Revelation of the Qur‘an

Following the distortion of the previous scriptures, Allah, the Most Compassionate, did not leave human beings to go astray without an unadulterated reference. Indeed, He revealed the Qur‘an and promised to preserve it as the final revelation to humankind for all times. It is the Word of Allah which He revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the Angel Gabriel. It was revealed in parts (fragments) of different lengths over a period of 23 years. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recited the revelation to his companions who wrote it down during his lifetime on palm leaves, parchment, animal bones (the shoulder-blades of camels made a good writing surface), and flat stones. At the same time, he indicated the precise location where each revealed section belonged in the body of the complete volume of the revelation. In addition, the Qur‘an was memorized by hundreds of Prophet Muhammad's Companions. One year after the death of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the first Caliph, Abu Bakr, instructed the Prophet‘s Companions to collect the whole Qur‘an in one volume. Later, the third Caliph, ‗Uthmân, prepared several copies from the original text and sent them to the major centres of Islamic civilization.
One of these seven reproductions still remains, and is kept in Istanbul, Turkey. From that time onward, more than 1400 years ago, the same Qur‘anic text has been in use with the exact wording, order and language (Arabic). Not a single word from its 114 chapters, 6200 verses, and approximately 80,000 words has been changed since it was revealed. Indeed, Allah promised in the Qur‘an to preserve it intact forever. He says: Verily, I have sent down the Qur‘an, and indeed, I will guard it from corruption.26 (Qur‘an 15: 9). Just ponder the fact that the Qur‘an, in its entirety, is memorized by millions of people, regardless of age, sex, social class, or ethnicity! It is the only book that has been thus preserved, not only on the shelf but in the hearts of humankind.
The Qur‘an supersedes all previous scriptures. Allah says to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about the Qur‘an:
26. The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (mercy and peace of Allah be upon him) explain and elaborate the Qur‘anic verses. They also explain in minute detail the manner of worship as performed by the Prophet. These teachings were meticulously collected and reported by the Prophet‘s companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
And to you We have sent the Book in truth, confirming the scriptures that came before it, and superseding them. (Qur‘an 5: 48)
Therefore, one cannot claim that Allah accepts other religions merely because they were originally based on the true scriptures. Although these scriptures are from Allah, the last and final revelation (the Qur‘an) supersedes all the rest.
An essential point to understand about the Qur‘an is that it is a miracle in both its revelation and content. At the time of the revelation and since, there have been those who have denied the divine and miraculous nature of the Qur‘an saying that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was either taught by others or that he wrote it by himself! In order to counteract this claim, Allah lays down a challenge to the whole of humankind saying:
If you are in doubt concerning what I have revealed to My slave (Muhammad), then produce one chapter like it and you may call on your helpers beside Allah, if you are truthful. (Qur‘an 2: 23)
These are some of the prophecies which the Qur‘an has foretold, as no one from the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) until this day has been able to produce the like of one chapter or even a verse of the Qur‘an. As such, Muslims do not need any other scriptures to base their faith on, either in full or in part. The Qur‘an remains clear and easily understood by anyone who has a good command of the Arabic language. All of its legal injunctions and instructions are clear when the meanings of its words are translated into any of the world‘s languages.
All of the Qur‘an is a proclamation of Monotheism:
1. Some of the verses inform about Allah, His names, attributes, acts and speech. Those verses indicate the Unity and Oneness of Allah with respect to His most excellent names, essence, and perfect attributes.
2. Other verses point to the necessity of worshipping Allah alone, without any associate or partner, and the renunciation of the worship of anything other than Him. Those verses indicate the focus of worship and the necessity for people to single out their Lord in their intentions, requesting His aid, and in turning to Him in repentance.
3. The Qur‘an also contains injunctions and prohibitions, and so doing something that has been enjoined or refraining from doing what has been prohibited is the fulfilment and perfection of the affirmation of the Oneness of Allah.
4. The Qur‘an includes stories and information about people of true and sincere belief and tells of their immediate reward in the life of this world as well as the immense reward reserved for them in the hereafter.
5. The Qur‘an also contains stories about those who associate partners with Allah and describes their punishment in this life and the punishment they are promised in the hereafter. These are the just desserts of those who deviate from affirmation of Allah‘s Oneness.
