The History of Islam

Muslims believe in One, Unique, Incomparable God (Ilah in Arabic); in the Angels created by Him; in the prophets through whom His revelations were brought to mankind; in the Day of Judgement and individual accountability for actions; in ALLAH's complete authority over human destiny and in life after death. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus, peace be upon them. But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone before was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through Gabriel. In the seventh century, Muhammad (p.b.u.h) claimed the angel Gabriel (Jibrail) visited him. During these angelic visitations, which continued for about 23 years until Muhammad's death, the angel purportedly revealed to Muhammad the words of ALLAH (the Arabic word for God used by Muslims). These dictated revelations compose the Quran, Islam's Holy book. Islam means submission, deriving from a root word that means peace. The word Muslim means one who submits to ALLAH.

The Doctrine of Islam

The doctrine of faith in Islam is summarized in six articles of faith: 1. Belief in one Allah: Muslims believe ALLAH is one, eternal, creator, and sovereign. 2. Belief in the angels 3. Belief in the prophets: The prophets include the biblical prophets but end with Muhammad as ALLAHs final prophet. 4. Belief in the revelations of Allah: Muslims accept certain portions of the Bible, such as the Torah and the Gospels. They believe the Quran is the pre-existent, perfect word of ALLAH. 5. Belief in the last Day of Judgment and the hereafter: Everyone will be resurrected for judgment into either paradise or hell. 6. Belief in predestination: Muslims believe ALLAH has decreed everything that will happen. Muslims testify to ALLAHs sovereignty with their frequent phrase, INSHALLAH, meaning, If God wills.

The Five Pillars of Islam

The most important Muslim practices are the Five Pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars of Islam are the five obligations that compose the framework of the Muslim life. The Five Pillars consist of: Shahadah( The testimony of faith): la ilaha illa ALLAH.Muhammad rasul ALLAH: A person can convert to Islam by stating this creed. The shahada shows that a Muslim believes in Allah alone as God and believes that Muhammad reveals Allah. The first part is la ilaha illa ALLAH: There is no God but ALLAH. The second part of the Shahada is Muhammad rasul ALLAH: Muhammad (p.b.u.h) is the messenger of ALLAH, a message of guidance has come through a man like ourselves. Salat: Salat is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day (dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall), and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Quran, chosen by the congregation (The Imam). These five prayers contain verses from the Quran, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal supplications (Douaa) can be offered in one's own language. Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and universities. The Call to Prayer is the Adhan. Zakat: One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word zakat means both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth. Each Muslim calculates his or

her own zakat individually. For most purposes this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one's capital. A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases as sadaqa, and does so preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as 'voluntary charity' it has a wider meaning. The Prophet Muhammad said:Even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is charity. Sawm: Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a long journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayer) from puberty, although many start earlier. Although the fast is most beneficial to the health, it is regarded principally as a method of self purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in one's spiritual life. Hajj: The annual pilgrimage to Makkah - the Hajj - is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. The rites of the Hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin, include circling the Ka'ba seven times, and going seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa as did Hagar during her search for water. Then the pilgrims stand together on the wide plain of Arafa and join in prayers for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a preview of the Last Judgment. The close of the Hajj is marked by a festival, the Eid al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere. This, and the Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the main festivals of the Muslim calendar.

The Divine origin of the Quran

The Quran is the holy book of the Muslims, revealed by ALLAH to the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during his life in Mecca and Madinah. The Quran literally meansthe recitation and contains the original text of ALLAHs revelation to Muhammad. Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad is not the author of the Quran. God is its Author. The following points bear the fact: ALLAH supported His last Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) with many miracles and much evidence which proved that he is a true Prophet sent by ALLAH. Also, ALLAH supported His last revealed book, the Holy Quran, with many miracles that prove that this Quran is the literal word of ALLAH, revealed by Him, and that it was not authored by any human being. First of all, the Quran itself, at a number of places and in different ways, says that it is from ALLAH. One of the claims runs thus: "This is indeed a Quran most honourable, a Book well-guarded...a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds." (Surat Al Waqiah 56:77-80) ALLAH laid down a challenge in the Quran to mankind in general and to anyone who doubts its claim of its own divine origin to write something like it.

