New to Islam

Part 1: The Story Of Waasil Ad-Damashqee

We would like to present to the noble reader a series of refutations against the enemies of this Ummah, The Christians


When our noble Shaykh, Mohammed Ibraheim Al-Masree Al-Atharee - may Allah preserve him- mentioned thisnarration, he mentioned that even if the chain is unauthentic, the narration still serves a purpose as it highlights to us some points against the enemies of this Ummah, The Christians


بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم


Reported by Shaykh Abul-Hussein, 'Alee Bin Mohammed Bin Mohammed Bin Abdullah Bin Bishaar As-Sukaree that Abu 'Amr, 'Uthmaan Bin Ahmed Bin Abdullah Bin As-Sammaak narrated to him that 'Ubayd Bin Mohammed Bin Khalaf Al-Bazzaar related that Al-Hassan Bin As-Sabbaah Al-Bazzaar mentioned that Mohammed Bin Katheer Al-Masseesee As-San'aanee narrated from Makhlad BinAl-Hussein, from Waasil (Bin Abdur-Rahmaan Al-Basree) who said:

A young boy from a tribe of Roman generals was taken prisoner- and he was a beautiful young boy- and as soon as (those who captured him) approached the Muslim land he met with the ruler, and this was during the rule of Bani 'Umayyah; and (the ruler) named him Basheer. He (i.e. the ruler) ordered him to the scribes, so he (learned to) write, read the Qur'an, relate poetry, analyse proof and derive rulings, he sought Hadeeth and made Hajj. Then when he reachedpuberty, Shaytaan came to him and whispered to him, and reminded him that Christianity was the religion of his forefathers. Thus he ran away from the Muslim land as an apostate towards the land of the Romans, and that which had been written for him in the book overtookhim. He was then summoned by an oppressive king who asked him concerning his present condition, and that regarding his old condition and what had prompted his entry into Christianity? Thus he informed him of his desire concerning that (i.e. embracing Christianity), and he was elevated in the eye of the king; for he gave him position and made him a general from his generals and bestowed upon him many banquets of honour, and that was the day that was known by him, it was said to be : The banquet of Basheer.1

It was from the pre-ordainment of Allah and his decree that thirty Muslim men were captured, then when they entered upon Basheer he asked each man one by one regarding their religion, and there was amongst them a Shaykh from the people of Damasq (i.e. Damascus, Syria) and it was said (that his name was) Waasil. So Basheer asked him and the Shaykh refused to say anything to him, so Basheer said: “What is wrong with you that you do not answer me?”

The Shaykh replied: “I will not answer you with anything today!”

Then Basheer said to the Shaykh:“I will certainly question you tomorrow, so then prepare an answer” and then ordered him with leaving (his presence).

When it was the next day Basheer called forth, and the Shaykh was entered into his presence.

So Basheer said: “All praise is for Allah, He who existed before anything else did, and He created the seven heavens one above the other with no assistance fromthat what was with him from his creation; then how surprising it isof you (Oh) congregation of 'Arabs, whenyou say:


إن مثَلَ عِيسَى عِندَ الله كَمَثَلِ ءادَم خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ ثٌمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُون
Verily, thelikeness of 'Isa before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created himfrom dust, then (He) said to him: “Be”- and he was.1
Aal 'Imraan 59


The Shaykh kept quiet; so thenBasheer said to him:"What iswrong with you that you do not answer me?”

So (the Shaykh) replied: “How can I answer you and I am a captive before you; for if I had answered with that which you desire(from me) I would have caused my Lords anger upon me, and I would have destroyed my religion, and if I had answered you with that which you do not desire (from me i.e. that which displeases you) I would have feared for my own self?

So then give me the covenant of Allah and His treaty and that which the prophets took from the nations: that you will not deceive me, neither will you scheme against me, nor will you mistreat me with evil oppression and that if you hear the truth you will submit to it”

Basheer replied: “Then you have from me the covenant of Allah and His treaty and that which Allah, mighty and exalted by He, took upon his prophets and that which the prophets took from the nations: that I will not deceive you, neither will I scheme against you, nor will I mistreat you with evil oppression and that if I hear the truth I will submit to it”

The Shaykh said: “As for that which you described from the characteristics of Allah, mighty and exalted be He, then verily you have done well with the description. As for that which your knowledge has not realised and what your opinion has not consolidated, (then it) is greater, Allah is more magnificent and greater than what you have described him with, thus those that describe can never describe his characteristics (upon their true magnification).

As for what you have mentioned from those two men, then you have done a poor job with the description! Did they not both eat food, drink, urinate, defecate, sleep, wake up, rejoice and feel sadness?”

Basheer replied: “Of course”

He (The Shaykh) questioned: “Then why did you make distinction between them?”

Basheer replied: “Because 'Isa Bin Maryam – may peace be upon him- had two souls in one body: a soul that he knew by way of it the unseen matters, that which is in the depths of the sea and those leaves that fall from the trees, and a soul that healed the lepers and those born blind, and gave life to the dead through it.”

The Shaykh said: “Two souls in one body?!!”

Basheer asserted: “Yes”

The Shaykh went on to say: “Then did the stronger one know the position of the weaker one or not?”

Basheer: “May Allah damn you! What would you say if I said that it doesn't know?And what would you say if I said that it knows?”

The Shaykh continued: “If you said that it knows, then I would have said: then what benefit is its strength when it does not push away the terrible afflictions that befell it!? And if you said that it does not know, then I would have said: how can it know the unseen matters and not know the position ofthe (weaker) soul that is together with it in one body?!” Basheer kept silent!

The Shaykh went on saying: “I ask you by Allah! Do you worship the cross as a symbol due to 'Isa Bin Maryam being crucified?”

Basheer replied: “Yes”

The Shaykh continued:“Is this by way of approval from him or by way of disapproval?”

Basheer replied: “This (question) is a sister of the first (i.e. its the same)! What would you say if I had said: with approval from him, you would have said: then what is your grudge (with the Jews for crucifying him)? Give them what they asked for and requested (i.e. they requested 'Isa so that they could crucify him, so then give him to them and be happy, as 'Isa approved of this)? And if I had said: with disapproval, you would have said: then why do you worship that which can not protect it self?”

Then the Shaykh said to Basheer:“I implore you by Allah! Did 'Isa eat food,drink, fast, pray, urinate, defecate, sleep, wake up, rejoice and feel sadness?”

Basheer answered: “Yes”

The Shaykh said: “I implore you by Allah! To whom did he fast and pray?”

He (Basheer) replied: “To Allah glorified and exalted be He” then Basheer added: “By the one who causes harm and benefit, it is not appropriate for the likes of you to live with respect to Christianity! I see you to be a man who has learned speech and I am only a man of the sword (i.e. I am a general), however tomorrow I shall bring to you he who Allah will put you to shame by way of!”

He then ordered him to leave.

When it was the next day, Basheer called forth the Shaykh, and when he entered upon him he saw a priest with a mighty beard.

Basheer said to him (i.e. to the priest): “This man is from the 'Arab, he has with him knowledge, intellect and origin of the 'Arab, and he wishes to enter into our religion; so speak to him until he becomes Christian”, then the priest prostrated to Basheer and said “You always bring me good things and this is the best thing you have ever brought to me.”

