Islam tells us that God, Who created the whole of universe, is One. His personal name is Allah. Nothing else can be called Allah. The term has no plural gender. This shows its uniqueness as compared to the term 'god,' which can be made plural, gods or feminine, goddess.

To a Muslim Allah is the Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Who is similar to nothing and nothing is comparable to Him. He depends on none but everything else, which exists, depends on Him; neither has He begotten any child nor is He Himself the child of anyone. There is no one else that can be said to be parallel or equal to Him. He is the First, and He is the Last. He is the ultimate goal of all that exists in this universe.

God has the power to do whatever He wills. He is Ever-Living. He is the Giver of life. The Love of God for His creatures is immense and beyond human imagination. Mankind cannot measure or count the favors of God. He creates men and women in the best form of creation and gives them all the senses and faculties that they need for their growth. He creates the mind to understand, the soul and conscience to be good and righteous, and the feelings and sentiments to be kind and humane. The mercy of God gives men and women hope and peace, courage and confidence. It enables them to remedy their grief and sorrows, to overcome their difficulties and obtain success and happiness. Indeed, the mercy of God relieves the distressed, cheers the afflicted, consoles the sick, strengthens the desperate, and comforts the needy.

What is the concept of Life in Islam?

Life is a brilliant demonstration of God's wisdom and knowledge, and a vivid reflection of His art and power. He is the Giver and Creator of life. Nothing comes into existence by chance. Life is a dear and cherishable asset, and no sensible or normal person would like to lose it by choice. Life is given to mankind by God, and He is the only Rightful Owner to take it back. This is why Islam forbids all kinds of suicide and self-destruction, and recommends patience and good faith when a dear soul passes away. When a murderer is executed in punishment, his life is taken away by the right of God and in accordance with His Law. It is a tragedy that the secular and the religious, the scientific and the spiritual seem to be in conflict in secular societies. Islam puts an end to this conflict and brings harmony in all these aspects of human life.

When God gives life to men and women, it is not in vain that He endows them with unique qualities and great abilities. Nor is it in vain that He charges them with certain obligations. God means to help man to fulfill the purpose of life and realize the goal of existence. He means to help him to learn the creative art of living and enjoy the good taste of life according to Divine guidance. Life is a trust from God, and men and women are trustees who should handle this trust with consciousness of responsibility to Him.

We have indeed created man in the best stature

Life may be likened to a journey starting from a certain point and ending at a certain destination. It is a transitory stage, an introduction to the Eternal Life in the Hereafter. In this journey, men and women are travelers and should be concerned with only what is of use to them in the Future Life. In other words, they should do all the good they can and make themselves fully prepared to move any minute to Eternal Life. They should consider their life on earth as a chance provided for them to make the best of it while they can, because when their time to leave comes they can never delay it for one moment. If their term expires, it will be too late to do anything about it or extend it. The best use of life, therefore, is to live it according to the teachings of God and make it a safe passage to the future Eternal Life. Islam has laid down a complete system of regulations and principles to show man how to live it, what to take and what to leave, what to do and what to shun, and so on. In one of his comprehensive statements Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, wisely advised man to consider himself a stranger in this life or a traveler passing through this world.

What is the concept of Life after Death in Islam?

Man's life is not limited to the short span of earthly existence. This world will come to an end some day, and the dead will rise on the Day of Judgment to stand for their final and fair trial. Everyone will appear before the Almighty God and face the consequences of their deeds done in this life. Thus, life in the Hereafter is a continuation of the earthly life.

Our Lord! Give us the good life, both in this world and in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of the fire.

Everything we do in this world, every intention we have, every move we make, every thought we entertain, and every word we say, are all counted and kept in accurate records. On the Day of Judgment, they will be brought forth. People with good records will be generously rewarded and warmly welcomed to the Paradise of God, and those with bad records will be punished and cast into Hell.- The real nature of Paradise or Hell, and the exact description of them are known to God only. There are descriptions of Paradise and Hell in the Qur'an. In Paradise, said the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, there are things, which no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no mind has ever conceived.

Belief in Life after Death and man's accountability to God gives a sense and meaning to one's life and differentiates human beings from animals.

In fact, if there is no life after death, the very belief in God becomes irrelevant because God would be unjust and indifferent; having created human beings not concerned with cruelty, corruption, aggression and injustice that is going on in this world. God is just. He will punish those who are responsible for killing innocent people, creating corruption in the societies, enslaving thousands' to serve their whims. Punishment and reward equal to the evil or noble deeds of people are not possible in this short span of worldly life. Life after death will be eternal and it will be possible to reward or punish the persons to the full extent that they deserve, therefore, belief in the 'Life after Death' serves as a reminder against crime, corruption, immorality, and injustice on this earth.

What is the concept of Sin in Islam?

One of the major troublesome areas of human existence is the problem of sin or evil in the world. The belief that the first sin started with Adam and Eve during their life in the Garden of Eden. That event led to their fall and has ever since branded the human race with guilt, stigma, and bewilderment.

Islam takes a unique position on the whole issue. The Qur'an states that Adam and Eve were directed by God to reside in the Garden of Eden and enjoy its produce as they pleased, assured of bountiful supplies and comfort.

They were warned not to approach a particular tree and not to follow the footsteps of Satan so that they would not run into harm and injustice. Satan intrigued them to temptation and caused them to forget God's prohibition, and therefore, to lose their joyful state. They were expelled from the Garden and brought down to earth to live, die, and be taken out again for the Final Judgment. Having realized what they had done, they felt shame, guilt, and remorse. They prayed for God's forgiveness and were forgiven.

The idea of Original Sin or hereditary criminality has no place in the teachings of Islam. Man, according to the Qur'an and to the Prophet, is born in a natural state of purity called fitrah (nature), which is Islam or submission to the will and law of God. After that, whatever becomes of man is the result of external influences and intruding factors. A person is innocent until he grows to an age when he can distinguish Right from Wrong. The home environment is crucial and it plays a decisive role in the formation of human personality and the development of moral character. This does not deny the individual his or her freedom of choice nor exempt him or her from responsibility, rather it is a relief from heavy burden of hereditary criminality or instinctual sin.

According to the moral scale of Islam, it is not a sin to be imperfect or fallible. This is part of human nature as a finite limited creature. But it is a sin if a person has the ways and means of relative perfection and chooses not to seek it. A sin is any act, thought, or will that is:

These are the components of sin, which are not innate or hereditary. It is true that men and women have the potential of sin latent in them, but this is not beyond their capacity of piety and goodness. If they choose to actualize the potential of sin, instead of the potential of goodness, they will be adding a new external element to their pure nature. For this added external element man alone is responsible.