A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM
Islam and Muslims
The word “Islam” is an Arabic word which means “submission to the will of God”. This word comes from
the same root as the Arabic word “salam”, which means “peace”. As such, the religion of Islam teaches that
in order to achieve true peace of mind and surety of heart, one must submit to God and live according to His
Divinely revealed Law. The most important truth that God revealed to mankind is that there is nothing
divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God, thus all human beings should submit to
Him. The word “Muslim” means one who submits to the will of God, regardless of their race, nationality
or ethnic background. Being a Muslim entails willful submission and active obedience to God, and living in
accordance with His message. Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is just a religion for Arabs, but
nothing could be further from the truth. Not only are there converts to Islam in every corner of the world,
especially in England and America, but by taking a look at the Muslim World from Bosnia to Nigeria, and
from Indonesia to Morocco, one can clearly see that Muslims come from many various races, ethnic groups
and nationalities. It is also interesting to note that in actuality, more than 80% of all Muslims are not Arabs
- there are more Muslims in Indonesia than in the whole Arab World! So though even though it is true that
most Arabs are Muslims, the large majority of Muslims are not Arabs. However, anyone who submits
completely to God and worships Him alone is a Muslim.
Continuity of the Message
Islam is not a new religion because “submission to the will of God”, i.e. Islam, has always been the only
acceptable religion in the sight of God. For this reason, Islam is the true “natural religion”, and it is the
same eternal message revealed through the ages to all of God’s Prophets and Messengers. Muslims believe
that all of God’s Prophets, which include Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, brought the same
message of Pure Monotheism. For this reason, the Prophet Muhammad was not the founder of a new
religion, as many people mistakenly think, but he was the Final Prophet of Islam. By revealing His Final
Message to Muhammad, which is an eternal and universal message for all of mankind, God finally fulfilled
the covenant that He made with Abraham, who was one of the earliest and greatest prophets. Suffice it to
say that the way of Islam is the same as the way of the Prophet Abraham, because both the Bible and the
Qur’an portray Abraham as a towering example of someone who submitted himself completely to God and
worshipped Him without intermediaries. Once this is realized, it should be clear that Islam has the most
continuous and universal message of any religion, because all prophets and messengers were “Muslims”,
i.e. those who submitted to God’s will, and they preached “Islam”, i.e. submission to the will of Almighty
God.
The Oneness of God
The foundation of the Islamic faith is belief in the Oneness of Almighty God - the God of Abraham, Noah,
Moses and Jesus. Islam teaches that a pure belief in One God is intuitive in human beings and thus fulfills
the natural inclination of the soul. As such, Islam’s concept of God is straightforward, unambiguous and
easy to understand. Islam teaches that the hearts, minds and souls of human beings are fitting receptacles
for clear divine revelation, and that God’s revelations to man are not clouded by self-contradictory
mysteries or irrational ideas. As such, Islam teaches that even though God cannot be fully comprehended
and grasped by our finite human minds, He also does not expect us to accept absurd or demonstrably false
beliefs about Him. According to the teachings of Islam, Almighty God is absolutely One and His Oneness
should never be compromised by associating partners with Him - neither in worship nor in belief. Due to
this, Muslims are required to maintain a direct relationship with God, and therefore all intermediaries are
absolutely forbidden. From the Islamic standpoint, believing in the Oneness of God means to realize that
all prayer and worship should be exclusively for God, and that He alone deserves such titles as “Lord” and
“Savior”. Some religions, even though they believe in “One God”, do not make all of their worship and
prayers for Him alone. Also, they also give the title of “Lord” to beings that are not All-Knowing, AllPowerful and Un-Changing - even according to their own scriptures. Suffice it to say that according to
Islam, it is not enough that people believe that “God is One”, but they must actualize this belief by proper
conduct. In short, in the Islamic concept of God, which is completely based on Divine Revelation, there is
no ambiguity in divinity - God is God and man is man. Since God is the only Creator and continual
Sustainer of the Universe, He is transcendent above His creation - the Creator and the creature never mix.
Islam teaches that God has a unique nature and that He is free from gender, human weaknesses and beyond
anything which human beings can imagine. The Qur’an teaches that the signs and proofs of God’s Wisdom,
power and existence are evident in the world around us. As such, God calls on man to ponder over the
creation in order to build a better understanding of his Creator. Muslims believe that God is Loving,
Compassionate and Merciful, and that He is concerned with the daily affairs of human beings. In this, Islam
strikes a unique balance between false religious and philosophical extremes. Some religions and
philosophies portray God as just an impersonal “Higher Power” who is uninterested, or unaware, of the life
of each individual human. Other religions tend to give God human qualities and teach that He is present in
His creation, by being incarnate in someone, something - or even everything. In Islam, however, Almighty
God has clarified the truth by letting mankind know that He is “Compassionate”, “Merciful”, “Loving” and
the “Answerer of Prayers”. But He has also emphasized strongly that “there is nothing like unto Him”, and
that He is high above time, space and His creation. Finally, it should be mentioned that the God that
Muslims worship is the same God that Jews and Christians worship - because there is only one God. It is
unfortunate that some people mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different God than Jews and
Christians, and that “Allah” is just the “god of the Arabs”. This myth, which has been propagated by the
enemies of Islam, is completely false since the word “Allah” is simply the Arabic name for Almighty God.
It is the same word for God which is used by Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians. However, it should be
clarified that even though Muslims worship the same God as Jews and Christian, their concept of Him
differs somewhat from the beliefs of other religions - mainly because it is based completely on Divine
Revelation from God. For example, Muslims reject the Christian belief that God is a Trinity, not only
because the Qur’an rejects it, but also because if this was God’s true nature, He would have clearly revealed
it to Abraham, Noah, Jesus and all of the other prophets.
The Qur’an
The Arabic word “Al-Qur’an” literally means “the recitation”. When used in regards to Islam, the word
Qur’an means God’s final message to mankind that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The Qur’an,
sometimes spelled Koran, is the literal word of God - as it clearly says time and time again. Unlike other
sacred scriptures, the Qur’an has been perfectly preserved in both its words and meaning in a living
language. The Qur’an is a living miracle in the Arabic language; and is known to be inimitable in its style,
form and spiritual impact. God’s final revelation to mankind, the Qur’an, was revealed to the Prophet
Muhammad over a period of 23 years. The Qur’an, in contrast to many other religious books, was always
thought to be the Word of God by those who believed in it, i.e. it wasn’t something decreed by a religious
council many years after being written. Also, the Qur’an was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim
and non-Muslim communities during the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The entire Qur’an was also
completely written down in lifetime of the Prophet, and numerous companions of the Prophet memorized
the entire Qur’an word-for-word as it was revealed. So unlike other scriptures, the Qur’an was always in
the hands of the common believers, it was always thought to be God’s Word and, due to wide-spread
memorization, it was perfectly preserved. In regards to the teachings of the Qur’an - it is a universal
scripture, and it is addressed to all of mankind, and not to a particular tribe or “chosen people”. The
message that it brings is nothing new, but the same message of all of the prophets - submit to Almighty God
and worship Him alone. As such, God’s revelation in the Qur’an focuses on teaching human beings the
importance of believing in the Unity of God and framing their lives around the guidance which He has sent.
