by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

However, this compilation does not claim to be a comprehensive introduction to Islam. That is something which can be had only by studying Islam directly through its basic scriptures, that is, the Qur’an and Sunnah.

This compilation only presents a fundamental introduction for those who want to understand Islam as it is. Its aim is to provide a proper background in the light of which the original sources of Islam may be studied.

I hope that this compilation will be useful for those who want to know about the original Islam, as opposed to the “religion” represented by certain self-styled Muslim leaders introduced to us by the media.

What is Islam?
The tenets of Islam, explained simply.

Who is Prophet Muhammad?
The choice of Mohammad bin Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib as God’s Prophet.

Termination of Prophethood
The rational of using the book of God, the Quran, to play the role of living Prophets.

The Original Sources of Islam
A look at the original sources of Islam: the Quran, the word of God and the Sunnah.

Quran: The Word of God
Quran, the divine invocation of humanity.

Teachings of Islam
A look at the broad divisions in Islam, Worship of God and wishing well mankind.

Who is a Believer?
The moral principles of a believer, as per Islamic principles.

The Ideology of Peace in Islam
Scholars have rightfully defined peace thus: “Peace is the absence of war.” However, some people hold this definition of peace to be inadequate; saying justice should accompany peace. However setting such a condition for the attainment of peace is impractical. This is because peace on its own does not bring justice. What peace does is to open up opportunities that enable us to strive for justice and other constructive ends. Peace is always desirable for its own sake. Everything else comes after peace, not along with peace. The case of Japan is a concrete example of the success of this formula.

The Power of Peace
Peaceful activism is the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. He successfully practiced it throughout his life. The greatest problem facing Islam in present times is that Muslims have consigned the Sunnah of non-violence to oblivion. If Muslims were to practice this Sunnah of the Prophet, they will realize the power that is in peace.

The Ideology of Spirituality
There are two different concepts of spirituality: God-oriented spirituality which is based on the concept of God Almighty, and man-oriented spirituality, which is based on man’s soul itself being the treasure-house of spirituality. As for the former concept, spirituality results from God-realization; while in the latter, spirituality results from self-realization. The spiritual journey, as per Islam, is entirely intellectual in nature. Its quest is two fold: one is to solve the riddle as to why all men and women undergo negative experiences in this world; and the other is with regard to finding positive solutions.

The Concept of God in Islam
Islam believes in the duality of reality — that the Creator and the creature are completely separate from one another. God, according to this concept, has a real and eternal existence based on tawheed or monotheism. According to monotheism, God is One and has no partner. He created all things and has complete control over the universe. As the Creator of all things, He is distinct from all He has created. His creatures, in their seemingly independent existence, totally depend upon the will of God. The sole possessor of all power, God, has created man to live for a specific period of time, during which he is sent into the world to be tested.

The Concept of the Hereafter in Islam
In some ways, our lives are like those floating mountains of ice -- icebergs. The part we spend in this world — about a hundred years, or less — is like the part of the iceberg, which is visible above the surface. We can see it, touch it, feel it. We can take its measure and deal with it effectively. But the part, which comes after death, is like the submerged part — vast, unfathomable and fraught with peril. It is something which defies the imagination, but which we must nevertheless try to comprehend, for that is the part of human life which God has decreed should be eternal and, as such, ineluctable. To prepare for the eternal life of the hereafter is our test in this world.

The Reality of Life
Man is destined for an extremely long and unbroken lifespan. Death is by no means the termination of this life. It is simply the door to the eternal life of the hereafter. Take the example of a farmer. He invests in his crop and cultivates it, until it ripens and dries up, then he harvests it. This is the case with our life also. The period of preparation of man’s crop lasts until death. The day of our death is harvest-day. When our eyes close on this world, they will open on the afterlife, and there, the crop that we have been busy cultivating all our lives will appear before us. This is the reality of life.

The Creation Plan of God
God – the Creator of man has created man according to His plan. Man needs to become acquainted with this plan. Just as the workings of a machine can only be understood when we study the drawings of the engineer who made it. In the same way, only by understanding the Creation Plan of God, can man understand his existence. The Creator of man has created him as an eternal creature and has divided his life into two stages — the pre-death period or the limited life in this world to be a test for man, while the eternal period after his death will be the period for his reward or punishment, based on his performance in the test in this life. This is the Creation Plan of God.

The Ideology of Life in Islam
Man is born with an inquisitive nature. This is what differentiates him from other species and life forms. Since, he is endowed with a reasoning faculty; he cannot help but question the activities and phenomena that take place around him. He becomes restless unless he finds rational answers to questions pertaining to the Ideology of Life such as Who am I? Where did I come from? What is the purpose of my life? Why do I have so many desires? Is life governed by destiny or free will? Why is there suffering in the world? Does God exist? Do I need God? Can God be proved through science? How many gods are there? How can I realize God? How do I achieve salvation? What happens after death? The questions are many; however, the answer is only one – a reason-based understanding of the Creation Plan of God.

Search for Truth
Man’s by his nature wants to know the purpose of his life. This will to search for the truth is implanted in everyone. But it depends upon every individual himself, whether or not he pursues this natural urge. Only through sincere pursuit will he discover the truth and thus make his life meaningful. For any kind of negligence or apathy in this regard, there is no excuse, whatever the circumstances. But the question that comes to mind is where do we begin our search for truth? Throughout history man has turned towards various disciplines in his search for truth – philosophy, science, mysticism and religion. Let us find out which leads him towards truth.

Islam: God's Natural Religion
The religion of God is the true, natural religion to adopt. The truth of this suddenly becomes plain in mo¬ments of crisis. Whatever the religion a man adopts, when the whirlpool of events sends him spiraling downwards to his doom, he forgets all else and turns to God. It is ex¬periences of this nature which prove that the only true religion is the religion of God, the one on which a man should base his entire life. If he adopts any other religion, a time will come, sooner or later when it will prove to be without substance. When disaster looms large, all its sup¬ports will be shown to be false.

Islam: Since the Beginning
After the creation of the universe, when man first inhabited the earth, God decreed that in every age and in every nation, there would be certain individuals who would be raised as prophets to guide mankind to the path of God. He did this by means of revelations which he bade the angels convey to the prophets in the form of divine books. These are the sacred books on which the religions of the world are based. In the course of time, these books became corrupted; therefore, there was a need to send new guidance each time. So Islam is not a religion that was brought by Prophet Muhammad in the first quarter of the 7th Century. It is the preserved form of the religion that God has sent through all His prophets since the dawn of human history on this earth.

Clearing Misconceptions about Islam
Major misconceptions in Islam cleared through a look at Islam through its original scriptures – Quran, the word of God and the Sunnah, the sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad.

Islamic Fundamentalism
The fallacy of equating Islam with personal interpretation and self-styled teachings of misguided people and groups.

Spiritual Principles
How to apply Islamic spiritual principles for spiritual awakening.

Man’s Spiritual Quest
An objective look at the seeker’s search for reality.

Principles of Life
The principles of life that an individual can apply for succeed in life.