPON A PLAN. ACCORDING TO THE PLAN, EACH SECTION OF THE QURAISH PICKED OUT
ITS BRAVEST YOUNG MEN. THE YOUNG MEN FROM ALL THE SECTIONS WERE TO SURROUND
THE HOUSE OF THE HOLY PROPHET BY NIGHT. THE PLAN WAS THAT WHEN THE HOLY PROPHET
CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE IN THE MORNING, ALL THE YOUNG MEN WERE TO FALL ON THE
HOLY PROPHET AND KILL HIM.

ALLAH REVEALED THE PLOT TO THE HOLY PROPHET. THE HOLY PROPHET LEFT ALI IN HIS BED,
AND HIMSELF ESCAPED ALONG WITH ABU BAKR, AND SOUGHT SHELTER IN A CAVE IN MT.
THAUR OUTSIDE MECCA. THIS EVENT IS REFERRED TO IN SURA VIII.

AND REMEMBER WHEN THE DISBELIEVERS MADE THEIR PLAN TO CONFINE YOU, OR KILL YOU,
OR EXPEL YOU, THEY MADE THEIR PLANS AND ALLAH MADE HIS PLAN, AND ALLAH IS THE
BEST OF PLANNERS. (VIII. 30).

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ISLAM

THE ISLAM THAT WAS REVEALED TO MUHAMMED (PBUH), IS THE CONTINUATION AND
CULMINATION OF ALL THE PRECEDING REVEALED RELIGIONS AND HENCE IT IS FOR ALL TIMES
AND ALL PEOPLES. THIS STATUS OF ISLAM IS SUSTAINED BY GLARING FACTS. FIRSTLY,
THERE IS NO OTHER REVEALED BOOK EXTENT IN THE SAME FORM AND CONTENT AS IT WAS
REVEALED. SECONDLY, NO OTHER REVEALED RELIGION HAS ANY CONVINCING CLAIM TO
PROVIDE GUIDANCE IN ALL WALKS OF HUMAN LIFE FOR ALL TIMES. BUT ISLAM ADDRESSES
HUMANITY AT LARGE AND OFFERS BASIC GUIDANCE REGARDING ALL HUMAN PROBLEMS.
MOREOVER, IT HAS WITHSTOOD THE TEST OF FOURTEEN HUNDRED YEARS AND HAS ALL THE
POTENTIALITIES OF ESTABLISHING AN IDEAL SOCIETY AS IT DID UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF
THE LAST PROPHET MUHAMMED (PBUH).

IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT PROPHET MUHAMMED (P.B.U.H.) COULD WIN EVEN HIS TOUGHEST
ENEMIES TO THE FOLD OF ISLAM WITHOUT ADEQUATE MATERIAL RESOURCES. WORSHIPPERS
OF IDOLS, BLIND FOLLOWERS OF THE WAYS OF FOREFATHERS PROMOTERS OF TRIBAL FEUDS,



ABUSERS OF HUMAN DIGNITY AND BLOOD, BECAME THE MOST DISCIPLINED NATION UNDER
THE GUIDANCE OF ISLAM AND ITS PROPHET (P.B.U.H.). ISLAM OPENED BEFORE THEM VISTAS
OF SPIRITUAL HEIGHTS AND HUMAN DIGNITY BY DECLARING RIGHTEOUSNESS AS THE SOLE
CRITERION OF MERIT AND HONOUR. ISLAM SHAPED THEIR SOCIAL, CULTURAL, MORAL AND
COMMERCIAL LIFE WITH BASIC LAWS AND PRINCIPLES WHICH ARE MOST IN CONFORMITY
WITH HUMAN NATURE AND HENCE APPLICABLE IN ALL TIMES AS HUMAN NATURE DOES NOT
CHANGE.

IT IS SO UNFORTUNATE THAT THE CHRISTIAN WEST INSTEAD OF SINCERELY TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND THE PHENOMENAL SUCCESS OF ISLAM DURING ITS EARLIER TIME, CONSIDERED
IT AS A RIVAL RELIGION. DURING THE CENTURIES OF THE CRUSADES THIS TREND GAINED
MUCH FORCE AND IMPETUS AND HUGE LITERATURE WAS PRODUCED TO TARNISH THE IMAGE
OF ISLAM. BUT ISLAM HAS BEGUN TO UNFOLD ITS GENUINENESS TO THE MODERN
SCHOLARS WHOSE BOLD AND OBJECTIVE OBSERVATIONS ON ISLAM BELIE ALL THE CHARGES
LEVELLED AGAINST IT BY THE SO-CALLED UNBIASED ORIENTALISTS.

HERE WE FURNISH SOME OBSERVATIONS ON ISLAM BY GREAT AND ACKNOWLEDGED NON-
MUSLIM SCHOLARS OF MODERN TIME. TRUTH NEEDS NO ADVOCATES TO PLEAD ON ITS
BEHALF. BUT THE PROLONGED MALICIOUS PROPAGANDA AGAINST ISLAM HAS CREATED
GREAT CONFUSION EVEN IN THE MINDS OF FREE AND OBJECTIVE THINKERS.

WE HOPE THAT THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO INITIATING AN
OBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF ISLAM.

IT (ISLAM) REPLACED MONKISHNESS BY MANLINESS. IT GIVES HOPE TO THE SLAVE,
BROTHERHOOD TO MANKIND, AND RECOGNITION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL FACTS OF HUMAN
NATURE.

CANON TAYLOR, PAPER READ BEFORE THE CHURCH CONGRESS AT WALVERHAMTON, OCT. 7,
1887, QUOTED BY ARNOND IN THE PREACHING OF ISLAM, P.P. 71-72.

SENSE OF JUSTICE IS ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL IDEALS OF ISLAM, BECAUSE AS I READ
IN THE QUR'AN I FIND THOSE DYNAMIC PRINCIPLES OF LIFE, NOT MYSTIC BUT PRACTICAL
ETHICS FOR THE DAILY CONDUCT OF LIFE SUITED TO THE WHOLE WORLD.

SARONJINI NAIDU, LECTURES ON "THE IDEALS OF ISLAM" SEE SPEECHES AND WRITINGS OF
SAROJINI NAIDU, MADRAS, 1918, P. 167.

HISTORY MAKES IT CLEAR HOWEVER, THAT THE LEGEND OF FANATICAL MUSLIMS SWEEPING
THROUGH THE WORLD AND FORCING ISLAM AT THE POINT OF THE SWORD UPON CONQUERED
RACES IS ONE OF THE MOST FANTASTICALLY ABSURD MYTHS THAT HISTORIANS HAVE EVER
REPEATED.

DE LACY O'LEARY, ISLAM AT THE CROSSROADS, LONDON, 1923 P.8.

BUT ISLAM HAS A STILL FURTHER SERVICE TO RENDER TO THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY. IT
STANDS AFTER ALL NEARER TO THE REAL EAST THAN EUROPE DOES, AND IT POSSESSES A
MAGNIFICENT TRADITION OF INTER-RACIAL UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION. NO
OTHER SOCIETY HAS SUCH A RECORD OF SUCCESS IN UNITING IN AN EQUALITY OF STATUS,
OF OPPORTUNITY, AND OF ENDEAVOURS SO MANY AND SO VARIOUS RACES OF MANKIND...
ISLAM HAS STILL THE POWER TO RECONCILE APPARENTLY IRRECONCILABLE ELEMENTS OF



RACE AND TRADITION. IF EVER THE OPPOSITION OF THE GREAT SOCIETIES OF EAST AND
WEST IS TO BE REPLACED BY CUPERTINO, THE MEDIATION OF ISLAM IS AN INDISPENSABLE
CONDITION. IN ITS HANDS LIES VERY LARGELY THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM WITH
WHICH EUROPE IS FACED IN ITS RELATION WITH THE EAST. IF THEY UNITE, THE HOPE OF A
PEACEFUL ISSUE IS IMMEASURABLY ENHANCED. BUT IF EUROPE, BY REJECTING THE
CUPERTINO OF ISLAM, THROWS IT INTO THE ARMS OF ITS RIVALS, THE ISSUE CAN ONLY BE
DISASTROUS FOR BOTH.

H.A.R. GIBB, WHITHER ISLAM, LONDON, 1932, P. 379

I HAVE ALWAYS HELD THE RELIGION OF MUHAMMED IN HIGH ESTIMATION BECAUSE OF ITS
WONDERFUL VITALITY. IT IS THE ONLY RELIGION WHICH APPEARS TO ME TO POSSESS THAT
ASSIMILATING CAPACITY TO THE CHANGING PHASE OF EXISTENCE WHICH CAN MAKE ITSELF
APPEAL TO EVERY AGE. I HAVE STUDIED HIM - THE WONDERFUL MAN AND IN MY OPINION
FAR FROM BEING AN ANTI-CHRIST, HE MUST BE CALLED THE SAVIOUR OF HUMANITY. I
BELIEVE THAT IF A MAN LIKE HIM WERE TO ASSUME THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE MODERN
WORLD, HE WOULD SUCCEED IN SOLVING ITS PROBLEMS IN A WAY THAT WOULD BRING IT
THE MUCH NEEDED PEACE AND HAPPINESS: I HAVE PROPHESIED ABOUT THE FAITH OF
MUHAMMED THAT IT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE EUROPE OF TOMORROW AS IT IS
BEGINNING TO BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE EUROPE OF TODAY.

G. B. SHAW, THE GENUINE ISLAM, VOL. 1, NO. 81936

THE EXTINCTION OF RACE CONSCIOUSNESS AS BETWEEN MUSLIMS IS ONE OF THE
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS OF ISLAM AND IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD THERE IS, AS
IT HAPPENS, A CRYING NEED FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THIS ISLAMIC VIRTUE.

A.J. TOYNBEE, CIVILIZATION ON TRIAL, NEW YORK, 1948, P. 205.

THE RISE OF ISLAM IS PERHAPS THE MOST AMAZING EVENT IN HUMAN HISTORY. SPRINGING
FROM A LAND AND PREVIOUSLY NEGLIGIBLE PEOPLE, ISLAM SPREAD WITHIN A CENTURY
OVER HALF THE EARTH, SHATTERING GREAT EMPIRES, OVERTHROWING LONG-ESTABLISHED
RELIGIONS, REMOULDING THE SOULS OF RACES, AND BUILDING UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD -
WORLD OF ISLAM.

THE CLOSER WE EXAMINE THIS DEVELOPMENT THE MORE EXTRAORDINARY DOES IT APPEAR.
THE OTHER GREAT RELIGIONS WON THEIR WAY SLOWLY, BY PAINFUL STRUGGLE AND FINALLY
TRIUMPHED WITH THE AID OF POWERFUL MONARCHS CONVERTED TO THE NEW FAITH.
CHRISTIANITY HAD ITS CONSTANTINE, BUDHISM ITS ASOKA, AND ZOROASTRIANISM ITS
CYRUS, EACH LENDING TO HIS CHOSEN CULT THE MIGHTY FORCE OF SECULAR AUTHORITY,
NOT SO ISLAM. ARISING IN A DESERT LAND SPARSELY INHABITED BY A NOMAD RACE
PREVIOUSLY UNDISTINGUISHED IN HUMAN ANNALS. ISLAM RALLIED FORTH ON ITS GREAT
ADVENTURE WITH THE SLENDEREST HUMAN BACKING AND AGAINST THE HEAVIES MATERIAL
ODDS. YET ISLAM TRIUMPHED WITH SEEMINGLY MIRACULOUS EASE, AND A COUPLE OF
GENERATIONS SAW THE FIERY CRESCENT BORNE VICTORIOUS FROM THE PYRENEES TO THE
HIMALAYAS AND FROM THE DESERT OF CENTRAL ASIA TO THE DESERTS OF CENTRAL AFRICA..

A. M. L. STODDARD, QUOTED IN ISLAM - THE RELIGION OF ALL PROPHETS, BEGUM BAWANI
WAQF, KARACHI, PAKISTAN P. 56



ISLAM IS A RELIGION THAT IS ESSENTIALLY RATIONALISTIC IN THE WIDEST SENSE OF THIS
TERM CONSIDERED ETYMOLOGICALLY AND HISTORICALLY. THE DEFINITION OF RATIONALISM
AS A SYSTEM THAT BASES RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ON PRINCIPLES FURNISHED BY THE REASON
APPLIES TO IT EXACTLY.. IT CANNOT BE DENIED THAT MANY DOCTRINES AND SYSTEMS OF
THEOLOGY AND ALSO MANY SUPERSTITIONS, FROM THE WORSHIP OF SAINTS TO THE USE OF
ROSARIES AND AMULETS, HAVE BECOME GRAFTED ON THE MAIN TRUNK OF MUSLIM CREED.
BUT IN SPITE OF THE RICH DEVELOPMENT, IN EVERY SENSE OF THE TERM, OF THE
TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET, THE QUR'AN HAS INVARIABLY KEPT ITS PLACE AS THE
FUNDAMENTAL STARTING POINT, AND THE DOGMA OF UNITY OF GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN
PROCLAIMED THEREIN WITH A GRANDEUR, A MAJESTY, AN INVARIABLE PURITY AND WITH A
NOTE OF SURE CONVICTION, WHICH IT IS HARD TO FIND SURPASSED OUTSIDE THE PALE OF
ISLAM. THIS FIDELITY TO THE FUNDAMENTAL DOGMA OF THE RELIGION, THE ELEMENTAL
SIMPLICITY OF THE FORMULA IN WHICH IT IS ENUNCIATED, THE PROOF THAT IT GAINS FROM
THE FERVID CONVICTION OF THE MISSIONARIES WHO PROPAGATE IT, ARE SO MANY CAUSES
TO EXPLAIN THE SUCCESS OF MUHAMMEDAN MISSIONARY EFFORTS. A CREED SO PRECISE,
SO STRIPPED OF ALL THEOLOGICAL COMPLEXITIES AND CONSEQUENTLY SO ACCESSIBLE TO
THE ORDINARY UNDERSTANDING MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO POSSESS AND DOES INDEED
POSSESS A MARVELLOUS POWER OF WINNING ITS WAY INTO THE CONSCIENCES OF MEN.

EDWARD MONTET, "LA PROPAGANDE CHRETIENNE ET SES ADVERSARIES MUSULMANS" PARIS
1890, QUOTED BY T. W. ARNOLD IN THE PREACHING OF ISLAM, LONDON 1913, PP. 413-414

I AM NOT A MUSLIM IN THE USUAL SENSE, THOUGH I HOPE I AM A "MUSLIM" AS ONE
'SURRENDERED TO GOD', BUT I BELIEVE THAT EMBEDDED IN THE QUR'AN AND OTHER
EXPRESSIONS OF THE ISLAMIC VISION ARE VAST STORES OF DIVINE TRUTH FROM WHICH I
AND OTHER OCCIDENTALS HAVE STILL MUCH TO LEARN, AND 'ISLAM IS CERTAINLY A STRONG
CONTENDER FOR THE SUPPLYING OF THE BASIC FRAMEWORK OF THE ONE RELIGION OF THE
FUTURE'.

W. MONTGOMERY WATT, ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY TODAY, LONDON 1983, P. IX.

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT MUHAMMED (PBUH)

DURING THE CENTURIES OF THE CRUSADES, ALL SORTS OF SLANDERS WERE INVENTED
AGAINST THE PROPHET MUHAMMED (PBUH). BUT WITH THE BIRTH OF THE MODERN AGE,
MARKED WITH RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AND FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, THERE HAS BEEN A
GREAT CHANGE IN THE APPROACH OF WESTERN AUTHORS IN THEIR DELINEATION OF HIS
LIFE AND CHARACTER. THE VIEWS OF SOME NON-MUSLIM SCHOLARS REGARDING PROPHET
MUHAMMED, GIVEN AT THE END, JUSTIFY THIS OPINION.

BUT THE WEST HAS STILL TO GO A STEP FORWARD TO DISCOVER THE GREATEST REALITY
ABOUT MUHAMMED AND THAT IS HIS BEING THE TRUE AND THE LAST PROPHET OF GOD FOR
THE WHOLE HUMANITY. IN SPITE OF ALL ITS OBJECTIVITY AND ENLIGHTENMENT THERE HAS
BEEN NO SINCERE AND OBJECTIVE ATTEMPT BY THE EAST TO UNDERSTAND THE
PROPHETHOOD OF MUHAMMED (P.B.U.H.). IT IS SO STRANGE THAT VERY GLOWING TRIBUTES
ARE PAID TO HIM FOR HIS INTEGRITY AND ACHIEVEMENT BUT HIS CLAIM OF BEING THE
PROPHET OF GOD HAS BEEN REJECTED EXPLICITLY OR IMPLICITLY. IT IS HERE THAT A
SEARCHING OF THE HEART IS REQUIRED, AND A REVIEW OF THE SO-CALLED OBJECTIVITY IS
NEEDED. THE FOLLOWING GLARING FACTS FROM THE LIFE OF MUHAMMED (P.B.U.H.) HAVE
BEEN FURNISHED TO FACILITATE AN UNBIASED, LOGICAL AND OBJECTIVE DECISION
REGARDING HIS PROPHETHOOD.



