Question: Do Muslims believe that Judgment Day is near? If so, Do Muslims have any signs that we are getting closer?

Answer: No one can know when the Day of Judgment will occur. However, God has mercifully taught His messengers some of the signs that alert one to the fact that the Hour is approaching. These signs play a very important role, especially for those who live at a time distant from the Prophet (peace be upon him) and who did not experience firsthand his teaching and example. These signs reinforce one’s belief in the Prophet. More importantly, these signs, if one takes the time to reflect upon them, are a reminder of the Day of Judgment. They should revive the heart of the person and make him recall what he is doing on this earth and to where all this is heading.

The signs of the Hour can be divided into two types. First are those that occur as part of the changes in everyday life. These are known as the “minor signs.” The second are the extraordinary or supernatural events that will occur just before the actual Hour. These are known as the “major signs.” Although the focus of this article will be the major signs, it is worthwhile to make a few points concerning the minor signs.

The Minor Signs

Although the intent of this article is to cover the major signs, I would like to include a few points about the “minor signs,” since they are often neglected as people concentrate on the more “sensational” major signs. Minor signs are those signs that may occur long before the actual Last Day and, in general, they are related to day-to-day changes that occur in worldly events. The number of minor signs is numerous.[1]

Many have already occurred and many others continue to occur.[2] Thus, minor signs can occur repeatedly around an individual yet many remain oblivious to them and to their importance. In fact, in the famous Hadith of the Angel Gabriel, when the Prophet (peace be upon him), offered to tell Gabriel — in front of his companions — some of the signs of the Hour (after the Prophet was informed about them previously), he mentioned only some “minor signs.” Perhaps, God knows best, this is because these are the signs that have much more of an effect on one’s everyday life and worship, although the recognition of these signs are sometimes more difficult or subtle.

When one witnesses these signs around him, they should be clear reminders of God and one’s future meeting with God. They should also fortify one’s belief in God and, in particular, in the truthfulness of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). These signs that the Prophet spoke about years — even centuries — before they ever occurred should, in addition to all of the facts concerning the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), work to strengthen an individual’s belief about the truth of Islam. Thus, they have a great role to play if the individual makes himself alert and awake to what is going on around him.

In addition, these signs should be a reminder that Allah has foreknowledge of everything that is occurring in this world — this is how He could convey those signs to His messenger. Therefore, God also has knowledge of everything the person is doing. God is watching and aware of every act of His creatures. At the very least, this consciousness, which comes about through witnessing the Signs of the Hour, should make the person worship and fear God knowing full well that He is seeing him. This is the superior level of faith known as ihsaan.

Only a couple of minor signs will be mentioned here, while the reader is greatly encouraged to research this topic further.

The Prophet stated: “From among the signs of the Hour is the common appearance of lewd acts, working to bring about lewd acts, the cutting off of the ties of relationship and the trusting of deceivers.” (At-Tabarani)

The manifestation of this Hadith can be seen daily in a person’s life, especially the first two or three aspects mentioned. One needs only leave one’s house, turn on a television or surf the Internet to see how prominent lewd acts — those acts which are considered lewd by Islamic Law — are today. Indeed, great effort and expense is exhausted in producing and presenting them to as many people as possible.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: “From among the signs of the Hour is the abundance of wealth, increasing of ignorance, numerous tribulations and widespread trading and business.” (Al-Hakim)

Capitalist economists boast about the amount of wealth there is in the world today. Indeed, it seems as if business and trade are the most important agendas in the world today, outstripping any moral values or even the sanctity of human lives. When this is accompanied by ignorance —especially ignorance of the religion of God — and an increase in trials, tribulations, fighting and wars, the result for humankind is nothing short of disastrous. Yet this is what can be seen throughout the world today.

Footnotes:

[1] A number of works in Arabic cover the minor signs as well as the major signs. This author is not aware of any book in English as of yet that has a detailed discussion of the minor signs of the Day of Judgment.

[2] Another way of categorizing the signs of the Hour is the following: (1) Those signs that have already occurred and are completed; (2) those signs that have already appeared, continue to appear and are growing greater in intensity; and (3) those signs that are yet to appear. Each category deserves its own portion of reflection and relevant response.

Question: I keep hearing muslims contributed to algebra, how so? and what period of time?

Answer: Muhammad Ibn Musa Al-Khowarizmi, the father of algebra, was a mathematician and astronomer. He was summoned to Baghdad by Al-Mamun and appointed court astronomer. From the title of his work, Hisab Al-Jabr wal Mugabalah (Book of Calculations, Restoration and Reduction), Algebra (Al-Jabr) derived its name.

His book On the Calculation with Hindu Numerals, written about 825, was principally responsible for the diffusion of the Indian system of numeration (Arabic numerals) in the Islamic lands and the West.
Al-Khowarizmi left his name to the history of mathematics in the form of Algorism (the old name for arithmetic).

Al-Khowarizmi emphasised that he wrote his algebra book to serve the practical needs of the people concerning matters of inheritance, legacies, partition, lawsuits and commerce.

In the twelfth century Gerard of Cremona and Roberts of Chester translated the algebra of Al-Khowarizmi into Latin. Mathematicians used it all over the world until the sixteenth century.
Traditional systems had used different letters of the alphabet to represent numbers or cumbersome Roman numerals, and the new system was far superior, for it allowed people to multiply and divide easily and check their work. The merchant Leonardo Fibonacci of Pisa, who had learned about Arabic numerals in Tunis, wrote a treatise rejecting the abacus in favor of the Arab method of reckoning, and as a result, the system of Hindu-Arabic numeration caught on quickly in Central Italy. By the fourteenth century, Italian merchants and bankers had abandoned the abacus and were doing their calculations using pen and paper, in much the same way we do today.

In addition to his treatise on numerals, al-Khwarizmi also wrote a revolutionary book on resolving quadratic equations. These were given either as geometric demonstrations or as numerical proofs in an entirely new mode of expression. The book was soon translated into Latin, and the word in its title, al-jabr, or transposition, gave the entire process its name in European languages, algebra, understood today as the generalization of arithmetic in which symbols, usually letters of the alphabet such as A, B, and C, represent numbers. Al-Khwarizmi had used the Arabic word for "thing" (shay) to refer to the quantity sought, the unknown. When al-Khwarizmi's work was translated in Spain, the Arabic word shay was transcribed as xay, since the letter x was pronounced as sh in Spain. In time this word was abbreviated as x, the universal algebraic symbol for the unknown.

Robert of Chester's translation of al-Khwarzmi's treatise on algebra opens with the words dixit Algorithmi, "Algorithmi says." In time, the mathematician's epithet of his Central Asian origin, al-Khwarizmi, came in the West to denote first the new process of reckoning with Hindu-Arabic numerals, algorithmus, and then the entire step-by-step process of solving mathematical problems, algorithm.
The Muslims of the 9th Century, including Abu al Wafaa' turned Algebra into science. They created the zero and the decimal point.

Abulwafaa was the first person to demonstrate the sine theorom for spherical trian

Answer

Salamu Aliekum Wa Rahmatallahi Wa Barakatahu,

Thank you so much for Contacting us, you have a great question.

The best way to share Islam is by example, follow the teachings of Allah(swt) and prophet Mohammad(pbuh). Be the best example on how you live your life, how you treat others, how you treat your neighbors and co workers, watch how you speak, your actions represent Islam. For example, the violent protests regarding the malicious video they made about Prophet Mohammad(pbuh) that is going on, this is not Islam, this is not the religion of Mohammad(pbuh). Allah (swt) said is the Holy Quran "you are the best nation raised for Mankind"," you do whats right and forbid whats wrong and you believe in Allah" so if we are the best nation we should act like the best nation. We should have patience and tolerance, this is not the first time the enemies of Islam have insulted our beloved prophet, nor will it be the last, but our actions and responses is whats important.