The priest then proceeded towards the Shaykh and said: “Oh you Shaykh! You are not an old man that's intellect has left him neither who's understanding has parted from him, and neither are you a young man who has not yet completed his intellect and who has not yet reached understanding, tomorrow I am going to dip you into baptism water(Holy water) and baptise you, and you will come out like the day your mother gave birth to you!”

The Shaykh enquired: “Andwhat is this baptism water?”

The priest replied: “Holy water”

The Shaykh went on: “Who made it holy?”

The priest responded: “I make it holy, me and the bishops before me.”

The Shaykh asked: “So do you have any sins or mistakes?”

The priest said: “Yes, but they are few in number.”

So the Shaykh went on to ask:“Then why does the one who makes the water holy not make himself holy?”

The priest kept quiet, then he said: “I do not make it holy myself!”

The Shaykh asked: “Then how is the story then?”

The Priest explained: “Verily it is a Sunnah from 'Isa Bin Maryam.”

The Shaykh asked: “Then how was it performed?”

The priest responded: “Yahya Bin Zakariyya dipped 'Isa Bin Maryam- may peace be upon them- in (a river) in Jordan, and he wiped his head and made Du'a of blessing for him.”

The Shaykh interjected: “So then 'Isa needed Yahya to wipe his head and make Du'a of blessing for him?! So then worship Yahya, for if that is the case, then Yahya is better for you than 'Isa?!”

The priest kept quiet, and Basheer threw himself down on his mattress, shoved his sleeve in his mouth and started laughing; the priest said (to Basheer): “Stand up” (then said to the Shaykh) “May Allah put you to shame, I invited you to Christianity, however you have already entered into Islam!”

The affair of the Shaykh then reached the king; who then called for him; then he addressed him:“What is this that has reached me about your belittlement of our religion and your slandering?”

The Shaykh replied: “I have a religion and I was quiet regarding it, so when I was asked concerning it I did not find any escape from defending it, so then I defended it.”

The King responded: “Do you have with you proofs?”

The Shaykh affirmed: “Yes! Bring whomsoever you like to debate me; then if the truth was with me then why do you blame me for defending the truth? And if the truth was with you then I would have returned to the truth.”1

So then the king called for the greatest of the Christians; as soon as he entered the king and all who were present prostrated to him together.

The Shaykh enquired: “Oh king, who is this?”

The king replied: “He is the leader of the Christians, he is the one from whom the Christians take their religion.”

The Shaykh questioned: “Has he any child, wife or grandchildren?”

The King responded: “What is wrong with you, may Allah put you to shame! This (man) is more virtuous and purer than to be dirtied by women, this (man) is more virtuous and purer than to have a child ascribed to him, and this (man) is more virtuous and purer than to be dirtied by menstrual blood, this (man) is more virtuous and purer than that!”

The Shaykh continued: “So then you dislike for a human that which occurs from the children of Aadam from defecation, urination, sleep, tiredness from lack of sleep and sexual relations with women, and you allege that The Lord of all creation dwells within the darkness of the body (i.e. by their belief in the trinity, the holy spirit being inside 'Isa), and that He was constricted by the womb (i.e. when Maryam was pregnant), and He was dirtied by menstrual blood (i.e. by being present inside a woman)?”

The priest spoke out: “This is a devil from the devils of the 'Arab, the sea has thrown him upon you, so then send him back to where he came from.”

The Shaykh drew close to the priest and said: “You worship 'Isa Bin Maryam due to him not having any father, then Aadam also had no father and neither any mother, Allah, glorified and exalted be He created him with his own hand and the Angels prostrated to him; so then unite Aadam together with 'Isa so that you have with you two gods!?

Also, ifyou worship him because he gives life to the dead; Then Hazqeel (from the prophets of Bani Isra'eel) you will find him written in the Tourah and the Injeel, We do not reject him and neither do you, he passed by a dead man and invoked Allah for him, glorified and exalted be He, and he raised him (i.e. gave him life) until he (the dead man) spoke to him; so then unite Hazqeel together with 'Isa so that you have with you three gods!?

Also, if you worship him because he displayed to you strange things, then Yash'a Bin Noon was fighting a people, right up until the sun set; so he said to the sun: 'Return with the permission of Allah' then it returned to midday; so then unite Yash'a Bin Noon with 'Isa so that you have with you four gods?!

Also, if you worship him because he was raised into the heavens, then from the Angels of Allah glorified and exalted be He, there are two (that come) for every individual at night and two (that come) during the day, (then) they rise to the heavens, what if we went and added them in order for our intellects to become obscure, and that for us our religion becomes mixed up and that we do not increase inour religion except in bewilderment!?”

Then he (the Shaykh) said: “Oh you priest: inform me about a man if death approached him, would that be easier upon him or for him to be killed?”

He (i.e. the priest) replied: “To be killed”

He (the Shaykh) continued: “Then why did 'Isa Bin Maryam not kill his mother, she was afflicted with the agony of death? If you say that he did kill her, then he who killed his mother was by no means dutiful to her! And if you say that he did not kill her; then he who punishes his mother with the agony of death has not been dutiful to her!?” (T.N. as they say 'Isa is Allah, so then why did he cause the agony of death to befall his mother).

The Priest responded: “Go with him to the great cathedral, for nobody enters it except that they submit and become Christian!”1

The king ordered: “Go with him”

The Shaykh questioned: “Why are you sending me when none of my proofs have been refuted?”

The king responded: “It will not harm you, it is only a house from the houses of your Lord glorified and exalted be He, (you may) mention Allah within.”

The Shaykh said: “If that is the case then there is no harm.”

So then they went and when they entered into the cathedral (the Shaykh) placed his fingers in his ears, raised his voice calling the Adhaan (call to prayer); so they became severely unhappy with that, beat him and throttled him. Then they took him to the king and they said to him: “Oh king, he has made permissible his own death!”

The king turned to him asking:“Why have you made your own death permissible?”

He (the Shaykh) replied: “Oh king, where was I taken?”

He (the king) went on: “they took you to a house from the houses of Allah glorified and exalted be He, in order for you to make mention of your Lord!”

He (the Shaykh) said: “For I did enter and mentioned my lord with my tongue, and I glorified him with my heart, then if every time Allah is mentioned in your cathedrals then your religion becomes humiliated then may Allah increase you in humiliation!”

The king replied: “He has told the truth, there is no reason for you (to kill him).”

They said: “Oh king, we will not be pleased until we kill him.”

The Shaykh spoke: “If you kill me, and that reaches our king, he will kill the priests and bishops, he will destroy the cathedrals, break the crosses and prevent the ringing of bells (within).”

He (the king) asked: “He would do that?”

(The Shaykh) responded: “Yes, so then do not complain (if he does)!”

So then they pondered over that, and decided to leave him.

The Shaykh continued: “Oh king, what do the people of the book accuse the idol worshippers with?”

(The king) replied: “That they worship that which their own hands have made.”

