INTRODUCTION

1. Man, Universe, and Creator ……………………………..   8

2. Man and Religion …………………………………………..  13

PART I
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ISLAM

1. Its Essence is Oneness of God (Tawhid) ……           17

2. Islam is a natural religion, it does not clash with reason ………………………………………………………   19

3. No priest intermediates between God and His Subjects / There is no Clergy Class in Islam ….  21

4. Islam establishes the balance between the World and the Hereafter, the Material and the Spiritual ……………………       23

5. Islam Encourages Learning which Encompasses Science, Wisdom, and Religion ……………..  24

6. Islam Considers Justice the Prime Virtue ….            29

7. Islam is a universal religion ………………………       32

8. Islam Holds All Human Beings Equal ………           35

9. Islam Considers Freedom of Religion and Conscience Paramount …………………………………..           36

10. Ease (in religious duties) is One of the Principlesof Islam …………………………………………..           38

11. Islam Plants Optimism and Hope ……………          41

12. Islam Upholds Social Solidarity ……………….        43

13. Islam Places Utmost Value on Human Beings .       46

PART II
Creed, Ritual Worship and Rulings
Pertaining to Worldly Matters (Mu‘amalat)

A. ISLAMIC ARTICLES OF BELIEF

1. Belief in God (Allah) ………………………………..     49

2. Belief in Angels ………………………………………..    52

3. Belief in the Books Revealed to Messengers of God ………………………………………………………….    53

4. Belief in Prophets and Messengers of God ..            53

5. Belief in the Hereafter ……………………………….     54

6. Belief in Destiny ……………………………………….    54

B. TYPES OF WORSHIP IN ISLAM AND  THE WISDOM BEHIND THEM

1. Ritual Prayer and Its Wisdom ……………………        57

2. Fasting and its wisdom ……………………………..      61

3. Mandatory Alms (poor-due), Charity, Aid and their Wisdom …………………………………………..        64

4. Hajj and its wisdom ………………………………….     66

C. ISLAMIC PROHIBITIONS AND THEIR  HARMS

1. Interest …………………………………………………….. 69

2. Drinking Alcohol ……………………………………..     72

3. Fornication ………………………………………………   76

D. THE ENVIRONMENT, CLEANLINESS AND WATER IN ISLAM

1. The Environment ………………………………………    78

2. Cleanliness ………………………………………………..  84

3. Water ………………………………………………………..            90

PART III
THE NOBLE QURAN

1. Its Revelation and Preservation …………………         97

2. Its Miraculous Nature ……………………………….      99

a. It Informs Us of the Unknown …………            102

b. It Sheds Light on Scientific Discoveries ..        105

PART IV
The Messenger of Mercy
His Excellency Muhammad Mustafa
(peace be upon him)

1. His childhood and youth ……………………..         110

2. The Period of Prophethood …………………          112

3. The Era of Medina ……………………………….      117

4. Examples from His Unmatched Morals .  120

5. The Endless Love that He Elicits ………….           126

6. His miracles …………………………………………    128

AFTERWORD …………………………………………………   132

REFERENCES …………………………………………………  133

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