The true Islamic morals

Some people who say they are acting in the name of religion may
misunderstand their religion or practice it wrongly. For this
reason,it is a mistake to form any idea of that religion from the
activities of these people. The best way to understand Islamis through
its holy source.
The holy source of Islam is the Qur'an; and the model of morality in
the Qur'an is completely different from the imageof it formed in the
mindsof some westerners. The Qur'an is based on the concepts of
morality, love, compassion, mercy,modesty, self-sacrifice, tolerance
and peace, and a Muslim who truly lives according to these moral
precepts is highly refined, thoughtful, tolerant, trustworthy and
accommodating. To those around him he gives love, respect, peace of
mind and a sense of the joy of life.
Islam Is A Religion Of Peace And Well-Being
The word Islam has the same meaning as"peace" in Arabic. Islam is a
religion that came down to offer humanity a life filled with the peace
and well-being in which God's eternal mercy and compassion
ismanifested in the world.God invites all people to accept the moral
teachings of the Qur'an as a model whereby mercy, compassion,
tolerance and peace maybe experienced in the world. In Surat
al-Baqaraverse 208 , this commandis given:
You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow in
the footsteps of Satan. He is an outright enemy to you.
As we see in this verse, people will experience well-being and
happiness by living according to the moral teaching of the Qur'an.
God Condemns Mischief
God has commanded humanity to avoid evil; he has forbidden immorality,
rebellion, cruelty, aggressiveness, murder and bloodshed. Those who do
not obey this command of God arewalking in the steps of Satan, as it
says in the verse above, and have adopted an attitude thatGod has
clearly declared unlawful. Of the many verses that bear on this
subject, here are only two:
But as for those who break God's contract after it has been agreed and
sever what God has commanded to be joined, and cause corruption in the
earth, the curse will be upon them. They will have the Evil Abode.
(Surat ar-Ra'd: 25)
Seek the abode of the hereafter with what Godhas given you, without
forgetting your portion of the world. And do good as God has been good
to you. And do not seek to cause mischief on earth. God does not love
mischief makers.' (Surat al-Qasas: 77)
As we can see, God has forbidden every kind of mischievous acts in the
religion of Islam including terrorism and violence, and condemned
those who commit such deeds. A Muslim lends beauty to the world and
improves it.
Islam Defends Tolerance And Freedom Of Speech
Islam is a religion which fosters freedom of life, ideas and thought.
It hasforbidden tension and conflict among people, calumny, suspicion
and even having negative thoughts about another individual.
Islam has not only forbidden terror and violence, but also even the
slightest imposition of any idea on another human being.
There is no compulsion in religion. Right guidance has become clearly
distinct from error. Anyone who rejects false gods and believes in God
has grasped the Firmest Handhold, which will never give way. God is
All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara: 256)
So remind, you need only to remind. You cannot compel them to believe.
(Surat al-Ghashiyah: 22)
To force anyone to believe in a religion or to practice it, is against
the spirit and essence of Islam. Because it is necessary that faith be
accepted with free will and conscience. Of course, Muslims may urge
one another to keep the moral precepts taught in the Qur'an, butthey
never use compulsion. In any case, an individual cannot be induced to
the practice of religion by either threat or offering him a worldly
privilege.
Let us imagine a completely opposite model of society. For example, a
world in which people are forced by law to practice religion. Such a
model ofsociety is completely contrary to Islam because faith and
worship have value only when they are directed toward God . If there
were a system that forced people to believe and worship, people would
be religious only out of fear of the system.What is acceptable from
the point of view of religion is that religion be practiced in an
environment where freedom of conscience ispermitted, and that it
bepracticed only for the approval of God.
