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 book will be

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.

complete way that the very being of the one who does this becomes a total embodiment of dawah. This is what shahadah or witnessing is. The belief, held by some people, that shahadah has two levels—verbal shahadah

not even the last prophet, the Prophet Muhammad. According to the Quran (33:45), the Prophet of Islam was a witness. Undoubtedly, he engaged in the task of witnessing to Truth in a perfect manner. But

yardstick which no one will find difficult to understand. In this way, Islam, in terms of personal experience, has made it clear to everyone what their behaviour with others should be and how they should deal

themselves in the form of the dead. They should experience death before dying. According to the Islamic custom, when a corpse is being buried in the grave, those who are participating in the burial take

grave is the climax of the whole process. In this way, it is explained to those who are still alive what their own fate will be one day. Introduction to Paradise Once, a man was on an island, where he

violence in the name of Islam today? The Muslim youths who are engaged in these hate-driven and violent acts cannot be responsible for this. Rather, the blame is upon the so-called ‘Islamic thinkers’, who, in

of ‘Islamic Revolution’, gave these youths an ideology that led to such negative consequences. These so-called ‘Islamic thinkers’ have concocted a completely false, political interpretation of Islam. The

The method of Islam is the method of dawah. The opposite of this is the method of politics. The method of dawah is based on peace. The method of politics is based on confrontation. The two methods are

peaceful Islam. Such a mission involves the risk of being discredited among one’s own co-religionists. In consequence, the call, goes unheeded.The Veil of InterpretationOne reason for original Islam becoming

the original Islam was completely obscured from view. The wrong, man-made interpretations took the place of revealed guidance. In later times, people mistakenly took them to be the real Islam. In the early

early phase of Islam people derived their religion directly from the Quran and Sunnah, therefore, their association with the original Islam remained intact. But the interpretations and explanations of later

in non-Muslim societies without any direct contribution from the Muslim minds, it is helpful for Islam in many aspects. For example, it is this Western Civilization that finally ended religious persecution

in the West have paved the way to proving the beliefs of Islam on a scientific basis. In previous times, it was assumed that the truths of Islam, or religion for that matter, could be supported only by

allowed Islam to prove its truth on the same level as scientific theories are proven. From these few examples, it is clear that nonMuslims are also helpful to the cause of Islam in many ways. Islamic development

happiness for those found deserving of it by God Almighty. According to a tradition, the Prophet of Islam once said that God would thus address the inhabitants of Paradise: “O, dwellers of Paradise.” And

well pleased now?” They would reply: “Why should we not be pleased, O Lord, when You have given us what You have not given to any of Your creatures?” God would say: “May I not give you something even more

To accept the Islamic way entails undergoing an immense change within oneself. It means that one’s thoughts, actions and treatment of others take on the most proper and most exemplary form imaginable,

aright.” (2:186). This shows that the relationship between man and God is reciprocal: man offers God what he has, then God bestows His favours in return. Man offers his Lord a gift of realization, piety and

only by studying Islam directly through its basic scriptures, that is, the Quran and Sunnah. This book thus presents a fundamental introduction for those who want to understand Islam as it is. Its aim

in the light of which the original sources of Islam may be studied. I hope that this book will be useful for those who want to know about the original Islam, as opposed to the “religion” represented by