(no subject)
A person on this group posted a question and one person responded quite well!! I wanted to keep for my records, since I had wondered a logical answer to this from an Islamic point of view, and for those who are interested. :)
Salaam,
I would like someone to answer this question or at lease try to make a good comment at this when I ask:
How do you know Islam is the true religion? Im asking a general, not just a personal opinion--If you think about it long and hard...all religions preach the same thing. They all say "We are the true path to God and to heaven" and other religions also say if you are not with their religion you will be sent to hell. You have several different religions in today's world (other than christinaity and judism) all of these religions say, the same "Pray to God...put God first in everything you do" and let us not forget about how all religions say that God tells them to defend their land and help the world, so they must go around the world and preach their religion to people and make them convert.
So my brothers and sisters...How can one tell if our religion or if any religion is the true one.
The response by Abu Khalid (that is just the user name... I don't know the actual)
Bismillahir Rahmannir Raheem:
Wa Alaykum Salaam Akhi,
First a reply to the statement "so they must go .... preach..., and make them convert."
Just a reminder, that our task is only to invite, and as Muslim we can't make anyone accept Islaam. Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) states
"There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Tâghût and believes in Allâh, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower." (Al-Baqarah 2:256)
And He (Ta 'Ala) also told the prophet (salAllahu alayhe wasallam)
Verily! You (O Muhammad SAW) guide not whom you like, but Allâh guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided. (Al-Qasas 28:56)
As for the question "how do we know"....
We know that "Islam is the true religion" because by compare and contrast we find that Islaam is THE ONLY religion that practices and preaches the worship of The One True God (Allaah).
Not only that, Islaam is THE ONLY religion that has the correct belief system about Allaah; so we know that Allaah never appeared in any physical form; hence, no physical representation is possible. And we know that He (The Sublime and Majestic) is recognized through his 99 names. For example, how Allah explains that He is One, Unique, and Separate from His Creation; and how, He is The Most Loving, The Most Kind, The Most Merciful, The All Hearing, The All Seeing, The All knowing, The Most High and The Most Just.
And as we read in Surah Al-Ikhlas (The Purity), it is apparent that Islaam is THE ONLY religion that teaches us that Allah was not born and does not give birth, and that no one or nothing shares in Allaah's Unique Names or Attributes:
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)): "He is Allâh, (the) One.
"Allâh-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks).
"He begets not, nor was He begotten;
"And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." (112:1-4).
Not only that, Islaam is THE ONLY religion that clearly explains the purpose of our creation; as Allaah [Subhanhu Wa Ta'ala] tells us in The Qur'aan that:
"I have not created Jinn or Man for any purpose except to worship me."
(51:56)
Not to mention that NOTHING brings PEACE and TRANQUILLITY like the practice and implementation of Islaam, As Allah mentions
He it is Who sent down As-Sakinah (calmness and tranquillity) into the hearts of the believers, that they may grow more in Faith along with their (present) Faith. And to Allâh belong the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allâh is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise. (Al-Fath 48:4)
What about the fact that the message of Islaam is the same religion taught by all prophets (peace be upon them). By studying the teachings of all true prophets sent by Allaah we find that they all taught that there is only One True God (Allaah) who is worthy of our worship. They also taught us the proper way to worship Allaah, and to avoid worshipping anything besides Allah; and brought us the glad tidings of worshiping Allaah, and warned us about what would happen if we didn't worship Allaah . And this Message was completed and perfected with His last prophet Muhammad [Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] who He (The Most High) sent to all Mankind and Jinns.
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût[] (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Tâghût besides Allâh)." Then of them were some whom Allâh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). (An-Nahl 16:36)
How about the fact that, Islaam is THE ONLY religion that is protected from any form of crookedness; therefore, any Tom, Dick, or Harry can't just pick up materials about Islaam and explain it anyway he or she sees fit.