God Has Made The KillingOf Innocent People Unlawful
According to the Qur'an, one of the greatest sins is to kill a human
being who has committed no fault:
...If someone kills another person - unless it is in retaliation for
someone else or for causing corruption in the earth - it is as if he
had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person,
it is as if he had given life to all mankind.Our Messengers came to
them with Clear Signs but even after that manyof them committed
outrages in the earth. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 32)
Those who do not call onany other deity togetherwith God and do not
kill anyone God has made inviolate, except with the right to do so,
and do not fornicate; anyonewho does that will receive an evil
punishment. (Surat al-Furqan: 68)
As we can see in the verses above, those who kill innocent human
beings without a cause are threatened with evil punishment. God has
revealed that killing one person is as great a sin as killing all
mankind. Anyone who respected the prerogatives of God would not do
harm to even one individual, let alone murdering thousands of innocent
people. Those who thinkthat they will escape justice and punishment in
this world will never escape the account they must give in the
Presence of God on the Last Day. So, those believers who know they
will give an accountto God after their death, will be very careful
about respecting the limits God has established.
God Commands BelieversTo Be Compassionate And Merciful
In this verse, Muslim morality is explained:
...To be one of those who believe and urge each other to steadfastness
and urge each other to compassion. Those are the Companions of the
Right. (Surat al-Balad: 17-18)
As we see in this verse, one of the most important moral precepts that
God has sent down to His servants so that they may receive salvation
and mercy and attain Paradise, is to " urge each other to compassion
".
Islam as described in the Qur'an is a modern, enlightened,
progressivereligion. A Muslim is above all a person of peace; he is
tolerant with a democratic spirit, cultured, enlightened, honest,
knowledgable about art and science and civilized.
A Muslim educated in thefine moral teaching of the Qur'an, approaches
everyone with the love that Islam expects. He shows respect for every
idea and he values art and aesthetics. He is conciliatory in the face
of every event, diminishing tension and restoring amity. In societies
composed of individuals such as this, there will be a higher
civilization, a higher social morality, more joy,happiness, justice,
security, abundance and blessings than in the most modern nations of
the world today.
God Has Commanded Tolerance And Forgiveness
Surat al-A'raf, verse 199, which says "practice forgiveness",
expresses the concept of forgiveness and tolerance which is one of the
basic principles of the religion of Islam.
When we look at Islamic history, we can see clearly how Muslims
established this important precept of themoral teaching of the Qur'an
in their social life.At every point in their advance, Muslims
destroyed unlawful practices and created a free and tolerant
environment. In the areas of religion, language and culture, they made
it possible forpeople totally opposite to each other to live under the
same roof in freedom and peace, thereby giving to those subject to
them the advantages of knowledge, wealth and position. Likewise, one
of the most important reasons that the large and widespread Ottoman
Empire was able to sustain its existence for so many centuries was
that its way of life was directed by the tolerance and understanding
brought by Islam. For centuries Muslims have been characterized by
their tolerance and compassion. In every period of time they havebeen
the most just and merciful of people. All ethnic groups within this
multi-national community freely practiced the religions they have
followed for years and enjoyed every opportunity to live in their own
cultures and worship in their own way.
Indeed, the particular tolerance of Muslims, when practiced as
commanded in the Qur'an, can alone bring peace and well-being to the
whole world. The Qur'an refers to this particular kind of tolerance:
A good action and a badaction are not the same. Repel the bad with
something better and, if there is enmity between you and someone else,
he will be like a bosom friend. (Surat al-Fussilat: 34)
Conclusion
All this shows that the moral teaching offered to humanity by Islam is
one that will bring peace, happiness and justice to the world. The
barbarism that is happening in the world today under the name
of"Islamic Terrorism" is completely removed from the moral teachings
of the Qur'an; it is the work of ignorant, bigoted people, criminals
who have nothing to do with religion. The solution which will applied
against these individualsand groups who are trying to commit their
deeds of savagery underthe guise of Islam, will be the instruction of
people in the true moral teaching of Islam.
In other words, the religion of Islam and the moral teaching of the
Qur'an are not the supporters of terrorism and the terrorists, but the
remedy by which theworld can be saved fromthe scourge of terrorism.

