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Belief in God

(part 1 of 3) Introduction At the heart of Islam lies belief in God. The core of the Islamic creed is bearing witness to the phrase, La illaha illa Allah, “There is no true deity deserving worship but God.” The testimony to this belief, calledtawhid, is the axis around which all Islam revolves. Moreover, it … Read more

The Names of God

(part 1 of 3): Who is Allah? In any discussion about the Names of God, it is important to understand that Muslims believe in One True God, the only Creator, the One Who has Dominion over all that exists, has ever existed or will come to exist. A Muslim worships the same One God whom … Read more

Belief in Angels

Reality of Angels In common folklore, angels are thought of as good forces of nature, hologram images, or illusions. Western iconography sometimes depicts angels as fat cherubic babies or handsome young men or women with a halo surrounding their head. In Islamic doctrine, they are real created beings who will eventually suffer death, but are … Read more

The Forgiveness of Sins

“O My slaves who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of God: verily, God forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran 39:53) God did not create humankind for any purpose other than to worship Him. However being human makes us frail and forgetful … Read more

Belief in Scriptures

Belief in the scriptures revealed by God is the third article of Islamic faith. We can identify four main reasons for the revelation of scriptures: (1) The scripture revealed to a prophet is a point of reference to learn the religion and obligations towards God and fellow human beings. God reveals Himself and explains the … Read more

God: Abba or Rabb?

Christians refer to God as Father in their creeds, prayers, and liturgy. God, the Father, is seen as one of the three persons of Trinity. They believe that the Father has a Son, Jesus. Christians think they alone have a personal relationship, both with the Father and the Son. Abba is said to be the … Read more

Belief in the Prophets

Belief in certain prophets who God chose to relay His message to humans is a required article of Islamic faith. “The Prophet (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in God, His Angels, His Books, and His prophets. (They say,) ‘We … Read more

The True Richness

(part 1 of 2) Many people mistakenly assume that true wealth and real treasure is that of money. It is indeed true that wealth is a great blessing from God which He bestows upon His servants. And the one who earns it purely, and spends it properly, and gives it to those that deserve it, … Read more

What is Sikhism? (part 2 of 2): An Indian or Monotheistic Religion?

Sikhism is known as one of the Indian religions along with Hinduism and Buddhism, which we have discussed, and Jainism.  These four religions share certain key concepts that are interpreted slightly differently by each group or sub group.  They are all linked by a belief in karma, and the concept of reincarnation.  In Hinduism the … Read more

What is Sikhism? (part 1 of 2): Ten Gurus and a Book

Sikhism originated from the word Sikh, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit root śiṣya meaning disciple or learner.  It is the world’s fifth largest religion, with approximately 27 million adherents.  The majority of Sikhs live in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan; however Sikhs live all over the world with more than 336,000 … Read more