Every Muslim should prepare

for Jum'ah from Thursday.

After Asr on Thursday one

should increasingly read

Istighfaar etc. That person

shall obtain the most benefit

of Jum'ah who awaits it and

prepares for it from

Thursday.

Rasulallah (S.A.W.) has said : "

The best day of the week that

the sun rises on, is the day of

Jum'ah."

The night of Jum'ah (the night

between Thursday and Friday) is

more blessed and the day of

Jum'ah is most blessed.

Friday is the best among all days.

Friday is an Eid for the Believers.

Adam (R.A.) was created on Friday,

He was granted entrance into Jannah on Friday,

He was descending into Earth on Friday,

He died on Friday, and Qiyaamah will also take place

on Friday.

Amongs the seven days of the week Friday is the day

when Allah’s Special mercies are granted. It is a day

of gathering for the Muslims and rewards are

increased. Many great events took place on this day,

and yet take place.

Hazrat Abu Saeed khudri (R.A.) says that

the Rasulallah (S.A.W.) has said that:

" Whoever recite Suratul-Kahf on Friday (the

night between Thursday and Friday)

enjoys the illumination between two

Fridays." (Nasai)

Hazrat Abdullah Bin Umar (R.A.) says that

the Rasulallah (S.A.W.) has said that: "

Whoever recites Suratul-Kahf on Friday,

will enjoy a light shining from his feet to

the heaven and will have his sins forgiven

committed between the two Fridays." (Ibn

Marduya).

It is reported from Hazrat Abu Huraira ( R.A.) that

Rasulallah ( S.A.W) has said that : " Whoever recites

Suratul-Ham-Mim Dukhan on Friday, (the night between

Thursday and Friday ) enjoys the prayer of 70,000

angels for his forgiveness and gets all sins forgiven."

(Tirmizi).

Hazrat Abdulla Bin Abbas ( R.A.) says that Rasulallah

(S.A.W.)

has said That : " Whoever recites Suratul-Aale Imran on

Friday, angels enjoy the divine shower of salutation on

him till sunset." (Tibrani).

Al Isbahaani reports from Ibn Abbas (R.A.) that

Rasulallah (

S.A.W.) said : " The one who performs 2 raka'at after

Maghrib on Friday night (the night between Thursday

and Friday) and reads in every rakaat once Suratul-Al

Fatiha and Suratul Zilzaal (Iza zul zilatil Ardhu) 15

times,Allah will ease for him the Sakaraat of Death (the

moment of death) and will save him from the

punishment of the grave and make easy for him

Hazrat Abu Amama (R.A.) says that the Rasulallah

(S.A.W.) has said that : " The bath of Friday, pull out

every sin of the man from its root.(Tibrani)

Hazrat Abu Huraira (R.A.) says that the Rasulallah

(S.A.W.) has said that : " whoever goes out for Friday

prayer after making proper ablution and listen to the

sermon quietly sitting, get all his sins forgiven not only

from one Friday to the next, but also the sins of three

days

more."(Muslim)

Hazrat Abdullah Bin Masud (R.A.) reports that

Rasulallah ( S.A.W.) had said : " The order of sitting

before Allah will be just as order of attendance on

Friday. Who ever comes first in mosque on Friday will

have his seat nearest to Allah, the second one will have

the second seat and third one will have the third seat

and fourth one will also not be very far from Allah."

(Ibn Maaja)

Source : facebook.com

Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr with prayers and gatherings, marking the end of Ramadan. In Gaza, Palestinians have little to celebrate as the war continues despite ceasefire efforts.

Muslims around the world bid farewell to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and celebrated the holiday of Eid al-Fitr on Sunday.

As every year, Eid was greeted with joy and excitement as Muslims marked with congregational prayers and festivities that typically include family visits, gatherings and new clothes.

In Jerusalem, thousands of Palestinians gathered on Sunday at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City for Eid al-Fitr prayers.

In Serbia, the Islamic community held its central Eid ceremony in the Arab mosque in Novi Pazar, also marking the occasion with communal prayers.