The secret behind the creation of good and evil

The life of this world is a test specially created by Allah. It is a
transitory thing with both good and bad in which humanbeings are
tested. There is, of course, considerable wisdom in this. It is
essential that evil exist beside good for people to understand the
value of Paradise. Human beings are tested in terms of the virtuous
behavior they display, by Allah's leave, in this sphere in which the
good are divided from the evil.
The life of this world is a sphere in which there is a constant
struggle between the good and the bad. However, good and badare not
separated from one another by just a few characteristics. They possess
totally different, comprehensive and detailed character traits. The
bad act entirely according tosatan's directions, while the good follow
their consciences. The bad know no bounds inspired by fear of Allah,
and are capable of doing anything at anytime. When the situation and
prevailing conditions require they are quite capable of lying,
slandering others, engaging in unlawful acts, disloyalty, treachery,
putting their own interests before those of others, hatred, envy,
imbalance and intrigue. Since they have no fear of Allah they are
potentially capable of all kinds of betrayal and wickedness. There is
nothing to stop them killing, for example, when they become
sufficiently imbalanced. The more evil they commit, the morethey come
under satan's control,and the more evil deeds they arecapable of
committing.
People under satan's control busy themselves with wrongdoing, making
life difficultfor others, and spreading darkness, fear and misery,
instead of enjoying life's blessings. They look at the life ofthis
world from a different perspective. Although they knowtheir lives will
be very brief, they still elect to waste this short time span on
feelings of greed and enmity, thinking of their own interests. And
their targets are people of good character.
Good people are those who act from a fear of Allah. The
delightscreated in this world are all blessings in the eyes of such
people. Fear of Allah leads them to behave well and properly
throughout their lives, to be loyal and honest, never to do anything
unlawful, never to infringe anyone else's rights, to put others above
themselves, to be friends and brothers to others, to be trustworthy,
to harbor no ulterior motives and never to plot and conspire. Such
people are highly virtuous at every moment in their lives. Theyare
never imbalanced, exhibit unexpected character traits or lose control
of themselves. Because of their fear of Allah, the good always behave
in a manner compatible with the Qur'an. This is one of the main
distinguishing features betweenthe good and the bad. It is also the
cause of the evil's eternal hostility to the good: Since the evil have
declared war on all thatAllah sees as good, they also hate those who
love Him.
Since the life of this world is a test in which the good are
distinguished from the bad, whenever there is chaos and evilin it, one
faces the need to live ina manner compatible with the Qur'an. Only
when people live forAllah's approval, and thus according to the
Qur'an, will thisworld be a flawless place of friendship, brotherhood,
honesty, love and compassion. The fact that this world was created as
described in the Qur'an is also evidence of the existence of the
Hereafter. People are tested according to whether or not they will
abide by the Qur'an. In one verse Almighty Allah reveals:
He Who created death and life to test which of you is best in action.
He is the Almighty, the Ever-Forgiving. (Surat al-Mulk, 2)
Perfection endures for all time inthe eternal Paradise created by
Allah. Our Almighty Lord will bestow His artistry of
perfection,together with the most delightful blessings, on true
believers in the Hereafter. Paradise is a sphere where thereis no
evil, imperfection, sorrow or fear, in which delights are bestowed for
all eternity. It manifests the sublime artistry ofAllah, He Who has
the power to create flawlessness and the finest blessings. As our
AlmightyLord reveals in other verses:
Those brought near will witnessit. The truly good will be in perfect
Bliss on couches gazing in wonder. (Surat al-Mutaffifin, 21-23)

According to the Qur'an the dominion of the morality of Islam over the world is an obligation

In many verses of the Qur'an Allah promises the dominion of the
morality of Islam all overthe world. The promise of our All-Mighty
Lord is true and Allah never failsto keep His promise. Those who
believe in Allah also believe that Allah's promise will absolutely
come true. Because our All-Mighty Allah gives the news of the dominion
of the morality of Islam over the world and promises it, what befalls
to sincerebelievers is to pray for its realization by heart, demand it
and strive for it with all their might. Believing that morality of
Islam will reign and making effort for the realization of this blessed
event is obligatory for every Muslim who abides by the Qur'an. In one
verse our All-Mighty Allah says:
Allah has promised thoseof you who believe and do right actions that
He will make them successors in the land as He made those before them
successors, and willfirmly establish for them their religion with
which He is pleased and give them, in place of their fear, security.
