islamrevolution.org

Islam: definition

Islam derives from the Arabic word “salaam”, which means “Peace”. Literally, Islam means “Submission”. It is a religion the objective of which is to be in a state of submission before God, in order to achieve perfect happiness and peace. Thus, contrary to common belief, the religion of Islam, as described in the Quran, is a very peaceful and loving religion.

Muhammad was born in 570 A.D. (570 = 19 x 30) in the city of Mecca. According to the Quran, the Holy Scripture was revealed in one night (on the 27th night night of Ramadan 610), then gradually released to the prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel over a long period of time: from 610 A.D. to 632 A.D., the year of his death. Muhammad was born in a polytheistic Arab society and starting from the revelation of Quran suddenly preached the absolute oneness of God, and rejected strongly the polytheistic cults of the Arab tribes. He was persecuted and had to flee from the city of Mecca to the city of Medina on the 24^th of September 622. This date marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is called the Hegira. Muhammad, according to the revelations of Quran, was commanded to purify the holly sanctuary of Mecca, which was originally built by Abraham and Ishmael, his first son, to establish the religion of perfect monotheism. After several years of war with the Arab tribes of Mecca, in January 630 A.D. he entered the holy city of Mecca as a victor, without any resistance (Quran, 48:24-25), and purified it from any trace of idol worship. At the time of his death, the cult of Allah, the One God, had spread over the entire Arabic peninsula and replaced the polytheist cults.

Today, Islam is the second largest religion after Christianity.

There are hundreds of different denominations or subdivisions in Islam. Nevertheless there are clearly two major religious tendencies, which emerged from divisions after the death of the prophet Muhammad: The Sunnis and the Shiites. Because of the foundation of their beliefs and a terrible history of violence between the two groups, it is virtually impossible that peace will ever be established between them. Unfortunately, neither of them hold the keys to establish peace on earth, nor do they reflect the purity of Islam.

By the grace of God, there is now a third path: Islam based on Quran alone, the true path of peace, which is as we speak in the process of reinstating the true foundation and values of Islam. Quran alone Islam disappeared shortly after the death of prophet Muhammad, and it is now in the process of uniting not only the entire Islamic world, but the human race. Sunni and Shia Islam are going to disappear very quickly - in a matter of years God willing - simply because they do not reflect the message described by God in the Quran, and because God provided us decisive signs, some of which are displayed on this website, that enable us today to clearly separate the truth from falsehood. 

1. Islam based on Quran alone, the best example:

No compulsion, freedom of belief:

[2:62] Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in GOD, and (2) believes in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.

[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.

Jesus in the Quran:

[3:45] The angels said, "O Mary, GOD gives you good news: a Word from Him whose name is `The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary. He will be prominent in this life and in the Hereafter, and one of those closest to Me.'

The Quran advocates defending oppressed people:

[4:75] Why should you not fight in the cause of GOD when weak men, women, and children are imploring: "Our Lord, deliver us from this community whose people are oppressive, and be You our Lord and Master."

Politeness:

[4:86] When greeted with a greeting, you shall respond with a better greeting or at least an equal one. GOD reckons all things.

[4:148] GOD does not like the utterance of bad language, unless one is treated with gross injustice. GOD is Hearer, Knower.

The example of Abraham:

[4:125] Who is better guided in his religion than one who submits totally to GOD, leads a righteous life, according to the creed of Abraham: monotheism? GOD has chosen Abraham as a beloved friend.

The example of Abel responding to his brother Cain:

[5:28]  "If you extend your hand to kill me, I am not extending my hand to kill you. For I reverence GOD, Lord of the universe.

The price of life in Islam:

[5:32] Because of this, we decreed for the Children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people. Our messengers went to them with clear proofs and revelations, but most of them, after all this, are still transgressing.

Essence of the message: believe and lead a righteous life.

[5:93]  Those who believe and lead a righteous life bear no guilt by eating any food, so long as they observe the commandments, believe and lead a righteous life, then maintain their piety and faith, and continue to observe piety and righteousness. GOD loves the righteous.

God is One:

[6:19] Say, "Whose testimony is the greatest?" Say, "GOD's. He is the witness between me and you that this Quran* has been inspired to me, to preach it to you and whomever it reaches. Indeed, you bear witness that there are other gods beside GOD." Say, "I do not testify as you do; there is only one god, and I disown your idolatry."

Difference between Mainstream Christianity and Islam: the identity of Jesus:

[4:171] O people of the scripture, do not transgress the limits of your religion, and do not say about GOD except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was a messenger of GOD, and His word that He had sent to Mary, and a revelation from Him. Therefore, you shall believe in GOD and His messengers. You shall not say, "Trinity." You shall refrain from this for your own good. GOD is only one god. Be He glorified; He is much too glorious to have a son. To Him belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. GOD suffices as Lord and Master.

[5:116] GOD will say, "O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say to the people, `Make me and my mother idols beside GOD?' " He will say, "Be You glorified. I could not utter what was not right. Had I said it, You already would have known it. You know my thoughts, and I do not know Your thoughts. You know all the secrets.