Surat 2:23 (Al Baquarah: The Cow) " And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a Sura the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful." Surat 10:38 (Younus: Jonah) "Or do they say, 'He forged it'? Say: 'Bring then a sura like unto it, and call (to your aid) anyone you can besides God, if it be ye speak the truth!'"

Surat 11:13 (Hud) "Or they may say, 'He forged it,' Say, 'Bring ye then ten suras forged, like unto it, and call (to your aid) whomsoever ye can, other than God! - If ye speak the truth!'" Surat 17:88 (Israa: The Night Journey, Children Of Israel) "Say: 'If the whole of mankind and Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support.'" Surat 52:34 (Tour: The Mount) "Let them then produce a recital like unto it, - If (it be) they speak the truth!"

1. Preservation of the Quran:

The Quran is unique because it is the only revealed book that exists today in the precise form and content in which it was originally revealed. Furthermore, it was actively recorded during the time the religion was being established. Each Ramadan, the Prophet Muhammad would repeat after the angel Gabriel reciting the entire Quran in its exact order as far as it had been revealed, while in the presence of a number of his Companions. In his last year, the Prophet recited the whole, completed Quran twice while in the presence of his Companions, reinforcing and double checking their memorisations. Muhammad (p.b.u.h) was very vigilant in preserving the entire Quran in written form as well. The Prophet (p.b.u.h) could not read or write, so as soon as a portion of the Quran was revealed, he called upon his scribes to record the revealed text. The Prophet (p.b.u.h) specified the part of the Quran the revelation belonged to and had the companions read back what was written to ensure that it corresponded exactly with what was revealed. Thus, the complete Quran was not only memorized by the Prophet (p.b.u.h) and many of his companions, but also existed in written form during his lifetime. Within a year after the Prophets (p.b.u.h) death, a manuscript of the entire Quran was assembled by a committee led by

the chief scribe of the Prophet (p.b.u.h), who followed stringent criteria to safeguard against any errors. The manuscript was unanimously approved by the companions of the Prophet (p.b.u.h), including the hundreds that had memorized the entire Quran. Several replicates of the manuscript were prepared under the leadership of the third Calipha and were distributed to the main Muslim centres. One such copy is currently at the museum in Tashkent in erstwhile (Soviet Union) and a facsimile of it, produced in 1905, is available in the Columbia University Library (USA). Researches carried out to compare the various ancient Quranic texts reveal no differences between them; the institute for Koranforschung, in the University of Munich (Germany) collected over 42,000 complete or incomplete ancient copies of the Qur'an. After around fifty years of research, they reported that there was no variance between the various copies, except the occasional mistakes of the copyist which could easily be ascertained. From the above facts and research, one can conclude, with evidence, that the story of how the Quran came to us has to be true as told by the four Ahadith scholars of the first four centuries. Their accounts mutually agree and prove the incident which led the Quran to be in its present state. "Verily We have revealed the reminder, and verily We shall preserve it." (Surat Al-Hijr, verse 9) The Quran has been preserved in both oral and written form in a way no other book has, and with each form providing a check and balance for the authenticity of the other. Furthermore, The Quran is the only piece of literature which is completely memorised word for word and in order by many Muslims around the world. This is a miracle in its own self. The fact that every modern Quran can be checked against the ancient remaining copies of the Qur'ans sent out by Uthman and found to be exactly the same, is evidence in itself. The fact that every Quran, both written and memorised, are all exactly the same, testifies to the

preservation of the Qur'an from the initial revelation up to modern day. This consistency also shows that any attempt to alter the Quranic text has failed.
2. Quran could not be written by Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h)