How was our Prophet Mohammad's(pbuh) response to the attacks he was subjected to?

Prophet Mohammad's(pbuh) love for mankind is the untold sufferings he endured at the hands of his opponents whom he forgave with such ease after his victory.

When Mohammad (pbuh) started his work almost all the people of his city opposed him even though they had known him for all of his life as a man of exceptional integrity and intelligence. They at first subjected him to verbal attacks, jeers and insults. But later they started to combine verbal attacks with physical aggression. They would lay thorns in his way and throw garbage and dust on him. On one occasion he returned with dust still on his head. One of his daughters rose, with tears in her eyes, to wipe it off. The Prophet was more hurt to see tears in his daughters eyes than the treatment he himself received from his fellow citizens. He comforted her, saying " My daughter, weep not, for verily the Lord will be your fathers helper."

Like all aspects of the Prophet's life, his suffering has profound lessons for us. It teaches us that this world is a battlefield between good and evil, truth and falsehood, justice and oppression and that although God has willed that in the long run goodness, truth and justice will always be victorious. He has also willed that this victory will not be made too easy.

The suffering of the Prophet is also a vivid reminder for us that whereas man has tremendous potential for goodness he also has an enormous potential for evil. The Prophet represents the ultimate in human potential for goodness while the opposition that his work inspired in his countrymen and which he gradually conquered by his love and wisdom represents the ultimate in human potential for evil. But we must not condemn those who persecuted the Prophet. For the Prophet's suffering was caused by that potential for ignorance and obstinacy that is found in all of us. Who knows that some of us would not have thrown garbage on the Prophet or persecuted him in some other way if we had been living in Mecca of his time? After all, men far greater than us, e.g. Hadhrat 'Umar and Hadhrat Khalid bin Walid at one time persecuted the Prophet. No, the Prophet did not suffer in order that we may condemn anyone. He suffered so that we may have hope and humility. He suffered so that we may find out how much potential there is within us for goodness and how much potential there is within us for ignorance and obstinacy - the root causes of all evil. We need to see both potentials within us. The first one gives us hope in our destiny and in the destiny of man generally and the second one gives us humility. And humility and hope is what we need in order to prosper.

Thus the Prophet's suffering should make us think of the potential of evil that we all have within us and make us determined to overcome that evil. The best way to overcome evil is to love the Prophet, for the more we love the Prophet the more we will strengthen the element of goodness in us and the more capable we will become to overcome evil. Follow him, as he is the best example for mankind.

Answer: Contrary to world belief, Islam in reality is a religion of peace. It is a religion of peace in the fullest sense of the word.

Islam is actually a religion of peace and humanism. The very word ‘Islam’ (from Arabic Silm connotes peace). Not only Islam, but also all other religions may be defined in this way. According to a Hadith, “God grants to gentleness what He does not grant to harshness.” That is to say, peaceful activism is distinctly superior to violent activism. There is nothing mysterious about the point made in this Hadith. It is a simple and a well-known fact of life that in a situation of war and violence, feelings of hatred and enmity flare up between the two sides and, in the process, the existing resources are destroyed. People from both sides get killed and the entire society turns into a jungle of negative feelings. It is quite obvious that in such an atmosphere no constructive and consolidated work can be done. There is nothing to be achieved in war and violence, save death and destruction.

On the contrary, an atmosphere of peace enables normal relations to be established between people. It makes it possible for feelings of love and friendship to prevail. In a favourable atmosphere constructive activities flourish and the existing resources can be used for development or other creative activities. A positive bent of mind will prevail which will help develop academic and intellectual advancement.
The greatest ill effect of war is that it limits human endeavour, whereas the greatest benefit of peace is that to the ultimate extent it opens up opportunities for improvement. War invariably results in further loss, while peace invariably results in further gain. That is why Islam teaches us to avoid war and confrontation at all costs and commands us to establish peace to the greatest possible degree.

There are certain verses in the Quran, which convey injunctions similar to the following: ‘Kill them wherever you find them.’ (2:191)

Referring to such verses, there are some who attempt to give the impression that Islam is a religion of war and violence. This is totally untrue. Such verses relate in a restricted sense, to those who have unilaterally attacked the Muslims. The above verse does not convey the general command of Islam.
The truth of the matter is that the Quran was not revealed in the complete form in which it exists today. It was revealed from time to time, according to the circumstances, over a time span of 23 years. If this is divided into years of war and peace, the period of peace amounts to 20 years, while that of war amounts only to 3 years. The revelations during these 20 peaceful years were the peaceful teachings of Islam as are conveyed in the verses regarding the realization of God, worship, morality, justice, etc.

This division of commands into different categories is a natural one and is found in all religious books. For instance, the Gita, the holy book of the Hindus, pertains to wisdom and moral values. Yet along with this is the exhortation of Krishna to Arjun, encouraging him to fight. (3:30) This does not mean that believers in the Gita should wage wars all the time. Gandhiji, after all, derived his philosophy of non-violence from the same Gita. The exhortation to wage war in the Gita applies only to exceptional cases where circumstances leave no choice. But for general day-to-day existence it gives the same peaceful commands as derived from it by Mahatma Gandhi.

Similarly, Jesus Christ said: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on Earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew, Chapter 10)

It would not be right to conclude that the religion preached by Christ was one of war and violence, for such utterances relate purely to particular occasions. So far as general life is concerned, Christ taught peaceful values, such as the building up of a good character, loving each other, helping the poor and needy, etc.

The same is true of the Quran. When the Prophet of Islam emigrated from Makkah to Madinah, the idolatrous tribes were aggressive towards him. But the Prophet always averted their attacks by the exercise of patience and the strategy of avoidance. However on certain occasions no other options existed, save that of retaliation. Therefore, he had do battle on certain occasions. It was these circumstances, which occasioned those revelations relating to war. These commands, being specific to certain circumstances, had no general application. They were not meant to be valid for all time to come. That is why; the permanent status of the Prophet has been termed a ‘mercy for all mankind.’ (21:107)

Answer

Yes,

He was mentioned numerous times. Click on Mohammad in the Bible for more reference. Prophet Mohammad was mentioned by name in the old testament in Song of Solomon chapter 5 verse 16, “Hikko   Mamittakim we kullo Muhammadim Zehdoodeh wa Zehraee Bayna Jerusalem.”

Question: What did Mohammad say about Jesus? How did he present his image to the Muslims?

Answer: That religious, historical, humanitarian, and ethical reality is that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) presented his brother, the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, to the world community in a most superb image. That profile and presentation was not a political campaign subject to the drawbacks and inadequacies that characterize such efforts.

The Superb Image of Jesus

In presenting his noble brother, the Prophet of Islam followed a method that is not subject to shortcomings and failings. That method is through the Quranic text, which contains no falsehood and has been unaltered with time, and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad who did not speak of his own accord.

The duration of this presentation is not limited to a week, month or year’s time; rather it extends from the time of its revelation to Prophet Muhammad in the sixth century until the Day of Resurrection. The presentation of the Messiah is not through an obsolete text, or an outdated document preserved in a library or a museum. It is through the living Quran, which is recited in prayers, taught at schools and universities, and heard on radio and television day and night. It is the right of every intelligent reader and researcher to ask intelligently, objectively and seriously about any statement that could be seen as a mere claim, “What is the evidence and proof supporting it?”

