بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
الحمد لله الذى أرسل رسوله بالهدى ودين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله وكفى بالله شهيدا. أشهد أن لااله الا الله وحده لاشريك له. وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسو له. المبعوث رحمة للعالمين ذوى الفضائل والكرمات. أمابعد
All praises be to Allah, The Lord of the entire universe for it is He who has created us and those before us and has raised among mankind His prophets and messengers with guidance and the religion of truth for the salvation of mankind in this world and the next world.
Peace and blessing be upon the messenger of Allah, the seal of all the prophets and messengers of Allah who had been sent as a blessing and mercy for the entire worlds and also upon his blessed household and holy companions.
Thanks to Allah, The Almighty, for allowing me to deliver this important massage, concerning the concept of religion. May Allah, The Exalted guides us to His religion.
O Brothers and Sisters !
In this second series of message to the whole world I shall touch on the concept of religion of Allah SWT.
Religion has become problem for people of all nations and it has created disagreement, rivalry, hatred and even fightings and killings among mankind. Each people claim that his religion is true and will do anything to defend it.
Some say that all religions are the same because they all bring man close to God but only each takes different road to God, The Almighty.
Some say that all religions are good because they teach good moral values.
Some in the propagation of their religion allege that other religions are not true and will do anything to convert people to their religion.
Some have rejected all religions because to them the religion is nothing but escapism and they want to live free from all religious injunctions and restrictions. They become atheists.
1. Are there many Allah’s Religion or there is only one?
2. Does Allah, The Almighty accept all religions or only accept the religion of Islam?
3. What is Allah’s Religion ?
These are the problem on religion that have caused great misunderstanding and have cause people to deviate from the right path.
This problem must be resolved once and for all so that people of all nations will know the truth about Allah’s Religion and thus they will be able to decide for themselves whether or not to embrace Allah’s Religion.
To solve this problem I shall explain to you all the concept of Allah’s Religion.
What is Allah’s Religion? Allah’s Religion is a set of laws and regulations of Allah SWT which had been conveyed by all His prophets and messengers from generation to generation for the salvation of mankind in this world and Hereafter which had been completed and perfected in the prophethood of the Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH and named as Islam and is now contained in the final Book of Revelation, the Holy Quran. This Divine set of laws and regulations is based on love and mercy. The Religion of Allah SWT contained two aspects of relationships, the relationship between man and Allah, his Creator and the relationship among mankind and includes in this relationship is the relationship between human beings and other creatures because man has been appointed as caliph or vicegerant to administer this world.
O Brothers and Sisters !
How do we know the Religion of Allah SWT ?
We can never know and understand Allah’s Religion through our own knowledge because it is beyond the realm of human knowledge and understanding. It is because of this Allah SWT in His infinite Wisdom has sent prophets and messengers to the human race from generation to generation bring religion from Him which contains laws and regulations as a direction and guidance for the human race to handle all questions which arise especially those which are outside the realm of the intelligence and understanding with this they can attend to their religions practices and finally administer this world in peace in compliance with the Will of Allah SWT and in this way they will be safe in this world and in the Next world.
Prophet Adam was the first messenger. Since then Allah SWT has raised prophets and messengers from among different people in all ages for human guidance . For example :
1. Prophet Noah AS was sent to his people.
As Allah SWT Said in Chapter 11 Hud Verse 25 :
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَى قَوْمِهِ
“And indeed We sent Nuh (Noah) to his people (and he said) : “I have come to you as a plain warner.”
2. Prophet Hud AS was sent to the people of Ad.
Chapter 11 Hud Verse 50 :
وَإِلَى عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا
“And to the Ad (people We sent) their brother Hud.”.
3. Prophet Shaleh AS was sent to the people of Thamud.
Chapter 11 Hud Verse 61 :
وَإِلَى ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا
“And to Thamud (people We sent) their brother Salih.”.
4. Prophet Syaib AS was sent to the people of Madyan.
Chapter 11 Hud Verse 84 :
وَإِلَى مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا
“And to the Madyan (Midian) people (We sent) their brother Shu’aib.”.5. Prophet Moses AS was sent to the Israelites.
Chapter 61 Al-Shaff Verse 5 :
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ لِمَ تُؤْذُونَنِي وَقَد تَّعْلَمُونَ أَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ
“And (remember) when Musa (Moses) said to his people : “O my people! Why do you annoy me while you know certainly that I am the Messenger of Allah to you?.”
6. Prophet Jesus AS was also sent to the Israelites.
Chapter 61 Al-Shaff Verse 6 :
وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِيۤ إِسْرَاۤئِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُم مُّصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ فَلَمَّا جَاۤءَهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٦
“And (remember) when Isa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary) said : “O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto you, confirming the Taurat (Torah) which came] before me and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me whose name shall be Ahmad. But when he (Ahmad, i.e. Muhammad) came to them with clear proofs they said : “This is plain magic.”