Here, one ought to know the features of the Quran to understand the claim better. For instance, if the Quran had consisted of a number of books, and each book was made up of a number of chapters, then each of the books had to claim that it was from God in order to rend the WHOLE volume as coming from God. But, this is fortunately not so with the Quran. The Quran is just ONE Book made up of 114 chapters (114 Sura). So, if the Quran claims, in any of its chapters, that the Book is from God, then the WHOLE Quran is from God. Yet, the Quran does not make the divine claim only once, but several times in different phrases and in different chapters. Historical accounts document, and the Quran openly declares, that Muhammad (p.b.u.h) was unlettered: You (O Muhammad) were not a reader of any Scripture before it, nor did you write (such a Scripture) with your right hand, for then those who follow falsehood might (have a right) to doubt it. (Surat Al Ankabut, verse 48) The Quran itself contains information about Moses and Jesus and the other prophets who came hundreds of years before Muhammad (p.b.u.h). Information that Muhammad did not know about until the verses about them were revealed in the Quran. Many of the prophet's sayings and deeds were recorded and preserved. These are known as the Sunnah & Hadith. It is clear that the Quran (reading or recitation) is distinct from the recorded sayings and deeds (Sunnah & Hadith) of the prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) which are instead preserved in a separate set of literature collectively called the "Ahadith"(report or narration).

Both the Qur'an and the prophet's style are different. The differences between the two in every respect, style and contents are immediately evident. The sayings of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) (Ahadith) are conversational, oratorical, and expository, of a kind the Arabs were already familiar with. By contrast, the style of the Qur'an is elegant, poetic and authoritative. Moreover, The Quran took 23 years to complete. Had the verses of the Quran (which contains 6,666 verses) been written by the Prophet, he would have needed a number of drafts and the work would have needed editing, updating, etc. But this did not happen, yet the information is consistent throughout the Quran. The verses were taken down as dictated by the Prophet only once and no redrafting, editing or updating took place after that. In the Quran, in Chapter 111, it is mentioned that Abu Lahab, one of the Prophet's uncles who was always against Islam, would never accept Islam. This Revelation came some ten years before the death of Abu Lahab. How could the Prophet have dared to write this chapter because all he (Abu Lahab) needed to do to prove that the Quran was not the Words of God, was to accept Islam dishonestly? The Prophet was mentioned by name in the Quran only five times whereas Jesus Christ's name was (honourably) mentioned 25 times. Could the Prophet go to such an extent of honouring someone more than himself if he had written the Quran? There is a chapter in the Quran entitled and dedicated to "Mary", the mother of Jesus Christ, while there is no chapter called, or dedicated to, the Prophet's own mother Aminah, or daughter Fatimah, nor were their names mentioned in the Quran. Could this have happened if the Prophet was the author of the Quran?

Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, is glorified in the Quran as a "woman of all nations". Why would the Prophet glorify a woman he had never seen and one from another race, saying that she was chosen (by ALLAH) above all women unless the formulation of the verses had nothing to do with the Prophet's own authorship but that he only repeated what was inspired to him by God?
3. The Scientific Miracles in the Holy Quran

The Quran is a highly comprehensive book containing Divine truths, metaphysics, religious beliefs and worship, prayer, law and morality. It is a book fully describing the other life, a book of psychology, sociology, epistemology, and history, and a book containing scientific facts and the principles of a utopian life. A testament to the Divine authenticity of the Quran is that such a comprehensive book, one that was revealed over a period of 23 years, does not have any contradictory points. "Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction." (Surat Al Nisaa, verse 82) Much of the science mentioned in The Quran 1400 years ago was only discovered by scientists in and around the 20th century due to the recent development of highly sensitive and precise technology. Using this technology scientists have discovered through advanced microscopic research, that the revelation of The Quran is word by word correct. The Quran touches upon subjects such as Astronomy, Geology, Physics, the creation of the Universe, the creation and chemical make-up of human beings, Biology and Embryology. A few examples follow: In the Holy Quran, ALLAH speaks about the stages of mans embryonic development: Man We did create from an extract of clay; then we placed him (as a drop of) sperm in a place of rest, firmly fixed; then We made the sperm

