ISLAM

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLDS FASTEST-GROWING WAY OF LIFE

Irfan Alli www.IslamicBooklets.com

Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life Irfan Alli _____________________________________________________________________________ Copyright 2000 by Irfan Alli COPYRIGHT NOTE: This booklet is an on-line publication of www.IslamicBooklets.com. It was written and formatted to be placed on the internet for free distribution. This document, in its present form and with no alternations, can be photocopied, distributed, printed or shared by electronic means, as long as it is not done for profit. Anyone wishing to quote from this booklet must give credit to the author Irfan Alli, and www.IslamicBooklets.com ISLAM, AN INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLDS FASTEST-GROWING WAY OF LIFE: Islam is the worlds fastest growing way of life. Confirmation of this comes from many sources. People are accepting Islam worldwide, despite the shallow and biased coverage Islam and Muslims receive in the media. This phenomenon is happening despite the lack of an organized and comprehensive effort on the part of Muslims to educate others about Islam. People are adopting Islam as a way of life because it appeals to their heart and to their intellect. Any way of life worth following can be checked against five questions before deciding whether to accept and live by it or not. 1. Is it Divine or manmade? 2. Is it historically connected? 3. Are its teachings comprehensive? 4. Does it guide all levels of our existence? 5. Has it been tested and proven successful? Learn how Islam measures up, by reading this booklet. IRFAN ALLI: Irfan Alli is the production manager for the Canadian division of an international engineering company, a position he has held for over 25 years. During that time he has served as a director, educator and chairperson in Islamic organizations as well as a lay Muslim Chaplain in Canadian hospitals and prisons. He is the author of three books "The ABCs of Parenting - A Practical Guide for Muslim Parents", "How to get the most out of School - A Practical Guide for Students and Parents" and "Muslim Child - Understanding Islam through Stories and Poems" which is co-authored with his wife Rukhsana Khan. Irfan is often asked to speak to Muslims and non-Muslims to help them better understand Islam. His presentations to students, parents, youths, community groups, pastors, educators, and at interfaith forums have been well received. His research and lecture notes are transcribed into booklets, and can be downloaded from IslamicBooklets.com free of charge. His volunteer and professional work has taken him all across Canada, to the U.S., Brazil, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Guyana, Pakistan, India, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. What he has learned from his travels is reflected in his writing. Irfan lives in Toronto, Canada with his wife and four children.
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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life Irfan Alli _____________________________________________________________________________

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................4 IS IT DIVINE OR MANMADE......................................................................................................6 IS IT HISTORICALLY CONNECTED?.........................................................................................7 ARE ITS TEACHINGS COMPREHENSIVE?..............................................................................................8 DOES IT GUIDE ALL LEVELS OF OUR EXISTENCE?...........................................................10 HAS IT BEEN TESTED AND PROVEN SUCCESSFUL?.........................................................12 CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................15 REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17

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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life Irfan Alli _____________________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION
Islam is the worlds fastest growing way of life, confirmation of this comes from many sources. Here are a few: Islam is a global faith. Nearly one person in five in the world today - some 800 million people in more than 75 countries - is a Moslem (sic, should be Muslim) . . . Islam is also one of the worlds popular religions, possibly the fastest-growing faith on the globe. In sub-Saharan Africa, Islam is reportedly winning 10 times as many converts as traditional Christianity. (Seeing the World through Islamic eyes by Keith W. Stump. The Plain Truth, June 1983, Page 6). Islam is the worlds second largest religion after Christianity. Some estimates suggest that it may by now have reached 1.2 billion, surpassing the number of Christians. Whatever the statistics, one thing is certain: While Christianity and the worlds other major faiths continue to lose adherents, a vital and robust Islam is gaining new converts by the millions. (Islam: The sleeping giant awakes by Eric Margolis. The Sunday Sun, May 26, 1985). Islam is the fastest-growing religion worldwide. (The Junior Encyclopedia of Canada, Hurtig Publishers, Canada, 1990, Vol.2, page 396) Islam is the fastest growing religion in America, a guide and pillar of stability for many of our people. That is why an understanding of Islam is long overdue . . . Like many Americans, I have only recently began to gain a fuller appreciation of Islam. When I was growing up in a suburb of Chicago, there were no courses of Islamic history or religion in school. There were little opportunities, if any, for me to encounter or visit with American Muslims. That has changed, it has changed because those of you who are Muslim Americans have begun to reach out and share your experiences with us. (Hillary Rodham Clinton addressing a meeting sponsored by the Muslim Womens League and Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles, 30 May 1996). This phenomenon is happening despite the lack of an organized and comprehensive effort on the part of Muslims to educate others about Islam. We also find people are accepting Islam worldwide, despite the shallow and biased coverage Islam and Muslims receive in the media. People are adopting Islam as a way of life because it appeals to their heart and to their intellect. Any way of life worth following can be checked against five questions before deciding whether to accept and live by it or not. 1. Is it Divine or manmade? 2. Is it historically connected?

