LESSON 6: ISLAM FOR EVERYONE

You have learnt in earlier lessons that whenever and where-ever ALLAH, the Magnificent, sent his apostles and prophets for the guidance of mankind, they always called the people to the one-ness of ALLAH. This very call towards the one-ness of ALLAH, was also given by the last prophet of ALLAH. Muhammed (peace be upon him). Agreement of all the prophets on this call of TAUHEED (oneness of ALLAH) proves that Islam is the religion approved by ALLAH the Magnificent. This is the true and perpetual religion and will last for ever. We shall learn in this lesson how Islam is for every one.

1. Islam was also the religion of the prophets before Muhammed (peace be upon him). It was towards this religion (Previous Prophets) invited the people. Some of their people accepted Islam and some discarded it due to their obduracy, although they knew from their own books very well, that it was the true religion.ALLAH, the Magnificent, says :





“Ye People of the Book! Why dispute ye about Abraham (Ibraheem), when the Law and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have ye no understanding? Ah! Ye are those who fell to disputing (even) in matters of which ye had some knowledge! But why dispute ye in matters of which ye have no knowledge? It is ALLAH Who knows and ye who know not. Abraham (Ibraheem) was not a Jew nor yet a Christan, but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to ALLAH’s (which is Islam) and he joined not gods with the God (ALLAH)”. (3 : 65-67)


2. Islam is not a new religion – All the prophets (P.B.U.H) who came before Muhammed (peace be upon him), invited people to accept Islam and called them Muslims.

ALLAH, The Magnificent, says :




“And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive, (with sincerity and under discipline) He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion ; it is the cult of your father Abraham (Ibraheem). It is He who has named you Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation); that the Apostle may be a witness for you, and ye be withnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayers, Give regular Charity, and hold fast to ALLAH! He is your Protector, the Best to protect and the Best to help!” (22 : 78)


3. Every Prophet called on his people to follow Islam. We have learnt from earlier lessons that Muhammed (peace be upon him) was the last glorious prophet of ALLAH, and no prophet will come after him. From this point of view. Muhammed (peace be upon him) was not sent towards a particular nation, but was sent for the guidance of all humanity (entire world) till Doomsday. It is for this reason that the teachings of Muhammed (peace be upon him) are not for his people alone, but are for all mankind. He called people to Islam as IBRAHEEM, MOOSA & ESSA son of MARYAM, and all the other prophets did, so that all people worship the same ALLAH, the Magnificent, Who created them to practice the religion, He made for them.

ALLAH, the Magnificent, says :




“Say : O ! men ! I am sent unto you all, as the Apostle of ALLAH to Whom belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth: there is no God but He : it is He that giveth both life and death. So believe in ALLAH and His Apostle. The unlettered Prophet, who believeth in ALLAH, and His words : follow him (so) that ye may be guided.” (7 : 158)


4. The people of MOOSA and EESA (peace be upon them) turned away from their prophets religious teachings about Touheed i.e. (the one-ness of Allah) Instead they invented a variety of new religious practice. Mohammed (P.B.U.H) was sent as a prophet for all mankind and his teachings were the same as of those of the earlier prophets (MOOSA, EESA) and he invited the jews and Christians to follow Islam once again.

ALLAH, the Magnificent, says :



Say : “O people of the Book! Come to common terms, as between us and you: that we worship none but ALLAH; that we associate no partners with Him; that we elect not, from among ourselves, lords and patrons other than ALLAH.” If then they turn back, say: “Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to ALLAH’s will).” (3 : 64)


5. In the QURAN, the last BOOK of ALLAH, it has clearly been ordained that no religion other than Islam is acceptable to ALLAH, the Magnificent.

ALLAH, the Magnificent, says :



“Do they seek for other than the Religion of ALLAH ? --- while all creatures in the heavens and on earth have, willing or unwilling, bowed to His will (accepted Islam), and to Him shall they all be brought back. Say : “We believe in ALLAH, and in what has revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham (Ibraheem), Ismail, Issac (Ishaq), Jacob (Yaqoob) and the Tribes, and in (the original Books) given to Moses (Musa), Jesus (Eesa) and (all) the PROPHETS, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to ALLAH do we bow our will (in Islam).” If any one desires a religion other than Islam (submission to ALLAH) never will it be accepted of him: and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).” (3 : 83-85)

 

Questions

After going through the sixth lesson “Islam for every one” answer the following questions as per instructions :

1. Before Muhammed (peace be upon him) the religion of all the prophets was Islam. This becomes quite clear from the verses (65-67/AAL-E-IMRAN), given in Para No : 1.

Read the verses over- again and fill in the following blanks:

… Abraham (Ibraheem) was ______________ yet a ___________ : but he was ________________, and bowed his will to ALLAH’s (which is Islam) and he joined not gods __________________________ (3 : 65 – 67)

2. Underline if the statement is correct :

ALLAH, the Magnificent, named the people of the prophets before Muhammed (peace be on him) also as “Muslims”.

3. Fill in the following blanks, after reading the verse [158 / AL-AARAF], given in Para No : 3.

Say : O men! I am sent unto you all, ________________________ , to Whom belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth: _________________________ : it is He that giveth both life and death. __________________________, the unlettered Prophet who believeth in ALLAH, and His words: follow him (so) that ye may be guided. (7 : 158)

4. Islam is for all and that is why Muhammed (P.B.U.H) :

(a) invited only his people to Islam ( )

(b) invited all, including Jews and

Christians to Islam ( )

Mark [Ö] against the correct answer given above.

5. Read verses [83-85 / AAL-E-IMRAN] and fill in the following blanks :

… If any one desires a religion ________________ (submission to ALLAH) never will it be __________________: and in the Herafter he will be in the ranks of ___________________________ . (3 : 83-85)


 

Answers

1 … not a Jew nor yeg a christian, but he was true in Faith ……… with God (Allah). (3 : 65-67)
2 Correct
3 …… as the Apostle of ALLAH ……there is no God but He … so believe in Allah and His Apostle.
4 (b)
5. …… other then Islam …… accepted of him; …… those who have lost (are spirituals goods). (3:83-85)