Empat Wasiat Terkait Ramadhan

Pergunakanlah  waktumu dengan sebaik-baiknya baik ketika bekerja maupun tidak, waktu luang adalah nikmat yang kebanyakan manusia tidak mengetahuinya nilainya,

 Rasulullah bersabda:

نعمتان مغبون فيهما كثير من الناس , الصحة والفراغ

“ Dua nikmat yang kebanyakan manusia terlena karenanya, yaitu sehat dan waktu luang” ( Shahih Sunan Ibnu Majah )

Wasiat Pertama 

1.      Terkait dengan aktifitas keduniaan

Seperti telah diketahui bersama bahwa aktifitas keduniaan ada yang bersifat penting dan mendesak, ada pula aktifitas yang tidak terlalu penting. Pada waktu-waktu yang berharga selama Ramadhan, hendaklah setiap orang yang berfikir  mempertimbangkan mana aktifitas yang terpenting dari aktifitas yang penting. Hendaklah setiap diri bertanya sebelum melakukan suatu perbuatan, apakah perbuatan yang akan dilakukan tersebut bernilai penting atau ada perbuatan lain yang lebih urgen. Ibnul Qayyim selalu menyibukkan diri dengan aktifitas yang lebih utama dibanding urusan yang lain. Seolah beliau tidak memiliki waktu luang. Beliau berkata: “ Suatu hari Syaikhul Islam Ibnu Taimiyah berkata kepadaku tentang perkara mubah. “ Perkara ini dapat menghilangkan derajat yang tinggi.”( maksudnya adalah golongan yang memiliki tujuan tinggi dalam memperoleh pahala).  Ini tidak dilakukan oleh golongan yang mengharapkan derajat yang tinggi. meninggalkan perkara ini merupakan salah satu syarat memperoleh kesuksesan.” 

Wasiat Kedua

2.      Terkait dengan waktu

Janganlah kamu membiarkan waktu berlalu sia-sia tanpa melakukan kesibukan yang bernilai ketaatan, seperti  berzikir, tilawah Al Qur’an, atau mendengarkan ayat Al Qur’an, menyuruh yang makruf dan mencegah yang munkar atau berusaha memenuhi hajat kaum muslimin sesungguhnya hal yang demikian itu merupakan sebaik-baik pendekatan kepada Allah. Atau menyaksikan siaran islami seperti chanel Ar Rahmah, Ar Risalah, An Nas, Iqra’ Al Aqsha atau Al Khalijiyah,atau membantu kawan-kawanmu dalam mengulang atau mempersiapkan tugas-tugas belajar bersama, atau dengan membantu anggota keluarga yang lain seperti yang dilakukan oleh Rasulullah SAW. Abi Hatim Ar Razi begitu memaknai Ramadhan tidak seperti bulan-bulan lain, beliau tidak melalaikan waktu sedikitpun, hal ini disebutkan oleh anaknya yaitu Abdurrahman seraya berkata: “ Aku membacakan Al Qur’an dan menuliskan ilmu dari ayahku sambil berjalan. Bahkan aku membacakan Al Qur’an dan menuliskan ilmu meski ayahku berada dikamar mandi, sedang aku berada diluar. Ayahku mendengar dan tidak berbicara. Ketika beliau keluar dari kamar mandi, beliau berkata kepadaku, engkau salah pada ini dan ini...seharusnya begini dan begini..

Balasan sesuai dengan jenis amalnya, sebagian dari buah mengefektifkan waktu beliau adalah menulis kitab tafsir dengan banyak jilid, ia juga menulis Kitab Al Jarh Wa Ta’dil sebanyak Sembilan jilid, dan musnad sebanyak seribu juz , jumlah yang tak terfikirkan oleh hati siapapun. 

Wasiat Ketiga 

3.      Terkait dengan ketaatan

Selalu memfokuskan kepada aktifitas ketaatan yang memiliki nilai lebih, tak diragukan lagi bahwa aktifitas ketaatan di bulan Ramadhan seperti membaca Al Qur’an, berdzikir, lebih utama dari pada membaca dan mempelajari ilmu-ilmu yang lain. Sedangkan dalam hal dzikir, pergunakanlah disela-sela waktu sehingga kamu memiliki keuntungan besar disela-sela waktu yang terbatas.

