what is Islam

 

 About the Author
Abdu Raheem as Saranbi was born in Sri Lanka but came to the United States as a youth and was raised therein. He has been studying and teaching Islam and the Quran now for the last 12 years. He has studied under several prominent and knowledgeable scholars from countries such as Philistine, Egypt, India, Pakistan and Yemen. He is also well versed in both classical books of tafsir by scholars such as Shawkani, Razi, Qurtubi, Zamakshari, Tabari and Ibn Kathir, as well as modern tafsir books by scholars such as Mawdudi, Sayyid Qutb and Taqi Usmani. In this work he has combined both the classical and contemporary tafsir as well as taken the knowledge gained from his teachers. He has also included his own reflections and thoughts on the meanings of the verses and where possible he has tried to link the verses to situations and realities that he has observed in the world today.
He is currently 33 years old and he lives in New Jersey with his wife and their daughter. He continues to be both a student and teacher of the Quran and of Islam. When he is not writing or reviewing his works, he spends his time reading both Arabic and English books on Islam and on the Quran. He has devoted his life to learning this Book and to teaching it to others. Please make dua that Allah (swt) preserves him and makes easy his task, and that He (swt) accepts his efforts and protects and has mercy on his family both in this life and the next.
May Allah (swt) reward you for your dua and your taking the time to read this work. If there is anything good here then it is from Him (swt) and if there is anything wrong then it is from the author and he begs His Forgiveness and if possible he asks for your correction (abdrahman11@gmail.com).

Islam:

The Path to God

By

Abdu Raheem As-Saranbi

Table of Contents

Introduction................................................................................ 3

What is Islam?.................................................................................. 7

The Proofs for Islam..................................................................... 99

Islam and Society........................................................................ 160

Refuting Common Criticisms................................................... 219

The Prophet Muhammad.......................................................... 256

Introduction

My dear brothers and sisters in humanity, this humble work of mine is a very brief introduction to my religion Islam. I call it a “brief introduction” because there is so much depth to this religion that it can never be encompassed in a single work. There is so much beauty to it that it cannot be described in a single book. It contains so much guidance that volumes upon volumes can be written on it. And even then all that there is to say about this religion cannot be said. Because in the end any book can only give you a sampling, a taste of this religion. For the core of this religion, the heart of it, is one’s connection with God, one’s relationship with Him. And this really is something that cannot easily be described, it must be experienced.

But the first step in the journey is knowledge. Actually the very first step is an open mind. And this is what I am asking of you. All that I really want from you at this point is to consider the possibility. The possibility that there is a God and that He has sent this Message of Islam to you. To you specifically. Because Islam is the religion for every single person on this planet. Its universality is stated explicitly in numerous verses of the Quran and statements of the Prophet Muhammad. So it is not something that you can ignore, it is not something that you can neglect. Even besides the fact that it is the fastest growing religion in the world, and the fastest growing in your country. Even beside the fact that it is the most misunderstood of all the religions. Even besides the fact that it has billions of followers, it has almost half the world population. Even besides the fact that it was the dominant civilization for over 1000 years. These are not the only reasons why you should look into it. Rather it should most importantly be for yourself. Islam is the message and a way of life that God has sent to you. To show you how to live, so that you can find peace and fulfillment.

In this Message God is speaking to you, He is telling you what He has to say. Of this fact I am absolutely certain, and I want you to at least entertain the possibility. To at least have an open mind. Because think what if it is the truth, do you really want to live heedless of such an Awesome and Majestic Being? If only you knew Him you could not help but love Him with all your heart. The problem with most of us today is that we do not know Him. And even you, if the perception that you have of Him is an old man sitting in the clouds or a human like yourself then realize that you also do not know Him. You first need to come to this realization, you need to put aside all your preconceived notions about God. And also your preconceived notions about Islam. Because He is not at all like the god most people think Him to be, and also His religion is not at all like the false religions that people have invented.

The Islam that will be presented in this book is the Islam that is found in the source text of this religion, meaning the Quran and the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad. These are the foundations of this religion, these define what this religion is and what it is not. For in Islam we do not have a clergy, we do not have a set of human beings who have the exclusive right to speak on behalf of the religion. Only the Prophet had that right. He brought to us this Message from God. And this Message is contained in the Quran and the hadith. The hadith are the statements of the Prophet which he transmitted to us on behalf of God. We believe that these statements are also revelation from God just like the Quran. Only the Quran is from God both in words and in meaning but the hadith is from God in meaning but the words are that of the Prophet. Ultimately however what is important to bear in mind is that the source of both is God. These are what I have based this book upon. So that you may receive the Message in the most succinct form .

So basically Islam is the Message that God has sent to you. And who is God again? He is none other than the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe. Including you. He created you and He keeps you in existence at every single moment. Were it not for Him you would not even be. Can you possibly realize what this means? He is the One Who provides you with all that you have. Every morsel of food that you eat, every drop of water that you drink, every breath of air that you take, it is all from Him. Your body, your senses, you mind are all from Him.

He is also the Being of absolute Perfection and Majesty. The Being of such Beauty and Sublimity. He is much more than just a man. He is far above being able to bleed or feel pain. Glorified be He above such limitations. How can you not want to know such an Awesome Being. Islam not only allows you to know Him but it allows you to build a relationship with Him. The most personal and intimate of relationships. In Islam there is no intermediary between you and God. There is no need to go though a saint or a priest to reach Him. There is not even a concept of the father and the son. For we believe in One God and One God Alone. Without partner or rival of any kind. It is this God Who has sent to you this Message. In it He is calling out to you. He wants to have a relationship with you. He wants to be your Best Friend and your Most Beloved. He created you only for Himself. He did not create you and the marvelous universe around you in vain, rather it was for a purpose. Your life has a purpose and in this Message He shows you what it is. How then can you neglect this Message? How can you not even consider or look into it? Do you not at the very least owe it to God, just to consider the possibility? He has given you so much, can you not give Him the short time it takes to read this book with an open mind? Is it fair that you continue to neglect Him after all that He has done for you?

Not only do you owe it to God to look into this religion but you also owe it to yourself. Please believe me when I say that Islam is what you have always been looking for, it is the peace and the contentment that you have been searching for, even if you never realized it. It is the solution to all your problems, to all those worries that keep you up at night. I can guarantee you that if you sincerely follow this religion then it will take away all your grief and it will ease all your anxieties and fears. God willing in this book I will try and show how. Not only is this religion the solution for you and me, but it also is the solution for all mankind. For each and every human on this planet. It is how all the suffering and the pain in the world today can end.

So I want you to consider this religion. This really is my intention in writing this book. I love you as my brother or my sister in humanity. As a consequence I only want the best for you. I want you to have peace and tranquility in this life, and I also want for you salvation and bliss in the next. And I believe with all of my heart that Islam is the only way you can achieve this. This is why I have taken the time to write this book for you In it God willing I will try to show the beauty and simplicity and purity of this religion. I will try to show some of its many proofs and evidences. I will try to show how it is different from all other religions in the world. So that hopefully you will see how it is indeed the true Message from the One True God. Intended for you. I hope you will see how simple it is to become a Muslim and how liberating it is to live as one. I pray that God helps me in this endeavor, forgives me its many shortcomings, and that He guides your heart to Him. For there is nothing in the world which compares to Him.

Abdu Raheem As Saranbi December 29, 2011

Chapter 1

“Say onto the people that my prayers, my sacrifices, my life, and my death are all for God, the Sustainer and Master of all”.

-Quran [6:162]

“Love the Lord God with all your all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength”.

-Deuteronomy 6:5

“Surrender is not weakness, there is great strength in it, only a surrendered person has spiritual power”.

-Eckhart Tolle

“Love has nothing do to with what you are expecting to get, only with what you are expecting to give, which is everything”.

-Katherine Hepburn

What is Islam? It is the religion that the One True God has sent for all mankind. Not just to show us how to worship Him but also to show us how to live. For in Islam both of these are the same, our entire life is one of worship. In this way Islam is different from all the other religions of the world. This religion is much more than just rituals, morals, songs and holidays. It is not something you can do only in your part time. Rather from the moment that you open your eyes in the morning to the moment that you shut them at night you can be in a state of worship to God. And through this you can have a purpose. How wonderful is it to live your life on purpose. To know what you have to do at every moment. To never be lost or confused. Never be bored or meaningless. Islam can show you how to achieve this. It is a compass that can guide you through your life. Its message is simple and pure. You have one God. The One True God. He is the One Who created you, the One Who sustains you , the One Who has given you all that you have, the very source of all the good in your life. He has given you everything so worship only Him. Remember Him. Praise Him. Live each moment only for Him. Because of your love for Him. You realize that you are who you are only because of Him. So you give to Him all that you can give. You try at each moment only to please Him. How simple is this? How beautiful is it?This is the reason why He created us. To dedicate our lives to Him. Not just through a few rituals or songs but through all that we do. Not just with our limbs but more importantly with our hearts. Our hearts should always be yearning for Him. When we are at this state then our limbs will only do what pleases Him. When we are in this state then we are in Islam. It is the realization that nothing matters except God. Your love for Him consumes everything else. And it gives you a serenity and a contentment that all of the riches in the world cannot buy.

This is the reason why God created us and placed us upon this earth, only to submit ourselves to Him. This is our purpose. Can we not see how everything in this universe has a purpose, can you find even a single thing that exists without a purpose? Even the objects that we create, we create with a purpose. The car has a purpose, the table has a purpose, the house has a purpose. We build these things only in order that they may fulfill their intended purpose. And to use these things for other than their intended purpose is foolishness. Would you ever use a refrigerator as a filing cabinet, would you ever use a new computer only as a paperweight? How then can you ever think of God as being so foolish? How can the God Who has the Power and the Knowledge and the Wisdom to create a universe like this create us without a purpose? Could He have created us and this wonderful universe around us only so that we can eat, drink, play, copulate, and die? You know that you were made for more than this, more than simply the acquisition of material things and the satisfaction of carnal desires. So if you believe in God then you must believe that He created you with a purpose. A far higher purpose than the life that you are living now. That purpose is Islam, that purpose is to submit to Him completely. In every aspect of your life. Because think about it, does He deserve any less from you, does He deserve that you only worship Him for a few hours on Sunday and then live the rest of the week heedless of Him? Does He deserve so little from you? Of course not. You know He deserves from you a life of complete dedication. He is relentless is His Mercy and His bounties upon you, should then you not be relentless in your servitude of Him? Should you not give Him all that you can? If your love for Him is true and deep. Anyone can claim that they love God, in this religion He asks you to prove that love. He asks that you manifest that love in all that you do.

The only way that you can truly dedicate yourself to God is through Islam. For this religion is nothing less than complete surrender and submission to Him. In this way it is different from all other religions. You need to realize this. You need to remove all assumptions and presuppositions that you might have about Islam and about religion in general. You may have had a bad experience with other religions, you may even have had a bad experience with some Muslims. Or you may have heard some negative views about Islam. Do not let any of this influence you. Realize now that Islam is not at all like the other religions. And realize also that Islam cannot be blamed for the actions of some misguided people who may call themselves Muslims. Rather this religion is good and pure. Because it is from the Holy and the Pure. If you finish this book with an open heart then God willing you will realize this too.

Maybe right now this life of submission may seem difficult It may seem as if He is asking a lot. But I assure you that it is not at all difficult. God Himself has called this religion easy. Not only is it easy but through it you can find a serenity like nothing else in this world can offer. You can be content no matter what happens to you. You may find this hard to believe as well. But I assure that it is possible. This religion is the way. Contrary to what you have been taught, happiness and fulfillment are not to be found in feeding yourself. Life is not about satisfying your ego and your lusts. You have already tried living such a life and you know how empty it is, how fleeting its satisfaction is. Just a mirage. If only you knew God you would realize how there is far more to existence than that. If only you knew Him then you would see why He is indeed deserving of your dedication. Of your love. So the first step in your journey to Him is to know Him. How can you love one you do not know? All that we do for Him is from our love for Him.

As we said in the introduction God is the Creator and the Sustainer for everyone. So first you need to know about Him that He is the very Reason for you. At every moment you only are because of Him. Even this moment. You are experiencing this very moment only because of Him. You see, you hear, you feel, you taste and you think only because of Him. How much then do you owe to Him? How tremendous is just this bounty of His upon you? Can you even measure, can you even quantify the magnitude of it? When you realize this then you see just how precious each moment is. A gift from the Divine. He is an active Being, a conscious Being. He is not a passive force as some people think of Him to be. Rather at every moment He is choosing to sustain you, choosing to keep you alive. Just like He chose to bring you into existence in the first place. What kind of a relationship then do you need to have with Him? Is it fair that you live your whole life heedless of Him when He has and continues to do so much for you? You will see in this book that justice and equity are one of the central pillars of Islam, it is required of us that we give to everyone the rights that they have over us, we fulfill all our obligations to them. And who has a greater right upon us than God? Who has done more for us?

And just as He brought you into existence, so did He also bring to existence all that is around you. The universe which surrounds you is also His creation. Everything that you can see, everything that you can touch and feel, it is all from Him. In the beginning there was nothing besides Him. He is the Originator, the Source for all that there is. Even those things which seem man-made are really from Him. He is the One Who gave us the materials, and the One Who gave us the knowledge and the ability. So again just think how much is the gratitude that you owe to Him. For His choosing to bring you into existence. For this wonderful universe He put you into.

Try and realize once again how active He is at each moment of your life. Just think about your breathing at this moment. That breath which you take, that whiff of oxygen is from Him. If only He wanted to, He could strip the entire earth of all oxygen in only a millisecond, and this would be easy for Him. But He chooses not to. Rather He chooses to give you air and He chooses to give air to all the others who surround you. And then even the power by which you breathe is only from Him. Are you now even thinking about your breathing? Are you telling your nose and your lungs to take in oxygen and to take out carbon dioxide? Most of the time you are not conscious of this process. How then does it happen? Does either your nose or your lungs have a mind of their own? No, rather you breathe only because of Him. It happens by His Power, by His Will. The same can be said for all the other processes which happen in your body. The digestion of food and drink, the removal of harmful wastes, the production of energy, the sensory and the nervous systems. They all operate by His Power and His Will. As does everything that happens in the universe around you. The sun does not rise in the morning except that He is the One Who makes it to rise. The clouds do not bring the rain, rather it is He Who brings the rain through the clouds. The lights turn on, the cars move, the computer processes, the cell towers carry voice, He makes it all to happen. Every single process, all power, all movement is only because of Him. Science may be able to explain how these occurrences are happening but it can never answer why. It can never explain the Cause. For He is the Cause. So realize that not only is He is the Creator of the universe but He is also its Maintainer. He is the only One Who is holding everything in place, the only One Who is making everything to happen. How then can you ever forget Him? How can you fill your heart with thoughts of other than Him?

Once again let me emphasize that in order to understand Islam you need to know God. Because this religion is only the complete submission to Him. And the motivation of submission to Him is the love for Him. How can you love Him if you do not know Him. How can you have a relationship with one who is a stranger to you? The more you know Him, the more you will love Him, and the more you love Him, the more you will submit yourself and humble yourself before Him, and this state of utter servitude to God is Islam. First and foremost it is in the heart.

By heart here I do not mean the organ in the body that pumps blood. Rather I mean the place where thought and contemplation happen. And I do not just mean the mind, it is also with what you feel. It is where your soul lives, it where the passion and the drive in you comes from. And it is also your connection with God. Often in the Quran He speaks of a pure heart, but what exactly does this mean? It means that the more a heart is filled with the remembrance of God the purer it is. And hearts that are filled with thoughts of other than Him are sick hearts. Thus the way in which Islam helps us to attain serenity is by clearing our hearts of all that is other than Him. Showing us how they are all illusions. Not only illusions but demons. Causing grief, sorrow, and anxiety. In Islam when you surrender yourself to God you let go of all these. You see them for the illusions that they are. Just think what is it that you are always thinking of, what is it that you are always stressing over and then ask yourself if that thing is worth all of the emotional energy you are spending on it. How does it compare to Him, to His Majesty and His Glory? Just clear your mind of all that is other than Him. He is not a distant god sitting high above the heavens. Rather He is near to you, a nearness that is beyond space and time. A nearness that can be felt in the heart. He is the Stillness that you can feel when all thoughts stop flowing.

The more that you strive to clear your mind, the nearer to Him that you will be. And it is in this nearness to Him that you find peace. For He is your Beloved. You love Him because of all His bounties upon you and you love for Him because of how Majestic and Pure that He is. He is not like us, He has no form. He does not occupy space and time. Rather He is absolutely Transcendent beyond these limits. He is the Being of absolute Perfection, Beauty, and Sublimity. Can you not then see how there is nothing in the world that can compare to Him?

God is Perfect not only in that He is not limited to form but also Perfect in all His Attributes. He is The All Knowing, the All Able, the All Hearing, the All Seeing. Can you even begin to realize what each of these mean? For example to say that He is the All Knowing means that He Knows all that there is, all that there was, all that there will be, and even all that could have been. At this very moment He is well Aware of every single occurrence that happens in the entire universe. He Knows what you are doing, He Knows what everyone is doing, every angel, human, animal, and any other of His creation. He Knows what you are thinking of in the deepest recesses of your heart. Just as He Knows you intimately, He also Knows the rest of His creation. He Knows the fish in the deepest ocean just as He Knows the star in the furthest galaxy. How then can you live heedless of Him? How can you not want to have a relationship with Him? And this is just His Perfection in His Knowledge. What about His Perfection in His Power? His Perfection in His Love and Mercy? How can you not praise and glorify such a Being? How can you not be in awe of Him, how can you not be in love with Him? How can you place in your heart a rival to Him? How petty and trivial is it when compared to Him? Once you have entered into His Presence then you will see. You only need to make the effort to reach this station.

We as human beings admire perfection, beauty, and majesty. When we see such in the world around us we cannot help but be in awe. Sometimes we even fall in love. But we need to realize that God is far more Majestic, and Beautiful, and Perfect than anything of this world. Now you may ask how you can come to this realization if you have not seen Him or observed Him in any way? The answer to this contention is that you have. Can you not see how this entire universe is a reflection of Him? Anything of this world in which we find beauty and majesty are all from Him. When you gaze upon a sunrise or a sunset, when you see birds in flight, when you look up on a clear night and see a sky full of stars, when you look out the window while on an airplane and see an endless ocean beneath you and an endless sky above you, or if you just think about how enormous our universe is (did you know that even if you traveled at the speed of light it would still take you billions upon billions of years just to traverse through the expanse of the known universe). When you see majestic mountains, and green forests, and clouds moving through sky, and all the different species of animals and plants, and even when you look within yourself. At how much emotion and love you are capable of. Can we who feel so much really be from an accident, just the result of a big bang and the joining of some proteins and amino acids, or are we more than the sum of our parts, are we more than just flesh and bone. The human soul is the greatest of His creation because He placed into it a part of Himself. In the Quran God describes those nearest to Him as those who contemplate deeply on the universe around them. So by looking to His universe, by contemplating deeply on it, you can get a small taste of His Greatness. It is all from Him, He is the Source of all that there is. Now ask yourself once again how you can live heedless of such a Being?

But as we said before, even though you cannot see God with your eyes, you can still “feel” Him in your heart. To reach this station you need to clear your heart of all that is other than Him. And you need to start with your ego, your ego is the one greatest veil between you and Him. Because the ego craves domination and satisfaction. It does not want to submit, and the very essence of Islam is submission. The ego always craves something, it is never satisfied. When it gets one thing then it craves something else. And this craving of ego causes misery for your soul. Because it can never be at peace, each moment it needs something. It wants to rule over others, it wants others to praise and glorify it and it cannot stand any kind of criticism. If it does not get its way it causes it frustration and anger. And once again this translates into misery for you.

Islam frees you of these shackles because it shows how to let go of the ego. It shows how the ego is not who you really are. Rather you are a worshiper and a slave of God, this is your true nature. In Islam we believe all of creation is already in a state of worship to God. The animals, the birds, the fish, the trees, the rocks, the stars, the molecules, the cells. All that there is in this universe. Not only are they all sentient, but they are also worshiping Him. At each moment. We cannot know how exactly, it is beyond our ability to comprehend. But we know they are for He has told us that they are in the Quran. And in the Quran He also invites us to join them. By doing so we will find peace. By subjugating our ego. By realizing that life is not about serving us. It is not about the glorification of us, rather we are all part of something far greater. By giving up your ego and its desires you too can come to this realization, you can become connected with God, you can become one with the universe. You can find a true purpose for each moment. This is what you have always been searching for.

You also need to know about God that He is One. Absolutely Unique. He has no partner, no equal, no rival. There is no one who aided Him in the creation of the universe. Nor is there any being who helps Him to sustain the universe. Nor is there any being who is in any way similar to Him. None has any of His attributes of perfection. For example there is no one else who has knowledge of all things. In fact any knowledge that any of His creation may have is only knowledge that He has given to that creation. And similarly there is no one besides Him who has power over all things. Rather all power in this universe is only from Him. He is the One Who makes the leaves to fall, the One Who makes the clouds to move, the One Who makes the sun to burn and the One Who changes day into night and night into day. He is the One Who holds the cosmos in place and the One Who brings the molecules together. Even you yourself cannot even lift a finger or move a muscle unless it be by His Power.

So realize that there is nothing and no one in any way similar to God. There is nothing and no one who can even compare. He is not even like us. As we said He is not of a human form. He is not a body composed of limbs. He does not have hands, feet, ears and eyes like we do. He is not limited to a specific location. He is not restricted by time and space. For He is the Creator of both time and space. He is totally different from all that He created. Whatever you imagine Him to be, He is other than that. Since He is Unique that is why He cannot have a partner or a rival or a son. How can there be another like Him when being the One and Only is a part of Who He is? Part of it what it means to be the Divine is to be the Unique. He is the Creator and all else is the creation. He is the Sustainer and all else is the sustained. He is the Source and all else is from Him. He is the Perfect and all else is in some way flawed.

Can you not see then how God in Islam is different from the perception that all other religions have of Him? In Islam He is not a weak god, a god that makes mistakes, a god that feels pain, or a god that is only for one tribe. He also does not share in His Sovereignty or in His Divinity with anyone. There is no son or holy spirit, there is only Him. The One and Only. Is this not a belief that makes sense, does not God have to be Perfect and Unique? How can you ascribe a son to Him and worship that being alongside Him? Is this not polytheism, is this not idol worship? And if they tell you that the father and the son are really the same, then you ask them how this could be? If they are really the same then why even distinguish between the two? And moreover if the son is divine then how can he have a form, how can he become a man and feel pain? Is it befitting for the Divine to be limited and weak in such a way? In Islam God is so Transcendent and so Majestic and so Glorious that He is above feeling pain or even having a bodily form. Once you think Him to have a form then He is restricted to that form. And as a consequence of this He becomes distant from you. Because you are a form and He is a form other than you. You are down here on earth and He is somewhere up in the heavens. Or he is a being who bled and died on a cross thousands of years ago in a far away place. Once again very distant. But this is not what Islam says. We believe Him to be without form. Now our belief is also not exactly like the Eastern religions who think Him to be just a passive force. He is not something vague and obscure like that. Rather He is the Real, He is more real than the world around us. And He is an Active Being, He has Sentience and a Will. He has spoken to us through His Prophets. He has given us a Law to follow. He answers our prayers when we call upon Him. He is One Whom we can have a relationship with.

He is distinct from us and yet He is also near to us. How beautiful is this? To know that there is a Being that is the Divine and not just some passive and impersonal force. And yet at the same time to also know that He is not a Being Who is far away in the heavens, but rather a Being Who is near. So near. In the Quran He tells us that He is closer to us than our jugular vein. Can you imagine what kind of a nearness this is? And when you know that such a Mighty and Powerful yet also Loving and Compassionate Being is near to you then how can you ever have any fear after that? How can anything ever cause you anxiety or sorrow? When you know that He at each moment will be with you. When you know that before any person, force or calamity can come to you that thing first has to go through Him. When you know that this entire universe is in His Control and only what He wills to happen will happen. When you have a relationship with such a Being then how can you have any fear or sorrow after that? Any concern but Him.

We are also commanded in Islam to have good thoughts of God. To never assume that He does not like us or that He is angry with us. To always think that He loves us, for if we love Him then how can He not love us? Countless are the verses in the Quran where He has described Himself as Most Forgiving and Most Forbearing and Most Kind and Most Loving. The fact that He would choose to be so is also from His Beauty and His Sublimity for He did not need to be. He did not need to be your loving friend, He could have been your enemy, He could have been a vengeful and tormenting god. If He were then imagine how miserable your life would be. But He chose not to be, He chose to be so merciful to you. This is how much He loves you, why then can you not love Him? And if you love Him then how can you not want to be near to Him? How can you not want to prove your love for Him? Islam gives you this opportunity.

All scholars of religion agree that there is no religion that is more monotheistic than Islam. There is no religion where the absolute Oneness of God is stressed more than in Islam. There is no religion which condemns polytheism and idol worship more strongly than Islam does. There is no religion which teaches that God is so absolutely Perfect and Pure as Islam does. Even the Prophet Muhammad does not have any divinity. He was only a human, only a messenger. The worship and the sanctification is for God and God Alone. This is how God is calling on you to believe in Him, to know Him. And to do so is a belief that has consequences.

How exactly is this? Firstly to believe that your God is One and One Alone allows you to have a deep and personal relationship with Him without the need for any intermediary. In Islam we do not have anything like a clergy or a priest class. There is no pope or saint we have to go through in order to reach God. Rather He is near to us and He has promised that He will respond to us when we call upon Him. So in Islam you can speak with God anytime that you want to. You can ask of Him, you can seek His protection from all the calamities you face, and you can even confide in Him of your troubles. Such is how near He is to you. Such is how accessible He is to you. Do not ever think that you cannot approach Him because of your sins. Rather you should know that He is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful. Even if you come to Him with a mountain full of sins He would still forgive you. All that you have to do is ask Him to. You do not need to ask anyone but Him. It is He Whom you sinned against so only His pardon should you seek. See how there is no other religion in the world like this. No religion which allows you to have such a personal relationship with the Divine. Is this not what religion is all about? At the end of the day should it not be about you and your Creator?

We are all always desperately in need of God, more so than most of us can ever imagine. This is the realization that we need to come to if we are to progress in our journey to Him. Think about it, who is it that you call on when there is no one else who can help you. If you were on a ship that is sinking or a plane that is falling or if your beloved was going into surgery, who would you call on for help? Is it not the One True God? Would you call on an idol or a man or a cow? No, for you know that these are weak. You know that these do not have any power. They cannot help you. Only He can help you. Because only He is God. He has power to do whatever that He pleases to and all that He does is easy for Him. And when you dedicate yourself to the Him then right away you can have a relationship with Him. And this connection that you have with Him allows you to call on Him whenever you need to. You do not need to wait for a calamity to call on Him. Rather you can supplicate to Him for anything and everything. The Prophet used to seek God’s aid even if his shoelaces became undone. Now of course he himself would make an effort to tie the laces but at the same time he would ask God’s help as well. Because there is no power except in Him. So even the strength and the ability with which you tie your shoelaces is from Him. If He so willed you would never be able to tie them. What He pleases is what will be and what He does not please will never be. He is the One in control. This is realization we need to come to. When we do then we never have to fear, we never need to have any stress or anxiety. For we know that if we are true to Him then He will never leave us, He will never allow any harm to come to us. And on top of this we can ask of Him whatever we need of Him. He is the One Who is able to give and He loves to give those who sincerely ask of Him. The more you free yourself of ego the more your state of utter need before Him is realized.

And as you call on Him, even for what seem to be the most trivial of matters, your connection with Him becomes stronger. Firstly because you remember Him and to remember Him is one of the greatest of virtues. He loves those who think of Him, especially when the whole world seems to have forgotten Him. Supplicating to Him also makes you realize your weakness and His Power. You come to see how you are the slave and how He is the Master. You are the one in need and He is the One Who fulfills your need. This realization will allow you to be humbler before His Glory. It will increase you in servitude and submission. And through this you find peace.

Not only is God the One Whom you can call on whenever you need to but He is also the One Whom you can rely on completely. You can depend on Him. In all your affairs. Once you realize how near He is to you, once you realize how there is no power except in Him then you realize you can depend on Him to be there for you always. He will help you and guide you. Even if you are doing your schoolwork or office work or chores around the home or driving or walking or even eating. In all of these and more you can rely on Him to help you. To make that action you are doing come out in the right way. To be safe and to be successful in that affair. So you no longer need to worry for there is One Who is in control. The All Powerful. The One Who loves you more than you can ever imagine. There is not a moment in your life except that you can rely on Him in it. To help you in whatever that you are doing, to protect you and to keep you safe, to put your heart at ease. You just need to see His absolute Power and His absolute Love for you. You only need to turn to Him and be sincere to Him to receive this Love. All that He is asking of you is that you try. He knows how weak you are, this is why He will accept whatever it is that you can offer, if you only take one step to Him He will take ten to you.

He can be the One Whom you call on for all your needs. You do not need to divide your worship between many different gods, you do not need to pray to a certain god for sustenance and another god for protection and another god for health and another god for victory. Rather you can know that there is One God Who answers all your prayers. And He is the One Who is able to answer all your prayers. For He is the All Powerful, the All Able. He is the One Who can do whatsoever that He pleases to. He can grant you what you ask Him for and this is very easy for Him. It is so easy that He does not even need to make an effort. He does not even need to say a word. Rather His Will right away becomes the reality. He only wills for a thing and then it is. See then how easily He can answer your prayers. Such is what makes Him God. Part of what it means to be the Divine is to be Perfect. And He is Perfect in Power just like He is Perfect in Benevolence and Love. Who else is there like Him? Why then would you ever ask any but Him?

And once you realize that He is the only One Who gives to you, how then can you ever dedicate yourself to other than Him? How can you serve another master besides He when He is the only One you ask of and He is the only One Who gives? Is this justice? When you are in trouble then you know that He is the One Whom you call on. When you need something you know He is the One Whom you ask. When there is a danger that you fear you know it is His Protection that you seek. How then can you forget Him, how then can you not worship Him? Is He like a servant or butler for you? To only call on when needed. No on the contrary it is He Who should be the Master and you the servant. Because He is the Provider and you are the one who is provided for, He is the Creator and you are the created, He is the Sustainer and you are the sustained. He does not need you but you need Him.

And yet you so often forget Him while He never even once forgets you. Is this justice, is this fair? Of course not. And still He provides for you, still He gives you all that you need. Why is this? It is only because of His Mercy for you, His Love for you. There is no limit to His Mercy or His Love. In Islam we do not believe in a vengeful god or an angry god or a god who loves to punish and torment. On the contrary we believe God to be the Most Forgiving and Most Merciful. In the Quran the one attribute with which He has described Himself the most is His Mercy. And is this not obvious, can we not see it? Think how heedless of Him we all are. How much do we fail Him in what He deserves from us of worship and servitude? Do you think that you have worshiped God or even praised Him as much as He deserves? Do you think that you have thanked Him enough for all the bounties that He has showered upon you? And yet still He gives you the air to breathe, and the water to drink, and the food to eat, and the secure home in which to live. You may take all these gifts for granted but just think how difficult your life would be if you were denied even one of these? How much has He given to you? Can you not see then how much He loves you?

In Islam we do not believe in Original Sin, we do not believe that the sins of the father carry to the children. That is not just. Each of us is only accountable for what we do. And even then God pardons much, He overlooks much. Not by sending His son to Hell for our sins but rather by His choosing to forgive our sins. Because He wants to, because of His Love for us. After all is He not God, does this not give Him the right to do whatever He pleases to? If He wants to He can forgive the worst of sinners, such is His right. And if He wants to, He can punish the most pious of us. Such also is His right. On account of His being the Creator, on account of His being God.

But He has chosen to be a Being of Mercy, a Being Who pardons again and again. Does this not show His Beauty, His Sublimity, His Perfection? Now does this mean that He will pardon everyone? Does this mean that He will not take anyone to task? Does this mean that we will not be held accountable before Him? No, of course not. For He has also told us in the Quran that there will be Judgment Day, a day in which we will all have to stand before Him. Then He will judge us. Based upon His Judgment He will place a group into Paradise and a group into Hellfire. The former group He has described as those who did good on the earth, as those who remembered Him and pleased Him. And the latter group He has described as the criminals and as the ungrateful. The distinction will be made both on beliefs and deeds. You need to believe in God and in the Message that He has sent and you need to act on this belief. He will judge all of us on if we did this or not. And this judgment is from His Justice, and His Justice is also from His Mercy. After all can the sinners and the criminals be treated equal to those who did good and those who were kind? Even in the secular world we have a concept of justice, we have a concept of reward and punishment. We have a justice system, we have a court system. No one has claimed that we can dispense with justice. Even in the classroom, even in the corporation, even in the home, there is a reward given for being good and there is a penalty extracted for evil. We know that this is right, how then can we expect any less of God? Is it fair that everyone is forgiven no matter what evil they may do? You know that much is the evil that has happened on earth. And often times the perpetrators are not brought to justice. How unfair is this to the victims of their evil? In the end justice will be done for one and all. He will show mercy to those whom He knows are deserving of it and withhold it from those not.

Now you may be questioning how God can punish us if we chose not to believe in Him. In other words is it really evil for someone not to believe in Him. I believe that it is. Because so many are the Signs that God has placed throughout the universe. That it really is impossible for anyone to deny Him. Our problem is that we are so blind to these Signs, we do not notice them even though they are in the universe all around us. God willing in the next chapter we will look closer at some of these Signs. Which prove beyond a doubt that indeed God is there, and that He is One, and that He is Perfect. Just as there are Signs which prove God there are also Signs which prove that this Message of Islam is from Him. These Signs are as clear as night and day, you only need to look upon them with an open mind and a sincere heart. If you did then it would be impossible for you to deny God or to deny the Message that He has sent. If anyone did deny then it would not be because they were not really convinced, rather it would be because they did not want to be convinced. They did not want to believe.

Because there are consequences to believing. If you truly did believe in God then you cannot live heedless of Him. You cannot forget Him and just go on with life. He cannot be a fact in your heart which has no practical impact on how you live life. He refuses to be. Rather He demands from you, He deserves from you, all that you can give to Him. For He is God. How can you know of a Being as Majestic and Awesome as He and not glorify Him? How can you be aware of all His gifts upon you and not thank Him? This glorification and this praise must be manifest in everything that you do. And so must your love for Him. Ask yourself once again if you truly love Him how can you live heedless of Him. How can you disobey Him? Some people know that such is a consequence of belief and so they choose not to believe. Please do not be one of them.

So in Islam our beliefs are never divorced from our deeds and our convictions are never divorced from our lives. Each of these influences the other, each of these feeds off the other. Meaning the stronger our convictions the more they will be manifest in our behaviors and attitudes. This is the belief that God wants of us, because only this is a true belief. If you truly believe in Him then you must seek a relationship with Him. And this relationship must be one of servitude. Because such is what He deserves. He deserves to be more than just a friend or one called on in need. He deserves that we all submit to Him. By living in accordance with the Law that He sent. And by trying to bring goodness and peace to the world around us.

And this is just why many people reject Him. This is just why many choose not to believe. Because they do not want to make the sacrifices, they do not want to slay the ego, they do not want to lose their attachment to the material things that they covet, they do not want to give up their evil ways. So they convince themselves that God does not exist, or even if they accept His existence they convince themselves that He is a passive god. A distant god who has no say in their lives. This way they can be the masters, they can live a life without any consequences. And when they do they cause corruption on the earth. They harm those around them and themselves. Or at the very least they do not do any good. They do not contribute in any way to the betterment of this world. So I ask you once again is this justice, for people to choose to live heedless of such a Glorious and Tremendous Being? Our problem today is that we become so distracted by the things of this world. We forget that it is all part of a test. Do not you make that mistake, do not underestimate Him. Remind yourself always that He is the True, He is the Source of all the good in your life. You need to show gratitude, you need to make the effort.

Thus as I said the first step in understanding Islam is to know God. Because for us as Muslims life is all about Him. Life is naught but the journey to Him. And I am sure that the more that you know Him. The more that you reflect and contemplate on Him. The more that you begin to realize His sheer Majesty and Glory. The more that you see just how much He has given you. The more that you realize just how much He loves you. The more you will find your own love for Him grow. So the next time that you see a sunset or a sunrise. The next time you that you see the birds in flight. The next time that you see a star filled night sky. Think about the Being Who brought all this into existence, the same Being Who is sustaining all of it. The entire universe around you is only possible because of Him, as are you. How then can you be heedless?

For a God as Glorious as He what could be more fitting to worship with Him than Islam? A life of complete servitude and submission to Him. Does He deserve any less? There is no religion in the world like Islam, no religion which calls on you to such a life. In other faiths you are at best a partial worshipper. But in this religion you can be devoted to Him 24x7. He calls on you to and He also shows you how. And by doing so you in turn can show Him how much you love Him, you in turn can draw nearer to Him. Nothing is better than this.

For when you are worshiping Him, by having your mind focused only on Him and by doing the deeds pleasing to Him, then you are fulfilling the very purpose of your existence. How then can you not find happiness and pleasure in such a state? Just try and realize then how comprehensive and total this life of dedication to Him can be. This is not something that you can do only in your part time. This is not a switch that can turn off. Rather it really is a complete way of life. It is all that you do and all that you think and all that you see as the purpose of being.

Now you have some idea who God is. And you also can see why He deserves for you to submit yourself to Him. Firstly to show gratitude. He is the One Who brought you into being and the One Who gave you all that you have. He gives to you what you ask of Him, and He gives you even more that you do not ask of Him. Do you ask Him for each breath that you take, do you ask Him for every beating of your heart or each morsel of food that you eat or for every drop of water that you drink. Do you ask Him for sound health or for wealth or for family or for profession or for knowledge? You did not ask Him for any of these and still He gave to you. And if He had only chosen not to give these to you then you would have been in misery or you would have been dead. How much then do you owe to Him? Who are you to Him for Him ever to have given you anything? What have you ever done for Him? He looks after you like He has no other creation besides you and yet you neglect Him like you have many other providers besides Him. But in reality you do not. Your job, your business, your parents, your income, these are not the source of your provision. These are only a means through which God provides for you. Think about it. Would you even have your job were it not for Him? He is the One Who gave it to you. He gave you the knowledge, the ability, the qualifications. He gave you the body and the mind. And if your provision comes from your parents or your husband then who gave you these, who gave them a job or a business by which they provide for you. It is all from Him. Every good in your life is from Him. Even the power by which you rise out of bed every morning is from Him. Every moment of your life is only possible because of Him. How then can you not treasure each moment. How can you not be present in that moment and live it to the fullest? For it is God's gift to you, a manifestation of His Love for you, in its depth you can see His Depth.

How much is it then that He has given you and continues to give to you? Even if you spent your entire life just trying to enumerate His favors upon you, you will never be able to. How much then is the gratitude that you owe to Him? Of course you can never repay Him, of course you cannot even come close. But should you not at the very least just try? Is not something better than nothing? Do you not owe it to Him to at least give this much? Rather than to live heedless of Him and not render any thanks like most people have done. Do not you be like them, do not be a follower, do not be one of the sheep. Rather strive to be different. Strive to live for God. Life is not a dress rehearsal. You are being tested at every single moment, each second of your life is being recorded. Each moment is chance to free yourself from the cage of ego and fly to His Presence.

The more that you remember Him, the more that you try to please Him, the greater your chances of success. Why then can you not at least try, this is all that He is asking of you. He is not asking you to be a saint overnight. He is not expecting you to never commit a sin again. He is not demanding that you clean your heart of all that is other than Him right away. He knows that you cannot. Remember that He knows you more than you know yourself, and realize also that He has more mercy and compassion for you than any mother can have for her child. This is why He wants the best for you. Both in this life and the next. He Knows that Islam is the only path wherein you can find true peace and contentment. This is why He is calling you. Again and again He is calling you. Why then do you not respond? Why cannot you at least make the intention? You will be rewarded more for your sincere intention and effort than for the actual result that comes from these. Because in reality the results are Him. He will help you, He will support you, He will guide you. You only need to take the first step.

Now gratitude is not the only reason why we dedicate ourselves to God. There is a more sublime and more important reason and that is because such dedication is a manifestation of our praise and glorification of Him. So Awesome is He, so Tremendous is He, so Majestic and Pure is He that He needs to be praised. He needs to be glorified and magnified. Just reflect for a moment on the kind of Being that He is. The One Who brought the entire universe into existence. The One Who at each moment is sustaining it. The One Who has the Power to do all things. The One Whose Knowledge is endless. The One Who is nearer to you right now than you are to your own self. There are no words to describe the sheer Greatness of such a Being. How much does He deserve to be praised and glorified? Is it enough that we glorify Him with just with a word in passing? No rather we need to praise Him with all our heart and soul. Such is how Beautiful and Magnificent He is.

We admire the things of this world because they have some attributes of perfection. Or at least we think that they do. For example we may praise a scholar for being knowledgeable or a woman for being beautiful or a warrior for being brave or a building for being tall or a mountain for being majestic or a car for being fast or anything else of this world in which we see something worthy of praise, worthy of admiration. But think now of God, think how Majestic and Awesome a Being He is. How much should He be praised? How much should He be adored, admired, loved? Is there anything in this world that compares to Him, anything that even comes close? How then can you love anything more than Him? And if you truly do love Him as He deserves to be loved, how then can you not give to Him all that you can? God willing we will speak in the pages to come about what He asks of us in this religion. But realize also that you do it all only because of your love for Him.

In our time people have become so individualistic and so materialistic that it is difficult for us to appreciate just how much God deserves to be praised. The veil of our own ego and the veils of the material and virtual worlds cover His Glory and His Majesty from our hearts. But if you make the effort to look past these veils then you would see something Tremendous. You would see that there is a Reality and a Sentience behind this universe. Everything is under His Control, everything happens by His Power. And if only you surrender yourself to Him, if only you conform your will to His, if only you live for Him instead of just for yourself, then you will find a peace like nothing in this world can offer. A wise man once said that the purpose of all spirituality should be to end suffering. Islam concurs with this thought, but it also takes it a step further. In that it also shows us how religion can end suffering, it is by knowing God. It is by drowning yourself in His Majesty and His Glory. It is in realizing at every moment that if you have sincerely tried to please Him in that moment then you have achieved success. It does not matter how rich or poor you are, it does not matter if people like you or not, it even does not matter if your worldly affairs turn out right or not. So what if your project was a bit delayed, so what if dinner was a bit burned, so what if there is some traffic on the way home, so what if a part of your body hurts at this moment, none of these matter. As long as you are thinking of God, as long as you sincerely have tried to please Him, even if it was not much, as long there was the love and a sincere intention then you have to believe that He will accept it from you. And so then already you have something far better than anything this world can offer. You have Him. He is Greater and more Tremendous than anything of this world. Can you not see that it is only in discovering Him and in making the journey to return to Him that contentment and purpose are found.

So just reflect upon Him for a moment and you will begin to see. Just how Great He truly is. Everything you see in this entire universe is only an emanation from Him. He is the One Source of all. Not a leaf falls except by His Power. The birds and planes in the sky are only held up by Him. As are the ships in the oceans. At every moment He is running this universe. He is rotating the earth around the sun, He is holding the atoms and molecules in place, He is causing all the chemical reactions in all the substances. At each moment, all energy, all matter is being controlled by Him. He is not a passive god rather He is Active. It is only by His Will that He does all this, and if He were to neglect the universe for even a moment it would all be destroyed. This is why we can see that He never takes a break, He never rests. He does not need to. He can run this universe and an infinite number of other universes at the same time and even that would be easy for Him. He would not even break a sweat. Ask yourself once again how you cannot praise such a Being, ask yourself once again how you can be heedless of such a Being. You know that He is never ever absent from you. He is the One pumping blood through your body, He is taking in the air through your lungs, He is digesting the food in your stomach, He is creating the image of these words in your mind, He is creating all the sensations and feelings that you experience. Every single situation that you find yourself in. Every reality that presents itself before you is from Him. He is the True Reality, He is the One of substance and meaning. Everything else when it is compared to Him is only an illusion, ephemeral and fleeting. So He does not deserve to be neglected or forgotten, such is the greatest of injustices. Islam removes the veil between you and Him. It is the only way of life that allows you to have a relationship with Him at every moment. How great a treasure then is it?

Even in His Knowledge He is the Most Sublime, the Most Perfect. At every moment He Knows all that there is to know. He Knows about the fish that is in the deepest ocean just as He Knows about the star that is in the furthest galaxy. And He Knows all about you. He knows each of your thoughts, each of your actions, each situation that you face and how you choose to respond to it. He Knows. Now the question for you is how can you know that there exists a Conscious and Sentient Being of such Perfection and still not care for Him? How can you not worship Him, how can you not praise Him? Just as it is an injustice from you not to thank Him for His bounties on you, it is also an injustice from you not to praise Him and glorify Him.

For He is the Tremendous, He is the Magnificent. His Essence is so powerful that even the mountains could not take the beholding of Him. They crumbled into pieces only from gazing upon Him for an instant. In the heavens above now at this very moment billions upon billions of angels surround His Throne and they are worshipping Him. Praising Him with their tongues, bowing before Him, and falling down prostrate to Him. When darkness covers the earth and all souls are asleep, He is the One Who slumbers not. He is the One Who maintains this entire universe. At each moment He is choosing to sustain it. If He were to neglect us for even a moment then we would be no more. And while all are dependent on Him, He is dependent on none. He does not need anyone or anything, never has and never will. No one can harm Him even in the slightest. No one can frustrate His Will from being the reality. He is Ancient without origin and He is Eternal without end. The One Who always was, always is and always will be. Before there was time, before there was anything else, there was He. He is the Real, He is the True. This is God, how then can you choose to be heedless of such a Being?

What I have tried to describe to you here of His Majesty and Glory is only the slightest taste of Who He truly is. For only so much can be said with words. The rest must be felt with the heart, it must be experienced. So Tremendous is He that none of our minds can ever encompass His Essence. He is not an idea to be understood, not a concept to be conceptualized. Rather He is far Greater. In the end truly knowing Him means experiencing Him. You need to let go of the ego and make the conscious effort to live for Him. Then you will feel the world beginning to melt away, and you will swim in the ocean of His Essence. Nothing worthwhile in life comes without effort. In fact the greater the reward that is sought the greater the effort that must be made for it. Such is the nature of this world. Now think about nearness to the Divine, think about that feeling of such peace and ecstasy that comes from His Nearness. There is nothing in the world that can possibly compare. Can such a thing be obtained without effort? No on the contrary it deserves the greatest effort. All that you can give. This is Islam. It is the freeing of the soul from the bondage of the ego.

Just think about it. Once you know of a Being as Sublime and Beautiful and Awesome as He then how can you not love Him with all your heart, and if you love Him so then how can you give Him any less than Islam, any less than complete submission? God has told us in the Quran that if we truly love Him then we need to prove that love. Our love cannot just be lip service. If we just say that we love Him but that love does not manifest in every aspect of our lives then that cannot be a true love. True love demands that you give everything that you can. This is how you find peace, contentment and fulfillment. By realizing that life is not about you anymore. It is about Him. So much do you love Him that you do not desire any but Him. And this is when you truly realize your own nothingness.

And just think how beautiful life can be when you submit yourself to Him. When you can make Him as the very purpose of your existence. When you seek naught but Him in all that you do. Your heart can belong to Him and only Him. The One Who is deserving of it. Why would you give your heart to other than Him when you know that there is no one who can possibly compare to Him? He is the Overflowing the Overpowering. How can you know Him and not be in love with Him? How can you not be intoxicated in your love for Him? This love is the key. Your dedication comes from your love. For loving Him is not only in the heart but it also manifests in your actions and even in your emotions. If the substance in the vessel is truly a lot then should it not overflow? Islam is not only the realization that there is no god worthy of worship but He. This is only the beginning. Rather it is also the realization that there is no being worthy of dedication but He. There is only He and He Alone. And since He is One, since He is Unique, you can truly and sincerely focus all your heart only on Him. You do not need to concern yourself with anyone else or anything else but Him. This is the fruit of knowing God. It is the love for Him that must fill your heart and the transformation that you must undergo as a result of this love. This is Islam. Complete devotion and submission to the Beloved. You have submitted yourself, surrendered yourself over to Him. Now all that you care for at each moment is pleasing Him. No matter what this world throws at you it cannot not in the least bit phase you. Because your aspirations have now risen above this world. Even if you are in some pain or discomfort at this moment, or someone does some injustice or wrong to you, it does not matter. As long as He is near. And He will always near to you as long as you remember Him. Not for all the money in the world can you buy such a peace in the heart.

Another benefit of submitting completely to God is that doing so kills the ego. Realize that this is your greatest enemy, your own evil self. This is what veils Him from you, it is what prevents you from journeying to Him. And it really is the source of all your misery and frustration. Why is it that you become sad or angry? Often times it is when you think you have been denied something that you deserve. You may tell someone to do something and they do not it. You may want something and you do not get it. This then makes you frustrated or depressed. But the source of all this negativity is not that thing you were denied or that person who did not listen to you. Rather it is your ego. Islam came to free you of this ego. By making you to realize that nothing matters except Him. The only purpose of your life is to please Him. This is Islam. It is the serenity in your heart that comes from giving yourself over to Him. To not be worried only about yourself, rather to make Him your concern. So even if you are denied something of this world, even if someone does what you do not like, you do not really care. Because you realize that it is not about you anymore. Life is not just pleasing yourself. Rather you live for One far greater. And part of worshipping Him is being content with whatever He has decreed for you. Even what people may do to you, in fact every situation that you find yourself is from Him. So for Him you are pleased. By realizing your utter slavehood.

How can you reach to this sublime state? How can you slay that ego which is so entrenched in your heart? This is where an effort needs to be made. This is where you must strive. And to make this effort is why you were placed on this earth. This is your purpose in life. To attain that nearness to Him. Through struggle and toil. Rather than focusing on the effort involved, focus on the reward. Trust in His Promise. That if only you try with sincerity and love then He will help you.

Once again the main reason why we need to submit ourselves to God is because such is what He deserves. On account of His Majesty and Perfection. And also on account of all that He has given us. And to not give to Him this submission is the worst of injustices. How can it be that He created us, and He sustains us, and He gives us all that we have, and we in turn give Him nothing in return? Is this justice? He is a Being of Justice and He wants justice to be done. For all His creatures and especially for Himself. This is why He has decreed there be a Judgment Day. A Day on which we will all return to Him. A Day when each of us will stand before Him and He will judge us on how well we submitted to Him. How well we lived up to the purpose for which He had created us and placed us upon the earth. Did we believe in Him, did we accept the Message that He sent to us through His Prophet. We need to believe in His Prophet just as we believe in Him. Once we realize that we need to have this relationship with Him, that we need to submit to Him, then who should define how this submission needs to be? Can we submit to Him any way that we please? Of course not, He is the Master, He is the Lord, so He should be the One to define how submission needs to be. This is why an integral part of our Islam is that we accept the Messenger that He has sent to us. Because only the Messenger can show the path. Only he is the link. So we need to believe in His Messenger and we need to make the effort to follow him.

This is how we can prove our love to God. This is how we can prove this love to ourselves. As the saying goes “Talk is cheap”. If you say that you love your spouse but you never do anything for him or her then really what kind of a love is that? Islam tells us that God is relentless in His Mercy and Love for us so we should be relentless in our servitude and submission to Him. How could He ever deserve any less?

Not only does Islam call on you to submit to God but it also shows you how this is the natural state that all creation is in. Every single thing in existence is already in a state of Islam. Because they are all cognizant of Him. They are aware of Him. They are not heedless like we are. They know why they were created and placed on the earth. They realize what He deserves from them. Why then cannot you do the same? Realize that He is only asking of you what is best for you. This life that you are living now, this heedless life, is not what you were created for. If you live only to satisfy yourself you will never truly be happy. You will never truly be at peace. Can you really believe that such is your purpose? Did He create us and this marvelous universe that we see around us only so that we can eat, drink, chat, play, copulate, and die? Could this really be all that there is to life? You know there has to be more. And there is more, much more, there is He. Once you truly know Him, once the love for Him enters into your heart, once you understand this Message that He has sent to you, then a whole new world will be opened up for you. Your love for Him will consume you. And you will not care about anything else in life except Him. Then you will live the life of submission to Him and it will be easy for you. Of course there will be a struggle, there will be sacrifices that need to be made, but it will be easy for you. Your love for Him is so strong that you are willing to do all that He asks of you. The love for Him motivates you, it drives you. It consumes whatever hardship may be involved in that servitude. So even if you have to give up some of what you like, even if you may not always get what you want, even if you have to struggle with your ego and lusts, you still do it. Because of Him. Because at this moment He is looking down on you. And if you are sincere to Him then He will be pleased with you. This certainty is all that you need.

Islam then should be our goal. That state of utter submission to Him. This is how we will find true peace and self fulfillment in this world. This is how we can by His Grace attain salvation in the next world. To reach this station is where the effort needs to be made. First we have to strive know God, in order that we realize why He is indeed worthy of our hearts. The vast majority of us today are utterly ignorant of Him, we do not know Him as the Being that truly He is. We have heard of God. Some of us may even believe in Him and acknowledge that He is the Creator of this universe. But the vast majority of us have yet to realize His true Glory and Majesty, His Beauty and Sublimity. Most of us have yet to see how much He has done for us, how many are the bounties that He has showered on us and continues to do so, only out of His love for us. Most of us have yet to come to this realization. We do not realize just how Awesome of a Being that He truly is.

Once we know God we cannot but help but love Him. And the manifestation of our love for Him is submission to Him. It is a comprehensive submission. A submission in every aspect of your life. Both outward and inward, both individually and collectively. Both in what you do and in how you respond to what is done to you. It is all part of your submission to Him, it is all part of Islam. When you make Him as the one singular purpose for your life then you become free of everything else. You do not need anything else, you do not yearn for anything else, thus you are not a slave for anything else. Many today are slaves to their lusts or their stomachs or their accounts, but you can be free of all this. At every moment you can have the one thing that you desire the most. Him. He is far better than anything of this world but to draw near to Him you must first submit to Him. How else can the slave approach the Master? How else can the subject come near to the King?