The answer is as follows:

First, there is presentation and introduction of the Messiah in the Quran:

Presentation of the Miracle of His Birth:

{Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. O sister [i.e., descendant] of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.

So she pointed to him. They said, How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?

[Jesus] said, Indeed, I am the servant of God. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and charity as long as I remain alive and [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.} (Maryam 19: 27-33)

Presentation of His Beautiful Character:

{[And mention] when the angels said, ‘O Mary, indeed God gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary – distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to God].} (Al ‘Imran 3: 45)

Presentation of the Miraculous Nature of His Prophethood and Mission:

{God will say, O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit [i.e., the angel Gabriel] and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity.

And [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind [from birth] and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission.} (Al-Ma’idah 5: 110)

Presentation of the Fact that the Gospel was Revealed to Him:

{And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.} (Al-Ma’idah 5: 46)

Presentation of his approach and message, which ordered the worship of God alone:

{I said not to them except what You commanded me – to worship God, my Lord and your Lord.} (Al-Ma’idah 5: 117)

This approach also taught people wisdom and pointed out to them the standard for settling differences:

{And when Jesus brought clear proofs, he said, I have come to you with wisdom [i.e., prophethood] and to make clear to you some of that over which you differ.} (Az-Zukhruf 43: 63)

And there is proof of it from Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah (his sayings and teachings).

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:

"While I was asleep, I was circumambulating the Ka‘bah and there came a brown man with straight hair, between two men against whom he leaned, with water dripping from his head. I said: Who is that? I was told he is the son of Mary." (Al-Bukhari)

Prophet Muhammad also described his brother, Jesus, son of Mary, as of medium height and ruddy as if he has just come out of a bath, which implies purity, brightness, and radiance. Prophet Muhammad also said:

"I am nearest to the son of Mary in this world and the Hereafter. There is no other prophet between him and me. Prophets are brothers from their father’s side, having various mothers; and our religion is one." (Al-Bukhari)

He also said:

"Whoever testifies that there is no deity other than God, alone with no partner, that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, that Jesus is God’s servant and messenger and His word which He bestowed upon Mary and a spirit from Him, and that Paradise is true and Hell is true – God shall admit him into Paradise according to his deeds." (Al-Bukhari)

An-Nawawi, a well known Islamic scholar, commented on this narration saying: “This is a statement of great significance; it is among the most comprehensive ones about belief.”

Jesus' Disciples and Followers

There is also a presentation in the Quran of the disciples and followers of the Messiah in an image of utmost grace, perfection and spiritual refinement, for the presentation of the Messiah included the presentation of his noble and righteous disciples:

{But when Jesus felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, Who are my supporters for [the cause of] God? The disciples said, We are supporters for God. We have believed in God and testify that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]. Our Lord, we have believed in what You revealed and have followed the messenger [i.e., Jesus], so register us among the witnesses [to truth].} (Al ‘Imran 3: 52-3)

{O you who have believed, be supporters of God, as when Jesus, the son of Mary, said to the disciples, Who are my supporters for God? The disciples said, We are supporters of God.} (As-Saff 61: 14)

In this verse Muslims are invited to follow the example of the disciples in supporting the Prophets and upholding the way of truth. Similarly, the disciples receive God’s praise in the Quran because they followed Christ in all sincerity:

{Then We sent following their footsteps Our messengers and followed [them] with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy...} (Al-Hadid 57: 27)

Something closely connected to the above and part and parcel of it is the Quran’s defense of the righteous Christians who clung to their faith and were exposed to great harm but remained steadfast in their religion:

Among them are the young men of the cave, after whom a chapter of the Quran is named. These were upright Christian young men pursuing a sound course. The Quran praises and commemorates them:

{Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder? [Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.

So We cast [a cover of sleep] over their ears within the cave for a number of years. Then We awakened them that We might show which of the two factions was most precise in calculating what [extent] they had remained in time.

It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.}(Al-Kahf 18: 9-13)

And among them were those burned in the trench, also a group of Christians. The Quran commemorates them while condemning and denouncing their persecutors:

{Destroyed [i.e., cursed] were the companions of the trench [containing] the fire full of fuel, when they were sitting near it and they, to what they were doing against the believers, were witnesses. And they resented them not except because they believed in God, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy, to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And God, over all things, is Witness.

Indeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.} (Al-Buruj 84: 4-10)

Muslims Honoring Jesus

In summary, we can say that evidence recurs and each proof supports the other in confirming that Islam presents Christ (peace be upon him), his Gospel, his method, his mission and his disciples in a perfect and most sublime image. It also defends the persecuted Christian believers in a manner that shows love for them and abhorrence for their tyrannical oppressors.

I am pleased to offer these statements, supported by evidences, as a gift to the Christians of the world. If there is a conclusion or statement to be added, it is this:

How can Islam be condemned when it offers such a splendid portrayal of Christ? How can light be blamed for being light? Why should the presenting of Christ as sublime and dignified become a pretext to discredit Prophet Muhammad and his religion?

Muslims believe in Christ as a Prophet and a messenger of God. They love and esteem him, and follow the light he brought. If others do not believe in Prophet Muhammad – belief being a matter of free choice – let them at least respect him. Such respect is not only morally praiseworthy, but would also demonstrate a sensible attitude, for reasonable people appreciate and respect those who respect the ones they love and believe in.

Now as in the past, the intolerance of Muslims and Christians and exchanges of insults between them appears absurd. It can only be instigated by small minded people when viewed in light of the sound, sincere and honorable relationship between the two great men: Muhammad and Jesus Christ.

Do the Christians of the world know that belief in the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, as a Prophet and messenger is one of the basic elements of belief for every Muslim? It is even a condition for the soundness of every

Muslim’s belief in Prophet Muhammad in the sense that a Muslim’s belief in Prophet Muhammad is unacceptable and rejected unless it is combined with belief that Jesus, the son of Mary, is a Prophet and messenger.

Do the Christians of the World Know This Fact?

Some of them do, particularly Christians of the Arab world who speak Arabic, for their knowledge of the language allows them, for example, to consider this Quranic verse:

{Say, [O believers], We have believed in God and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.} (Al-Baqarah 2: 136)

Some Christians know this fact, but the majority do not. It is most likely that, together with other factors, their lack of knowledge of this fact has caused a great deal of misunderstanding in the way they have responded to Islam. However, he who does not know cannot be an authority over people who do know; rather, the opposite should be true.

Moreover, it is an obligation at all times to state openly that a Muslim’s belief is unacceptable unless he believes in the Prophethood and mission of Jesus, the son of Mary. It is not permissible to withhold this acknowledgment just because of some people’s hostility to Prophet Muhammad.

In this context a question might be raised: Why should Muslims not resort to the same tactics as the people who disparage the status of Prophet Muhammad and curse and slander him? The same tactics, of course, means disparaging, cursing, and slandering Jesus, son of Mary. But this is regarded in Islamic law as disbelief. Such an act would cast the offender out of the religion of Islam. For Muslim believers there is no difference between insulting or ridiculing Christ and insulting or ridiculing Muhammad. None would differentiate between them except a disbeliever in all the Prophets and messengers. In fact, he would not be a true believer in God. The Quran says:

{Indeed, those who disbelieve in God and His messengers and wish to discriminate between God and His messengers and say, We believe in some and disbelieve in others, and wish to adopt a way in between – those are the disbelievers, truly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment. But they who believe in God and His messengers and do not discriminate between any of them – to those He is going to give their rewards. And ever is God Forgiving and Merciful.} (An-Nisaa’, 4: 150-152)

The essence of the above statements is that religious acceptance of all Prophets without any discrimination between them is the basis of moral tolerance. The extent to which the mind, heart, and soul of an individual or a nation is broad enough in capacity to accept the whole truth is an indication of the extent of one’s tolerance. But individuals and nations continue to exchange accusations against one another, each claiming to be tolerant and accusing others of partiality. In most cases when doing so, both sides are merely following their own whims and inclinations due to lack of a sound criterion by which to judge, one which would put a stop to such arguments and injustices.

