Turn Police Stations and Prisons into Counseling and Moral Uplift Centers

T

he title may astonish many… Is it a crazy idea? Is it a dream or illusion? What is the connection between morality and police stations? Why trying it with police stations? Is it a possibility or just a theory? No, it is definitely a possibility.

I am not proposing a vague theory here, but am writing this with full confidence. I have with me the experience of counseling at least 50 people and successfully changing their life-style and attitude. All your doubts will be cleared and you will be convinced, provided you go through the article till the end patiently and without any prejudice.

First, what will be the result if the project is carried out?

There is nothing to lose either materially or otherwise. If it works out successfully, though an ideally peaceful and fear-free state is at a distance, we can at least enjoy the following benefits:

·  The present trend of prisons producing bigger criminals out of smaller criminals will come to an end. Instead, reformed citizens contributing to the establishment of peace and justice in the country will be coming out of prisons. They can be engaged in more constructive works.

·  The governments can save money spent on maintaining law and order, maintaining police stations and prisons and their inmates and staffs.

Why Police-stations and Prisons?  

Though crime and evil are spread all over, our focus is on police stations and prisons because:

·  These are the places that are meant to be used for correcting and controlling crime in the country. Though government, judiciary and other authorities are there to ensure peace and justice for the public, the policemen are the people who directly work to control crime.

·  Police stations are places of security and hope for sections of the public that are scared of, or are affected by, crime.

·  These are the places wherein captured criminals are lodged together. While many criminals roam free outside, those imprisoned are the ones directly involved in crime.

·  These are the places where criminals are found disengaged from their routine work and environment and are available for open consultation.

The Need

In every police station we can find tables and charts depicting the statistics regarding the alarming increase of crimes. These are, of course, reported data; we can only guess as to the unreported ones. Needless to say, people are frustrated with the situation. Day by day our existence is becoming awful. Now almost all of us want to do something to change the situation, but we do not know how to go about it. The initiative which I am proposing is a step in this direction. It is not a new one, but it is, nevertheless, a time-tested one, which is taught by our own Creator! The initiative proposed will be a part of establishing dharma on earth which is the common goal of all religions.

The Cause

If asked as to why crime and evils are on the rise, we could blame the government, the politicians, the economic conditions, social and cultural background, and so on. But one of the main reasons for the growth of crime in society is the ever-deepening moral crisis.

To control this, we have to correct immorality among the individuals that make-up our society. Is it possible?  Yes, it is possible, if we understand certain basic facts and act upon that understanding.

Usually we human beings often forget three undeniable, fundamental, truths:

Ø  That the whole of mankind are descendants of the first parents on earth and all of us belong to the same family irrespective of our color, language, country, or period in which we live.

Ø  That above us there exists a Creator and Cherisher of ours who is also the Lord and Sustainer of the entire universe.

Ø  That we are answerable to our Master Who has created us. That is, our Creator will judge us for our deeds, and He will reward us for our good deeds and punish us for our bad deeds.

If we want to reform any individual or society, we have to remind them about the aforementioned truths and convince them about their accountability for their deeds on earth. If a man has to be righteous, he should essentially have a proper and clear concept of God. Only then can a true sense of accountability be realized by him.

It is natural to expect your good work to be recognized and rewarded. With laws,you get punished when you violate them. The law does not reward you for being good. Why would a person be motivated to do good deeds?

One may ask, if laws can prevent from doing bad deeds, isn’t that enough? We must note that, if man has to fear only the law, he will find a way to tackle the law. We see that happening today resulting in the increase of crimes.

When man realizes his accountability to God for his deeds, it will motivate him to stay good and keep away from bad.

If the concept of God is wrongly taught to man, a reformation is never possible, for this misinformation directly affects the seriousness of man’s belief in his accountability before God. Implanting the proper concept of God in the human mind is, therefore, the first step in the human reformation process.

Today, it can be seen that right from childhood, lifeless and senseless objects are shown to man and are explained to him as gods. People worship graves (e.g., darghas), statues, photos, monuments, symbols, animals, sun, moon, and stars etc., as gods even though our reason does not accept them as the real God. People, irrespective of the religions they belong to, fall victims to this practice of their ancestors. Thus, generations are nurtured with a corrupt conception of God and thereby do not have even the slightest sense of accountability of their deeds. They dare to commit any kind of sins and crimes without any hesitation. Thus, sins accumulate in society uncontrollably. This is the most important cause of sins and crimes and their perpetuation in society.

But this fact is ignored and left unattended by the authorities of the nation who are responsible for the control of crimes. As a nation interested in establishing peace around us, we should initiate researches and action plans to arrest the growing moral crisis on priority basis. Unless we keep aside all prejudices arising out of our affiliations to different religions, races, regions and languages and take positive, constructive, steps in this direction, the future of the nation will be catastrophic.

The Solution

For the moral uplift of society, we cannot ignore the role of the messengers of God who came to India and elsewhere in the world and the Holy Books sent through them. We know that during their times they reformed their respective people or nations successfully and established dharma on earth. The reason behind their success was that they followed the guidance from God Almighty and adhered to it. After a comparative study of these scriptures and the sayings of those noble souls, we arrive at the following facts:

God almighty has been sending His messengers at different periods of time to different parts of the world to preach about the real concept of God and about the purpose of man’s life on earth. These messengers are known as ‘Rishis’ in ancient India and are known as ‘Prophets’ in Christianity and Islam. All of them taught their respective people about the unity of mankind and the unity of God.

They taught the people that the Creator and Cherisher of this universe is one and only one and He alone deserves worship. Except Him, everything else in the world is His creation and none of His creations deserve any worship. They also cautioned people strictly against worshipping any of His creations or associating partners to Him as this practice leads to growth of sins, division in humanity, spread of superstitions, exploitation in the name of God by middlemen etc. All of them taught their respective people to worship the Creator directly without any middlemen, formalities or spending of any money.

Traces of this can be seen in the below quoted examples from the holy scriptures and sayings of people revered by people of major religions of our nation:

About Oneness of God

Brahma Sutra of Hinduism:
“Ekam Brahm, dvitiya naste neh na naste Kinchan.” [“There is only one God, not the second; Not at all, not at all, not in the least bit.”]