(The Shaykh) continued: “Then why do you worship that which your own hands have made, this is what is in your cathedrals? For if it is in the Injeel; then we do not speak regarding that, and if it is not in the Injeel, then why do you make your religion resemble the religion of the idol worshippers?”

The king replied: “He has told the truth, have you (addressing his people)found this in the Injeel?”

The priest answered: “No.”

So the king said: “Then why do you make my religion resemble the religion of the idol worshippers?” and he ordered the demolishing of the cathedrals; so they started demolishing them whilst crying.

The priest spoke out: “ This is a devil from the devils of the 'Arab, the sea has thrown him upon you, so then send him back to where he came from; do not let a drop of his blood fall in your land, for it will destroy your religion”. So they commissioned some men with taking him back to the land of Damashq (Damascus, Syria), and the king began killing the priests,bishops and generals until they fled to Shaam, as they did not find anybody who could debate him.

End of the narration

In this article, we will try to clear up many of the misconceptions that are prevalent about Islam. Before jumping into the list of misconceptions directly, it is important to give a little interesting background about the source of Islam.

Islam is the name of a way of life which the Creator wants us to follow. We avoid the word religion because in many non-Islamic societies, there is a separation of "religion and state." This separation is not recognized at all in Islam: the Creator is very much concerned with all that we do, including the political, social, economic, and other aspects of our society. Hence, Islam is a complete way of life.

The source of Islam is Allah, the Creator of everything known and unknown to us. He is One, and He is Unique. Allah has taught us about Islam via two mediums: the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Both the Qur'an and Sunnah were transmitted to us, humanity, via the Messenger of Allah: Muhammad bin Abdullah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ﷺ. The Messenger of Allah was nothing more and nothing less than a mortal messenger of the immortal Creator.

The Qur'an is a book containing the literal Word of Allah. It was transmitted from Allah to an angel of His (Gabriel), and from the angel to the Messenger of Allah who delivered it to us. The Qur'an covers a wide variety of topics, including evidence to support its claim of being the Word of the Creator, stories of earlier generations, rules which humanity is asked to obey, and information about the Hereafter. The Qur'an claims that it is protected from change by other than Allah, and this is confirmed by its 1400 year history. The earliest copies and the latest copies are the same.

The Sunnah is the term used to describe how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ lived his life. The Messenger's life is an example for all Muslims, or those who accept Islam, to follow. Whatever the Messenger ﷺ did, said, or approved of is a source of Islam just as much as the Qur'an. The Messenger's role is not overemphasized: his life was dictated by what the Creator desired, and the Messenger did not add or subtract to Islam according to his own personal whim. His life was such that his wife called him "a walking Qur'an."

The Qur'an and Sunnah are the only two mediums by which Allah has directly taught us about Islam. This leads us to the following simple but critical principle:

If any man or woman engages in a belief or action which clearly contradicts the Qur'an or Sunnah, then that belief or action cannot be thought of as `Islamic'.
This rule applies whether the man or woman is Muslim or non-Muslim. Hence, we cannot equate Islam and the Muslims. Islam is the way of life; Muslims are people who claim to follow that way of life. A Muslim may claim to follow Islam, but be wrong. In the context of misconceptions, we can restate the above principle in a slightly different way:

Some misconceptions about Islam are due to the wrong beliefs and actions of Muslims, and others are due to a significant lack of understanding and false stereotyping by non-Muslims.

Misconception 1

Islam is `the religion of peace' because: the Arabic word Islam is derived from the Arabic word "Al-Salaam" which means peace.
It might seem strange to think of this as a misconception, but in fact it is. The root word of Islam is "al-silm" which means "submission" or "surrender." It is understood to mean "submission to Allah." In spite of whatever noble intention has caused many a Muslim to claim that Islam is derived primarily from peace, this is not true. Allah says in the Qur'an (translated):

[2:136] Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed to us and that which was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have surrendered. [Arabic "Muslimoon"]

A secondary root of Islam may be "Al-Salaam" (peace), however the text of the Qur'an makes it clear that Allah has clearly intended the focus of this way of life to be submission to Him. This entails submission to Him at all times, in times of peace, war, ease, or difficulty.

Misconception 2

In Islam, denial of human rights is OK because:
Islam is against pure democracy
Islam tolerates slavery
The misconception does not follow from the reasons given, and the reasons ignore a great deal of information.

As stated earlier, Islam is a complete way of life. Given this, it is not surprising that the Creator is concerned with the method which we choose to govern ourselves. The pre-eminent rule which the Islamic state must observe is stated in the Qur'an (translation follows):

[4:59] O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you do believe in Allah and the Last Day; That is best, and most suitable for final determination.

From this verse, it is clear that the state's obligation of obedience to the Creator is as important as the obedience of the individual. Hence, the Islamic state must derive its law from the Qur'an and Sunnah. This principle excludes certain choices from the Islamic state's options for political and economic systems, such as a pure democracy, unrestricted capitalism, communism, socialism, etc. For example, a pure democracy places the people above the Qur'an and Sunnah, and this is disobedience to the Creator. However, the best alternative to a pure democracy is a democracy that implements and enforces the Shariah (Islamic Law).

The Creator also states in the Qur'an (translated):

So whatever thing you are given, that is only a provision of this world's life, and what is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who believe and rely on their Lord, and those who shun the great sins and indecencies, and whenever they are angry they forgive, and those who respond to their Lord and keep up prayer, and their rule is to take counsel among themselves, and who spend out of what We have given them.[Qur'an 42:36-38]

Allah orders us in this verse to conduct our matters by taking counsel among ourselves, or by consulting each other. This is the methodology of the Islamic state, to consult one another, but to always keep the Qur'an and Sunnah paramount. Any law which contradicts the Qur'an or Sunnah is unlawful. This broad principle of consultation is certainly wide enough to encompass a form of government where all are heard - in fact, encouraged to be heard. The early Islamic states were of this form. The petty governments of many `Muslim countries' today do not apply this principle and in fact commit many crimes against the people.

As for slavery, Islam is unique among the `religions' in its close attention to the peaceful removal of this practice. Before the advent of Islam, slavery was widespread all over the world. The Messenger of Islam taught us that freeing slaves was a great deed in the sight of Allah. From the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we find:

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said,

"Whoever frees a Muslim slave, Allah will save all the parts of his body from the (Hell) Fire as he has freed the body-parts of the slave." Said bin Marjana said that he narrated that Hadith to `Ali bin Al-Husain and he freed his slave for whom `Abdullah bin Ja'far had offered him ten thousand Dirhams or one-thousand Dinars.[3:46:693]

Also from the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Malik's Muwatta, we find:

Narrated Aisha Ummul Mu'minin: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked what was the most excellent kind of slave to free. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, answered, "The most expensive and the most valuable to his master."[38:9:15]

The Creator has also made it easy for slaves to gain their freedom. From the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we find:

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said,

"Whoever frees his portion of a common slave should free the slave completely by paying the rest of his price from his money if he has enough money; otherwise the price of the slave is to be estimated and the slave is to be helped to work without hardship till he pays the rest of his price."[3:46:704]

The condition of slavery is very different in Islam than the harsh conditions imposed by non-Muslims or disobedient Muslims. From the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Sunan Abu-Dawud, we find:

