Prophets and Messengers of Allah

Almighty Allah has from time to time asked some of chosen pious men to guide the humanity lest they fall in the trap of the evil and Satan. It is believed that in all Allah sent some 1,24,000 prophets to different people to guide them and keep them on the path as desired by Him alone for Allah is the One who commands this universe and it would be on His final command that the day of judgment will come with the destruction of the entire universe.

Here a question arises as to what is the difference between a prophet and a messengers. Well in a simple layman's language as I have understood over the period of time is that each messenger is a prophet but each prophet is not a messenger.

The word prophet in Arabic is known as a Nabi. These were the chosen people of Allah who were tasked to guide people who had gone astray from the chosen path of Allah and help them to follow the righteous path prescribed to them by the earlier messengers of Allah.

Messenger of Allah are some of the many prophets specially chosen by Allah who were blessed with a code of conduct/law by Allah to their people. These special prophets are called Rasul in Arabic. For instance Prophets Dawood (David) Musa (Moses), Isa (Isac) and Muhammad, may peace be upon them all, were specially chosen to be the messenger of Allah and were blessed with the Hoy Books for the guidance of mankind which had gone astray since the last prophets came upon them and asked them to follow the righteous path of Allah.

While Nuh (Noah) may peace be upon him was not blessed with a Holy Book, he is considered to be the first Messenger of Allah after the people of Adam had forgotten the very purpose of their existence and started to worship idols. The story of Nuh (may peace be upon him) is very interesting from his motivation to his people till the great flood in which the entire humanity drowned except for those who sought refuge on Nuh's boat. 

We will discuss the peculiar circumstances under which the messengers of Allah were sent to their people and what specific task given to some of the prophets of Allah in separate posts later.

Also read: Lineage of Prophets

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Hajj - Pilgrimage to Makkah

The last pillar of Islam is Hajj, the pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah. Hajj is obligatory once in lifetime for all able bodied men and women who can financially afford to undertake the journey to Makkah and bear expenses for their stay during the Hajj rituals.

Hajj is performed between 8th to 13th of Zil Hajj, the last month of Islamic calendar. Hajj is performed by men by just wearing two plain sheets of white clothes - hence it removes away any barriers between a billionaire and an ordinary many. Thus this removes away any distinction of class, superiority of clan and culture as everyone stand equal in the house of Allah.

Every year around two million Muslims perform the Hajj ritual in Makkah. The rituals of Hajj, as shown by the prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him), in his only performed Hajj after capture of the city of Makkah, include taking seven rounds around the House of Allah or the Khane-e-Ka'aba, seven rounds between the two hillocks of Safa and Marwa, as did Hajra (Hager, wife of Abraham) in search of water for his young son Ismail. Thereafter the pilgrims gather at the place called Arafat and seek forgiveness of Allah. Arafat is thought to be the plaice when all mankind will be assembled on the Day of Judgment. Arafat rituals end at sunset and pilgrims then move to a place called Muzdalifah for combined prayers of Maghrib (evening prayer) and Isha (late night prayer).

The last ritual of the Hajj is the sacrifice of a goat, a tradition followed since the prophet Ibraheem (Abraham, may peace be upon him). I will dwell on the details of this ritual separately. The end of Hajj is marked by the celebration of Eid Al Azha, just like Eid Al Fitr is celebrated after the month of Ramadan.

Please refer to our page: Dhu al-Hijja (ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة): The month of Pilgrimage - The Hajj to know more about Dhu al-Hijja and Hajj.

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Fasting (Saum)

Fasting is observed in almost all religions, specially the religions of Holy Books.  While in other religions, fasting is the willing abstinence OR reduction from some OR all food, drink, OR both, for a period of time, However fasting in Islam is the ABSOLUTE abstention from food and drink and marital relations during the period of fasting that commences from the dawn to dusk, and there are no OR in between. Fasting is restricted to the month of Ramadan, the 9th month of Islamic calendar for a period of 29-30 days depending on the birth of the new moon. 

In the Koran Allah says: "You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God." (2:183). The 27th of the Ramadan is also the day when Allah completed the revelation of Koran on the Muslims.

Fasting (Saum in Arabic) is obligatory on all Muslims except those who are sick and too old to abstain from food and drink and women having their monthly mensuration cycle. However, the days so missed are to b e completed at the early convenience. 

Special arrangements are made in the Muslim countries for the dawn meal, called sahoor, and dusk fast breaking meals called Iftar. While most people break their fast at home with their families, arrangements are also made at public places for travelers and commuters unable to reach their house and also for those who cannot afford a good meal. At Makkah, the house of Allah, and Masjid-e-Nabvi at Medina in Saudi Arabia, many philanthropists arrange free iftar and sahoor food for the millions of pilgrims present at the two holy places.

