Focus On Islam

Auz Billahi Minash Shaitan Ir Rajim, Bismillahi Ar Rahman Ar Raheem…. (Arabic)… 49:13) (Arabic)… 20:25-27)

Honorable Mr. Justice Laxmanan, Nawab Mohammed Ali, brother Fayyaz, my respected elders, and my dear brothers and sisters, I welcome you all with the greeting of peace… Islamic greetings: Assalam Alaikum, Wa Rahmatullahi, Wa Barakatuhu… May Peace, Blessings, and Mercy of Almighty Allah, be on all of you. The topic of this evening is - Focus On Islam. ‘Islam’ comes from the root word ‘Salam’, which means peace. Islam also means… Submitting your will, to Almighty God. Any one who submits his or her will, to Almighty God, is called Muslims. Many people have a misconception that Islam is a new Religion, which was founded by Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him). In fact, Islam is there, for time immemorial -since man first put foot on earth. Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him), is not the founder of the Religion of Islam. In fact, Qur’an says in Surah Fatir, Ch. 35, Verse 24… (Arabic)… ‘There is not a nation or a tribe…there has never been a nation or a people, to whom a warner has not been sent’. The Qur’an says in Surah Raad, Ch.13, Verse 7 … ‘And to every nation and to every people have we sent a guide’. That means, there were messengers and guides, send to all the nations of the world. But by name, only 25 Prophets of Almighty God are mentioned in the Holy Qur’an by name. For example Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, David, Solomon, Jesus, Muhammed (Peace be upon him). By name, only 25 Messengers are mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. But our beloved Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him), is mentioned in the Hadith, has said that… ‘ There were more than 1,24,000 Messengers sent on the face of the earth.’ By name, only 25 are mentioned in the Qur’an. But all the messengers that came before Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him) -they were only sent for their people, and their message was only meant for a particular time period. The messengers that came were sent for their own people, and their message was meant for a particular time period. But Holy Qur’an says in Surah Ahzab, Ch. 33, Verse 40… (Arabic)…

‘Muhammed is not the father of any of your men, but he is the messenger of Allah (SWT). He is the messenger of Almighty God, and the seal of the Prophets - and Allah is all knowing and full of knowledge’.

Holy Qur’an says… ‘Muhammed (Peace be upon him) is last and final messenger, sent on the face of the earth, and Muhammed (Peace be upon him) was not sent, only for the Muslims or the Arabs’. But the Holy Qur’an says in Surah Ambiya, Ch. 21,Verse 107…(Arabic)… ‘That We have sent thee… that is, Prophet Muhammed, as a mercy to all the creatures’ -As a mercy to all the world, as a mercy to the whole of humanity. The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Saba, Ch. 34, Verse 28…(Arabic)… ‘That We have sent thee…that is, Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him), as a universal Messenger giving them glad tidings, and warning them against sin. But most of the human kind do not know Muhammed (Peace be upon him) were only sent for their people, and their message was only meant for a particular time period. The messengers that came were sent for their own people -their message was meant for a particular time period. But the Holy Qur’an says in Surah Ahzaab, Ch. 33, Verse 40… (Arabic)…Muslims or the Arabs. But the Holy Qur’an says in Surah Ambiya, Ch. 21, Verse 107… (Arabic)… ‘That We have sent thee Muhammed (Peace be upon him) as a mercy to all the creatures, as a mercy to all the world, as a mercy to the whole of humanity’. The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Sabah, Ch. 34, Verse 28… (Arabic)… ‘That we have sent thee…that is Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him), as a universal messenger, giving glad tidings and warning them against sin -But most of the human kind yet do not know. So, Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him) was not only sent for the Muslims or the Arabs, but was sent for the whole of humanity’. Many Non-Muslims they give another name for Islam - which they think is synonymous, and they say the word… Muhammedanism, for Islam, and they call the Muslims as Muhammedans. Islam and Muhammedanism… is not the same. The Religion of Islam, cannot be as Muhammedanism…because, it was not a Religion, that was brought by Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him) - As I said it was there since time immemorial. The first Prophet, was Prophet Adam (Peace be upon him) -Muhammed (Peace be upon him) was not the first Prophet, but he was the last Prophet. And the word Muhammedan means, a person who worships Muhammed (Peace be upon him). We Muslims, we respect him -but there is not a single Muslims, who worships Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him) - It is not allowed in Islam. So the word Muhammedan, is a misnomer. The right word for the Religion, is Islam…and the people, who follow the Religion of Islam, is one called as Muslims. Muslims means, a person who submits his will, to Almighty God -We worship Almighty God, and no one else. There were several Revelations sent on the face of the earth to various nations and people - By name, only 4 are mentioned in the Holy Qur’an…the Torah, the Zaboor, the Injeel and the Furqan. Furqan, is the Holy Qur’an. The Torah is the Waheeh…the Revelation, which was given to Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him). The Zaboor is the Waheeh…the Revelation, which was given to Prophet David (Peace be upon him). The Injeel is the Waheeh…the Revelation, which was given to Prophet Jesus (Peace be upon him). And Furqan …that is Qur’an, is the last and the final Revelation, which was revealed to Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him), who was the last and final Messenger to the whole of human kind. By name, only 4 are mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. However, the Qur’an says that… ‘ There were several Revelations sent down, on the face of the earth.’ - For example, Sauf-e-Ebrahim. Several…By name, only 4 are mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. All the Revelations that came before the Holy Qur’an, they were only meant for a particular group of people, and the message was supposed to be followed only for a particular time period. But the Holy Qur’an, it is mentioned in… it is in Surah Ibrahim, Ch. 14, Verse 52,’ There is a message for the whole of humankind.’ Let them take warning there from, and let them know that there is only one God, and let the man of understanding take heed . The Qur’an says in Surah Baqarah, Ch. 2, Verse 185… ‘Ramadhan was the month in which the Qur’an was revealed, as a guidance to the whole of human kind, as a criteria to judge right from wrong’. The Qur’an says in Surah Zumur, Ch. 39, Verse 41…