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet ﷺ said:

None of you must say: "My slave" (abdi) and "My slave-woman" (amati), and a slave must not say: "My lord" (rabbi or rabbati). The master (of a slave) should say: "My young man" (fataya) and "My young woman" (fatati), and a slave should say "My master" (sayyidi) and "My mistress" (sayyidati), for you are all (Allah's) slave and the Lord is Allah, Most High.[41:4957]
Also from the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we find:

Narrated Al-Ma'rur bin Suwaid: I saw Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari wearing a cloak, and his slave, too, was wearing a cloak. We asked him about that (i.e. how both were wearing similar cloaks). He replied, "Once I abused a man and he complained of me to the Prophet. The Prophet asked me, `Did you abuse him by slighting his mother?' He added, `Your slaves are your brethren upon whom Allah has given you authority. So, if one has one's brethren under one's control, one should feed them with the like of what one eats and clothe them with the like of what one wears. You should not overburden them with what they cannot bear, and if you do so, help them (in their hard job)."[3:46:721]

As a result of the teachings of Islam, slavery was almost completely eradicated from many areas of the Muslim world, peacefully and without bloodshed.

Misconception 3

In Islam, women are inferior to men because:

• a man can marry up to 4 wives, a woman can marry only one man
• a man's share of inheritance is bigger than a woman's
• a man can marry a non-Muslim, a woman cannot

women must wear the veil

This widely held misconception does not remotely follow from the reasons given. The first and most important observation to make about the popular question "Are men and women equal?" is that it is a badly-formed, unanswerable question. The problem which many people conveniently ignore is that "equal" is not defined. This is a very critical point: the equality must be specified with respect to some measurable property. For example, women on average are superior to men if we ask who is shorter in height than the other ("Growth and Development", Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1992). Women are also superior on average if we ask whom do children bond to deeper, mothers or fathers. Women are also superior on average if we ask who has a tendency to socialize more. On the other hand, men are superior on average if we ask who is taller in height than the other. And so on: every question can be turned around, and more importantly these are properties which are irrelevant.

What then, is the really important property which we are worried about in terms of gender equality? Naturally, from the point of view of the Qur'an and Sunnah, the obvious important property is who is dearer to Allah, men or women? This question is emphatically answered in the Qur'an (translation),

If any do deeds of righteousness - be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Paradise, and not the least injustice will be done to them.[4:124]

For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for truthful men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah's praise, for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward.[33:35]

The Qur'an and Sunnah repeat over and over again that Allah only favours one person over another based on that person's awareness, consciousness, fear, love, and hope of Allah (the Arabic word is difficult to translate: Taqwa). All other criteria are excluded: gender, ethnic group, country, ancestry, etc.

Given that Allah does not favour one gender over the other in His attention to us (and it helps to remember that Allah is neither male nor female), we can now address the differences between the genders in Islam. First, men and women are not the same as we know. The Creator states in the Qur'an (translation),

...and the male is not like the female...[3:36]

Men and women are different in their composition, and in their responsibilities under Islam. However, both are bound by obligations to one another, especially the following important one which must be understood in any discussion on men and women. From the Qur'an (translation),

And marry those among you who are single and those who are fit among your male slaves and your female slaves; if they are needy, Allah will make them free from want out of His grace; and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing.[24:32]

In this verse, the Creator emphasizes that marriage is to be vigorously pursued by the Muslims: the state of being single is not to be maintained. With this in mind, we can begin to understand the four reasons cited above for the nonetheless erroneous conclusion.

Men and women are different in their responsibilities towards the families that they are strongly encouraged to set up. Women are not obligated to work, whereas men are obligated. The man must provide for the family, but the woman does not have to spend out of her money for it, though she gets a reward for doing so. Allah says in the Qur'an (translation),

Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.[4:34]

From the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we find:

[2:24:545] Narrated `Amr bin Al-Harith: Zainab, the wife of `Abdullah said, "I was in the Mosque and saw the Prophet ﷺ saying, `O women ! Give alms even from your ornaments.' " Zainab used to provide for `Abdullah and those orphans who were under her protection. So she said to `Abdullah, "Will you ask Allah's Apostle whether it will be sufficient for me to spend part of the Zakat on you and the orphans who are under my protection?" He replied "Will you yourself ask Allah's Apostle ?" (Zainab added): So I went to the Prophet and I saw there an Ansari woman who was standing at the door (of the Prophet ) with a similar problem as mine. Bilal passed by us and we asked him, `Ask the Prophet whether it is permissible for me to spend (the Zakat) on my husband and the orphans under my protection.' And we requested Bilal not to inform the Prophet about us. So Bilal went inside and asked the Prophet regarding our problem. The Prophet ﷺ asked, "Who are those two?" Bilal replied that she was Zainab. The Prophet said, "Which Zainab?" Bilal said, "The wife of `Adullah (bin Masud)." The Prophet said, "Yes, (it is sufficient for her) and she will receive a double rewards (for that): One for helping relatives, and the other for giving Zakat."

Given that husbands are obligated to provide for wives, and that marriage is a highly recommended goal of Islam, it is easy to see why women's inheritance share is half that of men. We note also that men are obligated to provide a suitable dowry to women on marriage. In fact, it is preferable at this point to speak in terms of husbands and wives instead of men and women. Allah says in the Qur'an (translation),

And give women their dowries as a free gift, but if they of themselves be pleased to give up to you a portion of it, then eat it with enjoyment and with wholesome result.[4:4]

Allah says in the Qur'an (translation),

...And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in kindness, and men are a degree above them..[2:228].

This one degree in no way affects the position of the Creator in which He has stated that He does not hold women dearer to him than men, or vice versa. Rather it is simply a way of partitioning responsibilities in a household of two adults: someone must make the final decision on daily matters. As will be shown below in a section on a different misconception, though the final decision rests with the husband, it is through mutual consultation that decisions are best reached at.

While men are allowed to marry up to four wives, they are also commanded to meet the preconditions of being able to financially support them. They must also deal with each wife justly and fairly with respect to marital and economic obligations. Allah says in the Qur'an (translation),

[4:3] If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.

Moreover, women are allowed to reject any marriage proposal made to her by prospective suitors, thus if she does not feel she can abide by the rules of the Qur'an and Sunnah if she marries a certain person, she can reject his proposal. While it is irrelevant to Islam, it is worthwhile to note that both Judaism and Christianity allow polygamy. The idea is not as foreign to the non-Muslims as is often claimed.

Finally, the wearing of the veil by women is also an illogical premise to claim that women are inferior to men. It is more appropriate to indict a society of female exploitation if it tolerates pornography rather than if it enforces the veil. Given that Allah is neither male nor female, given that He does not endear people to Himself based on their gender, given that the Creator cares about all of us male or female, given that the sexual and violent drive of men is stronger than that of women...given all this, it is illogical to cast a negative light on the following injunctions contained in the Qur'an (translation),

O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better in order that they may be known (to be Muslims) and not be annoyed...[33:59]

Say to the believing man that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands...[24:30-31]

On this misconception, there is a great deal more to write, most of it showing how current practices in many Muslim lands go against what the Qur'an and Sunnah have ordained, lands in which women are treated as property (unIslamic), are not educated (unIslamic), are forbidden their economic rights (unIslamic), and more. On this point in particular, we encourage everyone to consult the Qur'an and Sunnah before incriminating Islam. Always remember that Islam is a complete way of life from the Creator, and that Muslims are people who claim to follow that way of life. A Muslim may claim to follow Islam, but be wrong.

