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A: Islam is the fastest growing religion in the
world. The word Islam literally means ‘Peace and surrender to the will of Allah
the Creator’.
It was founded by Prophet Muhammad(saw) over
1400 years ago in Arabia. Prophet Muhammad(saw) received revelation from Allah
in which he was told that Islam was the final and most complete religion for
mankind. The followers of Islam are called Muslims.
Islam’s holy book is The Holy Qur’an and this
was revealed by Allah to Prophet Muhammad(sa). It is a source of complete
guidance. Its teachings are in agreement with human nature. Islam is a religion
revealed for the whole of mankind for all time to come.
The
Founder of Islam
Prophet Muhammad(saw) (570-632 CE) was born in
Makkah, Arabia. He was known for his honesty and piety. He was also inspired
with a strong love for Allah and mankind.
He married at the age of 25. Fifteen years later
he received his first Qur’anic revelation from Allah whilst meditating in a
cave called Hir’a near Makkah. This marked the beginning of the mission of
Muhammad(saw) as the apostle of Allah. His prime message was the Unity of Allah
and he continued to stress this throughout his life.
True to his character Prophet Muhammad(saw)
practised what he preached and provided a living example of all that Islam
teaches. His humility, truthfulness, tolerance, resolve, courage, kindness and
wisdom remain exemplary.
The Holy
Book of Islam
The Holy Qur’an is the holy book of Islam. It is
the Word of Allah and was revealed to Prophet Muhammad(sa) over a period of 23
years. It is spread over 30 parts and has 114 chapters.
It contains a vast array of teachings and is a
comprehensive code of conduct for mankind. It also contains numerous prophecies
many of which have been fulfilled and many that remain to be fulfilled.
The Holy Qur’an is written in Arabic – the very
language in which it was revealed. The word Qur’an means something that is
recited over and over again and indeed Muslims recite the Holy Qur’an many
times over in their lives. There are many Muslims who have also memorised the
entire Qur’an. Despite being over 1400 years old the Qur’anic text has remained
intact – as promised in the Qur’an by Allah Himself. The translation of the
Holy Qur’an is now also available in more that 50 languages including English
The
Teachings of Islam
Allah taught religion to the world gradually by
sending His prophets at different times and to different peoples. This
religious guidance was completed and perfected through Islam.
The key teachings of Islam are known as the five pillars of Islam.
The key teachings of Islam are known as the five pillars of Islam.
The Five
Pillars of Islam
Shahadah
This is the declaration of one’s faith in the unity of Allah and acceptance of Prophet Muhammad(saw) as a messenger of Allah.
The meaning of the actual declaration is, “I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”
(‘Allah’ is means One Who is free from all defects and possesses all kinds of good attributes.)
This is the declaration of one’s faith in the unity of Allah and acceptance of Prophet Muhammad(saw) as a messenger of Allah.
The meaning of the actual declaration is, “I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”
(‘Allah’ is means One Who is free from all defects and possesses all kinds of good attributes.)
Salat
Muslims must offer the five daily prayers to develop and benefit from a personal relationship with Allah.
Muslims must offer the five daily prayers to develop and benefit from a personal relationship with Allah.
Saum
(Fasting)
Muslims must fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Whilst fasting, Muslims cannot eat or drink between dawn and dusk.
Some people are exempted from fasting including the sick, pregnant or nursing mothers, young children and those on journeys. During Ramadan Muslims make an extra effort to remember Allah and to seek His forgiveness.
Muslims must fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Whilst fasting, Muslims cannot eat or drink between dawn and dusk.
Some people are exempted from fasting including the sick, pregnant or nursing mothers, young children and those on journeys. During Ramadan Muslims make an extra effort to remember Allah and to seek His forgiveness.
Zakat
(Almsgiving)
Muslims are required to give a fixed proportion of their wealth for the benefit of the poor and needy. The basic rate is normally 2.5% of one’s annual savings.
Muslims are required to give a fixed proportion of their wealth for the benefit of the poor and needy. The basic rate is normally 2.5% of one’s annual savings.
Hajj
Muslims should make a pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in their lifetime if possible. The Pilgrimage is made during the month of Hajj, the twelfth lunar month of the Islamic calendar.
Muslims should make a pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in their lifetime if possible. The Pilgrimage is made during the month of Hajj, the twelfth lunar month of the Islamic calendar.
Muslims also believe in all prophets of Allah,
His angels, His holy books, life after death, the Day of Judgement and in the
Divine Decree of Allah. Islam also emphasises that men and women are equal
before Allah and only righteous deeds elevate one person above another.
Islam reinforces the concept of humanity and
respect for individual liberty. It also reminds man of his fundamental human
right of being free to choose his own religion. It is clearly stated in The
Qur’an that there is no compulsion in religion (Holy Qur'an Ch.2 V.257).
Education is so important that Muslim men and
women are encouraged to seek knowledge wherever it may be.
A: Muhammad (saw) was the prophet of Islam and
the one to whom the final religion was revealed by God. He was born in a noble
family in 570CE in Makkah, Arabia and he was a descendant of Prophet
Abraham(as). The word ‘Muhammad’ literally means ‘praiseworthy’.