Prophetic Teachings
The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are the second source of Islamic knowledge after the Holy Qur‘an. They explain and elaborate the Qur‘anic verses. They also explain in minute detail the manner of worship as performed by the Prophet. The Prophet‘s statements provide further clarification and details of how to fulfil what Allah has ordered and what He has forbidden. Those teachings were meticulously collected and reported by the Prophet‘s Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).

Preservation of Islamic Teachings
Preservation of Islamic teachings from alteration does not stop at the preservation of Qur‘anic text, but also forbids introducing into his guidance (by saying or writing) anything that is at variance with its premise, values or teachings. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: <<Whoever introduces into this matter (the Islamic teachings) something that does not belong to it, shall find it rejected.>>27
One of the Prophet‘s Companions said: The Prophet gave us a highly effective admonition so that many of us were tearful and we felt a shudder in our hearts. Someone said to him: Messenger of Allah! This sounds like the admonition of someone bidding his audience farewell. Please outline for us what you recommend. He said: <<I urge you to always remain conscious of Allah (God-fearing), and to listen to and obey your leaders, even if the leader is an Abyssinian slave. Anyone of you who will live long will witness much strife and conflict. Therefore, hold tight to my way and the way followed by rightly-guided rulers.28 Hold on to it and bite onto it with your
27. Narrated by Bukhari (2697) and Muslim (1718)
28. He meant specifically the four caliphs who came after him.
molars,29 and steer away from any invented thing (in religious affairs and laws), for such inventions are deviations (from the right path).>>30
So, in matters of religion, there is no permission to make any change to Islamic teachings. Whatever is at variance with it is wrong and unacceptable. With this strict protection, Islam, as it was revealed, is kept pure from myths and superstitions, and changes that reflect the whims of people and leaders.
4. Belief in the Messengers of Allah
This article of faith addresses the belief that Allah conveyed His message through selected human beings. These individuals, called prophets and messengers, were selected by Allah to be examples of how the scriptures were to be understood and implemented. Prophets have demonstrated practically for their followers how one should live by the law. The way of the prophets is the only way to Allah, because it has been prescribed by Allah Himself. Hence, without prophets, people would not know Allah, His attributes or how to worship Allah.
The role of the prophets can be summarized as follows:
29. i.e., do not let go of it
30. Narrated by Ibn Hibban, vol. 1, p. 179, Abu Dawood (4607), and at-Tirmidhi (2676)

1. Receive the message from Allah.
2. Deliver it to people.
3. Advise people to fear Allah and keep His commandments.
4. Advise people who deviated, disobeyed Allah, or worshipped other than Him to obey Him and worship Him only.
5. Tell people about the fundamental aspects of faith.
6. Teach their followers detailed religious and moral tenets.
7. Be a model example for their people, and lead them to eternal paradise. Allah has sent a prophet or prophets to every nation to convey the message that He alone was to be worshipped and anything worshipped along with Him or besides Him is false and unacceptable. The Qur‘an mentions the names of twenty-five of the prophets (see diagram opposite) while indicating that many others existed, yet were not mentioned by name. The first of these prophets was Adam and the last was Muhammad (mercy and peace of Allah be upon them all).
Every prophet was sent to a specific people for a specific era except Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who was sent as the last and final messenger until the Hour of Judgement. The proofs that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a messenger of Allah are innumerable; all are mentioned in his detailed biography. The greatest proof is the miracle of the Qur‘an, which could not have been written by any human, nor conveyed but by a messenger of Allah.
Indeed, mention of the advent of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) can still be found in the books of the Bible in spite of the changes which have taken place in their texts (See chapter XV. ‗Muhammad in the Bible‘)
The Qur‘an and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) relate with reverence the lives of many of these prophets. Prophet Muhammad, the last prophet, remained as the absolute example for his followers. His teachings were even further elucidated in practice by his rightly guided successors. The Prophet encouraged his followers continuously to follow the prophetic way and warned against conflict over Islamic principles and values, so that his followers would not deviate from the right path, as had happened to previous peoples.
Prophet Muhammad‘s followers owe him two things: obedience and love.
