Islam the Religion of Mankind

The Historic Struggle of the Prophets

"Thus have We made for every prophet an opponent from among the sinners ..." Sura Furqan (25:31)

An observer following humanity's historical march and the process of its long and bitter struggle, discerns two directly opposite currents, two conflicting forces. On one hand, there is the power of evil, transgression, perversion, deviation, blasphemy and tyranny, personified through a number of tyrannic despots and dictators, such as Pharaoh, Nimrod, Abu Jahl and the unjust dominating classes in every era and nation.

On the other hand, there is the power of faith, piety, truth, peace and the call to justice, mercy and equality, personified through such great prophets as Abraham (a.s.), Moses (a.s.), Jesus (a.s.) and Muhammad (s.a.w.) and their sincere followers who spread the message of monotheism and proclaimed the call of faith, to save humanity from slipping in the darkness of disbelief and idolatory.

That faithful group always appears, on the stage of history to wage a sacred struggle against the forces of perversion and deviation. There was not a single prophet who did not suffer, together with his followers, from tyranny, oppression, torture and persecution, because of his invitation towards truth and righteousness, and opposition to injustice, disbelief and tyranny.

And there were no advocates of truth who did not suffer the same fate as the prophets did. In the way of Allah they endured imprisonment, terror, torture, banishment and martyrdom at the hands of the tyrants and dictators, the enemies of Allah and mankind. The glorious Qur'an illustrates this epic struggle between the prophets and their followers on one side, and the enemies of Allah and truth on the other:

"And how many a prophet has fought with whom were devoted men (beside him), so they did not become weak-hearted on account of what befell them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken (in their faith) nor did they abase themselves; and Allah loves the patient. And their saying was none other than what they said: "Our Lord! forgive us our faults and our extravagance in our affair, and make firm our feet (on the right path) and help us against the unbelieving people." Sura Aal Imran (3:146,147)

"Thus ham We made for every prophet an opponent from among the sinners and sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper." Sura Furqan (25:31)

The Seal of the prophets, Muhammad (s.a.w.) along with his brave cousin Imam Ali (a.s.) and his sincere companions, was always in the forefront of the struggle for the sake of truth and for making this earth a place of peace and happiness. The glorious Qur'an testifies to the role played by the great Prophet and his faithful followers in defending justice and faith, with the spirit of self-sacrifice and redemption, in harmony with the teachings of Allah, and in pursuit of the logic of reform and divine examination:

"Therefore bear up patiently as did the apostles endowed with constancy had patience, and do not seek to hasten for them (their doom). On the day that they shall see what they are promised they shall be as if they had not tarried save an hour of the day. A clear message! Shall then any be destroyed save the transgressing people?" Sura Ahqaf (46:35)

Thus through this long and bitter historical struggle, the prophets and their followers resisted disbelief, injustice and corruption and inspired the oppressed people with the spirit of heroism and self-sacrifice and guided them in raising the banner of protest for the realization of their deprived rights, in the face of the despots and the dictators, who had enslaved mankind , and had considered themselves god-heads on this earth. Allah, the Strong and Mighty, helps and guides the faithful who struggle in His way and will surely punish those who are disbelievers.

"And (as for) those who strive hard for us, We will most certainly guide them in Our ways; and Allah is most surely with the doers of good." Sura Ankabut (29:69)

"... then We gave the punishment to those who were guilty and helping the believers is ever incumbent upon Us." Sura Rum (30:47)

Why we became Muslim?

In this age of reason and scientific progress, when all religions and traditional sets of beliefs have been exposed in their true colours as being nothing but superstitious .ignorance, Islam with its emphasis on rationality has made a great impact on the modem human mind. With the gradual removal of the veils of prejudice, bigotry and ignorance, more and more people are realizing the truth, and joining the Universal brotherhood, called Islam, which knows no barriers of race, colour, language and even geographical boundaries.

Despite the massive anti-Islamic propaganda of the International media in league with Zionism and the Church, whose global economic exploitation has put vast resources at their disposal; seekers of truth from various dimes are coming into the Islamic fold.

Following we present a summarized account from some of our new brothers and sisters on how and why they became Muslims.

Dr. Gernia (A former French MP)

For a long time I have carefully studied the holy Qur'an and was amazed to discover that its verses contain a mine of knowledge, dealing with such diverse sciences as astronomy, medicine, biology, health, social care, etc. And the interesting point is, all of these remarkably agree with our own modem rational mind and scientific discoveries made on these subjects.