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In the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, Muslims gathered in outdoor prayer spaces. Families donned new clothes and visited loved ones, blending tradition with modern festivities.

Meanwhile, in Islam's holiest city of Mecca, millions of pilgrims and locals joined in mass prayers at the Grand Mosque, underscoring the spiritual heart of the celebration.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Syrians celebrate their first Eid al-Fitr since the end of more than half a century of being ruled by the al-Assad family.

Like Ramadan and other Muslim observances, the timing of Muslim months and holidays generally depends on the lunar cycle, specifically the sighting of the Moon’s crescent following the new Moon.

In many parts of the world, dedicated teams of moon-sighters will scan the sky with telescopes and binoculars, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive crescent moon.

Eid al-Fitr overshadowed by war

For some Muslims, this year’s Eid was far from a joyous occasion as their communities are ravaged by war.

Residents of the Gaza Strip are observing their second Eid al-Fitr since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.

They had little to celebrate on Sunday, as they marked a normally festive holiday with rapidly dwindling food supplies and no end in sight to the conflict.

Israeli strikes overnight into Sunday killed at least 19 people, mostly women and children, according to officials of the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

Israel put an abrupt end to its ceasefire with Hamas this month as waves of strikes killed hundreds in the enclave. Meanwhile, food, fuel, medicine and other supplies have been halted.

“It’s the Eid of sadness,” said Adel al-Shaer after attending outdoor prayers in the central town of Deir al-Balah. “We lost our loved ones, our children, our lives, and our futures. We lost our students, our schools, and our institutions. We lost everything.”

Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism.  In the Quran, God has said:

"God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes.  God loves just dealers." (Quran 60:8)

The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and children,  and he would advise them: "...Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child."  And he also said: "Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of forty years."

Also, the Prophet Muhammad has forbidden punishment with fire.

He once listed murder as the second of the major sins,  and he even warned that on the Day of Judgment, "The first cases to be adjudicated between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of bloodshed.

Muslims are even encouraged to be kind to animals and are forbidden to hurt them.  Once the Prophet Muhammad said: "A woman was punished because she imprisoned a cat until it died.  On account of this, she was doomed to Hell. While she imprisoned it, she did not give the cat food or drink, nor did she free it to eat the insects of the earth."

He also said that a man gave a very thirsty dog a drink, so God forgave his sins for this action.  The Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was asked, "Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?"  He said: "There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human."

Additionally, while taking the life of an animal for food, Muslims are commanded to do so in a manner that causes the least amount of fright and suffering possible.  The Prophet Muhammad said: "When you slaughter an animal, do so in the best way.  One should sharpen his knife to reduce the suffering of the animal."

In light of these and other Islamic texts, the act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and the Muslims.  Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some have associated with Muslims.  If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of Islam.

Our Lord (Swt) has made every man have his own destiny, happy or unhappy. A decided divine decision is written in a Book with Allah even before this man comes into the world. This is how Allah willed it

before Adam, our spiritual father, be created.

The Prophet Mohammad (sala Allah alayhi WA Salam) said in this regard: «God wrote the Destiny of all creatures fifty thousand years before the creation of heaven and earth" (Reported by Muslim).

Allah (swt) created Paradise and Hell in His great will and created two paths, good and evil, and gave man the power and will of choice in life. Why?  Quite simply because the importance and price of the issue

is beyond the reach of the imagination of human brain.  Paradise, this second stage of man's life after his death, a life of heavenly pleasures, is an eternally happy life for believers, for the righteous

here below, for the blessed, for those whom Allah's grace (swt) will have touched.

Paradise, this great and eternal divine mercy, which no man could describe happiness or imagine the slightest detail, is too expensive to be rewarded. The good works of the whole life consecrated to godliness, worship and sincere devotion of Allah (swt) could not be equal or even less deserve a single moment in heavenly life. If it were not for the infinite mercy of Allah (swt), no man on earth, no matter how righteous and righteous his deeds could hope or think of entering Paradise.

However, in spite of this great divine stoppage, this providential ordinance, Allah (swt) in his infinite indulgence, and although He (God) already knows the destiny of the whole Universe and knows in advance all that could happen to each of his creatures during this earthly life, man has a margin of freedom and a chance, in order to enable him to make a salutary path, according to his choice and his will.

