Dear Reader
Islam is a complete and integral Divine religion and way of life. It has a complete code of ethics for a happy life, as well as a peaceful and tranquil life after death. Islam is free from all imperfections and defects. Any deviant or abnormal behavior observed in a Muslim should have no bearing on Islam, none whatsoever. The reason for such deviant behavior is generally a poor understanding of the faith, and in other cases, weak faith that leads to the person going astray from what is proper and noble.
It is unjust and unreasonable for Islam to be assessed or evaluated based on any individuals’ behavior or attitudes, with the exception of the Prophet Muhammad, who is the best example and role model for all humans
Introduction: The Key to Understanding Islam
All praise be to God, the Lord of all the worlds, the Creator of the heavens and earth and all creatures living in them. May God grant peace and blessings to Prophet Muhammad, God’s final Messenger, whose message brought mercy to all mankind. May He also give His blessings to all the prophets and messengers whom He sent to guide mankind out of darkness and into light.
Every new release we at Osoul International Centre for Islamic Advocacy produce gives us a great opportunity to interact with our readers. All our releases have the same overall objective, namely presenting Islam to mankind, as it truly is. We wish people to be aware of Islam’s fine aspects and profound teachings. We show clearly that it is the only faith that provides practical and effective solutions to all the problems faced by humanity. It gives clear and solid answers to all the questions that have troubled people over many generations, such as: How did we come into existence and why do we exist? Where do we go from here? Furthermore, it is the only religion that requires its followers to love and respect all the prophets God sent, particularly Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them both).
Our releases also refute the accusations levelled against Islam and clarify people’s misunderstandings of Islamic teachings.
In all our releases, we take care to provide solid and rational proofs for our arguments so as to give our readers the reassurance they need. Our motive is to make this great divine faith known to people. It is, by God’s grace, the fastest growing religion in our time, as confirmed by a study undertaken by the Pew Research Centre and published in 2015
This book, The Key to Understanding Islam, states from the outset that the Qur’an is not a book of science. However, Islam respects science and scientists, giving them high status in Islamic society, and tells its followers to afford scientists the respect they deserve. The author informs his readers that he has no intention to relate the Qur’an to modern scientific discoveries. He only cites Qur’anic verses that refer to such discoveries as science have made in our present time.
The book explains that Islam is a faith that lays down a complete way of life. It comprises principles of belief that provide for genuine morality and promote the best aspects of the human soul. It also comprises a complete system of verbal and practical acts of worship. Together these ensure the pursuit of all that is noble at the individual level and strengthen social unity. Clear examples of this are illustrated in the book. As such, the book gives a solid foundation for a proper understanding of Islam.
While the way of life known as Islam continues as the world’s fastest growing religion - the traditional underestimation of the Western Muslim population by western statisticians notwithstanding - the availability of useful Islamic information that speaks to the needs of both practicing Muslims, as well as interested others, has struggled to keep pace with the expanding community. Ironically, the post - 9/11 frenzy that has gripped western societies with an often irrational loathing for global Islam has, simultaneously, piqued the interest of more inquisitive, pensive non-Muslim westerners. Their skepticism of mass media accounts of predatory Islamic “extremists” and “America haters” doesn’t match with their personal experiences of the Muslims they encounter in their neighborhoods, in their classrooms, or on their jobs. Consequently, they seek the truth about Islam and strike out on their own to find answers to questions that are either ignored in the popular media, or are given the familiar “spin” that underwrites misinformation. What results is an informational void that cries out for a meaningful, serious response.
Abdul-Rahman al-Sheha, in his groundbreaking compendium, The Key to Understanding Islam, has not only addressed this need, but has introduced a uniquely constructed format that is as “user friendly” as it is comprehensive and scholarly.
The Islamic revival that accompanied the removal of the yoke of colonialism by Muslims in the mid20th century benefited from a scholarship aimed at consolidating these new found freedoms within the divine boundaries of the Book of Allah and the traditions of His Noble Prophet. Indeed, the genius of these early Muslim sages helped to reconstruct the framework that houses today’s resurgent Islamic movements. But many, if not all, of these definitive Islamic treatises are written in a language and style that appeal to those who are already Muslim.
Al-Sheha’s Key, in one simply written volume, offers a wealth of information that is revelatory for the non-Muslim who seeks a clear and concise understanding of both what is, and what is not, Islam. At the same time, it provides a supremely well-organized inventory of traditionally sourced overviews on faith, worship, and social issues for the practicing Muslim. Clearly, this approach to dispensing critical information on the life-affirming message of Islam presents a fresh and wholly inviting opportunity for presenting Islam while maintaining, immutably, the pristine principles of the Faith.
The Key to Understanding Islam combines the insightful, knowledgeable eye of the scholar with the empathy of a socially conscious researcher.
The result is an informative, compelling narrative that treats the essentials of Muslim worship, as well as the Islamic interpretation of astrophysics, with equal clarity and balance. But maybe most importantly, it connects them all together with appropriate references from the Qur’an and Prophetic traditions. The breadth and depth of the subject covered is truly remarkable, and stands as a testimony to the sagacity of the author.
In its content and style, it represents a singularly important contribution to the global dialogue on religion in contemporary life. Al-Sheha’s The Key to Understanding Islam takes its place among the most important works of its kind, redefining the contours of this discussion while establishing improved methods for illuminating the Islamic underpinnings of European science and culture. It is a seminal work that will hopefully influence the next generation of Muslim scholars who share a concern and dedication to spreading the message of Islam.
We pray for the universal acceptance of this book, and we pray Allah, the Almighty, the One, the Sublime, to imbue Muslims and avail non-Muslims of the guidance and the knowledge of its Creator and their ultimate purpose in life.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord (1) of the worlds, and may He praise His Prophet ,and render him and his household safe from all evil.
This booklet explains briefly the last Divine Religion (2) which abrogates all previous religions. At the time of this publication, Islam is the religion of over a billion and a half followers worldwide. People are accepting it in large numbers, despite the fact that the callers to Islam receive insufficient financial and moral backing. Moreover, in comparison to most other ideologies, it is uncommon to hear of a Muslim abandoning Islam after having accepted it.
In Islam, knowledge and scholarship are highly regarded and given prestige. The Qur’an is not a book of science, however the Qur’an does represent the basic law which outlines the details of a Muslim’s life. In it we find mention of political, social, economic and moral principles.
My goal in this book is not to tie every modern scientific breakthrough man has discovered with a verse from the Qur’an.
I have mentioned some scientific facts in this book, merely to clarify that there are verses in the Qur’an which contain accurate scientific information, which have only been discovered very recently by modern science.
I invite all to read this book and to contemplate the signs of God and to strive to learn the true religion of God.