However the important thing which convinced me of the truth of Islam and Muhammad's (s.a.w) prophethood was the fact that without ever sitting before a teacher, he already knew before 1400 years, what modem science is beginning to unravel today. I firmly believe that if any scientist or scholar compares the Qur'anic verses with his own particular field of research, undoubtedly like me, he will realize the truth and become a Muslim.

Mr. Yacoub Raymond - France

Three important points made me reject Christianity and accept Islam:

1. Christianity though acknowledging the past prophets, elevates Jesus (a.s ) to the position of God traces of pagan Roman influences - thus distorting the fundamental concept of the divinely revealed messages; Monotheism.

2. The absurd logic of Trinity, which credits Jesus with a dual personality - human and divine These two irrational ideas are Christianity's major flaws in the light of the monotheist concept of God as taught by the Prophets Abraham (a.s.) and Moses (a s ).

3. Finally, Christianity gave birth to the Institution of the Church, which claims to act as an intermediary between God and man. This erroneous concept is in fact a green signal to its followers to commit sins, because of the Church's pretension to forgive them. What a stupid idea! Does the Church which is run by fallible mortals has the power to forgive the sinners, instead of the Omnipotent, Immortal God? A dangerous notion indeed which no doubt explains the vices and their natural consequences - diseases and social breakdowns rampant in Christian countries.

Another important factor which drove me away from Christianity was the intense love for the material world among the Christians.

When we draw a comparison between Islam and Christianity, we discover the obvious truth Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) not only confirmed the prophethood of all the previous prophets, but that which was revealed to him (the holy Qur'an) are the only words of the Almighty , genuinely preserved unlike the previously revealed books, (Torah and Gospel) which have been badly tampered with and distorted.

Professor Roger Garaudy (Rajaa')

(French philosopher and man of letters. Speaker of the French Parliament from 1956 to 1958, whose historical conversion on 11 Ramadhan, 1402 (1982) made quite an uproar in the West.)

The only solution for the great crisis threatening to tear apart the present day world is the application of Islamic laws. Islam holds the key to social reforms, because of its subliming character which fosters spiritual unity.

The holy Qur'an helps us to see in everything or event, signs of Allah's Majesty, thereby proving the existence of a Higher Being, Who guides nature and life. Of course the main purpose of religion is to promote cooperation and unity. Today the West needs Islam more than ever before, in order to give life its meaning and history its purpose.

The West has unfortunately separated science from wisdom, thought from its mode, which are so harmoniously knitted together in Islam as a single unit. Islam is the goal and the refined form of the Abrahamic creeds and teachings, whose earlier crude forms were Judaism and Christianity. There is no other way out for the West except to look towards Islam for deliverance from the catastrophic exploitation of Capitalism.

Marmaduke Pickthall

(British scholar who became a Muslim, changing his name to Muhammad, famous for his explanatory translation of the holy Qur'an)

There is no greater blessing for a human being to enjoy other than being guided towards Islam. Once you realize the truth and accept Islam, the mist will be automatically removed. You begin to differentiate between faith and disbelief, truth and falsehood, happiness and misery. I thank Almighty God for bestowing this great blessing on me. My awakened conscience has filled my life with such great happiness which I knew not before. In short, I am proud to be part of the Muslim Ummah, enjoying the shade of this blessed tree called Islam.

Lord Douglas Hamilton

(British industrialist, now known as Adel Hamilton)

Islam is the only religion capable of combating social discrimination, agnosticism and the decadence of modem civilization. It continues to attract a number of university graduates, who have been disillusioned with various ideologies and isms.

Sir Archibald Hamilton-U.K.

It was quite natural for me not to resist the magnetic pull of Islam. What a wonderful system of life! Besides forbidding all generally frowned upon vices, it explicitly prohibits the drinking of alcoholic beverages and intoxicants as well as the taking or giving of usury. In other words Islam does not allow any individual or group to exploit the other.

These wise injunctions coupled with the philanthropic obligations of 'Khoms' and 'Zakat' (poor-rates) to be distributed by the haves among the havenots without the latter's need to beg, make Islam a dynamic religion. Moreover begging is discouraged by Islam as a loss of self-respect.

These laws, not only maintain a social balance by removing barriers of ignorance but elevate human dignity to its greatest heights.

In short Islam guides life on a straight forward path, while Christianity crookedly preaches to its followers that God should be worshipped on Sunday and humans on the other days of the week.

Miss Brigette Honey - U.K.

Through some of my friends I came across an English translation of the holy Qur'an. After reading the first two chapters when I had just started the third one, I suddenly felt an uncontrollable urge to prostrate myself before God.

It was the first time I had ever done such a thing in my life. The greater its significance, considering the fact that I had grown up in an irreligious atmosphere and had studied and dismissed various philosophies and ideas.