After coming into the world and having reached puberty, man becomes responsible and is now faced with the fatal fate and destiny. He finds himself at the crossroads, between two paths, the way of good and the way of evil, it is up to him to make this inevitably decisive choice, and finally, it is up to him to choose which of these paths he must choose and choose for his eternal salvation.

A very difficult choice indeed for man, a real struggle against good and evil. A fight for a lot of inequality, especially when we know that we are dealing with formidable adversaries, ruthless antagonists, without faith or law! Life and its delights, its attractions, passions, the incitements to sin and permanent rebellion against the divine laws, the evil inspirations of demons and the exhortations of evil of one's own person (enafs), the spirit that dwells in us (our inner fortitude). A real "armada" that this weak man must face and fight daily for his life. Fearful adversaries that nothing in the world could detract from their main objective, which consists essentially in dragging man into perdition here below, and especially in the depths of Hell's depths of the hereafter.

Great trials that Allah (swt) imposes on man to test his true and sincere faith in this world, and give him a chance to be touched by his grace and to win and deserve with the mercy of Allah (swt) a dwelling place in the eternal Gardens of Paradise life.

Only our Exalted Lord be He and in His infinite mercy, He, who is our Creator and who knows better than anyone else the weakness of man, and before the inequality of this struggle between human life and his

"incorruptible" enemies, Allah (swt) could "intervene" and come to the aid of his sincere and willing servants, if they obviously do the "first".

To conclude, good and evil are in the hands of man, and it is incontrovertible that the final decision to make the choice lies with man. Somebody once said this great maxim, which is very similar to the obvious one: «If destiny does not help us, we will help it to come true".

In any case, man, without any constraint whatsoever, is free to choose his salutary path. He is the only author of his own deeds and he is the only one responsible for his own deeds, which will obviously lead him to either Paradise or Hell» Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty. "(Quran, 57/21).

Moreover, according to the holy words of our noble Prophet Mohammed (sala Allah alayhi Wa Salam):"He who will be in the lowest row of the gardens of Eden (Jannat El Fir daws), will have ten times the equivalence of the planet earth. Thus, the latter will enjoy all pleasures, and will have everything that made him dream on earth, and this multiplied by ten.

Author: Mokhtar Reguieg

Translated from French by habib attifa Boukar

The Arabian Peninsula during the time of the Prophet was a region in which various faiths were present.  There were Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, polytheists, and others not affiliated with any religion.  When one looks into the life of the Prophet, one may draw on many examples to portray the high level of tolerance shown to people of other faiths.

In order to understand and judge this tolerance, one must look into the period in which Islam was a formal state, with the specific laws laid down by the Prophet in accordance with the tenets of religion.  Even though one can observe many examples of tolerance shown by the Prophet in the thirteen years of his stay in Mecca, one may incorrectly think that it was only due to seeking to raise the profile of  the Muslims and the social status of Islam and in general.  For this reason, the discussion will be limited to the period which commenced with the migration of the Prophet to Medina, and specifically once the constitution was set.

The Saheefah

The best example of the tolerance shown by the Prophet to other religions may be the constitution itself, called the ‘Saheefah’ by early historians.[1]  When the Prophet migrated to Medina, his role as a mere religious leader ended; he was now the political leader of a state, governed by the precepts of Islam, which demanded that clear laws of governance be laid out to ensure harmony and stability in a society which once had been distraught by decades of war, one which must ensure the peaceful coexistence of Muslims, Jews, Christians and polytheists.  Due to this, the Prophet laid down a ‘constitution’ which detailed the responsibilities of all parties which resided in Medina, their obligations towards each other, and certain restrictions which were placed on each.  All parties were to obey what was mentioned therein, and any breach of its articles was regarded as an act of treachery.

