The Challenge of Islam

What is Islam?

Islam is more than just another religion next to Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism or Judaism. Islam claims to be a way of life. It is a system which governs and controls the lives of more than 1.2 Billion men and women around the globe (1996).

Islamic publications describe it in these terms:

"Islam in its clear and direct way of expressing truth has a tremendous amount of appeal for any seeker of knowledge. It is the solution for all the problems of life. It is a guide toward a better and complete life glorifying in all its phases God, the Almighty Creator and the Merciful Nourisher."
Islam at a Glance, Durban, RSA

"Islam is the first and the final religion of mankind."
"Islam is the most rational religion. It gives a clear code of life."
"Islam is the shortest and broadest road that leads to God."
The Christian witness needs to have a meaningful response to these claims, not only by way of clear arguments but also through a convincing life testimony.

The Challenge of Islam

"Africa is to be the first Islamic continent" is a well-used Islamic slogan. Is this mere propaganda or do Muslims pursue this goal in earnest? Let's look at the resurgence of Islam:

Since the end of the last World War there has been a total upheaval and dramatic change in the 'world order'. The collapse of the colonial systems, the victory of liberal humanistic thinking over former perceptions of justice and ecology, the victimization of people and systems which resisted changes in their value system, the new interpretation of socialism, democracy and freedom, as well as the shift from the East-West conflict to an impending North-South one, and the migration of many millions of people in search for a better future, has produced a new society in many places on our globe. A new brand of nationalism has in many cases not kept its promises to facilitate the so much needed and wanted economic upliftment. The population explosion, the AIDS threat, massive unemployment and the soaring of criminal activities have led to an unprecedented pessimism and hopelessness in many areas of the world.

At the same time the industrial revolution with its ever-increasing appetite for energy - which is largely found in the oil fields of the formerly poor and unimportant Islamic countries of the Middle East - has created right there an unprecedented wealth. And - as we all know - wealth represents power. It is therefore not surprising to observe in these countries, the strife for military superiority, perfected by offensive nuclear weaponry. The human potential of Islam increased vastly when the former Soviet Union broke up and a number of the Republics in the South began to view themselves as Islamic states.

Material affluence in itself does not constitute power as yet, and with that no real threat to others. Only if aligned with an ideology, monetary power becomes a danger - and it did so when Iran came totally under the influence of the 'Ayatollah' Khomeini. Because of his extreme views he had to live in exile for a number of years, working to reverse the Western influence in and on his country. When, after his return, his fundamentalist doctrines were forcibly introduced, he gained full control over Iran. All those who did not agree with his views were either eliminated or had to submit.

The title 'Ayatollah' means 'sign of Allah', not a very modest assessment. The word 'Islam' means 'submission'. While one would not expect a country to revert to the proverbial 'Middle Ages', we have to realize that what happened in Iran shows the truest form of Islam. Many Westerners perceive the Iranian revolution as an excess. But it is not that. It reflects fundamental, i.e. original, Islam.

It is certainly not our intention to defend the present Western value system, but it still allows freedom of expression and freedom of religion and worship which largely ceases when the Shariah, the Islamic law, is introduced to a country.

The Ultimate Goal of Islam: to Bring All People Into Submission to Islam


To understand the underlying system, we ought to consider some theological aspects. A look at the Qur'an will be helpful here:

In Surah 8:39 we read (according to Pickthall):


"And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression. And there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere: But if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do".


The actual rendering should read "until all of religion comes to Allah".


Surah 61:9 confirms this:


"It is He Who has sent His Apostle with guidance and the Religion of Truth that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it)".


This is backed up by a Hadith:


"The Messenger of Allah says: I have been commanded to fight against people till they testify the fact that there is no god but Allah, and believe in me (that) I am the messenger (from the Lord) and in all that I have brought".


Sahih Muslim I, p. 17


The word 'oppression' should actually read 'uprising' or 'revolt', which turns the passive tense into and active one. We should further realize that this is not just a question of all people to submit to God. In real terms that means no less than that all have to submit to Islam and its law.


Islam has divided the world into two parts:


the 'Dhar-ul Islam' and the 'Dhar-ul Harb'; or in English, the 'territory of Islam' and the 'territory of war'. This may not necessarily constitute armed conflict, though this was very much the case, but it is quite clear that those countries which are not as yet under the Shariah, are still to be conquered.


As Christians we might be tempted to assume that conflict might be of a spiritual nature. For we endeavor and wish that the whole world should come under the Gospel. In like manner Muslims endeavor to make the world Islamic.


However, the church cannot legitimately try to force its influence on the state, or rule the state. This would go against the Spirit of the Gospel. Attempts along this line have been made, wars have been fought, but none of these could be based on or can claim to have been supported by Scripture, our authority.


Islam works differently. Only when the Shariah is the established law in a country, it constitutes an Islamic state. To effect this, the government must be in Muslim hands. Islam does not differentiate between the secular and the spiritual. It follows an integrated system. Hygiene and politics, family life and prayer, hunting and business practices are all regulated by the Islamic law. While Christians and Jews may be tolerated, they are certainly strongly disadvantaged and not permitted to propagate their faith in an Islamic country.


Islam is on the Move to Expand its Influence


When we observe the current moves of Islam carefully, we can indeed notice how it consolidates itself and how concerted efforts are made to strengthen its position in many countries, and not only in those which were traditionally Islamic. Muslims double their population biologically twice as fast as non-Muslims do. This promotes migration and we can observe how in recent times much of the economy of Africa, but also of Europe, America, Australia and Asia is going into Muslim hands. Whoever controls the economy has also a strong influence on government, the media and education.


In many 'Third World' countries, Muslims often build very impressive mosques, even in areas with a very small number of their own persuasion.Schools are added, and free education, in contrast to most Government schools, is offered. This is extremely lucrative, and many parents cannot resist such temptation. In addition philanthropic help is offered to people in drought-stricken areas. Employment is offered, but to Muslims only. This will raise the pragmatic question, "why not become a Muslim?"


Together, all this begins to present an impact on the population, nominal Christians not excepted. The charity displayed, together with the sincerity which can easily be gauged in many Muslims, plus the social and material benefits are convincing. And who can blame the people - unless they have a goodly grounding in the Word of God, the Bible, and have founded convictions to possess the Truth when accepting and following our Lord Jesus Christ.


Who is to Blame?


At this point I must pause to give a most important explanation. We may by now have come to a point where we begin to fear or resent the Muslims. If this is the message you conceived, you have to do some correction:


Muslims, like all other people, are a creation of God! "They have a zeal for God - but it is unenlightened" (Rom. 10:2). Our Lord Jesus died for every Muslim as well! God loves the Muslims too!


We have to differentiate between the religion of Islam and its system, which does not offer salvation or assurance of forgiveness, and those people who grew or grow up under its teaching.


They have little chance to believe, because they have not sufficiently, effectively and convincingly heard and understood the Gospel. That is certainly not their fault. To some degree it is ours - if our evangelistic effort excludes the Muslims in our environment - or if our effort does not take into consideration the altogether different mind-set and understanding of a Muslim.