I accepted Islam the same instance, the only religion appealing to common sense and free from any sort of polytheistic traces. Islamic laws cover all aspects of human life and are in perfect harmony with science and nature.

Islam has a most complete code for binding the international community into a cohesive unit. It is far removed from any superstitious trends and has given birth to an entirely distinct art, culture, philosophy, industry and…. Etc., elevating human values to heights never attained before.

To sum it all, Islam with its profound belief in Allah, maintains a perfect equilibrium between both the spiritual and the material worlds.

Miss. Hadia Heidy Walsor - London, U.K.

Christianity in this age of reason is a dead religion, having failed miserably to keep pace with the progress of civilization. Christianity with its emphasis on baptism, monogamy and the theatrical funeral ceremony all of which stem from the polytheist concept of Trinity is not even weird but defies simple logic. Even when I was a child the very idea of Jesus (a.s.) being both divine and human sounded absurd to me. In fact the whole theory blasphemes Almighty God Himself.

Religion should be a source of the most sublime morals and ethics and in addition to inspiring its followers, should protect them against temptations. On the contrary an irrational set of beliefs as preached by the Christian Church undermines morals, breeding vices in the society as is evident for all.

Compare this with the rationality of Islam Let us take polygamy as an example, which is allowed in Islam in perfect harmony with human nature, although with certain reasonable regulations.

Is it not better to practice lawful healthy polygamy rather than stick to the hypocrisy of monogamy imposed by the Church, which leads to countless illicit affairs and consequently to diseases and social perversion? The day Europe realizes the freedom, liberty and rationality Islamic laws offer, it will get rid of all its social ills.

Mr. Donald Requil - U.S.A.

The simplicity of Prophet Muhammad's (s.a.w.) life coupled with the rationality of Islam made me change my belief. It is the only religion free of any absurdities and preposterous ideas. Once you realize the rationality of Islam, you become a true believer.

"We are nearer to him (man) than his jugular vein." Sura Qaf (50:16)

"I am very near, I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls ..." Sura Baqara (2:186)

"... Wherever you look Allah is everywhere ..." Sura Baqara (2:115)

How rational and simple is Islam, no need for any intercessor. All people are equal before Allah. There is no difference whatsoever of colour, race, social status, ... etc. And no one is superior to another except in terms of piety.

Moreover a glance at the life of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) his teachings, personality and behaviour, all indicate that he is the last and greatest of the prophets and Islam is a complete set of rules for humanity unlike Christianity, which utterly fails in this regard and could be described as against the very laws of nature itself.

Istraed Shmart - U.S.A.

I came across several Muslims in Elynews, whose friendship enlightened me about Islam and eventually I became a Muslim. The turning point in my life was, when one of my Muslim friends said that if God really willed to have a son, undoubtedly he would not have adopted one of his own creatures. "Brother, He the Almighty is Eternal and above all these defects", remarked my friend.

These magic words awakened my conscience. The sentence was quite logical and after reasoning, I realized that Jesus Christ (a.s.) was just one of the Prophets sent by God most high, and had been wrongly transformed-to suit the pagan mind-into a thing he never claimed he was. I began to question the belief that why should one man die on the cross for the sins committed by others and act as redeemer with Almighty God, when I myself can pray to Him sincerely and He has the power to grant my prayer. The answers were ably provided by Islam which testified Jesus'(a.s.) innocence to the whole sordid affair coined by the Church fathers, and I finally became a Muslim.

Al - Haj Dr. Abdul Karim Satyo (Professor of Economics at a Japanese University)

Islam is without any ambiguity, in proving the existence of the Almighty One. It convincingly explains this Manifest Truth, without which everything would be chaos and all our accepted social morals will lose their meaning and justification. If humanity succeeds in discovering this Eternal Truth, people will accept Islam in multitudinous crowds.

Abdullah Amora-Japan

My search for truth brought me in touch with Islam.

When I compared Islamic laws to Christianity, I was amazed to discover that they are so precisely perfect that they have not undergone even the slightest change since they were revealed, unlike the Bible, which contains nothing original.

The Qur'an is Allah's genuine word and has been entirely preserved in . its original state, whereas the Bible, which has come down to us, is neither the word of God nor His divine laws. In fact the Bible is more or less a brief biography of a part of Jesus (a.s.) life and has been tampered with and revised so frequently down the centuries, that it is doubtful to say what percentage of it contains the actual events of Prophet Jesus'(a.s ) life.

