(ma-huwa ’l-Islam?

(ma-huwa ’l-Islam?) and since my aim was merely to introduce Islam I have been succinct and concise throughout so that it can be easily read by all. I pray God Almighty that it will meet His pleasure and that He will make it a means through which people are guided, for He it is who grants success and upon Him do we call for help. The holy city of Karbala’, Muhammad The Islamic faith **1-The Islamic Faith - an Introduction ** Question: What is Islam?

Answer: Islam is both a faith and a legal system (shari‘a) which provides for all the needs of a human being at every stage of his or her life. Question: Who established Islam? Answer: Islam did not come into being through human deliberation. On the contrary, it has been revealed by God Almighty as something perfect and complete without any defect. Question: Can Islam survive forever and is it valid for every time, place and nation?

Answer: God Almighty has revealed Islam to be the faith of all mankind forever, relevant in every age, place and nation. Question: On whom was Islam revealed? Answer: God Almighty revealed Islam to the last of his prophets, the Prophet Mohammad (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa-alihi wa-sallam, God’s blessings and peace be upon him and his progeny).1 1 It is a mark of piety in Islam to use this salutation when mentioning the name of the Holy .

It is a similar mark of piety to use the greeting ‘alayhi al-salam, peace be upon him, on mentioning one of the other Prophets or one of the Imams from the Household (the Progeny) of the Holy Prophet, the . This practice has been followed throughout the book. Question: At what time did the Prophet of Islam live?

Answer: He lived fourteen centuries ago, that is nearly five centuries after Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), and this present year, which is 1387/1967, one thousand and four hundred years have passed since Islam was established. Question: What is the difference between the Islamic faith, and the Christian, Jewish and other faiths?

Answer: Religious systems that have been revealed by God Almighty are many, each of them being suitable for its own time, and whenever a new religion came the older faith would be abrogated. So is the case with Islam which is the last religion revealed by God for the guidance and leadership of mankind.