A Comprehensive Guide About Islam

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Islam And War
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One of the most misunderstood terms in Islam is Jihad. Unfortunately the word ‘jihad’ has been misused and as a result many people associate it with war and terrorism. Linguistically Jihad means striving, whether for good or for evil. Its general meaning signifies resisting and opposing the self, oppression, persecution or standing up to a dictator.

Jihad can also denote military effort. This is seen as a last attempt to end the violation of rights of others or any act of aggression. Even during times of war Muslims are commanded to uphold morality. Acts of torture are strictly forbidden. Hurting civilians, women, children and the elderly during times of war are also strictly forbidden.

The Messenger of God said:

“Fight in the name of God, and for the cause of God… do not break treaties, do not mutilate, and do not kill young children.” (Muslim)

Islam also prohibits the destroying or desecrating of places of worship, killing or hurting of animals and destroying trees.

At the time of fighting between Muslims and non-Muslims, Abu Bakr, the first Caliph after the Prophet, would advise his commanders saying:

“I command you ten things. Learn them by heart: Don’t betray, defraud (by stealing the spoils of war), or break treaties. Don’t mutilate, kill women, young children, or the elderly. Do not uproot or burn palm trees. Do not cut down fruitful trees, slaughter sheep, cows or camels except for eating. You will come across people secluded in monasteries, so leave them and what they are devoted to.” (Tabari, Vol.3)

The Prophet told his companions that the greatest jihad (struggle) is the jihad against the ego.

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Islam is the Faith of Peace
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Islam is the Faith of Peace

Islam means to submit to Allah, adhere to obeying Him, and be free from worshipping any others besides Allah. There is no good except that which Islam ordered for it to be done, and there is no evil except that which it prohibited. Applying Islam guarantees everyone to be able to live in security and peace in light of its system, which safeguards rights for all. Allah said:

((Say, “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you. He commands that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment, and do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them; and do not approach immoralities- what is apparent of them and what is concealed; and do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden to be killed except by legal right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason;” and do not approach the orphan’s property except in a way that is best until he reaches maturity; and give full measure and weight in justice. We do not charge any soul except with that within its capacity; and when you speak be just, even if it concerns a near relative; and the Covenant of Allah fulfill. This has He instructed you that you may remember.)) (6:151 - 152)

Allah also said:

((Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.)) (16: 90)

Hence, the Faith of Islam is a comprehensive Faith of peace in all meanings of this word. This applies to the internal level of Muslim society as Allah said:

«And those who harm believing men and believing women for something other than what they have earned have certainly born upon themselves a slander and manifest sin.» (33: 58)

The one upon whom be Allah's Blessing and Peace said:

“A Muslim is a person whose tongue and hand is safeguarded against, and an emigrant is a person who has left that which Allah prohibited!.” (Agreed upon)

He also said:

“A believer is a person whom people trust!”

Islam also provides peace on an international level and it is established on forming friendly relationships that are founded on security, stability and establishing the foundations of Islam. Moreover, it is when a Muslim society does not transgress against another society, especially those that do not play with the Faith nor set up enmity against its adherents. This is according to the Words,

((O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely and perfectly and do not follow the footsteps of Shayttaan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.)) (2: 208)

The Faith of Islam enjoins Justice and non-oppression, even with those who set up enmity against them. Allah said:

((O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in Justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to Righteousness; and fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.)) (5: 8)

As-Salaam, The Peaceful, is one of the All Praised’s Names.

Allah said:

((He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.)) (59: 23)

As-Salaam is one of the names of Allah's Garden, jannah. Allah the All High said:

((For them will be the Home of Peace with their Lord, and He will be their protecting Friend because of what they used to do.)) (6: 127)


As-Salaam is the greeting of the people of jannah. Allah said:

((Their greeting the Day they meet Him will be, ‘Peace,’ and He has prepared for them a noble Reward.)) (33: 44)

As-Salaam is also the greeting of Muslims among themselves, As-Salaamu ‘Alaykum! It is a greeting which adds tranquility, calmness and ease for the greeting and the greeted person. This is because of the expression of security and safety within this greeting. This, the Prophet (may Allah's Blessing and Peace be upon him) established as one of the perfecting actions of a person’s belief. He said:

“You will not enter jannah until you believe, and you will not believe until you love each other. Shall I not guide you towards a thing, that if you do, you would love each other? Spread the Salaam! greeting among you!” (Reported by Muslim)