7. Whereas Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. was sent for the whole human race and jinn until the Last Day.
As was Said by Allah SWT. in Chapter 7 Al-A’raf Verse 158 :
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا
“Say (O Muhammad) : “O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah.”
Chapter 34 Saba’ Verse 28 :
وَمَاۤ أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلاَّ كَاۤفَّةً لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
“And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind but most of men know not.”
Since The Holy Prophet S.A.W is the last messenger sent for the whole human race, and the final seal of all the Prophets, the whole human race existing in the century during The Holy Prophet Muhammad S.A.W’s time and thereafter are his people or ummah and would therefore have no other choice but to follow and to repose their faith in The Holy Prophet S.A.W.
As an example, people of this century cannot choose to be the followers of the Prophet Jesus as he was sent to the Israelites and not to the whole human race and further more his time as Prophet has lapsed.
It was narrated by Abi Hurairah RA that indeed Rasullullah S.A.W. said :
وَالَّذِى نَفْس مُحَمّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لاَ يَسْمَعُ بِىْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ اْلأُمَّةِ يَهُوْدِىٍّ وَلاَنَصْرَانِىٍّ ثُمَّ يَمُوْتُ وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِالَّذِى أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ إِلاَّ كَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ.
“By Allah SWT. in whose Hands is the soul of Muhammad there is no one from amongst the Jews and Christians who have heard about me and subsequently die without having faith in what I bring (Islam) unless he is one of the inhabitants of Hell.”
The Prophets and Messengers are like gems of necklace which are joined in continuum with one (1) task, i.e. to bring and propagate the religion of Allah to the human race. To turn away from the religion of Allah as brought by The Holy Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. is turning away from the religion conveyed by previous prophets and messengers of Allah SWT.
All the prophets and messengers of Allah SWT beginning from Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaq, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus son of Mary had conveyed and taught the same religion ie the religion of Allah SWT which is finally perfected and completed in the prophethood of the Holy prophet Muhammad SAW and named as Islam.
It is important to take note here that although the religion brought by all the Messengers of God was the Religion of Allah S.W.T which had the attribute of full submission to The Will of Allah S.W.T, which is called Islam in Arabic language it was not named as The Religion of Islam. This is because Islam is an Arabic term whereas the previous Messengers of God were not Arabs. Hence the word Islam had never been uttered by their tongues because every Messenger of God was sent in the language of his own people as Allah S.W.T Said in Chapter 14 Ibrahim verse 4 :
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلاَّ بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ
“ We sent not a messenger except in the language of his own people, in order to make (things) clear to them ”.
All the Prophets AS in spreading Allah S.W.T.’s religion would use their own languages using words if translated into Arabic would mean Islam. For example,
Allah S.W.T. Said in Chapter 2 Al-Baqarah Verse 132 :
وَوَصَّىٰ بِهَاۤ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَا بَنِيَّ إِنَّ الله َ اصْطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إَلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٣٢
“ And this was the advice of Abraham to his son, and of Jacob: “ O my sons, God has ordained the Religion for you, so hold fast to the Religion of Islam until death comes to you ”.
In this advice given both by Prophet Abraham and Prophet Jacob to their children when it was revealed by Allah SWT to the Holy Prophet PBUH in Arabic language both prophets have actually used words in their language to mean Islam in Arabic language. This means that every prophet AS had used the word Islam but in word in his own language.
It is only during the messengerhood of The Holy Prophet S.A.W that the Religion of Allah S.W.T has been completed and perfected and is called Islam because His Highness belongs to the Arab tribe.
A person who is obedience and loyal to the laws and regulations of the Religion of Islam is called a Muslim in Arabic language. Thus the people of the previous messengers of God who had faith in the Religion brought by their own prophet are called Muslims. Hence the people of Prophet Moses and Prophet Jesus, peace upon them both, who were faithful to them, were also called Muslims in Arabic language. This is clearly stated in Surah Al-Maidah verse 111 :
وَإِذْ أَوْحَيْتُ إِلَى الْحَوَارِيِّنَ أَنْ ءَامِنُواْ بِى وَبِرَسُولِى قَالُوۤاْ ءَامَنَّا وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّنَا مُسْلِمُونَ
And when I (Allah) revealed to the disciples of Jesus to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said: "We believe. And bear witness that we are Muslims."
In conclusion it is stressed that The Religion of Allah S.W.T brought by all the previous Messengers of God is called the Religion of Islam in Arabic language. Therefore there is only one religion i.e The Religion of Islam.
Allah SWT made this clear in chapter Ali Imran verse 85:
وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الإِسْلاَمِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.”