Life
before Prophethood
His father, Abdullah, died a few months before
his birth and his mother, Amena, died when he was just six years old. He was
then cared for by his grandfather, Abdul-Muttalib, who also died two years
later. Muhammad(saw) was then looked after by his uncle Abu-Talib.
Despite these hardships, Muhammad(saw) grew up to be an honest, dignified, truthful, and intelligent person. He also helped his uncle with his trade, sometimes accompanying him on his travels to other lands.
Muhammad(saw) led a pious and simple life. He was well-known for his willingness to help others and his conduct earned him the titles of As-Siddique (meaning the most truthful) and Al-Amin (meaning the most trustworthy).
When he was twenty-five years old Muhammad(saw) married a respectable widow named Khadija who was fifteen years his senior. She was so impressed by the noble character of Muhammad(saw) that she placed at his disposal her wealth and slaves – whom he set free. Muhammad(saw) also distributed much of the property among the poor.
Despite these hardships, Muhammad(saw) grew up to be an honest, dignified, truthful, and intelligent person. He also helped his uncle with his trade, sometimes accompanying him on his travels to other lands.
Muhammad(saw) led a pious and simple life. He was well-known for his willingness to help others and his conduct earned him the titles of As-Siddique (meaning the most truthful) and Al-Amin (meaning the most trustworthy).
When he was twenty-five years old Muhammad(saw) married a respectable widow named Khadija who was fifteen years his senior. She was so impressed by the noble character of Muhammad(saw) that she placed at his disposal her wealth and slaves – whom he set free. Muhammad(saw) also distributed much of the property among the poor.
Revelation
Prophet Muhammad(saw) used to spend his time in
the remembrance of Allah. Often he would meditate in a cave called Hir’a that
lay a few miles away from Makkah. When he was forty years old he had a vision
in which Angel Gabriel appeared and conveyed to him the first revelation from
Allah in the following words:
‘Recite in the name of your Lord Who created,
created man from an adhesive clot. Recite, and your Lord is the Noblest, Who
taught by the pen, taught man what he knew not.’
(Holy Qur’an Ch.96: vs. 2-6)
Muhammad(saw) was so overawed by this experience
that he rushed home and related it to his wife Khadija(ra), who then took
Muhammad(saw) to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal who was a Christian hermit. On
hearing what had happened Waraqa said,
‘The angel who has descended on you is, I am sure, the same angel who previously descended on Moses.’
He was evidently referring to the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:18 (‘I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.’) foretelling the arrival of a great prophet. This, in fact, marked the beginning of the mission of Muhammad(saw) as an apostle of Allah.
The verses noted above are the first verses of the Holy Qur’an that was revealed to Muhammad(saw). Over the next twenty three years the entire Holy Qur’an was revealed to him and to this day it remains completely unchanged.
‘The angel who has descended on you is, I am sure, the same angel who previously descended on Moses.’
He was evidently referring to the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:18 (‘I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.’) foretelling the arrival of a great prophet. This, in fact, marked the beginning of the mission of Muhammad(saw) as an apostle of Allah.
The verses noted above are the first verses of the Holy Qur’an that was revealed to Muhammad(saw). Over the next twenty three years the entire Holy Qur’an was revealed to him and to this day it remains completely unchanged.
His
Mission
Prophet Muhammad(saw) denounced the worship of
false deities and preached the Unity of Allah. He said that Allah alone was
worthy of worship and nothing else was equal to Him. Muhammad(saw) helped the
poor, liberated slaves and established equal rights of women. He told his
followers to be patient during hardship and to pray to Allah. His mission was
to eradicate evil and iniquity and to establish goodness and piety in the
world.
Struggles
and Successes
The idolaters of Makkah would not listen to
Muhammad(saw) and opposed him tooth and nail. He and his followers were
persecuted in every way. They were subjected to all sorts of indignities, and
the Muslim slaves were treated particularly badly. After thirteen years of
persecution at the hands of the Makkans Muhammad(saw) was directed by Allah to
migrate to Madinah, nearly 260 miles north of Makkah.
However, even there the Makkans did not let him
live in peace. They fought a number of battles against him, but were defeated.
Muhammad(saw) only fought in defence and when victorious he declared a general
amnesty to his enemies.
When Makkah was finally conquered by Muhammad(saw) it was done peacefully without any battle. Furthermore, Muhammad(saw) was extremely forgiving and magnanimous towards his enemies.
When Makkah was finally conquered by Muhammad(saw) it was done peacefully without any battle. Furthermore, Muhammad(saw) was extremely forgiving and magnanimous towards his enemies.
He invited the whole world to Islam but also
granted everyone freedom to practice their own faith under the protection of
Islam.
His life is indeed remarkable for within its span of some sixty two years, the whole gamut of human experiences seems to have been played out, from poverty to riches, from failure to success, from friend-lessness to unquestioned power, from persecution to kingly authority.
His life is indeed remarkable for within its span of some sixty two years, the whole gamut of human experiences seems to have been played out, from poverty to riches, from failure to success, from friend-lessness to unquestioned power, from persecution to kingly authority.