What is Happening in the Islamic World?


Let us now have a hard look at the advance of Islam: The ISLAM IN AFRICA ORGANISATION was founded by representatives of 24 African states at Abuja in Nigeria in November 1989. In its founding communiqué we are informed about its aims and purposes. It expresses very understandable and to them legitimate desires, such as the unification of all Muslims throughout Africa, the putting away of 'artificial boundaries', and re-instating a strong and united 'Umma' (= congregation of all Muslims) with the purpose of fulfilling the commands of Allah.


We will have to consider, however, the little syllable 're-'. It keeps on occurring in this document: 're-instate the Umma' in Africa, 're-store the use of Arabic script in the vernacular', 're-instate the application of the Shariah'. This means that what was there before, will have to be instated again, implying that there was an Umma in Africa, within which the local languages were written in Arabic lettering, and that Africans were under the Shariah law. All this is not true, excepting North Africa and some very isolated cases in which e.g. Ki-Swahili was written in Arabic script. Let us look at some of the statements:


'The Conference notes the yearning of Muslims everywhere on the continent who have been deprived of their rights to be governed by the Shariah and urges them to intensify efforts in the struggle to reinstate the application of the Shariah'.


The arising question certainly is, how any country can be administered when two sets of laws are applied to different people? The Muslims in Britain are pushing for the same. This can only lead to either confrontation or disintegration.


While we understand and have to accept the effort to establish Islamic Da'wa (mission) centers and to promote Da'wa work all over Africa, we find unacceptable the 'establishment and application of the Shariah to all Muslims', if this is done while Muslims are a minority, and if such action leads to Christians being disadvantaged, which will, no doubt, be the case.


Unacceptable also are the following objectives:
'To ensure the appointment of only Muslims into strategic national and international posts of member nations'.
'To eradicate in all its forms and ramifications all non-Muslim religions in member nations (such religions shall include Christianity, Ahmadiyya and other tribal modes of worship unacceptable to Muslims)'.
'To ensure that only Muslims are elected (!) to all political posts of member nations'.
'To ensure the ultimate replacement of all Western forms of legal and judicial systems with the Shariah in all member nations before the next Islam in Africa Conference'.


Among the disclosed names of the member nations we find Nigeria and Tanzania which have no Muslim majority. A number of other nations have not been made known. These are likely to have an even lesser Muslim presence. It is indeed noticeable by now that these aims are being implemented and not only in Islamic states, but also in those with Muslim minorities.


May the figure of money be mentioned, which was 'generously donated' by the 'government and people of Nigeria' for the "Islamic Development Fund":US$ 21 billion! (IAO communiqué)


The Roman Catholic publication "Mission aktuell", which is the German official magazine of 'MISSIO', the Roman Catholic mission, reported that in the same year (1989) 'the Nigerian head of state', General Ibrahim B. Babangida, had 'a credit bank balance at the Arab-African International Bank of US$ 57.48 billion'". His chief of the army and two cabinet ministers had lesser amounts (US$ 15.2; 17.8 and 24.9 billion).


In close agreement with the above we find an article in the Turkish newspaper "Dünya" (1980). It speaks about Islamisation and says: 'The whole territory is to be islamicised before the year 2000 and in the Middle East in such a way that all living (people) who did not turn Muslims, (the Coptic Christians, the Christians in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syrian (i.e. Syrian-orthodox Christians), Armenians, Nubians and Israelis), must be totally annihilated'.


We have to realize some hard facts: The Christians in Turkey and Lebanon have been strongly reduced by external pressure. Christians in Egypt are under constant scrutiny and are dictated upon by the state. Christians and pagans in Southern Sudan are being exterminated. The press speaks of genocide. There is no freedom of religion in any of the North African countries, and in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Malaysia.


In 1981 the so-called 'Mecca Declaration' was adopted by the 'Third Islamic Summit Conference of Kaaba'. Here are some extracts:


"We have resolved to conduct Jihaad ('holy war') with all the means at our disposal so as to free our territory from occupation".


"We declare that the oppression suffered by Muslim minorities and communities in many countries is a flagrant offence against the rights and dignity of man. We appeal to all states in which there are Islamic minorities to allow them full liberty".


"We are convinced of the need to propagate the precepts of Islam and its cultural influence in Muslim societies and throughout the world".


We have to read these lines as it were with Muslim's eyes. At the time of this summit there were no Islamic territories occupied by non-Muslims. The Islamic understanding is that, unless the Shariah is in force and an Islamic government in place, this is 'dhar-ul harb', territory which still needs to be conquered.


William Muir, one of the great and indeed very fair orientalists (1819-1905), made a statement which almost sounds like a prophetic utterance:


"It is my conviction that the sword of Muhammad and the Qur'an are the most fatal enemies of civilisation, liberty and truth which the world has yet known".


Another question arising is: In which countries Muslim minorities are suffering oppression? What kind of oppression is meant? Again it boils down to the same. Muslim minorities are oppressed as long as they are not governed by the Shariah - which amounts to 'full liberty'.


The last paragraph confirms this in no uncertain terms. While Muslims vociferously demand freedom from oppression, they oppress Christian communities in territories ruled by the Shariah. Indeed many human rights issues have been raised in this respect - without much response.


Despite the alleged 'oppression' in the 1980's, every two weeks one mosque was opened in Britain, a rate of expansion similar to that taking place in France and Germany. Similar advances are made in many other countries.


As far back as the early 1980's, a document emerged from the Islamic Foundation in Leicester with clear statements of intent such as:
"... the Islamic Movement (is) 'an organized struggle to change the existing society into an Islamic society based on the Qur'an and the Sunna and make Islam, which is a code for entire life, supreme and dominant, especially in the socio-political spheres'".


"... (the) framework will have to be based on recognizing the fact that the ultimate objective of the Islamic movement shall not be realized unless the struggle is made by locals. For it is only they who have the power to change the society into an Islamic society".


"Watchman Update", Dec. 1991 by Dr. Clifford Denton


The world's most advanced and powerful radio transmitters have been built in the Middle East and North Africa. Seven 2000 KW transmitters are among them - compared with the former Christian transmitter ELWA station of 50 KW.


The Ayatollah Khomeini is reported to have said:


'If we want to gain the final victory, we will have to know exactly what is to be done. Else we will meet the same fate as Hitler, who committed suicide ... In the early days of Islam the unbelievers were constantly hit over the head with the sword to make them Muslims. Many were killed. One should not shrink back from becoming a martyr ... Up to date we did not kill a single human being, but only attacking wild beasts have been purified, arrested and put away'.


As a result many thousands have been executed.


Again I like to persuade the reader not to blame this on the Muslims he comes in contact with. I compile this report not to blame any person, but to expose a religious system which is power-hungry, oppressive and deeply anti-Christian.


Christians Need to Get to Terms with Islam


The present setting of Islam in this world is very threatening. It gains acceptance and profile, even in liberal 'Christian' circles.