“Ma cid anyad vi sansata sakhayo ma rishanyata” [“O friends, do not worship anybody but Him, the Divine One. Praise Him alone.”] [Rigveda 5:1:81]

"I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God." [Bible: Isaiah 45:5]

“There is one God, Eternal Truth is His Name; Maker of all things, fearing nothing and at enmity with nothing, Timeless is His Image; Not begotten, being of His own Being: By the grace of the Guru, made known to men.”
[Guru Granth Sahib - Guru Nanak]

”Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally besought of all! He begetteth not nor was begotten. There is none like Him.” [Holy Qur’an 112: 1-3]

“Na tasya pratima asti ” “There is no image of Him” [Yajurveda 32:3]

“Shudhama poapvidham.” [‘He is bodiless and pure.’ [Yajurveda 40: 8]

"Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.”  [The Bible, Isaiah 46: 9]

“And there is none comparable unto Him.” [The Qur’an, 112: 4]

Warning Against Worshipping False gods – i.e., ascribing partners to Him or worshipping anything other than Him

“Andhatama pravishanti ye asambhuti mupaste” [They enter darkness, those who worship the natural things” (Air, water, fire, etc.)] - Yajurveda 40: 9

“(One of the Commandments is this that) you shall not have any other gods before me." – The Bible, Exodus 20: 3

“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.” [Qur’an 4:116]

Besides oneness of God, the messengers of God preached about the purpose of our existence here. That is, the present temporary life is a test in which our deeds are recorded. After a certain period, the whole world will be destroyed one day and all human beings will be resurrected back to life again for judging their actions on earth. After the judgment, depending upon the weight of their good and bad deeds, people will be sent to paradise or hell wherein they will live eternally.

By reminding people about the Creator’s plan of rewarding the righteous with Paradise of eternal pleasure and punishing the sinners with hell fire, the messengers of God reformed their respective people who were going astray and gradually established dharma in their region. The holy books of God convey the message that the life after death is a reality. To avoid elaboration let me limit my quoting only from the Qur’an which is known as the last one in the series of divine books that have reached mankind. It has many arguments like this:

“Does man not consider that We created him from a [mere] sperm-drop – then at once he is a clear adversary?  And he presents for Us an example and forgets his [own] creation. He says, ‘Who will give life to bones while they are disintegrated?’ Say, ‘He will give them life who produced them the first time; and He is, of all creation, Knowing.’” (Quran 36: 77-79)

It further says:

“Is not He who created the heavens and the earth able to create the likes of them? Yes, [it is so]; and He is the Knowing Creator. His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it,’Be,’ and it is.” (Qur’an 36: 81-82)

It convinces us logically that the One Who has created us for the first time out of nothing can create us again to judge our deeds to reward us or punish us.

The Method

After studying the background and psychology of criminals and arranging open conversations with them, we can counsel them to correct their mindset. By reminding them about the aforementioned facts in the proper way, God willing, we can expect a positive attitudinal change in them. Further, we can develop them by teaching adequate meditation and prayers. We should educate them in such a way that when they leave prison, they are morally strong enough to face the immoral environment outside. We should train them in such a way that they will become volunteers in spreading peace, love and justice in the country.

Conclusion

By implementing this project, we can achieve the real purpose of establishing police stations and prisons. They are supposed to produce reformed citizens out of prisoners. Just frightening, punishing and torturing the criminals will only create feelings of everlasting vengeance in them against the people affected by their crimes. If implemented, the prisons will no longer be a place which converts small criminals into bigger criminals, and no more the starting point of crime-networking and plotting as is found today.

Suggestions

1.       To implement the proposal, House of Peace can offer a practical demonstration before the concerned authorities, supply a team of counselors, and train those who volunteer to become such counselors.

2.       This project will not be carried out under the banner of any religion. There need not be any apprehension that this will lead to any religious conversions. Our objective is simply the conversion of sinning souls to purified ones, and this by reminding them about certain realities about themselves, irrespective of their religious affiliation.

Leggings….. Are there any harmful effects?

Leggings…..  Are there any harmful effects?

Leggings… the garment which is flourishing fast, mainly in cosmopolitan cities, is worn by women due to several reasons, for e.g. comfort of wearing, low price, to look attractive to others, to avoid being branded  as “backward” by colleagues and friends, to comply with fashion- trends etc. 

Well, is there anything wrong in wearing this?

Yes, there is. They are so tight and so closely attach to skin, that one may get skin itches depending upon the material used for this dress.

Are there any remedies to cure of any such skin infections?

Of course, they can be treated and cured with simple medicines available in the market.

Is there any other harm?

As they look so attractive, people of opposite gender may be tempted to make advances towards those who wear them. If the situations permit them, in some extreme cases, they may even rape and murder the victims. It is also possible that the victim (of rape) may get impregnated and as a result she may carry and deliver a child of an unknown father.

Are there any remedies or ways to counter them?

Yes there are many remedial measures to counter them as suggested by the “forward” thinkers and feminist activists.

They are:

-      The probable victims can learn self – defense techniques like karate, kungfu etc.

-      Can apply for police protection in advance.

-      Hold demos to create public awareness of the ‘fact’ that dressing as they wish is women’s right, but, men have to change their attitude towards them.

-      To avoid unwanted pregnancies, there are several measures one can resort to. There are multitudes of hospitals that support it. Even if the child birth happens, there are many orphanages and NGOs to take care of them.

Well, are there any other harms?

Yes, there are!  But they’re very scary, unavoidable and immensely harmful!

The harmful effects discussed earlier can be somehow managed and one can escape from the ill of them. But the effects we are going to discuss now are the ones which will continue eternally.

ETERNALLY?  HOW?

Those who ponder over the complex structure of this vast universe and realize man’s insignificant status here will definitely realize that the temporary life we live now is with a purpose as conveyed by the Messengers of God and the Holy Scriptures sent through them. They teach us that the whole world will come to an end one day. All the human beings, right from the first man to the last will be brought back to life (Resurrection) on the Day of Judgment and will be questioned for their deeds. People who have done good deeds and lived a life in accordance with God’s command will receive a reward and people who have disobeyed God will be punished.