But what is the true criterion?

The best and most precise criterion that can be put on the scales of justice to measure the honesty of people, the correctness of their ideology, the soundness of their thought and the superiority of their moral standards is the extent to which their minds, hearts, and souls accept the whole truth and revere and love upholders of truth at every time and place. Only by this criterion can a person be described as tolerant and another as biased.

A person who is broad minded enough to accommodate the whole truth, unaffected by a tendency to be selective, and who acknowledges bearers of truth, regardless of when or where they might appear, is a truly tolerant person. And needless to say, one who is unable to do so will be intolerant. That is why it is one of the aims and tenets of Islam that Muslims are obliged to accept in their hearts, minds and souls the whole truth at all times and places:

{[God] has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus – to establish the religion and not be divided therein.} (Ash-Shura 42: 13)

Those five great men, the true leaders of enlightened human thought, who are addressed and mentioned in this verse, are the messengers of resolute purpose. They belong to different places and times as regards birth, residence, circumstances and missions, and they cover the long span of human history from Noah through Abraham, Moses and Jesus up to the time of Muhammad (peace be upon them all).

In spite of the diversity of locations and long intervals of time between them, the truth they preached and advocated is the same truth as is vividly expressed in the verse above. Thus, what can be called the “line of truth” is a permanent one, continuously extending into every time and place. Genuine affiliation is attachment to truth and righteousness and to those who possess them. (This, however, does not imply disregard of the importance of lineage or of belonging to a homeland, for in Islam there is no conflict between these affiliations.)

We have not ourselves seen Prophets Idris (Enoch), Noah, Moses, Jesus, his disciples or Elisha, but we love and revere them all.

Why?

Because they were good, righteous people and they had noble souls and high moral standards; and also because the truth and principles they upheld are worthy of being adhered to, and make it commendable to be associated with those great men. The beloved Jesus is a revered Prophet and messenger. Islam, both in its divine Scripture and its prophetic teachings, praises, venerates and exalts the position of Jesus.

Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, presented Jesus to the human community in a most affectionate, dignified, generous and exceptional way. This is the great rank of the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, as stated in the Quran and in Prophet Muhammad’s sunnah. In Islam, respect for him is one of the basic elements of the creed. Muslims testify that they believe in the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, as a Prophet and messenger. Muslims testify that they love Jesus because he is loved and was chosen by God, because he embodied mercy, peace and love. He was blessed, dutiful to his mother and a sign for the people of all times (peace be upon him).

Jesus preached many values, precepts, concepts, and moral principles. He persevered in his preaching to make sure these moral values would flow naturally into man’s consciousness and become an inalienable part of his conscience and the life of his society. Some examples of these values may be cited: Mercy, which is the first and noblest characteristic of Christ’s personality and of his message, as stated in the Quran:

{We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.} (Maryam 19: 21)

This characteristic was instinctively very clear in his mind, and therefore he denied the existence of any vestige of haughtiness or arrogance, the opposite of mercy, in his own nature:

{And [God made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.} (Maryam 19: 32)

He is quoted in the Bible as saying: “Blessed be the meek and merciful. Come to me all you who are tired and burdened and you will find comfort, because my yoke is gentle and my burden is light.” (New International Version, Matthew 11: 29 )

Peace, of which Jesus, the Messiah, was without doubt, an advocate. This is not strange, for there was peace upon him from his birth to his resurrection, as stated in the Quran:

{And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.} (Maryam 19: 33)

The correct belief, as he said:

{O Children of Israel, worship God, my Lord and your Lord. Indeed, he who associates others with God – God has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire.} (Al-Ma’idah 5: 72)

Source: Chapter in book by the author titled (Relationships of the Great), Islam House - http://www.islamhouse.com

Answer: Have you ever stopped to ask yourself these questions?.. What is the purpose of everything?, How did we get here?, What does it all mean?, What is the meaning of Life?

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself these questions? -

"What is the purpose of everything?"

"How did we get here?"

"What does it all mean?"

"What is the meaning of Life?"

People everywhere are asking these questions; "What is the purpose of life?" and "Why are we here?" You might be amazed to learn, that Islam is providing clear and concise answers for these questions.

Most of those who reflect or think about life in any detail will consider and ponder these questions. There are as many different answers to these questions as there are people asking the questions. Some would hold that the purpose of life was to acquire wealth. Yet suppose they were to acquire millions of dollars, what then would they claim is their purpose after doing so?

If the purpose of life is to become wealthy, there would be no purpose after becoming wealthy. The fact is that when people approach their purpose here in this life from the aspect of only gaining wealth, after collecting the money they have dreamed of, their lives loose purpose and then they live in restless tension suffering from a feeling of worthlessness.

How could wealth then be considered as the aim of life?

Could the acquisition of wealth guarantee happiness? Of course not!

When we hear of millionaires or members of their families committing suicide, how could we consider the purpose of life would be to gain great wealth?

A child of 5 years would obviously prefer a new toy to a deposit slip for a million dollars.

A teenager does not consider millions of dollars in the bank a substitute for movies, videos, pizza and hanging out with his friends.

A person in their 80s or 90s would never consider holding on to their wealth in place of spending it to hold on to or regain their health.

This proves that money is not the main purpose at all the stages of one's life.

Wealth can do little or nothing to bring happiness to one who is a disbeliever in Almighty God, because regardless of what he or she would gain in this life they would always live in fear of what will happen to them in the end. They would wonder what would become of them and how they would end up. Wealth and its accumulation as a purpose would be doomed to a temporary success at best, and in the end it would only spell out self-destruction.

So, what is the use of wealth to a person without belief? He would always fear his end and would always be skeptical of everything. He may gain a great material wealth but he would only lose himself in the end.

Worship of the One True Almighty God of the Universe [Allah in Arabic] as a primary goal or aim in life provides a believer with everything he needs to succeed in both this life and the Next Life. The word for total surrender, submission, obedience, purity of heart and peace in the Arabic language is "Islam". Those who try to perform these actions are called "MU-slims" [Islam-ERs].

To a Muslim the whole purpose of life is "ibadah" or worship to the One True Almighty God on His Terms and under His Conditions. The term "worship" to a Muslim includes any and all acts of obedience to Almighty Allah.

So his purpose of life is a standing purpose; Worshipping Allah by accepting Allah's Will over his own.

This act of ibadah [worshipping, thanking and extolling the Greatness Almighty Allah on His Terms and Conditions] is for the Muslim, throughout his whole life regardless of the stage. Whether he is a child, adolescent, adult or aged person, he is seeking after the Will of the Almighty in all these stages.

His life here on earth although short, is full of purpose and is totally meaningful within the complete framework of total submission [Islam].

Similarly, in the Next Life as well, his faith, intentions, attitudes and good deeds will all be weighed into his account as favorable putting him in high esteem with his Creator and Sustainer.

Because Islam teaches that this life is only a test or trial for the individual to show him his true nature, it is only natural that he would accept death as not so much an ending to everything but more as a beginning of the final and lasting life in the Hereafter.

Before entering into either of the final lodging places i.e.; Heaven or Hell, there must needs be a Day of Judgment or showing of one's true self to make them aware of their own nature and thereby understand what they have sent on ahead during their life here on this earth.