Among the most beloved of acts that you can do for Him is just to remember Him. As much as you can. Indescribable is the peace that you can feel just by bringing Him to mind. For He is the Source of Peace, He is Peace, He is the Source. How then can you not but experience contentment by coming back to Him. It is the very reason for which you exist. So just make the effort to think of Him throughout the course of your day. Realize that He is with you, He is near to you. Can you even begin to realize what this means? The Divine is near to you. He is close to you wherever you may be. All that you have to do to realize this nearness is make the effort to think of Him. As long as you focus your heart upon Him then He will be with you. And once you realize God’s Presence’s then can you ever have any fear? How can anything ever make you worried or anxious? You know that He is the All Mighty, the All Able. No one can harm you even in the least unless He allows them to. No calamity can befall you, not even the slightest discomfort, unless He permits it. For there is no power in this universe except through Him. All motion, all events, are only from Him. Such is how near He is to you, such is how active He is in your life. How then can you forget Him?

The next manifestation of your submission to Him is that you strive to be pleased with whatever He has decreed for you. No matter what happens to you in life, no matter what situation you find yourself in, you realize that it is from Him. And so for His sake you make yourself content. You realize the illusion of all that is other than Him. You see how He must be paramount in your life. More than anything else. This is what allows you to submit. Because you realize that it is the key to His Pleasure. And you know that the more pleased He is with you, the nearer that He will be. And you soon see that it is His Nearness that you desire more than anything else.

Once again just try and imagine how peaceful, how wonderful your life would be if you inculcated within yourself such a thinking. Such an outlook. Not only do you realize that He is near to you but you also see how everything is from Him. Every situation that you find yourself in is His creation. And for His sake, because you realize that you were created for Him, you make yourself content. If you can have this thinking then nothing that the world throws at you can ever phase you, because you live for more than this world. You live for Him. Even if you feel some pain or discomfort, or someone does some wrong to you, or some calamity befalls you, or you are deprived of a bounty others have, you do not care. It does not bother you at all because you realize that it is His creation. You realize that you do not live for yourself anymore. The ego has been slain. And in its place there is only a yearning for the Divine. You do not yearn for anything else. You only desire that He be near to you. And you know that He will always be near to you if you think of Him and if you are sincere to Him. This is all that you desire, all that you need. The more that you bring Him to mind the more that you feel His Presence. And this is far greater than any concern of this petty world. The world is petty when compared to Him.

Most of us underestimate Him, most of us do not realize just how Tremendous a Being that He is. You know that words are not enough to describe Him, our minds can never fully comprehend Him and if ever they could then He is not at all deserving of being God. But you know that He is, and He is far greater than anything you could possibly ever imagine. How then can you not submit to Him, how can you not take Him as your Master and King as you know He deserves to be. He will not accept from you anything less, He does not deserve any less. Just to realize this is more than half the journey.

Now not only should you be pleased with Him but you must also try to please Him. With your actions, with your words and even with your heart. This striving on your part is also part of your submission to Him, because by doing so you are giving yourself over to Him. By giving your moments and your actions over to Him you are in essence existing only for Him. After all is He not the One deserving of your dedication, rather than your ego and its selfish and base desires? This realization alone is half the journey.

So realize that being Muslim does not mean that you are passive and inactive. Although you accept God’s Decree and believe that everything is from Him, you also realize that you need to do you part. He has told us in the Quran that we need to make an effort. Not only has He given us commandments and prohibitions, but He has shown us how to live. He has shown us how we need to be in. In terms of our behavior, our attitude, our very outlook towards life. And this outlook should affect us at every moment. We realize that He Sees each and every one of our actions. This realization then should make us strive harder. To do all the the deeds pleasing to Him. To not let even a single moment pass wherein we are not struggling to journey nearer to Him. God willing you will see in the pages to come that the greatest manifestations of your submission to Him is your striving to be a positive force in the world. Your striving to do good to those around you. For God sent Islam only as a mercy to all His creation, only to bring peace and tranquility to the whole world, only to end all suffering and oppression. Being a Muslim means that you become an agent towards that objective. You work to be a Light from God on His earth. And He wants you to strive at each moment to fulfill your mission. For you know that at each moment you are under His Gaze. Do you not want then Him to see from you good?

Now just think how much better of a person you will be if at every moment you were striving to be better, if you lived for more than just yourself. If you could see past your own selfish desires. This is the realization that Islam is taking you to. You need to see that the world does not revolve around you, you are not the center of this universe. The main character in this movie is and always has been God. The universe was created for Him, and all the rest of creation at every moment is trying to please Him. Why does the sun come up each morning and why does it go down each evening. Why has it been doing so for billions upon billions of mornings and evenings. Because it knows that it has been created with a purpose, to serve God. This is why it always follows its path. It never takes a break, never sleeps in, never becomes lazy, never chills or phases out. Why then cannot you be like the sun, or like the rest of His creation who are in a constant state of worship to Him? A person who is always contributing, always doing good. Is this not a station that all of mankind should be in? How much better a place would the world be if we all chose to live for God, if we all made pleasing Him as the sole objective in our lives, This is what it means to live a life of purpose, this is what it means to truly worship God. Only by taking this journey can you truly find tranquility and contentment. You can you be the best person that you can possibly be. You can reach the utmost of your potential. You can free yourself of all the chains of fear, anxiety, sorrow and regret that are holding you down. You can be at peace with the universe, because you are One with its Source. But to reach this lofty station some effort needs to be made. Nothing in this world is free. The taller the mountain the harder the climb. How much then do you need to exert in order to reach the Presence of the Divine? How much do you need to give? This is Islam.

We can serve Him even through our hearts. Firstly just by thinking in a way pleasing to Him. Such is how comprehensive our submission to Him needs to be, such is how much that He deserves from us. We can find peace through our submission to Him, the more that we submit to Him the more peace that we find. And where are we more in need of peace than in our hearts. If we do not have peace in our hearts then how can we ever be content, no matter how much of the material world we gorge ourselves on? There are several ways we can please Him with our thoughts. One way is simply by believing in Him. We will see in the next chapter that there are Signs in the world around us which point to Him. But we need to choose to look at these Signs and to ponder over them. In order to attain to the belief in Him. We need to have conviction in His Existence. And make the effort to maintain this conviction. Just this effort is among the greatest forms of our submission.

Now this does not mean that we have to believe in God based on blind faith. He has placed Signs all over the universe through which we may know for certain that He exists. But the point is that after we have seen the Signs and believed in Him, then we must try to hold on to this belief. We must never allow any kind of doubts to enter into our hearts. This is one way we submit to Him with our hearts. Is this not the greatest form of your love for Him, your choosing to believe in Him? Because if you want to find a reason to reject Him, if you want to ignore and turn away from all the Signs then you will. So many are the souls who have chosen to blind themselves to His Signs. So many have convinced themselves that He does not exist or even have allowed themselves to doubt Him despite the Signs which are clearer than daylight. Tell me then which soul is better, the one which has conviction in the Divine or one who only knows this ephemeral material world?

Another way we can submit to God with our hearts is by inculcating those emotions that are pleasing to Him and by removing those emotions that are not pleasing to Him. As we said even our emotions are part of our submission to Him. So we can journey nearer to Him by striving even to feel in a way pleasing to Him. By trying to remove from our hearts all traces of arrogance, envy, hatred, despair, cowardice, miserliness, and anger. And at the same time by trying to foster patience, gratitude, kindness, forbearance, love, empathy, and humility. For we know that the former of these emotions do not please Him while the latter do. Now at first this may seem difficult. After all how can you control your own emotions? But I am telling you that if only you try, if only you make the sincere intention then He will help you. He will make it easy for you. Realize that He even controls your heart.

Such is His Power over us. And if we can do this then not only can we please Him, but just think what beautiful human beings we can become? How much trouble do we cause both to ourselves and to those around us when the negative emotions get the best of us? How many are the fights and arguments? How much is the stress and anxiety? When our hearts are dark we are a burden and a source of pain. Both to ourselves and to those around us. We hurt our loved ones with our words and even sometimes with our hands. We may not like to be this way but it is how we can become if we allow the demonic traits to control us. Once we succumb to the dark emotions we become evil people. Such is not pleasing to Him. So part of our submission to Him is that we have to strive against the dark for His sake. And also for His sake we strive for those emotions which please Him. This is how we can submit to Him even with our hearts. Through this submission we journey nearer and then with Him we find peace.

Realize that He will test you throughout your life to see if you make this effort. Situations will happen to you and you can respond to them with what pleases Him or with what does not. For example a family member or a friend may say something or do something which you do not like. At this point you can allow the anger to boil or you can suppress it with patience and forbearance. You can respond to what that person said or did with more negativity or you can forgive them. If your focal point is God then you can let go, you can forgive that person. Only in the hope that doing so pleases Him. And if you do then you can be certain that He sees your love for Him. He will draw you nearer to Himself and this nearness is far better than your revenge. Not only will you find contentment and peace in His Presence, but you will also have peace in your relationships with others. You can avoid arguments and hurtful words to loved ones that you will later regret. See how Islam builds a perfect human being. This is what it can do for you.

Another way in which we submit to God with our hearts is to always assume the best of other people, to always think good of them. For God has told us in the Quran to not have any evil thoughts about anyone. To think good of all human beings. So not only should we not be envious and not only should we not hate them but we should think the best of them. Even if they may do what displeases us. We hate the sin but not the sinner. Such is part of our submission to God. We only care for pleasing Him, and so for His sake we overlook the shortcomings and failings of others. To the point where we do not even see these shortcomings anymore. To the point where we only see the good in people. Just think how wonderful our relationships would be if we lived our entire lives with such a mindset. How much would we be freed from the chains of the ego? No reason for anger or despair, only peace and love.

Even to be pleased with the situations in life that we find ourselves in is a form of submission to Him with our hearts. Because this contentment is found in the heart. It is built and fostered in the heart. And this submission with His Decree is among the greatest manifestations of our worship. In Islam we believe that we have free will. This means our actions are from us, God gave us the ability to choose. He does not force us, He does not control us like a puppet. So if we do an evil act then we should not be pleased with that evil. For it is a sin, it is an act that we did which did not please God. And that act emanated from us, we chose to do that evil. For this reason we need to feel remorse and regret, in order that we try to avoid that sin in the future. But besides our actions, besides what we choose to do, we need to realize that everything else which happens to us in life, everything else is from God. He is not only the Creator of both us and of the universe around us, but He is also the Creator of realities, of situations. So any moment you find yourself in, know that He created it for you. If it is a moment of goodness, a moment you find pleasure and joy in, then know that it is from His bounty for you. He gave it to you in order that you may be grateful to Him. In order that you may remember Him as you are enjoying that bounty. For you realize that it is He and He Alone Who gave you this gift. And so you grow in your love for Him. On the other hand if it is a moment in which you found some hardship then you take solace by realizing it is His creation as well. He created that difficulty for you in order to test you. To see if you would accept it for His sake, because of your love for Him. And to see if you would turn to Him and ask Him to make it easy for you. These are hidden blessings to be found in every trial you face in life. Big or small. And your life is naught but such moments of trial and bounty, so that you could always be journeying to Him.

Once we have submitted to God with our hearts, we must also submit to Him with our bodies. By speaking the words that are pleasing to Him and by doing the actions that are pleasing to Him. Islam is a comprehensive way of life that God has sent to us, it shows us how to submit to Him at every moment. Meaning at every moment we can do an act or say a word to please Him, to make manifest our submission to Him. And through this we journey nearer to Him, through this we find purpose for existence, through this we can taste the sweetness of His Presence. And there is nothing sweeter or more fulfilling than His Presence. Many religions will speak about attaining this proximity to God, of how we can be near to the Holy One, but none of them offer practical steps that you can implement over the course of your life to attain this nearness. In fact there is only one, only Islam. This religion is so comprehensive, its law is so detailed, that at each moment it shows you an act which you can do through which you can journey to the Divine. The more that you bring Him to mind, the more that you strive to do what pleases Him, the nearer to Him you will become.

What then are the deeds pleasing to Him? How can you submit to Him? It is through the Shariah or the Islamic Law. Shariah means a spring of water that is never exhausted. Because for the Arab in those days water was most precious . So he always looked for such springs. He knew that these springs would give him nourishment, keep him alive. And just as the spring keeps the body alive, the Law from God will keep the soul alive. It is your connection with Him. It is how you can make manifest your submission to Him. For if you do not have the law, if you do not have a guidance to follow, then how can you know how to please Him? What is the compass that will guide you through life? Is it not fitting for the Master to tell the slave what to do? Should He not the be Source of direction?

Shariah shows you how you can live a life of complete dedication to God, how you can serve Him through all that you do and say. In Islam this is very important. For God has shown us how there is a deep connection between belief and actions. Each one feeds of the other, should one become stronger then so will the other, and should one become weaker then so will the other. See then how Shariah allows us to strengthen our faith. It is the spring for our heart. When we do an act to please God, when we live our entire lives in accordance with His Law, we must bring Him to mind. Because He is the reason why we are choosing to live such a way. He is the reason why we are choosing to do that action. If we do not follow His Law then we become heedless of Him and our faith takes a beating. We become distant from Him. Would you ever want to leave from your beloved? Would you not make the effort to remain near? So our love for Him is our motivation to hold fast to His Law.

There are two primary objectives of the Sharia and both are closely related. The first is that God be worshiped and the second is that His creation find peace. On one hand we have to praise and glorify God. We have to recognize His Majesty and Glory. His Transcendence and His Magnificence. The greatest manifestation of this is the Muslim prayer. Five times a day we turn to Him in humility and submission. For us the prayer is more than supplication, it is far deeper than songs and hymns, rather it truly is an act of worship and submission. In it we are completed dedicated to Him, we bow down and even put our faces on the floor for Him. To show our utter surrender to Him. Other acts of devotion for God include praising Him in our hearts, supplicating to Him in times of we need, reciting the Quran, fasting the month of Ramadan and the pilgrimage to His House. These are acts of devotion we do only for Him. The only benefit that we seek is His Pleasure.

This is the Islam that you may already be familiar with. This is the Islam that you will come to know of if you ask most Muslims or if you read most of the literature out there. Because of this fact I will not dwell much further on this aspect of Islam. For I believe that it is only a part of this religion. I believe there is much more to it than these ritual acts of worship. That other aspect, which even many Muslims today do not know of, is that being a Muslim means working for the betterment of all God’s creation. Because there is the relationship that you have with God and there is the relationship that you have with all of His creation. And the best way to perfect the former of these is by working to perfect the latter. So try and be the best you can be to all those around you, not only by refraining from harming them in any way, but also by serving them and trying to make life better for them in any way that you can. And do not seek anything from your efforts but the Pleasure of your Beloved. Herein lies the connection, the link between these two aspects of the religion. In that even when you work for social justice, even when you strive to make the world a better place, even when you try to be the best that you can be to all those around you, even through all this you are still worshiping God. Your effort to be a light and mercy for His creation is one of the best ways in which you can serve Him. Because this is what He wants from you, this is what He has commanded you to. He has told us that we were meant to be His representatives on this earth. Meaning His agents, those who act on His behalf. And of course He is a Merciful and Loving God. So He desires naught but mercy and peace for all His creation. He wants us to be the Agents of this mercy and love. By spreading it to those who around us and eventually to the whole world. A force for goodness and love, a force which slays the ego. This is the core of Islam which even many Muslims today have forgotten.

God has told us in the Quran that He commands justice, compassion and giving. So He wants you to be honest and fair, kind and supportive, humble and forgiving, you need to give to others from your wealth and your time, in other words try and be the best human being that you can possibly be. Try and be a source of comfort and a source of peace to all those around you. There is no other religion like this. No religion that teaches you to be so selfless, so kind and compassionate. To all God’s creation. Even to animals, even to plants, even to the earth itself. This is how you can truly worship God.

This is how you can you journey to Him. For to be near to Him you need to imbue within yourself His attributes. Now there are some attributes of His that we can never have, such as His Majesty and His Glory and His Holiness. It is not fitting for us to seek these attributes for ourselves. Because these are attributes that He has chosen only for Himself. But then there are other attributes that He has chosen for Himself and that He also wants to see in His creation. Such as His Mercy, His Love, His Forgiveness and His Compassion. These are His most sublime and beautiful attributes, these are the attributes most beloved to Him. We know this because He has told us to seek these attributes as well. Those who imbue in themselves such traits are the most beloved to Him. As an example His Prophet. His Prophet was the most beloved to Him of all His creation. Why was this so? What was the Prophet’s most salient attribute? Of course it was his mercy. The Quran calls him a mercy to all. God willing we will see in an upcoming chapter just how loving this man was, just how much was his concern for all mankind, all creation. Islam is about slaying the ego, and how better to do so than by being in the service of others. By sacrificing and giving to others. By first thinking of them before you think of yourself.

Without a doubt life in this world is not easy. There are so many people who are suffering, there are so many people who are in need, there are so many people who do not know God. We are all neighbors to each other, we all affect each other, we are all connected to each other. Do we not then have a duty to help each other? Is this not what makes life worth living? Can we not wish for others what we wish for ourselves? Is this not what makes us noble and decent human beings? Can we not try to bring good to the world? Especially if our goal in life is to journey closer to God. How can we believe in Him and not feel for His creatures, how can we praise Him in all His Glory and still have arrogance within our hearts? It is only this pride which makes us selfish. The source of which is the ego, the greatest veil between us and Him. How can it be fitting for a seeker of the Divine to allow traces of ego to remain in his heart? Can we not see that we have to strive against it with every ounce of strength that we have? God created you to know Him and to journey to Him. But this journey needs much effort. It needs you to let go off the self. Islam is the path which facilitates this. Have you seen the Muslim prayer? You have to bow down and fall down in utter prostration. When you do so you symbolize your abject and absolute slavehood to the Divine. You admit that you are nothing and He is everything. There is no other religion that allows you to slay the ego so completely. No other religion which emphasizes so strongly the place which He must have in your life. In Christianity you may be taught to love God but are you taught to dedicate yourself to Him completely? Tell me where is the Church today which preaches this. Even those folks who go to Church on Sunday, how much of a place does God really have in their lives? How much do they really do for their neighbor and for mankind? How cleansed are they of the ego? So realize that there is something that is better.

God has told us in the Quran that the true Muslims, those who truly submit to Him are the Light of this earth. They bring light to this earth. They are the source of goodness, the source of guidance, the source of justice, the source of mercy and compassion, the source of law and order, and the source of peace and security on the earth. They are the ones who right what is wrong, the ones who help the weak and oppressed, the ones who bring comfort and solace to those in pain, the ones who feed the hungry and provide for the needy. They are the ones who let go of their lower selves and who work constantly and tirelessly in the service of others. This is how you need to be. This is what Islam is all about. Submitting to the Creator by serving His creation. Worshipping God by doing good on His earth. This is what it means to be a Muslim, what it means to be a saint, what it means to be one who has a connection with the Divine. It is the shattering of the ego. Now there is nothing between you and the Holy One. Now you imbue in yourself the most sublime and most salient of His attributes. His Love and His Care for His creation, despite their countless flaws, you love them and you want them to be happy, you want them to be pleased. How beautiful an existence is this? How could you ever settle for anything less? This is the life that God is calling you to. Worshipping Him is not only praising Him and glorifying Him and prostrating before Him. He does ask such worship of you and He deserves it from you. But He is not a selfish God, not concerned only with Himself. If He were then He would not even have initiated creation in the first place, because He does not need any of us. He is enough for Himself. Rather He only created all of us because of His Love for us, His Mercy for us. And these are the most salient of His attributes, these define Him the most. This is what He has chosen for Himself and what He wants to see in you as well.

If your goal then is to serve God by bringing goodness to the world how can you achieve this goal? The way shown by the Prophet is to start with those nearest to you. We will see in an upcoming chapter that this is just what he did. Not only did he take God’s Message first to his family, but he also was the best to his family. The importance of the family in Islam cannot be stressed enough. There is no one who is closer to you than your family. They see you the most, they interact with you the most, and they are the ones whom you reveal your true self to. With them you cannot put on a façade, you cannot pretend to be someone whom you are not. Should they not then see the best from you? Should they not be whom you are on your best behavior with? Should they not be whom you should seek to serve and whose lives you should try to be make better? If you do not at least try to bring happiness and peace to those who are nearest to you how can you look to the rest of the world? And realize also that unlike your friends, your family are the companions whom God chose for you. So because of your reverence for Him, can you not try and be good to them? Not for their sake but for His. All of the good treatment that you extend to them should firstly be for His sake. Now it is okay for you to love them, it is even encouraged for you to love them, these are natural feelings which God has placed in your heart. But at the same time you must strive to love God more than anyone else. And then to make this love for God the foundation of your relationship with everyone else, including your family. This way when you interact with them you will be good to them. Even if they are not always good to you. Because you know that doing so will please Him. And it is His Pleasure that you are always seeking. If you can have such a mindset then not only will you attain nearness to God but imagine also how peaceful and strong your relationship with your family be?

How then can you be the best to your family? Of course it is by showing them love, and kindness, and respect, and most of all forbearance and forgiveness. It is being there for them, it is spending time with them, it is giving them should they need anything from you, it is supporting them in any way that you can, and it is listening to them when they speak. These are only a few examples. I am sure that with each person in your own family you can find something that you can do for them. Something which will please them. Some way in which you can bring light and joy into their life.

However just keep in mind that your ultimate goal is to please God. This is why you should never do something which may anger God, even if for your family, even if they tell you to. Remind yourself that at each moment you only seek Him, you are relentless in your quest to be near to Him. So you do not allow anything or anyone to stand between you and Him. But of course even when you turn down their request, you should do so graciously and politely. Try your best not to upset them. Try and show them that what they are asking is not permitted in your religion. But as long as they do not ask for what angers God you should try to accommodate them as much as you can. Once again only as a means of pleasing God. Only with the intention of drawing nearer to Him. This is why even when you are with them you should be thinking of Him. When you speak with them, silently in your heart also speak with Him. O Lord, I am doing this for You and You Alone. As an act of slavehood to you, as a means of drawing nearer to you. So please accept it from me. Such words or words similar to these should be going through your heart. This way you are always reminding yourself of your purpose, of your focal point. Even when you interact with the people, you are still with Him. No one is more important in your heart.

And of course the best thing that you can do for any loved one is to invite them to God, to try to bring them nearer to Him. Because if you love them then how can you not desire the best for them, and what is better than He? What is greater than He? What could be more satisfying at any moment than to feel His Presence? This is what you should desire for yourself and for your family. Realize that if God guided you to Himself then He also has made you a means for your family to be guided. For He has blessed you with the greatest of gifts, Himself. There is no bounty that He can confer which is greater than this, but it also comes with responsibility. Now that God has placed light in your heart, He wants you to share that light with others. First and foremost with your family. So speak to your family about God. Tell them about this way of life that He has sent to them. The ideas discussed in this book are a good to place to start. But of course each of your family members may have their own impediments preventing them from submitting to God. It is up to you to find out what these are. And of course the best way is simply ask them. Do you not believe in God, do you not see that He is the One Who created you, and the One Who at every moment sustains you. Do you think that He created you for no reason? Know now that He has sent to you a Message. Wherein He shows how to live the life that He created you for. What then is preventing you from doing accepting Him? Do you not see that death comes for us all? Can you not see that it is closer than you think? Why then do you not prepare for it? Ask them such questions. See their responses. And through this gain insight into their hearts. Realize that you are offering to them the best thing that you could ever offer and also in the process you are becoming nearer to Him yourself. In order to journey to Him you need to have this love, this concern, for them. You should desire salvation for them as you do yourself.

Now of course by family I mean first and foremost your immediate family. Your parents, your siblings, your spouse, and your children. These are the people who nearest to you and so they deserve the absolute best from you. In fact if you look in the Quran and in the hadith of the Prophet you will find specific text exhorting you to look after and be good to each of these. Being good to them is a means of your calling them to Him.

First and foremost among these are our parents. The Prophet has said that parents are the middle door to Paradise. And he has said that Paradise lies at the feet of our mothers. In the Quran the second most important commandment after the commandment to worship only God is to be the best to one’s parents. So just to look after your parents, just to spend time with them, just to be kind and respectful to them, to never say even the slightest word that may annoy them, this is one of the best ways you can worship God. This pleases Him so much. Because it is what is just and He loves the just. After all is there anyone on this earth who has sacrificed more and who has worked harder for you than your parents? How much have they given you? How much of his hard earned money did your father spend on you? How many times in the deep night did your mother wake up to feed you? Not to mention the nine months of pain and difficulty through which she carried you and the torment of labor through which she brought you to this world. How then can you forget her, how then can you allow weeks or even months to pass without speaking to her? How can you put her in an adult care home when she is old and let someone else look after her even though she was the one who cared for you when you were weak?Just serving your parents, just being there for them and making them happy, this is one of the best ways to worship God. See how He wants you to be a light for those who deserve it from you the most.

The next way in which you can please God is to try and improve your relationship with your other family members. If you are married then you must be the best you can be to your spouse. Both adultery and fornication are strictly prohibited in our religion. These are among the greatest of sins. Not only is the actual act of intercourse outside marriage a sin, but even just kissing and hugging, or just touching or just socializing. God has commanded that men and women be separate from each other, there is not to be any free mixing between them. Of course if there is a purpose then they may speak with each other, for example in business or education. But once this purpose has been fulfilled then the two of them cannot remain chitchatting. They have to go their separate ways. And even when they are speaking they have to be very formal. Why is Islam so strict you may ask? Simply to protect the institution of marriage. Because in Islam marriage itself is a form of worship. The spouses come together in order to please God through their union. And for His sake they ensure that they each are only for the other. Both before and during the marriage. This is why both the man and the woman try to avoid unnecessary contact with the opposite gender. You know what a failure marriage is in the secular world. You know the statistics. That more than half of all marriages end in divorce. That more than half of all married couples cheat on their partner. It has become so common, it has almost become the norm. And as a result of failing marriages the couples, their children and the society as a whole suffer. But why are infidelity and divorce so common today? Only because we have forgotten God, we do not view marriage as form of worship to Him. We do not think that we have to please God by being the best that we can be to our spouse, by trying to make the marriage work. We are too focused on the self. Enslaved to our egos.

So a kind word that you speak to your wife, some time that you spend with her, your forgiving her some wrong that she may have done, your giving up in a disagreement that you had with her and doing instead what she wanted, your giving to her gifts that will please her, all of these are ways of serving God. Because even though you love your wife, a natural love that God placed in your heart, you are still good to her for Him. For you know that He has commanded you to be the best that you can be to her. Imagine if all spouses behaved with each other in this way, without any ego or oppression. If before they spoke with each other, even before they saw each other, they first saw God. They took each moment they spent with the other, each word they spoke with the other, as a means of worshiping God. And so they only spoke and did to the other what they knew would please Him. How beautiful would such marriages be, how peaceful and tranquil would they be? Not only would they survive, but God willing they would thrive.

Just as you are the best to your spouse, you must also be the best to your children. The Prophet has said that the one who does not show mercy for the young is not a true Muslim. So for us it is a religious obligation upon us to have love and compassion for children. Not only by restraining from being cruel with them, but also by spending time with them. Being there for them whenever they need us. Speaking kind and encouraging words to them. Forgiving them. And also setting a good example for them, being a good role-model for them. And giving them proper education and upbringing. Teaching them about God, showing them how to be righteous worshipers of His. Helping them to reach their true potential. Children for us are a trust. We are responsible for guiding them to Him and for making them His Light. If they do not reach this sublime station because of our negligence, then God will hold us liable.

You must also be the best that you can be to the rest of your family. Meaning your siblings, your cousins, your aunts and uncles, your nephews and nieces, your grandparents, and your in laws. These are all part of the family and so these all deserve the best treatment from you. You have to be always kind and respectful towards them, you have to listen to them when they speak, you have to give to them if they ask of you, you have to spend time with them, and you have to forgive them if they wrong you. These are all acts of worship that you can do for God. He wants the family to be strong because the family is the foundation of the society. Individuals are joined together by blood and by marriage to form families. And then it is these families that come together to form societies. Today the family is dying, because the institution of marriage is dying. Many of us think that we can live by ourselves, we think that we can make it on our own. Our society has become so prosperous, we have so many advancements and comforts that we have forgotten our dependence on God. The farmer who needs the rain to come will never forget God, but we who get all the food we need from the supermarket or restaurant forget the One Who is really providing for us. We think we do not need anyone. This is why many of us for the most part abandon our family members. And the consequence of this is that we are alone, we might try to fill our lives with work or with technology or entertainment. But really we are alone and so we are in misery. And should ever any calamity befall us we have no one to turn to. This is where we have come to by turning away from God. Rampant Individualism. Worrying only about me, myself and I. Glorying ourselves instead of God, hearts attached to the material things instead of to Him. Can we not see that this is a state not pleasing to Him? Do we even care? Are we not destroying ourselves in this world and the next?

Can you not see the loss of family in our society today? The war that has been declared on it. Abortion is legal and rampant. There are state campaigns to discourage marriage and reduce family size. Adultery and fornication is no longer considered a crime, rather it is promoted in the media. Many of the movies and the music is nothing but the glorification of promiscuity. Men are choosing pornography on the internet to finding a wife and raising a family. And the day care center has become the mother for our children. Can you imagine that 6 month old babies who cannot even walk are being abandoned by their own mothers to complete strangers? Can they give that child the love and nurturing that only a mother can? We also have a state welfare system that encourages women to be single mothers. And today we have recognized homosexual marriages, showing even further that we have really forgotten what the whole purpose of this institution is. Marriage is no longer seen as the foundation of the family. That sacred place where our future generations are raised. If even a single child does not have it, then can you imagine the damage that this will have on that child? A child is the product of the union between a mother and a father, when that union ends then the child loses much of their self esteem. They just do not see their worth, they do not see their purpose. This might turn them into underachievers in life, failing to reach their true potential. And what a tragic loss would this be. Not just to that child but also to our society as a whole. This is why in Islam family is so important. And to look after one’s family and to build a strong family is one of the greatest acts of devotion that one can do for God. He Knows us more that we know ourselves, and He want us to be content and prosperous. Both in this life and the next. This is why He has legislated laws and guidelines to help us achieve this goal. We only have to follow His guidance.

The next step in your journey to God is that this same love and care that you extended to your family must also be given to all those people who are near to you. Be they Muslim or non Muslim. There are several narrations where the Prophet has told us to be the best that we can be to our neighbors. And the Islamic definition of neighbor is not only the person who lives next door to you. Rather it encompasses all those who are near to you. Be they your coworkers or your classmates or your friends or even the person whom you see on the train or meet on the street. All the people whom you may interact with. All the people who see you and know you. They are neighbors to you. On account of their proximity and familiarity to you.

How then can you be the best to your neighbors? Firstly you should be friendly and considerate. You should not be a stranger to them. You should take the time to smile at them or wave to them or even speak with them. You should let them know that they can depend upon you should they ever need something from you. And if ever they do call you should try to the best of your ability to help. You should consider this as an act of slavehood and devotion that you do for God. At every moment your one focal point is Him. You do not have any other concern or worry in life except Him. You should also try not to harm or annoy those around you in any way. Remind yourself that God is watching. If you say something or do something which might be even a nuisance for your neighbors realize that He is Aware. So you should be as kind and respectful to them as you possibly can. The Prophet said that a believer is not one who will eat to his fill if his neighbor is hungry. This shows us that our care for our neighbor has to be so deep that if ever they do not have food then we would share with them even if it means that we cannot eat to our fill. This is the level of utter selflessness and concern that Islam can fill your heart with.

Was this not the way of the prophets, was it not the way of Jesus? Why cannot we be like him, why cannot we have a greater concern for those around us? In Islam words are not enough, they need to be backed up by actions. You cannot simply accept Jesus as your savior and then live in sin and in heedlessness. You cannot say that he went to Hell for you and then use that as an excuse to violate God’s Law. In Islam we do not believe that Jesus came to make us forget God and become distant from Him. Rather we believe that he came to remind us of God and to bring us nearer to Him. As did the Prophet Muhammad. As did all the prophets. And is there a better way to come nearer to God than by abiding by His Law? A comprehensive Law. A Law which shows us how to act in every moment. So that at each moment we can be conscious of Him by doing what pleases Him. And through this effort we can draw nearer to Him. By proving to Him just how much we love and yearn for Him. Each of us is responsible for our acts, it is only our acts that He will count for us and recompense us for on the Day we return to Him. No one else can carry our sins for us, rather we have to make the effort to be pure. By trying our best to live by His Law. This is what it means to live for God. Such a life was the way of the prophets and their lofty example is what we always strive to reach. Of course we will never be as perfect as they were. We will sin, we will make mistakes, we will have moments where we are only thinking of ourselves. Only acting for ourselves. This is exactly why we are not prophets. God knows this about us and this is why He has reminded us many times in the Quran of His Mercy. But such heedless moments should not be the norm. We should not even settle for mediocrity. Rather in the Quran God has told us that He loves those who strive for Him. Because the striving is the journey. So at least we should try.

Try to be an agent of God’s Mercy on the earth. By being good to all those around us. Never should we think that we have done enough, rather we should always think that we can do more. Our yearning to be near to Him should give us all the motivation we need. Do you feel that you are as near to God right now as you can be? When seeking an answer to this we should not look to the world around us because it is a world that has forgotten Him. Rather our role models should be the prophets and the saints. Their station is what we should always be striving to reach. They are the ones who truly sacrificed all that they had for God, can you not see that this is the ultimate measure of a human being? This is how our true worth can be determined. Not in wealth or position rather in how much we try to be God's Light on earth. For He is the Ultimate Reality, He is more important than anything else. Only by realizing this and by emptying your heart of other than Him can you find peace.

Not only can you find peace within yourself but you also can bring peace to all those around you. Including the animals, plants, and even the inanimate objects. Not only do we believe that all of these are sentient but also that they are worshiping God. He has told us in the Quran that there is not a single thing in the heavens and the earth except that it is glorifying Him. It is declaring with every fiber of its being His absolute Majesty and Perfection. This is why we love all of them, on account of their love for God. We love them because they are so steadfast and diligent in their worship of Him. The bird in the sky, the fish in the sea, the beast in the land, the cat and the dog, the cow and the horse, the tree and the flower, the rock and mountain, the star and the planet, the table and the chair. Each of these is in its own way worshiping God , each of these is conscious of Him. This is why we perfect our relationship even towards these non human creations of His.

Such was the example of the Prophet, he was the most merciful and compassionate man who ever lived. He showed us how we can be a Light on this earth for all of God’s creation. So much compassion did he have for all that even the animals knew that they could find solace in him. One day a camel came to him. This camel had tears in it eyes and it looked tired and weak. Then it actually began speaking to the Prophet. God had given the Prophet the ability to comprehend the speech of this creature. It complained to the Prophet about its master. After hearing what this animal had to say, he then sent for its master. The Prophet said onto him “I advice you to fear God regarding this creature which He has placed under your care. It has come to me and pleaded to me about the treatment that it has received from you. You overburden it with heavy loads and you do not feed it enough”. The Prophet then told the man to treat the camel better or else to set it free. See here the concern that he had for the plight of this animal. See here the love and compassion he had for it. He did not look down upon it, he did not think that it was there only to serve him, he did not think that he was better than it. Rather he knew that he was but a slave of God. And because he had tasted of the Divine, he knew that he did not have any right to arrogance, any right to oppress or harm any creature in any way. Such a sublime station did he reach. Such compassion and concern did he show for one and all. Because he knew that Love and Mercy were beloved to his Lord. He knew that the more mercy that he showed to those on earth the more God would show to him. So because of his love for his Beloved, he made the effort to remove from his heart all traces of arrogance and hatred. He made the effort to foster instead humility and compassion. Because he knew that the more he let go of the ego, the more the True Reality will be revealed.

The Prophet has told us of a woman who was forgiven all her sins and granted entry to Paradise only for the deed of giving water to a thirsty dog. And he also told us of another woman who was sent to Hell because she had a cat that she tied up and did not feed or allow to feed itself. See here the tremendous reward and punishment that is given for only the treatment of animals. When a Muslim is aware of this then will he not be conscious of God even in his relation to animals? He will remember the Day when he has to stand before God and answer for all his actions. Including his treatment of animals. This is what Islam teaches. Personal responsibility and accountability. The caliph Umar told us to judge ourselves before we are judged by God. See how Islam creates a heart which is always mindful, always careful that it does not do any evil. Even when we slaughter an animal for food we should do so in the most humane way possible. We have to use a sharp blade so the animal feels the least pain possible and so that death comes quickly. The only other place where we can harm an animal is if it poses a clear danger to our life or property. But besides for these two reasons, we are not allowed to harm animals in any way. In Islam hunting merely for pleasure is not permissible. This is only a small sampling of the rights that even animals have in this beautiful religion.

Islam also teaches us to have mercy for plants and trees, God showed us in the Quran 1500 years ago that trees and plants were alive and He showed us that they were always worshipping Him. On account of this we are forbidden to cut them down or even to damage them for no reason. Just think about the attitude that even a child will have towards a flower if he knows that flower is worshipping God. Would he pull it out or step on it just for fun if he had this knowledge and his heart was pure? Or would he have love and compassion for it?

Islam also teaches us to have compassion for what are known as inanimate objects. Just like with plants and animals we believe these too are sentient and that they are always in a state of worship to Him. For example the Prophet said of the mountain of Uhud, a mountain near his city of Madinah, that it is a mountain whom we love and it loves us. Just think about a mountain that is capable of love. An earth that is capable of love. Would you still harm the earth if you knew that she was alive and that she loves you? Can you not have mercy for it just as you have for yourself and for your own children? Can you not find this compassion which God has placed in your heart? You only need to see how all things are connected through Him. You only need to let go of the ego.

How then can we be good to the earth and to all that is on the earth? Firstly by not wasting its resources. Such was the example shown to us by the Prophet. When he used to make ablution for prayer, the most important of devotions that one can do for God, he was still careful not to waste water. Even though he was purifying his body so that he can stand before God in prayer, he still did so without wasting water. The most abundant resource on the planet and still he was careful to conserve. In addition to not wasting, we should also be careful not to damage. We can no longer think of the things of this world as lifeless or as ours to do with as we please. We have to remember that they are all a trust given to us by God. Yes we are the dominant species on this planet, but this does not mean that we can just exploit and plunder it for our own benefit. We have to see that we are not the masters here. Both we and the earth have to answer to our true Master. He has subjugated the earth and all that is on it for us as a test. To see if we would be grateful to Him. By fulfilling our purpose of being His Light on this earth.

Another way to bring Light to the earth is by establishing justice. God wants us to show mercy to all His creation and at the same time He also wants us to be just to them. To each of them He wants us to fulfill the trusts that we have to them. In Islam each of us is in some way responsible for those around us. And when we return to Him God will ask us about each of these trusts. For example parents have an obligation to look after their children and to raise them in the proper way. And in turn children have a duty to be obedient to their parents and to care for them when they become old. The husband has an obligation to provide for his family. The wife in turn has an obligation to be a good mother for the children and to make a beautiful home for her husband. The employee has an obligation to do the work the employer has required of him to the best of his ability, and in turn the employer has an obligation to give him a decent wage for that work. The businessman has duty not to shortchange his customers. And customers a duty to pay a fair price. The government and the leadership have a responsibility to look after their people and not to overburden or exploit them in any way. The people in turn have a duty to abide by the laws of the government. These are but a few examples of the rights and obligations that each of us can have. In Islam the fulfillment of these rights is an act of worship. Several are the verses where God has told us to fulfill our covenants and He has said that the covenants will be asked about. See once again then how Islam makes us into be the best human beings that we can be. How wonderful a world would it be if each of us would look first to what we can do for others instead of what others can do for us. Only for the Divine if we would give to everyone their rights upon us, if we would let go of the greed and the ego and the envy and the hatred. Would this not bring peace and mercy to the earth?

You see when you live for God then you realize that it is not just about you anymore. And this is when life starts to have meaning. This is when you can really taste the sweetness of your existence. When you forgive your spouse a wrong that she did. You do not even mention it. When you complete the project your boss assigned to you in the best way possible, and you do not mind if he does not recognize you enough for it. Even if you have to put in some unpaid overtime. When you give to your relative the loan that he asked of you and then you give him more time to repay his loan. You give and give more, not seeking anything at all from the creation. Because your heart is attached to the Creator. And you know that the more that you give, the nearer to Him that you become. This is what you desire, it is how you find peace and purpose. Can you not see how this can make you a light on the earth? Just by living for God, by being an agent of His Mercy to all His creation. And when you do this you can bring goodness to the entire world. Because compassion and cheer is contagious. It will spread from one person to the next. Like a radiant light shining out into the darkness. So never ask what others can do for you but ask what you can do for others. Live to make the world a better place, live for more than just yourself.

I know that you are a good person, this is why I wrote this book for you. I know that in you there is this light. Deep inside it is there, even if you cannot see it right now. At the very least I know that you want to be good. In Islam we believe all human beings are inherently good. God tells us that we are the most excellent of His creations. It is only we who become evil by our choices, by our actions. The problem with the world today is that people do not have the motive to be selfless. Rather the secular society teaches us to be individualistic and selfish. It teaches us we are just animals, living by the law of the jungle.

Is it then any surprise why we see the pain and injustice that is present in the world today? Our hearts were created for the Divine. He created us so that we may know Him, so that we may yearn for Him, so that we may love Him, so that we may worship Him. And if we forget Him, if we forget the very purpose for which we created, then how much darkness are we capable of? How much evil can we commit if we forget the One Who brought us into being, the One Who sustains us, the One Who we all have to return to and answer to. As long as we are remembering Him we are in the Light, we are creatures not capable of evil. Not only are we not capable of evil but we will always be striving to do good, for we know that by doing good to the world around us we become nearer to Him. We will not care what we have to sacrifice, we will not care how hard we have to strive, we will not care if we are tired or hurt, all that we would care about is God. Being near to Him. Drowning in His Majesty, His Beauty, His Essence.

But now think of the heart which is the opposite of this, the heart which is heedless of the Divine. What motivation does such a heart have to be good? What can save that heart from being consumed by arrogance, envy, lust, greed, apathy, miserliness, and hatred. The source of all these is the ego. All the evil in the world today is only because of ego. And the only way to be saved from ego is to have a connection with God. For if you know God then you see there is more to existence than your self. Life is not just about feeding yourself, glorifying yourself, making yourself content. There is something more, something far greater than you. To have a connection with Him, to live for Him, this is where the true contentment lies. In Islam this is the only difference between humans, not race or wealth or status or nationality. The only real difference is those who have submitted to the Divine and those who have not.

Now you may claim that it is possible for someone to be a good person even if God is not so important in their life. You may claim that there were people who have done much good on the earth even though they were not particularly religious. Do we then really need God? Yes we do, for several reasons. First because such people who do good without any religion are more the exception than the norm. Meaning most people are not like them, most people are not so selfless, most people worry first and foremost about themselves. This is just the nature of the human being. We all have traces of greed, lust, and arrogance within ourselves. Only with Divine Guidance, only through mercy from our Lord, can we free ourselves from these demons. The second response is that we simply cannot assume that all the people who did good and who seemed not to be religious did not have a relationship with God. Perhaps they did have a connection with the Divine but they chose not to share it with the outside world. In Islam we believe that all human beings are inherently good, all of us have a part of the Divine within us. Even though there are the traces of darkness within us there is also the Divine Light. We choose which of these we want to foster. We choose which of these we want to dominate our personality. Islam helps us to make the right choice. It gives us the motivation to be selfless, to show more kindness and compassion. It does so by freeing us from the chains of the ego. Thus bringing out the best in us. So even if you are a good person, you can be even better through Islam. But you know that you are not perfect, you still make mistakes. You still waste many moments of your life instead of being a benefit to this world. You still desire and despair and get angry and frustrated. You may even hurt others. But once you have tasted of the Divine then the ego is slain and with it all this evil. What then is left in you except Light? This is what Islam offers.

Only by truly dedicating yourself to God can you reach to this sublime station. You have to submit yourself to Him, you have to try and live for Him with each breath that you take. This is what He asks of you, this is what He deserves from you, this is what you yourself would want to give Him if the love for Him really penetrated into your heart. You would be intoxicated in your love for Him till you reach the point where you do not desire anything except Him. But to reach this ideal some effort needs to be made. You need to strive against your ego and to make Him as the focal point in your life. And you need to be relentless in this struggle, for such is what He deserves. This effort that you make for Him is the manifestation of your gratefulness and your glorification.

Now realistically most of us will not be able to reach this high ideal . That of the prophets and the saints. Where we are able to remember God at every moment. Where each action that we do and every word that we say is only to please Him. Where we are completely free of the ego. It is a very high station to reach. But does this mean that we should not try? Does this mean we are content to be sinners and heedless of Him? No, He deserves from us more than that, He deserves that we at least try. The problem today is that people do not know Him, people do not know His Majesty and Glory, and they do not know the extent of His bounties and favors, if they did then they would love Him. And if they loved Him then at least they would try. And if we all just tried then He will make it easy for us. He will help us, and in His Infinite Mercy and Love He will pardon us our many lapses. If only we all just tried then how much better of a place would the world be? If at the very least we all came to the realization that our purpose in life is only to please Him. If we at the very least made this into our intention. How enlightened and beautiful people we would be?

Several are the paths which Islam has given us through which we can journey to God. Through which He can become the focal point in our lives. Among these are supplications that the Prophet used to make. The Prophet had a prayer for each and every occasion. He had a prayer that he would recite the moment that he awoke in the morning, the moment he went to bed at night, and for all the moments in between. In all that he did and in all that befell him he would seek God’s aid. For he knew that God was the True Reality. He knew that everything which happens is only from Him and the only refuge from Him is in Him. This is what we need to do as well, we need to be in the habit of remembering God. Because the world around us distracts us. It pulls us away from Him with its snares. Often times you want to think about God but you get distracted by something of this world, you think about that thing instead of thinking about Him. This happens to most of us. In fact in the Quran God has told us that we were created in weakness. How then can we maintain this life of submission to Him, how can we bring Him to mind all the time?

This is where the Muslim prayer comes in. The prayer is our connection to God. It is the most important of acts that we can do because it puts us in direct communion with Him. And it is more than just a prayer, rather it is really the sanctification and glorification of the Divine. It is not just supplicating and asking of God, it also praising Him and magnifying Him. We bow down before Him, we prostrate ourselves before Him, we dedicate our entire body, mind and soul only to God. When you are in prayer you are not allowed to eat or drink or even speak to a created thing. Because you have wholly given yourself to your Creator. Every fiber of your being is only for Him. As you were created to be. So you see how this prayer reminds you your purpose. Of how you should be only for Him.

The Muslim prayer begins with the words “Allahu Akbar”, which means “God is greater”. Just by saying these words you remind yourself that God is more important. He is your only purpose, He is greater in your heart than anyone or anything else. Then you read from His Book, then you bow down to Him and then you fall down prostrate before Him. During each of these motions you are reminded of Him, of how He is the Tremendous One, of He is Supreme in your heart. More than your base desires. More than any petty argument you may have had with anyone. More than your own ego or sense of identity. More than that pain or anxiety that has been troubling you. He is greater. He is heaviest in your heart. So you shift away from the worldly illusions to the True Reality.

The Arabic word for the prayer is Salah. This word has several meanings and each of these meanings reveals a different nature of the prayer. First it means to connect, for it is our connection to God. It is how we reestablish our link with Him. When the world distracts us away from Him, when our hearts begin to wander, we can bring them back through the Salah. This word also means to burn. Because it burns away all the illusions between us and Him. Only He cannot be burned because He is not of this world. Another meaning for the word Salah is that which comes immediately after. It has been used in this way to describe the one who comes a close second in a race. The reason for this meaning is because Salah must come after faith in that if you truly believe in God then you need to worship Him. How can you believe in a Being as Glorious and Magnificent as He and not feel the need to praise Him? If you do not then you need to check your belief. Is it really true, is it really sincere? God is completely dedicated to us at every moment of our lives, can we not do for Him as He has for us? Can we not at least make the effort?

As we said prayer in Islam is not simply our asking of God, nor is it useless dogma we have to blindly recite. Rather it is first and foremost our glorification and magnification of Him. We praise Him in all His Majesty and Glory. We acknowledge just how Pure and Sublime that He is. And we acknowledge our utter slavehood and nothingness before Him.

This is why our prayers should have an impact on us for the rest of the day. It should never be that we are dedicated to God for a few minutes when we are in prayer and heedless of Him for the rest of the day. No rather we need to be dedicated to Him for the entirety of our day. The prayer is what facilitates this, it is what brings us back to this sublime station.

For as we said before and need to emphasize again there is a certain state of heart that we need to maintain. We need to be with the Divine. We need to free ourselves of all thoughts which distract us from Him. At each moment we need to ask what we can do for Him. The prayer brings us this station. It does this by teaching us humility. When we bow down before God, when we put our faces on the floor, then we realize our place. Our utter nothingness when compared to His Majesty and Glory. Such is how the prayer slays the ego and lets us to maintain consciousness of Him throughout our day. When we are at this station then we can become a Light on this earth for all His creation. Because in the end what is it that prevents us from serving others, forgiving them, and seeing good in them no matter what they do to us? Is it not the ego? To vanquish it is a lifelong struggle. The prayer in Islam helps us in this effort. It guides our hearts back to their true home. With Him. Even for Muslims it is a struggle. But to make struggle is the journey. Meaning when we strive for Him. When we make the effort to maintain our prayers and to be His Light then we manifest our love for Him. And through this effort we journey to Him.

After prayer and after excelling in our relationships with those around us, the next most important part of our servitude to God is avoiding what He has forbidden. Most of the things of this world He has made permissible for us, but there are a few things which He has told us to stay away from. He has done so in order to test us, in order that we may make manifest our submission to Him. You see it is very easy to simply say that you love God, especially if you do not have a law to follow. But we believe that actions speak louder than words. And if you are true in your love for Him then you would keep to His Law.

You would make every effort possible to comply with His Law because you know that it is His Law, what He has told you to do. And if you truly love Him then would you not want to listen to Him? This is why in Islamic Law when it comes to the prohibitions of God, we have to be extra careful. We need to take the utmost of precautions to avoid any violations of our Lord’s Law. It is not a matter to be taken lightly. The reverence that we have for His Law reflects the reverence we have for Him. The more that we love Him, the more that we fear doing anything to displease Him, the greater the effort we will make to hold on to His Law. Of course it is not easy, there will be a struggle involved. But this striving is how we prove our belief in Him and our love for Him. And the consequence of violations is not only the punishment in the next world, but even worse is distance from Him. For we believe that the more that you sin, the more you allow the ego to take over your heart. And the more ego there is in your heart, the less He will be. Thus there is much you must do in order to traverse this path which leads to Him. Firstly you need to believe in Him, then you need to strive against your ego and make Him as supreme in your heart, finally you need to make the effort to hold on to His Law. Through all this you can journey to Him. This is Islam.

As we will soon see Islam has a detailed system of life by which you can live. Part of this system are commandments and prohibitions. Not all of these are easy to abide by, some require effort, some require you to sacrifice what you desire. But this should not be a reason for you to be turned away from the religion. On the contrary it should be a motivation. For there is a reward, a sweetness, a fulfillment and satisfaction that you can attain by your efforts. The harder it is for you, the more that you have to strive to obey His Law, the nearer to Him that you will become. And is proximity to God not what you are really seeking from life in the first place? What is there in this world that can possibly compare to Him? This is what you have to remind yourself of. Especially when you feel yourself being drawn towards what He has forbidden. Or you find yourself becoming lazy in fulfilling what He has commanded. You have to remember that your choosing to displease Him will make you distant from Him. And this is the greatest of torments, if only you knew. Once you have tasted the sweetness of being near to Him then you will see how nothing else matters.

When you do choose to please Him, to make the effort to hold fast to His Law, then know that none of your striving will ever be wasted. For He is the All-Seeing and the All-Knowing. Even the slightest of labor that you exert for His sake, He is well Aware, as He is Aware of even the smallest of sins. So you can never think that you can get away with violating His Law. He is always watching. There is not a single moment in our life except that He is watching us in that moment. He Knows us more than we know ourselves, He even Knows our thoughts. How then can we ever hide anything from Him? Know that even in the darkness of the night, even behind locked doors, He Sees what you are doing. This is why you need to make every effort possible to stay away from what He has forbidden.

What then are the prohibitions of God, what are the acts which He has told us to avoid? The greatest of evil in His Sight is that another god besides He be worshiped. For He is the One True God, without partner or child. So all worship, all sanctification, all servitude must be for Him and Him Alone. Try then and realize His Oneness. Realize that there is no deity worthy of worship except He, there is no master worthy of servitude except He, there is no object or person on which to rely and place your hopes in except He. For there is no might nor power except in Him. Nothing at all can happen in the universe unless He allows it to happen. This is why your heart must be attached to Him, before you see the world, see Him. It is not just that you do not serve any other master or worship any other god besides Him. Rather it is that you have reliance on Him and Him Alone. Not on yourself or your abilities or your money or your power or your family. These are all but illusions. You see everything that happens as coming from Him.

Associating partners with God then is the greatest of evils in our religion. But this does not simply mean that another god besides He be worshiped, it also means the heart being attached to other than He. It means for another to be loved more than He. As we said before and need to stress again all that we do for Him is only from our love for Him. And ultimately it is our love for Him which will be the measure of how much we will be dedicated to Him. Should we not then try to make the love for Him be supreme in our hearts, should we not try to remove all the other false gods whom we have made as more important than Him in our lives? Be it wealth, or job, or children, or property, or our own glorification. Islam helps us to recognize these for the illusions that they are. The central message of this religion is the Absolute Oneness of God, only He matters, only He is Real. Where then should your heart be?

See then how comprehensive this religion is, see how much of a practical impact it can have on your life. Here to free yourself of false gods does not only mean not worshiping idols, rather it means to free your heart from all attachments except God. To have no other concern in life but Him. If you truly knew Him then you would see what a great injustice it is to live for other than Him. Because a heart that does not submit to Him is a heart that does not love Him. Love needs to be proven, He will never accept empty statements without meaning. And a heart that does not love Him is an evil heart indeed. For He is the One Who deserves to be loved, He is the Source of all goodness, He is the Majestic and the Glorious, the Sublime and the Pure, the Beautiful and the Awesome. As long as you are making the effort to journey to Him, as long as your heart is full with love and yearning for Him you will not fall into sin. It is only when your focus begins to weaken, it is only when you think of other than Him, that is when you are capable of evil.