Misconception 4

Islam is well-suited only to the Arabs because:

• most Muslims are Arabs
• the Qur'an is in Arabic

The first reason for this misconception is far from the truth. Of the more than one billion Muslims around the world, only 18% are Arab. The most populous Muslim country in the world is Indonesia. The second most populous Muslim country is Bangladesh. Neither of these countries is Arab.

Islam is the fastest growing major religion in the world (Encyclopaedia Britannica). It has adherents on all the populated continents, and is accessible to Arabs and non-Arabs alike. In the United States, Muslims are expected to become the largest religious minority around the turn of the century, outstripping the Jews.

The universal appeal of Islam to Arabs and non-Arabs comes in spite of the Qur'an being in Arabic. Allah states in the Qur'an that this way of life called Islam is for all people (translation follows),

And We (Allah) have not sent you (Muhammad) but as a mercy to the worlds.[21:107]

We have not sent you but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not.[34:28]

Moreover, the Creator does not use the colour or mother tongue of people to judge them, be they Arab or not. Instead, it is the level of their awareness of Allah which is the criterion,

O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)."[49:13]

The choice of Arabic as the language of the Qur'an is explained very simply and clearly (translation follows),

And if We (Allah) had made it a Qur'an in a foreign tongue, they would certainly have said: "Why have not its communications been made clear? What! a foreign (tongue) and an Arab!" Say: It is, to those who believe, a guidance and a healing; and (as for) those who do not believe, there is a heaviness in their ears and it is obscure to them; these shall be called to from a far-off place.[41:44]

However, it is also important to emphasize that the Qur'an in its revealed form in Arabic is the literal Word of the Creator - but any translation is not. Each translation is more accurately called a translation of an interpretation, for every translator includes his or her own bias.

Misconception 5

Islam rejects Jesus because:

• Jesus is not accepted as `the Son of God'

The Qur'an and Sunnah both teach us emphatically and without any doubt that the Creator considers the statement of the Trinity to be a great falsehood. The Qur'an states (translation):

They say: "(Allah) the Most Merciful has begotten a son!" Indeed you have put forth a thing most monstrous! At it the skies are ready to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin, that they should invoke a son for (Allah) the Most Merciful. For it is not consonant with the majesty of (Allah) the Most Merciful that He should beget a son: Not one of the beings in the heavens and the earth but must come to (Allah) the Most Merciful as a servant.[19:88-93]

However, the misconception that Jesus is rejected does not follow from the reason given above. It is more precise to say that identifying Jesus as `the Son of God' is rejected. As a Messenger of Allah, Jesus is accorded the same honour that all the Messengers are given, as the following verse attests to (translation),

[2:136] Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed to us and that which was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have surrendered. [Arabic "Muslimoon"]

Misconception 6

Islam orders the worship of a man because:

• Muslims are also `Muhammadans'

Early non-Muslim quasi-researchers of Islam called it `Muhammadanism', implying in some way that Muslims worshipped the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Hence, the (false) basis for this misconception really emanates from non-Muslims. However, as was described above, a "Muslim" is "one who submits to Allah." The essence of Islam is pure, pure, pure monotheism. Allah says in the Qur'an (translated):

Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the One on whom all depend; He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none comparable to Him.[112:1-4]

Muhammad is no more than a messenger: many Were the messengers that passed away before him. If he died or were slain, will you then turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah; but Allah (on the other hand) will swiftly reward those who (serve Him) with gratitude.[3:144]

From the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we find:

Narrated Mu'adh bin Jabal: The Prophet said, "O Mu'adh! Do you know what Allah's Right upon His slaves is?" I said, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet said, "To worship Him (Allah) Alone and to join none in worship with Him (Allah). Do you know what their right upon Him is?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet said, "Not to punish them (if they do so)."[9:93:470]

Narrated `Umar: I heard the Prophet saying, "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle."[4:55:654]

Misconception 7

Islam tolerates the killing of innocents because:

• Muslims can be terrorists
• Muslims engage in `holy wars' (jihad)
• Islam spread by the sword
• it has a harsh and cruel judicial system

This misconception is one of the most widely held misconceptions about Islam today. And yet in the Qur'an, the Creator unambiguously states (translation),

Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause. And if anyone is slain wrongfully, we have given his heir authority (to demand retaliation or to forgive): but let him not exceed bounds in the matter of taking life, for he is helped (by the Law)[17:33]

Based on this verse, it is Islamically unlawful to murder anyone who is innocent of certain crimes. It is well to remember at this point the distinction made above between Qur'an and Sunnah, and the Muslims: only the Qur'an and Sunnah are guaranteed to be in accordance with what the Creator desires, whereas the Muslims may possibly deviate. Hence, if any Muslim kills an innocent person, that Muslim has committed a grave sin, and certainly the action cannot be claimed to have been done "in the name of Islam."

It should be clear, then, that "Muslim terrorist" is almost an oxymoron: by killing innocent people, a Muslim is committing an awesome sin, and Allah is Justice personified. This phrase is offensive and demeaning of Islam, and it should be avoided. It is hoped that as the general level of public awareness and understanding of Islam increases, people will keep "terrorism" and "Islam" separate from each other, not to be used in the same phrase.

Another reason advanced in support of the misconception is that the Creator has imposed `jihad' on us. The term "holy war" is from the time of the Crusades and originated in Europe as a rallying cry against the Muslims in Jerusalem. Jihad is an Arabic word meaning struggle, but in the context of many verses in the Qur'an, it carries the meaning of military struggle, or war. Allah gradually introduced the obligation of military struggle to the Muslim community at the time of the Messenger ﷺ. The first verse ever revealed in that connection is as follows (translation),

Permission (to fight) is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them;[22:39]
This verse lays down the precondition for all war in Islam: there must exist certain oppressive conditions on the people. The Creator unequivocally orders us to fight oppression and persecution, even at the expense of bloodshed as the following verse shows (translation),

And fight in the cause of Allah with those who fight with you, and do not exceed the limits, surely Allah does not love those who exceed the limits. And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from where they drove you out, and persecution is severer than slaughter, and do not fight with them at the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) until they fight with you in it, but if they do fight you, then slay them; such is the reward of the unbelievers. But if they desist, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. And fight with them until there is no persecution, and religion should be only for Allah, but if they desist, then there should be no hostility except against the oppressors.[2:190-192]

As one might imagine, the method of military struggle has been clearly and extensively defined in the Qur'an and Sunnah. Since this subject is a huge one, we simply summarize part of it by noting that it is unlawful to kill women, children, the infirm, the old, and the innocent. From the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we find:

Narrated 'Abdullah: During some of the Ghazawat of the Prophet a woman was found killed. Allah's Apostle disapproved the killing of women and children.[4:52:257]

Narrated Abu Musa: A man came to the Prophet and asked, "A man fights for war booty; another fights for fame and a third fights for showing off; which of them fights in Allah's Cause?" The Prophet said, "He who fights that Allah's Word (i.e. Islam) should be superior, fights in Allah's Cause."[4:52:65]

Hence, the Creator obligates us to fight wherever people are being grossly deprived of freely hearing or practicing the Message of Allah as contained in the Qur'an and Sunnah. 