He was resigned to being an orphan, was an
affectionate adopted child, an honest trader, a kind father, a loving husband,
a caring neighbour, a great warrior and general, a just judge and law-giver, an
enlightened statesman, a faithful friend and above all a prophet and the
preacher of the Word of Allah.
He passed away in 622 CE leaving behind a very
pious and righteous community of believers who continued his mission to spread
Islam in all parts of the world despite heavy odds. Today there are more than
one billion Muslims in the world.
A: The Holy Qur'an is the holy book of Islam. It
is the original Word of Allah revealed in the Arabic language to Prophet Muhammad(saw).
The word ‘Qur’an’ literally means something that is read or recited often. It
comprises thirty parts and one hundred and fourteen chapters.
It has remained unchanged since its revelation as noted in the Quran itself. (Holy Qur’an, Ch.15: V.10)
It has remained unchanged since its revelation as noted in the Quran itself. (Holy Qur’an, Ch.15: V.10)
This is a claim unique to the Qur'an and it is
substantiated by the fact that the Qur'an has indeed remained unchanged since
it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad(saw).
As was common among the Arabs of his time,
Muhammad(saw) had no schooling and was unable to read or write. The Angel
Gabriel conveyed verbally the revelation to Muhammad(saw) who then dictated the
words to one of his appointed scribes.
Within the lifetime of the Prophet(saw) the
entire text of the Holy Qur'an was transcribed and was committed to memory by
thousands of devotees, a practice that has been followed ever since. This is
one of the ways by which the text of the Qur’an has been preserved in its
original form.
Translations of the Qur’an are now also
available in over 50 languages including English.
Teachings
The Qur’an states that it is a perfect book (Ch2. V3) and that
Islam is a perfect religion (Ch. 5: v.4).
The Holy Qur'an affirms the basic truth of all previous revelations at their sources. However, it not only incorporates those truths within itself but also perfects them, and completes the message.
The Holy Qur'an affirms the basic truth of all previous revelations at their sources. However, it not only incorporates those truths within itself but also perfects them, and completes the message.
It provides a perfect means of guidance to
attain communion with Allah. The Qur’an also covers an amazing array of topics
with astonishing accuracy. It reflects the infinite knowledge of Allah and
reveals many secrets of nature that remained beyond the reach of man for
centuries after the Holy Qur’an was revealed.
It contains guidance relevant to all times even
on subjects such as genetics, nuclear warfare, the development of modes of
travel, and life in other parts of the universe.
The teachings of the Qur’an set out the key
principles in every sphere of life. They also provide complete guidance on how
man can achieve the object of his creation and explains the basis upon which he
will be judged in his next life.
The Qur’an also makes it clear that man is left
free to accept or reject its guidance.
An
Excellent Prayer
The first chapter of the Qur'an, Al-Fatihah
(stated below), contains the essence of the Qur'anic teachings.
‘In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the
Merciful. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds, the Gracious,
the Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. Thee alone do we worship and Thee
alone do we implore for help. Guide us in the right path – the path of those on
whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings, those who have not incurred displeasure,
and those who have not gone astray.’
It is recited as part of the daily obligatory
prayer by Muslims throughout the world, reminding them of the bounties of Allah
and seeking His blessings and forgiveness.
Caliphate or Khilafat is a
spiritual institution that succeeds prophethood. It provides unity, progress,
righteousness and security to the followers of a Prophet . The Caliph or ‘Khalifa’ is a Prophet’s
spiritual heir, his vicegerent and subordinate. He derives his authority from
his Master-Prophet and as such becomes the central authority for his
followers.
Khilafat
in the Qur’an
In Chapter 24, verse 56 of the Holy Qur’an, it says :
In Chapter 24, verse 56 of the Holy Qur’an, it says :
Allah has
promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will, surely,
make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who
were before them.
The above verse alludes to the fact that
successors will be made in the earth just as successors were made by God from
among people who were before them which, includes the concept of the
establishment of Khilafat after the advent of previous Prophets.
Khilfat after the Holy
Prophet(saw)
For example, the death of the Holy Prophet of Islam(saw) , was followed by the spiritual institution of Khilafat .
The first successor or Khalifa after the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) was Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddique(ra), a companion of the Prophet(saw). On the death of Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra), Hadhrat Umar Farooq(ra) succeeded as the Khalifa of the Prophet(saw), then Hadhrat Usman Ghani(ra) and then Hadhrat Ali ibn Abi Talib(ra); this also tells us that there can only be one Khalifa at any one time. All of these Khulafaa (plural of Khalifa) were known as the Rightly Guided Khulafaa or the Khulafaa al-Rashideen.
For example, the death of the Holy Prophet of Islam(saw) , was followed by the spiritual institution of Khilafat .
The first successor or Khalifa after the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) was Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddique(ra), a companion of the Prophet(saw). On the death of Hadhrat Abu Bakr(ra), Hadhrat Umar Farooq(ra) succeeded as the Khalifa of the Prophet(saw), then Hadhrat Usman Ghani(ra) and then Hadhrat Ali ibn Abi Talib(ra); this also tells us that there can only be one Khalifa at any one time. All of these Khulafaa (plural of Khalifa) were known as the Rightly Guided Khulafaa or the Khulafaa al-Rashideen.