‘We have revealed to thee this book, that is, Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him), to instruct the human kind’.

The Holy Qur’an does not say, to instruct only the Muslims or the Arabs, but the Qur’an says…’ It was revealed for the whole of human kind. This is the last and final Revelation, of Almighty God.’ But there are many people who may not agree, that the Holy Qur’an is the Revelation, from the God Almighty. The Qur’an says in Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse 82… (Arabic)… ‘Do they not consider the Qur’an with care. Had it been from any other besides Allah (SWT)… Had it been from any other besides Almighty God, there would surely have been contradictions in it.’ And I have given a talk in Bombay, ‘Is the Qur’an the Word of God’. And it is available for sale outside…where I have proved to Muslims andNon-Muslims alike, that the Holy Qur’an is the Word of Almighty God. Even to an Atheist, I have proved it, scientifically. But since an Atheist does not believe in God Almighty, how will he agree that Qur’an is the Word of God Almighty? If he does not believe in God, where does the question arise, whether he believes that Qur’an is the Word of God. Normally when an Atheist comes and tells me, that I do not believe in Almighty God, the first thing I do is, I congratulate him. I congratulate the Atheist…you know why? -Because he is not thinking, like the other people. The Christians…most of the Christians, are Christians, because their parents are Christians - he is a Muslims because his father is a Muslims, he is a Hindu because his father is a Hindu. They are just following blindly, the Religion of their fathers -this Atheist is thinking. What he thinks…’That see - what is the concept of the God, told by my father, is not right.’ So he does not believe God Almighty. I congratulate him, because he said the first part of Islamic creed…the first part of the Islamic Shahada…‘La ilaha’ -That, there is no god. He has agreed with the first part of the Islamic creed, which says… ‘La ilaha’ - That, there is no god. Now my job, is to convince him on the other part, ‘Ill Allaah’ - but Allah. Islamic creed is ‘Lailaha-Ill Allaah - Muhammed-ur-Rasull Allah’. That… ‘There is no god, but Allah and Prophet Muhammed (Peace be upon him) is the messenger of Allah(SWT). And since the Athiest has said the first part, I congratulate him. Now it is my job, to convince him about the second part…about Almighty God - which I shall do InshaAllah. When you ask a person who does not believe in God Almighty, that if an object…a machine is brought in front of him, which no human being in the world have ever seen…an unidentified machine, which no one in the world has seen before, is brought in front of him. And if he is asked that…’Who is the first person, who will be able to tell the mechanism, of that machine? What is the answer, that Atheist will give. Some Atheists will say that… ‘ The first person, who will be able to tell you the mechanism of the unidentified machine, which no one in this world has seen…is the Creator, some may say Manufacturer, some may say Producer, some may say Maker -whatever they say, keep it in mind…it will be somewhat similar. The first person who will be able to tell you the mechanism of this machine, which no one in this world has seen, is the Creator or the Maker or Manufacturer or Producer… it will be somewhat similar. If you ask the question to an Atheist, who believes that science is ultimate, that…’ How did our world came into existence? He will tell you that…’ According to the Big Bang Theory, first the whole universe was primary nebula. Later on there was a secondary separation, which gave rise to galaxies, the planets, the sun, the moon, and the earth that we live in. In a nut shell, the theory is called as the Big bang theory. The same message is given in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Al-Ambiya, which says that … (Arabic)…Do not the unbelievers see, that the heavens and the earth were joined together, and We clove them as under’. So when you ask the Atheist, that…’ Who could have written this Big bang theory, which we have discovered yesterday - in the Holy Qur’an 1400 years ago?’ He may say…’ It is a guess’. Can be possible that someone guessed, or some intelligent man has wrote it. No problem. Today science tells us that…’ The Universe… initially the celestial matter was in the form of gas.’ The Qur’an says in Surah Fussilat, Ch. 41, Verse 11, that… ‘Allah (SWT) had turned to the heavens, when it was smoke, and He said to it, and the earth… Come together, willingly or unwillingly, and they came together in willing obedience’. So Qur’an says…’ First the celestial matter was in the form of Dukhan. The Arabic word Dukhan means, smoke… which science today tells us that smoke is the more appropriate word then so as who could have mentioned that initially the celestial matter was in the form of smoke. The Atheist will say… ‘Okay, someone has guessed it’. No problem. Previously, we thought the world we live in, it was flat -and people were afraid to venture too far, lest they would fall over. You ask the Atheist, that…’ What is the shape of the earth.’ So he will tell you…’ The shape of the earth is spherical.’ If you ask him when did you come to know about this? He will tell you just 50 years back… 100 years back… means, yesterday in science. 50 years means, yesterday in science. Who was the first person? If he has good knowledge about science he will tell you that…’The first person who discovered, that the world spherical, was Sir Francis Dave, in 1597… when he sailed around the earth, and he proved that it was spherical.’ The Qur’an says in Surah Luqman, Ch. 31, Verse 29, and in Surah Al-Zumur, Ch. 39, Verse 5, that…’ Allah merges the nights into the day, and merges the days into the night’. Allah overlaps the days into the night, and overlaps the night into the day. This overlapping and merging, which is a gradual slow process, of day changing to night and night changing to day is only possible if the shape of the earth is spherical. It is not possible if it is flat, otherwise there would have been a sudden change. So Qur’an speaks about the spherical nature of the earth, 1,400 years ago. Qur’an further says in Surah Naziat, Ch. 79, Verse 30… (Arabic)…