into a clot of congealed blood; then of than clot We made a (foetus) lump; then We made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh;then We developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah,The Best to Create (Surat Al Mu'minoon ,verses 12-14). "He makes you in the wombs of your mothers in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness." (Surat Az-Zumar, verse 9) We do not know when it was realized that human beings underwent development in the uterus (womb), but the first known illustration of a fetus in the uterus was drawn by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century. In the 2nd century A.D., Galen described the placenta and fetal membranes in his book "On The Formation of the Foetus." Consequently, doctors in the 7th century A.D. likely knew that the human embryo developed in the uterus. It is unlikely that they knew that it developed in stages, even though Aristotle had described the stages of development of the chick embryo in the 4th century B.C. The realization that the human embryo develops in stages was not discussed and illustrated until the 15th century. After the microscope was discovered in the 17th century by Leeuwenhoek descriptions were made of the early stages of the chick embryo. The staging of human embryos was not described until the 20th century. Streeter (1941) developed the first system of staging which has now been replaced by a more accurate system proposed by O'Rahilly (1972). "The three veils of darkness" may refer to: (1) the anterior abdominal wall; (2) the uterine wall; and (3) the amniochorionic membrane. Although there are other interpretations of this statement, the one presented here seems the most logical from an embryological point of view. "Then We placed him as a drop in a place of rest." (Surat Al Muminoon, verse 13)

The drop or nutfah has been interpreted as the sperm or spermatozoon, but a more meaningful interpretation would be the zygote which divides to form a blastocyst which is implanted in the uterus ("a place of rest"). This interpretation is supported by another verse in the Qur'an which states that "a human being is created from a mixed drop." The zygote forms by the union of a mixture of the sperm and the ovum ("The mixed drop"). "Then We made the drop into a leech-like structure." (Surat Al Muminoon, verse 14) The word "alaqah" refers to a leech or bloodsucker. This is an appropriate description of the human embryo from days 7-24 when it clings to the endometrium of the uterus, in the same way that a leech clings to the skin. Just as the leech derives blood from the host, the human embryo derives blood from the decidua or pregnant endometrium. It is remarkable how much the embryo of 23-24 days resembles a leech. As there were no microscopes or lenses available in the 7th century, doctors would not have known that the human embryo had this leech-like appearance. In the early part of the fourth week, the embryo is just visible to the unaided eye because it is smaller than a kernel of wheat. "Then of that leech-like structure, We made a chewed lump." (Surat Al Mu'minoon , verse 14) The Arabic word "mudghah" means "chewed substance or chewed lump." Toward the end of the fourth week, the human embryo looks somewhat like a chewed lump of flesh. The chewed appearance results from the somites which resemble teeth marks. The somites represent the beginnings or primordia of the vertebrae. "Then We made out of the chewed lump, bones, and clothed the bones in flesh." (Surat Al Mu'minoon , verse 14) This continuation of (Surat Al Mu'minoon , verse 14) indicates that out of the chewed lump stage, bones and muscles form. This is in accordance

with embryological development. First the bones form as cartilage models and then the muscles (flesh) develop around them from the somatic mesoderm. "Then We developed out of it another creature." (Surat Al Muminoon, verse 14) This next part of the Sura implies that the bones and muscles result in the formation of another creature. This may refer to the human-like embryo that forms by the end of the eighth week. At this stage it has distinctive human characteristics and possesses the primordia of all the internal and external organs and parts. After the eighth week, the human embryo is called a fetus. This may be the new creature to which the verse refers. "And He gave you hearing and sight and feeling and understanding." ( Surat As-Sajdah, verse 9)

