Islam in a Nutshell

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Some of the early Muslims at the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) migrated to Abyssinia (now known as Ethiopia) due to their own people who were idol worshippers torturing and persecuting them. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib made this speech to the Negus of Abyssinia which is still one of the most compelling descriptions of Islam.

 

He said: "O King, we were a people in a state of ignorance and immorality, worshipping idols and eating the flesh of dead animals (carrion), committing all sorts of abomination and shameful deeds, breaking the ties of kinship, treating guests badly and the strong among us exploited the weak. We remained in this state until God sent us a prophet, one of our own people whose lineage, truthfulness, trustworthiness and integrity were well-known to us.

 

He called us to worship God alone and to renounce the stones and the idols which we and our ancestors used to worship besides God. He commanded us to speak the truth, to honour our promises, to be kind to our relations, to be helpful to our neighbours, to cease all forbidden arts, to abstain from bloodshed, to avoid obscenities and false witness, not to appropriate an orphan's property nor slander chaste women. He ordered us to worship God alone and not to associate anything with Him, to uphold prayer, to give zakat (almsgiving) and fast in the month of Ramadhan.

 

We believed in him and what he brought to us from God and we follow him in what he has asked us to do and we keep away from what he forbade us from doing. Thereupon, O King, our people attacked us, visited the severest punishment on us to make us renounce our religion and take us back to the old immorality and the worship of idols. They opposed us, made life intolerable for us and obstructed us from observing our religion. So we left for your country, choosing you before anyone else, desiring your protection and hoping to live in justice and in peace in your midst."

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Allah says His final testament, the Qur’an (translation of the meaning),

“Ta, Ha.
We have not sent down to you the Qur’an that you be distressed
But only as a reminder for those who fear [Allah ] -
A revelation from He who created the earth and highest heavens,
The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.
To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is on the earth and what is between them and what is under the soil.
And if you speak aloud - then indeed, He knows the secret and what is [even] more hidden.
Allah - there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names.

And has the story of Moses reached you? -
When he saw a fire and said to his family, “Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire; perhaps I can bring you a torch or find at the fire some guidance.”
And when he came to it, he was called, “O Moses,
Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa.
And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed [to you].
Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.

Indeed, the Hour is coming - I almost conceal it - so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives.

So do not let one avert you from it who does not believe in it and follows his desire, for you [then] would perish.” (Qur’an 20:1-16)

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