Khilafat in the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community
When the Promised Messiah, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) (the holy founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community) passed away, Khilafat was established once again. This is known as the Khilafat of Ahmadiyyat orKhilafat al-Ahmadiyya.
When the Promised Messiah, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) (the holy founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community) passed away, Khilafat was established once again. This is known as the Khilafat of Ahmadiyyat orKhilafat al-Ahmadiyya.
The Khulafaa of the Promised Messiah(as)
are known as Khulafaa al-Masih, or the
Khulafaa of the Messiah. The first Khalifa of the Promised Messiah(as) was
Hadhrat Hakeem Maulvi Nooruddin(ra), at whose demise Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin
Mahmood Ahmad(ra) became Khalifa. The third Khalifa was Hadhrat Mirza Nasir
Ahmad(ru) and the fourth successor was Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad(ru). The fifth
successor and the present Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is Hadhrat
Mirza Masroor Ahmad (May God assist him).
Appointment of the Khalifa
According to Islamic teachings, the office of Khilafat can, under no circumstances, be inherited from one’s father or relatives. It is a holy trust, given only to a pious follower of a Prophet. Whilst people are involved in process of selecting the Khalifa Muslims firmly believe that it is Allah who appoints the Khalifa. According to Islam people who are entrusted with selecting the next Khalifa are guided by Allah during the selection process; the end result is that the most able and righteous person is selected for the position of Khalifa.
According to Islamic teachings, the office of Khilafat can, under no circumstances, be inherited from one’s father or relatives. It is a holy trust, given only to a pious follower of a Prophet. Whilst people are involved in process of selecting the Khalifa Muslims firmly believe that it is Allah who appoints the Khalifa. According to Islam people who are entrusted with selecting the next Khalifa are guided by Allah during the selection process; the end result is that the most able and righteous person is selected for the position of Khalifa.
At the time of the demise of the Holy Prophet
(saw), his closest and most revered companion (Hadhrat Abu Bakr (ra)) was
chosen by the people as Khalifa. It is expedient to note that at this incident
an important precedent was established:
At the time of the death of the Prophet(saw) , a
group of Muslims known as the Ansar (the ‘Helpers’ consisting of mostly early
converts and those who fought in the early defensive battles alongside
the Prophet(saw)) gathered in a hall near Madinah known as Saqifah Banu Sa’idah
and had chosen Sa’d bin ‘Ubada as successor to the Prophet and intended to
establish him as the Khalifa as he was partisan to the Ansar, without
consulting the Muhajirin (emigrants) amongst whom were some of the closest
companions of the Prophet(saw).
As soon as Abu Bakr(ra) and Umar(ra) heard
of this, he and Umar(ra), with some others immediately made their way to the
Hall of Banu Sa’idah where they had intended to establish Sa’d bin ‘Ubadah as
Khalifa. Abu Bakr(ra) proceeded extempore, explaining that although they
(the Ansar) were deserving and meritorious in their service for Islam, the
Arabs would only accept the authority of those who were from the tribe of the
Prophet(saw) – the Qur’aish. Abu Bakr(ra) then held out ‘Umar’s (ra)hand
and that of Abu ‘Ubada bin Abdullah and stated that they should accept either
of the two as the Khalifa.
At this, the Ansar retorted that “there should
be one ruler from us and one from you” and a hue and cry emerged with voices of
disagreement – fearing a dissension, Umar(ra) immediately told Abu Bakr(ra) to
hold out his hand and he pledged his allegiance to him – on seeing this the
emigrants followed and so did the Ansar. This established the precedent
that there can only be one Khalifa at any one time and the office of Khilafat
cannot be shared or delegated.
(Sahih al-Bukhari; Vol.8, Book 82 (Punishment of Disbelievers at War with Allah and His Apostle), Hadith No. 817)
(Sahih al-Bukhari; Vol.8, Book 82 (Punishment of Disbelievers at War with Allah and His Apostle), Hadith No. 817)
More recently, at the time of the demise of the
Promised Messiah(as)(The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community), his
closest and most revered companion was chosen to lead the community as the
Khalifa. At the time of the death of the first Khalifa of Ahmadiyyat (Hadhrat
Hakim Maulvi Nooruddin(ra)), the second Khalifa , Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin
Mahmood Ahmad(ra) was elected who established certain guidelines for the
appointment of the new Khalifa in which it was stated that the election of the
Khalifa is to be assigned to an electoral college.
The Ahmadiyya Electoral College was established by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra), the second successor to the Promised Messiah and Mahdi(as).
The Ahmadiyya Electoral College was established by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra), the second successor to the Promised Messiah and Mahdi(as).
During the lifetime of the Khalifa, the College
remains dormant and plays no role. Upon the demise of the Caliph it becomes an
active and independent body which elects the next Khalifa. During the election
process names are proposed and seconded by members. They then vote for the
proposed names by a show of hands.
