Welcome to Islam, - Belief in the Heavenly Books - I

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In the cave of Hiraa’ and away from people, Jibreel )Gabriel( came down to our Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, while he was worshiping Allaah The Almighty The One Who Has no partner and said to him: "Recite." Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, "I cannot recite,". Jibreel pressed him hard and repeated the order ‘Recite.’ ‘I cannot recite’ said he trembling and terrified, and once again he pressed him hard and said: ‘Recite.’ Again he answered while shaking and trembling ‘I cannot recite.’ Jibreel held him for the third time then released him and said:}Recite in the name of your Lord who created.{]Quran 96: 1[ Then this situation comes to an end and Jibreel disappears. Muhammad hurries back home, trembling and sweating profusely. He enters upon his wife Khadeejah and says to her:Cover me, cover me.]Al-Bukhari[ She covers him with wool covers, and wipes the sweat from his forehead. The Will of Allaah The Almighty has been fulfilled and the seal prophet on earth was chosen to convey the call of Allaah The Almighty to His slaves. The verse mentioned above was the first verse that Allaah The Almighty revealed to His Messenger from the Noble Quran which is the book that Allaah The Almighty chose to be the ever-lasting miracle and clear argument with the seal of the Prophets. This book is not the only book that Allaah The Almighty has sent down; rather, there are other books such as Tawraah )Torah( Injeel )Gospel(, Zaboor )Psalms(, and Suhuf )Scriptures(. The Muslim individual believes in all books that Allaah The Almighty revealed to His Prophets and Messengers in much the same way as he believes in the Noble Quran which Allaah The Almighty revealed to Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Allaah The Almighty mentioned some of these books in the Noble Quran and did not mention some others. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Mankind was ]of[ one religion ]before their deviation[; then Allaah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the Scripture except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allaah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed.{]Quran 2: 213[ Amongst the books that Allaah The Almighty mentioned in the Noble Quran are: 1. The Scriptures of Ibraaheem )Abraham( and Moosa )Moses(, may Allaah exalt their mention: They are the Scriptures that Allaah The Almighty sent down to Ibraaheem and Musa, may Allaah exalt their mention. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(: •}Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses. And ]of[ Abraham, who fulfilled ]his obligations[{]Quran 53: 36-37[ •}Indeed, this is in the former scriptures, The scriptures of Abraham and Moses{]Quran 87: 18-19[ Abu Tharr, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: I said: O Messenger of Allaah! How were the Scriptures of Ibraaheem, may Allaah exalt his mention? He said: They were full of examples; O Arrogant tested domineering king! I have not sent you to collect the vain gains of this world, but rather I sent you to respond to the supplication of the wronged person on my behalf for I never reject it even if it is from a disbeliever. Every sane person must – as long as his mind is not absent - take time to invoke his lord, time to bring himself to account, time to contemplate the creation of Allaah The Almighty, and time to seek his needs from food and drinking. Every sane person must not move except for three things: preparing the provision for the appointed time, improving his life and enjoying a lawful pleasure. Also, every sane person must be mindful of his time, must look after his affairs and protect his tongue )from obscene speech(. Whoever thinks of his speech as part of his deeds, he will not speak except in what is beneficial for him. Then I said: O Messenger of Allaah! How were the Scriptures of Moosa )Moses(, may Allaah exalt his mention? He said: “They were full of wisdoms: I am amazed at the one who is certain of death and then he feels happy. I am amazed at the one who is certain of Hell and then he laughs. I am amazed at the one who is certain of preordainance and then he exhausts himself. I am amazed at the one who has seen the world and how the fortunes of its people change and then he feels reassured. I am amazed at the one who is certain of Reckoning tomorrow and then he does not work.” 2. Tawraah )Torah( It is the book that Allaah The Almighty revealed to Moosa )Moses(, may Allaah exalt his mention, and ordered the prophets who came after him to establish and fulfill its rulings, for Allaah The Almighty sent them and did not send any books with them; rather, He made Tawraah their book and religion. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted ]to Allaah [ judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allaah , and they were witnesses thereto.{]Quran 5: 44[ Allaah The Almighty called he Tawraah “Al-Furqaan” in the Noble Quran. 3. Az-Zaboor )Psalms( It is one of the heavenly books. Allaah The Almighty revealed it to Daawood )David(, may Allaah exalt his mention. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And to David We gave the book ]of Psalms[.{]Quran 17: 55[ Daawood, may Allaah exalt his mention, used to read a great deal in Az-Zaboor which the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, named Quran because of its similarity to the Noble Quran in their miraculousness. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“The reciting of the Zaboor )i.e. Psalms( was made easy for Daawood. He used to order that his riding animals be saddled, and would finish reciting the Zaboor before they were saddled. And he would never eat except from the earnings of his manual work.”]Al-Bukhaari[ Allaah The Almighty sent down in Az-Zaboor precious wisdoms and praises of Him. Allaah The Almighty did not reveal in it any rulings of the permissible and prohibited actions for they were enjoined to take their rulings from the Tawraah. 4. Injeel )Gospel( Allaah The Almighty revealed it to ‘Eesa )Jesus(, may Allaah exalt his mention. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(: •}And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.{]Quran 5: 46[ •}Then We sent following their footsteps Our messengers and followed ]them[ with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel{]Quran 57: 27[ Wisdom behind revealing Books The Muslim individual believes that these books were revealed by Allaah The Almighty. They called to At-Tawheed )monotheism( and to associating nothing with Him. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, ]saying[, "Worship Allaah and avoid Taghut.{]Quran 16: 36[ The Muslim believes that the wisdom behind revealing books is to guide human beings to the straight path of Allaah The Almighty, eliminate disagreement and discord from among them, bear for them the glad tidings of the pleasure of Allaah The Almighty if they obeyed Him and warn them against His punishment if the disobeyed Him; and that the heavenly books – other than the Noble Quran – have not remained in their original state in which Allaah The Almighty sent them down; rather, they were exposed to alteration and distortion and the words of humans have mingled with the Words of Allaah The Almighty in them. Forms of the distortion of the Divinly Revealed Books Distortion of the divinely revealed books took different forms. The Noble Quran mentioned some of them such as: 1- Hiding some verses, Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much.{]Quran 5: 15[ 2- Misinterpretation of the intended meanings of the verses, Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allaah," but it is not from Allaah. And they speak untruth about Allaah while they know.{]Quran 3: 78[ 3- Displacing verses from their original places. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Among the Jews are those who distort words from their ]proper[ usages and say, "We hear and disobey.{]Quran 4: 46[ 4- Adding what is not from the Book to it; Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And among them are unlettered ones who do not know the Scripture except in wishful thinking, but they are only assuming. So woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allaah ," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.{]Quran 2: 78-79[ Distortion of the Tawraah )Torah( Belief in the Tawraah that Allaah The Almighty revealed to Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, is one of the main pillars of the religion of Islam. Muslims believe that it included all goodness, called for the worship of Allaah Alone and it was a light and guidance. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light.{]Quran 5: 44[ However, the Tawraah that was revealed to Moosa, may Allaah exalt his mention, does not exist anymore in its original state. The claimed Tawraah of nowadays was written by many writers and in different times. It was distorted and altered. Amongst the material proofs of its distortion is that the Tawraah that is in the hands of Christians is different from the one that is in the hands of Jews. The Noble Quran recorded that distortion and rebuked the Jews for their distortion and alteration of the Tawraah. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Do you covet ]the hope, O believers[, that they would believe for you while a party of them used to hear the words of Allaah and then distort the Torah after they had understood it while they were knowing?{]Quran 2: 75[ They had the nerve to distort and alter the Book of Allaah The Almighty to hide the truth that it contained and all that can prove the prophethood of Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, although they knew him well. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know ]it[.{]Quran 2: 146[ Though they knew him well, they did not believe in him and were too arrogant to do so. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Among the Jews are those who distort words from their ]proper[ usages.{]Quran 4: 46[ Amongst the evidences that prove the distortion of the current Tawraah are the descriptions mentioned in it which do not befit the Majesty and Perfection of Allaah The Almighty such as: And the LORD God said, Behold, the man has become as one of us, to know good and evil.” ]Genesis 3: 22[ and “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. ]Genesis 6: 6[.” Can these be the Words of Allaah The Almighty? Can grief and regret be attributed to Allaah The Almighty? In fact, such malicious claims entail that Allaah The Almighty did not have knowledge of the results of His actions. No, Allaah The Almighty is high above any defect and shortcoming. Allaah The Almighty has comprehensive knowledge that encompasses everything. Exalted is He and high above what they say by great sublimity. Another proof of the distortion of the current Tawraah is what is mentioned in it of describing prophets in a way that negates the infallibility that Allaah The Almighty granted them. They mentioned that Ibraaheem )Abraham( is a liar, that Haroon )Aaron( called Banu Israa’eel )Children of Israel( to worship the Calf, and that Sulaymaan )Solomon( worshiped idols to please his wife. Can any human being who has a sound mind say such words; let alone being revealed by Allaah The Almighty to guide humans with it?