A third reason often cited for the misconception about Islam which says that this way of life tolerates the killing of innocents is that the judicial system of Islam is unnecessarily harsh. This reason is weak in two respects. First, it presupposes that human beings are more just and more merciful than the Creator, and therefore we can change the law. Second, it is often based on gross oversimplifications of Islamic law, such as saying "all thieves get their hands cut off."

The Qur'an and Sunnah make it clear that the law of retaliation (or equality) governs us for murder and physical injury, but forgiveness is better as the following verses from the Qur'an show (translation),

O you who believe! the law of equality is prescribed to you in cases of murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, the woman for the woman. But if any remission is made by the brother of the slain, then prosecution (for the bloodwit) should be made according to usage, and payment should be made to him in a good manner; this is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy; so whoever exceeds the limit after this he shall have a painful chastisement.[2:178]

The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah: for (Allah) loves not those who do wrong. But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong (done) to them, against such there is no cause of blame. The blame is only against those who oppress men and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a grievous penalty. And whoever is patient and forgiving, these most surely are actions due to courage.[42:40-43]
The Creator ordained the law of retaliation on us knowing full well that we might question it. In many non-Muslim societies today, there are ongoing debates about the death penalty. In Islam, this discussion is moot: the Creator has decided the matter for us. He has however given us an interesting verse in the Qur'an which advises to consider the matter carefully if we want to understand it (translation follows),

And there is life for you in (the law of) retaliation, O people of understanding, that you may guard yourselves.[2:179]
Most people are also unaware of the stringent conditions which must be met for the law of retaliation to be applicable. The Sunnah is full of examples of the Messenger of Allah showing us when the law's preconditions were fulfilled. For example, a thief is only liable to lose his or her hand if the item stolen exceeds a certain value, and if it is proven that the item was taken from its normal resting place. Stealing food is not punishable by the loss of one's hand, and other items are exempt as well. This is just an example of how gingerly the law is applied in Islam.

Finally, another reason advanced for this prevalent misconception is that Islam `spread by the sword'. It should be clear by now that we must always distinguish between the Qur'an and Sunnah and the Muslims when it comes to determining what the Creator has asked of us. Allah has stated clearly in the Qur'an (translation),

There is no compulsion in religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever rejects Satan (and what he calls to) and believes in Allah, he indeed has laid hold on the firmest handhold, which shall not break off, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.[2:256]

Hence, it is impossible to accept Islam under duress. Even if misguided Muslims were to try to `force' Islam somehow on others, it would not be accepted by the Creator based on this verse.

Historical arguments that try to demonstrate that Muslims did not `convert others by force' are actually secondary to the argument given above. However, it is worth noting that historically, Islam did spread by peaceful means. The Message of the Creator was conveyed to Africa and to southeast Asia by trading Muslims, and today the largest Muslim country in the world is Indonesia. The military expeditions that led to the conquest of large swathes of territory in Europe and central Asia were all marked by tolerance of other creeds and faith.

Again, it is important to remember that Allah declares it IMPOSSIBLE that Islam can be forced on a person, hence Muslims find it useless to try!

Misconception 8

Islam is intolerant of other religions because
the Qur'an condemns the other religions as false
The Creator has taught us in the Qur'an and Sunnah that all other `religions' and ways of life are unacceptable to Him if a person is aware of Islam. The Qur'an states (translation),

And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.[3:85]
However, even though the Creator has clearly specified that no other way of life is acceptable to Him except Islam (i.e. submission to Him as embodied in the Qur'an and Sunnah), He has also commanded the Muslims to be tolerant of people who espouse other creeds. From the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Al-Awsat by Al-Tabarani, we find regarding those non-Muslims living in the Islamic state,

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "One who kills a non-Muslim person under protection (Arabic: dhimmi) will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise."
Also from the Sunnah, specifically in a report from Al-Khatib, we find that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said:

Whoever hurts a non-Muslim person under protection, I am his adversary, and I shall be an adversary to him on the Day of Resurrection.
In short, Islam is intolerant of false ideas, however it is tolerant of the people who hold to those ideas. One historical example of Muslims living up to the standard of Islam can be found from the time of the Spanish Inquisition. During that disaster sprung by misguided Catholics, some Spanish Jews fled to Muslim Turkey and to this day, there is a community of Spanish-speaking Jews in Turkey. Another example may be found during one of the Crusader invasions from Western Europe. Some of the the Catholic Western European knights were so likely to rape, murder, and pillage the Jews and Orthodox Christians, that when the Muslims won, they were treated as a liberating force by those non-Muslims.

Misconception 9

Islam is a racist, afro-centric cult because:
Nation of Islam espouses the superiority of the black man
The Nation of Islam recognizes God as a black man
One of the great misconceptions of the twentieth century is that the so-called `Nation of Islam' is a Muslim community, or more precisely: a community which submits to Allah by following the Qur'an and Sunnah. The `Nation of Islam' is a man-made way of life which borrowed some elements of Islam and then mixed them with a large number of inventions and lies to reach their present doctrines.

It suffices to point out the `Nation of Islam's deviation in two areas. First, they reject the essence of Islam by concocting a story wherein the Creator takes the form of a black man. From their on-line publications, we find that the `Nation of Islam' believes in

...one God (Allah) and that Allah (God) appeared in the Person of Master W. Fard Muhammad, July, 1930; the long awaited `Messiah' of the Christians and the `Mahdi' of the Muslims...
However, the Creator states in the Qur'an (translation),

[6:103] No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things.
The `Nation of Islam' also claims that white men are `devils', and that black people are in general superior to all other races. However, from the Sunnah, specifically in the Messenger of Allah's farewell sermon, we find the Messenger ﷺ saying:

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white - except by piety and good action.
There are many other beliefs which the `Nation of Islam' holds which take it outside of Islam. It is interesting to note that in the mid-1970's, the overwhelming majority of the group realized its errors and converted to true Islam. There is, however, a splinter group which remains active today.

Misconception 10

Islam produces a lazy, uneducated society because:

• all things come from God, and so fatalism is OK
• modern technology and science are condemned

The reasons given for this misconception are false, and the misconception itself is actually refuted directly by the Qur'an and Sunnah. While it is true that the Creator is the source of everything to us, it is not true that this can be used as an excuse for humanity to hide behind as the following verses from the Qur'an state (translation),

The worshippers of false gods say: "If Allah had so willed, we should not have worshipped anything but Him - neither we nor our fathers,- nor should we have prescribed prohibitions other than His." So did those who went before them. But what is the mission of messengers but to preach the Clear Message? [16:35]

They (the idolaters) say, "If it had been the will of (Allah) the Most Merciful, we should not have worshipped such (deities)!" Of that they have no knowledge: they do nothing but lie![43:20]
Allah has taught us via the Qur'an and Sunnah that we all have a certain amount of free will. This free will must be exercised properly in accordance with the Qur'an and Sunnah to please the Creator. This is plenty of motivation for all Muslims to push themselves to be the most knowledgeable, effective Muslims they can be. If Muslim societies today are not meeting their potential, it is surely not due to their knowledge of Islam, rather it is their ignorance of this way of life. The importance of seeking knowledge and working are made clear in the Sunnah.