Since the Islamic calendar is based on moon instead of the sun, the month of Ramadan keeps advancing by ten drays each year and one has endure the weather constraints as of extreme summers to extreme winters. The  Islamic calendar which based on lunar cycles thus describes the philosophy of fasting in varying weather conditions so that the rich feel how the poor endure the hardships of fasts in summers as well as winters.

While fasting is basically done as ordained by the Allah Almighty as an obligation, it also helps keeping a healthy body and improves digestion and helps many other bodily metabolic adjustments.

With the end of month of Ramadan, the Muslims celebrate Eid ul Fitr, festival of breaking the fast, on the first day of the new moon of the month of Shawaal, the 10th month of Islamic calendar. 

To know more about fasting and importance of month of Ramadan, please consult our reference page: Ramadan - A month of fasting and Blessings. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

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Zakat - Mandatory Charitable Contribution

Giving away charity is a norm to the poor all across the world. But this is generally done in value, cash or kind as per one's own wishes and liking. However, in Islam, the giving away of the charity, called Zakat, is not only mandatory for every Muslim who has the means to do so, but a scale has been laid down as to who qualifies to be eligible to pay this mandatory charity to one's needy Muslim brethren.

Since everything given to man is from Allah, one has to spend one's wealth in the directions prescribed by Allah. This mandatory charity ensures that every Muslim who has less or no means of substance is given charity by those who have the means and are blessed by countless bounties and wealth by Allah.

The main aim of zakat is to improve the socio-economic status of the recipients. Here I would like to narrate a small incident regarding the payment of zakat and its benefits. During the time of second caliph of Islam Hazrat Umer (AS), the caliph dispatched a pious person as governor to an area with a very poor population and stressed upon him the payment of zakat to them collected from the wealthy Muslims of the area. After some time, the governor remitted a large sum of money to the caliph. The caliph was furious as to why the money has not been given to the poor instead. To this the governor replied that over a period of time, the poor who have been reeving zakat have become eligible to pay zakat themselves. 

Thus this is the concept of charity or zakat in Islam - holding hands of the poor to allow them live honourably without asking or spreading their hand in front of others. In fact by giving zakat, one purifies his wealth, which then gets multiplied as Allah bestows more upon the charity givers for taking care of the poor.

An eligible person is to pay zakat 2.5 percent of an individual's total net worth, excluding obligations and family expenses, held over a period of one lunar year. The minimum threshold of one's wealth to be eligible to pay zakat is known as Nisab.  Anyone have more than the following quantity of gold or silver held by him/her over a period of one lunar year is to pay 2.5% of the quantity over this threshold level is to pay zakat:

Gold=20mithqal=87.48grams=7.5tolas
or
Silver=200dirhams=612.35grams=52.5tolas
or
Money equal to the value of either of the above

Koran lays down the heads and people to whom zakat can be paid:

“Zakat is for the poor and the needy; and those employed to administer the funds; for those whose hearts have been recently reconciled to Truth; for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer. It is ordained by Allah and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. "(Surah 9. Tawba, verse 60)

It may be noted that Zakat cannot be paid to parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, husband, wife and non-Muslims. Nor it can be used to build masjid, buildings (even if to be used for any Islamic purpose), hospitals, roads and bridges etc. It is to be paid in cash to those are eligible to receive it.

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Prayers (As Salat)

Believers of all religion have their places of worship which they go to to attend routine religious sermons or bowing their heads to their Creator. The Jews go to the Synagogues, the Christians attend the Churches and Muslims got to the Masjids (mosques) to offer their prayers and thank the Almighty Allah for the blessings bestowed upon them and seek forgiveness of the sins they may have committed.

While in other religions, the attendance is usually once a week, the Muslims have to bow their heads in front of their Creator five times a day. Although the offering of prayers in a masjid is much preferred, the midday prayer on Fridays is mandatory to be offered in the special Friday congregation in masjid.

The prayer (Salah in Arabic), which should generally take 5-10 minutes each, establishes a direct link between a Muslim and Allah with no one in between. The five times exclusively set for prayers start before dawn, noon, afternoon, just after sunset and late at night. The complete cycle thus begins a Muslim's day with a prayer and ends with a prayer with three other prayers at varying intervals during day with the movement of sun.