Obedience to the Prophet
Obedience to the Prophet is mentioned in thirty different verses in the Qur‘an. It implies following his commands and avoiding what he prohibited. Obedience to the Prophet indicates the true fulfilment of the second part of the declaration that brings a person into Islam, ―I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah‘s Messenger.‖
When we examine anything the Prophet encouraged, urged or ordered, we find that all is from Allah, and that all lead to something good, for us personally, to others who are close to us in our families, to our wider community, to the Muslim community in general, or to humanity at large. He only prohibited what is harmful or of no benefit, like adultery, gambling, alcohol, lying, disrespect to parents and so on. The Prophet (peace be upon him) prohibited satanic ways in many statements, because these tend to pull a person away from the right path.
A good believer reaches a state of mind when his desires and pleasures in this life are in line with what Allah wants from him. Every individual should be obedient to Allah and His Prophet, and observe strictly the instructions from Allah. Following Islamic teachings develops the spirit, but abandoning it leads to a state of decay and spiritual loss.31
Loving the Prophet
Islam teaches that loving the Prophet is part of the Islamic faith. The Prophet is quoted as saying: <<None of you is a true believer unless I am dearer to him than his parents, his children, and all other people.>>32
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: <<There are three qualities which are certain to give anyone the sweetness of faith: to love Allah and His Messenger more than anyone else, to love a person for no purpose other than for Allah‘s sake, and to hate to relapse into disbelief after Allah has saved him from it as much as one would hate to be thrown into the fire.>>33
We are required to love Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) more than all others (except Allah) because it was through him that we learned who Allah is, His attributes, our position in relation to Him, what Allah wants from us, and how to worship Him. He guided us through practical example along the way, and following
31. Compiled from ―My Great Love for Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) Led Me to Islam‖ by Muhammad Bin Abdullah Caraballo
32. Narrated by Bukhari (15) and Muslim (44)
33. Narrated by Bukhari (16) and Muslim (43)

this is certain to earn for us Allah‘s acceptance and the ultimate bliss. He has spared us the worst calamity that can ever befall anyone, which is incurring Allah‘s anger and punishment. He sacrificed everything to deliver Allah‘s message to us. He sacrificed his health and wealth and his whole life. If we realize all this, how can we not love him more than we love ourselves and all others? We love Prophet Muhammad because, as described in the Qur‘an, he was a ‗mercy for all nations‘. His compassion extended to all, friends and enemies. Consider this: that, enemies often became his beloved companions and followers. They embraced Islam, saying that his character was proof that he was a true messenger of Allah.
It should be noted that we must love Allah more than the Prophet; the Prophet comes next. Loving Allah, the Prophet and his followers is an act of worship for which one will be rewarded. And vice versa; hating Allah or His Prophet expels one from the bounds of Islam. Correspondingly, hating those who hate Allah or the Prophet is part of Islamic belief, for which the individual will be accounted for and rewarded. It needs to be clarified here that the emotion of ‗hate‘ that is meant in this context does not lend itself to the commonly known evil type of hate which is the imperfect human emotion; rather, it is the type of hate that perfects one‘s faith as it is directed in the right measure against those who have taken a defiant stance against the Creator and His chosen messengers. It is a lot like the negative feeling one may hold against the actions of a man who defies and abuses his elderly parents in an evil manner, or an outlaw who fights the justice system and spreads fear and corruption in society. It is clear that hating the actions of such individuals is a natural feeling that good people are expected to have. Although Islam teaches love in all its many forms, it instructs the faithful believers not to love those who do not love Allah and His messengers, until they change their ways, in which case, they commanded to love them! In a nutshell, a Muslim loves for Allah as well as hates for Allah. And here is the great fact about this emotion of hate; a Muslim is instructed not to hate anyone for personal reasons. For example, if a person insulted a Muslim, he is instructed to forgive; surely the difference is great between hating for Allah (well placed emotion) vs. hating for satisfying the self (a destructive) emotion).
The love we should have for the Prophet must be a genuine love, not a mere verbal statement. It should be supported and proven by obedience, following his commands and avoiding what he prohibited. Correspondingly again, the expression of our feelings of hate or revulsion at the refusal of our fellow human beings to believe in Allah‘s Oneness and follow the monotheistic teachings of His prophets should be in our positive and pro-active approach to those who disbelieve. We want and pray for them to be guided to the truth, and we need to work for that and work with them for that.