One Nation

The first article of the constitution was that all the inhabitants of Medina, the Muslims as well as those who had entered the pact from the Jews, Christian, and idolaters, were “one nation to the exclusion of all others.”  All were considered members and citizens of Medina society regardless of religion, race, or ancestry.  People of other faiths were protected from harm as much as the Muslims, as is stated in another article, “To the Jews who follow us belong help and equity.  He shall not be harmed nor his enemies be aided.”  Previously, each tribe had their alliances and enemies within and without Medina.  The Prophet gathered these different tribes under one system of governance which upheld pacts of alliances previously in existence between those individual tribes.  All tribes had to act as a whole with disregard to individual alliances.  Any attack on other religion or tribe was considered an attack on the state and upon the Muslims as well.

The lives of the practitioners of other religions in the Muslim society was also given protective status.  The Prophet said:

“Whoever kills a person who has a truce with the Muslims will never smell the fragrance of Paradise.” (Saheeh Muslim)

Since the upper hand was with the Muslims, the Prophet strictly warned against any maltreatment of people of other faiths.  He said:

“Beware!  Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, or curtails their rights, or burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I (Prophet Muhammad) will complain against the person on the Day of Judgment.” (Abu Dawud)

To Each Their Own Religion

In another article, it states, “the Jews have their religion and the Muslims have theirs.”  In this, it is clear that anything other than tolerance would not be tolerated, and that, although all were members of a society, each had their separate religion which could not be violated.  Each was allowed to practice their beliefs freely without any hindrances, and no acts of provocation would be tolerated.

There are many other articles of this constitution which may be discussed, but emphasis will be placed on an article which states, “If any dispute or controversy likely to cause trouble should arise, it must be referred to God and His Messenger.”  This clause maintained that all inhabitants of the state must recognize a higher level of authority, and in those matters which involved various tribes and religions, justice could not be meted out by individual leaders; rather it must be adjudicated by the leader of the state himself or his designated representatives.  It was allowed, however, for individual tribes who were not Muslims, to refer to their own religious scriptures and their learned men in regards to their own personal affairs.  They could though, if they opted, ask the Prophet to judge between them in their matters.  God says in the Quran:

“…If they do come to you, either judge between them or decline to interfere...” (Quran 5:42)

Here we see that the Prophet allowed each religion to judge in their own matters according to their own scriptures, as long as it did not stand in opposition to articles of the constitution, a pact which took into account the greater benefit of the peaceful co-existence of the society.

http://www.islamreligion.com

islam today is a global religion.  It is no longer confined to Muslim majority countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia or Indonesia.  Small but significant communities exist across Europe, the Americas and Australasia.  For some time Muslims have been an invisible presence in the western world but one decade into the 21st century Muslims are no longer curiosities.  They are as much at home in London Paris or Chicago as they are in Istanbul, Damascus and Jakarta.

In 2011 Muslims in the West also no longer exist in immigrant communities but are second, third and fourth generation citizens participating in professional and civic life.  Islam is said to be the fastest growing religion in the United States.  It is estimated that more than 1 million Americans have converted to Islam.  In recent years due to an Islamic revival, believing and practicing Muslims have established a visible presence not only in Islamic societies but also in the West.

What do the latest data and statistics tell us about the number of Muslims in the world.  Where do they live? How many are born into the Muslim faith and how many choose to convert to Islam? The majority of the following statistics and data come from the Pew Research Centre.

According to the Pew[1]  Islam is growing about 2.9% per year.  This is faster than the total world population which increases about 2.3% annually.  The world’s Muslim population is expected to increase by about 35% in the next 20 years.  In mid 2010 the Pew forum estimated that there were 1.57 billion Muslims in the world.  This represents 22% of the world’s population.  Islam is the second largest religion in the world, beaten only by Christianity which represents 33% of the world’s population with a little over 2 billion adherents.

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life stated that Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Europe.  Driven by immigration and high birth rates, the number of Muslims on the continent has tripled in the last 30 years.  Most demographers forecast a similar or even higher rate of growth in the coming decades.