Additionally, the Qur’an contains the stories of the previous prophets, such as Abraham, Noah, Moses and
Jesus; as well as many commands and prohibitions from God. In modern times in which so many people are
caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and “political correctness”, the Qur’anic teachings offer solutions to the
emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today. In short, the Qur’an is the book of
guidance par excellence.
The Prophet Muhammad
Unlike the founders of many religions, the final prophet of Islam is a real documented and historical figure.
He lived in the full light of history, and the most minute details of his life are known. Not only do Muslims
have the complete text of God’s Words that were revealed to Muhammad, but they have also preserved his
saying and teachings in what is called “hadith” literature. This having been said, it should be understood
that Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad was only a man chosen by God, and that he is not divine
in any way. In order to avoid the misguided wish to deify him, the Prophet Muhammad taught Muslims to
refer to him as “God’s Messenger and His Slave”. The mission of the last and final prophet of God was to
simply teach that “there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God”, as well
as being a living example of God’s revelation. In simple terms, God sent the revelation to Muhammad, who
in turn taught it , preached it, lived it and put it into practice. In this way, Muhammad was more that just a
“prophet” in the sense of many of the Biblical prophets, since he was also a statesman and ruler. He was a
man who lived a humble life in the service of God, and established an all-encompassing religion and way of
life by showing what it means to be an ideal friend, husband, teacher, ruler, warrior and judge. For this
reason, Muslims follow him not for his own sake, but in obedience to God, because Muhammad not only
showed us how to deal with our fellow human beings, but more importantly, he showed us how to relate to
and worship God, worship Him in the only way pleasing to Him. Like other prophets, Muhammad faced a
great deal of opposition and persecution during his mission. However, he was always patient and just, and
he treated his enemies well. The results of his mission were very successful, and even though his mission
started in one of the most backward and remotes places on earth, within a hundred years of the death of
Muhammad, Islam had spread from Spain to China. The Prophet Muhammad was the greatest of all of
God’s prophets, not because he had new doctrines or greater miracles, but because the results of his mission
have brought more human beings into the pure and proper belief in the One True God than any other
prophet.
The Islamic Way of Life
In the Holy Qur’an, God teaches human beings that they were created in order to worship Him, and that the
basis of all true worship is God-consciousness. Since the teachings of Islamic encompass all aspects of life
and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs. Islam makes it clear that all human acts
are acts of worship if they are done for God alone and in accordance to His Divine Law. As such, worship
in Islam is not limited to religious rituals. The teachings of Islam act as a mercy and a healing for the
human soul, and such qualities as humility, sincerity, patience and charity are strongly encouraged.
Additionally, Islam condemns pride and self-righteousness, since Almighty God is the only judge of human
righteousness. The Islamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced. Human beings are
not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally capable of both good and evil. Islam also
teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand. God has given people free-will, and the measure of one’s
faith is one’s deeds and actions. However, human beings have also been created weak and regularly fall
into sin. This is the nature of the human being as created by God in His Wisdom, and it is not inherently
“corrupt” or in need of repair. This is because the avenue of repentance is always open to all human beings,
and Almighty God loves the repentant sinner more than one who does not sin at all. The true balance of an
Islamic life is established by having a healthy fear of God as well as a sincere belief in His infinite Mercy.
A life without fear of God leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that
God will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In light of this, Islam teaches that: only the
misguided despair of the Mercy of their Lord. Additionally, the Holy Qur’an, which was revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad, contains a great deal of teachings about the life Hereafter and the Day of Judgment.
Due to this, Muslims believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by God for their beliefs and
actions in their earthly lives. In judging human beings, Almighty God will be both Merciful and Just, and
people will only be judged for what they were capable of. Suffice it to say that Islam teaches that life is a
test, and that all human beings will be accountable before God. A sincere belief in the life Hereafter is key
to leading a well-balanced life and moral. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which causes human
beings to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral.
Islam for a Better Life
Islam teaches that true happiness can only being obtained by living a life full of God-consciousness and
being satisfied with what God has given us. Additionally, true “freedom” is freedom from being controlled
by our base human desires and being ruled by man-made ideologies. This stands in stark contrast to the
view of many people in the modern world, who consider “freedom” to be the ability to satisfy all of their
desires without inhibition. The clear and comprehensive guidance of Islam gives human-beings a welldefined purpose and direction in life. In addition to being members of the human-brotherhood of Islam, its
well-balanced and practical teachings are a source of spiritual comfort, guidance and morality. A direct and
clear relationship with Almighty God, as well as the sense of purpose and belonging that ones feels as a
Muslim, frees a person from the many worries of everyday life. In short, the Islamic way of life is pure and
wholesome. It builds self-discipline and self-control through regular prayer and fasting, and frees humanbeings from superstition and all sorts of racial, ethnic and national prejudices. By accepting to live a Godconscious life, and realizing that the only thing that distinguishes people in the sight of God is their
consciousness of Him, a person’s true human dignity is realized.
© 1995, 1996 - Islamic Awareness – Kuwait
ANSWERS TO SEVEN QUESTIONS ABOUT ISLAM
1) What is Islam?
The word “Islam” is an Arabic word that means “submitting and surrendering your will to Almighty God”.
The word comes from the same root as the Arabic word “salam”, which means peace. Unlike the names
used for other religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, the name for the religion of Islam
was both revealed by God and carries a deep spiritual meaning — only by submitting one’s will to Almighty
God can one obtain true peace both in this life and in the life hereafter. Islam teaches that all religions
originally had the same essential message — which was to submit whole-heartedly to the will of God and to
worship Him and Him alone. For this reason, Islam is not a new religion but is the same divinely revealed
Ultimate Truth that God revealed to all prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
2) Who are Muslims?
The Arabic word “Muslim” literally means “someone who submits to the will of God”. The message of
Islam is meant for the entire world and anyone who accepts this message becomes a Muslim. Some people
mistakenly believe that Islam is just a religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth, since
in actuality over 80% of the world’s Muslims are not Arabs! Even though most Arabs are Muslims, there
are Arabs who are Christians, Jews and atheists. If one just takes a look at the various peoples who live in
the Muslim World — from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Morocco to Indonesia — it is easy enough to see
that Muslims come from all different races, ethnic groups and nationalities. From the very beginning, Islam
had a universal message for all people. This can be seen in the fact that some of the early companions of
the Prophet Muhammad were not only Arabs, but also Persians, Africans and Byzantine Romans. Being a
Muslim entails complete acceptance and active obedience to the revealed will of Almighty God. A Muslim
is a person who freely accepts to base his beliefs, values and faith on the will of Almighty God. In the past,
even though you don’t see it as much today, the word “Mohammedans” was often used as a label for
Muslims. This label is a misnomer and is the result of either willful distortion or sheer ignorance. One of
the reasons for the misconception is that Europeans were taught for centuries that Muslims worshipped the
Prophet Muhammad in the same way that Christians worship Jesus. This is absolutely not true since a
Muslim is not permitted to worship anyone or anything besides Almighty God.