Wasiat Keempat

4.      Terkait dengan hubungan umum

Dalam bekerja, belajar atau dijalan, saya ingin mengatakan kepadamu  bahwa hal yang tak mungkin dihindari dan berdampak buruk bagi hati adalah berinteraksi dengan manusia lain. Ini bukanlah ucapan saya, akan tetapi ucapan  Rasulullah yang mengatakan:

من يخالط الناس ويصبر على أذاهم خير ممن لا يخالط الناس ولا يصبر على أذاهم

“ Barangsiapa yang berinteraksi dengan manusia dan bersabar atas perilaku buruk mereka, lebih baik daripada seseorang yang tidak berinteraksi dengan manusia dan tidak pula bersabar dengan perilaku buruk mereka”

Untuk itulah saya katakan kepadamu agar selalu melakukan dialog untuk memperbaiki agama.

"من دعا إلى هدى كان له من الأجر مثل أجور من تبعه ، لا ينقص ذلك من  أجورهم شيئاً

“ Barangsiapa yang mengajak kepada petunjuk, maka ia mendapat pahala seperti pahala orang yang mengikutinya, tidak dikurangi dari pahalanya sedikitpun” ( HR. Muslim )

Bila ada orang yang berkata kepadamu: “ Apakah kamu melihat tayangan sinetron kemarin”? maka katakanlah kepadanya: “Apakah engkau sudah membaca Al Qur’an kemarin”?.

 Sehingga bila orang tersebut mendengarnya ada dua kemungkinan, pertama ia akan mengikutimu ,atau ia akan membencimu. Seperti kata pepatah:

بدلاً من إضاعة الوقت في جمع الأوراق الطائرة والمبعثرة ؛ قم بإغلاق النافذة

“ Dari pada menghabiskan waktu untuk mengumpulkan kertas yang beterbangan tertiup angin, tutup saja jendelanya”.

Dalam perjalanan menuju Allah, engkau akan menemui golongan yang lemah cita-citanya dan disisi lain ada golongan yang tinggi cita-citanya, hendaklah engkau bersama golongan yang memiliki cita-cita tinggi, bersih niatnya, baik akhlaknya. Tinggalkanlah sikap berdiam diri namun jadilah engkau bersama golongan terdepan dalam menggapai  keridhaan Allah, bila engkau mendapati mereka, tetaplah bersama mereka.

Dan bersabarlah kamu bersama-sama dengan orang-orang yang menyeru Tuhannya di pagi dan senja hari dengan mengharap keridhaan-Nya; dan janganlah kedua matamu berpaling dari mereka (karena) mengharapkan perhiasan dunia ini; dan janganlah kamu mengikuti orang yang hatinya telah Kami lalaikan dari mengingati Kami, serta menuruti hawa nafsunya dan adalah keadaannya itu melewati batas. (QS.  Al Kahfi: 28 )

Berhati –hatilah bila menjadikan Ramadhan sia-sia dengan bercanda, banyak tertawa, perbuatan sia-sia, dan menghabiskan waktu dengan sesuatu yang tidak berguna. Sesungguhnya hati yang terpaut dengan Allah adalah hati yang tenang dan damai.

Rasulullah bersabda:

إن العبد ليتكلم بالكلمة من سخط الله لا يلقي لها بالاً .( فيهوى بها فى النار سبعين خريفاً

"

“ Sesungguhnya seorang hamba berkata-kata dengan perkataan yang mengundang murka Allah tanpa disadari, sehingga menyebabkannya dimasukkan kedalam neraka selama 70 musim” ( Shahih Targhib Wa Tarhib )

Maka apabila engkau melakukan aktifitas yang menyibukkanmu dengan baik, maka setiap detik dalam hidupmu akan berbuah ketaatan. Seperti wirid Al Qur’an yang tidak terbatas dari satu atau dua juz, akan tetapi tiga atau empat juz. Sedangkan wirid tasbih engkau bisa membacanya ribuan kali.

What Does Islam Say about Terrorism?

Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism.  In the Quran, God has said:

 God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes.  God loves just dealers.  (Quran, 60:8)

The Prophet Muhammad  used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and children,¹ and he would advise them: {...Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child.}²  And he also said: {Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of forty years.}³

Also, the Prophet Muhammad  has forbidden punishment with fire.⁴

He once listed murder as the second of the major sins,⁵ and he even warned that on the Day of Judgment, {The first cases to be adjudicated between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of bloodshed.⁶}⁷

Muslims are even encouraged to be kind to animals and are forbidden to hurt them.  Once the Prophet Muhammad  said: {A woman was punished because she imprisoned a cat until it died.  On account of this, she was doomed to Hell. While she imprisoned it, she did not give the cat food or drink, nor did she free it to eat the insects of the earth.}⁸

He also said that a man gave a very thirsty dog a drink, so God forgave his sins for this action.  The Prophet  was asked, “Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?”  He said: {There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human.}⁹

Additionally, while taking the life of an animal for food, Muslims are commanded to do so in a manner that causes the least amount of fright and suffering possible.  The Prophet Muhammad  said: {When you slaughter an animal, do so in the best way.  One should sharpen his knife to reduce the suffering of the animal.}¹⁰

In light of these and other Islamic texts, the act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and the Muslims.  Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some have associated with Muslims.  If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of Islam.

 

(1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1744, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3015.

(2) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1731, and Al-Tirmizi, #1408.

(3) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3166, and Ibn Majah, #2686.

(4) Narrated in Abu-Dawood, #2675.

(5) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6871, and Saheeh Muslim, #88.

(6) This means killing and injuring.

(7) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1678, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6533.

(8) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2422, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2365.

(9) This saying of Muhammad  has been mentioned in more detail on this page.  Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2244, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2466.

(10) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1955, and Al-Tirmizi, #1409.

Islam is a Religion of Love and Peace

The definition of Islam
The root of the word Islam, silm, refers to "making peace, being in a mutually peaceful environment, greetings, rescue, safety, being secure, finding peace, reaching salvation and well being or being far from danger, attaining goodness, comfort and favor, keeping away from troubles and disasters, submitting the self and obeying, respect, being far from wrong." The "submitting the self and obeying" here means "submitting to justice and righteousness in order to reach peace and safety and being in a peaceful environment by one's free will." In fact, salaam and salaamat, mean "to reach salvation," and their rubai form (with four radical letters) aslama means "submitted, became Muslim, and made peace." "Islam" as either a noun or a verb with these meanings is mentioned in many verses in the Qur'an.1

From this perspective, Islam is "submission to God, accepting His authority as well as obeying His orders"; "one's total submission to God and serving only Him"; "embracing the messages of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and abiding by them." In this sense, a Muslim is one who is under the peaceful and safe shade of Islam. God wants a Muslim to live in a safe and peaceful environment and to make efforts for the spread and continuity of peace.

Since Islam means living in a peaceful environment that emerges as a result of submission to God, the Qur'an asks that all humanity should embrace silm, that is, peace, and reminds us to avoid following Satan. As stated in the verse, O you who believe! Come in full submission to God, all of you, (without allowing any discord among you due to worldly reasons), and do not follow in the footsteps of Satan, for indeed he is a manifest enemy to you (seeking to seduce you to rebel against God, with glittering promises) (Qur'an, 2:208), Satan is the enemy of peace. This verse is followed by a reminder of God's All-Glorious with irresistible might if believers "stumble and fall back" from following God's way to realize peace and agreement.

The purpose of Islam
In order to be able portray a fair image of Islam, we have to consider its divinely inspired purposes, which yield, as a result, a just worldly order. By applying preventive measures to ensure security of wealth, life, mind, religion, and reproduction, Islam aims to build a society in peace, serenity, friendship, collaboration, altruism, justice, and virtue.

According to the Qur'an, all Muslims are brothers and sisters to each other and if a disagreement appears among them they make peace and correct it (Qur'an, 49:10). They help each other to avoid what God forbids and to observe their religious awareness at every stage in their life (Qur'an, 5:2); they carry out important tasks after shura, that is, consultation (Qur'an, 3:159; 42:38); and they always witness truthfully and are just even if it is against their close relatives (Qur'an, 4:135).

Again, as mentioned in the Qur'an, a true Muslim follows the straight path. That means that he or she is faithful, honest, and just, is calm, lives to perfectly observe his or her religion and in guidance of reason.2 Pursuing the straight path can be understood as being absolutely truthful and honest in all circumstances, as well as embracing a moderate way of life that encourages good relations with everyone.