At a number of places in the Qur'an, Allah has commanded believers to offer prayers for prayers directly connect a believer to Allah:

اِنَّنِىۡۤ اَنَا اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنَا فَاعۡبُدۡنِىۡ ۙ وَاَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ لِذِكۡرِىۡ‏ 

"Verily I am Allah. There is no god beside Me. So, serve Me and establish Prayers to remember Me." (Surah 20 Ta Ha :14) 

This is the real object of Salat. It has been prescribed to remind people that they should not become neglectful of Allah by worldly diversions and that they should remember that man is not an unbridled free being but a servant of Allah. Salat has been prescribed five times a day to remind man of Allah’s presence.

The five prayers are offered before dawn, noon, midafternoon, just after sunset and then at night.

Once a man asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about the most virtuous deed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that the most virtuous deed is prayer. The man asked again and again. The first three times, the Prophet (peace be upon him) again answered, "The prayer," then on the fourth occasion he stated, "Jihad in the way of Allah." [This is from a hadith recorded by Ahmad and ibn Hibban. According to al-Albani, the hadith is hasan. Muhammad Nasir al-Din al-Albani, Sahih al-Targheeb wa al-Tarheeb (Beirut: al-Maktab al-Islami, 1982), vol. 1, p. 150]

The importance of offering prayers can be gauged from one of the saying of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him):

"The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." [Recorded by al-Tabarani. According to al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503.

Since prayers are obligatory, these have to be offered no matter where one is. If a masjid is nearby, it is better performed there. But in case a masjid is not nearby, it can be offered anywhere, be it one's home, office or any place of work. Even one is not allowed to miss a a prayer when traveling. However for travelers a 50% concession is given in their numbers.

The prayers are a type of purification for a human being. He turns and meets with his Lord five times a day. As alluded to above, this repeated standing in front of Allah should keep the person from performing sins during the day. Furthermore, it should also be a time of remorse and repentance, such that he earnestly asks Allah for forgiveness for those sins that he committed. In addition, the prayer in itself is a good deed that wipes away some of the evil deeds that he performed. These points can be noted in the following hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him):

"If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?" The people said, "No filth would remain on him whatsoever." The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said, "That is like the five daily prayers: Allah wipes away the sins by them." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ablution is a must before offering a prayer. One has to be clean to offer a prayer physically as well as the clothes one is wearing. One has to take a bath in case of performance of marital engagement. In case the water is not available, one can cleanse oneself with dust called Tayammum. 

You may refer to our reference page: As Salat / Prayers for any Q&A you may have with regard to prayers.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.  

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

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Testimony of Faith (Shahada)

Whenever we adopt a religion, we must undertake to abide by its very basics and make a testimony to this effect. Unless we make a testimony, we cannot be called a follower of that particular religion. Thus, like all religions, Islam also seeks its would be follower to undertake the testimony which we call faith or Shahada in Arabic. The noun šahāda (شَهادة), from the verbal root šahida ([ˈʃahɪd(a)] شَهِدَ) meaning "to observe, witness, testify", translates as "testimony" in both the everyday and the legal senses.

Whenever anyone converts to Islam, he has to thus declare very clearly and take a oath: Ash hadu Al-laa Ilaaha illa-llaahu, Wa Ash hadu Anna Muhammadan Abduhoo Wa Rasooluhu.” (in Arabic).

The oath translates in English as: "I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is Servant and Messenger (Prophet) of Allah."

By saying these words, one enters the religion of Islam and the Muslim community. And then he is to abide by the fact of oneness of almighty Allah, without attaching anything or anyone to Allah and acknowledging that none other than Muhammad (may peace be upon him) is his messenger.

We as Muslims thus do not equate with Allah and acknowledge the end of prophet hood with the demise of Muhammad (may peace be upon him). Anyone who willfully tries to revere anyone after Muhammad as a prophet denounces the very faith, shahada or the declaration one made when entering the religion of Islam.

While the oneness of Allah has been mentioned in many places in the Koran, Allah, the Almighty, has sent simple four verses in Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ, the 112th surah of Koran in its 30th chapter, which describes Allah's absolute oneness and leave no doubt about His absoluteness:

Say, O' Prophet, "He is Allah, [who is] One
Allah, the Eternal Refuge
He neither begets nor is born
Nor is there to Him any equivalent

It may also be added here for information that once one enters the religion of Islam, he also acknowledges that all prophets before Muhammad (may peace be upon him) were prophets of Allah, like prophets Adam, Ibraheem (Abraham), Moses, David and Isac (may peace be upon them all), and that the three holy books given to prophets Dawood (David), Musa (Moses) and Isa (Isac) are the true holy books revealed on the chosen prophets of Allah.