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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life 3. Are its teachings comprehensive? 4. Does it guide all levels of our existence? 5. Has it been tested and proven successful? Let us see how Islam measures up. Irfan Alli.

Irfan Alli

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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life Irfan Alli _____________________________________________________________________________

IS IT DIVINE OR MANMADE?
A way of life worth following should be Divine in origin. Manmade systems have failed in the past and are still failing today. In the last century we have seen the failure of Communism and the disintegration of the Soviet Union after many decades of formulation and testing. Capitalism on the other hand, has contributed to moral decay, debt and the disintegration of the family. The fact that fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, most people are heavily in debt, and prisons are overcrowded, are all indications that capitalist societies are in crisis. Where communism and capitalism fail to help us find peace of mind and stability, Islam succeeds upon implementation. Islam is a Divinely inspired way of life. Muslims worship the same God that Jews and Christians worship. He is commonly referred to as ALLAH. Allah is the Arabic word for GOD. Muslims believe that God is One and therefore reject the trinity. The Quran teaches: Say: He is God, The One and Only; God, The Eternal, The Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is nothing that can be compared to Him. (Quran 112:1-4) Muslims believe the same angel Gabriel, that came to Abraham, Moses and Jesus came to Muhammad (peace be upon them). God, through the angel Gabriel, revealed the Quran to Muhammad (peace be upon him). This was done over a period of twenty-three years. Muslims consider the Quran to be Gods last revelation to mankind. In the Quran, God describes it as a healing for all who choose to follow its teachings. The Quran enlightens and guides over one billion people from around the world. One in every five persons is a Muslim. The Muslim population is not confined to the Middle East. Only about 18% of Muslims live in the Arab world. The largest Muslim population in any one country is in Indonesia (over 150 million). There are Muslims living in many places in Asia. Most of Africa's population is Muslim. There are also large Muslim minorities living in China, the former Soviet Union, Europe, South and North America. In India, where Muslims number close to 140 million, they are a minority! Muslims therefore should not be confused with Arabs. Muslims may be Arabs, Africans, Americans, Canadians, Chinese, Pakistanis, Malaysians, or other nationalities. On the other hand an Arab could be a Jew, Christian, Muslim, an atheist or something else. Islam holds answers to life's important questions. What is the purpose of life? How should life be lived? Who is God? Who are the prophets and what are their roles? What should one look for in a spouse? How should one raise children? What happens after death? These are all questions addressed in the Quran and Hadith (the sayings and practices of prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him).
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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life Irfan Alli _____________________________________________________________________________