If current trends continue 79 countries will have a million or more Muslim inhabitants in 2030, up from 72 countries in 2011.  The seven new countries are expected to be Belgium, Canada, Congo, Djibouti, Guinea Bissau, Netherlands and Togo.  About 60% of the world’s Muslims will continue to live in the Asia-Pacific region, while about 20% will live in the Middle East and North Africa, as is the case in 2010.  One of the biggest changes expected is that Pakistan will almost certainly surpass Indonesia as the country with the single largest Muslim population.[2]

In 2011 statistics tell us that 74.1% of the world’s Muslims live in the 49 countries in which Muslims make up a majority of the population.  More than a fifth of all Muslims (23.3%) live in non-Muslim-majority countries in the developing world.  These minority Muslim populations are often quite large.  India, for example, has the third-largest population of Muslims worldwide.  China has more Muslims than Syria, while Russia is home to more Muslims than Jordan and Libya combined.[3]  About 3% of the world’s Muslims live in more-developed regions, such as Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.[4]

In the United States, the population projections show the number of Muslims more than doubling over the next two decades, rising from 2.6 million in 2010 to 6.2 million in 2030.  The number of Muslims in Canada is expected to nearly triple in the next 20 years, from about 940,000 in 2010 to nearly 2.7 million in 2030.  Muslims are expected to make up 6.6% of Canada’s total population in 2030, up from 2.8% today.  Argentina is expected to have the third-largest Muslim population in the Americas, after the U.S.  and Canada.  Argentina, with about 1 million Muslims in 2010, is now in second place, behind the U.S.

 In Europe as a whole, the Muslim share of the population is expected to grow by nearly one-third over the next 20 years, rising from 6% of the region’s inhabitants in 2010 to 8% in 2030.  In absolute numbers, Europe’s Muslim population is projected to grow from 44.1 million in 2010 to 58.2 million in 2030.  Nearly three-in-ten people living in the Asia-Pacific region in 2030 (27.3%) will be Muslim, up from about a quarter in 2010 (24.8%) and roughly a fifth in 1990 (21.6%).  Muslims make up only about 2% of the population in China, but because the country is so populous, its Muslim population is expected to be the 19th largest in the world in 2030.

The growth rates of religions are usually due to conversions, higher birth and fertility rates and in many countries religions grow because of immigration.  While the global Muslim population is expected to grow at a faster rate than the non-Muslim population, the Muslim population nevertheless is expected to grow at a slower pace in the next two decades than it did in the previous two decades.

Finding statistics and data about the number of people converting to Islam from other religions or atheism can be difficult.  This is usually not a question asked by government authorities or research centers.  In the next article we will discuss Muslim growth rates across the globe due to conversion and immigration.

 Source IslamReligion.com

Islam today is a global religion.  It is no longer confined to Muslim majority countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia or Indonesia.  Small but significant communities exist across Europe, the Americas and Australasia.  For some time Muslims have been an invisible presence in the western world but one decade into the 21^st century Muslims are no longer curiosities.  They are as much at home in London Paris or Chicago as they are in Istanbul, Damascus and Jakarta. 

In 2011 Muslims in the West also no longer exist in immigrant communities but are second, third and fourth generation citizens participating in professional and civic life.  Islam is said to be the fastest growing religion in the United States.  It is estimated that more than 1 million Americans have converted to Islam.  In recent years due to an Islamic revival, believing and practicing Muslims have established a visible presence not only in Islamic societies but also in the West. 

What do the latest data and statistics tell us about the number of Muslims in the world.  Where do they live? How many are born into the Muslim faith and how many choose to convert to Islam? The majority of the following statistics and data come from the Pew Research Centre.

According to the Pew[1]  Islam is growing about 2.9% per year.  This is faster than the total world population which increases about 2.3% annually.  The world’s Muslim population is expected to increase by about 35% in the next 20 years.  In mid 2010 the Pew forum estimated that there were 1.57 billion Muslims in the world.  This represents 22% of the world’s population.  Islam is the second largest religion in the world, beaten only by Christianity which represents 33% of the world’s population with a little over 2 billion adherents. 

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life stated that Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Europe.  Driven by immigration and high birth rates, the number of Muslims on the continent has tripled in the last 30 years.  Most demographers forecast a similar or even higher rate of growth in the coming decades. 