Living on the straight path is the most significant desire for any Muslim. Upon the revelation of the verse, Pursue, then, what is exactly right (in every matter of the Religion), as you are commanded (by God), and those who, along with you, have turned (to God with faith, repenting their former ways, let them do likewise); and do not rebel against the bounds of the Straight Path (O believers)! He indeed sees well all that you do (Qur'an, 11:112), the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "The chapter Hud has made me older."3 In this sense, the Companions commented on the verse, "There was no verse revealed to the Prophet Muhammad that is more powerful than this." Such a verse that so powerfully enjoins "what is right" should have the power to eradicate all kinds of violence and oppression, which are obviously not the right path to follow in social relations.

Mercy and forgiveness
Divine compassion and Prophetic mercy assign special importance to forgiveness and tolerance. As God the Most Gracious is merciful to all people, His Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is merciful and compassionate to all believers (Qur'an, 9:128). God's clear order to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is to embrace forgiveness. The verse Adopt the way of forbearance and tolerance, and enjoin what is good and right, and withdraw from the ignorant ones (Qur'an, 7:199) indicates this.

By the blessing of God, the Prophet succeeded in establishing unity among people by acting with compassion and mercy. If he had treated the people around him severely and rudely, they would have left him and their unity would have collapsed (Qur'an, 3:159).

Since God and the Messenger of God are merciful and compassionate to believers, those who take the divinely prescribed ethics and the prophetic character as their example should obviously treat one another with mercy and compassion. Therefore, those who have received the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) message can never be severe, arrogant, antagonistic, or hostile.

Furthermore, God Almighty advises His Messenger to be forgiving and to consult people by asking for their ideas (Qur'an, 3:159; 42:38) since exchanging ideas increases feelings of unity and cooperation while reducing tension between people. As a result, a desire for change that transforms hatred into peace and serenity appears in society.

According to the Messenger of God, people are equal before God as the teeth of a comb are equal. Characteristics like language, ancestry, race, wealth, and poverty are not signs of superiority.4 In the thirteenth verse of the chapter Al-Hujurat, the creation of humankind from a female and a male, the division of humanity into ethnic groups or nations and tribes in order to know one another, and the importance of fearing God in order to become valued in God's view are pointed out.

The verse approves having an identity and being known by an identity; nonetheless, it rejects the abuse of affiliation (to different gender, social or ethnic groups) as a means of superiority. Thus, it assesses a person's honor and value in terms of universal values that he or she gains through his or her own will and effort, and not in terms of gender or ethnic ties, which are not obtained through free will.5

In Islam, the individual is considered as a person that gains value within the society, as someone who is responsible to the community in a social context.
According to Islam, the life of a human being is a trust from God, irrespective of his or her ancestry, color, or language, and hence should be protected meticulously. The main idea in Islam is to praise God the Almighty (Qur'an, 1:1; 6:45), to show compassion to creation. Humankind is the best of all creations (Qur'an, 17:70) and is created of the best stature (Qur'an, 95:4). So, every human deserves respect by nature; approaching them with lenience, tolerance, and humility is certainly virtuous. Hence, staying away from hatred and having a tolerant attitude is essential for humanity.

God the Almighty asks from the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) in particular and from all Muslims in general to be forgiving (Qur'an, 42:37; 3:134). Thus, God loves good attitudes such as spending and serving for the sake of humankind at all times under all circumstances, forgiving people, and avoiding doing something wrong when we become angry.

Even if one has the right to retaliate in response to an evil action, forgiveness is more appropriate for those who are more pious. The Qur'an enlightens all humanity on this issue: The recompense of an evil deed can only be an evil equal to it; but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from God. Surely He does not love the wrongdoers (Qur'an, 42:40; see also Qur'an, 42:43).

Besides, each of us lives on the path that God has ordained for him or her. For this reason, it is important to emphasize serving rather than fighting. God says in the Qur'an (5:48), Strive then together as if competing in good works, and also, Say: Every one acts according to his own character (made up of his creed, worldview and disposition), and your Lord knows best who is guided in his way (17:84). Therefore, individuals should not dispute and fight over their different ideas to satisfy their ambitions and self-interests. Rather, on the contrary, they should compete to show good character and to serve in the best way; they should support each other not in wrongdoing, but in doing good.

Trustworthiness
An important dimension of being a Muslim is trustworthiness. Every Prophet is introduced in the Qur'an with the attribute of trustworthiness.6 First and foremost, the Prophet Muhammad, the most trustworthy of the heavens and earth, and all the prophets preceding him, made efforts to promote trustworthiness in their societies.