UP TO THE AGE OF FORTY MUHAMMED (P.B.U.H.) WAS NOT KNOWN AS A STATESMAN, A
PREACHER OR AN ORATOR. HE WAS NEVER SEEN DISCUSSING THE PRINCIPLES OF
METAPHYSICS, ETHICS, LAW, POLITICS, ECONOMICS OR SOCIOLOGY. NO DOUBT HE
POSSESSED AN EXCELLENT CHARACTER, CHARMING MANNERS AND WAS HIGHLY CULTURED.
YET THERE WAS NOTHING SO DEEPLY STRIKING AND SO RADICALLY EXTRAORDINARY IN HIM
THAT WOULD MAKE MEN EXPECT SOMETHING GREAT AND REVOLUTIONARY FROM HIM IN THE
FUTURE. BUT WHEN HE CAME OUT OF THE CAVE OF HIRA WITH A NEW MESSAGE, HE WAS
COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR SUCH A PERSON OF THE ABOVE QUALITIES
TO TURN ALL OF A SUDDEN 'AN IMPOSTOR' AND CLAIM TO BE THE PROPHET OF ALLAH AND
INVITE ALL THE RAGE OF HIS PEOPLE? ONE MIGHT ASK: FOR WHAT REASON DID HE SUFFER
ALL THOSE HARDSHIPS? HIS PEOPLE OFFERED TO ACCEPT HIM AS THEIR KING AND TO LAY
ALL THE RICHES OF THE LAND AT HIS FEET IF ONLY HE WOULD LEAVE THE PREACHING OF HIS
RELIGION. BUT HE CHOSE TO REFUSE THEIR TEMPTING OFFERS AND GO ON PREACHING HIS
RELIGION SINGLE-HANDEDLY IN FACE OF ALL KINDS OF INSULTS, SOCIAL BOYCOTT AND
EVEN PHYSICAL ASSAULT BY HIS OWN PEOPLE. WAS IT NOT ONLY GOD'S SUPPORT AND HIS
FIRM WILL TO DISSEMINATE THE MESSAGE OF ALLAH AND HIS DEEP-ROOTED BELIEF THAT
ULTIMATELY ISLAM WOULD EMERGE AS THE ONLY WAY OF LIFE FOR THE HUMANITY, THAT HE
STOOD LIKE A MOUNTAIN IN THE FACE OF ALL OPPOSITIONS AND CONSPIRACIES TO
ELIMINATE HIM? FURTHERMORE. HAD HE COME WITH A DESIGN OF RIVALRY WITH THE
CHRISTIANS AND THE JEWS, WHY SHOULD HE HAVE MADE BELIEF IN JESUS CHRIST AND
MOSES AND OTHER PROPHETS OF GOD (PEACE BE UPON THEM), A BASIC REQUIREMENT OF
FAITH WITHOUT WHICH NO ONE COULD BE A MUSLIM?

IS IT NOT AN INCONTROVERTIBLE PROOF OF HIS PROPHETHOOD THAT IN SPITE OF BEING
UNLETTERED AND HAVING LED A VERY NORMAL AND QUIET LIFE FOR FORTY YEARS, WHEN HE
BEGAN PREACHING HIS MESSAGE, ALL OF ARABIA STOOD IN AWE AND WONDER AND WAS
BEWITCHED BY HIS WONDERFUL ELOQUENCE AND ORATORY? IT WAS SO MATCHLESS THAT
THE WHOLE LEGION OF ARAB POETS, PREACHERS AND ORATORS OF HIGHEST CALIBRE
FAILED TO BRING FORTH ITS EQUIVALENT. AND ABOVE ALL, HOW COULD HE THEN
PRONOUNCE TRUTHS OF A SCIENTIFIC NATURE CONTAINED IN THE QUR'AN THAT NO OTHER
HUMAN-BEING COULD POSSIBLY HAVE DEVELOPED AT THAT TIME?

LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, WHY DID HE LEAD A HARD LIFE EVEN AFTER GAINING POWER AND
AUTHORITY? JUST PONDER OVER THE WORDS HE UTTERED WHILE DYING: "WE THE
COMMUNITY OF THE PROPHETS ARE NOT INHERITED. WHATEVER WE LEAVE IS FOR CHARITY".

AS A MATTER OF FACT MUHAMMED (P.B.U.H.) IS THE LAST LINK OF THE CHAIN OF PROPHETS
SENT IN DIFFERENT LANDS AND TIMES SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE HUMAN LIFE ON
THIS PLANET.

IF GREATNESS OF PURPOSE, SMALLNESS OF MEANS, AND ASTOUNDING RESULTS ARE THE
THREE CRITERIA OF HUMAN GENIUS, WHO COULD DARE TO COMPARE ANY GREAT MAN IN
MODERN HISTORY WITH MUHAMMED? THE MOST FAMOUS MEN CREATED ARMS, LAWS AND
EMPIRES ONLY. THEY FOUNDED, IF ANYTHING AT ALL, NO MORE THAN MATERIAL POWERS
WHICH OFTEN CRUMBLED AWAY BEFORE THEIR EYES. THIS MAN MOVED NOT ONLY ARMIES,
LEGISLATIONS, EMPIRES, PEOPLES AND DYNASTIES, BUT MILLIONS OF MEN IN ONE-THIRD OF
THE THEN INHABITED WORLD; AND MORE THAN THAT, HE MOVED THE ALTARS, THE GODS,
THE RELIGIONS, THE IDEAS, THE BELIEFS AND SOULS ..... HIS FORBEARANCE IN VICTORY,
HIS AMBITION, WHICH WAS ENTIRELY DEVOTED TO ONE IDEA AND IN NO MANNER STRIVING
FOR AN EMPIRE; HIS ENDLESS PRAYERS, HIS MYSTIC CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD, HIS



DEATH AND HIS TRIUMPH AFTER DEATH; ALL THESE ATTEST NOT TO AN IMPORTANT BUT TO
A FIRM CONVICTION WHICH GAVE HIM THE POWER TO RESTORE A DOGMA. THIS DOGMA
WAS TWOFOLD, THE UNITY OF GOD AND THE IMMATERIALITY OF GOD; THE FORMER TELLING
WHAT GOD IS, THE LATTER TELLING WHAT GOD IS NOT; THE ONE OVERTHROWING FALSE
GODS WITH THE SWORD, THE OTHER STARTING AN IDEA WITH THE WORDS.

PHILOSOPHER, ORATOR, APOSTLE, LEGISLATOR, WARRIOR, CONQUEROR OF IDEAS,
RESTORER OF RATIONAL DOGMAS, OF A CULT WITHOUT IMAGES; THE FOUNDER OF TWENTY
TERRESTRIAL EMPIRES AND OF ONE SPIRITUAL EMPIRE, THAT IS MUHAMMED. AS REGARDS
ALL STANDARDS BY WHICH HUMAN GREATNESS MAY BE MEASURED, WE MANY WELL ASK, IS
THERE ANY MAN GREATER THAN HE?

LAMARTINE, HISTOIRE DE LA TURQUIE, PARIS 1854 VOL II, PP. 276-77

IT IS NOT THE PROPAGATION BUT THE PERMANENCY OF HIS RELIGION THAT DESERVES OUR
WONDER; THE SAME PURE AND PERFECT IMPRESSION WHICH HE ENGRAVED AT MECCA AND
MEDINA IS PRESERVED, AFTER THE REVOLUTIONS OF TWELVE CENTURIES BY THE INDIAN,
THE AFRICAN AND THE TURKISH PROSELYTES OF THE KORAN... THE MAHOMEDANS HAVE
UNIFORMLY WITHSTOOD THE TEMPTATION OF REDUCING THE OBJECT OF THEIR FAITH AND
DEVOTION TO A LEVEL WITH THE SENSES AND IMAGINATIONS OF MAN. 'I BELIEVE IN ONE
GOD AND MAHOMET THE APOSTLE OF GOD', IS THE SIMPLE AND INVARIABLE PROFESSION OF
ISLAM. THE INTELLECTUAL IMAGE OF THE DEITY HAS NEVER BEEN DEGRADED BY ANY
VISIBLE IDOL; THE HONOURS OF THE PROPHET HAVE NEVER TRANSGRESSED THE MEASURE
OF HUMAN VIRTUE; AND HIS LIVING PRECEPTS HAVE RESTRAINED THE GRATITUDE OF HIS
DISCIPLES WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF REASON AND RELIGION.

EDWARD GIBBON AND SIMON OCKLAY, HISTORY OF THE SARACEN EMPIRE, LONDON 1870, P.
54.

HE WAS CAESAR AND POPE IN ONE; BUT HE WAS POPE WITHOUT POPE'S
PRETENSIONS, CAESAR WITHOUT THE LEGIONS OF CAESAR: WITHOUT A STANDING
ARMY, WITHOUT A BODYGUARD, WITHOUT A PALACE, WITHOUT A FIXED REVENUE; IF
EVER ANY MAN HAD THE RIGHT TO SAY THAT HE RULED BY THE RIGHT DIVINE, IT
WAS MUHAMMED, FOR HE HAD ALL THE POWER WITHOUT ITS INSTRUMENTS AND
WITHOUT ITS SUPPORTS.

BOSWORTH SMITH, MUHAMMED AND MUHAMMEDANISM, LONDON 1874, P. 92.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE WHO STUDIES THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THE GREAT
PROPHET OF ARABIA, WHO KNOWS HOW HE TAUGHT AND HOW HE LIVED, TO FEEL ANYTHING
BUT REVERENCE FOR THAT MIGHTY PROPHET, ONE OF THE GREAT MESSENGERS OF THE
SUPREME. AND ALTHOUGH IN WHAT I PUT TO YOU I SHALL SAY MANY THINGS WHICH MAY BE
FAMILIAR TO MANY, YET I MYSELF FEEL WHENEVER I RE-READ THEM, A NEW WAY OF
ADMIRATION, A NEW SENSE OF REVERENCE FOR THAT MIGHTY ARABIAN TEACHER.

ANNIE BESANT, THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMED, MADRAS 1932, P. 4

HIS READINESS TO UNDERGO PERSECUTION FOR HIS BELIEFS, THE HIGH MORAL CHARACTER
OF THE MEN WHO BELIEVED IN HIM AND LOOKED UP TO HIM AS LEADER, AND THE
GREATNESS OF HIS ULTIMATE ACHIEVEMENT - ALL ARGUE HIS FUNDAMENTAL INTEGRITY. TO
SUPPOSE MUHAMMED AN IMPOSTOR RAISES MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES. MOREOVER,



NONE OF THE GREAT FIGURES OF HISTORY IS SO POORLY APPRECIATED IN THE WEST AS
MUHAMMED.

W. MONTGOMERY, MUHAMMED AT MECCA, OXFORD, 1953, P. 52

MUHAMMED, THE INSPIRED MAN WHO FOUNDED ISLAM, WAS BORN ABOUT A.D. 570 INTO AN
ARABIAN TRIBE THAT WORSHIPPED IDOLS. ORPHANED AT BIRTH, HE WAS ALWAYS
PARTICULARLY SOLICITOUS OF THE POOR AND NEEDY, THE WIDOW AND THE ORPHAN, THE
SLAVE AND THE DOWNTRODDEN. AT TWENTY HE WAS ALREADY A SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESSMAN, AND SOON BECAME DIRECTOR OF CAMEL CARAVANS FOR A WEALTHY WIDOW.
WHEN HE REACHED TWENTY-FIVE HIS EMPLOYER, RECOGNISING HIS MERIT, PROPOSED
MARRIAGE. EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS FIFTEEN YEARS OLDER, HE MARRIED HER, AND AS LONG
AS SHE LIVED REMAINED A DEVOTED HUSBAND.

LIKE ALMOST EVERY MAJOR PROPHET BEFORE HIM, MUHAMMED FOUGHT SHY OF SERVING AS
THE TRANSMITTER OF GOD'S WORD, SENSING HIS OWN INADEQUACY. BUT THE ANGEL
COMMANDED 'READ'. SO FAR AS WE KNOW, MUHAMMED WAS UNABLE TO READ OR WRITE,
BUT HE BEGAN TO DICTATE THOSE INSPIRED WORDS WHICH WOULD SOON REVOLUTIONISE
A LARGE SEGMENT OF THE EARTH: "THERE IS ONE GOD".

IN ALL THINGS MUHAMMED WAS PROFOUNDLY PRACTICAL. WHEN HIS BELOVED SON
IBRAHIM DIED, AN ECLIPSE OCCURRED, AND RUMOURS OF GOD'S PERSONAL CONDOLENCE
QUICKLY AROSE. WHEREUPON MUHAMMED IS SAID TO HAVE ANNOUNCED, "AN ECLIPSE IS A
PHENOMENON OF NATURE. IT IS FOOLISH TO ATTRIBUTE SUCH THINGS TO THE DEATH OR
BIRTH OF A HUMAN-BEING".

AT MUHAMMED'S OWN DEATH AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DEIFY HIM, BUT THE MAN WHO
WAS TO BECOME HIS ADMINISTRATIVE SUCCESSOR KILLED THE HYSTERIA WITH ONE OF THE
NOBLEST SPEECHES IN RELIGIOUS HISTORY: 'IF THERE ARE ANY AMONG YOU WHO
WORSHIPPED MUHAMMED, HE IS DEAD. BUT IF IT IS GOD YOU WORSHIPPED, HE LIVES FOR
EVER'.

JAMES A. MICHENER, "ISLAM: THE MISUNDERSTOOD RELIGION", IN THE READER'S DIGEST
(AMERICAN EDITION) FOR MAY, 1955, PP. 68-70.

MY CHOICE OF MUHAMMED TO LEAD THE LIST OF THE WORLD'S MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS
MAY SURPRISE SOME READERS AND MAY BE QUESTIONED BY OTHERS, BUT HE WAS THE ONLY
MAN IN HISTORY WHO WAS SUPREMELY SUCCESSFUL ON BOTH THE RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR
LEVEL.

MICHAEL H. HART, THE 100: A RANKING OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS IN HISTORY,
NEW YORK: HART PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. 1978, P. 33.

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE GLORIOUS QUR’AN

HUMANITY HAS RECEIVED THE DIVINE GUIDANCE ONLY THROUGH TWO CHANNELS: FIRSTLY
THE WORD OF ALLAH, SECONDLY THE PROPHETS WHO WERE CHOSEN BY ALLAH TO
COMMUNICATE HIS WILL TO HUMAN-BEINGS. THESE TWO THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
GOING TOGETHER AND ATTEMPTS TO KNOW THE WILL OF ALLAH BY NEGLECTING EITHER OF
THESE TWO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MISLEADING. THE HINDUS NEGLECTED THEIR PROPHETS
AND PAID ALL ATTENTION TO THEIR BOOKS THAT PROVED ONLY WORD PUZZLES WHICH THEY



ULTIMATELY LOST. SIMILARLY THE CHRISTIANS, IN TOTAL DISREGARD TO THE BOOK OF
ALLAH, ATTACHED ALL IMPORTANCE TO CHRIST AND THUS NOT ONLY ELEVATED HIM TO
DIVINITY, BUT ALSO LOST THE VERY ESSENCE OF TAWHEED (MONOTHEISM) CONTAINED IN
THE BIBLE.

AS A MATTER OF FACT THE MAIN SCRIPTURES REVEALED BEFORE THE QUR'AN I.E., THE OLD
TESTAMENT AND THE GOSPEL, CAME INTO BOOK-FORM LONG AFTER THE DAYS OF THE
PROPHETS AND THAT TOO IN TRANSLATION. THIS WAS BECAUSE THE FOLLOWERS OF MOSES
AND JESUS MADE NO CONSIDERABLE EFFORTS TO PRESERVE THESE REVELATIONS DURING
THE LIFE OF THEIR PROPHETS. RATHER THEY WERE WRITTEN LONG AFTER THEIR DEATH.
THUS WHAT WE NOW HAVE IN THE FORM OF THE BIBLE (THE OLD AS WELL AS THE NEW
TESTAMENT) IS TRANSLATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS' ACCOUNTS OF THE ORIGINAL REVELATIONS
WHICH CONTAIN ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS MADE BY THE FOLLOWERS OF THE SAID
PROPHETS. ON THE CONTRARY, THE LAST REVEALED BOOK, THE QUR'AN, IS EXTENT IN ITS
ORIGINAL FORM. ALLAH HIMSELF GUARANTEED ITS PRESERVATION AND THAT IS WHY THE
WHOLE OF THE QUR'AN WAS WRITTEN DURING THE LIFE TIME OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMED
(PBUH) HIMSELF THOUGH ON SEPARATE PIECES OF PALM LEAVES, PARCHMENTS, BONES ETC..
MOREOVER, THERE WERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THE COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET WHO
MEMORISED THE WHOLE QUR'AN AND THE PROPHET HIMSELF USED TO RECITE IT TO THE
ANGEL GABRIEL ONCE A YEAR AND TWICE WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO DIE. THEN THE FIRST
CALIPH, ABU BAKR ENTRUSTED THE COLLECTION OF THE WHOLE QUR'AN IN ONE VOLUME TO
THE PROPHET'S SCRIBE, ZAID IBN THABIT. THIS VOLUME WAS WITH ABU BAKR TILL HIS
DEATH. THEN IT WAS WITH THE SECOND CALIPH UMAR AND AFTER HIM IT CAME TO HAFSA,
THE PROPHET'S WIFE. IT WAS FROM THIS ORIGINAL COPY THAT THE THIRD CALIPH UTHMAN
PREPARED SEVERAL OTHER COPIES AND SENT THEM TO DIFFERENT MUSLIM TERRITORIES.