Thus a Muslim must have:

• Faith in Allah;
• Faith in His angels;
• Faith in His revealed Books;
• Faith in all of His messengers or Prophets;
• Faith in the Last Day or the Day of Judgment;
• Faith in the doctrine of predestination, which lays down that everything good or bad is decided by Allah), (Taqdir) and
• Faith in the life after death.

Unless a Muslim testifies the oneness of Allah, the omnipotent, and does not include anyone at His par, testifies that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is his messenger and have faith in previous prophets and revealed books and that there is to be a day of judgment when those with good deeds will be rewarded and those who sinned and did not repent will be penalized, one can not call himself a Muslim.

You may like to view this enlightening video in which a brother and sister are entering the fold of Islam by taking their shahada at the hands of one of the most enlightened and learned scholars of present times Dr Zakir A Naik:

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Lineage of Prophets

Allah has sent chosen and pious people as His prophets to show the people the right path - the path chosen for them by the Allah Almighty. The prophets' lineage that commenced with Adam (AS) culminated with the last of the prophets Muhammad, may peace be upon him. In between some 124,000 prophets (including the two) came and showed the righteous path to the people of their communities, clans and tribes.

Each prophet came to show the right path to his people who had gone astray and were indulged in activities tangent to the teachings of Allah. In fact, many prophets came one after the other to the same people who kept disobeying the words brought to them by  the prophets or going astray when one prophet was gone.

While I will write about some the noble prophets as their mention appear in the Holy Koran and also in the previous holy books, herein under is the family tree of the prophets of Allah showing major and renowned names:

As can be seen that the major flow of prophets commences from the two sons of prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), prophets Ismail and Ishaq AS. Prophet Ismail, born from Hajira (Hager) the second wife  prophet Ibrahim has his descendants culminating in the prophet hood of Muhammad (MPBH). the prophet of Islam, while the prophets lineage from Prophet Ishaq, from Sarah, prophet Ibrahim's wife, terminates in the prophet hood of Isa (Issac) AS.

The prophet's lineage also show the placement of some of the important prophets like Prophets Nuh (Noah), Hoot (Hut) Lut (Lot), Musa (Moses), Yaqoob (Jacob), Yousaf (Joseph) and others.

In my next number of posts, I will write about some of these prominent prophets as their  mention appears in the Holy Koran.

Photos Pixabay | Family of Prophets

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Pillars of Enlightenment - The 5 Pillars of Islam

Every religion is based on certain basic requirements or can we say pillars which rest on the very foundation of a religion. Thus like others religion, Islam hinges on five pillars, I call Pillars of Enlightenment,  without which one cannot claim to be a follower of Islam or in other words a Muslim. These five pillars or basic requirements to be a Muslim and follower of religion of Islam are a MUST and one has to abide by these totality without any question as these have been laid down by none other than Allah or 'the God" as in other religions.

These five pillars of Islam are:

1. Testimony of faith: Anyone entering the religion of Islam or embracing Islam must testify that  “There is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.” Unless one pounces this testimony loud and clear from his heart, one can enter the religion of Islam.
2. Prayers: After entering the religion of Islam, every Muslim is bound to offer five prayers a day to glorify the dignity of Allah. The five prayers are offered before the dawn , noon, mid afternoon, just after sunset and then at night.
3. Zakat or Alms giving: Alms giving assumes an important part of the religion of Islam. It is sharing of one's wealth, which is given by Allah, to those who are less privileged.
4. Fasting: For thirty days once a year, each Muslim is to observe fasting from dawn to dusk in the Islamic month of Ramadan. This means one has to abstain from food, drink and marital relations with one's spouse.
5. Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah: Every able bodied Muslim who can afford to embark upon a journey to Makkah, the center of Islam and Allah's home, is to perform Hajj at least once in one's life.

These five pillars of Islam in fact define and describe the identity of a Muslim, his faith, beliefs and practices. These are summed up in the video below:

This is the just the introduction to the five pillars of Islam. In following posts, each pillar will be discussed in detail for clarification of any doubt that may come in one's mind.

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What is Islam

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Alhamdolillah, today April the 4th 2018, Allah ﷻ has bestowed upon me the blessing of commencing a blog dedicated to the Muslims who have recently entered the fold of Islam or those who are mulling over taking their final decision to take their Shahadah and accept Islam as their faith. And for this reason I have named my blog as Islam: My Ultimate Decision. I hope to cover all possible facets of Islam in easy to understand language for everyone to understand.

This being my first post, I will try define what Islam is and in future posts will develop the theme more exhaustively.