That is when the ego can creep in, when you start to see yourself as more important than He. You start listening to that voice in your head which is always complaining or getting angry or desiring something of this world. That voice is the veil between you and Him. Because as long as you beckon to its call your heart can never be with Him. You can never enjoy or fully appreciate the present moment, the gift that He has given you. If you truly love Him, if you have truly submitted to Him, then you will never resist any situation in life He has placed you in. Because you know that it is good for you, even if you cannot always see His Wisdom. You know it is what He has created for you, and because you love Him you love all that comes from Him. You know that accepting it means accepting Him, loving it means loving Him. Thus the first and the greatest evil we must avoid is to see anything other than God.

The next greatest evil is to kill another soul. God has told us in the Quran that to kill even one human being is like killing all of mankind. Such is how great a crime murder is, such is the tremendous value that Islam has placed on human life. On the life of any human being, be they Muslim or non Muslim, black or white, male or female. Only in very specific instances has God made lawful the shedding of blood. And even this can only be carried out by the Islamic State. Never by an individual or a group. These instances in reality are only three. First to punish very serious crimes like murder, adultery or treason. Second in times of war, meaning between soldiers in battle. Finally in self defense. These are the only situations in which God has made it permissible for a life to be taken. And notice that in all of these three cases the life that is being taken is not an innocent. Rather it is the life of an aggressor, one who has done some evil to deserve such a punishment. But for an innocent life to be taken, this truly is the greatest of sins. There has not been any disagreement on this by any of the scholars of Islam. Because there are several explicit statements of the Prophet and also explicit verses from the Quran which refer to murder as a great sin. Even in war the Prophet has forbidden us from killing any except the soldiers who are fighting. The slaying of non combatants has been explicitly forbidden. We are not even allowed to take lives as a result of what some call “collateral damage”. In Islam there is no such concept, all life is sacred. Because we believe that every human being is a child of Adam, and God has honored all the children of Adam. We do not break our brotherhood by race or nationality. Such a viewpoint prevents us from looking down on anyone, there are no lower caste or second class. Rather in everyone we see God. And we know that our very purpose in life is to be His Light for them. How then can we ever harm them in any way?

How far greater is the value that Islam has put on human life when compared to the the secular world. Only recently in the United States there was an incident where a man shot down twenty innocent children in cold blood. Can you even imagine this, what kind of a heart can commit such a heinous crime? This killer was the product of a secular school system. The child of a secular world. When we do not teach our children the value of life or even the purpose of life for that matter then what else can we expect from them. There was also an incident in Norway where a man went on a shooting spree and killed dozens of youths in cold blood. He shot down kids who were in front of him begging for their lives. These are the products of a secular society. Not only has secularism produced individuals who are sadists and mass murderers but even nations. The regimes of Hitler and Stalin, the atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the bombing raids over Baghdad and Hanoi, the genocides of Bosnia and Rwanda. And all of these have only been in this century, if you go back even further you find Imperialism, Colonialism, and countless wars. All of these because the secular world does not view human life as sacred, it does not tell its children that they have to answer to God for all their actions, nor that their very purpose in life is to be an agent of His mercy and compassion. If you think that matter is all that exists, if you do not acknowledge the Spirit within, if you only see the world as you vs them, then how can such carnage and brutality not be the result? Despite all the advancements that we have made in science and technology, we remain a very primitive people in terms of our outlook towards life. And the reason for this is because we have forgotten God. For most of us He does not have any place in that outlook. It is only when see others as flesh or as matter that we are capable of harming them.

Islam teaches us to view all creation as something higher than that. And it teaches us to view our fellow human beings as even higher still. For we believe that each and every one of us has withing us God's Spirit. This is why not only is murder itself among the greatest of sins, but even to harm another human being. In any way, be it with the hand or with the tongue, this too is a great crime. Once the Prophet was asked who the true Muslim is and he replied that he or she is the one from whose hands and tongue the people were safe. See then how it is the very essence of submission, the very core of this religion that you do not harm anyone else. In any way. Even to harm with the tongue is not allowed. To backbite or slander. To mock or to ridicule. To criticize or to find fault with. To speak any word with the intent of causing any harm is not allowed in Islam. Such is the care and the regard God has told us to have for all human beings. Such is the love we must have for everyone, the same love we have for Him. Because we do not believe God to be some distant being above the skies. Rather we believe He is without limits, not confined in any way to space and time. He is in the world around us just as He is in us. So to harm the other is to harm Him. This is the true Islam.

How then can you think of this religion as violent or in any oppressive? As we will soon see not only is harming people a sin but it also a sin to do any injustice to them. As we said earlier and need to emphasize again, our very purpose in life is to be God's Light for all His creation. This is the very reason why we exist. Instead then of thinking how we can kill or terrorize or destroy, we should be thinking how we can make peace, how we can make life better. For everyone. As Muslims our striving is to break the veil of the ego, the barrier between us and God. This is what it means to be a Muslim, the one who submits. I am just a slave, I do not matter. Only He does.

Another great sin in Islam is adultery and fornication. Relations of a sexual nature between an unmarried couple. The sexual drive which God placed within all of us is indeed very strong. We all have such lusts and urges. God does not want us to deny these, He does not want us to live a life of celibacy. In fact even sex itself in Islam is not looked upon as something evil or filthy. Rather if it is done in the right way, between a husband and a wife, then it can be a blessed act. It can even be an act of worship. An act through which you seek to draw nearer to God. This is because as we said earlier in Islam marriage itself is an act of worship. And the union in bed for a couple is naught but the fulfillment of their marriage. This is how God wants it to be. He does not want us to come to that act merely to satisfy our urges. Although there is nothing wrong in taking pleasure from the act, He wants us to see that it has a greater purpose. That is of course to have children, to build a family. So that we leave behind on God’s earth souls who will praise and glorify Him after we have left it.

This is the primary purpose of marriage and of sex. You can see then how adultery and even fornication circumvents this purpose. Not only does it not help in building a family but it also destroys it. Most divorces today are caused by infidelity. Or when at least one spouse is not satisfied with the other. Why do couples reach this sad state? Is it not because we have legalized fornication? We no longer think of it as evil. This is why we indulge in it. We become so used to having multiple partners that it is very hard to remain faithful. And then it is the marriage which suffers, it is the children who suffer, it is the society which suffers. Just think how wonderful it can be if you were only for your spouse and if they were only for you? If you did not even lay eyes on anyone else. Not only would you have a blessed marriage and family but He will be pleased with you.

Not only has God forbidden fornication itself, but He has also forbidden all the situations and circumstances that may lead up to it. For example Muslim men are told to lower their gaze, meaning we are not allowed to even look with lust at a woman who is not our wife. Only marriage, that sacred bond, allows us to look with desire. At the same time God has also told Muslim women to dress modestly. To try and cover as much of their body as possible. The more they can cover the closer it will be to piety. By the same token the more that men lower their gazes, this too will bring them nearer to the Divine. Because He Knows us well. He Knows that fornication begins with a look. The woman shows and the man gazes. This is how it starts. So if both men and women can avoid this situation then the sin can also be avoided. As a further deterrent God has also made it forbidden for a man and a woman to be alone together unless they are married or close relations. He has told us that if a man and a woman are behind closed doors then the devil is the third among them. God Knows how weak we are, He Knows that even if we may not mean to, we may fall into that terrible sin. This is why He put so many barriers between us and that evil. In general men and women should also be separated in social gatherings. Once again the purpose of this is to block any avenue for that evil to be committed. Do you not think it better if sex was preceded by the bond of marriage? Would you like it for your daughter or your sister to surrender her body to a man who has not fully committed himself to her? To protect her, to provide for her, to be there for her for his entire life. For us it is not just about the lusts, not just about exploring sexuality, rather it is about building permanent relationships. It is about making the bond and love between husband and wife as strong as possible. So that they always remain together, so that they raise the best children possible.

Another major sin is that of breaking trusts and oaths. The sin of betrayal. Whenever you are entrusted with anything then God wants you to fulfill that trust. He does not want you to cheat or to deceive the person who gave you that trust to you. After all how can you be God's Light to those around you if you are unjust to them, if you in any way cheat or betray them? Even if you believe that they have not fulfilled their obligations to you, you must still live up to all the obligations that you have towards them. To break these trusts is among the greatest of sins. It is injustice and He loves not the unjust. Because He is the Just and He expects it from His creation. Especially from us the human race, especially from the Muslims. In fact if a certain person claims to be Muslim but at the same time is in any way dishonest, then you really have to question if such a person is even a Muslim to begin with. Because the Prophet has told us that the two signs of a hypocrite are that when he speaks he lies and when he is given a trust he breaks it.

When people break their trusts that is when injustice and tyranny begin to appear. It is only capable by a heart that has forgotten the Divine. A heart which has been seduced by the illusion of power. A heart filled with hubris, a heart that looks down on others and thinks itself better. This is why it oppress and cheats. It does not see others as those it must serve or even be honest to. Such is the extent to which ego dominates. This is what we need to save ourselves from. We need to be reminded that we exist only to serve Him. He is the True, we are but His slaves. If we can maintain such a state then we would think twice about oppressing anyone. Rather we would strive to fulfill our trusts because we know that this exertion is a path to Him. In the end it is not the other party that matters, rather it is only Him. We have to be people of truth to behold the True Reality. Life is only the journey to Him.

What exactly does it mean then to fulfill one's trusts? Several are the examples that can be cited. Several are the ways that you can implement this command of God in your own life and in the process draw nearer to Him. Each of us has something that we have been entrusted with, something that has been placed under our care, some duty that we owe to those around us. For example if you are student then simply to do your homework in the best way possible, to pass all your exams, to gain the best education that you can so that you can be the most productive member of society. This is a means of draw nearer to God, this is Islam. Because you are fulfilling the role you have been entrusted with to the best of your ability. Similarly if you are a professional then you strive to do your work in the best way possible. You do not cheat or shortchange your employer or your customer in any way. This is Islam because God loves the honest and the fair, those who strive not to do even the tiniest of injustices. If you are a wife then you remain faithful to your husband, you do not let another man look at your beauty. Similarly if you are a husband then you take care of your wife, you provide her with all that she could need, you buy her gifts, you are kind and respectful to her, and your are faithful to her as well. You strive not to even look upon another woman. This is Islam. If you are child then you are dutiful and respectful to your parents and if you are parent then you be there for your children and you raise them properly. This is Islam. It is looking to the rights of others first before your own rights, it is giving and giving more. Because you know that the more that you give, the nearer to Him that you become. And in your heart there is only the yearning for Him. Just imagine if everyone was at this level, imagine how wonderful a place the world would be. If we all did for the other for His sake. This is the vision of Islam.

Another great evil in Islamic Law is drugs and alcohol. Part of your submission to God is also that you make every effort to avoid this sin. Most people indulge in these vices for escapism. To lose their inhibitions. To escape from the real world. To be a different person. But does not the very fact that you would seek to do this reveal that you are in some way discontent with what God has decreed? As we said the very foundation of Islam is submission. To surrender fully to God, to be content with whatever it is that He has decreed for you. Now if you are sincere to Him then you have to believe that He will only choose for you what is best for you. He will send down His Mercy upon you. He will keep calamities away from you. And even if He does send something which may seem to you like a hardship, you have to trust in Him that even in this there is something good for you. When you have such a complete reliance upon Him then would you ever want to escape, would you ever want to be anyone other than who you are? Every situation you find yourself is what He has chosen for you. So for His sake you are content. This is what it means to submit to Him. You know that His Wisdom and His Knowledge is greater.

Most of us today do not realize this. We have chosen for ourselves a secular world. Which allows the vices of drugs and alcohol. How great is the evil that has resulted. How many are the wives who are beaten by their own husbands, how many are the daughters who are raped by their own fathers? Think also how many are the lives ruined by drunk driving ? How many are the youth killed in gang related drug violence? This is the legacy of the secular world. This is the evil that a soul is capable of when it forgets its Lord. When it is dominated by ego and lusts. Not only can Islam prevent this by freeing us of ego, the evil within, but it can also remove the exterior evils. It has a detailed law which strictly outlaws such vices.

Some other vices which God told us to shun are lying stealing, gambling, and consuming usury. These are all evils, these all cause great harm both to the individual and to the society as a whole. Can you not see how this is so, would the world not be a better place if people did not commit these? How many families are in poverty because someone in their home cannot stay away from the casinos? How many families are chased out of their homes because they could not make the usury payments on their mortgage? How many children are deprived because of theft and waste? How many couples are separated because of lies and deception? Can we not see that God loves us more than we do and we only hurt ourselves by turning away from Him? Just think what a beautiful human being is the one who always maintains a consciousness of the Divine. The one who thinks twice before he harms others in any way. Such a person will not even lift a finger or say even the slightest word to harm another human being. Because he or she knows that their Lord is Love and that only by imbuing such within themselves they can journey to Him. They will also strive to keep to His Law. They will not steal or cheat anyone. They will not look upon their neighbor's wife. They will not waste their wealth away in gambling nor will they rob and exploit others through usury. Rather with their wealth and their time and their energy they will strive in God's Path. To make the world a better place, to be an agent of the Merciful, to invite the people to Him. To ease the suffering, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to teach the ignorant and to help the oppressed. Can you not see how this is your purpose as well? Can you not see that you will find peace and fulfillment only on this path? What is there in this entire world that can possibly compare to Him? Those things which He has made unlawful for us are only those things which can harm us.

See then how Islam has come for the betterment of mankind. Not only by teaching us to look beyond ourselves, not only by helping us to cope with the hardships of life, not only by reminding us of our purpose and by giving our lives meaning, but also by removing from our lives all those things which can harm us. And even more than that by giving us the reason and the motivation to avoid these evils. We all know that sins like alcohol, gambling, usury, fornication, and such are evils and that we should not be engaging them. We know also that we should not harm others in any way, and that we should not steal or cheat. We know we should not tell lies or despair or become angry or arrogant or envious. We know that we should not be lazy or gluttonous or lustful. God gave us the ability by which we can recognize the dark side of our nature.

Yet we as individuals still fall into these sins and we as as a society still permit them. Why is this? It is only because we do not have the motivation to stay away. Now Islam gives us this motivation. It teaches us to live for a greater purpose than satisfying our lusts and greed, it teaches us to share and to have empathy for all creation. It slays the demon of the ego and replaces it with humility and yearning for the Divine. This is how to build a better human being. This is true progress. When you are at this level then you will not so easily commit evil even if you knew that no other human being was watching, because you would be certain that your Beloved is always watching.

Thus an important part of our servitude to God is avoiding what displeases Him, avoiding what He has forbidden. This is one way we can prove our love to Him. Some other religions speak of loving God but at the same time they do not live by God's Law. They believe that only the priests and saints need to obey the Law. In Islam such an attitude is nothing short of hypocrisy. If you love God you need to prove that love.

Notice how all of the deeds which God has forbidden for us are only those which harm us or harm those around us. So even it is a manifestation of His Mercy for us. Not only then can we prove our love for Him by making the effort to avoid what He has forbidden but doing so is good for us. Even if we in the beginning we may not always realize it. For example a young woman in college may not see the wisdom in the prohibition of fornication, she might want to give in to her boyfriend when he calls her to that act. But then when he dumps her a few weeks after that she realizes the mistake she made. And with each man that leaves her after she had let him taste her she loses a part of herself. Until she feels empty, the innocence and purity she had in her youth is gone. Would she not be happier if the only man who has touched her is the father of her children, the one who has committed to be with her for the rest of his life? See then how even in fornication there is evil and pain. We just sometimes cannot see it when we are blinded by ego and its lusts. Our vision is limited but His is not, and He loves us even more than we can ever love ourselves.

Another benefit of keeping to God's Law is that it reminds us of the temporary nature of this world. The Quran tells us that the entirety of this world is only fleeting illusions but it also has the ability to deceive. So most people do not realize all the illusions for what they really are. Just think then what is it that makes you to sin, what makes you to do what displeases Him. Is it not ego or lusts or greed? And in the end are all these not illusions? How do they in any way compare to Him? The True Reality. God wants us to reach to this realization, to realize the ephemeral nature of this world. This is why He has told us not to gorge ourselves on it, to restrain ourselves a bit. So that we realize the true purpose of our existence. We are not here to feed our egos but rather to serve Him.

Islam also commands us to do all our actions in the best way possible. The Arabic term for this is Ihsan. Basically it means we should strive for excellence and perfection in all of our affairs. So whatever you are doing over the course of your day, try and do it to the best of your ability. If you are doing your chores or your schoolwork or your office work or driving or cooking or looking after children or even just interacting with others, try to accomplish the best result that you can in that particular endeavor. Even if you do not attain to perfection, you should still try. Because remember that in Islam our submission to God is comprehensive. Our servitude to Him encompasses every single deed we can possibly do. So the moments of your life and the actions that you do in them are offerings you make for the Divine. And does not the lover want to give his Beloved the best of gifts? To make manifest the perfection and depth of his love. How then can one attain to perfection in one's works? One way is being maintaining mindfulness.

Mindfulness is usually thought of as part of Buddhism and the Eastern religions but it does have a place in Islam as well. One reason for this is because Ihsan which Islam commands us to have necessitates mindfulness. How can you reach to perfection in any action unless you put your mind on it? If your mind is somewhere else, if you are not focused and present in what you are doing, then how can you be doing to the best of your ability? So Islam calls on you to free yourself from all the distractions and useless thoughts that flow through your mind. Strive against them for God's sake. Focus your attention on the present moment and what you are doing in it. Consider even this effort that you make an act of servitude to your Beloved. Realize the impermanent nature of all that is other than Him. Rise to a level that is beyond yearning for success or fear of failure. Rather just accept the present moment and let it be.

So Islam allows you to achieve mindfulness by living fully in the present moment. It helps you to achieve this station by slaying the ego. Just as ego is the veil between you and God, it is also what prevents you from being in the present moment. The very nature of the ego is that it wants to flee from the present moment. It wants to take you somewhere else than where you really are now. It either takes you into the past or the future. If it is taking you back in time, it makes you to lament about something tragic which happened in the past or it makes you to relive a pleasant memory from the past. It also transports you into the future. It either makes you to fear some event which it thinks will happen in the future or it makes you desire something that it hopes to achieve in the future. But regardless of it takes you into the past or the future, or if it fills you with thoughts of joy, pain or fear, the bottom line is that it is taking you away from the present moment. Away from where you really are right now. The question remains why. Why does the ego want to take you away from the now. The answer is clear. Because now is a pathway to God. The present moment is an interface to God. It is the continuous manifestation and unfolding of His greatest bounty upon you, your very existence. So to truly appreciate it, to truly live it to in the fullest, you need to be present in it. If you are not, if your mind is somewhere else, then your life is literally being stolen from you. By your own ego. The endless stream of thoughts that it fills your mind with are obstacles between you and God. Because they take your mind away from the present moment, and thus away from Him. In order to perfect your servitude to Him, even in order to fully appreciate the gift of life that He has given you, you need to be in the present moment. By letting go of resistance to the present moment, by stopping trying to escape from it, you can show your submission to God, the One Who chose it for you.

We said earlier that there was more to the prayer in Islam than supplication. But does this mean that you cannot ask of God in this religion? No of course not, rather He loves those who ask of Him. And He loves to give to those who ask of Him. So as we said before and need to stress again you can ask God for whatever you need. As you are in a complete state of servitude to Him you can be in a constant state of prayer to Him. Asking of Him and relying on Him in all of your affairs. Out of the conviction that you have of His absolute Power and total Control over your life. Of course you make the effort, of course you try. To the best of your ability as we said earlier. But you do not rely only on yourself, you never think that you are enough for yourself. Rather you ask of Him and you rely upon Him. For if you are sincere in your supplication, if you truly ask Him from the depth of your heart, then how can He ever turn away from you. Is He not the Most Merciful and the Most Loving and the Most Kind? If you knew the extent of His Mercy then no matter what happens and no matter what you may have done, you would never give up on it.

Another benefit of supplicating to God is that it removes from us arrogance and it increases us in humility. This also is a state that is pleasing to Him. When we admit our weakness and our inability, and at the same time we admit His Power and His Ability. O God only you can remove from me this difficulty , only you can save me, I am helpless without you. What a beautiful state is this for the seeker’s heart?

Yet another benefit of asking God is that He will actually give you what you are asking Him for. Unlike most people. Just as He is the Most Loving He is also the Able, He can give you whatever you desire and this is easy for Him. Why then do you not ask of Him? Why do you seek from the creation who turn away from you while the Creator waits with open arms?

This was how the Prophet lived. In a constant state of supplication and yearning to the Divine. When he woke up in the morning there was a prayer he made. All praise and thanks be to God Who gave us life after our death. In the Name of God, I put my reliance upon God, and there is no power nor situation except from God. There was even a prayer he made when used the restroom. And a prayer he made both before and after he took his meal. There was a prayer he made when he left his home. There was also a prayer he made when he rode on some form of transportation. There was a prayer he made when he began his work. There was a prayer for seeing the rain clouds. And a prayer when he saw children. And a prayer when he felt some pain. And a prayer when a bounty came down to Him. And a prayer when he took his afternoon nap. And a prayer for when he was intimate with his wife. For every situation in life that he could face, he had a supplication that he would make. And if you look closely you would see that the common thread in all of these prayers was God. He would either thank God, or ask Him for help, or ask Him for nearness through that particular situation. If you too can live such a life then imagine how near to God you can become. You would respond to every situation by thinking of God and thus drawing nearer to Him. The Prophet also taught us general prayers we can make in any situation. Prayers in which we ask God for all that is good. We ask for faith, and for obedience, and for protection from hardships and trials, and for peace on earth, and for healing the ill, and for forgiveness. For yourself, for your family, and for all the good people. So see how at any moment we can supplicate to God and bring Him to mind through that supplication. We can draw nearer to Him by our asking of Him. This too is part of what it means to be a Muslim, this too will help you journey to Him.

This then is the life of a Muslim. Submitting to God in each and every way. With the heart, with the tongue, and with the body. By worshiping Him, praising Him, glorifying Him. By being content with whatever that He has decreed. By doing the acts beloved to Him and by avoiding what He has not allowed. By maintaining mindfulness and striving for excellence in all of one's affairs. And by trying to be a light for all His creation. As I said before and need to stress again this is the core of Islam. God is not selfish or arrogant. He does not want us to only worship Him and forget the rest of the world. Rather at His Core He is a Being of Mercy and Love. Such is the attribute He has most frequently described Himself with in the Quran. Ego is the veil which prevents us from imbuing this attribute within ourselves. For the more that we think only of ourselves and our needs, the more distant from Him we will be. And the darker our world will become. For we are connected to the world around us through Him. The more we improve our relationship with Him the more we will improve it with the world, and the better we are to the world the nearer to Him we will become. After all is not everything around us His creation. If we want then to be near to Him should we not be an agent of mercy to His creation just like He is. Think how beautiful life can be if we can all be at this level. Not only will we bring peace to our own selves, but we will also help to bring peace to those around us and peace to the world. Then ego would be replaced with submission, anger would be replaced with forgiveness, cruelty would be replaced with compassion, greed would be replaced with sharing, indecency would be replaced morality, war would be replaced with peace and all nations would be united as one. Not only would each of us seek to end suffering in our selves but also in all those around us. The world would be a better place, closer in every way to Him. This is the vision of Islam.

Once you have submitted to Him completely, once you have acknowledged that you are only His slave, then do you not become His instrument? Do you not become a vehicle for Him? What is there left of you? The illusion of you. This is the realization that Islam helps you to attain. The false sense of self that you identify yourself with is the greatest veil between you and Him. A Sufi was once asked what was the path to God and he replied “Abandon yourself and you are already there”. This is the essence and the core of Islam. Giving yourself over to God completely. And the liberation and serenity that arises out of it. But in order to reach this station, in order to make the journey, you first need to believe. You need to believe that there is more to existence than the material world. That there is more to you than the identity you have of yourself. You are not who your name says or what your title at work is or the degree that you attained or the perception that you think others have of you. These are the illusions, the demons which keep you from Him. Rather Islam says that you are God's slave and that your only purpose in life is to dedicate yourself to Him totally.

Can you even begin to imagine what freedom and peace such a mindset can bring? You can escape the bondage of all your anxieties and worries. You no longer need to be ruled by the ego and its lusts. You no longer need to care about what other people think of you. Rather your one single concern in life can be attaining nearness to Him. To attain this you only need to worship Him, avoid what He has forbidden and be a good neighbor to all those around you. This is all that He is asking of you. If you can do this then you are free to enjoy life. Free to truly live in the present moment knowing that you have with you the Best of Protectors. He will take care of you, He will provide for you, He will not allow harm to come to you. For you will become His beloved. And what is better than that?

Avoiding evil actions, worshiping God, and trying to do good to one and all. How can you find anything wrong with this religion, how can you choose a way of life other than it? Is this in and of itself not enough to show you that it is the Truth? Just look at the kind of human being that Islam creates. Just look at the kind of personality that it builds. It answers the deepest and the most fundamental questions that a human being can have. Who am I, what am I doing here, where did I come from, where am I going? It lets you have the most personal and intimate of relationships with the Sublime and the True, the One and Only. It lets you be so near to Him that you can feel His Presence deep inside of you. And this will bring a peace and fulfillment to your life which cannot be found elsewhere. It calls all mankind to this with open arms, black and white, young and old, male and female. It gives us all of us a purpose for our existence. It lets us be a positive force on the earth, an agent of change for the better, a mercy for all those around us. It shows us how we can rise above our lower selves. It teaches us to sacrifice, to have empathy and compassion. To always work to make the world into a better place. So I ask you once again how much better a place this earth would be if we were all Muslims? We would no longer be divided by religion or race or nationality. Islam came to transcend all these boundaries, to unite as all as children of Adam, as were we meant to be. We do not believe that any one race is God’s chosen people. We believe that we are all equal before His Eyes. The only way in which one of us is better than another is in how much we love Him and how much we strive to please Him. And this is only known to Him. So see how the Message of Islam itself is one of its greatest proofs. How can this not be the true religion from the One True God? Is there anything wrong with it, anything evil about it? But it has more proofs besides these.

Chapter 2

The Proofs for

Islam

“We will show them Our Signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the Truth”.

-Quran [41:53]

“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forget their use”.

-Galileo Galilei

“The most incompressible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible”.

-Albert Einstein

In this chapter we will see just some of the many proofs for Islam. The fundamental creed of this religion is that God is One and that Muhammad is His Messenger. Several are the evidences that can be cited to prove this truth. But before we begin looking at these proofs we must exercise a word of caution. These proofs will only be meaningful to you if you want to believe in them. If you want to have a relationship with God. On the other hand if you do not want to submit to Him, if you want to live only for yourself and for your ego, then you will not believe no matter how many signs you see. Such is our nature as human beings, we are capable of being so stubborn, of refusing to accept even what we know deep down inside is the truth. We will make excuses and find reasons to deny. We will turn away from Signs that are so clear. Only because of the consequences of believing. You saw in the previous chapter how God does not simply want you to know Him, He does not simply want you to believe in Him. Rather He wants you to have a relationship with Him. One of submission and servitude. Now some people just do not want to live such a life. They would prefer to serve their lusts and their egos. These are the people who will not believe no matter how many proofs they are shown. So realize that it is not simply a matter of being shown the proofs. It is not even a matter of having knowledge or certainty rather it is about having the willingness to believe. It is about having sincerity and an open mind. Most people who smoke know about its dangers to their health but still they light up. The same can be said for overeating or overindulging in this world. People can be so short-sighted, they can rebel and deny rather than accept and submit. Such is the nature of the ego. Are you sure that you are not like them? Are you sure that you have within you the willingness to change? It requires courage and determination, and it is the essence of our test.

If you can find within yourself this sincerity, if you have that open mind, then God willing you will find that the signs are many. God does not want us to believe on blind faith. Rather He wants us to know for certain that He Exists and also that Muhammad is His Messenger. He wants us to have conviction in these facts. And to attain this conviction He has given us many signs. Signs in the universe which prove His Existence. And Signs in the Message that He gave to Muhammad which prove its Truthfulness. You only need to look upon these signs and ponder over them. Then by His Grace the Truth will dawn upon you. And the certainty in Him will give you such peace.

But at the same time He does not want to reveal Himself to the world, He does not want to speak to everyone directly. Because then there would be no test, all mankind would be believers. We have to always remind ourselves that we are here for a test. If God wanted to He could have placed us all in the Garden. But for a wisdom that He Knows best, He chose to send us to the earth. And on the earth He decreed death for each and every one of us. He did so in order to test us. If we pass we will be nearer to Him than the angels but if we fail we will further away than the devil. This is why He chose to remain hidden from us. To discover Him, to make the journey to Him, even just to realize there is more to life than matter is the very reason for our existence. So realize that you are being tested right at this very moment. Could it be that you live only for the material things and the sensual pleasures? Is eating, chatting and playing all that you are? Are you going to be defined by your title, your profession, or even just your name? Is this all that there is to you? Islam says no, it says that you are far greater. It says that you are the Vicegerent of the Divine. Can you even begin to realize what this means? You have been chosen by God to be His Agent for all creation.

But in order to fulfill this tremendous role you first have to believe in Him. Now there are some who claim that there are no proofs for His Existence. They say that only simple minded people believe in Him. They claim that a rational investigation can never lead one to the conclusion that such a Being Exists. This is where I must beg to differ. I say that there are proofs that God Exists and these proofs are many. So much so that asking for proof that God Exists is like asking for a light when you are outside on a sunny day. Can you not see what is all around you, how can you be so blind?

The first of these proofs is the universe itself. Where did this universe come from? Some today claim that it came from a Big Bang. A huge explosion of energy and matter. They have never actually witnessed this occurrence but this is what they say. Even if we were to accept this claim we still can ask the question of what caused this Big Bang? For this question they have no definitive answer. Despite all their advancements in technology, all of their microscopes and telescopes, despite all the knowledge that they have built their own knowledge on top of, they still cannot answer this basic question that even a child asks. Where did all of this come from? What started it all?

For us it is simple. The universe came from God. We can know this simply by observing the universe itself. By seeing how everything in the universe is limited. Limited in every way. Firstly in duration. Everything in the universe has a beginning and an end. A time before which it did not exist and a time after which it will no longer exist. Each thing in this universe is also limited in the space that it occupies. It has a space where it begins and a space where it ends. Each thing is also limited in what it can do. There is nothing, no one who has power to do everything. Every single thing has limits on what it can do. This hold true for each and every thing we can observe.

Look at the sun for example. The single most powerful object that we can perceive with the naked eye. So powerful is the sun that in the past many nations ascribed divinity to it. They thought the sun to be a god. They prostrated before it and they even offered human sacrifices for it. And today with our instruments and knowledge we know that the sun is even larger and even more powerful than those ancient civilizations took it to be. And yet we also know that the sun is limited. There was a time when it did not exist and a time will come when it will burn out. Every scientist will attest to this fact. The sun is also limited in the space which it occupies, also limited in the amount of light that it produces, and also limited in the amount of heat that it produces. We can see this for ourselves. A January morning in New Jersey finds the sun shining brightly but still the temperature is below freezing. Does this not show that the sun is limited? And if it is limited then how could it be Divine? For it is not the very nature of God that He be flawless. This is what makes Him worthy of being worshiped. Worthy of being sanctified and glorified. How wrong then were those who took a limited object like the sun for worship? The sun is limited in the same way that the rest of creation is.

The universe itself is only a collection of entities with such limitations. Thus the universe itself is limited. Because the sum of finite things is still finite. The ocean is made up of many drops of water, billions upon billions, but it is still finite. Can not the same be said for our universe? Is it not just billions of stars and planets? Does this then not show that the universe cannot be a Creator? It could not have created itself. Where then did it come from? The only rational explanation is that there is a Being, an Entity, beyond this universe. An Entity not restricted by the limitations of this universe. A Being without form. One Who is beyond time and space. The Source for all that exists.

Now one argument that some may bring is that if the universe does have a cause then why does the cause have to be God. Yes we see that everything had a beginning, even the earth itself, even the sun, even the planets and the stars and the galaxies. Yes we see that nothing in this universe has existed forever. This shows that there was a single point in time and space from which the universe started. From which it spread to become the universe it is today. Something caused thus caused this universe to come into existence, but why does this have to be God? Could it not be quantum particles that just popped into existence inside of a vacuum and somehow resulted in the Big Bang? This is the claim that many today make. Though they admit that the universe is finite they still will not concede that it came from God.

The response to this contention is to realize first that even a vacuum is not nothing, rather it is something, it is still empty space. And if this is a vacuum out of which quantum particles can appear then the question is what caused the particles to appear? Simple observation shows us that every effect must have a cause. What then is the cause of these particles, what even is the cause of the vacuum? Where did they come? We believe that the First Cause cannot be like the universe itself, the First Cause must be beyond the universe, not confined to the limitations of the universe. The fact that He does not have a Cause, the fact that He is not restricted by time or space, this is exactly what makes Him God. And this is what proves that nothing else but Him can be God. Can be the First Cause. We can observe this universe is finite. Does this not show that it is contingent? That it could not have come into being by itself. It could not have created itself. If it did not create itself then should it not have a Creator? One Who is not of it. This is an old proof but it so simple and rational and has yet to be refuted.

A Bedouin once was asked for proof of God’s Existence. He replied by saying that does not the footprints in the sand show that a camel had once walked there, even if you had never seen that camel. Similarly do not the mountains, and the earth, and the sky all show that there is a Being Who brought them all into existence? So the universe itself is the proof for the Existence of God. Where did all of this come from? Who made all of this? Every object needs a maker and every effect needs a cause. Always. Who then is the maker and cause for the universe? It cannot be the universe itself because the universe is limited. A limited thing cannot create itself.

The only One Who is without cause is God, this makes Him God. He is the Cause and everything else is caused by Him. He is the Independent and all else are dependent on Him. If only you reflect upon this fact then it will be clear. Everything in the universe will become a Sign for you. Everything has the attributes of creation. Thus everything tells you that I need a Creator, I need a Cause. In the Quran God tells us that in the creation of the universe there are signs for people who reflect. This is all that you need to do. You do not need to delve into philosophy or have a doctorate in quantum physics. Even a layman can understand these signs and not even the most brilliant and knowledgeable scientist can refute them. Can you deny the finiteness of all the things that we can observe? Can you then explain how they could have come into being on their own? Can you explain beyond the shadow of a doubt the ultimate cause for the universe if it is not the One Perfect God? One reason perhaps why people still have trouble accepting God as the Ultimate Cause is because they perceive Him as the Biblical God. But in Islam God is not like that. He is not an old man with a beard, He is not Jesus, He is not even male. He is Transcendent beyond all corporeality, all limitations.

As we saw this is what makes God worthy of dedication, worthy of worship. The very fact that He is not like us, He is beyond us, He is above us. This is why there is no one who is worthy of worship but He. Because all else besides Him is a creation, and thus in some way limited. Only He is beyond this universe, only He is without cause, only He is in every way Perfect. Nothing can confine Him, not even time and space. Just as He is above the heavens, He is also inside the deepest recesses of your heart. Now this is not to say that everything is God or that God is everywhere. It is not so simple as that. As we said earlier we cannot fully understand His Essence. We know that He Exists, we know that He is Perfect in every way, we know that He is the Source for all that there is. But at the same time there are still some things about Him that we do not know. That we cannot know. Because our minds are limited. And even this should make us realize how only He is Perfect. Only He is Eternal, without beginning or end.

This is also why He cannot have a partner, He cannot have a child, He cannot share His Divinity with anyone. For anything other than Him cannot be God. Just by definition of what it is. There is only the creation and their Creator. There are only the forms and the Formless. There are the entities that are bound by limits and there is the Limitless. And the purpose of spirituality has been to help us realize the illusionary nature of the former and Reality of the latter. But it is a journey, a path that needs effort to traverse. The first step of which of course is to believe. You need to believe in Him. You need to believe that there is more to this world than matter. On the one hand it is so simple to attain this belief but on the other it does require some effort. Because God has been so forgotten in our society, we have become so materialistic and egotistical. Modern world has made the veil of the ego so thick.

This is why there are still some today who find ways to deny Signs so clear. For example some skeptics will ask how we can know that the universe has a beginning since all of time is relative. According to them time itself is not absolute rather it is relative, it is dependent on there being space and matter. So they deny the very principle of causality. The very idea that each and every cause must have an effect. They say that time as we know it today is only the movement of the earth around the sun. So before there was an earth and a sun, there was no such thing as time. This is one of the outrageous claims that they bring. But of course this argument has no basis at all. Because even scientists today agree that before the sun and the earth existed, there were still events happening. Even the Big Bang as an example supposedly happened “before” there was any planets or stars. So if we can simply view time as a series of events going into the past then time is absolute. And of course this series of events must have had an Originator.

So while it is true we cannot directly see God with our naked eyes, we can still “see” Him through His Signs. Every single thing is a Sign for Him. Can you then make the effort to find Him through His Signs? If you are sincere to Him then you will. This is part of the test. He wants you to ask those deep and fundamental questions. Where did I come from, what is my purpose here, what is going to happen to me after my death? These are the questions which should push you to search for God. Only through Him can we find true purpose. And you know there has to be more to us than what this secular world has made us out to be. We as creatures who feel so much, we cannot be just proteins and atoms or apes who became a little smart. There has to be more to us than matter. There has to be a soul, and if you believe in the soul then you must believe in Him. For if there is Spirit how can it be any less than God?

Another proof for God are the intricate systems by which the universe operates. Once again simply by observing the world around us we can see that not only is there design but there is order. There are set laws according to which the universe operates. Nothing is haphazard, nothing is chaotic, nothing is random. The sun always rises in the east and sets in the west, it also rises at the exact time when it is supposed to. It has been doing so every single day for millions and millions of years. So accurate is it in this that we set our clocks to it and we run our lives by it. The night comes exactly when it is supposed to and the day does as well. How could they be so precise unless there was an Intelligence behind them.

This is only one example of many which shows control and order in the universe. Take our own bodies as another. Every organ in your body has a specific purpose which it always fulfills. Your lungs’ job is to take in and to process the air that you breathe, and it always does this job. With every breath that you take, it is doing its job. Similarly your stomach digests food, your heart pumps blood, your intestines remove waste, they are each doing a specific role, a role that they have been commanded to do. Even DNA is naught but instructions. Telling each cell in our body how to function. Does this not show purpose, does it not show design? Could all this have come into being by random chance? The sun is not sentient, nor are our bodies, how then could they know what to do? We believe that they do not know, rather they are but instruments in the Hand of God. He is the Will, the Power behind all that happens. And His Hand is ever present, it is only we who have become blind to it. We only see the forms, the surface, the tiny tip of the iceberg. We do not see the Deeper Reality, most of us are not even aware of Him. We cannot even begin to realize just how Near He is to us, just how Active He is in our lives.

We have become blind to God because we attribute all that He does to nature. People often refer to “mother nature” but do they actually think about what this means? Is it that they are referring to some kind of goddess, some kind of entity that they believe is controlling the material universe? Probably not. Rather it is just a convenient way for them to explain all the order, all the design, all the beauty and synergy that they see. So then if nature is an abstraction without a reality, if it is just a name that we have given, what is the source of the design that we see? The source of the purpose, intelligence, and wisdom. Just look at the universe around you, do you think it came as a result of chance. Did you know that if the earth was only a bit closer to the sun then the entire planet would have been a scorching inferno, and if it was only slightly further way then the planet would have been frozen over. Neither of these can support life. What then are the chances for our planet to have found just the right proximity to be able to support life? Not only the right proximity, but also water, gravity and an atmosphere that protects it and makes life possible. Even the amount of water and gravity is just right, not too much and not too little. Countless factors need to be present for life to survive and thrive and earth has all of them. If any of these were missing, if any of these were even out of balance, then life could never exist. So the fact that life does exist on the earth shows it could not have been chance. The same can be said for the rate of expansion of the universe. Scientists say that if the rate was only slightly more or slightly less then once again the earth would not have formed in the right location and once again life would not have been possible. What then are the chances? Could such a beautiful planet that is so perfectly suited for human life really have come from a random series of events? Are we and our civilization just a fluke accident?

Today with our telescopes we can see countless other worlds but none of them are like our earth, none of them can support life. Imagine if the earth was like Mars or like any of the other planets that we have seen. How difficult our life would be, even if it were possible? Imagine if there was too much gravity on the earth or too little. Imagine how difficult our life would be. Think about the force that binds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus of an atom, if that force is only slightly stronger then hydrogen would not exist, thus no stars and no water. And of course no life. Do all these not show there is an intelligence, a will behind all that exists? Does it not show how things have been created with purpose? What is it in this universe that exists without purpose? Can you find even one thing? Look at the sun, the moon, the rivers, the clouds, and the trees. All of these not only have a purpose but we the human race directly benefit from their purpose. They serve us, they make our life on this earth easier. The earth is not just a place for us to live on, but it provides us with benefits immeasurable. Where would we be were it not for the sun and the moon, were it not for day and night? Is it not the day perfect for us to be awake in for our livelihood and to enjoy ourselves in and to worship God in? Is not the night perfect for us to rest and to rejuvenate in? And we have even been able to take much of this earth and make from it tools and objects that make our lives even better. Just think of every single thing that man has made from computers to cars to houses to electricity to tables and phones to all kinds of foods? Are all these not from materials to be found in God's earth? And more importantly are they not all possible only because of the mind that God blessed us with? Does all this not show that there is a purpose for creation, and can purpose not come except from Will? How then can you have any doubts in God when the Signs for Him are so many?

Consider again the human body. Is it just by chance that our bodies are so complex? Do you know just how how may processes need to happen simultaneously and successfully at every moment of your existence just for you to live? From your digestive system to respiratory system to nervous system to endocrine system to several others. Could such intricate systems really have come from proteins in a goo?

How complex also are our minds? Once again just look at all that we as the human race have accomplished. Look at all that we have built. All the technological, the material, and the scientific advancements. Look at our poetry and our art and our culture. All these are the products of the human mind. On top of that think of all the emotion and the feeling that we are capable of. Do you really think that we can be the result of an explosion or just some apes that became a little too smart? If you truly realized how noble a creature we have the potential of being, how much we can sacrifice and give, how we can rise above our base nature of only seeking to feed our lower selves then you will see how there is more to us than flesh and bone. Our problem today is that there are such few noble beautiful people. Most of us are selfish, most of us behave like animals. But this does not mean that we are animals, it does not mean that deep down inside there is not something much greater. There is something Greater. Far greater than you could ever imagine. There is the Divine in each and every one of us. It is up to us to find Him. By living in a way that is pleasing to Him. By living as His Light upon the earth. The Sufis say that the Truth is in the Law just like the butter is in the milk, only by churning the milk will the butter appear. So only by holding fast to His Law, by being His Light to all creation, only through this path can you reach to His Presence. Just the fact that we are capable of this shows that there is more to us than matter.

Only through God can we be complete, only though Him can we reach our potential. Even though there is Light within us, there is also darkness. As we can see from the actions of many humans. Only by having a relationship with Him. Only by allowing Him to be the singular goal in our life. Only in this way can we rise above our base selves. We have to live according to the Law that He sent.

And this in and of itself is yet another Sign for God. In that we as human beings cannot always define what morality is what ethics is, what is right and what is wrong. Rather we are subject to our environment, to our upbringing and culture, even to our emotions and sentiments. There are several issues in which we do not have consensus, where we all have our own opinion. Abortion, censorship, gun control, homosexuality, prostitution, capital punishment, pornography to countless other issues. Some of these are legal while others are not. We as a society cannot come to consensus, who then can be the arbitrator? Who then can be the one who has the final say on what is legal and what is not? Is it up to us? If so then of course what happens is the chaos that we see today. Where many evils are permissible and virtues are outlawed. Where our parliament or congress keeps haggling and debating forever without really solving the problem of the people. Where atrocities and evils are committed without the perpetrators even realizing how much they are sinning. Because without God, man will think he does not have to answer to anyone. Then he will do whatever evil his lusts and greed and hatred prompt him to. We know the many genocides that have been committed by secular and atheist regimes. Stalin's USSR and Hitler's Germany just to name a very few. These were men who had forgotten God. This is why we need God. To show us how to be good. To teach us morality.

Steward Easton said that “There is really no objective reason why man should be moral, unless morality pays off in his social life or makes him feel good. There is no objective reason for man to do anything except for the pleasure that it affords to him”. This is exactly the thinking of the secular world and this is why there is such injustice and oppression. The unfair distribution of wealth, the hoarding and the extravagance of the top 1% and the suffering and poverty of the bottom 99%. Not only can we see such cruelty and tyranny by nations and societies but also by individuals. Even we ourselves are often so selfish and self centered. Only worrying about ourselves. Always only wanting what will please us. Often hurting or transgressing those around us in the process.

Islam is the cure for this disease of the ego. It is the hope and salvation for all mankind. Because not only does it teach us about God. Not only does it describe Him for us such that we are in love with Him, being in utter awe and admiration of Him. And this in turn drives us to worship and serve Him. Not only does Islam do this but it also shows us the path, it also gives us the way. Because it has a detailed law. God's Law. And herein is a critical distinction that it has with Christianity which as you know has no such law. In that religion there is no concept of sin because there is no law. Paul somehow after being “inspired” by the “holy spirit” told the people that they no longer needed to follow the Law. Besides did Jesus not die on the cross for all their sins? Why then should they ever refrain themselves from sinning? Islam is not at all like this. For us it is only by our striving to hold on to God's Law that we journey to Him. It is only by our striving to do good on the earth, for God's Law only commands to goodness. The Law's purpose is only to remove vices and to establish justice. Such that if everyone adhered to it there would be no more evil on the earth.

All the rest of creation already lives in accordance to God's Law. For Order can be seen in every single thing that exists. And this also is a Sign. It shows the universe is being controlled, it shows that there are systems that the universe conforms to. Take water as an example. Its properties never change. It always freezes at the same temperature and boils at the same temperature. It always quenches your thirst when you drink it. It does so every single time. Does it ever happen that suddenly the water that you are drinking becomes salty? Does this ever happen, do its properties ever suddenly change at random? Or are they set, always fixed. Of course it is the latter. Does this then not show that water has laws that it abides by. Who has placed upon it these laws, is it not its Master? Is it not its Creator? Even water itself has been so carefully designed in order to support life. It is odorless, colorless and without taste, yet no living thing can survive without it. It has unusually high boiling and freezing points, this allows our bodies to maintain a constant temperature even in extremely hot or cold surroundings. Water is also a universal solvent. This allows thousands of minerals and nutrients to be carried throughout our bodies in the tiniest of blood vessels. Reflect once again on this, could such an element which is so perfect for life have come into being on its own? What are the chances? Not only is this liquid a proof for the Existence of our Beloved but it also shows His Love and Care for us.

We can see Order in every single thing. Does wood not always burn when it is brought to the fire? Does it not always float in water? Can your eyes see if there is no light? Will the light ever turn on if there is no power? Will the power come on if there is no electricity, and would there be electricity without a source of energy? Everything has constraints, and everything behaves according to rules.

Even science as a discipline is only possible because our universe operates according to set laws. For science is but the study of these laws. If the universe really did not abide by any laws then scientists would have nothing to study. Our problem is that we take these laws for granted. We are so used to them. We do not think that there is a reason why things are the way they are. We never stop to ask ourselves why the sun comes up every morning, or why we are able to walk and talk and even wake up after sleep. We never ask ourselves why the rain comes down, why the earth keeps on producing food for us, why the ground beneath us is so firm, why there is always air to breathe, why is there gravity or the ozone layer, why our existence is possible and continuous. We never ask ourselves why. Science can answer the ”how” but it cannot the “why”. Science can describe the process by which God operates the universe but it cannot say why the universe even functions to begin with. It cannot show us the Intelligence, the Cause. Because the both of these is God. The biologist will tell you that the mitochondria in the cell is producing energy but he cannot tell you why it is doing so in the first place. The chemist will tell you that the hydrogen and oxygen molecules are merging to form water but he cannot explain why. What is moving them, Who is operating this universe. Of course it is God. Always has been and always will be. See how He is not passive. He did not just create the universe and then leave it be. Rather at each moment He is maintaining it. To see Him we just need to think out of the box, we just need to let go of our presuppositions and our secular conditioning. Then we will see that this entire universe is just radiating with Signs. Can you not see, it is not mother nature, it is not the matter itself, rather it is Him. Everything is happening by His Power. Forms are but the surface of the ocean. He is underneath.

Every effect must have a cause. What then is the cause for this perfect and harmonious universe that we see? Could it be any less than the One True God? Just look up at the sky on a clear night. See the countless stars that He has decorated our heaven with. Can you see even a small break in that sky? Even the slightest incongruity, even a tiny space where the sky cracks? In the Quran He specifically tells us all to do this, to look at the night sky and to try and find even one flaw in it. To find any sign of imperfection, any sign of chaos, any sign of waste or imbalance. In anything that He has created. He tells us to look again and again, to reflect and ponder as much as we can, to try and find some explanation for all of the design and order that we can see in the universe. To find a cause for the universe. Even if you say that the universe began with the Big Bang, the question still remains as to what caused the Big Bang? It needs to have a cause, all events have a cause, what then is the Cause for the Universe if it is not God? Something cannot come out of nothing. There must have been a cause. And this Cause has to be beyond this universe, it has to be Eternal. The uncaused Cause, the unmoved Mover, this is the simplest and the most rational explanation for the beginning of the universe. An ancient and known truth that to this day the secularists and atheists have not been able to disprove. If you claim that the universe was caused by other than God then of course the question is what caused that cause? Because if it is not God, if it is not the Eternal and Uncaused Being then it in and of itself needs a cause. This is why we say that the entire world around us is a proof that God Exists. There is just no way to explain how all these came into being without Him. There is no way to explain all the design and the order that we see. The proofs are so many that not only should you believe in God but you should be absolutely convinced.

Now what is both unique and remarkable about the Quran is that time and time again, in one verse after another, it tells us to reflect and ponder in order to arrive at this truth. It does not tell us to believe on blind faith, to just blindly accept the belief of our forefathers or that of our society. Rather it tells us to use the senses and the mind that God gave us. To think and ponder on the world around us.

And this in and of itself is a proof not only for God but for Islam as well. Because there is no other scripture like it, no other scripture which tells us to ponder and reason. If at this point you are somewhat skeptical then I would ask you once again to empty your tea cup. Meaning to put aside all of your presuppositions and assumptions. Realize that here is a Book wherein God is telling you to ponder and to reason, to think for yourself, because He Knows that you will not find anything in it which contradicts the ration, anything in it which contradicts the world around you. In the Quran you will not find any verses that say the sun revolves around the earth or that the earth is flat. Rather what you will find are verses which modern science has confirmed. God willing we will see examples in the pages to come. But for now realize that Islam is a religion that stresses so much the use of the mind. Galileo said that he found it hard to believe that the same God who had endowed us with reason would want us to not to use it. Of course his was a religion which suppressed the mind, a religion which taught that Adam ate from the tree of knowledge and this was his downfall. But Islam is not like that. So please do not make the mistake of painting all religions with the same brush. If only you take the time to study our religion then you would see that it is different. The creed of this religion agrees with the mind of the human being and its Law agrees with our disposition. Thus it creates complete tranquility in our hearts and in our society.

Even our perception of God does not contradict with the mind. We do not believe Him to be one of three and three in one. We do not believe Him to be limited in any way. We do not believe that He can be hurt or feel pain. We do not believe that He needs to send His son to suffer for all the sins of mankind, rather He is beyond having a son. He is beyond having any needs, there are no rules that He has to abide by rather He makes all the rules. He is the Perfect. The One. The True. Is this not how the Divine should be? How can He have a son when the son has to be like the father? But how can any man be like God? His are all the attributes of Glory and Majesty and Perfection and Sublimity. Can any human being ever have these attributes? We by our nature are limited and weak. We occupy time and space, but He is beyond both time and space. We are bodies composed of limbs, but He is Transcendent above any form or finiteness. How then can we ever ascribe a child to Him? We only do so when His Glory and Perfection has not dawned upon us. We are only capable of making such ascriptions to Him when we have anthropomorphic perceptions of Him. But we need to remind ourselves again and again that He is not like us. He is so high above us. A very lofty exaltation.

And this is what makes Him God, this is what makes Him worthy of worship and reverence. The realization of His sheer Transcendence over us, His unimaginable Majesty and Beauty this is what should motivate us to adore and praise Him. This should be the fuel of our love for Him. How can you not be in absolute love with such a Being? Would you want to live in a world where He does not exist? I can tell you that I would not, such an existence would be absolutely meaningless. So if you ever choose to deny God then ask yourself if you realize the consequences of that choice. Both for yourself and for your family and for the world around you.

What kind of world is it where God is forgotten or denied? As we have seen in the examples we cited above,and even in the world we see today, a world dark indeed. Because we as mankind have lost our sense of purpose. We do not think that we live in this world for the greater good, we do not think that we need to contribute, to sacrifice and strive for the betterment of the world around us. Because we have no purpose we have no meaning, there is nothing significant or worthwhile about us. After all what is the point, if there is no god, then what is point of your existence? Are you here just to take up some of the precious resources of this planet and to produce some waste? Is that all there is to you? Is that all that you want for yourself?

Now you might be asking why I am discussing all of this when the subject at hand is proving the Existence of God. In the previous pages you have been shown several proofs for His Existence. And if you reflect upon these you will see they are powerful evidences indeed. But as we said earlier, in the end despite all the Signs that you see it is still a choice that you make. You can choose to believe or not to believe, and if you choose not to then you will find a way to convince yourself in spite of all the evidences to the contrary. So ask yourself again the consequences of turning away from God, for both you and the world. Do you know that the Communist tormenters used to say onto the poor souls whom they tortured “There is no God, no hereafter, no punishment for evil, so we can do with you as we wish”. If this is not the world of demons and devils then I do not know what is. It is only by spirituality that we can all reach the higher echelons of our humanity, such as love, forgiveness, generosity, sacrifice, empathy and courage. So please make the right choice, choose to believe, choose to live in the Light rather than in the dark. You must be the change that you wish to see in the world. It is a seed that begins with you.