‘And thereafter We have made the earth, egg shaped’.

The Arabic word dahaha, also means expand -and it comes from the root word dohea, which means egg. It does not refer to a normal egg -It refers to the egg of an Ostrich and if analyse the shape of the earth… it is not round like a ball -it is flattened from the top, and bulging from the centre. Similar to the egg of an Ostrich, which is too flattened from the top, and bulging from the centre. It is geo spherical in shape. So if you ask the Atheist, that…’ Who could have mentioned, that the earth is geo spherical… 1400 years ago -which we discovered just 300 or 400 years ago? The person will say that…’ May be your Prophet… he was an intelligent man -he wrote it. Do not argue - Continue. Previously we thought that the light of the moon, was its own light. It is recently discovered that the light of the moon, is reflected light. Qur’an says in Surah Furqan, Ch. 25, Verse 61, that… ‘Blessedth is He, who has made the constellation in the sky, and therein placed a lamp, a sun having a light of its own, and a moon having borrowed light. So the Qur’an says that…

‘The light of the sun, is its own light - but the moonlight, the light of the moon, is not its own light’.

The light of the moon is described as muneer, or noor, which means, borrowed light or reflection of light. The sunlight is described as siraj, or wahaj, or duja, which means the light of its own, meaning a torch, or a glowing lamp. Always moonlight is described as muneer, or noor. Imagine, we discovered it just yesterday in science, 50 years back…100 years back, and the Qur’an mentions this 1400 years ago. When I was in school I had learnt, that the sun was stationary… it did not rotate about its own axis -whereas the moon and the earth, they rotate about their own axis. But there is a verse in Holy Qur’an, in Surah Al-Ambiya, Ch. 21, Verse 33… (Arabic)…

‘It is Allah who has created the night and the day, the sun and the moon, each one travelling in the orbit, with its own motion’.

So Qur’an says…

‘The sun and the moon, besides revolving, they also rotate about their own axis’.

While later on, we come to know recently after I passed school, that science has discovered that the sun rotates about its own axis -which was mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, 1,400 years ago. Who could have mentioned it? Now he will hesitate to say… ‘It is a fluke, or it is just by chance.’ The Qur’an speaks about the water cycle. The person to describe the coherent water cycle, was Sir Bernard Plassey, in 1580. Qur’an describes the details of water cycle in Surah Al-Zumur, Ch. 39, Verse 21; in Surah Rum, Ch. 30, Verse 24; in Surah Mominun, Ch. 23, Verse 18… Holy Qur’an, in Surah Hijr, Ch. 15, Verse 22. In several places, the Qur’an describes the water cycle in great detail. How does the water evaporate? How does it form in to the clouds? How does the clouds move into the interior, and how does it fall down as rains? And goes back into the ocean? The water cycle has been described in great detail, in the Holy Qur’an -which was just discovered yesterday. Previously we did know that there were two types of water… salty and sweet water. The Holy Qur’an tells us in Surah Furqan, Ch. 25, Verse 53, that…

‘It is Allah, who has created two bodies of flowing water, one sweet and palpable… the other sweet and bitter. Between them is the barrier, which is forbidden to be trespassed.’

The same message is repeated in Surah Rehman, Ch. 55, Verse 19 and 20, that …(Arabic)…
‘It is Allah who has led flow two bodies of flowing water, and between them is a barrier, which is forbidden to be trespassed’.

