mmirza@grumpy.eng.ohio-state.edu (Muhammad Mirza) (12/09/90)
For the next couple of days I will post excerpts from a brochure published by dawa committee of muslim community center. May Allah make it useful for all of us. I am reposting the first message for continuity and clarity. (A paper read on behalf of Maulana Abul A'ala Maududi at the international Islamic conference in London, 1978). The Message of Islam I. Let me begin by clarifying that for us Islam is not the name of some unique faith presented for the first time by Muhammed(pbu) who should, on that account be called the founder of Islam. The Quran makes it abundantly clear that Islam--the complete submission of man before Allah (God) -- is the one and only faith consistently revealed by Allah to mankind from the very beginning. Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus (pbu them all)--Prophets who appeared at different times and places--all propagated the same faith. They were not founders of faiths to be named after them. They were each reiterating the faith of their predecessors. II. What distinguishes Muhammed(pbuh) from the other Prophets? i- He was the last prophet of Allah. ii- Allah revived through him the same genuine faith which had been conveyed by all the prophets. iii-This original message was corrupted, and split into various religions by people of different ages, who indulged in interpolations and admixture. These alien elements were eliminated by Allah and Islam, in its pure and original form, was transmitted to mankind through Muhammed(pbuh). iv- Since there was to be no messenger after Muhammed(pbuh), the book revealed to him was preserved word for word so that it should be a source of guidance for all times. v- The life of Muhammed(pbuh), and the manner in which he conducted himself, was also recorded in a unique manner by his companions and by later compilers of the tradition. A more complete and authentic account of the life, sayings, and actions, of any prophet or historical personage, has never been compiled. vi- In this way, the Quran and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet together became a reliable source of knowing what Islam is, what it stands for, what guidance it provides, and what obligations it places upon us. III. As muslims, we believe in all Prophets who preceded Muhammed(pbuh) --not only those who are mentioned in the Quran, but also those who are not so mentioned--and this is such an integral part of our faith that if we were to abandon it we should cease to be Muslims. But for instruction we turn to prophet Muhammed(pbuh) alone, not on account of any prejudice, but because: (a) As the last of Allah's prophets he brought us the latest divine dispensation, (b) The word of Allah which reached us through Muhammed(pbuh) is pure divine language, free of human admixtures, and preserved in its original form. Its language is a living language, spoken, written and understood by millions of people, and whose grammar, vocabulary, idiom, pronunciation, and script have remained unchanged from the of revelation till today. (c) As I have said earlier, we have a complete historical record of the life, character, conduct, sayings, and actions of the prophet Muhammed(pbuh), preserved with meticulous care, accuracy and detail. Since this cannot be said of other prophets we can believe in them, but we cannot emulate them. to be continued INSHA ALLAH... muhammed javeed mirza, mmirza@grumpy.eng.ohio-state.edu -- Me The Ohio State University Electrical Engineering Dept. Room 204 Dreese Labs