In the name of
Allah the Beneficient, the Merciful
Allah
in Arabic scripture
BEAUTİFULNESS
OF PRACTİCİNG İSLAM
Faith
in Islam
Islam
means submision to the Lord of the worlds who created them and sent down the
Books and the Prophets to guide the mankind. The Creator names Himself as ‘Allah’ in the Qur’an which is the last
Book revealed to the last prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam). ‘Aleyhisselam’ is an arabic word of
respect used specifically for the prophets after their names are being
mentioned, meaning peace be upon him.
Muhammad Allah
Submission to Allah(The Almighty) means to accept all the
teachings sent by Him. Islam means also to surrender to the will of Allah(The
Almighty), which is
revealed in His Books.
The Qur’an states;
“…And
He sent down the Law(of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a
guide to mankind, And He sent down the Criterion
(of judgment between right and wrong” Chpt3 Verse 3.
Criterion(Furqan) is another name for the Qur’an.
The Psalms was sent to the prophet David(aleyhisselam), the Torah (Law) was sent to the prophet Moses(aleyhisselam), the Gospel was sent to the prophet Jesus(aleyhisselam).
The Psalms was sent to the prophet David(aleyhisselam), the Torah (Law) was sent to the prophet Moses(aleyhisselam), the Gospel was sent to the prophet Jesus(aleyhisselam).
Both of the these names mean basically ‘the praised
one’. Sometimes he is also called Muhammad
Mustapha the latter meaning ‘ the selected one’. His name Ahmad was mentioned in the original Gospel,
as it is pronounced as a proper name.
All the past prophets such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph,
Moses, Jesus (aleyhisselams) said that Allah exsists. This is a chain of prophecy ending by the
last prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) giving all, the same message to the mankind i.e; “ There is no god but Allah and He is the
only One”.
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This message which is repeated by the Last Messenger
of Allah, also forms the basic principle of Islam. Whoever accepts it and
believe in all the Messengers past before including the Last one, i.e. Muhammad(aleyhisselam), he or she will be in the
heavens after death.
Islam also means peace which Allah(The Almighty) intended to restore
among the mankind to provide a social order beetween the people and the
nations.
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In the societies where Islam is properly practiced, peace
and order will prosper in both spiritual and wordly life. If practiced
properly, Islam provides peace and justice for not only muslims but for the
whole world. Muslims are only supposed to convey the message of Islam and not
to force people to accept it since Allah(The Almighty) said in the Qur’an that
there is no compulsion in religion, Qur'an, Chpt.2 Verse 256.
Muslims at war
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The muslims wage only war against the ennemies of Islam in case
they are being attacked by them.
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Remember Gaza
Muslims take their orders from the Lord of the
worlds in all matters relating all aspects of life including war. And among
those orders there is no such thing as terrorising the innocent people. The
muslim soldiers at war are forbidden to rape or torture and kill the helpless
women, children or babies and eldery people. Also they are forbidden to burn
trees, plants or destroy buildings and worshiping places.
When we look now at what the western armies are
doing mostly in muslim countries, we see that all sorts of violance against,
women, children and the elderly people are practiced. This includes the
mutilation of organs and trading them internationally, something which is
strictly forbidden in Islam even at war.
Islam shows mercy towards the captives in war providing
them the necessary conditions respecting their human rights.
Love and mercy
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Islam shows love to all kind of creatures including insects and
animals.
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During the pilgrimage to Ka’ba in Mecca (Arabia)
muslim pilgrams are forbidden to kill even a tiniest insect around the Ka’ba. This
is a sign of mercy and love for all the creatures of Allah(The Almighty).
Ka’ba in Mecca is considered as the house of Allah(The
Almighty) (as a focal point of worshipping)) and Muslims
have an obligatory duty to go and visit the house of Allah(The Almighty) at least once in a life
time (if they can afford it).
The prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) has forbidden to milk the
sheep with long nails to avoid hurting the animal and has ordered to cut their nails.
He has also ordered not to torture a rabid dog, and
he has forbidden to hit people in the face.
In the Ottoman state which was based on Islamic civilisation, there
were charity foundations to pay for the feeding of dogs and cats living out in
the streets, or to water the trees in the public areas. Also the kitchenware
accidentally broken by the poor servants at residences were compensated for by those
foundations.
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Once The Prophet went to visit a little child to pay his
condolescence for the child’s dead bird and comfort him.
Bird nests
specially constructed by Ottomans are still there on top of the great mosques
in İstanbul.