There are several contributing factors. Muslims are aware that oil reserves do not last forever. Consequently, they have invested vast amounts of capital in industries of the developed countries, which gives them a considerable influence in these concerns and through that on the relevant countries. Subsequently, the press in these countries, fortified by the liberal premise from which they operate, will rather be positive than in any way negative towards Islam.


Quite in line with this is the liberal World Council of Churches (WCC). It seeks 'dialogue' with other religions in order to learn from each other and to accept one another. In practice this replaces the Christian witness of Jesus Christ, as the only hope for mankind.


The Vatican sides with this, as can be seen from the prayer for peace arranged by the Pope at Assisi, to which representatives of all kinds of religions had been invited. At the Second Vatican Council the following decisions were laid down:


"The plan of God's salvation includes those who acknowledge the Creator, and in the first place among them the Muslims". (L.G.16)


"The Church has a high regard for the Muslims ... unfortunately many hostilities have arisen between Christians and Muslims.This sacred Council now pleads with all to forget the past, and urges that sincere efforts be made to achieve mutual understanding for the benefit of all. Let them together preserve and promote peace, freedom, social justice and moral values". (N.A.3)


This situation is the direct result of ignorance. The Christian Church has fought bitter and bloody wars against Muslims, but made hardly any move to present the Message of Grace to them.


Responding to the Challenge of Islam


Surely we can see how important it is to gain a realistic assessment of Islam, as it really is. Let us start by looking at the man Muhammad, the founder of the Islamic religion and power base.


(NB: The above information is also available in a separate pamphlet.)

Who Is Muhammad?

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in Makkah in the year 570 CE, at a time when Christianity was not yet fully established in Europe. Since his father died before his birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as calm and meditative. Muhammad (peace be upon him) was of a deeply religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of his society. It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near the summit of Jabal un-Nur, the 'Mountain of Light' near Makkah.

At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad (peace be upon him) received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for twenty-three years, is known as the Qur'an. As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This event, the Hijra, 'migration', in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. After several years, the Prophet and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China.

The last and final prophet that God sent to humanity, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explained, interpreted and lived the teachings of Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the greatest of all prophets for many reasons, but mainly because the results of his mission have brought more people into the pure belief in One God than any other prophet. Even though other religious communities claimed to believe in One God, over time they had corrupted their beliefs by taking their prophets and saints as intercessors with Almighty God. Some religions believe their prophets to be manifestations of God, "God Incarnate" or the "Son of God". All of these false ideas lead to the creature being worshiped instead of the Creator, which contributed to the idolatrous practice of believing that Almighty God can be approached through intermediaries. In order to guard against these falsehoods, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) always emphasised that he was only a human-being tasked with the preaching of God's message. He taught Muslims to refer to him as "the Messenger of God and His Slave".

To Muslims, Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the supreme example for all people - he was the exemplary prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher, neighbour, husband, father and friend. Unlike other prophets and messengers, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) lived in the full light of history. Muslims don't need to have "faith" that he existed and that his teachings are preserved - they know it to be a fact. Even when his followers only numbered a few dozen, Almighty God informed Muhammad (peace be upon him) that he had been sent as a mercy to all of mankind. Because people had distorted or forgotten God's messages, God took it upon Himself to protect the message revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him). This was because Almighty God promised not to send another messenger after him. Since all of God's messengers have preached the message of Islam - i.e. submission to the will of God and the worship of God alone - Muhammad (peace be upon him) is actually the last, seal of the prophets of Islam, not the first.

Who Are The Muslims?

One billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe – from the southern Philippines to Nigeria – are united by their common Islamic faith.

About 18% live in the Arab world, substantial parts of Asia and Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are to be found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America, and Europe.

The Arabic word "Muslim" literally means "someone who submits to the will of God". The message of Islam is meant for the entire world and anyone who accepts this message becomes a Muslim. Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is just a religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth, since in actuality over 80% of the world's Muslims are not Arabs!

Even though most Arabs are Muslims, there are Arabs who are Christians, Jews and atheists. If one just takes a look at the various peoples who live in the Muslim World - from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Morocco to Indonesia - it is easy enough to see that Muslims come from all different races, ethnic groups and nationalities. From the very beginning, Islam had a universal message for all people. This can be seen in the fact that some of the early companions of the Prophet Muhammad were not only Arabs, but also Persians, Africans and Byzantine Romans.

Muslims believe in One Unique, Incomparable God; in the Angels created by Him; in the Prophets through whom His revelations (including the Bible) were brought to mankind; in the Day of Judgement and individual accountability for actions; in God's complete authority over human destiny and in life after death.

Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ismael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus, (peace be upon them all). But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone before was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through angel Gabriel.

In the past, even though you don't see it as much today, the word "Mohammedans" was often used as a label for Muslims. This label is a misnomer and is the result of either wilful distortion or sheer ignorance. One of the reasons for the misconception is that Europeans were taught for centuries that Muslims worshipped the Prophet Muhammad in the same way that Christians worship Jesus. This is absolutely not true since a Muslim is not permitted to worship anyone or anything besides Almighty God.

Who Is Allah ?

Many non-Muslims have come to incorrectly believe that Allah is the ‘God of Muslims’ – A deity somehow different from the God of the other faiths. It should be emphasized that the term “Allah” has no implied meaning at all of an Arabian god, a Moon god or even a Muslim god. Muslims are not claiming any exclusiveness when they say "Allah". However Allah is simply the Arabic Name of the one Almighty God; the same name by which Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians, refer to God. The Allah comes from the term ‘al-ilaah’. Al is the definite article in Arabic, equivalent to ‘the’ in English, while ilaah means ‘a deity or god’. So Allah means The God. This is beautifully articulated in the first pillar of Islam which is to believe that God is One, in Arabic it would be, "La ilaha illallah" meaning "There is no god but God"

What Is Islam?

The word "Islam" is an Arabic word that means "submitting and surrendering your will to Almighty God". The word comes from the same root as the Arabic word"salam", which means peace. Unlike the names used for other religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, the name for the religion of Islam was both revealed by God and carries a deep spiritual meaning, only by submitting one's will to Almighty God can one obtain true peace both in this life and in the life hereafter.

Islam teaches that all religions originally had the same essential message, which was to submit whole-heartedly to the will of God and to worship Him and Him alone. For this reason, Islam is not a new religion but is the same divinely revealed ultimate truth that God revealed to all prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them all).For a fifth of the world’s population, Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have come to be associated with their faith.

CHRISTIANITY

Isaiah 29:12 - Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was unlettered. (Holy Qur'an, 96:1)

Isaiah 21:13-17 - Ishmael's sons' (Kedar and Tema) descendants settled in Arabia. Medina was called Tema in Biblical times--next year an army of 1,000 Meccans marched against the Muslims. With only 300 (poorly armed) men, the Muslims defeated the Meccans at the Battle of Badr.

