Salam aleacom
Discover the truth about Islam
Unfortunately, “Many aspects of Islam are misunderstood by non-Muslims; due to ignorance, misinformation, and incorrect assumptions.” Today, Islam is surrounded by many misconceptions, and unfortunately associated with terrorism. “Politics, deliberate distortion and exaggerations ie. by the media, play a role in its negative portrayal and representation.” "The conclusion that the media draw is that their religion teaches them to hate and kill people (1).” “Anti-Islamic/offensive productions are created that inevitably intend to “incite and provoke unrest and intolerance among people of different religious beliefs, and to jeopardize world peace and stability.” "Hidden under the cover of freedom of expression.”
“It is unmerited to Judge Muslims and Islam based on the actions of those who commit terrible crimes against Innocent people "as proof of the violent nature of Islam and Muslims.” Without having a proper knowledge and understanding. Ie. Islam, The Holy Quran and its Arabic language, Prophet Muhammad’s traditions (peace be upon him) or the Islamic Law" (This is a problem not always acknowledged by Western critics) (1).
God says in the Holy Quran: “Surely Allah enjoins the doing of justice and the doing of good (to others) and the giving to the kindred, and He forbids indecency and evil and rebellion; He admonishes you that you may be mindful". (The Holy Quran, An-Nahl 16:90).
Murdering Innocents = Murdering Humanity
“The Islamic teaching emphasises that murdering an innocent human is like murdering the whole of humanity". God says in the Quran the following:
“...If anyone slays a human being — unless it be [in punishment] for murder or for spreading corruption on earth —, it shall be as though he had slain all humankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all humankind” (The Holy Quran, Al-Ma'idah 5:32).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Some of the words of the Prophet (Peace be upon him):
What actions are most excellent? "To gladden the heart of a human being. To feed the hungry. To help the afflicted. To lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful. To remove the wrongs of the injured. That person is the most beloved of God who does most good to God’s creatures."
—Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
During his final sermon, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) called on Muslims in these terms
:"There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab and for a non-Arab over an Arab; nor for white over the black nor for the black over the white except in piety. Verily the noblest among you is he who is the most pious."
"The Prophet (PBUH) justice brought about understanding between people of different races. In many of his addresses, even in his final sermon, the Prophet (PBUH) stated that superiority lay not in race but in godliness as Allah states in the verse:" (2)
"Mankind! We created you from a male and female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you might come to know each other. The noblest among you in Allah's sight is that one of you who best performs his duty. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware." (The holy Quran, Surat al-Hujurat: 13).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The following are some of the words of noted non-muslims who studied the life of Prophet Mohammed.
"It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher." Annie Besant, THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF MUHAMMAD, Madras,1932, p.
"Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him." D.C. Sharma, The Prophets of The East, Calcutta, 1935, pp. 12
....”he was always particularly solicitous of the poor and needy, the widow and the orphan, the slave and the downtrodden....” James A. Michener
"The greatest success of Mohammed's life was effected by sheer moral force without the stroke of a sword." Edward Gibbon. History of the Saracen Empire, London, 1870.
"The picture of the Muslim soldier advancing with a sword in one hand and the Quran in the other quite false." A S Tritton. Islam, London, 1951-page 21.
"History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims, sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated." De Lacy O'Leary. Islam at Crossroads, London. 1923-page 8.
Speaking on the character of Muhammad (pbuh), Mahatma Gandhi says in (Young India),
"I wanted to know the best of one who holds today's undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind....I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to this friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2nd volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of the great life."
....”none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad." W. Montgomery Watt, MOHAMMAD AT MECCA, Oxford, 1953, p. 52.
The following are some of the words of non-muslims whom later converted into Islam (3).
"Islam appears to me like a perfect work of architecture. All its parts are harmoniously conceived to complement and support each other. Nothing is superfluous and nothing lacking, with the result of an absolute balance and solid composure." Leopold Weiss (Mohammed Asad).