In a place where trust does not exist, love, respect and solidarity are also absent. The lack of trust destroys family, as well as social, cultural, and economic life. For this reason, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) states that trustworthiness and treachery cannot exist together7 and asserts, "One, who betrays, harms, or deceives a Muslim, is not of us."8 He describes the ideal Muslim as thus: "A Muslim is one from whose hand and tongue people are safe. A believer is one from whom people know that their wealth and lives are safe."9

In one hadith, the Messenger of God describes those who are good and those who are bad: "The good amongst you is the one from whom good things are expected and by whom people are sure that they will not be harmed. The bad amongst you is the one from whom good things are not expected and from whose evil people do not feel safe."10 From this, it can be understood that a believer is one who is trustworthy, and therefore, no one would fear any danger from him or her under any circumstances.

In Islam, good morals, love and respect for God and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are expected from believers. Appropriate love, mercy and compassion are to be shown, not only to people but also to every creature in nature since, according to Islam's core understanding, every creation is a blessing from God and the protection of a blessing is the most fitting behavior for a human being.

Social peace
In Islam, the right to life is an absolute value: He who kills a soul unless it be (in legal punishment) for murder or for causing disorder and corruption on the earth will be as if he had killed all humankind; and he who saves a life will be as if he had saved the lives of all humankind (Qur'an 5:32).

When the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) explained Islam's potential to contribute to safety and peace in society, he specified one goal in his time as the following: "A rider will travel from Sana'a (a city in Yemen) to Hadhramaut (a region in the southwest of the Arabian peninsula) fearing none but God, or a wolf as regards his sheep."11

If we consider the troubles due to the extreme violence Muslims were exposed to both in the Medinan and Meccan periods, we can understand how meaningful was this message expressed by the Prophet. It does not include any desire for revenge against any person or any group; instead, it only expresses an ardent desire for a violence-free world for all.

The Prophet commanded us to maintain social solidarity and cooperation, to open our hearts to our fellows, and to help one another at all times. He said, "Do not cut relations between each other! Do not turn your backs on each other! Do not grow hatred between each other! O God's servants! Become brothers and sisters!"12

Peace, reform, and virtuous deeds
The Arabic terms islah (reform) and sulh (peace) are from the same root. Islah means one's reach of peace and serenity while leaving conflicts and deviations; in other words, it refers to leaving confusion by settling a dispute between two people or two sides.

Good deeds are actions that are beneficial for people and society, as well as actions that are taken to establish peace and serenity. This concept not only includes offering worship and spending in a good cause but also smiling, behaving warmly to others, establishing friendships, pleasing people by kind words, exchanging greetings, having warm conversation, and controlling bad feelings such as pride, arrogance, anger, envy, animosity, hypocrisy, rancor, and burning ambition. Thus, essentially, virtuous deeds are acts that purify humankind of aggression and bring them to peace.

In the Qur'an, it is recommended to cease disagreements by peace and not to commence further disputes, fights, confusion, and discord; in addition, people are asked to take a balanced approach and seek justice (Qur'an, 8:1; 49:9–10). It is forbidden to spoil peace and tranquility by corruption; there are penalties for those who do.13 It is possible to apply the verse, Peace is better (Qur'an, 4:128) which was specifically revealed to eradicate disagreements between couples, to all kinds of human relations. Islam recommends a united and mutually helpful society, and this vision does not only refer to the level of nation, but includes international relations, too. In this sense, from an Islamic perspective, international law should take the establishment of peace as a foundation.14

Conclusion
The Qur'an emphasizes peace and reconciliation as basic to all social and even international relations. As mentioned in the Qur'an, Paradise, which is the reward for the pious, is a place of serenity. One of the ninety-nine names of God is Salaam, which means peace. Throughout history, Muslims have made every effort to establish peace and serenity everywhere in all divergent fields, only taking military measures when their enemies tried to hinder these efforts for humankind. Over the course of history, the general approach of Muslims has been supportive of maintaining peace, spreading an environment of serenity and trust, and constructing a civilization of love, compassion, and mercy to share with other people in peace.

Huseyin ALGUL

(Professor Huseyin Algul is a Faculty member, specializing in Islamic History, in the Department of Theology at Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.)