The greatest and the most glaring defect of Christianity is the absurd concept of Trinity and its forcing down the throats of simple people. The very emphasis on its blind acceptance, in utter disregard to reason and intellect betrays its nosensical nature. Sadly Christian doctrine has encouraged crimes and loose moralities in society, contrary to Islam which inspires the building of a pure civilization.

Leopold Vaise (An Austrian journalist and writer who changed his name to Muhammad Assad)

Honestly I am at a loss to say which particular field in Islam attracts me more. For me Islam is like a complete and flawless structure whose parts are inter-related and joined firmly and harmoniously together. In other words, no part of Islamic laws or values is out of place or dispensable and is precisely perfect in catering to even the minutest detail of a human's life. In short Islam is a cohesive unit whose every idea cosily fits in its right place and this has made a profound effect on my life.

Professor Mohammed Ezzeddin (Nishkanata Badhiayya) - Indi (A former principal of a Hyderabad College and currently Professor of history at Maharja college Mysore)

Islam is the only religion in full historical limelight and not of obscure origins as other religions. Islamic laws are in full conformity with reason and intellect, making it a practical religion and not a visionary theory. Besides the above characteristics unlike any other religion, Islam remarkably caters to the needs of people of every era and generation and is compatible to all cultures and levels of intellect. In brief it is the only platform capable of fostering universal brotherhood among mankind.

Islam as Seen by Prominent Western Thinkers

It is unfortunate that the Christian West instead of sincerely trying to understand the phenomenal success of Islam has considered it a rival religion. During the centuries of the crusades, this trend gained much force and impetus and a huge amount of literature was produced to tarnish the image of Islam.

Truth needs no advocates to plead on its behalf. But the prolonged malicious propaganda against Islam has created great confusion even in the minds of some free and objective thinkers. But Islam has begun to unfold its genuineness to the modern scholars whose bold and objective observations on Islam belie all the charges levelled against it by the so-called unbiased orientalists.

The following are some observations on Islam, the Qur'an and Muhammad (s.a.w.) by well acknowledged non-Muslim Western scholars and thinkers of modern times which we hope would contribute to initiating an objective evaluation of the Islamic faith.

About Islam

"I am not a Muslim in the usual sense, though I hope I am 'Muslim' as 'one surrendered to God', but I believe that embedded in the Qur'an and other expressions of the Islamic vision are vast stores of divine truth from which I and other occidentals have still much to learn, and Islam is certainly a strong contender for the supplying of the basic framework of the one religion of the future." W. Montgomery Watt "Islam and Christianity Today", London, 1983, page IX. "I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality.

It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him-the wonderful man - and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modem world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today."

George Bernard Shaw "The Genuine Islam", Vol. 1, No. 81936.

"History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated."

De Lacy O'Leary "Islam at the Crossroads", London , 1923, page 8.

"But Islam has a still further service to render to the cause of humanity. It stands after all nearer to the real East than Europe does, and it possesses a magnificent tradition of inter-racial understanding and cooperation. No other society has such a record of success in uniting in an equality of status, of opportunity, and of endeavours so many and so various races of mankind... Islam has still the power to reconcile apparently irreconcilable elements of race and tradition.

If ever the opposition of the great societies of East and West is to be replaced by cooperation, the mediation of Islam is an indispensable condition. In its hands lies very largely the solution of the problem with which Europe is faced in its relation with East. If they unite, the hope of a peaceful issue is immeasurably enhanced. But if Europe, by rejecting the cooperation of Islam, throws it into the arms of its rivals, the issue can only be disastrous for both."

H.A.R. Gibb "Whither Islam" London, 1932, p.379.

"The extinction of race consciousness as between Muslims is one of the outstanding achievements of Islam and in the contemporary world there is, as it happens, a crying need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue."

A. J. Toynbee "Civilization on Trial", New York, 1948, p. 205.

"The rise of Islam is perhaps the most amazing event in human history. Springing from a land and a people like previously negligible, Islam spread within a century over half the earth, shattering great empires, overthrowing long-established religions, remoulding the souls of races, and building up a whole new world, the world of Islam.

The closer we examine this development the more extraordinary does it appear. The other great religions won their way slowly, by painful struggle and finally triumphed with the aid of powerful monarchs converted to the new faith. Christianity had its Constantine, Buddhism its Asoka, and Zoroastrianism its Cyrus, each lending to his chosen cult the mighty force of secular authority, not so Islam. Arising in a desert land sparsely inhabited by a nomad race previously undistinguished in human annals.

Islam sallied forth on its great adventure with the slenderest human backing and against the heaviest material odds. Yet Islam triumphed with seemingly miraculous ease, and a couple of generations saw the Fiery Crescent borne victorious from the Pyrenees to the Himalayas and from the desert of Central Asia to the deserts of Central Africa."