"The sword of Islam is not the sword of steel. I know this by experience, because the sword of Islam struck deep into my own heart. It didn't bring death, but it brought a new life; it brought an awareness and it brought an awakening as to who am I and what am I and for what am I here?" Ahmad Holt.
"It will be wrong to judge Islam in the light of the behavior of some bad Muslims who are always shown on the media. It is like judging a car as a bad one if the driver of the car is drunk.” Cat Stevens (Yousuf Islam)
"The authority of Islamic morals and laws proceeds from Almighty God. Pleasure and happiness in Islam are but the natural by products of emotional satisfaction in one's duties conscientiously performed for the pleasure of God to achieve salvation. In Islam duties are always stressed above rights. Only in Islam was my quest for absolute values satisfied. Only in Islam did I at last find all that was true, good, beautiful and which gives meaning and directions to human life and death." Ms. Margaret Marcus (Maryam Jamilah)
"I have had nice moments in my life. But the feeling I had while standing on Mount ‘Arafaat on the day of 'Hajj' (pilgrimage), was the most unique. I felt exalted by the indescribable spiritual atmosphere there, as over a million and a half pilgrims invoked God to forgive them of their sins and bestow on them His choicest blessings. It was an exhilarating experience to see people belonging to different colors, races and nationalities, kings, heads of states and ordinary men from very poor countries all clad in two simple white sheets praying to God without any sense of either pride or inferiority. It was a practical manifestation of the concept of equality in Islam." Cassius Clay (Mohamed Ali Clay).
References:
(1) Source: Islamic online
(2) Source: Rasoulallah
(3) Source: Islam web
Useful Websites
Discover Islam
http://www.beconvinced.com/archive/en/main.php
Islam Religion
http://www.islamreligion.com
Islamic Invitation
http://islamic-invitation.com/cat_show.php?catNM=Islamic&catID=3http://islamic-invitation.com/cat_show.php?catNM=Comparative%20Religions&catID=2
http://islamic-invitation.com/cat_show.php?catNM=Prophet%20Muhammad%20(pbuh)&cat ID=5
Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him)
http://www.rasoulallah.net/
http://www.islamway.com/mohammad/
http://www.mohammad-pbuh.com/
http://www.prophetofislam.com/muhammad_in_the_bible.php
Quran Explorer
http://www.quranexplorer.com/Quran/Default.aspx
Recieve a Copy of the Holy Quran
A copy can be sent by the IPCI. Please email: ipcisa@yebo.co.za
Quran Tafseer (Clarification/Explanation)
http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php
http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=101<em id=35#1
Quran (Flash)
http://www.quranflash.com/en/quranflash.html
Quran (pdf) File
http://islamtomorrow.com/downloads/Quran_YAli.pdf
Learn Arabic - Read and Study the Quran in its Original Language
http://www.madinaharabic.com/Arabic_Reading_Course/Arabic_%20Reading_Course.hm
or/
http://searchtruth.com/arabic/lessons/unit1_writing.php
Haramain Recordings
http://www.haramainrecordings.com/
Recitations of the Quran in MP3
http://mp3quran.net/eng/
Search For Islam
http://searchforislam.com
The Quran and Modern Science
http://www.islamguiden.com/arkiv/quran_science.pdf
Islamic Library
http://www.islamebook.com/
The Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs
http://www.elazhar.com/
Islamic Propagation Centre International
http://www.ahmed-deedat.co.za/frameset.asp
Islamic Vision
https://www.islamicvision.co.uk/index.php
Islamic Library - Electronic Booklets
http://www.islambasics.com/index.php
Islamhouse
http://www.islamhouse.com
Fisabilillah Publications
http://www.fisabilillah.org
A Balanced Leader in Islam
http://www.balancedleader.net
Common questions about Islam and their answers
http://www.ipci.co.za/Books/commonquestions_3rded02.pdf
Wasalam aleacom