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M

Welcome to Islam, - Belief in the Heavenly Books - II

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Distortion of the Injeel )Gospel( The Injeel was also distorted and altered and is not in its original state in which Allaah The Almighty revealed it. Christians contintued altering and changing its facts so as to attain their desired worldly gains. The distortion of the current versions of the Injeel can simply be proved if we know that they are four versions of the Injeel selected from many more versions. Such versions reported the words of Prophet ‘Eesa, may Allaah exalt his mention. Their writers are known and their names are written on them. In the library of one of the princes in Paris, a version of the Injeel – Injeel )Gospel( of Barnabas - was found. It differed greatly from the other four selected versions of the Injeel and agreed with the Noble Quran in many beliefs and principles. After we have known for certain that those books have been distorted, then what is the meaning that the Noble Quran came to confirm in the divine books that preceded it? This simply means that the Noble Quran came to enhance and support the truth which was mentioned in the books that came before it, mainly worshiping Allaah The Almighty Alone, believing in His Messengers, believing in the reward, observing rights and justice, enjoining good and forbidding evil, and adhering to noble moral standards. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Say, "O People of the Scripture, you are ]standing[ on nothing until you uphold ]the law of[ the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord."{]Quran 5: 68[ Consequently, the Quran is the only way with which we can know the sound divine teachings. It is the book whose fundamental principles are preserved, its teachings are not distorted, and the Ummah received it from the angel who brings down the Revelation to the Messengers - Jibreel, may Allaah exalt his mention - who came down to the Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This preservation was not granted to any book other than the Noble Quran. In fact, the Quran comprises the most sublime principles, methods and systems. It has all that humans need of beliefs, acts of worship, morals, and transactions. It befits all times and places. It is sufficient to create a Muslim individual, a virtuous family and a righteous society. Truthful is the one who speaks with it. Just is the one who passes judgment according to it. Guided to the right path is the one who adheres to its teachings. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}There has come to you from Allaah a light and a clear Book. By which Allaah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path.{]Quran 5: 15-16[ The Previous Divinely Revealed Books Were not Universal The books that Allaah The Almighty revealed, other than the Quran, addressed certain people in certain times and they agreed with the Noble Quran in some rulings and laws. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And We ordained for them therein a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds is legal retribution.{]Quran 5: 45[ Muslims believe in what is mentioned in these books as long as it does not contradict with the Quran. They also believe that the Noble Quran is the main constitution for all people. Characteristics of the Noble Quran The Noble Quran has many characteristics that distinguish it from the books that came before it. Amongst such characteristics are: • It has all the divine instructions that Allaah The Almighty revealed in the Tawraah, the Injeel, and all the teachings that Allaah The Almighty revealed. • It supports the truth which was mentioned in these books regarding worshiping Allaah The Almighty Alone, believing in His Messengers, believing in reward, observing and establishing rights, enjoining good and forbidding evil, and adhering to noble moral standards. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And We have revealed to you, ]O Muhammad[, the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allaah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method.{]Quran 5: 48[ That is to say, Allaah The Almighty revealed the Noble Quran which is truthful in all that is mentioned in it and it confirms the preceding Scriptures that were revealed by Allaah The Almighty. It is a witness over them. It explains the distortion and alteration that inflicted them. Then Allaah The Almighty ordered His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to judge between all people, Muslims and non-Muslims, by what Allaah The Almighty has revealed in the Noble Quran and not to follow them in disobeying Allaah The Almighty. • Allaah The Almighty prescribed a law for every nation with its rulings and different interactions that befit its nature and inclinations in the best way. The main pillars of creeds are the same in all messages. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}He has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, ]O Muhammad[, and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus - to establish the religion and not be divided therein.