Who deserves to be Worshiped ?

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difficult situations was seen as a test and not a cause for despair. Taking one’s own life was rare and also forbidden because only Allah has that right. When the month of Ramadan came around, I was amazed by the idea that one billion Muslims around the world were fasting together―abstaining from food and drink every day from long before sunrise until the sun set. I joined them in fasting the entire month, although I had no intention of becoming Muslim and didn’t experience the spiritual recharge that I would feel later as a Muslim. At the time, I knew little about Islam, and I’m embarrassed to say now that I considered it a backwards religion which would only appeal to the ignorant masses. As I slowly realized that the stereotypes I had brought with me were all wrong, I became curious about the religion. As I learned more, I discovered that Islam was the reason for the moral system I had witnessed, and that these positive social aspects had been part of Islamic societies throughout the centuries. Even small things that had struck me―such as greetings given among strangers when one entered an elevator or an office―had their basis in Islamic teachings. I got a Quran translation and some other books and began reading. Over and over again, I was surprised at what I found―and perhaps more by what I didn’t find. I found a belief system which was rational and uncluttered, and I didn’t find the oppression of women or terrorism that I had expected. I was attracted by the emphasis on social justice and standing up against oppression. Obviously, the key question about religion is deciding whether or not it is true. Since this decision must rely on faith to some extent, how can we really know? One factor is the credibility of the sources; in the case of Islam, the most important source is the Quran. I was struck by its scientific accuracy, demonstrated by statements which describe scientific phenomena that were not discovered until recently. I learned that the Islamic world had made major contributions to scientific knowledge and was the seat of civilization and learning while Europe was in the Dark Ages. 178
Logically, I knew that an illiterate seventh century Arab could not have written this book himself. I began to question my idea that there was no Creator―that the intricate systems that made up the universe and its life forms could have developed randomly or that we were born, lived and died with no purpose. I was impressed that the Quran had never been changed over the years, so that the Quran we read today (in its original Arabic) is exactly the same as that revealed to Muhammad (bpuh) and passed on to his followers 1400 years ago. All Muslims memorize parts of it, and there are millions of people around the world who have memorized it in its entirety, so even if every copy disappeared today from the face of the earth, it would be easily recorded again. I couldn’t help but to contrast that with the Bible, a collection of books written by various people over time; different Christian sects do not even agree on which books are included, and in some cases, scholars do not even know who wrote the books. We do not have the original sources, and there are different versions of the later sources. There are many contradictions, and the New Testament actually rejects many of the teachings of the Old Testament. I was surprised to find out that Islam had the same roots as Judaism and Christianity, and that Muslims believed in the same prophets, including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them all). I began to understand why Muslims loved Prophet Muhammad (bpuh) so much, and I wondered why I never knew anything about him... never even knew that he was a historical figure about whom so much was known, and whose gravesite is known and visited. Authentic narrations from those who were closest to him describe him as a modest, truthful man who stood up for justice and against oppression. I used to walk along the beach at night, looking up at the moon and stars and reflecting on Allah’s creation, as the Quran recommended. I became convinced that the Quran must have been a message from God, but it took me a while to actually accept Islam… yet it was so rational and simple in its essence: one God, 179
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Who Deserves to be Worshipped? An o
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CONTENTS HONORIFIC PHRASES IN THIS
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12.8 Spiritual — Islamic moral co
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17.7 Revival of the prohibition of
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HONORIFIC PHRASES IN THIS BOOK (the
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ABOUT THE WORD ‘ALLAH’ Although
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INTRODUCTION Many books have been g
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gone astray. And when he saw the su
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{And I did not create the jinn3 and
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According to the Gospel of Mark, wh
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5. PROOFS THAT ONLY ALLAH DESERVES
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did he suggest to his followers tha
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{Or [lest] you say: It was only tha
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6. THE MESSAGE OF FALSE RELIGIONS F
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{Say [O Muhammad]: Invoke those you
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The vast majority of Christians tod
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8. THE MEANING OF THE RELIGION’S
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9. THE SIX ARTICLES OF ISLAMIC FAIT
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difference between the Christian an
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3. The Gospels were written 40-115
Page 41 and 42:
Canadian physician who began learni
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{And if you are in doubt about what
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to my way and the way followed by t
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Illustration 1: The prophets mentio
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performing acts of worship, whereas
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His prophets should be part of a po
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10. THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM Worsh
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d) Fasting the month of Ramadan In
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11. THE MEANING OF WORSHIP IN ISLAM
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supporting orphans and the weaker m
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Also, the Prophet (bpuh) said: «(T
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12.9 Family structure and rights Is
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equires the husband to treat them e
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and abdominal pain, was widespread.