From the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Sunan Abu-Dawud, we find:

Narrated Anas ibn Malik: A man of the Ansar came to the Prophet ﷺ and begged from him.[9:1637]

He (the Prophet) asked: Have you nothing in your house? He replied: Yes, a piece of cloth, a part of which we wear and a part of which we spread (on the ground), and a wooden bowl from which we drink water.
He said: Bring them to me. He then brought these articles to him and he (the Prophet) took them in his hands and asked: Who will buy these? A man said: I shall buy them for one dirham. He said twice or thrice: Who will offer more than one dirham? A man said: I shall buy them for two dirhams.
He gave these to him and took the two dirhams and, giving them to the Ansari, he said: Buy food with one of them and hand it to your family, and buy an axe and bring it to me. He then brought it to him. The Apostle of Allah ﷺ fixed a handle on it with his own hands and said: Go, gather firewood and sell it, and do not let me see you for a fortnight. The man went away and gathered firewood and sold it. When he had earned ten dirhams, he came to him and bought a garment with some of them and food with the others.
The Apostle of Allah ﷺ then said: This is better for you than that begging should come as a spot on your face on the Day of Judgment. Begging is right only for three people: one who is in grinding poverty, one who is seriously in debt, or one who is responsible for compensation and finds it difficult to pay.
Also from the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Sunan Ibn Majah, we find that the Messenger of Allah said:

Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim.
Knowledge of the Qur'an and Sunnah are clearly the best types of knowledge, and knowledge which benefits humanity is good as well. The Qur'an and Sunnah do not condemn the study of this earth and in fact the Creator encourages us to investigate the world we live in according to the following verse from the Qur'an (translation),

Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are indeed Signs for people of understanding. People who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the thought): "Our Lord! not for nothing have You created (all) this! Glory to You! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire."[3:190-191]
Anything good in this document is from Allah, while everything bad in it is from us.

The "Bible" for Muslims?

What Do Muslims Believe About the Old and New Testament?

First it was the Da Vinci Code controversy - It was everywhere! Dan Brown's book said Jesus in not divine or God, and the gospels as we know them, had been changed, and after Jesus stay here on earth, men raised his status to the level of God. Could any of this be true?

Now the Christian scholar, Professor Bart Ehran's book "Misquoting Jesus" claims they do not even have a "copy of a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy" of anything from the original writings of any of the writers of the Old or the New Testament. What does this do to the faithful?

Ancient secrets of the Church, hidden for centuries have actually been revealed and published in books prior to the Da Vinci Code. Baigent and Leigh have produced other books from researchers point of view over the last two decades, including "Dead Sea Scrolls Deception", "Holy Blood, Holy Grail", and "Messianic Legacy." These books were topics of hot debate when they came out in the early 90's and certainly they have fueled an ongoing interest into just exactly who was this man Jesus, what was his message and what happened to him?

Islam provided solid evidence over 1,400 years ago. The answer, according to Muslim scholars has been in the Quran for over fourteen hundred years Some may be surprised to learn, Muslims believe in the miracle birth and other miracles associated with Jesus. They actually consider him as the "Messiah" and they even say, "peace be upon him" when mentioning his name. But, they are quick to negate any connection between God and Jesus as a partnership or God-head, and they rule out the notion of God having any son (or daughter for that matter).

Muslim scholars "broke the code" like this: Creation itself tells us there is a creator and from the beginning of time – Allah, (the One God in Arabic) alone is to be worshiped. This is clear teaching throughout the Old testament (Torah), the scriptures that Jesus himself read and taught from. God is one not one of three; for example: ‘He is God; there is no other besides Him’. (Deuteronomy 4:35). The same is mentioned in the book of Mark in the New Testament, chapter 12, verse 29, when Jesus, peace be upon him, had been asked about the Greatest Commandment he replied, "To know, O Israel, the Lord your God is One Lord; and you have to love Him with all your heart and all your mind and all your strength."

According to the oldest and most authentic copies of manuscripts and scrolls available throughout the centuries, Jesus, peace be upon him, never claimed to be God, or the creator, or the One to pray to, nor did he tell his followers to revere him as God. These notions appear on the lips of others who came along decades and even centuries later. While Jesus was on earth he did not claim to be the creator or ask us to revere him as God. His miraculous birth is a sign of his prophethood:

“Verily, the likeness of Jesus before Allah, is the likeness of Adam. He (Allah) created him from dust and said “Be!” and he was” (Quran 3:59).

Like all the great and noble prophets of Allah such as Adam, Abraham, Moses, Isaac and David, Jesus came with one message: Worship, love, obey and submit to the one true God, Allah, the creator of everything and do not worship anything besides Allah.

Throughout history, people have taken to worship things or people alongside Allah, or just worshiping something else like power, status or money. Even the names of religions seem have more to do with the creation and less or nothing to do with the Creator. For example: Buddhism – Buddha (the name of a man), Confucianism – Confucius (the name of a man), Hinduism – Hind (the name of an area), Judaism – Judah (the name of a tribe) and Christianity – Christ (the name of a great prophet).

Islam is different. Islam is a word coming from the verb "aslama" and it carries the meaning of "surrender", "submission", "obedience", "sincerity" and "peace" between you and Almighty Allah (God) and not to any human or anything within creation. Anyone who practices Islam submits to and worships Allah, alone without any partners of any kind.

The Quran states:

"There is only One God (Allah) then have reverence for Me and fear Me (and Me alone)." To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and on earth, and to Him is duty due always: then will ye fear other than Allah?" (Quran 16:51-52)

Isn’t it time you join Jesus, the son of Mary, along with all of the other Prophets of Allah and practice the "Submission to the Will of God" (Islam)?
Or simply put: "Worship the Creator - and not His Creations!"

The Christmas Experience

The perfect Christmas tree is bought. Adorned with ornaments and glittering with tinsel, it stands by the window. The stores are crammed with shoppers hunting for presents and the little ones anxiously waiting for Santa

Busy with Christmas fever, wonder did you ever, did the Bible or Jesus made any injunction on Christmas ever?

Ponder upon the following analysis on Christmas, and the Truth will become clearer and clearer.

Does Christmas have Biblical Evidence?

The word 'Christmas' does not exist in the Bible. The Bible has closed lips on the entire feast of Christmas, with one exception, the decoration of a tree. The Bible itself criticizes the decoration of the (Christmas) trees:

"The customs of the people are worthless, they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel, they adore it with silver and gold, they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter" (Jeremiah 10-3,4).