THE QUR'AN WAS SO METICULOUSLY PRESERVED BECAUSE IT WAS TO BE THE BOOK OF
GUIDANCE FOR HUMANITY FOR ALL TIMES TO COME. THAT IS WHY IT DOES NOT ADDRESS
THE ARABS ALONE IN WHOSE LANGUAGE IT WAS REVEALED. IT SPEAKS TO MAN AS A HUMAN
BEING:

"O MAN! WHAT HAS SEDUCED YOU FROM YOUR LORD". THE PRACTICABILITY OF THE
QUR'ANIC TEACHINGS IS ESTABLISHED BY THE EXAMPLES OF MUHAMMED (PBUH) AND THE
GOOD MUSLIMS THROUGHOUT THE AGES. THE DISTINCTIVE APPROACH OF THE QUR'AN IS
THAT ITS INSTRUCTIONS ARE AIMED AT THE GENERAL WELFARE OF MAN AND ARE BASED ON
THE POSSIBILITIES WITHIN HIS REACH. IN ALL ITS DIMENSIONS THE QUR'ANIC WISDOM IS
CONCLUSIVE. IT NEITHER CONDEMNS NOR TORTURES THE FLESH NOR DOES IT NEGLECT THE
SOUL. IT DOES NOT HUMANISE GOD NOR DOES IT DEIFY MAN. EVERYTHING IS CAREFULLY
PLACED WHERE IT BELONGS IN THE TOTAL SCHEME OF CREATION.

ACTUALLY THE SCHOLARS WHO ALLEGE THAT MUHAMMED (PBUH) WAS THE AUTHOR OF THE
QUR'AN CLAIM SOMETHING WHICH IS HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE. COULD ANY PERSON OF THE
SIXTH CENTURY C.E. UTTER SUCH SCIENTIFIC TRUTHS AS THE QUR'AN CONTAINS? COULD HE
DESCRIBE THE EVOLUTION OF THE EMBRYO INSIDE THE UTERUS SO ACCURATELY AS WE FIND
IT IN MODERN SCIENCE?

SECONDLY, IS IT LOGICAL TO BELIEVE THAT MUHAMMED (PBUH), WHO UP TO THE AGE OF
FORTY WAS MARKED ONLY FOR HIS HONESTY AND INTEGRITY, BEGAN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE
AUTHORSHIP OF A BOOK MATCHLESS IN LITERARY MERIT AND THE EQUIVALENT OF WHICH
THE WHOLE LEGION OF THE ARAB POETS AND ORATORS OF HIGHEST CALIBRE COULD NOT
PRODUCE? AND LASTLY, IS IT JUSTIFIED TO SAY THAT MUHAMMED (PBUH) WHO WAS KNOWN



AS AL-AMEEN (THE TRUSTWORTHY) IN HIS SOCIETY AND WHO IS STILL ADMIRED BY THE
NON-MUSLIM SCHOLARS FOR HIS HONESTY AND INTEGRITY, CAME FORTH WITH A FALSE
CLAIM AND ON THAT FALSEHOOD COULD TRAIN THOUSANDS OF MEN OF CHARACTER,
INTEGRITY AND HONESTY, WHO WERE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THE BEST HUMAN SOCIETY ON
THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH?

SURELY, ANY SINCERE AND UNBIASED SEARCHER OF TRUTH WILL COME TO BELIEVE THAT
THE QUR'AN IS THE REVEALED BOOK OF ALLAH.

WITHOUT NECESSARILY AGREEING WITH ALL WHAT THEY SAID, WE FURNISH HERE SOME
OPINIONS OF IMPORTANT NON-MUSLIM SCHOLARS ABOUT THE QUR'AN. READERS CAN
EASILY SEE HOW THE MODERN WORLD IS COMING CLOSER TO REALITY REGARDING THE
QUR'AN. WE APPEAL TO ALL OPEN-MINDED SCHOLARS TO STUDY THE QUR'AN IN THE LIGHT
OF THE AFOREMENTIONED POINTS. WE ARE SURE THAT ANY SUCH ATTEMPT WILL CONVINCE
THE READER THAT THE QUR'AN COULD NEVER BE WRITTEN BY ANY HUMAN BEING.

"HOWEVER OFTEN WE TURN TO IT [THE QUR'AN] AT FIRST DISGUSTING US EACH TIME
AFRESH, IT SOON ATTRACTS, ASTOUNDS, AND IN THE END ENFORCES OUR REVERENCE... ITS
STYLE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS CONTENTS AND AIM IS STERN, GRAND, TERRIBLE - EVER
AND ANON TRULY SUBLIME -- THUS THIS BOOK WILL GO ON EXERCISING THROUGH ALL AGES
A MOST POTENT INFLUENCE."

GOETHE, QUOTED IN T.P. HUGHES "DICTIONARY OF ISLAM", P. 526.

"THE KORAN ADMITTEDLY OCCUPIES AN IMPORTANT POSITION AMONG THE GREAT RELIGIOUS
BOOKS OF THE WORLD. THOUGH THE YOUNGEST OF THE EPOCH-MAKING WORKS BELONGING
TO THIS CLASS OF LITERATURE, IT YIELDS TO HARDLY ANY IN THE WONDERFUL EFFECT
WHICH IT HAS PRODUCED ON LARGE MASSES OF MEN. IT HAS CREATED AN ALL BUT NEW
PHASE OF HUMAN THOUGHT AND A FRESH TYPE OF CHARACTER. IT FIRST TRANSFORMED A
NUMBER OF HETEROGENEOUS DESERT TRIBES OF THE ARABIAN PENINSULA INTO A NATION
OF HEROES, AND THEN PROCEEDED TO CREATE THE VAST POLITICO-RELIGIOUS
ORGANISATIONS OF MUHAMMEDAN WORLD WHICH ARE ONE OF THE GREAT FORCES WITH
WHICH EUROPE AND THE EAST HAVE TO RECKON TODAY."

G. MARGOLIOUTH, INTRODUCTION TO J.M. RODWELL'S, THE KORAN, NEW YORK: EVERYMAN'S
LIBRARY, 1977. P. VII.

"A WORK, THEN, WHICH CALLS FORTH SO POWERFUL AND SEEMINGLY INCOMPATIBLE
EMOTIONS EVEN IN THE DISTANT READER - DISTANT AS TO TIME, AND STILL MORE SO AS
MENTAL DEVELOPMENT - A WORK WHICH NOT ONLY CONQUERS THE REPUGNANCE WHICH HE
MAY BEGIN ITS PERUSAL, BUT CHANGES THIS ADVERSE FEELING INTO ASTONISHMENT AND
ADMIRATION, SUCH A WORK MUST BE A WONDERFUL PRODUCTION OF THE HUMAN MIND
INDEED AND A PROBLEM OF THE HIGHEST INTEREST TO EVERY THOUGHTFUL OBSERVER OF
THE DESTINIES OF MANKIND."

DR STEINGASS, QUOTED IN T.P. HUGHES, DICTIONARY OF ISLAM, PP. 526-7.

"THE ABOVE OBSERVATION MAKES THE HYPOTHESIS ADVANCED BY THOSE WHO SEE
MUHAMMED AS THE AUTHOR OF THE QUR'AN UNTENABLE. HOW COULD A MAN, FROM BEING
ILLITERATE, BECOME THE MOST IMPORTANT AUTHOR, IN TERMS OF LITERARY MERITS, IN THE
WHOLE OF ARABIC LITERATURE? HOW COULD HE THEN PRONOUNCE TRUTHS OF A



SCIENTIFIC NATURE THAT NO OTHER HUMAN-BEING COULD POSSIBLY HAVE DEVELOPED AT
THAT TIME, AND ALL THIS WITHOUT ONCE MAKING THE SLIGHTEST ERROR IN HIS
PRONOUNCEMENT ON THE SUBJECT?"

MAURICE BUCAILLE, THE BIBLE, THE QUR'AN AND SCIENCE, 1978, P. 125.

"HERE, THEREFORE, ITS MERITS AS A LITERARY PRODUCTION SHOULD PERHAPS NOT BE
MEASURED BY SOME PRECONCEIVED MAXIMS OF SUBJECTIVE AND AESTHETIC TASTE, BUT BY
THE EFFECTS WHICH IT PRODUCED IN MUHAMMED'S CONTEMPORARIES AND FELLOW
COUNTRYMEN. IF IT SPOKE SO POWERFULLY AND CONVINCINGLY TO THE HEARTS OF HIS
HEARERS AS TO WELD HITHERTO CENTRIFUGAL AND ANTAGONISTIC ELEMENTS INTO ONE
COMPACT AND WELL ORGANISED BODY, ANIMATED BY IDEAS FAR BEYOND THOSE WHICH HAD
UNTIL NOW RULED THE ARABIAN MIND, THEN ITS ELOQUENCE WAS PERFECT, SIMPLY
BECAUSE IT CREATED A CIVILISED NATION OUT OF SAVAGE TRIBES, AND SHOT A FRESH
WOOF INTO THE OLD WARP OF HISTORY."

DR. STEINGASS, QUOTED IN HUGES, DICTIONARY OF ISLAM, P. 528.

"IN MAKING THE PRESENT ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF MY
PREDECESSORS, AND TO PRODUCE SOMETHING WHICH MIGHT BE ACCEPTED AS ECHOING
HOWEVER FAINTLY THE SUBLIME RHETORIC OF THE ARABIC KORAN, I HAVE BEEN AT PAIN TO
STUDY THE INTRICATE AND RICHLY VARIED RHYTHMS WHICH - APART FROM THE MESSAGE
ITSELF - CONSTITUTE THE KORAN'S UNDENIABLE CLAIM TO RANK AMONGST THE GREATEST
LITERARY MASTERPIECES OF MANKIND. THIS VERY CHARACTERISTIC FEATURE - THAT
INIMITABLE SYMPHONY, AS THE BELIEVING PICKTHALL DESCRIBED HIS HOLY BOOK, THE
VERY SOUNDS OF WHICH MOVE MEN TO TEARS AND ECSTASY' - HAS BEEN ALMOST TOTALLY
IGNORED BY PREVIOUS TRANSLATORS; IT IS THEREFORE NOT SURPRISING THAT WHAT THEY
HAVE WROUGHT SOUNDS DULL AND FLAT INDEED IN COMPARISON WITH THE SPLENDIDLY
DECORATED ORIGINAL."

ARTHUR J. ARBERRY, THE KORAN INTERPRETED, LONDON: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS,
1964, P. X.

"A TOTALLY OBJECTIVE EXAMINATION OF IT [THE QUR'AN] IN THE LIGHT OF MODERN
KNOWLEDGE, LEADS US TO RECOGNISE THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO, AS HAS BEEN
ALREADY NOTED ON REPEATED OCCASIONS. IT MAKES US DEEM IT QUITE UNTHINKABLE FOR
A MAN OF MUHAMMED'S TIME TO HAVE BEEN THE AUTHOR OF SUCH STATEMENTS, ON
ACCOUNT OF THE STATE OF KNOWLEDGE IN HIS DAY. SUCH CONSIDERATIONS ARE PART OF
WHAT GIVES THE QUR'ANIC REVELATION ITS UNIQUE PLACE, AND FORCES THE IMPARTIAL
SCIENTISTS TO ADMIT HIS INABILITY TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION WHICH CALLS SOLELY
UPON MATERIALISTIC REASONING."

MAURICE BUCAILLE, THE QUR'AN AND MODERN SCIENCE, 1981, P. 18

RIGHTS OF ISLAMIC BROTHERHOOD

THE HOLY PROPHET (S.A.W.), LIKE ALL EARLIER APOSTLES, WAS CHOSEN AND BESTOWED
WITH DIVINE FAITH AND HEAVENLY GUIDANCE. THOSE WHO RESPONDED TO HIS CALL BY
ACCEPTING HIS MESSAGE, NATURALLY, WENT TO FORM A SEPARATE COMMUNITY - WHICH
CAME TO BE KNOWN AN "UMMAT-UM-MUSLIMAH'' THE ISLAMIC FRATERNITY AND
BROTHERHOOD.



DURING THE PROPHET'S LIFETIME, THE UMMAH SERVED AS HIS RIGHT HAND ASSISTING HIM
IN THE PREACHING AND PROPAGATION OF THE ISLAMIC FAITH TO MANKIND. AFTER HIS
DEATH, THE UMMAH HAD TO FULFIL THIS SACRED MISSION, TILL THE END OF TIME, AS HIS
"DEPUTY." THE FULFILMENT OF THIS RESPONSIBILITY NOT ONLY REQUIRES POSSESSION OF
QUALITIES OF FIRM BELIEF, DEVOTION TO ALLAH ALMIGHTY, PIETY, RIGHTEOUSNESS,
ENTHUSIASM ETC., BUT ALSO STRONG BOND OF UNITY AMONGST THE MEMBERS, OF THE
UMMAH - WHERE THEIR HEARTS REMAIN UNITED AND THEY ACT LIKE A SINGLE BODY. THEY
SHOULD BEHAVE LIKE A FRATERNITY, BOUND TOGETHER BY TIES OF RELIGIOUS SOLIDARITY,
BROTHERLY LOVE AND KIND FEELINGS. IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE MUSLIMS WERE TO BE
DIVIDED AMONG THEMSELVES, AND IF INSTEAD OF UNITY AND SOLIDARITY THERE IS A
DISCORD AND DISUNITY, THEY CANNOT BE REGARDED AS WORTHY OF SUCH A TASK.

DUE TO THIS VERY REASON, THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) TOOK SPECIAL PAINS TO STRESS UPON
THE MEMBERS AND DIFFERENT CLASSES OF THE UMMAH (I.E. ALL MUSLIMS), THE NEED TO
BEHAVE TOWARDS EACH OTHER AS BROTHERS- HELPING ONE ANOTHER FULFILLING THE
CLAIMS ARISING FROM THE COMMON BOND OF ISLAM. THIS EMPHASIS BY RASULULLAH
(S.A.W.) WAS ALL THE MORE NECESSARY BECAUSE THE UMMAH INCLUDES PEOPLE FROM
VARIOUS COUNTRIES, RACES, TRIBES AND SOCIAL RANKS, EACH WITH THEIR OWN ETHNIC,
CULTURAL, LINGUISTIC OR TEMPERAMENTAL FEATURES.

ISLAMIC UNITY ENLIKENED TO A STRONG BUILDING

IT IS RELATED BY ABU MOOSA ASH'ARI (R.A.) THAT THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH (S.A.W.) SAID
"THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MUSLIMS IS LIKE THAT OF A STRONG BUILDING - ONE PART
STRENGTHENS ANOTHER." THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) THEN SHOWED THIS BY INTERLOCKING THE
FINGERS OF ONE HAND WITH THOSE OF THE OTHER (THAT MUSLIMS SHOULD REMAIN UNITED
AND COMBINED - THEREBY STREGHTHENING ONE ANOTHER).

IN THE ABOVE HADITH, BY ENLIKENING MUSLIM UNITY TO A STRONG BUILDING, THE HOLY
PROPHET (S.A.W.) HAS IN EFFECT URGED THE UMMAH TO FORM A FORTRESS BY UNITING
WHERE EACH MUSLIM WILL BE A "BRICK" AND THE CLOSENESS AND COHERENCE AMONGST
MUSLIMS SHOULD BE LIKE THAT OF BRICKS IN A BUILDING. HE THEN DEMONSTRATED,
INTERLOCKING THE FINGERS OF BOTH HANDS THAT THE MUSLIMS SHOULD REMAIN
TOGETHER AND BLEND INTO A SINGLE BODY.

IN A HADITH, NARRATED BY NO'MAN IBN BASHIR (R.A.) THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) IS REPORTED
TO HAVE SAID THAT "THE MUSLIMS(THE UMMAH) ARE LIKE THE LIMBS OF A MAN, WHERE IF
THE EYE HURTS THE WHOLE BODY FEELS PAIN AND IF THE HEAD HURTS, THE WHOLE BODY
FEELS PAIN AND SUFFERING.

THIS HADITH, ALSO SEEKS TO EMPHASISE THE DESIRED UNITY OF THE UMMAH. "ALL FOR
ONE AND ONE FOR ALL" SHOULD BE THE MUSLIMS' MOTTO. THEY SHOULD BE PREPARED TO
ASSIST ONE ANOTHER AND EVEN SHARE THE SORROWS AND PROBLEMS OF EACH OTHER. IN
FACT, IN YET AN OTHER HADITH MENTION IS MADE OF THE FACT THAT JUST AS IT IS
NECESSARY FOR A BELIEVER(MUSLIM) TO BE LOYAL AND DEVOTED TO ALLAH, THE HOLY
PROPHET (S.A.W.), THE HOLY QUR‟AN AND THE ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT; IT IS AN ESSENTIAL
CONDITION, FOR BEING A FAITHFUL BELIEVER, NOT TO REMAIN INDIFFERENT TO THE
DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS OF THE MUSLIMS BUT TO TAKE A GENUINE INTEREST IN THEM.
AS RELATED BY HUZAIFAH (R.A.) THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "WHOEVER DOES NOT TAKE AN
INTEREST IN THE AFFAIRS AND PROBLEMS OF THE MUSLIMS, HE IS NOT OF THEM. AND



WHOEVER'S STATE IS SUCH THAT, EACH MORNING AND EVENING, HE IS NOT LOYAL AND
EARNEST TO ALLAH, HIS APOSTLE, HIS BOOK, THE ISLAMIC RULER AND TOWARDS THE
MUSLIMS, AS A WHOLE, HE IS NOT OF THEM. THE HOLY PROPHET (S.A.W.) WAS SO STEM
WITH REGARDS TO THE MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP OF MUSLIMS, THAT HE EVEN TOOK PLEDGES
FOR BROTHERLY FEELING AND SINCERITY TOWARDS ALL MUSLIMS.