The one upon whom be Allah's Blessing and Peace established that this was one of the best actions. This is because the greeting brings hearts closer and softens them when it is given or heard. It also removes differences ands hatred. When the Prophet (may Allah's Blessing and Peace be one upon him) was asked, ‘ Which part of Islam is best?,’ he replied,


“To feed people and give the Salaam! greeting to those you know and those you do not know!” (Agreed upon)


Hence, the Faith of Islam brought regulations and Legislations at times of dealings, war, marriage, economy, politics, worship etc. It was for an ideal, virtuous society to implement and regulate a Muslim’s relationship with his/her Lord, society and surrounding world, whether the human world or environment. The whole of humanity is unable to produce the like of Islam. A Faith of this Perfection and comprehensiveness is deserving of being embraced, invited towards, care to be taken to spread it, and not to set up enmity against it.

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Islam And Society
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Islam commands that one's environment must be cared for and protected and forbids polluting it in any way. It does so through the following means:

It encourages planting beneficial plants and trees. The Messenger of Islam, Muhammad said:
"No Muslim plants a tree or crop, and its fruit is eaten by birds, people, or animals, except that it will be regarded as charity for him." (Bukhari)
It encourages the removal of anything that may inflict harm. The Messenger of Islam said: "Removing harm from the path is charity." (Bukhari)
It encourages quarantining those afflicted with diseases and epidemics in order to prevent its spread to other societies and protecting the lives of others. The Messenger of Islam said: "If you hear of a plague in a certain location, then do not enter it, and if it strikes a place where you are, then do not leave it." (Bukhari)
It forbids random killing of animals and birds. The Messenger of Islam, Muhammad said: "Whoever kills a sparrow for no reason, it will cry to Allah on the Day of Requital, 'O Allah, so and so killed me without reason or benefit!' " (Nasa'i)
It forbids polluting the society in any way. The Messenger of Islam, Muhammad said: "Fear two things for which people curse others for." [His Companions] asked: "What are the two things for which people will curse others for, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied: "That he relieves himself in places where people walk or where they seek shade." (Muslim)

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Islam And Cleanliness
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Islam is a religion of Cleanliness.

Allah says:

(O children of Adam, take your adornment at every Masjid (mosque), and eat and drink, but do not waste: verily He does not love the wasteful.) (7:31)

It is a religion of purity. Allah says:

(Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves. ) (2:222)

Purity is a condition for the Prayer to be regarded valid, and the Prayer is an act of worship which a Muslim performs at least five times throughout his daily routine. Islam also requires that one bathe after ejaculation or sexual intercourse, and highly encourages taking a bath before performing those types of worship which are manifest symbols of Islam, such as the Friday Prayer and the Greater and Lesser Pilgrimage to Makkah.

Allah says in the Glorious Quran:

(O you who believe! When you rise up for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands up to the elbows, and wipe your heads (with wet hands), and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. And if you are in a state of major ritual impurity (janaba), purify yourselves (by taking a bath). And if you are sick or on a journey, or one of you comes from the answering of call of nature, or you have had contact with women, and you find no water, then go to clean earth and wipe your faces and hands with some of it. Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you and to perfect His grace upon you that you may give thanks.) (Al-Maidah :6)

Islam also encourages that one wash his hands prior and subsequent to meals. The Messenger of Islam, Muhammad said:

"Food is blessed when one washes his hands before and after it." (Tirmidhi)

It encourages that one keep his mouth and teeth clean. The Messenger of Islam said:

"Had I not found it difficult for my followers, I would have ordered them to cleanse their teeth before every prayer." (Bukhari)

It encourages that one cleanse and purify those places that may become a breeding ground for germs and filth. The Messenger of Islam, The Messenger of Islam, Muhammad said:

"There are five acts which are from the innate nature with which Allah created humans: circumcision, removing the pubic hair, plucking the hair of the armpits, shortening the moustache, and clipping the nails." (Bukhari)

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Islam And Knowledge
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The religion of Islam encourages all people to seek and increase their knowledge, and it disparages and warns against ignorance. Allah says:

(Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe and those who have been granted knowledge.) (58:11)

It regards striving to seek, learn, and teach knowledge as a means which leads to Jannah (paradise). The Messenger of Islam, Muhammad said:

"Whoever seeks a path in search of knowledge, Allah would make easy for him a path leading to Jannah (paradise)." (Abu Dawud)