Solomon 5:16 reads - "Cheeko mame tah kim vechulo Mohammadim"--meaning: "His speech is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable." ('Mohammad' means 'desirable')

Deuteronomy 18:18 - Both Moses and Muhammad (peace be upon them both) had usual births, married and had children, and were forced to migrate [Moses to Median and Muhammad (p) to Medina]; they marched to battles against their enemies and won physical and moral victories in their lifetime; they were virtually kings, gave laws and scriptures, first rejected by their people and then accepted in the end; they were human beings with no divinity attributed to them by their followers, died a natural death and were buried in this earth. Similarities between Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them both) are: threat to life in early infancy, both were Jewish lettered Prophets, and both performed miracles.

John 14:15-16; 16:7-11 - The Holy Ghost was already present with Jesus (peace be upon him) when he was alive, and the Comforter's arrival was conditioned upon Jesus's departure.

John 16:12-14 - Jesus's message (peace be upon him) was incomplete; therefore another Prophet was needed to guide mankind into all truth. Acts 14:14; 11:24 - The Gospel of Barnabus didn't get a place in the New Testament. Chapters 96 and 97 of his gospel read: "In the presence of a great multitude, the priest asked Prophet Jesus: 'Art thou the Messiah of God whom we expect?' Prophet Jesus answered: 'It is true that God hath so promised, but indeed I am not he, for he is made before me and shall come after me.' ... Then said the priest: 'How shall the Messiah be called, and what sign shall reveal his coming?' Prophet Jesus answered: 'The name of the Messiah is admirable, for God Himself gave him the name when He created his soul, and placed it in celestial splendour... Muhammad is his blessed name.'"

HINDUISM

Dr. Islamul Haq, PhD, D.D. was a very high Hindu priest (Achariya Mahant Dr. Saroopji Maharaj). He studied 10 great religions of the world in their original form at the Oxford University of UK and received two doctorate degrees. He said that "the Holy Books of all great religions of the world, except Jainism and Buddhism, have the names 'Allah' and 'Muhammad' in them. Prophet Muhammad is the only prophet mentioned in most of the Holy Books of the world."

The Vedanta of Atharva Veda says: "Assya illale mitra baruna raja...." Translation: "Just at that time, a personage by the name 'Mohammad' will appear with his followers in a desert country. O Lord of the desert, O Teacher of the world, Praise be to You. You know many ways to destroy the evils of the world. O the Holy One, I am Your servant; please let me have a place at Your feet."

Zend Avesta, part one, translated by Max Muller, pg. 260: "O Spetame Zarathustra, I proclaim that Holy Ahmad will surely arrive. You will receive from him holy words, holy thoughts, righteous deeds, and pure religion." In the Holy Qur'an, the second name of Muhammad is given as Ahmad (61:6). Dasateer, translated by A.H. Vidyarthi, pg. 47: "When the Persians will forget their religion and will plunge into extreme moral degradation, a great holy man will arrive into the Arab land. His followers will defeat the Persians. Instead of worshipping 'fire' in their temples, they will then pray facing the temple built by Abraham. The followers of that great holy man will be like blessings to the people of the world." Soon after Muhammad (peace be upon him) died, his followers did defeat the Persians. The Persians accepted Islam in great multitudes and started to pray facing the House of God, Ka'ba, built by Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him).

Islam is a code of Life

It is a Muslim belief that Muhammad's mission was for the whole world and for all the time; because:

The mission of Muhammad, as well as of other prophets who brought the universal message of Islam, does not end with the announcement of the message. He has to guide the people by explaining to them the implications of the Islamic creed, the morale code, the divine injunctions and commandment, and the form of worship that sustains the whole system. He has to exemplify the faith so others can pattern their participation in the evolution of Islamic culture and civilization. The believers must grow under his guidance into an organized community so that Allah's word will prevail over all other words.

• Spiritual Life: prayer (salah), fasting, charity giving (zakah), pilgrimage (hajj), love for Allah and His Messenger, love for truth and humanity for the sake of Allah, hope and trust in Allah at all times and doing good for the sake of Allah.
  
• Intellectual Life: True knowledge based on clear proof and indisputable evidence acquired by experience or experiment or by both. The Quran points to the rich sources of knowledge in the whole universe. Islam demands faith in Allah on the basis of knowledge and research and leaves wide open all field of thought before the intellect to penetrate as far it can reach.
   
• Personal Life: purity and cleanliness, a healthy diet, proper clothing, proper behaviour, and good healthy sexual relations within marriage.

• Family Life: A family is a human social group whose members are bound together by the bond of blood ties and/or marital relationship and nothing else (adoption, mutual alliance, common law, trial marriage...etc.). Marriage is a religious duty on all who are capable of meeting its responsibilities. Each member of the family has rights and obligations. 

• Social Life: Man is ordained by Allah to extend his utmost help and kindness to other family members, relations, servants and neighbours. No superiority on account of class, colour, origin or wealth. Humanity represents one family springing from the one and the same father and mother. The unity of the humanity is not only in its origin but also in its ultimate aims.

• Economical Life: Earning one's living through decent labour is not only a duty but a great virtue as well. Earning is man's private possession. The individual is responsible for the prosperity of the state and the state is responsible for the security of the individual. The Islamic economic system is not based on arithmetical calculations alne but also on moral and principles. Man comes to this world empty-handed and departs empty-handed. The real owner of things is Allah alone. Man is simply a trustee.

• Political Life: The sovereignty in the Islamic State belongs to Allah; the people exercise it by trust from Him to enforce His laws. The ruler is only an acting executive chosen by the people to serve them according to Allah's law. The State is to administer justice and provide security for all citizens. Rulers and administrators must be chosen from the best qualified citizens. If an administration betrays the trust of Allah and the people, it has to be replaced. Non-Muslim can administer their personal life of marriage, divorce, foods and inheritance according to the Islamic law or to their own religious teachings. They may pay Zakah or a different tax tributes "Jizyah". They are entitled to full protection and security of the State including freedom of religion.

• International Life: Man has a common origin, human status and aim. Other people's interests and right to life, honour and property are respected as long as the right of Muslim are in tact. Transgression is forbidden. War is only justified if the state security is endangered. During war, destruction of crops, animals and homes, killing non-fighting women, children and aged people are forbidden.

Method of Ablutions

Ghusl

What makes Ghusl Fard?

On five occasions the Ghusl is Fard.

1) Release of sperm with pleasure. If jumped from a higher place or lifted heavier stuff which caused sperm to discharge, Ghusl is not wajib but will break the Wuzu.
2) Wet dream with semen discharge.
3) When ever the tip of man's private part enters woman's private part.(Even with intention or without intention)
4) Haiz (monthly period for women)
5) Nafaas (The release of blood after a woman gives birth)

Fards in Ghusl.

There are three fards in Ghusl.

1) To wash mouth with water as it should reach all the parts internally. From lips to the base of throat. If not fasting gargle. If there is any thing stuck in between teeth such as a piece of meat, paan, beetle nut; it should be removed before Ghusl or the Ghusl will not be completed.