IT IS RELATED BY JABIR IBN ABDULLAH (R.A.) THAT HE SAID "I HAD TAKEN A PLEDGE AT THE
HAND OF RASULULLAH (S.A.W.) TO OBSERVE SALAAH (PRAYERS), TO PAY ZAKAAH (CHARITY
DUE) AND TO BE A SINCERE WELL-WISHER OF EVERY MUSLIM." THE FACT THAT THE PROPHET
(S.A.W.) TOOK THE PLEDGE OR PROMISE FROM THE COMPANIONS, FOR BEING A SINCERE
WELL-WISHER OF THE MUSLIMS TOGETHER WITH THAT OF OBSERVING SWALAAH AND
ZAKAAH WHICH ARE IMPORTANT PILLARS OF ISLAM - SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE ATTACHED BY
HIM TO THE MATTER.

SOME SPECIAL RIGHTS AND CLAIMS

BESIDES THE GENERAL KIND TREATMENT, BROTHERLY LOVE ETC. TO BE EXTENDED TO
FELLOW MUSLIMS, THERE ARE CERTAIN SPECIFIC RIGHTS AND CLAIMS TO BE FULFILLED.

IT IS RELATED BY ABU HURAIRAH (R.A.) THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID, "THERE ARE FIVE
CLAIMS OF A MUSLIM UPON A MUSLIM: TO RETURN HIS GREETINGS WHEN HE GREETS; TO
VISIT HIM WHEN HE FALLS ILL; TO ATTEND HIS FUNERAL; TO ACCEPT HIS INVITATION TO A
MEAL AND TO PRAY FOR HIM, WHEN HE SNEEZES, BY SAYING 'YARHAMUKALLAH'(MAY THE
MERCY OF ALLAH BE ON YOU)."

THE FIVE THINGS MENTIONED IN THE HADITH ARE ACTS WHICH NOT ONLY GIVE EXPRESSION
TO, BUT ALSO PROMOTE BROTHERLY FEELINGS BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND THEREFORE A
SPECIAL ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID TO THEM. IN ANOTHER REPORT, SOME OTHER ACTS
ARE SPECIFIED TOO - WHICH SHOWS THAT THE CLAIMS DESCRIBED HERE ARE BY WAY OF
EXAMPLE ONLY AND NOT CONCLUSIVE.

ANAS (R.A.) REPORTS THAT RASULULLAH (S.A.W.) ONCE SAID "I SWEAR BY THE HOLY BEING
IN WHOSE POWER MY LIFE IS, ANY ONE OF YOU CANNOT BE A TRUE BELIEVER UNLESS HE
DESIRES FOR HIS FELLOW-BROTHER WHAT HE DESIRES FOR HIMSELF.

TO FEEL EARNESTLY FOR A MUSLIM BROTHER, TO THE EXTENT OF PREFERRING FOR HIM
WHAT ONE PREFERS FOR ONESELF HAS BEEN CLASSED AS A PREREQUISITE FOR COMPLETE
FAITH. SO, ANYONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE A MUSLIM, BUT IS LACKING IN THIS ASPECT, HE IN
FACT DOES NOT POSSESS THE REALITY OF FAITH (IMAN).

DEFENDING THE HONOUR OF A MUSLIM

THE HONOUR AND DIGNITY OF A MUSLIM IS PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE ALMIGHTY AND
THEREFORE IT IS A GRAVE SIN TO ABSTAIN FROM DEFENDING AND PROTECTING IT, LET
ALONE DISGRACING HIM OR TREATING HIM DISRESPECTFULLY. THE DEFENCE OF A MUSLIM'S
HONOUR, WHEN IT IS AT STAKE, IS IN FACT A VIRTUOUS AND REWARDABLE DEED AS
EXPLAINED IN THE HADITH RELATED BY JABIR (R.A.), THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "THE
MUSLIM WHO FORSAKES A FELLOW MUSLIM BROTHER(AND DOES NOT COME TO HIS
ASSISTANCE) AT A TIME WHEN HIS HONOUR IS AT STAKE, WILL BE DENIED THE HELP OF
ALLAH WHEN HE IS GREATLY IN NEED OF IT, WHEREAS THE MUSLIM WHO STANDS BY A



FELLOW MUSLIM AT A TIME WHEN HIS HONOUR IS AT STAKE, - ALLAH WILL GRANT HIM HIS
ASSISTANCE WHEN HE WILL NEED IT MOST."

IN ANOTHER HADITH, REPORTED BY ABDULLAH IBN UMAR (R.A.) THE HOLY PROPHET (S.A.W.)
SAID "EVERY MUSLIM IS THE BROTHER OF A MUSLIM, HE SHOULD NEITHER HARM HIM, NOR
SHOULD HE LEAVE HIM ALONE WHEN OTHERS TREAT HIM UNJUSTLY (HE SHOULD HELP HIM).
WHOEVER WILL FULFIL THE NEED OF A FELLOW BROTHER, ALLAH WILL FULFIL HIS NEED, AND
WHOEVER REMOVES THE DISTRESS OF A FELLOW MUSLIM, ALLAH WILL REMOVE HIS
DISTRESS ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, AND WHOEVER WILL HIDE (KEEP SECRET) THE
FAULTS (AND SHAME) OF A FELLOW MUSLIM, ALLAH WILL KEEP HIS SINS SECRET ON THE DAY
OF ACCOUNT."

BOTH THESE REPORTS SHOW THE VALUE AND RESPECT THAT SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO THE
HONOUR AND GOOD NAME OF A MUSLIM.

A MUSLIM IS LIKE A MIRROR UNTO A FELLOW MUSLIM

ABU HURAIRAH(R.A.) RELATES THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "A BELIEVER IS A MIRROR
TO A FELLOW-BELIEVER AND HE IS HIS BROTHER, HE REMOVES HIS DEFECT (OR DEFICIENCY)
AND GUARDS HIM FROM BEHIND. (IN CASES WHERE HE IS UNAWARE ETC.)." JUST AS A
MIRROR REFLECTS EVERY BLEMISH ON THE FACE OF A PERSON (AND SHOWS IT TO HIM),
SIMILARLY EVERY BELIEVING MUSLIM SHOULD ACT AS A MIRROR TO HIS FELLOW-BROTHER
BY INFORMING HIM OF ANY FAULTS OR WEAKNESS THAT HE MAY OBSERVE IN HIM. HE
SHOULD DO THIS WITH A SINCERE HEART AND, AS EXPLAINED IN THE PREVIOUS SECTION,
SHOULD MOST DEFINITELY REFRAIN FROM SPREADING THIS TO ANYONE ELSE (I.E. HE
SHOULD KEEP IT SECRET). AND SINCE THE HADITH CLASSES THE FELLOW-BELIEVER AS HIS
BROTHER, IT WILL BE HIS DUTY TO PROTECT HIM, TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY, FROM ANY
EVIL OR DANGER, THAT HE MAY BE UNAWARE OF.

MUTUAL HATRED, JEALOUSY, BACK-BITING ETC., IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN

THE HOLY PROPHET (S.A.W.) STRONGLY CONDEMNED ACTS WHICH CREATE MUTUAL HATRED
LIKE SUSPICION, CONTEMPT, JEALOUSY, BACKBITING ETC. AND WARNED THE UMMAH, IN ALL
EARNESTNESS, AGAINST THE PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES OF SUCK HABITS.

IT IS RELATED BY ABU HURAIRAH (R.A.) THAT THE PROPHET OF ALLAH (S.A.W.) SAID "DO NOT
BE SUSPICIOUS, FOR SUSPICION IS THE HEIGHT OF FALSEHOOD, NOR BEAR A GRUDGE OR
ENMITY AGAINST EACH OTHER, NOR BE JEALOUS OF EACH OTHER, NOR INDULGE IN
BACKBITING NOR DIG INTO SECRETS OF ONE ANOTHER, NOR TRY TO (UNREASONABLY) EXCEL
ONE ANOTHER, BUT 0 BONDMEN OF ALLAH! LIVE LIKE BROTHERS AS THE LORD HAS
COMMANDED.

THE EVILS MENTIONED ABOVE ARE HIGHLY DETRIMENTAL TO THE GROWTH OF GOOD AND
FRIENDLY RELATIONS. THEY CAUSE ILL-WILL AND PRODUCE BITTERNESS IN THE HEARTS.
THEY BREED HATRED AND ENMITY AND LEAVE NO ROOM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
GOODWILL AND FELLOWSHIP WHICH THE COMMON RELIGIOUS BOND DEMANDS.



CHILDREN'S RIGHTS ON PARENTS

SOCIAL COMMANDMENTS BEGIN WITH THE BIRTH OF A CHILD, HENCE WE BEGIN WITH THE
PROPHET'S (S.A.W.) SAYINGS REGARDING BIRTH AND THE DUTIES OF PARENTS TO THE NEW-
BORN CHILD.

SAYING OF ADHAAN (IN THE EARS OF A NEW-BORN CHILD).

ABU RAFEY (R.A.) RELATES THAT "I SAW THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAYING THE ADHAAN OF
SALAAH IN THE EAR OF HIS GRANDSON, HASAN, WHEN THE CHILD WAS BORN TO HIS
DAUGHTER
FATIMA.

COMMENTARY: IN THIS HADITH ONLY THE SAYING OF ADHAAN HAS BEEN MENTIONED, BUT IN
ANOTHER HADITH REPORTED BY HUSAIN (R.A.) THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) PRESCRIBED THE
SAYING OF ADHAAN IN THE RIGHT EAR AND IQAAMAH IN THE LEFT EAR (OF THE NEW-BORN
CHILD, AND ALSO MENTIONED ITS SUSPICIOUSNESS. HE SAID, THAT ON ACCOUNT OF IT, THE
CHILD REMAINED SAFE FROM INFANTILE EPILEPSY.

AS THESE AHADITH SHOW, THE PRIMARY CLAIM OF A CHILD ON HIS PARENTS IS THAT HIS
EARS, AND THROUGH HIS EARS, HIS HEAD AND HEART ARE MADE AQUAINTED WITH THE
NAME OF THE ALMIGHTY AND HIS ONENESS AND WITH THE CALL OF FAITH AND SALAAH. THE
BEST WAY TO IT, EVIDENTLY, IS THAT ADHAAN AND IQAAMAH ARE SAID IN HIS EARS, AS
THESE IMPART THE KNOWLEDGE OF SPIRIT AND THE FUNDAMENTAL PRACTICES OF ISLAM IN
A MOST EFFECT MANNER.

TAHNEEQ

WHEN A CHILD WAS BORN IN THE FAMILY OF THE SAHAABA(R.A.), THEY WOULD TAKE IT TO
THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SO THAT HE WOULD BLESS IT, AND APPLY THE PULP OF A DATE,
CHEWED BY HIM, TO ITS PALATE, WHICH THE SAHAABA BELIEVED WOULD HELP TO KEEP THE
CHILD SAFE FROM EVILS AND BRING IT GOOD FORTUNE. THIS IS CALLED „TAHNEEQ' IN
ISLAMIC TERMS AYESHA (R.A.) NARRATES THAT "THE PEOPLE USED TO BRING THEIR NEW-
BORN CHILDREN TO THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) AND HE WOULD BLESS THEM AND PERFORM THE
TAHNEEQ."

THIS SHOWS THAT WHEN A CHILD IS BORN IN A MUSLIM HOME, IT SHOULD BE TAKEN TO A
VIRTUOUS, PIOUS PERSON TO RECEIVE HIS BLESSING AND HAVE THE TAHNEEQ DONE. IT IS
ONE OF THE SUNNAH PRACTICES THAT HAVE NOW SADLY BECOME EXTINCT.

AQEEQAH

IN ALMOST ALL THE COMMUNITIES OF THE WORLD, THE BIRTH OF A CHILD IS CONSIDERED A
BLESSING AND SOME CEREMONY IS HELD TO CELEBRATE THE EVENT. BESIDES BEING
NATURAL, IT ALSO SERVES A SPECIAL PURPOSE, AND MAKES IT KNOWN, IN A SUITABLE AND
DIGNIFIED MANNER, THAT THE FATHER HAS ACCEPTED THE CHILD AS HIS OWN AND THERE IS
NO DOUBT OR SUSPICION IN HIS MIND CONCERNING IT. IT SHUTS THE DOOR TO MANY
MISCHIEFS THAT CAN ARISE IN THE FUTURE. THE PRACTICE OF AQEEQAH WAS OBSERVED
AMONG THE ARABS, EVEN DURING THE AGE OF IGNORANCE, FOR THIS VERY REASON. THE
HAIR ON THE CHILD'S HEAD WAS SHAVED OFF AND ITS WEIGHT EQUIVALENT WAS
SACRIFICED AS A MARK OF REJOICING - WHICH WAS A CHARACTERISTIC FEATURE OF



MILLAT-U IBRAHIM (THE RELIGION OF PROPHET IBRAHIM (A.S.)) WHILE PRESERVING THE
PRACTICE IN PRINCIPLE, THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) GAVE APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTIONS, AND HE
SET AN EXAMPLE OF HOW IT WAS TO BE DONE.

IT IS REPORTED BY BURAIDAH (R.A.) THAT "DURING THE AGE OF IGNORANCE", WHEN A
CHILD WAS BORN TO ANYONE OF US, WE USED TO SLAUGHTER A GOAT AND SMEAR THE
HEAD OF THE CHILD WITH ITS BLOOD. LATER, AFTER THE DAWN OF ISLAM, OUR PRACTICE
BECAME, (ON THE ADVICE OF THE PROPHET (S.A.W.)) THAT WE SACRIFICE A GOAT OF
AQEEQAH ON THE SEVENTH DAY AFTER THE BIRTH OF A CHILD, AND SHAVE THE HEAD OF THE
INFANT, AND APPLY SAFFRON ON IT."

SINCE, AS WE HAVE SEEN, THE AQEEQAH SERVED AS A USEFUL PURPOSE IN MANY WAYS,
AND WAS ALSO IN KEEPING WITH THE SPIRIT OF ISLAM AND, PERHAPS, LIKE THE RITUALS OF
HAJJ, IT WAS AMONG THE REMAINING PRACTICES OF MILLAT-U-LBRAHIM, THE PROPHET
(S.A.W.) PRESERVED THE REALITY OF AQEEQAH, BUT CORRECTED THE BACKWARD PRACTICES
THAT HAD BECOME ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

THE AQEEQAH CEREMONY WAS ALSO OBSERVED BY THE JEWS, BUT THEY SACRIFICED AN
ANIMAL ONLY IN THE CASE OF A MALE CHILD - WHICH WAS INDICATIVE OF THE LESSER
VALUE PLACED ON GIRLS IN THE PRE-ISLAMIC TIMES. THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) CORRECTED
THIS TOO, AND ENJOINED THAT THE AQEEQAH OF GIRLS SHOULD ALSO BE PERFORMED, LIKE
THAT OF THE BOYS. HOWEVER, KEEPING IN MIND THE NATURAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
TWO SEXES, THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) LAID DOWN THAT WHILE ONE GOAT WAS TO BE
SACRIFICED IN THE AQEEQAH OF A FEMALE CHILD, TWO SHOULD BE SACRIFICED IN THE
AQEEQAH OF A MALE CHILD - PROVIDED THAT ONE'S FINANCIAL POSITION PERMITTED IT.

IT IS REPORTED BY ABDULLAH IBN AMR IBN-UL-AA'S (R.A.) THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID
"TO WHOMSOEVER A CHILD IS BORN, AND HE WANTS TO PERFORM A SACRIFICE OF AQEEQAH
ON BEHALF OF IT, HE SHOULD SACRIFICE TWO GOATS FOR A BOY AND ONE FOR A GIRL."

COMMENTARY: AS IS EVIDENT IN THIS HADITH, AQEEQAH IS NOT OBLIGATORY, BUT IT IS
AMONG THE MUSTAHAB ACTS, I.E. THOSE ACTS WHICH ARE RECOMMENDED AND
REWARDABLE BUT ARE NOT BINDING OR COMPULSORY. IN THE SAME WAY IT IS NOT
NECESSARY TO SACRIFICE TWO GOATS FOR A MALE CHILD. IT IS BETTER TO SACRIFICE TWO,
IF ONE CAN AFFORD IT, OTHERWISE, ONE IS ENOUGH. IN SOME AHADITH, THE GIVING AWAY
IN CHARITY OF SILVER EQUAL IN WEIGHT TO THE CHILD‟S SHAVED HAIR, OR ITS PRICE IN
CASH, IS ALSO MENTIONED, IN ADDITION TO THE SACRIFICE OF THE ANIMAL. THIS TOO IS
MUSTAHAB AND NOT COMPULSORY.

THE COMMAND TO PERFORM THE AQEEQAH ON THE DAY OF THE BIRTH HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN,
PERHAPS FOR THE REASON THAT, AT THE TIME THE FAMILY IS OCCUPIED WITH THE NEEDS
AND COMFORTS OF THE MOTHER AND THE SHAVING OF THE HAIR(HEAD) CAN ALSO BE
HARMFUL TO THE CHILD. GENERALLY, AFTER A WEEK THE MOTHER GETS WELL AND DOES NOT
NEED SPECIAL ATTENTION AND THE BABY, TOO, BECOMES STRONG ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH
THE SHAVING OF THE HAIR.