We should also realize that God is Transcendent in every way. Not only is He Transcendent in Being in that He is beyond the material world but He is also Transcendent in knowledge in that He is beyond the grasp of the human mind. As you know the Arabic Name for God is “Allah”, and this Name has many meanings. Among these meanings is the Incomprehensible. The One Who can never be fully known, the One Who can never be fully understood. In the Quran He tells us that He encompasses us completely in knowledge but we can never gain any knowledge of Him except what He wills.

So we do have a little bit of knowledge about Him, the tiny bit that He has allowed us to have. We know that He Exists and we know that He is One and that He is Perfect in ever way. We know He is the All Seeing, the All Hearing, the All Powerful, the All Knowing, the Most Merciful, the Most Loving, the Most Clement, and the Most Just. This knowledge we have gained only because He has it given to us. Either through our senses and ration, or through the blessed scriptures that He has sent down. But beyond this we do not know anything about Him. We cannot know. We can never fully comprehend Him. Neither His Essence nor His actions. Can you not see why this is so? Can your mind which is finite and limited ever hope to contain a Being such as God? It is like trying to contain the ocean in a bottle. Of course the bottle can hold some of the water from the ocean but this is only the tiniest fraction. Similarly we know about Him what we know, but it is only the tiniest fraction. It is narrated in the traditions that even the angels in the heavens have not witnessed His True Essence. Even though they are much nearer to Him than we are, and they worship Him all the time. They have been since time began. Still when Judgment Day comes and His Glory does dawn upon them they will claim that they have not worshiped Him as He deserves to be.

I am bringing up this topic here because often times we forget the limitations of our mind, especially when it comes to God, and we make assumptions and generalizations about what we do not know. This is very wrong. We need to remind ourselves how absolutely Transcendent He is Above us. We need to realize that there are some things about Him that we can never know, some questions that can never be answered, that is just the way it is. This is why He is the Master and we are the slaves. Some people doubt God because they cannot understand Him. Even though there are so many Signs in the universe around them, they still doubt Him because they find something about Him which they cannot comprehend. But this doubt that they have concerning God is based upon a wrong assumption. They assume that they can know all that there is to know about God, they assume they can know everything. This is the difference between a philosopher and a seeker of God. The philosopher thinks that he can answer all questions with his mind alone, he thinks that he can reach the absolute Truth only by employing his mind. Muslims believe this also, but to an extent. We believe that God is the ultimate Truth and that He can be discovered through the mind. In fact this is the main reason why He gave us our minds. So that we can use them to know Him. But once we know Him, once we see how Tremendous a Being that He is then we need to take step back we need to realize that He is so Transcendent Above us that we can never fully encompass Him in Knowledge. This is part of who He is and part of who we are. Islam is submission to Him. Not only do we submit to Him with our limbs and our actions, not only with our tongues and our words but even with our hearts and minds. We accept the fact that there are some things about Him that we may never know. We submit to this Truth. This submission is a manifestation of our love for Him.

The fact that we can never fully comprehend Him should never be a reason for us to doubt Him. Rather it should make us even more in awe of Him, even more in love with Him. Is it not reassuring to know that you can never praise Him enough, never over exaggerate Him. His Greatness, His Essence can never be encompassed even by our minds. Let alone by our words. He is beyond form, beyond conceptualization.

If we can realize this then we can realize why He is our Master. A Master whom we love with all our hearts. On account of His Absolute Transcendence over us. With such a Master we do not question. Rather we only submit. We simply accept whatever it is that He has chosen for us. Because it is what He has chosen. If we can truly inculcate such a thinking then it will be the end of suffering, because most of our suffering is not physical rather it is psychological. It is based on a judgment that we pass on a given reality. A negative judgment. Usually a compliant about a given situation. But if we can realize that we are but His slaves then we will not complain. We will accept and we will find strength and peace in our surrender.

The reason I am revisiting this concept of surrender here is because one of the contentions that some have against the proof for God is the Problem of Evil. In that they claim that if there is a God then why has He allowed evil. Why has He let there be suffering in the world? The Islamic response to this contention is that there is no such thing as absolute evil, there is only the Will of God. It is up to us to accept it or reject it. To accept it is to accept Him and He will reward that choice with such serenity and contentment. But to reject it is to reject Him and the consequence of turning away from Him is only pain and torment. Can you not see how this is so, He is our Source, our Origin. How then can we ever find peace if we were to turn away from Him? Only by submitting to Him can we journey.

So if ever we see evil in what God decrees we should realize that this is only because we have not attained to the perfection of our slavehood. Because to find fault with the Reality, to complain about the Reality, is a manifestation of our rebellion to Him. The true and complete slave is the one who submits no matter what His Master does to him. Because he realizes that he does not matter, he is but a slave, an illusion. What matters is God, He is the Real the True. Of course this is a very high and lofty station to reach, of course the path is a long and upward struggle. But to make this journey is the very reason why you exist. And the rewards are far greater than you can possibly ever imagine. The Sweetness and the Tranquility and the Fulfillment of being in His Presence. Rumi called it the endless love. Do you want to experience what that feels like? You just need to learn to submit, to let go of the ego.

When that happens then no matter what happens to you, you no longer consider it as evil or unjust. Rather you just accept. Because it is from Him, it is Him. Even if you are sick, even if you feel pain, even if you lose something, or someone hurts you. It does not matter, you do not matter. Only He does. Everything in this world is only a manifestation of Him. If you can truly internalize this then you will realize that there is no evil. There is just He. And with Him you are always pleased.

Now having such a thinking does not mean that you can do whatever you feel like. As we said He has revealed a Law and in this Law He has told you how He wants you to act. He has told you of the deeds pleasing to Him and the deeds not pleasing to Him. Not only does He expect you to abide by this Law but He wants you to invite all of mankind to it as well. For the only evil comes from the actions of humans. Specifically those who turn away from God, those who are possessed by the demons of the ego.

Islam teaches you that your mission in life is to strive against this evil. First and foremost in yourself. And then in the world around you. It does not tell you to look down on other people or to hate them. But it does tell you to correct them. In the most humble and gentle way possible. For God has said that in this lies beauty. So despite whatever evil we may see them we should love them. We should realize that this evil is only the veil of the ego in them. Beneath it is the Divine.

See then on how many levels Islam responds to so called Problem of Evil. On one hand when it comes to calamities and hardships that may befall us in life it teaches us how not to even look upon them as evil. Rather to look upon them as what your beloved has chosen for you and to accept it because of your love for Him. On the other hand when it comes to the injustice and harm that may emanate from us, it teaches us how this can be removed. By making God as our focus and by holding fast to His Law. The very purpose of the Sacred Law in Islam is to establish justice and mercy upon the earth. To teach us all the beauty and the utter serenity of submission. If we as mankind can just reach to this state then we will find that evil will just disappear. Because evil is the consequence of being heedless of Him. For what is darkness except the absence of Light? Only when we forget Him do we create suffering for ourselves. And much of it is unnecessary. Because why do the negative emotions such as envy, hatred, malice, despair, anxiety even appear in our hearts in the first place? What is the source of this negativity? Is it not ego? And ego only appears when we forget Him. This ego is the source of the suffering we cause to ourselves and to others. When you feel sorry for yourself, when you complain about others, when you have resentment or even anger towards them, when you want to exploit or dominate them, this is all just ego.

When we focus on this identity that we have created, be it at an individual or collective level, then our hearts are empty of God. As we said before in Islam we believe that God is not a separate entity from us. He is not a Being sitting on a throne in the heavens completely disconnected from His creation. On the contrary He is not in any way contained by time or space. He is every much a part of the universe around us as He is a part of us. Only when you realize this can you realize that the ego is only an illusion, no matter how it manifests itself. As we also said God is not some passive force, rather He is the true Consciousness. When you free yourself of the ego, when you stop the incessant stream of thoughts, when you let go of all desires except Him, then you can feel Him.

Another response that Islam can give to the so called problem of evil is that it makes us realize that this life that we are living now is not the only life. Rather there is another world for all of us after we leave this world. And that next life is the true life, the eternal life. For those who did good in this world, those who sought God and worshiped Him the best that they could, they will have felicity and bliss. A world in which there is no pain, no suffering, no sadness, no fear, no anxiety, not even the slightest discomfort or worry. They will be reunited with all their loved ones and will have whatsoever that they desire. And best of all they will be near to Him. A proximity far greater than what can be experienced in this world.

As for this life that we are living now, it is only a test. God wants to see which of us is worthy of His Contentment and worthy of His Garden. This is why He gave us this temporal existence, this is why He sent down to us guidance, and this is also why He gave us some challenges and hardships in this world. Because just try and imagine how life would be there were no difficulty at all for anyone.

Would we ever have a reason to turn to God if our life was just a bed of roses? No rather it is our weaknesses in our moments of hardships which makes us to realize how much we need Him. It makes us to turn to Him. And any calamity which helped us to draw nearer to God is really no calamity at all. It is a blessing in disguise. Because what is there to life other than knowing Him and submitting to Him? This is what we have to always bear in mind, that our ultimate goal in life is to please God. To worship Him, to glorify and praise Him in every way we can. When we come to this realization then we will see how many of the things which we think are evil are not really evil at all. Think about a man who was living a very carefree life a life in which he did not worship his Lord, a life where he did not even care much for his own family, a life where he did not try to help those around him. He was concerned only with pleasing himself and feeding himself. Even though on the outside he may have convinced himself that he was happy, he really was not. There was a hole inside of him which all of the nightclubs and alcohol in the world could not fill. But then a hardship befell him. Perhaps a disease or financial difficulties, and this hardship made him to turn to God. Because he knew that no one else could help him but God. And he knew God would not answer his prayers until he changed himself, until he became a better person. So not only did he praise and glorify God more but he was also good to his family and his neighbors and he tried to help the poor and needy. And through this he found a purpose, a peace, a contentment like had never known before. See then how this evil was not really an evil. See how there was much good for him in it. Though in the beginning he may not have realized it. So if ever anything befalls you which you think is evil, realize that it is only because traces of ego are still in you. If you remind yourself of Him then it will disappear.

See then how there are several responses that Islam can give to the so called “problem of evil”. Firstly that Islam came to eradicate evil and suffering from this world, and that much of the evil we see today is only because we have turned away from God. Islam also shows us how this life we are living now is not the true life, rather there is an eternity which awaits all of us. Especially those of us who suffered and were wronged in this world can hope for God's Mercy in the next. Thirdly we see that we do not always know what is good and what is evil. Perhaps in some hardship that came to you there was much good but you will not realize it until much later. And finally we should also realize that in Islam God is not only Mercy and Love. Rather He is also the Master and the King, the Majestic and the Supreme, the One Who can do whatsoever that He pleases to and there is none to question Him. So just because life on this earth is not always a bed of roses does not mean that God does not exist. Rather it just goes to show that He is the Lord and we are the slaves. Thus we need to realize our place. When we do only then we can break free of slavery to the ego and to the world around us. We no longer need to despair or become frustrated if things do not turn out exactly as we want them to, even if someone hurts us in some way or does some injustice to us, or if some disease or discomfort befalls us, we do not need to become upset. As we said to rebel against a given situation only goes to show that the ego is still entrenched in the heart. It shows that the heart desires other than God. Thus the calamities we encounter in life should never be a reason for us to doubt God. Rather we should realize that certainty in God is the cure for all calamities. When we see a hardship as coming from Him then we do not even perceive it as a calamity. We simply accept it. Of course this is a high station but through Islam it is attainable.

Now even though God in Islam is the Incomprehensible, even though He is so High Above us, this does not at all mean that He is distant from us. On the contrary as we saw earlier one of the beauties of this religion is that it allows us to know God and to have a deep and personal relationship with Him. This is what He Himself has encouraged us to do in the Quran. In fact as we showed in the previous chapter Islam itself is only the path to God. The ultimate purpose of all that we do, and all that we say, and even of all that we think and believe in is only to draw nearer to God. To discover the Transcendent and to be in communion with Him. To peel away the veils of the ego and of avarice for the material world. To reach that state of utter slavehood and submission. Where the self has been burned and there remains only the True. This is Islam. This is why we live in accordance with the laws that He sent down, this is why we strive at every moment to do good, this is why we care for those around us, this is why we sacrifice and we forgive. This is the fruit of having conviction in the Divine. So see how just as He is very far, He is also very near. This is a truth that your ego or your mind can never fathom, only your soul and heart.

There also has to be a balance, on the one hand we can know God and be near to Him, and on the other we also need to realize that He is not simply our friend, but He is also our Master. Thus our relationship with Him cannot only be based on love but also on submission. We submit to Him because we love Him. This is how tremendous our love for Him should be. And the main reason that we love Him is because He is God. The Majestic and the Awesome. How can you know of a Being such as He and still live heedless of Him? How can you not desire to be near to Him? And the only way you can journey to Him is by struggle. You have to constantly remind yourself how all that is other than Him is an illusion and He is all that matters

And once you reach certainty in Him then you must try to find the messenger that He has sent to you. So that you may know how to worship Him, how to serve Him, how to please Him. This must be your life, one of sweet labor. Of journeying at every moment to the Divine, to the Real and the True. How can you live for anything less? How can you choose a life other than this? When you know that He created you for Himself. When you know that by undertaking the journey to Him not only will you be rewarded with Him but you yourself will be the best human being you can be. The light of God on earth. But if you choose to deny God then what possible worth can there be to your existence? Any kind of purpose that you try to give to yourself is only a flimsy illusion that you have created in your mind. In the end it is only your self, only your ego. It can never bring you to the sublime station that Islam takes you to. The station where the ego is completely slain. Where all the voices are silent, where all the suffering has ended, and there is only the peace of His Gnosis. Is this not the greatest sign for Him, is it not the strongest reason why you should choose to believe?

But we need to remind ourselves once again that such a peace can only be found in Islam. So not only do you need to believe in God but you also need to follow the messenger that He has sent, you need to follow the path that He has shown. The path that leads to Him. Only Islam is this path, because it is the one from God. Purely from God. All other so called paths are either from men or have been corrupted by men. For example in Christianity there is no concept of submission, no concept of slavery to the Divine. How can you have peace without this, without slaying the ego and giving yourself over to Him completely? Even Christianity's perception of God you can see is not right. They have anthropomorphized the Divine. They think he feels pain and is a body with limits.

Surely you see how such attributes are not at all fitting for the Transcendent Being. The One Who is Above all limits and weaknesses. Even the belief that God is Love and nothing but Love does not at all make sense. How can God be defined by this attribute primarily? It is not fitting for Him. Rather in Islam we do believe that God is Loving, and that His Love is greater than the love of any created being, but this is not His Primary attribute. Rather it is His Perfection and His Majesty. And His absolute Lordship and Sovereignty over all that exists. Are not these the attributes that are more fitting for the Divine? For if you believe that God is nothing but love then how can you explain the problem of evil, how can you not but question Him when any calamity befalls? You cannot help but ask why God are you doing this to me, what have I done to deserve this? In Islam you would never have such an attitude. Because you would realize that He is the Master and you are the slave, He is the One Who can do whatsoever that He pleases to and He is never to be questioned. So you have to accept and be at peace with whatever befalls you. This is among the greatest manifestations of your slavehood.

Buddhism and the other eastern religions may show how to slay the ego, and perhaps how to find some peace through this effort, but they do not give the motivation, they do not give the reason why. This is why there are very few who can stick to the path, very few who can make the sacrifices demanded of them. Only Islam is the best of both worlds. Only Islam shows how to achieve tranquility in the heart while at the same time having a true and meaningful relationship with God. Because the relationship with God is what allows you to achieve that tranquility, it allows you to make the journey by slaying the ego and giving up on its desires. It is your love for Him that allows you to sacrifice. All that you have and all that you are.

This is among the greatest of signs that God Exists and also that this religion of Islam is from Him. For there is no other religion which is as comprehensive as Islam. Which lets you manifest your slavehood, your love for the Divine in all that you do. And this is a Sign for its Truthfulness. For when you realize God in all His Majesty then you know that you cannot give Him any less. Islam allows you to have such a relationship with Him. By allowing you to know Him as He truly is. By removing all the limitations and abominations that have been ascribed to Him. So that you may taste of His Sublimity and His Purity, an experience, a reality, that cannot be described in words.

Islam is also the only religion which actually tells us to verify its authenticity for ourselves. Several are the verses where God tells us to look to the universe around us and to ponder on it. All of the signs which we saw in the pages above for God's Existence are actually from the Quran. For example in the 164^th verse of the second chapter God tells us that in the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of the night and the day and in the ships that sail in the oceans with what benefits mankind and in the rain sent down from the sky and in all the different species of animals and in the clouds moving through the sky, in all of these there are signs for a people who reflect. See here the Quranic methodology of argumentation. See how it does not simply tell you to believe on blind faith, nor does it bring any strange philosophies or hypothetical scenarios. Rather it simply tells you to look at the world around you. Ask yourself if all this magnificence and this beauty could merely be the result of chance. Most of us do not come to this realization. Countless are the Signs that are all around us but we pass by them and do not notice. Because we are so caught up in this worldly life. We are so concerned with feeding egos and desires. Islam can break this illusion.

Just as God tells us to ponder and reflect to realize the truth of His Existence, He also tells us to use our minds to see the Truthfulness of His Messenger. To realize that undeniable truth that the Prophet Muhammad has indeed been sent by Him. This truth as well has countless evidences. The foremost of these is the Quran itself. This Book is a Miracle. In so many ways. If only you took the time to study it then you would see. How it could not be from a human, how it must be from the Divine. So deep are its meanings. So pure and simple is its message. So unique is its expression, so inimitable has it been throughout the centuries, it is more than a masterpiece, it is more than genius. It really is beyond this world.

God Himself challenges all of mankind in the Quran to bring a Book similar to it if we doubt that it is from Him. In other words if you doubt what the Quran is attesting to then you try and produce one just like it. If it really is the work of a man then why cannot you do it? God even challenges you to bring just one chapter. The smallest chapter in the Quran is only three short verses. Can you even write such a chapter? Such is the challenge that has been set forth for all mankind. To try and write a Quran like this if you think that Muhammad wrote it. Try even to write a small portion of it. This challenge was made over 1500 years ago and still to this day no one has been able to meet it. God even told us that we can help each other in this endeavor, and still we would not be able to make a Quran like His. This promise as well has been shown true. Several were the attempts that were made, throughout the centuries, but none of them were successful. None even came close. Does this not tell you something? How could it be that an illiterate and uneducated man in the middle of a desert can bring a book that no one can reproduce even a small portion of? Even though we have came together and tried we still cannot do it.

Even non-Muslim scholars and historians attest to the fact that the challenge of the Quran has not been met. No one has been able to produce that one small chapter. No one in all this time. Today the Quran is still by far the greatest collection of words in the Arabic language. There is no work that even comes close. You can actually measure the literary quality and uniqueness of the Quran and see how there is nothing at all that can compare to it. God willing we will see examples of this in the coming pages.

A miracle is a break in the established laws of nature. Of course as we showed earlier these are really God's Laws. He placed these laws by which the universe operates. Only on very rare instances does He ever allow these laws to break, and if ever He does then we will know it. We will see it as something out of the ordinary. For example if it starts to rain when there is not even a single cloud in the sky. Such is an occurrence which no one can explain. Such goes against the order of the universe that we know. In the universe that know rain only comes from clouds. This is a law that we can observe functioning in the world around us. Raindrops do not just magically appear out of nowhere. But if ever they do then we would know that it is not magic, rather it would be a miracle which God has permitted. Now God allows His Laws to be broken when He sends to us His messengers. So that we may be certain these messengers were indeed sent by Him. Such He did from His Love for us. He does not want us to rest our conviction in Him merely on blind faith. He wants us to see clearly in order that we may be sure. In order that our hearts may be satisfied and at rest. This is why just as He placed Signs in the universe through which we may know Him, He also gave us Signs by which we may know His messengers. These Signs are the miracles. The breaks in the system.

Every single messenger that God has ever sent was given a miracle. Moses turned the staff into a snake, Joshua made the sun to stand still, David slew the mighty Goliath with only a slingshot, Solomon could speak with birds, and Jesus could cure the blind and raise the dead. These are but a few of His messengers’ miracles we know of.

But by far the greatest miracle was the one given to the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran. Because while the miracles of the previous prophets were restricted to a particular time and place, the miracle of the Quran is present in all times and all places. Even today we can see this miracle. We can study the Quran for ourselves and see the depth of its meanings. We can see its unique literary style and how it tells of phenomena that could not possibly have been known by Muhammad. We can appreciate the fact that no one has been able to produce a book like it in all this time. These are all facts we can observe. And they are only a few of the many manifestations of the miracles contained in this amazing book.

The first miracle of the Quran is the inability of anyone to compose anything like it. Because it lies outside what one is able to write with the Arabic language. For Arabic is a rich and complex language. Far more so than English. And in order to express yourself properly in this language. In order to form an expression that is grammatically sound and understandable, you need to use certain literary forms. These forms are fixed and part of the language. One of these forms needs to be used in order to produce any work. So every work of Arabic ever composed be it poetry or prose must fall into one of these literary forms. Be it a poem or a speech or a book. It is the starting point for the writer or the poet. Without it they are not able to structure their thoughts. They are not able to express themselves. Such is how rich and structured the language is.

For prose there are two ways to compose it in Arabic, the straight prose like the speech that we are used to and like the words that you are reading now, and the rhymed prose which as the name implies is prose that rhymes. When it comes to poetry there are over sixteen different forms. Arabic poetry is very rich. Poems differ not only in how they rhyme but also in how they use vowels and consonants in particular portions of the verse, and also on the use of metaphors and symbolism, and also the clarity or ambiguity of the verses. Each of the sixteen different forms of poetry varies in each of these criteria.

Now what is amazing about the Quran is that it does not fit into any of these forms, neither into the different forms of poetry nor into the different forms of prose. And yet regardless of this it is still Arabic. It is the clearest and purest Arabic. And this is exactly what makes it inimitable. Because how could any writer or poet compose anything like it when the very rules of the Arabic language prevents him from doing so. It is simply impossible to compose anything without conforming to one of the established forms. Before the Quran was revealed the Arabic language was already highly developed. Countless were the poems and prose, but they all fit into the established forms. If you were a poet or a writer and you just started writing then what you wrote would come under one of these forms. But the Quran was not like this. It was like it is in Arabic and not in Arabic at the same time. It was composed of the known letters and words and it is clear and comprehensible but it is in a format that no has ever seen . Even when it was first recited onto the people of Mecca 1500 years ago, many of whom were the greatest poets and orators, they themselves admitted that it was unlike anything they had ever heard. They just could not fathom how it was composed. It completely blew them away to a level that we cannot even begin to fathom.

The Quran is superior to every other Arabic work ever produced. It is better not only in its unique nature of how it uses the language, but also in the meanings that it conveys. Especially in Arabic the goal that poets and orators aspire is to convey as much meanings as possible using the fewest words. The Quran is the book which excels all others in this feat, in that it has such deep meanings even though it is only a limited number of words. Every verse conveys an ocean of meaning. No other poem or prose ever written in the entire history of the Arabic language has been able to match the Quran in this feat. So even though the words of the Quran are limited the amount of meanings that these words convey are unlimited. Even non-Muslim Western scholars attest to this fact. For example the professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies Bruce Lawrence says that every verse of the Quran is “meaning layered within meaning, light upon light, miracle after miracle”. Such are the words of academics who have spent a lifetime studying Arabic and the Quran. Scholars of Islam have written volumes of commentary on only one chapter of the Quran. They have written pages and pages explaining the meaning of only one verse. Such is how much meaning, how much knowledge, how much benefit is contained in this blessed Book. There is no other scripture either in Arabic or any other language which contains such depth of meaning in each and every verse. This Book is like an endless spring of knowledge. No matter how much we drink, it never is extinguished. Even today scholars of the Quran are finding meanings that no one in the past has ever discovered, they are finding that this Book is every much relevant to contemporary times as it was to the time when it was sent down. So even today Muslims find such benefit and guidance in it. We find that it is a path to God just like it has been for all the generations before us.

Not only is the Quran an endless spring of knowledge but it is also the best type of knowledge. The knowledge of the Divine. The most sacred and blessed of knowledge. This is what will help us to become that perfect human being we saw in the previous chapter. Just like the Prophet Muhammad was. Is this not the best of knowledge? That which will help us to attain peace and serenity, that which will give our lives true purpose and meaning, that which will take us to Paradise and save us from Hell. Every verse in the Quran helps along this path because every verse brings us nearer to Him. As we said earlier and need to emphasize again there is no other scripture like it, no other scripture wherein God is so central. This in and of itself is a proof that it is from Him. For so heedless are we of God, so much do we tend to forget Him, that we could never have written a Book about Him.

The Quran also has such beauty and perfection in its expression. Meaning it always says what it needs to say in the best way possible. So no one can change or even rearrange the words of even a single verse to create a better meaning. For it is already at the peak, it is already expressed in the best way possible. It cannot in any be improved upon or said better. For example when it comes to metaphors, the Quran always uses the best metaphors. When it comes to verses about Hell and torment, it can terrify you like no other book can. When it comes to verses about Paradise and pleasure, it can give you hope and make you yearn like no other book can. When it wants to teach you a lesson or give you a reminder, it does so in a way you will never forget. Such is how heavy its content is. Such is the command it has over the language. It is hard for me to describe it to you, especially in a language as limited as English. But if you take the time to study this Book then you will see how each verse is at the absolute peak of eloquence.

The Quran is not light or casual reading, it is not a book that you can just glance over. It is not enough to just skim over the pages. Rather it is scripture and scripture by its nature does require deep study and contemplation. Especially the Quran. Because you have to realize that the translation of the Quran that you get from your local bookstore is very far from the Quran that was sent down to the Prophet and to the Quran that he taught to his companions. That was a word spoken and a word taught by a teacher who lived by that word completely. When that word was written it lost some of its meaning, and when that word was translated into a language as limited as English it lost much more. So you have to realize that studying the Quran is much more than simply reading the translation. It is required to go beyond the surface of the verses. You have to see the larger picture, you have to understand each verse in the right context, you have to realize all the meanings.

If only you can then you will find that it is a book that will transform you, it will grab hold of you and change you to your very core. It will cleanse your heart of all that is other than Him. It will make you to realize the true purpose of existence. It will rise you above your social and environment conditioning. For it forces you to challenge the worldview that surrounds you. It tells you not to blindly follow your forefathers, or your society, or the cultural norms. Because these might not be based on guidance, these might not be bring you to realize your true purpose. See then how not only is the Quran at the very peak of eloquence but just look at its subject matter. This Book is the Path to God. Could there be any purpose more nobler, more sublime, more beautiful than this? Because at the end of the day what is it that matters more than Him? Soon a time will come when everything that in this universe will pass away. And all that will remain is the Essence of the Divine.

So if you had dedicated your life to other than Him then what will your state be when you return to Him? This is the realization the Quran helps us to achieve, to realize the utter futility of all that is other than God. And this is by itself is one of its many miracles. Verse after verse it calls on us to return to God. To live in dedication to Him. For this is the reason why He created us and all that is around us. Only to live in submission to Him. As we said before and need to emphasize again if you truly did believe in God as He should be believed in, if you truly realized Him for the Being that He is, then you will see that this is what He deserves. He deserves from us all that we have. And the only Book that calls to such a life is the Quran. Is this not enough to show that it is the truth? If ever there was a book that you can be sure is from God then it is this book. Not only because He is so central in it, but also because it calls only to the life that He deserves. Complete submission. To not have a care in the world except Him. Nothing short of this will bring you peace. If this is not God speaking then you show me what is. Take the time to study the Quran and then show me any other scripture that even comes close.

The recitation of the Quran also has a power that cannot easily be described. It must be experienced. For example in the nights of the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims flock to the mosques only to stand for hours in prayer. And what are they doing while they are standing, they are listening to the Quran being recited. You can feel this power just by hearing it being recited. In fact you can never get tired of listening to it and if you hear it being recited correctly it never fails to soothe your heart. It is not like listening to a song or music, nor is it even like listening to poetry or prose, it really is on a much higher level. We believe it is the very Words of God. So just to hear it being recited is a means of draw nearer to Him.

Even the enemies of the Prophet had nothing but praise for this amazing book. Just think about this. They were his enemies. Yet still they could not stop themselves from praising the Quran. Such was how captivated they were by it. These were the people who knew the Arabic language best. A people who prided themselves on their language. It was really was everything for them. Their art, their culture, their very mode of expression as a society. They would write poems for all occasions. To express love, anger, frustration, yearning, sorrow, even when some wrong was done against them. What a parent desired most for a child was not that he be a doctor or an engineer or a scholar or a warrior. Rather they desired that he be a poet. Such is how important their language was for them, such was how deep and complex it was. But the Prophet Muhammad himself was never known to be a poet. It was only at the age of 40 that he was sent by God as a prophet. Before that he had never brought to his people anything like Quran. In fact he never wrote anything for he was illiterate. He was poor and uneducated. A simple man. So just think about this, how could such a man have brought a book which no one else in his society could match even a small portion of? Not only that but the people around him, those who were experts in poetry and masters of the language, those who had every reason to find fault with anything that he brought, even they attested to their very inability to reproduce it. They knew that they could not even try to. It was so powerful and so beautiful, it was a kind of speech they had never heard before. Even though it was still Arabic. So many of them admitted that it is from God. They could not understand how such magnificent speech could be composed without adhering to the rules of the language. If they wanted to match it they would not even know where to begin. Such was the extent to which Quran incapacitated them.

We need to remind ourselves once again that these people were the enemies of the Prophet. So if they could have met the challenge they would have done so. If only to frustrate his mission. Because they knew what he called for. A complete revolution. The high class especially saw the threat in this to them. They saw how he challenged everything about their society. He criticized them for worshiping idols instead of the One True God. He questioned their cruel and unfair social and economic practices. Such as their burying their daughters in the sand out of a desire to have more sons. For in that tribal society the more sons you had meant the more power you have. The Prophet also criticized them for their cheating each other in their business. He also criticized their rigid and unfair class structure. Of how one man would look down on another only because of the color of his skin or only because of the clan that he belonged to. He called for a change in all that they had practiced and known for centuries. Their norms and values So of course his mission was not welcomed by everyone. Not only did they not accept him but they even tried to stop him. They tried every means possible to make him give up his call. They tried bribing him, tempting him, torturing him and his followers. They even tried killing him even though he was of their clan and he had been most beloved to them. Such was how desperate they were. Now think. If they really wanted to stop him all that they had to do was meet the challenge of the Quran. This would have destroyed Islam right from its very foundation. Because Islam rests upon its belief, so to destroy its belief is to destroy it. Yet they did not, because they could not. Neither could any other enemies of this religion after them. Why did the European kings have to send crusade after crusade against Islam. All that they had to do was bring that one chapter. That one small chapter of three verses.

If you just do not have the time to study the Quran in detail then at least consider the proofs that we are presenting here, at least appreciate the fact that no one has been able to produce a book like it in all this time. No one has even come close. This inability of mankind to imitate it is in and of itself a miracle. This is a fact that even Western historians attest to, for example the notable British Orientalist Fitzgerald Arbuthnot said “several attempts have been made to produce a work equal to it, none has as yet succeeded”. These are the words of Western non-Muslims attesting to the fact that the Quran is unique. And countless are the Muslim scholars throughout the centuries who have not only acknowledged the Quran's unique nature but they have even showed how exactly it is so. They have compared the Quran to all the other works of Arabic and shown how God's words are far superior. Anytime someone even tried to produce a work equal to the Quran, these learned men have shown how the work of this imposter is not Quran. Not only is it not at the level of the Quran in terms of power of meaning or beauty of expression, but it still fits into one of the known literary forms of poetry and prose. Meaning tried as he may have the imposter could not escape these existing literary forms. What he wrote still fit into one of the existing forms used for composition. So even from the beginning it was not Quran.

What we also need to bear in mind is that Islam has had several enemies throughout the centuries. Really from the time in which the Prophet first launched his call until today. Those in power, those who control the wealth and resources, they have always seen it as a threat. Because they know it came to end their exploitation of the masses. It came to take wealth away from them and return it to the people. It does so by returning the sovereignty to God. How exactly this is so is the subject of the next chapter.

But for now what you should realize is that because these people saw Islam as such a threat, do you not think they would have stopped at nothing to destroy it? Do you not think they would have done anything to crush it? In order to hold on to their wealth and power that they love so much. Rather than waging wars of both weapons and ideas, why could they have not just brought that one small chapter? Why could they not have answered the challenge? Even today it remains open. And as of today no one has stepped up to the plate, no one has brought anything which is even credible.

Another miracle of the Quran is the extent to which it has been preserved. All the other religions do not have their books in their original forms. The Bible that we have today is not the exact words that Jesus spoke. Rather it was written years after he left this world, often by people who had never even met him And after that it was translated into several other languages. The result is that what Christians have today is very far from the Message which Jesus brought. This is one reason why there is so much disagreement among them, even on the very nature of Jesus. Some say he was a man, others say he was the son, others say he was God incarnate, and others say he was a man who became God. In Islam you will not find such schisms and disputations. The vast majority of Muslims all agree on the foundations of our creed. That God is One and Alone and that Muhammad is His Final Messenger. The reason for such consensus and unity is that we have our source text preserved. Once again even non-Muslim academics will agree that the Quran we have today is what Muhammad brought. Word for word. Not even a single letter has been removed, added, or altered in all these years. Before the digital age, and the printing press, and even before paper became common this Quran was there. Still it has remained intact and pure.

Yet another miracle of the Quran, yet another proof for Islam, is the change that this book brought to the entire world. Of course it began with the society of the Prophet. As we said earlier he had challenged many aspects of his society. The Arabs of that time in particular had many evils. Islam came and literally overnight removed all of these evils. It took the Arabs out of the darkness and into the light. It took a primitive and savage people and made them into the leaders of humanity. The most advanced civilization of that time. An empire that spread over three continents, from the shores of West Africa to the mountains of Mongolia to the far islands of Indonesia. All the land in between these, more than seventy percent of the known earth was under the dominion of Islam. Muslims were also at the forefront in science, medicine and technology. They had a society in which poverty and crime was almost unheard of. A society of justice and peace. God willing we will speak more about this later in our book. But what I want you to realize from here is the level of change which Islam brought. How backward and savage the Arabs were and how much Islam changed them. Not only did God save the Arabs with Islam but He also saved all of humanity. For what is it that triggered the Renaissance in Europe? What was the spark of light which ended the dark ages? Was it not the knowledge that the Europeans took back with them after the crusades? For in Muslim lands they saw progress, they saw learning, they saw justice and peace. They saw people who held their rulers accountable. They saw the wealth of the land divided fairly. This was what made them challenge the tyranny of the kings and the church. This made them to come back to science and learning. This was what planted the seeds for progress, for change, for the good that we see in the world today. It all started with the Quran. This Book changed the world.

Even the way in which the Quran was recorded shows how it could not have been from the mind of Muhammad. For as we mentioned before and need to stress again he was illiterate. So he was not the one who wrote down the Quran. Rather his companions, those around him, were the ones who wrote it. He would dictate it to them and they would write it down exactly as he spoke it. Word for word. The consequence of this is that he had no way to revise what he said. He could never take back what he said or say anything in a different way. As soon as he spoke the words the companions would rush to write them down. At this point the words could not be changed. They would be recorded and preserved as the words of God. Now ask any writer how important revision is to their work. They will all tell you that it is indispensable. Because we are all human. We all make mistakes. We are not perfect. Even the best of writers have to revise what they wrote. To find their mistakes or to express their ides better. But the Prophet never had this opportunity. Because as soon as he spoke the words they were written down. How then could the Quran be so perfect? How could it be that not even a small portion of it contains mistakes or even any weakness in the language? Not only is this Book at the pinnacle of expression but it is so for its entirety. Meaning there is no part of it which can be considered better than another part. There is not even a single verse which can be spoken in a better way. Rather it is all perfect. From the very first page to the very last page. How could this be? Does this not show that it was not from the mind of a man? Writers especially have trouble expressing their ideas at the moment the thoughts are just forming in their minds, that is when the words are not so clear. How then could Muhammad always have spoken words so perfect? The only rational explanation is that these words were not from him.

Yet another evidence that the Quran could not be from the mind of Muhammad is the fact that it contains detailed accounts of the previous Prophets of God. In order to fully realize and appreciate this proof you have to understand the environment in which Muhammad lived. His was an era very different from ours. In that time information was not easily as accessible as it is today. There was nothing like the internet or computers. Even books were extremely rare. They did not even have paper. They used to write on animals skins and bones. This was how primitive a time it was, this was how scarce knowledge was. How is it then that in the Quran you can find stories of Jesus and Moses and Abraham? Not only are they mentioned by name but specific events in their lives are detailed. Of how Jesus was born to the virgin Mary and how he cured the blind and healed the leapers and raised the dead. Of how Moses grew up in the family of the Pharaoh and how he became a prince in Egypt and how he killed a man by mistake and had to flee to distant land. Of how Abraham had to sacrifice his son as a test from God. Also found in the Quran are detailed accounts of other prophets like Noah, Lot, Joseph, Jonah, David, Solomon, and others. How could the Prophet Muhammad have known about these figures? Not only could he not read or write, but he was also not known to move with the Jews and Christians. In fact in Makkah where his mission began there were no Jews and Christians to begin with. And even travel to other lands was extremely difficult. How then could he have known about all the prophets of old, how could he have known their stories? If he actually made it up then how could what he conjured match the reality so precisely? Not only did he get the names of all these prophets right but their stories as well. He lived thousands of years after most of them and yet still the Quran that he brought has their stories in detail

Not only are the accounts of the previous prophets to be found in the Quran but it also portrays them in the best way possible. Unlike the Bible the Quran has not been tainted with falsehoods and fabrications concerning the Prophets of God. This also is a Sign of its Truthfulness. How it portrays all the Prophets of God as true role models. After all how can we have faith in a book which shows God's emissaries as adulterers and murderers and drunkards and as those who commit incest with their own daughters? For you know that this is exactly what the Bible says about many of God’s greatest prophets. How can this be? Were not the prophets sent to guide us, to show us how to live, what kind of an example then are they for us? Is this how we expect one who has achieved nearness to God to behave? Would he so blatantly break his Lord's Law? In the Quran the prophets are nothing like this. Rather they are shown to be the very best of mankind. They struggle and they sacrifice to carry God’s word. They forgive those who wrong them, they love all God’s creatures, they control their lusts when temptations come to them, they are brave when dangers confront them, they are patient when hardships befall them, they are thankful for God’s bounties, and they give to those who ask of them. Is this not how His messengers should be, is this not how we should all try to be? Did not God sent His guidance for the betterment of mankind, is He not the Most Merciful and the Most Loving? How then can we rise to be better human beings, how can we build a better society, unless we have good role models to follow? God’s Message is not just a book, it is not just a law, but it is also a man who was the best exemplar of following that book, of living by that law. The one whose path can be followed. So if Muhammad did somehow copy from previous books then why did he not copy verbatim? Why these differences? Why is the Quran better?

Yet another proof that the Quran really is God’s word is how it calls on us to worship the One God and the One God Alone. There is no other scripture where God is as central as He is the Quran. As I mentioned before in every page, in every verse He is mentioned. So much so that if you study this Book then without a doubt your heart will become attached to Him. Such is the extent to which it speaks of Him, such is the extent to which it shows how important He must be in your life. Him and Him Alone. Not a man whom some claim is His son. Not any idol or false god. Not anything of this world. But Him and Him Alone. The One True God. The Creator and the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth. The One Who does not have any weakness or imperfection. The One Who is truly worthy of all sanctification and glorification. The One Who has given you all that you have. The One Who made you all that you are. The Quran is the only Book that calls on us all to be dedicated to this Being. Is this alone not enough to show that it is His Book? If this Book were written by men then would it not speak more of men than the Divine? If it was written by Muhammad then would he not speak more of himself, but if you read the Quran then you would see that his name is hardly mentioned therein. Because this Book is not about him, not about any human being, rather it is about the Divine. It is the path which leads to Him. Contrast this now to the Bible, is that a book which allows you to come nearer to the One True God? Is He mentioned often therein, does it speak often of His Majesty and Glory, does it recount all of His bounties upon you? Even if you were to compare the similar stories which appear in both books you would find that God is mentioned far more often in the Quranic accounts of those stories. For example in the Quran when Moses goes to Pharaoh, the very first thing he does is that he invites him to God. Even this invitation is not there in the Bible.

Yet another proof is that the Quran is the only scripture which actually tells us to be rationally convinced that it is the truth, it tells us to look and to ponder and to reflect rather than just to accept blindly. It challenges all of mankind with its proofs and arguments. It is absolutely confident of it veracity. And why should it not be? Its creed agrees with our mind and its law fits with our nature. It is the perfect system for us to live by. There is no fault that you can find with it. Even if you tried. Now there are some people out there who do not like Islam, who do find something negative to say about this wonderful religion. But I believe this is mostly out of ignorance. Because if you truly knew this religion then you would know that it is from God. And if you did know that it is from God then how can you turn away from it, how can you turn away from Him? So just the sheer confidence with which the Quran presents itself, just the way it tells us to think and reflect in order to arrive at its Truth, this by itself is one of the greatest of its signs.

How exactly does Islam agree with our disposition you might ask. Firstly because its creed is easy to accept. There is nothing in it which contradicts the reality around us. As an example the Quran is not a book which tells us to believe that the earth is flat or that the sun revolves around the earth. In fact the Quran speaks of many phenomena that match exactly the universe around us. Some of these only today have been discovered by modern science. God willing we will see many examples of this very soon. But from here what you should see is that the Quran does not contradict at all with the natural world. There is nothing in it which has been disproved by modern science or even by our observation. The universe is true and the Quran is a mirror for the universe. They are both from the same Source. So both are true. Because He is True. He loves us so much that He made it easy for us to believe.

The Quran also does not contradict with our perception of the Divine. It does not tell us to believe that God is a man or that He is one in three. Or that He feels pain and bleeds or that He wrestled all night with Jacob and lost. For even a child can see that these are descriptions not fitting for the Divine. Rather time and time again the Quran tells us that God is Perfect and Pure beyond all limitations and weakness. In every way He is Absolutely Transcendent above His Creation. Is this not how God should be? Is this not a Being Who is worthy of our praise and glory? A glorification that manifests in absolute slavehood.

The Quran's concept of justice also fits with our mind. It does not tell us that all of us are born in sin and that infants will burn for all eternity in Hell. It does not tell us that a certain race or a certain caste is superior to another. Rather it tells us that all human beings are equal. And that we are all born pure. And no soul can carry the sin of another. The Quran tells us that the human being is a beautiful and noble creature. All of us are regardless of our gender or race or physical appearances. These are superficial, these are only a shell. What matter is what is inside, our actions and our hearts. So if we only just remember God and try to fulfill the purpose for which He has created us then through this we can attain a status higher than that of the angels. Any of us can attain this if only we made the effort. Woman or man, black or white, poor or rich. It is only when we become heedless of Him and neglect His servitude that we fall from this lofty station. Only then are we in torment, both in this world and the next. So see how this is a religion that is open to one and all. And see how its creed does not at all require a tremendous leap of faith. It is a belief that you can absolutely be convinced of a, a belief that can settle and rest in your heart without any doubt or misgivings. From such strong conviction comes such tranquility and steadfastness.

Similarly the laws of Islam are also conducive to help us attain peace and serenity in this life. All that God calls on us to do in this religion is what we are all capable of doing. And the only things that He forbids us are those which will harm us. For example in Islam celibacy is not a virtue. Rather marriage is. The Quran even tells us that our spouses are tranquility and comfort for us. While fornication is a great sin, marriage is a great virtue. We saw earlier how today marriage is failing in the secular world. One reason for this is because premarital sex has become so commonplace and acceptable. Another reason is because we do not view marriage as an act of devotion that we do for God. In Christianity marriage was never seen like this. Rather what was optimal according to their teachings was to remain celibate. This was what they believed will bring you nearest to God. This was why many of their priests, monks and nuns chose such a life. But you know that such a life does not agree with the nature of the human being. God did put certain desires and wants in us. Now of course He does not want us to be consumed by our lusts. He does not want us to always be thinking about sex or to have it with anything and everything. We were created for a greater purpose than this. But at the same time He does not want us to be on the other extreme where we completely deny ourselves this pleasure. There is a time and place for everything and for this it should be only with one's wife after marriage. See then how well this religion suits us. It does not tell us to suppress our desires which would be unnatural, nor does it tell us to be a slave to this desire to the point we are unjust to others. Such as a man who touches a woman without giving her his commitment. Rather it only tells us to channel our desires in the right direction. Through this not only would we have more wholesome and tranquil lives but we would also draw nearer to God. And in this as well find peace.

Islam also does not tell us to deny ourselves the things of this world and live as ascetics. Rather most things of this world God has made permissible for us and this also is from His Mercy and His Love for us. The only few things He has forbidden from us, like alcohol and gambling, are those things which He Knows will harm us more than benefiting us. Think about it, how many are the deaths and accidents caused by drunk driving, how many are the girls raped after parties in which alcohol was flowing. How many are the people who throw their life savings away in casinos. How many are in debt from usury. We all can see the harm in these but we cannot bring ourselves to outlaw them because we desire them. Yet God Knows us more than we know ourselves. This is why He sent us the perfect law. He also does not tell us to give up all wealth and live in poverty. But at the same time He did remind us to share our wealth with others and not to hoard it.

See then how through Islam you can attain tranquility and contentment. Believe me when I say it, or more importantly believe God Who Knows you better than you know yourself. If you do not see the great evil in those things God has forbidden then trust Him when He says that they are evil. It is your own desires which are clouding your judgment. If only you would give them up, if only you would bask in His Remembrance, then you would see where true peace and happiness are to be found. So yes the married life is better for you than nightclubs and bars. You will find more fulfillment and stability committing yourself to one person and to raising a family. But most of all you will have the contentment that you are pleasing your Creator. You are living the life that He had created you for. You are more than just a biological producer of waste and carbon. You are a force for good and peace on the earth, and you are a worshiper and glorifier of the Divine.

Another beauty of the Quran is how it ushered in the age of enlightenment, the age of reason, the age of science. As we said earlier several are the verses where God tells us to look deeply at the universe,to ponder and reflect on it. To study it and to use it to make our lives better. So in this religion the mind is no longer the enemy, knowledge is no longer a thing to be shunned. Such a teaching encouraged Muslims to be the first doctors, the first engineers, the first astronomers and chemists. For centuries Muslims were at the forefront in all the fields of science, innovation and technology. For example the book on medicine written by the Muslim scholar Ibn Sina was used in Europe as their primary reference for over 600 years. Just try and imagine this. Whenever doctors had a question, when they had an illness they needed the cure for they would go to this book. For over 600 years!! Does this not show you how far ahead the Islamic world was in science and progress. And of course as we mentioned before and need to stress again the renaissance and the progress that Europe had was primarily because of the knowledge they took from Muslims.

So it is not farfetched to say that even what we know of as modern science today, even the industrial revolution, and the digital age, and all the technology and innovations we have come up with in the last 200 years. From cars to submarines to trains to planes to computers to microwaves to electricity and more, it is all began with the Quran. This book literally changed the world. You only need to look at history and you need to connect the dots. We the human race are where we are today only because of this great bounty that our Lord gave us. Just look at where human civilization was before the Quran and see how it started to change after. The change began in the Arab world but soon it spread to other parts, including the West. We truly became civilized and progressed only after it.

Is this then not a proof for this Book? Just the good that it brought to the world. Not just in reviving science and reason, but also for teaching mankind about human rights and social justice. These are Islamic values. The idea of the equality of all human beings, the idea of the people having a say in their government, the idea of compassion towards all, the idea that you were innocent until proven guilty, these are Islamic values. They are based on the principles established by the Quran. They only came to the West as a result of what was seen in Muslim lands. As you know before that Europe was in the dark ages where none of these ideas were even heard of. You know that when Christianity ruled unspeakable was the oppression. It was only Islam that brought light back to the West.

Not only is the Quran the seed of modern science but it also confirms what science has discovered. Meaning it has descriptions of the universe that only today modern science has shown us to be true. An example of this is the expanding universe. In the Quran God tells us that He has created the universe and that He is expanding it. Now before the Hubble telescope allowed us to see into the depths of space, the view among the intellectuals was either that the universe was finite and set or that it was infinite and went on forever. No one had the view that the universe was expanding. No one of course except the Muslims. Muslim astronomers studied the stars but even before they looked up they already knew what was the true nature of this universe, they knew from the Quran. But if you think that Muhammad wrote the Quran then ask yourself how he could have known. Did he have a telescope to see into the depths of space? He did not have even a basic telescope and no one in his time held the view that the universe was expanding. How could he then have known? How could this Book from 1500 years ago contain such information?

Another example is the development of the embryo and the fetus. The process by which God took each of us from that tiny drop in our mothers' womb and made from it the infant that we all were. The Quran describes for us this process in great detail. Some could even speculate why. After all this does not seem directly related to theology or to ritual or to morality or even to law. Why then did God need to dedicate verse after verse only to show how babies develop? Firstly it is to show us His Power. There are still those who doubt Him, who still ask where He is? Well now they can see. The development of that embryo into a fetus. They can see how the eyes and ears and legs and heart are forming. Who is doing all this? What is the cause? Once again science can explain the how but it still cannot answer the more fundamental question of why.

But another reason why the Quran has such verses that describe this process is to show us once again how it could not have been from humans. Because this book being 1500 years old is an established fact. Now the question is could anyone at that time have known the science of embryology. Could they have known how human beings are really created? What is the process that infant went through before it came out from its mother. Could they have known? Did they have the tools and instruments at that time to see inside the womb? They did not. And we can know this for a fact. Just by studying what was the prevailing view of the intellectuals of that period regarding this process. Most of them believed what Aristotle had said and that is that the infant came only from the father. They believed that a miniscule infant existed in the sperm of the father. When this drop was placed in the mother and when it mixed with her menstrual blood it grew into the infant that comes out of her. This was what people believed at that time. But of course we know today that this very far from the reality.

Now the miracle of the Quran is that it knew even back then that this view was not correct. Not only did it know but it describes for us how the fetus forms. A description that as we will soon see matches what modern science has discovered exactly. So if you are saying that the Quran is from Muhammad then the question to you is how could he have known this process? If he wanted to describe how babies are created in the womb then why did he not adopt the prevailing view of his time? And even if he chose not to and decided instead to make it up then again how could what he have made up match the reality so precisely? The only rational explanation is that this book is not from him. Nor from anyone else in his time.

Now when it comes to the process by which humans are created, God first tells us that we were created from an extract of clay. He does not tell us that we were created from clay rather He says we were created from an extract of clay. This is a fact which science today has proven. The compounds that the human body is composed of are all compounds found in clay. These include Oxygen, Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulfur, Silicon, and Magnesium. The exact same compounds found in clay are found in us. How could this be? How could a man in the middle of the desert all those years ago have known exactly what our bodies are composed of? Then the Quran describes how God created us from an extract of fluid from the father and an extract from the mother. This also matches with reality. The embryo forms when sperm from the father mixes with the egg from the mother. Notice how this description is very different from the prevailing view of that era. Then the Quran says that the embryo becomes a clinging leech like substance. This also matches exactly with the next stage in development. If you look at an embryo in its early stages it looks just like a leech.

Not only does it look like a leech but the embryo also obtains its nutrients from the blood just like a leech does. After the stage of mixing fluids and the stage where the embryo looks like a leech it then reaches a stage where it looks like lump of flesh. This is how it looks like in reality and it is also how the Quran describes it to be. The exact word in Arabic is a lump of chewed flesh and if you were to look at the embryo at that stage this is exactly how it will seem. Then God tells us how He made that lump into bones. And this is the very next stage in fetal development. The appearance and the formation of the skeleton. Then God tells us in the Quran how He clothes the bones with flesh, and this occurrence as well has been witnessed first hand by researchers in fetal development. The formation of muscle cells around the developing skeleton.

See then how the Quran not only knows the steps in which the fetus develops but it also knows the correct order of these steps. If you were to read books of science and medicine from that era you will find that no one had this view. No one at that time had detailed so accurately the steps involved in this entire process. No one even came close. So again we must ask how did the Prophet know? Where could he have gotten this knowledge from? And this is the miracle of the Quran, it is a miracle of knowledge. It has knowledge that the human being is just not capable of reaching. One way is through its unique style and another is how it layers meaning upon meaning in every verse. Both of these render it absolutely inimitable. And another way it is a miracle in knowledge is how it contains the knowledge that people of its period could not possibly have known. An example of this is the stories of the past prophets and nations and an example is the scientific occurrences such as the development of the fetus. Both of these also show the Divine Origin. There can be no other explanation.

There are countless other instances of the Quran fitting with the universe perfectly. For example how God describes the changing of the night and the day, He says that He wraps the day into the night and the night into the day. Like a turban is wrapped around the head. And if you look at the earth from space you would see this is exactly what is happening. Each is wrapping the other. How could Muhammad have seen this? In addition the specific word that God uses only fits when what is being wrapped is spherical in shape. Again showing clearly that the Quran had knowledge of the earth's true shape. Yet another example is the creation of all life from water. This fact is also found in the Quran. In his time water was precious, and people and animals often died from thirst. In such a reality it was foolish for someone to claim that all living beings are in fact made mostly of water. People could ask why we need water so much if we are made from it. This reality is not what most people at that time imagined. Yet now we know that water is the basic element in all life forms. Cells are made mostly of water. See once again then how the Quran has knowledge of realities that men could not have known of back then.

There are several other proofs for Islam. God willing we will see them in the chapters to come. These include the life of the Prophet Muhammad, the morals and values of Islam, the society that Islam built, the role of women in Islam. Each of these is proofs show the justice, the beauty, the perfection of this wonderful religion. They show how it could only be from God. Is there any other religion in the world today like it, is there any ideology or way of life? Nothing even comes close. None build the kind of personality that Islam does. This is the realization that I want you to come to. But for this I need from you your commitment. That you will finish this book, and also that you will read it with an open heart.

