PREFACE

This book is written for those who have recently been introduced to Islam, and who already have knowledge and some degree of conviction about Islam, but which may have had their origin in inadequate or invalid sources. The information people gather about Islam is, in most cases, limited to what their families, friends or certain books present. However, accurate information about Islam can be accessed only by referring to the Qur'an, the source of Islam.

The Qur'an is the final revelation sent by God, as guidance to mankind. While the Torah and the Gospel, the two holy books preceding the Qur'an, were also revelations from God, in time, they were distorted and lost their quality as the divine word of God. Although they may contain parts of the original word of God, their greater part consists of words and interpolations of man. The only book revealed by God to have survived completely intact, is the Qur'an. It contains only that which has been revealed by God. God sent down His message, either by way of Gabriel, or through direct inspiration to the Prophet Muhammad (saas). The Qur'an consists of only that which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (saas), sent down in stages, for a period of twenty-three years.

At every state, the revelation was immediately recorded in writing, or committed to memory, by the Prophet's companions. Today, all Muslims wherever they are, read the same Qur'an. No contradiction or discrepancy can be found in any of the copies. (In our day, the Qur'an of Uthman, the third Caliph, is displayed in Topkapi Museum, Istanbul.) Evidence that the Qur'an is from God is the total absence of any sort of contradiction in the Qur'an. According to the Book of God:

Will they not ponder the Qur'an? If it had been from other than God, they would have found many inconsistencies in it. (Sura an-Nisa': 82)

The Qur'an is guidance to lead man to the path of rectitude. It is the revelation of God, sent to bring man from darkness to light. By way of the Qur'an, Our Lord, the Creator of man and all living things, directs His servants to the straight path. In a verse, God states:

Mankind! Admonition has come to you from your Lord and also healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers. (Sura Yunus: 57)

God's existence, His unity, the signs of creation, and the life of the hereafter, are those basic facts most stressed in the Qur'an. In many verses of the Qur'an, God invites man to think and to ponder on the divine wisdom in God's creation, and on the transience of the life of this world, and the permanence of the life of the hereafter. As well, we can also find in the Qur'an accounts of the lives of the prophets; their sincerity in faith, their commitment to God's cause, and their determination in spreading the divine message. Finally, a number of verses in the Qur'an also provide us with insight into how we should conduct ourselves in our everyday lives.

In this book, based on information provided by the Qur'an, we will discuss God, His attributes, the real purpose of our existence in this world, what we need to do to comply with it, the reality of death and that which awaits us, the afterlife.

We highly recommend that you read this book carefully, and reflect upon its lessons, because they are intended to draw you nearer to your Creator, and show you the way to infinite bliss and salvation.