3) Who is Allah?
Very often one will hear the Arabic word “Allah” being used in regards to Islam. The word “Allah” is
simply the Arabic word for Almighty God, and is the same word used by Arabic speaking Christians and
Jews. If one were to pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word “Allah” being use
where the word “God” is used in English. Actually, the Arabic word for Almighty God, “Allah”, is quite
similar to the word for God in other Semitic languages — for example, the Hebrew word for God is
“Elah”. For various reasons, some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different God
than Jews and Christians. This is certainly not the case, since the Pure Monotheism of Islam calls all people
to the worship of the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all of the other prophets. However, even
though Jews, Christians and Muslims worship the same God — since there is only One God — their
concepts concerning Him differ in some significant ways.
4) Who is Muhammad?
The last and final prophet that God sent to humanity was the Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad explained,
interpreted and lived the teachings of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad is the greatest of all prophets for
many reasons, but mainly because the results of his mission have brought more people into the pure belief
in One God than any other prophet. Even though other religious communities claimed to believe in One
God, over time they had corrupted their beliefs by taking their prophets and saints as intercessors with
Almighty God. Some religions believe their prophets to be manifestations of God, “God Incarnate” or the
“Son of God”. All of these false ideas lead to the creature being worshipped instead of the Creator, which
contributed to the idolatrous practice of believing that Almighty God can be approached through
intermediaries. In order to guard against these falsehoods, the Prophet Muhammad always emphasized that
he was only a human-being tasked with the preaching of God’s message. He taught Muslims to refer to him
as “the Messenger of God and His Slave”. To Muslims, Muhammad is the supreme example for all people
— he was the exemplary prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher, neighbor, husband, father and
friend. Unlike other prophets and messengers, the Prophet Muhammad lived in the full light of history.
Muslims don’t need to have “faith” that he existed and that his teachings are preserved — they know it to be
a fact. Even when his followers only numbered a few dozen, Almighty God informed Muhammad that he
had be sent as a mercy to all of mankind. Because people had distorted or forgotten God’s messages, God
took it upon Himself to protect the message revealed to Muhammad. This was because Almighty God
promised not to send another messenger after him. Since all of God’s messengers have preached the
message of Islam — i.e. submission to the will of God and the worship of God alone — Muhammad is
actually the last prophet of Islam, not the first.
5) What are the Teachings of Islam?
The foundation of the Islamic faith is belief in the Unity of God. This means to believe that there is only
One Creator and Sustainer of everything in the Universe, and that nothing is divine or worthy of being
worshipped except for Him. Truly believing in the Unity of God means much more than simply believing
that there is “One God” — as opposed to two, three or four. There are a number of religions that claim
belief in “One God” and believe that ultimately there is only One Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.
Islam, however, not only insists on this, but also rejects using such words as “Lord” and “Savior” for
anyone besides Almighty God. Islam also rejects the use of all intermediaries between God and man, and
insists that people approach God directly and reserve all worship for Him alone. Muslims believe that
Almighty God is Compassionate, Loving and Merciful. The essence of falsehood is the claim that God
cannot deal with and forgive His creatures directly. By over-emphasizing the burden of sin, as well as
claiming that God cannot forgive you directly, false religions seek to get people to despair of the Mercy of
God. Once they are convinced that they cannot approach God directly, people can be misled into turning to
false gods for help. These “false gods” can take various forms, such as saints, angels, or someone who is
believed to be the “Son of God” or “God Incarnate”. In almost all cases, people who worship, pray to or
seek help from a false god don’t consider it to be, or call it, a “god”. They claim belief in One Supreme
God, but claim that they pray to and worship others beside God only to get closer to Him. In Islam, there is
a clear distinction between the Creator and the created. There is no ambiguity in divinity — anything that is
created is not deserving of worship and only the Creator is worthy of being worshipped. Some religions
falsely believe that God has become part of His creation, and this has led people to believe that they can
worship something created in order to reach their Creator. Muslims believe that even though God is Unique
and beyond comprehension — He has no “Son”, partners or associates. According to Muslim belief,
Almighty God “does not beget nor was He begotten” — neither literally, allegorically, metaphorically,
physically or metaphysically — He is Absolutely Unique and Eternal. He is in control of everything and is
perfectly capable of bestowing His infinite Mercy and Forgiveness to whomever He chooses. That is why
He is called the All-Powerful and Most-Merciful. Almighty God has created the Universe for man, and as
such wants the best for all human beings. Muslims see everything in the Universe as a sign of the
Creatorship and Benevolence of Almighty God. Also, the belief in the Unity of God is not merely a
metaphysical concept. It is a dynamic belief that effects one’s view of humanity, society and all aspects of
life. As a logical corollary to the Islamic belief in the Oneness of God, is its belief in the oneness of
mankind and humanity.
6) What is the Qur’an?
It is the final revelation of the will of Almighty God’s to all of mankind, which was conveyed through the
Angel Gabriel, in Arabic, to the Prophet Muhammad in its sounds, words and meanings. The Qur’an,
sometimes spelled Koran, was relayed to the Prophet’s companions, which they memorized verbatim, and
which has been publicly and continually recited by them and their successors until the present day. In short,
the Qur’an is the book of guidance from God par excellence. The Qur’an is still memorized and taught by
millions of people. The language of the Qur’an, Arabic, is still a living language to millions of people, so
unlike the scriptures of other religions, the Qur’an is still read in its original language by countless millions
of people. The Qur’an is a living miracle in the Arabic language; and is know to be inimitable in its style,
form and spiritual impact. God’s final revelation to mankind, the Qur’an, was revealed to the Prophet
Muhammad over a period of 23 years. The Qur’an, in contrast to many other religious books, was always
thought to be the Word of God by those who believed in it, i.e. it wasn’t something decreed by a religious
council many years after being written. Also, the Qur’an was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim
and non-Muslim communities during the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The entire Qur’an was also
completely written down in lifetime of the Prophet, and numerous companions of the Prophet memorized
the entire Qur’an word-for-word as it was revealed. So unlike other scriptures, the Qur’an was always in
the hands of the common believers, it was always thought to be God’s Word and, due to wide-spread
memorization, it was perfectly preserved. In regards to the teachings of the Qur’an - it is a universal
scripture, and it is addressed to all of mankind, and not to a particular tribe or “chosen people”. The
message that it brings is nothing new, but the same message of all of the prophets - submit to Almighty God
and worship Him alone. As such, God’s revelation in the Qur’an focuses on teaching human beings the
importance of believing in the Unity of God and framing their lives around the guidance which He has sent.
Additionally, the Qur’an contains the stories of the previous prophets, such as Abraham, Noah, Moses and
Jesus; as well as many commands and prohibitions from God. In modern times in which so many people
are caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and “political correctness”, the Qur’anic teachings offer solutions
to the emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today.
7) How Do Muslims View the Nature of Man, the Purpose of Life and the Life Hereafter?