2) To wash inside of nose with water. Water should be pulled hard enough all the way to the soft part of the base of nose. If there is any dry phlegm (hard ratoobat) inside the nose it must be cleaned and if a the nose is pierced water should be forced into the hole or the Ghusl will not be completed.

3) To wash the body once from head till the bottom of feet. The water must pour over body. Every strand (hair) and skin of the body must get wet. Even if a single strand or a small portion of skin is not washed the Ghusl will not be completed.

Sunnats in Ghusl.
1) To perform a ghusl in the sunnat, we must first wash both of our hands and private parts even if they may be clean, then if there any najasat (impurity) on our body, we must wash it away.

2) We must perform a complete ablution.

3) While washing our face we must intend to perform a ghusl.

4) If water will not accumulate under our feet; we must wash our feet, too.

5) We must pour water on our entire body three times. When you do this, we must pour it on our head three times first, then on our right shoulder three times and then on the left shoulder three times. Each time the part on which we pour water must become completely wet. We must also rub it gently, during the first pouring.

6) In a ghusl, it is permissible to pour the water on the limb so as to make it flow onto another limb, which, in this case, will be cleaned, too. For in a ghusl the whole body is counted as a one limb. If in performing an ablution the water poured on one limb moistens another limb, the second limb will not be considered to have been washed.

7) When a ghusl is completed it is makruh (things which our Prophet did not like) to perform an ablution. But it will become necessary to perform an ablution again if it is broken while making a ghusl.


Wudu

Fards in Wuzoo

There are 4 mandatory acts in Wuzu

1-To wash the face once.
2-To wash the two arms together with the elbows once.
3-To apply masah on the one-fourth of the head, that is, to rub a wet hand softly on it.
4-To wash the feet, together with the ankle-bones on the side once.

Sunnats in Ablution

There are eighteen Sunnats in an ablution
.
1-To recite "Bismillah" before the making the ablution.
2-To wash the hands including the wrists three times.
3-To rinse the mouth three times by using new water each time. This is called madmada.
4-To wash both nostrils three times, taking fresh water each time. This is called istinshaq.
5-To wet the invisible parts of the skin under the eyebrows, the beard and the mustache. It is fard to wash their exterior surfaces. If the hairs are scarce and the skin can be seen, it will be fard to wet and wash the skin.
6-To wet the section under the two eyebrows when washing the face.
7-To apply the masah on the hanging part of the beard.
8-To comb (taklil) the hanging part of the beard with the wetted fingers of the right hands.
9-To rub and clean the teeth with something.
10-To apply masah (to wipe) both ears once.
11-to apply masah on the neck once with three adjacent fingers of both hands.
12-to wash (takhlil ) between the fingers and the toes, the little fingers of the left hand is inserted between the toes from under them in successions,beginning with the little toe of the right foot and, after finishing with the right foot, carrying on with big toe of the foot.
13-To apply masah on the whole head once.
14-To wash every limb three times which is to be washed. At each washing every part of the limb must be moistened. It is sunnat not to pour water three times but to wash it completely three times. It is makruh to wash more than three times.
15-To intend through the heart to get reward when beginning the Wudu.
16-Tartib. In other words, to wash the two hands, the mouth, the nostrils, the face, the arms, then apply masah on the head, and not to change this order.
17-Dalk, to rub the limbs washed.
18-Muwalat, to wash the limbs one right after another quickly.

Mustahabbats in Ablution

There are twenty-eight twenty-eight mustahabbats in an ablution.

In this context adab means something which causes blessings when done but incurs no sin if committed.

1- To make an ablution before it is time for Salaat.
2-If the private parts have not been smeared with najasat (impurity); it is an adab to wash them with water. If the najasat (impurity) is less than one dirham [which is equal to one mithqal: four grams and eighty centigrams], it is sunnat to wash. If one has been smeared with one dirham of it, it is wajib, and if more than that it is fard to wash.
3-To wipe oneself dry with a piece of cloth after washing. If there is no cloth one must wipe with one's hand.
4-To cover oneself right after the cleaning is completed.
5-Not to ask for help from anybody, but to perform the ablution by oneself. If one pours water for one without being asked, it will be permissible.
6-To turn towards the qibla when making an ablution.
7-Not to talk while making an ablution.
8-To recite the kalmia-i-shahadat while washing each limb.
9-To recite the prescribed prayers (du'a) of ablution.
10-To put water in the mouth with the right hand.
11-To put water in the nose with the right and to clean the nose with the left hand.
12-When washing the mouth, rinse it if not fasting.
13-When washing the nostrils, to draw the water almost up to the bone.
14-When applying masah on the ears, insert each little finger into each earhole, respectively.
15-To use the little finger of the left hand when washing between the toes when inserting from the lower sides of them.
16-To shift the ring when washing the hands. It is necessary and fard to shift a tight ring.
17-Not to waste water though it may be plentiful.
18-Not to use little water so as to appear rubbing with oil. During each the three washing, at least two drops of water must fall from the place washed.
19-After using a container for ablution, to leave the container full of water so that the other may use it.
20-To recite the prayer (du'a ) "ALLAHUMMAJ'ALNI MINATTAWWABIN….."after or during the ablution.
21-To make an ablution though one has an ablution. In other words, after performing one namaz, renew your ablution for the next namaz.
22-To clean the inner corner of the eyes and clear away the dried mucus in the eyelids when washing the face.
23-When washing the face, the arms and the feet, wash a little more than the compulsory amount. When washing the arms, we must fill our palm with water and then pour it towards the elbow.
24-When performing an ablution, do not let the water used splash back on the body, the cloths, etc.
25-To wash the face with both hands.
26-To put the water container on the right side. While performing an ablution.
27-When washing the foot, start from the fingers.
28-To perform two rak'at [cycle] salaat after an ablution, which is called "THAHEEYA-TUL-WUDU".

Prohibitions in Wuzu

There are ten prohibitions in performing an ablution

1-When relieving one or urinating in the toilet or outdoors, one should not turn one's front or back towards the Qibla. It is makruh also to stretch one's feet towards the Qibla or the Quran. If the Quran is above one it will not be makruh.
2-It is haram to open one's private parts near someone in order to make taharat.
3-One should not make taharat with one's right hand.
4-When there is no water, it is makruh to make taharat (to clean oneself ) with food products, manure,bones,animals food,coal,someone else's property,reeds,leaves. Instead of that should have "Tayammum".
5-One must not spit or throw mucus into the pool where one makes an ablution.
6-One should not wash one's limbs of ablution much more or less than the prescribed limit, nor wash them more or less than three times.
7-While washing the face, one must not splash the water on one's face, but pour it from the upper forehead downwards.
8-One must not blow on or over the surface of the water.
9-One must not close one's mouth and eyes tightly. If even a tiny part of the outward part of the lips or the eyelids is left dry, the ablution will not be acceptable.
10-One must not make masah on one's head, ears or neck more than once after moistening the hands each time. But it can be repeated with moistening the hands again.