Every person will be rewarded [or punished] according to their attitude, appreciation and efforts during this stay on earth. None will be asked about the actions and beliefs of others, nor will anyone be asked regarding that which he was unaware of or incapable of doing.

As the life here is considered as an examination for the individual, the death stage is considered as a resting period after the test. It could be easy for those who were faithful and dedicated or it could be grueling and horrible for the wicked.

Reward and punishment will be in direct proportion to each person and it is only Allah, alone who will be the Final Judge over us all.

So in the teachings of the True Surrender, Submission, Obedience, In Sincerity and Peace to the Almighty One God [Islam], the line of life and its purpose is logical, clear and simple:

• The first life is a test

• The life in the grave is a resting or waiting place before the Day of Judgment

• The Day of Judgment brings about the clear understanding of what will now happen to the individual based on his own desires and actions

• The Permanent or Afterlife will either be spend in luxurious splendor or miserable punishment

Following this clear understanding of life, the Muslim's purpose is clear

First of all, he has no doubt in his mind that:

He is only created by Allah

He is going to spend a period of time in this material world [called "Ad Dunyah" in Arabic]

He knows he will die

He knows he will spend time in the grave, either pleasant or difficult depending on his own choice of attitude and actions

He knows he will be resurrected for the Day of Judgment

He knows he will be judged according to the most fair of standards by Allah the All Mighty, the All Knowing

He realizes his attitude and actions are going to come under very close scrutiny

Ø He knows that this short life compared to the Eternal Life was in fact, only for a test

This life is very meaningful and purposeful to the Believing Muslim, as he realizes that it will determine his outcome and permanent position in the Next Life.

The Muslim's permanent purpose is to Surrender, Submit, Obey, in Purity and Peace to Allah the Almighty, carrying out His Orders and staying in some form of worship to Him as much as possible every day.

This includes the orders of Allah in His Book, the Holy Quran and His final Messenger -Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon him- as follows:

1. Believing and declaring that "There is no god throughout all the creation of Allah that is worthy of worship, all worship is due only to Allah, alone and He has no partners or helpers nor does He share His Lordship with any of His creations. And Muhammad, the son of Abdullah Ibn Abdul Mutallib (about 1450 years ago) is the last and final messenger and servant of Almighty Allah, and is the culmination in a long line of prophets sent to mankind throughout man's history, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Dawud (David), Soliman (Solomon), Al Maseeh Isa Abnu Maryam (Jesus Christ), may Almighty Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon them all."

2. Establishing the regular five times ritualistic prayer (salat) in the stated times

3. Paying the charity tax (Zakat = about 2.5% of one's holdings - not his income, annually)

4. Fasting the month of Ramadan [lunar calendar]

5. Pilgrimage to the House of Allah in Mecca at least once in the life of the person, provided he has the ability and the way is safe

For a disbeliever the purpose of this life is to collect and amass great wealth, money, power and position. Over indulging in eating, drinking, drugs, sex and gambling are a high priority to them. But all of this will not avail them anything good in the grave, on the Day of Judgment or in the Next Life. Eventually he will be faced with the question:

Now what?

What's Next?

Where am I going?

What will happen to me?

He will come to know. For sure he will come to know. But then what will the knowledge avail him?

Look how Islam solves the mystery of the puzzle of life. It provides the answers to the questions and concerns of the human beings on all levels and in every aspect. It is really quite simple.

The purpose of life as understood by the Believing Muslim can be simply stated in only two words:

Obey God!

Final Conclusion based on the above considerations:

Our only purpose and salvation lie in those two words. We must come to know our Creator, Sustainer and Ultimate Judge. We must learn to believe in Him, thank Him, praise Him, honor Him and worship Him, alone without any partners from His Creation. We must learn about His Messengers and Prophets, peace be upon them, and the message with which they were all sent. We must learn the Word of God as was directly revealed, preserved and memorized and passed down by memory throughout all the generations of Muslims to the present day.

Those who are in search of truth, having open minds and hearts will recognize this as a message in truth and sincerity. Open your heart and your mind now and ask the Almighty God of the Universe [Allah] to guide you now to His True Way. And then be ready to accept your true purpose in life.

Yusuf Estes

Islamic morality commands believers to behave justly when taking a decision, speaking or working, and in short in all areas of their lives. God's commandments in the Qur'an and the traditional ways of our Prophet describe that understanding of justice in great detail. All the messengers revealed to us in the Qur'an, brought peace and justice to all the communities they were sent to with their warnings and the prophets were a means whereby cruelty and despotism were lifted from the shoulders of the community of the faithful. As God has revealed in one verse;

Every nation has a Messenger and when their Messenger comes everything is decided between them justly. They are not wronged. (Qur'an 10: 47)

The most important feature of the Islamic understanding of justice is that it commands justice at all times, even if the person one is dealing with is very close to one. As God commands in another verse:

You who have faith! be upholders of justice, bearing witness for God alone, even against yourselves or your parents and relatives. Whether they are rich or poor, God is well able to look after them. Do not follow your own desires and deviate from the truth. If you twist or turn away, God is aware of what you do. (Qur'an 4: 135)

God commands you to return to their owners the things you hold on trust and, when you judge between people, to judge with justice. How excellent is what God exhorts you to do! (Qur'an 4:58)

As this verse makes clear, the wealth or social status of the person he is dealing with is of no importance to a believer. The important thing is fairness, that nobody should be treated unjustly, and the scrupulous implementation of the words of God. This is how it is commanded in another verse:

You who have Faith! show integrity for the sake of God, bearing witness with justice. Do not let hatred for a people incite you into not being just. Be just. That is closer to taqwa (God consciousness). Have taqwa of God. God is aware of what you do. (Qur'an 5: 8)

In this verse, God orders the faithful always to act justly, even when it comes to their own enemies. No Muslim can make a spontaneous decision on the basis that the person he is dealing with once harmed him or left him in a difficult situation, or that he is a personal enemy. If the other side is genuinely in the wrong, the Muslim has a duty to respond with good and to display the morality commanded by God.

God has issued the following commandment to believers:

God does not forbid you from being good to those who have not fought you in the religion or driven you from your homes, or from being just towards them. God loves those who are just. (Qur'an 60: 8)

He has informed Muslims what the nature of their relationships with other communities should be. These verses are the very foundation of a believer's view of all other people. A Muslim's attitude towards others is formed not by the nature of the person he is dealing with, but rather by God's revelations in the Qur'an. That is why Muslims with pure hearts always support what is right. Their determination on this matter is revealed in these terms,

Among those We have created there is a community who guide by the Truth and act justly according to it. (Qur'an 7: 181)

Other verses on the subject of justice read:

God commands you to return to their owners the things you hold on trust and, when you judge between people, to judge with justice. How excellent is what God exhorts you to do! God is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (Qur'an 4: 58)

Say: 'My Lord has commanded justice. Stand and face Him in every mosque and call on Him, making your religion sincerely His. As He originated you, so you will return.' (Qur'an 7: 29)

God commands justice and doing good and giving to relatives. And He forbids indecency and doing wrong and tyranny. He warns you so that hopefully you will pay heed. (Qur'an 16: 90)

According to the view of justice as set out in the Qur'an, the religion, race and gender of the person one is dealing with are of no importance. That is because Islam maintains that all races and genders are equal. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "All men come from the Prophet Adam, and the Prophet Adam comes from the earth,' there is no difference between people."(Reported by Ibn Majah) Features such as skin color, social status and wealth confer no superiority on anybody.