In the Holy Qur’an, God teaches human beings that they were created in order to worship Him, and that the
basis of all true worship is God-consciousness. Since the teachings of Islamic encompass all aspects of life
and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs. Islam makes it clear that all human acts
are acts of worship if they are done for God alone and in accordance to His Divine Law. As such, worship
in Islam is not limited to religious rituals. The teachings of Islam act as a mercy and a healing for the
human soul, and such qualities as humility, sincerity, patience and charity are strongly encouraged.
Additionally, Islam condemns pride and self-righteousness, since Almighty God is the only judge of human
righteousness. The Islamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced. Human beings are
not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally capable of both good and evil. Islam also
teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand. God has given people free-will, and the measure of one’s
faith is one’s deeds and actions. However, human beings have also been created weak and regularly fall
into sin. This is the nature of the human being as created by God in His Wisdom, and it is not inherently
“corrupt” or in need of repair. This is because the avenue of repentance is always open to all human beings,
and Almighty God loves the repentant sinner more than one who does not sin at all. The true balance of an
Islamic life is established by having a healthy fear of God as well as a sincere belief in His infinite Mercy.
A life without fear of God leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that
God will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In light of this, Islam teaches that: only the
misguided despair of the Mercy of their Lord. Additionally, the Holy Qur’an, which was revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad, contains a great deal of teachings about the Life Hereafter and the Day of Judgment.
Due to this, Muslims believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by God for their beliefs and
actions in their earthly lives. In judging human beings, Almighty God will be both Merciful and Just, and
people will only be judged for what they were capable of. Suffice it to say that Islam teaches that life is a
test, and that all human beings will be accountable before God. A sincere belief in the Life Hereafter is key
to leading a well-balanced life and moral. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which causes human
beings to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral.
© 1995, 1996 - Islamic Awareness – Kuwait
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM
Misconception #1: Muslims worship a different God
First of all, there is only One God who created the Universe and all of mankind. Throughout history, people
have created false gods in their minds and come up with false ideas about Almighty God, but regardless of
this there is still only One True God - and He alone is worthy of worship. Unfortunately, some nonMuslims have come to incorrectly believe that Muslims worship a different God than Jews and Christians.
This might be due to the fact that Muslims sometimes refer to God as “Allah”, but also because over the
centuries there have been many lies and distortions spread by the enemies of Islam. In actuality, Muslims
worship the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus --- the same God as Christians and Jews. The word
“Allah” is simply the Arabic word for Almighty God and it is the same word that Arabic speaking
Christians and Jews use to refer to God. If you pick up an Arabic translation of the Christian Bible, you
will see the word “Allah” where “God” is used in English. For more information on the word “Allah”,
please read: Who is Allah? But even though Muslims, Jews and Christians believe in the same God, their
concepts about Him differ quite a bit. For example, Muslims reject the idea of the Trinity or that God has
become “incarnate” in the world. Also, the teachings of Islam do not rely on or appeal to “mystery” or
“paradox” --- they are straightforward and clear. Islam teaches that God is Merciful, Loving and
Compassionate and that He has no need to become man (nor do humans need for Him to). One of the
unique aspects of Islam is that it teaches that man can have a personal and fulfilling relationship with
Almighty God without compromising the transcendence of God. In Islam there is no ambiguity in Divinity
--- God is God and man is man. Muslims believe that God is the “Most Merciful”, and that he deals directly
with human-beings without the need of any intermediary. Actually, the phrase “In the Name of God, the
Compassionate, the Merciful” is one of the most repeated verses in the Holy Qur’an. Additionally, the pure
and straightforward teachings of Islam demand that Almighty God be approached directly and without
intermediaries. This is because Muslims believe that God is completely in control of everything and that He
can bestow His Grace and Mercy on His creatures as He pleases - no Atonement, Incarnation or blood
sacrifice is necessary. In summary, Islam calls people to submit to the One True God and to worship Him
alone.
Misconception #2: Muslims worship Muhammad
According to Islamic belief, the Prophet Muhammad was the last Messenger of God. He, like all of God’s
prophets and messengers - such as Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus – was only a human being. Christians
came to the mistaken assumption that Muslims worship Muhammad by formulating an incorrect analogy they worship Jesus so they assumed Muslims worship Muhammad. This is one of the reasons that they
called Muslims by the incorrect name “Mohammedans” for so many years! Muhammad, like Jesus, never
claimed divine status. He called people to worship only Almighty God, and he continually emphasized his
humanity so that people would not fall into the same errors as Christians did in regards to Jesus. In order to
prevent his deification, the Prophet Muhammad always said to refer to him as “the Messenger of God and
His slave”. Muhammad was chosen to be God’s final messenger – to communicate the message not only in
words but to be a living example of the message. Muslims love and respect him because he was of the
highest moral character and he brought the Truth from God – which is the Pure Monotheism of Islam. Even
when Islam was in its very early stages, God revealed that Muhammad “was sent as a mercy to all of
mankind” - thus informing us that the message of Islam would become very widespread. Muslims strive to
follow the great example of Muhammad, peace be upon him, but they do not worship him in any way.
Additionally, Islam teaches Muslims to respect all of God’s prophets and messengers – but respecting and
loving them does not mean worshipping them. All true Muslims realize that all worship and prayer must be
directed to Almighty God alone. Suffice it to say that worshipping Muhammad – or anyone else – along
with Almighty God is considered to be the worst sin in Islam. Even if a person claims to be Muslim, but
they worship and pray to other than Almighty God, this cancels and nullifies their Islam. The Declaration of
Faith of Islam makes it clear that Muslims are taught only to worship God. This declaration is as follows:
“There is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God, and Muhammad is the
Messenger and Servant of God.”
Misconception #3: Islam is a religion only for Arabs
The fastest way to prove that this is completely false is to state the fact that only about 15% to 20% of the
Muslims in the world are Arabs. There are more Indian Muslims than Arab Muslims, and more Indonesian
Muslims than Indian Muslims! Believing that Islam is only a religion for Arabs is a myth that was spread by
the enemies of Islam early in its history. This mistaken assumption is possibly based on the fact that most
of the first generation of Muslims were Arabs, the Qur’an is in Arabic and the Prophet Muhammad was an
Arab. However, both the teachings of Islam and the history of its spread show that the early Muslims made
every effort to spread their message of Truth to all nations, races and peoples. Furthermore, it should be
clarified that not all Arabs are Muslims and not all Muslims are Arabs. An Arab can be a Muslim,
Christian, Jew, atheist - or of any other religion or ideology. Also, many countries that some people
consider to be “Arab” are not “Arab” at all -- such as Turkey and Iran (Persia). The people who live in these
countries speak languages other than Arabic as their native tongues and are of a different ethnic heritage
than the Arabs. It is important to realize that from the very beginning of the mission of Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him, his followers came from a wide spectrum of individuals -- there was Bilal,
the African slave; Suhaib, the Byzantine Roman; Ibn Sailam, the Jewish Rabbi; and Salman, the Persian.
Since religious truth is eternal and unchanging, and mankind is one universal brotherhood, Islam teaches
that Almighty God’s revelations to mankind has always been consistent, clear and universal. The Truth of
Islam is meant for all people regardless of race, nationality or linguistic background. Taking a look at the
Muslim World, from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Malaysia to Afghanistan is enough to prove that Islam is a
Universal message for all of mankind --- not to mention the fact that significant numbers of Europeans and
Americans of all races and ethnic backgrounds are coming into Islam.