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13. ISLAM AND OTHER RELIGIONS One m
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Jesus (pbuh) has been referred to i
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{[And mention] when the angels said
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Another miracle was that Allah gave
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Allah, and His word which He direct
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message, inviting all of the people
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«By the One in Whose Hand is my so
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15. THE AMAZING PROPHECIES OF MUHAM
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prohibits for them the evil, and re
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So the coming prophet will have thr
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aised up to the heavens, according
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In contrast, the Christian Gospels
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Isaiah 42 prophesies the ‘chosen
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Neither the content of the revelati
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Other Biblical characteristics of P
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From the life history of Prophet Mu
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Proof 16: “Sing to the Lord a new
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15.3 The location from which he was
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informed him that he was unlettered
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• The prophecy that Muslims would
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Matthew 21:42). 68 It was victoriou
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Nevertheless, I tell you the truth:
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Being a true follower of Jesus (pbu
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7. No one can be saved (attain salv
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{Every soul, for what it has earned
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15. Jesus (like all the other proph
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18. Christian doctrine states that
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Forgiveness of sins (salvation) can
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17. ISLAM’S REVIVAL OF THE BASIC
Page 127 and 128: ...whom no one has ever seen or can
Page 129 and 130: And behold, a man came up to him, s
Page 131 and 132: • You shall worship the Lord your
Page 133 and 134: 1. And this is eternal life, that t
Page 135 and 136: writes, “For there is one God, an
Page 137 and 138: Love your enemies… so that you ma
Page 139 and 140: Luke in the King James Version (KJV
Page 141 and 142: 17.8 Revival of the prohibition of
Page 143 and 144: Muslims who abide by these rules co
Page 145 and 146: As a precaution against adultery an
Page 147 and 148: ground and put his face between his
Page 149 and 150: In addition, Prophet Muhammad (bpuh
Page 151 and 152: So, after Abram [Abraham] had lived
Page 153 and 154: Islam revives male circumcision and
Page 155 and 156: around him. Dr. Bucaille wrote, “
Page 157 and 158: known to humankind. This point ulti
Page 159 and 160: 20. WHY ISLAM? Every person should
Page 161 and 162: From the Islamic perspective, the r
Page 163 and 164: 22. THIS IS IT In this book, you ha
Page 165 and 166: {[For such is the state of the disb
Page 167 and 168: 24. WHAT IS MOTIVATING PEOPLE TO TU
Page 169 and 170: 25. THE ISLAMIC STANCE ON TERRORISM
Page 171 and 172: 26. HOW TO BECOME A MUSLIM Every re
Page 173 and 174: fundamental message not only of Isl
Page 175 and 176: 27. BEST DECISION THEY EVER MADE Is
Page 177: evidence of sexual harassment―not
Page 181 and 182: a matter of testifying that there i
Page 183 and 184: noticed. He left Christianity and b
Page 185 and 186: 29. CONCLUSION The following twenty
Page 187 and 188: Eighteenth, Mary, the mother of Jes
Page 189 and 190: and human beings are naturally draw
Page 191 and 192: BIBLIOGRAPHY Abdul Razak, Imam Jami
Page 193 and 194: APPENDIX For Further Information ab
Page 195 and 196: GLOSSARY OF ISLAMIC TERMS abu (or a
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Who deserves to be Worshiped ?

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