This part of the Sura indicates that the special senses of hearing, seeing, and feeling develop in this order, which is true. The primordia of the internal ears appear before the beginning of the eyes, and the brain (the site of understanding) differentiates last. "Then out of a piece of chewed flesh, partly formed and partly unformed." ( Surat Al-Haj, verse 5) This part of the Sura seems to indicate that the embryo is composed of both differentiated and undifferentiated tissues. For example, when the cartilage bones are differentiated, the embryonic connective tissue or mesenchyme around them is undifferentiated. It later differentiates into the muscles and ligaments attached to the bones. "And We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term." (Surat Al-Haj, verse 5)

This next part of the Sura seems to imply that God determines which embryos will remain in the uterus until full term. It is well known that many embryos abort during the first month of development, and that only about 30% of zygotes that form, develop into fetuses that survive until birth. This verse has also been interpreted to mean that God determines whether the embryo will develop into a boy or girl. The interpretation of the verses in the Qur'an referring to human development would not have been possible in the 7th century A.D., or even a hundred years ago. We can interpret them now because the science of modern Embryology affords us new understanding. Undoubtedly there are other verses in the Qur'an related to human development that will be understood in the future as our knowledge increases. Scientists have recently proven that where two bodies of water come together there is a barrier undetectable to the human eye which maintains the salinity, temperature and density of each, with neither transgressing the other. This can be observed where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean. When it comes to sweet water meeting salt water in estuaries this is also true. This `barrier was mentioned in the Quran over 1400 years ago. He released the two seas, meeting [side by side]; between them is a barrier [so] neither of them transgresses. (Surat Ar-Rahman, verses 1920) And it is He who has released [simultaneously] the two seas [i.e. bodies of water], one fresh and sweet and one salty and bitter, and He placed between them a barrier and prohibiting partition. (Surat Al Furqan, verse53)

What is interesting is that pearl divers in the Gulf knew of this natural phenomenon. There are in the salty waters of the Arabian Gulf, `springs of sweet water that lay about four to six meters below sea level. During the long months at sea pearl divers would frequent these springs, where they would dive to replenish their stores of fresh water. One such famous spring is `Ain Ighmisa which lies to the north-east of the city of Jubail in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Holy Quran on Mountains: A book entitled Earth is a basic reference textbook in many universities around the world. One of its two authors is Professor Emeritus Frank Press. He was the Science Advisor to former US President Jimmy Carter, and for 12 years was the President of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC. His book says that mountains have underlying roots. These roots are deeply embedded in the ground, thus, mountains have a shape like a peg. Have We not made the earth as a bed, and the mountains as pegs? (Surat An-Naba', verses 6-7) Modern earth sciences have proven that mountains have deep roots under the surface of the ground and that these roots can reach several times their elevations above the surface of the ground. So the most suitable word to describe mountains on the basis of this information is the word peg, since most of a properly set peg is hidden under the surface of the ground. The history of science tells us that the theory of mountains having deep roots was introduced only in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Mountains also play an important role in stabilizing the crust of the earth. They hinder the shaking of the earth. ALLAH has said in the Quran: And He has set firm mountains in the earth so that it would not shake with you (Surat An-Nahl, verse 15) Likewise, the modern theory of plate tectonics holds that mountains work as stabilizers for the earth. This knowledge about the role of mountains as stabilizers for the earth has just begun to be understood in the framework

of plate tectonics since the late 1960s. Could anyone during the time of the Prophet Muhammad have known of the true shape of mountains? Could anyone imagine that the solid massive mountain which he sees before him actually extends deep into the earth and has a root, as scientists assert? A large number of books of geology, when discussing mountains, only describe that part which is above the surface of the earth. This is because these books were not written by specialists in geology. However, modern geology has confirmed the truth of the Quranic verses.

What Do Muslims Believe about Jesus?