If current trends continue 79 countries will have a million or more Muslim inhabitants in 2030, up from 72 countries in 2011.  The seven new countries are expected to be Belgium, Canada, Congo, Djibouti, Guinea Bissau, Netherlands and Togo.  About 60% of the world’s Muslims will continue to live in the Asia-Pacific region, while about 20% will live in the Middle East and North Africa, as is the case in 2010.  One of the biggest changes expected is that Pakistan will almost certainly surpass Indonesia as the country with the single largest Muslim population.[2]

In 2011 statistics tell us that 74.1% of the world’s Muslims live in the 49 countries in which Muslims make up a majority of the population.  More than a fifth of all Muslims (23.3%) live in non-Muslim-majority countries in the developing world.  These minority Muslim populations are often quite large.  India, for example, has the third-largest population of Muslims worldwide.  China has more Muslims than Syria, while Russia is home to more Muslims than Jordan and Libya combined.[3]  About 3% of the world’s Muslims live in more-developed regions, such as Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.[4]

In the United States, the population projections show the number of Muslims more than doubling over the next two decades, rising from 2.6 million in 2010 to 6.2 million in 2030.  The number of Muslims in Canada is expected to nearly triple in the next 20 years, from about 940,000 in 2010 to nearly 2.7 million in 2030.  Muslims are expected to make up 6.6% of Canada’s total population in 2030, up from 2.8% today.  Argentina is expected to have the third-largest Muslim population in the Americas, after the U.S.  and Canada.  Argentina, with about 1 million Muslims in 2010, is now in second place, behind the U.S.

In Europe as a whole, the Muslim share of the population is expected to grow by nearly one-third over the next 20 years, rising from 6% of the region’s inhabitants in 2010 to 8% in 2030.  In absolute numbers, Europe’s Muslim population is projected to grow from 44.1 million in 2010 to 58.2 million in 2030.  Nearly three-in-ten people living in the Asia-Pacific region in 2030 (27.3%) will be Muslim, up from about a quarter in 2010 (24.8%) and roughly a fifth in 1990 (21.6%).  Muslims make up only about 2% of the population in China, but because the country is so populous, its Muslim population is expected to be the 19th largest in the world in 2030.

The growth rates of religions are usually due to conversions, higher birth and fertility rates and in many countries religions grow because of immigration.  While the global Muslim population is expected to grow at a faster rate than the non-Muslim population, the Muslim population nevertheless is expected to grow at a slower pace in the next two decades than it did in the previous two decades. 

Finding statistics and data about the number of people converting to Islam from other religions or atheism can be difficult.  This is usually not a question asked by government authorities or research centers.  In the next article we will discuss Muslim growth rates across the globe due to conversion and immigration.

 To be continued on ...Site IslamReligion.com

A suivre sur http://www.islamreligion.com/

We are all Muslims whether we like it or not, but not exactly in the sense that Allah and his Prophets recommend it to us! Otherwise we would not be today so different, so opposed and divided into many religions, into many beliefs, into many races, while we all descend from Eve and Adam.
 

Our Creator to all is Allah and the only religion that God has wanted for us all is undoubtedly Islam, a divine judgment that Allah wanted and decided for all humanity, there are today, more than fourteen centuries! A great truth that no wise and conscious man could deny, let alone prove the contrary! Allah teaches us in the Holy Qur'an that "Certainly religion is for God Islam ..." - (Surat: The Imran Family - V. / 19.).
 

Man is of "sinful" nature. The first action of man was that great "original sin" which is disobedience to the Commandments of God. In fact, there are only the Angels, those spiritual beings who are perfect, flawless, protected from all weakness and sins, and who are not subjected to any trial in relation to men. It is for this reason, moreover, that the righteous, the chosen ones of Allah are more virtuous and more angelic than the Angels themselves, because they are daily exposed to the harsh trials of this life here below.
 

All this life is a terrible test to overcome. The man at the very moment when he is born, he finds himself face to face with the trials, in a great fight, a fierce struggle, for some unequal, which opposes it between the good and the bad, the best and the worst between temptations of all kinds. It is particularly in this sense that our Prophet (Sala Allah Alayhi Wa salam) recommends us to "follow the sin, the good work will erase it".
 