NAMAZ (PRAYER)

Note 1: Sisters must read our "Difference between Men's and Women's Salah" article to make adjustments in their Salah as there is some differences in Salah between Men and Women.

Note 2: When you are asked to 'Say' or 'Recite' or 'Read' in the directions. The sound must not be loud and at the same time not totally silent. It should be loud enough just for your ears to hear it and not so loud that a person next to you would be able to hear your recitation clearly. If a person next to you could hear only a mimic from you, that's fine. If you are surrounded by noise such as a fan's noise and you are not able to understand your recitation, it is okay. In an utmost quite room you should be able to understand your recitation. In any case you must say it loud enough as mentioned above.

How do we perform Salaat (prayer):

When beginning salaat, men raise both hands. The tips of thumbs must touch the earlobes. Palms must be turned towards the Qibla. Saying of Allahu Akbar (Takbir) begins as the hands leave the ears and finish as they are folded under the navel.

NOTE: Women raise their both hands as high as their shoulders and say the takbir of beginning. Then they put their hands on their chest.

There are seven conditions for a salaat to be corrected.

1-Niyyat (intention)
2-Tahrima (To say Allah Akbar)
3-Qiyam (Standing)
4-Qiraat (Recitation of Quran by mouth gently)
5-Ruku (To bow)
6-Sajda (Prostration)
7-Qai'da-e- Akhira (Last sitting)

NIYYAT (intention) is made while saying the takbir at the beggining. It is permissible to make niyyat before that, too.

(I) To make niyyat for salaat means to intend in the heart to perform a particular Salaat - Its name, time, qibla, to wish to follow the imam (when performing salaat in jama'at) etc. Such as saying, "I pray two rakat (or as many required for that time) Fard (if its Fard or say Sunnat if its Sunnat or say Wajib if its Wajib or Say Nafil if its Nafil) of Fajr (or whichever Salaat it is) for Allah Ta'ala and facing towards the Ka'aba."

(ii) Knowledge only, that is, knowing what is to be done will not be niyyat.

(iii) The niyyat made after the takbir of beginning is not correct and that salaat is not acceptable.

(iv) When making niyyat for prayers that are fard or wajib, it is necessary to know which fard or wajib they are. For example, it is necessary to know the name of the fard and to say for instance, "To perform today's early afternoon prayer (Zuhr)," or, the time's fard." When performing the salaat of Eid or witr, it is necessary to think of its being wajib and its name.

(v) It is good (mustahab) but not necessary to make niyyat for the number of rak'ats (cycles).

(vi) When performing a sunnat the niyyat "To perform salaat will suffice."

(vii) When beginning to worship, saying orally only is not called niyyat. Worships done without niyyat are not acceptable in all four Madhhabs (Hanfi, Shaafi, Maliki and Hambali). Thus niyyat is done from the heart.

TAHRIMA means to say "Allahu Akbar"

When beginning salaat it is Fard to say Tahrima. No other word to replace it is acceptable. If the takbir is said too long, like AAllah (with AA instead of one A) in the beginning or Akbaar (with aa instead of one a) at the end, salaat will not be accepted. If 'Takbir' is said before the Imam, salaat will not have started.

QIYAM means to stand.

(I) When standing, the two feet must be four finger's width apart from each other.

(ii) In Fards,Wajibs and in the sunnat of Fajr salaat Qiyam is Fard. It means a person who is healthy but performs the above mentioned salaat while sitting, is not acceptable, He must perform all of the mentioned Salaats with qiyam for his salaat to be accepted.

(iii) He who is too ill to stand should perform salaat sitting, and if too ill to sit he should lie down on his back and performs it with his head (by moving,nodding his head,etc,). A pillow must be put under his head so that his face will be towards the qibla instead of towards the sky. He bends his knees, so that he will not stretch his legs towards the qibla.

(iii) As qirat is wajib to recite Surah Fatiha and to also recite a sura or three ayats in every rak'at of sunnats and of witr prayer and in the first two rak'ats of the fard.

(iv) In the fard (prayers of salaat that are obligatory), it is wajib to say the Fatiha and the other sura at the two first rak'ats. Additionally, it is wajib to say Surah Fatiha before the sura. Furthermore, it is wajib to say the fatiha once in every rak'at. If one of these five wajibs is forgotten, it is necessary to make sajda-e-sahw.

(v) In the third and the fourth rak'ats of the fard, it is sunnat for the Imam as well as for a person who performs salaat individually to say the Fatiha. [Ibni Abidin shami, p 343].

(vi) A settled (resident) person who follows a traveling one stands up when the imam makes the salam after the second rak'at,and performs two more rak'ats,but he does not make the qirat. That is, he does not say the Fatiha or the other sura. He does not say any prayer as if he were praying salaat behind the imam.

(vii) In every prayer of salaat except Friday prayer and Eid prayer, it is sunnat for the imam that the sura he says in the first rak'at (after the Fatiha) be twice as long as the one he says in the second rak'at.

(viii) It is makruh to say a sura in the second rak'at three ayats longer than the sura said in the first rak'at.It is always wajib to read the suras or ayats from the Qur'an.

(xi) A person who is too ill to stand, or feels dizzy or has a headache or toothache or pain in some other part of his body or can not control wind or bleeding when he stands should perform salaat sitting.

QIRAT: Means to read (recite) by mouth gently. Reading gently means to read only as loud as can hear yourself. (I) The recitation is called Jahri, that is, loud if its heard by people who stand on each side of the recitor. (ii) It is fard to say an ayat (verse) of the Quran while in Qiyam (standing) in every Rakat and it must be in the order as they are written in the Quran. For example one cannot recite Surah Naas in first rakaat and Surah Ikhlas in second.

RUKU: After the sura you bend for Ruku whilst saying takbir. (I) In ruku men open their fingers and put them on their knees. They keep their back and head leveled in ruku. Also the arms and legs must be straight and then you say, "Subhana Rabbiyel Azeem" at least thrice. (ii) If the imam raises his head before you have said it three times you must raise your head too.  You must not wait to complete the recitation thrice. In Ruku women do not open their fingers, they do not keep their head and back level, nor their arms and legs straight.

It is sunnat, for the imam as well as a person who is performing salaat alone, to say 'Sami Allahu liman hamidah' while straightening up from Ruku. The Jama'at does not say it. Right after saying it (if praying alone) or upon hearing the imam recite it (if with jama'at), you must say 'Rab'bana lakal hamd', and stand upright. Then, saying takbir (Allahu Akbar) start to kneel down for the Sajdah. First place the right knee and then the left knee, followed by the right and then left hand on the floor. Finally, the nose and the forehead bones are placed put on ground.

SAJDAH (prostration)

(i) In Sajdah, fingers must be closed (no gap in between fingers), pointing towards the qibla in line with the ears, and the head must be between hands. It is fard to put the forehead on something clean, such a clean stone, clean ground, clean wood or clean cloth and it is wajib to put the nose down too. It is not permissible to put only the nose on the ground without a good excuse. It is makruh to put only the forehead on the ground. Thr nose should be pressured enough so that the bone of nose feel the ground, its very important to keep in account when perfoming salat on a soft carpet.

