Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is the one and only God – Allah is a name that He has chosen for Himself. The word "Islam" means "submission" to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Islam is a monotheistic religion and a way of life for its followers  - the Muslims. The Islamic principles are primarily based on The Quran, a revealed book and the examples and sayings of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him/صَلَّى ٱللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ), the final messenger of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).  

The Muslims believe in: Allah and all of His messengers, Revealed Books, Angels; the Day of Judgment, and Destiny (qadr). Muslims perform different acts of worship: daily prayers (salah), fasting (sawm) during one of Ramadan, pilgrimage (hajj) (if feasible), charity (zakah). Serving the fellow human beings is one of the core values of Islam. 

A person enters Islam with the verbal attestation that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is the Only God and that Muhammad (صَلَّى ٱللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) is His last messenger. 

“Say, ‘The truth is that Allah is One. Allah is Besought of all, needing none. He neither begets nor is begotten, Nor is there to Him an equivalent.’” (Quran 112:1-4)  

Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is the One and Only God. He is Eternal and Absolute. He does not beget, nor was He begotten. He has no partners in His Majesty.  He is the Creator, who creates everything but He was created by none. When He wills, he creates with the word “Be” and it becomes.

Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is the most Merciful and the most Beneficent. He is the Self-Sufficient and the Provider; all of his creations depend on Him whereas he does not depends on anything or anyone. He is unlike anything, and nothing is like him.

Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is All-knowing, the Omnipresent, He has absolute knowledge of all things and all matters of the past, the present and the future. Nothing is hidden from Him; we cannot see Him, yet His signs in the form of His creations are all around us. He is aware of all things and in Absolute control. He is not limited in any way by time or space as perceived by human beings. 

“O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner. and as the one who calls (people) towards Allah with His permission, and as a luminous lamp.” (Quran 33:45-46) 

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Muhammad (صَلَّى ٱللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) is the final messenger of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). He was blessed with Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) final revealed book, the Quran. Muhammad (صَلَّى ٱللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) was both the warner of the punishment in Hell and the bearer of glad tidings of the Paradise.

Muhammad's (صَلَّى ٱللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) led a life of perfection which the Muslims try to emulate. He was such a truthful and honest person that even his enemies would entrust him with their belongings. He was a kind and compassionate towards all forms of life. For all human beings, he presented perfect life examples, for example, how to be a husband, a father, a trader, a preacher, a charitable person, a statesman, etc. During his own lifetime, he was able to establish a state based on the Islamic principles.  

A compilation of Muhammad's (صَلَّى ٱللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) sayings and teachings (called the hadith) in Arabic and English languages can be found here:

Sunnah.com

“O mankind, there has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light.” (Quran 4:174) 

The Quran is the revealed word of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It was revealed on Muhammad (صَلَّى ٱللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) via archangel Gabriel (Jibril). The Quran is the final divine revelation for the mankind. 

The Quran affirms what came before it in the Torah and Gospel, corrects that which was changed, and clarifies that which was misunderstood. It warns of the last day, threatens the fire, and give glad-tidings of paradise. It is the guide to attain the pleasure of Allah, the criterion between right and wrong, and the unwavering light in the hearts of Muslims. 

The text of the Quran is completely preserved in its original form in Arabic language, since its revelation on Muhammad (صَلَّى ٱللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ). The full Arabic text of the Quran, its English translation and its recitation audios can be found here: 

Quran.com

This site also contains a collection of recitations of the Quran (in Arabic):

QuranicAudio.com

“Say, [O believers], ‘We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.’” (Quran 2:136) 

Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) created humankind and sent messengers to guide them to love Him and obey Him. The messengers were from amongst the people to guide them to the true path of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). 

Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus (Peace be upon all of them/عَلَيْهِم ٱلسَّلَامُ) and Muhammad (صَلَّى ٱللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ) are a few of the messengers of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). These messengers were given different miracles: Abraham (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) survived in a fire pit; Moses (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) could overcome acts of magic and was able to split the seas; Jesus (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) cured the sick and raised the dead. All messengers were Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) creations and all were human beings. Notably, Jesus' (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) birth was similar to Adam's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) -- in that they were both born without a father. 

If you have any questions about Islam or if you like to visit Masjid Annur, please send:
an email to dawah@masjidannur.com or
a text message at (916) 629-4044. 

Related links: 

• WhyIslam.org

• Yaqeen Institute