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In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
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More Muslim Beliefs
Surely the Muslim men and women, and the believing men and the believing women, and the obeying men and the obeying women, and the truthful men and the truthful women, and the patient men and the patient women and the humble men and the humble women, and the almsgiving men and the almsgiving women, and the fasting men and the fasting women, and the men who guard their private parts and the women who guard, and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember - Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a mighty reward (Paradise).(Qur'an 33:35)
| Review |
| Books of Allah |
| The Qur'an |
| The Oneness of Allah |
| The Last Day |
| The Angels |
| Divine Decree |
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Let's review
what we've already learned.
In the last section we learned that Allah is the Arabic word for the only God, the Creator of all things, the Most Powerful and that we must worship only Him.
Muslims do not worship prophets. God sent many messengers (prophets) to teach us about Him and how He wants us to live our life and worship Him. Muhammad is the last messenger that Allah will send to us. Muhammad did not claim prophethood for his own glory or status.
Islam is the prescribed way of life set by God for the human beings in this universe. Islam is the true religion of God re-expressed in its final form.
To become a Muslim you must say a testimony of faith (shahada) and believe in the 5 pillars of Islam.
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Allah has
sent revelation to thousands of humans throughout history. We
know the names of five of these books. They are: the scrolls of
Abraham, The Torah of Moses. The Psalms of David. The Gospel of
Jesus (the Injeel) and the Qur'an of Muhammad.
Muslims believe that Allah sent all these books originally, but through the years all of them have been changed from the original version EXCEPT the Quran. Allah has promised us that the Quran will never be changed.
"We have, without doubt, sent down the Message, and We will assuredly guard it from corruption." (Qur'an 15:9)
Only the Qur'an has survived until the present day. All others have been lost or altered so much so that they are all but worthless. The previous scriptures were meant for a limited period. Their use ended with the revelation of the Qur'an, which exposed their distortions and changes. They underwent distortion, addition, and omission:
They did not estimate Allah with an estimation due to Him when they said: "Nothing did Allah send down to any human being (by inspiration)." Say (O Muhammad) "Who then sent down the Book which Moses brought, a light and a guidance to mankind which you (the Jews) have made into separate papersheets, disclosing (some of it) and concealing (much). And you (believers in Allah and His messenger Muhammad) were taught (through the Qur'an) that which neither you nor your fathers knew." Say: "Allah (sent it down)." Then leave them to play in their own vain discussions." (Qur'an 6:91)
And verily, among them is a party who distort the Book with thir tongues (as they read), so that you may think it is from the Book, but it is not from the Book, and they say: "This is from Allah," but it is not from Allah; and they speak a lie against Allah while they know it. It is not possible for any human being to whom Allah has given the Book and the knowledge and understanding of the laws of religion and Prophethoot to say to the people: "Be my worshippers rather than Allah's" On the contrary (he would say): "Be you Rabbaniyun (learned men of religion who practise what they know and also preach others), because you are teaching the Book, and you are stydying it." (Qur'an 3:78-79)
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The Qur'an
was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over a period of almost
twenty-three years. The revelations were brought to Muhammad by
the angel Jibreel (Gabriel). Even though Prophet Muhammad could
not read or write, he memorized what the angel Gabriel
taught him. As soon as a portion of the Qur'an was revealed,
Muhammad would call his scribe from among his companions, to
record it in writing. The Prophet would than ask the scribe to
read the portion to ensure that what was written down was word
for word what Gabriel had brought. Once satisfied with the
written text, the Prophet would tell the scribe to put the verse
or verses where they belonged. He would say the name of the Surah
and the location where it should be inserted, this ensured that
the order of the Qur'an was in accordance with the Divine plan.
"All the praises and thanks are to Allah, Who has sent down to His slave [Muhammad (peace be upon him] the Book (the Qur'an), and has not placed therein any crookedness. (He has made it) Straight to give warning (to the disbelievers) of a severe punishment from Him, and to give glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of God - Islamic Monotheism), who work righteous deeds, that they shall have a fair reward (i.e. Paradise)." (Qur'an 18:1-2)
In order to ensure the authenticity of the Qur'an, Allah sent the angel Gabriel once every year, during the month of Ramadan, to the Prophet to hear him recite the Qur'an (whatever was revealed to that point in time). During the last year, before Muhammad's death, Angel Gabriel came twice to hear him recite the Qur'an, thus ensuring that the words of Allah had not been forgotten or changed. During this review many of the companions of Prophet Muhammad were present and heard the Prophet's recital. This way they also had the chance to ensure that what they had memorized was correct and not forgotten.
Muhammad, peace be upon him, helped his companions memorize the Qur'an. The Qur'an was in the memory of many Muslims and was also in written form during the lifetime of the Prophet. The proof that the Qur'an was in written form during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad is evident from the following Hadith:
Narrated Ibn Umar: "The messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: Do not take the Qur'an on a journey with you, for I am afraid lest it should fall into the hands of the enemy". (Ref: Bukhari, Vol. 4 No. 233)
Another strong evidence that the revelations were in written form during the lifetime of the Prophet comes from his last sermon where the Prophet said:
"I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an and my examples the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray'........