Notes
1. See Mustafa Sinanoglu, "Islâm-Giris", D?A, XXIII, 1-2; Hamdi Döndüren, "Islâm", ??A (?âmil Islâm Ansiklopedisi), III, 179-191.
2. See Qur'an, 1:6-7; 11:112.
3. Tirmidhi, Tafsir, 58.
4. See Tirmidhi, Manaqib, 73; Abu Dawud, Adab, 111; Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, V, 411.
5. Karamani Hayrettin, et al (edited by). Kur'an Yolu, Türkçe Meal ve Tefsir, Ankara: Diyanet Isleri Baskanligi Yayinlari, 2006, V, 97–98.
6. See Qur'an, 7:68; 26:107, 125, 143, 178; 44:18.
7. Musnad, II, 349.
8. Muslim, Iman, 101,102.
9. Bukharî, Iman, 3, 5; Muslim, Iman, 64, 65; Nasaî, Iman, 8, 104, 105.
10. Tirmidhi, Fitan, 62; Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, II, 368.
11. Bukharî, Manaqib, 25, Ikrah, 1; Abu Dawud, Jihad, 97; Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, V, 110-111.
12. Muslim, Birr, 23.
13. See Al Baqarah, 2/27, 205; Al Ma'idah 5/32-33; Al A'raf, 7/56, 85; Ar-Ra'd 13/25; Ash-Shu'ara' 26/183
14. For a scientific research and detailed information on this issue, see Ahmet Yaman, Islâm Devletler Hukukunda Savas, Beyan Yayinlari, Istanbul 1988.

Who Is the Prophet Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ?

Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was born in Makkah in the year 570. Since his father died before his birth and his mother died shortly thereafter, he was raised by his uncle who was from the respected tribe of Quraysh. He was raised illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained so till his death. His people, before his mission as a prophet, were ignorant of science and most of them were illiterate. As he grew up, he became known to be truthful, honest, trustworthy, generous, and sincere. He was so trustworthy that they called him the Trustworthy.1 Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was very religious, and he had long detested the decadence and idolatry of his society.
At the age of forty, Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. The revelations continued for twenty-three years, and they are collectively known as the Quran.
As soon as he began to recite the Quran and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered persecution from unbelievers. The persecution grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This emigration from Makkah to the city of Madinah, some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.
After several years, Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies. Before Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) died, at the age of sixty-three, the greater part of the Arabian Peninsula had become Muslim, and within a century of his death, Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China. Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the truth and clarity of its doctrine. Islam calls for faith in only one God, Who is the only one worthy of worship.
The Prophet Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was a perfect example of an honest, just, merciful, compassionate, truthful, and brave human being. Though he was a man, he was far removed from all evil characteristics and strove solely for the sake of God and His reward in the Hereafter. Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of God.

What is the Quran?

Muslims believe that the Quran is the very word of God Almighty: a complete record of the exact words revealed by God through the Archangel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
The Quran was memorized by Prophet Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his followers, dictated to his companions, and written down by scribes, who cross-checked it during the Prophet’s lifetime. Not one word of its 114 surahs (chapters) has been changed over the centuries. The Quran is in every detail the same unique and miraculous text that was revealed to Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) over fourteen centuries ago.
The Quran is the principle source of every Muslim’s faith and practice. It deals with all subjects that concern us as human beings, including wisdom, doctrine, worship and law; but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At the same time, the Quran provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and equitable economic principles.

“He (God) has sent down to you the Book (the Quran) with truth, confirming what was revealed before; And He sent down the Torah (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this as a guide in humankind; and He sent down the Criterion (the Quran).”
(Quran 3:3-4)

Note that the Quran was revealed to Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in Arabic only and the Quran exists only in the Arabic. So, any Quranic translation ( English or any other language ) is not a Quran or a version of the Quran. It is only a translation of the meaning of the Quran.

What is Religion?

According to the Oxford Dictionaries

The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

Besides the religion of Islam, many other religions exist in the world such as Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and others.  Most of them have existed for a very long time.  In fact, as we learn from history, the world has never been without religions.  All the well-established religions of the world have the following features in common:

• They were founded by the Messengers of Allah (prophets) and their teachings were based on the revelations from Allah.
• They define a purpose of human life; to achieve nearness to Allah and to understand one’s duty towards one’s fellow-beings.
• To attain this purpose, they present a set of beliefs, acts of worship and rules of conduct governing social and moral behaviour.

We may conclude, therefore, that:

Religion is a divine system of beliefs, acts of worship, and rules of conduct to enable human beings to achieve nearness to Allah and to lead a peaceful life.

What is Islam?

