Introduction to Islam. Zahid Aziz

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      It applies as follows:

      Belief in: — Means we should:

      God. — Try to perfect ourselves and acquire the best qualities.

      Angels. — Follow our good thoughts and impulses.

      Prophets. — Try to model our lives on the examples of the righteous ones in all the nations on earth.

      Books of God. — Follow all the truths, in whatever scripture or religion they may be found.

      Life after death. — Remember that all our actions, good and bad, open and secret, will be judged.

      13. What are the basic practices a Muslim has to perform?

      In order to submit to God, and to be at peace with fellow beings, a Muslim has to perform certain duties to God and to fellow-beings. The duties to God are:

      Prayer (salaat)

      Fasting (saum)

      and

      Pilgrimage to Makka (hajj).

      The duty to fellow beings is to spend one’s resources, time, energy, money, etc. for the welfare of others; in particular, to give a part of one’s wealth to help those in need (known as giving zakaat, a charity-tax).

      14. What is the main point to remember about these practical duties?

      It is that the purpose of performing these duties is to draw us closer to God, and to lead us to do good to others and refrain from wrong-doing in our daily lives. Therefore, we should carry out these duties, not as rituals, but remembering God from the bottom of our hearts. Performing these acts of worship can only benefit us if we use them as the basis for improving our character and conduct in daily life. If a person prays and fasts, but fails to do good and give up bad habits, his prayer and fasting will be useless.

      3. Allah

      “Allah — there is no god but He. His are the most beautiful names.” (20:8)

      “Say: He, Allah, is One. Allah is He on Whom all depend. He begets not, nor is He begotten, and none is like Him.” (ch. 112)

      15. What is the basic teaching of Islam about God?

      Islam teaches that there is one, and only one, God Who is the Creator and Controller of the entire universe. He is unique in every respect, and there is nothing which bears any likeness to Him. He is the Knower of all things, and has full power over the whole of creation. He does not stand in need of anything at all, while everything is totally dependent on Him. He possesses all the perfect qualities, and man should worship Him, and Him alone.

      16. Is there any name for God that Muslims use specially?

      Yes. According to Islam, the personal name of God is the Arabic word Allah. Personal name means that it is the name which refers only to Him, and to Him rather than to any particular quality that He possesses. It is pronounced as follows:

      AL — as in the English word al-arm.

      LAH — la as in the word la-rge.

      The word Allah denotes that God is the One Who possesses all the perfect attributes. The Quran itself gives this meaning when it says:

      “Allah has the most excellent names (or qualities).” (7:180)

      The names of God in other languages, such as God in English, or Khuda in Urdu, only convey some particular attribute of the Divine Being, and they are also used for those other than God (as in god, gods, goddess, etc.). Allah, however, has only ever been applied to God Himself.

      17. Does Islam give any arguments to prove the existence of God?

      Yes, the Holy Quran gives three kinds of arguments on this point.

      Firstly, it refers us to the physical world which shows great order and arrangement, works according to laws, and where everything has a set purpose in the whole scheme of things. There is also immense beauty in nature which attracts man’s heart. Science is discovering more and more of these characteristics of the world all the time. So behind this highly purposeful and beautiful working of nature must be One, single Intelligence of great beauty and attraction.

      Secondly, the Quran tells us about the close and deep connection between God and the inner nature of every person. There is an in-built desire in each and every person to search for something higher than oneself, and when in difficulties a person instinctively wants to call upon a Hidden Power to help him.

      Thirdly, and most convincingly, Prophets and men of God appeared in every nation in the world and showed their people the reality of God through their teachings and works. Just as most of us learn about science not by making all the discoveries ourselves, but by accepting the work and evidence of those who devote themselves to the study of science, similarly the proof of the existence of God is provided by the lives of the great luminaries whom God sent all over the world for this very purpose.

      18. Other religions also teach the existence of God. Is there any difference between their teaching and the Islamic concept of God?

      Yes, there are some important differences.

      The first major difference is that Islam teaches the absolute one-ness of God, with Whom no one can share in Divinity. No idol or heavenly object, nor any religious or spiritual teacher, can possess some Divine power or attribute.

      Secondly, Islam teaches the highest conception of God, and does not accept any limitation to His power and knowledge, while other religions set limits to Him. For instance, Islam rejects the Hindu belief that God is not the Creator of matter and souls but exists alongside them. It also rejects the Christian doctrine that God is unable to forgive sins unless He punishes someone, and so He sent His ‘son’ to suffer the punishment for the sins of all humanity. Moreover, a son is needed to take the place of the father when the father dies, and clearly this cannot apply if God is perfect.

      Thirdly, Islam refutes the idea that any human being, however great, was a ‘manifestation’ of God on earth, or a Divine incarnate.

      19. What are the practical consequences of these three differences?

      These differences dignify and elevate the position of man. Belief in the one-ness of God means that man should not worship or be a slave to anything in the world, such as idols, forces of nature, heavenly bodies, religious leaders, kings, dictatorial systems, etc. So man is meant to conquer the world around him, not be afraid of it; and each person is meant to use his or her own intelligence and reason, not blindly obey someone else.

      Belief in the highest conception of God means that man’s own progress is unlimited. His knowledge and power, though insignificant as compared to God’s, can go on increasing. Rejecting the belief that a person could be a ‘manifestation’ of God, means that one should look upon the great Founders of СКАЧАТЬ