European Pre-Christian pagans superstitiously believed that the green trees had special protective powers. In fact the use of the Christmas tree began only in the 17th century in Strasbourg, France and from there it spread to Germany, Britain and then to the U.S. "Tree worship was a common feature of religion among the Teutonic and Scandinavian peoples of northern Europe before their conversion to Christianity…German settlers brought the Christmas tree custom to the American colonies in the 17th century. By the 19th century its use was quite widespread". (Compton's Encyclopedia, 1998 Edition)

Was Jesus born on Dec. 25?

Neither the date 25th Dec. nor any other date on Jesus' birth is mentioned in the Bible. It was not until the year 530 C.E. that a monk, Dionysus Exigus, fixed the date of Jesus' birth on Dec. 25th. . "He wrongly dated the birth of Christ according to the Roman system (i.e., 754 years after the founding of Rome) as Dec. 25, 753". (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1998 ed.) This date was chosen in keeping with the holidays already indoctrinated into pagans beliefs.

Roman pagans celebrated Dec. 25th as the birth of their 'god' of light, Mithra.

"In the 2nd century A..D., it (Mithraism) was more general in the Roman Empire than Christianity, to which it bore many similarities" (The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia, 1995 ed.)

Other pagan 'gods' born on Dec. 25th are: Hercules the son of Zeus (Greeks); Bacchus, 'god' of wine (Romans); Adonis, 'god' of Greeks, and 'god' Freyr of Greek-Roman pagans.

What about Santa Claus?

If aliens descended on earth during the Christmas season, they would undoubtedly believe Christmas as being Santa's birthday. The words 'Santa Claus', appear nowhere in the Bible.

However, Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) was a real person, a bishop, who was born 300 years after Jesus. According to legend, he was extremely kind and set out at night to bring presents to the needy. After his death on 6th of Dec., school boys in Europe began celebrating a feast day each year.

Queen Victoria later changed the celebration date from Dec. 6th to Dec. 24th eve.

Did Jesus or his Companions Celebrate Christmas?

If Jesus meant his followers to celebrate Christmas, he would have practiced it himself and enjoined it on his followers. There is no mention in the entire Bible that any of his followers ever celebrated Jesus' birthday like Christians do today.

"The church did not observe a festival for the celebration of the event of Christmas until the 4th century" (Grolier's Encyclopedia)

Thus we see that neither the Bible nor Jesus and his companions say anything about the celebration of Christmas which currently involves fanfare, commercialization, and extravagent spending, devoid of any spiritual relevance.

We'll now analyze the real person of Jesusﷺ, in the light of the Bible and Islam.

What did Jesus Say about Himself?

In many places in the Bible, Jesus, referring to himself as a Prophet said:

"A Prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house" (Matthew 13:57),

"Nevertheless I must walk today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a Prophet persists out of Jerusalem". (Luke 13:33).

Jesus Received God's Revelation

Similarly, Jesus Christ too, as a Prophet, received revelations from God: "But now you seek to kill me, a man that had told you the truth, which I heard of God" (John 8:40)

Jesus Prayed to his God

"And when he (Jesus) had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray" (Matthew 14:23)

Obvious question: If Jesus was God, who was he praying to?

Jesus put himself Equal to other Humans

Jesus put himself equal to other humans in the eyes of God.

"My father and your father, my God and your God" (John 20:17)

God does not have a God, But Jesus had a God! Moreover, the gospel writers referred to Jesus Christﷺ as the 'son of man' about 85 times in the Gospels, and never once did he explicitly called himself 'God', or 'God the Son', or 'The Begotton Son of God'.

Jesus Preached God's Oneness

Jesus Christ, as a true Prophet of God, taught monotheism. When asked, 'What is the first of all commandments', Jesus replied:

"...The first of all the Commandments is, Hear O Israel; the Lord our God is One Lord" (Mark 12:29)

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent" (John 17:3)

Prophets of God

God, by his mercy, sent numerous Prophets throughout history to all nations as guides and role models. Some of the prophets were Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus and the Last Prophet Muhammad (peace be on all of them). They all came with the same basic message, which is the Oneness of God, without any partners, sons or daughters.

This Oneness of God in its complete essence, preached by all prophets, was later distorted by some segments of humanity and naming these 'distortions' as 'religions', they left the worship of one true God and replaced it with worshiping humans, cows and fire. To purify humanity, God sent His last Prophet, Muhammadﷺ as a guide for all mankind and through him revealed in His last Messge, The Quran:

"They have adopted their scholars and monks as lords besides God and (also) Christ, the son of Mary, although they have been ordered to serve only God alone. There is no god but Him. Glory be to Him ! He is beyond what they associate (with Him)...." (Quran 9:31)

This utmost obedience and worship to one God, in its truest sense forms the basis of Islam. The entire Quran has been committed to memory by millions of Muslims around the world and preserved by God Himself from any interpolations, unlike previous scriptures, to provide guidance for all ages.

What Does Islam Teach?

Islam calls humanity to the service of the One, Omnipotent Creator ('Allah' in Arabic). Islam teaches the oneness of mankind in the eyes of God regardless of superficial differences such as race & nationality. In Islam there is no superiority of whites over blacks or vice versa. Anything that disrupts society's harmony and deviates humans from worshiping one true God is disliked in Islam. Thus Islam recognizes the evils of alcohol, drugs, premarital sex, gambling etc. and advises humans to stay sway from these Satan's handiwork. Islam further provides detailed instruction about a person's relationship with God, with his family and the society. Thus no aspect of a person's life is outside of the guidance provided by God.

Born Sinless!

Islam teaches that every child is born sinless with a pure heart and an inner instinct to realize the oneness of God. It is the parents or the environment that deviates this child to associate partners with God (in the form of multiple gods) or to reject God altogether.

No Mediator

There is no mediator between God and man. There is no need of one, for God, the All knowing, can listen and answer our sincere prayers regardless of our state and place.

Salvation comes through submitting to the pure belief in One God and following His guidance as revealed in the Quran, and not through the vicarious sacrifice (murder) of an innocent human being. Thus Islam is a rational religion based on justice and self accountability, and not on unjust and mysterious doctrines formulated by humans. Islam provides solutions to all the ills plaguing humanity. An example of Islam's stand on racial justice is provided below.

Islam Dispels Racism

One person's superiority over another is not based on his race, economic status or nationality but on his God-Consciousness and purity of character. God proclaims in the Quran:

" O mankind ! We have created you from a single (pair) of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other and not that you may despise each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous..." (49:13).

Likewise Prophet Muhammadﷺ proclaimed:

"No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over a black man, or the black man any superiority over the white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay".

After studying Islam, Malcolm X, became a true Muslim. He remarks:

"...America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem..."

The Quran was revealed in the Arabic language, but translations of its meaning are available in English and other languages for non-Arabs. Likewise Islam is not restricted to people of the east or Arabs, it is a universal religion revealed for all of mankind.

We invite all sincere humans to study Islam with an unbiased mind. Don't blindly follow the whims and paganistic influences of the environment around us. God bestowed upon us this superb mind to seek and live the truth; for we all will be accountable on the Day of Judgment for our beliefs and deeds. Don't delay your salvation.

Welcome to Islam!

Sabeel Ahmed