IS IT HISTORICALLY CONNECTED?
Islam literally means peace, submission, and obedience. In the religious sense, Islam means: The way to peace and salvation through submission to the will of God and by obedience of His laws. A person who chooses this path is called a MUSLIM. Islam is not a new religion, but the way of life taught by all the prophets of God - Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them). The Quran mentions the names of twenty-five prophets of God, and commands Muslims to accept and respect all of them. It further describes them and their followers (in their respective eras) as Muslims. On accepting and living Islam one therefore accepts all the prophets of the past, recognising that God's religion is one and historically connected. All prophets got their guidance from the same God, and each invited to the same way of life - ISLAM. When Muslim parents teach their children the stories from the lives of the prophets, they not only teach about the life of prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who Muslims believe was the last prophet from God), but also about: (a) The miraculous birth of Jesus (peace be upon him), as well as the fact he was able to perform miracles by God's permission. (b) The story of Moses (peace be upon him) and the Children of Israel. Mosess upbringing and his eventual confrontation of Pharaohs oppression. (c) Abraham's (peace be upon him) search for God. His destruction of the idols of his people and God's cooling of the fire when his people tried to burn him for his act of rebellion. (d) The lives of Noah, Joseph, Solomon, Jonah, and other prophets (peace be upon them). All these and other prophets' stories are in the Quran, God's final revelation to mankind. The Quran teaches: Say, we believe in God, and that which was revealed unto us, and that which was revealed unto Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the books) given to Moses and Jesus, and the Prophets from their Lord; We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to God do we bow our will (in Islam). (Quran 3:84) Islam therefore is not only Divine in origin but stands historically connected to what God has revealed to His prophets before Muhammad (peace be upon him). Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was himself a descendant of prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) through prophet Ishmael (peace be upon him).
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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life Irfan Alli _____________________________________________________________________________

ARE ITS TEACHINGS COMPREHENSIVE?

Islam's teachings cover all aspects of man's life - intellectual, spiritual, moral, social, economic, and political. When practiced as a total way of life it develops well-balanced individuals, families and societies. This leads to happiness, peace and stability for all. Its teaching come from two sources. The QURAN and the HADITH. The Hadith are sayings and practices of prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In this booklet we will only be able to scratch the surface of the comprehensive teachings of these two sources. INTELLECTUAL Islam demands faith in God on the basis of knowledge and research. It is an obligation on both men and women to seek knowledge. The Quran speaks not only about how to live life but is also a rich source of knowledge on science and the universe. For example: (a) On the creation of the universe from one mass: Don't the unbelievers see that the heavens and earth were joined together (as one unit of creation), then We clove them asunder? And We have made from water every living thing. (Quran 21:30) (b) On the formation of the embryo and its development: We did create the human being from a quintessence of clay then We placed him as a drop of sperm in a safe place ofrest, firmly fixed. Then We created the sperm drop into a clinging mass, then of that clot We created a fetal lump, then We created that lump into bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, then We produced it as another creation. So blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators. (Quran 23:12-14) SPIRITUAL Islam is built on five pillars: the conviction that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) is His prophet; prayers at five prescribed times each day; the giving of 2.5% of ones savings in charity each year; fasting - abstinence from food, beverages and sex from dawn to sunset during the 9th month of the Islamic calendar; and the performance of Hajj (a pilgrimage to Mecca), at least once in a lifetime for those who can afford it. The five daily prayers are commonly observed in a Masjid ( or Mosque) in a community setting, and more than two million Muslims from all parts of the world go to Mecca each year for the annual pilgrimage. Besides the Masjid in Mecca, Muslims also have a special bond to the Prophets Mosque in Medina, and Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: The best richness is the richness of the soul.
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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life Irfan Alli _____________________________________________________________________________ There is a polish for everything that takes away rust; and the polish for the heart is the rememberance of God. MORAL Currently there are many unwanted pregnancies and abortions. To avoid this, Islam teaches us to be responsible and to fulfill our sexual needs only within marriage. The Quran teaches: And come not near to fornication and adultery for it is a shameful deed and an evil, opening the road to other evils. (Quran 17:32) Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Be not like the hypocrite who, when he speaks, tells lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he proves dishonest. SOCIAL It teaches that all of us share a common father, Adam (peace be upon him). Therefore, we should extend kindness and help to each other as much as possible. This way all of us live a better quality life and help make the world a better place. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: The actions which are most excellent are: To gladden the hearts of people, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured. ECONOMIC Islam discourages living on welfare and encourages one to earn a livelihood from the sweat of one's brow. There should be no cheating in business transactions and inferior products should not be sold as if they're of better quality. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has taught: No one has ever eaten better food than what he eats as a result of the labour of his hands. God's Prophet David (peace be upon him) used to eat from what he had worked for with his hands. Pay the wages of a labourer before his perspiration becomes dry. A giving hand is better than a receiving hand. POLITICAL An individual is not obligated to follow leadership if it transgresses God's laws. At the same time everyone has leadership responsibilities and must ensure they are fulfilled properly. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: All of you are guardians and responsible for your wards and the things under your care. The ruler is the guardian of his people and is responsible for them. A man is the guardian to his family and is responsible for them. A woman is the guardian of her husband's home

