Introducing Islam

RSS Feed Homepage

Why do Muslims think that Islam is true?
2007-10-16 06:24:00
Question: There are many religions. Why do Muslims think that Islam is true.Is there any factual basis? Answer: Praise be to Allah. This is a reasonable enough question for one who has not entered Islam, but one who believes in and practices this religion already knows the blessings which are his because of this religion. There are many reasons for this, which include the following:(1) The Muslim worships One God, Who has no partner, and Who has the most beautiful names and the highest attributes. Thus the Muslim’s focus and aim is concentrated, focused on His Lord and Creator; he puts his trust in Him and asks Him for help, patience and support; he believes that Allaah is able to do all things, and has no need of a wife or son. Allaah created the heavens and earth; He is the One Who gives life and death; He is the Creator and Sustainer from Whom the slave seeks provision. He is the All-Hearing Who responds to the supplication of His slave, and from Whom the slave...
More About: True

A Unique 19 year-old Canadian Girl,
2007-03-16 22:32:00
… Successfully found it ….repeating in tears…THERE IS NO GOD BUT ALLAH Her name is Jennifer and she is a Canadian citizen...unlike most of the girls her age she has been deeply contemplating the essence of life, it's target and the role humans are to play.I can safely say that we, in our Arab communities, may feel like strangers as far as women are concerned. A lot of them are fascinated by the false glamor that has been embedded in their minds through the western media and magazines since their early childhood.Here is the start:In her quest to find the truth, someone suggested our site as a reliable source to Islam, we started to explain the basics of Islam and about the miraculous Quran that has been kept unchaged for 1400 years ... we then advanced to the Quran international authenticity : Versions in China is typical to that in America or in Egypt or in any other part of the world. Then we concluded that Islam is the true religion to follow and Quran is the unchangeabl...
More About: Girl , Unique , Year , Adia

IslamTube !
2007-03-09 20:54:00
YouTube + Islam = YouTubeIslam haha! how cool is that?UPDATE: YouTubeIslam is sponsored by Yusuf Estes, the Muslim covert who sponsors al-Huda TV. I also found IslamTube.

Al-Qaeda Invites America to Islam
2007-03-09 20:54:00
I found this 50-minute video posted on the internet about two months ago, in which the 2nd man of al-Qaeda , Ayman Al-Thawahiri, shows up briefly for few minutes to introduce and authenticate 'Azzam The America n' - An American Jew who converted to Islam and joined al-Qaeda -, then the latter gives a message that lasts for 45 minutes, in which he attempts to explain and invite Americans to the religion of Submission to the God.The video was available online to download until recently, but now I could only find it in YouTube, I don't know if it will stay there for a long time.This is the first part of the video, where Al-Thawahiri introduces Azzam, and the first minutes of Azzam's speech.For the rest of the video, here are the links:Part TwoPart ThreePart FourPart FivePart SixTo be honest, this is the first time I actually hear about this Azzam the American guy, but when I googled his name, I got over 36000 results. (which is, by the way, almost equal to the number that you would g...
More About: Al Qaeda , Al-Qaeda

Letter to the UNESCO Regarding al-Aqsa Excavations
2007-03-03 21:08:00
The UNESCO has decided to send a technical mission to the Old City of Jerusalem, inscribed on UNESCO's Wolrd Heritage List and on the World Heritage in Danger List, to a carry out a technical assessment of the works on the access to the Sacred Sanctuary (Al-Haram al-Sharif)...Several fellow bloggers have posted this on their blogs, a plan to start a campaign of sending letters TODAY (the 3rd of March) to the UNESCO and ask them to assign a permanent chamber in the Old City to monitor the excavations and stop any attempts to damage the foundations of the Aqsa Mosque as an important part of world's heritage.Following extensive consultations with all the parties concerned, the Director-General requested the mission to leave as soon as possible, probably early next week. It will be led by the Director of UNESCO's World Heritage Centre, Francesco Bandarin, and include the Director-General of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Propert...
More About: Letter

The Conditions of "La ilaha illa Allah"
2007-02-27 14:45:00
For a convert, the first step to enter Islam is to say "ash.hado an la ilaha illa Alla h , wa ash.hado anna Mohammadan rasoolo Allah" which is best translated to: I bear witness that there is no deity except God, and that Mohammed is a messenger of God. God in Arabic means Allah; it is the name of God, as Arabs say.Every Muslim knows that the key to Paradise is this statement, yet too many Muslims simply rely upon this statement and believe that as long as they have made this statement, nothing will harm them. Just like how Christians mistakenly believe that once they believe in Jesus, they will go to heaven even if they did the most horrible things.They think they will be granted Paradise because of this mere verbal statement of the Shahaadah. There is no question that the mere saying of," I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger," is not sufficient for salvation. In fact, the hypocrites used to ma...
More About: Conditions , The Con

The Ten Misconceptions About Islam: Misconception 10
2007-02-25 20:10:00
Islam produces a lazy, uneducated society because: all things come from God, and so fatalism is OKmodern 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), [16:35] 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? [43:20] They (the idolators) 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 noth...
More About: Islam , Misconception , Misconceptions , The Ten

The Ten Misconceptions About Islam: Misconception 9
2007-02-24 22:09:00
Islam is a racist, afro-centric cult because: "Nation of Islam" espouses the superiority of the black manThe 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...
More About: Islam , Misconception , Misconceptions , The Ten