Misconception #4: Islam degrades women
Even though many aspects of Islam are misunderstood by non-Muslims, the ignorance, misinformation and
incorrect assumptions that are made in regards to Islam’s treatment of women are probably the most severe.
Numerous verses of the Qur’an make it clear that men and women are equal in the site of God. According
to the teachings of Islam, the only thing that distinguishes people in the site of God is their level of Godconsciousness. Due to this, many people are surprised to find out that Islamic Law guaranteed rights to
women over 1400 years ago that women in the Europe and America only obtained recently. For example,
Islam clearly teaches that a woman is a full-person under the law, and is the spiritual equal of a male. Also,
according to Islamic Law, women have the right to own property, operate a business and receive equal pay
for equal work. Women are allowed total control of their wealth, they cannot be married against their will
and they are allowed to keep their own name when married. Additionally, they have the right to inherit
property and to have their marriage dissolved in the case of neglect or mistreatment. Also, Islam does not
consider woman an “evil temptress”, and thus does not blame woman for the “original sin”. Women in
Islam participate in all forms of worship that men participate in. Actually, the rights that Islam gave to
women over 1400 years ago were almost unheard of in the West until the 1900s. Less than fifty years ago
in England and America, a woman could not buy a house or car without the co-signature of her father or
husband! Additionally, Islam gives great respect to women and their role in society --- it gives them the
right to own property, marry who they want and many other rights. Also, it should be mentioned that the
Prophet Muhammad’s mission stopped many of the horrible practices in regards to women that were present
in the society of his time. For example, the Qur’an put an end to the pagan Arab practice of killing their
baby daughters when they were born. Additionally, Islam put restrictions on the unrestricted polygamy of
the Arabs of the time, and put many laws in place to protect the well-being of women. Today, most of the
so-called reforms in the status of women came about after the West abandoned religion for secularism.
Even those in the West who claim to follow the so-called “Judeo-Christian tradition” really follow the
values of Western liberalism --- but just to a lesser degree than their more liberal countrymen. For more on
this subject, please read: Women in Islam versus Women in the Judeo-Christian Tradition --- The Myth and
The Reality. If women in the Muslim World today don’t have their rights, it is not because Islam did not
give them to them. The problem is that in many places alien traditions have come to overshadow the
teachings of Islam, either through ignorance or the impact of Colonialization.
Misconception #5: Muhammad wrote the Qur'an
In addressing this misconception, it is interesting to note that no other religious scripture claims to the direct
word of Almighty in tote as clear and as often as the Holy Qur’an. As the Qur’an clearly says: “If had it
been written by man, you would have found many discrepancies therein.” At the time the Qur’an was
revealed, the Arabs recognized that the language of the Qur’an was unique and that it was distinctly
different from the language normally used by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. The Arabs of
that time, by the way, were known for their beautiful poetry and Muhammad was known to be an illiterate
man! The Qur’an clearly says that Muhammad was unable to read and write, so if this wasn’t true, certainly
his contemporaries would have protested and rejected him. However, there are no reports of this. Certainly
there were people who rejected Muhammad’s message, just like other prophets were rejected, but none for
this reason. On the contrary, Muhammad, peace be upon him, had thousands of loyal followers and the
results of their efforts spread Islam from Spain to China in just over a century! It is also interesting to note
that even though the Qur’an is not poetry, the Arabs more or less gave up writing poetry after it was
revealed. It could be said that the Qur’an is the piece of Arabic literature par excellence - and Muhammad’s
contemporaries realized that they couldn’t out do it. Additionally, it is easy to prove that Muhammad did
not possess a great deal of the knowledge which is expounded in the Qur’an: such as knowledge of
historical events, previous prophets and natural phenomenon. The Qur’an says in several places that
Muhammad and his people did not know these things - so, again, if this wasn’t true, certainly his
contemporaries would have rejected his claims. Suffice it to say that not only is the Qur’an the most
memorized and well preserved scripture on earth, it is also unequaled in eloquence, spiritual impact, clarity
of message and the purity of its truth.
Misconception #6: Islam was spread by the sword
Many non-Muslims, when they think about Islam, picture religious fanatics on camels with a sword in one
hand and a Qur’an in the other. This myth, which was made popular in Europe during the Crusades, is
totally baseless. First of all, the Holy Qur’an clearly says “Let there be no compulsion in religion”. In
addition to this, Islam teaches that a person’s faith must be pure and sincere, so it is certainly not something
that can be forced on someone. In debunking the myth that Islam was “spread by the sword”, the (nonMuslim) historian De Lacy O’ Leary wrote: “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 accepted.” (Islam at the Crossroads,
London, 1923, p. 8.). It should also be known that Muslims ruled Spain for roughly 800 years. During this
time, and up to when they were finally forced out, the non-Muslims there were alive and flourishing.
Additionally, Christian and Jewish minorities have survived in the Muslim lands of the Middle East for
centuries. Countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan all have Christian
and/or Jewish populations. If Islam taught that all people are supposed to be killed or forced to become
Muslims, how did all of these non-Muslims survive for so long in the middle of the Islamic Empire?
Additionally, if one considers the small number of Muslims who initially spread Islam from Spain and
Morocco in the West to India and China in the East, one would realize that they were far too few to force
people to be members of a religion against their will. Additionally, the great empire and civilization
established by the Muslims had great staying power -- its citizens were proud to be part of it. The spread of
Islam stands in contrast to the actions of the followers of Christianity, who since the time of the Emperor
Constantine have made liberal use of the sword - often basing their conduct on Biblical verses. This was
especially true of the colonization of South America and Africa, where native peoples were systematically
wiped-out or forced to convert. It is also interesting to note that when the Mongols invaded and conquered
large portions of the Islamic Empire, instead of destroying the religion, they adopted it. This is a unique
occurrence in history - the conquerors adopting the religion of the conquered! Since they were the victors,
they certainly could not have been forced to become Muslims! Ask any of the over one billion Muslims
alive in the world today whether they were forced! The largest Muslim country in the world today is
Indonesia --- and there were never any battles fought there! So where was the sword? How could someone
be forced to adhere to a spiritually rewarding and demanding religion like Islam?
Misconception #7: Muslims hate Jesus
Many non-Muslims are surprised to find out that according to Muslim belief, Jesus, the son of Mary, is one
of the greatest messengers of God. Muslims are taught to love Jesus, and a person cannot be a Muslim
without believing in the virgin birth and miracles of Jesus Christ, peace be upon him. Muslims believe
these things about Jesus not because of the Bible or any other religion, but simply because the Holy Qur’an
says these things about him. However, Muslims always emphasize that the miracles of Jesus, and all other
prophets, were by “God’s permission”. This having been said, many Christians feel to not believe that
Jesus is the “Son of God”, “God Incarnate” or the “Third Person” of the Trinity. This is because the Qur’an
clearly says that Almighty God does not have a “Son” --- neither allegorically, physically, metaphorically or
metaphysically. The Pure Monotheism of Islam rejects the notion of “defining” God (which is basically
what the “Doctrine of the Trinity” does), saying that someone is “like” God or equal to Him, or praying to
someone else besides God. Also, Islam teaches that titles such as “Lord” and “Savior” are due to God alone.