He forbade that knowledge be concealed, as it is an obligation for each person to seek it. The Messenger of Islam, Muhammad said: "Whoever conceals knowledge would be muzzled on the Day of Resurrection with a muzzle of Fire." (Ibn Hibbaan)

Islam regards scholars with high esteem and demands that they be paid their due respect. The Messenger of Islam, Muhammad said:

"He is not from my followers, he who does not respect his elders, who does not show mercy to the young, and does not give due right to a scholar." (Ahmed)

The Messenger, Muhammad informed us of the status of the scholar in his sayings: "The excellence of a scholar over a layman is like my excellence over the least of you." (Tirmidthi)

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Islamic Perspective on Sex
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Islam considers sex an essential human need which need not be suppressed, rather satisfied in a proper manner. It is not something looked down upon disdainfully and a thing a person must refrain from.

Islam has set certain laws by which it is controlled and through which one can satisfy this need. One is not to satisfy this in an animalistic or lustful uncontrolled manner; it should be satisfied through marriage.

The ultimate goal of marriage in Islam is to achieve psychological and emotional stability for both spouses.

Allah says:

(They are Libas (i.e. body cover, or screen or Sakan [i.e. you enjoy the pleasure of living with them]) for you and you are the same for them.) (2:187)

Islam safeguards the individual and society by forbid- ding everything which excites the sexual desire for fear that a person would commit fornication or sodomy either willingly or forcefully (i.e. rape).

This of course would result in illegitimate children proliferating in society, who have no parents to raise them morally. They would then emerge in society as a group who harbor animosity and hate towards others. Also, diseases would spread across society.

Allah says:

(And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily it is a Fahishah (a great sin and an evil way that leads one to Hell).) (17:32)

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Muslims Love Jesus And His Mother
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Isa peace be upon him was explicitly mentioned in the Holy Quran on sixteen different occasions. On one occasion Allah the Exalted said in Surat Al-Maidah verse 110

( (remember) when Allah will say( on the day of resurrection )."O Isa(Jesus), son of Mariyam(Mary)! Remember my favor to you and to your mother when I supported your with ruh -u- qudus [ Jibrail (Gabril)] so that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and when I taught you writing, Al Hikmah(the power of understanding), the Taurat(Torah) and the Ingil( Gospel); and when you made out of the clay, a figure like that of a bird, by my permission, and you breathed into it, and it became a bird by my permission, and you healed those born blind, and the lepers by my permission, and when you brought forth the dead by my permission; and when I restrained the children of Israel from you ( when they resolved to kill you) as you came unto them with clear proofs and the disbelievers among them said: "This is nothing but evident magic" ﴿ )

On the other hand Prophet Mohammad peace be upon him was explicitly mentioned in the Holy Quran four times While the Virgin Mary (peace be upon her) the mother of Jesus(Isa) was mentioned eight times and has a complete Sura (chapter) named after her.

On one occasion Allah the All Mighty said in Surat Al- Imran verse 145:

( (remember) when the angles said: " Oh Mariyam (Mary)! Verily, Allah gives you the glad tidings of a word["Be!"- and he was! i.e.' Isa ( Jesus) the son of Mariyam( Mary) ] From him his name will be the Messiah 'Isa (Jesus) the son of Mary ( Mariyam), held in honor in this world and in the hereafter, and will be one of those who is near to Allah.)

As a family they have been mentioned in the Holy Quran three times and they have been privileged by having a complete Sura(chapter) named after them(Al Imran). Which is imprinted in the hearts and minds of the believers forever.

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Effect of Islamic Civilization on Modern Science
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The one who contemplates the reason modern science and technology have taken giant steps and advanced to the present state would certainly agree that it is due to Islamic civilization which transmitted and introduced vast amounts of knowledge and produced many scholars.

C.H. Haskins7 said: 'The broad fact remains that the Arabs of Spain were the principal source of the new learning for Western Europe.'

They are the ones who placed the fundamentals from which modern civilization advanced. Whoever reviews the 'Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace' 8 would certainly conclude that sixty percent of the known stars are given names that are derived from Arabic.

The books and works of early Muslim scholars were the main resource texts which the West benefited from, especially the Europeans who used these works during the Renaissance period. Many of these texts were used in European universities.

