Who created the universe? Who created me, and why?

● Who created the universe? Who created me, and why?● Am I following the right path?● Who created the heavens and the earth, and the unfathomable great created beings that are in them?● Who designed this complex, fine-tuned system that exists in the heavens and the earth?● Who created humans, endowed them with senses like hearing, sight, and cognition, and enabled them to learn and recognize the facts?● Who crafted such an intricate design in the organs of your body and perfected your form?● Reflect on the creation of living beings in all their diversity and variations. Who created them with limitless aspects of beauty?● How is this vast universe structured and maintained by its perfectly calibrated laws that have existed since the beginning of time?● Who established the mechanisms that control life and death, the procreation of creatures, day and night, the varying seasons, etc, in this world?● Did this universe create itself? Did it come into being from nothing? Did it exist by chance? Allah Almighty says:﴿أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ (٣٥)أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بَلْ لَا يُوقِنُونَ﴾{Were they created by none, or were they the creators [of themselves]?Or did they create the heavens and earth? Rather, they are not certain in faith.}[Surat at-Tūr: 35-36]If we did not create ourselves, and it is impossible for us to have come from nothing or by chance, then the undeniable truth is that this universe must have a great and capable Creator. It is impossible for this universe to have created itself, come from nothing, or exist by chance!Why would a person believe in the existence of things he cannot see, such as perception, intellect, soul, emotions, and love? Is it not because he sees their effects? So how can a person deny the existence of a Creator of this magnificent universe while witnessing the effects of His created beings, His work, and His mercy?!No rational person would accept being told that a house came into existence without anyone building it or that the house came into being out of nothing. So how can some people believe those who claim that this great universe came into existence without a Creator? How can a rational person accept being told that the precise order of the universe is a result of chance?All this leads us to one conclusion: that this universe has a great, capable Lord who manages it and that He alone is worthy of worship. Any worship directed to other than Him is invalid, and any entity worshiped besides Him is not worthy of worship.The Lord the Great CreatorThere is one Creator Lord, He is the Owner, the Manager, the Provider, the One Who gives life and causes death. He is the One Who created the earth, made it suitable for His creatures, and created the heavens with their magnificent creatures. He established the precise order of the sun, moon, night, and day, which signifies His greatness.He is the One Who has subjected the air to us, without which we cannot live. He sends down rain for us, has subjected the seas and rivers for us, and nourishes and protects us when we are embryos in the wombs of our mothers, without our power. He is the one Who circulates blood in our veins from birth until death.This Creator and Provider is Allah, the Glorified and ExaltedAllah Almighty says:﴿إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ﴾{Your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and earth in six days and then rose over [i.e., istawa] the Throne. He makes the night and day overlap in rapid succession. He made the sun, the moon, and the stars – all subservient to His command. Behold, His is the creation and the command. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the worlds.}[Surat al-A'rāf: 54]Allah Almighty is the Lord and Creator of everything in the universe, both that we see and that we do not see. Everything apart from Him is a creation of His creations. He alone is deserving of worship, with no partners or associates. He has no partner in His dominion, creation, management, or worship.If we assume, for the sake of argument, that there are other gods alongside the Lord, Exalted is His Majesty, then the universe would go corrupt. It is not conceivable that two gods would simultaneously manage the affairs of the universe. Allah Almighty says:{لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَا آلِهَةٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا}{If there had been gods besides Allah in the heavens and earth, both realms would have fallen in disorder.}[Surat al-Anbiyā': 22]The Attributes of the Lord, the CreatorThe Lord, Exalted be He, has countless beautiful names and numerous great qualities that indicate His perfection. Among His names are the Creator, and "Allah," which means the One worthy of worship, alone without any partners. He is the Ever-Living, the All-Sustainig, the Most Merciful, the Provider, and the Most Generous.Allah Almighty says in the noble Qur'an:﴿اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلا نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَلا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ﴾{Allah: none has the right to be worshiped except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that can intercede with Him except with His permission? He knows what was before them and what will be after them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursī [i.e., footstool] extends over the heavens and earth, and safeguarding of both does not weary Him, for He is the Most High, the Most Great.}[Surat al-Baqarah: 255]Allah Almighty also says:﴿قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (١)اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ (٢)لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ (٣)وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ﴾{Say: "He is Allah, the OneAllah, the Eternal RefugeHe neither begets nor is He begotten,and there is none comparable to Him.