*In spite of everything and whatever our weaknesses and our sins, the good believer must not despair of the Mercy of the Lord. In a hadith, our Messenger (peace be upon him) teaches us that "You are all sinners, and the best of sinners are those who repent! ". Man commits sins every day, sometimes even without realizing it, and the Lord in his great mercy forgives the sins of every day.
 



The Mercy of God and His indulgence are wider than the earth and the heavens. Great as our sins may be, they will never be able to attain the largeness of this divine mercy. Many people have this misconception that Islam is a new religion, created only 1,400 years ago and that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the founder.
 


In reality, Islam has existed since the beginning of time, since the man set foot on this earth, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not the founder of this religion, Mohammed actually is that the link of a chain of Prophets sent by God on this earth to teach the whole humanity their true religion. In fact, Islam has existed since the beginning of time, since the man set foot on this earth, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not the founder of this religion, Muhammad is actually the link of a chain of prophets sent by God on this earth to teach all of humanity their true religion.
 



The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last of the prophets and the last messenger of God to humanity, and to whom has been revealed the last message of Allah, which is the Qur'an. The noble sacred book that was sent not only to Muslims but to all humanity! A great mercy of Allah that is as wide as heaven and earth!
 


A pinnacle and glory that every human being could attain and enjoy Inchallah, in one and only day of sincere and convinced repentance, Allah willing! Allah has first created Paradise and has reserved a place for all men, do not deprive us above all of this eternal mercy and hurry, our life does not belong to us, it belongs to the One who created it. .. !!
 

May Allah forgive us, and guide us all to the ways of eternal salvation inchallah, amin
 

Author: Mokhtar Reguieg (Translated from French to English).

Perhaps other religions do not answer the big questions of life, such as “Who made us?”  and “Why are we here?”  Perhaps other religions do not reconcile the injustices of life with a fair and just Creator.  Perhaps we find hypocrisy in the clergy, untenable tenets of faith in the canon, or corruption in the scripture.  Whatever the reason, we perceive shortcomings in the religions of our exposure, and look elsewhere.  And the ultimate “elsewhere” is Islam.

Now, Muslims would not like to hear me say that Islam is the “ultimate elsewhere.”  But it is.  Despite the fact that Muslims comprise one-fourth to one-fifth of the world’s population, non-Muslim media smears Islam with such horrible slanders that few non-Muslims view the religion in a positive light.  Hence, it is normally the last religion seekers investigate.

Another problem is that by the time non-Muslims examine Islam, other religions have typically heightened their skepticism: If every “God-given” scripture we have ever seen is corrupt, how can the Islamic scripture be different?  If charlatans have manipulated religions to suit their desires, how can we imagine the same not to have happened with Islam?

The answer can be given in a few lines, but takes books to explain.  The short answer is this: There is a God.  He is fair and just, and He wants us to achieve the reward of paradise.  However, God has placed us in this worldly life as a test, to weed out the worthy from the unworthy.  And we will be lost if left to our own devices.  Why?  Because we don’t know what He wants from us.  We can’t navigate the twists and turns of this life without His guidance, and hence, He has given us guidance in the form of revelation.

Sure, previous religions have been corrupted, and that is one of the reasons why we have a chain of revelation.  Ask yourself: wouldn’t God send another revelation if the preceding scriptures were impure?  If preceding scriptures were corrupted, humans would need another revelation, to keep upon the straight path of His design.

So we should expect preceding scriptures to be corrupted, and we should expect the final revelation to be pure and unadulterated,for we cannot imagine a loving God leaving us astray.  What we can imagine is God giving us a scripture, and men corrupting it; God giving us another scripture, and men corrupting it again … and again, and again.  Until God sends a final revelation He promises to preserve until the end of time.

Muslims consider this final revelation to be the Holy Quran.  You consider it … worth looking into.  So let us return to the title of this article: Why Islam?  Why should we believe that Islam is the religion of truth, the religion that possesses the pure and final revelation?

“Oh, just trust me.”