Marquis of Dufferin and Ava said:

'It is to Mussulman science, to Mussulman art, and to Mussulman literature that Europe has been in a great measure indebted for its extrication from the darkness of the Middle Ages.' 9

Scientific knowledge that originated in India, China and the Hellenistic world was sought out by Muslim scholars and then translated, refined, synthesized and augmented at different centers of learning in the Islamic world from where the knowledge spread to Western Europe. (History of Medicine, Arab roots of European Medicine, David W. Tschanz, MSPH, PhD. Also see: http://www.hmc.org.qa/hmc/heartviews/H-V-v4%20N2/9.htm )

J.H. Denison said:

'In the fifth and sixth centuries the civilized world stood on the verge of a chaos. The old emotional cultures that had made civilization possible, since they had given to men a sense of unity and of reverence for their rulers, had broken down and nothing had been found adequate to take their place. It seemed then the great civilization which it had taken four thousand years to construct was on the verge of disintegration, and that mankind was likely to return to that condition of barbarism where every tribe and sect was against the next, and law and order was unknown. The old tribal sanctions had lost their power. The new sanctions created by Christianity were working division and destruction instead of unity and order. It was a time fraught with tragedy. Civilization, like a gigantic tree whose foliage had overarched the world and whose branches had borne the golden fruits of art and science and literature, stood tottering rotted to the core. Was there any emotional culture that could be brought in to gather mankind once more into unity and to save civilization? It was among these people that the man (Muhammad) was born who was to unite the whole known world of the east and south.10

Muslims had advanced in all technical, scientific and intellectual fields. Here we will mention a few of the outstanding scholars in various fields.

Al-Khawarizmi (780-850CE) was a great scholar in the fields of mathematics, algebra, logarithms and geometry. He was perhaps one of the greatest mathematicians who ever lived, as, in fact, he was the founder of several branches and basic concepts of mathematics. He was also the founder of Algebra. Al-Biruni (973-1050AD) was a great scholar in many fields. He wrote on topics ranging from astronomy to mathematics, mathematical geography to mechanics, pharmacology and history.
Al-Biruni discussed the theory of the earth rotating on its own axis six hundred years before Galileo!
The German Orientalist E. Sachau said about al-Biruni:

'He was the greatest intellectual known to man.'

As Muslims we say that the greatest intellectual known to man is our Prophet Muhammad.

In the field of medicine and pharmacy, Muslim scholars left behind a wealth of knowledge in their works, which were used to advance modern day medicine. Among these scholars were:

Ibn Rushd (Averroes 1126-1198 CE) was an Andalusian philosopher and physician, a master of philosophy and Islamic law, mathematics and medicine.
Ibn an-Nafees (1213-1288 CE) was a physician who is mostly famous for being the first to describe the pulmonary circulation of the blood. He discovered blood circulation before the Englishman Harvey and the Spaniard Michael Servetus by hundreds of years.

Am'maar b. Ali al-Mo'sili b. Eesa al-Kah'haal was highly skilled in ophthalmology. He invented specialized instruments used in operations, such as the "injection syringe", a hollow needle.

Al-Hasan b. al-Haitham (Alhazen 965- 1040AH) was a great mathematician. He was a pioneer in optics, engineering and astronomy. According to Giambattista della Porta, Al-Hasan was the first to explain the apparent increase in the size of the moon and sun when near the horizon. His seven volume treatise on optics Kitab al- Manadhir (Book of Optics) is possibly the earliest work to use the scientific method. He used the results of experiments to test theories.

Al-Mansoori and Abu Bakr ar-Razi were renowned, versatile physicians. They made fundamental and enduring contributions to the fields of medicine and philosophy.

Muwaf'faq al-Baghdadi and Abul-Qasim az-Zahrawi were renowned in dental practices. They wrote books concerning this, and put illustrative pictures of the tools used in surgical operations and how to use the tools.

In the field of geography and geology many notable scholars can be mentioned, among whom are:

Shareef al-Idrisi (1100-1165H) was a cartographer, geographer and traveler. He was renowned for his excellent maps of the world. He also invented navigational instruments. There are many Muslim scholars who participated and took part in advancing civilization. Whoever wants to know more, should review books that are written specifically on this topic. Numerous times, researches written by Muslims were plagiarized and wrongfully attributed to others.