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Hospitality also has a great importance in Islam. When a westerner goes to a muslim home or country, he or she will be suprised to be so much welcomed. This is in muslim culture to treat the guests to the best possible standard by offering them food and drink or a bed to stay overnight. In the Islamic school of thought, the mankind is considered as a guest or a traveller in this world heading for the Heavens. And likewise Allah treated mankind nicely in this world providing sustenance for him until he passes away to the other world, therefore a muslim treats his guest in his house or country in the same way.
Islam is a civilisation of mercy since Allah(The
Almighty) said that He
sent the prophet Mohammad(aleyhisselam) as a mercy to the mankind (to save them from the
hell fire). Jesus(aleyhisselam) was sent only to the people of Israel for a specific period of time like
Moses (aleyhisselam). But the teachings of Islam is for all the nations in the world until
the last day of the world. And this is a real mercy for all kind of people without
any discriminating among them. There is no privileged class in front of Law in Islam.
All the people from all kind of nations and race or sex are equal in the sight
of Allah.
The
only
excellance is
by their respecting Allah (The Almighty) the most.
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How to respect Allah
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 First of all one has to know Him thouroughly as He defines Himself in
the Qur’an. Allah is unique. He is like no one. He is the One. |
He doesn’t eat, he doesn't drink nor does He sleep. He has no son no daughter and no parents. He controls all affairs such as the motion of the stars, the fall of rain drops, the floating of the clouds in the sky, the following of the night after day and He organises the balance beetween animals and plants in the nature.
He is also organising the human affairs. The time of
birth, the time of death and everything in between is all decreed in a book
conserved beside Him. Allah is the originator of the Heavens and the earth and “When
He decrees a matter He only says to it -be-
and it is” Qur’an
Chpt.36 Verse 82.
There is none to resist His commandment or change His decision. Allah is the Compasionate
and the Merciful whose mercy covers everything. He is the most Wise, the Great,
and the Exalted. Allah created the Heavens and the earth in six days.
He created the sun, the moon, the stars, and they all subjected to
His command.
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He is above the Heavens, above his Throne. None has the right to be worshiped but Him. Allah is everlasting. His knowledge covers all things, hidden or open, small or great. He is the all Hearer, the all Seer. There is nothing to finish His Power. His words are the most truthful.
His signs are everywhere in the universe.
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The Qur’an is the word of Allah
The angel Gabriel brought down the Qur’an to Muhammad(aleyhisselam) in twenty three years. The prophet Muhammad (aleyhisselam) memorised each verse wich was recieved from angel Gabriel. Then he recited these verses to his companions who were in his presence most of the time and he ordered them to write down these verses immediately. In this way the Qur’an has been completed in twenty three years. It is one of the fundamental sources of Islamic Jurisprudence. This source has been kept throughout ages in the Qur’an and in the memories of the companions of the prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) as well as in the memories of coming generations after them. Not a single change has been made in the Qur’an during all those past years.
As for the
Torah and the Gospel, they have not been kept in their original forms due to
man made alterations although they were trusted to the men of the religion.
Allah(The Almight)
states in the Qur’an:
“…they
change the words from their(right) times and places…” Chpt.5 Verse 41.
In the Qur’an there is not a single letter mixed to
it by mankind, it is purely the word of Allah(The Almighty).
The prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) has no word in it neither
the angel Gabriel. Allah(The Almighty) says in the Qur’an that Muhammad(aleyhisselam) does not speak these verses
out of his ownself.
“Nor does he say of (his own) Desire” Chpt
53 Verese 3.
He simply conveys the words of Allah(The
Almighty).
Also the Qur’an covers all the messages that were in the past Books of Allah including those sent to Moses and Jesus(aleyhisselams).
All the peoples since the time of the last prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) until the end of this world
are responsable to follow the injunctions of the last Book of Allah which is
The Qur’an, if they intend to enter the endless bliss in the hereafter.
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Allah(The Almighty) says in the Qur’an that “He
created men and jinns for nothing else but worshiping Him” Chpt.51 Verse
56. The jinns are
unseen creatures of Allah(The Almighty). Worship means to know Allah (The Almighty) correctly as He defines
Himself in the Qur’an and to obey Him. Allah(The Almighty) wants us to live our lifes
as He commands us in the Qur’an. In the end He will put us in the Heavens.
Those who disobey him they will be put in the hellfire. That is why the Qur’an
is extremely important for muslims because it is the word of Allah(The
Almighty) who is the
Lord of the universe.