In order to avoid misunderstanding, it should be clarified that when Muslims criticize the Bible or the
teachings of Christianity, they are not attacking “God’s Word” or Jesus Christ, peace be upon him. From the
Muslim point of view, they are defending Jesus and God’s Word --- which they have in the form of the
Qur’an. Muslim criticism is targeted at writings that some people claim are God’s Words, but Muslim’s
simply don’t accept their claim that they are really God’s Word in tote. Additionally, Christian doctrines
such as the Trinity and the Atonement are criticized by Muslims precisely because they did not originate
from Jesus, peace be upon him. In this way, Muslims are the true followers of Jesus, peace be upon him,
because they defend him from the exaggerations of the Christians and teach the Pure Monotheism that Jesus
himself followed.
Misconception #8: Islam is fatalistic
Most Muslims find it rather odd that their religion, which strikes a beautiful balance between faith and
action, could be accused of being “fatalistic”. Perhaps this misconception came about because Muslims are
taught to say “Praise be to God!” whenever anything good or bad happens. This is because Muslims know
that everything comes from Almighty God, who is the All-Knowing Sustainer of the Universe, and that
since a Muslim should rely completely on God, whatever happened must have been for the better. However,
this does not mean that Muslims are not taught to take action in life --- just the opposite is true. Islam
requires not only faith, but action --- such as regular prayer, fasting and charity. To be more precise, in
Islam actions are part of one’s faith. Islam totally rejects the extreme beliefs of some religions that teach
that you shouldn’t go to a doctor when sick, but only pray for God to heal you. Islam’s outlook is very
positive, since it teaches that human beings can take positive action in this life. This was certainly what was
taught by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to his followers --- since they obviously took the action
of spreading Islam from Spain to Morocco in a very short period of time. Even though Islam teaches that
God knows what human beings will do before they do it, human beings still have free will. Certainly God,
who is All-Knowing and All-Wise, knows what is going to happen to everyone before it happens -- to deny
this would be a denial of God Himself. However, if human-beings did not have free will, it would be
ridiculous and un-just for God to demand that they do certain things and believe certain things. Far from
being “fatalistic”, Islam teaches that a human-being’s main purpose in life is to be God-conscious. Due to
this, Muslims worry less about material matters and view their earthly life in a proper perspective. This is
due to the fact that Islam clearly teaches that if people worship and depend on Almighty God alone, then
they have nothing to worry about - since God wants what is best for them. True freedom, from the Islamic
perspective, does not mean aimlessly following all of your human desires for food, drink, wealth and sex.
On the contrary, freedom means being able to control one’s base desires and fulfilling them in a proper and
legal way. This brings one’s desires in tune with what God wants for us --- only then is a person truly free!
Misconception #9: The Islamic Threat
In recent years, a great deal of attention in the media has been given to the threat of “Islamic
Fundamentalism”. Unfortunately, due to a twisted mixture of biased reporting in the Western media and the
actions of some ignorant Muslims, the word “Islam” has become almost synonymous with “terrorism”.
However, when one analyzes the situation, the question that should come to mind is: Do the teachings of
Islam encourage terrorism? The answer: Certainly not! Islam totally forbids the terrorist acts that are carried
out by some misguided people. It should be remembered that all religions have cults and misguided
followers, so it is their teachings that should be looked at, not the actions of a few individuals.
Unfortunately, in the media, whenever a Muslim commits a heinous act, he is labeled a “Muslim terrorist”.
However, when Serbs murder and rape innocent women in Bosnia, they are not called “Christian terrorists”,
nor are the activities in Northern Ireland labeled “Christian terrorism”. Also, when right-wing Christians in
the U. S. bomb abortion clinics, they are not called “Christian terrorists”. Reflecting on these facts, one
could certainly conclude that there is a double-standard in the media! Although religious feelings play a
significant role in the previously mentioned “Christian” conflicts, the media does not apply religious labels
because they assume that such barbarous acts have nothing to do with the teachings of Christianity.
However, when something happens involving a Muslim, they often try to put the blame on Islam itself -and not the misguided individual. Certainly, Islamic Law allows war --- any religion or civilization that did
not would never survive --- but it certainly does not condone attacks against innocent people, women or
children. The Arabic word “Jihad”, which is often translated as “Holy War”, simply means “to struggle”.
The word for “war” in Arabic is “harb”, not “Jihad”. “Struggling”, i.e. “making jihad”, to defend Islam,
Muslims or to liberate a land where Muslims are oppressed is certainly allowed (and even encouraged) in
Islam. However, any such activities must be done according to the teachings of Islam. Islam also clearly
forbids “taking the law into your own hands”, which means that individual Muslims cannot go around
deciding who they want to kill, punish or torture. Trial and punishment must be carried out by a lawful
authority and a knowledgeable judge. Also, when looking at events in the Muslim World, it should be kept
in mind that a long period of colonialism ended fairly recently in most Muslim countries. During this time,
the peoples in this countries were culturally, materially and religiously exploited - mostly by the so-called
“Christian” nations of the West. This painful period has not really come to an end in many Muslim
countries, where people are still under the control of foreign powers or puppet regimes supported by foreign
powers. Also, through the media, people in the West are made to believe that tyrants like Saddam Hussein
in Iraq and Moamar Qaddafi in Libya are “Islamic” leaders -- when just the opposite is true. Neither of
these rulers even profess Islam as an ideology, but only use Islamic slogans to manipulate their powerless
populations. They have about as much to do with Islam as Hitler had to do with Christianity! In reality,
many Middle Eastern regimes which people think of as being “Islamic” oppress the practice of Islam in
their countries. So suffice it to say that “terrorism” and killing innocent people directly contradicts the
teachings of Islam.
© 1995, 1996 - Islamic Awareness – Kuwait
UNIQUE FEATURES OF ISLAM
Uniqueness of the Name
The name for the religion of Islam is much more than just a name because it expresses a deep spiritual
meaning as well as an overall outlook on life and concept of worship. The word “Islam” is an Arabic word
which means “complete submission to the will of Almighty God”. Other religions are named after their
founders, such as Christianity and Buddhism; after a tribe or ethnic group, such as Judaism; or after a
specific geographical region, such as Hinduism. Islam, however, is unique because its name represents its
outlook on life and reflects its universal nature. Additionally, the name “Islam” was not thought up by its
followers or applied by other people, as is the case with the names of other religions, but was revealed by
Almighty God. This name expressed nothing new, because submission to the will of God, i.e. “Islam”, has
always been the true religion of God. Due to this fact, and since the teachings of Islam are straightforward,
profound and logical, Islam is the “Natural Religion” of all human beings. The name of no other religion
carries any significant message, or conveys the true sense of its outlook on life, as does the name “Islam”.