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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life Irfan Alli _____________________________________________________________________________ and is responsible for it. All of you are guardians and all of you are responsible for your wards and the things under your care. He (peace be upon him) also said: Do not ask for the position of leadership. For if you are given it after asking, you will be left to discharge it yourself. But if you are given it without asking for it, you will be helped to discharge it.

DOES IT GUIDE ALL LEVELS OF OUR EXISTENCE?

The teachings of Islam are comprehensive and provide guidance for all levels of the world order. In this booklet we can only sample a few. INDIVIDUAL It teaches the individual personal hygiene, how to maintain a healthy diet, behave responsibly, earn a livelihood, dress without promoting lewdness, select a spouse, and how to relate to other people. For example, on how to behave responsibly Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Avoid envy, as envy devours good deeds just as fire devours wood. God will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy to others FAMILY Since the family is the backbone of the society, Islam has guidance on the duties and responsibilities of parents as well as children. How the husband should treat his wife and how the children should be raised, are all detailed in the Quran and Hadith. Teaching on how we should behave in our families Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Among the believers who show the most perfect faith are those who have the best disposition and are kindest to their families. On how children should treat their parents, the Quran teaches: Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him. And that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And, out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say: My Lord! bestow on them Thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood. (Quran 17:23-24)

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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life Irfan Alli _____________________________________________________________________________ SOCIETY Courtesy, kindness and the extending of help to family members, relatives, neighbours, friends and people in general are basic principles Muslims are taught. There is no superiority on the basis of class, race, nationality or wealth. Superiority in God's eyes is based on ones conduct and behaviour. Furthermore, Muslims are required to treat animals and the environment in ways that are best for all. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: The best amongst you are those who have the best character. The believer is not the one who eats his fill when his neighbour beside him is hungry. All creatures are Gods children, and those dearest to God are the ones who treat His children kindly. GOVERNMENT In Islam there is no separation between state and religion. The sovereignty of the Islamic state belongs to God. There is no hereditary succession or monarchy in Islam. The leader is chosen by the people to administer justice and common services within the laws ordained by God. If he violates the laws of God he is not to lead or to be obeyed. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: Listening and obeying are the duty of a Muslim both regarding what he likes and what he dislikes, as long as he is not commanded to perform an act of disobedience to God, in which case he must neither listen nor obey. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS At the international level, Muslims are never allowed to initiate war. However, if they are attacked they are required to defend themselves. In war however, there are strict limits on what is and is not permissible. Soldiers are not allowed to destroy crops, rape women, harass the elderly, or destroy institutions of religion. The basic objective of war is to remove oppression and return people to a better life. Hopefully one that involves the worship of God. Acts of terrorism are forbidden in Islam. The many reports of terrorism we hear of, perpetrated by Muslims, are simply acts by frustrated people, who call themselves Muslim, and use terrorism to achieve their agenda. The Quran teaches: Whosoever kills a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind . . . (Quran 5:32)

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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life

Irfan Alli

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HAS IT BEEN TESTED AND PROVEN SUCCESSFUL?