Islam is an Arabic word which means: Obedience and Peace.  Islam thus means complete submission to the will of God and to be at peace with all the creatures of God.
Islam provides a complete code of life.  The main source of Islamic teachings are :

1. Holy Quran - Word of Allah and
2. The Ahadith - Traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

Some Basic Islamic Beliefs

1) Belief in God:
Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone. He is the true God, and every other deity is false. He has the most magnificent names and sublime perfect attributes. No one shares His divinity, nor His attributes. In the Quran, God describes Himself:

“He is God, the One.  God, to Whom the creatures turn for their needs.  He begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none like Him.”
(Quran, 112:1-4)

God alone is the Almighty, the Creator, the Sovereign, and the Sustainer of everything in the whole universe. He manages all affairs. He stands in need of none of His creatures, and all His creatures depend on Him for all that they need. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, and the All-Knowing. In a perfect manner, His knowledge encompasses all things, the open and the secret, and the public and the private. He knows what has happened, what will happen, and how it will happen. No affair occurs in the whole world except by His will. Whatever He wills is, and whatever He does not will is not and will never be. His will is above the will of all the creatures. He has power over all things, and He is able to do everything. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and the Most Beneficent. In one of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad , we are told that God is more merciful to His creatures than a mother to her child.1 God is far removed from injustice and tyranny. He is All-Wise in all of His actions and decrees. If someone wants something from God, he or she can ask God directly without asking anyone else to intercede with God for him or her.
God is not Jesus, and Jesus is not God. Even Jesus himself rejected this. God has said in the Quran:

Indeed, they have disbelieved who have said, “God is the Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary.” The Messiah said, “Children of Israel, worship God, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever associates partners in worship with God, then God has forbidden Paradise for him, and his home is the Fire (Hell). For the wrongdoers, there will be no helpers.”
(Quran, 5:72)

God is not a trinity. God has said in the Quran:
Indeed, they disbelieve who say,

“God is the third of three (in a trinity),” when there is no god but one God. If they desist not from what they say, truly, a painful punishment will befall the disbelievers among them. Would they not rather repent to God and ask His forgiveness? For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a messenger…
(Quran, 5:73-75)

Islam rejects that God rested on the seventh day of the creation, that He wrestled with one of His angels, that He is an envious plotter against mankind, or that He is incarnate in any human being. Islam also rejects the attribution of any human form to God. All of these are considered blasphemous. God is the Exalted. He is far removed from every imperfection. He never becomes weary. He does not become drowsy nor does he sleep.
The Arabic word Allah means God (the one and only true God who created the whole universe). This word Allah is a name for God, which is used by Arabic speakers, both Arab Muslims and Arab Christians. This word cannot be used to designate anything other than the one true God. The Arabic word Allah occurs in the Quran about 2700 times. In Aramaic, a language related closely to Arabic and the language that Jesus habitually spoke, God is also referred to as Allah.
2) Belief in the Angels:
Muslims believe in the existence of the angels and that they are honored creatures. The angels worship God alone, obey Him, and act only by His command. Among the angels is Gabriel, who brought down the Quran to Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) .
3) Belief in God’s Revealed Books:
Muslims believe that God revealed books to His messengers as proof for mankind and as guidance for them. Among these books is the Quran, which God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). God has guaranteed the Quran’s protection from any corruption or distortion. God has said:

Indeed, We have sent down the Quran, and surely We will guard it (from corruption).
(Quran, 15:9)

4) Belief in the Prophets and Messengers of God:
Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers of God, starting with Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them). But God’s final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) . Muslims believe that Muhammad ( may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the last prophet sent by God, as God has said:

Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and the last of the prophets…
(Quran, 33:40)

Muslims believe that all the prophets and messengers were created human beings who had none of the divine qualities of God.
5) Belief in the Day of Judgment:
Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) when all people will be resurrected for God’s judgment according to their beliefs and deeds.
6) Belief in Al-Qadar:
Muslims believe in Al-Qadar, which is Divine Predestination, but this belief in Divine Predestination does not mean that human beings do not have freewill. Rather, Muslims believe that God has given human beings freewill. This means that they can choose right or wrong and that they are responsible for their choices.
The belief in Divine Predestination includes belief in four things:
1) God knows everything. He knows what has happened and what will happen.
2) God has recorded all that has happened and all that will happen.
3) Whatever God wills to happen happens, and whatever He wills not to happen does not happen.
4) God is the Creator of everything.