Now, how many times have you heard that line?  A famous comedian used to joke that people of different cities cuss one another out in different ways.  In Chicago, they cuss a person out thisway, in Los Angeles they cuss a person out that way, but in New York they just say, “Trust me.”

So don’t trust me—trust our Creator.  Read the Quran, read books and study good websites.  But whatever you do, get started, take it seriously, and pray for our Creator to guide you.

Your life may not depend on it, but your soul most definitely does.

Par Laurence B. Brown, docteur en médecine

From an Islamic perspective, there is absolutely no compulsion on people to embrace it. People have always entered Islam willingly.  The historical presence of non-Muslim minorities living among Muslims is evidence of tolerance in Islam. Islam spread in the most populated Muslim countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and within Africa through contact between the natives and Muslim travellers and merchants, who brought with them not only goods, but also Islamic values such as straight dealing, honesty and generosity.
 
 


The impact of Muslims upon these communities was tremendous.  In Singapore, near the port where the Arab traders used to land, the residents say that the natives used to prefer to buy from Muslim merchants because they expected good treatment and fair prices.   As was the case in most of the areas to which Islam spread, peaceful and voluntary reversion was far more important than conquest and force in spreading the faith in Southeast Asia. Almost everywhere in the islands of the region, trading contacts paved the way for reversion. Muslim merchants and sailors introduced local peoples to the ideas and rituals of the new faith and impressed on them how much of the known world had already been reverted.
 
 


The first areas to be won to Islam in the last decades of the 13th century were several small port centres on the northern coast of Sumatra. From these ports, the religion spread in the following centuries across the Strait of Malacca to Malaya. It is unfair to compare the spread of Islam in Asia and Africa with the spread of Islam in the West, and blame Muslims for not effectively promoting their religion in the West.  Unlike the modern western world, the Asians' and Africans' history was free from hostility and enmity against Muslims, and therefore, their reversion to Islam was natural and easy. Could Da'wah Fail? Allah will guide, through Da'wah (Islamic propagation), those who are worthy and qualified for His Mercy; those who have good hearts and are sincerely searching for the truth. He will turn away from it those who do not deserve His mercy; those who chose to divert from His way.
 
 


This is decreed according to His perfect Wisdom and Knowledge. The success of Da'wah is guaranteed as a fulfilment of Allah's promises; He Says (what means): “... And who is more truthful than Allah...” [Quran: 4:87]




1. Allah promised to make the way for Da'wah easy for Prophet Muhammad salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, and his followers alike; He Says (what means): “And We will ease you toward ease.” [Quran: 87:8]




2. Allah also promised to preserve the Quran, His last guidance to mankind. It is forever protected from any sort of distortion, change, or modification; He Says (what means): “Indeed, it is We who sent down the message [i.e., the Quran], and indeed, We will be its guardian.” [Quran: 15:9]




3. Allah promised to make Da'wah prevail and reach every place on earth, so that all mankind will be aware that Islam is the truth from their Lord; He Says (what means):  “We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth...” [Quran: 41:53] 4.
 
 


Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)  assured us that Islam is the religion of the future and will spread all over the world when he said: “Indeed, Islam will reach every place that the day and night reach.  There is no house (in city or desert) on the Earth except that Islam will enter it.” [Ahmad] Due to all of these reasons, Da'wah can never fail; that is why Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)  expected his followers to outnumber the followers of other prophets; He said: “All of the prophets before me were given (tangible) miracles, due to which, people believed in them. But the miracle that has been given to me is indeed a revelation that Allah revealed to me [i.e., Quran and Sunnah].  So I hope, on the Day of Judgement, my followers will outnumber the followers of other prophets.” [Al-Bukhari] In order for Da'wah to be effective, the caller must have sincere intention and, above all, a strong sense of piety.  In order to share Islam with people, we must develop strong relationships within our Ummah (Muslim community) to support these efforts with Da'wah centres and well-written material.  Each of us has a gift from Allah and we should not ignore our obligation in fear of rejection or failure, but join together to contribute our talents and resources to share the gift of Islam.

SOURCE : https://en.islamway.net