All over the world people are subjected to cruel treatment because of their race, language or skin color. Yet according to the Qur'an, one of the reasons for the creation of different tribes and peoples is that 'they should come to know one another.' All tribes and nations are the servants of God, and must come to know one another and learn their different cultures, languages, customs and abilities. One intention behind the existence of different nations and races is cultural wealth, not war and conflict. All true believers know very well that only godliness can impart superiority, in other words the fear of God and faith in Him. As God has revealed in the Qur'an:

Mankind! We created you from a male and female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you might come to know each other. The noblest among you in God's sight is the one with the most taqwa. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Qur'an 49: 13)

Elsewhere, He has revealed:

Among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and earth and the variety of your languages and colors. There are certainly Signs in that for every being. (Qur'an 30: 22)

When we look at the history of Islam we see many examples in which the faithful behaved with complete justice towards other races. Islam grew unbelievably quickly over a wide area, taking in Africa, Asia and Europe. The beauty of Islamic morality were thus spread by means of these conquests. Islam has spread to all races, nations, social structures and regions, and has brought millions of people together with a bond of brotherhood the like of which the world had never before seen.

Professor Hamilton Alexander Rossken Gibb in his book Whither Islam, describes the Islamic view of other races:

"No other society has such a record of success uniting in an equality of status, of opportunity, and of endeavors so many and so various races of mankind . . . Islam has still the power to reconcile apparently irreconcilable elements of race and tradition. If ever the opposition of the great societies of East and West is to be replaced by cooperation, the mediation of Islam is an indispensable condition." (H.A.R. Gibb, Whither Islam, London, 1932, p. 379)

Islamic morality aims at a society built on brotherhood, peace, freedom and security. That is why all communities that have come into contact with Islam have given up their oppressive, cruel and aggressive ways, and instead built a society built on peace. Many Western historians have expressed that fact in their works and stated how Islam had deep and positive effects on communities that came into contact with it. In his book The Making of Humanity, Professor Robert Briffault discusses the relationship between Western society and Islam:

"The ideas that inspired the French Revolution and the Declaration of Rights, that guided the framing of the American Constitution and inflamed that struggle for independence in the Latin American countries [and elsewhere] were not inventions of the West. They find their ultimate inspiration and source in the Holy Quran." (Prof. Robert Briffault, The Making of Humanity)

The truths in the above extracts are an indication of the way that Islamic morality has taught people about peace, tolerance and justice down the centuries. Nowadays, everybody is seeking just such a model, and there is no reason why such a culture should not once more come about. All that is necessary is for people to want to live by the morality of the Qur'an, beginning with themselves and later making efforts to spread it to other people. When the morality commanded in the Qur'an begins to be implemented everybody, from the very highest ranks to the very lowest, will be just, compassionate, tolerant, full of love, respectful and forgiving, and that will bring peace to the whole of society.

Question:

Living in America I'm surrounded by stereotypes and assumptions concerning Muslims and this supposed mission to kill all non-believers (which, apparently I'm suppose to believe is all Americans and Jews :P ), but I want to know what's the real deal on all this. I know Muslim isn't a race, it's a religious group, so what does the Qur'an say about murder, or killing of innocent people?

Answer:

First, i would like to thank you for asking a Muslim this question. Many people ask other religions or people who hate Islam questions about Islam, so you know there not going to give you the straight facts. Always, and Always ask a Muslim about Islam. They will give you the questions straight from the Quran, people who hate Islam will take a verse from the Quran that referenced a battle that was taking place and they will apply it to a basketball game. No one is allowed to pull text and translate them as they wish, anytime you read something negative about the Quran, or they show a verse about killing or women, just go to an Islamic website, not and Athiest, Christian or Jewish  website, and read the Quran yourself, read half a page before and after that verse so you know exactly what the text reads and what setting was this verse first revealed.

Remember, there are 1.5 Billion Muslims in the world, you cannot judge the Entire religion for a dozen people. that makes no sense.

now, what does the Quran say about murder, or the killing of innocent people?

According to Islam it is a great sin to kill an innocent person, and anyone who does so will suffer great torment in the hereafter:

...So We decreed for the tribe of Israel that if someone kills another person - unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the earth - it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind. Our Messengers came to them with Clear Signs but even after that many of them committed outrages in the earth. (Qur'an 5: 32)

As we can see from the above verse, killing one innocent person is regarded as equivalent to killing all of mankind. In another verse, the importance that the faithful attach to life is expressed in these terms:

"Those who do not call on any other god together with Allah and do not kill anyone God has made inviolate, except with the right to do so, and do not fornicate; anyone who does that will receive an evil punishment" (Qur'an 25: 68)

In yet another verse, God issues the following commandment:

Say: 'Come and I will recite to you what your Lord has made forbidden for you': that you do not associate anything with Him; that you are good to your parents; that you do not kill your children because of poverty - We will provide for you and them; that you do not approach indecency - outward or inward; that you do not kill any person God has made inviolate - except with the right to do so. That is what He instructs you to do so that hopefully you will use your intellect. (Qur'an 6: 151)

Any Muslim who believes in God with a sincere heart, who scrupulously abides by His words and fears suffering in the hereafter will avoid harming even one other person. That is because he knows that God is the Lord of Infinite Justice, and will suitably reward him for all his deeds. In one of the prophetic traditions, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) listed the kinds of people who are not pleasing to God:

'Those who act cruelly and unjustly in the sacred lands, those who yearn for the ways of the ignorant and those who wrongly shed humanblood.' (Reported in Bukhari)

The word Jihad stems from the Arabic root word (J-H-D), which means "strive." Other words derived from this root include "effort," "labor," and "fatigue." Essentially Jihad is an effort to practice religion in the face of oppression and persecution. The effort may come in fighting the evil in your own heart, or in standing up to a dictator. Military effort is included as an option, but as a last resort and not "to spread Islam by the sword" as the stereotype would have one believe.

Answer: The Qur'an describes Jihad as a system of checks and balances, as a way that Allah set up to "check one people by means of another." When one person or group transgresses their limits and violates the rights of others, Muslims have the right and the duty to "check" them and bring them back into line. There are several verses of the Qur'an that describe jihad in this manner. One example:

"And did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief; but Allah is full of Bounty to all the worlds" -Qur'an 2:251

Islam never tolerates unprovoked aggression from its own side; Muslims are commanded in the Qur'an not to begin hostilities, embark on any act of aggression, violate the rights of others, or harm the innocent. Even hurting or destroying animals or trees is forbidden. War is waged only to defend the religious community against oppression and persecution, because the Qur'an says that "persecution is worse than slaughter" and "let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression" (Qur'an 2:190-193). Therefore, if non-Muslims are peaceful or indifferent to Islam, there is no justified reason to declare war on them.

The Qur'an describes those people who are permitted to fight:

"They are those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right, for no cause except that they say, 'Our Lord is Allah.' Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of God is commemorated in abundant measure..." -Qur'an 22:40

Note that the verse specifically commands the protection of all houses of worship. Finally, the Qur'an also says, "Let there be no compulsion in religion" (2:256). Forcing someone at the point of a sword to choose death or Islam is an idea that is foreign to Islam in spirit and in historical practice. There is absolutely no question of waging a "holy war" to "spread the faith" and compel people to embrace Islam; that would be an unholy war and the people's forced conversions would not be sincere.

Answer

The words Islam and Muslim are terms that are used to describe the religion started by Prophet Mohammad. Islam refers more on the religion and the act of surrendering to Allah, while the term Muslim talks about the person who is following the belief or teaching of the religion. In short, Islam is used to describe the religion itself as well as some of its cultural practices and concepts, while Muslim is used to term only the followers of the Islam religion.

