Muslim and Islam

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

God has stated for us the many attributes of the Qur’an. The fundamental incentive behind this is to base our own judgment in this book on a solid foundation, assure our hearts about its qualities, and provide answers for those who challenge its laws and divinity. God describes His book as the only source of law for those who have attained certainty. On the other hand, Qur’an appears to be the most read and the least understood book in the world.

How can we know if we might qualify to be called a Muslim (Submitter)? The minimum criteria to be a Muslim are given in the following verses.

Surely, those who believe,
those who are Jewish, the Christians,
and the converts; anyone who
(1) believes in GOD, and
(2) believes in the Last Day, and
(3) leads a righteous life,
will receive their recompense from their Lord.
They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. (2:62, 5:69)

A Submitter can be defined as a person who submits to the will of God. The state of Submission, which can only take the place between the person and God Almighty, is considered to be the only acceptable form of worship by God. Therefore, Submission is not just a name of a religion; rather it carefully tells one's devotion to God alone. Submission is a religion whereby one recognizes God's absolute authority, and reaches a fundamental principle that God alone possesses all power; no other entity possesses any power that is independent of Him. The natural result of such a realization is to devote one's life and one's worship absolutely to God alone. This is the First Commandment in all the scriptures, including the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Final Testament (The Qur’an).

I was born into a Muslim family; I used the bland representation "born into," because being a true Muslim (Submitter) means that one needs to, have faith in the ' Shahaadah', "La Elaha Ella Allah", the Last Day and lead a righteous life as mentioned in Sura 2 Verse 62 and Sura 5 Verse 69.

And the Arabic word Islam translates in English language as Submission. The religion of Submission, whose religious laws are detailed in the Qur’an, dictates upon each human (and jinn) to worship Allah alone (52:56). The basic law is also known as the first commandment or the greatest commandment in the Old and New Testament. The word submission is not the name of religion, but rather it is a description. Submission is the total submission and devotion to ALLAH ALONE. Thus, anyone who can bring himself or herself to believe in Allah within the confines of the first commandment is a Submitter (in Arabic: Muslim).

The Qur’an proclaims in verse 3:19

"The only religion approved by Allah is Submission."

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Mark 12:29

"And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:"

Mark 12:30

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."

Exodus 20: 3

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Malachi 2: 10

Hath not one God created us?

Mark 12: 32, 34

And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he Jesus saw that he answered discreetly.

John 17: 3

1 Corinthians 8: 4

And this is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. [There is] none other God but one.

1 Corinthians 8:

But to us [there is but] one God.

Ephesians 4: 6

One God and Father of all.

1 Timothy 2: 5

For [there is] one God.

James 2: 19

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Careful study of all scriptures will reveal that they have the same first commandment - you shall not worship except God.

Gayatri Mantra, Yajur Vedal

We meditate on the glory of the Creator; Who has created the Universe ; Who is worthy of Worship ; Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light ; Who is the remover of all Sin and Ignorance ; May He enlighten our Intellect.

Allah points out in verse 3:18 of the Qur’an the Shahaadah of Allah, the angels and those who possess knowledge - la ellaha ella Allah (there is no god except God)

"GOD bears witness that there is no god except He, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge. Truthfully and equitably, He is the absolute god; there is no god but He, the Almighty, Most Wise."

Minimum Requirement for Salvation

Verse 2:62 & 5:69 quoted below give the minimum requirement for salvation to Allah's Kingdom - anyone who believes in Allah Alone, believes in the Hereafter and leads a righteous life is destined for Heaven.

"Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in GOD, and (2) believes in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve."

All religions of the world - Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others - have been relentlessly tarnished through innovations, traditions, and the idolization of humans such as the prophets and the saints.

What is Shirk (Idolatry )?

We learn from the Qur’an, that idolatry is the only unforgivable sin if maintained till death.

"[4:48] "GOD does not forgive idolatry, * but He forgives lesser offenses for whomever He wills. Anyone who sets up idols beside GOD, has forged a horrendous offense."

*4:48 Idol worship is not forgivable, if maintained until death. One can always repent from any offense, including idolatry, before death comes (see 4:18 & 40:66).

[4:18] Not acceptable is the repentance of those who commit sins until death comes to them, then say, "Now I repent." Nor is it acceptable from those who die as disbelievers. For these, we have prepared a painful retribution.

[40:66] Say, "I have been enjoined from worshiping the idols you worship beside GOD, when the clear revelations came to me from my Lord. I was commanded to submit to the Lord of the universe."

[31:25] If you ask them, "Who created the heavens and the earth," they will say, "GOD." Say, "Praise be to God." Yet, most of them do not know.

Statement: Most people, though they agree that God created everything, still have doubts. That is why they disregard God's commands. This constitutes idolatry.

[12:106] The majority of those who believe in God do not do so without committing idol worship.

Statement: As the verse says, the majority will disregard and disobey God, even though they believe in Him, OR uphold teachings not approved by God. This constitutes idolatry.

[41:5-6] They said, "Our minds are made up, our ears are deaf to your message, and a barrier separates us from you. Do what you want, and so will we." Say, "I am no more than a human being like you, who has been inspired that your god is one god. You shall be devoted to Him, and ask His forgiveness. Woe to the idol worshippers."