Universality & Continuity of the Message
The command to worship none other than Almighty God and to submit to His will has been revealed by
God to all of His prophets throughout mankind’s long history. The pure essence of the beliefs and
teachings that were revealed by God to the Prophet Muhammad are the same as God taught to Abraham,
who was one of the earliest and greatest prophets. So actually, Muhammad is the final prophet of Islam -not the first. Additionally, Islam is the true “religion of Abraham”, because Abraham completely submitted
himself to the revealed will of Almighty God. Islam is truly unique among the religions of the world
because it is addressed to all of mankind. The scripture of Islam, called the Qur’an, repeatedly addresses all
human beings by saying: “O mankind!” Additionally, in the Qur’an, Almighty God is never addressed as the
God of a particular people or nation. From the very beginning of the mission of Prophet Muhammad, his
followers came from a wide spectrum of individuals -- there was Bilal, the African slave; Suhaib, the
Byzantine Roman; Ibn Sailam, the Jewish Rabbi; and Salman, the Persian. Since religious truth is eternal
and unchanging, and mankind is one universal brotherhood, God’s revelations to man have always been
consistent and universal. Submission to the will of God, and worshipping Him alone without intermediaries,
has always been the only religion acceptable to Almighty God.
A Straightforward Concept of God
Unique among the religions of the world, the concept of God in Islam is completely based upon Divine
Revelation. Not only is the concept of God in Islam characterized by purity and clarity, but it is also not
marred by myths, superstitions or man-made philosophical ideas. In the pure and straightforward teachings
of Islam, Almighty God has clearly revealed His unique nature and qualities to man in the way which He
wants them to be understood. While other religions have either mixed man-made doctrines with divine
revelation, or ignored the divine revelation almost completely, Islam’s concept of God is based totally on
what God has said about Himself. Islam's concept of God can be called pure and straightforward because
there is a clear distinction made between the Creator and the created. As such, there is no ambiguity in
divinity -- it is made clear that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty
God. In Islam, calling someone other than Almighty God “Lord” or “Savior” is completely prohibited
because such terms compromise God’s uniqueness and because all of our trust should be put in Almighty
God -- who is the Most Merciful and the Controller of all affairs. The only Creator -- Almighty God -- is
Unique, Eternal and Transcendent above His Creation. Everything else besides Almighty God -- meaning
anything that you can see or even imagine -- is part of God's creation, and thus not worthy of worship.
Almighty God, as He has described Himself in the Qur’an, is Absolutely One and “the Most Merciful of
those who show mercy”. Even though God is transcendent above His creation, due to His infinite Mercy
He is constantly involved with the affairs of His creatures. Even though God is infinite, unique and
incomprehensible, in the Holy Qur’an He has revealed Himself in a way suitable to the finite and limited
human mind. By reaching out to man and sending revelations through all of His prophets, God has allowed
Himself to be known through His unique and most-beautiful attributes. Because the concept of God in Islam
was sent by God specifically for mankind, it appeals to the innate nature of the human being. Due to this
fact, Islam does not ask man to accept irrational, ludicrous or man-made doctrines about God. The Islamic
concept of God strikes a unique balance between various religions an because is avoids reducing God to
just being some remote and impersonal “First Cause” or “Higher Power”, while on the other hand it also
teaches that a direct and personal relationship with God can be maintained without believing God to be like
His creation or incarnate in it.
Direct Relationship with God
In other religions, even the ones which claim belief in “One God”, people often approach God through an
intermediary, such as a saint, an angel, the Virgin Mary or Jesus. However, it is only in Islam that a person
is required only to pray to God. Some people also nullify a truly proper and direct relationship with
Almighty God by mistakenly believing that they have a special relationship with Him simply because they
are members of a certain ethnic group, tribe or “chosen people”. Additionally, in Islam there are no priests
or clergy -- each worshipper, man or woman, has a direct relationship with their Merciful Creator -Almighty God. Since God is the Owner and Sustainer of everything, as well as the only one who can
provide true and complete forgiveness, it is completely futile to try to approach Him through anyone else.
According to the teachings of Islam, praying to or worshipping anything or anyone besides Almighty God is
the greatest sin a person can commit. Even though other religions believe in God, they nullify this belief by
making the grave mistake of not always approaching Him directly. Some religions even go so far as to say
that human beings, due to their sinfulness, cannot approach God without an intermediary -- which
mistakenly implies that God is unable or unwilling to forgive human-beings directly. Islam teaches that
Almighty God has the power to do all things and that no one should ever despair of His mercy. According
to the teachings of Islam, God is always ready to bestow His abundant Grace and Mercy on anyone who
turns to Him in repentance. Even people who used to commit the worst sin of worshipping others besides
God will be forgiven if they realize what they are doing is wrong and repent. Having a direct relationship
with God, and understanding that He alone deserves worship and praise, goes hand-in-hand with the Islamic
concept of God. This is because once a proper concept of God is established in the heart and mind,
submission to God and complete reliance on Him alone comes naturally.
Unique Concept of Worship
According to the teachings of Islam, everything that a human being does with the pure intention of pleasing
God is an act of worship. Due to this, Islam has an all encompassing concept of worship unlike any other
religion. Almighty God has revealed in the Holy Qur’an, that His purpose for creating human beings was to
worship Him and Him alone. Like other religions, Islam has required acts of worship, however worship in
Islam is not limited to rituals. Since Islam is an all-encompassing religion with guidance for all aspects of
life. almost every action in a Muslim’s life becomes an act of worship if it is done to build a better
relationship with God. Since man's purpose in life is to worship and submit to God, worship in Islam has
been defined by God Himself in an all-encompassing way. This is special uniqueness can also be seen in the
fact that most other religions only require formal worship once per week, while Islam requires it five times a
day. Even more importantly, all rites of formal worship in Islam are based on Divine revelation, while the
modes of worship in other religions are a mixture of Divine revelation, man-made traditions, opinions of
clergymen and religious councils. Additionally, in Islam acts of worship such as prayer and fasting have
been described by God and His Prophet in such detail that it gives human beings a feeling of assurance that
the way they are worshipping God is pleasing to Him.
Based on Authentic Sources
The preservation of the scripture of Islam -- the Holy Qur’an -- is unique among world religions. No other
religion has a scripture which is both as old and as well-preserved as the one possessed by Muslims today.
Even scholars who are hostile to Islam admit that the Qur’an, that exists today is exactly the same as the one
that existed in the time of the Prophet Muhammad. Even though many people mistakenly assume that the
Qur’an (also spelled Koran) was written by Muhammad, it is actually the literal Word of God. Not only was
Muhammad known by his people to be unable to read and write, but the Holy Qur’an clearly and repeatedly
exclaims that it is from Almighty God - the Lord of the Universe. Unlike other religions, the followers of
Islam have always considered their scripture to be the Word of God in toto. The scriptures of other religions
are made up of writings that were not considered to be scripture until many years after they were written the letters of (St.) Paul are a good example of this. Additionally, the Holy Qur’an has always been in the
possession of the common believer, and as such was circulated very widely. In this way, Muslims know that
their scripture is authentic, unlike other so-called “scriptures” which are still claimed to be scripture even
though their authors are unknown. The Qur’an also remained pure and authentic because unlike other
scriptures, it was written down and memorized in the lifetime of the prophet that it was revealed to. Also, its
wide circulation prevented scholars, clergy and religious councils from deciding what should and should not
be part of the scripture -- since it was already in the hands of the people in its complete form. It has always
amazed people to find out that the entire Qur’an was not only memorized word-for-word by hundreds of the
companions of Prophet Muhammad, but that it has been memorized verbatim by thousands upon thousands
of people until this very day in its original language of Arabic. It was only natural for Almighty God to
preserve the scripture revealed to Prophet Muhammad, because he was the last Prophet and Final
Messenger of God. In short, the Qur’an is a unique scripture that has come down to us in its original form
and unique language. Due to its pristine teachings and unquestionable authenticity, the Qur’an removes the
need for man to wonder for himself how to worship and please God, since God Himself has clearly
described these things.