(ii) In sajda, you say, 'Subhana Rabbiyal A'la' at least thrice.

(iii) It is fard to put two feet or at least one finger of any foot on the ground. If both the feet are not placed on ground, salaat will be annulled and not be accepted.

(iv) It is sunnat to bend the toes and turn them towards the qibla. (v) Men must keep their arms and thighs away from their abdomen.

(vi) Sajda must be done on the ground on condition that you will press on them until you feel their hardness, that is until your forehead cannot move downward any more. Same applies for the nose. Special precaution is required on this issue when peroforming salat on a carpet.

(vii) It is written in 'Halabi': "When going into sajda it is Makruh-e-Tehrimi to pull up the skirts of your loose long robe or your trousers, and it is Makruh-e-Tehrimi to fold them before beginning salaat. It is Makruh-e-Tehrimi to perform salaat with folded sleeves, cuffs or skirt." Special attention is needed on this issue for the people of India and Pakistan who wear Shalwar and Kurta. If pulled or folded one must repeat the Salat.

(viii) It is Makruh to perform salaat with a bare head because of laziness or without realizing the importance of performing salaat with a covered head. For, not to cover one's head means to disobey the ayat: "Take your ornamented clothes and cover yourself for salaat!"

(xi) It is sunnat to wrap a turban (Imama) around the head whether in white or black color as Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam used these colours or any other color.

(x) Allama Ibne Abidin Shami Rehmatullahi Ta'ala Alaih said, "Direction towards qibla is fard for salaat. That is, salaat is performed by turning towards the direction of the Ka'aba. Salaat is performed for Allah. Sajda is done for Allah Ta'ala only, not for the Ka'aba. One who makes sajdah for the Ka'aba becomes a disbeliever."

QAI'DA-I-AKHIRA:
Means sitting in the last rak'at. it is fard to sit as long as it takes to say the Athiyyat, "Atthayyato Lillahe Wassalawato Wat Tayyebato Assalamu Alaika Ayyohan Nabiyo Wa Rehmatullahe Wa Barakatoh Assalamu Alaina Wa Ala Ibadillahis Sualaiheen Ashadu An La ilaah illal Laho Wa Ashadu Anna Mohammadan Abdohoo Wa Rasooloohoo" When sitting, men put their left foot flat on the ground with it toes pointing towards the right. They sit on this foot. The right foot should be upright, with the toes touching the ground and bent and pointing towards the qibla.

NOTE 1: Women sit by Tawarruk. That is, they sit with their buttocks on the ground. Their thighs should be close to each other. Their feet should jut out from the right.

NOTE 2: When you reach at Ashadu An La raise your index finger of your right hand upward facing about 45 degrees by closing the fist, and drop it back and spread the hand to its original position at illal Laho.

KHUROOJ BI SUN'EEHI:
To signify the completion of prayer by word or action. It means to finish out prayer by saying or doing something. Salaat is completed by saying, "Assalamo Alaikum Wa Rehmatullah" First by moving head towards right and saying it, then towards left and saying it.

PRAYER AFTER THE SALAAT:
(i) It is mustahab (good) for the imam to turn right or left or towards the jama'at.

(ii) It is stated in a hadith, 'If a person says, "Astaghfirullah Al'azim-il-llazi La ilaha illa Huw-al-hayy-ul-qayyuma Wa Atubu ilayh", after every prayer of salaat, all his sins will be forgiven.

(iii) Imam and the followers raise their hands as high as their chest and pray (Dua) for themselves and for all muslims. A hadith declares, 'Prayers (Dua) sent after the five daily fard will be accepted.' (Tirmidhi). But the prayers (Dua) must be done with a vigilant heart. Not with fingers turned towards the qibla, arms not opened apart in the right-left direction, arms too close to each other, too far forward etc.

(iv) While saying Dua, the fact is that it is mustahab (good) to say salaat and salaam upon RasoolAllah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam),

(v) After making your Prayers (Dua), it is sunnat to rub the hands gently on the face.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN PERFORMING SALAAT:
(i) When beginning to perform salaat, a woman raises both hands up to the level of her shoulders. While standing she puts her right hand on the left hand. However, she does not grasp her left wrist the fingers of her right hand. She puts her hands on her breast. While making ruku, her hands are placed on the knees, but do not grasp them. She keeps her fingers close together. She does not keep her legs straight, nor her back level. While making sajda, she lowers herself, bringing her arms to her side while she keeps her abdomen placed over her thighs. She sits on the buttocks, her legs inclined towards right.

(ii) A woman cannot be imam for men. If they follow a man as imam, they should be in last line of the jama'at.

(iii) While performing salaat in jama'at, if a woman stands besides or in front of a man, the man salaat will be Fasid (nullified).

PAINFUL TORMENT AT THE TIME OF DEATH, IN GRAVE, ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT AND IN HELL.
A hadith shareef, quoted in the book 'Qurratul'uyun,' declares, "If a person does not perform salaat though he has no good excuse, Allah ta'ala will give him fifteen kinds of punishment. Six of them will come in the world, three will come at the time of death, three will come in the grave, and three will come when rising from the grave. The six plagues in the world are:

1-Person who does not perform salaat will not have barakat {blessings} in his life.
2-He will not have the beauty afforded to those who are loved by Allah ta'ala.
3-He will not be given reward for any good he does.
4-His supplications (duas) will not be accepted.
5-No one will like him.
6-Supplications that (other) Muslims invoke for him will do him no good.

Kinds of torment he will suffer when dying are:

1-He will expire in an abhorrent, unsightly, repugnant manner.
2-He will die hungry.
3-No matter how much water he has, he will die with painful thirst.

Kind of torment he will suffer in the grave are:

1-The grave will squeeze him. His bones will intertwine.
2-His grave will be filled with fire, which will scorch him day and night.
3-Allah Ta'ala will send a huge snake to his grave. It is not like terrestrial serpents. It will sting him at every prayer time each day. It will never leave him alone any moment.

Kinds of torment he will suffer after rising are:

1-Angels of torment will drag him to hell will never leave him alone.
2-Allah Ta'ala will meet him with wrath.
3-His accounts will be settled in a very vehement manner, and he will be flung into hell. (May Allah save us) On the other hand, we see that one who performs salaat five times a day his sins are forgiven. As it is stated in the hadith, RasoolAllah (salallahu alaihi wasallam) asked his companions: "If there were a river in front of one's house and if he washed himself in this river five times every day, would there be any dirt left on him?" We (Jabir bin Abdullah and other sahaba present there) said, "No, O Rasulallah." Allah's most beloved Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) said, "Likewise minor sins of those who perform the five daily prayers are forgiven." Ibn Jawzi (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote in his tafsir Elmugni: Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said that, "When the time of a daily prayer of salaat comes, Angels say, 'O the sons of Adam, stand up! Extinguish the fire prepared to burn human beings by performing salaat.