IN SOME OTHER AHADITH, IT IS SAID THAT THE CHILD SHOULD ALSO BE NAMED ON THE
SEVENTH DAY, TOGETHER WITH AQEEQAH, BUT FROM A FEW OTHER AHADITH IT APPEARS
THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) HAD NAMED CHILDREN EVEN ON THE DAY OF THEIR BIRTH.
THERE IS, AS SUCH, NO HARM IN NAMING THE CHILD BEFORE THE SEVENTH DAY, BUT IF IT



HAS NOT BEEN DONE, THE CHILD SHOULD BE NAMED ON THE SEVENTH DAY, TOGETHER WITH
THE AQEEQAH.

THE AQEEQAH CEREMONY, AS WE'VE SEEN CONSISTS OF TWO ACTS: THE SHAVING OF THE
HAIR (HEAD) AND THE SACRIFICE OF THE ANIMAL. THERE IS A PECULIAR LINK BETWEEN THE
TWO ACTS AND THESE ACTS ARE AMONG THE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF MILLAT-U-LBRAHIM.
IN HAJJ, TOO, THEY GO TOGETHER - WHERE THE PILGRIMS HAVE THEIR HAIR (HEAD) SHAVED
AFTER THE ADHIYAH. THUS, AQEEQAH ALSO, IS A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION OF OUR
ASSOCIATION WITH NABEE IBRAHIM (A.S.) AND OF THE FACT THAT THE CHILD, TOO, IS A
MEMBER OF THE SAME COMMUNITY.

TASMIYA

THAT THE CHILD BE GIVEN A GOOD NAME IS ALSO AN OBLIGATION OF THE PARENTS.

ABDULLAH IBN ABBAS (R.A.) RELATES THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "IT IS ALSO A CLAIM
OF THE CHILD ON HIS FATHER THAT HE GIVES HIM A GOOD NAME AND TEACHES HIM GOOD
MANNERS."

IN ANOTHER HADITH, THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION, YOU
WILL BE CALLED OUT BY YOUR NAME AND THE NAME OF YOUR FATHER. -THE CALL WILL BE:-
SO AND-SO, SON OF SO-AND-SO, THEREFORE, GIVE GOOD NAMES."

FROM THESE SAYINGS AND THE PRACTICES OF THE PROPHET (S.A.W.), WE GET THE
GUIDANCE THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENTS TO GIVE NAMES TO THEIR
CHILDREN OR HAVE THEM NAMED BY A PIOUS PERSON.

RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING

ALL THE PROPHETS, AND, LASTLY THE PROPHET MUHAMMED (S.A.W.) HAVE STRESSED THAT
THE BRIEF EARTHLY STAY OF A HUMAN BEING IS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE EVERLASTING
LIFE OF ETERNITY. IT, THEREFORE, FOLLOWS THAT A GREATER ATTENTION IS PAID TO THE
BETTERMENT OF PROSPECTS IN THE LIFE TO COME AND ATTAINMENT OF HAPPINESS IN THE
HEREAFTER THAN TO THE AFFAIRS AND INTERESTS OF THIS LIFE. THUS, THE HOLY PROPHET
(S.A.W.) HAS ENJOINED UPON THE PARENTS TO TAKE CARE OF THE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
OF THEIR CHILDREN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, OTHERWISE THEY WILL BE CALLED TO
ACCOUNT FOR NEGLIGENCE ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT.

IT IS RELATED BY IBN ABBAS (R.A.) THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "HAVE YOUR CHILDREN
UTTER, FIRST OF ALL, THE KALIMA OF LAA-ILAHA-ILLALLAH, (I.E. LET THESE BE THE FIRST
WORDS THAT THEY SPEAK), AND EMPHASISE UPON THEM TO UTTER THE SAME KALIMA AT THE
TIME OF THEIR DEATH.

COMMENTARY: THE CHILD BEGINS TO RECEIVE THE IMPRESSION OF WHAT IT SEES OR HEARS
FROM THE TIME OF ITS BIRTH. THE SAYING OF ADHAAN AND IQAAMAH IN THE EARS OF A
NEWLY-BORN INFANT, ALSO, GIVES A CLEAR INDICATION OF IT. THIS HADITH SHOWS THAT
WHEN A CHILD BEGINS TO SPEAK, IT SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO UTTER THE KALIMA, AS A FIRST
STEP TOWARDS ITS EDUCATION. IT FURTHER TELLS THAT WHEN THE DYING MOMENT IS
NEAR, A PERSON SHOULD, AGAIN BE URGED TO PRONOUNCE THE SAME KALIMA. BLESSED
INDEED IS THE MAN WHO WHEN HE UTTERS THE FIRST WORDS, ON COMING INTO THIS
WORLD, IT IS THE KALIMA, AND THE SAME KALIMA IS ON HIS LIPS WHEN HE DEPARTS.



THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) HAS SAID "NO FATHER GIVES A BETTER GIFT TO HIS CHILDREN THAN
GOOD MANNERS AND GOOD CHARACTER.

IT IS RELATED BY ANAS (R.A.) THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "SHOW RESPECT TO YOUR
CHILDREN AND ADORN THEM WITH GOOD MANNERS." SHOWING OF RESPECT TO ONE'S
CHILDREN DENOTES THAT THEY SHOULD BE TREATED NOT AS A BURDEN, BUT A BLESSING
AND TRUST OF ALLAH, AND BROUGHT UP WITH CARE AND AFFECTION.

IN ANOTHER HADITH, THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "WHEN YOUR CHILDREN ATTAIN THE AGE
OF SEVEN, INSIST UPON THEM TO OFFER SALAAH (REGULARLY), AND WHEN THEY ARE TEN
YEARS OLD, PUNISH THEM IF THEY DO NOT, AND HAVE SEPARATE BEDS FOR THEM (TO SLEEP
ON).

COMMENTARY: CHILDREN GENERALLY, DEVELOP THE FACULTY OF UNDERSTANDING AT THE
AGE OF SEVEN, AND IT IS TIME THAT THEIR FEET WERE SET ON THE PATH OF THE WORSHIP
OF ALLAH. THEY SHOULD, THEREFORE, BE TOLD TO OFFER SALAAH REGULARLY WHEN THEY
ATTAIN THAT AGE. AT TEN, THEIR POWERS OF DISCRETION AND INTELLIGENCE ARE FAIRLY
ADVANCED AND THEY BEGIN TO APPROACH MATURITY. AT THAT TIME, THE OBSERVANCE OF
SALAAH OUGHT TO BE ENJOINED STRICTLY UPON THEM, AND THEY SHOULD BE TAKEN TO
TASK, IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER, IF THEY FAIL TO DO SO. THEY SHOULD FURTHER BE
REQUIRED TO SLEEP ON SEPARATE BEDS AND NOT TOGETHER (WHICH IS PERMITTED UP TO
THE AGE OF TEN). ALL THESE, IN BRIEF, ARE THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN, BOTH BOYS AND
GIRLS, ON THEIR PARENTS, AND THE PARENTS WILL HAVE TO RENDER A FULL ACCOUNT IN
RESPECT OF THEM ON THE DAY OF RECKONING.

SHOWING KINDNESS TO DAUGHTERS

EVEN NOW DAUGHTERS ARE CONSIDERED AN UNWANTED BURDEN IN SOME SOCIETIES AND
INSTEAD OF REJOICING, AN ATMOSPHERE OF GRIEF AND DISAPPOINTMENT IS PRODUCED IN
THE FAMILY AT THEIR BIRTH. THIS IS THE POSITION, TODAY, BUT IN THE PRE-ISLAMIC TIMES
THE DAUGHTERS WERE POSITIVELY CONSIDERED A SHAME AND DISGRACE AMONG THE
ARABS, SO MUCH SO THAT EVEN THE RIGHT TO LIVE WAS DENIED TO THEM. MANY A HARD-
HEARTED PARENT USED TO STRANGLE HIS DAUGHTER TO DEATH, WITH HIS OWN HANDS,
WHEN SHE WAS BORN, OR BURY HER ALIVE. THE QUR‟AN SAYS:

'WHEN NEWS IS BROUGHT TO ONE OF THEM, OF THE BIRTH OF A FEMALE, HIS FACE DARKENS
AND HE IS FILLED WITH INWARD GRIEF.
HE HIDES HIMSELF WITH SHAME, FROM THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF THE BAD NEWS HE HAS
HAD. (ASKING HIMSELF): SHALL HE KEEP IT IN CONTEMPT OR BURY IN THE DUST. AH: WHAT
AN EVIL CHOICE THEY DECIDE.”

ABDULLAH IBN ABBAS (R.A.) REPORTS THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "WHOEVER
BECOMES THE FATHER OF A GIRL, HE SHOULD NEITHER HURT HER NOR TREAT HER WITH
CONTEMPT NOR SHOW PREFERENCE OVER HER TO HIS SONS IN KINDNESS AND AFFECTION.
(BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS SHOULD BE TREATED ALIKE.) ALLAH WILL GRANT HIM PARADISE IN
RETURN FOR KIND TREATMENT TOWARDS THE DAUGHTER.

IT IS NARRATED THAT A VERY POOR WOMAN, WITH TWO DAUGHTERS, CAME TO AYESHA'S
(R.A.) PLACE TO BEG. BY CHANCE, AYESHA (R.A.) HAD ONLY ONE DATE WITH HER, AT THAT
TIME, WHICH SHE GAVE TO THE WOMAN. THE WOMAN BROKE THE DATE INTO TWO PARTS



AND GAVE ONE PART EACH TO THE GIRLS. SHE DID NOT EAT ANYTHING OF IT HERSELF.
WHEN AFTER SOME TIME, THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) CAME, AYESHA (R.A.) RELATED THE
INCIDENT TO HIM, UPON WHICH HE REMARKED:

"THE BELIEVING MAN OR WOMAN UPON WHOM THERE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
DAUGHTERS AND HE OR SHE DISCHARGES IT WELL AND TREATS THEM WITH AFFECTION, THE
DAUGHTERS WILL BECOME A MEANS OF FREEDOM, FOR HIM OR HER, IN THE HEREAFTER.

IT IS RELATED BY ANAS (R.A.) THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "THE BELIEVER WHO BEARS
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TWO DAUGHTERS AND SUPPORTS THEM TILL THEY ATTAIN PUBERTY,
HE AND I WILL BE CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER LIKE THIS ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT." ANAS
(R.A.), ADDS THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SHOWED, BY JOINING THE FINGERS OF HIS HAND,
THAT AS THE FINGERS WERE CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER, IN THE SAME WAY WILL THE BELIEVER
BE CLOSE TO HIM ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT.

ABU SAEED KHUDRI (R.A.) RELATES THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "WHOEVER BEARS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THREE DAUGHTERS OR SISTERS OR EVEN OF TWO DAUGHTERS OR
SISTERS, AND BEARS IT WELL, AND LOOKS AFTER THEIR TRAINING AND WELFARE PROPERLY,
AND THEN, GETS THEM MARRIED, ALLAH WILL REWARD HIM WITH PARADISE."

IN THESE AHADITH, THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) HAS NOT ONLY STATED THAT KIND TREATMENT
WAS THE NATURAL RIGHT OR CLAIM OF THE DAUGHTERS, BUT, ALSO THAT THE BELIEVERS
WHO FULFILLED THE OBLIGATION TOWARDS THEM IN A GOOD AND PROPER MANNER WOULD
BE REWARDED WITH PARADISE IN THE HEREAFTER. HE, FURTHER, GIVES THE JOYFUL
TIDINGS THAT SUCH A MAN WILL BE CLOSE TO HIM, ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, AS THE
FINGERS OF A HAND ARE, WHEN JOINED TOGETHER.

TREATING ALL THE CHILDREN EQUALLY

THE HOLY PROPHET (S.A.W.) HAS EMPHASISED THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE JUST AND FAIR TO
ALL THE CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY IN MATTERS OF GIFTS AND KINDNESS, AND IT MUST NOT
BE THAT WHILE ONE GETS MORE THE OTHER GETS LESS OR NOTHING. BESIDES BEING
DESIRABLE IN ITSELF, EQUALITY TO ALL THE CHILDREN ALSO MEETS THE DEMANDS OF
JUSTICE AND EQUITY WHICH IS PLEASING TO THE ALMIGHTY. BESIDES, IF DISCRIMINATION
IS MADE AMONG THE CHILDREN AND ONE IS FAVOURED MORE THAN THE OTHER, IT WILL
LEAD TO ILL-WILL AND JEALOUSY, AND NOTHING BUT EVIL CAN ARISE FROM THIS. THE CHILD
WHO IS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST WILL BEAR A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FATHER, - THE
PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES OF WHICH, ARE EASY TO IMAGINE.

NARRATES NO'MAN IBN BASHIR(R.A.), "MY FATHER TOOK ME TO THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) AND
SAID (TO HIM), "I HAVE GIVEN A SLAVE TO THIS SON OF MINE." THE PROPHET ENQUIRED,
"HAVE YOU GIVEN THE SAME TO ALL OF YOUR SONS?" "NO," MY FATHER REPLIED. THE
PROPHET, THEREUPON, SAID, "IT IS NOT CORRECT. TAKE IT BACK.""

IN ANOTHER VERSION, OF THE SAME HADITH, THE PROPHET ASKED, "DO YOU WANT ALL
YOUR CHILDREN TO BE EQUALLY DEVOTED TO YOU?" "YES, OF COURSE," HE REPLIED. THE
PROPHET SAID "THEN DO NOT ACT LIKE THAT (LET IT NOT BE THAT YOU GIVE SOME
PROPERTY TO ONE CHILD AND EXCLUDE THE OTHERS.)"

IN YET ANOTHER VERSION IT IS ADDED THAT THE PROPHET REMARKED, "I CANNOT BE A
WITNESS TO AN ACT OF INJUSTICE."



IN THIS HADITH, IT IS ENJOINED UPON PARENTS NOT TO DISCRIMINATE AMONG THEIR
CHILDREN WHEN IT DOMES TO GIVING THEM SOMETHING AS A GIFT ETC. THIS HAS BEEN
CONDEMNED BY THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) AS UNJUST AND UNFAIR. SOME OF THE LEARNED
PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO THE EXTENT OF CALLING IT HARAAM, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM
HOLD THE VIEW THAT THOUGH IT IS NOT HARAAM, IT IS MAKROOH, AND HIGHLY
UNDESIRABLE.

IT MUST, HOWEVER, BE EMPHASISED THAT THE COMMAND APPLIES ONLY TO A SITUATION
WHERE THE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IS BASED ON A CONSIDERATION THAT IS NOT
LAWFUL OR JUSTIFIABLE IN THE EYE OF THE SHARIAH, OTHERWISE NO BLAME WILL BE
ATTACHED TO IT. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A CHILD IS PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND CANNOT EARN
HIS LIVELIHOOD LIKE HIS BROTHERS, A SPECIAL FAVOUR TO HIM WILL NOT BE INCORRECT,
BUT TO AN EXTENT IT WILL BE ESSENTIAL AND WORTHY OF DIVINE REWARD. SIMILARLY,
SHOULD ANY CHILD DEDICATE HIMSELF TO THE CAUSE OF IMAN OR PUBLIC WELFARE AND
HAVE NO TIME TO LOOK AFTER HIS ECONOMIC NEEDS, IT WOULD ALSO BE CORRECT AND
DESERVING OF REWARD, TO MAKE A REASONABLE ALLOWANCE FOR HIM OVER THE OTHER
CHILDREN.

THERE IS NO HARM IF PREFERENCE IS SHOWN TO ONE OF THE CHILDREN WITH THE CONSENT
OF THE OTHERS TIE THE BROTHERS & SISTERS).

IN A HADITH, THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAYS, "TREAT ALL YOUR CHILDREN EQUALLY IN REGARD
TO FREE GIFTS. IF I WERE TO SHOW PREFERENCE IN THIS MATTER, I WOULD SHOW IT TO
DAUGHTERS. (IF EQUALITY WAS NOT NECESSARY AND BINDING, I WOULD HAVE DECLARED
THAT MORE BE GIVEN TO DAUGHTERS THAN TO SONS.)"

IT CAN BE CONCLUDED FROM THIS HADITH THAT THOUGH, AFTER THE DEATH OF THE
PARENTS, THE SHARES OF DAUGHTERS IN ANCESTRAL PROPERTY IS HALF OF THE SONS, IN
THEIR LIFE-TIME, THE SHARE OF BOTH THE SONS AND THE DAUGHTERS IS EQUAL.
THEREFORE WHATEVER THE PARENTS GIVE TO THE SONS, IN THEIR LIFE-TIME, SHOULD ALSO
BE GIVEN TO THE DAUGHTERS.

RESPONSIBILITY OF MARRIAGE

IT IS THE DUTY OF PARENTS TO ARRANGE THE MARRIAGE OF THEIR CHILDREN WHEN THEY
COME OF AGE. THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) HAS STRESSED THAT IT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY
AND WITH A FULL SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. ABU SAEED KHUDRI AND ABDULLAH IBN ABBAS
(R.A.) NARRATED THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "WHOEVER IS BLESSED BY THE CREATOR
WITH CHILDREN SHOULD GIVE THEM GOOD NAMES, A GOOD TRAINING, TEACH THEM GOOD
MANNERS, AND ARRANGE FOR THEIR MARRIAGE WHEN THEY ATTAIN THE AGE OF PUBERTY, IF
HE DOES NOT PAY DUE HEED TO IT AND FAILS TO GET THEM MARRIED, ON REACHING
MARRIAGEABLE AGE (DUE TO NEGLIGENCE) AND THEY TAKE TO WAYS THAT ARE FORBIDDEN,
THE FATHER WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IT."