That you will at least consider the possibility. That this really is the Message that your Creator and Sustainer has sent to you. Can you really afford to neglect it? Can you really afford to neglect Him? Because what if it is the Truth, what are you going to tell Him when you are standing in front of Him on Judgment Day? You know the terrible consequences you have to suffer if He is displeased with you. Hell is no joke. It really is a place of burning and torment. For all eternity. So if there is even a possibility that it exists do you not want to do all that you can to avoid it? You buy car insurance only because of the remote possibility that you will be in an accident. You want to make sure that you are covered, can you not take the same precautions for what awaits after death? But even more than the fear of Hell, even more than the yearning for Paradise, can you not be motivated by your love for the Divine? If you truly believe in Him as the True God. The One Who is truly Glorious and the Magnificent. How can you not desire nearness to this Being? How can you not seek to have a relationship with Him?

And I need to stress once again that Islam is not difficult, God only wants the best for you. He wants you to be happy, both in this life and the next. For He loves you and has such mercy and compassion for you. More than any mother could have for her child. If you want to even begin to know the extent of His Love for you then consider the fact that He created you. He chose to create you. Out of an infinite number of other creations, He chose you. And then He chose to sustain you and provide for you thorough every moment of your life. Even though in reality your worship does not in any way benefit Him. You can never do anything for Him. Yet still He showers His Love upon you. At every moment of your life. And now He has guided you to this Book. To the path that leads to Him. Why then can you not follow it? Why not consider the possibility?

Chapter 3

Islam and

Society

“It is God's gift to humankind that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.”

-Ecclesiastes 3:13

“The son of Adam has no greater right than that of food, shelter, and clothing” - Prophet Muhammad

“It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning”. -Henry Ford

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except all others that we have tried”. -Winston Churchill

“Until he extends his circle of compassion to all living things, man will not find peace”. - Albert Schweitzer

Hopefully by now you have gotten a small taste of this wonderful religion. You have seen a little bit of this path which leads to God. You have seen how it is radically different from all other religions in the world. You have seen how it demands from you all that you have. Because He does not deserve any less. But do you realize just how much is it that He deserves? Do you see how complete your submission needs to be ? Of course He deserves that you live every moment only for Him, but is this enough? What about the world that surrounds you? What about the government that rules over you? What about the economy that regulates your wealth? Should these not be pleasing to Him as well?

Now a question that you may have is what does God have to do with government and economy? What does religion have to do with how we rule and how we distribute our wealth? What does the world of the spiritual have to do with the world of the material? They are connected because religion is not only about us. It is not just about us finding peace. It is not just about us being free of suffering. Rather we also have to wish it for everyone else. For every single man, woman and child on the planet. We have to wish that they are all free of suffering. We should wish for them contentment at every level. Both physically and spiritually. Not only should we wish for it, not only should we pray for it, but we have to work for it. We have to strive to make it a reality. As we said in the previous chapter, Islam is the melting away of the self. Once the ego has been destroyed then how can you have concern only for yourself? How can you be content if there are other people in need in the world today even if you have enough? Because this is exactly the mentality that our current political and economic model wants us to have. It does not make any genuine effort to share the wealth, or even the power, among all the people.

In the world today there is an exclusive group, those in whose hands all the wealth is concentrated. Those who live in affluence while so many live in poverty and deprivation. Now do you think that such a reality in the world is pleasing to God, do you think that He is pleased with a system that allows it to happen? In Islam we believe God to be both a Being of Mercy and a Being of Justice. Is it just for one group to have all the wealth and for another to have little or nothing? Is this mercy? How then can God be pleased with such a situation? We do not believe that He favors one group only on account of their race or their nationality. What right do you have to say that He loves white people more than non whites or even Americans more than non Americans? At the end of the day are we all not human? How can the worth of a human be determined by something so superficial and meaningless as the color of skin or the land of birth? In Islam we believe that our worth comes from our faith, our character and our actions. This is how one of us is better than another. Is it then fair for one nation to have all the wealth? Should not the children of every nation be given the fair chance to make it in life? Should not the wealth of this earth be fairly distributed among all its inhabitants? Do those of us who have been blessed not have an obligation to share? Do all not have the right to live free from deprivation? This is why religion has a place in government and economy. Because if these two are left in the hands of man then you will never find a world of equality and justice. As we can see from the world today. Today is a world where religion has no say in the affairs of the society, today is a world where God has been forgotten, where the ego rules. And you can see clearly the darkness which is the consequence of this choice. How much is the suffering in the secular world? Not only at the spiritual level but even at the material.

How much is the poverty that is in the world today, how many are the people who live in deprivation and need? At the same time how much vast amounts of wealth do some people have? See then the disparity, see how there are a few who have a lot and so many who have little or nothing. Can He be pleased with such a world. Especially when He has sent to us guidance on exactly how our government and our economy should be, and if only we would follow this guidance then we would not see the problems that we are seeing today. How exactly is this so you might ask. The answer is the subject of this chapter. This chapter is to show how Islam has guidance not only for the individual but also for the collective. It shows how not only you can attain peace and serenity but also how everyone else around you can as well. There is a better way than how the world is today. If you are somehow not aware of all the oppression and suffering that is happening on the earth today then just open your eyes. Take the time to find out what is happening to all your brothers and sisters in humanity. At least just google “world poverty”. Look at what is happening to so many children. How can you say that you love God and be pleased with all this? How can you not work for better?

Is this not what will please God? For He is first and foremost a Being of Mercy and Love. And so He only desires the very best for all His creation. Even though He may put us through trials. Even though He did not make this world into a Paradise for everyone. We still believe that ultimately He is a Being of Goodness and He wants goodness for all. He has told us that He sent Islam only as a mercy to all His creation. So if He has sent to us this way of life, this system through which all of His creation can taste of His Mercy, then is it not upon us to implement it? How can we neglect it, how can we ignore it? How can we ever hope for His Love if we do?

Because in Islam He has explicitly told us to establish peace and justice on the earth. To end suffering, inequality and oppression. To right the wrong, to help the week, to feed the hungry, to cure the sick, and to provide for the destitute. Just imagine a world where we can do this for all people. A world where everyone not only has the serenity of being near to God, but they are also provided for materially. They live comfortably. They are not sick or hungry or poor. They are not in need and not afraid. Would this not allow the people to truly focus their hearts on God? Just imagine such a world. It is the vision of Islam. A world without borders, without any artificial lines dividing us. Where all humankind is united as one nation, under one flag. We see each other as brothers and sisters in the truest sense of the word. Where there are no egos and no feelings of superiority. Where all the earth's resources are fairly distributed among all people. Where there are no wars or killing or quarreling over land or wealth. Where we are all come together in peace and love to fulfill our true purpose. Worship and servitude of God. And through this we all find peace and purpose. You may think that such a world is a dream, that it will never happen. But it is God's promise in Islam. Not only has He promised us but He has also shown us how to get there. We only need to return to His Path and by “we” I do mean all of us because Islam has been sent to us all. Islam welcomes one and all. It teaches us that we are all equal, regardless of race, gender, or nationality. In fact it does not even recognize the idea of nationality. God tells us that we all are really one nation. The concept of a egalitarian society is stressed so much in this religion. We are all His slaves, none of us, neither individuals nor nations have any glory. Rather all Glory is for Him. This is the central message of this religion, can you not then see how it can slay all egos? And just this can create such a world.

Let us look more specifically at how Islam can build the perfect society. First Islam recognizes that society is made up of families and that families are made up of individuals. So first it builds individuals and then families, and then the society as a whole. The problem with society today is that we are not following the guidance which God sent us. Not at the societal level, not at the family, not even at the individual level. And this is why we all are in the state we are in. For these levels are all connected, we are all connected. Our behavior, our outlook, our demeanor affects those around us. In more ways than we realize. So first and foremost we have to fix what is within. First we have to fix ourselves. And this is what we spoke about in the first chapter. We showed how Islam can build the perfect human being. The one who tries to be selfless, who tries to look after others. The one who strives to be compassionate and loving and generous and forgiving and forbearing and empathetic to all those around him or her. And it is only their relationship with God, their striving for nearness to Him which allows them to reach this sublime state. Now just imagine if everyone reached this state? If we all cared for others more than we cared for our own egos. If we all came to realize that there is a far greater purpose to existence than materialism, hedonism, and self glorification. The mission of Islam is to bring about this reality. To bring all of mankind to this sublime state. To bring about a world where all can be near to Him. Heedlessness of God is the cause of all evil and darkness in the world today. We as humans are capable of oppression and injustice only when we forget Him and focus on our own selfish needs. If we can eradicate this darkness and replace it with God's Light. First and foremost in our own hearts, then in the hearts of those nearest to us, then in all of mankind, think what kind of a world it would be.

But it begins first and foremost with submission. This is the key, this is the heart and the core of Islam. We submit to Him because of our love for Him. Because we realize our own nothingness and His sheer greatness. Until you slay your ego, until you realize how there is something far greater than your own petty self, you will not see this. So think once again about God, this Majestic and Beautiful and Perfect Being. He is not some Being far away in a distant cosmos, rather He is nearer to you than you can possibly ever imagine. How then can you forget Him or live heedless of Him? He is the Creator of every reality that presents itself before you, He is the Giver of every breath that you take, He is the Reason for every good thing in your life. All the pain and the problems in your life only happen when you forget Him and focus on your own self. But if you can dedicate yourself to Him, if you can make pleasing Him the one purpose for your life, then a whole new world will be opened up for you. You will not fear nor will you grieve. You will have no reason to be anxious or to be worried. Because you know that no matter what happens, He will be with you and He will keep you safe. This same tranquility can also be extended to the society, but only if we follow the guidance that He has sent. Just as you and I find peace when we submit ourselves to God so too will the society find peace when it submits itself to Him. But how does a society submit to God? It does so when the people who make it up submit to Him and also when it rules according to the guidance which He sent down.

This is how Islam is different from all other religions, it does have guidelines on how the government and economy should function. We believe that these have been sent to us by God Himself. He has shown us how we as a society should live just as He has shown us how we as individuals should live. In order that our submission to Him may be complete.

If we truly love God then why can we not follow His guidance, why cannot our submission to Him be manifest in every aspect of our society? Even in our government. The effect that government has on our lives is far greater than most of us realize. We humans are social, we need to live with each other. But when we come together to live in a society there are certain rules we all need to abide by. There are also certain services that need to be provided. Government is the means by which such services are given and such rules are enforced. For example we all need roads to get from here to there, we need schools to send our children to, we need police to protect us from criminals, we need an army to defend our borders, rather than each of us try to do these tasks by ourselves we form a government and we give it all of these responsibilities. The government is also tasked with coming up with laws that we are all required to abide by.

Now herein lies the fundamental difference between governance in Islam and all other forms of governance. In Islam even though the government provides services and it enforces laws, it by itself is not the source of the laws. Rather the Source of the Law is God and God Alone. Such a structure may seem strange or even unacceptable to many of us. But realize that this is only because of the culture we have been indoctrinated with. We all live today in a secular society and secularism by its very definition says God should not have any say in the affairs of the people. We may call ourselves one nation under God but do our so called representatives actually refer to the scriptures that God sent down when they bring forth any new legislation? So this statement is hypocrisy. Islam on the other hand says that if we believe in God as Creator and Sustainer then we also need to believe in Him as Lord and Master. Not only of individuals but also of the collective.

If secularism says that God has no say in the affairs of the people then Islam says that He has every say. Because Islam recognizes that we are all naught but His slaves. And so it allows us to submit to Him even through the government that rules over us. In Islam the government emanates directly from the scriptures that He sent down. So it is really He Who is ruling over us. And Who is a better Lord than He?

This is how comprehensive Islamic Law is. It even addresses how the structure of the government should be. The reason we are looking at governance in Islam is because I believe that even the vision that Islam has for the society is a proof of its truthfulness. Even the system of government in Islam is a proof for its truthfulness. Even its economic system is a proof for its truthfulness. Because it does not have any flaws and it serves its purpose, which is looking out for the well being of all mankind. Show me the government today which even comes close to this ideal? Show me any government in the history of mankind which has even come close? Today we have secular democracies. Many of us think this is the best form of government under the sun. Some of us have even raised it to a sacred status, we think it can never be questioned and we think we can impose it on all the nations of the world with our military might. But if we look a little deeper then we can ask ourselves if it is truly all that great? Does it solve all our problems? Does it look after us as a people? Can it really alleviate suffering and provide opportunity for all? After all is this not the purpose of the government? If there continues to exist oppression, deprivation, suffering and poverty, if all this still remains then government has failed. Because it has not done the primary task it was charged to do and that is to look after the people. In the end is this not its ultimate purpose? If a government allows its people to suffer then it is a failure.

Let us look to how well our governments have fared. In the past century there were actually two governance forms that gained dominance in the world. The first of these the Capitalistic Democracy and the second Communism. The latter of these has already failed and the former is failing right now. Can we not see the economic crisis that has gripped the Capitalist world? Can we not see how even countries in Western Europe have unemployment rates of up to 40%? Can we not see the rioting in the streets? Can we not see the people in poverty and deprivation? Can we not see the sheer greed and utter impunity for the law with which the bankers and businessmen operate? Can we not see the failure of the governments to regulate or curb them in any way? Can we not see how they have exploited the people and continue to do so? Can we not see the enormous wealth inequalities? Why is this happening? What is the root cause? Is it not the moral and spiritual bankruptcy of our society today?

The failure of government today is not just that it does not refer to God's Law but also that it does not understand the true nature of the human. The Communists thought religion itself is a poison, they though it was opium for the masses. So they thought they we were better off without it. They thought the State can own everything and that people would still give their best for the State, for the community. But they could not see that by removing religion they were removing the very reason why people would look beyond themselves. Very few are the people who would always prefer the collective to their own self. Especially once God has been removed the equation. This is why Communism failed as a system, as a way of life for the people. Now Capitalism is really not any better, in fact in many ways it is much worse. Because it does not even try to look after the people. It operates on the law of the jungle.

Where the strong devour the weak. Where God has no place in the government or in how the economy functions. Even though the message of Jesus, the message of all the prophets was to sacrifice and to give to one neighbor, this has been forgotten in the Capitalistic society. This is a society that tells us to look out for ourselves, even at the expense of others. And this is how most of us are today in this world where Capitalism rules. We are so focused on ourselves. On feeding ourselves, we do not see the bigger picture, we cannot realize the true meaning of our existence. We think we can find purpose and contentment in accumulating material things. In glorification of ourselves, we think we are lords on earth. This is why we are willing to steal and oppress and even harm and kill. We do not care what others have to go through, as long as we are satisfied. We let millions perish only to save a few pennies on a gallon of gas. So that we can drive around in huge SUVs and trucks that we believe glorify us. This the sad state most of us are in. But can we not see that these are all illusions, can we not see how they will never make us truly happy? It is like chasing after a mirage. We think when we have this or when we do that then we will be happy. We think that it will give us fulfillment, but it never does. We attain that thing we had been seeking so hard only to find the emptiness is still there. Then we find something else of this world to chase after, something else to keep striving for. This quest once again consumes our days and nights. And until we reach it we are in misery. But then when we do reach it we still find ourselves in misery. We keep searching for true fulfillment in the material things. And this constant need to consume is what drives this economy. It is also what suffocates us. Because we can never get enough, never be satisfied. This is why we hoard and do not share. This is why the ego has become so supreme.

Both Capitalism and Communism do not understand the true nature of the human being and that is why they have failed. We cannot have a society without religion for God is the motivation for us to look beyond ourselves. And so in a godless society where everything is owned by the state, man has no reason to strive. No reason to try his best in what he does. Because he can never achieve anything, everything that he works for will just go the state, not for himself. The only area then where he ends up striving is trying to cheat the state. So that he can have more for himself at the expense of others. Since he has been made to forget God he thinks himself as most important. He does not care about the consequence of his actions, he does not even think there will be consequences. For he believes death is only the end of his existence. Why not then try to live life to the fullest even if it means cheating others and stealing from others. Not only has this disease been present in Communist systems but even in social programs that have been implemented in the West. The people just have no motivation to be honest. So they pretend that they cannot work, they pretend as if they need help from the state. When in reality they are not disabled or hampered in any way. It is only out of laziness and a desire to hoard more that they deceive. I grew up in the West. I have seen ladies driving luxury cars and wearing fur coats while they pay for their groceries with food stamps. So on the one hand the honest worker pays more than half her earnings in taxes and on the other hand you have the freeloaders who do not work at all and still get supported by the government. Even for their indulgences. But the blame cannot be placed only on huge government . Because you also find those who live in luxury and who have fortunes in the millions while at the same there are people live in poverty. In this case government failed to fairly distribute the wealth.

This in turn leads to economic inequality. And it is here that you can see the failure of Capitalism. It is estimated that in the United States alone more than 80 % of the wealth is in the hands of the top 10% of the population. Meaning the remaining 90% has to share only 20% of the nation's wealth. And this is for the leading nation in the world, the supposedly most progressed nation. Most other nations are far worse. Why is this we might ask? Why is the wealth concentrated in the hands of only a few? Is it because most people are too lazy, they do not want to work as hard as the top 10%? Is it true that if all of us put in the hard work than we can be as rich as they are? Of course you know that it is not as simple as that, you know there is more to it than that. There are many social and economic barriers to mobility. There are many people today who work hard as any millionaire has ever done, and there are many people who are as intelligent and as innovative as a Bill Gates or a Steve Jobs. But they are just not given the chance. For many in the poor and lower middle class they have to work so hard just to survive. The opportunity to move up, to get an education, to come with the next big invention, or to start their own business is just not there. Many are the children today especially in the third world and the inner cities who have to work even at a young age just to support their own families. And how can you expect anything else? When there is such a huge disparity in the wealth of the nation, when there are so many who have so little. And moreover these days many are the people who want to work but they are unable to find jobs. Many are the corporations whose only concern is profits. So they easily outsource positions and terminate employment of people who have served that company for years. This once again leads to huge profits for a few but many whose lives are ruined. Such is the system, the mentality, of a secular world.

But we need to see that the real problem is much deeper than too much government or too little government. The real problem is not lazy freeloaders or miserly millionaires. The real problem is our distance from God. We as a society have forgotten Him, we have forgotten that our real purpose in life is only to be dedicated to Him. We have forgotten the very reason why we were created and put on this earth. The beauty of Islam is that it came to remind us of this purpose that we have forgotten, to remind us that true happiness cannot be found in the material things. It cannot be found in satisfying our lusts or in glorifying our egos. This is not what we were created for. God created our bodies from this earth and so our bodies may find some tiny satisfaction from this earth. But we are much more than our bodies. Rather our true essence, what we are truly defined by, are our souls. And these can never find satisfaction from any material thing or from any position or prestige in this earth. Our souls can only find peace with their Source. With the Divine. When you are with Him then you can know a peace and a serenity like nothing in this world can ever offer. When you are with Him you are willing to sacrifice and to give, to strive and to struggle, for you now become more than the ego. You become a servant and agent of the Divine. One whose purpose is to bring goodness to the world. Just imagine if all of mankind can reach to this sublime station. Imagine the kind of enlightened personality that can be created . Is this a person who would pretend to be disabled to go on welfare rolls or a person who would cheat in his business or even lie on his taxes? Is this a person who would hoard wealth if he knows his neighbor is in need? Would he gorge himself and throw food away when he knows there are people in the world who are hungry? Would he be content in a world where he find slums next to luxury hotels? A world with any wealth inequalities.

No he would not. Because he knows that all of these do not please his Lord. He loves God more than anything else in the world. And the manifestation of his love is not only his worship but also his striving to make a world that would please God. A world where the people are content both spiritually and materially. Because you need to have both. Although without a doubt the spiritual dimension is higher and more important, not all of us can focus on worship when our body is in pain or when our stomach is hungry or when our children are crying.

First of all these basic needs should be taken care of, only then can we truly focus our hearts on higher aspirations. God recognizes this fact. This is why in our religion He does not burden us more than we can bear. He does not tell us that He is a God of Love and then tell us to give up everything and live a life of poverty. Rather He only tells us to share, to not be wasteful and extravagant, to have fiscal discipline, to not be consumed by the consumer culture. To realize that there is a far greater purpose to existence than just satisfying our lusts. If we can realize this then we can share. And if we all share just a little bit, then we will find that there is more than enough on this earth for everyone. There is enough for all our needs, only not enough for our wants. We need to see the difference between these two. Once our needs are fulfilled then instead of satisfying our wants we should instead look to how we can share. For through this giving, we draw nearer to God. And this is the true contentment. So before we even look to what Islam has to say about government or economy, we can appreciate how it builds the ideal citizen of any society. One whose heart is attached to God, one who always strives to do good and shuns all evil. One who is always looking to how he or she can benefit and not harm. Even from a young age the children in an Islamic society are given the upbringing to reach this station.

Believe it or not even you can reach to this station if only you give yourself over to God. If only you make pleasing Him as the priority in your life. Why can you not do this? Why can you not live for Him? Why can you not give up just a little bit for His sake? Why cannot you learn to be considerate and to share? Why cannot you have a hybrid subcompact instead of a luxury SUV? It will still get you from point A to B. And the money that you save you can give to others. To some of your family who may be in need and to the destitute all across the world. Even a few dollars goes a long way in some parts of the world. So maybe you can also cut back on the parties and the vacations and the snacks. Just a little bit. This is all that God asks of you. Just to be considerate and to share.

But of course the more that you give, the nearer to Him that you can become. Until you begin to realize the joy of spending for His sake. Until just the thought that your Beloved is pleased with you is more valuable to you than anything of this world. This the personality that Islam seeks to create in all of mankind. See then how such a personality is the very cure to the diseases that plague our society today. Unbridled greed and untamed arrogance. People only wanting to live for this world, people only thinking of themselves, people who think fulfillment can be found in the material things. If we can cure these diseases by reminding the people of God, by reminding them of their true purpose, then would this not be the first step in building a better society? If we purify the parts then is this not the first step in purifying the whole? We all have a void in our hearts. If this void is not filled with God then it will be filled with the ego. And all the problems that we see in society today is because egos have become lords over our hearts. Thus the first way in which Islam builds a better society is that it slays the egos. It shows how we can all live for a higher purpose.

Communism fell because of laziness and greed, and now Capitalism is also crumbling because of these evils. But what is their root, what is their cause? Is it not the ego? The ego does not want to strive and at the same time it also wants to hoard. It does not like to share, it does not like to sacrifice. It cannot realize that there is a higher purpose for existence. Just like a beast it always needs to feed. And it always perceives the world in conflict with itself. It sees others as its enemies. So it seeks to dominate and to control. It does not have any trace of compassion or empathy. We need to realize that we all have such a dark side to ourselves. But how do we suppress ego, how do we become truly selfless, or at least come close to that ideal? Does the secular world have a solution to this problem? Does it teach it to children in schools? Of course not. For they know that an enlightened person will not be the best consumer.

Islam however has no such ulterior motive. The social policy, the education policy, the economic policy are all never driven by profits and corporations. Because Islam has a much higher viewpoint, a far more sublime outlook towards life. It is not about feeding the self, rather it is about serving God. This religion teaches us to completely humble ourselves before Him and in the process it utterly slays the ego. So the Muslim is not one who is ever lazy or complacent or apathetic. Because he believes in God. A true and deep belief. And this conviction becomes love which then becomes a yearning to be near. And the Muslim knows the only way to attain that nearness is by striving. The more that you bring Him to mind, the more that you work hard to please Him, the closer to Him you become. And of course this striving is not restricted to worship and rituals. Rather the core of it is being a force for good in the society. By trying to help, comfort and bring peace and joy to all those around you. By trying to end their suffering.

And how can you do this? How can you be such a source of good for those around you and for the society? It is only by making the conscious decision at every moment to remember God. To remember that your true purpose is only in serving Him by serving those around you. By not only planting this illumination deep within your own heart but also by sharing it with all those around you. Just imagine if everyone had such light, or at least even a few more people than those who have it today. Imagine how much better a place the world would be. Not only would there not be the injustices and the tyranny that we see today, not only would the wealth be fairly distributed among all the people of this planet, not only would there be no more wars and conflicts, but just think how peaceful your own life would be. It is possible. With God all things are possible. He is only waiting for you to take the first step.

Now the guidance of Islam for the society does not end here, it does not end in molding a better human being. Rather this is only the beginning. For we believe that society is not only the individuals that make it up but society is also the relationships between those individuals. And these also have to be defined by God. So in Islam our worship, our submission is truly comprehensive. Even our society is part of that worship. The relationship that we choose to have with others is part of that worship. Every way in which our society functions is part of that worship. Even our government, and our economy, and our social system is part of our submission to God. See then just how comprehensive and total our submission is. See then how great is our love for Him. See how much we sacrifice and give over to Him. Every aspect of our society. We submit to Him collectively as we submit to Him individually. Once again realize there is no other religion in the world like this, no other religion where God is so central in all affairs.

In America today many of us claim that we love God and that we take our faith seriously. We ask God to bless our nation. Because of our prosperity we think that we are the nation most favored by God. But I think we really have to stop and to ask ourselves. Is this prosperity really because God loves us? There were many evil nations whom God gave prosperity to for a limited time, in order to test them. To see if they would be grateful to Him and change their ways. But when they chose not to, He punished them. He made them to fall. The ancient Egyptian and Roman empires are examples, as is even Nazi Germany. So we should not fool ourselves into thinking that just because we have some degree of progress and wealth then this automatically means that God loves us. As we said before God is the Most Just. This means He will not favor any one person or nation only because of who they are. Rather you need to earn His Love. You need to prove yourself.

So we need to ask ourselves what have we done to earn God's love? What have we done for Him? How close are our lives today to the life that Jesus lived. Are we sacrificing and giving to those around us like he did? Do we have in us any compassion and empathy for the destitute and oppressed just like he did? Regardless of their nationality or race. In Islam we believe that his love was color blind. He did not discriminate between black or white, American or Asian. He saw that we are all God's slaves just like he was. All of us are humble before the Majesty and Glory of God.

While it may be possible for one person to be higher than another in their nearness to God, on account of only their character and their works, in Islam we believe this is for that person and that person alone. Their good works and even their sins for that matter are not passed onto their children. Each of us is responsible only for ourselves. This is God's justice.

The reason I am bringing this up is because in Islam we do not believe that an entire race can be punished for the sins of one man. We do not believe people of darker skin are cursed or in any less in the estimation of God than people of lighter skin. Rather we believe that He loves us all equally, and He will judge us all equally. We also believe that He wants a world where all can share of His bounties and all have a fair chance of success in this world. Today we as the human race are very far from this ideal. Today there is tremendous wealth inequality and outrageous injustices in power.

So once again the question to ask ourselves is such a reality pleasing to God? Did Jesus also not say that it was as difficult for a rich man to enter heaven as it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle? And did he not tell us to give to the poor from more and more of what we posses? Do you think then that he would be pleased with a world where there is so much poverty and suffering? If only you take the time to study Jesus' life then you would see that it is very different from the vision of those right wingers who are anti government, anti taxes on the wealthy, anti immigration and anti services for the poor. Jesus, and all the other prophets, called for social justice. They called for the people to be looked after, for the wealth to be shared. See then the hypocrisy of many of our politicians. On the one hand they claim to love Jesus but on the other they cannot put their money where their mouth is. If you truly love Jesus then why cannot you sacrifice and give to others like he did, why cannot you serve the people and look out for their well being like he did? Why cannot you have deep concern for humanity like he did? It is not enough to give a few dollars in charity here and there and do some favors to your neighbors now and then. Rather our benevolence and service has to be more than that. It has to be comprehensive.

It has to be at the level of the state. In order that real good is achieved. Because as we see from the world today, the so called “philanthropy” of a few individuals in an otherwise unregulated economy will only go so far. There are still so many suffering, still so many in need, while at the same time there are still those few who have so much. So we need to give at a societal level, we need to have real systems in place to distribute the wealth, to look after all the people. Only then can we hope to end all suffering. Only then can there be a society that is fair for all. A manifestation of Divine Mercy and Justice.

Now you might be thinking that what I am speaking of is Socialism or Communism. But I assure you that it is not. You only need to look deeper at what the Islamic economic/political model really is. There is private ownership of property and a market where individuals and even corporations can compete for profit. Such a phenomena was present even at the time of the Prophet. In fact the Prophet Muhammad himself was a merchant by profession as were most of his companions. Not only that but countless are the verses in the Quran exhorting us to be honest and fair in our business dealings. How could such rulings be relevant if the state owns everything?

So not only does Islam have free markets and private ownership but it even makes business and profession a part of one's worship to God. As we saw in the previous chapter even our trading or our work as laborers can be part of our servitude to God. Such is how comprehensive this religion is. Thus any reservations you might have about any apparent similarities to Communism should be removed. In Islam the state does not own everything and the people are empowered to pursue their dreams to the fullest extent. Moreover we know Communism outlawed religion all together. They denied the very existence of God. Whereas Islam calls for all society to submit to Him.

How then can you claim that these two systems are the same? Yes there are some similarities that Islam has with Socialism, but it also has similarities with Capitalism. It really is the best of both worlds. Because while it does allow for the proper distribution of wealth, it also does not in any way hinder productivity or progress. Rather it motivates everyone to strive to their utmost in all that they do. Even in their trade and their profession. For as I said it makes these into acts of worship. In Islam we praise God in all His Majesty and Glory not only through our prostrations and bowings but also through our work and worldly chores. So in Islam it is not only a man's desire for profits that is driving him to be the best merchant or the best employee that he can be, but more so it is his desire for nearness to God. He knows God is watching him even when he is in the office or at the store, and he knows that the more he strives to do his work in the best way and to be honest in his dealings, the more he will be rewarded, the nearer he will become. Thus he no longer then views his work as a burden or a chore, rather he sees it as a path to the Ultimate. This is why he tries to serve his customer or his employer in the best way he can. For he is no longer focused on the self, on me vs him. Rather it is all about God. I work for God, I live for God. A good, pure, and honest day's work. How much is the emphasis that has been placed on being honest in one's work and striving to the utmost in it? The Prophet said that the honest merchant will be with the prophets and the martyrs on Judgment Day. This is the reward that we believe God will give to us just for being the best employees or merchants or students that we can be. How radically different is this from Communism which denied God? And created a society of laziness and corruption. See then how one is a system based on slavery to the ego and another a system based on slavery to the Divine.

Though Islam does allow for private ownership, it also at the same time places emphasis on charity and distribution of wealth. God says in the Quran that He does not desire for wealth to circulate only among the affluent. Rather it must be shared, it must be given out. The command to give in charity appears again and again in the Quran, even more than prayer or fasting or any other ritual. And as we saw even in the Bible this theme is most prevalent. As Jesus said “Go sell everything that you have and give to the poor, and then you can follow me”. See then how Jesus linked spending on the poor to following him, meaning if you do not spend on the poor then you cannot be his follower.

So just because we have property of our own does not give us the right to hoard everything for ourselves. There must be a balance. Islam does not tell us to give up everything or to let the state own everything, but it does tell us that we need to share. And the more we that we have the greater is the calling on us to share. Firstly to show gratitude to God for His rendering on us such bounties. And secondly because having more simply puts us in a better capacity to give. Just think of the millionaires and the billionaires. If they gave only a portion of their wealth in charity then how much is the good that can be accomplished. How many are the hungry who can be fed, how many are the cold who can be clothed, how many are homes that can be built for those today who are living in tents or who do not have any homes? Is this not what would please God? How can you hope to earn His Love if you hoard so much for yourself while there are still so many who are in need? So we need remind ourselves of our priorities. God created us in His Image. This means we should strive to realize our true nature, being an agent for Goodness, Light and Mercy. When we give to those in need then we come closer to this ideal.

The system that Islam has to facilitate the distribution of wealth is called Zakat. Here a portion is taken from the savings and the estates of the rich. The tax is not on income but on wealth. Just a small amount like 5%. Basically if you have money and property in excess of a certain threshold (for example $10,000), then you need to each year give 5% of that to the state. And this is really the only tax the state collects. The state in turn distributes that wealth to those who need it. The poor, the orphans, the single mothers, the elderly who do not have anyone to care for them. So the primary recipient of the Zakat are the poor and the under-privileged. Those in need who have no where else to turn.

See then the beauty of this system. First it only asks of those who have some degree of wealth. The single parent struggling to make ends meet and who has no savings does not pay any taxes. Neither does the investor who uses his money to start or expand his business. This tax is only taken from wealth that is not being used, that is not being benefited from by the community in some way. So for example if you have a car that you use for your daily living then it is not counted as part of the wealth that is taxed, but if you simply keep it in a garage and only use it for show like a collector then you must pay Zakat on it. The goal is thus to prevent hoarding. To prevent wealth from being stored up and thus being in a state where it does not benefit anyone. Not even its owner.

See also how it does not negate the idea of private ownership of wealth. If you worked hard then you are free to enjoy the fruits of your labor. But once you reach a certain level of affluence where you have plenty then all that is asked of you is that you share a small portion of it. What is 5% compared to 95 how little are you giving and how much are you keeping? Is this too much to return to the One Who gave you all wealth?

So do not think of this wealth that you are giving up as a punishment for your hard work or your success. Rather think of it as a means of showing gratitude to God. Remember how that all you have is really from Him. He is the Source, He is the Giver. Were it not His choosing to give you, you would be destitute. Be absolutely certain of this fact. He is the Creator of all the wealth that you have just as He is the Creator of your abilities that allowed you to acquire it. He is also the One Who put you in the situations in life that allowed you to acquire that wealth. Why were you born in the wealthiest of nations instead of in the poorest? Who is it really that gave you the opportunity to get an education or to attain that job or to be successful in business? Did you really do it all by yourself? Were there not factors beyond your control which helped you ? So once you realize that your wealth is only from Him and you see that your purpose in life is to please Him then to part with that wealth is not difficult. Islam inculcates such a viewpoint towards life. Now think if especially the wealthy can have such a mindset. Would they still be reluctant to part with the wealth that God blessed them with? Would they hoard all that wealth only for themselves? No, rather through the proper upbringing and enlightenment process they would come to the realization that when they sacrifice and they give, when they make the effort, that is when the true contentment can be tasted. There is a life after this. And even here there is the sweetness of the Divine Presence. But to reach this station some sacrifice is needed. With this realization we would all give not only the 5% the law requires of us but even more. We would work to alleviate poverty altogether. It would be the end of hoarding and the beginning of sharing. So that we all can walk together towards the Mercy of God. Your choosing to accept Islam is the first step into the realization of this world.

Now an argument that you may bring is that if wealth is stored up then one can gain usury from it. To this contention the response is that Islam does not allow usury. It forbids it categorically. God has clearly told us that it is among the acts most despised by Him. So if there is no such concept as usury then what is your incentive to just keep money in the bank? The real problem in the world today is people hoarding wealth for themselves. There are billions upon billions just stored up in coffers, while at the same time there are so many people who are in need. Who literally have nothing. This is nothing short of injustice, oppression, evil. God sent Islam to eradicate this evil. By telling us never to hoard. Rather to trust in His Promise that He will give to us if we only we give to those around us. Not only will He replenish the wealth we spend for His sake but doing so also draws us nearer to Him. As long as we are in a state where we are seeking to do good to those around us we are journeying to Him. We are coming closer and closer to that sublime station of His Presence. Why then can you not give, why can you not spend? Even when you spend on yourself and your family you are strengthening the economy, you are helping to create jobs for your neighbors and fellow citizens. You are still being a source of good in the world. You are still benefiting those around you. This is what matters, this is what He wants from you. See then how Islam helps to bring good for the entire society in so many ways. Even if money is not given directly to charity there is still some good coming out from it. It is still in some way helping to make the world into a better place . Is this not better than the world today? Where on the one hand you find billionaires who have so much and at the same time there are children who are starving to death? The root cause of this is hoarding, which is caused by lack of trust in the Providence of God. Islam came to cure such an illness.

Did you know that if Zakat was implemented in the world today and the wealthiest gave only that small portion of their riches in charity then it would eliminate all the poverty in the world? It might not make everyone into millionaires but it would alleviate the suffering and the need. It would give a fair chance to all the children to find success for themselves, rather than suffering and dying in poverty. Did you know that every single day over 25,000 children die from hunger alone. And half of every single child in the world today lives in poverty. How could we have done this to our children? How can we call ourselves a modern and progressed people when there exists in our world such deprivation and suffering. When there are children who go to bed hungry, when there are people in pain from preventable and curable diseases. This is what we can prevent if only we gave our fair share. If only we can find it in ourselves to think of more than our needs and wants. We as a people living in the West need to bring our heads out of the sand. We need to realize just how blessed we are. And we should not be so arrogant and so short sighted to think that all of these bounties He gave to us are only because of how great we are. We are not great, only God is great. This is what Islam teaches us. It slays all the egos. The ego of the self, the ego of the nation, and the ego of the race. Once the ego is slain then we can realize how important a place God must have in our lives. And when He is paramount for us then we cannot be content when His creation is in pain. Because we realize that we are all connected through Him. So the more that you give, the more that you work, to bring about a world where everyone can be free of suffering, the nearer to Him that you become. The more the ego melts away and the true Reality that lies underneath is revealed. But to reach this station requires much sacrifice, struggle, and adopting a whole new outlook on life.

Thus what the world needs now, what God wants for us is a system which takes care of the people, which alleviates their suffering on all levels, which gives them a fair chance to earn success for themselves in this world. Islam has a vision to facilitate this through the system of Zakat. A system which allows for the distribution of wealth through all levels of the society. And to all the peoples of the world.

Today in the United States there is the problem with the federal deficit in that the government is spending more than it is making. Because of this some politicians want to cut back on all social programs. Such as welfare for the poor and the disabled and medicare for seniors. Even if the consequence of these cut backs is that in the wealthiest country in the world there will be children who go to sleep hungry and seniors who cannot afford their medication. These politicians still want to cut their life line, they say we cannot afford these social programs.

However the real problem is not insufficient funds, rather it is in how the government is taxing the people in the first place. The problem is that we are taxing people on their income instead of on their wealth. This encourages people to hoard wealth as we saw earlier, and it also encourages them to find loop holes around the tax system. It encourages them to find means of income which are not heavily taxed or taxed at all. So their wealth continues to grow and they in turn become richer but they still end up giving very little. There are people today whose personal wealth is $100 million, $500 million, or even in the billions. Once that money goes past the “income” phase and becomes part of their wealth then it is never looked at again. It becomes theirs. Whereas Islam says no, Islam says that as long as you as an individual have such large fortunes then you need to share it with others. You cannot hoard. For the tax is on the wealth that is hoarded and not on the income.

See then how this system prevents large amounts of wealth being concentrated only in the hands of the few. This is one of the greatest problems in our society, wealth inequality. We spoke earlier about the statistics, but remind yourself now how shocking they are. If we are saying that the top 10% has 90% of the wealth, then do you not think that if they were to share even a small portion of this, it would help everyone else.

Distribution of wealth is the main principle that the Islamic Economic system is built on. Whereas in Capitalism the focus is on consumption and production. Because they begin with the assumption that there are not enough resources to meet the needs of all the people. But Islam makes a distinction between the needs and the wants of the human being. There may not be enough to satisfy the wants of the human because his wants are almost endless. Especially for a human who has not been given guidance, who does not know God, who thinks that this life is the only life to live and so he must enjoy himself as much as possible. Such people are not satisfied no matter how much they have, they always want more. But Islam can help create a different personality. Through which we can realize that there is more to life than accumulating material things. So we can all be content with what God has given us in this world. For we see that our main purpose in life lies in pleasing God. If everyone had such an enlightened personality then we would find that there in this world is more than enough for everyone. See then how the economic system which Islam establishes fits with the enlightened personality that it creates. Whereas the corrupted economic system of Capitalism stems from the ego centric personality of the ignorant ones. Which one is better for the world, which is more pleasing to God? In which can we put our hope that it would create a better future for all our children.

There is no problem then with you being rich, you only need to learn to share. Did you know that if only the Islamic tax system of Zakat was implemented today in our country then there would be no more deficit. We would have more than enough funds to feed our poor and heal our sick. To send our children to school, to build up our highways and infrastructure. We would even have a surplus of wealth which we can send in the form of aid to less privileged nations. This is what Islam has to offer. This is how it can make all our lives better.

But we do not have such a tax system. Rather ours seems catered for the super rich. To make them wealthier and wealthier. This is why we have those huge wealth inequalities which we spoke of earlier and need to mention again. Because it should be shocking. Why is it that there are so few who have so much and so many who have so little? This is not just, it is not fair. If our government keeps allowing for such injustices to continue then it is not a true democracy, rather it is tyrannical and exploitative. But there is a reason why it is so. There is a reason why there never has been and never will be a true democracy. Because the nature of power is that it corrupts and so when man claims power for himself he will be corrupted. Why do we have such an unfair tax structure, why are there such gross wealth inequalities? Why are the affluent allowed to continue to grow their fortunes while the rest of us struggle so hard and we have to little? It is only because man has usurped God's sovereignty on the earth. Man has made himself into the lawmaker. In Islam we believe this is a role that man was never meant to have. For he is too fallible, too weak, too influenced by his lusts and greed. Can you not see that the ones with the wealth are really the ones in power? Not you or me or even our so called “representatives”. This is why the system allows them to keep their wealth. They have rigged it.

This then leads us to another beauty of Islam. And that is how it returns sovereignty to the One Who deserves it. This religion is comprehensive. It truly is a way of life. It truly allows us to submit to God through all that we do. The way in which our society functions can be a manifestation of our submission to Him, our love for Him.

When the Prophet Muhammad established the first Islamic State in the city Madina, we believe that he set forth a precedent for all the future generations of Muslims to follow. He showed us how the structure of our government should be and its purpose. In his time Islam was not confined only to ritual and tradition. Rather even then it encompassed the political, social, and economic spheres of the Muslim community. This was how the Muslims lived in his time and this was how he wanted them to live. He never told us to render unto Ceaser what was for Ceaser and unto God what was for God, rather he told us to give everything for God. Islam does not recognize the authority of anyone except God. This may seem like a very radical idea. But just think about it for a moment. If you knew that God sent down to you a law by which to live. If you knew that this was how He wanted you to live at the societal level, then how could you choose a way of life other than it? How can you be content in a world where there is so much injustice and suffering? When you know that if only we implemented the systems He send down we can alleviate it, we can make a better world for all our brothers and sisters in humanity. When you have truly submitted yourself to God then the ego is slain. Now you have as much concern for others as you do for your own self. Could you ever be content if it were your own child dying from hunger? No, rather you would strive day and night to make a better life for him or her. Islam teaches you to extend this concern for all the children. For we are all brothers.

Another reason why God must be sovereign is that He deserves to be so. Is He not the Creator of this earth, is He not the Creator for each and every one of us? The Sustainer as well. Your heart does not beat except that He is the One Who is making it to beat. The sun does not rise except that He is the One Who makes it to rise. It is all because of Him, it is all through Him. How then can He be forgotten, how can His Law and His way of life be neglected? How ungrateful and unjust are we if we live heedless of Him as a society when He is the reason for our very being? Such is the insanity that we are all living in. If you cannot see this then you only need to remind yourself of His Reality. God is Real. He is not a joke, not an illusion, not a fairy tale. If only you can make the effort to lift those heavy veils that have been placed over your eyes then you too can see. Why He must be the One Who rules you, not any man, not even one who claims to be your “representative”. Such is how comprehensive your submission needs to be.

Not only does God deserve to rule because He is the Creator and Sustainer, but also because He is the Most Able to legislate. On account of He being the Most Wise and the Most Knowing. Is not the knowledge of God a Perfect Knowledge while the knowledge of man a limited knowledge? Is man not susceptible to being influenced by his passions while God is Transcendent above having such lusts? Who then is better to lay down a system by which all mankind must live? Who will be more just and fair, who will be more merciful and considerate? Man does not always know what is best for him, he does not always know what is right and wrong. Even to this day, even within our own country, we remain divided on almost every issue. From abortion to the death penalty to homosexuality to gun control to cloning to censorship to assisted suicide. We all seem to have our own opinions. We all think we know best.

And these are just a few of countless examples. Even on the role of government we cannot come to an agreement. We haggle and we argue. We go back and forth. Even our politicians will change direction on issues only to please the particular crowd that they are addressing. Why is this? Why is it so hard for us to come to a consensus? It is because we are not capable of judging for ourselves right and wrong, good and evil. What is good for one person is evil for another. How then can we claim sovereignty for ourselves? We are not capable of ruling. But God Who is the All Knowing He does know. By His infinite Knowledge and Wisdom He Knows what is best for us, and because of His unending Love for us He has told us in the law that He has revealed to us.

Such is what you need to realize about Islam, it is not a system that was only applicable 1500 years ago in Arabia. Rather it is relevant for today's modern society as well. First and foremost because it is from God. And He Knows what is best for us at all times and in all places. Secondly because we as humans have not changed in all that time. Our environment may have changed, and the technology that we use, but what drives us is still the same. We still have the same instincts and organic needs. The need for food, wealth, power, sex, family. We as a species have not changed in all this time, this is why the law is still applicable for us even though it was revealed all those years ago. This book gives you just a taste of Islamic Law, but from what you have seen here can you not see how it is better than what we have today? Even the economic system being one that facilitates the proper distribution of wealth. One that allows for all people to be taken care of, that eradicates poverty, is this alone not far better than what we have today? Can you not see already how one is based on the greed of man and the other on the Wisdom and Mercy of the Divine?

Several other examples can be cited to show the superiority of Islamic Law to modern secular law. Among these is the prohibition in Islam of so many evils that society today permits. These include adultery, usury, gambling, alcohol, and insurance. Just to name a few. How much harm is caused in our society by these evils? How much is the domestic violence and abuse that alcohol has caused, how many lives have been ruined from gambling, how many are in poverty and debt from usury, how many divorces result from adultery and infidelity?

We know that all of these are not pleasing to God, so if we truly love Him then how can we permit them in society? In fact God Knows first and foremost how harmful these are, and that is why He has prohibited us from them. Because He loves us, because He only wants the best for us. He wants for us to be content and at peace both as individuals and as a society. But we in our short sightedness cannot see this because we are blinded by our lusts. This is why we permit these evils which cause such harm to our society. But if only we can free our hearts from the grips of egos, and see the greater purpose for our lives, then we can would see where true happiness is.

Imagine this world where God's Law is implemented, a world where all mankind is united as one nation. Where we no longer discriminate on race, ethnicity or any artificial and superficial notion of nationality. Where we no longer make any of these a reason to divide us. Rather we come together on what unites us, our love for the Divine and our yearning to be His slave. To be an Agent of His Mercy and Compassion for all the creation. To let this striving be the ultimate manifestation of our glorification and praise of Him. If we all just made the effort then by His Grace we can create a world very different from the world today. A world without any tyranny and oppression, without suffering and deprivation, without vices and evil.

In Islam we believe that such a world is possible in the here and now. We do not believe in waiting for a savior to come and bring God's Kingdom, rather we believe that it can happen today. But it is our responsibility. Each of us must try. We are the saviors. For ourselves and for those around us. We do not see ourselves as sinners, we do not believe that the human being is a creature of darkness and evil. Rather God has told us in the Quran that we are creatures of beauty, perfection and light. This is what is known as our fitra or our natural condition. It is only when we become heedless of God, which then causes us to be consumed by egos and we fall from this lofty station. So all that mankind truly needs is guidance and the motivation to follow this guidance. In the Quran you will find both of these. For this is a Book that not only teaches you about God and how to serve Him, but it also instills in you a desire for Him. It shows you how much you need to love Him, both on account of His Perfection and Majesty and on account of all that He has bestowed on you. If we can bring mankind to this level where they love God and yearn to serve Him, then such a world is possible.

All that is really needed is education. We only need to teach the people about God. We only need to remove the veils that have been placed over their eyes. If we do then they will come to realize the true purpose of existence. They will come to see that only in serving Him can they find true peace and contentment. Can you not see this as well? How can you claim to love God but be pleased with a world where He has been forgotten? If your love for Him is true and deep then you will strive to bring a world that is pleasing to Him. A world where the hearts are with Him instead of with egos and materialism. A world where people live in a way that is pleasing to Him, a way that is wholesome and pure.

People may think they can find pleasure in vices but this is only because their hearts are heedless of Him. If only you knew God, if you knew the sweet pleasure in worshiping Him then you would not need that that vice anymore. For you would have found something far more satisfying. Whatever it is that you may have attached your heart to, realize that it is only a cheap substitute. You hold on to it hoping that with it you can fill that void but you cannot. For that void can only be filled with Him. There is no ocean deeper than your heart and if you keep filling it with all that is other than Him it will never be satiated. This is the realization that we need to come to. If we do then we believe God's Kingdom can return to the earth. It happened already at the time of Prophet Muhammad. As we will see God willing in an upcoming chapter, he also had found himself in a world of heedlessness and sin. But with the guidance given to him by God, with persistence and effort, he by God's Grace transformed his society into a nation completed dedicated to God. A nation that only identified itself by this submission.

As I said before and need to emphasize again Islam is a comprehensive religion. Every aspect of our life has been addressed, meaning guidance has been given for it. So that we can implement it in a way pleasing to God. He has told us how to pray to Him, how to deal with our family, how to conduct our business, how to be an employee or an employer, a student or a teacher, how to eat, how to behave with others, how to dress, even how to use the restroom. But these are laws relating to the individual. There is also guidance for the collective, for society as a whole. Included in this the structure of the government and the economic policy. We have already seen a glimpse of these two in this chapter. Now God willing let us delve deeper. Let us see how vast and pure is the guidance God has given us in this wonderful religion.

Today most governments in the Western world are secular democracies. In some ways government in Islam is similar to this model but in many ways it is different. First let us see the similarities. Like a democracy, Islam is also established on the principle of equality among all people. It does not call for an aristocratic or priestly society. We are all children of Adam, we are all slaves of God. None of us is better than another on account of race, gender, or any other surface categorization. God has said that He does not look to our bodies or our forms but to our hearts and our deeds. This is how we can prove our worth, this is how one of us can be better than another. And of course this estimation is known only to God. We can only try our best to reach it. But we ourselves should try to refrain from judging others, we should always think the best of others and see the best in them. As we said Islam slays the ego totally. Till we no longer see the other, we no longer see us vs them or me vs him or her. Rather we see ourselves as equal, and even more than that we see ourselves connected through God. This is the extent to which the equality of all peoples is stressed and reinforced in Islam. Realize that this is also is a concept which the world owes to Islam, for it was never heard of before the Quran was sent down. Even ancient Greece was not a true democracy. There was a ruling elite. There was a group in whom power was concentrated. They never believed in the equality of all human beings. Only Islam brought to the world such a radical concept. Today we almost consider it the norm, but remember where it began. It began 1500 years ago in the deserts of Arabia. Just like most other nations at that time, the Arabs were very tribal and class based people. It was common for man to look down on another only because of his tribe, his status or his race. But Islam changed them. It made them to recognize the equality of all human beings.

So realize that this radical idea that we are all equal is one that the world owes to Islam. Unfortunately many of us have been slow to adopt it. Rather we continue to think our nation or our race as superior. Such thinking has been the one source for most of the oppression that we have committed. When you view someone as less than you then you do not place the same value on their life as you do on yours . You do not have any empathy for them. The feeling of superiority that you have justifies in your mind your harming them or your exploiting them. Most of the wars, most of the bloodshed, and the pillaging, and the raping, and the torturing in the history of mankind has been done by people who had this mentality. Who in some way thought they were superior. The same can be said for slavery, imperialism and the holocaust. It was all because of this thinking that I am superior to you. Can you not see how this mentality is a manifestation of the ego? Islam came to slay the ego. By teaching us submission to God. Thus Islam not only teaches us that we are all equal, but it also shows us how we can realize and internalize this equality. By making us to realize that we are all only His slaves and that all glory is only for Him. When we come to this realization we see that “me” as a person or even “us” as a nation is meaningless. Such identities that we have created are all just illusions. We are not really separate, rather we are all connected by Him. For His sake then we make the effort to remove all feelings of malice, hatred and discontent for others and we replace this with love, forgiveness, and compassion. We all can reach this sublime station, we have to believe so. We have to respect our fellow human beings enough to see in them this potential. We should never see anyone as the “other” or as the “enemy”. If our love for God is true and overflowing then how can we ever find wrong or inferiority towards any of His creation?

So a principle of Islamic governance is that all the laws are based on revelation, meaning all the laws are from God. We believe that He is the Absolute Sovereign. Not only in heaven but on earth as well. For us there is no real distinction between secular and sacred, there is no distinction between worldly and religious. Our submission to God is total and our worship is comprehensive. So even our government, even the laws that we rule by is a manifestation of our total surrender to the Divine. There is never a sphere of our lives in which we are heedless of Him. There is a never a station which is outside our journeying to Him. It is all connected. It is all about Him.

Now to interpret the law of God and to apply it upon the people there is a central figure known as the Caliph or the Sultan. This person is not at all a king because his authority is not absolute. In fact he himself does not have any authority. He cannot bring any laws based on his whims. Rather every single law that he decrees must have a basis in the revealed text of Islam. In other words he has to prove to the people that each and every law is really from God and not from himself. So in reality he does not have any power. The Power is really with God Who revealed the sacred text.

The process by which the Caliph interprets the text is called Ijtihad. Basically this is the process of trying to find the correct ruling from the revealed text to apply to a given reality or situation. Islam has detailed laws in both the Quran and in the statements of the Prophet. These laws cover a wide array of issues from marriage and divorce to family relationships to inheritance to business dealings to rules of war to economic policies. But of course not every single reality that an individual or a society can face has been explicitly detailed in the text. There is where the Caliph must try to find the verse which is most applicable for that situation.

And he must demonstrate to the people why he chose that particular text to apply. If he does not then the people have the right to hold him to account. Because the primary purpose of the Caliph is to apply God's Law on the people, not to usurp the Divine Authority for himself. And the people have the ability to make certain that he is doing so, because the sacred text are available for them as well. As I mentioned before and need to stress again in Islam there is no clergy, no special class who has exclusive access to scriptures. Rather the Quran and all the narrations of the Prophet are open to the public. So even the grocer or the baker can have as much knowledge of the scriptures as the Caliph. This is what allows them to hold him to account. To make sure that it is God, their true Lord and Master, Who is ruling over them.

