The religion of islam

[AL-ATHRAM]

THE MESSAGE OF ISLAM
Since the total submission of one's will to Allah
represents the essence of worship. the basic
message of Allah's divine religion, Islam is the
worship of Allah alone and the avoidance of worship
directed to any person, place or thing other tharn

Allah. Since everything other than Allah, the Creator
of all things, is Allah's creation; it may be said that
Islam, in essence calls man away from the worship
of creation and invites him to worship only its
Creator. He is the only one deserving man's worship
as it is only by His will that prayers are answered. If
man prays to a tree and his prayers are answered, it
was not the tree which answered his prayers but
Allah who allowed the circumstances prayed for to
take place. One might say, "That is obvious,"
however, to tree-worshippers it might not be.
Similarly, prayers to Jesus, Buddha, or Krishna, to
Saint Christopher, or Saint Jude or even to
Muhammad, are not answered by them but are
answered by Allah. Jesus did not tell his followers to
worship him but to worship Allah. As the Qur'aan
states:

"And beholdl Allah will say: "O Jesus the son of
Maryl Did you say to men, Worship me and my
mother as gods besides Allah?'He willsayGlory to
you I could never say what I had no right (to say)”
(Soorah Al-Maa'idah- 5:116.

Nor did he worship himself when he worshipped
but rather he worshipped Allah. This basic principle is
enshrined in the opening chapter of the Qur'aan,
known as Soorah Al-Faatihah, verse 4:

"You alone do we worshlp and from you alone do
we seek help".

Elsewhere, in the final book of revelation, the
Qur'aan, Allah also said:
"And your Lord says:"Call on Me and I will answer
your(prayer)."(Soorah Mu'min 40:60)

It is worth noting that the basic message of Islam is
that Allah and His creation are distinctly different
entities. Neither is Allah His creation or a part of it, nor is
.His creation Him or a part of Hinm