COMMENTARY:- IN THIS HADITH THE MARRIAGE OF THE CHILDREN, TOO, ON THEIR
ATTAINING THE MARRIAGEABLE AGE, HAS BEEN MADE A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FATHER.
BUT ALAS WE ARE GROWING INCREASINGLY INDIFFERENT TO IT MAINLY BECAUSE WE HAVE
MADE MARRIAGE A MOST TIRESOME AND EXPENSIVE AFFAIR BY FOLLOWING AND ADOPTING
THE CUSTOMS OF OTHERS. IF WE FOLLOW THE GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE PROPHET (S.A.W.)
AND BEGIN TO PERFORM MARRIAGES AS HE HAD PERFORMED HIS OWN MARRIAGE OR THE



MARRIAGES OF HIS DAUGHTERS, THE WHOLE CEREMONY WILL BE AS EASY AND SIMPLE, AS IT
IS FOR A MUSLIM TO OBSERVE AND FULFIL THE FRIDAY PRAYERS. BLESSINGS WILL THEN
FLOW FROM IT OF WHICH WE HAVE DEPRIVED OURSELVES, THROUGH THOUGHTLESS
IMITATIONS OF UN-LSLAMIC SOCIETIES

CONCEPT OF GOD IN ISLAM

IT IS A KNOWN FACT THAT EVERY LANGUAGE HAS ONE OR MORE TERMS THAT ARE USED IN
REFERENCE TO GOD AND SOMETIMES TO LESSER DEITIES. THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH
ALLAH. ALLAH IS THE PERSONAL NAME OF THE ONE 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, GODS OR FEMININE,
GODDESS. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTICE THAT ALLAH IS THE PERSONAL NAME OF GOD IN
ARAMAIC, THE LANGUAGE OF JESUS AND A SISTER LANGUAGE OF ARABIC.

THE ONE TRUE GOD IS A REFLECTION OF THE UNIQUE CONCEPT THAT ISLAM ASSOCIATES
WITH GOD. TO A MUSLIM ALLAH IS THE ALMIGHTY, CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF THE
UNIVERSE, WHO IS SIMILAR TO NOTHING AND NOTHING IS COMPARABLE TO HIM. PROPHET
MUHAMMED (P.B.U.H.) WAS ASKED BY HIS CONTEMPORARIES ABOUT ALLAH; THE ANSWER
CAME DIRECTLY FROM GOD HIMSELF IN THE FORM OF A SHORT CHAPTER OF THE QUR'AN,
WHICH IS CONSIDERED THE ESSENCE OF THE UNITY OR THE MOTTO OF MONOTHEISM. THIS
IS CHAPTER 112 WHICH READS:

SAY (O MUHAMMED) HE IS GOD THE ONE GOD, THE EVERLASTING REFUGE, WHO HAS NOT
BEGOTTEN, NOR HAS BEEN BEGOTTEN, AND EQUAL TO HIM IS NOT ANYONE.

SOME NON-MUSLIMS ALLEGE THAT GOD IN ISLAM IS A STERN AND CRUEL GOD WHO
DEMANDS TO BE OBEYED FULLY. HE IS NOT LOVING AND KIND. NOTHING CAN BE FURTHER
FROM TRUTH THAN THIS ALLEGATION. IT IS ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT, WITH THE EXCEPTION
OF ONE, EACH OF THE 114 CHAPTERS OF THE QUR'AN BEGINS WITH THE VERSE: "IN THE
NAME OF GOD, THE MERCIFUL, THE COMPASSIONATE". IN ONE OF THE SAYINGS OF PROPHET
MUHAMMED (PBUH) WE ARE TOLD THAT "GOD IS MORE LOVING AND KINDER THAN A MOTHER
TO HER DEAR CHILD".

BUT GOD IS ALSO JUST. HENCE EVILDOERS AND SINNERS MUST HAVE THEIR SHARE OF
PUNISHMENT AND THE VIRTUOUS HIS BOUNTIES AND FAVOURS. ACTUALLY GOD'S
ATTRIBUTE OF MERCY HAS FULL MANIFESTATION IN HIS ATTRIBUTE OF JUSTICE. PEOPLE
SUFFERING THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE FOR HIS SAKE AND PEOPLE OPPRESSING AND
EXPLOITING OTHER PEOPLE ALL THEIR LIFE SHOULD NOT RECEIVE SIMILAR TREATMENT FOR
THAT WILL AMOUNT TO NEGATING THE VERY BELIEF IN THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF MAN IN THE
HEREAFTER AND THEREBY NEGATING ALL THE INCENTIVES FOR A MORAL AND VIRTUOUS LIFE
IN THIS WORLD. THE FOLLOWING QURANIC VERSES ARE VERY CLEAR AND
STRAIGHTFORWARD IN THIS RESPECT.

VERILY, FOR THE RIGHTEOUS ARE GARDENS OF DELIGHT, IN THE GARDENS OF DELIGHT, IN
THE PRESENCE OF THEIR LORD. SHALL WE THEN TREAT THE PEOPLE OF FAITH LIKE THE
PEOPLE OF SIN? WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU? HOW JUDGE YOU? (68:34-36).

ISLAM REJECTS CHARACTERISING GOD IN ANY HUMAN FORM OR DEPICTING HIM AS
FAVOURING CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS OR NATIONS ON THE BASIS OF WEALTH, POWER OR RACE.



HE CREATED THE HUMAN-BEINGS AS EQUALS. THEY MAY DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES AND
GET HIS FAVOUR THROUGH VIRTUE AND PIETY ONLY.

THE CONCEPT THAT GOD RESTED IN THE SEVENTH DAY OF CREATION, THAT GOD WRESTLED
WITH ONE OF HIS SOLDIERS, THAT GOD IS AN ENVIOUS PLOTTER AGAINST MANKIND, OR
THAT GOD IS INCARNATE IN ANY HUMAN BEING ARE CONSIDERED BLASPHEMY FROM THE
ISLAMIC POINT OF VIEW.

THE UNIQUE USAGE OF ALLAH AS A PERSONAL NAME OF GOD IS A REFLECTION OF ISLAM'S
EMPHASIS ON THE PURITY OF THE BELIEF IN GOD WHICH IS THE ESSENCE OF THE MESSAGE
OF ALL GOD'S MESSENGERS. BECAUSE OF THIS, ISLAM CONSIDERS ASSOCIATING ANY DEITY
OR PERSONALITY WITH GOD AS A DEADLY SIN WHICH GOD WILL NEVER FORGIVE, DESPITE
THE FACT THAT HE MAY FORGIVE ALL OTHER SINS.

THE CREATOR MUST BE OF A DIFFERENT NATURE FROM THE THINGS CREATED BECAUSE IF HE
IS OF THE SAME NATURE AS THEY ARE, HE WILL BE TEMPORAL AND WILL THEREFORE NEED A
MAKER. IT FOLLOWS THAT NOTHING IS LIKE HIM. IF THE MAKER IS NOT TEMPORAL, THEN HE
MUST BE ETERNAL. BUT IF HE IS ETERNAL, HE CANNOT BE CAUSED, AND IF NOTHING
CAUSED HIM TO COME INTO EXISTENCE, NOTHING OUTSIDE HIM CAUSES HIM TO CONTINUE
TO EXIST, WHICH MEANS THAT HE MUST BE SELF-SUFFICIENT. AND IF HE DOES NOT DEPEND
ON ANYTHING FOR THE CONTINUANCE OF HIS OWN EXISTENCE, THEN THIS EXISTENCE CAN
HAVE NO END. THE CREATOR IS THEREFORE ETERNAL AND EVERLASTING: 'HE IS THE FIRST
AND THE LAST'.

HE IS SELF-SUFFICIENT OR SELF-SUBSISTENT OR, TO USE A QUR'ANIC TERM, AL-QAYYUM.
THE CREATOR DOES NOT CREATE ONLY IN THE SENSE OF BRINGING THINGS INTO BEING. HE
ALSO PRESERVES THEM AND TAKES THEM OUT OF EXISTENCE AND IS THE ULTIMATE CAUSE
OF WHATEVER HAPPENS TO THEM.

GOD IS THE CREATOR OF EVERYTHING. HE IS THE GUARDIAN OVER EVERYTHING. UNTO HIM
BELONG THE KEYS OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.

NO CREATURE IS THERE CRAWLING ON THE EARTH, BUT ITS PROVISIONS RESTS ON GOD. HE
KNOWS ITS LODGING PLACE AND ITS REPOSITORY.

GOD'S ATTRIBUTES

IF THE CREATOR IS ETERNAL AND EVERLASTING, THEN HIS ATTRIBUTES MUST ALSO BE
ETERNAL AND EVERLASTING. HE SHOULD NOT LOSE ANY OF HIS ATTRIBUTES NOR ACQUIRE
NEW ONES. IF THIS IS SO, THEN HIS ATTRIBUTES ARE ABSOLUTE. CAN THERE BE MORE
THAN ONE CREATOR WITH SUCH ABSOLUTE ATTRIBUTES? CAN THERE BE FOR EXAMPLE, TWO
ABSOLUTELY POWERFUL CREATORS? A MOMENT'S THOUGHT SHOWS THAT THIS IS NOT
FEASIBLE.

THE QUR'AN SUMMARISES THIS ARGUMENT IN THE FOLLOWING VERSES:
GOD HAS NOT TAKEN TO HIMSELF ANY SON, NOR IS THERE ANY GOD WITH HIM: FOR THEN
EACH GOD WOULD HAVE TAKEN OFF THAT WHICH HE CREATED AND SOME OF THEM WOULD
HAVE RISEN UP OVER OTHERS. AND WHY, WERE THERE GODS IN EARTH AND HEAVEN OTHER
THAN GOD, THEY (HEAVEN AND EARTH) WOULD SURELY GO TO RUIN.

THE ONENESS OF GOD



THE QUR'AN REMINDS US OF THE FALSITY OF ALL ALLEGED GODS.
TO THE WORSHIPPERS OF MAN-MADE OBJECTS IT ASKS: DO YOU WORSHIP WHAT YOU HAVE
CARVED YOURSELF OR HAVE YOU TAKEN UNTO YOU OTHERS BESIDE HIM TO BE YOUR
PROTECTORS, EVEN SUCH AS HAVE NO POWER TO PROTECT THEMSELVES?

TO THE WORSHIPPERS OF HEAVENLY BODIES IT CITES THE STORY OF ABRAHAM:

WHEN NIGHT OUTSPREAD OVER HIM HE SAW A STAR AND SAID, "THIS IS MY LORD". BUT
WHEN IT SET HE SAID, "I LOVE NOT THOSE THAT SET". WHEN HE SAW MOON RISING, HE
SAID, "THIS IS MY LORD". BUT WHEN IT SET HE SAID: "IF MY LORD DOES NOT GUIDE ME I
SHALL SURELY BE OF THE PEOPLE GONE ASTRAY". WHEN HE SAW THE SUN RISING, HE SAID,
"THIS IS MY LORD: THIS IS GREATEST BUT WHEN IT SET HE SAID, "O MY PEOPLE, SURELY I
QUIT THAT YOU ASSOCIATE PARTNERS TO HIM. I HAVE TURNED MY FACE TO HIM WHO
ORIGINATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, A MAN OF PURE FAITH. I AM NOT OF THE
IDOLATORS". (6 : 76-79)

THE BELIEVER'S ATTITUDE

IN ORDER TO BE A MUSLIM I.E., TO SURRENDER ONESELF TO GOD, IT IS NECESSARY TO
BELIEVE IN THE ONENESS OF GOD, IN THE SENSE OF HIS BEING THE ONLY CREATOR,
PRESERVER, NOURISHER, ETC.. BUT THIS BELIEF - LATER ON CALLED TAWHID AR-
RUBUBIYYAH IS NOT ENOUGH. MANY OF THE IDOLATORS KNEW AND BELIEVED THAT ONLY
THE SUPREME GOD COULD DO ALL THIS. BUT THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM
MUSLIMS. TO TAWHID AR-RUBUBIYYAH ONE MUST ADD TAWHID AL'ULUHIYYAH I.E., ONE
ACKNOWLEDGES THE FACT THAT IT IS GOD ALONE WHO DESERVES TO BE WORSHIPPED, AND
THUS ABSTAINS FROM WORSHIPPING ANY OTHER THING OR BEING.

HAVING ACHIEVED THIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE ONE TRUE GOD, MAN SHOULD CONSTANTLY
HAVE FAITH IN HIM, AND SHOULD ALLOW NOTHING TO INDUCE HIM TO DENY TRUTH.

WHEN FAITH ENTERS A PERSON'S HEART, IT CAUSES CERTAIN MENTAL STATES WHICH
RESULT IN CERTAIN ACTIONS. TAKEN TOGETHER THESE MENTAL STATES AND ACTIONS ARE
THE PROOF FOR TRUE FAITH. THE PROPHET SAID, "FAITH IS THAT WHICH RESIDES FIRMLY IN
THE HEART AND WHICH IS PROVED BY DEEDS".

FOREMOST AMONG THOSE MENTAL STATES IS THE FEELING OF GRATITUDE TOWARDS GOD,
WHICH COULD BE SAID TO BE THE ESSENCE OF IBADA (WORSHIP).

THE FEELING OF GRATITUDE IS SO IMPORTANT THAT A NONBELIEVER IS CALLED 'KAFIR',
WHICH MEANS 'ONE WHO DENIES A TRUTH' AND ALSO 'ONE WHO IS UNGRATEFUL'.

A BELIEVER LOVES, AND IS GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR THE BOUNTIES HE BESTOWED UPON HIM,
BUT BEING AWARE OF THE FACT THAT HIS GOOD DEEDS, WHETHER MENTAL OR PHYSICAL,
ARE FAR FROM BEING COMMENSURATE WITH DIVINE FAVOURS, HE IS ALWAYS ANXIOUS LEST
GOD SHOULD PUNISH HIM, HERE OR IN THE HEREAFTER. HE, THEREFORE, FEARS HIM,
SURRENDERS HIMSELF TO HIM AND SERVES HIM WITH GREAT HUMILITY. ONE CANNOT BE IN
SUCH A MENTAL STATE WITHOUT BEING ALMOST ALL THE TIME MINDFUL OF GOD.
REMEMBERING GOD IS THUS THE LIFE FORCE OF FAITH, WITHOUT WHICH IT FADES AND
WITHERS AWAY.



THE QUR'AN TRIES TO PROMOTE THIS FEELING OF GRATITUDE BY REPEATING THE
ATTRIBUTES OF GOD VERY FREQUENTLY. WE FIND MOST OF THESE ATTRIBUTES MENTIONED
TOGETHER IN THE FOLLOWING VERSES OF THE QUR'AN: HE IS GOD; THERE IS NO GOD BUT
HE. HE IS THE KNOWER OF THE UNSEEN AND THE VISIBLE; HE IS THE ALL-MERCIFUL, THE
ALL-COMPASSIONATE. HE IS GOD; THERE IS NO GOD BUT HE. HE IS THE KING, THE ALL-
HOLY, THE ALL-PEACE, THE GUARDIAN OF FAITH, THE ALL-PRESERVER, THE ALL-MIGHTY, THE
ALL-COMPELLER, THE ALL-SUBLIME. GLORY BE TO GOD, ABOVE THAT THEY ASSOCIATE! HE
IS GOD, THE CREATOR, THE MAKER, THE SHAPER. TO HIM BELONG THE NAMES MOST
BEAUTIFUL. ALL THAT IS IN THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH MAGNIFIES HIM; HE IS THE ALL-
MIGHTY, THE ALL-WISE. (59:22-24).

THERE IS NO GOD BUT HE, THE LIVING, THE EVERLASTING. SLUMBER SEIZES HIM NOT,
NEITHER SLEEP; TO HIM BELONGS ALL THAT IS IN THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. WHO IS
THERE THAT SHALL INTERCEDE WITH HIM SAVE BY HIS LEAVE? HE KNOWS WHAT LIES
BEFORE THEM AND WHAT IS AFTER THEM, AND THEY COMPREHEND NOT ANYTHING OF HIS
KNOWLEDGE SAVE SUCH AS HE WILLS. HIS THRONE COMPRISES THE HEAVENS AND EARTH;
THE PRESERVING OF THEM OPPRESSES HIM NOT; HE IS THE ALL-HIGH, THE ALL-GLORIOUS.
(2:255).

PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, GO NOT BEYOND THE BOUNDS IN YOUR RELIGION, AND SAY NOT AS
TO GOD BUT THE TRUTH. THE MESSIAH, JESUS SON OF MARY, WAS ONLY THE MESSENGER
OF GOD, AND HIS WORD THAT HE COMMITTED TO MARY, AND A SPIRIT FROM HIM. SO
BELIEVE IN GOD AND HIS MESSENGERS, AND SAY NOT, 'THREE'. REFRAIN; BETTER IS IT FOR
YOU. GOD IS ONLY ONE GOD. GLORY BE TO HIM - THAT HE SHOULD HAVE A SON. (4:171)

CONCEPT OF WORSHIP IN ISLAM

THE CONCEPT OF WORSHIP IN ISLAM IS MISUNDERSTOOD BY MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING SOME
MUSLIMS. WORSHIP IS COMMONLY TAKEN TO MEAN PERFORMING RITUALIST ACTS SUCH AS
PRAYERS, FASTING, CHARITY, ETC. THIS LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF WORSHIP IS ONLY
ONE PART OF THE MEANING OF WORSHIP IN ISLAM. THAT IS WHY THE TRADITIONAL
DEFINITION OF WORSHIP IN ISLAM IS A COMPREHENSIVE DEFINITION THAT INCLUDES
ALMOST EVERYTHING IN ANY INDIVIDUAL'S ACTIVITIES. THE DEFINITION GOES SOMETHING
LIKE THIS: "WORSHIP IS AN INCLUSIVE TERM FOR ALL THAT GOD LOVES OF EXTERNAL AND
INTERNAL SAYINGS AND ACTIONS OF A PERSON". IN OTHER WORDS, WORSHIP IS
EVERYTHING ONE SAYS OR DOES FOR THE PLEASURE OF ALLAH. THIS, OF COURSE,
INCLUDES RITUALS AS WELL AS BELIEFS, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND PERSONAL
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WELFARE OF ONE'S FELLOW HUMAN-BEINGS.