The Ten Misconceptions About Islam: Misconception 8
2007-02-17 23:25:00
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', creeds, beliefs, ways of life, and even constitutions are unacceptable to Him if a person is aware of Islam. The Qur'an states (translation), [3:85] 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. 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 (saas) said, "One who kills a person under accord (Arabic: dhimmi - non-Muslim ...
More About: Islam , Misconception , Misconceptions , The Ten

The Ten Misconceptions About Islam: Misconception 7
2007-02-15 23:48:00
Islam tolerates the killing of innocents because: Muslims can be terroristsMuslims 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), [17:33] 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) 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...
More About: Islam , Misconception , Misconceptions , The Ten

The Ten Misconceptions About Islam: Misconception 6
2007-02-10 00:18:00
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 (saas). 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): [112:1-4] 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. [3:144] 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. From the Sunnah, specifically i...
More About: Islam , Misconception , Misconceptions , The Ten

The Ten Misconceptions About Islam: Misconception 5
2007-02-09 10:00:00
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): [19:88-93] 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. 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 h...
More About: Islam , Misconception , Misconceptions , The Ten

The Ten Misconceptions About Islam: Misconception 4
2007-02-07 02:29:00
Islam is well-suited only to the Arabs because: most Muslims are Arabsthe 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 (Encyclopedia 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), [21:107] And We (Allah) have not sent you (Muhammad) but as a mercy to t...
More About: Islam , Misconception , Misconceptions , The Ten

The Ten Misconceptions About Islam: Misconception 3
2007-02-05 18:00:00
In Islam , women are inferior to men because: a man can marry up to 4 wives, a woman can marry only one mana man's share of inheritance is bigger than a woman'sa man can marry a non-Muslim, a woman cannotwomen 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 tenden...
More About: Misconception , Misconceptions , The Ten

The Ten Misconceptions About Islam: Misconception 2
2007-02-02 01:08:00
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 preeminent 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 fro...
More About: Misconception , Misconceptions , The Ten

The Ten Misconceptions About Islam: Misconception 1
2007-01-31 17:57:00
I have talked about this misconception in a previous post. However, I am starting the ten misconceptions with it because it is very important to both Muslims and non-Muslims. 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,...
More About: Misconception , Misconceptions , The Ten

The Ten Misconceptions That Westerners Have About Islam: Introduction
2007-01-31 17:49:00
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, Salla Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam - may the peace...
More About: Introduction , Westerners , Misconceptions , The Ten

Is Islam, Truly, a Religion of Peace?
2007-01-12 00:03:00
Bism Illah Ar-Rahmaan Ar-Raheem, You might have come across this phrase before if you have read the Quran or any Islam ic literature, Arabic is language based on rhythm, i.e. words that sound the same, are close in meaning. So just as how Shab’aan means full (of food), and Atshaan means full of thirst, Rahmaan means full of mercy. And just like Kareem means most-generous and Azeez means most-powerful, Raheem most-merciful. So God not only he is the most able to be merciful, be he too is the most merciful. He is the most being to have mercy, and the most being to give mercy. Therefore, this phrase can be translated to “By the name of God, the Possessor-of-All-Mercy, the Most-Merciful.” It is not a coincidence that as we are encountering several terms in beginnings of our talk about Islam, many of them are related to peace, mercy and forgiveness… How come that the image of Islam in the world today is very bloody and violent? And why Islam is called the religion of Pea...
More About: Religion , Peace , Religion of Peace

A Summary of Definitions
2006-12-31 19:02:00
These are very basic definitions about common terms used, I hope they can help understanding a bit more about Islam.God: God is One. God is Eternal. God never gave birth and was never born. Nothing has ever existed that was equivalent to Him. He is the God of everything, The Lord of everything, Creator of everything, The Possessor of All Mercy, The All-Knowledgeable, The All-Provider, The Most-Powerful, The Most-Compassionate, namely in Arabic, Allah. Angel Gabriel: He is the greatest creature. He was created by God, and God named him The Honest and The Holy Spirit; God made him responsible for carrying divine inspiration to all messengers and prophets. He carried the divine inspiration to the messenger Mohammed. Islam: The last divine religion sent from God to human until the End of Days. Islam is the one and only religion (divine or non-divine) that was sent to all humanity. It addresses all humankind, and is not limited to a specific ethnicity, nationality, race, sex, color or ...
More About: Definitions , Summary

To Begin,
2006-12-30 11:07:00
Assalamu Alaikum,This is how Muslims greet others and themselves, it means "May peace be upon you"I guess there must be a reason why God ordered us, Muslims, to greet with peace, and not for example with happiness or well-being...Even to non Muslims, and even to those who hate Islam, we are taught to greet them with "May peace be upon those who follow the right path."Q/ So, what if someone came to me (me, that is, a Muslim) and did not greet me with peace, can I kill him?!A/ No, instead, I greet him with peace, whether or not he greets back.This is how every Muslim begins their every single conversation in their daily life. Think for one moment how this would effect a society that is, ideally, Islamic.Is peace this important in Islam?Oh wait, what does the word Islam mean anyway?In old Arabic (when the religion of Islam was first introduced by Prophet Abraham), Islam means, simply and surprisngly, "Peace".However, with the changes that happened to the language along the thousands of...