In addition to the people themselves there is also a special council appointed to oversee the Caliph. The purpose of this council is to make certain that he does not overstep his bounds. So realize that in Islam there is a system of checks and balances, there are means to prevent tyranny. It is not at a monarchy or a dictatorship where one man has all the power. Though there may be some Muslim countries today who have adopted such a tyrannical form of government such is not what Islam calls for. We cannot blame the religion as a whole for the actions of a few misguided people who claim to be its adherents. As we showed earlier one of the very principles upon which Islam is established is the equality of all human beings. How then can there ever be equality if one person or group of people have all the power? So the Caliph is checked by the people and he is also checked by this special council. To ensure that all the sovereignty remains with God. This earth belongs to God, who other than He can have the right to rule it? Islam thus returns sovereignty to its rightful Owner.

If you are still worried about the Caliph abusing his power then remember also how Islam creates a certain kind of personality. First and foremost it is the Caliph in whom God expects this personality to be manifested. For the Caliph is God's representative, His viceroy on the earth. This is very meaning of the word “Caliph” in Arabic. So he is expected by God and by the people to be of those nearest to the Divine. This is the most important of qualifications for the position.

Just think then about that beautiful human being who we described in the previous chapter. The one who has such humility and such concern for others. The one who strives to do as much good as possible for others, even at the expense of his own needs. Just think what kind of a leader would such a person be, what would be the policies in his government? Would he ever exploit or oppress his people? Would he ever overtax them or neglect their needs? Would he only serve the powerful lobby groups who financed his campaign? Would he bring even a single law that was not in the best interests of all his people? Of course he would not because he knows that he has to answer to God. Even more than fear he has love for the Divine. At each moment he yearns only to please God and be near to Him. A leader not dominated by his ego. How wonderful a prospect is this, how beautiful a society can he bring about? And of course if the leader is so righteous and altruistic then would not the people follow his example? Would the people also not do all that they can to show love and compassion for all beings? Would not the laws in that government seek to bring goodness for all? Would the leader or the people ever tolerate oppression and cruelty towards any human being? Towards any creature? They would not because they would know that their very purpose on this earth is to be God's Light. To be a source of compassion and mercy for all.

The Caliph does not have a specific term that he must serve. He is allowed to keep the position as long as he fulfills its conditions, as long as he does his job. Now you might think that this opens the door for tyranny and abuse of power, but in reality it allows him to better fulfill his role, to better serve the people. Why is it that in the West there has been such a need to check the power of our rulers? Because we assume that if we do not then they will indeed abuse their power. We do not dare expect any more from them, we think this is simply in their nature. And it is indeed in their nature if they have not been given the proper enlightenment and guidance. If they have not been shown the path to God. But once again if our leaders can first be cultured with the correct knowledge and outlook on life. If they can be shown that their purpose is serving God. Then there would be no need for an elaborate system only to check the power of the ruler. As we said earlier there is a council and there are the people themselves. So there is oversight even in Islam. Because no human being is perfect. We are prone to sin, to being overpowered by the ego. But in general Islam says that if the leader can be trained to be among the Saints of God then there is no need for elaborate checks on his power. This allows him to bring real change and benefit for the people.

Now I ask you is this not a better form of governance than the secular democracies that we have today? Firstly because a secular democracy by its very definition has no regard whatsoever for God's Law. Now it is understandable why most in the West today have no desire for a theocratic state. When the Church ruled over Europe, when it had real power, it created an age of such tyranny and oppression. A period that became known as the “Dark Ages”. No one today wants to go back to that time. But what you must realize is that in that period it was not God who was truly ruling.

Rather the ones who had the real power were the priests and the kings whom they supported. Moreover these priests did not look to the scriptures because Paul had already said that there was no need for the revealed text. There was no need to base rulings on what the prophets had spoken. So every priest claimed to be in communion with God, claimed to be “inspired” by the Holy Spirit. This then allowed them to bring any decree that they pleased without first proving to the people that such a decree was from God. The people simply were forced to accept such decrees on faith. But as we saw in Islam this is not the case. The Caliph cannot bring any decree that he desires to. He first has to prove where in the revealed text that ruling is to be found. He has to demonstrate to the people how each decree is truly God's will. It also helps that the sources of Islamic Law are far richer and more detailed than the New Testament or Mosaic Law. So there is no need for a clergy inspired by spirits. We can be certain that it is God Who is legislating and not men who simply claim to on His behalf. Since we have direct access to scripture we can verify this. Thus it is not possible for someone to abuse power. See then how a true Islamic State is very different from how Europe was under the Catholic Church. We never had any bad experiences from mixing religion with politics so there was never a need to separate between the two. And in reality as we saw earlier how can you be sincere to God and be happy with the separation? How can you give to God only a partial submission? How can you refer to Him for some of your affairs while referring to men who claim to be presidents and congressmen on others? Their claim to power is an illusion created by their egos. Just like your ego has no right to rule over your heart, they have no right to rule over the earth. Both of these belong to God and so only He can rule over them. This is the vision of Islam.

Thus the first way in which the Islamic system of governance is superior is that it truly is the Law of the Creator and not the law of the creation. And does not He being God know what is better for us more than we do? Not only is He our Creator and Sustainer but He is also the All Knowing and the Most Wise. Does this not make Him a better Legislator than man? As we saw earlier man is influenced by his passions and his prejudices. Can such a limited being bring a system that is just and fair for all? Or a government that is capable of looking after the people in the best way. Of course not as we can see from the world today. We have already cited many examples such as the grossly unfair distribution of wealth. If you have never tasted of poverty or felt the oppression of this tyrannical system then you are so fortunate, so blessed. If you have not been addicted to alcohol or had to live with someone who is then again you are blessed. If the darkness that has engulfed the world today has been shielded from you then He has been most kind with you. Can you not then show your gratitude. By thinking about your brothers and sisters in humanity who have not been as fortunate. Can you not feel for them? Can you not break free of the ego that prevents you from having empathy for them? Can you not see that this world where the ego rules is only the consequence of our turning from Him? How many lives have been ruined, how much is the pain and suffering ? And still our “representatives” fail to act. Why is this? It is only because their lusts and their greed cloud their judgment, these demons prevent them from doing what is best for the society. Each group in our society only wants to benefit itself, even at the expense of others. So gun owners do not want to give up their firearms. The wealthy do not want to share their wealth. Men want to have affairs and not be punished by the state. Even if their wives and children are hurt.

See then how it is a selfish system, an egoistic order. Everyone is only concerned with themselves. Very few look out for others, and even fewer think of God. Such is the nature of a secular world. It is a system that fails to recognize the higher potential within the human being. It assumes that the human is nothing more than an animal, an intelligent ape. Whose only desires are food, sex, material things and self glorification. This is what we have been reduced to by the society that surrounds us. This is what we indoctrinate our children with. This is the consequence of turning away from God.

But Islam is different. The Law Giver is Perfect and Pure. The One not swayed by passions. The One Who has no ego. So in Islamic society these evils were recognized for the evils that they were. Alcohol, fornication, usury, gambling, and even hoarding of wealth were outlawed. And as a result Islam never had these problems that the West today is just drowning in. Read the history and find out for yourself. You would never find in the true Islamic State problems such as depression and suicide. You would never find headlines of gunmen massacring children in cold blood by the dozens, never find a divorce rate of over 50%, never find masses living in abject poverty while a few lavish in extravagance and have fortunes in the billions. You will never find those who cheat the welfare system of the state so they do not have to work. You will never find any such injustices, you will never find people who are so focused only on the self. But notice how I said a true Islamic State. Because there are some countries today who claim to be Islamic states but in reality they are not. In reality they are the furthest from what a Islamic State should be. So do not think Islam is like what most Muslims today have implemented. Rather to see a true Islamic State we have to look to the past, to the time of the Prophet and his followers. And of course to the Quran.

Sadly most Muslims today do not know our religion. Especially the societal aspect of it. And this ignorance is to a large extent the result of Imperialism. After the West conquered the Muslim lands at the turn of the previous century they filled the minds of Muslims with several corrupted ideas regarding our religion. They made us to believe that it was compatible with secularism, that it had no political or social application. This was why many Muslims accepted the rule of man, even if it had a thin facade of Islam around it. But this is not how it always has been. Rather for over 1200 years since God had sent the Prophet, the Islamic world was by far the dominant civilization on the planet. It was at the forefront in all disciplines of science and arts and technology. And it was a society in which many of the ills that plague the secular world today were not to be found. Be it crime, poverty, over taxation, government waste, usury and debt, lack of morality, shame and decency in the media, divorce and infidelity, depression and suicide, rape and incest or materialism and arrogance.

Only in the secular world can you find such problems. Because this is a world that lets the ego roam free. It lets the ego become the lawmaker. It does not believe in building the spirituality of a person. It does not nurture the soul, that which connects us with the Divine. That which will help us to realize our true nature. And we can see the consequences of this in the world around us. We are all today only concerned with feeding ourselves and glorifying ourselves. The “lawmakers” are now thinking of legalizing marijuana and other illicit drugs because there is no way to reduce the demand. See then just how corrupt our society has become, see then the extent of the evil we are willing to allow. Because we do not rule by God's Law we think we know what is better for ourselves. In Islam there is a better way, there is the solution to our problems.

The next way in which Islamic governance excels over other all other forms of governance is that having power concentrated in one person allows it to be more effective. Just look how ineffective the secular democracies are in bringing about any meaningful legislation to address the problems of the people. They are based on two party systems, and all that these two parties try to do is thwart the efforts of the other. They both have their own ideologies and special interests whom they serve. It is these whom they have in mind when they bring any kind of legislation, not what will benefit people. Furthermore because these politicians are all restricted to a certain term limit they are always thinking about re-election. So they do not want to do anything which might make them unpopular with any of their voters, but even more so they do not want to do anything which might upset the special interest groups that are funding their campaigns. As you know these groups are powerful individuals and corporations who have very deep influence over the political process. They will make certain that no law passes which may harm them in any way.

Take for example the issue of tax havens. These are places where corporations move their businesses to in order to avoid paying taxes in their home country. So even if most of their business is actually done in their home country, they still register themselves with the government as a foreign entity in order to evade taxes. The same is done by wealthy individuals. They move their money off shore in order to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. And all of this is perfectly legal. Why? It is because of the powerful influence that these corporations and individuals have on lawmakers. They make huge contributions, both directly and indirectly to the campaigns of legislators. And of course they expect to compensated for these contributions. Unfortunately the result is that democracy is lost.

See then how it is these powerful corporations and these wealthy individuals who have the power. Tax havens to this day are still legal and companies and millionaires still use them. While at the same time there are people in poverty and people who are struggling to make ends meet. It is estimated that there is over $40 trillion in these offshore accounts. All this money has been placed with the specific intent of avoiding taxes, with the specific intent of denying the people their share of this fortune. And we the people are powerless to stop it, in fact most of us are ignorant of it. Yet still we call ourselves a democracy. We think we have power. But it is an illusion to begin with. As we said before and need to stress again, once power is taken from God and given to man, it will corrupt him. He will keep it for himself, he will use it to feed his ego.

And even if any so called representative is sincere, even if he can somehow avoid the special interest groups that are trying from all sides to control him, he still has to work with a system that has not only divided power between different political parties but also across many branches of government. And because power is so spread out it becomes difficult to bring forth any meaningful and effective legislation. As one lawmaker recently said “At this point I think that Washington has become so dysfunctional that we can only look to the small incremental progress that we can make. Both sides want to do the big, bold things -- the problem is they look vastly different”. So there will always be competing ideologies, for example labor unions vs business owners, social progressives vs socially conservatives, gun rights vs gun control, minorities vs the majority, these are just a few of many examples. Everyone wants to do it their way, everyone is convinced that they are right and the other is wrong. Neither is willing to compromise, neither is willing to even listen.

In the end it is just the clashing of egos. It is just one ego trying to glorify itself by putting down others. This is what politics has been reduced to. Just a useless power struggle. This is the consequence of man thinking that he even has power in the first place. Once he has tasted of it, he does not want to give it up. He wants it only for himself. It is hard enough for man to submit his ego to God, can he ever truly submit it to another man? Of course not, the ego will not allow him to. It will seek to dominate. And while these politicians wrangle, the issues facing the people do not get solved. There is still high unemployment, poverty, crime, lack of health care, the immigration system remains broken. All the while our so called representatives continue to argue, the people continue live in misery, under tyranny and oppression.

These are not the only problems with our government today. Yet another is that it never has and never will be a true democracy. Because it is a representative democracy, as you know this means it is the politicians who actually legislate. Not you. They may claim that they represent you, and perhaps even the one you voted for makes it into the office. But when he is in office can you be certain that he will look out for your best interests? Will he check with you before he makes a decision on every bill that he has to vote on? Of course he will not. He looks to serve the special interest groups who put him into office. He may look to what the majority of people in your district want, which may not necessarily be what you want. At the end of the day then what you want is not always what happens. See then how it is not a true democracy in that the people do not have any real power. We never had and we never will. Because it is just not feasible to have a functioning government where everyone always has a say. There will always have to be the few with power and the many without.

This is yet another flaw in democracy. The problem of tyranny of the majority. The majority may be as small as 51%, yet they are the ones who get their way. More often than not you will be among those on the wrong side of that percentile. And you will have the will of the majority imposed upon you. Just think how oppressive this is if that decision of the majority affects you directly. Tell the mothers of all the children who have died from gun violence. They wish that there had been stronger gun control laws. But their voice has been drowned out. Their opinion is not heard, rather the will of another is imposed on them. And in this case it is not even the majority who forced their will on these mothers, rather it is powerful gun advocate lobby, the NRA.

And what is even worse is when the people affected by the decision are not even part of the political process at all. For example the issue on how much aid to send to poor in foreign nations. There are people in the world today who are starving, who are dying only because they do not have enough to eat. Now do these poor have any say in how much aid they will receive from wealthier nations. Even if those wealthier nations are democracies, these poor in foreign countries still cannot make more aid come to them. They are not part of the political process at all because citizenship in the “democratic” wealthier nations is an exclusive club, not everyone can join. Even the children of immigrants in our own country are not given citizenship easily, despite the fact that they have lived here all their lives and this country is the only home that they know. They have no say, they have no voice. Even though they are people just like us. They hurt, they bleed, they cry, just like we do. Yet still they are oppressed. See then how people do not really have power in a democracy. It is all a facade, beneath which the tyranny of yore remains.

See then on how many levels democracy fails, see on how many levels it does not hold true to its promise of being a voice for all the people. See how the promise of power is only an illusion. No matter how much they may tell you that you are the one in control, believe me you are not. This is why there is still that huge wealth inequality even in “democratic” nations. This is why the big banks get bailed out by the government but no one is there to rescue the families when these same banks come and foreclose on their homes. Did you know that in the last 3 years alone over $16 trillion has been infused into Wall Street by the federal government. Trillions are also spend on lucrative defense contracts with powerful and highly influential military suppliers. While at the same time in our country, there are people who are homeless on the streets, there are children who go to bed hungry, there are seniors who need to choose between food or their medication.

Why is this, you really have to wonder, why is the government wasting resources on one hand and neglecting the people on the other? It is because we are not really the ones in power, we never have been. The powerful corporations and billionaires are controlling our elected officials in more ways than you can ever imagine. So it is not a true democracy, it is not really power by the people. And really how can we expect anything other than such a situation? As we showed earlier, first and foremost we need to have a relationship with God. This is what will save us from greed and tyranny. Without it we are too fallible to the whims of the lower self. Think about it, why do the wealthy seek to control the politicians and why do the politicians allow themselves to be controlled? Do they both not realize that what they are doing is not right? They probably do, but their greed gets the best of them. They have no means to protect themselves from it.

When a man is convinced that this life is all that there is to his existence, when he does not believe in there being any consequences for his actions, when he does not think there is any authority who will take him to task, then what is there that prevents him from evil? What is there that prevents him from oppressing his people? What is motivating him to be the most honest and decent and hard working man that he can be? Islam says that man is a creature of goodness. A creature capable of great compassion and honor and bravery. But for most people these flowers will only bloom when they are given the water of faith and the sunlight of knowledge from God. This is what brings out the best in all of us. If we are not given this then the ego usually takes over. And it prevents us from being the light on earth that God intended us to be.

This is why we see all these problems in government and in society in general, it is only a reflection of the darkness that is in our own hearts. It is only the consequence of living in a world where God has been forgotten. In such a secular world people just cannot see past themselves and their own needs. Each of us think that we are the most important person in the world. We do not look beyond ourselves. We do not think of others and we certainty do not think of our Creator and Sustainer. And this is actually the greatest failing of democracy. It is that it assumes that the people were meant to rule. It assumes that man is sovereign on the earth. But if you truly understood the first chapter then you would see that we were never meant to rule. Rather we were meant to be submit. This is our purpose. Life is never about us, it is about Him. And if we choose not to submit, if we choose to turn away, then we will only be in conflict and unrest. Such is the reality both for us as individuals and as a society. True peace, true contentment, true satisfaction can only be found in the submission to God.

And this is the primary reason why Islam has a far superior form of governance to any system that man has ever concocted, democracy included. Because with Islam even our government itself becomes a manifestation of our submission to God. We recognize Him as our Lord and Master, on account of His being our Creator and Sustainer, of His being the one reason for every moment in our lives. So we let Him rule over us, we let Him dictate the policy for our society. And as we saw earlier, His laws are the most just and the most merciful for all the people. Through it everyone can reach a state of tranquility and contentment. Through it everyone can be taken care of. Through it the vices and the evils which plague our society today can be eliminated.

This is because the Caliph's primary role is not just to interpret and implement God's Law but also to look out for the well being of the people. In Islam these two objectives are complementary. For we believe that God sent His Law for the benefit of all mankind. As a mercy for all creation. So every decree the Caliph brings must serve this purpose. You know how much tyranny and suffering the whole world was in before Islam came. If you do not then just read history. Look even the condition that the Christian world was in. There was so much oppression and tyranny on all levels of society. Most people did not genuinely believe that their rulers were there to protect them and look after them. Rather they believed they were only there to exploit and oppress them. For this was the reality they were witnessing. Just the idea that a government should care for its people, the thought that everyone had a right to success, happiness and dignity was absolutely unheard of before Islam. In this religion it was God Who taught us to love each other, to care for each other, to have mutual respect for each other. To realize that true peace can only be found in utter submission.

For many of us such a utopian vision of government functioning may sound like a dream, like something that can never happen. But I believe that this is only due to the low standards that we hold ourselves to, which translates into the low standards that we hold our government to. But if we are able to elevate ourselves, to make ourselves better people then can we not expect the same from our government? If we can become the beings of light that God intended us to be then can we not expect the same of our government? This is what Islam has to offer, this is how we can all be far better off than we are today, this is how we can please God more than we are today, and in the end this is what matters. He is what matters.

Can you not see then how much better off we would be if we were living under God's rule instead of the rule of man. Now I am not calling for an Islamic revolution in this country. No one can force Islam upon you, rather it has to be your choice. In the Quran God has explicitly told us that there is to be no compulsion in religion. This is true at several levels. On the one hand no one can force you to believe, no one can convert you through compulsion, and also on the other hand no one today can force a non Muslim society to accept Islamic rule. It is just not feasible for a tiny Muslim minority which is at most only 5% of the population to dismantle the current system and replace it with Islam. This is just not practicable and I do not believe this is what our religion is calling for today.

Rather my intention is to make you see that Islam at the societal level is not the boogeyman that some have made it out to be. Shariah is not a system of torture and barbarism. It is not amputations and stonings. It is not war and conquest. And it certainly is not terrorism and the killing of civilians. Rather these perceptions are at best a misunderstanding and misapplication and at worst a complete misrepresentation.

There is a separate chapter that I have dedicated only to address the common criticisms of Islam. In there I discuss the role of war, the criminal punishments, the place of women and minorities, and the question of apostasy. These are but a few of the many criticisms that I will address and clarify in that chapter. So there you will see what Islam is not, but from here I want you to see what Islam is. What is Islam at the societal level, what does Shariah Law mean when applied to a nation?

First and foremost Shariah Law is submission to God, as I said before and need to stress again if you truly love God, then how can you find a problem with this? Would you rather live under His Law or the law of man? Secondly Shariah Law is social justice. It calls for the people to be taken care of. And by people it means every single man, woman and child on earth. For as I said it does not recognize race or class or nationality. It considers us all equal, all part of the same brotherhood and collective. We all need to work together for the betterment of our situation. Not only as the human species but as slaves of God. And if we view ourselves this way then it is not only all people whom we must include in our collective rather it is all of creation. Including animals, plants and even the inanimate. For they are all God's creation and so we can connect to Him through our good treatment of them.

This is in essence what Shariah Law is, this is what Islam has to offer for the society. So all I ask is that you just consider it, you consider that there might be a better way than how things are today. Because just look at the world today, just turn on your evening news,how much is the pain and suffering, how much is the oppression and tyranny? Can you not find it within yourself to feel for them, to wish and hope for something better for them? How can you improve your relationship with God if you do not have any compassion for them?

If there is one thing that Islam teaches us it is to have empathy and compassion for those around us. Because when the ego is slain, when the heart has submitted, then you no longer see a world of you vs others. Rather you realize that we are all but slaves of God, we are all connected through Him. Because of your love for Him, you want to be make a better world for His creation. You know this would please Him. The main goal of Shariah is to help each and every one of us to build a relationship with God. And this relationship is not only worshiping Him and glorying Him but also doing His work on the earth. Meaning being a source of mercy, love and kindness to all creation. Because we believe that God is Light and so to be a man of God is to be a Light for all those on earth.

Just as at the individual level we seek to bring light to all those around us, our society itself also must be a source of light. I hope you have come to realize in this chapter how this can be so. Look at usury as a simple example. How much is the destruction, the poverty, the suffering that it has caused? Would not the world be a better place, a more merciful place without it? It is based on the erroneous concept of the time value of money. They claim that if they had not lent you that money then they could have invested it in something and that money would have grown as a result. But this is based on the assumption that the investment was successful. What if it had failed, then that money would have been lost. So Islam does not recognize the concept of time value of money or of money for money. Rather Islam says money can only be in exchange for something real, an actual product or service. Is this not fairer, more just and equitable? Moreover money is just a means, a tool for exchanging goods and services. How then can you make money from money? It is like creating something from where there was nothing. It just does not make sense.

One of the main causes for the financial crisis that has gripped the entire planet is usury. If interest was not so deeply entrenched in our economic system then we can be certain that the great recession would never have happened. It is not simply a matter of lack of regulation. As I said before if we can build a human being who comes to realize that there is more to life than accumulating wealth and self glorification then there would be no need for regulation in the first place. Even if there was no concept of usury we would not need regulation. But we have usury and we have humans in this secular world whose greed knows no bounds, not even the law or any concern for others. This was why they practiced in predatory lending where they tricked people into signing loans with seemingly low rates which were actually much higher. Their greed for increasing their wealth through usury was untamed. This same greed also made them to buy “high yield mortgage backed securities”. They did not even look into what they had bought. They did not care that these loans could not be paid back and that the interest was outrageous. They only cared about the short term profit, about making the sale. And in the end the people had to pay billions in interest payments, and the people lost their homes and their livelihoods when they could not make these payments.

See once again then the darkness and oppression of a secular system, a system that refuses to rule by God's Law. A system whose primary purpose is not the well being of the people but rather to feed the bellies of the fat cats that run it. I am telling you that there is something better, if we just followed that one rule of no usury whatsoever then we would not be in this mess. So realize that Islam at the societal level is not the darkness they have made it out to be. Rather what we are in today is the darkness and Islam is the Light.

But they do not want you to come this realization, rather they want you to think that the good is evil and that the evil is good. In order that they can continue to exploit you, in order that they can create a world where their passions and their greed are not in any way restricted. Just think about it. Why is Islam the religion that has such negativity associated with it? Of course there are some Muslims who have not acted in accordance with the true teachings of Islam, who have done acts of violence and terror. But as we will see in next chapter such acts are not from Islam and the religion cannot be blamed for them. And even such people are only the tiniest fraction of the Muslim population, less than 1%. The remaining 99% of us absolutely condemn such acts. Because we believe that such hatred and anger cannot be from this religion of peace and mercy. So the question remains why then do some still try to portray this religion as evil.

You may not be big on conspiracy theories but you can see that those in power today benefit from the people having a negative perception of Islam. As we have shown in this chapter, Islam at a societal level is a direct threat to their control and exploitation of the people. We showed already the inequalities in wealth, we showed already how we have no real power. They know that Islam seeks to bring a new world order. One in which wealth is returned to the people and power is returned to God. This is one reason for such negativity, one reason why Islam has come to be associated with terrorism and oppression. But what I want you to realize is that the real oppression is life without Islam. The source for all the suffering, injustice, bloodshed, and harm is from our distance from God. Both as individuals and as a society. The cure for it all then is to return to Him. This is the true Islam, it is naught but peace. Naught but the journey to the Divine.

In an upcoming chapter God willing we are going to learn about the life of the Prophet Muhammad. But I just want to bring to your attention now to one incident from his life. It was when he conquered the city of Mecca. During that period there was a man by the name of Abu Sufyan. He had been one of the Prophet's staunchest opponents. He had battled against Islam for several years. The Prophet had tried again and again to invite him to God but he had refused. But when the Prophet conquered Mecca, Abu Sufyan saw the change that it brought to his city. First of all it was a non-violent conquest, not a one arrow was fired, not a single drop of blood was shed. But even more important than this was how people in the city changed as a result of Islam being implemented at the political and social level. Not only was there no more poverty and wealth inequality. Not only was there no class division and all people were equal. Not only were women finally given their rights and no longer oppressed. More than this was that the hearts of the people were with God. They were singing and declaring His praise and glory on the streets. These were souls in love with Him, these were souls who did not desire anything in life but His Nearness and His Contentment. They were not capable of injustices or oppression, violence or harm of any kind. For their egos had been slain. They had reached a state of complete submission and servitude. They were only agents of the Divine only bringers of mercy and goodness. When Abu Sufyan saw this, when he realized the extent to which his people had changed for the better, this was what made him to finally accept Islam. Because he realized that only the true religion from the one True God can bring about such an extraordinary transformation. This is what I want you to realize as well, this is why I spoke in such detail about Islam in the society.

Chapter 4

Refuting

Common

Criticisms

“And do not make assumptions and jump to conclusions regarding those matters about which you have no knowledge, surely the hearing, and the sight, and the understandings will be held to account”. - The Quran 17:35

ignorance is the curse of God, knowledge is the wing with which we fly to heaven”. - William Shakespeare

The following criticisms will be addressed in this chapter in this order : Jihad, criminal punishments, apostasy, role of women, treatment of minorities, freedom and liberaties.

As I have already stated, my intention in writing this book is to try and convince you that Islam is the true religion sent to you by God. I am a Muslim living among you, and so I believe that it is my duty to try and convey to you the Message of this religion. A Message that I wholeheartedly believe is from God. I have already spoke about the proofs for Islam and how Islam builds a better person and a better society. Which by themselves are also proofs as I have tried to demonstrate. But despite all these proofs, you still may have some reservations. Perhaps because of something you heard in the media or that you read somewhere. As I said earlier Islam has enemies. There are some out there who do not like this religion, who do not want it to spread and be accepted by the people. And as I said before and need to stress again, I am not calling for any kind of political revolution. Nor am I calling for any kind of violence or militancy. Nor am I saying that anyone can be converted by force. This is not what I believe my religion calls for. For me at the end of the day what is most important is not that this land become a Muslim country, rather what matters is that I please God. All that I do is only for Him. So even my preaching and conveying this Message to you is for His sake. And so it has to be done in a way that is pleasing to Him, in a way that is in accordance with His Law. And as I said earlier, Islam does not allow for people to be convinced by force, and it does not permit violence towards non-combatants.

What then is this idea of Jihad? This concept of a Holy War towards non-Muslims. As we said in the previous chapter there are Muslims who have committed acts of violence where non-combatants have been killed. Why did they do it? Did not the Prophet himself fight in battle and was Islam not spread by the sword? These are some concerns that God willing I will address in this chapter.

Firstly you should realize that Islam is a religion of peace. In fact even the word Islam is derived in Arabic from a root word that means “peace”. As I showed earlier, this religion is all about submission and servitude to God. It is about praising, glorifying, and loving Him with all our hearts and through all that we do. It is also about being an agent of God's Mercy and Compassion to all those around us. All this we established in the previous chapters. Now can all this be accomplished if there is a perpetual state of war? If there is only conflict and bloodshed. Of course not. How then can Islam be a proponent of violence and war? This religion shows us that we are all connected through our relationship with God. Our ego, our sense of self, is only an illusion, a veil between us and Him.

Once we reach that state of servitude and submission to Him then we no longer see any need for aggression or conflict or harm towards any of His creation. For we see connection, harmony, and congruency in all beings. How then can we ever be violent against them? How can we have a perception of us vs them? How can God be worshiped on the earth if we are all busy fighting each other? So realize that Islam is not at all a religion of war, rather it is a religion that came to bring peace to all mankind. To all creation. The truest and most complete of peace. Not only the material peace where we all lay down our weapons, but also the peace in the hearts. Where there is no more anger, or envy, or any discontentment with any of God's creations. Where there is only love, first and foremost for Him and then for all His creation. Is this not the true evolution of the human being? Rather than simply become more intelligent, we can realize a greater purpose for our existence, perceive that behind this material world of forms there is the True Reality. How can a religion that leads to such enlightenment be what some have made it to be?

What about Jihad then you might be asking? Let us look closely at the original Arabic of this word. Linguistically it does not mean “Holy War” or even “War”, rather it means to strive to one's utmost in order to attain something that is good, that is virtuous, that is pleasing to God. So when you try your best in your job so that you contribute to your employer or customer the most that you can then you are doing Jihad, or when you try to be the best that you can be to your family by listening to them and taking care of them and forgiving them all of their shortcomings then you are doing Jihad. When you make the effort to do any kind of community service or any altruistic act from which others benefit then this also is Jihad. The two conditions that need to be present in order for an act to be considered as Jihad is that one must exert the utmost of effort and the result that one seeks must be good. So a thief who goes to great lengths in order to steal is not doing Jihad even though he may exert much effort. Because his goal was not something of virtue. Not something pleasing to the Divine.

How then did the term “Jihad” become associated with war? To realize this we must see that war in and of itself is not always evil. Sometimes it is necessary. In order to defend the good, in order to protect people from tyranny and oppression. So if you were to engage in battle for a good cause then this also can be considered as Jihad. Because you are taking up arms in order to achieve what is good.

The default ruling in Islam is that fighting or any kind of violence towards another human being is forbidden. Even to harm another human being by your tongue is considered to be among the gravest of sins, how much more so then is the hand? God has clearly told us that the soul of a human being is sacred. It has within it a trace of the Divine. So to harm another soul is like harming God. Such is the gravity of this sin.

Only in very specific circumstances, only under extreme conditions has God permitted the shedding of blood. One is as punishment for a serious crime such as murder, rape, treason or adultery. And even these punishments can only be carried out by the Caliph or his delegate in the Islamic State. If there is no Caliph and no Islamic State then these punishments cannot be carried out. They can never be carried out by individuals or even by groups. This is one of the most important principles in Islamic Law that all the scholars agree on. There must be a legitimate Islamic authority to implement the penal system. It cannot be done haphazardly. Because it deals with God's Law and it deals with the lives of human beings. So the utmost of care must be taken. It must be implemented in the right way, so that no injustice or harm is done to an innocent.

From this we can also see how the concept of honor killings in Islam is not permissible. The idea of a woman being killed because she committed fornication. Now I do not deny that this has happened in Muslim countries, it may well have. I am just saying that it is not from Islam. Firstly because in Islamic Law the sentence of death is for the crime of adultery and not for fornication. Secondly and more importantly the one carrying out the punishment must be a recognized authority in Islam, meaning the Caliph or his delegate. Today since there is no Islamic State these punishments can never be carried out by anyone. And even within the Islamic State, for the crime of adultery or even for fornication, there must have been at least four people who actually witnessed the act. If someone did it in the privacy of their home then they can never be punished. The point of the punishment is to discourage indecency and lewdness from being committed in public and also to let believers know that it is an act not pleasing to God. So that they realize that it should be avoided at all costs.

In the thousands of years when there was a real Islamic State, this punishment was actually carried out only a handful of times. Now this is not to say that adultery and fornication were unheard of, people did fall into these sins. Although it was still not nearly as prevalent and widespread as it is today. But even back then it was still present. The difference however was that back then when people did it, it was in private, in secret. Because they knew that it was wrong, that it was not pleasing to God. And as long as it remained in secret, the Authority did not pursue them. The State never had any kind of secret police that pryed into people's homes. The privacy and the sanctity of people's homes was respected. As for the sin itself, those who commit it still do not escape the Gaze of their Lord. So the State leaves it to Him to deal with them. Only if they were to commit the act in public does the punishment become due.

Now besides adultery the only other instance when Islam allows a life to be taken is murder or treason. And we know that both of these are serious crimes, both of these are crimes that even the West has implemented the death penalty for. And yet even in these two cases the death penalty is not a blanket sentence that is given to all perpetrators. Rather the judge does take into consideration the severity of the crime and the intention behind it. And based upon these a lesser sentence may be given. In fact in the case of murder, the final decision is given to the family of the one who was killed. And if they can see that there was a reason for that act, if the one who committed it had an excuse, then they are encouraged by God to pardon. To do so would be an act of great virtue. Such is the sacredness that Islam has placed on all life. Such is the extent to which God has honored the human being. Only when we focus on form and material can we not see the Divine in us. Only then do we forget how sacred and precious we all are.

The only other instance in which God has permitted the shedding of blood is during war. And even this as well has very specific rules and injunctions. Firstly the war itself must be for a just cause. For example self-defense. If an enemy force has invaded your land then you have a right to raise arms against it, just as if an intruder came into your home you have a right to defend your life, your family and your wealth. This then is one instance of Jihad. A war of self-defense. To defend one's land and one's family. How can anyone find fault with this? How can anyone claim that such a war is unjust and evil?

Now is self-defense the only time that Islam permits war? Many Muslims claim that it is. But this is not accurate. There are times when Islam permits Muslims to be on the offensive. When is this? When does Islam permit Muslims to initiate a war and what are its rules and conditions? This is where the confusion lies, this is what we need to look at in detail.

Firstly we need to realize that the offensive Jihad can only take place when there is an Islamic State, when Islam has already been established as a political entity. There are several reasons for this. Firstly because such was the way of the Prophet. If we look at the actions of the Prophet, whom God has given us as a role-model, we find that he only raised arms once he had established the Islamic State and never before. In the Meccan phase of his call when there was no Islamic State, he never once fought with anyone nor did he tell his followers to. Even though he and his followers were persecuted and tortured and even killed by those around them, they still never once fought back. Rather they were commanded to patience and to forgiveness. To restrain from any kind of retaliation. Rather to only respond with words of peace. And this is just what they did. Despite the tremendous torment and brutal humiliation that they were subjected to.

This is what Muslims need to do today as well. Since there is no proper Islamic State I believe that there can be no war, there can be no violence of any kind. To do so would be going against the example of the Prophet. It would be going against what God wants from us. There is a reason why God has only given the Caliph of the Muslims the permission to start a war. A reason why He has made the Islamic State as a precondition for the offensive Jihad. It is to ensure that the war is implemented correctly. Because He Knows that this is an affair in which human lives are at stake, an affair in which the sacred blood of human beings may be shed. So it cannot be carried out haphazardly, it cannot be implemented by fools or children. No, there has to be an Authority Who can ensure that war remains only when there is a need for it and that all of the rules of war are adhered to. Islam has laid down several rules of war which I will soon discuss. But first I want to address an even more burning question. Why does Islam even need an offensive Jihad in the first place. If this is a religion of peace then why has God made war permissible?

There is a very important reason, in fact it is the most important reason. It is to allow the people to receive God's Message. You see in those days there was no such concept as freedom of religion. You could not preach your religion openly in a country if the rulers did not approve of that religion. Look at early Christian history for an example of this. Why did the Romans want to crucify Jesus, what was his crime? Was it not heresy? He was calling to the Truth, he was calling to the One God, but those in power did not like his call. This is why they persecuted and tried to kill him. By doing so they prevented the people from returning to God, they blocked God's Call from reaching the people. They left the people in the misery of heedlessness to God. Is this not the greatest of evil?

Islam allows war to take place to remove such obstacles. Because what is most important is that God be worshiped, if you understood the first chapter then you would see why this must be so. For what is a greater injustice than to deny God from the people, to deny His Message from reaching them? How much is the pain and the suffering that is caused when a heart is empty of the Divine? Both to the owner of that heart and to those around him or her. How much better off would we all be if we were allowed to make the journey back to Him? Only to achieve this lofty goal does Islam allow there to be war. A war to end all wars, a war to unite mankind as one nation and one brotherhood. So that we can all come together as one family and fulfill our true purpose.

Is this not a noble cause for war? To allow the people to return to God. Not to convert them by force, because as we saw earlier that is not permissible in Islam. Rather only to allow the Call of God to reach the people. To give them a chance to receive His Message and to be free to accept it should they choose to. To be free to worship Him without any fear of persecution. This is the reason why Islam has allowed for war to exist. This is why Muslims have fought in the past. Not for land or for resources. Not for oil or for diamonds. Not for a goal so petty and worldly. If you look at all the wars that have been fought by Western nations in the past century you will find they were for such base reasons. And these wars in only a century have claimed a hundred times more lives than Jihad did in the 13 centuries of Islamic rule. So before you accuse Muslims of being a violent people please look at yourself, your past. Look at Hiroshima and Vietnam and the sanctions in Iraq that killed millions of children. These were unjustified wars in which millions of innocents were killed. Such is unheard of in Islam. We fight for God and even then we do not harm innocents.

On that note let us now look at the rules of war in Islam. First it can only happen when the rulers of a particular land prevent Islam from being propagated in that land or if they prevent the Muslims in that land from practicing their religion. Thankfully in the United States and in most of the Western world this is not the case. So even if there was an Islamic State today there would be no need for an offensive Jihad for this reason. In fact even the methodology of the Prophet was that he would send emissaries to the kings and emperors of various nations. He would invite them to Islam, to the worship and the servitude of the one true God. Only if they refused, only if they prevented God's call from reaching the people, only then would the Prophet allow for swords to be drawn against them. And even then the fighting was only permissible until the tyrannical rulers who were preventing the people from knowing God can be removed. It can never be a war for conquest or for material gain. The purpose is only to convey God's Call to the people.

So fighting even at the time of the Prophet was only as a last resort. When all other means of diplomacy and persuasion have failed. When there was no other option available. As I said before and need to stress again human life in Islam is sacred. It cannot be taken unless there is a just cause, unless it is absolutely necessary. This is why another important rule in Jihad is that only the soldiers on the battlefield can be fought against. It is absolutely prohibited to target civilians. There are several authenticated narrations from the Prophet where he explicitly told us not to kill women, children, elderly, or anyone who is not actually fighting. Why then have some so called Muslims today targeted civilians in terrorist attacks? Because they are ignorant, or they are being manipulated, or they are oppressed and filled with rage, or most likely a combination of these. But realize that their actions are not from Islam.

Realize once again what this means. It is absolutely forbidden under any circumstances for non-combatants ever to be harmed. Do even modern nations today have such rules, do even the most progressed of nations? Today are not civilians killed in drone strikes? We easily write them off as collateral damage. We do not mind if twenty women and children have to die if along with them we can get one suspected terrorist. How much of a threat that so called terrorist who lives in the valleys of Pakistan can be is not even relevant. As long as he is even a minor threat we do not hesitate to take him and his whole village out. We simply do not place the same value on their lives as we do on our own. Because they are different from us, they are from another nation. We still perceive the reality in terms of “us vs. them”. Now I do acknowledge that there are some Muslims who might share such a perception, but again what I want you to realize is that this is not from Islam. This is only due to their ignorance. Islam teaches us that we are all one brotherhood, that we are all connected through Him.

This is why even 1500 years ago Islam placed a value on human life that has never been placed on it before or ever has again. Is this alone not enough to show that it is the true religion and way of life? If today there was a true Islamic State it would never even once authorize a drone strike if there was even a possibility of a civilian even being injured. It would not allow an entire village to be naplamed or drop an atom bomb on a city. For it know that if it does then it has to answer to a Higher Authority. Just imagine if the State itself could be God Conscious. If the State itself saw the True Reality beyond form and material. A State whose only objective was God's Pleasure whose policies even in war are driven only by this principle and nothing else. What kind of a State would it be? It would be a State not capable of evil, injustice or oppression.

Now the protection and mercy of Islam even in times of war does not extend only to civilians. Other rules of war include not to destroy property, not to burn down trees or slaughter cattle. If you were to study the sacred text you would find such explicit prohibitions. These texts tell Muslims that even in war they must have one goal. And it is not victory, rather it is that the destruction must be minimized, the suffering and hardship that is caused to people must be minimized. For God is a Being of Mercy and Love, this is the attributes of His that the Quran mentions most often. And it also tells us how He wants His slaves to be Agents of this Mercy. Even in war He wants this Mercy to be present. Such is His Love for us all.

Other rules of war include prohibiting the torturing of prisoners of war. Not only should they not be harmed but they must be treated in the most humane way possible. Their basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter should be provided. And the Islamic State should make every effort to either free or ransom them as soon as possible. Even on the battlefield, if they were to flee from combat they are not to be pursued. As for civilians whom Muslim soldiers encounter on the battle path they are to be treated with utmost dignity and honor. Especially the women, they are not to be touched in any way. Just think if fornication in Islam is a great sin, then how much more terrible is rape? For with this sin not only are you touching a woman whom God has not made permissible to you but you are also doing harm to her. And as I said before and need to stress again doing any kind of harm to any creature of God is the worst of sins. It is something that our religion prohibits us from time and time again. And for us life is only about pleasing God, attaining nearness to Him through servitude and submission. We only seek to slay our own egos, so that we see Him in all that is around us. How then can we have any rage?

These are but a few of the many rules of war that have been laid out even in the classical books of Islamic Law. In a time centuries before the Geneva convention, when the world was a far more violent and barbaric place than it is today. God established for us the sanctity of our blood. He showed us that violence, rage and enmity are not traits that He wants to see in us. This is why in a time and place that was so dark, Islam was the first spark of light. The light of peace, mercy, compassion and justice. Muslim soldiers adhered strictly to these rules of war. Rules that today despite our supposed “progress” most soldiers in our secular armies do not adhere to. Because they were people whose hearts were attached to God while we are people whose hearts are consumed by the ego. They could see God even in their enemy while we see the enemy even in our family and nearest of neighbors. The last 100 years have been the reign of secularism and without it a doubt it has been the most violent and bloody in the history of mankind. More people were killed in the past century alone then in the entire history of Islamic rule. A reign that lasted for over 15 centuries.

Now this is not only because we have developed better weapons, better means of inflicting pain and death, that is only a symptom of a deeper problem. Our distance from God. The result of which is that we are consumed by the ego, and the ego craves conflict. The ego wants to dominate others, to find fault with others, to see the evil in others. It does not know the meaning of love, or forgiveness or empathy. And this is why we have become so violent a people. This is why our planet today is consumed by war and conflict. Such wars are unheard of in Islam. In Islam even war itself is not a product of the ego. Rather it is only a means of serving God. This is why we have mercy even in war. And no other religion or civilization can make this claim. Because they are all grounded in ego.

This is the true meaning of Jihad in Islam. How far is this truth from what you have heard in the media? And how even further is it from the actions of those misguided Muslims whom we spoke of earlier. Can you not see the extent of the distortion and the misinformation? The extent of the misunderstanding of Islam even among Muslims. Such is the sad reality of the world we live in today. Extremists are there on both sides, and they want to create conflict, they want to make us think that there are indeed two sides. But those of us who have the correct understanding of Islam see that there is no conflict. We are all children of the same two parents, we are all slaves of God. Our true purpose is one and the same. The Glorification and the Extolling of our Lord. Once you realize Him in all His Majesty and Perfection then you see that life is only about Him. The ego has been slain, and when there is no ego then how can there be conflict? How can we look upon you as the “other” whom we must destroy? For you are us.

I agree that many in the Muslim world do not share such a vision of Islam. I agree that many still perceive the West as enemies. But once again I want you to realize that this is only because of their misunderstanding of the religion. As I said earlier there are demonic forces at play, forces that do not want you to return to God, forces that want to see a world where the ego and its lusts are sovereign. These forces will do all they can to prevent the Truth of this religion from spreading. This includes spreading falsehoods and misinformation even in the Muslim community. This is the reason why many Muslims have such a twisted understanding of the religion. But if you go back to the source text, if you study the Quran in detail, then you will see that this religion is about building a relationship with God. How can a heart be attached to Him, how can it praise and glorify Him, if it is engaged in war and conflict?

Some may claim that Muslims hate you because you do not believe in God, or in His Oneness , on in Muhammad as God's Messenger. But the truth is that we do not hate you. I do not hate you. Because I know that God does not hate you, so how can I hate you? How can I not love whom my Beloved loves if my love for Him is true and deep? Now the question that you may be asking is how can God love you if you are not a believer? He can if your unbelief is not your fault. For He has told us in the Quran that He will not punish any nation until He sends to them a messenger, meaning until they clearly receive the message from Him with all its proofs and evidences. The message free from any distortions and fabrications. Now I sincerely believe that the only reason why you still may not have come into Islam is because you have not yet received this message in such a pristine form. Think about it. Do you consider yourself among those who has received the message properly? How much did you know about Islam before you picked up this book? How many are the misconceptions that have now been clarified? How many are the fabrications that have now been exposed? How much have you now learned about the true nature of this wonderful religion? Did you know all this before? Of course not, does this then not give you an excuse for not becoming a believer?

And most important of all is that do you not believe that God is the Most Just and the Most Merciful? How then can you believe that He will punish you if there was even the slightest chance of innocence on your part? Would He condemn you to eternal damnation if you did not intend towards Him any rebellion or disobedience? If you did not then He does not hate you. Rather He loves you and so I love you. I wrote this book for you. Because of my love for you. My desire that you be guided to Him and know the serenity of His Nearness.

Another common criticism that people bring for Islam are the criminal punishments. They say that these are cruel and inhumane. Before I respond to such claims, I ask you to remind yourself once again how this is a religion of peace and mercy. The one attribute with which God has described Himself with the most is His Mercy, and He has specifically commanded us to have mercy to all those on earth. So how ironic is that some would accuse a religion where mercy has such a central theme of barbarism and cruelty? Does this alone not show you that something does not fit, something is not right? How could the Quran stress mercy and compassion so much on one hand and at the same time command pain and torment?

How can we resolve this apparent contradiction? It is first and foremost by realizing that we cannot make generalizations. When it comes to the criminal punishments, there are usually only two that they cite as examples of the apparent barbarism of Islam, the punishment for adultery and the punishment for theft. We already touched briefly on the former of these, we saw how this sentence can only be given if at least four people witnessed the actual act. And as we said before this almost never happens. The purpose of the severe punishment is not so that people can be stoned left and right, rather it is only to discourage the act from being committed in public. And even the punishment of theft has several rules attached to it. Firstly the item that is stolen must be one of great value. It cannot be for stealing an apple or a loaf of bread. Secondly the item must be well hidden. So if a diamond is out in the open for all to see, then the punishment of amputation cannot be given if it is stolen. Lastly we have to remember that the punishments in Islam do not exist in a vacuum. They are part of the overall Islamic economic system. A system in which there is no poverty and there is fair wealth distribution.

Do you think then anyone would need to be a thief in such a society? If the State ensured that everyone was provided for, if that was one of the fundamental duties of the State. Moreover as we said earlier, Islam builds a certain kind of personality. It helps create within the human being a heart that is completely attached to the Divine. One that only seeks His Pleasure. Would this be a heart that is even capable of a sin as great as theft? The same can even be said for adultery. If you knew that this act is not pleasing to God and you knew that your only purpose in life is to serve God then would you ever indulge in it? And think also if the temptation, if the need, if the opportunity was not even present in the first place.

As we said before the State does not want to carry out these punishments. It knows that the main deterrent is the people's own consciousness of God. Islam seeks to build an individual who fears God more than he fears the State. And this fear will prevent him from such terrible crimes. Even if he thinks he can escape the enforcement of the State, he knows that he can never escape from God. He knows that he will be in misery and torment as long as he lives distant from God. So in a true Islamic State these punishments would be unheard of.

The reason why these punishments were never carried out is because the crimes were never committed. Because the punishments were so severe the people realized just how great these sins were. How hated they were to God. Today sadly we have not come to this realization. Today a man will steal his neighbor's property and even covet his neighbor's wife without even thinking twice about how great is the evil he is committing Rather than focusing then on the punishment let us focus on the crime itself. Let us realize how evil are those who would commit these vile acts. This is why God has mandated such a severe penalty. For His Justice is also from His Mercy.

Another criticism that some have is the penalty for apostasy. They claim that the penalty of death is barbaric and inhumane and oppressive. For they say that it imposes Islam on the people and does not give them a choice, it takes away their freedom. The first response to this criticism is to show that even the penalty of death is a matter of contention among the scholars of Islam. Meaning not all the scholars agree that there should be such a penalty. Because nowhere in the Quran has death been prescribed for apostasy. Rather the Quran explicitly states that there is no compulsion in religion. Based upon this it is a valid opinion to say that death is not a penalty for apostasy and even that people should be allowed to leave Islam if they want to. The second response is that even if you were to take the opinion that the penalty is death then you also need to look at the context in which it was applied. Even the scholars who said the death penalty was valid agreed that it can only be implemented by the Islamic State. Never by individual or even groups. And even when the Islamic State carried out this punishment we have to see when and why it was done. Once again we have to realize that there was never any secret police the State never sought to look into people's hearts and make certain there was faith in it. Even some secretly worshiped idols in the privacy of their home, the state never sought to investigate and audit. This was never how the Islamic State operated. Because Islam is about submission to God and true submission can only come out of love, out of choice. This fact is clearly recognized in Islamic Law, this is why the Quran says there is no compulsion and it tells the Prophet time and time again that he is not an enforcer of God's will upon the people. Even if it is best for them, even if it is what God deserves, it still must be their choice. Because a submission of the limbs without submission of the heart is meaningless to God.

We mentioned earlier how treason was one of the crimes for which Islam has mandated the death penalty, and this is what I believe some have confused with the penalty for apostasy. Because in an Islamic State there can be situations in which these two are really one and the same. At that time being a Muslim also meant giving one's oath of allegiance to the State, to the Caliph, to the Muslim community, to Islam, to God. Going back on this oath can be considered both treason and apostasy. For example if one also works against Islam, if one attempts to overthrow the Caliph without due cause, or one works to destroy the Islamic State or cause rifts in the Muslim community. In such a situation death can be used as a last resort. If the renegade refuses to give up his evil ways, if he keeps on working for the destruction of Islam, then the State may at that point choose to exile him or put him to death.

So you see how even if this punishment was ever implemented in the history of Islam, it was in a very different time and place from today. It was never meant as a means of forcing Islam on the people, for as we saw before this can not be done. Rather it was a means of protecting the State and the community from rebels who sought to destroy it. Not for those who simply voiced an opinion that the State deemed wrong, rather for those who actively worked to topple the government or those who aided the State's enemy to conquer it. Just think if one traitor allowed the enemy to enter a city and wipe out its entire population, should he not be put to death for his treason.

This was the reality of those times, the context in which that punishment was implemented. Today we have no Islamic State, we have no Muslim Caliph, so even to speak of this punishment is pointless. It has no relevance, no application in our world. It was for a another place and time, one very different from our own.

I believe Islam to be like a strong tree. With roots, a trunk, branches, and leaves. Now the nature of a tree is that its leaves may change colors, and some of its smaller branches may even fall of. But the trunk and root remain firm, they never change or bend, even if powerful winds were to blow on them. Islam today is going through some difficult times. For the first time in our history, we as Muslims are living without our own State. There may be a state for Pakistanis, Egyptians or Turks but there is no State for Muslims. There is no State that rules by Islam completely. There is no Caliph who implements the Quran. So many of the laws of Islam cannot be enforced today for the reality that these laws were sent for do not exist today.

Many Muslims today cannot realize this, many still live in the past. But once again Islam cannot be blamed for the acts of some misguided Muslims. This religion is from God, the One Source of all Goodness, Love, and Mercy in the world. The enemies of Islam will have you focus on some tiny branches or leaves, while they neglect to mention anything about the trunk or the roots. As we said this supposed penalty for the apostate is not even mentioned in the Quran, but study the Quran and the narrations of the Prophet and see how much mercy and justice is stressed. Without a doubt these two are the pillars of Islam. As is creating a heart that is absolutely dedicated to God this is what Islam is about. Being a slave of the Divine, being totally dedicated to Him, being an Agent of His in the world, a source of mercy and justice for all. This religion teaches us to slay the ego, to control the lusts, to quell our anger, to not have greed and avarice for the material things. In other words it teaches us to be better human beings, those who are always seeking to do good for one and all. If you can realize this, if you can attach your heart to God and see that He is all that matters, then this is enough to realize the truth of this religion.

These are the only examples that the critics can cite for the supposed barbarism of Islamic Law. Islam has several other laws and several other penalties, but they ignore all the rest. They bring these few to the forefront as the model of Shariah. So that the perception that people have of Shariah, of Islam is hands being chopped off and women being stoned to death. Although you can see from what you have read of this book so far that this is the furthest from the truth. This image that they have created of Islam is one with no mercy or justice, but as we showed these two are the very pillars of this religion. So you see how their criticisms is all about creating an image, a perception. It has nothing to do with showing an unbiased and sincere account of this religion. Because they know that if they are truthful, if people know this religion for the beautiful way of life that it really is, then the people will enter into it. And if they do then these demons will be threatened. Their control and exploitation of the people will be threatened. This world of theirs in which all the immorality and injustice roam free will be threatened. This is why they spread the lies and the distortions. This is why they allow terrible things to happen and then find someway to blame Islam for it. They have a mission to keep the people away from God. Is this not the goal of the devil, is this not what he works for? Realize now who is the source of these lies and distortions. Murder, treason, grand theft, even adultery are all serious crimes. Even in the Bible, some even in secular societies. This is why Islam has such severe penalties for them. It is to make people to realize the enormity of these crimes. So that perchance these penalties may serve as a deterrent. God does not desire for anyone to suffer, for anyone to be oppressed, in fact one of the very reasons why He sent down this religion was to end the suffering and oppression. It is only our short-sightedness, our ignorance that blinds us to this.