Method of praying Qaza Salahs Quickly

If someone has missed Salahs in their account. Either one time's or of many years, they must pray their Qaza as soon as possible. Salah is a Fard and not forgiven. On the day of judgement Salah will be the first thing asked about.

For the people who have many years of missed Salahs. There is a way to pray them quickly. Following instructions have four exceptions and has all Fards and Wajibs for a complete Salat. Please pray your Qaza as soon as possible. Even of you could pray one days Qaza Salahs every day which are only 20 rakahs (3 wajib witr), please do it. It only takes few mins to perform 20 rakahs according to the following instructions.

1) In Ruku and Sajdah instead of reciting "Subhaana Rabbiyal Azeem" and "Subhaana Rabbiyal A'la" three times, say it only once. But make sure do not leave Ruku posture untill the Meem (M) of Azeem has been said properly. Similarly do not leave the posture of Sajdah until Ala has been said completely. Just make sure to say these Tasbeehaat properly and do not rush.

2) In third and four Rakah of Fard Salah instead of reciting the whole Soorah Fatiha say "Subhan Allah" three times and go to Ruku, . Make sure "Subhan Allah" has been recited three times properly, do not rush. This exeption is only for Fard. In third rakah of Witr it's a must to recite full Soorah Fatiha followed by at least three ayahs of Quran or a soorah (as we usually do in first and second rakah).

3) In last Qaidah (when we sit for Attahyyat) before Salam, after Attahyyat instead of full Durood and Dua just say, "Allah Humma Salle Ala Sayedena Mohammad Wa Aalihi", then finish the Salat with Salam. Dua is not a must here.

4) In Witr, instead of full Dua-e-Qunoot just say "Rabbigh Fir Lee" one or three times.

(Fatawa Rizvia, Part 3, Page 622)


Salatul Tasbih - For forgiveness of All Sins

Benefits of Salat-Ul-Tasbih
Our Beloved Prophet Mohammed (Sallallaho Alihiwa Sallam) said to his uncle Sayyiduna Abbass (may Allah be pleased with him), "Oh uncle, Shall I not give you? Shall I not grant you? Shall I not award you? Shall I not do mercy on you? When you do 10 things Allah will forgive your sins: of the future and of the past; new and old; those you have forgotten and those you did knowingly; big and small; hidden and revealed."

Then he (Sallallaho Alihiwassallam) explained the taught the way to pray Salatul Tasbih and then said if you can pray this salah once a day, if you can not pray once a day then every Friday, and even if this is not possible then once a month and even if this is not possible then once a year and even if this is not possible then at least once in a lifetime (Abu Dawood & Tirimzi)

How to perform Salatul Tasbih
This salaat (namaz) is offered in four rakat at a time and can be read in any part of the day and night besides Zawal and Sunrise and Sunset makrooh times, keeping in mind the forbidden times for performing Salat (namaaz). But is is preferred before Zuhr (Fatawa Alamgeeri)

The Tasbih to be read in Salaat-Ul-Tasbeeh:
" Subhaan Allahi Wal Hamdulillahi Wa Laa ilaha illal Laahu Wallahu Akbar "
 

Method:

Goal is to recite above Tasbih 300 times in Four Rakah with the following method.
In the first rakaat, after reading Sana "Subhaana Kallahumma...", read the tasbih 15 times.

Now recite "Aoozubillah...", "Bismillah...", Then read sura Fatiha and a Surah or minimum of three small Ayayhs then read the tasbih 10 times again.

Go to ruku saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar), after reciting "Subhaana Rabbiyal Azeem" minimum of three times read the tasbih 10 times in Ruku.

Saying "Samee Allahu Liman Hamidah Rabbana Lakal Hamdh" get up from ruku to qiyam position.
Now read the tasbih 10 times.

Go to Sajdah saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar) and after reciting "Subhaana Rabbiyal A'la" minimum of three times read the tasbih 10 times in Sajdah.

Now go after first Sajdah go to Jalsa (sitting position) saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar). Sitting in Jalsa read tasbih 10 times.
Go to sajda again saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar) and after reciting "Subhaana Rabbiyal A'la" minimum of three times read the tasbih 10 times in Sajdah again.

Get up to begin 2nd rakat saying Takbeer (Allah Hoo Akbar).

Do rakah #2 in same fashion, but before reading Bismillah "Bismillah...", and Surah Fatiha, read the tasbih 15 times. Follow the rest as you did in first Rakat.

After second Sajdah of Second Rakat sit in Qaidah Oola (first sitting) read Attahiyat, Durood and Dua then get up for 3rd rakaat without saying Salam.

Begin third Rakat, just like the first Rakat, with Sana "Subhaana Kallahumma...", read the above tasbih 15 times.

Follow the rest as you did in first Rakat untill you sit for Qaidah Akihra (last sitting) after second sajdah of fourth Rakah.
In Qaidah Akihra Attahiyat, Durood, Dua finish Salah with Salam.

Special notes for Salat-Ul-Tasbih:

1) Do not count loudly. It will break Salah

2) Do not count on fingers or by holding a Bead Tasbih in hand. It is Makruh.

3) You may count by pressing the fingers as a reminder. For example if you are in Ruku. You me press pinky of your right hand first for the first count, then the finger next to it for second count, then the middle finger for third count, following this method untill you reach the pinky of left hand will give you an exact count of ten. Use the same method in Qayam, Sajdah and Jalsa.

4) If missed a count then make it up in the next posture. For example if forgot to recite Tasbih after Surah in Qayam. Then you may recite Tasbish 20 times instead of 10 in Rukuh after "Subhaana Rabbiyal Azeem". Missed Tasbih cannot be recited in Qayam after ruku and Jalsa between Sajdah. If you missed the Tasbih in Ruku then recite 20 in the first Sajdah instead of the Qayam after rukuh. Similarly if missed the Tasbih in first Sajdah then do not make it up in Jalsa. Instead recite missed tasbih in the second Sajdah. If Tasbih has been missed in last sajdah of second or fourth Rakah then you can recite the missed ones before Attahiyat in Qaidah.

5) If you miss a wajib in Salah and have to do Sajdah Sahaw. You dont have to recite Tasbih in Sajdah sahoo, since the 300 count has been estalished. But if you had missed Tasbih in any of the postures and remeber it now. Then you may recite the missed Tasbih in Sajdah Sahaw now.

6) It is preferable to recite after Surah Fatiha Sura Takathuur in the first raka’, Surah Wal A’sr in the second raka’, Surah Kaferoon (qul ya aiyuhal Kafiroon) in the third and Surah Akhlas (Qul hu Allah-hu ahd) in the fourth raka’. If one does not remember these surah they can recite the ones they prefer.

May Allah accept this dua’ (supplication) for the sake of the trustworthy PROPHET MOHAMMED (Allah’s Grace & Peace be upon him)