Major Arthur Glyn Leonard said:

Do not we, who now consider ourselves on the topmost pinnacle ever reached by culture and civilization, recognize that, had it not been for the high culture, the civilization and intellectual, as the social splendors of the Arabs and soundness of their system, Europe would to this day have remained sunk in the darkness of ignorance?11

The Virtues of Islamic Civilization
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Seeking knowledge is a religious duty, which Islam encourages Muslims to fulfill.

Muslim scholars in the past used their knowledge to strengthen people's belief in contrast to the scholars of this age, who use their knowledge to weaken people's belief.

Muslim scholars in the past used their knowledge to serve mankind, in contrast to most of the scholars today who use their knowledge for exploitive and selfish ends. Scientists during this era invented the atom and hydrogen bomb and other weapons of mass destruction; thereafter they prevented others from owning these weapons, in an attempt to control and exploit the riches of the world.

Muslim scholars of the past spread their knowledge so that people could benefit from it, in contrast to the scholars of today who withhold knowledge for themselves or for their own country and prevent others from accessing it.

Muslim scholars of the past aimed to attain the mercy of Allah and His reward, in contrast to the scholars of today who try their best to benefit materialistically from their discoveries.

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Scientific Points in a Few Verses of the Quran
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Allah says:

(Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allah sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that He has scattered therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs, etc.) for people of understanding.) (2:164)

The Quran was revealed to Muhammad who was unlettered; he could neither read nor write. His people were generally unlettered as well. Therefore, how can a man bring forth a Scripture which stunned the most eloquent of people!

Allah says:

(Say, "If mankind and the jinn were to be gathered in order to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants.") (17:88)

The Prophet and many of his companions were destitute, and he would recite to them verses from the Quran which have mention of scientific facts. Over 1400 years after the Quran was revealed, modern science discovered these very facts with advanced equipment!

Thomas Carlyle said:

'A false man found a religion? Why, a false man cannot build a brick house! If he does not know and follow truly the properties of mortar, burnt clay and what else be works in, it is no house that he makes, but a rubbish-heap. It will not stand for twelve centuries, to lodge a hundred and eighty millions; it will fall straightway.'12

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Quran and the Beginning of the World
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Allah says:

(Allah creates the creation in the first instance, and then brings it forth anew: and, in the end, to Him you all will re- turn.) (30:11)

Allah clearly states in this verse that He is the One Who created and brought into existence all creatures in this universe from nothing. This is stated in the Quran, which is divine revelation from Allah. Allah describes the be- ginning of the universe saying:

(The Originator of the heavens and the earth: and when He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.) (2:117)

Allah informs us in this verse that the universe was created from nothing, all that took place before it's creation is from the knowledge of the unseen world, which only Allah knows. Human intellect is incapable of realizing and grasping what the substance matter of the first creation was, for Allah did not inform us of this knowledge. Man can only produce hypothesis and the- theories concerning ecological systems.

Allah says:

(I did not make them witnesses of the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor of the creation of their own selves; and I would not have taken the misguiders as assistants.) (18:51)

Allah says: (Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were one single entity, which We then parted asunder and made from water every living thing? Will they not, then, believe?) (21:30)

This verse makes unmistakable reference to the fact that Allah created the universe from a single entity, and He is All-Capable over all things. Allah then ordered this 'single entity' to split, which it did, and turned into a cloud of smoke. From this cloud of smoke Allah created the heavens and earth. This is mentioned in the words of Allah:

(Say, "Do you indeed disbelieve in He who created the earth in two days and attribute to Him equals? That is the Lord of the Worlds. And He placed on it [i.e., the earth] firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance in four days without distinction - for [the information of] those who ask. And He completed them as seven heavens within two days and inspired [i.e. made known] in each heaven its command. And We adorned the nearest heaven with lights [i.e. stars for beauty] and as protection: such is the ordaining of the Almighty, the All-Knowing) (41:9-12)

Modern astrophysicists assert that the entire universe originated from one entity, the result of what is known today as the 'Big Bang'.13

Allah says:

(Then He (rose over) the heavens while it was something like smoke, and said to it and to the earth: 'Come both of you willingly or unwillingly.' They said, 'We come willingly.) (41:11)

This verse affirms that the sky, during its early stages- was like smoke; this is also affirmed by modern science.

James H. Jeans said:

'We have found that, as Newton first conjectured, a chaotic mass of gas of approximately uniform density and of very great extent would be dynamically unstable; nuclei would tend to form in it, around which the whole of matter would ultimately condense.'14