An Eternal Message
Islam has just as much meaning and is just as applicable to people living in today’s “modern world” as it
did for people living 1400 years ago. Since the message of Islam is eternally true it is also very robust, and
as such still has a strong spiritual impact on millions of people living in the world today. The Pure
Monotheism of Islam, as well as its universal brotherhood, strong morals and positive outlook on life, is still
very relevant and meaningful to modern man. The continued relevance and applicability to both the spiritual
and worldly life of human beings from all around the word is just one of the many proofs of the Divine
origin of the message of Islam. Unlike the teachings of other religions, the teachings of Islam don't need to
be updated or watered-down in order to appeal to a human being living in today’s troubled world. Since the
teachings of Islam are both spiritually true and eternally practical, they can be lived and implemented in the
daily life of a person in order to make their life more fulfilling. In short, unique among world religions,
Islam has not had to sacrifice its integrity in order to be both applicable to “modern life” and to have
enough spiritual impact to change people’s lives.
A Complete Way of Life
Islam not just a “religion” in the traditional sense, because it is not just confined to acts of worship, morality
and other aspects of personal piety. The teachings of Islam, even though they do cover religious rituals and
morality, also encompass all other aspects of life. The Prophet Muhammad’s mission encompassed not only
spiritual and religious teachings, but also included guidance for such things as social reform, economics,
politics, warfare and family life. Thus due to the diversity and success of Muhammad’s mission, Muslims
have clear guidance from God and His Final Prophet on all aspects of life. This goes hand-in-hand with the
Islamic belief that Almighty God does not leave human beings without guidance in their daily lives -- thus
His guidance is all-encompassing. Due to God’s wisdom, and because Islam is the final revealed religion,
the guidance that God has sent is applicable for all times and for all places. This can be seen in the fact that
the guidance for some aspects of life is much more broad and flexible than others. Additionally, in the
Qur’an, Almighty God has revealed to mankind that the purpose of our creation is to worship and remember
God in all aspects of our life, and to follow His guidance in everything that we do. Thus Islam does not
accept a secular view of government and society, but only one based on the Law of God. Nor does Islam
leave it to human beings to decide what is right and wrong, good and bad, moral and immoral based on their
whims, desires or man-made idea. In short, Islam does not teach people to “Render unto Caesar the things
which are Caesar’s” because, according to Islam, everything belongs to God. Like all of its other teachings,
Islam”s view of other religions is balanced, realistic and moderate. Islam doesn’t view other religions as
being either completely true nor completely false, but believes that all true religions were at one time
divinely revealed. However, over time the teachings of the various religions, due to a variety of reasons,
have become distorted and mixed with made-man ideas. But nonetheless, Muslims are required to be
tolerant of other revealed religions since the Qur’an clearly says: “Let there be no compulsion in religion”.
Moderation
The teachings of Islam, since they are divinely revealed, are balanced in all of their aspects. Even though
Islam is an all-encompassing way of life, it preaches moderation and rejects extremism. On the one hand,
Islam does not preach complete rejection of all worldly pleasures in view of the life hereafter; and on the
other hand it does not teach that earthly life is just for pleasure and enjoyment. In Islam, wealth and worldly
pleasures can be partaken of in this life as long as they are enjoyed in a way that is in obedience to God.
However, Muslims are taught to keep in mind that the life hereafter is their ultimate goal, and therefore one
should be charitable and not become too attached to worldly things. By maintaining a balance between
man’s spiritual and physical needs, the teachings of Islam are best suited for the needs of human beings in
particular and society in general. Since Islam is based on clear guidance from God, it rejects all man-made
religious excesses, such as certain forms of monasticism where people try to completely “reject the world”
and other forms of extreme self-denial. Islam teaches that human beings have responsibilities at all levels -to other individuals, to their families and to society as a whole. By maintaining a unique balance between
the physical and spiritual, and between the individual and society, Islam maintains a balance in all
directions.
A Positive Outlook
Most people will agree that having a strong self-esteem and a positive outlook on life is conducive to
achieving happiness and success. Unique among the religions of the world, Islam’s view of both the nature
of the human being and the purpose of life are extremely positive. Islam’s view of the nature of the human
being is balanced. On the one hand they are not viewed as being inherently evil, but on the other they are
not considered to be perfect - nor are they expected to be so. According to the teachings of Islam, every
human being, man or woman, is born with a clean slate and is equally capable of both good and evil. Since
God has bestowed limited free-will on human beings, they will ultimately be held responsible for their
actions. Believing that “salvation” is based on “faith alone” reduces human life to a near meaningless and
fatalistic existence. The teachings of Islam make it clear that human beings, since their nature is basically
good, are capable of positive action in this life, and that the best way to achieve a balanced, happy and
fulfilled life is complete submission to Almighty God. Certainly, no person can completely submit to God
by simply wanting to do so, but by first realizing that none has a right to be worshipped and obeyed except
for Almighty God, and then making a reasonable effort to follow God’s commands, all human beings can
fulfill their reason for existence - which is to worship God alone. . The Holy Qur’an tells us that “man was
created weak” and thus falls into sin often. On the other hand, man is not to think of himself as so evil and
corrupt so as to despair of God’s mercy. As a recourse to this, and since Islam condemns self-righteousness,
a pious life can only be lived by trusting in God -- since there is no power or strength except through God.
As such, spiritual felicity is achieved by a combination of both faith and action. As such, the most righteous
person is not one who thinks that repentance is unnecessary, but the one who admits and realizes his
mistakes - and then repents. According to the word of Almighty God as revealed in the Holy Qur’an,
mankind is God’s trustee on earth; and as such the life of this world is a test, not a punishment. Even before
God created the first man, He knew that he would sin, however God created man in spite of this. According
to the Qur’an, God has bestowed on human beings a great trust and given them dignity. It is only by
worshipping Almighty God, directly and without intermediaries, that a human being can fulfill their true
innate nature and purpose of existence. In short, Islam is realistic. It portrays human beings just as they are
and the life of the world just as it is. Since the outlook of Islam is divinely revealed is not based on wishful
or negative thinking, but simply on reality. Islam also has a positive view of mankind in general, since it
teaches that the best person in the sight of God is the one who is most God-conscious. In this way the truth
of Islam and the universality of God’s message transcends all of the barriers of race, nationality, ethnic
group and economic status.
© 1995, 1996 - Islamic Awareness – Kuwait