When we reflect on the society the Quran was first revealed to, we find that Islam reformed it in the short period of 23 years and a government was established based on its principles. The Arabs at the time of the revelation of the Quran were an ignorant people - drunkards, and constantly at war because of tribalism. They worshipped many idols, and their women had no rights. Islam cured the society of all of these sicknesses. If it is implemented in our time we can also have the peace of mind that they experienced. RETURN TO GOD It returned the society of that time to the worship of One God. The God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them). We too need to return to the worship of One God and give up the many idols that we bow our heads to. The Quran questions us: How can you reject faith in God? Seeing that you were without life, and He gave you life; Then He will cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will you return. (Quran 2:28) CURED RACISM Much of the worlds problems today are due to racism. Islam when implemented cures man of this disease. The Quran teaches: O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you into nations and tribes that you may know one another. Lo! The noblest of you, in the sight of God, is the best in conduct. Lo! God is The Knower, The Aware. (Quran 49:13) Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught: God does not judge us on our colour or shape but on the nature of our hearts and deeds. DETOXIFIED SOCIETY When the Arabs at the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were not at war, they spent their time getting drunk and womanizing. Today drunkenness, gambling and illegal drugs contribute to health problems; divorce (as many as 50% of marriages end up in divorce); rape; incest or sexual molestation (statistics say one in three girls, and one in ten boys are likely to experience this in todays society); as well as many road fatalities.

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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life Following Islam would save us from these problems. The Quran teaches:

Irfan Alli

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O you who believe! Intoxicants and games of chance and idols and divining of arrows are only an infamy of Satans handiwork. Leave them aside in order that you may succeed. (Quran 5:93) They ask thee concerning intoxicants and gambling. Say: In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; But the sin is greater than the profit . . . (Quran 2:219) GAVE WOMEN RIGHTS It may surprise you to know that as recently as 1929 the British Privy Council, then the highest court of appeal in Canada, ruled that the word "persons" could include both women and men. This was the result of the challenge of Emily Murphy and four other Alberta women to the thinking at the time. Because of Islam, over 1420 years ago Muslims were spared the debate as to whether women had souls, can own property, or be called persons. With the revelation of the Quran, and the teachings of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), women were given rights, attended to their spiritual needs, were allowed to own property, and contributed to making the world a better place. In Islam, if women choose not to contribute financially to the household, the husband has to carry the full financial responsibility. In countries where Muslim women are not treated well, it is due to patriarchal corruption and a departure from the teachings of Islam. PROGRESS ON ALL FRONT With the advent of Islam, things went so well for Muslims that they made advancements and progress on all fronts. Worship of God and the pursuit of knowledge had the Muslim world in a state of enlightment while Europe was still in the dark ages. Science and scientists were allowed to thrive in the Muslim world while their counterparts were being persecuted in the Christian world. They established great institutions of learning in Russia - in Samarkand and Bukhara; in Iraq - in Baghdad, Kufa and Basra; in Syria - in Damascus; and in Spain - in Toledo, Granada, Cordoba, and Seville. Muslims made advancement in mathematics, physics, medicine, chemistry, astronomy, geography, poetry, mathematics and social sciences, and other areas. Some names familiar to the West are Alhazen, Khwarizm, Avicenna, Rhazes and Geber. These are Muslim scholars whose Arabic names have been anglicized/disguised to suite some peoples agenda. To elaborate:

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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life