The next major criticism that they make of Islam is the treatment of women and the treatment of non-Muslims. God willing let us now look at each of these contentions. First when it come to the treatment of women, the first response to give is to show how Islam is the first religion, the first ideology, that says women are equal to men. Now this may not be what you have heard, or even what you believe. So let me explain.

Islam teaches us that at the end of the day the only estimation that matters is one's nearness to God. Because He is the Real and the True, the Sublime and the Tremendous. If you have tasted of His Glory and His Purity then you will see. How nothing else in this world matters except Him. Who am I, who is anyone when compared to Him? This is the realization of the Muslim. It is not that men are better than women or that women are better than men. Rather it is that we are all slaves before Him. We are all nothing when compared to Him.

And of course I need to stress again that even though we use the masculine pronoun to refer to God this does not in any way mean that He has a gender. In Islam we believe that He is Transcendent Above having a gender. It is only the limits of our language and intellect which force us to refer to Him so. In fact in the Quran the one attribute of His that He refers to Himself the most with is His Mercy and Compassion. And the root word for mercy in Arabic is derived from the same word for womb. The womb of the woman.

So in Islam a woman can be as near to God as any man, if not nearer. Is this alone not enough to show that this religion does not discriminate against women? Because this is what is most important, this is what matters the most. For if you are near to God, if you have earned His Contentment, then you have already reached the fulfillment of your existence. Life is only the constant struggle to attain and maintain this station.

There is not a single verse in the Quran, or even a single narration of the Prophet, which says that God prefers men to women or that men naturally have a station nearer to Him than women. And if you just think about it you can see that this can never be. For we believe God to be Most Just and the Most Loving. Is it then befitting for Him to prefer one of His creation over another? Especially since it is not in anyone's control which gender they were born into. How then can God hold this against you, how could He punish you for it? It is fair and just for Him to question us on the sins that we chose to do, but not for what He chose for us.

A very important pillar of our creed is the Justice of God. For He has specifically told us in the Quran that one soul can never bear the burden of another. Meaning that you will never be condemned or made to suffer for the sins of your parents. So unlike some other religions, we do not believe that today all women suffer because Eve made Adam to fall from the Garden. Firstly we do not believe that the fault was with Eve alone, or that she is primarily to be blamed. Rather we believe both were responsible for the sin equally. But even more important is that we do not believe we were sent down to the earth as a punishment for that sin. Rather we believe it is all part of God's Plan, all part of His Test. We believe that He is testing each and every one of us individually. This is from His Justice, His Mercy. How can we expect any less from our most Beloved? His Perfection is why we love Him and are dedicated to Him. We know that He will never be unjust to any of us.

So see how even to just claim that Islam oppresses women goes against the very foundations upon which this religion is established. It contradicts the basic tenets of our creed. It is a statement of utter ignorance. As with most of the criticisms it is based on assumptions and misunderstandings.

One of the main reasons why some believe that Islam oppresses women or degrades them is the veil. The fact that Islam requires women to cover themselves in public. Some see this as a source of humiliation and oppression. When in reality however it is the very opposite. In Islam the hijab is a means of honoring and respecting the woman. For a Muslim the women in his life are an honor for him. He may tolerate any words that you speak against him, but he will not tolerate anything said against his mother, or wife, or sister, or daughter. Especially if one were to harm them or even attack their honor, then this is an act for which heads will roll. Despite him being a man of peace, a man of God, he will not tolerate any harm, verbal or otherwise done to the women in his life. For him they are like precious jewels, that must be protected and guarded in every way. In Islam it is a religious obligation upon a man to provide for his wife whatever she may need and to protect her with his own life. To protect her in every way.

Now most men would agree that the female body is one of God's most beautiful creations. And they would also acknowledge how satisfying and pleasurable it is for them to simply gaze upon it. It is a form of sex with the eyes. In fact even the sex of intercourse begins with the look. This is why God has told the believing women to cover themselves, in order they be protected from the lustful gazes of wolves. For in Islam only when a man marries a woman does her body then become lawful for him. Even to look at. But marriage in Islam is a two way street. The husband also needs to do his part, he is responsible for all her care and protection. From her food to her shelter to her clothing to whatever else she may require. If she is from a rich family and she got accustomed to that kind of lifestyle, then the husband is even obliged to provide it for her. Such is her worth, it is how much he need to pay, even to look.

Another way in which the veil honors the Muslim woman is that it does not allow her worth to be defined by her body. As we said earlier, Islam raises both men and women to a higher state of consciousness, it gives them both a more elevated viewpoint to the world. It shows us that there is more to life than accumulating material things and there is more to us than our physical forms. In fact these forms are but shells. The reality of our essence, our being, is in our souls. And these have their worth in our character, our beliefs, and our actions. Now because God has placed such beauty in the female body, because men like to look upon it and they place a woman's worth in her physical appearance, there are some women who might themselves start believing that their worth is only in their bodies. Why is anorexia such a problem among women, why do they become so obsessed with the way they look? Why do they spend so much simply to look better, simply to be more pleasing to all the men in the world? Can they not see that there is more to them than this? That it is not in the eyes of men that their worth lies but in the Eyes of God. For a Muslim woman who is dedicated to God, this is all that she cares for. And it gives her such serenity and fulfillment.

This should be the only reason for any Muslim woman to put on the hijab. Not for her husband's or father's sake but only for God's. Because He has told her to. He has told her to be dedicated only to Him. To make her relationship with Him to be the only concern in her life. Not her looks, not her body, not how men perceive her. Now of course there is nothing wrong with a Muslim woman making herself beautiful for her husband, in fact in this case she will be rewarded and brought nearer to God. Because her paramount concern was God's Pleasure. So just think how liberating is this. To be freed from expectations by the creation. To be more than just an object to be ogled.

Another contention some may bring is that Islam tells women that they need to stay at home, and that they cannot get an education, or go to work, or be a productive member of society. As before each of these is either a misunderstanding or a complete misrepresentation. In fact the only one of these contentions which has even a glimmer of truth to it is the first.

It is true that in Islam the most encouraged role for a woman is that of a homemaker. Now of course this does not mean that she is forbidden from having a profession other than this. She can if she wants to, or if she needs to, go out into the world and work. Islam permits her to do so, it does not say absolutely and categorically that she must stay at home. But at the same time God also does say that the most virtuous of roles for her, the place where He would like her to be is in the home. Now think about it, is such a role really all that bad? Can you not see God's Wisdom in it?

We said earlier that in Islam men and women are equal in status, but this does not mean that they are exactly the same. They are different and Islam acknowledges this difference. God created men a certain way for a role that He intended them for and He created women a certain way for a role that He intended them for. Each sex He made suited to fulfill its particular role. For they each both have very important roles. And that is the building of the family, the raising of the future generations. Islam places a heavy emphasis on both of these, because you cannot have a stable and sound family without giving the children in that family the proper upbringing.

And the children are most important. Not just because they are our future, but more so because they are the future of God's Light on the earth. How much will God be worshiped, and consequently how much good will there be on the earth? This will be dependent on the choices of our children.

But the choices of our children depends on the kind of upbringing that we give to them. This is why in Islam the family is so important. In order to protect and preserve the family is why adultery and fornication have been made as great sins. Even free mixing with the opposite gender is discouraged. It is all about the family, it is all about the children, because the ultimate goal for us all is that God be worshiped. Not just that we worship God because life is not about us. But rather that He be worshiped. By us, by those around us, and by our future generations. Such is how much He deserves. On account of His Majesty and Glory and on account of the countless favors that He has showered on us. If you truly loved Him as He deserves to be loved then you would see that only your life of worship and dedication is not enough. Rather you would wish that everyone else give this to Him as well.

This is why in Islam we believe that the children need constant upbringing and guidance. In order that their hearts and their personalities are molded in the right way. In order that they become true servants of God. In order that they become His Light on the earth. This is the role of the society, and of the father, but it is especially the role of the mother. Because there is no other human being that can love and care and protect a child like its own mother can. Do you think that any babysitter or day care center can give a child even the fraction of the attention and warmth that a true mother can?

Not even a father can. A woman will spend hours just trying to feed one meal for her child and she will wake in the depths of the night to soothe him when he wakes. Never can a man have this level of patience, this level of affection. Just the fact that God chose that child to come out from her and for her to nurse it shows that He intended for her to be its primary care taker. This is the way we have been made.

There is also no one who influences that child like its mother can. It is said that the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. Meaning mothers shape the society. We are all the product of our upbringing and the kind of human beings we develop into is determined to a great extent by the care and guidance that our mothers did or did not give us. It has been shown even by secular studies that children who received love, care and attention are much more likely to go further in life and much less likely to become criminals or to suffer from depression or drug abuse or even become simply unproductive members of society.

Islam takes this idea one step further in that it says mothers can make all children into the Light of God. They can make all children into that beautiful human being whom we had described in the first chapter. By constantly reminding their children of God, by allowing their children to see God before see the world. Faith is not something that can be taught in any school or learned from any book, and for many of us it is not even a choice that can simply be made. Rather it is must be instilled, it must be nurtured, from the earliest of age.

This then is the great honor that Islam has given to women. Those who facilitate the creation of a better society, those who help kindle the Light of God on earth. What greater calling can there be in life than this? What profession can any man have which is more important than this? A salesman, or a programmer, or a lawyer, or even a doctor. None of these in my opinion even come close in worth or importance to a mother. One could even say that God has given to the woman the primary and most important role and the man only supports this role. The man has to go out and earning a living for the family in order that the woman can perform her role of raising the child properly. Such is her honor and worth in Islam.

Being a mother is the most difficult job in the world. But as always the greater the effort the more the reward. Such is the justice upon which God has created this universe. Not only are mothers rewarded with the love of their children, not only can they have the satisfaction that they mold and nurture the nation of tomorrow, but most importantly with their Lord they have a tremendous reward. The Prophet told us that Paradise lies at the feet of our mothers and he told us that our mothers deserve the best treatment from us. More than any other human being. In this as well we see the justice of God. For there is no one who suffered and struggled for us more than our mothers did. Not only with the excruciating pain by which they brought us into the world but also for all the years of toil, patience and perseverance that followed. This is why Islam has mandated that they receive the best treatment from us. Is this fact alone not enough to show that this religion does not in any way oppress women?

As we showed earlier this is a religion which came to slay the ego. Of course the source of all oppression is the ego. The ego is what seeks to dominate, to subjugate, to make the other subservient to satisfy it. This is what men have done to women throughout the centuries. Because we are in general physically stronger than women, we have used this power to exploit them whenever we can. Only Islam can change us, it can raise us to a higher level of consciousness, it can give us the true enlightenment. That we are but slaves of God. Our true purpose is not in domination but in subjugation. To Him. How then can a religion which creates such a personality ever be accused of oppressing anyone? How can one whose ego has been utterly slain and who realizes that his only purpose is to be God's Light for all creatures ever beat his wife or hurt her in any way, even a cruel word with the tongue?

One reason why we have such a negative image of the role that Islam gave to women is because of the distorted lens by which we view it. Today we have become so self-centered and materialistic. It is all about us, about feeding us, glorifying us, pleasing us. Most of us do not care for our family or for our children or for our neighbors or for our society or even for God. This is why many women go out and work and why their men allow them to. We want to double our income so that we can double our pleasures, so that we can double our gorging. And the woman can feel like she is independent, that she does not need to rely on her husband. And perhaps the man does not need to work as hard, maybe he even lets her work more than he does. Neither of them thinks what is best for the children, or what is best for the family. They are each just focused on the self, it is just the ego roaming free. A soul empty of the Divine.

So if you can only come to the realization that Islam is the true religion from God, and that He is the Being of Absolute Love, Mercy, and Compassion, then this is enough to see how this is a religion that cannot oppress anyone. Any true Muslim, any true believer, must also share in this realization. We have been taught by the Prophet that the more mercy we show to all those around us the more mercy God will show to us. How can any Muslim man who has such a conviction ever be cruel to his wife, how could he want anything less than the best for her? So it comes down once again to realizing the purpose of our existence, to seeing that there is more to life than me, myself and I. If we only we can rise above the ego then we can see true fulfillment lies in serving God by serving others. Only when we turn away from this purpose are we capable of oppression. So see then where the truth lies. See how great are the lies. They say Islam oppresses women, and perhaps some ignorant Muslims do, but this religion came to end all oppression.

Now let us look at Islam's treatment of non-Muslims and minorities. As we said when discussing Islam's treatment of women, this is a religion which came to end all oppression. Against all people. Regardless of their race, or gender, or even religion. As we said before and need to stress again this is a religion that lets us see beyond us vs. them. It shows us the true equality of all mankind. So how can it ever be accused of oppressing anyone?

All that the critics can do to cite examples of minorities supposedly being oppressed by Islam is to bring up the past. They bring examples from 1000 years ago of non-Muslims in some Muslim lands supposedly being denied some rights. By only picking such specific and isolated incidents it is clear that their intention is not an unbiased study of Islamic history, rather it is to find fault with this wonderful religion.

On the other hand anyone who looks objectively at Islam will find its treatment of minorities unparallelled. There has been no other religion in the history of mankind as tolerant and accepting of other faiths as Islam. This is a fact that even many Western and secular historians will attest to. For centuries, people of other faiths lived in peace and prosperity in Muslim lands. Be they Jews in Spain and Turkey or Hindus in India or Christians in Egypt and Lebanon. To this day these lands still have people from these other religions, in some lands they are still the majority. And yet these are also lands that Islam had ruled for centuries. How could this be if Islam is not tolerant of other faiths? How could this be if there was forced conversion or even persecution? In fact not only did Islam historically allow those of other faiths to keep their religion, but it also allowed them to have their own courts and their own laws. For example Christians in Muslim lands were allowed to sell and consume pork and alcohol.

Such was the tolerance of this religion. Even this word is not appropriate. Because Islam does not simply tolerate the others, rather it does not even see them as others. It welcomes them and loves them And really how can you expect any less? From the one and only thought in the world that recognizes the absolute equality of all human beings. All the other religions and ideologies in the world do not share in this enlightenment. Rather they leave the door open for some way in which one group can claim to be better than another. Be it by nationality or by race or by gender. And this group which thinks that it is superior often oppresses those who are not from it. In Islam we do not believe Muslims are better than non-Muslims, nor do we think Islam to be an exclusive club only for us. On the contrary God has told us to take His Message to all mankind, so day and night we are calling everyone to become a part of our brotherhood. To be a Muslim, to be a citizen of the Islamic State. Show me the country today that has an open door for all immigrants, show me the country that invites everyone to come and be a part of it. Of course we are fortunate and blessed to be living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. But are we not being selfish by sealing our borders, by even denying citizenship to those immigrants who live here already. Why is so much of the wealth concentrated in our nation and why is so little sent to the impoverished around the world? Does this not show that we are already oppressing our brethren in humanity, does it not show that we are people without guidance, a people without all the knowledge. It is true that we as a species have evolved and come a long way, but we have even further to go. And we will never get there until we realize that we do not have all the answers. We need our Creator to show us the way. If we do we can journey to Him and find true fulfillment. This is the vision of Islam.

Those who criticize Islam for its past fail to mention their own religion's record on minorities. They neglect numerous examples of brutality carried out by the followers of their own religion. For example the Spanish Inquisitions where millions of Jews and Muslims were tortured in the most gruesome ways and executed. If you take all of the oppression that was done by Muslims during 1500 years of Islamic rule and compare that to what the Catholic Church did only during the few years of the Inquisitions you will find that it is like comparing a drop to the ocean, as a contrast of the suffering and torment that each one caused. Look also at how Jerusalem was conquered by the Christians and look how the Muslims took it back. The former of these was a blood bath in which even the women and children were not spared, the latter was so peaceful that not a single soul was harmed. Look also at how many natives died when the Christians conquered the New World. Look also at Imperialism and slavery. How much suffering have the both of these caused? All because of the flawed viewpoint that one race or group is superior to another. All because the Divine has been forgotten and in His place the ego roams free. So if you just compare Islam with Christianity historically to see which of these of these two religions has oppressed and killed more you will find that there is no comparison.

My point is that if you want to bring up the past, if you want to look at history, then you must do it in an objective and comprehensive manner. You have to know the context of that period. You have to know how society functioned and what its norms were. You need to realize that it was a far more primitive time than today. So even though there are religions that have far more blood on their hands than Islam we cannot blame these religions exclusively. It is also the nature of that period. A religion is influenced by its period and its society.

As I alluded to when discussing the criminal punishments Islam today cannot be implemented exactly as it was in that period. Society has changed, the economy has changed, we as a human race have evolved. Now this is not at all to say that Islam has nothing to offer the modern world. Or to say that we cannot learn from Islam how to run our economy better or even how to have a better government. We can learn as we saw in the previous chapter. This religion has a lot to offer our society. There is a lot that is wrong with our society today which Islam can remedy. But at the same time Islam does recognize that our world today is not the same world as was present 1500 years ago. So it does not mandate that the exact same laws and injunctions be enforced today as was in that period. This has never been a religion that called for blind following of the text without any place for critical thinking. Rather the use of the ration has been stressed again and again in the Quran. So Islam today is not the exact same Islam of 1500 years ago. Yes the foundations are the same, the core beliefs and the central commandments have not changed. The roots, the trunk and the main branches of the tree remain the same. But the outer branches can move as the winds of time sweep through, and the leaves can change to reflect the change in the season.

My point in bringing this up is that should a new Islamic State arise somewhere in the world, it does not need to have the exact same perception of non-Muslims as was had in the past. It can evolve, it can become relevant and applicable for a new era, the religion I for one firmly believes has this flexibility. So we cannot impose the past on today. Especially right now when there is no Islamic State to speak of. Rather once again we can know Islam's view on minorities by looking at the core of this religion, its creed. We are all children of the same two parents, we are all emanations from the same Source.

Almost every criticism that is levied today against Islam is against a particular understanding of Islam. This religion is Perfect because it is from the Perfect. But we humans are flawed, our knowledge and our comprehension has limits. So without a doubt there will be some people who interpret Islam incorrectly. There will be those who commit violence and terror in the name of this religion, there will be those who oppress women in the name of this religion, there will be those who see others as their enemies and the enemies of this religion. But I for one sincerely believe that such interpretations are flawed.

I for one believe that this religion can transform each and every human being into God's Light on the earth. One who is not capable of any evil or oppression. One who is an Agent, a Manifestation of the Divine Love and Mercy on the earth. Most today focus only on the outlying branches of the tree, they pick one or two laws from the religious text, which at the end of the day are simply the opinions of some scholars who lived many years ago. In a world very different from ours. And they ignore the core of this religion, they ignore its central message. That nothing matters except God, that all Glory and Praise can only be for Him. The only purpose of our life is to worship Him in all that we do. Islam means submission which means to slay the ego. To be content with whatever situation that God places you in and to be pleased with all of His creation. Because these are all from Him. How can a person who has such enlightenment ever harm any creature, how can she even have anger or trace of resentment towards anyone? So you need to look beyond the lies and the distortions and the misunderstandings, you need to look beyond your self and ego, to see the Glorious Light of God that lies beyond. To submit to that Light, to journey to it, to love it. This is what life is about. This is the Message of Islam. How can anyone criticize this?

Another criticism is that Islam supposedly takes away our freedoms and liberties. The first response to this contention is that true freedom by itself is an illusion. No one is truly free. It is just not possible for you to do whatever that you feel like. If there is even a chance that your actions affect another or harm another then the State does have a right to curb such actions. Most of us today would agree with such a viewpoint. Otherwise you would have criminals raping, killing, stealing, vandalizing, destroying all over the place. So we all need to agree that there should be some degree of control, a Law that needs to be abided by. Now in the West the extent and the reach of this Law has been a balancing act between securing freedoms and protecting the society. For example in the United States today there is a huge debate over gun control. On the one hand you want to protect an individual's right to own a firearm and on the other you also want to protect those that firearm may kill. See then how there is never complete freedom. There always has to be some degree of control. As we saw earlier gun control is one of many issues where we cannot come to consensus as a society. Some want stricter gun control laws and others want to keep their guns. But of course the reason for this stalemate is that we as humans are not capable of being legislators. We are not capable of knowing what is good for us and what is bad. The One Who is God. So all that Islam is saying is to let Him be the Judge, to let Him be the One to dictate what is and what is not permissible in the society. Because as we have seen already there could be a thing in which there is much harm for us like alcohol or usury but we still permit it. And there could be something in which there is much good but we outlaw it like segregation between the sexes and religious education in public schools. He Knows and we do not know. So in Islam there is no need for this balancing act, we simply obey God.

And this brings us to another response to this contention and that is as Muslims life for us is not about freedom. We do not believe that we are here to do whatever we please. It is not about our Pleasure, rather it is about His. Life for us is about serving Him and being dedicating to Him. Because He is the True Reality, He is God, He is all that matters. At each moment our paramount concern should be how to please Him. Through this we find fulfillment and contentment. This is the outlook of a Muslim. One that is not grounded in the ego and its passions. But rather one that seeks a higher purpose in life. As we said this is what allows us to be selfless. It is what allows us to have empathy for others and to sacrifice for them. It is what turns us into God's Light on the earth.

So for us to submit to God's Law, to do what is pleasing to Him, is not a chore or a burden. Rather it is a pleasure. For we know that it is a means of drawing nearer to Him and we know that in Him can the true contentment be found. Can you not then bring yourself around to see this? Can you not realize that if you truly believed in God and loved Him as He should be then your own freedom should not be your main concern? Can you not see that it is only a means for your ego to assert itself? For what is freedom but the cry of the ego “I want to do what I like to do”. If you saw that your true purpose lay in God then would you even ask such a question. Or would you realize that life is not about you, you are not the most important person in the world. None of us are. Rather He is. We are but His slaves. We live only to serve Him, to do His work on earth. And we are content with whatever He decrees for us. This is true freedom. For being a slave to God means you are no longer a slave to ego, to lusts or greed or pride. Nothing that the people may say or the world may do can phase you. For there is no ego to be bruised, no self to be destroyed. Only an Agent of the Divine.

Chapter 5

The Prophet

Muhammad

“Say o Muhammad onto all mankind if you truly love God then follow me and emulate me, if you do then God will love you and forgive you all your sins”. [ Quran 3: 31]

“I believe that if today one of Mohammed’s caliber assumes world leadership, he could solve all problems of humanity splendidly. The world will become an abode of peace and happiness” - George Bernard Shaw

“Mohammed brought an end to idol worship. He preached the infinite Mercy of God, human brotherhood, care for the weak, freeing of slaves, forbidding of evils and intoxicants ." Sir William Muir

To summarize the entire life of the Prophet Muhammad in a single chapter is next to impossible. But then to speak about his character, his morality, his demeanor, all of which were the very best is even harder still. It will really take volumes upon volumes just to expound and explain. Such is how tremendous a figure he was. Such is how beautiful his mannerisms and actions were. And such is how much he had accomplished in his lifetime. So realize that just as I am only giving you a brief introduction to Islam in this book, in this chapter I can give you only a glimpse into the life of this great man.

First you should know about him that without a doubt he was the greatest human being to ever walk on the face of this earth. Because he is the one who achieved the closest of proximity to God. More than any other human ever has. In the end this is what matters, this is the true measure of a man. Because is this not why we were created, is this not why we were placed on the earth in the first place? To worship God, to serve Him and try to please Him at every moment. This was how the Prophet Muhammad lived. This was his motive, his concern at every moment. All that he cared for was pleasing his Lord and drawing nearer to Him. He taught us that in all of our affairs the ultimate goal must be God. Even when we marry we should marry for God’s sake. Meaning we should choose the spouse who we believe is the most pious. Even in our business and trade we should be just and fair. Only to please God. We should not cheat others, we should not break our trusts and promises, we should even be willing to sacrifice and give to the other party. Only to please God. This was how he lived and this was how he had taught us to live. Striving at each moment for nearness to God. Even in prayer he found sweetness, comfort, and relaxation. It was not a chore for him, rather a pleasure. Such was his utter dedication to the Divine.

Now before we look at the life of the Prophet Muhammad we should know a little bit about how history was recorded in Islam. For in our religion it is very different from the Western and secular methods of recoding history. As we have shown in the previous chapters, our belief is not simply a matter of faith. It is not merely a choice that we have made. Rather it is based on knowledge. It is based on reflection and contemplation. We showed in a previous chapter based on evidences how there must be One Perfect God and how the Prophet Muhammad must have been His Messenger. Since our belief is based on knowledge, based on evidences, even what we can accept about the life of the Prophet Muhammad must be based on evidences. Meaning that every narration, every incident about his life that has been related to us, every word he supposedly said, every act he supposedly did, every single one needs to be validated. So that we can be certain that he said that word and that he did that deed. Because we base our life on his actions and sayings, we believe that he is the role model that God sent us to follow. This is why the scholars of Islam developed an entire discipline called the science of hadith. The only purpose of this discipline is to validate the narrations that have reached us concerning the Prophet Muhammad. So that we can be sure they are authentic, they are truly about him.

I have put this disclaimer because I want you to realize that what I am going to tell to you of the Prophet's life is not fiction or folklore. The narrations about his life that I am going to present here have been rigorously authenticated by the scholars of hadith. They have checked the chains of reporters through which these narrations have reached us. To ensure that each of those reporters are trustworthy and reliable. You can thus be sure that what follows is the truth, it is what really happened. In Islam our creed is based on certain knowledge.

The Prophet Muhammad did not grow up in luxury, he was not born to a wealthy or royal family. Rather he grew up as an orphan. His father passed away before he was born, and his mother passed away when he was only six years old. After that he was raised by his uncle who was not a wealthy man by any means. Even though his uncle loved him very much he himself had a large family of his own. Thus there was not much he could offer young Muhammad other than his love.

This was one reason why Muhammad himself took the initiative to go out and be a breadwinner for the entire family as soon as he reached his teenage years. In that period this was when one was considered to be an adult. Thus he was a working man, a man who had to struggle to feed himself and his family. The only job he could find at first was that of a Shepard. In the early morning he would take the sheep out to pasture, and he would spend the entire day with them. Taking care of them, watching carefully to make certain wolves were not coming near, making sure that not even a single sheep strays from the flock. This was by no means an easy task. It required much patience and dedication. For the sheep will not get up and leave if you want them to. They will not be on your schedule rather you need to be on theirs. They will only leave the pasture when they are ready. You just need to sit and wait till they are. But during this time you cannot take a break, you cannot take a nap. Rather you need to keep a constant watch over them. This was the difficult task Muhammad had to do in his youth. He labored at it all day long. Only for a paltry wage. So that he could take care of his uncle's family. Now he was the Beloved of God, the very best of His creation, and God knew this even before He created him. Why then did God allow His beloved to grow up in toil and struggle? Why did He not give a better life to His most beloved?

There are several reasons. But I believe the main reason is that God wanted to show us the humanity of His Prophet. He wanted to show us how he is just like us. For the very reason that he had to grow up as an orphan, for the very reason that he did not have anyone to turn to or to rely on for support, this is what makes the Prophet just like us. In that who did he turn to when he did not have anyone else to turn to, who did he rely on when he did not have anyone else to rely on, of course it was God Himself. This was what motivated him to turn to God, to have a relationship with Him. And in the end is this not why we all turn to God? When we realize just how much it is that we need Him? For this is when we are nearest to God, this is when our slavehood and His Lordship becomes most manifest. This is when the veils between us and Him are lifted. It is when we see our utter dependence upon Him, our poverty before Him. Perhaps if Muhammad had grown up in luxury he might not have come to this realization.

So we realize from this man’s humble beginnings that he was just a man, a human being just like us. He had to struggle and toil to get by in this world, just like we all have to. Probably more so than most of us because of the difficult circumstances he was raised in. But this solitude that he found himself in, this lack of support, this poverty and deprivation, it all made him to have a relationship with God even from a young age. This is a hidden blessing in every trial. It forces us to turn to the One. The One and Only Whom we know can help us out of every difficulty. Such is what young Muhammad did, and such is what made him so beloved to God. He never worshiped idols like the people around him did. There were hundreds of idols in Makkah at that time, and all around him he must have seen the people prostrating before them. But he never did. Because his heart was already attached to the One True God.

So even from a young age, even before he received the revelation and became a Messenger, Muhammad dedicated himself completely to God. All that he did, he did in order to draw nearer to His Beloved. From the way in which he carried out his trade and livelihood to the way in which he interacted with others to the way that he treated his family, in all of this his worship could be seen. The Light of God could be seen.

As for his trade, he was known throughout Makkah as the most honest and truthful of merchants. He would never cheat his customers, not even in the least bit. He always returned whatever was lent to him. People would even give to him their money for safe keeping if they ever went on a trip. They were certain that he would not even steal a penny. He always kept his trusts. In fact he was known as “Al-Ameen”, which means the most trustworthy one. The one who will never fail you, who will never disappoint you, who will never betray you even in the least. Muhammad was this way only because he knew that it would please his Lord. He did it as an act of worship. As a means of drawing nearer to the Divine.

He was also known to have the best character. He always treated everyone with kindness and respect. He never lost his temper. He forgave those who wronged him, he tried to see the good in all of God's creatures. His love and yearning for the Divine had removed the veil of the ego. He no longer needed to glorify or satisfy himself. He no longer needed to dominate others. No longer needed to be praised by others. Rather he knew that his only purpose was God, and he knew that God's most salient attribute was His Mercy and Compassion. So this is what he also tried to manifest in all his dealings with others. He did not have any envy or malice towards anyone, he did not see the difference between slave and nobleman. He tried his best to please everyone, as long as it did not entail evil.

Muhammad was also careful to avoid actions of a lewd and indecent nature. Though he grew up in a promiscuous society where fornication was very common he himself never fell into this evil. He was surrounded by it but still he was able to resist it. Because he knew that it was not right, it was not at all pleasing to God. A woman can only be touched in a lawful manner, under a contract of marriage from God, a commitment that a man gives to her where he promises he will always look after her and be only for her. Muhammad’s knew that this is what will preserve marriage, family, and society. So much was his modesty and his respect for women. He even went as far as to avoid those situations which may have lead to such evil. Any kind of social gatherings where alcohol and free mixing of the sexes was present.

Another beautiful quality of Muhammad’s was his concern for the people. Especially for the weak and the oppressed. He was known to be among the most generous of people. Even though he himself was not very wealthy he still gave as much as he could. He was not one to hoard, he was not one to only be concerned for his needs. Rather he had empathy for those around him, he did not think himself better than anyone. He never felt it acceptable for him to gorge himself if his neighbor was hungry. The suffering of the people around him weighed heavily on his heart, he wanted to do all that he could to help. He realized the connection he had with every other human regardless of their race, tribe, status, or gender. In fact we will see later on that one of very reasons why he fled to the cave, one of the very reasons why desired seclusion was to escape all of the injustices and suffering that he saw all around him. It was his nearness to God that gave him this concern for others, that made the Divine attributes beloved to him and made him desire to see these attributes become manifest in the world.

Even his relationship with his family was a means of his worshiping God. His first real family was that of his uncle. He grew up in the home of his uncle and was very close to him. He loved him very much and he appreciated all that he had done for him. So much so that he did not want to be a burden. He realized that his uncle was not a wealthy man and that he had many children of his own to care for. As we said earlier he went out and searched for work as soon as he was able to. In the beginning because he was so young, because he did not have many connections, he could not find much work. As a Shepard he was paid very little and he had to work hard for the entire day. But this is just what he did. In order to support his family. In order to make life better for them. See then his compassion and his sense of responsibility and loyalty. He adhered to the principles of Islam even before God chose him. Mercy and Justice. Family and Loyalty. Honesty and Virtue.

The second family of the Prophet began with his marriage to Khadija. For 25 years she was the only woman in his life, he loved her so much and he was dedicated completely to her. He knew this was what would please God. He knew that he had to be the Light of God in her life she like she was in his. Firstly by acknowledging how much she meant to him, how much she had done for him. Behind every great man is a great woman. Not only was she mother to all his children, not only did she provide comfort and solace when he came home, but she also supported him financially. He always acknowledged this about her and he was forever grateful. Even years after she passed away he would still remember her, he would still send gifts to her relatives and friends. And though though polygamy was common his time, he never took any other wife or concubine or mistress during her lifetime. He only had eyes and heart for her. Such was the love he gave to her.

Even the way in which she first became his wife shows us his righteous and pure character. It shows us how he worshiped his Lord through all that he did. She was one of the wealthiest and most beautiful women in all of Makkah. But she was also widowed and she did not accept the proposals of most suitors because she could not find any man whom she felt was as good as her late husband. Until Muhammad came, so much did she admire him, so much did she see the light of God in him that she was the one who proposed to him.

It so happened that one of the sheep owners whose flock Muhammad tended was a good friend of Khadija's. She saw the purity and the light of this blessed man. For example his diligence in his work. He never came late, he would always be there at the crack of dawn to take the sheep out to pasture. He never brought them back before sunset and he never lost any of them. She also noticed that he never came himself to get his payment, rather he would get it from one of his colleagues. There was another man who also tended sheep for this lady and Muhammad would ask him to pick up his wage when he got his own. Such modesty before the opposite gender was considered a virtue in those days. It showed both the honor of a man and his respect for women. This woman who owned the flock saw in young Muhammad such purity of character and integrity. This made her recommend him to Khadija. Not as a husband at first but rather as a business partner. Someone to trade on her behalf. Most of the men in Makkah at that time were traders. Now Khadija as we said was wealthy but being a woman she could not travel those long distances by herself. Travel in those days was extremely difficult, and it was not considered appropriate for a lady to travel on camelback alone for months. So Khadija would hire men who on her behalf would make these long journeys for trading.

On the advice of her friend she hired Muhammad to conduct trade for her. She had been looking for someone of integrity and honesty because she had the experience in the past of being cheated by some of the men she had hired. This was one of the reasons she offered this job to Muhammad despite his youth and despite the fact that he had never done trading before. More than just experience she was looking for someone whom she could trust. Someone whom she could rely on. And young Muhammad himself was very happy to have received this offer. Because the wage of a merchant was significantly higher than that of a Shepard. Even though it entailed much more responsibility and difficulty, he still welcomed it because it gave him a better opportunity to help and support the family of his uncle. It also gave him a better opportunity to help the poor and the destitute. As we said, he worshiped the Divine with a comprehensive worship.

Khadija soon found that Muhammad was an even better merchant than she could ever have expected. Not only was he so honest and trustworthy in that he did not cheat her even in the slightest, but he also came back with enormous profits. The like of which no other man had ever brought back before. Not only did he do so once but constantly. Again and again. For all the years that he served her. This caused her to admire him and this caused her to love him. On account of his integrity, on account of his humility, and on account of his nearness to God. For she knew that God was pleased with this man, the reason he had brought back such profits was because he was blessed When in the marketplace he never swore by idols, he never lost his temper, and he never cheated his customers even in the least bit. Khadija knew that he had to be a man of God, for he was so selfless and so pure. He did all that he could for others and he treated them in the best way he could.

So Khadija proposed to Muhammad and he happily accepted. As we said she was one of the most sought after women in Makkah. She became his wife, she and the children she bore him became his family. And he was very good to them. For he knew that even in his being good to his family and his looking after them he could serve Lord. As we said he loved her so much. For he saw in her a reflection of himself. As every good husband should see in his wife. For she also was one who remembered God much and one who tried to please Him in all that she did. She also was modest, and truthful, and honest, and charitable, and sympathetic to the needs of others. All the virtues that Muhammad was blessed, he found that his wife was blessed with as well. This was why they loved each other so much and why they had such harmony.

See then what a beautiful soul he was, and see also how human he was. How he was just like you and me. He was one who loved, he was grateful, and he needed her to complete him just like she did him. Not only was he human but he was the human we would all like to be, or rather we should all like to be. Today many of us look up to and admire celebrities. Many of us even try to emulate them. But why? Mostly for their looks, for their physical appearances. But we need to look beyond the surface, we need to realize that beauty is not only in the face and the body. But it is also in character and morals, it is also in how we behave and how we live. It is also in what we make as the purpose of our lives. If you can realize this then you can see the beauty of this man. Then you will see why God chose him to be His Prophet. Then you will see why he truly is the Prophet. He is the brightest light of God ever to be sent to the created world. The most honest, compassionate, humble and hard working human being ever. He is whom we should all try to be. He is the goal we should all try to reach.

Now we have seen a brief glimpse of Muhammad’s life before he became the Prophet. His humanity, how he was born into difficult circumstances and how he had to struggle through life. Life for him was not easy, but he found solace in God, he found purpose in his relationship with God. This was the source of all the good that he did. From his honesty to his modesty to his generosity to his mercy to his empathy to his patience to his concern for every living creature. It all stemmed from this connection that he had with the Divine, for is God not the source of all good? Now even though he was in poverty as a youth, God gave him wealth through his marriage to Khadija. Not only did she have wealth before their union, but because of his hard work and honesty God blessed them both with even more. Yet what is amazing is that he did not allow this wealth to corrupt him, to change him in any way. He was as trustworthy and as charitable and as humble and as modest a man as he was when he was only a poor Sheppard. If anything as the years passed he only became nearer and nearer to God. The wealth and the bounties that he had been given allowed him to journey with his gratitude just as he had journeyed before with his patience. As he grew in maturity and wisdom, he came to realize even more how central a place God must have in his life. Not only in his own life but in the lives of all mankind. But at the same time he also saw how far the people were from their Creator and Sustainer. They did not connect with Him, nor did they make the effort to purify themselves of other than Him. They continued to live in sin and heedlessness. Focused only on the self. Utterly ignorant of the Deeper Reality. Craving war and conflict. Slaves to the lusts and greed. Bent on glorifying themselves instead of the One deserving of all glory. Seeing hatred and despair in all affairs instead of being content with what the Lord has decreed. Suffering on so many levels.

This is the reality that Muhammad saw in the world around him. And it caused him so much pain. Not only because people were not giving to God the worship that He deserved but also because of the misery that they themselves were in as a consequence of this. A misery that they often did not even realize. They could not see their blindness, the error of their ways. They did oppression to others and to themselves. And they did not know what they were missing by living heedless of Him. The serenity and the joy of His nearness.

After seeing such corruption all around him, seeing people prostrating before idols, seeing businessmen cheat and steal from their customers, seeing the social injustices of unfair wealth distribution, seeing women oppressed and forced into prostitution, seeing orphans in poverty being neglected, and worst of all seeing the hearts of the people empty of God, he could not take it anymore. He wanted to help the people, he wanted to make it better for them but he did not know how to. This is when he climbed up the mountain and went into a small cave on it's side. There he would spend hours, later on even days, doing nothing except worshiping God. In any way that he could. For he still did not know how to worship God. He only knew that he wanted to, he only knew that he had to. See then how much was his yearning for the Divine Presence. And as the years passed Muhammad would spend more and more time in that cave. Some years he would spend the entire month of Ramadan. It was not that Muhammad wanted to neglect his family or his society, but he just wanted to spend some time alone with his most Beloved. He needed some time in which he could dedicate his heart, his body, his entire self to God. So that he could empty his soul of all that is other than God. Not a trace of ego could remain and the utter slavehood and reliance upon the Divine could be realized.

In the end is this not the true measure of a human being? How can anyone accuse such a man of evil or injustice how can anyone say anything negative about him? When his only concern in life was the most noble and selfless concern. To serve the Creator by creating a better world for all His creation. To alleviate their suffering, to let them receive God's Love and Mercy at all levels. Both physically, materially, and spiritually. Even today all of us are benefiting from this concern that he had. For the world at that time was a very dark place. The people had given themselves to all that is other than God. Some men attached their heart to the sensual pleasures. As a result adultery, fornication, prostitution, homosexuality, child molestation and many other such evils of a sexual nature were rampant. Other men became slaves of their greed and so life for them was only the endless quest to increase their wealth. They made usury lawful and they even cheated each other in commerce. They hoarded all the money for themselves and refused to share. Other men attached their hearts to power and pride for themselves and their tribe. It was all about glorifying their egos. It was all about their honor and their prestige. So blinded were they by their own arrogance that they completely forgot God. They forgot the Tremendous Being Above them who was far greater than them. They looked down upon others whom they saw as less then them. They believed that they had the right to exploit them and to oppress them.

See then how different was the heart of Muhammad from the hearts of many of those around him. He was filled with yearning for the Divine while they had all but forgotten Him. He was looking to serve the people while they were looking only to serve themselves, often at the expense of the people. He was looking to share and to give, while they were looking to hoard and to take. It was two very different mindsets.

One was enlightenment and the other was darkness. Unfortunately Muhammad was almost by himself in such a thinking. Almost the entire world around him had the other mindset. It was not only the Arabs who were seeped in such ignorance. It was all of mankind. Europe by this time had gone into the dark ages, whatever learning and progress had been made by the Greeks and Romans had come to a standstill. In fact the Church discouraged scientific inquiry and innovation. The entire continent was broken into feudal kingdoms where a few lords would oppress and exploit the masses. In a given kingdom around 2% of the population would be made up of the lord and his close family. Around 8% were his knights, priests and ministers. And the remaining 90% were the serfs who lived in abject poverty. They lived in extremely small houses which were cold and damp. Often times it was warmer and brighter outside the house than within. They had to toil all day for a meager wage while the lords lived in extravagance and luxury. There was no sense of social justice or morality. Celibacy was preferred to matrimony so that people could be free to engage in debauchery to their hearts content. Christianity did not in any way help to make the world better. The teachings of Jesus had been replaced by the corruptions of Paul and Constantine. The religion became a mix of Greek mythology, Roman idolatry and Monasticism. Nothing but empty rituals and useless dogma that could not elevate the spirit nor stir the intellect. It did not in any way bring the people nearer to God. Rather it became a tool in which the corrupt kings could control and exploit those under them. It was also the source of many wars and conflicts based on irrelevant doctrinal differences, usually regarding the true nature of Jesus. Some said he was God, others said he was the son of God, others said he was half and half. And they all killed each other as a result of such insane interpretations.

India and the east was no better. In these lands too there was social injustice, immorality, vices and even idolatry. The Hindus made everything and anything into a god. They took as divine any object that had any attractiveness or utility. Everything from the cow to the tree to the sun to various saints to various mythological beings that were part human and part animal to even the male sexual organ. Can you imagine how sick and deranged are a people who would make an idol in the shape of a penis and then worship it? This then leads to the next corruption of Indian society at that time which was the utter sexual wantonness. The Hindu holy books are filled with explicit and revolting accounts of sexual encounters between their gods and goddesses. They had temples in which men would worship naked women and vice versa. Can you imagine what manner of dark acts may have been committed inside the walls of such temples? The priests would often come to the villages and take young girls and boys who were to their liking back to their temples to do with as they pleased. Yet another corruption in that society was the unfair caste system. It was only a means for one group of people to exploit and oppress another. There was the high class known as the Brahmins which again were only a minority of the population. Most of the people were in the low class known as the Sudras. According to Hindu Law such people were even lower in status than animals. They were not allowed to own property, not allowed to mix in any way with the high class, in fact their only purpose is to serve those who are above. In essence slavery for their entire lives and that of all their descendants. Can you imagine such a life? This is the world that is created when we forget God, when we forget our true purpose, when we allow the ego to dominate over us. In the end nearly everyone is in misery, even the oppressors. For even their hearts are empty of God.

This was the darkness that our entire planet was in before God sent His prophet. This was the darkness that made Muhammad to flee to the cave. It was here in this cave that God changed the course of human history, it was here in this cave that the angel came down to this blessed man. So there was Muhammad in the cave one night by himself. The only sound that he could hear the stillness of the night. Not a soul around him for miles. When all of a sudden the angel appeared before him. He did not tell us exactly how the angel looked like but it must have been an awesome creature, a being of such radiance and light. At that moment Muhammad was afraid. He was not expecting anyone to be there in that cave, especially not so magnificent a creature like this. Then the the angel recited onto him the first verses of the Quran. The first verses of the final revelation that our Creator would send down to us.

In these verses the Prophet is commanded to recite onto mankind the Quran. The Book which reminds us of God. The One Who brought us into existence, the One Who took a small lump of flesh in the wombs of our mothers and from that made the complete human being we see in the mirror every day. And from that human He is the One Who made us into the vast civilization that we as a species have become. Can we not then see how much we are indebted to Him? Can we not see how generous He has been with us? These are the questions that God brings to our attention in the first few verses of the Quran. He forces us to reestablish our relationship with Him. By making us to ponder and reflect. Did we make ourselves into who we are? Are we the source of our success? Did we create ourselves or have we been created? If we are sincere then we already know the answer to these questions. And we also know the answer to the path we must choose in life. Of course it must be one of gratitude. That manifests as Islam.

These then were the very first verses revealed onto the Prophet Muhammad. But after this incident he was terrified. He went racing down the mountain as fast as he could. As soon as he entered his house he told his wife to cover him, to wrap him in a blanket. So overcome was he in shock and terror that he was shivering. Only after Khadija had wrapped him up, only after some time had elapsed did his body even stop shaking. Then she sat next to him and she gently asked him what had happened. He then related to her how this creature had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and how it had recited onto him these verses. The Prophet remembered the verses exactly despite the shock and terror he had been through. This was a special gift given to him by God. He had the ability to retain and remember the Quran. Not one verse was missed or forgotten. Because God Himself has told us in the Quran that He will preserve His Book. For this is the final guidance that He has sent down for mankind. Muhammad then told Khadija how he feared for himself. He feared that some demon or evil was after him or that he was losing his mind. But upon hearing that, Khadija comforted him. She told him that she was certain that God would never forsake him. God would never allow any evil to come near to him. Then she related onto him some of his virtues such as his maintaining the bonds of kinship, his helping the needy, his contentment with what God had given, and his honesty and integrity. She told him that these were acts most pleasing to God and so on account of these she was certain that God would look after him. See how she consoled and comforted her husband in his time of need. See how much support she gave to him. She did not begin to criticize him for going up into the mountain. She herself did not show any fear. Nor did she at all doubt what he said. Rather she only provided comfort and reassurance. She reminded him of God.

This incident of how the angel had visited him in the cave was related to us by Muhammad himself in his own words. Does not his doing so show us his honesty, sincerity, and humility? For if he was just pretending to be a prophet then would he expose his weakness for all to see? In those days it was important for a man not to show any sign of vulnerability. Why then would one who claimed to be the messenger from God, the leader for mankind, portray himself as weak? Most men of his time would never have exposed themselves like that. Humility is a gift that is given only to the select few. Only to those who are drowned in the Majesty and the Glory of the Divine. Such was how the Prophet Muhammad was, such was why he was not ashamed to tell us exactly what happened in the cave. For him all that mattered was pleasing his Beloved. He realized that this was the only purpose for his existence. The only purpose for the existence of all creation.

Soon he found the words of his wife to be true, God had not forsaken him. It was not a demon that had come to him in the cave, nor was it a figment of his imagination. Rather it was an angel, the archangel Gabriel. The one who brings revelation from God to the prophets. Soon Gabriel would visit the Prophet on a regular basis. And instead of being terrified of his visits, the Prophet would welcome them. He would look forward to them. The angel soon became his companion, his close friend. He would recite onto him the Quran. He would also bring to him revelation in addition to the Quran. As we mentioned in a previous chapter these are the hadith. The guidance that God gave us to supplement His Holy Book. Gabriel would bring to the Prophet these pearls just as he would bring the Quran. And the Prophet would in turn convey to the people all that he had been taught. So that all of us could receive the guidance from our Lord. So that we could be saved from ourselves.

Thus began the mission of the Prophet Muhammad. To invite all mankind to the serenity of Islam. The peace which comes from complete and utter submission to God. This was what he called the people to day and night. He knew this was what would end their suffering and remove their misery. And so this he desired for them. Because of his love for them. A love that came from the One Source of all Love. If the people were to accept Islam then the second part of the Prophet’s mission was to teach them how they can implement their Islam. How exactly they can worship God through all that they do. This was the mission of the Prophet, this was his life after the angel had come to him, after God had chosen him for this sacred duty. It was a life dedicated to calling the people and teaching the believers. So that all of us can be saved.

As we mentioned the Prophet’s wife Khadija was the first one to believe in him. But soon others followed. The Prophet’s younger cousin, ‘Ali. His best friend Abu Bakr and adopted son Zaid. These were the very first Muslims. They believed him to be the Messenger of God before much of the Quran was sent. In fact when they entered into Islam only a few verses had been revealed. They did not need to hear the Miracle of the Quran to know that Muhammad spoke the truth. They had known him for all their lives, they knew he was not a liar.

See then how the Prophet's calling to God was not only by the Quran that was sent down to him, but also by his own character and morals. For these early converts knew that he was a man not capable of deception or evil. He already had a reputation with him. They knew his honesty, his generosity, his humility, his compassion, his forbearance. They knew how pure and selfless a soul he was. They knew he was the epitome to be emulated, the highest evolution of human development. And this is the promise of Islam. It will make you a better person.

In the beginning the Prophet limited his call to only those near to him. Such is what God had commanded him to. So he called first his family and his close friends. And they in turn called those near to them. This was how Islam spread in the early years. Only among those who were near to the Prophet. There are reasons why God commanded him to convey the message in this way. One is that it show us the importance of family, the importance of those near to us. How can you change the world, how can you bring all of mankind to the worship of the One True God if your own family is heedless of Him? We already saw in previous chapters the importance that Islam has placed on family. And to neighbors. And the Islamic definition of neighbor is not restricted only to those who live next door to you, rather it encompasses all those around you. Including your friends and coworkers and classmates. They know you the most because they have spent the most time with you. Such people are whom God told the Prophet to direct his call to in the beginning. God knew his heart, He knew that the love which the Prophet had for his family is the greatest as is natural for any man. So it is only natural that he would want to share this great bounty with those whom he loved the most. For the gift of Islam is the gift of nearness to God, the greatest gift that can ever be conferred on any human being. God let the Prophet share this gift first with those nearest to him.

Another reason why the Prophet called first those near to him is because such people believing in him and following him is also a validation of his truthfulness. It showed the outside world, it shows us that he truly is the messenger. For if he were not then why would those near to him ever follow him, why would they ever give to him unquestioned obedience? As we said earlier just the kind of person whom the Prophet was is among the greatest of evidences for this Message.

Another reason why the Prophet first called those near to him is because he needed them. He knew that he had before him a tremendous task. He had to invite all of humanity to God. In order to carry out this mission he needed people whom he could trust, whom he knew would stand by him. And ideally who should be better for you to depend on during such hard times than your family? Today some of us may find this hard to comprehend because our family has become so distant from us. If this is our thinking then it only shows how corrupted we have become. How we have lost that which is most important. Islam can save us from this, it can reconnect us with those nearest to us, by reminding us how our bond with them is a bond from God. For His sake we should be the best to them.

Another reason why the Prophet first restricted the call to only those around him was because at that time his call was still nascent. The Muslim community at that time was still only the Prophet, his wife, his cousin, and at most a dozen others. This was the entire Muslim nation in those early years. And for the kind of mission that God had charged them this was still too few a number. We need to remind ourselves once again how radical a call this was, how much of a change it brought. The Prophet was not simply calling on his people to worship One God instead of many. As I tried to show in this book, such can only be the beginning of your servitude to the Divine. From here on it has to permeate every aspect of your life and that of your society. It has to transform you and those around you. It has to remove ego completely, both in you and in the systems around you. Given that such is the very nature of this message you will understand why there might be those who are opposed to it. Those who are not sincere to God, those who do not want to submit. Those who want to cling to their wealth and power. Those who choose to turn away from the Divine.

The Prophet knew that he would face such resistance. God had told him so. This was why initially his mission was kept secret. Why it was limited only to those nearest to him. Before the call could be made public, there had to be a strong group. A band who could aid the Prophet in conveying this Message to mankind. A group that could protect him if the powers be should ever attack him. Three years he spent in building this group. Three years planning and preparing for the day when he will proclaim his call to all people.

See then how even though he was the messenger he still did not neglect the worldly means, he still did what needed to be done for his mission to be successful. Even though he was certain that God would help him he still did his part. He did not want to be passive, he did not want to sleep at home and leave it to God to establish His religion. He knew that even though everything happens by God's power we as human beings still need to do our part. We still need to act. This rule holds true for all our affairs. For example we believe that our sustenance comes from God, but we still need to go out in the world and seek it. We do not sit at home and expect God to provide for us even though we know that He is the One Who provides for us. He will provide for us when we do our part, when we try our best. If only we take the first step then God will complete for us our endeavors. Now the Prophet had the most noble and important of missions, to call mankind to the Divine, but still he too needed to strive. He too needed to do all that he could. Only then would God's Help come, only then would he be successful. See then how this is not a religion of apathy or inaction, rather it tells us to give our very best in all that we do. This is what we are being tested on, this is how we draw nearer to God, this is how we find fulfillment for our existence. It is an upward path that must be climbed.

Look also at the humble beginnings of this religion. It was only the Prophet and his wife and a few others who started it all. In total there were about ten or twelve of them. In those early days they would meet together in a small house in order to worship God, to learn His Book and to strengthen their bond with Him. For they knew that their relationship with Him needed to be strong if they were to do what was required of them. A life of servitude to God. By being selfless beings of light who work tirelessly for the betterment of all creation. The Prophet helped each of the early Muslims to reach to this sublime station. For he was not only their messenger but he was also their mentor and their spiritual guide. He would teach them the Quran and through it he would increase their faith and their conviction, their connection with the Divine. As I said earlier the Quran is all about God, you cannot find a single page or even passage which does not in some way mention Him. It taught the early Muslims just how Tremendous and Glorious a Being that He is so that they would realize just how much they needed to glorify Him, and it reminded them of His bounties upon them so that they realize just how grateful they should be. They would also be taught about what lies beyond death, about the Last Day and how they will be judged for all their actions. They also would also be shown through descriptive verses the Paradise that awaits the righteous and the Hell that awaits the criminals. Most importantly the Prophet would teach them love to God. So that they came to see how nearness to Him is the greatest of felicities and how distance from Him is the most painful of all torments. Not only would he teach this to them but he would also show them. He was the living embodiment of the Quran. Through his example he molded their outlook on life . Until they became a people no longer consumed by ego and materialism. But who could see and know the Deeper Reality.