How to respect the
Messengers
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Muslims respect all the prophets including Jesus(aleyhisselam) and Moses(aleyhisselam) and they believe that
books such as the Gospel and the Torah respectively are revealed to them in
their time in their original form.
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Muslims would defend them in case any kind of insult
is made to them. Muslims consider them as their own prophets too, so it is their
duty to defend them. Muslims reject all sorts of offence made by words or
written and that includes caricatures. Islam does not allow to draw the
pictures of the prophets or to make funny jokes about them. The angels as well
are not portrayed in Islam. The angels are the creatures of Allah(The
Almighty) made of
spritual light. They have no gender, they don’t eat or drink they don’t get
married. They strictly obey the commands of Allah(The Almighty) since they are not given the freedom of choice
to commit good or bad. Muslims, they get offended by disrespectful words or
prints against these personnages and they do not consider it as the freedom of
speech.
About the prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam)
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The life of the prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) has set the best example
for the muslims who want to practice Islam.
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The wife of the prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) said that the prophet’s life was based on the Qur’an. He was caring too
much for the poor and needy providing them with whatever he had. Clothing them
feeding them. He said:
‘Save
yourselves from the hellfire even with a single piece of date’.
He was so kind to all the creatures of Allah(The
Almighty) that he
never hit a woman, a servant or an animal in his whole life except the ennemies
in the war. He was also much kind to his
relatives and neighbours.
Love thy neighbour
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 He said that it is not a good muslim that person who sleeps at night comfortably
while his next door neighbour is dying of hunger. |
He liked the children very much and he used to play with them. Once he was going down for prostration in prayer and his grandson went on top of him. He delayed his position in prostration just to let him to enjoy. The prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) had never eaten and drunk to the full stomach in his all life. He never sat at high table when eating, he was sitting on the ground in a specific way giving the best position for the stomach not to be fulled up completely thus rendering a healthier life.
Food and drink
restrictions
Muslims are not allowed to eat pork or any product
made by pork, lard or its additives. They are also not allowed to eat any other
kind of meat unless it has been Islamically slaughtered. They are also
concerned about ‘E’ numbers which
contain animal fat or pork additives.
Why pork is
bad?
It is scientifically proven by microbiologists that
the pig is the most difficult type of meat to cleanse in order to get a
reasonable hygiene. For a kilo of pork meat only fifty percent of hygiene is obtained
after six hours of boiling. Yet it doesn’t kill the bacteria living in it (an
information I got from a microbioligst friend while she was cooking in the
kitchen). Also pork meat causes all kinds of heart diseases, thus threatening
human life seriously.
Practices with
hygiene
The prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) has ordered to wash hands
before and after eating. He also strongly recommanded to brush teeth frequently
especially before coming to the congregational prayer at mosque. He forbade
muslims to come to the mosque after having eating garlic or onions for its bad
smell.
Also muslims wash their private parts with water when
using the bathroom and muslim men and women remove regularly the pubic hair as
well as the hair on the armpits and take a bath each time after having sexual
intercourse. Muslims never enter their homes and the mosques with their shoes
on. Allah(The Almighty) loves those who clean
themselves.
And alcohol
Alcohol is another prohibition in Islam, which
muslims take also seriously. There is no need to mention how bad it is
inflicting the human brain and body also causing disasters in both family and
social life. Actually each and every prohibitation in Islam has a rightious
reason behind it: that is to protect human life and social life.
How to get success in
life?
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The
worlds have
been created by Allah (The Almighty) not by any chance or coincidence. It is all the
product of a sophisticated program which necesitates the Knowlegde of the most
Wise. In Islam there is no such thing as chance or hazards. Success is only obtained by
planned regular hard working based on the knowledge and supported by
intelligence. Thus a proper and clever way of life with mental and physical
health is needed, which sould not be destroyed by addictions of intoxicants and
not be trusted to trials of chances.
The Qur’an states: “Oh you who believe! Intoxicants
and games of chance … are only an infamy of Satan’s handiwork. Leave them aside
in order that you may succeed. Satan seeks only to cast
among you enmity and hatred by means of intoxicants and gambling…” Chpt.5 Verse 90/91.
Covering of muslim women
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Allah(The Almighty) has ordered the muslim women to cover themselves when they go out
of their homes
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or when they are in the presence of men except their
husbands, fathers, brothers, uncles or sons of their brothers or sisters and
their husbands’ sons.
