This is the truth: Islam in a nutshell with links to Quranic verses.

Javed Ahmad

Adam (as) saw Allah, so did Hawwa (Eve). Therefore, they ‘knew’ that Allah exists. Both of them also saw Satan; therefore, both of them knew that he too exists. They used to dwell in paradise. But after being expelled from heaven to earth, they no longer had that priviledge to see any of them. Thus it follows; their children who were born on earth did not see them either. Since then, the test of faith has begun for “Children of Adam” generations after generations.

The whole setup was not an accident; rather a plan. This was the original plan that was decreed by Allah and revealed to the Angles and the Jinns before the creation of Adam.

Iblis didn’t like the idea. Probably he didn’t want a new race to become the “vicegerent” of Allah on earth that was already inhabited by the jinns. So, there was jealousy. This sentiment of jealousy got triggered to disobedience of Allah’s command when He ordered him and the angels to bow to Adam in acceptance of the human race as a superior creation pledging their services to them. All obeyed, except for Iblis, who was a jinn. Hence the enmity between the human and the jinn race began.

It was not the clay made Adam that Allah wanted them to bow to, rather the “soul” He especially created for Man. Angels understood it, but not Iblis. Iblis’s observation was limited to the clay made body of Adam only which he thought to be inferior and did not pay attention to the soul that was to occupy the body to make it alive which was not a composition of mud and clay. The body without the soul is useless. He even overlooked the fact that Adam was given wisdom that they (i.e., the angels and Iblis) did not know about. Yet, he was defiant and remained on his decision not to bow demonstrating his pride and ego.

Unfortunately, the wisdom of Adam did not get automatically transferred to us genetically or by any other means. But we have been given ‘intelligence’ to deduce the truth based on the information we have on hand. Wisdom and knowledge does not guarantee success or paradise if they are not utilized and acted upon. Satan too was intelligent and knowledgeable, yet he wronged himself. The angels who have been ordered to serve humans will behave hard on those who corrupt their souls; indicating that, purity of our souls determines the honor and services we receive from them. Pure souls are dealt this honor and gently, while the impure ones are handled harshly. Therefore, we have been asked to guard our souls.

Unlike the Angels, Iblis had a free will; either to obey or disobey his Creator. And he chose to disobey and was cursed by Allah and became a Satan – to become the first evil force. Same thing goes for mankind; we too have a free will, either to obey or disobey our Creator; with an exception though. Humans are quick in repentence as soon as they realize their mistakes, whereas Satan does not.

It is important to understand how our ‘free will’ works. It begins with the ‘intention’ we make whether we act upon or not. If our intention is good, we are helped by the angels; and if it is bad or evil then Satan descends on us with his gang. If and when we repent to Allah after making a mistake or engaging in a sin, upon forgiveness of Allah the angels begins to protect us again keeping us safe from Satan’s attacks.

Angels are beings of light and the Jinns are made of scorcing fire. Unfortunately, our physical eyes that are made of flesh and blood cannot see them, but they can see us. Therefore, the jinns are in advantage against us when they carry out their attacks on us. However, Allah has assigned angels to safeguard our precious souls from their frequent attacks. The jinns can attack us from all directions – front, back, left and right, but can’t attack us from below and above. Because we have direct access to Allah’s mercy when we bow down to Him in prostration and when we raise our hands towards heaven seeking His mercy. He does not allow any interference or intercession when we try to connect to Him.

All that there is, the earth, the paradise, the heavens and the hells were all created for a grand purpose; yet for a time being. Eventually, all this setup and program would come to an abrupt end when the first truppet will be blown.

The second blow on the trumpet will cause us all – mankind and jinn, to resurrect. Our souls would be given a new body to enter and live on; the body that would die no more. Therefore, our next life is also physical and not spiritual; but on a different plane similar and yet better than our present world.

Those who believe in Allah and obey His commands would find themselves in a paradise and those who deny Allah and disobey His commands will end up in a hell and face punishments. The punishment would continue forever for the disbelievers and would come to an end at some point in time for those who were believers but sinned.

Same goes for the jinns. They two would have to go through the same ordeal based on the same criteria.

Those who would obey are pormised a place in paradise in the afterlife. And those who won’t would find themselves in a hell. It all depends on the rewards one would earn for ones deeds – good or bad that would be weighted on a balance where the higher weight on the right balance would signify a winner with the records handed over to us either on our right or left hand.

Mankind was bacially a single nation; the differences serve a purpose of self identification and to learn from our differences. Regardless of all differences, it is possible to live together in peace obeying One God and following the last messenger Muhammad (s) as demonstrated by Islam for over a thousand years. It is the man made system that disunites mankind into nations and sects resulting in hate and rivalry paving way for Satan to take advantage of the situation to derail us.