}[Surat al-Ikhlās: 1-4]The worshiped Lord possesses the attributes of perfectionAmong His attributes is that He is worthy of deification and worship, and everything other than Him is a created being is subject to accountability and command and subjugated to his Lord.Among His attributes is that He is the Ever-Living, the All-Sustaining. Every living being exists because Allah has given it life and brought it into existence from nothingness. He sustains and provides for all beings, and He is the One Who maintains their existence, provisions, and protection. The Lord is Ever-Living, never dies, and perishing is impossible for Him. He is the All-Sustaining Who never sleeps. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him.Among His attributes is that He is the All-Knowing, and nothing is hidden from Him in the earth or the heavens.Among His attributes is that He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. He hears everything and sees every creature. He knows the whispers of the souls and what the hearts conceal. Nothing in the earth or the heavens is hidden from Him.Among His attributes is that He is the All-Powerful. Nothing can cause failure to Him, and no one can repel His will. He does whatever He wills and prevents whatever He wills. He puts forward, and delays and His wisdom is far-reaching.Among His attributes are that He is the Creator, the Provider, and the Controller. He created all creation and managed its affairs. All creation is in His grasp and under His overpowering control.Among His attributes are that He responds to the desperate, grants relief to the devastated, and alleviates distress. Whenever a created being suffers distress or difficulty, he turns to Him out of extreme need.Worship is valid only for Allah Almighty. He is the Perfect One deserving of worship alone, without any associates. Anything worshiped besides Him is falsely worshiped, who is deficient and exposed to death and perishing.Allah Almighty has endowed us with minds that can only comprehend a part of His greatness. He has implanted in us an innate disposition that loves good and detests evil. We find tranquility when we turn to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. This innate disposition indicates His perfection and that He cannot be characterized by any deficiency; glory be to Him.It is not befitting for a rational person to worship anyone other than a perfect entity. So, how could one worship a deficient creature like him or even inferior to him?A deity worthy of worship cannot be a human, an idol, a tree, or an animal!The Lord is above His heavens, established on His Throne, distinct from His creation. There is nothing of His creation in His essence, and nothing of His essence is in His creation. He does not dwell or incarnate in any part of His creation.There is nothing like the Almighty Lord. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, and there is no equal to Him. He is Self-Sufficient against His creation; he neither sleeps nor consumes food. He is too Great to have a wife or child. The Creator possesses the attributes of greatness and can never be characterized by need or deficiency.Allah Almighty says:﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لَنْ يَخْلُقُوا ذُبَابًا وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا لَهُ وَإِنْ يَسْلُبْهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَيْئًا لَا يَسْتَنْقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَالْمَطْلُوبُ (٧٣)مَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ﴾{O people, a similitude is set forth, so listen to it: those whom you invoke besides Allah can never create even a fly, even if they all come together for that. And if a fly snatches something away from them, they cannot retrieve it. How feeble is the invoker as well as the invoked!They have not revered Allah the reverence He deserves. Indeed, Allah is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.}[Surat al-Hajj: 73-74]Why did this Great Creator create us? And what does He want from us?Is it logical that Allah Almighty brought forth all these creatures without a purpose? Would He create them frivolously, despite being the All-Knowing and the All-Wise?Is it reasonable to think that the One Who created us with such precision and perfection and has subjected everything in the heavens and the earth for our benefit would create us without purpose or leave us without answering the most important questions that preoccupy us, such as: Why are we here? What comes after death? What is the purpose of our creation?Is it reasonable that there be no punishment for the wrongdoer and no reward for the doer of good?Allah, the Exalted, says:﴿أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ﴾{Did you think that We created you with no purpose and that you would not be brought back to Us?"}[Surat al-Mu'minūn: 115]Rather, Allah Almighty has sent messengers to inform us of the purpose of our existence, to guide us in how to worship Him and draw near to Him, to let us know what He wants from us and how we can attain His pleasure, and to inform us about our destiny after death.Allah Almighty sent the messengers to make us aware that He alone deserves to be worshiped, and to teach us how to worship Him, convey His commands and prohibitions to us, and teach us the noble values that, if embraced, will make our lives pleasant, filled with blessings and goodness.Allah Almighty has sent many messengers, such as Nūh, Ibrāhīm, Mūsa, and 'Īsa, supporting them with signs and miracles that testify to their truthfulness and that they were sent by Him. The last of them was Muhammad (ﷺ).The messengers unequivocally conveyed the message that this life is a test, and the true life will unfold after death.And that Paradise is awaiting those who worship Allah alone without associating partners with Him and believe in all the messengers and prophets, while Hellfire is awaiting those who worship other gods besides Him or disbelieve in any of Allah's messengers.Allah Almighty says:﴿يَا بَنِي آدَمَ إِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِنْكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِي فَمَنِ اتَّقَى وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ (٣٥)وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا وَاسْتَكْبَرُوا عَنْهَا أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ﴾{O children of Adam, when there come to you messengers from among you, reciting My verses to you – then whoever fears Allah and mends his ways, they will have no fear, nor will they grieve.But those who reject Our verses and show arrogance towards them are the people of the Fire, who will abide therein forever.