If the Qur'an was not in written form during
the lifetime of the Prophet, he would never have said that he
leaves behind the Qur'an.
So unlike any other scripture, the Qur'anic revelations were
recorded and written down during the lifetime of Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him.
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A Muslim
must believe in Allah's Divinity, that He is the Lord, the
Creator of All, the One Free from all defects, there is
nothing like Him, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer, the
Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the Almighty,
the Compeller, the Supreme.
Allah has no associate in His Divinity, His Magnificent Names, or His Perfect Attributes.
Allah is the True God and every other deity is false.
"Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great." (Quran 2:255 [This verse is know as the Ayat-ul-Kursi])
Muslims believe that Allah alone deserves our worship.
"He is Allah, than Whom there is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen (open). He is the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
He is Allah, than Whom there is La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory is to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him.
He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (Quran 59:22-24)
Muslims believe that Allah is All-Knowing, that he knows everything we know even if we don't know.
"... With Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record." (Qur'an 6:59)
"Verily, Allah! With Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allah is All-Knower, All-Aware (of things)." (Qur'an 31:34)
Muslims believe that Allah provides us with everything, no other being, person, or thing can do this.
"... No (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah. He knows the time and place of its dwelling and its deposit (in the uterus, grave, etc.) all is in a Clear Record." (Qur'an 11:6)
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one day. Allah will end the earth at some future date and all
human beings that ever lived will be raised up for Judgment Day.
After each person's beliefs as well as their good and bad deeds
are examined, they will be sent to either Paradise (Jannah)
or Hell (Jahannam).
"Nay! When the earth is ground to powder, And your Lord comes with the angels in rows, And Hell will be brought near that Day. On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance (then) avail him?" (Qur'an 89:21-23)
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Muslims
believe in the existence of the angels of Allah.
Angels are concealed from us, so we cannot see them. Allah may
show them to some of His servants.
The angels are assigned certain functions. Among the angels is
Gabriel, who is entrusted with revelation. He brings it down from
Allah to whomever He wishes among His prophets and messengers.
The Prophet Muhammad saw the angel Gabriel in
his real shape with six hundred wings that covered the horizons.
Gabriel took the form of a handsome human being who met Mary (the
mother of Prophet Jesus) and engaged in conversation with her.
Gabriel came to the Prophet while he was among his Companions in
the appearance of an unknown man who did not show any trace of
long travel, with very white clothes, and very black hair. He sat
facing the Prophet, his knees to the Prophet's knees, peace be
upon him, and his palms on the Prophet's thighs and talked with
the Prophet. The Prophet later told his Companions that the man
they saw was Gabriel.
Some angels are in charge of embryos in wombs, others are responsible for protecting human beings, and others are busy recording men's deeds. Each person has two angels "Remeber, that the two recievers (recording angels) receive each hunman being, one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions). Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him (ready to record it). (Qur'an 50:17-18)
Some other angels are in charge of questioning
the dead after he is placed in his last abode. Two angels come to
him and ask him about his Lord, his religion, and his prophet.
Some angels are in charge of the dwellers of Paradise: "The angels enter to them from every
gate, saying: 'Peace be upon you for that you were patient. How
excellent is your final home"' (Qur'an 13:24).
The Prophet, peace be upon him, told us that "seventy
thousand angels enter or pray in the populous house in heaven
every day. They never come back to it as long as they live"
(because their turn will never come) .
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Muslims
believe in pre-destination or Divine Decree. Allah, the All-Knowing,
has secured in a tablet whatever is going to happen until the Day
of Judgement:
"No affliction befalls in the earth or in yourselves, but it is in a Book, before We create it; that is easy for God; that you may not grieve for what escapes you, nor rejoice (act in vain) in what has been given to you, God loves not any man proud and boastful." (Qur'an 57:23)
But Allah has granted us a power and a free-will by which we perform our actions. Allah gives us power to do what we do and free will to choose what we do.
"And We tax not any person except according to his capacity, and with Us is a Racord which speaks the truth, and they will not be wronged." (Qur'an 23:62)
Allah praises us for our good deeds and blames us for doing evil actions. We do things without feeling we're forced to do them, we stand up and sit, we come in and go out, we travel and stay by our own free will. Islamic law does not punish a wrongdoer for an action done under compulsion.
Since we have free will we can't just sit back
and let things happen claiming it is divine decree. Suppose you
want to travel to Makkah, there are two roads that will both take
you there. You are told by a trustworthy person that the first
road is dangerous but the second road is easy and safe. You
wouldn't take the first road and say it is decreed upon, people
would think you're crazy!
If you're offered two jobs, the second job pays much more money,
will you take the first one with the lower salary saying it is
divine decree because it was offered first? No! You would use
your power and free will to decide which job to take.
One mistake some people make now -a-days is to try to decide for themselves which parts of Islam they will practice and which ones they wont. They have a tendency to take one hadith or one verse and then based on that one text, they will make some conclusion that is not necessarily true. We should realize that the Qur'an and Hadith complement each other and explain one another. To find the correct answer to any question, even though we have free will, we must bring together all of the related verses and hadith to see what the true Islamic position is of that question.
"It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error." (Qur'an 33:36)
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