How To Know The Religion of Truth (1/9)

If man is aware that Allah is the Lord Who has created and nourished him, and that Allah is the Only True God with no partners associated to Him, thus, He is the Only True God that deserves to be worshipped, and if man knows also that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah to mankind, he must also know that his faith in Allah and His Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) will not be perfect unless he is acquainted with the religion of Islam, believes in it, and behaves according to its precepts. This is due to the fact that Islam is the true religion approved by Allah, Glory be to Him, for mankind. Allah had commanded all His Messengers, before Muhammad, to follow Islam, and He sent Muhammad the last of His prophets, to propagate Islam, and enjoin people to behave according to its precepts.

What is Islam?

Muhammad, the last Messenger of Allah to mankind, defined Islam as follows: “Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, to perform prayers, pay the poor tax (Zakat), fast the month of Ramadan and do pilgrimage to the Holy House in Makkah if you have the means for that”.

Islam is the universal true religion for mankind. Allah stated in the Holy Qur’an that: “Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam”. (Surah Al-‘Imran, 3:19)

All Messengers of Allah, even those who had been sent before Muhammad, adopted Islam, manifested it, and behaved according to it. The Qur’an states also:

 “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers”. (Surah Al-‘Imran, 3: 85)

According to these two Qur’anic verses, Islam is the only true religion from Allah and no other religion will be accepted in the Hereafter. Therefore, Muslims alone will gain happiness in the next world. Those who die adopting a religion other than Islam will be of the losers in the next world and will be tormented in Hell-fire.

This explains why all the prophets who had been sent before Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) declared themselves to be Muslims and surrendered to Allah. They declared that they are free of everyone who rejects Islam. Thus, a Jew or a Christian, who strives for salvation and wants to gain happiness in the Hereafter, should embrace Islam and follow Muhammad the Prophet of Islam, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. By embracing Islam, the Jew or the Christian becomes, at the same time, a true follower of Jesus and Moses, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon them, because, as it has been mentioned before, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and all Messengers of Allah who had been sent before Muhammad, were Muslims and called people to Islam, the true religion of Allah. Whoever is born after the mission of the last prophet Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, should not call himself a Muslim, unless he believes in Muhammad the Messenger of Allah, follows him and does what Allah commands and avoids what He prohibits. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Say: (O Muhammad [may Allah's peace be upon him] to mankind) " If you(really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft forgiving, Most Merciful”. (Surah Al-‘Imran, 3: 31)

In this verse, Allah orders His Messenger Muhammad (may Allah's peace be upon him) to tell those who pretend that they love Allah: “If you love Allah truly, follow me and Allah will love you, Allah will never love you nor will He forgive your sins, unless you believe in His Messenger Muhammad and follow him”.

Allah had sent Muhammad to propagate Islam, the comprehensive and tolerant religion to all mankind. Allah stated in the Qur’an that He gave perfection to Islam and approved it to be the religion of mankind.

“This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”. (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5: 3)

This Qur’anic verse was revealed to the seal of prophets Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him during his last pilgrimage while he was standing on the mount of Arafat, giving his prayers to Allah and thanking Him for His help and that He had accomplished His favors on His Messenger by the completion of the Qur’an, and that Islam had begun to take its course by gaining an ever increasing number of followers.

This verse also indicates that Islam was revealed to Muhammad in order to call all mankind to it, because it is the perfect, comprehensive and suitable religion for mankind in all ages, all places, and for all nations.

This is due to the fact that Islam is characterized by knowledge, tolerance, Justice and good. It contains a clear, perfect and straight method that can guide man in all spheres of life. Islam is not only a faith, but it also has its own distinguished basis of governing, Justice, political system, social affairs, economy and whatever useful knowledge which mankind may need to achieve prosperity in this worldly life and happiness in the coming life (after death).

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