From them came the greatest civilization mankind has ever seen. It began with them. And this also is a proof for the Truth of this Message. Because the Islam that the Prophet taught those few people is the same Islam that survived and thrived for centuries. See then how this religion has spread not because it was adopted as the official religion of the Roman Empire and forced upon the people, rather it spread because it is the Truth. The people were convinced that it is the truth. Even in the Prophet’s own lifetime he saw Islam established over the entire Arabian Peninsula. For the first time in their history the Arabs were united under a single government and single religion. They became one nation under God.

But the path that the Prophet had to traverse to reach this destination was by no means an easy one. After three years of secret preaching, after there years of building that core group, God finally gave him permission to proclaim the call openly. That was when the sharks attacked, that was when the society reacted. But at that point the cage was strong and the sharks were not able to penetrate it. This cage I am referring to is the group that the Prophet built and the person inside the cage is Islam itself. The Prophet built a strong group that could carry and propagate Islam to the masses despite strong opposition, despite the threats and the attacks, despite the temptations and the torturing. The Prophet and the believers were subject to all this and more. But because they remained strong and did not give in, despite many of them being tortured and killed, Islam itself could not in any way be compromised. And their strength came not from weapons or numbers . In fact in all the years that the Prophet and the believers preached in Makkah, they never once took up arms. Rather the strength of this group was from the strength of their hearts, the strength of their faith, the strength of their conviction in God.

This was why the Prophet spent three years training and culturing his followers, building their connection with the Divine. When the call was made public, when everyone in Makkah came to know what Islam is and what it called for, the leaders of that society perceived it as a threat. They saw it as coming to take away the life that they knew. The life they had gotten used to. They wanted to hold on to all of the wealth and power. They thought of themselves as the high class, as better than many of their fellow human beings. They did not see it as a problem if they had so much and everyone else around them had so little. They thought that they deserved it, Such was their distance from the Divine, such was the extent to which their egos had consumed them. And even the people themselves did not see this gross inequality as a problem. For they had been made to believe that they were inferior. Such is the lies that they had been fed. Such is the twisted mentality they had been indoctrinated with. Such is how dark the society was, such is how dark the whole world was. So when the Prophet and his companions began their preaching, the chieftains and the upper class saw Islam for what it really is, not just a religion but a force for social justice and morality. It brought the radical idea that all human beings were equal. The idea that no one was superior on account of their race, or their nationality, or their social class. This idea was absolutely unheard of at that time. It was Islam, the religion that the Prophet Muhammad brought which taught the world this concept. This was why the powers be at that time were so opposed to it. They tried in so many ways to repress the call to the Divine. But the Prophet and the believers did not give in. They endured so much only so that God's Light can spread all over this world. Only so that we could be saved. Only to make the world a better place. It was only from God that such care and love came.

We should also note that even though social justice and economic reform was one of the primary objectives of the Prophet’s mission, this does not mean that the only ones who followed him were the poor and the weak. Rather many of the Prophet’s followers in those early days, some say even the majority were from the high class. For among the earliest of his followers were the likes of Abu Bakr, Uthman , Abdullah ibn Jash and Ramlah bint Abu Sufyan. These men and women were from the wealthiest members of that society. Thus Islam was not a class struggle like the Communist revolution was. It was never about rich vs poor, haves vs. havenots. Those who followed the Prophet were not seeking wealth or better position for themselves. Rather their only concern was pleasing God. For how can you truly believe in Him, how can you dedicate yourself to Him, and still hoard all the wealth for yourself? How can you be content when there are others of His creation who are in need? Do you not feel that you have a responsibility to look after them? Is that not what He would want you to do? Is He not a Being of Mercy, Compassion, and Justice? Does He like it when there is such suffering, such injustice on His earth? Part of being a good slave to Him is having empathy for your fellow human being. For mercy and compassion are among His most salient of attributes and He loves those who imbue these within themselves. Moreover when you dedicate yourself to Him, you realize that life is not about you anymore. It is not just about pleasing yourself and enjoying yourself. Rather life is about pleasing Him. You are pleased when you please Him. For you have drowned yourself in Him. You give and sacrifice only for His sake. The early Muslims realized this, and so they followed His Prophet. They gave up their comfortable homes and luxury for exile and torment. For them all that mattered was God. They knew only in Him was contentment found.

How exactly then did the Prophet make public his call. One day he climbed the tallest mountain in Makkah and he cried out the town’s alarm. This was what was used to warn the people of any danger that was approaching the town. The Prophet shouted as loud as he possibly could. And all the townsfolk came rushing to the base of the mountain. So there he was at the top of the mountain and the entire populous of Makkah below him. They were all looking towards him, waiting for him to tell them what the dire emergency was that he had summoned them on account of.

He began by asking them a question “Oh my people, if I told you that there was an enemy behind this mountain about to attack you, would you believe me”. Now realize that the tribe of Quraysh which the Prophet belonged to, the tribe that lived in Makkah, was the most powerful tribe in Arabia. Moreover they were the custodians of the Kabbah, the sacred house of God. So all the other tribes feared them, they would not have attacked them so easily. And the Quraysh themselves knew it. Yet still when the Prophet asked this question to them they all replied in the affirmative. And they even told him their reason for doing so. “Yes we would believe you, for you are the most trustworthy and the truthful”. Such a reputation did the Prophet have among his people. He was so respected, honored, and loved. Because of his integrity, his honesty, his generosity, his chastity, and his excellent character. His people even loved him on account of his lineage, for while he may not have been from a wealthy family it was noble. His grandfather was one of the most respected chieftains of Quraysh. Many of them had even had the hope that one day Muhammad would be their chief. Such was the adoration and the respect he had earned from them. Such was the goodness they could see in him. Such was how brightly the Light of God shined in him.

But all of that changed in a moment, all of that changed when he announced to his people that he was the Messenger whom God had sent to them. He said onto them from the top of the mountain “I warn you of a danger far greater than that of an attacking army, I warn you of God's torment which will befall you continue in your heedless ways”. See then his sincerity, see how much he desired to save the people. Both in this world and the next. But what response did he receive from his people? His own uncle Abu Lahab was the first to stand out from the crowd. He said “May you be cursed for this entire day, is this the reason why you have gathered us all here. Is this the big emergency, is this all that you have to say?”. Abu Lahab was a businessman and he had taken time away from his business to come to the mountain when he heard the Prophet calling. He thought there was some real danger, a threat to him or to his family or to his business. But when actually he heard what the Prophet had to say he was very disappointed, he was angry. Because he did not perceive what the Prophet was warning him of as a real danger. Such was the extent to which he had forgotten God. It was not so much that he did not believe the Prophet, it was that he did not care. His heart was already full, consumed by his desire for this world. Consumed by greed for the material things. This was all that he could think about, this was all that he cared for. So when he heard the Prophet speak all that he could think of was the time he spent away from his shop. The actual words that the Prophet spoke, the actual warning that he gave, meant nothing to Abu Lahab at all. Such was the extent to which he was distracted by his quest for material gain in this world. It had made him to forget the true reality of his situation, so much so that even when he was shown the path down which he was heading he still did not realize. He still did not care.

Are most of us today not just like Abu Lahab? We have no time to think about religion, about God, even about a higher purpose for our existence. We are so busy chasing after the material things. We have become so addicted to the carnal and fleeting pleasures. We especially who live in this age have become like this. Life for us has become so convenient. We do not need to struggle anymore to earn our daily bread the way our ancestors did. We are so sure that we will have our dinner tonight and the following night. We have forgotten our utter dependence on God. Forgotten that He is our Provider and He can withhold our sustenance if He so pleases. So we need to take care. We cannot allow avarice to blind us like it did those before us. We need to take heed of the warning that has come.

The Prophet soon found that most in Makkah gave the same response as his uncle. For the same reason, they were too engrossed in this worldly life to care about God, to care about anything other than the material things. Now we should note here that the uncle who rejected the Prophet was Abu Lahab, who is different from Abu Talib the uncle that raised the Prophet since he was a child. Both were his uncles but the latter was far kinder and nearer to him than the former. Abu Lahab rejected the Prophet and said that he was a liar, he even said that he was a madman or a dangerous magician who divides families. He came up with whatever fabrication that he could to drive the people away from the message that the Prophet brought. There were many in Makkah who were like Abu Lahab. They rejected this message for the very reason that it brought economic justice. Because it was in their hands that the wealth was concentrated and they did not want to share. Rather they wanted to hoard. So they opposed and fought against this religion because they saw it as coming to take the wealth which they held so dear.

Others rejected the Message for other reasons. Abu Jahl for example was another staunch enemy of Islam. He chose not to accept the Prophet’s call because of pride for his clan. He even admitted to this. Once he told a companion of his that he knew the Prophet was a true Messenger from God. But still he chose not to accept him for the simple reason that his family and the family of the Prophet have always been in competition. These two families had been rivals for generations. Each had always tried to outdo the other, each had always tried to reach a feat that the other could not. And up to that point the clan of Abu Jahl had been able to keep up with Muhammad’s clan, but now that a prophet had come from Muhammad’s family, Abu Jahl did know how his family could ever compete. Thus in his mind to acknowledge Muhammad as the true Messenger was to acknowledge the inferiority of his clan. This way why he did not accept the call of the Prophet, this was why he called him a liar and opposed his mission even though he knew deep down that the Prophet had come with the Truth.

You see the people of Makkah at that time knew the Prophet very well. They knew that he was not a liar, they knew that he would not deceive them. Especially not on something like this. Not on God. For they still had that awe and reverence for Him. Something that we today have for the most part lost. And moreover the people of Makkah could hear the Quran that the Prophet had recited onto them. They knew that these were not the words of a human being. They knew that no man could compose words as beautiful as this. So no one in Makkah was really skeptical about whom the Prophet claimed to be. Deep down inside they all believed him. Such also is from the Mercy of God. He does not want us to believe based on blind faith, He wants us to be convinced. In order that our hearts be at peace. In order that we are certain about what we believe.

But for many in Makkah at that time, like Abu Jahl, there was something holding them back. Something preventing them from believing. And God knows this about us as well. He knows that each of us has our own demons that we have to wrestle with, demons that we have to make the effort to slay if we are to progress in our journey to Him. We were all placed on this earth to be tested on how well we strive. Abu Jahl and those like him failed in their tests. They chose to succumb to the demons within them. Be they pride for one’s clan or a desire for the material things.

Others in Makkah chose to reject the Message because of a sense of loyalty to their forefathers. Customs and tradition had a strong hold on them, and they did not want to change the ways of their ancestors. As we said before and need to stress again Islam was calling for a radical change to their society. It called for economic and social reform. It called for dismantling their unjust class structure, it reminded them that all men and women were equal in status. Regardless of race or clan. This was a radical concept at that time. For the high class had gotten used to looking down on the low class, the Arabs had gotten used to looking down on the non Arabs, Quraysh had gotten used to looking down on non Quraysh, and men had gotten used to looking down on women. This was why they did not want to change. They wanted to dominate. Such was their egos control over their hearts. They also did not want change because they saw their current society as the way of their forefathers and thus the better way. To leave it would be an insult to their forefathers. They cared for their forefathers more than God. They cared for their own egos more than God. Such was their stubbornness, their distance from the Divine. Are we ourselves really all that different? Do we also not find within ourselves the same hesitation to make the journey?

One manifestation of their opposition was that they prevented the people from listening to the Prophet. At that time the Kabbah was the public meeting place, it was where people would gather in the afternoons to sit and meet. You might say the equivalent of the modern day coffee house. Poets would often recite their poetry in these gatherings. The Prophet knew that these gatherings were an excellent opportunity for him to present his Message and so he would go the Kabbah in the afternoons. But when he stood before the people to recite the Quran the chieftains would order their servants and their thugs to make loud noises so that he was not heard. These ruffians would even throw things at the Prophet while he was reciting. See then how evil they were, this noble man was only calling them to God, to their salvation both in this world and the next, and not only were they not heeding his call but they were even preventing others from doing so. They were literally keeping people from discovering God and from being in the serenity of His Presence. Who can be viler and more unjust than this?

Another manifestation of their opposition to the Prophet’s Message was their spreading lies and fabrications against him. An example of this is Abu Lahab telling people that he was a dangerous magician who divided families. Of course there was no truth whatsoever to this accusation. The Prophet was not a sorcerer and it was never his intention to cause any division among families. Rather Islam calls for strengthening of family bonds. But of course Abu Lahab did not care about this. In fact he knew that the Prophet was not a magician or anything of the sort, he had known him for all his life since he was his own nephew. But still he lied about him. Because his intention was never to truly warn the people, rather it was only to drive them away from Islam. To make them afraid of it, to make them think that it was their enemy. So that they would not even consider it.

The chieftains of Makkah like Abu Lahab spared no effort in waging such a vicious propaganda campaign against God’s religion. Their goal was to keep the people as far away from it as they could, in order that they could continue to exploit them. Even when a visitor would come to Makkah they would “warn” him about this “dangerous sorcerer” in their town. They would tell him to not even listen to a word that he says. For if you do then he will cast his magic on you. Once such a visitor became so afraid of these allegations that he actually stuffed his ears with cotton so that he would not hear the words of the Prophet. Such was the extent to which they used all their energies and resources to create an environment of fear. It has always been the case that the devils have tried to create fear in the hearts of people about God’s religion. So that darkness remains.

Another manifestation of their opposition was persecuting the weak among the Prophet's followers. They knew that the more followers the Prophet had, the greater his chances of success would be. So not only did they want to dissuade the people from following him, but they also wanted to make those who did follow him to abandon him. To abandon Islam. So they would beat the Prophet’s followers, they would throw stones at them. One of the bravest from the early Muslims was a black slave by the name of Bilal. When his master found out that he had accepted Islam he became furious. He commanded Bilal to leave his religion and to curse the Prophet. Bilal refused to do so. So this evil man began to torture him. He would place him on the scorching sands of the Arabian desert. Imagine what it was like. That intense heat literally burning your back. For hours and hours Bilal would be forced to lie in the searing torment. Till he lost consciousness from pain and dehydration. But still he would not give up his religion. He would not bow before the idols. He would not leave the Divine Presence.

Realize now that this is not a folklore story, it really did happen. Ask yourself then what is it that can make a human being go through such torment. None of us like to be in pain. And the greater the pain, the greater the extent we would go through to avoid it. All that Bilal had to do to end his suffering was to simply renounce the religion, just to acknowledge that the idols are gods. Then all the pain would have ended. Then he could have all the sensual pleasures that his master had promised him. But he chose not to give in. He turned away from pleasure and towards pain. Why? Was it simply because he knew in Islam he would be free and equal to his master?

No, it is more than that. As we said before the followers of the Prophet were not after worldly gain of any sort, not even freedom from slavery. Rather they realized that there was a much greater purpose to existence. For example in the case of Bilal, it has been narrated that as they were torturing him, he would keep on repeating the Name of the One God. He knew that the more he spoke God’s name the angrier his tormenters would become. But he did not care. Because while his body may have been in agony, his heart was at peace. Peace that came from the Divine Presence, from the nearness to God that he felt. He knew that God was not an idol or a cow or a man. The One True God that cannot be contained by time or space. The One Who is beyond form. The One Who is nearer to each of us than our jugular veins just as He is above the heavens. The more that you remember Him, the more that you can feel His Presence. Bilal was at that state where the Presence of God was more salient in his heart than the pain from his body. This allowed him to be steadfast despite all the torment that they put him through. Does this not also show that this religion is the truth? Would he have allowed them to do all this to him if he had even a shred of doubt?

Others among the Prophet’s followers were tortured in a similar fashion. Abu Bakr for example was once beaten to such an extent that he fainted and he had to be carried home. Uthman was rolled up in a rug and stepped upon by members of his own clan. Khabab ibn Al Arat was branded with hot coals that would melt the skin of his back. He would carry the scars of this torment until he died. Sumayah had a spear thrust into her private part until it killed her. She thus became the first martyr in Islam. These are just a few examples out of many. Almost all of the early Muslims went through such hardships. But they all endured. They all held fast to their faith. Because they knew that they now lived for something greater than themselves. They lived to not only worship God but also to serve His Cause. They loved Him and so they gave everything for Him to be worshiped on earth.

Even the Prophet himself had to go through much pain and humiliation. One day he was just praying in front of the Kabbah not bothering anyone. When the chieftains saw him in prayer they felt loathing for him. They knew that his prayer was a manifestation of his religion. So they intended to bother him even when he was in worship and dedication to his Lord. While he was in his prostration they came and put the intestines of a dead camel on top of him. They just dumped that stinking and bloody intestines all over his back. Just imagine how he must have felt at that moment. How humiliating must it have been for him, how uncomfortable with that stench and that disgusting substance flowing down his back. After they did this to him, they all had good a laugh. And he remained in prostration and humiliation until his young daughter came and cleaned it of him. How embarrassing must it have been for him as a father to have his daughter witness that? To see him in that state of weakness and helplessness.

This is only one example of the torment that the Prophet had to endure. On another incident a thug that the chieftains sent came up to him from behind while he was praying and began to strangle him. He literally wrapped a sheet of cloth around the Prophet’s neck and started to squeeze. Only by God’s grace was Abu Bakr there at that moment to pull the thug away. On another incident when the Prophet went to the city of Taif, the chieftains of that city ordered the thugs to throw stones at him. He was pelted to such an extent that his sandals became soaked in his own blood and the sand began to stick to his feet. It has also been narrated that the wife of Abu Lahab would place thorns on the path that the Prophet would walk in the hope that he would be pricked by them. Such is the hatred that she had for him, such is the hatred that all the evil ones in Makkah had for him. Only because he called them to God. Only because he called them to their salvation.

All these are only examples of the physical torment that the Prophet had to go through. While the psychological and the emotional torments were far worse. First of all just think how painful it must have been for him to have his own people reject the Message. Just think how ashamed he must have been before God on account of his people. For he knew God better than anyone else and consequently he knew the right that He had to be worshiped. And so when he saw that his own people were not giving to God His rights, just think how much it must have hurt him. He also knew that God had favored his people by choosing them to be the nation to receive the Final Apostle and by giving them the honor of aiding this Apostle in carrying His Message to all other nations. Yet despite all this if they still were to have rejected him then how ashamed must he have been. For Muhammad who loved God so much how painful must it have been for him?

Similarly just as he loved God he also loved his people. Since he was so near to the Divine, he manifested His most salient attributes of compassion and mercy. So he did not want to see his people punished. He did not even want them to go through the misery and the emptiness of living distant from God in this world. He wanted the best for them, the peace and the serenity of the Divine Presence in this world and the next. In the next life he also wanted them to be saved from the torment of Hell and to be admitted into the bliss of Paradise. Such is what he called them to, such is what he desired for them. So imagine once again how much it must have hurt him to see them turn away. Turning away despite his calling them again and again. He knew what they did not know.

Imagine also how much it must have hurt him to hear what the people were saying about him. For not only were they not accepting his Message, but they were saying that he was a liar or they were saying that he was a madman or that he was a sorcerer. They were saying all this about him on account of his bringing the Message to them. And these allegations about the blessed Prophet literally were the furthest from the truth. For example he was not a liar, on the contrary as we said earlier he had a reputation among his people for his honesty and his trustworthiness. And he certainly was not a sorcerer, in fact to practice magic is one of the greatest sins in Islam, as is to simply believe in it. For we believe that there is no power except in God, everything happens only by His Power. And he certainly was not a madman. Is it madness to live only for your Creator, to live for the purpose that you were created for? Is it madness to show gratitude to the One Who has given you all that you have? Is it madness to praise and glorify the One Who is deserving of all Majesty and Honor? Of course it is madness not to. When the whole world has gone mad who can see?

The Prophet knew that he was not whom they claimed him was. And he knew that such baseless allegations only served to drive the people away from him, only served to make the people even more distant from God. This was what truly tormented him. Not so much the fact that he was once the beloved of his people but then he became the most despised, even though this obviously did have an impact on his heart. But even more so he feared the effect that these fabrications would have on his people. Those whom he was trying to invite to God, those whom he was trying to save. He feared that they may actually believe the propaganda and thus be turned away from Islam. This was why his heart bled when he heard the people say all this about him. He could hear it on the street, he could even hear it from his own family members.

Another source of emotional torment for the Prophet was what he saw happening to his followers. Although he was abused physically as in the examples we cited above, he still was not tormented nearly as much as some of his followers were. This is because the Prophet still came from a respected family and he had the protection of his uncle Abu Talib. Such was a luxury that many of his followers did not have. Especially the weak and the slaves among them. You see in that time since there was no established government, no police force, the only protection that anyone had was through their family. Your family was who would come to your aid in times of distress. Your family was who would avenge you if someone should harm you. Now there were some believers in those early days of Islam who did not come from powerful families. In fact some like Yasir and Bilal did not have any family at all. These poor souls then became the prime targets for the demons among the Makkan chieftains. They would torment these poor souls in public for all the people to see.

For Yasir and his wife Sumayah they were beaten and tortured until they both died. The Prophet would pass by them while they were being beaten and tormented in the burning sands of the desert. He did not have the power at that time to help them. He could only console them by reminding them that Paradise would be theirs for their patience through the agony that they were going through. But just think how much it must have hurt him to see his followers in such a state. To know that they were going through this suffering because of the message that he brought. He was a man full of compassion and mercy, he did not want to see a single living creature in even slightest of discomfort. How much then must it have hurt him to see the believers in such pain? And yet despite all this he was still told by God to restrain his hands and even his tongue. He could not fight back, he could not seek retaliation. For to do so would be to manifest the ego, to validate the idea of a conflict, of us vs. them. This is not what he had been sent for, he was not sent to be a harbinger of war but rather a bringer of peace. He was not sent to cause division but rather to cause unity and love. So God commanded him to be patient over all that was done to him. The same order was also given to his followers.

And this is just what they did but how difficult it must have been for them we cannot even imagine. No matter how much we read about it, no matter how much we think about it, we can never truly realize how it must have felt. To hear about a thing is not at all like experiencing it. The Prophet and the Muslims of his time experienced such torment and humiliation such that it was beyond all comprehension. And still they restrained themselves from even the slightest retaliation. Though it was not in their nature to do so. They were warriors, men of honor and dignity. What was in their nature was to seek retribution for any insult or injury. But they did not. For Him they held back.

Does this not show the strength of their conviction, does it not show the extent of the transformation this religion brought in them? Who among us today can do this? Who among us has conquered their egos to such an extent? Can we not see that we as the human race still have a long way to go in our evolution and that the Prophet and his companions were at a state much higher than ours. It begins with the realization that there is more to existence than the material world. As you then progress in your journey you realize that He is even more real than this world. That He is the Ultimate Reality and that this world is only an illusion. Everything other than Him is only an illusion. Islam can guide you to this conviction.

The Prophet was the most beloved of God, and still He put him through so many hardships and trials. Probably much more than any other of His creation. Because He loved him so much, because He wanted him to turn away from the world and to draw nearer to Him. But now just suppose for a moment that the skeptics are right, just suppose that Muhammad was not the true messenger, then you really have to ask why would he do this to himself? If he was not the Prophet then why on earth would he put himself through all that pain? What possible motive could he have? Was it wealth or was it women or was it power? He was offered all of these by the Makkan chieftains. If he only would have given up on his mission they would have made him their king, even though before him they never had a king. And they would have married to him any number of their women that he chose. And they would have gathered all their wealth and given it to him until he was satisfied. This was what they promised him. This was their bribe. Yet he turned them down. Turned them down again and again. So ask yourself once again what his motivation could possibly have been. Why did he go through all of this? What was there to gain?

What I have told you here is only the beginning of what the Prophet had to go through. There was also the social and economic boycott that was placed upon him, his family and his followers. First the chieftains had to tried to reason with him, then they tried to bribe him, then to threaten and torment him. They tried all these means and found that he still would not relent even an inch. Then they decided to take their opposition to the next level. They declared a complete economic and social boycott on the Muslims and on the family of the Prophet. His family because they supported him and protected him, even if some among them did not accept his message. For example his uncle Abu Talib. He too was subject to the boycott even though he himself was an elder and chieftain.

This embargo meant that no one could trade with them, no one could marry any of them, and no one could even speak with them. Just imagine then how difficult it must have been for them. They could not even purchase their daily meals. They used to eat the leaves from the trees because there was no food at all. At night you could hear the sound of children crying from hunger. So devastating was this boycott that many of the Muslims and many of the Prophet’s family died as a result of it. Including the Prophet’s beloved uncle Abu Talib, the one who had protected him for many years, the one who had raised him since he was a child, the one who was like a father to him. Also the Prophet’s beloved wife Khadija. His soul mate and closest companion for 25 years. The mother of all his children. How devastating must all this have been for him? Yet still he did not give up on the mission. Even though he knew that everyday and every moment he continued only caused more torment for his family. He only doubled and redoubled his efforts. When all other means of support had left, he relied only on God. Does this sound to you like a deceiver?

Despite the fact that his people did not heed his call, despite all the torture and the temptations and the fabrications, despite it all, the Prophet and the early Muslims remained steadfast on their mission. The mission of seeking to establish the sovereignty of God in that city. This is what we need to always remind ourselves of, he was not simply calling on the people to worship God, but he was also calling on them to submit to Him completely. In every aspect of their lives. As we showed earlier in Islam there is no difference between mosque and state, they are one and the same. Meaning the law of the land is God’s Law. This is also why the chieftains of Makkah were so unwillingly to accept the Prophet, they did not want to give up their power. They would rather be lords on earth than submit to their real Lord. But the Prophet knew that there was only One true Lord, one true King for this earth. This was why he was steadfast on his mission. 10 years after the day he had climbed the mountain and proclaimed his Message, he was still calling his people to accept God as Lord. His only profession, the job for which he toiled night and day was inviting to Him.

But at the same time the Prophet also acted with wisdom. In that when it became clear that the Makkan chieftains were not accepting the Message, he decided to look elsewhere. He decided to search for other tribes that would accept him, that would submit to God. But even this avenue initially did not lead to much success. As we said earlier when he traveled to the city of Taif and presented God’s Message to its chieftains, not only did they not accept but they mocked him and they had their thugs chase him out of the city by pelting him with stones. But he still did not give up. He was steadfast upon the path. He kept on going to the leaders of the other tribes. When one tribe would turn him down, he would go to another, then another, and then another. His message to all of them would the same.

I am the Messenger sent to you by God. He calls on you to submit to Him and Him Alone. By allowing yourself to be ruled by His Law and His Law alone. And to worship Him and Him Alone, to destroy all idols and to shun all false gods. This was what he called to. The simple message of submitting to the One True God. A complete and utter submission in all the spheres of life. And through this to find purpose and peace.

Finally after God saw the persistence with which His beloved labored, after He saw how he did not give up, He sent down His Mercy, His Help. Two tribes from a small town called Yathrib accepted what the Prophet was calling them to, what God was them calling to. They chose to submit to God. They chose Islam. Now God's religion finally had a home. This was when the Prophet made the migration from Makkah to Yathrib. After his arrival, the latter’s name was changed to Madinah. It was here that Islam was born, it was from here that it spread to the entire world. In this small farming village the sovereignty of God was established. The people worshiped the One True God and submitted to His Law in all their affairs. His Prophet judged their disputes according to His Law. God was the true Lord and the true King, as He deserves to be.

Finally the Muslims had an environment in which they can practice Islam. An environment in which they can live Islam. In Makkah they were not able to because their religion did not have political power. Only when God's religion has a say in the the state can the submission of the people be complete. Look at today’s world, look how far we are from Him, many of the vices are permissible and even promoted and defended by the state. Alcohol. Usury. Fornication. Gambling. Homosexuality. We all know these are evil and unnatural. But still our law permits them. Why? Because we have made our desires and our lusts and our greed as the legislator instead of God.

God's Law has no place in our society. This is why people are immersed in sin and heedless of the Divine. We are not being called to God by the world around us, rather we are being called to sin. Since we do not conduct our lives and our affairs by His Guidance we are not reminded of Him, we are not reminded of the fact that He should be the only purpose of our lives. Instead the world around us calls to heedlessness, to all that is other than God. This is why the vast majority of us are so materialistic and not spiritual, it is the very nature of the secular world that we have chosen for ourselves.

But this is not how it was in Madinah, in this blessed city that the Prophet had established the sovereignty was with God Alone. And as a consequence so were the hearts of the people The environment around them facilitated His remembrance. Every aspect of their society, from economy to governance to social morals to family values all operated according to His Law. Not a single deed did they do except that they mentioned His Name before it so that they could dedicate that deed only for Him. This is what the world around them facilitated, a life of complete servitude, this was why it was Islam's land.

Ever since the day that the Prophet arrived in Madinah he tried to create such a society. He did this by first building the mosque. The house exclusively devoted to the worship of God. This building symbolized Islam. It reminded the people of God, it reminded them of their true purpose. At anytime they wanted to they could come inside and worship God. They could bow and prostrate before Him, they could praise and glorify Him. They could be freed from all distractions of the world in order that the hearts could focus on Him. And the mosque was more than just a place of prayer, it was the center of the community, it was where all the people could come together and build their ties of brotherhood. Even their love for other was for His sake.

The mosque was also the school for the community. To seek knowledge is one of the most virtuous acts in Islam. In Islam learning was never seen as evil. On the contrary it was thought to be among the most virtuous of acts. God has told us that even the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky pray for the students of religious knowledge. Because they know that God loves such students, on account of the knowledge they learn they will be His saints on the earth. Beings who will do no injustice, not even to them. So within the walls of the mosque the Prophet would instruct the Muslims about their religion. He would teach them about God, about how He wanted them to live, and how they could find serenity through such a life.

The mosque was also the place where Muslims could discuss the affairs of the day, the affairs that concerned the community. Almost like a town hall. But these affairs would be looked at always through the prism of Islam, meaning every affair would be addressed as part of their slavehood to God. It would always be a question of how to benefit everyone while at the same time remaining true to all the high moral and ethical values established in the Quran. They all recognized their need to help the other, to be a Mercy for all God's creation. For they knew that religion was not just a personal thing, it is not just about me and my relationship with God. Such is only the first few steps in our path. Rather to truly excel in the journey you also have to make peace with the world that is around you. Not only should you accept and be content with the world but you also need to allow this light to shine back into the world. So you become an Agent of good in the world, you are striving to serve Him by serving His creation. This was the thinking of the early Muslims. They had slain their egos completely and saw the deeper purpose for existence. For they knew that such is what their Master would have wanted.

Soon what began in the mosque spread to the entire town. Soon the town became like a mosque. It became the earth on which God was worshiped. Wherever the people went they would remind each other of Him. Whenever they interacted with each other, in all of their dealings, they would do it for Him. So for example when they did business with each other they remembered that even this dealing was part of their worship of God. Thus they were careful not to cheat each other, both the seller and the buyer would give fair measure and they would not try to deceive or reduce even a little. If they had a covenant or contract they would try their best to fulfill all its terms. If they made a promise they would try their best to keep it. If they had a loan they would try their best to repay it. If they were given any kind of trust or responsibility they would try their best to fulfill it. They knew that justice was pleasing to Him so they tried to be fair and equitable in all their affairs. And at the same time they knew that charity and sacrifice was also beloved to Him. Especially for others. So they held themselves to the highest levels of equity and at the same time for others they also tried to give more than what was required of them.

A good example of this is when the local residents of Madinah came to the Prophet and asked if they could share the profits from their farms with their brothers from among the emigrants. The emigrants are those who had left Makkah with the Prophet. See then their generosity of the Madani Muslims, see how they were willing to give even though they had only a little. But the Prophet said that they could only share the profits if they gave the emigrants a chance to work in the fields also. Meaning he did not want them to be freeloaders, he did not want them to get something for nothing. Even though they had left all their possessions behind, even though they were his own clan, still he wanted them to be fair and do their part.

That society was also free of all vices. There were no strip clubs, dance clubs, bars, naked women on billboards, or any other form of pornography or indecency. They knew that such lewdness was not pleasing to God and they knew that their ultimate purpose was pleasing Him, not their own lusts. There were no banks charging usury and thereby exploiting people. On the contrary there were institutions in place to look after the people and to provide for them. As we said earlier one of the principles of Islam is social and economic justice. So it was an obligation upon the state and the entire community to look after the those who have been given less. Because this was what pleases God. Just think then what a beautiful and tranquil society it must have been. Not only was there no crime and no indecency and no injustice and no deprivation, but also think how tranquil the hearts of the people must have been. For wherever they went they were reminded of God, and is it not in the remembrance of God that the hearts find peace?

And because the people were always remembering God, because their hearts were attached to Him, this was why they always adhered to His Law. And this was why the society was so peaceful and prosperous. Of course the human being does have the desire in him to commit the vices. And of course the Prophet and the early Muslims were only human. But still they had within themselves the ability and the strength to resist all the temptations. They had the strength and the determination to strive to be better human beings. To control their lusts and their greed. To give in charity. To help their fellow human being. To not harm anyone in any way. And where did this strength come from. It came from their connection with God. In Makkah before the migration they had years of training and culturing. From the Prophet himself. Their hearts were drawn nearer to God, more than anything else they desired His Nearness.

This realization made them to do all their acts as part of their slavehood to God. At each moment their one concern, their singular purpose was to serve their Creator. Think then the kind of society it must have been. Would anyone there be prone to sin, or to lie and cheat, or to harm others or to even the slightest of injustice to any creation. Islam thus not only breaks the veil of the ego and allows the Divine Light to shine forth but it also encourages you to rescue all of your brethren in humanity. It is not only a religion of deep spirituality but also a force for social justice, a vehicle of compassion and mercy.

Another beautiful aspect of the first Islamic society was how its members were all united on the bond of faith instead of any other bond. In fact this was the first nation in the history of mankind which was founded on the basis of religion. Prior to it all other nations were formed on the basis of tribal or racial affiliations. From the Romans to the Greeks to the Persians to the Indians to every single tribe. What they all had in common was that you could only be a member of that nation based on birthright. You had to be born into that nation. You could not choose to be even if you wanted to. And even the Roman and Persian empires which had people of other races under their dominion always treated these others as slaves or second class citizens. They did not enjoy all the rights and privileges that the masters of that empire did. But this was not so with Islam. Anyone could be a member of the Islamic State. It was open for all mankind. All that you had to do in order to enter the community to was profess the Truth. There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger. If only you did this then you were equal to all other believers. How different is this from Western countries today where even those non citizens who have lived in such countries for years are denied many rights and thus oppressed. They are not even allowed to drive.

Because they are are seen as the “other”, the “enemy”. Does this not show that in our society the ego is still alive? And that it is the sovereign instead of the Light of God. The first Muslim community was nothing like this, it was one in which Arabs and non Arabs, whites and blacks, men and women, all were treated equally and justly. There was no greed, no anger, no conflict. There was no segregation or apartheid. People did not think themselves as better because of their tribe or skin color or gender. Rather they realized that God was the only Judge and so it was only His estimation that mattered. This was what they concerned themselves with. To raise their rank with the Creator instead of the creation. They cleansed their hearts of arrogance, envy, and hatred. Instead of these there was love, compassion and forbearance.

Even non Muslims were treated fairly and justly in the Islamic State. For the Prophet has said that whoever harms a non Muslim living in the Islamic State harms him. See then the severity of such a crime, to harm a non Muslim is like harming the Prophet himself. Do you think that any believer would even have laid a finger on a non Muslim? Or even tried to harm him with words, or even tried to deceive him or cheat him in any way? In the constitution that the Prophet wrote non Muslims were specifically referred to as citizens of the Islamic State. Not only were they citizens but they were also allowed to follow the laws of their own religion in their personal affairs. So they could eat and sell pork and alcohol among themselves, even though for Muslims these are strictly forbidden. Even their women were not required to cover like Muslim women were. The Prophet also made covenants and treaties with the Jewish tribes who lived near Madinah. They were promised the full protection of the Islamic State and there was to be free and open trade between them. No conflict, just peace.

So in Madinah the Prophet created the quintessential model of the Islamic society. A society completely dedicated to God. This was the higher purpose that the citizens of this state lived for. They did not just live for themselves, nor did they live for their country. Rather they lived for Him. The One deserving of dedication and servitude. And part of their living for Him was their realization that they had to spread His Light to the rest of mankind. They had to take His Message to all the lost souls. They had to bring the justice of His Law to all the oppressed nations. They had to liberate mankind from servitude to other men or to their own egos. They knew that this was what God wanted. This was how His Light and Mercy could spread. And the Prophet knew this best of all. This is why even after Islam was established in Madinah, he did not give up on his mission. He knew that he had a long way to go.

Recall earlier how we spoke about the darkness that the world was in before Islam was sent. Now how could the world ever have been saved from this dark unless Islam actually went out into the world? Yes we are not a people who like war but we do realize that sometimes it is necessary. For darkness needs to be opposed, the weak and the oppressed need to be defended, and the vices need to be removed. For this an effort needs to be made and the last stage of this struggle may need to involve the sword. So we are not totals pacifists, we know that at times arms need to be raised. Did you know that the US currently spends almost 25% of the federal budget on defense spending? This is more than is spent on social programs for the poor, elderly and disabled. How then can we criticize other nations for being militaristic when we spend so much on our own war machine? But as we said earlier in Islam war was never about oil or land or profits. Rather it was only to bring the people back to God and to save them from oppression.

Once Madinah had returned to Islam, the Prophet knew that next should be the Arabian Peninsula. And after that the world. The Prophet knew that all of mankind needs to receive this Message. They need to be reminded of their purpose and they need to be shown what God expects of them. They need to be given the choice. If they were to turn away after receiving the Message then their affair is with God on Judgment Day. But the mission of the messenger is to get the Message to them.

As we saw earlier in those days the government itself was an obstacle to the delivery of the Message. Most kings, chieftains, and upper class elites did not like Islam. For they perceived it as a threat. They saw it rightfully so as coming to end their exploitation and oppression of the people. And at that time the most powerful tribe as we mentioned was the Quraysh the tribe of Makkah, the Prophet's own tribe. So he knew that the largest obstacle preventing him from taking the Message to the other tribes in Arabia was Quraysh. He knew that most of the other tribes would not accept Islam as long as the Quraysh opposed him. The nature of people is to follow the ones in power, the trendsetters. They do not want to think, do not want to distinguish for themselves between right and wrong. They let others do it for them. The Prophet knew that many had such a thinking. So he knew that Quraysh had to be dealt with.

Quraysh was also the tribe which had the most to lose should Islam be established . They had the most to lose should another ideology be setting the standard for the people. For example just think what would happen should idol worship become forbidden. They were the ones selling idols, it was one of their primary sources of revenue. They also made money from usury, gambling and prostitution. And they knew Islam would destroy all these evils. They knew it came to change the world they knew. This was why they did not stop fighting it.

Even after the Prophet left them, even after he arrived in Madinah, they still wrote letters to the people of Madinah telling them to give up the Prophet and the Muslims. To return them to Makkah. They did not give up trying to frustrate the mission, for they feared it. Thus much of the early years of the Prophet’s mission in Madinah were spent doing battle against the tribe of Quraysh. As we showed earlier in Islam there is a place for war, if it is for a just cause, to take God's Light to the people. I hope you can realize by now that the Prophet was not a man who loved to fight, he was not a man who liked violence and war. Rather he even told us that we should not wish to meet our enemy in battle, we should not desire conflict. Only when all other means have failed can we resort to this option. For how long in Makkah did he call on his tribe to submit to God? They knew that he was the messenger that their Lord had sent to them. They knew that they had to follow him, they knew that they had to obey him. They knew and still they rejected him. They opposed him. They boycotted him. They tortured him and his followers. And still he was patient and forbearing with them. He did not take up arms against them even though he could have. He did not even raise a finger, nor did he command any of his followers to. This also shows how Muslims cannot resort to material struggle without having a political entity, without an Islamic State. It was only after the State that the Prophet took up arms. Even then it was the tribe of Quraysh that was the belligerent force. They were the ones refusing to submit to God. They were the ones preventing the Prophet from taking God’s Message to the other tribes in Arabia. As we will see when they opted for peace in the treaty of Hudabiya, when they finally allowed the Prophet to carry this Message to the other tribes, then he too opted for peace. He did not want to fight if he did not have to.

But in order to bring them to the treaty of Hudabiya, in order to bring them to a position where they were willing to negotiate, the Prophet was forced to use force. Because in the beginning they were not willing to listen. As we said they perceived the Prophet and the way of life that he brought as a threat and they were intent on wiping out this threat. This was why the Prophet had to defend the Message that God had sent through him. He had to prevent this Divine Light from being extinguished by the forces of evil and darkness.

And in all the battles between the Muslims and the tribe of Quraysh, in terms of material strength, in terms of weapons and numbers, the Muslims were by far the weaker force. The Prophet only had with him those few of his followers who had emigrated with him and the residents of Madinah who had decided to help him. But still he prevailed. Because he was fighting for the Truth, and so God was on his side. For example in the battle of Badr the Muslim army had only 300 soldiers while the army of the Quraysh had over 1000. The latter also had more horses and better weapons. But still the Muslims were victorious. Can you imagine this, being able to defeat your enemy despite being outnumbered three to one? Three to one in hand to hand combat. It truly was nothing short of a miracle. But just as David was able to defeat Goliath we have to remember that material force does not matter, numbers do not matter, nothing matters when God is on your side. If He wants to, He can easily grant you victory, He can easily help you to reach you goals. For He is God. There is neither might nor power except in Him. There is no reality except what He brings about. Why then can you not place your reliance upon Him? Why cannot you not hope in Him and ask of Him. Such is what the Prophet and the early Muslims did. As a consequence God gave them victory against all odds.

Even after the resounding victory for Islam at Badr, the Quraysh still did not give up. After that they twice attempted to invade Madinah. The first of these became known as the battle of Uhud and the second was known as the battle of the trench. And in both of these attempts they were unsuccessful, despite having exhausted all of their wealth and manpower in these endeavors. Now they finally realized that they could not defeat this religion, now they finally realized that they had to try and compromise with the Prophet.

And so they agreed to sign a peace treaty which became known as the treaty of Hudabiya. Now when the Prophet first signed this treaty with the Quraysh, it seemed to many of the Muslims that the treaty favored the Quraysh over the Muslims. For example one of the stipulations which many Muslims did not agree with was that if anyone from the idolaters ran away from Madinah and goes to Makkah then the Quraysh were not obligated to return that person, but on the other hand if any Muslim should escape from Makkah and seek sanctuary in Madinah, then the Muslims had to return him. It was like surrendering your brother to the enemy, to the torture and the brutality of the enemy. For such reasons many of the Muslims did not like this treaty. But still the Prophet signed it. One reason as we said was because he did not like war, and he knew that his Lord Who is the Most Loving and the Most Compassionate does not like war either. Moreover he knew that should hostilities with the Quraysh cease, then this would give him a chance to propagate his message to the other tribes in Arabia. And this always was his primary concern, to take the message of his Lord to mankind. In the hope that we may be saved from Hell, we may be saved from ourselves. Just like God, he loved us more than we can ever imagine. He wanted to take us from the torment of ego to the peace of submission.

Just as the Prophet had hoped, the treaty of Hudabiya was a resounding success. The truce between the Muslims and the Quraysh allowed the former to focus their efforts on taking God’s Message to the other tribes in Arabia. Within a few months several tribes entered into Islam. Soon Quraysh came to realize that there was no stopping this religion, they realized that they made the wrong decision turning away from the Prophet when he had called them from the mountaintop all those years ago. Within only a year after the treaty was signed, the Prophet was able to conquer Makkah. The Quraysh knew at that point that they could not stand against him. He marched into their city with the largest army that they had ever seen.

For the first time in the history of the Arabs, so many different tribes were united under one flag, under one leader, under one government. It was a nation based on faith, based on servitude to the Divine, what nobler and stronger bond can there be than this? When the Quraysh saw this tremendous army coming towards their city they realized that they could not even put up a fight. And many of them were fully expecting the Prophet to extract revenge on them for all the years that they had opposed him and persecuted him. They thought that there would be much bloodshed as the city was taken, they thought they would be slaughtered. Because such is what they would have done to him and his followers if they were ever able to. But what happened was the furthest from that. The Muslims did not even raise a sword, they did not even fire a bow. The Prophet rode in on his donkey, he had his head down and he was seeking forgiveness from God and praising Him. Not even a trace of arrogance or pomp or show was there in him. Even though this was his day of victory, the day he had been granted dominance over the enemy that had opposed him for over 23 years. Still he was humble, he remembered his place.

The Prophet then proceeded to destroy all of the idols that surrounded the Kabbah. The house of God, the house that Abraham had built, the first building dedicated purely for the worship of the One God, this blessed house was now cleansed of all paganism. Then all of the chieftains of Quraysh were gathered in front of the Prophet. These are the ones who had rejected the Message that he brought, these are the ones who had fought against him, these are the ones who had spread lies and fabrications about him,these are the ones who had subjected him and his followers to such brutal torments. Now they were all at his feet, they were all at his mercy. And then he asked them what did they think that he should do with them. What could they say at that moment? They could not deny any of their crimes. They could not deny that they had rejected him despite their knowing full well that he was the true messenger. All then that they could say to him when he asked them this question was merely to remind him of his status with them. “A noble brother and the son of a noble brother”. This was all that they could say. They reminded the Prophet of his nobility, his generosity, his kindness, his forbearance. They did so with a distant hope that maybe, just maybe, he may pardon them despite all that they had done to him. And this is just what he did. He forgave them all completely. He said “I will only say to you today what Joseph said onto his brothers ‘No blame on you this day, may God pardon you and He is the most Merciful of those who show mercy”. Not only does he forgive them but he also asks God to forgive them. Notice also his humility. He shows them that in pardoning them he is only following the example of the prophet Joseph who also pardoned his own brothers the wrong that they did to him. Then he also reminds them that the Mercy of God is far more than his own mercy. Is this the actions of a false prophet? A deceiver after power?

Makkah then was taken without any bloodshed. There was no looting, no raping, no murder of children. This is why God told the Prophet that He has sent him only as a mercy to all the nations. Not only was he himself a mercy but he taught mercy to all his followers. And they in turn taught their children. Think about when Salahudin recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders, was it not also in peace? Everyone in the city was spared. Contrast this to what happened when the Christians took Jerusalem. Was it not in such brutality? Did they not kill everyone whom they saw including all women and children? And this was common, in those days to show any mercy to the enemy was absolutely unheard of. The soldiers were expected to kill without prejudice and to rape and pillage as much as they pleased. After all the town they had captured were the enemy and so they deserved their wrath.

But this is not the thinking of a Muslim, this is not the thinking that the Prophet taught us to have. Rather he taught us to first judge all people as individuals regardless of what nation or camp they belonged to. So just because a certain person is from a nation that we may be at war with, this does not mean that we are at war with that person, this why we just cannot indiscriminately kill women and children. They are not the enemy, and moreover our goal is not to kill. Rather our goal as followers of the Prophet is do what he did, to continue on his mission, and that is to bring as many souls as we can into God’s Light. Secondly he taught us to see the good in people before we see the evil. Because all mankind is from Adam, and so we are all brothers and sisters. This is why everyone that we meet deserves the best from us, unless they do something to show us otherwise. And even if they harm us in some way we should still try our best to pardon them. Only to please God by it. For it would be following the example of His beloved.

Abu Sufyan, one of the Quraysh chieftains, was in his house when the Prophet and the Muslim armies were entering Makkah. He looked out at the Muslims and saw them praising and extolling God as they walked through the streets. Then he asked his wife if she believed that this was from God and she replied by saying that indeed she believed that it was. Such peace and serenity, even at the time of conquest, the hearts focused only on worshiping God instead of on violence. This was something special, this was something that he had never seen before, this finally convinced him to go to the Prophet and to accept Islam. Now he entered into the religion that he had spent the last 23 years fighting.

And with the conquest of Makkah the conquest of the Arabian Peninsula was complete. Now all of the tribes entered into Islam. They submitted themselves to the authority of God, and they worshiped Him and Him Alone. But this was only the beginning of the Prophet’s mission. One nation had returned to God but all the other nations remained. Yet even though the road ahead was long for the Prophet, the road that he had already traversed was tremendous indeed. Just look where he began his mission and look where he was now. He had gone from having only his wife and cousin as his followers to now being the ruler of the entire Arabian Peninsula. All in a matter of a few years. And now there was also a strong base from which Islam could spread to the rest of the world. During the Prophet’s life emissaries were already being sent to the kings and rulers of all the neighboring empires. From the Byzantine Empire in northwest to the Sassanid Empire to the northeast to the kingdoms of Yemen in the south. When the kings of these mighty empires received the letters they knew that it was the the end for them. The end for the age of ignorance, the age of tyranny and injustice, the age of the ego and the self.

Now a new era was dawning, an era in which the Divine Law would once again rule the earth. These kings knew that this would happen when they opened the letters that the Prophet had sent to them. They could see that such was what the Prophet was calling them to. They knew that soon Islam would rule over their lands. This was why many of them were opposed to it like the Quraysh had once been. This was why Muslims were forced to fight them, not because they wanted to but because these tyrants left them no choice. They were not allowing God's Light to reach the people. Think about it, if there were an enemy preventing much needed medication from the sick then does not this enemy need to be brought down? How much would you strive to save your family from suffering and torment? Now realize that distance from the Divine is by far the greatest torment of all. This is why the Prophet and those with him tried so hard to spread God's Message. They were willing to take on empires and armies far more powerful than they.

The Romans and the Persians had always thought of the Arabs as a weak and backward nation. Never in a million years did they think that they would come knocking on their front door, let alone conquer their lands. Just the thought of it was ludicrous. It is something like today Mexico invading the United States. Who could even imagine it? Yet this is what happened. The weak conquered the strong. The religion that the Prophet brought ruled over the entire known world. Look then at how much he accomplished, look at where he began and look at where he ended. This in and of itself is one of the greatest proofs for the Truth of this Message. A scholar of Islam once said that if God had not given any other proof for the truth of this Message other than the life of His Messenger, it still would have been enough. Such is the extent to which he transformed the world, such was his beauty and light.

Even when Islam was only a few people hiding away in a house in Makkah studying the Quran. Even at this point the Prophet had prophesied to his followers that this religion would spread to every corner of the earth. It would conquer all empires and dominate over all ideologies. It would show all mankind how to live, both at an individual level and societal level. Such he told his followers, even though they were so few and so weak. And they believed him because they knew that he was the true messenger. They knew that so beautiful and noble a human being could not be a liar.

There has not been anyone in the history of mankind who has accomplished what this man has. No one who has brought the level of change that he brought. No one who had such an impact on human civilization as him. Even Western historians will attest to this fact. Even they admit that he is the most influential person ever. In only 23 years he changed the world. Just look at the extent to which he changed his own nation. He changed their worship and rituals, he cleansed them of idolatry and attached their hearts to the One True God. He changed their government and their economy, he changed their social and moral values, he removed their vices and most importantly he changed their very viewpoint towards life. He changed what they perceived to be the very purpose of their existence. And of course this change was for the better. Instead of being dedicated to the creation, souls were now dedicated to the Creator. Instead of being attached to the material things and to illusions of power, hearts were now attached to the Divine. Instead of being consumed by ego, the people learned to love. And as we saw earlier how beautiful a human being is this. How selfless and how noble. A creature not capable of evil. A champion for justice. A supporter for the weak and oppressed. A viceroy of the Divine. Just like him.

By the time the Prophet passed away he was the one undisputed ruler over all Arabia. For the first time ever in their history the Arabs had a single source of authority. And because he was the messenger of God he was an undisputed source of authority. So he could have done anything that he wanted to, no one would ever have questioned him. Yet all this power did not change him even in the slightest, he was still the same man he was when he was a poor Sheppard. He was still as humble as ever, as we said when he conquered Makkah, he entered into the city with his head down. Praising God and seeking His Forgiveness as he rode in on his donkey. He also remained as detached from the world as he ever was. Even after he was the ruler, he continued to live in a house so small that you could easily touch its roof with your hand. The floor was dirt and the roof would leak when it rained. A month would pass without a fire being lit in his house even once. Such was not the life that he was forced into rather the life that he chose for himself. Because he had far greater concerns than chasing after the material world. What he desired was to worship God for he saw how He is the True Reality. And he realized the comprehensive form of this worship. How he must strive to bring goodness and light to all those around him, to the whole world. To be an Agent of Divine Mercy, Light and Peace. This was his only concern, this was why he was not greedy for the material things or even for prestige and honor. He once said “What do I need with this world, the relationship of me to this world is like a traveler who takes a brief nap under the shade of a tree for a few minutes”. This is what he considered his life to be, just a small respite, he knew that the journey ahead was long. When he passed away there was no vast fortune or land that he left behind for his children. His coffers were completely empty. He had given away all the he had to support the Cause.

What we have touched upon in the few pages of this chapter is only a sampling of the life of this man. There is so much about him that we have not even spoken of. Without a doubt, entire books even volumes have been written on his life, on his personality, on his virtues. But what you can take away from this chapter is to see how he was a man who changed the world. Changed the world for the better. In my opinion all of the good that we see in the world today is from this beautiful way of life that he brought to us. From human rights to animal rights to social justice to equality among all to empowerment of the people. All of these are clearly Islamic ideas and it was Islam which introduced them to the world. Similarly all of the many advances that we have made in science and technology and innovation were built on the shoulders of Muslim scholars. But not only did he change the world for the better, not only did he bring a way of life that has given such peace and a purpose for millions if not billions of people over the centuries. Despite all this what is even more amazing is his personality. Not even a trace of arrogance did he have in his heart. For not once did he call on the people to worship him, or even to praise him or to glorify him in any way. Rather he told us not to, and he told us that all of the praise, glory and worship were only for God. And he taught us that each and every one of us was capable of becoming this Light. We could be creatures of humility, love, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, morality, honesty and truth.

How desperately is the world today in need of people like him? How many are the souls today consumed by ego and materialism and anger and misery? But we need not despair, because we have been shown the path. How we can become like him and how we can take this Light to all mankind, this is Islam, this is the religion that he has brought to us. You only have to do your part, you only have to walk it yourself.

Thank you for taking the time to read
this book. If you feel that you are ready
to enter into Islam please visit a local
mosque in your area. If you are not able
to please feel free to contact me directly
abdrahman11@gmail.com.
Thank you once again and God bless.