(Q&A
session with Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru), August 24-26, Mannheim, Germany)
Muslims believe that all past prophets were sent
by God and that the scriptures were Divine revelations in their original form
and thus all taught the absolute unity of God. Two of the six articles of faith
for a Muslim are:
To believe in the Prophets of God
To believe in the Divine Scriptures
To believe in the Divine Scriptures
Islam teaches that these Prophets and Holy Books
were true at their source and were sent by the same one God who sent
Muhammad(saw) as a Prophet and revealed to him the Qur’an.
According to the Qur’an, God has sent His
Messengers to every nation:
There is
no people to whom a Warner has not been sent. (Ch.35:
V.25)
And for
every people there is a Messenger. (Ch.10:
V.48)
Some prophets have been mentioned in the Qur’an
itself, such as Adam, Abraham, David, Solomon, Moses, Jesus and of course
Muhammad (peace be on them all). Other prophets (not mentioned in the Qur’an)
include Zoroaster, Krishna and Confucius (peace be on them all) to name but a
few.
As mentioned above Muslims not only believe in
all the earlier prophets but also in the revelations and Scriptures given to
those Prophets by God. In the Holy Qur’an itself, reference is made to four
revealed books other than the Qur’an:
SUHUF (Scrolls) of Abraham(as) (Ch.87: V.20).
Of the Scriptures of Abraham(as), nothing is known today. These scriptures were probably never recorded in writing.
TAURAT (Torah) of Moses (Ch.3:V.4)
The Taurat or Torah of Moses(as) comprises the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and contains the complete Law for the Israelites. These five books are, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Together, these five books are known as the Pentateuch. The Torah was passed down the generations by the word of mouth and was finally recorded in writing some hundreds of years after Moses(as). The Hebrew Bible is a collection of 24 books, including the five books of the Torah.
ZABUR (Psalms of David(as)) (Ch.4: V.164).
Very little is known today of Zabur, or the revelations of Prophet David(as). In the Hebrew Bible there are many psalms (sacred songs or hymns) attributed to David(as) which may constitute part of the Zabur.
INJEEL (Gospel) of Jesus Christ(as) (Ch.5: V.47)
The Injeel or Gospel was revealed to the Prophet Jesus(as) but was not recorded during his lifetime. After his death , attempts were made to record his teachings in writing. Of the many such narratives, four were selected by the early Church as official accounts of the teachings of Jesus(as). These four versions of the Gospel are known today as: Gospels of Matthew, Luke, Mark and John. However there are other gospels (that are not included in the Bible) that also contain important information about the life and teachings of Jesus(as).
SUHUF (Scrolls) of Abraham(as) (Ch.87: V.20).
Of the Scriptures of Abraham(as), nothing is known today. These scriptures were probably never recorded in writing.
TAURAT (Torah) of Moses (Ch.3:V.4)
The Taurat or Torah of Moses(as) comprises the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and contains the complete Law for the Israelites. These five books are, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Together, these five books are known as the Pentateuch. The Torah was passed down the generations by the word of mouth and was finally recorded in writing some hundreds of years after Moses(as). The Hebrew Bible is a collection of 24 books, including the five books of the Torah.
ZABUR (Psalms of David(as)) (Ch.4: V.164).
Very little is known today of Zabur, or the revelations of Prophet David(as). In the Hebrew Bible there are many psalms (sacred songs or hymns) attributed to David(as) which may constitute part of the Zabur.
INJEEL (Gospel) of Jesus Christ(as) (Ch.5: V.47)
The Injeel or Gospel was revealed to the Prophet Jesus(as) but was not recorded during his lifetime. After his death , attempts were made to record his teachings in writing. Of the many such narratives, four were selected by the early Church as official accounts of the teachings of Jesus(as). These four versions of the Gospel are known today as: Gospels of Matthew, Luke, Mark and John. However there are other gospels (that are not included in the Bible) that also contain important information about the life and teachings of Jesus(as).
With the exception of the Qur’an none of the
revealed books retained their original form.
The short answer is ‘No’. In Islam the decision
of who goes to heaven and who goes to hell is left entirely to God as He alone
knows people’s hearts and is aware of their deeds.
What Islam claims is that it is the perfect religion for mankind and a religion for all time and all people.
What Islam claims is that it is the perfect religion for mankind and a religion for all time and all people.
This day
have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you and
have chosen for you Islam as religion.
(Ch5. V.3)
(Ch5. V.3)
It therefore certainly claims to offer the best
guidance – which if followed will lead to paradise - but simply being a Muslim
is not enough to enter paradise. It is the righteous who are rewarded by God,
who may well be Muslims, Christians, Jews etc.
The Qur’an states that people who do good deeds
will be rewarded for them:
For those
who do good deeds, there shall be the best reward and yet more blessings.
(Ch.10: V.27)
(Ch.10: V.27)
So it leaves it open to God as to who will be
judged worthy of entering paradise.
Islam also tells us the qualities of the people who will enter paradise:
Islam also tells us the qualities of the people who will enter paradise:
Surely,
those, who believe and do good deeds, and observe Prayer and pay the Zakat,
shall have their reward from their Lord, and no fear shall come on them, nor
shall they grieve.