{]Quran 42: 13[ Then when Islam came, it abrogated all other laws and methods. It established only one creed and method for all people. • The original versions of the books that were revealed before the Quran were lost. Nothing remained of them except their translations, unlike the Noble Quran which was preserved as a whole with its Soorahs, verses, words, and letters exactly as Jibreel, may Allaah exalt his mention, recited it to the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. In the previous books, the words of humans were mixed with the Words of Allaah The Almighty. No one can recognize the words of Allaah The Almighty from those of humans. As for the Noble Quran, all of its words are from Allaah The Almighty and they were never mixed with the Hadeeths of the Messenger or the speeches of the companions or any other person. • None of those books can in any way be attributed to the Messenger to whom it was revealed. The Tawraah )Torah( was not written by Moosa )Moses(. In fact, it was written many centuries after Moosa. The Noble Quran is the only book that was proved to be decisively attributed to the Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, )even if he did not write it down himself, for he ordered the writers of the revelation to record every verse immediately after it was revealed to him(. • The teachings of the Noble Quran are the Words of Allaah The Almighty that can achieve happiness to all humanity. So Allaah The Almighty Willed for it to last forever. He preserved and protected it from distortion. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(: •}And indeed, it is a mighty Book Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it; ]it is[ a revelation from a ]Lord who is[ Wise and Praiseworthy.{]Quran 41: 41-42[ •}Indeed, it is We who sent down the Quran and indeed, We will be its guardian{]Quran 15: 9[ The wisdom behind that is to make the Quran the argument of Allaah The Almighty over people. The Quran is for all worlds and all people. It is not for a specific people unlike the previous heavenly books. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner.{]Quran 34: 28[ • The Quran is the guidance that leads to all that is good. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Alif, Lam, Meem. This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allaah{]Quran 2: 1-2[ Allaah The Almighty wants His word to spread and reach minds and ears everywhere. This will not be attained except if the Quran is easy to memorize and understand. Nothing in the Quran is difficult for people to understand or fulfill. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And We have certainly made the Quran easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?{]Quran 54: 17[ • The Quran is also the miracle of the Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. In fact, if the whole world gathered in order to produce something like what is mentioned in the Quran, they could not produce the like of it for it is as Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And indeed, it is a mighty Book. Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it; ]it is[ a revelation from a ]Lord who is[ Wise and Praiseworthy.{]Quran 41: 41-42[ • The Quran is an invitation to every good matter and forbids every vice. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}O mankind, there has come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts.{]Quran 10: 57[ • The Quran is a cure for souls. It purifies them from their diseases. It is a remedy from disbelief, misguidance, hatred and envy. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.{]Quran 17: 82[

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M

Welcome to Islam, - Testimony of Ahmed Corpus, formerly Marco Corpus

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All praise is due to Allah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His last Messenger, Prophet Muhammad, his family, companions, and those following true guidance. This is my story why I embraced Islam. During my childhood, I was brought up in the Catholic faith particularly within the Aglipayan sect. My grandfather and aunt are faith healers. They worship idols and spirits. I also witnessed many sick people who came to my grandfather and aunt to be healed and they were healed. Thus, these caused me to follow what they believed in. When I reached the age of seventeen, I noticed that there are many religions having different types of doctrine, however, using one common source, which is the Bible. Everyone claims to be the true religion. Then, I asked myself, “Shall I remain with my family’s faith or shall I try to attend and listen to another religion?” One day my cousin invited me to attend the Pentecost Church. My motive was only to observe what they are doing inside their church. I witnessed that they employ singing, clapping, dancing, crying and raising hands in worship to Jesus. The pastor preached about the bible. He mentioned the most common verses quoted by all preachers pertaining to the divinity of Christ such as: John 1:12, John 3:16, John 8:31-32. That time, I became a born- again Christian. I accepted Jesus Christ as my lord and personal savior. Every day, my friends used to visit me to go with them in the church. Two months later, they baptized me. I became a regular member of their congregation. Five years passed, our pastor convinced me to work in the ministry, as a volunteer worker. Later on, I became a lead-singer, worship leader, and a Sunday school teacher. Eventually, I became a full time worker in the ministry. My congregation was under the Free Rural Evangelization and Expansion )F.R.E.E.