Chapter Ali Imran verse 19 :
إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِندَ اللَّهِ الإِسْلاَمُ
“Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam.”
From these verses of the Holy Quran it is very clear that there is only one Allah’s Religion i.e Islam. Any other religions beside Islam are not Allah’s Religion and as such will not be accepted by Allah SWT. Thus anyone who embraces religion other then Islam will be among the losers in the Day of Judgement.
This is what Allah SWT said and not wht the Holy Prophet PBUH said or what I said. But it is Allah Who Said it.
O Brothers and Sisters !
Before the advent of The Holy Prophet SAW. Islam was not universal but was local in nature and for certain time, place and people only.
Finally Allah SWT’s religion is completed and perfected during the era of The Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW and became a universal religion for the entire human kind and “Jinn” suitable for all times and places until the Last Day.
Allah S.W.T. Said in Chapter Al-Maidah Verse 3 :
O Brothers and Sisters !
Before the advent of The Holy Prophet SAW. Islam was not universal but was local in nature and for certain time, place and people only.
Finally Allah SWT’s religion is completed and perfected during the era of The Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW and became a universal religion for the entire human kind and “Jinn” suitable for all times and places until the Last Day.
Allah S.W.T. Said in Chapter Al-Maidah Verse 3 :
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا
“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”
The Religion of Islam was finally completed and perfected in the messengerhood of the Holy Prophet PBUH which means the laws and regulations contained in it are now complete governing not only our relationship with Allah SWT but also it governs the relationship among us mankind and also our relationship with other creatures based on love and mercy.
This means that our prayers and all our acts of devotions together with all our daily conducts and activities in all field of our life either in the field of politics, judiciary, education, economy or humanitarian, all must be done in accordance with the Religion of Allah SWT and must be done for His sake alone if we desire happiness in this world and in the Next world.
Since this world belongs to Allah SWT therefore it must now be ruled and administered by these Divine laws and regulations, failing which this world would then face with all forms of catastrophe, natural disaster and strange diseases as what is happening to us now.
Since we live in this world no one can exempt himself from these Divine laws and regulations because if he does so he will surely be punished not only in this world but also in the Next world.
It is like someone who lives in another country, surely he can not exempt himself from the laws and regulations of that country. If he does so, definitely he will be punished for his offence and he will be imprisoned.
Therefore everyone who lives in this world must obey this Divine laws and regulations by first embracing Allah’ Religion i.e Islam and then practising all what is contained in it if one desires happiness in this world and in the Next world.
O Brothers and Sisters !
It is time now for those who have not embraced Allah’s Religion i.e Islam to revert to Islam and practise all what is contained in it so that they will enjoy a happier life and would be safe in this world and in the Next world.
It is time now that this world must be ruled and governed by the Divine laws and regulations so that there will be peace, justice, equality, harmony, love and happiness prevailing throughout the whole world.
To find out whether you are really worshipping Allah SWT, the true God, or want to find out the true religion acceptable by Allah SWT please do not hesitate to read the Holy Quran because the Holy Quran has been revealed as guidance for mankind.
Let us all now return to Allah SWT, our Lord in repentance and in obedience so that we will find happiness in this world and in the Next world. This is what Allah SWT wants us to do as stated in chapter Az-Zumar verse 54 :
وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لاَ تُنصَرُونَ
Let us all pray to Allah SWT to our Lord for salvation in this world and next world.
O Allah, our Lord, the Lord of all creations ! Please forgive our sins and our wrongs. We pray that You always guides so that we are all safe from all dangers in this world and the Next.
O Allah, our Lord ! We seek Your guidance and assistance so that we are able to perform good deeds which You pleases.
O Allah, our Lord ! To those who are sick please grant them good health, to those who are in distress and in need please grant them aid and provision, to those who are in difficulties please relieve them from their burden and hardship.
O Allah, our Lord ! To those who have not embraced Your religion please give them guidance so that they will embrace Your religion. And for those have gone astray please lead them back to the right path that You pleases.
O Allah, Our Lord ! Please grant us peace and happiness in this world and in the next world.
Hopefully the whole of mankind will be safe in this world and in the Next World.
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْمُ وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ رَّحِيْمُ. سُبْحٰنَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ. وَسَلٰمٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ. وَالْحَمْدُ ِللهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيَن.
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّى وَسَلِّمْ عَلٰى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدِ الْفَاتِحِ لِمَا اُغْلِقَ وَالْخَاتِمِ لِمَا سَبَقَ وَالنَّاصِرِ الْحَقِّ بِالْحَقِّ وَالْهَادِىْ اِلَى صِرَاطِ الْمُسْتَقِيْمِ وَعَلَى اَلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَمِقْدَارِهِ الْعَظِيْمِ