5. Belief in the Last Day
Islam teaches that this life is but a test of conduct for each individual, to see whether or not he or she will follow the commands of Allah. In the hereafter, people will be resurrected and stand before Allah for a just reckoning of their deeds and actions while they were alive on earth. People with good deeds will be generously rewarded and warmly welcomed to the heaven of Allah. However, those with records of many bad deeds will be punished and cast into hell. People have been given knowledge of right and wrong, instinctively and through revelation, and they must choose their path in this short life. Their choices in this life will ultimately determine their places in the eternal life to come. Allah says in the Qur‘an: Whosoever has done an atom‘s weight of good will see it, and whosoever has done an atom‘s weight of evil will see it. (Qur‘an 99: 7-8) Belief in the Day of Judgment implants in the human heart the consciousness of Allah, impelling people and society at large to obey Him sincerely without any external pressure. Effectively, the hereafter for the individual starts right after his soul departs his body. Shortly after his burial, two angels come to the grave and ask the following three questions (like a final exam):
Who is your Lord?
What is your religion?
Who is your prophet?
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that the believer would not have difficulties in answering them correctly, while the unbeliever would not be able to give the right answers.34 Depending on the result, the person will start to suffer or enjoy his/her stay in the grave after this brief questioning. The grave will expand or contract to give comfort or torture to its dweller depending on what they deserve.35
6. The Belief in Predestination
It includes the belief in the following:
a) Allah knows everything. His knowledge is not bound by time. Past, present and future are all known to Him.
34 . The believer is the one who believes in the six articles of faith.
35. Narrated by Bukhari (1374) and Ahmad (4/295)
b) Everything which takes place is already written in a book called the ‗Preserved Tablet‘.
c) Allah has created everything, including the actions of people, the good and the bad, but He commanded people to do good deeds and forbade them from doing evil.
d) One must believe that everything that happens in this universe is happening with Allah‘s permission, and nothing can take place against His Will.
It should be noted that Allah‘s prior knowledge of things does not mean that human beings have no choice. Human beings choose, but Allah knows their choices prior to their choosing and action. He merely allows them to follow through with their decisions.
X. The Five Pillars of Islam
Worship in Islam is an all inclusive term for all action and statements that Allah loves and approves of. Every virtuous action which is performed with the intention of carrying out the commandments of Allah and seeking His pleasure is considered as an act of worship. Islam is built on five acts of worship which are the foundations from which all deeds emanate. They stand as the framework of spiritual life on which the structure of Islam rests. They are the following:
1. The Declaration of the two Testimonies of faith:
―I testify that there is no deity36 worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.‖37 The sincere declaration of this testimony (also referred to as the testimony of Monotheism) and adherence to this teachings automatically brings one within the fold of Islam and dying while believing it guarantees one a place in paradise. This is why this testimony is considered as the cornerstone of Islam. The acceptance of this belief distinguishes the Muslim from
36. ―Deity‖ is defined as ‗an object of worship‘.
37. In Arabic: Ash-hadu an la ilâha illâ Allah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammad Rasool Allah the non-Muslim. Hence, all actions depend on this pillar; deeds (no matter how great) are of no avail to a person if he does not make this testimony. However, there are many acts which may contradict this declaration and expel its doer from Islam as quickly as he or she came in. The most serious of those acts is worshipping other than Allah whether in the form of supplication, prayer or other acts that signifies worship or belief in other than Allah.
2. Prayers:
Formal prayers are prescribed five times daily as a duty to Allah at the following times: dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and nightfall. A Muslim may offer formal prayers almost anywhere as long as the location is clean. Muslim males are enjoined to pray in congregation in a mosque, while females are encouraged to pray in their homes. Prayer provides humans with regular contact with Allah, which helps them, avoid evil. Furthermore, it is symbolic of equality of poor and rich, ruler and subject, black and white. Human beings from every conceivable background stand together, united in rows, shoulder to shoulder, and prostrate themselves before Allah. Prayer strengthens the belief in Allah and elevates the human being to a higher morality. It helps to purify the heart and prevent temptation towards wrongdoing and evil. This act of worship compels the believer to remember his Lord no
matter where he is, night or day. In this way, prayer is continuously taking place throughout the entire world at any given moment.