Muslims respect and revere Jesus (called 'Isa in Arabic), and await his Second Coming. They consider him one of the greatest of ALLAH's messengers to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as 'Jesus', but always adds the phrase 'upon him be peace'. The Quran confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Quran is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation. The Quran describes the Annunciation as follows: Behold!' the Angel said, 'ALLAH has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations. O Mary, ALLAH gives you good news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to ALLAH. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and shall be of the righteous.' She said: 'O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?' He said: 'Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is. (Surat Ali Imran, verse 42) Jesus was born miraculously through the same power which had brought Adam into being without a father: Truly, the likeness of Jesus with ALLAH is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him 'Be!' and he was. (Surat Ali Imran, verse 59) Because the father of Jesus is not known, Mary is accused of immorality. In one of the accounts of Jesus childhood miracles, Jesus speaks from the cradle defending her honor, saying that he is a prophet who has come with the Gospel.23 ALLAH has blessed him and commanded him to honor his mother, to be steadfast in prayer and to give alms to the poor. In another Sura, Jesus emphasizes that both he and his mother are

honorable and pure, even though they are but human servants of ALLAH. Other stories of Jesus life are scattered throughout the Quran. He is depicted as one who performs miracles with ALLAHs permission, whose disciples request a sign in the form of a table set with food(perhaps a reference to the Eucharistic meal), and as a prophet who confirms the Torah, but corrects distortions found in it. Along with several other Old Testament prophets, Jesus predicts the coming of Muhammad after him. Jesus also commands Christians to cease in saying that God is three and that he is divine. These Christian teachings are held to be direct violations of the prohibition of polytheism and idolatry. At the Last Judgment, he is expected to bear witness against those who say that he is God. Islam is monotheistic. Hence, Muslims reject the Trinitythat ALLAH has revealed Himself as one in three Persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Islam, the Holy Spirit is understood to be the angel Gabriel. Gabriel was used as the conduit for messages from God to all of his prophets and messengers. Thus, the Holy Spirit is considered distinct and separate from ALLAH, not part of ALLAH. Which the trustworthy Spirit [Jibreel (Gabriel)] has brought down, upon your heart (O Muhammad) that you may be (one) of the warners. (Surat ash-Shuaraa, verses 193-195) And We gave Jesus, the son of Mary, clear proofs and supported him with the Pure Spirit. (Surat Surat Al-Baqarah 87) And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man.
(Surat Maryam Mary, verse 17)

According to the Christians, the "Holy Spirit" dwelt in the Disciples, and according to Muslims the "Holy Spirit" is something experienced by all

of the Prophets. But ALLAH says in Surat al-Nahl, verse 102 (interpretation of the meaning): "Say (O Muhammad) Rooh ul Qudus [Jibreel (Gabriel)] has brought it (the Quran) down from your Lord with truth, that it may make firm and strengthen (the Faith of) those who believe, and as a guidance and glad tidings to those who have submitted (to ALLAH as Muslims)" The Muslim belief is summarized by the word Tawhid, which is the cornerstone of Islam. The first article of Islam (Shahada) begins, there is no other God but ALLAH. Surat Al-Ikhlas means "the purity" or "the refining". The Sura is sometimes called The Sura of Unity tawhid (Monotheism) is the 112th Sura of the Quran. It is a short declaration of tawhid, ALLAH's absolute unity, consisting of 4 verses (ayat). Say: He is ALLAH, Absolute Oneness, ALLAH, the Everlasting Sustainer of all. He has not given birth and was not born. And no one is comparable to Him. The Quran rejects a triad that consists of God, Jesus, and his mother Mary: And [beware the Day] when ALLAH will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'" He will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen. (Surat Al-Ma'idah, verse 116). The Quran also denies that Jesus is Gods Son and that God is three, as in the verse, The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in ALLAH and His messengers. And do

