TO THE Muslims, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the supreme example for all people--he was the exemplary prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher, neighbour, husband, father and friend. Unlike other prophets and messengers, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) lived in the full light of history. Even when his followers only numbered a few dozen, Allah Almighty informed him that he had been sent as a mercy to all mankind. Because people had distorted or forgotten Allah's messages, Allah Almighty took it upon Himself to protect the message revealed to him. This was because Allah Almighty promised not to send another messenger after him. Since all of Allah's messengers preached the message of Islam, i.e. submission to the will of Allah Almighty and the worship of Allah alone, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is actually the last prophet of Islam, not the first. The foundation of Islam is belief in the Unity of Allah. This means to believe that there is only one Creator and Sustainer of everything in the universe and that nothing is divine or worthy of being worshipped except Him. Truly believing in the oneness of God, Islamic Monotheism, (Tauhid), means much more than simply believing that there is “One Allah” as opposed to two, three or four. There are a number of religions that claim belief in “One Allah” and believe that ultimately there is only one Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Islam, however, not only insists on this, but also rejects using such words as “Lord” and “Saviour” for anyone besides Allah Almighty. Islam also rejects the use of all intermediaries between Allah Almighty and man, and insists that people approach Allah Almighty directly and reserve all worship for Him Alone. The Muslims believe that Allah Almighty is compassionate, loving and merciful. The essence of false belief is the claim that Allah Almighty cannot deal with and forgive His creatures directly. By over-emphasizing the burden of sin, as well as claiming that Allah Almighty cannot forgive you directly, false religions seek to get people to despair of the mercy of Allah Almighty. Once they are convinced that they cannot approach Allah Almighty directly, people can be misled into turning to false gods for help. These “false gods” can take various forms, such as saints, angels, or someone who is believed to be the “Son of god” or “God Incarnate.” In almost all cases, people who worship, pray to or seek help from a false god do not consider it to be, or call it, a “god.” They claim belief in One Supreme God, but claim that they pray to and worship others beside Allah Almighty only to get closer to Him. In Islam, there is a clear distinction between the Creator and the created. There is no ambiguity in divinity--anything that is created is not deserving of worship and only the Creator is worthy of being worshipped. Some religions falsely believe that Allah Almighty has become part of His creation, and this has led people to believe that they can worship something created in order to reach their Creator. The Muslims, however, believe that even though Allah Almighty is unique and beyond comprehension, He has no “Son,” partners or associates. According to Islamic belief, Allah Almighty “does not beget nor was He begotten”--neither literally, allegorically, metaphorically, physically or metaphysically -- He is absolutely unique and eternal. He is in control of everything and is perfectly capable of bestowing His infinite mercy and forgiveness on whomever He chooses. That is why He is called the All-Powerful and Most Merciful. Allah Almighty has created the universe for man, and as such wants the best for all human beings. The Muslims see everything in the universe as a sign of creation and benevolence of Allah Almighty. Also, the belief in the unity of Allah Almighty is not merely a metaphysical concept. It is a dynamic belief that affects one's view of humanity, society and all aspects of life. As a logical corollary to the Islamic belief in the oneness of Allah Almighty, is its belief in the oneness of mankind and humanity. The Holy Qur'an is the final revelation of the will of Allah Almighty to all of mankind, which was conveyed through the Angel Gabriel, in Arabic, to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in its sounds, words and meanings. – The News (To be continued) __