Answer: Prayer constitutes one pillar of Islam and is considered ‘the foundation of the religion’. Any Muslim who fails to observe his prayers without reasonable excuse is committing a grave offense and a heinous sin. This offense is so grave because it is not only against God, which is bad enough, but is also against the very nature of man. It is an instinct of man to be inclined to worship great beings, and to aspire to lofty goals. The Greatest Being and the loftiest goal of all is God. The best way to cultivate in an individual a sound personality and actualize his/her aspirations in a mature course of development is the Islamic prayer. To neglect prayer is to suppress the good qualities in human nature and unjustifiably deny it the right to worship and love, the right to aspire and ascend, the right to excel in goodness and achieve noble aims. Such suppression and denial constitute a very serious and destructive offense. Here lies the significance and vitality of prayer in the life of an individual.

It should always be borne in mind that God does not need man’s prayer, because He is free of all needs. He is only interested in our prosperity and wellbeing in every sense. When He emphasizes the necessity of prayer and charges us with the duty, He means to help us; because whatever good we do is for our own benefit, and whatever offense we commit is against our own souls. Here, too, man is the center of gravity, and his general welfare is the main concern. The benefit which man can derive from the Islamic prayer is immeasurable, and the blessing of prayer is beyond imagination. This is not just a ‘theory’ or conventional assumption; it is a fascinating fact and a spiritual experience. Here is an explanation of the effectiveness of the Islamic prayer:

1.  It strengthens belief in the Existence and Goodness of God and transmits this belief into the innermost recesses of man’s heart.

2.  It enlivens this belief and makes it constructive in the practical course of life.

3.  It helps a person to realize his/her natural and instinctive aspirations to greatness and high morality, to excellence and virtuous growth.

4.  It purifies the heart and develops the mind, cultivates the conscience and comforts the soul.

5.  It fosters the good and decent elements in man, and suppresses the evil and indecent inclinations.

6.  It restrains from shameful and unjust deeds.

When we analyze the Islamic prayer and study its unique nature, it will reveal to us that it is not merely a sequence of physical movements or an empty recital of the Holy Book. It is a matchless and unprecedented method of intellectual meditation and spiritual devotion, of moral elevation and physical exercise, all combined. It is an exclusively Islamic experience where every muscle of the body joins the soul and the mind in the worship and glory of God. It is difficult for anyone to impart in words the full meaning of the Islamic prayer, yet it can be said that it is:

1.  A lesson in discipline and willpower;

2.  A practice in devotion to God and all worthy objectives;

3.  A vigilant reminder of God and constant revelation of His Goodness;

4.  A seed of spiritual cultivation and moral soundness;

5.  A guide to the most upright way of life;

6.  A safeguard against decency and evil, against deviation and going astray;

7. A demonstration of true equality, solid unity, and brotherhood;

8.  An expression of thankfulness to God and appreciation of Him;

9.  A course of inner peace and stability;

10. An abundant source of patience and courage, of hope and confidence.

Answer

It was revealed over 1,400 years ago, and it has never been altered nor changed.

Answer: Some other religions teach "God is everywhere." This is actually called "pantheism" and it is the opposite of our belief system in Islam. Allah tells us clearly there is nothing, anywhere in the universe like Him similar to his likeness, nor is He ever in His creation.

He tells us in the Quran He created the universe in six "yawm" (periods of time) and then He "astawah 'ala al Arsh" (rose up, above His Throne). He is there (above His Throne) and will remain there until the End Times.

Allah has such complete Knowledge as to be able to Know all things past, present and future in all places at exactly the same time. The same can be said for His absolute Hearing and Seeing. In this way, His Knowledge, His Hearing, His Sight is everywhere simultaneously.

In this regard, the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told us He is as close to us as our jugular vein. He also explained Allah is "with us" when we are in sincere worship to Him and in times of need. Naturally, this would not compromise His existence outside of His creation.

The Quran offers us a more detailed understanding of Where (and Who) Allah is.

"Certainly your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six yaum (days or periods of time), and then He Istawa (rose above) the Throne. He brings the night as a cover over the day rapidly, and the sun, the moon, the stars subject to His Command. Surely, His is the Creation and the Commandment. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the universe!"

[Noble Quran 7:54]

"Indeed, your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six yaum (days or periods of time), and then He Istawa (rose above), the Throne, disposing the affair of everything. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except by His Permission. This is Allah, your Lord, so worship Him. Won't you then remember?" [Noble Quran 10:3]

"It is Allah who erected the heavens without pillars that you [can] see; then He Istawa (rose above) the Throne and made subject the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term. He arranges [each] matter; He details the signs that you may, of the meeting with your Lord, be certain."

[Noble Quran 13:2]

Who created the heavens and the earth in six yaum (days or periods of time), and then He Istawa (rose above) the Throne. The Most Beneficent! Ask Him, as He is Al-Khabir (The All-Knower of everything). [Noble Quran 25:59]

Who created the heavens and the earth in six yaum (days or periods of time), and then He Istawa (rose above) the Throne. You (mankind) have none, besides Him, as a Wali (protector or helper etc.) or an intercessor.

Won't you then remember (accepting admonishment)? [Noble Quran 32:4]

And indeed We (Allah uses the word "We" in the royal sense like the king who says, "We decree the following...", this is not in the plural) created the heavens and the earth and everything in between in six days and fatigue never touched Us (again, this is the royal "Us" not plural). [Noble Quran 50:38]

He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six yaum (days or periods of time), and then He Istawa (rose above) the Throne. He knows what goes into the earth and what comes forth from it, what descends from the heaven and what ascends up to it. And He is with you (by His Knowledge) where so ever you may be. And Allah is the All-Seer of what you do. [Noble Quran 57:4]

We observe from these statements a very logical approach to understanding the nature of God without comparing Him to creation or putting Him in His creation.

Answer: The Arabic word “Allah” means “The God.”  While the two terms might be used interchangeably, many English-speaking Muslims prefer the former, as its linguistic implications are more precise in defining their sole deity.

A closer understanding of the word "Allah" may be gained by examining the term linguistically.  Its first two letters, "Al," most closely translated as “the” in English, constitute the definite article; thus it cannot be pluralized.  While the English word "God" can transformed to take on different meanings such as "gods" and "goddess," the Arabic word Allah can undergo no such changes.  In fact, the word Allah can refer to nothing other than the Creator of the heavens and the earth.  In the Qur’an, Allah is referred to using the singular pronoun “huwa,” usually translated as “he” or “it.”  However, the translator's rule of thumb ("translation is treachery to the text") proves true here as the English speaker might gather from these terms that his Lord's reality is either opposite to the nature of a female or that his Lord is an inanimate object, both of which are incorrect.  These tools of classification (male, female, animate, inanimate) used to help us understand the nature of the CREATION cannot accurately portray the reality of the CREATOR, a reality too awesome for the human intellect to encompass.

Islam's holy scriptures emphasize God’s absolute, incomparable Perfection and His constant Custody over the affairs of His Creation.  Allah is All-Seeing, All-Knowing, and All-Hearing.  He is unlike anything.  His Bounty is infinite, His Mercy incomparable, His Justice indisputable, His Decree inarguable, His Law final, and His Words never run dry.

Since God created and continues to sustain the heavens and earth Alone with no partner, He deserves to be worshipped alone with no partner.  Paying tribute to, and directing worship toward, a sole entity is a part of human nature.  It is cited that even atheists tend to extol some form of idol, be it their own whims and opinions, human intellect, modern science, or the like. Worshipping God alone is the only proper expression of this universal inclination to pay tribute to some guiding force.

