This is in response to letter written by Angie Darrah of Cumberland, that appeared in the newspaper Sept. 21 (“We should pray for the Muslims during Ramadan”).

First of all I would like to thank her for remembering Muslims in her prayers. We are about to finish the Holy month of Ramadan, during which the adult Muslims fast and use this month as a training camp to get closer to our Lord, seek His mercy and forgiveness and attain purification of body and soul.

As her letter attests to it, unfortunately there is a great misconception and misinformation among non-Muslims regarding who is the God we worship. Some non-Muslims mistakenly think that Allah is an “Arab god,” a “moon god,” or some sort of idol. And I would like to clarify same.

She says “Allah is their God.” What she did not know that Allah is the same word in Arabic used by Arab Jews, Druze and Christians when speaking of God. This is the most fundamental belief in Islam that “There is only One God,” the Creator, the Sustainer — known in the Arabic language and by Muslims as Allah. Allah is not a foreign god, nor an idol.

The fundamental pillar of faith in Islam is to declare that there is no deity worthy of worship except the One True Almighty God” (in Arabic: “La ilea ill Allah”).

The Quran, Holy book of Muslims, tells us that Allah is Compassionate and Merciful. He is Kind, Loving, and Wise. He is the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Healer. He is the One who Guides, the one who Protects, the One who Forgives. There are traditionally 99 names, or attributes, that Muslims use to describe Allah’s nature.

Allah is the proper name of the One True God, in the Arabic language used by Muslims all over the world. Allah is a name that is neither feminine nor masculine, and it cannot be made plural (unlike god, gods, goddess, etc). Muslims believe that there is nothing in the heavens nor on earth that deserves worship except Allah, the One True Creator.

“Say, ‘He is Allah, the One; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;

He begets not, and neither is He begotten;

And there is nothing that can be compared to Him.’ ”

Qur’an 112:1-4

According to Islamic teachings, God is beyond our sight and understanding, yet at the same time “nearer to us than our jugular vein” (Qur’an 50:16). Muslims pray directly to God, with no intermediary, and seek guidance from Him alone, because.” Allah knows well the secrets of your hearts” (Qur’an 5:7).

“When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them).

I respond to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me, that they may walk in the right way.”

Qur’an 2:186

In the Qur’an, people are asked to look around them for the signs of Allah in the natural world. The balance of the world, and the rhythms of life, is “signs for those who would believe.”

The universe is in perfect order: the orbits of the planets, the cycles of life and death, the seasons of the year, the mountains and the rivers, the mysteries of the human body. This order and balance are neither haphazard nor random. The world, and everything in it, has been created with a perfect plan, by the One who knows all.

Muslims believe Islam is a natural faith, a religion of responsibility, purpose, balance, discipline, and simplicity. To be a Muslim is to live your life remembering God and striving to follow His merciful guidance.

Angie Darrah says “Muhammad is their prophet.” Yes, he is one of the prophets, his distinction being the last prophet to be sent to mankind. But we believe in all the prophets sent to humanity, in different times and places to communicate God’s message.

These were the chosen human beings through whom God sent His Guidance. They taught the people around them about faith in One Almighty God, and how to walk on the path of righteousness. Some prophets also revealed God’s Word through books of revelation, such as Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (Peace be upon all of them) Since God is One, His message has been one and the same throughout time. In essence, all prophets taught the same message — to find peace in your life through submission to the One Almighty Creator; to believe in God and to follow His guidance.

What does the Qur’an say about the prophets?

“We make no distinction between one and another of His Messengers.’ And they say: ‘We hear, and we obey. We seek Thy forgiveness, Our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:285)

There are 25 prophets mentioned by name in the Qur’an. Muslims believe that there were many more in different times and places. Muslims honor all the prophets, to name some:

Ibrahim (Abraham), Idris (Enoch), Nuh (Noah), Ismail (Ishmael), Ishaq (Issac), Lut (Lot), Yaqub (Jacob), Yusuf (Joseph), Ayyub (Job), Musa (Moses), Harun (Aaron), Dawud (David), Dhul-kifi (Ezekiel), Suleman (Solomon), Yunus (Jonah), Yahya (John), Isa (Jesus) and Muhammad. (Peace be upon all of them)

Muslims read about, learn from, and respect all of the prophets. In addition, when mentioning the name of any one of them, a Muslim adds these words of blessing and respect: “upon him be peace” (aloha salaam in Arabic).

Lastly, the concept of salvation in Islam is based primarily on right practice.

“O ye who believe! if ye fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and wrong), remove from you (all) evil (that may afflict) you, and forgive you: for Allah is the Lord of grace unbounded.”

Qu’ran Surah 8:29

The Qu’ran actually has three additional criteria that must be met, these are

1. Deeds 2. Leading each other to the truth 3. Leading each other to patience.

All of these are expressed in the 103:1-3. Qu’ran Surah 103:1-3

By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss, Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy”

Riaz A. Janjua, MD

Cumberland