ISLAM LOOKS AT THE INDIVIDUAL AS A WHOLE. HE IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT HIMSELF
COMPLETELY TO ALLAH, AS THE QUR'AN INSTRUCTED THE PROPHET MUHAMMED TO DO: "SAY
(O MUHAMMED) MY PRAYER, MY SACRIFICE, MY LIFE AND MY DEATH BELONG TO ALLAH; HE
HAS NO PARTNER AND I AM ORDERED TO BE AMONG THOSE WHO SUBMIT, I.E.; MUSLIMS".
THE NATURAL RESULT OF THIS SUBMISSION IS THAT ALL ONE'S ACTIVITIES SHOULD
CONFORM TO THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE ONE WHOM THE PERSON IS SUBMITTING TO.
ISLAM BEING A WAY OF LIFE, REQUIRES THAT ITS FOLLOWERS MODEL THEIR LIFE
ACCORDING TO ITS TEACHINGS IN EVERY ASPECT, RELIGIOUS OR OTHERWISE. THIS MIGHT
SOUND STRANGE TO SOME PEOPLE WHO THINK OF RELIGION AS A PERSONAL RELATION
BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL AND GOD, HAVING NO IMPACT ON ONE'S ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE
RITUALS.



AS A MATTER OF FACT ISLAM DOES NOT THINK MUCH OF MERE RITUALS WHEN THEY ARE
PERFORMED MECHANICALLY AND HAVE NO INFLUENCE ON ONE'S INNER LIFE. THE QUR'AN
ADDRESSES THE BELIEVERS AND THEIR NEIGHBOURS FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE OF THE
BOOK WHO WERE ARGUING WITH THEM ABOUT THE CHANGE OF THE DIRECTION OF QIBLA IN
THE FOLLOWING VERSE:

IT IS NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT YOU TURN YOUR FACES TOWARD THE EAST OR THE WEST,
BUT RIGHTEOUS IS HE WHO BELIEVES IN ALLAH AND THE LAST DAY AND THE ANGELS AND
THE BOOK AND THE PROPHETS, AND GIVES HIS BELOVED MONEY TO THE RELATIVES AND THE
ORPHANS AND THE NEEDY AND FOR THE RANSOMING OF THE CAPTIVES AND WHO OBSERVES
PRAYER AND PAYS THE POOR-DUE; AND THOSE WHO FULFIL THEIR PROMISES WHEN THEY
HAVE MADE ONE, AND THE PATIENT IN POVERTY AND AFFLICTION AND THE STEADFAST IN
TIME OF WAR; IT IS THOSE WHO HAVE PROVED TRUTHFUL AND IT IS THOSE WHO ARE THE
GOD-FEARING (2:177)

THE DEEDS IN THE ABOVE VERSE ARE THE DEEDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THEY ARE ONLY A
PART OF WORSHIP. THE PROPHET TOLD US ABOUT FAITH, WHICH IS THE BASIS OF WORSHIP,
IS THAT IT "IS MADE UP OF SIXTY AND SOME BRANCHES: THE HIGHEST OF WHICH IS THE
BELIEF IN THE ONENESS OF ALLAH, I.E., THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH AND THE LOWEST IN
THE SCALE OF WORSHIP IS REMOVING OBSTACLES AND DIRT FROM PEOPLE'S WAY".

DECENT WORK IS CONSIDERED IN ISLAM A TYPE OF WORSHIP. THE PROPHET SAID:
"WHOEVER FINDS HIMSELF AT THE NIGHTFALL TIRED OF HIS WORK, GOD WILL FORGIVE HIS
SINS". SEEKING KNOWLEDGE IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST TYPES OF WORSHIP. THE PROPHET
TOLD HIS COMPANIONS THAT "SEEKING KNOWLEDGE IS A (RELIGIOUS) DUTY ON EVERY
MUSLIM". IN ANOTHER SAYING HE SAID: "SEEKING KNOWLEDGE FOR ONE HOUR IS BETTER
THAN PRAYING FOR SEVENTY YEARS". SOCIAL COURTESY AND CO-OPERATION ARE PART OF
WORSHIP WHEN DONE FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH AS THE PROPHET TOLD US: "RECEIVING
YOUR FRIEND WITH A SMILE IS A TYPE OF CHARITY, HELPING A PERSON TO LOAD HIS ANIMAL
IS A CHARITY AND PUTTING SOME WATER IN YOU NEIGHBOUR'S BUCKET IS A CHARITY".

IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT EVEN PERFORMING ONE'S DUTIES IS CONSIDERED A SORT OF
WORSHIP. THE PROPHET TOLD US THAT WHATEVER ONE SPENDS FOR HIS FAMILY IS A TYPE
OF CHARITY; HE WILL BE REWARDED FOR IT IF HE ACQUIRES IT THROUGH LEGAL MEANS.
KINDNESS TO THE MEMBERS OF ONE'S FAMILY IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP AS WHEN ONE PUTS A
PIECE OF FOOD IN HIS SPOUSE'S MOUTH AS THE PROPHET INFORMED US. NOT ONLY THIS
BUT EVEN THE ACTS WE ENJOY DOING VERY MUCH, WHEN THEY ARE PERFORMED ACCORDING
TO THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE PROPHET, THEY ARE CONSIDERED AS ACTS OF WORSHIP. THE
PROPHET TOLD HIS COMPANIONS THAT THEY WILL BE REWARDED EVEN FOR HAVING SEXUAL
INTERCOURSE WITH THEIR WIVES. THE COMPANIONS WERE ASTONISHED AND ASKED:
"HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE REWARDED FOR DOING SOMETHING WE ENJOY VERY MUCH?"
THE PROPHET ASKED THEM: "SUPPOSE YOU SATISFY YOUR DESIRES ILLEGALLY, DON'T YOU
THINK THAT YOU WILL BE PUNISHED FOR THAT?" THEY REPLIED, "YES". "SO" HE SAID. "BY
SATISFYING IT LEGALLY WITH YOUR WIVES YOU ARE REWARDED FOR IT". THIS MEANS THEY
ARE ACTS OF WORSHIP.

THUS ISLAM DOES NOT CONSIDER SEX A DIRTY THING THAT ONE SHOULD AVOID. IT IS
DIRTY AND SIN ONLY WHEN IT IS SATISFIED OUTSIDE MARITAL LIFE.

IT IS CLEAR, FROM THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSION THAT THE CONCEPT OF WORSHIP IN ISLAM IS
A COMPREHENSIVE CONCEPT THAT INCLUDES ALL THE POSITIVE ACTIVITIES OF THE



INDIVIDUAL. THIS OF COURSE IS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ALL INCLUSIVE NATURE OF
ISLAM AS A WAY OF LIFE. IT REGULATES THE HUMAN LIFE ON ALL LEVELS: THE INDIVIDUAL,
THE SOCIAL, THE ECONOMIC, THE POLITICAL AND THE SPIRITUAL. THAT IS WHY ISLAM
PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO THE SMALLEST DETAILS OF ONE'S LIFE ON ALL THESE LEVELS.
THUS FOLLOWING THESE DETAILS IS FOLLOWING ISLAMIC INSTRUCTIONS IN THAT SPECIFIC
AREA. IT IS A VERY ENCOURAGING ELEMENT WHEN ONE REALISES THAT ALL HIS ACTIVITIES
ARE CONSIDERED BY GOD AS ACTS OF WORSHIP. THIS SHOULD LEAD THE INDIVIDUAL TO
SEEK ALLAH'S PLEASURE IN HIS ACTIONS AND ALWAYS TRY TO DO THEM IN THE BEST
POSSIBLE MANNER WHETHER HE IS WATCHED BY HIS SUPERIORS OR HE IS ALONE. THERE IS
ALWAYS THE PERMANENT SUPERVISOR, WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING NAMELY, ALLAH.

DISCUSSING THE NON-RITUAL WORSHIP IN ISLAM FIRST DOES NOT MEAN
UNDEREVALUATING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RITUAL ONES. ACTUALLY RITUAL WORSHIPS, IF
PERFORMED IN TRUE SPIRIT, ELEVATE MAN MORALLY AND SPIRITUALLY AND ENABLE HIM TO
CARRY ON HIS ACTIVITIES IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE ACCORDING TO THE GUIDANCE OF GOD.
AMONG RITUAL WORSHIPS, SALAH (RITUAL PRAYER) OCCUPIES THE KEY POSITION FOR TWO
REASONS. FIRSTLY, IT IS THE DISTINCTIVE MARK OF A BELIEVER. SECONDLY, IT PREVENTS
AN INDIVIDUAL FROM ALL SORTS OF ABOMINATIONS AND VICES BY PROVIDING HIM
CHANCES OF DIRECT COMMUNION WITH HIS CREATOR FIVE TIMES A DAY, WHEREIN HE
RENEWS HIS COVENANT WITH GOD AND SEEKS HIS GUIDANCE AGAIN AND AGAIN: "YOU
ALONE WE WORSHIP AND TO YOU ALONE WE TURN FOR HELP. GUIDE US TO THE STRAIGHT
PATH" (I:4-5). ACTUALLY SALAH IS THE FIRST PRACTICAL MANIFESTATION OF FAITH AND
ALSO THE FOREMOST OF THE BASIC CONDITIONS FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE BELIEVERS:

SUCCESSFUL INDEED ARE THE BELIEVERS WHO ARE HUMBLE IN THEIR PRAYERS. (23:1-2)

THE SAME FACT HAS BEEN EMPHASISED BY THE PROPHET (PBUH) IN A DIFFERENT WAY. HE
SAYS: THOSE WHO OFFER THEIR SALAH WITH GREAT CARE AND PUNCTUALITY, WILL FIND IT
A LIGHT, A PROOF OF THEIR FAITH AND CAUSE OF THEIR SALVATION ON THE DAY OF
JUDGEMENT.

AFTER SALAH, ZAKAH (POOR-DUE) IS AN IMPORTANT PILLAR OF ISLAM. IN THE QUR'AN
SALAH AND ZAKAH MOSTLY HAVE BEEN MENTIONED TOGETHER. LIKE SALAH, ZAKAH IS A
MANIFESTATION OF FAITH THAT AFFIRMS THAT GOD IS THE SOLE OWNER OF EVERYTHING IN
THE UNIVERSE, AND WHAT MEN HOLD IS A TRUST IN THEIR HAND OVER WHICH GOD MADE
THEM TRUSTEES TO DISCHARGE IT AS HE HAS LAID DOWN:

BELIEVE IN ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER AND SPEND OF THAT OVER WHICH HE MADE YOU
TRUSTEES. (57:7)

IN THIS RESPECT ZAKAH IS AN ACT OF DEVOTION WHICH, LIKE PRAYER, BRINGS THE
BELIEVER NEARER TO HIS LORD.

APART FROM THIS, ZAKAH IS A MEANS OF REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH IN A WAY THAT
REDUCES DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CLASSES AND GROUPS. IT MAKES A FAIR CONTRIBUTION
TO SOCIAL STABILITY. BY PURGING THE SOUL OF THE RICH FROM SELFISHNESS AND THE
SOUL OF THE POOR FROM ENVY AND RESENTMENT AGAINST SOCIETY, IT STOPS UP THE
CHANNELS LEADING TO CLASS HATRED AND MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR THE SPRINGS OF
BROTHERHOOD AND SOLIDARITY TO GUSH FORTH. SUCH STABILITY IS NOT MERELY BASED
ON THE PERSONAL FEELINGS OF THE RICH: IT STANDS ON A FIRMLY ESTABLISHED RIGHT
WHICH, IF THE RICH DENIED IT, WOULD BE EXACTED BY FORCE, IF NECESSARY.



SIYAM (FASTING DURING THE DAY TIME FOR THE MONTH OF RAMADHAN) IS ANOTHER PILLAR
OF ISLAM. THE MAIN FUNCTION OF FASTING IS TO MAKE THE MUSLIM PURE FROM "WITHIN"
AS OTHER ASPECTS OF SHARIAH MAKE HIM PURE FROM "WITHOUT". BY SUCH PURITY HE
RESPONDS TO WHAT IS TRUE AND GOOD AND SHUNS WHAT IS FALSE AND EVIL. THIS IS
WHAT WE CAN PERCEIVE IN THE QUR'ANIC VERSE: "O YOU WHO BELIEVE, FASTING IS
PRESCRIBED FOR YOU AS IT WAS PRESCRIBED FOR THOSE BEFORE YOU, THAT YOU MAY GAIN
PIETY". (2:183) IN AN AUTHENTIC TRADITION, THE PROPHET REPORTED ALLAH AS SAYING:
"HE SUSPENDS EATING, DRINKING, AND GRATIFICATION OF HIS SEXUAL PASSIONS FOR MY
SAKE". THUS HIS REWARD IS GOING TO BE ACCORDING TO GOD'S GREAT BOUNTY.

FASTING, THEN, AWAKENS THE CONSCIENCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND GIVES IT SCOPE FOR
EXERCISE IN A JOINT EXPERIENCE FOR ALL SOCIETY AT THE SAME TIME, THUS ADDING
FURTHER STRENGTH TO EACH INDIVIDUAL. MOREOVER, FASTING OFFERS A COMPULSORY
REST TO THE OVERWORKED HUMAN MACHINE FOR THE DURATION OF ONE FULL MONTH.
SIMILARLY FASTING REMINDS AN INDIVIDUAL OF THOSE WHO ARE DEPRIVED OF LIFE
NECESSITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OR THROUGHOUT LIFE. IT MAKES HIM REALISE THE
SUFFERING OF OTHERS; THE LESS FORTUNATE BROTHERS IN ISLAM, AND THUS PROMOTES IN
HIM A SENSE OF SYMPATHY AND KINDNESS TO THEM.

LASTLY, WE COME TO AL-HAJJ (PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOUSE OF GOD IN MAKKA). THIS VERY
IMPORTANT PILLAR OF ISLAM, MANIFESTS A UNIQUE UNITY, DISPELLING ALL KINDS OF
DIFFERENCES. MUSLIMS FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD, WEARING THE SAME DRESS,
RESPOND TO THE CALL OF HAJJ IN ONE VOICE AND LANGUAGE: LABBAIK ALLA HUMMA
LABBAIK (HERE I AM AT YOUR SERVICE O LORD!). IN HAJJ THERE IS AN EXERCISE OF STRICT
SELF-DISCIPLINE AND CONTROL WHERE NOT ONLY SACRED THINGS ARE REVERED, BUT EVEN
THE LIFE OF PLANTS AND BIRDS IS MADE INVIOLABLE SO THAT EVERYTHING LIVES IN
SAFETY: "AND HE THAT VENERATES THE SACRED THINGS OF GOD, IT SHALL BE BETTER FOR
HIM WITH HIS LORD: (22:30), "AND HE THAT VENERATES THE WAYMARKS OF GOD, IT
SURELY IS FROM DEVOTION OF THE HEART". (22:32)

PILGRIMAGE GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALL MUSLIMS FROM ALL GROUPS, CLASSES,
ORGANISATIONS, AND GOVERNMENTS FROM ALL OVER THE MUSLIM WORLD TO MEET
ANNUALLY IN A GREAT CONGRESS. THE TIME AND VENUE OF THIS CONGRESS HAS BEEN SET
BY THEIR ONE GOD. INVITATION TO ATTEND IS OPEN TO EVERY MUSLIM. NO ONE HAS THE
POWER TO BAR ANYONE. EVERY MUSLIM WHO ATTENDS IS GUARANTEED FULL SAFETY AND
FREEDOM AS LONG AS HE HIMSELF DOES NOT VIOLATE ITS SAFETY.

THUS, WORSHIP IN ISLAM, WHETHER RITUAL OR NON-RITUAL, TRAINS THE INDIVIDUAL IN
SUCH A WAY THAT HE LOVES HIS CREATOR MOST AND THEREBY GAINS AN UNYIELDING WILL
AND SPIRIT TO WIPE OUT ALL EVIL AND OPPRESSION FROM THE HUMAN SOCIETY AND MAKE
THE WORD OF GOD DOMINANT IN THE WORLD.

DUTIES TO ALL OTHER CREATED BEINGS

IN THE FOREGOING SECTIONS, THOSE AHADITH AND INSTRUCTIONS WERE DISCUSSED
WHICH GOVERN THE MUTUAL BEHAVIOUR OF MUSLIMS. THE HOLY PROPHET'S (S.A.W.)
TEACHINGS AND SAYINGS ALSO DEAL WITH THE MANNER OF OUR CONDUCT IN RESPECT TO
ALL MANKIND AND EVEN THE OTHER CREATURES OF ALLAH ALMIGHTY.



IT IS RELATED BY JAREER IBN ABDULLAH (R.A.) THAT THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID "THOSE
WHOSE HEARTS ARE DEVOID OF MERCY FOR OTHERS, WILL NOT OBTAIN THE MERCY OF
ALLAH."

