The submission and obedience of man to His Creator is the essence of Islam. The Name “Islam” is
chosen by God (Allaah) and not by man. It is the same message revealed to all the prophets and
Messengers by Allaah and which they spread amongst their respective nations. In its final and universal
form it was revealed to Muhammad (
: may Allaah exalt his mention and save him and his message
from all kinds of evil).

Allaah is the identifying name or title of the Majestic, sole and True God. This noun which is the name
of Allaah applies to none other than Him. He, Most Majestic and Most High, has other names all of
which follow on from His name Allaah. The meaning of the name Allaah is the ma’looh (that which is
worshipped out of love, magnification, deification, and longing). He is the Creator: to Him belongs the
Commandment. No worship is worthy of being given to a stone, statue, a cross, a triangle, Khomeini,
Farakhan, Elijas, Malcom’s X or Y, Ghandi, Krishna, Gurus, Buddha, Mahatma, Emperor, Joseph
Smith, Sun, Moon (not to that from Korea too), Diana, light fire, rivers, cows, Rama, Temples,
Prophets, Messengers (Yes! Muslims do not worship Muhammad (saw
), Saints, Priests, Monks, Haile
Selassie, Movie Stars, Sheiks, etc.!! All are created beings or things.

The name Allaah is not chosen by man and it is not named after a prophet, saint or any famous man.
The name “Allaah” was referred to by all prophets including Adam, Jesus, Moses, and by the last and
final Prophet, Muhammad (saw
), as the One true God who deserves to be worshipped alone.
The innate nature in man (fitrah) recognizes what is good and bad, what is true and false. It
recognizes that the Attributes of Allaah must be True, Unique, and All-Perfect. It does not feel
comfortable towards any kind of degradation of His Attributes nor does it relax towards associating
human qualities to the Creator. Many who became “discontent with God” did so because of the
practices of the Church in medieval Europe and because of the claims of “god dwelling in a son”, and
that “everyone is born with an original sin”. They “escaped” into worshipping a new theory called
“mother nature” as well as the “material world”. With the advancement of materialistic technology
others from different religions adopted the concept of “forgetting about God” and “let us live this life
and enjoy it!” not realizing that they have chosen the worship of the “origin god” of Rome: The god of
desire!

Today we can see that all of this materialistic progress produced a spiritual vacuum that led to complex
social, economical, political, and psychological problems. Many of those who “fled” their “religions”
are in search again. Some try to “escape” the complexity of their daily lives via various means. Those
who had the chance to examine the Qur’an and Islam, proceed with a complete code for life which
requires man to fulfill the purpose for his presence on earth. Allaah does not want for man to be
enslaved to any false deity: nature, drugs, lust, money, other men, desire, or sex. He provides the
proofs that he is the One who can deliver man from the slavery to any form of creation and to turn to
his Creator alone.

The Creator has Perfect Attributes. He is the First, nothing is before Him. He is the Last, everything
ends except Him; the Most High, nothing is above Him; the Most Near, nothing is beyond His reach
and his compassing, and He is the Most High in His nearness. He is the Ever-Living, to Him we shall
all return, where everyone will be dealt with in the Most Perfect and Just way. He does not beget nor is
He begotten. Those who attribute Divinity to Jesus forget or ignore the fact that Jesus was in a
mother’s womb. He needed nutrition; he was born and grew up to be a man. He was trusted with the
Gospel (Injeel) as a message to the Children of Israel. A man-messenger calling his nation not to
worship him. A man who needs to eat, walk, sleep, rest, etc. cannot have Divine Attributes because he
is in need, but Allaah, the God of Jesus, is far above any imperfection.

With respect to Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Rastafarianism, etc., all are forms of worship to
created beings/things in one form or another. Jews had attributed a nationalistic belonging to Allaah:
“The Tribal God” of Israel. Men and women following these religions were born with the natural
inclination of worshipping their Creator, Allaah. It is their parents who had driven them into their
respective traditions. Once they are exposed to the Signs of Allaah around them, or in the Qur’an, or to
someone who triggers their Fitrah (natural inclination to worship Allaah alone), the reverting process
begins, and that is why we see a universal spreading of Islam.

There are many distortions of Islam in the media, worldwide. However, Despite the wrong practices of
some Muslims (rulers and ruled) in some countries, those who seek the truth are judging Islam
according to its doctrines. That is why we continue to witness a global growth in the number of people
accepting this true religion of Allaah. The opposition to Islam will intensify with the spread of this truth
in the world. This is not a conflict of “civilizations”, but rather the real struggle between the truths
presented in the creed and principles of Islam and false doctrines and ways of worship. This is a real
challenge for those who seek the Truth. Man is created for a purpose: to live a life in accordance with
Allaah’s way. Why Not? Do we posses the air we breathe? Did we create ourselves or others? Or
were we ourselves the Creators? So is it our right to ignore our Creator when we are all need of Him?
Allaah is All-Just and All-Wise. He does not intend confusion for His Creation. The religion accepted
to Him is the one chosen by Him. Its essence must be One, because He is One and only one True God.
It is the religion of submission to the Will and Commandment of the One Who brought us to life, the
Ever Living who will never die. It is the complete way of life for all mankind. All these qualities are
chosen by Allaah in His only religion: Islam.

I hope that you will come with an open heart to read the Noble Qur'aan, because none can expose the
truth better than the Word of Allaah. The Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (saw
) in Arabic
and it is not authored by him for he was unlettered. The translations of its meanings into many
languages are available in bookstores or in an Islamic Center close to you.
You may want to know how does one become a Muslim. In order to become a Muslim one must
openly recite ash-shahaadah (the profession of faith): La ilaaha illallaah, Muhammad Rasoolullaah
which means that there is no true god except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah.
This means that there is no god worthy of being worshipped but Allaah, and that He must be
worshipped only according to the teaching of His Messenger Muhammad (saw
). Those teachings are best
understood by the Prophet’s companions, and those who rightfully follow their path until the Day of
Resurrection. They are called as-salaf as-saalih (the Righteous Predecessors). May Allaah, the Most
High, guide us all to this path.

By: Dr. Saleh As-Saleh