This is
also a protection for muslim women from being sexually assaulted by men who
might have loose moral values in the society. The majority of muslim women are
wearing head scarves to cover themselves. Covering the whole body and the hair,
except the face and hands, is indeed the basic requirement for how to dress as
a muslim woman. Although the colour and shape have been drastically changed now
due to the western culture influence, the outdoor dress of a muslim woman in
the Ottoman times have been a black baggy cloak for ages. The traditional way
of covering which is based in the Qur’an, has now been replaced by colorful
head scarves and long coats on most women who still care for Islamic dressing.
Some muslim women however choose not to cover themselves with the influence of
western cultures.
Covering of muslim men
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As for the muslim men, they have lesser requirements
for covering themselves, at least compared to the ones in the time of Ottomans
where muslim men use to wear long coats, baggy trousers, huge head turbans and
growing long beards. Nowadays muslim men have quite changed their outlook, with
bare face and heads in modern places but some are still wearing beards of
various length.
Slaughtering of sheep
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The slaughtering of a sheep, a cow or a goat or a
camel each year is made as a sacrifice in Islam for the sake of Allah(The
Almighty), in order to
feed the poor and needy who could hardly find any meat throughout the year to
feed themselves. Actually every day millions of cattle and sheep are being
killed to meet the needs of human society. But none of them is killed in order
to be given free to the poor and needy so to seek for the sake of Allah(The
Almighty).
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Justice has to be there
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Justice is basic principle in Islam which should never be disguarded to satisfy the concerns of love and affection.
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If needed justice should be there without any delay
to keep the social order. The Qur’an states: “ Oh you who
believe! Stand out firmly for justice as witnesses to Allah, even though it be
against yourselves, or your parents, or your kindred and whether it be against
rich or poor, for Allah is nearer to both (than you are). So follow not
caprice, least you lapse (from truth); and if you lapse or fall away, then
surely Allah is ever Informed of what you do” Chpt.4 Verse 135.
In Islam
The codes of justice are defined by Allah(The
Almighty) who does not
accept any partnership in His office in making laws. Allah pardons all sins if
one repents but He does not pardon associating partners with Him. Therefore
human made laws are invalid for a muslim if it is not complying with the laws
of the Lord of the worlds. A truely believing muslim woman for example covering
her hair would never open it up just because the regulations of the school or
the company does not allow for it.
Turn the other cheek?
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The prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) was uncomparable in
fulfilling the justice. Even the Jews and the unbelievers were coming to him to
judge between them and to solve their problem. They were accepting his verdict
since they had known him as the most trustworthy man among themselves for
longtime. Allah (The Almighty) says in the Qur’an:
“… if they come to
you… judge between them with equity. Surely Allah loves those who judge with
equity.” Chpt.5
Verse 42
For example Islam cares much
for the protection of the property and chastity. Any kind of attempt to attack
those values are severely punished according to the law of Allah(The
Almighty). Thus an
evil hand streching out to steal someone else’s property is chopped off unless
it is done for fear of starvation. In the same way committing adultary is
stonned to death if caught on the act by four male witnesses known to be honest
people all their lives. Extenuating reasons however, are always considered in
the application of laws.
No matter how severe it seems those punishments are,
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they are however, indispensable to eradicate the
common diseases such as thieving and fornication to spread in the society. The
feelings of mercy for those kind of crimes would be seriously harming the
social order therefore justice has to be there fulfilled strictly without any
compromise.
Trade against usury
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Usury and interest taking is also strictly forbidden in Islam.
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Allah says in the Qur’an that there is nothing else
for a man as earning his living except what he works for it. And those who are
involved in usury and interest will be resurrected from the grave in a
paralysed state as striken by devil. Working is principle in Islam for earning
one’s living so one has to put effort mentally or physically to earn something.
Just putting money to get more money is strongly rejected in Islamic teaching.
Trading is much encouraged in Islam. The prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) was himself a trader and he
appreciated the honest muslim traders saying that they have high levels in the
sight of Allah(The Almighty).
Ritual prayer in Islam
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The thirst thing to be noticed in a muslim country are the mosques
and the loud voice heard from the minarets calling muslims to perform
their daily ritual prayers.
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Muslims pray five times a day. It is an obligation to pray for each and every muslim man and woman after reaching puberty.
Charity
It is one of the fundamentals of Islam. It is
obligatory for wealty muslims to pay a certain amount (1/40 th of his wealth) of
almsgiving every year to the poor and needy helping to establish a reasonable
social equity among people.
Ramadan
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Fasting in the month of Ramadan is another obligation for those who
care to practice Islam properly. The Qur’an has been revealed to the
Messenger of Allah in this holy mounth.