(Ch.2: V.278)
And if they had believed and acted righteously, better surely, would have been their reward from Allah, had they but known!
(Ch.2: V.104)
In the above two examples, those who believe in God, do good deeds, act righteously, observe prayer and give to charity are promised to be rewarded by God – and this may include the ultimate reward of being admitted to Paradise in the Hereafter.
Surely the believers and the Jews and the Christians and the Sabians- whichever party from among these truly believes in Allah and the last day and does good deeds – shall have their reward with their Lord and no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve
(Ch.2: V.63)
If a person rejects Islam after knowing Islam and fully understanding its truth he will be asked about it by God. Otherwise he will be judged according to his own religion or his understanding of right and wrong.
(Ch.2: V.278)
And if they had believed and acted righteously, better surely, would have been their reward from Allah, had they but known!
(Ch.2: V.104)
In the above two examples, those who believe in God, do good deeds, act righteously, observe prayer and give to charity are promised to be rewarded by God – and this may include the ultimate reward of being admitted to Paradise in the Hereafter.
Surely the believers and the Jews and the Christians and the Sabians- whichever party from among these truly believes in Allah and the last day and does good deeds – shall have their reward with their Lord and no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve
(Ch.2: V.63)
If a person rejects Islam after knowing Islam and fully understanding its truth he will be asked about it by God. Otherwise he will be judged according to his own religion or his understanding of right and wrong.
There is no punishment for apostasy in Islam.
In fact the Qur’an stresses kindness and tolerance in matters of faith, the perfect example being the verse of the Holy Qur’an:
There should be no compulsion in religion.
(Ch.2: V.257),
Islam stresses the freedom of religion, for example in Chapter 109 of the Holy Qur’an it states,
For you your religion, and for me my religion
Furthermore there is not a single example of any punishment for apostasy from the life of the Holy Prophet(saw).
In fact the Qur’an stresses kindness and tolerance in matters of faith, the perfect example being the verse of the Holy Qur’an:
There should be no compulsion in religion.
(Ch.2: V.257),
Islam stresses the freedom of religion, for example in Chapter 109 of the Holy Qur’an it states,
For you your religion, and for me my religion
Furthermore there is not a single example of any punishment for apostasy from the life of the Holy Prophet(saw).
The Qur’an states very clearly, that those who
leave the Islamic faith and apostatise will be dealt with only by God Himself:
Those who believe, then disbelieve, then again believe, then disbelieve and then increase in disbelief, Allah will never forgive them nor will He guide them to the way.
(Ch.4: V.138)
Nowhere is any punishment prescribed in this life as religion is a personal matter between man and God. People are therefore free to believe in any religion and to change their beliefs without any punishment from man. They will, however, be accountable for their beliefs before God.
Those who believe, then disbelieve, then again believe, then disbelieve and then increase in disbelief, Allah will never forgive them nor will He guide them to the way.
(Ch.4: V.138)
Nowhere is any punishment prescribed in this life as religion is a personal matter between man and God. People are therefore free to believe in any religion and to change their beliefs without any punishment from man. They will, however, be accountable for their beliefs before God.
There is no punishment in Islam for blasphemy.
No such punishment is prescribed in the Holy Qur’an, or in any of the
traditions of the Prophet Muhammad(saw). Islam promotes the need for respect of
all religions for the sake of peace in society, but it does not set out any
punishment for blasphemy despite the offence it may cause people of faith.
We have evidence in the traditions of the Holy
Prophet(saw) where Abdullah bin Ubayyee (Chief of the hypocrites)
continuously abused the Prophet(saw), and opposed him severely in
Madinah.
When he passed away, the Prophet(saw) stood to offer his funeral prayers but was asked by one of his companions, “O Allah's Apostle! Do you offer the prayer for this man although he said so-and-so on such-and-such-a day?” and “that he is a hypocrite!”.
The Prophet(saw) ignored his statements and continued to offer the funeral prayers of the dead man. (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 192)
When he passed away, the Prophet(saw) stood to offer his funeral prayers but was asked by one of his companions, “O Allah's Apostle! Do you offer the prayer for this man although he said so-and-so on such-and-such-a day?” and “that he is a hypocrite!”.
The Prophet(saw) ignored his statements and continued to offer the funeral prayers of the dead man. (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 192)
The above example shows that the Prophet(saw)
never ordered any punishment for anyone who insulted or abused him or God; on
the contrary he went to pray for them that they be guided aright. Much has been
written on this subject, for further details, please see the book ‘Murder in the Name of Allah’.
If somebody uses foul language against any holy person or teaching, Islam advises to keep away from such people as The Holy Qur’an says,
And when you see those who trifle with our signs then turn thou away from them until then engage in a discourse other than that and if Satan cause thee to forget then sit not, after recollection, with the unjust people.
(Ch.6: V.69)
If somebody uses foul language against any holy person or teaching, Islam advises to keep away from such people as The Holy Qur’an says,
And when you see those who trifle with our signs then turn thou away from them until then engage in a discourse other than that and if Satan cause thee to forget then sit not, after recollection, with the unjust people.