Irfan Alli

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ALHAZEN: Was a Muslim physicist by the name of Abu Ali al Hasan ibn al Haitham. His works included the use of lenses, the evolution of spherical mirrors, motion of light, refraction, and magnification. KHWARIZM: Was a Muslim mathematician whose full name is Muhammad ibn Musa al Khawarazmi. His work included square roots, squares, theory of numbers, solution of fractions, as well as algebraic, quadratic and cubic equations. AVICENNA: Was a Muslim physician whose full name is Abu Ali al Hussain ibn Sina. The west gave him the title Prince of Physicians. He was best known for his Canon of Medicine. RHAZES: Was a Muslim physician whose full name is Muhammad ibn Zakariyya ar Razi. He had excellent prognosis skills. Was well known for his work on small pox and measles. GEBER: Was a Muslim chemist whose full name is Jabir ibn Hayyan. He was the final authority on chemistry for many centuries. He grouped metals into three classifications, and laid the basis for the acid base theory. The world of Islam was in great cultural and scientific development while Europe was still sunk in barbarism and superstition. The oldest university in non-interrupted use (and still in use today) is the Al-Azhar in Cairo, Egypt. In the Middle Ages it was one of the centers of scientific inquiry. Muslims introduced the Arabic numerals and zero, without which modern science and the computer age would not have been possible. Ibn Sina's Canon of Medicine and Ar Razi's on Smallpox and Measles were textbooks in the medical profession for about eight hundred years. Many English words also have their origins from the Arabic language. For example, ALGEBRA came from AL-JABR, SUGAR came from SUKKAR, and LEMON came from LAYMUN, to name a few. This and much more came from a people whose life was filled with paganism and moral decay before their introduction to Islam. As Islam enlightened individuals and societies, it encouraged them to seek a better understanding of the laws of nature. This helped in the enlightment and progress of the world as we know it today. It was from Spain, which Muslims ruled for several centuries, that the development of Europe out of the dark ages began. With time Muslims compromised their practice of Islam, fought amongst themselves, were invaded, and colonized. Today, they are struggling to get the yoke of imperialism off their necks, so they can return to the practise of Islam.

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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life

Irfan Alli

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CONCLUSION
It is unfortunate that many people have been denied a proper introduction to Islam due to distortions and misrepresentation in books, movies, the media, and by non-Muslims. It is incorrect to judge Islam on the basis of the behaviour of frustrated Muslims portrayed in the media. The media has many false hypotheses of Islam and Muslims. It only seeks to cover incidents and stories to reinforce its understanding. As has been explained, Islam is a way of life that addresses all of man's needs. Its teachings are rich and comprehensive. Pleasure and happiness are natural by-products when Islam is practiced. Islam, simply put, is the completion of Judaism and Christianity. It is the way of life taught by the prophets of God - in stages man could understand and practice. Its evolution began with Adam (peace be upon him), and was completed with prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the revelation of the Quran. It has been tested many times over, and when properly understood and practiced, proven to be successful for those who live by it. It waits to be understood by both Muslims and Non-Muslims in these trying times so that we can make the world a safe and better place, with a better quality of life for all of its people. I leave you with excerpts from the final sermon of prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him), Gods last messenger and prophet to mankind: . . . O People, listen to me in earnest. Worship God, say your five daily prayers (Salaat), fast during the month of fasting (Ramadan), and give your wealth in charity (Zakat). Perform pilgrimage (Hajj) if you can afford it. All of Mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab over an Arab. Also a white person has no superiority over a black person nor a black person over a white person except by piety and good action. Know that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim, and the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not do injustice to yourselves. Remember, one day you will appear before God and answer for your deeds. So beware, and do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone. O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me. Reason well O People, and understand the words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QURAN and HADITH. If you follow these you will never go astray. All those who listen to me shall pass my words to others and those to others again, and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness O God, that I have conveyed your message to your people.
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Islam An Introduction to the Worlds Fastest-Growing Way of Life

Irfan Alli

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REFERENCES
1. Modern English Translation of the HOLY QURAN from the original work of A.Yusuf Ali. Published by Manar Intl Corp. 2. Riyad-us-Saliheen compiled by Al-Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf an-Nawawi Ad Dimashqi. Published by Darussalam. 3. Sayings of Muhammad translated by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad. Published by Sh. Muhammad Ashraf. 4. The translation of the meanings of Sahih Al-Bukhari by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan. Published by Khazi Publications.

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