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What is Islam?
Islam means the attainment of peace through submission to Allah. Allah is the One True God, the Creator of the Universe, Who is unique, and
transcendent above our imagination. Allah has no body, shape, gender, partners, ancestors, associates or offspring. Islam is based upon two testifications of faith :
- testifying that there is no god but Allah, Who is the One, Eternal, Living, All-Powerful,
All-Knowing, All-Seeing, All-Hearing Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. Allah alone is pre-eternal; He alone existed before anything else, and then brought other things and beings into
existence. Allah does not resemble any type of creation in any way. Only what He wills comes to pass, but He has willed to give mankind freedom of choice. Allah is one, without partner, son,
daughter, associate, rival or ancestor. Allah alone is worthy of worship.
- testifying that Muhammad
 , the son of `Abdullah, son of
`Abdul-Muttalib, of the Arab tribe of Quraysh, is the slave of Allah and His Messenger to all the creation. Muhammad was born in Makkah, Arabia some fourteen hundred years ago. In Makkah, Allah appointed
him as a prophet for all mankind and jinn. He later emigrated to Madinah, which is also where he was buried. He was the last prophet,
and conveyed Allah's message in full. He was given a scripture called the Qur'an, which presents itself as a miracle of style and content, testifying to Muhammad's prophethood. Among that which he has
informed us is: the existence of angels, the previous prophets (such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus), the punishment and bliss in the grave, the end of this world and the subsequent bodily
resurrection and assembly of all of mankind for the Day of Judgement. On that day, people's deeds during their life will be presented to them,
and they will be rewarded or punished accordingly. Unbelievers (those who died without the correct belief in Allah, in all His messengers, etc.) will abide eternally in the punishment of Hell,
whereas pious believers will abide eternally in the pleasures of Heaven. Sinful believers may be punished for some time in Hell before entering Heaven to remain there forever.
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