Salam dear questioner,

Thank for your interesting question.

Non-believers are unable to provide any convincing reason for the existence of this universe or of human life. People who believe there is a Creator assume that creation occurred by His will. But in a world where everything is shown to have a purpose, it is natural for a human being to wonder about the purpose of his own creation. One is surely justified in expecting the Creator who put us on this earth to inform us why He did so and what He expects of us.

The Qur'an informs us that God did just that. It says that God created us for a test here on earth, conveying His words:

Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned? (Al-Mu’minun 23:115-116)

A non-believer might decide that the objective of his life will be to collect wealth, obtain position or pursue pleasure to the greatest extent possible. But none of this will benefit him in the long run. According to His final scripture, God created man to test him with certain responsibilities [As stated in verse number 18:7, 67:2 and 76:2]. God, the Almighty, did not intend life on this earth to necessarily be comfortable or satisfying but merely a trial of limited duration, the punishment and rewards of which will be due in the Hereafter.

As mentioned previously, most of creation is "Muslim" in that it is programmed to obey the physical laws set by God, (and his is why the universe functions with balanced equilibrium). Man, however, was given a free will and the ability to either obey or disobey. But God will not allow His universal balance to be upset indefinitely by defiant, corrupt and sinful people, so He only grants human beings a measure of freedom in a temporary world. The scheme of birth, development, decline and death provides each with the opportunity to prove to himself without a doubt what he will deserve on the Day of Judgment, which God created for the manifestation of His ultimate justice.

This life is very meaningful and purposeful to the believing Muslim because he realizes that it will determine his outcome and permanent position in the next life. He lives to earn the approval of his Creator in preparation for the final return to Him.

We all recognize that people make things to perform specific functions for them, in other words, to serve them. God has made us to serve Him, but with one major difference; it is not for the benefit of the Creator Himself but for the benefit of us, His creation. The purpose of our existence is thus stated in the Qur'an:

I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (Adh-Dhariyat 51:56)

But man's worship of God is not automatic like the vast majority of created beings but by his own choice and effort, and this is what entitles him to honor and reward.

"How should one worship God in order to fulfill that purpose?" This question can undoubtedly be best answered by Him. God has provided every element of His creation, living and inanimate, with guidance. We can thus expect that He would provide us with guidance as well. His revelation instructs humanity what to do, what to avoid, and the reason for it. It informs man what is expected of him, how to accomplish it, and the results of continual positive effort. Through Prophet Muhammad, God revealed to man the ways of worship suitable to his physical and psychological nature and individual talents, and in harmony with his particular role on the earth. These, in combination, are what enable Him to fulfill the purpose of His creation.

We hope that our answer is satisfactory and to the point.

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Source: This answer is based on the book of Clear Your Doubts about Islam by Sahih International.

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Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question and your keenness to know about Islam. We hope that we give you a clear and satisfactory answer.

One of the biggest misconceptions about Islam concerns the name “Allah.” Some people believe that Muslims worship a different God than Christians, Jews and others, and some missionary organizations distribute literature in English in which they say such things as: “Allah is the god of the Muslims” and “Muhammad told people to believe in the God, Allah.” They thus imply and reinforce the idea that “Allah” is some sort of false deity.

This is totally incorrect because “Allah” is the same word that Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews use for God. If you pick up an Arabic Bible, you will find the word “Allah” wherever “God” is used in English. “Allah” is also the proper name of God. Therefore, Muslims use the name “Allah” even when they speak other languages.

In fact, “Allah” is a special word. It indicates the only entity in existence Who truly possesses the qualities of divinity and lordship, the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens and earth. It is the name of the only being worthy of worship, the one upon whom all creation is dependent at every moment. This name belongs to God alone and no one else.

“Allah” is the only word in the Arabic language equivalent to “God” with a capital “G.” It is also a unique word grammatically since it cannot be made plural or given a masculine or feminine gender. This is consistent with the Islamic concept of God. In English and other languages the word “god” can be used in various forms such as “God,” “gods” or “goddess,” all with different connotations and meanings. The only difference between “god” (meaning a false god or any object of worship) and “God” (meaning the one true God) is a capital “G.” Thus, a more accurate translation of “Allah” might be “the one and only true God.”

But there is another important point, which is that Islam is particularly concerned with the correct concept of God. Someone can have an erroneous concept of Him whether he uses the name “Allah” or the word “God.” Followers of previous religions gradually deviated from the original pure belief in God due to the fact that their scriptures were not adequately protected from loss and alteration. None of these are still available for study in their original form or language.

But this is not true of the last divinely revealed message, the Qur’an. Hence, the accurate concept of God can be found therein.

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Source: This answer is based on the book of Clear Your Doubts about Islam by Sahih International.

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Salam dear Maria,

 

Thank you for your interest in Islam and thank you for your question. 

 

A Muslim is someone who practices Islam; that is, who willingly submits to the revealed directives of God. Everything in the universe is inherently submissive to God, functioning according to the natural laws created by Him. Human beings are physically "Muslim" in that their bodies function according to the genetic program set by God for the period of time He has decreed.

A "Muslim" in the religious sense, however, is someone who consciously commits himself to the worship of God alone, not according to his own inclinations or those of other men but according to the method conveyed by God through His appointed prophets.

 

The Qur'an gives many examples of people who lived before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and believed in and obeyed the prophet that God had sent them. They entered Paradise because of their obedience to God, and that is the meaning of "Islam."

We hope this answers your question.

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Source: This answer is based on the book of Clear Your Doubts about Islam by Sahih International.

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Salam dear questioner,

Thank you for your question.

The simple cube-shaped stone building located in Makkah is called the Kabah or the Sacred House. It is the point towards which Muslims face when they pray.

Although Muslims face the direction of the Kabah during prayer, they do not worship it. Muslims worship and pray only to God (Allah).

The Kabah was built by the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael (peace be upon them) in response to God's command over 4,000 years ago. Abraham (peace be upon him) consecrated the House for the worship of the one true God and invited all of humanity to visit it for that purpose. Muslims who are physically and financially able are required to make a pilgrimage to it once in a lifetime.

Before the advent of prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), religion among the Arabs had degenerated into polytheism and paganism, and Makkah was completely submerged in idolatry; some 360 idols had been placed in and around the Ka`bah to be worshipped there along with God.

Prophet Muhammad was sent to restore to mankind the pure monotheism taught by all the messengers of God and reinstate the worship of Him alone. This he accomplished, and the Ka`bah was finally cleared of all manmade deities.

Among the religious rites particular to the Ka`bah is going around it as it symbolizes the unity of all true religions, the brotherhood of all the Prophets, and the essential consistency of their message.

When Muslims pray facing toward this single central point, they are reminded of their common purpose and long-term goal. Even when standing directly towards the Ka`bah in prayer, one is not to look at it but rather at the ground before him. The spiritual focus is on God alone and never upon any created object.

For more clarification read this:

The Kabah: Manifestation of Monotheism or Idolatry

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Source: This answer is based on the book of Clear Your Doubts about Islam by Sahih International.

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Dear questioner, thank you for your important question.

In fact, this type of misunderstanding occurs to those who know nothing about the basis of Islamic creed. Ka`bah in Islam is not an idol or deity, it is a building that has been honored by Allah the Almighty Who appointed it as a symbol of Muslim unity.

Islam urges Muslims to face the Ka`bah during the prayer to symbolize the concept of unity among all Muslims all over the globe. If the issue is left open to everybody, everyone will be facing a different direction and this might cause disunity.

Moreover, Muslims understand that the Ka`bah is just a symbol and does not harm or benefit anyone. Muslims go around the Ka`bah in Hajj to symbolize the divine unity of Allah the Almighty. At certain times during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Bilal (may Allah be pleased with) stood on the Ka`bah and gave the adhan. If there is any kind of worship, they would not have done that.

Islam came to preach the worship of Allah the One and Alone. The message of Islam has invited people to abandon the worship of idols and deities in any form. Allah (Glory be to Him) says:

But they have taken besides Him gods which create nothing, while they are created, and possess not for themselves any harm or benefit and possess not [power to cause] death or life or resurrection. (Al-Furqan 25:3)

Muslims Worship only the Lord of Kabah not the Ka`bah

It is strange to label Islam with idolatry, while Islam has been characterized across its history with the principle of monotheism in all aspects of human action, including: faith, worship, dealing and actions. Since its advent until today, monotheism has been its identity.

Every Muslim in the world, whether educated or un-educated, intellectual or non-intellectual announces clearly that Allah is the One Who must be worshipped Alone and not the Ka`bah or anything else. Indeed, Muslims turn their faces to the direction of Ka`bah during the prayer because Allah (Glory be to Him) has ordered them to do so. That is why they implement the Command of Allah the Almighty in order to obey Him and worship Him. The implementation of His Orders and Commands has been regarded in Islam as the most meritorious kind of worship. Worship in Islam is not directed to Ka`bah itself rather it is directed to the Lord of Ka`abh, the Lord of the whole universe.

In addition, Muslim jurists have concluded that the Muslims who live in distant places or in other countries and could not see Ka`bah in front of them during their prayer, such people do not need to face the physical building of Ka`bah directly. For such Muslims, it is enough to face the direction of Ka`bah only and their prayer is valid.

Bayt Al-Maqdis the First Qiblah of Muslims

It is noteworthy here that Muslims in the beginning of Islam used to turn their faces to the direction of Bayt Al-Maqdis in Jerusalem during their prayers, because the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his followers were ordered by Allah the Almighty to turn their faces to the Bayt Al-Maqdis. Thereafter, Allah (Glory be to Him) ordered them to turn their faces to the direction of Ka`bah in Makkah, since then the Muslims began turning their faces to the Ka`bah implementing the Command of Allah the Almighty. Thus it has become clear that Muslims are merely bound by the orders of their Lord the Almighty. When He (Glory be to Him) ordered them to face the direction of Bayt Al-Maqdis they obeyed His Command sincerely and when they were ordered again to face the direction of Ka`bah they implemented it immediately. That is why Allah is worshipped and He is obeyed in all cases, not the Ka`bah as was misunderstood by some people.

Please, keep in touch…

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Source: Taken with slight modifications from Islam-hinduism.com. 

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