Today science tells us that… ‘The sweet and salt water, though they meet, they do not mix’. There is a slanting barrier between them, which the Qur’an describes 1,400 years ago. Then you ask the Atheist…’ Who could have mentioned this? He will hesitate to say, that it is a fluke. The Qur’an speaks about Biology. It says in Surah Al-Ambiya, Ch. 21, Verse 30, that …(Arabic)…. ‘We have created every living thing from water’. Will you not imagine… in the deserts of Arabia, where there is scarcity of water, the Qur’an says… ‘Every living thing is made from water’. Who would have believed in this fairy tale? Where there was scarcity of water, the Qur’an says… ‘every living thing is made from water’. Today we have come to know, that the basic unit of cell… the cytoplasm, it consists of 80% water. Every living creature contain 50 to 90% water. Qur’an says that… ‘The plants were created in males and females, in sexes’…which we discovered today. Qur’an speaks about Zoology…about the lifestyles of the birds, lifestyle of the ants, of the spider, of the bees…which we discovered today. Qur’an speaks about medicine in the honey -there is a healing, which we discovered today. Qur’an speaks about Embryology, the various stages of embryological development of the human being, which we discovered today. Qur’an speaks about genetics. If you ask the Atheist, that…’ Who could have mentioned all this?… he cannot say…’ It is by chance’… because there is a theory, known as theory of Probability. The chances of it being a guess work, it becomes less… the moment you give more correct answers - Theory of Probability. So surely, the only answer that is remaining, is the first answer. He gave… Who can tell the mechanism of the universe?… is ‘The Creator’, is the Manufacturer, is the Producer, is the Maker. You can call him by any name, but there is a Creator, which we call as Allah (SWT), or Almighty God. How to prove that Qur’an is the revelation of Allah (SWT)? How to prove scientifically the existence of Allah (SWT). You can refer to my Video cassette ‘Qur’an and Modern Science - Conflict or Conciliation?’, where I have spoken in detail. Our beloved Muhammed(Peace be upon him) said -It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol. 1, Hadith No.2, that… ‘Islam is based on five principals, five pillars. The first is the Tawheed: ‘La ilaha Ill Allah, Muhammed ur Rasulullah’ -that… There is no god but Allah, and Prophet Muhammed(Peace be upon him) is the messenger. The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ch. 2, Verse 177… ‘It is not righteous that you turn your face to the east or west, but it is righteousness that you believe in Allah (Almighty God), you believe in the hereafter, you believe in the angels, you believe in the messengers, and you believe in the Books’. The best definition that a Muslims can give you of Almighty God… Allah (SWT), is in the Holy Qur’an Surah Ikhlas, Ch. 112, Verse 1 to 4, which says… (Arabic)… ‘Say: Allah, He is one and only’…(Arabic)… ‘Allah, the absolute and eternal’…(Arabic)… ‘He begets not, nor is He begotten’…(Arabic)… ‘And there is nothing like Him’. This is a four line definition of Allah (SWT)… of Almighty God. What we Muslims say…. ‘If any person, any entity who claims him to be Almighty God, if he fits in this four line definition of God, then we Muslims have no objection in accepting that candidate, as Almighty God. But the Holy Qur’an also says in Surah Isra, Ch. 17, Verse 110, it says… (Arabic)… ‘Say, call upon Him, by Allah or by Rahman, by whichever name you call upon Him, to Him belongs the most beautiful names’. That means you can call Allah (SWT)… Almighty God by any name, but it should be a beautiful name. It should not conjure up a mental picture, and the Qur’an gives not less than 99 different attributes to Almighty God…. Ar Rahim, Ar Rahman, Al Jabbar, Al Kahar, Al Kuddus, no less than 99 attributes to Almighty God. He is Merciful, He is Beneficient and, etc. But the crowning one is, The Allah. Now, why we Muslims prefer calling Almighty God by the Arabic word Allah, instead of the English word God… the reason we Muslims prefer calling Allah (SWT) by the Arabic word Allah, because the English word God -it can be played around with. You can play mischief with the English word God. For example, if you add an ‘s’ to the God, it becomes Gods. In Islam, there is nothing like Allahs, there is no plural of Allah. Ch 112, Verse 1…(Arabic)… ‘Say He is Allah, one and only’. If you add ‘dess’ to god, it becomes goddess… meaning a female god. In Islam, there is nothing like male Allah, or female Allah. Allah (SWT) has got no gender. He is unique. If you add father to god, it becomes godfather -that he is my godfather, he is my guardian. There is nothing like Allah-father, or Allah-abba, in Islam. Allah, is a unique word. If you add a mother, to Allah… to God, it becomes godmother. There is nothing like Allah- ammi, or Allah-mother, in Islam. If you prefix a tin before God, it becomes tin-god… meaning fake. There is nothing like tin Allah, in Islam. We Muslims prefer calling Allah (SWT), by the Arabic word Allah… than by the English word God. Otherwise Qur’an says… ‘You call Him by any name besides’ Surah Isra, Ch. 17, Verse 110. It is also mentioned in Surah Araf, Ch. 7, Verse 180, in Surah Taha, Ch. 20, Verse 20, and Surah Al-Hashr, Ch. 59, Verse 24, that… ‘You can call Allah, by any name but to Him belongs the most beautiful name’. It should be a beautiful name. It should not conjure up a mental picture, and the Holy Qur’an further says in Surah Anam, Ch. 6, Verse 108, that… ‘Revile not those who worship God besides Allah’, that means… Abuse not these who worship gods besides Allah, lest in their ignorance, they will revile they will abuse Allah (SWT). So a Muslims is prohibited from abusing those people who worship gods besides Allah, lest in their ignorance they will abuse Allah (SWT). The second pillar of Islam, is Salaah. Many people translate the word Salaah, as ‘prayer’. To pray, is to ask for help… to beseech -how a person beseeches in the court of law, to ask for help. Prayer does not denote the complete meaning of the Arabic word, Salaah, because in Salaah… besides asking for help, we also praise Allah (SWT), we also get guidance in the Salaah, so therefore the English word prayer, does not denote the complete meaning of the Arabic word Salaah. The more appropriate meaning that I say, I verily prefer calling it as programming, because we Muslims… we are programmed in our Salaah. We are programmed in what is wrong, and what is right -do the good things, do not do the bad things, do not rob, do not cheat, do the good things, love your neighbour, etc, etc. We are being programmed. Out if someone tells…’ Where am I going’… and if I say….’ I am going for programming, I am going for brain washing’… it may sound odd. So if someone uses the word prayer, for Salaah… I have no objection, though it does not denote the Arabic word, Salaah. But if someone says… ‘Where are you going? ‘And instead of saying…’ For prayers’ -I am going for programming, I am going for brain washing, it might sound a bit odd. So if any one uses the word prayer, for Salaah… I have got no objection. We Muslims are supposed to pray 5 times a day -in the morning before sunrise, it is the Fajr Salaah -the Zohar Salaah, after the sun reaches highest, that is early in the afternoon -the Asr Salaah, late in the afternoon… that is before the sunsets -the Maghrib Salaah, after the sun sets immediately, and the Isha Salaah, that is late in the evening or the early in the night. We have to pray minimum 5 times a day. How… for a healthy body, the doctor will tell you -You should have three meals a day. Similarly for a spiritual soul, you should offer Salaah, 5 times a day, minimum. And whenever we offer Salaah, when we enter the Mosque, we remove our footwear -this was the commandment given to prophet Moses (Peace be upon him). It is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in Surah Taha, Ch. 20, Verse 11 and 12, that…” When he approached the fire he heard a voice… ‘Oh! Moses verily I am your Lord ; take off thy shoes for thou art in the sacred valley of Dua’. This was the commandment given to Moses(Peace be upon him) which we Muslims follow -We take off our footwear when we offer Salaah. Besides that, we are hygienic people, who want to see our place of worship is clean. And since we do prostration, we do not want to prostate in mud, dirt and filth which comes along with the footwear -We are hygienic people. Before offering Salaah, the Holy Qur’an says in Surah Maidah, Ch. 5, Verse 5…(Arabic)… ‘O ye believe, when you prepare yourself for Salaah, when you prepare yourself for prayers, wash your face, and your hands, and arms, up to the elbow -rub your head with water, wash your feet upto the ankle’. It is the ablution -In Arabic, it is called as wudhu. It is compulsory that before we offer Salaah, we should do ablution, we should wash ourselves. Because we are hygienic people, we want to be clean before we appear in front of the Lord. And besides that, it is also a mental preparation -that mentally we are being prepared, that now we are going to appear in front of Allah (SWT), in front of Almighty Lord. Our believed Prophet said -it is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Vol. No. 1, in the Book of Adhan, Ch. No. 75, Hadith No. 692. Our prophet said… ‘When you stand for Salaah, stand shoulder to shoulder’. In another Hadith, it says that… ‘When you stand for Salaah, stand shoulder to shoulder, so that the devil does not come in between you’. Our prophet was not talking about the devil which you see in the Onida T.V. add. You Know the Onida T.V. add it has the devil with two horn and a tail. Our Prophet was not talking about the devil which you see in the Onida T.V. add or in the comic strip with two horns and a tail. He was referring to the devil of rascism, devil of casteism, devil of colour, of wealth mean irrespective of whether you are rich or poor, whether you are black or white, whether you are from America or from China or from India or from Pakistan, whether you are from a noble family, or you are not from a noble family. When you offer Salaah, stand shoulder to shoulder, so that it shows the best Universal brotherhood, five times a day. Five times a day when we offer Salaah, irrespective from which ever part he is coming, whether he is rich or poor, whether he is black or white, when they stand for Salaah, we Muslims, we stand shoulder to shoulder. Universal brotherhood… the best example, practical example …so that the devil of racsism, the devil of colour, the devil of cast, the devil of wealth does not come in between the brothers. And the best part of the Salaah, is the sujud… is the prostration. The Arabic word sujud, is mentioned in the Qur’an, no less than 92 different times. And the Psychologists, they tell us, that the mind is not directly under our control. The body, it is directly under our control but our mind, keeps on wandering. It is not directly under our control… It keeps on wandering -the body is under our control. So to humble the mind, you have to humble your body -And which is the better way, than the way we Muslims do. We put the highest part of the body… that is the forehead, to the lowest part of the ground, and then say…’ Glory be to Allah (SWT), Who is the most greatest, glory be to Allah, Who is the most highest. And if you analyse, that when we offer Salaah there various benefits of the Salaah (i.e. prayers). Normally, throughout the day, there are electrostatic charges given out from the brain. When we do sujud, these charges get grounded -there is grounding of the frontal lobe, there is grounding of these charges. How, we have a three pin plug and a two pin plug… Three pin plug grounds. That does not mean, that if you put your hand below the head you will find, you will get a shock. It is not that grounding as the electric grounding, but it is dominance of the frontal lobe. Normally when you live, you always stand erect -blood is being pumped by the heart to the brain, but it is not sufficient for a very healthy brain. So when you do sujud, extra blood flows from the heart to the brain, due to gravity. This extra flow of blood, is a requirement for a very healthy brain. So when we do sujud, extra blood flows in to the brain, which is very good for a healthy brain. When we do sujud, there is extra blood supply to the skin of the face, which prevents ‘Chill bane’. When we do sujud, the secretion of the synuses… the ‘Aismodal’ synus, Magniotal synus, they get drained- there are less chances of a person suffering from Synusitis. Normally when you breath, only 2/3rd of your lungs capacity is utilised. The remaining 1/3rd is known as residual air. But when we do the sujud, and when your breath in the sujud, the abdominal vicra, it presses against the diaphram. The diaphram presses against the lower part of the lungs, and even the residual air… the 1/3rd air is exhaled out, so more fresh air enters in to the lungs, in which there are less chances of that person suffering from lung diseases. When we do sujud, there is drainage of secretion of the Brocheal tree, in which there are less chances of a person suffering from Bronchitis. When we so sujud, there is increased vynus return, to the Abdominal vicra… when we do sujud there is less chances of having Hamroid. There are several benefits. When you do kayaam, ruku, sujud… when you stand up, and when you get up from the sitting position, the calf muscles are being activated. The calf muscles are referred to as peripheral heart, because they supply blood to the lower part of the body. So when you do kayaam, ruku, sujud… when you stand up, sit up, prostate, get up… the calf muscles are activated, and it increases the blood supply to the lower part of the body when you stand up bow down and prostrate the vertebrae is being exercised you have less chances of having disease of vertebrae. There are several medical benefits only of salah -You can give a talk only on that. But we Muslims, we do not offer salah, for these medical benefits -these are only side dishes. We offer salah, to praise Allah (SWT) to thank…Allah (SWT). That is our main dish…that is a biryani. The medical benefits are side dishes -we do not pray for these medical benefits. It may attract a person, who does not believe in Islam -that okay, you get medical benefits… he may come closer to salah. But we Muslims offer salah, to thank Allah (SWT)… to praise Him -That is our main biryani. This is the additional benefit that Allah (SWT) gives us. The third pillar is Zakah. The Arabic words Zakah, means purification… it means growth. In Islam every rich person who has a saving of more than the nesaab level, more than the minimum wealth, that is seven and a half tola of gold. He should give 2.5% of that saving every lunar year, in charity -and the criteria to do the charity is given in Surah Tauba Ch. 9, Verse 60, which says…