3. Zakah (Obligatory Charity):
Every Muslim whose net annual savings are above a certain specified minimum must pay an annual amount of 2.5% of his savings to the poor and needy people in the community. Zakah fosters generosity and helps purify the soul of selfishness and greed. Zakah also helps reduce resentment and envy between poor and rich members of the society. Islam is a practical religion. Not only does it safeguard the average individual and his/her rights, it protects the rights of the weaker members of the community as well.
4. Fasting the month of Ramadan:
Fasting in Islam means abstinence from food, drink and sexual acts from dawn to sunset. It is an annual obligation during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Fasting was imposed on former communities of believers in earlier divine religions. The Qur‘an states that the main purpose of fasting is to help us to be more conscious of Allah and more obedient to Him. It teaches sincerity and engenders devotion. It helps us develop a sense of social conscience, patience, self-restraint, will power and compassion for needy members of the society. Someone might ask: Why has Allah, in His wisdom, prescribed fasting for many nations?
The answer is that the purpose of fasting is clearly defined as being for the development of Allah-consciousness (piety). Only Allah knows who is actually fasting and who is not. Consequently, one who is fasting refrains from eating and drinking based on an awareness of Allah. Regular fasting enhances that awareness, which subsequently leads to implanting righteousness in the heart of the individual.
As a secondary benefit, fasting is very beneficial to one‘s health. It purifies the body of toxins; a welcome rest from the useless waste cluttering the body. It allows the body to recuperate and heal. It trains the body, as well as the mind, to function with an amount of food that is sufficient. Also, the needs of basic instincts of survival are kept in check, and when the individual is able to control these, other needs will be easier to control. In return for this sacrifice, Allah grants the believers great rewards and forgiveness of their sins.
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah):
The Hajj is obligatory for every Muslim once in a lifetime, if one can afford it financially and bear it physically. During the Hajj, Muslims from all corners of the world meet in an international congregation dedicated to the worship of Allah. It is a great lesson in patience. The huge gatherings for the Hajj are a reminder of the Day of Judgment when all of humankind will gather for their reckoning. It emphasizes the belief that all Muslims are brothers and sisters, irrespective of their geographical, cultural, racial or social origins.38
XI. The Meaning of Worship In Islam
The meaning of worship is, simply, total submission and complete obedience to Allah's Commandments in belief, intentions, statements, and actions. This is achieved by striving to do what Allah has encouraged, avoiding what He has forbidden, and worshipping Him alone according to His teachings. This is the true meaning of the worship of Allah in Islam. May Allah enable his followers to achieve this level of worship.
38. It should be noted that the five pillars have high importance in Islam; learning and practicing them are priorities for every Muslim, whereas everything else can be learned gradually, with patience and dedication.

XII. Islam is a Moral System
Islam has unique moral teachings. They call for strengthening the relationship between humans and their Lord, as well as with one another. They also call for people to correct and straighten themselves, both inwardly and outwardly.
Concerning the correcting and strengthening of the relationship between a person and his Lord, the Qur‘an calls for people to draw close to Allah through both physical and mental acts of worship such as prayer, the pilgrimage, and sacrifice. In addition, the Qur‘an calls us to seek knowledge about Allah through His Names and Attributes. This instils fear and awe of the Lord in people‘s hearts and establishes discipline in applying Allah‘s commands and prohibitions.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also instructed people to remember Allah at all times and in every situation. This creates a permanent connection between people and their Lord and instils stability, strength and tranquillity in their hearts. It is one of the means of protecting against evil and vice, since a Muslim will be reminded constantly that Allah is watching his or her every action. The Prophet (peace be upon him), for
example, instructed that specific invocations be said at the time of sleep, before entering the lavatory, before sexual intercourse, while travelling, when in fear, upon entering or leaving one‘s house, first thing in the morning and in the afternoon, on being afflicted by distress, anxiety or misfortune, when burdened by debt or poverty, upon entering a graveyard, when stopping for a rest or setting up camp, and in many other situations. Concerning a person‘s relationship to others, the Qur‘an promotes behaviour which strengthens and reinforces social relationships such as the importance given to the role of the family. Treating parents kindly, maintaining good relations with other family members, seeing to the rights and needs of spouses and children and dealing with them with love and mercy, and supporting orphans and the weaker members of society are all obligatory. Conversely, disobeying parents, severing family ties, neglect or abuse of spouses and children, and social isolation are all prohibited.
