Part 14

This message was the sole worship of Allaah without partners, the sincere submission to Allaah in all areas of the Deen, purifying the earth from the worship of idols and the religion of minor and major shirk. This occurred as idols were being worshipped in the lands of Sham, the lands of the sons of Israa'eel and of those who proclaim their Christianity. The last Messenger (saw) called all to believe in all of the revealed books of Allaah, i.e. the Torah, the Bible, the Psalms, and the Qur'aan and in His Prophets from Aadam to Muhammad (saw). Allaah says: "And they say, "Be Jews", or "Christians", and "you shall be guided". Say [to them, O Muhammad]: "Nay, but [ours is] the creed of Ibraaheem, who turned away from all that is false, and was not of those who ascribe divinity to any beside Allaah". Say: "We believe in Allaah and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Ibraaheem and Isma'eel and Ishaq and Ya'qoob and their descendants, and that which has been vouchsafed to Moosa and 'Eesaa and that which has been vouchsafed to all the [other] prophets by their Sustainer: we make no distinction between any of them. And it is unto Him that we surrender ourselves [in Islaam]". And if [others] come to believe in the way youbelieve, they will indeed find themselves on the right path; and if they turn away, it is but they who will be deeply in the wrong, and Allaah will suffice you against them, for He alone is All-Hearer the All-Knower". (2:135-7) Allaah has also commanded this prophet to call the creation to singling Him out with oneness and uniqueness through the establishment of justice. He says: "Say [O Muhammad], "O People of the Book, come unto that tenet which we and you hold in common: that we shall worship none but Allaah, and that we shall not associate partners with Him, and that we shall not take human beings for our lords beside Allaah". And if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims". (3:64) Almighty Allaah also said, "And it is not given to mortal man that Allaah should speak unto him unless [it is] by revelation or from behind a veil". (42:51) "It is not conceivable that a human being unto whom Allaah had granted revelation, and sound judgement, and prophethood should thereafter have said unto people, "Worship none beside Allaah", but rather [did he exhort them], "Become men of Allaah by spreading knowledge of the divine writ, and by your own deep study [thereof]." And neither did he bid you to take the angels and the prophets for your lords: [for] would he bid you to deny the truth after you have surrendered yourselves unto Allaah" (3:79-80) Allaah has ordered His last Messenger (saw) to direct his prayer and pilgrimage towards His sacred house built by the father of the prophets and the imaam of the true monotheist believers, Ibraaheem. Allaah had also ordered that the nation of the last messenger be a just one, nor exaggerating the status of the prophets so as to make them equal to their Creator or bestowing on them features solely possessed by Him. Equally this person did not disregard them in a similar way to those who belittled, disobeyed and then harmed them. Instead, the members of this nation respected, aided and believed in the prophets' message. Moreover this nation had obeyed, followed, trusted, loved and extolled the prophets themselves. They had only worshipped Allaah, placing trust and taking refuge in Him alone as sincere and true monotheists. Muhammad's (saw) nation was also just in their sharee'ah. They proclaim their adherence to Allaah's commandments and prohibitions. They say that Allaah had prohibited the sons of Israa'eel from what He allowed earlier for Israa'eel himself, and He made lawful through the Messiah what was previously prohibited to the sons of Israa'eel. In both analogies Allaah orders and his servants hear and obey. Anyone else, apart from Allaah's prophets and messengers, possess no mandate to change the religion of Allaah, nor power to innovate in the religion what He did not allow. The prophets' mandate is to deliver the message of Allaah. To Him alone belongs the creations and authority. If none is able to create then none should rule but Him. "Judgement rests with Allaah alone - He has ordained that you should worship none but Him: this is the [one] ever-true faith; but most people know it not". (12:40) This nation is one the middle way in matters of purity and impurity, in matters of lawful and prohibited, and also in matters of morals. They have neither relied solely on harshness or on tenderness. Instead, they treated the enemies of Allaah with severity and those who rely on Him with mercy, and they speak of the Messiah that which the Lord and the disciples of the Messiah say of him. They neither follow the innovations of those who surpassed the limit of his admiration, nor those who had neglected him completely. What triggered my desire to write to the Chief of his people and religion, is that came to my knowledge of his esteem, genuine interest in religion, and love for knowledge.