‘It can be given to the fukra, to the poor people, to the masakeen who are needy, whose heart is bent towards Islam, to those who are in debt, those in freeing of slave, a way farer who gets scanted in a foreign land, and those who spend in the way of Allah(SWT)’.

These are 8 categories given in Surah Tauba, Ch.9,V 60, to whom this Zakat can be given. It is compulsory for every rich Muslim, who has saving of more than the nisaab level, he should give 2.5% of that saving, every lunar year, in charity. I ask a question, that if every human being in the world gives Zakat, gives 2.5 % of his excess wealth in charity… poverty will be eradicated form this world. There will not be a single human being who will die of hunger. That is why the Holy Qur’an says, in Surah Hashr, in Ch. 59, Verse 7, that… ‘It prevents the wealth from circulating among the rich -is that, that the rich will not become more richer’. It prevents the wealth from circulating amongst the rich. The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Taubah, Ch. 9 Verse 34, that… ‘Those who bury gold and silver, and spend it not in the way of Allah (SWT), do not give charity, announce to them a grievous penalty. That on the day of Judgement, heat will be produced from this wealth, from fire of hell, and they will be branded on their fore heads, on their flanks, and on their back. And it will be told to them, that you hoarded the wealth- now have a taste of your wealth’. Hoarding of wealth, is prohibited in the Holy Qur’an -You cannot hoard wealth. The fourth pillar is Hajj. Every Adult Muslim who has the means to perform Hajj, that is pilgrimage to the Holy city of Makkah, should at least do it once in his life time. And I say that the Hajj is the best practical example in the world, of Universal brotherhood -There is not a better example. In Hajj, there are 2.5 million Muslims who gather in Mecca. In Mina, in Arafat… the holy land, 2.5 million Muslims from various part of the world, from America, England, Japan, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore and various part of the world. And the men, they dress up in two pieces of unsewen cloth preferably white -so that the person standing next to you, when he is performing the pilgrimage, you cannot make out whether the person standing in front of you is a king or a popper. You cannot come to know, whether he is rich or poor. All of the Muslims from various parts of the world …they collect -It is the biggest annual gathering of the world. 2.5 million Muslims, 25 lakhs Muslims, they gather there and they perform their pilgrimage, and they are dressed in the same simple unsewen pieces of cloth -Best example of Universal brotherhood. I started my talk by quoting a Verse from the Holy Qur’an, Surah Hujurah, Ch.49, Verse 13, which says… (Arabic)…

‘O human kind, We have created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye shall recognize one another, and not that you shall despise one another’.

And the most honoured in the sight of Allah (SWT) is the one who has taqwaa, who has righteousness, who has God-consciousness, who has piety. The Holy Qur’an says that… ‘The whole of the human kind, has been created from a single pair of a male and a female’. And God Almighty has divided them into nations and tribes, so that they shall recognise each other not that they shall despise each other -That I am superior to you… or you are superior to me. And the Prophet said that…

‘No Arab is superior to a Non-Arab, neither a Non-Arab superior to an Arab, neither a White superior to a Black, nor a Black superior to a White’.

The Qur’an says -the only criteria for judgement in Surah Hujrat, Ch. 49, Verse 13… ‘The only criteria for judgement in the sight of Allah (SWT) is not sex, it is not caste, it is not colour, it is not wealth, it is not age, it is taqwaa, it is God-consciousness, it is peity, it is righteousness, it is by God-consciousness… not by wealth, colour or nobility’. These are the guidance given by the Holy Qur’an, for Universal brotherhood. The fifth pillar in Ramadhan, is saum. That every adult Muslims should fast, should abstain from having food and drink, from sunrise to sunset, in the complete lunar month of Ramadhan. The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ch. 2, Verse 183, that…

‘Ramadhan has been prescribed to you, as it was prescribed earlier, to the people who came early before you, so that you may learn self restrain’.

The reason for fasting has been described in the Holy Qur’an, for self restraint. And the Psychologists, they tell us today, that if you can control your hunger, you can control almost all your desires. That is what Qur’an says, that… ‘Ramadan has been prescribed to you, so that you may learn self restrain, you may control your desire. If you can control your hunger, you can control almost all your desires. And there are various benefits, that if a person can abstain from having alcohol, from sunrise to sunset, he can very well abstain from having alcohol, from the cradle to the grave. If he can abstain from smoking from sunrise to sunset, he can very well abstain from smoking, from the cradle to the grave. It gives an opportunity to improve yourself. I call it the over hauling -like how your machine requires servicing…like you service your car every three months, every four months… your motor cycle every five month, etc. If you allow me to call the human being a machine, I would say… It is the most complicated machine on the face of the earth. Ramadhan is a servicing of the human body -one lunar month, every lunar year… servicing. There are several medical benefits even of the Salaah. I would not like to go in to detail. But it also improve, increases the intestinal absorption when you fast, it increases your intestinal absorption. These were in a nutshell the five pillars of Islam. If you remember the Prophet said these are the pillars of Islam, these are the principles of Islam. This does not constitute the complete Islam. Many people have a misunderstanding that if they do these 5 things they become very good Muslims. These are only the 5 pillars, and any engineer will tell you, that if the pillar is strong, then hopefully the structure will be strong. If the foundation is strong, then the structure will be strong, so if we follow these 5 pillars correctly, then InshaAllah the structure will be correct. And the other structure, the do’s and dont’s are mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. How a person should lead his life, is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Dhariyat, Ch. 51, Verse 56…(Arabic)…

‘That We have created the jinn and the men, not but to worship Me’.

That means, God Almighty created the jinn and the men, only to worship Him. What is the meaning of the Arabic word Ibadah? It comes from the root word ‘Abd’ which means, following His commandment. Many people have a misconception that Salaah… prayer is the only form of Ibadah. Salaah is one of the high forms of Ibadah -But it is the not the only form of Ibadah. Whatever commandments of Allah (SWT) -if you are following them you are doing Ibadah. If you abstain from prohibited food like Alcohol, Qur’an says in Surah Al-Maidah, Ch. 5, Verse 90, that… ‘Alcohol is prohibited’. You are doing Ibadah of Allah (SWT) Almighty God, if you are honest in your business, you are doing Ibadah… you are doing worship of Allah(SWT). If you love your neighbours, as the Qur’an says in Surah Al-Maun, Ch. 107, Verse 127… ‘Provide neighbourly needs’, you are doing Ibadah of Allah (SWT). If you abstain from back biting, speaking ill about people behind their back, you are doing worship of Allah (SWT). Qur’an says in Surah Al-Humuza, Ch. 104…(Arabic)…

‘Woe to every kind of scandal, monger and backbiter. Qur’an says in Surah Hujurat, Ch. 49, Verse 11 to 12, that… ‘Do not defame others, do not be sarcastic, do not call others by nickname, avoid suspicion for suspicion in many cases is a crime. Do not speak ill about others behind their back, are you ready to eat the dead meat of your brother, means if you backbite, if you speak ill about any body else it is as though your are eating the dead meat of your brother.’

What does it mean? -Eating dead meat had been prohibited in the Holy Qur’an. Eating dead meat of your brother, is double crime. Even the animals that eat human being, they do not the dead meat of their own brother. So the Qur’an says… ‘If you backbite, if you speak ill about other people behind their back, it is a double crime. First speaking ill about any one without proof is a crime… speaking ill about any one without proof, behind their back is double crime, because he cannot support himself. Eating dead meat is a crime, eating dead meat of your brother is a double crime. The Qur’an says that… ‘If you backbite… are you ready to eat the dead meat of your brother’? And Allah gives the reply… “Nay, you will abhor it?’ So if you abstain from backbiting, you are doing worship of Allah (SWT)… you are doing Ibadah. Qur’an says in Surah Isra, Ch. 17, Verse 23 to 24, that…

‘I have ordained for you that you should worship none but Me, and that you should be kind to your parents’.

After worshipping Allah (SWT) -Allah says… ‘We should be kind to our parents. And if any one of them, or both of them reach their old age, do not say a word of contempt -do not even say uff to your parents. But lower to them your wings of humility, and address them with honour, and pray to Almighty God, that… Bless them, as they cherished me in childhood’. You have to love and respect your parents… If you love and respect your parents, you are doing worship of Allah (SWT). Monasticism, celibacy is prohibited in Islam. Our beloved Prophet said in Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 7, Ch. 3, in the Book of Nikaah, Hadith No. 4… ‘Oh young people whoever has the means to get married, should get married. That will help to lower your gaze, and guard your modesty’. The Prophet said… ‘Whoever does not marry, is not of me’. It is compulsory in Islam, to marry. If you are marrying, you are doing worship of Allah (SWT). If you have sex with your wife, and abstain from adultery, you are doing worship of Allah (SWT). Because Qur’an says in Surah Isra, Ch. 17, Verse 32, that… ‘Come not close to adultery, for it is an evil deed, an unjust deed, and an evil opening roads to other evils. It is a shameful deed, an evil opening roads to other evils, so if you have sex with your wife and abstain from adultery, you are doing Ibadah. The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Nisa, Ch. 4, Verse 19, that… ‘Treat your wives on a footing of equity and kindness, even if you dislike her’. That even if you dislike your wife. Qur’an says… ‘You should love her and treat her with equity’. If you dress up modestly, that is Ibadah, that is worship of Allah (SWT). In short, any commandments you follow of Allah (SWT), that is worship of Almighty God. If you abstain from those things that Allah has prohibited, you are doing Ibadah, you are doing worship of Allah (SWTsss). Islam has got a dual role -It caters to the body as well as the soul. There is not a single teaching of Islam, which is against humanity. People may think… ‘This teaching of Islam is wrong’ -due to lack of knowledge. They may have less information either about Islam, or about the statistics of the world. Therefore they may think this teaching of Islam that marrying more than one wife okay it is a wrong teaching. But if you have the correct information, correct knowledge of Islam and the correct statistics of the world, there is not a single teaching of Islam which is against humanity. Every teaching of Islam, is either beneficial to the body or to the soul, of the being. The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Mulk, Ch. 67, Verse 2…

‘Allah has created death and life to test which of you is good is deed’.

This life that you are leading, is a test for the Hereafter. It is a test that we are undergoing -If we fail, you go to hell. And the criteria for salvation, was recited by our young Kari, brother Kaamil, in beginning of the talk. He recited Surah Al-Asr, Ch. 103, Verse 1 to 3… (Arabic)…

‘By the token of time, man is verily in a state of loss, except for those who have faith, who have righteous deeds, those who exhort people to the truth… that do dawah and islaah… those who exhort to patience, and perseverance’.

These are the minimum 4 criteria for any human being, to go to heaven. He should have faith, he should have righteous deeds, he should exhort people to the truth, and should exhort people to patience and perseverance. Only having for two or three of these criteria, will not transport you to the heaven -you should have all the four criteria, for a human being to enter Jannah. Holy Qur’an says in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ch. 2, Verse 25… (Arabic)… ‘There is no compulsion in Religion’. But many people quote this and stop. The complete verse says… ‘There is no compulsion in Religion, truth stands out clear from error’. You have to present the truth. You cannot force anyone on the point of sword, at the point of the gun -that is not allowed in Islam. You have to present the truth -if he agrees Alhamdolillah, well and fine. If he does not agree, you can not force anyone. Truth stands out clear from error. But we have to present the truth to them. I was asked by the organiser… ‘As far as possible to give a short talk, and spend more time for the Question and Answer session -there are many misconceptions of Islam, amongst Non-Muslims… even among the Muslims.’ Today, the gathering is specially for the Non-Muslims -so whatever misconceptions they have, however stupid it may sound, however illogical it may sound, however offensive it may sound… No problem, I can take it. You are most welcome to ask any question about Islam… You are welcome to criticize Islam -No problem. I will only ask you… ‘Why do you… why do you say that the Qur’an is wrong?’ If you know something about the Qur’an, you are most welcome to clarify any doubts -this is your opportunity. Normally we do not have Religious gatherings, after which there is an open Question and Answer session. I normally prefer having a Question and Answer session… whatever doubts are there. Some people may think -Why do Muslims have more than one wife?… Why do not they have pork?… Why are they circumcised?… Why do they have Non-Veg., etc.,etc. Whichever doubts they may have, this is an opportunity to clarify -Believe me, I will not get offended. You are most welcome to ask any question. If you feel that this teaching of Islam is not right, speak it up. You are most welcome to ask any question, clarify any doubts. This is your best opportunity… so that even if you want to criticize, I can take it. I am young, but I can take it -that is my job… it is my field. I would like to end my talk, with the Verse from the Holy Qur’an from Surah Nahl, Ch. 16, Verse 125…(Arabic)…

‘Invite all to the way of thy Lord, with wisdom and beautiful teachings, and argue with them, and reason with them, in ways that are best and most gracious’.

Wa Akhiruddawana Anil Hamdulillahi Rabbil Alamin.