( Mission. It is an evangelical ministry just like the Jesus is Lord )J.I.L(, Nazarene, Bread of Life, Pentecostal Church, etc. I began teaching people about the bible and its doctrines. I read the bible twice from cover to cover. I committed myself to memorize chapters and verses of the bible for the purpose of protecting the faith I was uphold to defend. With the position I had attained, I became proud of myself. I often told myself that I didn’t need other teachings or scriptures except the bible. However, within me, there was still spiritual emptiness. I prayed, fasted, and served to fulfill the will of the god I used to worship, but I only found happiness when inside my church. This feeling of happiness was not constant even when I was with my family. I also noticed that some of my friends who were likewise pastors were materialistic. They indulged themselves with carnality such as illicit relationships with women, corruption, and thirst for fame. In spite of these, I blindly continued to hold firm with my faith. This is because I knew according to our teachings, many are called but few are chosen. I always prayed to Jesus Christ to forgive my sins as well as their sins. I thought that he is the solution to my problems and as such, he can answer all my prayers. However, looking into the lives of my co-pastors, you cannot find among them as good examples to the flocks they pastorate. Thus, my faith began to decline. Still, I strived hard to work to serve my congregation. One day, I thought of going abroad not only to work but also with the intention to proselytize the name of Jesus as lord, Astaghfirullah ) I seek forgiveness of Allah(. My plan was to go either to Taiwan or Korea. However, by the Divine Will, I got a visa for Saudi Arabia. Immediately, I signed a three-year contract to work in Jeddah. A week after I arrived in Jeddah, I observed the diverse lifestyle of different people such as the language, customs, and even the food they eat. I was totally ignorant of other’s culture. Al-Hamdulillah )all praise and thanks are due to Allah(, I had a Filipino co-worker in the factory that happened to be a Muslim and who could speak Arabic. Though, there was little apprehension, I tried to ask him about the Muslims, their faith and beliefs. I thought Muslims were hard-killers who worshipped Satan, Pharaohs, and Muhammad as lords. I shared to him my faith in Christ. As a response, he told me that his religion it totally different from my religion. He quoted two verses from the Noble Quran )which mean(: “…This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion...”]Quran 5:3[ “You worship not besides Him except ]mere[ names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. Legislation is not but for Allah. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.”]Quran: 12:40[ The verses he quoted struck me. After that I began to observe his life. Every day we shared each other’s belief and eventually became close friends. In one occasion, we went to Balad )the commercial district of Jeddah( to post some letters. There, I happened to notice many people watching a video of a debate by my favorite “preacher”. My Muslim friend told me that the favorite “preacher” I was telling him happens to be Ahmad Deedat and apparently a famous propagator of Islam. I told him that, our pastors back home had made us to believe that he is just a “great preacher”. They kept to us his real identity that he is a Muslim propagator! Whatever their intention was, definitely, it was to keep us away from knowing the truth. Nevertheless, I bought the videotape as well as some books to read about Islam. In our residence, my Muslim friend told me about the stories of the Prophets. I was really convinced but pride kept me away from Islam. Seven months later, another Muslim friend from India came to my room and gave me an English translation of the Quran. Later on, he brought me to Balad and accompanied me to an Islamic Center nearby. There, I met one Filipino brother. We had some religious discussions and related to me his life before when he was a Christian. Then he lectured to me the teachings of Islam. That blessed night, on the 18th of April 1998, without compulsion, I finally entered Islam. I announced my declaration of faith called the Shahadatain )Profession of Faith(, Allahu Akbar! )Allah is the Most Great!(. Before that I was following a blind faith. But now, I see the ultimate truth that Islam is the best and complete way of life designed for the whole of mankind, Al-Hamdulillahi Rabbil-‘alamin )All the praises and thanks are to Allah, the Lord of the mankind, jinn and all that exists(. My prayer is that Allah will forgive us all our Ignorance regarding Islam and Guide us to the straight path leading to Paradise. Ameen.

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M