Alhumdolillah, our deen (religious way of life) is NOT based on our opinions, whims, and desires; but rather The Revelation of The Qur'aan, The Sunnah (the statements, actions, deeds, and approvals of The Last Prophet and Messenger Muhhamed Ibn Abdullah), and The Understanding of The Companions (The 1st Three Generation of Muslims), and Those Scholars (and students of knowledge) that follow them in good until The Last Day.
This is clear from the Ayah:
Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur'ân) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption). (Al-Hijr 15:9)
Furthermore, how Islaam is perfect,
"This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion." [Soorah al-Maatidah 5:3].
Or how Islaam is the only religion that will be accepted by Allaah [Subhanhu Wa Ta'ala]
"Whosoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, never will it be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan 3:85].
Or the various Scientific Miracles revealed in the Qur'aan like, The Human Embryonic Development, The Origin of the Universe, The Clouds, and The Seas and Rivers.
Or the various statements and miracles from the prophet (salallahu alayhe wasallam) that we read and see so clearly as though he was with us today. For example, in the following hadiths collected in Sahih al'Bukhari:
No. 80 - Narrated Anas:
Allah's Apostle said, "From among the portents of the hour are (the following):
1. Religious knowledge will be taken away (by the death of Religious learned men).
2. (Religious) ignorance will prevail.
3. Drinking of Alcoholic drinks (will be very common).
4. There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse
No. 5226 - Narrated Abu 'Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash'ari:
that he heard the Prophet saying, "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful...
SubahnaAllah, there are too many ways of knowing, and it is crystal clear that Islam is Complete and Requires Only Submission. May Allah Guide us all Protect us and keep us Firm upon The Deen of Islaam.... Ameen
Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace , not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians). (Al-Fatihah 1:6-7)
Allahuma Salee Ala Muahmmad Wa ali Muhammad Kamma Salatal Ibraaheem Wa Ali Ibraaheem inaka hameedoom majeed; Allahuma Barak Ala Muahmmad Wa ali Muhammad Kamma Baraktal Ibraaheem Wa Ali Ibraaheem inaka hameedoom majeed;
Wa Salaamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu.
Salaam,
I would like someone to answer this question or at lease try to make a good comment at this when I ask:
How do you know Islam is the true religion? Im asking a general, not just a personal opinion--If you think about it long and hard...all religions preach the same thing. They all say "We are the true path to God and to heaven" and other religions also say if you are not with their religion you will be sent to hell. You have several different religions in today's world (other than christinaity and judism) all of these religions say, the same "Pray to God...put God first in everything you do" and let us not forget about how all religions say that God tells them to defend their land and help the world, so they must go around the world and preach their religion to people and make them convert.
So my brothers and sisters...How can one tell if our religion or if any religion is the true one.
The response by Abu Khalid (that is just the user name... I don't know the actual)
Bismillahir Rahmannir Raheem:
Wa Alaykum Salaam Akhi,
First a reply to the statement "so they must go .... preach..., and make them convert."
Just a reminder, that our task is only to invite, and as Muslim we can't make anyone accept Islaam. Allaah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) states
"There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Tâghût and believes in Allâh, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower." (Al-Baqarah 2:256)
And He (Ta 'Ala) also told the prophet (salAllahu alayhe wasallam)
Verily! You (O Muhammad SAW) guide not whom you like, but Allâh guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided. (Al-Qasas 28:56)
As for the question "how do we know"....
We know that "Islam is the true religion" because by compare and contrast we find that Islaam is THE ONLY religion that practices and preaches the worship of The One True God (Allaah).
Not only that, Islaam is THE ONLY religion that has the correct belief system about Allaah; so we know that Allaah never appeared in any physical form; hence, no physical representation is possible. And we know that He (The Sublime and Majestic) is recognized through his 99 names. For example, how Allah explains that He is One, Unique, and Separate from His Creation; and how, He is The Most Loving, The Most Kind, The Most Merciful, The All Hearing, The All Seeing, The All knowing, The Most High and The Most Just.