(Ch.6: V.69)
Islam requires Muslims to respect people
of all faiths and this clearly includes followers of Judaism.
Jews are regarded as one of the groups of people
described as ‘People of the Book’. This is a title given to two groups of
people; the Jews and the Christians, both of which were given guidelines
directly by their founders, Moses(as) and Jesus(as) respectively.
Furthermore Islam does not condemn any individual since everyone has an equal opportunity to earn God’s pleasure. So Jews also have the same opportunity and have been respected in Islam and Islamic communities. When the Prophet(saw) travelled to Madinah and was made Head of the State, he made a treaty with the Jews based completely on fairness and equal opportunities. Another example would be the Golden Age of Jewish culture in the Iberian Peninsula, that being when the Muslims ruled Spain in the eight century. The Qur’an does note that some Jews were responsible for seeking to have Jesus(as) – a prophet of God – killed on the cross and this earned them God’s displeasure. However as mentioned above this in no way means that all Jews are guilty or indeed punishable as the Qur’an states that,
Furthermore Islam does not condemn any individual since everyone has an equal opportunity to earn God’s pleasure. So Jews also have the same opportunity and have been respected in Islam and Islamic communities. When the Prophet(saw) travelled to Madinah and was made Head of the State, he made a treaty with the Jews based completely on fairness and equal opportunities. Another example would be the Golden Age of Jewish culture in the Iberian Peninsula, that being when the Muslims ruled Spain in the eight century. The Qur’an does note that some Jews were responsible for seeking to have Jesus(as) – a prophet of God – killed on the cross and this earned them God’s displeasure. However as mentioned above this in no way means that all Jews are guilty or indeed punishable as the Qur’an states that,
Surely,
the Believers, and the Jews and the Christians and the Sabians -
whichever party from among these truly believes in Allah and the Last Day and
does good deeds, shall have their reward with their Lord, and no fear shall
come upon them nor shall they grieve. (Ch.2: V.63).
Indeed according to Islam there have been many
great Jews and it is worthy to note that most of the prophets mentioned
in the Qur’an were Jewish, (eg Moses(as), Aaron(as), David(as), Solomon(as),
Elijah(as), John the Baptist(as) and Jesus(as)
Yes.
The Qur’an does not prohibit anyone from
visiting a mosque (provided they are not there to cause trouble) as it is a
House of God that can and should be used for the worship of God by all. Only
idolatry is prohibited in a mosque but even then all are welcome to visit a
mosque. This declaration against idolatry in a mosque was to protect the Ka’aba
(and therefore any mosque) and to ensure that it would remain a sanctuary for those
who believe in the Oneness of God.
According to Islam non-Muslims are even allowed in the Sacred Mosque in Makkah and Madinah.
According to Islam non-Muslims are even allowed in the Sacred Mosque in Makkah and Madinah.
It is recorded that the Christians of Najran
came to see the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). He arranged the meeting in his mosque
at Madinah, during the meeting the Christians asked leave from the mosque for
worship. The Prophet (saw) said that the mosque in which they were was a house
of God and they were welcome to offer their prayers there. So they did offer
their prayers in the mosque of the Holy Prophet (saw) (Ibn Hisham, I, 575-577)
Q11: Why
do they not allow churches to be built in Muslim countries when we allow
mosques to built in the UK? (Back to Top)
There are many Churches in present day Muslim
countries eg Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Pakistan, and Indonesia. This is in line
with the freedom of religion given in Islam.
However it is right to note that some countries
have gone against this Islamic injunction and prohibited collective worship by
non-Muslims. This is wrong and completely unacceptable. Never did the Prophet
Muhammad(saw) forbid the building of a church, nor did he order the demolition
of a church. In fact the Qur’an mentions that we Muslims are to defend
Churches, and synagogues if they are attacked,
Those who
have been driven out from their homes unjustly only because they said, ‘Our
Lord is Allah’ – And if Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there
would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and
mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft-commemorated. And Allah will surely
help one who helps Him. Allah is indeed Powerful, Mighty. (Holy Qur’an, Ch.22:V.41)
Ahmadi Muslims follow the same holy scriptures
and teachings as other Muslims. The key difference is that Ahmadi Muslims
believe that the Promised Messiah (also referred to as the Mahdi in some texts)
of the latter days has arrived and he established the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community in 1889. It is a revivalist movement that has no new religious laws
or teachings as it seeks to rejuvenate the true Islam as taught by the Holy
Prophet Muhammad(saw). Other Muslims are still waiting for a reformer to come.
As with all other Muslims, Ahmadi Muslims
believe in the ‘Five Pillars of Islam’, and the ‘Six Articles of Faith’. They
follow the same holy scripture (The Holy Qur’an), and accept that Islam is the
final and perfect religion for mankind. They also believe in Prophet
Muhammad(saw) as Khataman Nabiyyeen (the ‘Seal
of the Prophets’) as he was the one who was the best model for mankind who
brought God’s final and perfect message for mankind.
Ahmadi Muslims also follow the Islamic sources
of guidance and jurisprudence– which is sourced from three main authorities:
1. The Holy
Qur’an;
2. The
Sunnah (practice of the Holy Prophet (saw)); and
3. The
Hadith (sayings of the Holy Prophet(saw)) as given in the authentic books of
Hadith such as Sahih Al Bukhari, Sahih Al Muslim, Sunan Abu Daud,Tirmidhi, Ibne
Maja and Nisai
(Ahmadi Muslims also have regard for the
interpretation of Islamic Laws (shariah)
provided by the classical Islamic scholars. They generally follow the Hanafi
school of thought, but all such matters are considered in light of the guidance
provided by the Promised Messiah(as)).
Despite this abundance of guidance Muslims, like
followers of all religions before them, were destined to drift away from the
true teachings of Islam. This decay was to be followed by the revival of Islam
through the messiah of the latter days as prophesied by the Holy Prophet(saw).
So whilst all Muslims expect a messiah to appear it is only the question of the
identity and acceptance of the messiah that distinguishes Ahmadi Muslims from
all other Muslims.
In some Hadith the messiah is referred to as
‘Jesus son of Mary’ and in others he is referred to as ‘Al-Mahdi’.
It is interesting to note that there are also
similar such prophecies in other religions that tell of a messiah who was to
appear in the ‘latter days’; for example, Christians are awaiting the second
advent of Jesus(as).
Ahmadi Muslims believe that the messiah who was
promised has come and that he was a single person who fulfilled all the
prophecies relating to such a messiah not just in Islam but also in all
religions. This was to be a unifying factor for all humanity and a means of
uniting people under Islam, as it is the perfect religion for man.
Ahmadi Muslims believe that the Promised Messiah
was Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) who was born in Qadian, India and under
Divine guidance he established the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 1889. The
community seeks to revive the same spirit and understanding of Islam that
existed at the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw).
Some other Muslims on the other hand believe
that the Promised Messiah has not yet arrived and that when he does he will be
the very same Jesus Son of Mary who was sent to the Jews over 2000 years
earlier as the Messiah. They believe that he ascended bodily to heaven and that
he will return to earth bodily as a sign signifying his second advent. They
further believe that he will slaughter all the pigs on earth and break all
crosses. According to them he will also force everyone to accept Islam.
Ahmadi Muslims believe that such prophecies are
metaphorical in nature. So, for example, the Messiah was not to force people to
accept Islam, but rather the force of his arguments, reasoning and spiritual
insight would demonstrate the truth of Islam and attract people to Islam.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is now
established globally with branches in over 180 countries and its membership is
in tens of millions. It is a peace loving community that believes in and acts
upon its principle of ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’, a principle that
reflects the essence of Islam.
Yes, Tahajjud prayer is the real Taraveeh
prayer.
Taraveeh prayer is the special prayer ordained
for the month of Ramadan. It has to be performed each night during the month of
Ramadan. It is in fact offered at Tahajjud time.
The observance of Taraveeh prayer after the Isha
prayers was allowed during the Khilafat of Hadhrat Umar(ra), to enable such
people, who for unavoidable reasons could not perform Taraveeh prayer at
Tahajjud time (in pre-dawn hours), to still offer this prayer. However, it is
preferable to offer this prayer at Tahajjud time.
A hadith to support this interpretation can be
found in Muslim. It is narrated by Abu Huraira(ra) that:
‘Allah's Apostle(saw) said, “Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”’ (Muslim)
Abdur Rahman bin Abdul Qari said,
‘Allah's Apostle(saw) said, “Whoever prayed at night the whole month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”’ (Muslim)
Abdur Rahman bin Abdul Qari said,
‘I went out in the company of Umar bin Al-Khattab one night in Ramadan to the mosque and found the people praying in different groups – a man praying alone or a man praying with a little group behind him. So, Umar said, “In my opinion I would better collect these (people) under the leadership of one Qari (Reciter) (i.e. let them pray in congregation!)”. So, he made up his mind to congregate them behind Ubai bin Ka'b. Then on another night I went again in his company and the people were praying behind their Qari. On that, Umar remarked, “What an excellent Bid'a (i.e. innovation in religion) this is; but the prayer which they do not perform, but sleep at its time is better than the one they are offering.” He meant the Tahajjud prayer in the last part of the night. In those days people used to pray in the early part of the night.’ (Bukhari)
It is important to note that if Taraveeh prayer
is offered after Isha prayer then Muslims should still try to offer Tahajjud
prayer as well, as that is a permanent Sunnah of the Holy Prophet(saw) for
whole year.
Generally the Holy Prophet(saw) used to offer
eight rakats for Tahajjud prayer (so the same applies to Taraveeh prayer) but
if for some reason fewer rakats are offered (in sets of two rakats) then this
is also permissible.
In Islam obedience to the law of the land is a
religious duty. The Qur'an commands Muslims to remain faithful to not only
Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (saw), but also the authority they live under:
O ye who
believe! obey Allah, and obey His Messenger and those who are in authority over
you (Ch.4:
V.60).
Any country or government that guarantees
religious freedom to followers of different faiths (not just Islam) must be
owed loyalty. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) stressed this point when he said:
‘One who obeys his authority, obeys me.
One who dis
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