A. M. L. Stoddard Quoted in "Islam-The Religion of All Prophets", Begum Bawani Waqf, Karachi Pakistan p.56.

"Islam is a religion that is essentially rationalistic in the widest sense of this term considered etymologically and historically. The definition of rationalism as a system that bases religious beliefs on principles furnished by reason applies to it exactly. The teachings of the Prophet, the Qur'an have invariably kept their place as the fundamental starting point, and the dogma of unity of God has always been proclaimed therein with a grandeur, a majesty, and invariable purity and with a note of sure conviction, which it is hard to find surpassed outside the pale of Islam.

This fidelity to the fundamental dogma of the religion, the elemental simplicity of the formula in which it is enunciated, the proof that it gains from the fervid conviction of the missionaries who propagate it, are so many causes to explain the success of Muhammadan missionary efforts. A creed so precise, so stripped of all theological complexities and consequently so accessible to the ordinary understanding might be expected to possess and does indeed possess a marvellous power of winning its way into the consciences of men."

Edward Montet "La Propagande Chretienne et ses Adversairs Musulmans", Paris 1890, Quoted by T W Arnold in "The Preaching of Islam", London 1913, pp. 413-414.

About the Qur'an

"The Koran admittedly occupies an important position among the great religious books of the world.

Though the youngest of the epochmaking works belonging to this class of literature, it yields to hardly any in the wonderful effect which it has produced on large masses of men. It has created an all but new phase of human thought and a fresh type of character . It first transformed a number of heterogeneous desert tribes of the Arabian Peninsula into a nation of heroes, and then proceeded to create the vast politico-religious organizations of Muhammadan world which are one of the great forces with which Europe and the East have to reckon today."

G. Margoliouth Introduction to J M. Rodwell's The Koran, New York: Everyman's Library, 1977 p. VII.

"A work, then, which calls forth so powerful and seemingly incompatible emotions even in the distant reader-distant as to time, and still more so as mental development- a work which not only conquers the repugnance with which he may begin its perusal, but changes this adverse feeling into astonishment and admiration, such a work must be a wonderful production of the human mind indeed and a problem of the highest interest to every thoughtful observer of the destinies of mankind."

Dr Steingass Quoted in "Hughes' Dictionary of Islam" pp. 526-7

"Here, therefore, its merits as a literary production should perhaps not be measured by some preconceived maxims of subjective and aesthetic taste, but by the effects which it produced in Muhammad's contemporaries and fellow countrymen. If it spoke so powerfully and convincingly to the hearts of his hearers as to weld hitherto centrifugal and antagonistic elements into one compact and well organized body, animated by ideas far beyond those which had until now ruled the Arabian mind, then its eloquence was perfect, simply because it created a civilized nation out of savage tribes, and shot a fresh woof into the old warp of history."

Dr Steingass Quoted in "Hughes' Dictionary of Islam" P.528.

"In making the present attempt to improve on the performance of my predecessors, and to produce something which might be accepted as echoing however faintly the sublime rhetoric of the Arabic Koran, I have been at pains to study the intricate and richly varied rhythms which - apart from the message itself - constitute the Koran's undeniable claim to rank amongst the greatest literary masterpieces of mankind ...

This very characteristic feature - 'that inimitable symphony', as the believing Pickthall described his Holy Book, 'the very sounds of which move men to tears and ecstasy' - has been almost totally ignored by previous translators; it is therefore not surprising that what they have wrought sounds dull and flat indeed in comparison with the splendidly decorated original."

Arthur J Arberry "The Koran Interpreted", London: Oxford University Press, 1964, p X

"A totally objective examination of it [the Qur'an] in the light of modern know-ledge, leads us to recognize the agreement between the two, as has been already noted on repeated occasions. It makes us deem it quite unthinkable for a man of Muhammad's time to have been the author of such statements, on account of the state of knowledge in his day. Such considerations are part of what gives the Qur'anic Revelation its unique place, and forces the impartial scientist to admit his inability to provide an explanation which calls solely upon materialistic reasoning."

Maurice Bucaille "The Qur'an and Modem Science", 1981, p 18

"The above observation makes the hypothesis advanced by those who see Muhammad as the author of the Qur'an untenable. How could a man, from being illiterate, become the most important author, in terms of literary merits, in the whole of Arabic literature? How could he then pronounce truths of a scientific nature that no other human-being could possibly have developed at that time, and all this without once making the slightest error in his pronouncement on the subject?"

Maurice Bucaille "The Bible, the Qur'an and Science", 1978, p.125 Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

____________ 10. "Idhharul Haq" Vol. 2, P.281.