The reward will be Heaven and the punishment will be Hell. The life in Heaven and Hell will be eternal and never-ending.

For peaceful existence of mankind in this world, God Almighty has commanded us to do certain things and they are known as good deeds (punya) and God has banned us from certain other deeds and they are known as bad deeds (paapa).

Latest in the serial of Messengers of God, to come to this world, is Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Holy scripture sent through him is Holy Quran.

As per the above resources, the Master of the universe prescribes a dress code and behavioral code for both men and women. Purpose of them is to protect the society as a whole and promote modest dressing and behavior. It creates a barrier between the sexes and allows us to conduct our lives with modesty, dignity and respect.  Any violation of this codes creates havoc, immorality and disorder in the society, and hence punishable by Him (God).

= Dress code for men is that they should cover their body; a bare-minimum for them is at least from the naval to the knees. The dress should not be tight or see-through either.

= For women, the dress must conceal the entire body except the face and the hands. It should not be see-through or tight either, that describes the size and shape of the body or even a part of it.

When women come in public for their studies, profession, shopping and other activities permitted by God, they have to compulsorily follow this dress code.

= As per the behavioral code, free mingling of women with men, other than the close relatives like husband, father, brother, son, uncle etc., is prohibited.

Sexual relationship is allowed only between husband (male) and wife (female).

= Any male –female sexual relationship beyond marriage bonds is strictly prohibited and hence severely punishable by God Almighty.

= Any kind of meeting, chatting, mingling or caressing with any stranger of opposite sex in privacy or even in public is illicit.

= It is the responsibility of the state to punish, in front of public, the culprits who commit adultery and theft.

As per the codes prescribed by God, not only leggings, any such dress that crosses the above limits and allures the opposite gender is prohibited in this world.

The transgressors may or may not get affected by the harmful effects mentioned above in this world. But they are sure to be caught for their offence on the Day of Judgment as everything is recorded in the system of God.

Even now, one can realize that every human brain carries the past records of life’s events and they cannot be erased by any method!

The Holy Quran says:

"So whoever does an atom’s weight of good, will see it; and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it (too)." (Quran 99: 7, 8)

On that day every small and big offense will be exposed.  The very parts of body will speak against the offenders!

That Day, We will seal over their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify about what they used to earn. (Quran 36:65)

After weighing the deeds, Hell will be awarded for sinners and Paradise, for the people who followed God’s path. To know what Hell and Paradise are, go through the Holy Quran, the last revelation from God Almighty. For example please read the verses below:

Indeed, Hell has been lying in wait for the transgressors, a place of return, in which they will remain for ages [unending]. They will not taste therein [any] coolness or drink except scalding water and [foul] purulence -An appropriate recompense. (Quran 78:21-26)

And say, "The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve." Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. And if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place. (Quran 18:29)  

As for those who had lead a life of discipline as commanded by God, they will be in eternal bliss…

Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - indeed, We will not allow to be lost the reward of any who did well in deeds. Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place. (Quran 18:30,31)  

Yes, brothers and sisters, we live here only once. Lets us correct our dress and our behavior suitably to reach the correct destination…that is Paradise!

"Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion." (Quran 3:185)
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WHY ARE WE HERE?
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IN SEARCH OF SOLUTION TO RAPE

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A Time for Peace, A Time for War