And as we read in Surah Al-Ikhlas (The Purity), it is apparent that Islaam is THE ONLY religion that teaches us that Allah was not born and does not give birth, and that no one or nothing shares in Allaah's Unique Names or Attributes:
In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
Say (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)): "He is Allâh, (the) One.
"Allâh-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks).
"He begets not, nor was He begotten;
"And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him." (112:1-4).
Not only that, Islaam is THE ONLY religion that clearly explains the purpose of our creation; as Allaah [Subhanhu Wa Ta'ala] tells us in The Qur'aan that:
"I have not created Jinn or Man for any purpose except to worship me."
(51:56)
Not to mention that NOTHING brings PEACE and TRANQUILLITY like the practice and implementation of Islaam, As Allah mentions
He it is Who sent down As-Sakinah (calmness and tranquillity) into the hearts of the believers, that they may grow more in Faith along with their (present) Faith. And to Allâh belong the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allâh is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise. (Al-Fath 48:4)
What about the fact that the message of Islaam is the same religion taught by all prophets (peace be upon them). By studying the teachings of all true prophets sent by Allaah we find that they all taught that there is only One True God (Allaah) who is worthy of our worship. They also taught us the proper way to worship Allaah, and to avoid worshipping anything besides Allah; and brought us the glad tidings of worshiping Allaah, and warned us about what would happen if we didn't worship Allaah . And this Message was completed and perfected with His last prophet Muhammad [Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] who He (The Most High) sent to all Mankind and Jinns.
And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût[] (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Tâghût besides Allâh)." Then of them were some whom Allâh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). (An-Nahl 16:36)
How about the fact that, Islaam is THE ONLY religion that is protected from any form of crookedness; therefore, any Tom, Dick, or Harry can't just pick up materials about Islaam and explain it anyway he or she sees fit.
Alhumdolillah, our deen (religious way of life) is NOT based on our opinions, whims, and desires; but rather The Revelation of The Qur'aan, The Sunnah (the statements, actions, deeds, and approvals of The Last Prophet and Messenger Muhhamed Ibn Abdullah), and The Understanding of The Companions (The 1st Three Generation of Muslims), and Those Scholars (and students of knowledge) that follow them in good until The Last Day.
This is clear from the Ayah:
Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur'ân) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption). (Al-Hijr 15:9)
Furthermore, how Islaam is perfect,
"This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion." [Soorah al-Maatidah 5:3].
Or how Islaam is the only religion that will be accepted by Allaah [Subhanhu Wa Ta'ala]
"Whosoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, never will it be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers." [Soorah Aal-'Imraan 3:85].
Or the various Scientific Miracles revealed in the Qur'aan like, The Human Embryonic Development, The Origin of the Universe, The Clouds, and The Seas and Rivers.
Or the various statements and miracles from the prophet (salallahu alayhe wasallam) that we read and see so clearly as though he was with us today. For example, in the following hadiths collected in Sahih al'Bukhari:
No. 80 - Narrated Anas:
Allah's Apostle said, "From among the portents of the hour are (the following):
1. Religious knowledge will be taken away (by the death of Religious learned men).
2. (Religious) ignorance will prevail.
3. Drinking of Alcoholic drinks (will be very common).
4. There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse
No. 5226 - Narrated Abu 'Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash'ari:
that he heard the Prophet saying, "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful...
SubahnaAllah, there are too many ways of knowing, and it is crystal clear that Islam is Complete and Requires Only Submission. May Allah Guide us all Protect us and keep us Firm upon The Deen of Islaam.... Ameen
Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace , not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians). (Al-Fatihah 1:6-7)
Allahuma Salee Ala Muahmmad Wa ali Muhammad Kamma Salatal Ibraaheem Wa Ali Ibraaheem inaka hameedoom majeed; Allahuma Barak Ala Muahmmad Wa ali Muhammad Kamma Baraktal Ibraaheem Wa Ali Ibraaheem inaka hameedoom majeed;
Wa Salaamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu.