يومي الأول في الإسلام

My First Day in Islam

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Introduction

Praise be to Allah who sent His Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as a mercy to the worlds. I testify that there is no god truly worthy of worship but Allah, the God of the earlier and later generations, and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, may Allah's abundant peace and blessings be upon him until the Day of Judgment. To proceed:

All people search for happiness: some of them think that happiness is in collecting money, some of them search for it under the lights of fame, and some of them believe that it is achieved by obtaining high positions, or other worldly pleasures. However, in reality, many of those who obtained these things did not attain the happiness they were looking for.

We can only achieve this happiness when we are guided to the true religion that the Creator of all mankind has chosen for us, follow it and comply with its teachings. Only by this we can obtain happiness and a good life in this world, and eternal happiness in the Hereafter. Allah Almighty says:

{Whoever submits himself to Allah and is a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. They will have no fear, nor will they grieve.}

[Surat al-Baqarah: 112]

Allah also says:

{Whoever does righteous deeds, male or female, while being a believer, We will surely grant him a good life, and We will surely reward them according to the best of their deeds.}

[Surat an-Nahl: 97]

By entering Islam, dear brother, you will have placed your feet on the way of guidance, light, happiness and delight. You have to be confident that the day you become a Muslim is not like any other day of your life. It is the day of your rebirth!

So, if on the day you were born you came out from the darkness and narrowness of your mother's womb to the light and vastness of the world, then today you are leaving the darkness of disbelief into the light of faith, and from the narrowness of misguidance to the vastness of guidance, Allah Almighty says:

{Is the one who was dead and We gave him life [by faith] and gave him a light with which he walks among people like the one in darkness from which he can never escape?}

[Surat al-An‘ām: 122]

So, welcome to the spacious fold of Islam, and here for you is this booklet that contains important matters and great principles that you should learn about on the first day of your conversion to Islam.

Preface:

Islam is the true religion:

Islam is the true religion that Allah has approved for all people. It is the religion that is exclusively accepted by Allah. Allah Almighty says:

{The true religion with Allah is Islam.}

[Surat Āl-‘Imrān: 19]

He, the Exalted also says:

{Anyone who seeks a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted from him; and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.}

[Surat Āl-‘Imrān: 19]

Whoever embraces the religion of Islam and adheres to it, he is proceeding in the path of light and guidance. The straight and clear path that leads to Allah who created man and brought him in this life.

The religion of Islam came to mend man's condition, and to give him tranquility and happiness in the worldly life, as well as happiness and success in the Hereafter, when Allah Almighty admits him into Paradise to enjoy what is in it of eternal bliss.

Every person must search for the true religion, which is Islam, get to know it, enter into it while believing in it, and hold on to its teachings and rulings, in order to obtain the good of this world and the Hereafter.

How can a person enter into Islam?

When one says the following, he enters into Islam: (I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) with sincerity, certitude and knowledge of its connotations. Thus, whoever sincerely says this statement while knowing its meaning, being certain of it and complying with its implications, then he is a Muslim. Yet, he has to learn the other deeds of Islam and act upon them as much as he can, for, the more he does of good deeds, the more his faith increases and his reward with Allah Almighty magnifies.

The meaning of the Two Testimonies of Faith (I testify that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah):

You entered into Islam by saying: (I testify that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) with belief and faith in it. So, do you know what it truly means?

To testify that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah: is to believe and acknowledge that there is no god that deserves to be worshiped and obeyed but one god only, namely Allah the Almighty and Exalted, the Creator of the universe and the One who manages its affairs.

To testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah: is to believe and acknowledge that Muhammad is Allah's slave and His final Messenger who was sent to all mankind, and to act upon this conviction by obeying his commands, believing his reports, avoiding what he forbade and warned of, and to worship Allah only through the way he legislated.

Glad tidings for your conversion to Islam:

Dear brother, The day you entered into Islam is your best day ever. It is authentically reported that our Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Islam abolishes whatever was before it."

[Narrated by Muslim]

It means that Islam erases all what you committed before your conversion to Islam, of disbelief, evils, sins and misdeeds. So, rejoice in the forgiveness of Allah Almighty, for today you are purified from your sins, and you opened a white page in your life in order to return as pure as the day your mother gave birth to you, start a new life full of goodness, and proceed on the path of light, happiness and pleasure.

Rejoice in the blessing of Islam:

The great joy that you felt when you entered into Islam must remain with you throughout your life, for the blessing of guidance is one of the greatest and most valuable blessings that Allah Almighty bestows upon His servants. It is greater than the blessing of air, water, food and drink, and greater than money, position and prestige. It is the greatest blessing ever, how can we not rejoice in it?! Allah Almighty says:

{Say, "By Allah’s grace and His mercy let them therefore rejoice. It is much better than what they accumulate."}

[Surat Yūnus: 58]

You must feel the grace of Allah upon you that He chose you from among millions of people to enter into Islam. Allah Almighty said:

{Whoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his heart to Islam}

[Surat al-An‘ām: 125]

This great and huge blessing needs a lot of thanks, so you have to praise Allah Almighty frequently, thank Him and laud Him, the Exalted, for He guided you to the true religion.

Principles you must know:

If you entered into the religion of Islam, there are things that you must learn and know, including knowing the answer to the three significant questions that every person is questioned after death, determining his eternal destiny; either to Paradise or Hell, they are:

Who is your lord?

What is your religion?

Who is your prophet?

The First principle: Who is your lord?

My lord is Allah:

A Muslim believes that his lord is Allah Who created the universe with all that is in it and created man.

If we reflect on this great universe with its enormous galaxies that include billions of planets and stars, and if we reflect on the earth on which we live and what it contains of plains, mountains, land, seas and rivers, and the wondrous creatures in the depths of the seas, deserts and forests, and if we contemplate the amazing creation of man and other creatures, our thinking will lead us to an inescapable conclusion; there must be a Great Creator that is All-Knowing, All-Powerful and Wise. He created this universe with originality. It is not possible for these creatures to exist without the presence of a Creator God who originated them, organized their affairs, and mastered their creation in a way that fascinates the mind. This matter was clearly explained by Allah Almighty to every sane person when He said:

{Were they created by none, or were they the creators [of themselves]?}

[Surat at-Tūr: 35]

Neither these beings created themselves, nor did they exist without a creator, for this is impossible in the view of the wise people!

Allah alone is worthy to be worshiped:

This Lord is the only deity worthy of worship; because he is the Creator and the Manager of all that is in this universe, and the Provider for all those on it. He is the One Who created all people, caused them to exist on this earth, and gave them the means of life. Allah Almighty says

{Such is Allah, your Lord; none has the right to be worshiped except Him, the Creator of all things. So worship Him, for He is the Maintainer of all things.}

[Surat al-An‘ām: 102]

So, every person must worship Allah alone without associating anything with Him in worship. Allah Almighty says:

{O mankind, worship your Lord, Who created you and those before you, so that you may become righteous}

[Surat al-Baqarah: 21]

He, the Exalted, also says:

{Worship Allah and do not associate any partners with Him.}

[Surat an-Nisā’: 36]

The call of Prophets to celebrate the oneness of Allah Almighty:

Despite the clarity of this matter, Allah Almighty, by His grace and generosity, and by His mercy to us, did not create us and leave us floundering in life. Rather, He sent us messengers and sent down books with them telling us about Him and to guide us to His way. Allah Almighty said:

{We have sent you with the truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. There has never been any community except that a warner came to it.}

[Surat Fātir: 24]

Adam, the father of mankind (peace be upon him) and all the prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other prophets, the last of whom was our Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon them) agreed on a great principle: it is to call people to believe in Allah Almighty, celebrate His oneness, single Him out in worship, and to shun the worship of other deities, such as humans, stones, trees, stars, planets and others, Allah Almighty says:

{Indeed, We sent to every community a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and shun false gods."}

[Surat an-Nahl: 36]

Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, says:

{"We never sent before you [O Prophet] any messenger without revealing to him that none has the right to be worshiped except Me, so worship Me."}

[Surat al-Anbiyā’: 25]

Among the names and attributes of Allah:

Allah Almighty has beautiful names and sublime attributes. When we know them, our knowledge of our Lord Almighty increases, and so does our love for Him, fear of Him, and hope for His grace and generosity. Allah Almighty says:

{Allah – none has the right to be worshiped except Him. He has the Most Beautiful Names.}

[Surat Tā-ha: 8]

His names that indicate His attributes are many, from the names of Allah Almighty are the following:

Ar-Rahmān (The Most Compassionate), and Ar-Rahīm (the Most Merciful), Allah Almighty said:

{And your god is one God. None has the right to be worshiped except Him – the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.}

[Surat al-Baqarah: 163]

He is the Possessor of the great expansive mercy that encompasses all things and all creatures. His mercy in this world includes all His creation of animals and humans, the Muslims and non-Muslims, Allah Almighty said:

{My mercy encompasses everything}

[Surat al-A‘rāf: 156]

He provides for all of them and gives them health, food, children, and so on. As for His mercy in the Hereafter, it is only for the believers among His servants who follow His prophets and messengers. Those will have the complete mercy that leads to eternal happiness.

The Creator: Allah Almighty said:

{Allah is the Creator of all things}

[Surat az-Zumar: 62]

He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth and what is between them. He created all things from the atom to the galaxy, and what is beyond that. He created everything based on wisdom, power, and benevolence, so you do not see in His creation any deficiency or disorder.

Al-Ghafoor (The Most Forgiving): The One Who forgives all sins for the one who sincerely repents, no matter what he did of previous deeds. Rather, He may pardon many of his creation out of generosity from himself - except for associating partners with Allah Almighty in worship - which is only forgiven by repentance. Allah has made the means accessible for all His creation to obtain His forgiveness through repentance, seeking forgiveness, faith, righteous deeds, and kindness to Allah's creation. Allah Almighty said:

{I am indeed Most Forgiving to those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds, then stay on the right path.}

[Surat Tā-ha: 82]

Ar-Razzāq (The Provider): Allah, the Exalted, is the Sovereign in Whose Hand is the dominion of everything, and He is Free of need. He is the Bestower due to His grace. There is no creature but that his provision depends upon Allah. Allah Almighty said:

{I have not created the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.

I seek no provision from them, nor do I want them to feed Me.

Indeed, it is Allah Who is the All-Provider, Lord of Power, the Mighty.}

[Surat adh-Dhāriyāt: 56-58]

As-Salām (The Most Perfect): The Most Majestic, Who is free from defects and from all the attributes of imperfection, to Whom belongs the attributes of perfection, majesty and beauty, Who loves from His servants to spread peace by word and deed. Allah Almighty says:

{He is Allah; none has the right to be worshiped except Him, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Most Perfect}

[Surat al-Hashr: 23]

Al-‘Alīm (The All-Knowing): Allah Almighty is All-Hearing, All-Seeing and All-Knowing. His knowledge encompasses all things; He knows what is public, what is secret, and what is hidden in the breasts. He knows what was in the past, what is in the present, and what will be in the future. He is the Watcher Who is aware of the deeds of the slaves, He is never unaware of the obedience of the obedient, the disobedience of the disobedient, the need of the weak, or the voices of the supplicants, Allah Almighty said:

{Allah is All-Knowing of everything}

[Surat al-Baqarah: 231]

He, Glory be to Him, is the Lord of the worlds Who has perfected everything that He created, and every goodness and perfection in this world is from the effects of His perfection, Glory be to Him.

The second principle: What is your religion?

My religion is Islam:

Islam is submission to Allah through monotheism, surrendering to him by obedience and disassociation from Shirk (polytheism).

A Muslim is the one who enters into Islam and submits his affairs to Allah Almighty, believing in His existence and oneness, surrendering to His commands, and shunning what He has forbidden. Allah Almighty says in the Noble Quran:

{Who is better in religion than one who submits himself entirely to Allah, does good, and follows the religion of Abraham, exclusively devoted to Allah?}

[Surat an-Nisā’: 125]

Allah Almighty also says:

{Who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah, does righteous deeds, and says, “I am one of the Muslims [submitting to Allah]”?}

[Surat Fussilat: 33]

Among the advantages of the religion of Islam:

Islam is the religion of justice: It commands justice with relatives and non-relatives, friends and foes, believers and disbelievers. Allah Almighty says:

{Allah enjoins justice}

[Surat an-Nahl: 90]

Allah Almighty is the Just Judge with Whom no one suffers injustice. Allah Almighty says about the Day of Judgment:

{Today every soul will be recompensed for what it has earned; no injustice Today!}

[Surat Ghāfir: 17]

Islam is the religion of mercy: Allah Almighty says:

{We have not sent you [O Prophet] except as a mercy to the worlds.}

[Surat Al-Anbiyā’: 107]

Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says:

"The merciful are shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Show mercy to those on the earth; you will be shown mercy by He Who is in the heaven."

[Narrated by Abu Dāwūd]

Islam is the religion of affection, sociability and rapport. Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) says:

"None of you is [truly] a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself."

[Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]

Islam is the religion of ease: Ease and removal of hardship with which the teachings of Islam are characterized are known to whoever looks into its teachings. Allah Almighty says:

{Allah wants ease for you and does not want hardship for you} [Surat al-Baqarah: 185]

And He says:

{Allah does not want to impose hardship on you}

[Surat al-Mā’idah: 6]

And He says:

{Allah does not burden any soul greater than it can bear.}

[Surat al-Baqarah: 286]

Islam is the religion of knowledge: the first verse revealed of the Quran is:

{Read in the name of your Lord Who created}

[Surat al-‘Alaq: 1]

Islam urges every Muslim, male and female, to learn and acquire more knowledge. Allah Almighty says:

{and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge."}

[Surat Tā-ha: 114]

A knowledgeable person gets the highest degrees. Allah, the Exalted, says:

{Allah will raise in ranks those who believed from among you and those who are given knowledge.}

[Surat al-Mujādalah: 11]

The universality of Islam:

Islam is a universal religion that is not restricted to a certain spot on the earth apart from others, or to a certain people apart from others. It is not a religion for the Arabs alone, but for all people. Allah Almighty addressed His Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in the Quran by saying:

{Say [O Prophet], “O people, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and earth; none has the right to be worshiped except Him; He gives life and causes death.” So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him, so that you may be guided.}

[Surat al-A‘rāf: 158]

It is not restricted to a certain time in the past either; rather, it is the true religion since the time the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) started his mission until the Day of Judgment. Allah Almighty said:

{Anyone who seeks a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted from him; and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.}

[Surat Āl-‘Imrān: 85]

The comprehensiveness of Islam:

Islam is a way of life: for the Muslim individual, for the Muslim community, and for the Muslim nation in all aspects and fields, such as politics, economics, sociology, and etc.

Islam is a belief and law: It includes the correct beliefs, great acts of worship, wise mutual dealings, beautiful morals, and disciplined behavior.

The teachings and rulings of Islam govern the person's relationship with his Lord, his relationship with himself, his relationship with other humans, and even his relationship with animals and inanimate objects.

They include all that has to do with reforming the soul and body.

All in all, Islam came with all that contributes to people's good, reform, and happiness in the worldly life and the Hereafter.

Foundations of the Islamic Creed (Pillars of Faith):

The foundations of the Islamic creed are represented in faith and firm belief in six matters, which are called (the pillars of faith), they are:

Belief in Allah Almighty: It is to believe in the existence of Allah and that He alone is the Creator, the Sovereign, and the One Who manages the entire universe with all that is in it. He is the One Who deserves to be worshiped alone without partners. To Him belong the attributes of beauty and majesty, that He is Perfect and free from all defects and shortcomings, and that there is nothing like unto Him.

Belief in the Angels: They are a creation of Allah Almighty, He created them to worship Him, completely submit to His command, and carry out the actions that He has entrusted to them. So, we believe in their existence in general, just as we believe in the names, attributes and actions of those whom the revelation told us about in detail; like Jibrīl (Gabriel) whom Allah sent with revelation to the prophets and messengers, Mīkā’īl (Michael) who is charged with rain and plants, and Isrāfīl who is charged with blowing the Trumpet, the angel of death who takes people's souls, and Mālik the keeper of the Fire.

Belief in the Books: These are the Books that Allah revealed to His Messengers; as mercy to the creation, and guidance to them in order for them to attain the happiness of this world and the Hereafter. So, we believe in them in general, and believe in detail in those of them whose names we have learned through revelation, such as the Quran that was revealed to Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), the Gospel that was revealed to ‘Isa (Jesus) (peace be upon him), the Torah that was revealed to Moses (Mūsa) (peace be upon him), the Psalms that were given to Dāwūd (David) (peace be upon him) and the Scrolls that Allah sent down to Ibrāhīm (Abraham) (peace be upon him).

Belief in the Messengers: They are human beings to whom Allah Almighty revealed guidance and sent them to people to convey His religion. The first of them is Nūh (Noah) (peace be upon him) and the last of them is Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). They were perfect in terms of religion and morals. The most important purpose of their mission was to call people to singling out Allah Almighty in worship, and to shun polytheism and the worship of anything other than Him, and to do good, and shun evil.

We believe that Allah sent messengers from among mankind; and imposed upon the slaves to believe what they reported, obey them and follow what they commanded. We know that among them are those whom Allah has told us their names and stories with their people, like: Idrīs, Nūh, Ibrāhīm, Mūsa, ‘Isa, Hūd, Sālih, and Shu‘ayb, and among them are those whose names Allah did not tell us; Allah Almighty said:

{We have sent messengers before you; of them are some whose stories We have told you, and some We have not. It was not for a messenger to bring a sign except with Allah’s permission. But when the decree of Allah comes, judgment will be passed with justice, thereupon the people of falsehood will be in utter loss.}

[Surat Ghāfir: 78]

Belief in the Last Day: It is the Day of Judgment when Allah will resurrect all people to be reckoned and recompensed for their deeds they have done in the worldly life. People will be divided into two groups: the believers will settle in Paradise, where they will abide forever; and the disbelievers will settle in the Fire, where they will abide forever. As for the believers who used to commit acts of disobedience, Allah will either forgive them, or punish them for a period of time, then admit them to Paradise.

Belief in Predestination - its good and evil aspects: A Muslim believes that Allah knows what was and what will be, and that Allah wrote the decrees of the creatures and willed them, so He caused them to happen. Nothing occurs in the universe without His knowledge, writing, will and creation. If it is good, then it is a mercy from Allah, and if otherwise, then it is a test from Allah Almighty, or a punishment that takes place by the wisdom and justice of Allah Almighty, which humans do not encompass due to its greatness and perfection. When a slave believes in predestination, the good and evil aspects thereof, his heart is reassured, his soul feels comfort, and he entrusts all his affairs to Allah Almighty, for he knows that everything is in the Hands of Allah alone. Whatever He wills comes to pass, and whatever He does not will does not happen.

Pillars of Islam:

The pillars of Islam are the foundations on which it is built. There are five pillars that a Muslim must fulfill:

Testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah: It is a testimony that must be said by the tongue and confirmed by the heart that Allah alone is the deity worthy to be worshiped without partners, and that Muhammad is the Messenger conveying Allah's message.

Establishing prayer: It is obligatory on a Muslim to perform five prayers in a day and night. The prayer involves standing, bowing and prostration, glorifying Allah Almighty. They have fixed times that are named after them: Fajr Prayer (Dawn Prayer), Zhuhr Prayer (Noon Prayer), ‘Asr Prayer (Afternoon Prayer), Maghrib Prayer (Sunset Prayer) and ‘Ishā’ (Night Prayer). There are other prayers that are not obligatory.

Paying Zakah: A Muslim who has money must give out a small limited amount of his money to its due recipients from among the poor, needy and other Zakah recipients.

Fasting of Ramadhān: A Muslim, during the month of Ramadhān, has to refrain from eating, drinking, having sexual intercourse and other actions that invalidate the fast, starting from the break of dawn until sunset, in worship of Allah Almighty.

Hajj to the Sacred House of Allah: A Muslim going to Makkah in order to perform the rituals of Hajj as an act of worship to Allah Almighty once in a lifetime for whoever has the ability to perform it.

Worship in Islam:

Worship: To celebrate the oneness of Allah Almighty and to draw closer to Him by all of what He likes and is pleased with from words and apparent deeds and hidden ones.

Examples of words are: reciting the Quran, supplication, remembrance of Allah, teaching useful knowledge, offering advice to others, and so on.

Examples of deeds: purification, prayer, Hajj, seeking to fulfill people's needs, etc.

Apparent deeds: They are deeds that are manifest, seen, heard and so on, such as prayer, Hajj, recitation of the Quran, calling to Allah and maintaining ties of kinship.

Hidden deeds: They are deeds of the heart, such as loving Allah Almighty, having hope in Him, fear of Him, being humbly devoted to Him and relying upon Him.

Significance of worship in Islam:

Worshiping Allah Almighty is the purpose for which Allah created mankind. Allah Almighty said:

{I have not created the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.}

[Surat adh-Dhāriyāt: 56]

Worship has been prescribed for great wisdoms and numerous interests for people's souls and lives. Among the virtues of worship are that it purifies and cleanses the souls, and raises them to the highest levels of human perfection.

A person is in great need of worship, just as his body needs food and drink, also his heart and soul need to turn to Allah in worship. The soul is not reassured except by remembering Allah and worshiping Him. The happiness of the heart and the expansion of the chest are not attained except by drawing close to Allah Almighty and having a good relationship with Him. The people who worship Allah as prescribed are the happiest and most cheerful ones. So, whoever seeks happiness, let him be committed to the doorstep of servitude to Allah alone.

The comprehensiveness of worship in Islam:

Worship in Islam includes all good deeds that Allah loves, and through which we draw closer to Him, the Almighty and Exalted. It includes:

Worshiping rituals: such as prayer, Zakah, fasting, Hajj, reciting the Quran, remembering Allah Almighty, etc.

Kind treatment: such as dutifulness to the parents, maintaining ties of kinship, dealing properly with the wife and children, buying and selling in a good manner, performing tasks efficiently, kindness to neighbors, helping the needy, kindness to animals, and so on.

Good morals: such as speaking truthfully, discharging of trusts, honoring of promises, smiling, saying good words, bashfulness, and others.

A Muslim worships Allah in all conditions; he worships Allah at the mosque, at home, at work and everywhere. All his life is for Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty said:

{Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are all for Allah, Lord of the worlds. }

[Surat al-An‘ām: 162]

The third principle: Who is your prophet?

My prophet is Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him):

Our prophet is Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hāshim. His lineage goes back to Allah's Prophet Ismā‘īl, son of Allah's Prophet Ibrāhīm, peace be upon them.

Allah sent him as a Messenger in Makkah when he was forty years old, and revealed the Quran to him, so he called people to monotheism and the religion of Islam. His people hurt him greatly, tortured his companions and killed a number of them. Then, after thirteen years, he migrated to the city of Yathrib (later on, it was named as Al-Madīnah An-Nabawiyyah). There, he established the state of Islam and founded the Islamic society. He remained in it for ten years guiding, directing, calling and teaching the people, and continued to do that until the Sharia was completed, whereby Islam was completed and the religion was perfected, and Allah Almighty revealed:

{Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion.}

[Surat al-Mā’idah: 3]

Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) passed away after his eyes had been cooled by seeing the people entering into the religion of Allah out of love and free will. Allah, the Exalted, said:

{When there comes Allah’s help and the conquest,

and you see people entering Allah's religion in multitudes,

then glorify the praise of your Lord, and ask His forgiveness. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of Repentance.}

[Surat an-Nasr: 1-3]

The Prophet of Mercy:

Our Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is the prophet of mercy: He was merciful throughout his entire life and in all his situations. Allah Almighty said:

{We have not sent you [O Prophet] except as a mercy to the worlds.}

[Surat al-Anbiyā’: 107]

From his mercy (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is that he was very keen on guiding the people, and taking them out of the darkness of disbelief, ignorance and temptation, to the light of faith, knowledge and guidance. When his people refused to believe, he was about to die out of sorrow and grieve for their disbelief. Allah Almighty said:

{Perhaps you grieve yourself to death [O Prophet] over them, if they do not believe in this message.}

[Surat al-Kahf: 6]

Also, the signs of his mercy are manifested in his concern for the believers and his compassion for them. Allah Almighty said:

{There has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves; he is grieved by your suffering, and is concerned for you, and is gracious and merciful towards the believers.}

[Surat at-Tawbah: 128]

And in his keenness to facilitate the religion and not to charge his nation with what is difficult for them, and what they are unable to do, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Make things easy and do not make them difficult, cheer the people up by conveying glad tidings to them and do not repulse (them)." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]

The Noble Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had abundant mercy: He was the most merciful of people to women and children. One of his companions, Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with hi) said: "I have not seen anyone more merciful to children than the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)." [Narrated by Muslim]

His mercy (may Allah's peace and blessings and be upon him) was not limited to humans; rather, it reached the animals, so he called for kindness to them and warned against harming them. He informed his companions that a prostitute woman quenched the thirst of a dog, so Allah forgave her and admitted her to Paradise, and that a woman entered Hell because she locked up a cat and did not feed it until it died.

His Message is general to all people:

Whereas the previous prophets and messengers - peace be upon them - were sent to their people in particular, the Message of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is general to all people in every time and place.

Allah Almighty said:

{We have not sent you [O Prophet] except as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind,}

[Surat Saba’: 28]

Allah Almighty also said:

{Say [O Prophet], “O people, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all.}

[Surat Al-A‘rāf: 158]

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Every Prophet used to be sent exclusively to his own people, while I have been sent to all mankind."

[Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]

Hence, it is incumbent on every person since the start of his mission (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), in the present time, and until the establishment of the Hour, to follow him, believe what he came with, and enter into his religion. Allah Almighty sealed the divine messages by his mission, and made it obligatory to obey him. Whoever obeys him, will attain happiness of this world, and will enter Paradise in the Hereafter, and whoever disobeys him will be miserable in this world, and will enter Hellfire in the Hereafter. Allah Almighty said:

{Whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray nor fall into misery.

But whoever turns away from My Reminder will have a miserable life, and on the Day of Resurrection We will raise him blind.}

[Surat Tā-ha: 123-124]

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) at his home with his family:

A person's home is a place that shows his good character, perfect manners, and kind treatment. When a person is with his wife, children, or servant, he behaves naturally without affectation.

Anyone who contemplates the conduct of the Messenger - the leader and the mentor of the Muslim Nation - (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in his home, will find that he presented the most beautiful examples of what a noble man should be in his home with his family and children.

‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) the wife of the Prophet, was asked: "What the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) did when he was in his home? She said:

"He used to keep himself busy serving his family, but when it was the time for prayer he would go for the prayer."

[Narrated by Muslim]

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the best of people to his family and wives, presenting wonderful examples in kind treatment, gentleness, knowing the emotional and psychological desires of his wives, and utilizing all possible occasions to bring them pleasure and happiness. ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) says:

"I saw Allah's Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) one day at the door of my chamber while some Ethiopians were playing in the mosque (displaying their skills with spears). Allah's Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was screening me with his upper garment while I was looking at their performance."

[Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) loved and honored his daughters. When his daughter Fātimah entered upon him, he would stand up to her, kiss her and make her sit in his place. He would visit his daughters and check their conditions.

Among his commandments to his nation (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is the following:

"Be kind to women."

[Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]

From the manners of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him):

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was the best of people in terms of morals, and the best of them in terms of manners. Allah Almighty described him by saying:

{Indeed, you are of a great moral character.}

[Surat al-Qalam: 4]

He enjoyed perfection in his character that no one else could reach, as he was free from every shortcoming, and attained perfection in every virtue. His character was an embodiment of the Noble Quran, he assumed the manners it preached and taught them to the people. From his morals (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) are the following:

He was the most forbearing among the people, the most just, the most chaste, the most open-handed, and the most generous among them.

He was the most bashful person.

He was decent, answered the invitation of anyone, accepted gifts, even simple ones and would recompense the givers.

He used to visit the sick, attend funerals, sit with the poor, share meals with the needy, honor the people of virtue and good morals, and seek to win the hearts of the noble people.

There was no one who came to him except that he went with him to fulfill his need. He was not rude or harsh, and he did not repay a bad act with its like, but he pardoned and forgave, unless the ordinances of Allah were violated, only then, he got angry for Allah's sake, and not for himself.

It was part of his character that when he met someone, he greeted him first, and when he met one of his companions, he would be the first to shake hands with him.

When he sat with someone, he would turn his face toward him, listen to him, talk to him, and assign to him a share of his gentleness, and nice guidance.

He was the kindest of people, the best of people, and the most beneficial of people to people.

He joked, but only said the truth, smiled frequently, laughed without giggling, raced with his wives and cheered them up.

He used to eat what was available, did not refuse what was presented, and he never criticized any food. If there were dates, he ate them. If there was meat, he ate it. If there was wheat or barley bread, he ate it. If he found sweets or some honey, he ate them. If there was milk without bread, he sufficed with it, and if there was watermelon or ripe dates, he ate them.

He wore the clothes that were available, sometimes a Shamlah, and sometimes a woolen cloak. Whatever lawful clothes he found, he wore them.

He would ride what was available for him, once on a horse, once on a camel, once on a mule, and once on a donkey, or walked on foot.

He mostly spent his time in working for Allah Almighty, or in doing what was necessary for him to improve himself and his household.

There are still other examples of his excellent morals and kind treatment (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).

Conclusion

Islam is a great religion that ensures for a Muslim individual - who adheres to its teachings - comfort, a good life and a good state in this world, and an enduring bliss and eternal happiness in the Hereafter. It also ensures for the Muslim community that abides by its teachings advancement, progress, righteousness, growth, social solidarity, security and safety.

So, congratulations to you, who is guided to Islam, for this great blessing, and who has learnt its creed, Sharia, teachings, rulings, morals and etiquette, and adhered to that in himself, and abided by it in all aspects of his life as much as he can. He will see the impact of Islam on himself, and how it turns him into a righteous person who is happy and makes everyone around him happy, including his parents, wife, children, relatives, neighbors, friends, and everyone who deals with this Muslim individual whom Allah has honored by entering into his religion and adopting the path that leads to Him.

This booklet is the starting point on your way to learning the rulings of your religion, then afterwards, you have to strive to acquire much of useful knowledge and do more righteous deeds, purify yourself and reform your heart. The more you become knowledgeable about Islam, and act upon it, the closer you becomes to your Generous Lord, Exalted and Glorified be He. So, turn to the Quran through learning, recitation and contemplation of its verses. Study the biography of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) as well as his Sunnah. He is your role model to follow in this life, and he is the only one whom Allah has commanded you to follow all he came with. As for other human beings, regardless of their status, their words are only accepted when they are in agreement with the Quran and Sunnah, and whatever disagrees with them is to be rejected. Beware of arguing about the religion, keep away from engaging in useless debate, discord and dispute with your Muslim brothers.

We ask Allah for ourselves and for your success and steadfastness on this religion until we meet Him while He is pleased with us. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may Allah's peace and prayers be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, all his companions, and those who follow him until the Day of Judgment.