In addition, the Qur‘an instructs that all people should be treated with high moral behaviour and noble manners. One is encouraged to smile, forgive, return harm with good, and have patience when dealing with other Muslims. Since this high code of moral behaviour is quite trying, Allah has promised immense reward for the one that achieves this.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed people to adopt good manners when in gatherings, such as not raising one‘s voice, respecting elders, being gentle with youngsters, greeting those present by saying, ―Assalâmu alaykum warahmatuallah wabarakâtuhu,‖ which means ‗may the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you‘. Islam also demands that we guard our tongues against saying bad things about others, even if what we wanted to say was true.
Islam also tells us that agreements and contracts must be fulfilled, entrusted items returned, and rulers obeyed. It enjoins noble characteristics just as it forbids vileness, baseness, crime, oppression, hostility, aggression, and all other blameworthy and reprehensible qualities.
Islam highly recommends kindness to parents. This command is mentioned eight times in the Qur‘an. In one of the verses, Allah said to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be dutiful to your parents. If one or both of them become old, do not say to them a word of disrespect nor shout at them, but address them in terms of honour. And be highly submissive out of mercy, and pray for them saying: My Lord, bestow on them your mercy as they brought me up when I was a child. (Qur‘an 17: 23-24) Being kind to parents might seem obvious to most. However, this is the beauty of Islam: it emphasizes this point because in reality, being kind to parents may be more difficult than being kind to strangers!
<<A man asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): Whom should I honour most?
The Prophet replied: Your mother.
Then the man asked: And who comes next?
The Prophet replied: Your mother.
Then the man asked again: And who comes next?
The Prophet replied: Your mother.
Then the man asked again: And who comes next?
The Prophet replied: Your father.>>39
Kindness towards relatives has been promoted by most major religions. Islam, however, takes this aspect to a new dimension. Relatives have specific rights laid out by
39. Narrated by Bukhari (5971) and Muslim (2548)
the Sharia (Islamic law). We are obliged to assist our relatives by economic as well as social means. The rights of relatives are based on nearness in blood relationship. This can be seen mostly in the rights of inheritors, which are specifically laid out in the Qur‘an. The Qur‘an goes a step further, even assigning rights to foster relations. A Muslim is not allowed to make a bequest that excludes any of his relatives who have been given a share in the inheritance. Furthermore, even the amount of charity one can assign has been limited; the rights of the relatives must be fulfilled first.
A Muslim must treat all relatives with the utmost respect and kindness, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims. A Muslim is not allowed to boycott his or her relatives or cut off relations with them. He or she is encouraged to keep in contact with them even if these relatives were to abandon him or her. Indeed, maintaining family ties is of such great importance that a Muslim is greatly rewarded for doing any good actions that promote this. Islam encourages treating neighbours very kindly. There is a verse in the Qur‘an that sums this all up:
[Show] kindness unto parents, and unto near kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and into the neighbour who is related [to you] and the neighbour who is not related, and the fellow-traveller and the wayfarer...40 (Qur‘an 4: 36)
Also, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: <<(The Angel) Gabriel continued to urge me to treat neighbours kindly and politely, so much that I thought he would order me to make them my heirs.>>41
The Prophet also said: <<Anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbour, and anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should entertain guests generously, and anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should say what is good or keep quiet.>>42
One of the Prophet‘s neighbours used to throw trash on him regularly, as he passed by. Once when she did not do this, he inquired about her, concerned that something was wrong. He found her ill in bed, and when she thought he would display anger or vengeance, she was surprised to find him merciful, despite all her rude behaviour towards
40. This translation of the meaning of this verse was taken from The Glorious Qur‘an, translated (meanings rendered) by Muhammad M. Pickthall, Istanbul: Cagri Yayinlari, 1996 (Editor)
41. Narrated by Bukhari, Hadith no. 6014 and Muslim Hadith no. 2624
him. She then embraced Islam because of his kindness. Remember, kindness to neighbours is rewarded by Allah.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught many practical good manners, including the virtue of adopting the correct manners for eating and drinking. These include eating with one‘s right hand and not finding fault with the food but rather being satisfied with it. If you like the food, you should eat it, but if you have no appetite for it, you should leave it in the dish without criticizing it. This is both out of respect for the blessing of the food and in order not to hurt the feelings of the person who cooked it or offered it. It is also preferred for us to eat with others and not alone, either by eating with family or by inviting a poor person to eat with us. The words ―In the name of Allah‖ (in Arabic, bismillâh) should be said before beginning to eat, and ―All praise belongs to Allah‖ (Alhamdulillâh) after the meal, in order that people remember the blessing they have been given and the One who provided it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also prohibited people from blowing on food or drink or breathing onto it, out of respect for others who may be sharing it and to avoid the spread of contagious diseases.
Islam also enjoins both physical and spiritual cleanliness. It encourages that we keep our bodies clean, and our clothes and shoes as well. Islam has guided Muslims for their well-being, even to the minutes detail. For example, a Muslim is encouraged to wash thoroughly after using the toilet, clean his or her teeth often (especially with the siwâk, or toothbrush), and shower after sexual relations.
Concerning spiritual purity, the Qur‘an instructs that the soul be straightened and corrected and that the heart be purified from spite, malice, jealousy, pride and inequity. It calls for integrity of heart and love, affection and humility towards people. It instructs that the tongue be purified from lying, backbiting, slander, and insult. It should then be replaced with truthfulness and softness in speech. Islam encourages unity, so much so that a Muslim is encouraged to give as many excuses as he could for suspected bad behaviour or speech on the part of his or her fellow Muslim. Also, the wealth, property, and life of a Muslim are held sacred: this means that no one else has the right to interfere with these without the Muslim‘s express permission. The enormity of sins such as slander and backbiting is emphasized in many verses of the Qur‘an, and a chapter of the Qur‘an (Qur‘an 104) is dedicated to this very subject.
We should restrain our eyes from looking at that to which they are not entitled (such as the private parts of others), and we should keep our ears from listening to loose and immoral talk, including lewd lyrics.
The Qur‘an praises and encourages knowledge and criticizes ignorance, saying that it leads to destruction. It commands people to action and dynamism while prohibiting wasteful talk and laziness.
It also orders that children be born within a legal marriage and that sexual desire be controlled and contained within these parameters. To uphold the family structure and the well-being of society, the Qur‘an prohibits fornication because it is one of the worst assaults on a person‘s honour and dignity. It is something which causes disease and produces children who are looked upon by society as ‗illegitimate‘. Likewise, the Qur‘an forbids everything which leads to fornication, so it prohibits looking at pornographic pictures and being alone with women who are not close relatives.43 It also commands that men should lower their gaze from looking or staring at women whom they have no right to look at. Muslim women thus enjoy protection and security and can be confident that a Muslim man will not even look at her if not permitted to. The same prohibitions hold for women gazing at men unlawfully.
43. Close relatives are men‘s mothers, daughters, sisters, nieces, and wives. With this same reasoning, Islam enjoins morality in behaviour and appearance. Fashions that reduce women to sex objects are not acceptable. Islamic veiling is a means of protection from unwanted external attention. Allah says in the Qur‘an: O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their bodies so that they should be known and not molested. (Qur‘an 33: 59)
That means, with their husbands women may wear whatever they wish in the privacy of their own homes, where they will receive only the type of attention they desire.
Islam urges men to be kind to their wives, Allah says in the Qur‘an: He created mates from among yourselves for you to dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts. (Qur‘an 30: 21)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: <<The best of you are those who are kindest to their wives.>>44
44. Narrated by Ibn Majah, hadith no. 1978
This is because one can be kind in public where everyone is watching, yet be mean and cruel at home. Islam holds Muslims accountable even in this situation, where their true nature may be revealed. This is the true test of moral behaviour.
In Islam, the wife retains her independent legal status and family name. She is not the property of her husband in any way, but she has many rights due to her from him, as he does from her. In Islam, it is the husband‘s obligation to give his wife a valuable gift at the time of marriage. The groom must present the bride with a marriage dowry. The bride retains her dowry even if she is later divorced. He must support his wife and children financially thereafter. The wife is never obliged to act as a co-provider for the family unless she herself voluntarily chooses to do so. It is the husband‘s sole responsibility to support his family financially. Islam gives women (whether married, divorced or single) the right to inherit, own and trade.