'Theyworship Me, not associating anything with Me.' Any who are
unbelivers after that, such people are deviators. (Surat an-Nur, 55)
Some other verses in which Allah promises thedominion of the morality
of Islam over the world are as follows:
Allah has written, 'I will be victorious, I and and My Messengers.'
Allah is Most Strong, Almighty. (Surat al-Mujadala, 21)
They desire to extinguish Allah's Light with their mouths but Allah
will perfect His Light, though the unbelievers hate it. It is He Who
sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth to exaltit
over every other religion, though the associaters hate it.
(Suratas-Saff, 8-9)
They desire to extinguish Allah's Light with their mouths. But Allah
refuses to do other than perfect His Light, even though the kafirun
detest it. It is He Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the
Religion of Truth to exaltit over every other deen,even though the
associaters detest it. (Surat a-Tawba, 32-33)
Allah confirms the Truth by His words, even though the evildoers hate
it. (Surah Yunus, 82)
Those before them plotted but all plotting belongs to Allah. He knows
what each self earns, and the unbelievers will soon know who has the
Ultimate Abode. (Surat ar-Ra'd, 42)
We destroyed generations before you when they did wrong. Their
Messengers brought them the clear signs, but they were never going to
have faith. That is how We repay evildoers. Then We appointed you
after them to be successors onthe earth so We might observe how you
would act. (Surah Yunus, 13-14)
That those people of pure natural belief in Allah who do not associate
any partners toHim will be the inheritors of this world is a divine
Law which is stressed in many verses of the Qur'an:
We wrote down in the Psalms, after the Reminder came: 'It is My
servants who are righteous who will inherit the earth.' (Surat
al-Anbiya, 105)
We will leave you the land to live in after them. That is the reward
of those who fear My station and fear My threat.' They asked for
Allah's victory, and everyobdurate tyrant failed. (Surah Ibrahim,
14-15)
Moses said to his people,'Seek help in Allah and be steadfast. The
earth belongs to Allah. He bequeathes it to any of His slaves He
wills. The successful outcome is forthose who fear [and respect
Allah].' They said,'We suffered harm before you came to us and after
you came to us.' He said, 'It may well be that your Lord is going to
destroy your enemy and make you the successors in the land so that He
can see how you behave.' (Surat al-A'raf, 128-129)
We destroyed generations before you when they did wrong. Their
Messengers brought them the clear signs, but they were never going to
have faith. That is how We repay evildoers. Then We appointed you
after them to be khalifs on theearth so We might observe how you would
act. (Surah Yunus, 13-14)
Rather We hurl the truth against falsehood and it cuts right through
it andit vanishes clean away! Woe without end for you for what you
portray! (Surat al-Anbiya, 18)

Zamzam Water: The history & significance -III

The chemical analysis of Zamzam Water
Dr. Ahmad Abdul-Qaadir Al-Muhandiss indicates that the results of
chemical analyses showthat Zamzam Water is pure water, without color
or smell, has a distinct taste, and its hydrogen exponent is 7.5,
indicating that it is alkaline to some extent.
A study conducted in American laboratories showed that traces of
thirty elements were identifiedin Zamzam water by means of energizing
neutrons. Some of these elements scored less than 0.01.
After matching up the chemical analysis to international
specifications, especially to the specifications of the World
HealthOrganization (WHO), results proved the portability of
Zamzamwater as well as its beneficial effect on the body health.
Additionally, sodium is very high in Zamzam water and the
international specifications do not put a limit to the measurement of
its composition.