Appreciative versus unappreciative:

[14:7] Your Lord has decreed: "The more you thank Me, the more I give you." But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe.

The message of Islam is not violent:

[16:125] You shall invite to the path of your Lord with wisdom and kind enlightenment and debate with them in the best possible manner. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best who are the guided ones.

Mariage in Islam, love and care towards the spouse:

[30:21]  Among His proofs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, in order to have tranquility and contentment with each other, and He placed in your hearts love and care towards your spouses. In this, there are sufficient proofs for people who think.

Words of wisdom:

[41:34] Not equal is the good response and the bad response. You shall resort to the nicest possible response. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend.

[42:43] Resorting to patience and forgiveness reflects a true strength of character.

[49:11] O you who believe, no people shall ridicule other people, for they may be better than they. Nor shall any women ridicule other women, for they may be better than they. Nor shall you mock one another, or make fun of your names. Evil indeed is the reversion to wickedness after attaining faith. Anyone who does not repent after this, these are the transgressors.

Restoration and revolution of Islam:

Beside the Sunni and Shiite mainstream which are by essence very based on the Hadiths and Sunna, and lead to an extremely codified and sometimes oppressive and violent society, an example of a very revolutionary and very peaceful approach has appeared in the 1970s in the world of Islam: Muslims who completely reject all forms of traditions (Sunna and Hadiths) and base their faith on Quran alone. These Muslims stress on the fact that Quran always contradicts the violent laws of traditional corrupted Islam, and that the message of Quran has actually nothing to do with nonsense or violence. This very new approach in the world of Islam was initiated by Rashad Khalifa. It is important to see that some Muslims have the capacity to ignore traditions, and go back to the essence of the message of faith, which is a message of love (19:96).

Rashad Khalifa is also famous for his study of the Quran using computers and his discovery of miraculous mathematical patterns which he called “the mathematical miracle of the Quran”. 

A very simple way to introduce Islam are five of the main pillars of Islam (there are many additional pillars) which provide a good overview of some of the religious duties of a Muslim:

1. The first pillar of Islam: the absolute Oneness of God.

The first pillar of Islam, as described in the Quran, is: 

“There is no other god beside God”

لا إله إلا الله

We find this most important pillar word for word in two verses of the Quran as well as in many verses under a variety of forms:

[37:35]  When they were told, "Laa Elaaha Ella Allah [There is no other god beside GOD]," they turned arrogant.

[47:19] You shall know that: "There is no other god beside GOD," and ask forgiveness of your sins and the sins of all believing men and women. GOD is fully aware of your decisions and your ultimate destiny.

[3:18] GOD bears witness that there is no god except He, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge. Truthfully and equitably, He is the absolute god; there is no god but He, the Almighty, Most Wise.

2. The ritual Prayer.

The prayer in Islam is a way to establish contact with God, find guidance, keep us away from evil deeds, and remember Him. Without giving a detailed explanation of the prayer here, the first chapter of the Quran, the “Key”, is recited 17 times a day in five ritual prayers, all of which are mathematically coded directly in the Quran. Sura 1:

[1:1] In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

[1:2] Praise be to GOD, Lord of the universe.

[1:3] Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

[1:4] He who reigns over the Judgment day.

[1:5] It is You whom we worship; it is from You that we seek help. 

[1:6] Guide us onto the right path, 

[1:7] The path of those whom You blessed, not that of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor that of those who have gone astray.

This first chapter is basically a summary of the entire Quran in seven verses.

3. The fast of Ramadan.

The Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad on the 27th night of the month of Ramadan (Islamic lunar calendar), and is called “the Night of Destiny”. This month has a very special place in the life of a Muslim.

[2:185] Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation.

4. The obligatory charity (Zakat).

In Islam it is a duty to help those in need. It is a religious obligation to set aside a minimum of 2.5% of your net income to give away as charity.

[6:141] He is the One who established gardens, trellised and untrellised, and palm trees, and crops with different tastes, and olives, and pomegranate - fruits that are similar, yet dissimilar. Eat from their fruits, and give the due alms on the day of harvest, and do not waste anything. He does not love the wasters.

[2:177] Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous are those who believe in GOD, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the traveling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves; and they observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat); and they keep their word whenever they make a promise; and they steadfastly persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and war. These are the truthful; these are the righteous.

Note: The Quran, like the Bible, was revealed in a society who used to advocate slavery. In the above verse, it is noteworthy that Quran and the Islamic society advocate strongly the disappearance of such practices.

5. The pilgrimage to Mecca.

[22:27] "And proclaim that the people shall observe Hajj pilgrimage. They will come to you walking or riding on various exhausted (means of transportation). They will come from the farthest locations."

At least once in a lifetime, it is a religious duty to perform the Hajj pilgrimage to the valley of Mecca, for those who can afford it. It is a symbol of unity of Muslims all around the world in their worshipping God. 

6. Islam, religion of peace.

Most of all, Islam is a very simple religion. It is all about loving God, it all about loving your neighbor as yourself and strive to make a better world; it is about listening to your heart, it is all about peace...