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Page last edited on 04 June, 2003
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A Fresh Start
Through this start page, we want you to take a fresh look into the
religion of Islam, by shrugging off misconceived notions you may have
accumulated through cultural influence. We
hope a fresh start will not only help you in appreciating the message of Islam,
but also you may better understand the underlying sufferings and root causes for current unrest in many Muslim countries.
The Crime of misinformation against Islam
And there is a party among them who twist their
tongues while reciting the Book to make you think that it is part of the Book
when in fact it is not. They say: 'It is from Allah', when in fact it is not
from Allah. They falsely fix a lie upon Allah, and do so wittingly. [The Qurán
3:78]
In the above verse of the Qurán, God tells us that among the
people who claim to be following the book of God, there are people who
intentional distort the meaning of the Scriptures or twist the words of the text
in order to misinterpret it. Islam has been a
victim of such distortions and misconceptions, which has kept many innocent
men and women around the world from knowing the luminous bonds which bind a
believer in Islam with another. These lies have mainly propagated
through two ways.
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First is the intentionally biased and totally false
propaganda by certain sections of non-Muslims who, either out of ignorance
or arrogance, saw and still see Islam as an intellectual, economic and
political threat to the
unreasonable philosophies they have invented or inherited from their forefathers. While Islam
confirmed kind relations with Christians & Jews, a distorted image of Islam
was presented systematically in Europe through centuries of misinformation
and myths as if Islam was an anti-religion to Christianity. This misconceived
image was spread during European colonialism to other parts on the globe,
and blooms still, as
is evident from the ignorant bias and antagonism in the western print &
visual media towards Islam. (Read our guestbook to see this antagonism for
yourself.)
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Second is the existence and influence of 'un-Muslim' Muslims
who at one time or another, at one place or another, out of ignorance or
frustration (both qualities are, by the way, unbecoming of a Muslim), continue to bring
disgrace to Islam and to the image of Muslims by doing such marvelous
exploits as are completely contrary to the humane and just principles of Islam.
Those who spread lies about God or His religion, through
words or deeds, have been warned thus in the Qurán.
There shall be no share in the Life to Come for
those who sell away the covenant of Allah and their oaths for a trivial gain. On
the Day of Resurrection, Allah will neither address them, look at them, nor will
He purify them. A painful chastisement lies ahead of them. [The Qurán 3: 77]
Mischief-makers everywhere - some with power, some without
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Disorder has appeared everywhere, because of
what people have done. (The Qurán 30:41)
'Terrorism' (WTC attack type). 'Oppression'
(Israeli type). 'Unjustified Aggression' (American hegemony type).
Some by the misguided, some by the arrogant, but 'All' of these are just
various kinds of 'mischief-making' which is strictly hated by God. Those who
continue to do such excesses in God's world, whether in the name of religion
or without it, unless they repent sincerely and answer the
just call of God, face a severe punishment from the Almighty on the Final
Day of Reckoning when not a single soul will be dealt unjustly.
"...We ordained for the Children of
Israel that if anyone slew a person unless it be for murder or for
spreading mischief in the land it would be as if he slew the whole people.
Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear Signs yet even
after that many of them continued to commit excesses in the land."
(The Qur'an 5:32)
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THE WAR ON
IRAQ: To most of the world, the diplomacy of
the present rulers of the United States of America clearly is total
hypocrisy and reflects their sheer contempt for
the idea of Democracy - 'the rule of the People'.
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Senseless
violence in India - Moral obligation of Humanity
: [Added 1-Mar-2002] Read our word & message to Muslims & Indians on
the senseless criminal massacres of Hindus and Muslims. May sanity
prevail.
Let us unite against the Mischief-makers
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Upholding Truth & Justice - The Only Way to Peace
When the disrupters of peace (the mischief makers) attain power, the first
victim is truth and justice. If these mischief makers then start talking of
establishing peace,
know that lasting peace can not exist until truth and justice are allowed to
prevail. If Truth and Justice is not allowed to prevail, know that these
disrupters are the real enemies of men and so of God.
That is why, the Qurán calls believers to uphold Truth and Justice even if it
be against oneself, and that is how God's summon to the abode of peace in this
world and in the hereafter.
| Upholding Truth |
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People of the Book! Why do you confound Truth with falsehood,
and why do you conceal the Truth knowingly? (The Qurán 3:71)
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| Upholding Justice |
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"O you, who believe, stand firmly for justice, against yourself or
your parents or your near relations - whether he be rich or poor - Allah
has better right over them both." (Holy Qurán 4:35) |
| Against Arrogance & Aggression |
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Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not
the aggressors. And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set
in order, And Invoke Him with fear and hope; Surely, Allah's mercy is
(ever) near unto the good-doers. (The Qurán 7:55) |
| Summon to Peace |
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"And Allah summons to the abode of peace, and leads whom He wills to the
straight path" (The Qurán 10:25)
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The least one should know about Islam
In short...
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Meaning of Islam...
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The Message...
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Islam calls all humanity to surrender to the will
of God, the only true God of all humanity, because our lives, all our
possessions and all that exists in the universe are nothing but favors
and blessings from this one God.
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The only purpose of our existence is to gain the
approval of our Creator, that is, to do that which pleases God and
refrain from that which is abhorred by God. This life is thus a test of
our surrender.
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All
human-beings will be held accountable for the deeds they commit in this
world and will be rewarded justly for their deed.
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This is the same message which was conveyed by all the
prophets of God, and the message of Islam is a reminder of the same
message.
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More details in the section in Explore Islam
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About God...