The word "Islam" is closely related to the word "salam or silm" which means peace. Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, himself had a very peaceful nature, was extremely tolerant, and highly protective of the non-Muslim minorities living in the Muslim state. However, there are times when states find war inevitable, but Islam only permits war in specific and dire circumstances. It keeps warfare at a level of mercy and respect for the enemy that no other army has been able to reach. The Prophet sometimes had to fight for the mere survival of his people and message, but once their security was ensured, he immediately reverted to peace and diplomacy. There is a rigid code Muslims must abide by in deciding when they can fight and how the fighting should be conducted. War itself is despised, and is only a last-resort option when all other attempts at peace have been made. A Muslim is never allowed to initiate hostilities. "And fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but transgress not the limits. Surely, Allah likes not the transgressors." [2: 190]. The only times in which believers are allowed to take up arms are when they are defending their own lives and the lives of their people, when they see the weak being oppressed in acts of tyranny, and when they are prohibited from practicing their religion: "And slay them wherever ye find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. And fight not with them at the Inviolable Place of Worship until they first attack you there, but if they attack you (there) then slay them. Such is the reward of disbelievers." [2: 191]. "They question thee (O Muhammad) with regard to warfare in the sacred month. Say: Warfare therein is a great (transgression), but to turn (men) from the way of Allah, and to disbelieve in Him and in the Inviolable Place of Worship, and to expel His people thence, is a greater with Allah; for persecution is worse than killing. And they will not cease from fighting against you till they have made you renegades from your religion, if they can. And whoso be cometh a renegade and dieth in his disbelief: such are they whose works have fallen both in the world and the Hereafter, Such are rightful owners of the Fire: they will abide therein," [2:217]. Aside from these circumstances, there is no legitimate fighting in Islam. The conditions placed upon the soldier in battle are of utmost respect for the enemy and for human life. Islam makes a clear distinction between combatants and noncombatants, forbidding soldiers to harm defenseless civilian in any way. The Prophet said: "Do not kill the women, children, aged or the ill." He also prohibited Muslims from harming monks in their monasteries or hermits in their caves. Cutting down trees, destroying livestock, wells, homes or land of the enemy is likewise forbidden. Upon seeing the corpse of a woman in a battlefield, Prophet Muhammad asked his companions why she had been killed, and condemned it. There is no excuse for any expedition or attack resulting in the killing of civilians, no one has the right to take innocent lives. For those enemies active in combat and those taken prisoner of war, the list of rights is lengthy. There is no torture, no killing of the wounded or defenseless, and the return of corpses to the enemy is honored. There is no mutilation of the enemy bodies. Even after Hind bint Utbah, a powerful lady of Makkah, chewed the liver of the Prophet's uncle, Hamzah, after he was killed in a battle between Muhammad and her non-Muslim people, Muhammad still forbade his men from disrespecting a creation of God in such a way The Prophet commanded the believers to treat the prisoners of war with kindness. One prisoner by the name of Abu Aziz told how surprised he was to see the Muslims giving the better part of their meal-the bread-to the prisoners while they themselves just had dates. "Not a crumb of bread would fall into their hands without them giving it to me," he narrated, "and I would be so embarrassed that I would reject it. But then they would return it back to me." The Qur'an lays down strict guidelines for the declaration of war by a Muslim army, and Muslims are prohibited from breaching any treaty to which they have agreed. "If you fear treachery from any people throw back (their covenant) to them (so as to be) on equal terms (that there will be no more covenant between you and them), Certainly Allah likes not the treacherous. [8:58]. The extent of the Prophet's mercy can be seen in the Muslim conquest of Makkah, which happened towards the end of his life. The Makkan tribe of Quraish had blatantly violated the significant "Treaty of Hudaybiyya" by supplying men and arms in an effort to attack a Muslim-allied tribe. They had slaughtered ruthlessly, even killing inside the Holy Sanctuary, and knew they could expect retaliation for such a weighty crime. Muhammad, upon learning of the raid, set out for Makkah at the head of a colossal army of 10,000 men. Everyone wondered how he would conduct this expedition; if he wanted revenge for all the mockery, persecution, and murders of his companions, now was certainly the time. His forces humiliatingly outnumbered his enemies. When the army reached the outskirts of Makkah, they came upon the chief of Quraish, the archenemy of Islam, Abu Sufvan. Several Muslims were furious and wished to see him dead, but the noble Prophet received him. Muhammad asked his uncle, Abbas, to take Abu Sufyan ahead to a high gorge-giving him a full view of the Muslim army approaching Makkah. The leader must have felt his heart leap to his throat as he watched group after group, tribe after tribe pass in front of him. Finally, he turned to 'Abbas and asked incredulously, "Oh Abbas! Who are all these people?" Abbas's reply was plain and powerful: "This is the Apostle of Allah and his Companions." When Abu Sufyan approached the Prophet Muhammad begging for pardon and forgiveness, it was not revenge he heard coming from Muhammad's blessed lips. Instead, the Prophet simply said: "He who takes refuge in Abu Sufyan's house is safe; whosoever confines himself to his house, the people therein will be in safety; and he who enters the Sacred Mosque is safe." With these words Muhammad gave a full pardon and amnesty to the city of Makkah, and it was conquered in peace. To Wahshi, the murderer of Muhammad's uncle Hamzah; a pardon. To Hind, who mutilated his body and chewed his liver, absolute clemency. To Habar, who had attacked the Prophet's daughter so brutally that she eventually died, forgiveness. After seeing this, the people started to accept Islam in crowds, as long before, God had promised Muhammad they would. " When comes the Help of Allah (to you against your enemies) and conquest (of Makkah), And you see that the people enter Allah's Religion (Islam) in crowds, So glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask for His forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and forgives" [110:1-3]. As families were reunited and the Muslims celebrated being back in the sacred city, Muhammad had other things in mind. After offering prayers to God for the victory, he proceeded directly to the House of God, the Ka'bah, that had been polluted by the 360 man-made idols. The Prophet of God proceeded to knock them to the ground with his bow. As he did, he recited the Qur'anic verse: "And Say: Truth (Islamic Monotheism) has come and falsehood (Polythesm) has vanished. Surely! Falsehood is ever-bound to vanish." [17:81]. "Al-Amin" returned to Madinah, where he spent the last years of his extraordinary life in worship and devotion to his Lord. He continued to stand in prayer for hours throughout the night until his ankles were swollen and his wife asked him to stop., but he did not. Although he was a ruler of a vast empire in his last years, he continued to sleep on a modest straw mat, with no desire for carpets, or luxuries of any kind. He became ill and passed away in the arms of his wife, Aisha, at the age of 63. He left behind a stunning legacy, a blameless example and a religion that changed the world forever. Courtesy:  Niche of Truth

A BRIEF HISTORY OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH)

Muhammad's prophet-hood was similar to those of the Prophets before him, including Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and many others. An orphan by the age of seven, he grew up as simple, yet pious individual. He was known for his justice and honesty, earning the nickname " AI-Amin (the honest man)" years before he was to learn of his own prophet-hood. He despised the injustices he saw within Makkan society, and as a young man helped form an alliance, "Hilf al-Fudhoul," to help preserve the rights of the poor and oppressed. He was troubled by the abundance of idols and senseless acts of paganism dominating his people. A staggering 360 idols were housed in Makkah, and they were called upon daily by most residents of the city. For someone of deep moral character, it must have been a confusing and difficult place to live. Muhammad (PBUH) used to go for days at a time into hills around Makkah to meditate. It was during one of these times in cave in Mount Hiraa, that God sent his first revelation to Muhammad (PBUH). Muhammad (PBUH) was now the final Messenger of God, and would be used to deliver the universal message to all humankind. The Archangel Gabriel came to Muhammad (PBUH) and commanded, "Read!" Muhammad, terrified, replied, "I'm not a reader," for he could neither read nor write, as literacy, where he lived, was rare. The angel took hold of him, squeezed him with incredible force, released him and repeated the command: Read! Muhammad repeated himself and once again the angel squeezed him until Muhammad (PBUH) thought he could bear it no longer. After the third time, Muhammad (PBUH) felt the intense ringing of bells and heard Gabriel recite the literal word of God. Words so powerful that it felt like they were inscribed on his heart: "Read: In the name of your Lord Who created, Created humankind from something that clings (zygote to the uterus), Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous." [96: 1-3] He (PBUH) ran from the cave in terror, trying to escape the intense and frightening experience. But everywhere he looked on the horizon, he saw Gabriel; he could not escape it; he had already been chosen. Over a period of 23 years, the revelations continued to come. The verses make up the Noble Qur'an, and Muhammad (PBUH) and the believers committed them to memory. The thriving city of Makkah saw Muhammad (PBUH) as a grave threat; their strong economy depended upon the commerce of tribes that came to pay homage to the many idols housed in Makkah. The Makkan chiefs, upon seeing Islam spread, summoned Muhammad (PBUH) and offered him any amount of wealth or power he wanted, in exchange for him to halt his preaching. To this offer, which was delivered by his own uncle, Muhammad's (PBUH) reply was swift: "If they placed the sun in my right hand, and the moon in my left, I would not abandon this path I am on". For teaching the concept of one God and obedience to His law, Muhammad (PBUH) was mocked, beaten and cast out by his own people, who refused to abandon the idols and blood sacrifices surrounding the religions of their forefathers. When he visited the city of Ta'if, the people sent their children to hurl stones at him. The people of Makkah once draped the intestines of a camel upon his blessed shoulders while he was prostrating in prayer, then doubled over in laughter at their cruel prank. The Makkan's seized several believers, men and women, torturing and even killing them, and several attempts were made on Muhammad's (PBUH) life. After 13 years of harsh conditions in Makkah, including a social and economic boycott in which Makkans were forbidden to meet, marry, or trade with the Muslim minority, Muhammad (PBUH) immigrated to the welcoming city of Yathrib, some four hundred kilometers to the north of Makkah. The city adopted the name "Madinah," and is still known today with the same name. Muhammad (PBUH) was made head of state and in a matter of years established an advanced and just political, legal, economic and social system. His years of Prophet-hood were at many times tumultuous, but he knew his patience and perseverance was not in vain and would not go unnoticed. He had the ever-present consciousness that" Allah," or God, was All-seeing, All-knowing. Courtesy : Niche of Truth