not say, "Three ; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, ALLAH is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. (Surat An-Nisa', verse 171). Another text implies that calling Christ Gods son is unbelief and that worshiping Christ as a lord is associationism: The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allah "; and the Christians say, "The Messiah is the son of Allah." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded? (Surat At-Tawbah, verse 30). Another verse is more direct and clear: They disbelieve who say, God is one of three in a Trinity. There is no god except One God. If they desist not from their word of blasphemy, truly a grievous chastisement will befall the disbelievers among them [in the Hereafter] (Surat Al-Ma'idah, verse 73). During his prophetic mission, Jesus performed many miracles. ALLAH tells us that Jesus said: I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I make for you the shape of a bird out of clay, I breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Gods permission. I heal the blind from birth and the leper. And I bring the dead to life by Gods permission. And I tell you what you eat and what you store in your houses.... (Surat Ali Imran, verse 49) Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified. It was the plan of Jesus enemies (some disbelievers among the Children of Israel, who rejected Jesus' mission, made false charges of fornication against Mary) to crucify him, but ALLAH saved him and raised him up to Him. And the likeness of Jesus was put over another man. Jesus enemies took this man and crucified him, thinking that he was Jesus. ALLAH has said: And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no

knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. (Surat An-Nisa, verse 157) Neither Muhammad nor Jesus came to change the basic doctrine of the belief in one God, brought by earlier prophets, but rather to confirm and renew it. Muslims also believe that ALLAH revealed a holy book to Jesus called the Injeel (Gospel), some parts of which may be still available in the teachings of God to Jesus in the New Testament (the first four and other books), and many of Jesus revelations may have been lost. The 'New Testament' comprises of three parts, (I) Four Gospels written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, between 60 and 95 AD. (2) Acts, which is the history of the Church, written by Luke in 65 AD. (3) Epistles, which comprise letters, which were mostly written by Paul; and (4) Revelation which was written by John in 95 AD. But this does not mean that Muslims believe in the Bible we have today because it is not the book that was originally granted to Jesus. They underwent alterations (Tahreef), additions, and omissions. This was also said by the Committee charged with revising The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version). This Committee consisted of thirty-two scholars who served as members of the Committee. They secured the review and counsel of an Advisory Board of fifty representatives of the cooperating denominations. The Committee said in the Preface to The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version), p. iv, Sometimes it is evident that the text has suffered in transmission, but none of the versions provides a satisfactory restoration. Here we can only follow the best judgment of competent scholars as to the most probable reconstruction of the original text.

Interfaith marriage in Islam

The Quran lays out clear guidelines for marriage. One of the main traits you should look for in a potential spouse is a similarity in religious outlook. For the sake of compatibility, and the upbringing of future children, it is most recommended for a Muslim to marry another Muslim. However, in some circumstances it is permissible for a Muslim man to marry a nonMuslim woman. Muslim Man and Non-Muslim Woman In general, Muslim men are not permitted to marry non-Muslim women: "Do not marry unbelieving women until they believe. A slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though she allures you.... Unbelievers beckon you to the Fire. But Allah beckons by His Grace to the garden of bliss and forgiveness. And He makes His signs clear to mankind, that they may receive admonition (Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 221). An exception is made for Muslim men to marry chaste or pious Jewish and Christian women, who are referred to as "People of the Book." This comes from the understanding that Jews and Christians share similar religious outlooks - a belief in One God, following the commandments of Allah, a belief in revealed scripture (Books), etc. "This day are all things good and pure made lawful to you.... Lawful to you in marriage are not only chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time, when you give them their due dowers, and desire chastity not lewdness. If any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost" (Surat Al-Ma'idah, verse 5).