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Fasting in the Ramadan has now become a widespread
tradition strongly practiced by any type of muslim loose or strict. They stop
eating, drinking and having sexual intercourse during the period of time
starting from dawn until sunset.
Breaking fast takes place after sunset. Family
members gather around the dinner table in a joyful state with the satisfaction
in their heart of having fulfilled Allah’s command.
Angel or God incarnate?
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None
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Muhammad(aleyhisselam) was simply a
human being like us, like his predecessors; Moses(aleyhisselam) and Jesus(aleyhisselam) whom he calls his
‘brothers’.
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Qur’an states that Jesus spoke when he was in the
cradle:
“ He
spoke out: ‘ I am indeed a servant of Allah, He has given me the Scripture and
has appointed me a prophet …. Has
commanded me to pray and to give alms to the poor as long as I live’ “ Chpt.19
Verse 30/31.
Allah orders the prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) in the Qur’an to say to the
mankind about himself:
“Say: I am only a
human being like you. It is revealed to me that your Lord is only one God” Chpt.18
Verse 110.
Allah also orders him to say to the mankind about
Allah(The Almighty)
Himself:
“Say: ‘He is Allah,
the One! Allah, the eternally besought of all.
He begat none nor was he begotten “ Chap.112 Verse 1–4.
In the Gospel as now accepted by the Christians,
Jesus(aleyhisselam) promised another helper to
come:
“I will ask the father, and he will give
another helper who will stay with
you forever. He is the spirit who reveals the truth about God” John (verse 14, 16,
17).
Jesus was already strenghtened by the Holy Spirit
when he was in the cradle so the helper who
will come and stay forever can’t be the Holy Spirit anymore but
he should be someone who holds a Criterion
to reveal the truth about Allah(The Almighty). In the Qur’an Allah(The Almighty) says:
“ …O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My favour to
you and your mother how I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit(the Archangel
Gabriel) so that you spoke to mankind in the cradle as in the maturity…” Chpt.5 Verse 110.
And Qur’an says: “and remember Jesus the son of Mary said: Oh childeren of
Israil! I am the apostle of Allah sent to you confirming the Law (which came )
before me, giving glad tidings of an
apostle to come after me whose name shall beAhmad) but when he came to them with clear sign they said “
This is evident sorcery!” Chpt. 61 Verse 6.
İnvitation
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Those who (formerly) received the Scripture disagreed among themselves through jealousy only after knowledge came to them. Whoever disbelieves the signs of Allah should know that Allah is swift in reckoning.” Chpt.3 Verse 19.
Knowledge here meaning the prophecy of Muhammad(aleyhisselam) and Islam.
Hasn’t time come yet for the Christians to realize that the helper has actually come and his
name is Ahmad which is another
name of the prophet Muhammad(aleyhisselam) who is the last Messenger of Allah.
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And he came with the Criterion which tells the truth about Allah(The Almighty) as the Qur’an states:
“Previously for a
guidance to mankind and had revealed the Criterion
(distinction between right and wrong, a name of the Qur’an). Then those who
reject faith in the signs of Allah will suffer the severest penalty and Allah
is exalted in Might. Lord of retribution” Chpt3 Verse 4.
The Criterion is the Qur’an and also a
word which means to distinguish between the right and wrong thus saying the
truth about Allah(The Almighty).
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“They sureley disbelieve who say: ‘Allah is the
Messiah, the son of Mary.’ The Messiah said:’O children of Israel, worship
Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Whoever ascribes partners to Allah. For him Allah
has forbidden paradise: His abode is the Fire. For evildoers there will be no
helpers.”
“ They surely disbelieve who say: “Allah is the
third of three; when there is no God save One God. If they desist not from so
saying, a painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve.”
“Will they not rather turn to Allah and seek
forgiveness of Him? For Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
“The messiah, son of Mary, was no other than a
Messenger, messengershad passed away before him. And his mother was a saintly
woman. And they both used to eat food. See how We make the revelations clear
for them, and see how they are turned away.”
“Say: ‘Do you worship in place of Allah that
which possesses for you neither harm nor benefit? Allah it is who is the
Hearer, the Knower.” Chap72–76.
Those who believe will enter the Paradise: “ Surely
there the people of gardens this day are happily busy(with enjoyments).
They and their wives are in pleasant shade on thrones reclining. Much fruit
(much enjoyement) and whatever they claim for will be there for them. The
word from a merciful Lord(for them) is Peace (Salam). ” Chpt.36 Verse 55/58.
Salam to those who
believe.
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