THE WORD "OTHERS" USED IN THE HADITH, INCLUDES NOT ONLY THE MUSLIMS BUT THE
NON-BELIEVERS TOO. EVERYONE, INDEED, HAS A CLAIM TO KINDNESS AND COMPASSION, NO
MATTER WHAT CLASS OR COMMUNITY HE MAY BELONG TO. TRUE, SYMPATHY AND KINDNESS
TOWARDS THE NON-BELIEVERS AND WRONG-DOERS, HOWEVER, WOULD DEMAND THAT FIRST
OF ALL, A SORROW AND CONCERN IS FELT IN THE HEART AT THEIR PLIGHT AND
TRANSGRESSION AND AN EFFORT IS MADE TO SAVE THEM. BESIDES THIS, IN CASES OF
PHYSICAL OR WORLDLY WANT AND SUFFERING, WE ARE COMMANDED TO BE KIND AND
HELPFUL TO THEM.

THIS HADITH ACTUALLY IMPARTS A STERN WARNING TO THOSE WHO DO NOT TREAT THEIR
FELLOW-MEN WITH KINDNESS AND COMPASSION AND REMAIN INDIFFERENT TO THEIR NEEDS
END DIFFICULTIES.

IN ANOTHER HADITH, NARRATED BY ABDULLAH IBN AMR (R.A.) THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) IS
REPORTED TO HAVE SAID "THE MOST-MERCIFUL(I.E. ALLAH)WILL HAVE MERCY ON THOSE
WHO ARE MERCIFUL. SHOW COMPASSION TO THE DWELLERS OF THE EARTH, THEN THE ONE
WHO DWELLS IN THE HEAVENS (ALLAH) WILL SHOW COMPASSION TO YOU!"

A STRONG EMPHASIS TO SHOW KINDNESS AND MERCY TO ALL THE CREATURES OF ALLAH ON
EARTH, WITH WHOM ONE COMES INTO CONTACT, IS CONTAINED IN THE HADITH. IT FIRST
TELLS THAT THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL MERCY OF ALLAH ON THOSE WHO ARE MERCIFUL AND
THEN GIVES ASSURANCE THAT THE ALMIGHTY WILL SHOW COMPASSION TO THOSE WHO ARE
COMPASSIONATE TO HIS CREATURES. THIS EMPHASIS, TO SHOW KINDNESS AND
COMPASSION TO THE "DWELLERS OF THE EARTH", NOT ONLY INCLUDES MEN OF ALL FAITHS
AND NATIONALITIES, BUT ALSO THE ANIMALS AND OTHER CREATURES.

A SIMILAR HADITH HAS BEEN REPORTED BY ANAS (R.A.) AND ABDULLAH IBN MASUD (R.A.) -
THE HOLY PROPHET (S.A.W.) SAID, "ALL CREATURES ARE THE 'AYAAL' (FAMILY) OF ALLAH.
THE MOST BELOVED TO ALLAH, AMONGST HIS CREATURES, IS THE ONE WHO IS GOOD TO HIS
'AYAAL' (FAMILY - I.E. CREATURES).

THOSE WHO ARE DEPENDENT ON A PERSON FOR THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE (LIKE FOOD,
CLOTHING ETC.) ARE CALLED HIS'AYAAL'. THEREFORE, IN THIS REGARD, ALL THE CREATED
BEINGS ARE THE 'AYAAL' OF THE CREATOR - ALLAH. HE IS THE SOLE CHERISHER AND
SUSTAINER. THE ABOVE HADITH, THUS EXPLAINS THAT WHOEVER SHOWS KINDNESS AND
SYMPATHY TO THE CREATURES OF ALLAH WILL BE DESERVING OF HIS LOVE AND MERCY.

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS

THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMED (S.A.W.), LIKE THE EARLIER PROPHETS, PERMITTED THE USE
OF THOSE ANIMALS CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF RIDING OR CARRYING LOADS AND
PERMITTED THE USE OF FLESH OF THOSE ANIMALS WHICH HAVE BEEN DECLARED CLEAN FOR
FOOD. THIS ACTUALLY, IS A BLESSING OF ALLAH ALMIGHTY AND IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
HIS COMMANDS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AS EXPLAINED EARLIER, THESE CREATURES
SHOULD BE TREATED WITH KINDNESS AND MERCY.



ABU HURAIRAH (R.A.) RELATED THE NARRATION OF THE PROPHET (S.A.W.): "ONCE, A
TRAVELLER (DURING THE COURSE OF HIS JOURNEY) CAME UPON A WELL. FEELING THIRSTY,
HE WENT DOWN INTO IT- DRANK WATER AND CAME OUT. (THERE WAS NO ROPE NOR
BUCKET). ON COMING OUT HE SAW A DOG THAT WAS LICKING THE WET EARTH (AROUND THE
WELL). THE MAN TOOK PITY AND WENT DOWN(INTO THE WELL- AGAIN), FILLED HIS BOOT,
HELD IT BY THE TEETH, CAME OUT AND GAVE WATER TO T HE DOG TO DRINK. THIS (SIMPLE)
SERVICE TO THE THIRSTY DOG PLEASED ALLAH TO AN EXTENT THAT HE BLESSED THE MAN
WITH SALVATION (FORGAVE HIM ALL HIS SINS)". ABU HURAIRAH (R.A.) SAYS THAT UPON
HEARING THIS, THE COMPANIONS (SAHABAH) ENQUIRED "OH, PROPHET OF ALLAH IS THERE A
REWARD FOR US EVEN ON REMOVING THE DISTRESS OF ANIMALS?" "YES" REPLIED THE
PROPHET (S.A.W.) "(IN FACT) ON REMOVING THE DISTRESS OF EVERY LIVING BEING!"

THE MERCY AND BENEVOLENCE OF THE ALMIGHTY IS STIRRED BY THE DISPLAY OF SUCH
DEEDS OF PITY AND SYMPATHY- DUE TO WHICH HE GRANTS FORGIVENESS AND SALVATION.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED HERE THAT THE AIM OF THE HOLY PROPHET (S.A.W.) WAS NOT MERELY
TO NARRATE THE STORY, BUT TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF KINDNESS AND COMPASSION
TO ALL THE CREATURES OF ALLAH - EVEN TO A DOG!

SEVERITY OF CRUELTY TO CREATURES

THE HOLY PROPHET (S.A.W.), ON THE ONE HAND EMPHASISED THAT ALL CREATURES OF
ALLAH BE TREATED KINDLY, AND ON THE OTHER HAND WARNED AGAINST CRUELTY TO THEM
EXPLAINING THAT TO UNNECESSARILY INFLICT PAIN ON THE CREATURES IS A GREAT SIN.

IT IS REPORTED BY SUHAIL IBN HANZALIYYAH (R.A.) THAT RASULULLAH (S.A.W.) ONCE CAME
UPON A CAMEL WHOSE BELLY HAD SHRUNK TO ITS BACK (DUE TO STARVATION). ON SEEING
IT HE REMARKED, "OH PEOPLE! FEAR ALLAH WITH REGARDS TO THE DUMB ANIMALS. (I.E. DO
NOT STARVE THEM LIKE THIS). RIDE THEM WHILE THEY ARE IN GOOD CONDITION (I.E. WELL
FED) AND WHEN YOU LEAVE THEM, LEAVE THEM IN THE CONDITION THAT THEY ARE WELL!"

THE MORAL OF THE HADITH IS THAT ANYONE WHO POSSESSES AN ANIMAL, SHOULD FEED IT
PROPERLY AND THEN TAKE ONLY AS MUCH WORK FROM IT AS IT MAY BEAR(NOTHING BEYOND
ITS ENDURANCE).

JABIR (R.A.) NARRATES THAT ONCE THE HOLY PROPHET(S.A.W.) SAW A DONKEY THAT HAD
BEEN BRANDED ON THE FACE, UPON WHICH HE EXCLAIMED "THE PERSON WHO HAS
COMMITTED THIS (CRUEL) ACT IS REMOVED FROM THE MERCY OF THE LORD (CREATOR)."

AS IS STILL PRACTISED IN MANY PLACES, IN THOSE DAYS IT WAS CUSTOMARY TO BRAND
ANIMALS (LIKE HORSES, DONKEYS, COWS, ETC.), WITH RED-HOT IRONS, AS A MARK OF
RECOGNITION. TO BRAND THE FACE OF THE ANIMALS, WHICH IS THE MOST SENSITIVE PART
OF THE BODY, BY BURNING A MARK ON IT, IS DEFINITELY A MOST CRUEL ACT. THE HOLY
PROPHET (S.A.W.) FELT DEEPLY HURT ON SEEING THAT THIS HAD BEEN DONE TO THE POOR
ANIMAL, WHICH MADE HIM UTTER THE ABOVE SENTENCE. THIS SURELY WAS AN EXPRESSION
OF SEVERE RESENTMENT AGAINST SUCH CRUELTY!

IN ANOTHER HADITH, RELATED BY ABDULLAH IBN UMAR(R.A.) THE PROPHET(S.A.W.) SAID "A
CERTAIN CRUEL, HARD - HEARTED WOMAN WILL BE CAST INTO HELL, (SIMPLY) BECAUSE OF
(HER CRUELTY TO) HER CAT. SHE HELD IT IS CAPTIVITY UNTIL IT DIED (DUE TO
STARVATION). SHE NEITHER GAVE IT ANYTHING TO EAT, NOR SET IT FREE SO THAT IT COULD
FEED ON THE WORMS AND INSECTS OF THE EARTH.



IT IS CLEAR FROM THIS HADITH THAT THE CRUELTY TO ANIMALS IS MOST DISPLEASING TO
ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY, AND IT CAN LEAD ONE TO HELL!

THESE FEW AHADITH OF THE PROPHET (S.A.W.) GIVE AN IDEA OF THE ISLAMIC TEACHINGS
CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS - AND ALL CREATURES, BUT, IT SHOULD BE
REMEMBERED THAT THESE DO NOT CONFLICT WITH THE COMMAND FOR KILLING POISONOUS
CREATURES, SUCH AS SNAKES, SCORPIONS ETC. WHICH IS ACTUALLY AN ACT OF SERVICE TO
MEN AND TO OTHER CREATURES OF ALLAH.

THE WORLD HAS, ONLY RECENTLY, REALISED THE NEED FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY
TO ANIMALS, BUT OUR HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMED (S.A.W.) HAD TAUGHT THIS TO MANKIND
CENTURIES AGO!

"THE EXISTANCE"

WERE THEY CREATED OF NOTHING, OR WERE THEY THEMSELVES THE CREATORS? OR DID
THEY CREATE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH? SURELY, THEY HAVE NO FIRM BELIEF. OR ARE
THE TREASURES OF YOUR LORD WITH THEM, OR HAVE THEY CONTROL OVER THEM? (AT-TUR,,
35-37)

AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THE FIRST ERROR A PREJUDICED PERSON MAKES IS TRYING TO
EVALUATE RELIGION WITHOUT GIVING THOUGHT TO ALLAH. SOCIOLOGISTS, FOR EXAMPLE,
WHO DO RESEARCH ON RELIGION, CAN WRITE THOUSANDS OF BOOKS ON HOW RELIGIONS
AROSE AND HOW THEY AFFECTED SOCIETIES SOCIOLOGICALLY. YET, IN SPITE OF ALL THESE
GREAT ACADEMIC STUDIES, THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND RELIGION EVEN TO A MINUTE
EXTENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THOSE WHO LEAD THEIR LIVES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF
RELIGION.

SUCH PEOPLE ARE NOT CAPABLE OF COMPREHENDING THE REALITY OF ALLAH‟S UNITY,
WHICH IS THE BASIS OF RELIGION. ANYONE WHO DECIDES TO LEARN ABOUT ISLAM NEEDS
FIRST TO UNDERSTAND THE EXISTENCE OF ALLAH. IF HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN ALLAH, HE
WILL SIMPLY BE INVESTIGATING THE QUR‟AN AND MUSLIMS IN TERMS OF HIS OWN LIMITED
VISION OF LIFE.

THE QUR‟AN THUS EXPRESSES DISAPPROVAL OF SUCH PEOPLE:

“THEY DISBELIEVE WHAT THEY CANNOT GRASP, FOR THEY HAVE NOT YET SEEN ITS PROPHECY
FULFILLED.” (YUNUS, 39) ISLAM IS NOT A MAN-MADE IDEOLOGY ABOUT WHICH HALF-BAKED
IDEAS AND BASELESS CONCLUSIONS CAN BE PUT FORTH FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE
INDIVIDUAL CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT ISLAM IS ABOUT ONLY WHEN HE UNDERSTANDS THE
EXISTENCE OF ALLAH AND LIVES HIS LIFE AS ENJOINED IN THE QUR‟AN.

ESSENTIALLY, THE EXISTENCE OF ALLAH AND THE REALITY THAT THERE IS NO DEITY OTHER
THAN ALLAH ARE CRYSTAL CLEAR FACTS. BUT IN “THE SOCIETY OF IGNORANCE” WHERE
PEOPLE FAIL TO USE THEIR REASONING DUE TO THEIR HABIT OF INDIFFERENCE AND
INDOLENCE, THEY GROW BLIND AND CANNOT COMPREHEND THIS REALITY. AS A MATTER OF
FACT, THAT IS THE REASON WHY THEY WERE STIGMATIZED AS A “SOCIETY OF IGNORANCE”
(JAHILLIYAH).



ONE OF THE MANY QURANIC VERSES ABOUT PONDERING ON THE EXISTENCE OF ALLAH
RECORDS THE ALMIGHTY‟S ADVICE TO THE PROPHET ON HOW HE SHOULD ADDRESS THE
IGNORANT:

“SAY: „THINK, YOU, IF ALLAH TOOK AWAY YOUR HEARING AND YOUR SIGHT, AND SEALED UP
YOUR HEARTS, WHO - A GOD OTHER THAN ALLAH - COULD RESTORE THEM TO YOU?‟” THE
SAME VERSE GOES ON TO SAY: “SEE HOW WE EXPLAIN THE SIGNS BY VARIOUS SYMBOLS;
YET THEY TURN ASIDE.” (AL-ANAAM, 46)

A BRIEF EXAMPLE CAN HELP US ENRICH OUR VIEWS AND REMOVE OUR INNATE IGNORANCE.

LET‟S ASSUME THAT THERE IS A PERSON FROM WHOSE MEMORY EVERYTHING, INCLUDING
THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS SELF-BEING AND HIS BODY, HAS BEEN WIPED OUT. IF HE FOUND
HIMSELF ON A PLACE LIKE EARTH, WHAT WOULD HE FEEL LIKE? HE WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE
SO AMAZED AND SO ASTONISHED AS TO LOSE HIS MIND OUT OF CURIOSITY. THE FIRST
THING HE WOULD NOTICE WOULD PROBABLY BE HIS BODY. HE WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT
HIS BODY IN FACT BELONGED TO HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE, THINKING OF IT AS AN EXTERNAL
OBJECT, LIKE THE OTHER THINGS IN THE SCENE. THEN IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING FOR
HIM TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL HIS BODY PARTS AND MAKE THEM DO WHAT HE WANTED THEM
TO DO. HE WOULD PROBABLY TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE USE OF HIS ARM BY MOVING IT UP
AND DOWN FOR A WHILE.

HE WOULD FIND VERY SUITABLE SURROUNDINGS FOR HIS BODY, THE REASON FOR THE
EXISTENCE OF WHICH WOULD STILL BE UNKNOWN TO HIM. THERE WOULD BE SAFE GROUND
TO STAND ON, A CLEAR IMAGE TO VIEW, BEAUTIFUL FRAGRANCES TO SMELL, VARIOUS
ANIMALS, A PROPER AIR TEMPERATURE EXACTLY SUITABLE TO THE BODY, AN ATMOSPHERE
SUITABLE FOR BREATHING, AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER SENSITIVE BALANCES. EDIBLE
FRUITS TO SATISFY HIS HUNGER, PURE AND CLEAR WATER TO COOL HIS PARCHED THROAT
AND MANY MORE THINGS.

FOR A MOMENT, LET US PUT OURSELVES IN HIS POSITION AND REFLECT FOR A WHILE. IN A
PLACE LIKE THIS, WOULD WE JUST GO AND ENJOY OURSELVES, OR BE WISE ENOUGH TO ASK
OURSELVES SOME VERY CRUCIAL QUESTIONS? WOULD WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE
WERE, WHY WE WERE THERE, WHAT THE REASON FOR OUR EXISTENCE WAS, WHAT THE
REASON FOR THE EXISTENCE OF THE PRESENT ORDER WAS OR, WOULD WE SIMPLY IGNORE
THESE QUESTIONS AND BE CONCERNED WITH HOW MUCH WE ENJOYED OUR LIVES? WOULD
NOT THE FIRST QUESTIONS COME TO OUR MINDS BE AS FOLLOWS:

WHO AM I?

WHO HAS CREATED ME, WHO HAS CREATED THIS PERFECT BODY OF MINE?

WHO HAS CREATED THIS GREAT ORDER WHICH SURROUNDS ME?

WHAT DOES HE, WHO CREATED EVERYTHING, WANT FROM ME? WHAT DOES HE WANT TO
SHOW ME?

EVEN AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A WEAK MIND WOULD THINK THAT THERE IS NOTHING MORE
IMPORTANT THAN FINDING ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS. SOMEONE WHO PAYS NO
ATTENTION TO THEM, PREFERRING RATHER TO SPEND HIS LIFE IN FULFILLING HIS PHYSICAL
NEEDS, AMUSING HIMSELF DURING THE DAY AND SLEEPING AT NIGHTS, WOULD


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