It is required that the women should be practising their religion at the time of marriage and they are not practically "Mulhid" (atheist). To any women, who doesn't believe in God, religion, God's message and doesn't practise any religion at all, the "nikaah" (marriage) will be INVALID and according to "shari'ah" (Islamic Law), such a couple is involved in sin.
Nevertheless, a Muslim man is discouraged from marrying a non-

Muslim woman if there is no Islamic State or if he is not living in an existing Islamic state, since the non-Islamic states do not recognize his rights as head of the family to raise the children Islamically. On the contrary, the children will most likely be brought up in their mother's religion, since the Muslim husband does not have his Islamic rights in his non-Muslim wife's country. The children of such a union are always to be raised in the faith of Islam. This should be discussed thoroughly by the couple before they decide to marry. Muslim Woman and Non-Muslim Man Under no conditions is a Muslim woman permitted to marry anyone but a Muslim man. The same verse cited above (Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 221) mentions, "Nor marry your girls to unbelievers until they believe. A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever...." No exception is given for women to marry Jews and Christians, so the law stands that she may only marry a believing (Muslim) man. As head of the household, the husband provides leadership for the family. A Muslim woman does not follow the leadership of someone who does not share her faith and values. Islam being a complete way of life gives us the minutest details of how to live our lives and the roles we have in society. Man by nature tends to be dominant and woman by nature tends to be compromising. This is a fact which cannot be denied. Some women might claim that they are more dominant in their marriage etc and hence it is not always true

that men are dominant. Even if I do agree that there are some women who are more dominant as compared to their husbands, these still are rare cases. Like two in a thousand and thus a minority. Islam is a universal religion and thus needs to secure people at a global level and thus in certain issues its rulings are based on the majority rather than minority. One might ask here how Islam is securing the woman by its rulings on this matter. Primarily Islam teaches us to believe in all the prophets (p.b.u.t) that were sent by ALLAH to Mankind. Thus a Muslim by default believes in Jesus (as) and Moses (as). On the other hand, the Christian does not believe in Prophet Muhammad (saw) and the Jew does not believe in Muhammad nor Jesus (as) as prophets of ALLAH. This is a very important point because a Muslim man would by default respect the prophet which his non-Muslim wife believes in but a non-Muslim man would not believe or respect the prophet which his wife believes in. After the couple has children, the non-Muslim wife would teach their child to love and respect the prophet she believes in. The Muslim man would certainly not object if his child is being taught to love Jesus (as) or Moses (as). On the other hand the non-Muslim husband might object when his Muslim wife would teach their child about Islam. Now let us further see what the religious scriptures, of the People of the Book, teach. They state that the wives are to submit to their husbands just as they submit to God. The wife is told to submit to their husbands just the way the church submits to Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. [Ephesians 5:22-24]

Another verse that is important to mention is as such: Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. [1 Peter 3:1-2] As one can see that the women of the People of the Book are told to completely submit to their husbands regardless of whether the husband believes in the word or not. To them the husband has been given a position by God to rule over them. Thus it is highly unlikely for her to disrespect her husband. At the same time the non- Muslim man comes from the line of thought that they are in this world to rule over their wives and that their wives should submit to them like they would submit to God. Hence it is highly likely for there to be clashes between the marriages of non- Muslim men with Muslim women. However this would further give rise to another question which people could ask. They could say that Islam teaches the wife to be respectful towards her husband so then there should be no clash between a Muslim wife and her non-Muslim husband. This line of argument would hold to be true only if the husband was given a status above ALLAH in Islam. That is of course not the case and Islam asks for complete submission to ALLAH and then come other responsibilities. Islam stresses on Muslims to respect their parents yet Muslims are not supposed to follow their parents' orders if they are contrary to the teachings of Islam. Similarly a Muslim woman is not to follow what her husband says if it is contrary to the teachings of Islam. Thus keeping all the factors in mind any Muslim woman would agree that she is better off marrying a Muslim man as opposed to a non-Muslim man. ALLAH has Absolute Wisdom and thus He has set laws which are only better for us. We, being humans, have limited wisdom which is

negligible in front of ALLAH and thus at times we might not be able to comprehend the true reason why certain things are forbidden in Islam. ALLAH does know that many would not recognize that which is bad for us and thus He says in the Quran: But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And ALLAH Knows, while you know not. (Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 216)