Islam is not Just for Arabs
The Truth of Islam is meant for all
people regardless of race, nationality or linguistic background.
Taking a look at the Muslim World, from Nigeria to Bosnia and from
Malaysia to Afghanistan is enough to prove that Islam is a Universal
message for all of mankind --- not to mention the fact that
significant numbers of Europeans and Americans of all races and
ethnic backgrounds are coming into Islam.
Every Religion Claims That It Is The Truth (The Criteria Of The Truth)
There are so many sects, cults, religions, philosophies,
and movements in the world, all of which claim to be the right way or
the only true path to Allah (God). How can one determine which one is
correct or if, in fact, all are correct? The method by which the
answer can be found is to clear away the superficial differences in
the teachings of the various claimants to the ultimate truth, and
identify the central object of worship to which they call, directly
or indirectly. False religions all have in common one basic concept
with regards to Allah. They either claim that all men are gods or
that specific men were Allah or that nature is Allah or that Allah is
a figment of man's imagination.
Thus, it may be stated that the basic message of
false religion is that Allah may be worshipped in the form of His
creation. False religion invites man to the worship of creation by
calling the creation or some aspect of it God. For example, prophet
Jesus invited his followers to worship Allah but those who claim to
be his followers today call people to worship Jesus, claiming that he
was Allah!
Buddha was a reformer who introduced a number of
humanistic principles to the religion of India. He did not claim to
be God nor did he suggest to his followers that he be an object of
worship. Yet, today most Buddhists who are to be found outside of
India have taken him to be God and prostrate to idols made in their
perception of his likeness.
By using the principle of identifying the object of
worship, false religion becomes very obvious and the contrived nature
of their origin clear. As God said in the Our'aan:
That which you worship besides Him are only names you
and your forefathers have invented for which Allah has sent down no
authority: The command belongs only to Allah:
He has commanded that you only worship Him; that is the right
religion, but most men do not understand ". (Soorah Yoosuf 12:40)
It may be argued that all religions teach good
things so why should it matter which one we follow. The reply is that
all false religions teach the greatest evil, the worship of creation.
Creation-worship is the greatest sin that man can commit because it
contradicts the very purpose of his creation. Man was created to
worship Allah alone as Allah has explicitly stated in the Our'aan:
"I have only created Jinns and men, that they may worship me"(Soorah
Zaareeyaat 51:56)
Consequently, the worship of creation, which is the
essence of idolatry, is the only unforgivable sin. One who dies in
this state of idolatry has sealed his fate in the next life. This is
not an opinion, but a revealed fact stated by Allah in his final
revelation to man:
The following criteria can best serve as a gauge
to find out the authenticity of the last revelation (the Qur'an) as
words of God:
1. Rational Teachings: Since our Creator bestowed reason and
intellect upon us, it is our duty to use it to distinguish the TRUTH
from falsehood. True, undistorted revelation from God must be
rational and can be reasoned out by all unbiased minds.
2. Perfection: Since our Creator is all perfect, His revelation must
be perfect and accurate, free from mistakes, omissions,
interpolations and multiplicity of versions. It should be free from
contradictions in its narration.
3. No Myths or Superstitions: True revelation is free from myths or
superstitions that degrade the dignity of our Creator or man himself.
4. Scientific: Since our Creator is the Creator of all knowledge,
true revelation is scientific and can withstand the challenge of
science at all times.
5. Factual Prophecy: Our Creator is the Knower of the past, present
and future. Thus His prophecies in His revelation will be fulfilled
as prophesied.
6. Inimitable By Man: True revelation is infallible and cannot be
imitated by man. God's true revelation is a Living miracle, an open
book challenging all mankind to see and prove for themselves its
authenticity or veracity.