Allah, the one and only one true God, sent his first of the believers Prophet Adam and Eve to this world of ours to lay down the foundation of a community which would take His name in everything they did and lived a life of righteousness, peace and love for each other. After Adam, Allah sent a chain of prophets and messengers including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus, peace be upon them all. And also revealed onto a few His holy scriptures as guidelines for others to live a life that Allah has envisioned for us.

Like all prophets, the last of the prophets has been Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who came after Jesus in the barren sandy lands of Arabia. Allah also revealed unto Him the last of His scriptures The Holy Qur'an to serve as the last Godly guidelines not only for those who accepted the religion of Islam, but also for the entire mankind till the Day of Judgment. Islam in fact is in continuation of the all previous religions and completes Allah's countless guidelines with the revelation of Holy Qur'an.

Those who embrace Islam believe in the absolute Oneness of Allah, in all of his angels and all prophets and the holy scriptures of Psalms, Torah and Bible, and of course the Day of Judgment. 

Islam means complete submission to Allah as against the misnomer Mohammedanism which gives a faulty impression as if Islam was coined by someone named Muhammad. And that Muslims worship Muhammad instead of Allah. Like all messengers of Allah who were gifted with the holy scriptures for guidance of their people, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) too was gifted the Holy Qur'an to continue the message of Allah to the mankind. Thereafter, there have not been any prophets as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the last of the prophets as enunciated in the Holy Qur'an as the Khātim an-Nabīyīn, the Seal of the Prophets or as Khātam al-Anbiyā, the last of the prophets:

"Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing." Al Qur'an Surah Al-Ahzab [33:40]

This also dispels the notion that many Jews hold that Islam is idolatry as they worship Muhammad. In fact it was Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) upon capture of Makkah broke all 360 or more idols of varying natures kept inside the Ka'aba and around and forbade idol worshiping as commanded by Allah in the Holy Qur'an. 

"And [mention, O Muhammad], when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah . Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice." Al-Qur'an Surah Luqman [31:13] 

"Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin." Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa [4:48]

Thus today, by the countless blessings of Allah, more than a billion people live the life as prescribed to them by Allah in the form of guidelines in the last of the Holy Qur'an and as described by personal living examples by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Anyone who embraces Islam, does not only accepts a new religion but a complete way of life as Islam is a religion and "Deen" as well. "Deen" in Arabic means a complete way of life as unlike other religions which were just prelude to Islam, Muslims are given to guidelines how they should live their lives and laws of inheritance, marriage, interest, relations with others and laws to govern their lives.

It may be added here that Islam is the continuation of all previous religions and faiths and as a Muslim, we all submit to the validity of all religions that Prophet Abraham laid the foundation of and all his descendants carried the same torch. While Prophets Moses and Jesus (may peace be upon them) descended from Abraham's younger son Isaac, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) de4scended from Prophet Abraham's elder son Ishmael. It was Prophet Abraham established the settlement in the heart of the Arabia, today known as Makkah, and built a house for Allah called Ka'aba. And since rise of Islam, Muslims from all over the world turn to the direction of Ka'aba to offer their five daily obligatory prayers facing all in one direction.

The word of Islam was brought to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), a man of 40 years from one of the most respected tribes of Makkah, Banu Hashim. Before the first verse of Holy Qur'an was revealed onto Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he had already a well respected man due to his honesty and integrity. Angel Gabriel had been a bridge between the Allah Almighty and the prophet in bringing down to him the Godly commandments which continued for the next 23 years till the present day Qur'an was finally completed.

Why Islam has spread so widely while the already established religions of Jews and Christians were already at their peak in Europe and elsewhere? The answer is very simple: Islam is very simple to understand and very easy to follow provided one has full faith in what he believes. Islam also answers many questions about life, physics, astronomy, geography and history besides acknowledging all other faiths and prophets before it.

In nutshell Islam is all about our way of life, which is not restricted to Muslims but to the entire mankind. Many forms of governments today take references from the Holy Qur'an in establishing welfare states. The commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'an are augmented by the way Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) lived his life, called Sunnah in Arabic. In fact his whole life was the translation of the Qur'an and whatever he did, practiced and said was all within the fold of Islam as desired by Allah.

The five pillars of Islam are: 1) Faith, 2)Prayers, 3)Zakat (Charity), 4)Fasting and 5)Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Makkah and taking rounds of Ka'aba as was done by Prophet Abraham some four thousand years ago.

Please read various sections of our blog for detailed account of each pillar of Islam, about Qur'an and summary of its chapters, about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and rise of Islam and many other aspects that you may need answers for. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

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