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The Arabic word for God is Allah
and means 'The God'. Islam emphasizes this simple pure notion of one
God and refutes the concepts of trinity or plurality for Godhead as
false lacking any scriptural or scientific evidence. Islamic monotheism
(Tawhid) is the most important concept to be understood as everything
else relating to social, economic, political or moral/spiritual
principles of Islam are derived from it.
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More in our page on Who is Allah
?
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Islam demands that belief in God be based upon reason
and contemplation and not on blind faith.
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More in the the section Curious Minds
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About the Prophets...
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Islam is the same religion which was revealed by
God Almighty to all the Messengers and Prophets of God (peace be upon
them all) and does not claim to be a new separate religion. Islam
is the completion of God's guidance to humanity.
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In contrast to the other prophets of God who were chosen
by God for a particular nation or tribe, Muhammad (peace be upon him)
was the last messenger chosen by the God for all humanity.
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More in the section Who is Muhammad
(pbuh)?
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About the Scriptures...
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God sent His guidance to men by inspiring men from
amongst mankind known as Prophets and to whom God revealed scriptures.
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The Qurán is the final scripture revealed by God to Muhammad and it confirms the
Torah (Taurat-scripture revealed to Moses), the Bible (Injeel-scripture revealed to
Jesus) and the Psalms (scripture revealed to David). Peace be upon all
the prophets of God.
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More in the section What is the Qur'aan ?
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An Invitation...
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God invites all humanity to embrace His last and final
call to His chosen path Islam. When the Qurán was revealed, Christians
and Jews were the people following the scriptures revealed to previous
prophets and so they were called to embrace God's final
revelation to his prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Prophet Muhammad had
started his prophetic mission by inviting the polytheists of Makkah to
the worship of One God before he had to migrate to Medina.
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Islam however categorically states that there is no
compulsion in religion (Holy Quran 2:256) and everyone is given
freedom by God whether to accept His final call or not. The messenger's
duty is only to convey the truth (Holy Quran 5:99).
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Read No compulsion in Religion
and Tolerance in Islam
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More in the section Interfaith Dialogue
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Islam presents a justly 'balanced' framework of life
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Belief based on Reason...
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Perfect brotherhood and unification of humanity...
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Framework to establish Peace & Socio-Economic
Justice...
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Science & Civilization...
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The perfect example - the life of the final
Prophet of God who is called a mercy to mankind...
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The Life of Prophet Muhammad is practical implementation
of the teachings of Qurán
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Note that all
prophets of God have equal status in Islam & are all models worth
emulation
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Visit our section Who is Muhammad
(pbuh)?
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The
Biography of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him)
(external link)
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More...
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Common misconceptions relating to Islam
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Islam and the Question of Violence
This section explains how Islam is devoted to establishing and maintaining
"Peace through
Justice" and that Islam is the only solution to Terrorism.
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Slavery in Islam This
section presents the humane solution provided by Islam to tackle the problem
of Slavery.
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Stereotyping and Misconceptions
This section clarifies some very common myths, misconceptions and false
stereotypes about Islam and Muslims.
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Answers of the Qurán to Important Questions - Read and Reflect
- What is the natural code of conduct (religion) of humanity?
Do they now seek a religion other than that prescribed by Allah
even though all that is in the heavens and the earth is in submission to Him -
willingly or unwillingly - and to Him all shall return? Say: 'We believe in
Allah and what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael
and Isaac and Jacob and his descendents, and the teachings which Allah gave to
Moses and Jesus and to other Prophets. We make no distinction between any of
them; and to Him do we submit.' And whoever seeks a way other than this way of
submission (Islam), will find that it will not be accepted from him and in the
Life to Come he will be among the losers. [The Qurán 3:83]
- Why Islam teaches us to serve none but God?
O Mankind, serve your Lord Who has created you as well as those
before you; do so that you are saved. It is He Who has made the earth a resting
place for you, and the sky a canopy, and sent down water from above with which
He brought forth fruits for your sustenance. Do not, then, set up rivals to
Allah when you know (the truth). [The Qurán 2:21-22]
Your God is One God, there is no God but He; the Merciful, the
Compassionate. (To guide) those who use their reason (to this truth) there are
many signs in the creation of the heaven and the earth, in the constant
alternation of night and day, in the vessels which speed across the sea carrying
the things which are of profit to men, in the water which Allah sends down from
the heaven thereby quickening the earth after its death, in the scattering of
every kind of animal in the earth, and in the courses of the winds and the
clouds pressed into service between heaven and earth. [The Qurán 2: 163-164]
- Why embracing Islam is to be guided by God to His Straight Way?
In the beginning, mankind followed one single way. (Later on
this state ended and differences arose.) Then Allah sent forth Prophets as
heralds of good tidings for the righteous and as warners against the
consequences of evil-doing. He sent down with them the Book embodying the Truth
so that it might judge between people in their disputes. And those who innovated
divergent ways rather than follow the Truth were none other than those who had
received the knowledge of the Truth and clear guidance; and they did so to
commit excesses against each other. Thus Allah directed, by His leave, those who
have come to believe (in the Prophets) to the right way on matters on which they
disagreed. Allah guides whomsoever He wills onto the straight way. [The Qurán
2: 213]
Do you suppose that you will enter Paradise untouched by the
suffering endured by men of faith who passed away before you? They were
afflicted by misery and hardship and were so convulsed that the Messenger and
the believers with him cried out: 'When will Allah's help arrive?' They were
assured that Allah's help was close by. [The Qurán 2:214]
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