Allaah the Almighty says: "This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. "[Quran 5:3] This was one of the last verses revealed chronologically to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), marking the completion of the Ouran and the perfection of Islam. Islam is complete and perfect and is not thereafter susceptible to addition or abrogation.
Being eternal and universal, the Islamic Law, which was made by God (Allaah) Himself, Who knows what is best for us under all circumstances, is resilient and adjustable to the changing conditions of time and place. No Other Accepted Religion The perfection of Islam" is manifest in the fact that AIlaah has made it reign supreme and prevail over other religions.
AIIaah's favour upon the Muslims is manifest in the fact that He granted them true guidance, support and honour in this world and in the Hereafter. He has also chosen for them Islam as their religion because it is the Truth, and it is for this reason that He will not accept any other religion but Islam. The Allaah says: "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the life to come he shall be among the losers. "[Quran 3:85].
Islam gives its followers happiness in this world and eternal bliss in the life to come. Islam simply means total submission to the Will of Allaah. Therefore, it is the same in essence, whether given to Nooh, Ibraaheem, Moosaa, Eesaa, (peace be upon them all], or to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). For the message it calls to is the same, and the source of unity is the revelation from AIlaah: "He has ordained for you the same religion (Islam) which He enjoined on Nooh, and that which We have revealed to you, and which We enjoined on Ibrahim, Muusa and Eesa: namely that you should remain steadfast in religion and be not divided therein." [Quran 42:13]
"We Believe in Allaah And That Which Has Been Sent to Us" After the corruption of the older Scriptures, the Ouran came with a twofold purpose -- to confirm the true and original message of Islam, and to stand as a witness to it, by confirming the truth and rejecting the falsehood, which over time came into the older Scriptures. Muslims are required to believe in the revealed Scriptures and to make no distinction between any of them, or the Messengers who brought them, may Allaah exalt their mention, because they all come from the One True God.
The Quran says: "Say (Oh Muhammad to the Jews and Christians): We believe in Allaah and that which has been sent to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaaq, Yaqub and to AI-Asbat, (the offspring of the twelve sons of Yaqub) and that which has been given to Muusa and Eesa, and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in ISlam)." [Quran 2:136] These Scriptures have not been retained in their original form, due to the human omissions and additions that have crept into them. The Quran is the only Divine Scripture, which has stood the test of time without any change, because it is the Truth from Allaah, and the Truth never fades or diminishes.
The Quran says: "That which We have revealed to you (Oh Muhammad) of the Book (i.e., the Quran) is the Truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it. "[Quran 35:31] The Quran is safe from corruption The Truth contained in the Quran will never be compromised because Allaah has taken upon Himself the responsibility of preserving it, as stated in the Ouran (which means): "Verily We have sent the Reminder (i.e., the Quran), and We.will assuredly guard it (from corruption)." [Quran 15:9] Allaah also says: "Verily, it is an honourable well-fortified book of exalted power (because it is Allaahs Speech, and He has protected it from corruption). No falsehood can approach it from before or after it: it is sent down by the AII Wise, Worthy of all praise." [Quran 41:41-42]
The revealed Scriptures before the advent of Prophet 6 Legacy Magazine Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) such as the Torah and the Injeel, were written long after the demise of the Prophets [peace be upon them] to whom they were revealed. The entire Quran, on the contrary, was completely written in the lifetime of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) on pieces of palm trees, parchments and bones. Besides, several of the Prophets Companions committed it to memory while it was being revealed. The Quran is still memorized and read in its original language Quran was revealed in Arabic and taught to millions of people around the world. In fact, with every succeeding generation of Muslims, the number of those who have committed the entire Quran to memory has increased. There is no other book, religious or otherwise, which has been given this unparalleled care in recorded history.
The care with which the unadulterated teachings of Islam have been authentically recorded and preserved throughout the ages, is clear evidence that the message of Islam is for everybody. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is the final prophet. The Quran is now available in its original form without change of any kind. The perfect preservation of the Ouran signifies the preservation of Islam.
That is why Allaah says in the Quran: "Verily the only acceptable religion to Allaah is Islam." [Quran 3:19] Information in the Quran Also, one of the facts that Islam is the real religion is the fact that the Quran is a Book that gives us information about what has happened in the past and what is happening now and what is going to happen in the future. Some of these information have recently been scientifically confirmed though the Quran was revealed more than 1400 years ago. There is no Book that has this quality apart from the Ouran and this is the Book of Islam.
Oneness of the Lord Islam calls to the belief that the Creator of the universe is One and Unique without any partners. His nature is so sublime that it is far beyond our limited conceptions. He is not a mere abstract of philosophy. All the creatures testify to His Existence, and none is comparable to Him. The unity of design and the fundamental facts of creation and existence of the universe proclaim His Oneness. He is Eternal, without beginning or end, the Absolute, Who is not limited by time or place or circumstance. He is the Creator, the Sustainer and the Planner of the whole universe.
None has the right to be worshipped except Him. He has the most Beautiful Names and the Loftiest Attributes. His Knowledge extends to everything seen and unseen, present and future, near and far. His Grace and Mercy are unbounded. He is the AIi Mighty, the All Wise. Allaah says: "Say: He is Allaah, the One; Allaah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not, nor is He begotten; and there is none equal or comparable to Him."[Quran 112:1-4] Allaah also says: "There is nothing whatever like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing." [Quran 42:11]
Also in another verse, He says: "He is the First (nothing is before Him), the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He has full knowledge of all things." [Quran 57:3] He also says: "He is Allaah, besides Whom none has the right to be worshipped, the All Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. He is Allaah besides Whom none has the right to be worshipped, the King, the Holy, the One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allaah! (High is He) above what they associate as partners with Him. He is Allaah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the bestower of forms.
To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is All-Mighty, the All-Wise." [Quran 59:23-24] And also, He says: "And they attribute falsely without knowledge sons and daughters to Him. Be He Glorified! (For He is) above what they attribute to Him! He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have a son when He has no wife? He created all things, and He has full knowledge of everything. Such is Allaah, your Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the Creator of all things. So worship Him (Alone). And He has the power to dispose of all affairs. No vision can grasp Him, but His Grasp is over all vision. He is the Most Subtle, Well-Aware. "[Quran 6: 100-1 03]
Allaah is One Tawheed, or monotheism, constitutes the essence of the teachings of Islam. It signifies that there is One Supreme Lord of the universe. He is Omnipotent and the Sustainer of the world and humankind. Unity pervades the whole universe. All of Allaahs creatures testify to His Oneness. This can be seen in their complete submission to His Will. The perpetual succession of day and night in the most orderly manner; the fixed course of the sun and the moon; the mighty stars; the ceaseless alternation of the seasons the functioning of the whole universe including its most subtle elements in a most precise and systematic manner tell us about the Wisdom, Power, Greatness and Divine skill of this Great Creator, Who is Allaah.
Many Messengers, One Message To further show that Islam is the religion that Allaah has endorsed and chosen for all mankind, there was no Prophet of Allaah except that they talked about one thing; monotheism [that Allaah is One and Only Him must be worshipped]. Right from the time of Prophet Adam to the time of Prophet Muhammad all of them emphasized monotheism. It is as a result of corruption of the religion after the prophets left that the people who are supposed to be their followers changed and corrupted the religion and chose to start worshiping other things including the Prophets themselves.
This is pure misguidance! There is no doubt that Islam is the chosen religion for all mankind and jinns. Therefore, choosing any other religion apart from Islam is tantamount to daring the punishment of Allaah. Allaah says; And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Q 3:85] May Allaah not make our hearts stray after we have been rightly guided. [Aamin]
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited