WAZANZIBARI
Assalam Alaykum:


                    THE ONLY TRUE RELIGION FROM GOD IS ISLAM
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==============================TANBIH====================================

              Say (Muhammad to the) People of the Book (The Jews and
              the Christian) "Come to common terms as between us
              (Muslims) and you. That we all worship none but Allah
              that we associate no partners with Him; that erect not
              from among ourselves Lords and patrons other than
              Allah." If they turn back say you (Muhammad) "Bear
              witness that we at least are MUSLIMS. (Qur’an; 3:64).

==============================AMMA'BAD===================================


It seems that people should "COME TO COMMON TERMS" because almost all 
religions are men-made innovation. They were named either after the founder, 
community or nation of origin. For instance, CHRISTIANITY is named after 
Jesus Christ, peace be upon him (pbuh); BUDDHISM from its founder known as 
Guantama Buddah; CONFUCIANISM is named after Confucius who promoted 
worshipping of mountains, rivers and ancestors while ZOROSTIANISM after 
Zoraster emphasized the worshipping of "AHURA MAZDA" (Wise Lord) and 
JUDAISM, after its tribe of Judae in the province of Judae in Israel.

But such an analogy is neither found in ISLAM, as explained in the Qur'an, 
the Final Revelation and ultimate Guidance to all mankind nor in the Sayings 
of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who revealed what was hidden in the Bible:


              O People of the Book (Jews and Christians)! There has
              come to you our Messenger (Muhammad), revealing to you
              much that you used to hide in the Book (Bible), and
              passing over much (that is now unnecessary). There has
              come to you from Allah a Light (ISLAM) and a
              Perspicuous Book (Qur'an; 5:15).


According to the above verse, the "LIGHT" is the Message of ISLAM and the 
"PERSPICOUS BOOK" is the the QUR'AN revealed to UNLETTERED PROPHET Muhammad 
(pbuh) prophesied in the Bible:


              The (Perspicous) Book (of the Qur'an) was delivered to
              one (Prophet) who was illiterate. When he was told to
              read he said; I am not learned. (Isaiah 19:12).


This indicates that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was prophesied in the Old 
Testament. But also in the New Testament as stated in the Qur'an:


              (Muslims) who follow the Messenger, the Unlettered
              Prophet (Muhammad), whom they find mentioned in their
              own (Scriptures), in the Taurat (In the Old Testament)
              and the Gospel (In the New Testament); for he commands
              them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he
              allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and
              prohibits them from what is bad (and impure). He
              releases them from their heavy burdens and from the
              yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in
              him, honor him, help him, and follow the Light which is
              sent down with him. It is they who will prosper.
              (Qur'an; 7:157).


Among the early People of the Book (Jews and Christians) who followed the 
teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and helped him was Najash Ashmar, 
the Christian king of Ethiopia. In this regard, the following verse was 
revealed:


               And there are, certainly, among the People of the Book,
               (Jews and Christians) those who believe in Allah, in the
               revelation to you (Muhammad), and in the revelation to
               them, bowing in humility to Allah. They will not sell
               the Signs of Allah for a miserable gain! For them is a
               reward with their Lord, and Allah is swift in account.
               (Qur'an; 3:199).


But those who disbelieve that Muhammad (pbuh) is the Prophet, God is the 
Witness between him and the disbelievers as well as scholars who understand 
the Book:


               And those who disbelieve say: "You are not a
               Messenger" Say (Muhammad) "God is sufficient as
               Witness between me and you and whoever has knowledge
               of the Book. (Qur’an; 13:43).


According to this verse, anyone who has "KNOWLEDGE OF THE BOOK" such as the 
Qur'an or the Bible, will witness and acknowledge that God appointed Prophet 
Muhammad (pbuh) to redeem humanity, regardless of race, tribe, colour, 
wealth or nationality. He was a human being selected by God to deliver His 
Message:


              Say (Muhammad) I am but a man like yourselves (but),
              the Revelation come to me that your God is one God;
              whoever expects to meet Him work righteousness, and in
              the worship of his Lord admit no one as partner.
              (Qur'an; 16:110).


God sent the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as a universal Messenger to warn all 
mankind against the sin, such as association of God. But most of the people 
are rebellious to understand ISLAM:


               We have not sent you but as universal Messenger to
               mankind, giving Glad Tidings and warning them against
               sin, but most people understand not. (Qur'an; 38:28).


Like the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) who was appointed by God as the role model 
to be emulated by Jews, Christians and Muslims (Qur'an; 60:4), God also 
appointed the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the Messenger of beautiful example 
to be followed by all mankind for PEACE and whose hope is the PARADISE in 
the Hereafter:


               You have indeed in the Messenger of God a beautiful
               pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is in God
               and the Final Day and who engages much in praises of
               God. (Qur'an; 23:21).


Suffice to say that all the Prophets and Messengers of God, including 
Abraham, Moses and Jesus, upon them be peace (pbut), have never been the 
founders of any religion but preached the same religion of ISLAM from God:


               The same religion (of ISLAM) has He established for
               you as that which We have sent by inspiration to you
               (Muhammad) and that which We enjoined on Abraham,
               Moses and Jesus: Namely, that you should remain
               steadfast in Religion (of Islam) and make no divisions
               therein: To those who worship other things beside God,
               hard is their (punishment) to which you call them.
               (Qur'an; 42:13).


Other Messengers were inspired by God to preach the same religion of ISLAM 
although are not mentioned in the Qur'an as God said to the Prophet Muhammad 
(pbuh) and thence to Muslims:


               We have sent you (Muhammad) Inspiration, as We sent it
               to Noah and the Messengers after him: We sent
               Inspiration to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the
               Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron and Solomon and to
               David We gave (him) Psalms. Of some Messengers We have
               already told you the story of others We have not and
               to Moses Allah spoke directly. (Qur'an; 4:164-165).


Unlike orher Prophets and Messengers, Muhammad (pbuh) is specifically 
mentioned by NAME as the FINAL MESSENGER and PROPHET of God to all mankind:


               Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he
               is) the Messenger of Allah, and the SEAL of the
               Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.
               (Qur'an; 33:40).


In other words, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) preached ISLAM, the first and 
oldest religion from the time of Prophet Adam (pbuh) but was only completed 
and perfected by God through the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as God told him:


               This day I have perfected your religion for you,
               completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you
               ISLAM as your religion. But if any is forced by
               hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is
               indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. (Qur'an; 5:3).


Because God completed and perfected ISLAM, it intergrates each and 
everything, including economics and politics. This is contrary to other 
men-made religions such as CHRISTIANITY which teaches that there is no 
forgiveness (of non-Muslims) except by the shedding of the blood as the 
Bible says:


               Without sheding of blood there is no forgiveness.
               (Hebrew, 9:22).


No wonder that Christians have shed more blood in the world THAN THE Muslims 
(PEACE MAKERS) in the name of CRUSADES at Jerusalem and INQUISITION at Spain 
or REVOLUTION at Zanzibar. Besides sheeding of blood, Christianity is not 
only based on REDUCTIONISM (1 John 5:7), but also SECULARISM (Matthew 
22:21), both are diametrically opposed to TAUHEED (Qur'an; 112:1-4), the 
bedrock of ISLAM.

The word ISLAM is derived from the Arabic root SLM which literally means, 
among others things PEACE. It signifies that one can achieve PEACE of body 
and mind only through ISLAM, submission and obedience to God:


               The Religion before God is ISLAM: Nor did the People
               of the Book (Jews and Christians) dissent there from
               except through envy of each other, after knowledge had
               come to them. But if any deny the Signs of God, God is
               Swift in calling to account. (Qur'an; 3:19).


Such a life of obedience brings in PEACE of heart and establishes PEACE in a 
society of diversity. In fact, it is through the practice of ISLAM in 
totality by Belivers without following the footsteps of the DEVIL, the open 
enemy to mankind:


               O you (Muslims) who believe! Enter into Islam
               whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the
               devil; for he is to you an avowed enemy. (Qur'an;
               2:208).


That is why all the so called international charters such as the Human 
Rights and the preambles of the United Nations were basically derived from 
the Qur'an no matter whether the founding members were aware or not:


              If anyone desires a religion other than ISLAM, never
              will it be accepted of Him; and in the Hereafter, he
              will be in the ranks of those who have lost (All
              spiritual good).(Qur'an; 3:89).


When one says that he is a MUSLIM, means he submits to the will of God for 
attainment of PEACE in this life and the Hereafter. The term MUSLIM was 
first named by the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) and hence MUSLIM believes in the 
authentic earlier Revelations of God sent to mankind before the Prophet 
Muhammad (pbuh), a testimony of the universality of ISLAM:


               Say! We (Muslims) Believe in God (Allah), and the
               Revelation (Qur'an) given to us and to Abraham,
               Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes and that given to
               Moses and Jesus and that given to (all) Prophets from
               their Lord. We make no distinction between one
               another. (Qur'an; 2:136).


Because ISLAM IS THE ONLY TRUE RELIGION from God, Muslims are asked to pray 
for the BEST (PEACE) in this world and the BEST (PEACE) in the Hereafter:


               Our Lord! Give us the BEST in this world and the BEST
               in the Hereafter, and defend us from the torment of
               the Fire! (Qur'an; 2:201).


In spreading the universsal PEACE (ISLAM), Muslims greet one another with 
ASSALAM ALAYKUM (PEACE BE UNTO YOU), as Prophet Jesus (pbuh) said to his 
followers as opposed to the Christians (Paulinians), among them (Like Julius 
Nyerere) are very hostile to Muslims. God says: "From those, too, who call 
themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part 
of the message that was sent them: so we estranged them, with enmity and 
hatred between the one and the other, to the Day of Judgment. And soon will 
Allah show them what it is they have done." (Qur'an; 5:14).


WAKATABAHU



Khatib Rajab al-Zinzibari