The Day of Judgment followed by the Ressurection would be a terrible day for all – believers and the disbelievers alike; as both would wait in fear for their results that would be tied on their necks. On that day, all their deeds and actions will be reviewed and examined where only the purity would be entertained.

The game plan is fully outlined in the Book of Allah which is the Qur’an, a copy of which is preserved in “Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz”. Those who wish to win the game are strongly advised to hold on to the rope of Allah; meaning embrace Islam as a way of live wholeheartedly and follow His messenger Muhammad (s) as much as possible.

Prophet Muhammad (s) has been sent as the leader for not only mankind, but also for the jinn race. Satan’s objection eventually did not spare him from following a human being (i.e., Prophet Muhammad (s)) to receive salvation. Hence, some jinns are Muslims.

As long as the believers (Muslims) followed the way of the the Propeht (s) they remained strong as a best nation and maintained justice, law and order around the world; but as they began to abandon the principles of Islam the nation disintegrated and fell into chaos. The only way to regain the past glory is by returning to the Books and follow the instructions strictly under an able leadership of a strong statesman who is a Muslim fearing none but Allah. Caliphate is model for Muslims to follow and not the man made secular politcal system.

It is imparative that the Muslims around the world strive together for re-establishing an Islamic state (not a secular democratic Muslim majority state) where rules of Allah as ordained in the Qur’an (as a constitution) and the Sunnah (as by-laws) of the Prophet Muhammad (s) is to be followed as a covenant. The Prophet (s) himself along with his companions have struggled hard to establish the first Islamic state in Medina through jihad that our present day Muslims dislike. Our love for the world has caused us to abstain from jihad giving many different excuses wanting to stay comfortably at home neglecting this duty which is a trial.

Jihad was initially ordained on Muslims for defence purposes, but later when the Islamic state was threatened by surrounding empires and the rebellion of the apostates within, the Muslims were compelled to use jihad for offensive purpose to crush all threats and rebellions that followed after the demise of the Prophet (s).

Satan and his devil gang knows very well that once Allah’s command under the control of Muslims is established on earth through re-establishment of caliphate, their rein of deception, corruption and misery would also come to an end. Hence they are trying hard by spending their fortune to extinguish the light of Islam by waging wars against the Muslims around the world to kill them mercilessly under various plots and pretexts.

The primary objective of this worldy game was to allow the best among us in worshipping Allah alone to enter and live in paradise forever. Therefore, paradise is not for all. Only the best and perfect will be rewarded an entry following some tests and trials.

Living together for a duration generation after generation in peace for an appointed term worshipping none but Allah was the primary objective for installing mankind on earth; but the enmity with Satan now causes us to shed blood for many different reasons. This is what the angels feared when Allah revealed His plan originally. They thought makind would be something like the dinosaurs that used to kill each other and shed blood on earth that were just wild animals devoid of souls but may have had intelligence. Considering that experience and observation, Iblis too thought in a similar way underining the plan of Allah.

The rejoicing winners are those who would obediently follow the commands of Allah as outlined in the Qur’an and Sunnah of the Prophet (s) which are recorded in the authentic ahadiths. No other religion, belief and ideologies would be acceptable to Allah except Islam. Therefore, one has been advised to die in Islam regardless of our background and identities at the time of birth; because if they don’t, they would be total losers. Unsure hypocrites too would face a similar consequence.

Not all Muslim would find easy access to paradise. Those who neglect the fundamental practices of Islam would be in loss. They will be asked by the inhabitants of hell, "What has caused you to enter Hell?" Many Muslim works hard to save deeds in the hope that they would rescue them on the Day of Judgment, but Allah would turn them into dust nullifying them as they would not be of any worth due to their shaky or doubtful faith.

All the propehts prior to Muhammad (s) came to deliver the same essential message, but in a limited form for a regional group of people following them during the time. But Islam has been declared as the universal message for all of mankind and jinn revealed through the last Prophet. Prophet Isa (as) will return to complete his life on earth who was taken up in the heaven alive. But he would not bring any new revelations and will follow Islam – the last and final version of all religions.

If we scrutinize the messages of Allah in all the holy books we have on hand today, we find a similarity; all of them are preaching peace and harmony. The basic message of Islam is “peace”, which is the continuation of the Abrahimic religion. The Qur’an is not only a Book of Commandments, but also a history of mankind with such a detail that it makes it clear that all the information is coming from someone who is well aware of our past, present and the future with incredible accuracy.