Statement: This reflects an individual (s) ego problem by disregarding God's message, thereby constituting idolatry.

Let us see and examine what is idolatry and look at various definitions of idolatry given in the Qur’an.

Statues as an idol

[6:74] Recall that Abraham said to his father Ãzer, "How could you worship statues as GODS? I see that you and your people have gone far astray."

[2:51] Yet, when we summoned Moses for forty nights, you worshiped the calf in his absence, and turned wicked.*

*2:51 This incident reflect the humans' idolatrous tendency. Despite the profound miracles, Moses' followers worshiped the calf in his absence, and Moses ended up with only two believers

(5:23) As pointed out in the Introduction, the humans are rebels whose egos are their gods.

[21:51] Before that, we granted Abraham his guidance and understanding, for we were fully aware of him.

[21:52] He said to his father and his people, "What are these statues to which you are devoting yourselves?"

[21:53] They said, "We found our parents worshiping them."

Worshipping other gods

[4:117] They even worship female gods besides Him; as a matter of fact, they only worship a rebellious devil.

[18:15] "Here are our people setting up GODS beside Him. If only they could provide any proof to support their stand! Who is more evil than the one who fabricates lies and attributes them to GOD?
Jesus as idols

[5:72] Pagans indeed are those who say that GOD is the Messiah, son of Mary. The Messiah himself said, "O Children of Israel, you shall worship GOD; my Lord* and your Lord ." Anyone who sets up any idol beside GOD, GOD has forbidden Paradise for him, and his destiny is Hell. The wicked have no helpers.

In John 20:17, we see that Jesus taught that he was neither God, nor the son of God. Many theologians have concluded, after careful research, that today's Christianity is not the same Christianity taught by Jesus. Two outstanding books on this subject are “The Myth of God Incarnate'' (The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1977) and The “ Mythmaker'' (Harper & Row, New York, 1986). On the front jacket of “The Mythmaker'' we read the following statement: "... Hyam Maccoby formally gives new arguments to support the recent study that Paul, not Jesus, was the founder of Christianity.... it was Paul alone who created a new religion through his vision of Jesus as a divine Savior who died to save humanity."

Jinn's as idols

[72:6] " `Human beings used to seek power through jinn beings, but they only afflicted them with a lot of adversity.

[6:100] Yet, they set up beside GOD idols from among the jinns, though He is the One who created them. They even attribute to Him sons and daughters, without any knowledge. Be He glorified. He is the Most High, far above their claims.

Children as idols

[7:190] But when He gives them a good baby, they turn His gift into an idol that rivals Him. GOD be exalted, far above any partnership.

Humans as idols

[7:194] The idols you invoke besides GOD are creatures like you. Go ahead and call upon them; let them respond to you, if you are right.

Intercessors as idols

[10:18] They worship beside GOD idols that possess no power to harm them or benefit them, and they say, "These are our intercessors at GOD!" Say, "Are you informing GOD of something He does not know in the heavens or the earth?" Be He glorified. He is the Most High; far above needing partners.

From the Qur’an, it is obvious - there is no intercession by anyone on the Day of Judgment.

Satan as idol

[14:22] And the devil will say, after the judgment had been issued, "GOD has promised you the truthful promise, and I promised you, but I broke my promise. I had no power over you; I simply invited you, and you accepted my invitation. Therefore, do not blame me, and blame only yourselves. My complaining cannot help you, nor can your complaining help me. I have disbelieved in your idolizing me. The transgressors have incurred a painful retribution."


Property as idols

[18:42] Indeed, his crops were wiped out, and he ended up sorrowful, lamenting what he had spent on it in vain, as his property lay barren. He finally said, "I wish I never set up my property as a god beside my Lord."

Prophets and messengers as idols

[3:79] Never would a human being whom GOD blessed with the scripture and prophethood say to the people, "Idolize me beside GOD." Instead, (he would say), "Devote yourselves absolutely to your Lord alone," according to the scripture you preach and the teachings you learn.

God's servants as idols

[18:102] "Do those who disbelieve think that they can get away with setting up My servants as gods beside Me? We have prepared for the disbelievers Hell as an eternal abode.

Ego as idols

[25:43] Have you seen the one whose god is his own ego? Will you be his advocate?

Most humans, because of their ego cannot bring themselves to worship Allah, nor can they make opinion subordinate to Allah's opinion spelled out in the Qur’an because of their ego.

Following a source other than Qur’an is idolatry. The following verse makes it clear that the Qur’an is Allah's Testimony. Following any other source is defined as idolatry

Qur’an, the Whole Qur’an, and Nothing But the Qur’an

[6:19] Say, "Whose testimony is the greatest?" Say, "GOD's. He is the witness between me and you that this Qur’an* has been inspired to me, to preach it to you and whomever it reaches. Indeed, you bear witness that there are other gods* beside GOD." Say, "I do not testify as you do; there is only one god, and I disown your idolatry."

Worshipping Allah is to obey His words only (Qur’an) and not the words of humans.

Allah is Merciful