Why should we not follow him?

Who was Muhammad (sallallahu alaihiwasallam) before he was forty?  An illiter­ate shepherd boy. Another ordinary person in the darkness that sur­rounded him. A honest and truthful trader. Whence did this Muhammad (sallallahu alaihiwasallam) receive such wisdom?  How did he concoct an all embracing, and eternally rel­evant, set of moral laws? How was it that he formulated, and propounded, the highest of political and economic theories? Whence did he create a set of the loftiest code of guidance which has never witnessed the least necessity for change? One man - a single individual - becomes, at once, a trail blazing social reformer, an astute legislator, a strategic military leader, a powerful statesman, a highly intelligent visionary, a man of the most extreme God-consciousness, a loving, head of the family, and friend. And yet does he say, ‘This is all not of mine own doing. It is but the Will and Power of God. He it is Who has sent me as a messenger for the guidance of humanity Follow me, therefore; for therein, lies your salvation.’ Has there been any evidence for his having spoken a false-hood?  No. Has any even alleged the commission of a great sin upon that greatest of lives? No. Has there been any other comparable example of the ideal life in the history of the world? No. Then, if that is so, why should we not obey him? Why should we not believe in him? Why should we not take him as our role model? Why should we not follow him? What of the Divine scripture that was revealed through him? It remains as the miracle of miracles even as it is the ocean of the highest knowledge itself. More than being a religious scripture, it remains as the su­per-natural attestation of the prophethood of Muhammad (sallallahu alaihiwasallam). Man­kind has not yet been able to face the challenge of that super-natural Book. Nor will mankind be able to do so in future! We have understood that in the personality of Muhammad (sallallahu alaihiwasallam), all the prophecies in the earlier scriptures concerning the mes­senger who was to come, found their true fulfillment. It follows from the fact that if the earlier scriptures, today, contain numerous prophecies, concerning Muhammad (sallallahu alaihiwasallam) despite the corruption to which they were subject, the number of such prophecies could have been much greater if the scriptures were to be available in the origi­nal purity with which they were revealed to the prophets. We can believe, therefore, that -Muhammad (sallallahu alaihiwasallam) is the messenger of God, the Creator, Sustainer, and the One worthy of the worship, of all worlds. The Messenger of Peace. The truthful prophet. The follower of all the earlier prophets. The guide unto the Creator for all humanity. Make, therefore, the unconditional obedience to him, thy creed. For that is the path to true salvation. “And We have sent you (O Muhammad sallallahu alaihiwasallam) not but as a mercy for the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). Say: It is revealed to me that your Ilah (God) is only one Ilah (God - Allah). Will you then submit to His Will (become Muslims and stop worshipping others besides Allah)? But if they turn away say: "I give you a notice to be known to us all alike. And I know not whether that which you are promised (i.e. the torment or the Day of Resurrection) is near or far." (Quran 21: 107-109 Translated meaning) Courtesy: M M Akbar

Cleanliness and Beautification

The attention to hygiene is another aspect of Civilized Manner (Suluk Al-Hadari) which is an unknown concern in any other religion or philosophy before Islam. Cleanliness became an essential part of the rites and worship to such extent that it is an inseparable part of the Muslim's life.

The five daily Prayers are obligatory upon every Muslim, man and women. This Prayer is actually pledge to meet Allah, the Exalted, from the rising of the dawn until the disappearance of the twilight at evening. It is, in fact a spiritual shower washing away sins five times a day. In this respect Allah says: "And establish regular Prayers at the two ends of the day and when the night approaches, surely the good deeds blot out the evil deeds." (11:114)

This Islamic Prayer has a uniqueness unlike the Prayer in other religions in that physical purification is a necessary condition. If Prayer is the key to Paradise then, likewise purification is the key to Prayer. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Allah does not accept Prayers without purification." [Note: Reported by Muslim and Ibn Majah on the authority of Ibn `Umar, also by Ibn Majah on the authority of Anas and Abi Bakrah and also Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah on the authority of the father of Abi Al Malih, Sahih Al- Jami' Al-Saghir, No.7746]  

This purification and cleanliness are of two kinds: purification from impurities and purification from the excretions of the penis, vagina or anus.

Purification from impurities purifies the body, the clothes and the place in which one prays from any impurities such as the stains of the blood, dead animals and pigs, and the vomiting, urine or excrement of human beings and animals.

The other kind of purification does not mean cleanliness from something palpable. But rather purifying the inner of oneself because it is an order from Allah. A Muslim is obliged to make ablution if exposed to minor impurities. This means he must wash the areas of the body which are ordinarily exposed to dust and dirt and he should have a body-washing (Ghusl) after menstruation and sexual intercourse. Moreover, these acts of purification are connected to recurrent natural stimuli which one must blot out through purification. It is also preferable, in Islam, for the Muslim to be eager to clean his body regularly, particularly when he meets his fellow Muslims in the congregational Prayers.  

Ghusl is also an act in which it is preferable to be performed before the Friday congregational Prayer as stated in the noble hadith. In other versions, the hadith goes to the extent of ordering one to perform (Ghusl) as part of the overall cleanliness and hygiene of the Muslim Society: "Ghusl on Friday is obligatory (Wajib) on every adult!" [Note: Reported by Malik, Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah on the authority of Sa'id, Sahih Al-Jami' Al-Saghir, (3690)]  

By adult, he means a sane human being who is of the age in which his deeds are held accountable before Allah. Another hadith obliges the Muslim to perform (Ghusl) at least once a week saying:"Every Muslim should bathe once every seven days where he should wash his head and alt of his body." [Note: Agreed upon on the authority of Abu Hurairan, Al-Lu `Lu' Wal Marjan, (No.442)]  

The Sunnah has directed attention in taking care of certain parts of the human body such as the mouth. The means of cleaning it was the Swak which is easily found and used in the Arab Peninsula. In this respect, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "The Swak is a purifying agent for the mouth and it is a way of seeking Allah's Pleasure." [Note: Reported by Ahmad on the authority Abi Bakr; also by Al-Shafi'i, Ahmad, Nasa'i, Ibn Khaizamah, Ibn Hibban, Al-hakim and Al-Baihaqi on the authority of `Aishah, and by Ibn Majah on the authority of Abi Umaman, Sahih Al-Jami Al-Saghir, (3695)]

Concerning the hair, Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Whoever has hair should care about it." [Note: Reported by Abu Dawud on the authority of Abu Rurairah, (No. 4163), Sahih Al-Jami' Al-Saghir, (No.6497)] `Ata' Ibn Yasser reported that: "A man came to the Prophet (Peace be upon him): When he was in the mosque with uncomped hair and an untidy beard. The Prophet pointed to him as if ordering him to fix his hair and beard. He did so and returned. Thereupon the Prophet(Peace be upon him): When he was in the mosque observed, "Isn't this better than one of you coming with his hair uncomped, as if he was a devil ?" [Note: Reported by Malik, Al-Mawatta', vol.2, p.949] Thus the Prophet as the instructor taught the Muslims the importance of having a pleasant appearance which comes second in importance after the excellence of the inner self. Furthermore, he taught Muslims to wash their hands thrice on waking up before putting them in the water, saying, "For no one knows where his bands were during sleep." [Note: Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majab, Al-Nasa'i, Abu Dawud, and Al-Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Hurairah, Sahih Al-Jam'i Al Saghir, No.332]  

For Arabs used to clean their private parts with stones due to scarcity of water and many of them weren't in the habit of wearing pants, so perhaps they might have touched their private parts (where the impurity was) while they were asleep.

  He also taught them to wash their hands after eating and particularly after eating meat. He went so far as to warn them against neglecting to wash their hands before sleep saying: "Whoever goes to sleep without washing his hands from the traces of fatty foods, exposes himself to illness and should blame no one but himself." [Note: Reported by Abu Dawud (No.3852), Al-Tirmidhi (No.1861), Ibn Majah (No.3267), and Ibn Hibban as mentioned in Al-Mawarid (No. 1354), all of them reported it on the authority of Abu Hurairah except Ibn Majah who reported it after Fatimah, (May Allah be pleased with both of them), No.3296]

The Sunnah stressed the importance of cleanliness in the house saying: "You must clean your houses and do not follow in the footsteps of Jews". [Note: Reported by Al-Tirmidhi]  

Moreover, the Sunnah instructed Muslims to maintain the cleanliness of the roads by lifting any harmful objects found on it. This is considered a Sadaqa and as a means to ridding the streets of impurities and filth.  

Some Bedouin Arabs used to urinate on the roads or in the shade. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) strictly warned them against it and considered it one of the reasons to provoke Allah's curse and the people's curse saying:

"Beware of those acts which cause others to curse. They asked, "What are those acts?" The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Relieving oneself in the people's walkways or in their shade". [Note: Reported by Ahmad, Muslim and Abu Dawud on the authority of Abu Hurairah, the previous reference (no. 110)]
"Beware of the three acts that cause others to curse you: relieving yourselves in a watering place, on foot paths or shaded places." [Note: Reported by Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Al-Hakim and Al-Baihaqi on the authority of Mu'adh, Sahij' Al- Jaini' Al-Saghir (no. 112)]

  This instruction in conjunction with the others were the first attempts, known in the history of mankind, to link human beings with the protection of the environment from harm in the name of religion.  

A. Why Should Islam Stress the Importance of Cleanliness:

This is due to several considerations in the Sunnah as well as the Qur'an.       First, cleanliness is one of the qualities which Allah, the Exalted, loves. He says: "Surely God loves those who repent, and He loves those who are always pure." (2:222) He also praised the people of Qiba' and their love of cleanliness, saying, "A mosque which was founded upon piety from the very first day is more worthy be stood in. In it are men who love to purify themselves, and God loves those who purify themselves." (9:108)  

Purification or cleanliness is considered an inseparable part of faith to the extent that some Muslims mistook the saying: "Cleanliness is a sign of faith" as a hadith. The actual authentic hadith in this respect says: "Purification is half of faith" [Note: Reported by Muslim, Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhi on the authority of Abi Malik Al-Ash'ari, Sahih Al- Jami' Al-Saghir (No.3957)]  

Purification includes both moral purificatiwhere one is free from polytheism, hypocrisy and ill manners, and physical purification means private and public cleanliness.  

      Second, cleanliness is the pathway to health and strength. Islam aspires the health and strength of Muslims, preparing them to confront and overcome different circumstances and as ammunition for the Muslim group. The strong believer is better and Allah loves him more than the weak believer. The Muslim is entrusted with his body thus, he must not neglect it until it becomes plagued with disease for the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

"Your body has a right on you." [Note: Agreed upon on the authority of `Abdullah Ibn `Amr, Al-Lu `lu' Wal Marjan (No.715)]

          Third, cleanliness is a prerequisite to beautification or appearing in the way most loved by Allah and His Prophet. It is reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty."

After the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "If one has an atom's weight of arrogant pride in his he! he will not enter Paradise". On hearing the Prophet's words, a man said: I like to wear elegant clothes and shoes or he said one likes to wear elegant clothes and shoes.' The Prophet commented, "Allah is beautiful and he loves beauty, arrogant pride means the denial of the truth and despising people." [Note: Reported by Muslim on the authority of Ibn Mas'ud in the book of Iman, (No.147)]

Allah, the Exalted says: "O children of Adam, adorn yourselves fully at every time of prayer." And says: "Who had forbidden the ornament of God which He brought forth for His servants and who has forbidden the good things which he has provided?" (7:31-32)  

Hence, `the Prophet forbade men going to the mosque in the clothes worn at work. Al-Hasan used to adorn himself wearing musk and his best garments on going to the mosque. When asked about this, he explained:

"I beautify myself for Allah's Sake." Then he recited, "Adorn yourselves fully at every time of Prayer."

Lastly, cleanliness and pleasant appearance are of characteristics which allow relationships to strengthen amongst people. The sane human being will try to avoid people who are unkempt. Hence, the Prophet emphasized the importance of Ghusl or bathing on Friday. Similarly, there is a prohibition on eating garlic, onion, leek and food like it, before going to the mosque in order not to disturb others from the strong odor. If one insists on eating them, then he is not permitted to enter the mosque and is deprived of the congregational Prayer.  

In both Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, Ibn `Umar reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:"Whoever has eaten garlic, should not approach our mosque". [Note: Agreed upon, Al-lu'lu' Wal Marjan (No.331-333]  

Jabir Ibn `Abdullah reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "Whoever has eaten garlic or onion should keep away from our mosque and stay at home." [Note: Agreed upon, Al-Lu `lu' Wal Marjan (No 331-333)]

       And Al-Mughirah Ibn Shu'bah reported; "Whoever has eaten from this malignant tree, should not approach our mosque until its smell completely vanishes." [Note: Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Hibban, Sahih Al- Jami' Al Saghir (No.6092)]  

These Hadiths rebukes those who eat these raw legumes and threaten to exclude him from approaching the mosques. By analogy, smokers, nowadays, should be deprived of approaching the mosques for they expose people to passive smoking, consequently, to danger.  

These legumes are lawful - halal per se, whereas , smoking is dangerous physically, spiritually, and economically and it is thereupon judged as forbidden. The Ayah in which Allah describes his Prophet in the books of old times apply to smoking as Allah says: "He enjoins on them what is good and forbids them from what is evil".

On the bases of instinct, intellect and scientific proofs, tobacco is definitely not one of the good things in life.

B. Among the Privileges of Islam:

The regard to cleanliness in Islam is seen as one of Islam's great privileges. This fact is emphasized through two points: Firstly, the Arabs, like many people from the same environment and circumstances, were almost Bedouin thus, most of them held little importance to personal hygiene and the cleanliness of their houses. This could be attributed to the scarcity of water in the region as there were no rivers such as the Nile, the Tigris or the Euphrates. What existed were wells which were either deficient or abundant and relied upon rainfall which was sparse in number and quantity. They therefore had to exert perseverance and effort in order to progress from the stages of Bedouinism to the state of civilization thus growing to love cleanliness to the extent that it became an inseparable characteristic of their lives.

On reading the hadith, one becomes acquainted with the bad habits which prevailed amongst them, such as urinating in running and stagnant water as well as in walkways and shaded places.

In this respect, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:"None of you should urinate in still water and then perform Ghusl in it." [Note: Agreed upon on the authority of Abu Hurairah, Al-Lu'lu' Wal Mrajan (No.161)]

      "None of you should urinate in stagnant water and then make ablution in it ". [Note: Reported by Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhi and Al-Nasa'i, Sahih Al-Jami' Al Saghir, (No.7594)]

and,

"None of you should urinate in a bathing place." [Note: Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Al Nasa'i, Al-Hakim and Ibn Hibban on the authority of `Abdulah Ibn Mighfal, Sahih Al- Jami' Al-Saghir (No.7597)]

The second point is that, the prevailing religions in the Arabian Peninsula and the areas in its vicinity, did not lay great importance to cleanliness nor did they encourage their followers to partake in it. In fact, a number of hadiths reported that the Jews did not care about hygiene of their houses therefore, Allah's Prophet said: "Clean your houses and do not follow in the footsteps of the Jews."

As for the Christian monks, they renounced personal hygiene as part and parcel of the world which they had rid themselves of. This world included marriage, eating the best food and similar pleasures. All the other religions and philosophies are based upon the belief that the human body is an evil entity which should be deprived of all the good things in life including cleanliness and ornaments.

Who Is Allah?

Some of the biggest misconceptions that many non-Muslims have about Islam have to do with the word “Allah“. For various reasons, many people have come to believe that Muslims worship a different God than Christians and Jews. This is totally false, since “Allah” is simply the Arabic word for “God” – and there is only One God. Let there be no doubt – Muslims worship the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus – peace be upon them all. However, it is certainly true that Jews, Christians and Muslims all have different concepts of Almighty God. For example, Muslims – like Jews – reject the Christian beliefs of the Trinity and the Divine Incarnation. This, however, doesn’t mean that each of these three religions worships a different God – because, as we have already said, there is only One True God. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all claim to be “Abrahamic Faiths“, and all of them are also classified as “monotheistic“. However, Islam teaches that other religions have, in one way or another, distorted and nullified a pure and proper belief in Almighty God by neglecting His true teachings and mixing them with man-made ideas.

First of all, it is important to note that “Allah” is the same word that Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews use for God. If you pick up an Arabic Bible, you will see the word “Allah” being used where “God” is used in English. (Click here to see some examples of the word “Allah” in the Arabic Bible.) This is because “Allah” is the only word in the Arabic language equivalent to the English word “God” with a capital “G”. Additionally, the word “Allah” cannot be made plural or given gender (i.e. masculine or feminine), which goes hand-in-hand with the Islamic concept of God. Because of this, and also because the Qur’an, which is the holy scripture of Muslims, was revealed in the Arabic language, some Muslims use the word “Allah” for “God“, even when they are speaking other languages. This is not unique to the word “Allah“, since many Muslims tend to use Arabic words when discussing Islamic issues, regardless of the language which they speak. This is because the universal teachings of Islam – even though they have been translated in every major language – have been preserved in the Arabic language.

It is interesting to note that the Aramaic word “El“, which is the word for God in the language that Jesus spoke, is certainly more similar in sound to the word “Allah” than the English word “God“. This also holds true for the various Hebrew words for God, which are “El” and “Elah“, and the plural form “Elohim“. The reason for these similarities is that Aramaic, Hebrew and Arabic are all Semitic languages with common origins. It should also be noted that in translating the Bible into English, the Hebrew word “El” is translated variously as “God“, “God” and “angel”! This imprecise language allows different translators, based on their preconceived notions, to translate the word to fit their own views. The Arabic word “Allah” presents no such difficulty or ambiguity, since it is only used for Almighty God alone. Additionally, in English, the only difference between “God“, meaning a false God, and “God“, meaning the One True God, is the capital “G”. In the Arabic alphabet, since it does not have capital letters, the word for God (i.e. Allah) is formed by adding the equivalent to the English word “the” (Al-) to the Arabic word for “God/God” (ilah). So the Arabic word “Allah” literally it means “The God” – the “Al-” in Arabic basically serving the same function as the capital “G” in English. Due to the above mentioned facts, a more accurate translation of the word “Allah” into English might be “The One -and-Only God” or “The One True God“.

More importantly, it should also be noted that the Arabic word “Allah” contains a deep religious message due to its root meaning and origin. This is because it stems from the Arabic verb ta’Allaha (or alaha), which means “to be worshipped”. Thus in Arabic, the word “Allah” means “The One who deserves all worship”. This, in a nutshell, is the Pure Monotheistic message of Islam. You see, according to Islam, “monotheism” is much more than simply believing in the existence of “only One God” – as seemingly opposed to two, three or more. If one understands the root meaning of the word “Allah“, this point should become clear. One should understand that Islam’s criticism of the other religions that claim to be “monotheistic” is not because they are “polytheistic” in the classic sense, but because they direct various forms of worship to other than Almighty God. We will discuss the meaning of worship in Islam below, however, before moving on it should be noted that many non-Muslims are unaware of the distinction between simply believing in the existence of only One God and reserving all worship for Him alone. Many Christians are painfully unaware of this point, and thus you often find them asking how Muslims can accuse the followers of Jesus, peace be upon him, of being “polytheists” when they were all “monotheistic Jews”. First of all, it should be clarified that the word “polytheist” doesn’t really sound right in this context, since to many it implies simply believing in the existence of more than one God. So in an Islamic context, “associators”, “man-worshippers” or “creature worshippers” might be more accurate and appropriate terms – especially since Christians believe Jesus to be both “100% God and 100% man”, while still paying lip-service to God‘s “Oneness”. However, as we previously touched upon, what is really at the root of this problem is the fact that Christians – as well as the members of other religions – don’t really know what “monotheism” means – especially in the Islamic sense. All of the books, articles and papers that I’ve read which were written by Christians invariably limit “monotheism” to believing in the existence of “One Sovereign and Creator God“. Islam, however, teaches much more than this.

Suffice it to say that just because someone claims to be a “monotheistic” Jew, Christian or Muslim, that doesn’t keep them from falling into corrupt beliefs and idolatrous practices. Many people, including some Muslims, claim belief in “One God” even though they’ve fallen into acts of idolatry. Certainly, many Protestants accuse Roman Catholics of idolatrous practices in regards to the saints and the Virgin Mary. Likewise, the Greek Orthodox Church is considered “idolatrous” by many other Christians because in much of their worship they use icons. However, if you ask a Roman Catholic or a Greek Orthodox person if God is “One”, they will invariably answer: “Yes!”…

…This brings us to a more important point: It should be clearly understood that what Islam is primarily concerned with is correcting mankind’s concept of Almighty God. What we are ultimately going to be held accountable at the end of our life is not whether we prefer the word “Allah” over the word “God“, but what our concept of God is. Language is only a side issue. A person can have an incorrect concept of God while using the word “Allah“, and likewise a person can have a correct concept of God while using the word “God“. This is because both of these words are equally capable of being misused and being improperly defined. As we’ve already mentioned, using the word “Allah” no more insinuates belief in the Unity of God than the use of the word “God” insinuates belief in the Trinity – or any other theological opinion. Naturally, when God sends a revelation to mankind through a prophet, He is going to send it in a language that the people who receive it can understand and relate to. Almighty God makes this clear in the Qur’an, when He states:

Never did We send a Messenger except (to teach) in the language of his (own) people in order to make (things) clear to them.” (Qur’an, Chapter 14 – “Abraham”, Verse 4)

As Muslims, we think that it is unfortunate that we have to go into details on such seemingly minor issues, but so many falsehoods have been heaped upon our religion, that we feel that it is our duty to try to break down the barriers of falsehood. This isn’t always easy, since there is a lot of anti-Islamic literature in existence which tries to make Islam look like something strange and foreign to Westerners. There are some people out there, who are obviously not on the side of truth, that want to get people to believe that “Allah” is just some Arabian “God“, and that Islam is completely “other” – meaning that it has no common roots with the other Abrahamic religions (i.e. Christianity and Judaism). To say that Muslims worship a different “God” because they say “Allah” is just as illogical as saying that French people worship another God because they use the word “Dieu“, that Spanish-speaking people worship a different God because they say “Dios” or that the Hebrews worshipped a different God because they sometimes call Him “Yahweh“. Certainly, reasoning like this is quite ridiculous! It should also be mentioned, that claiming that any one language uses the only correct word for God is tantamount to denying the universality of God‘s message to mankind, which was to all nations, tribes and people through various prophets who spoke different languages.”