The naturally preserved mummy of Pharoah was not found during the time of the Prophet (s), but the announcement was there in the Qur’an until it was discovered much later. While much of mankind is still waiting for Gog and Magog (Yajuj-Majuj) to come out from their digging, Allah is informing us in the Quran that the first phase of them has already come out infiltrated and causing trial and tribulation (fitnah) for mankind world over. The second and final phase of them would come out from their cocoons during the time of Prophet Isa (as).

The choice is ours, to choose between the good and the evil without any compulsion. It is we who changes our own directions in life for a better or worse using our free will. Yes, Satan influences us alright, but he does not compel us. He motivates us with his whispers only, and it is our inclination followed by our actions that are earning the ills in this life and send them for the life hereafter.

The Qur’an which is the divine guidance is there for us all to read. Since no more prophets will be coming to warn us, He has sent this Book for us to study with care and learn from it about all the affairs on earth explaining our duties and responsibilities clearly. This Book can reconnect us back with our Lord God Almighty Allah to find peace and tranqulity and prepare for a safe return to Him.

All other revelations from the past prophets have either been corrupted or lost forever. But the Qur’an is there fully protected by Allah Himself from all possible corruptions. And it has remaind as is for over 1400 years since its revelations, a miracle which most of us fail to see.

Allah has purchased our souls and everything in a guaranteed exchange for paradise, but many of us doubts His promise to such an extent that many even deny His existence altogether. To make it even worse we even ascribe partners with Him with our imaginary concept of god that has no rational base. A tremendous sin that Allah openly declared that He would not forgive until forgiveness is sought during lifetime of one with full promise of abstention from repeating the same sin. To the Pauline (Trinitarian) Christian He objects openly and clearly by saying “Don’t say trinity!”

The deal is clear. If we are to win the game in this world and get carried froward safely to the next world then we must obey Allah and follow His Messenger Muhammad (s) who has been sent for us as the best of characters. Allah Himself is saying in the Qur’an that if we love Him then we are to follow Muhammad (s). This is the only straight path to return to Allah safely. And the other option is to follow our own desires, whims and impulses and face the ultimate consequences.

Once one becomes a Muslim by declaring the Goodly Words (Kalemat Taiyebat) promising to obey Allah and His Messenger Muhammad (s), one no longer reserves the right to follow their own desires anymore. From then on, a Muslim must live a life in full compliance of Shariah Laws derived from the Quran and Sunnah. The attitude of a Muslim is requred to be as those of the companions of the Prophet (s) when they used to “hear and obey”.

No personalized customization of Islam is allowed that would result in a ‘sect’ or a division; because Islam has already been perfected and completed by Allah Himself. We are not to follow any Imams or Auliyas other than the Prophet Muhammad (s) holding onto his Sunnah; because if we do then we would become one of them.

Muslim women who are in defiance of wearing hijab and nikab in public places when they are out of their homes are openly disobeying Allah’s command on veiling. By doing so, they are not only harming themselves, but also the people around them forcing the believers to lower their gaze when they are at shameless public display of their beauty inviting lust of evil doers resulting in fornication and illegal relationships in the society.

It is certain that all of us would face death and get a taste of it. There is no escape from it. When our appointed time comes to an end, the angel comes to take our soul. Our souls are kept in a place called Barzakh which is a partitioned place somewhere in between the earth and heaven where they would remain till the day of resurrection.

As a cosmic being, our life would continue forever either in paradise or hell, whatever we opt for. The choice we would make in this world would shape our position in the afterworld. There will be winners and losers. One who would follow the promised path of Allah would win, and the one who would follow the promises of Satan would lose.

We are to use our own intellect and conscience to judge between the right and wrong freely to shape our own future. Truth is manifest, so is falsehood, which is bound to vanish. If we make a wrong choice, no one is to be blamed but ownself. This is where the test of faith lies.

Prophet Muhammad (s) has been send to us as the last (seal) of the prophets signifying that we are the people of end times and getting closer to the end of the world. Allah created this world for an appointed time, an event of which only He knows. This world will perish, but we would continue to live in paradise and/or hells based on our qualifications, forever.

All the nitty gritties of life (guidance) are outlined in the Book of Allah, which is the Qur’an. One ought to read it with care to understand the mysteries of life and safeguard oneself from the avowed enemy whose primary objective is to derail us from the straight path. But if one neglects the message, they too will be neglected. So, stop procastinating, accept Islam and become a Muslim! Those of you who have strayed away from Islam it is now time that you return with repentence and complete acceptance before your time runs out.

May Allah guide us and Help us to stay on His straight path that goes straight to Him. Ameen.