Answer: Prophet Muhammad is the final Messenger of God, sent to preach the worship of One God without associations or paganistic images.  He was born in the year 560 CE, in the prosperous city of Makkah (mentioned in the Bible as “Becca”).  Through his paternal lineage, Prophet Muhammad is the descendant of Prophet Abraham and his son, Prophet Ishmael.

The coming of Prophet Muhammad is foretold in the scripture of Moses and Jesus.  He bore particular signs known to the scholars of these communities. God chose Muhammad and kept his heart and soul pure throughout his life as a vessel for His Word and Religion.  He lived forty years as a regular citizen, much like the common men of Makkah.  In childhood, he was an orphan shepherd; in adulthood, a merchant, a husband and a father.  His steady reputation earned him the nickname “al-Ameen,” meaning “The Trustworthy.” He was always known for his meritorious character, charity and fair dealings with people.

The young Muhammad, before receiving the Message of Islam, never entered politics.  He was socially concerned, a dedicated family member, but not an activist. In his religious life before receiving prophethood, he declined the worship of idols and used to withdraw into seclusion in the local mountain of Hira in meditative search of a higher connection with truth and God than Makkan society afforded.

It was there, in the cave of Hira and at the age of forty, that Prophet Muhammad first met the Angel Gabriel, who brought him the first revelation of the Qur’an, after which he took up the mission of Islam.  He continuously preached for twenty-three years, until his death at age sixty-three.  Through various stages of social and political persecution, Prophet Muhammad endured and remained steadfast in the message of Islam, ultimately establishing a vast dominion for the religion replete with scholars, warriors, statesmen, and other roles vital to the preservation of this dynamic new nation.

His foremost concern was the salvation of mankind.  He informed that his likeness was that of a man who struggled to shew moths away from a fire, though the moths ignorantly endeavored to burn themselves, attracted by the glow.

On his deathbed, the Prophet Muhammad was heard repeatedly saying, “As-Salah, as-salah” meaning “The Prayer, the prayer,” exhorting his followers to mind their prayers to God.  The word “salah” is rooted in the word “silah,” which means “connection.”  From his initial seclusions in the cave of Hirah until his death more than twenty years later, Prophet Muhammad’s life revolved around seeking personal connection to God, and preaching a message that connected human beings to their Creator without intercessory idols or saints.

Answer

The fact that consumption of pork is prohibited in Islam is well known. The following points explain various aspects of this prohibition:

1. Pork prohibited in Quran
The Quran prohibits the consumption of pork in no less than 4 different places. It is prohibited in 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 and 16:115.

"Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah." (Quran 5:3)

The above verses of the Holy Quran are sufficient to satisfy a Muslim as to why pork is forbidden.

2. Pork prohibited in the Bible

The Christian is likely to be convinced by his religious scriptures. The Bible prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of Leviticus
"And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you". "Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are unclean to you." [Leviticus 11:7-8]

Pork is also prohibited in the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy

"And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you. Ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass." [Deuteronomy 14:8]

A similar prohibition is repeated in the Bible in the book of Isaiah chapter 65 verse 2-5.

3. Consumption of pork causes several diseases
The other non-Muslims and atheists will agree only if convinced through reason, logic and science. Eating of pork can cause no less than seventy different types of diseases. A person can have various helminthes like roundworm, pinworm, hookworm, etc. One of the most dangerous is Taenia Solium, which is in lay man’s terminology called tapeworm. It harbours in the intestine and is very long. Its ova i.e. eggs, enter the blood stream and can reach almost all the organs of the body. If it enters the brain it can cause memory loss. If it enters the heart it can cause heart attack, if it enters the eye it can cause blindness, if it enters the liver it can cause liver damage. It can damage almost all the organs of the body.

Another dangerous helminthes is Trichura Tichurasis. A common misconception about pork is that if it is cooked well, these ova die. In a research project undertaken in America, it was found that out of twenty-four people suffering from Trichura Tichurasis, twenty two had cooked the pork very well. This indicates that the ova present in the pork do not die under normal cooking temperature.

4. Pork has fat building material
Pork has very little muscle building material and contains excess of fat. This fat gets deposited in the vessels and can cause hypertension and heart attack. It is not surprising that over 50% of Americans suffer from hypertension.

5. Pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth
The pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth. It lives and thrives on muck, fecies and dirt. It is the best scavenger that I know that God has produced. In the villages they don’t have modern toilets and the villagers excrete in the open air. Also,Very often excreta is cleared by pigs.

Some may argue that in advanced countries like Australia, pigs are bred in very clean and hygienic conditions. Even in these hygienic conditions the pigs are kept together in sties. No matter how hard you try to keep them clean they are filthy by nature. They eat and enjoy their own as well as their neighbor’s excreta.

Question: Why dont women have rights in Islam? I heard is some countries they cant even drive??

Answer: This is not a true statement, women have more rights in Islam than any other religion.
Gender discrimination  is probably  one of the most popular issues that western society applies  to the Muslim countries. And the western media and the socialists groups always use this issue to suppress the Islamic countries. This issue is used also against the Islamic culture and belief. But this word is discovered by the western society and their culture. Gender discrimination means evaluating the males over the females. That means neglecting the females so that they are  deprived of human rights and also get fewer opportunities in every aspect of life than the males.

Such discrimination gives the supreme power to the males. And it is always said that the Islamic culture and beliefs declare males as the supreme type over the females. For that reason the western secular society there is always a negative thinking about the Muslim countries. But the truth is this type of thinking is totally wrong. Gender discrimination is not in the Islamic culture at all. This is a practice which has been found in every corner of the world. And although in Muslim countries it is also found but that is not a part of Islam. According to Islam the male and the female are equal and there is nothing like supremacy among them. And Islamic culture says that females are also capable of doing work like males but, they are not created to work like males. Instead of that, females have something nobler to do which is necessary to build a nation. Their responsibilities as mother are more important in Islam because that is something no one else can do. And to build a family is the most important institutions which are totally controlled by a mother. Islam does not prohibit the females to work outside, but it encourages that it is more important service a nation can get from a female as a mother than a worker. And for that reason Islam declare the females free from any economic responsibilities. It is not a dependency upon the husband, father or brother but, it is a right.

But, unfortunately due to lack of knowledge and illiteracy in remote areas of the Muslim countries women are often faced this gender discrimination. And such type of discrimination is found in illiterate populations in all other countries. So, gender discrimination is never a culture in Muslim countries. The histories of the Islamic civilization also reveal this truth. It is because we can find a lot of women in the Islamic history who were noble due to their knowledge and work. And the important thing is to do so they did not need to go out of Islamic regulations. Islam always encourages that the Muslim women will take part in constructive work for the nations rather than economic. And for that reason still in this period the Muslim countries are stronger in social and family structure. In the western countries everybody is always thinking about themselves. And as a result there is no strong bond between the family members. The family cannot play any major role for their nation, which is the major cause of the social and mental disorders in the western society. Because when you are not willing to sacrifice for your children, then how could you think that once he will sacrifice for you and the country? For that reason it is not a good idea of taking advice for social development from the western countries.

The common gender discrimination activities that are common in the Muslim world are that the families members do not take  it positively when the girl or the wife wants to do any job outside. And it is surely a bad thing because if anyone wants to do  such job and she also can get secure environment ,there is nothing to hold him back. Also there was a time when this is so evident. If you look around the Muslim world, you could find Muslim women doing jobs and business freely. Also there are female prime ministers and parliament members in Muslim countries. The literacy rates of the Muslim women are also now increasing. And in some countries female education is totally free and also there are scholarships to encourage them in study. So this issue is not a vital thing now in Muslim world.