In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam As-Sadi [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

You should know that the excellent characteristics (or virtues) of the Islamic religion are found in all of its subject matters and evidences- in its fundamental principles and subsidiary issues, in what the sciences and rulings of the Sharee’ah demonstrate, and in what it mentions about the physical sciences and sound unity (social harmony, cooperation upon piety and righteousness to fulfil both the religious and beneficial worldly things). The intent here is not to include these affairs in this discourse and explore them, because that would require a great deal of elaboration; but rather the goal is to cite useful examples that can be utilized as evidence for other affairs, and by which the door is opened for those who want to enter into this topic. These are examples that are spread out in the fundamental Islamic principles, the subsidiary issues, the customs (approved by Islam) and issues related to mutual dealings.

So we say – whilst seeking Allaah’s Assistance, hoping that He will guide and teach us, open for us the treasures of His kindness and generosity by which our circumstances will be rectified and statements and deeds will become upright – that the religion of Islam is based on the pillars of faith that have been mentioned in the statement of Allaah [The Exalted]:

قولوا آمنا بالله وما أنزل إلينا وما أنزل إلى إبراهيم وإسماعيل وإسحاق ويعقوب والأسباط وما أوتي موسى وعيسى وما أوتي النبيون من ربهم لا نفرق بين أحد منهم ونحن له مسلمون

Say (O Muslims), “We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma’il (Ishmael), Ishaque (Isaac), Ya’qub (Jacob), and to Al-Asbat [the twelve sons of Ya’qub (Jacob)], and that which has been given to Musa (Moses) and ‘Iesa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islam).” [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 136]

The prophets and messengers agree on these great principles which Allaah commanded His servants to follow. They contain the loftiest aspect of knowledge and creed, such as belief in everything that Allaah described Himself with based on what Messengers have conveyed and making an exerted effort to seek Allaah’s Pleasure. The foundation of the religion is sound belief in Allaah and its fruitful outcomes is based on striving to pursue everything that Allaah loves, everything pleasing to Allaah and being sincere to Allaah; therefore can it ever be imagined that there is a religion better, loftier and more virtuous than such a religion?! It is a religion that enjoins belief in everything that was given to the prophets, belief in their messages, acknowledging the truth that they brought from their Lord, and not differentiating between them by believing in some and disbelieving in others, (footnote a), (rather one must) believe that they are all Allaah’s Messengers- truthful, trustworthy and sincere.

It is impossible for any (valid or sound) opposition or criticism to be directed at the religion of Islam, because it commands all truth, acknowledges every matter that is based on truth, establishes religious facts based on Allaah’s revelation to His Messengers and agrees with the useful rational facts that are confirmed by (sound) innate natural disposition- neither rejects truth in any way nor testifies to a lie, nor can falsehood be spread about it (without such falsehood being exposed for what it is), because it is dominant over all other religions. It enjoins good deeds, noble morals, (sound) welfare for the people, urges towards (sound) justice, grace, mercy and goodness, and rebukes injustice, oppression and bad manners. There is no trait of perfection that the prophets and messengers affirmed, except that it has acknowledged and affirmed it. There is no religious or worldly welfare that the other laws of the Messengers called to, except that it encourages it, and there is no corruption except that it has forbidden and ordered that it should be avoided. The intent (behind this clarification) is that the beliefs of this religion are those by which hearts are purified, souls are rectified and noble morals and good deeds are established. [Ad-Durra Al-Mukhtasar Fee Mahaasin Ad-Deen Al-Islaamiy. pages 9-12. slightly paraphrased]

To be continued InShaaAllaah.

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Footnote a: Allaah [The Exalted] said:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكۡفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يُفَرِّقُواْ بَيۡنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ نُؤۡمِنُ بِبَعۡضٍ۬ وَنَڪۡفُرُ بِبَعۡضٍ۬ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَّخِذُواْ بَيۡنَ ذَٲلِكَ سَبِيلاً
أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ حَقًّ۬ا‌ۚ وَأَعۡتَدۡنَا لِلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابً۬ا مُّهِينً۬ا
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَلَمۡ يُفَرِّقُواْ بَيۡنَ أَحَدٍ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ سَوۡفَ يُؤۡتِيهِمۡ أُجُورَهُمۡ‌ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورً۬ا رَّحِيمً۬ا

Verily, those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers and wish to make distinction between Allah and His Messengers (by believing in Allah and disbelieving in His Messengers) saying, “We believe in some but reject others,” and wish to adopt a way in between. They are in truth disbelievers. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating torment. And those who believe in Allah and His Messengers and make no distinction between any of them (Messengers), We shall give them their rewards, and Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [Surah An-Nisaa. Aayaat 150-152]

Read: All The Prophets Were Muslims and The Qur’aan Abrogates all Previous Laws of The Prophets: https://salaficentre.com/2020/10/18/one-must-call-himself-a-muslim-if-he-truly-follows-the-path-of-the-prophets-and-messengers/

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