Minerals
Percentages
Calcium
I 9 8
Magnesium
43.7
Chloride
335
Sulfur
37 o
Iron
o. I 5
Manganese
o. I 5
Copper
o. I 2
This is an Analysis of a study conducted in the laboratory of the
Department of Water and Waste Water Treatment, the Western Province,
Saudi Arabia ( I 4 oo H.)
Zamzam water has also been treated by ultraviolet rays, and microbes
have no place to survive in it, which means that Zamzam water
preserves its taste and is not a congenial environment for bacteria.
According to various chemical analyses, dry weather make: Zamzam more
saline through evaporation, which is, with Allaah's might, good for
the human body.
In conclusion, it becomes clear that we should believe in the
Prophet's miracles and that he as described by Allaah (what meant):
"Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only Inspiration that is
inspired." [Quran 53: 3-41]
Prophet Muhammad said:"Zamzam water is a lavish meal and a great
healer," and,"Zamzam water is what one intends to drink it for." Thus,
it is a Sunnah to Drink Zamzam water,wash with it, and splash it on a
sick person.
The Benefits of Drinking Zamzam Water
Ibn 'Abbaas said: "The peopleof Makkah used to be the fastest when it
comes to sprinting, and the most powerful when it comes to wrestling,
but as soon as they stopped drinking Zamzamwater, they started to
suffer froma disease in their legs."
He also said that the Messenger of Allaah had said: "Zamzam water is
what one intends to drink for. When one drinks it to be healed, Allaah
heals him; when one drinks it be full, Allaah makes him full; and when
one drinks it to quench his thirst, Allaah quenches it." [Ahmad and
Ibn Maajah]
There is no doubt that drinking Zamzam water is very beneficial. Thus,
dear brothers and sisters! One should drink Zamzam water because it is
the best water on earth. Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him,
said that the Prophet had said: "The best water on earth is Zamzam
water".
All the above proves the authenticity of the narration:"Zamzam water
is what one intends to drink for." Additionally, many Islamic scholars
drank it and experiencedits dazzling effects. For instance, Imaam Abu
Haneefah drank from Zamzam water in order to be a knowledgeable
scholar and he became the best among the scholars in his era.
Al-Bakri said: "I tried (Zamzam water) and sensed the truth about what
had been said about it, and when I drank it, I had no doubt about its
amazing effect."
It is also true that Imaam Shaafi'i felt its tangible results whenhe
drank Zamzam water in order to be a knowledgeable person and a good
arrow shooter, fittingnine out of ten targets at a time.
Al-Ajmi said that when drinking Zamzam water one should ask for
forgiveness from sins, one may say: "O Allaah! It came to my knowledge
that your Prophet said, 'Zamzam water is what one intends to drink it
for.' O Allaah! I am drinking it to forgive me. O Allaah! Forgive
me."Besides, when someone drinks it to be healed, it is good to say:
"O Allaah! I am drinking it to be healed. O Allaah! Heal me."
The ruling of carrying Zamzam Water outside Makkah
Al-Imaam Al-Faarisi mentioned that it is permissible to carry Zamzam
water outside Makkah according to the four juristic schools, and that
it is even recommended by Imaam Maalik and Imaam Shaafi'ee .
'Aa'ishah also mentioned that the Prophet, salallaahu alayhi wa
sallam, and herself used to do that. [At-Tirmithi]. Abu Hasan said:
"The Prophet wrote to Suhayl Ibn 'Amr : 'If you receive my message at
night, do not wait till the morning, and if you receive it in the
morning do not wait till night; just immediately send me some Zamzam
water.' Then, Suhail's wife with the help of his grandfather, Ayoob
Ibn 'Abdullaah, and their maids carried Zamzam water at night…"[Abu
Moosaa Al-Madeeni & Al-Azraqi]
Attaa stated that Ka'bah Al-Ahbaar used to carry it to ancient Syria.
'Aa'ishah carried Zamzam in bottles for sick people. The Prophet also
carried it in leather bags and used to pour it on the sick and give it
to them as a drink. [Al-Faakihi]