}[Surat al-A'rāf: 35-36]Allah Almighty further says:﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (٢١)الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فِرَاشًا وَالسَّمَاءَ بِنَاءً وَأَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَكُمْ فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَنْدَادًا وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (٢٢)وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِنْ مِثْلِهِ وَادْعُوا شُهَدَاءَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (٢٣)فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا وَلَنْ تَفْعَلُوا فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ (٢٤)وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِنْ ثَمَرَةٍ رِزْقًا قَالُوا هَذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَأُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهًا وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُطَهَّرَةٌ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ﴾{O people, worship your Lord, Who created you and those before you, so that you may become righteous;He Who made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky a canopy; and sends down rain from the sky, and brings forth fruits thereby as a provision for you. So do not set up rivals to Allah while you know.If you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down upon Our slave, then produce a chapter like it and call upon your helpers other than Allah, if you are truthful.But if you did not do it, and you can never do it, then beware of the Fire whose fuel will be people and stones, which is prepared for the disbelievers.And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens under which rivers flow. Every time they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, "This is what we were provided with before," for they will be given fruit that resemble one another. They will have purified spouses, and they will abide therein forever.}[Surat al-Baqarah: 21-25]Why were there numerous messengers?Allah has sent His messengers to nations, and there is no nation that has not received a messenger from Allah Almighty, inviting them to worship their Lord and conveying His commands and prohibitions to them. The ultimate goal of their call was the worship of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, alone. Whenever a nation neglected or distorted what their messenger brought regarding the command to worship Allah alone, Allah would send another messenger to rectify their course and bring people back to the sound disposition of monotheism and obedience to Allah.This continued to be the case until Allah Almighty sealed the line of messengers with Muhammad (ﷺ), who came with the complete religion and the everlasting universal Sharia for all humanity until the Day of Judgment. It completed and abrogated previous laws, and the Glorious and Exalted Lord has guaranteed the preservation and perpetuity of this religion until the Day of Judgment.No one can be a true believer until he believes in all the messengers.Allah is the One Who sent the messengers, and He commanded all His creation to obey them. Whoever disbelieves in one of them has disbelieved in all of them. There is no graver sin than rejecting Allah Almighty's revelation, for entering Paradise requires believing in all the messengers.Therefore, it is incumbent upon everyone in this time to believe in Allah Almighty and all the messengers of Allah and believe in the Hereafter. This can only be achieved by believing in and following the last and final Messenger, Muhammad (ﷺ) who is supported by the eternal miracle, which is the Noble Qur'an. Allah has guaranteed its preservation until He inherits the earth and all that is on it.Allah Almighty mentions in the Noble Qur'an that whoever rejects faith in any of His messengers is a disbeliever in Allah, denying His revelation. Allah Almighty says:﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذُوا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلًا (١٥٠)أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ حَقًّا وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُهِينًا﴾{Those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and wish to make a distinction between Allah and His messengers say: "We believe in some and disbelieve in others," wishing to adopt a way in between.It is they who are the true disbelievers, and We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.}[Surat an-Nisā': 150-151]Therefore, we Muslims believe in Allah Almighty and the Last Day, as commanded by Allah Almighty, and we believe in all the messengers and previous scriptures. Allah Almighty says:﴿آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ﴾{The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, as do the believers. All of them believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers, [saying]: "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say: "We hear and obey. Grant us Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination."}[Surat al-Baqarah: 285]What is the noble Qur'an?The noble Qur'an is the word of Allah Almighty and His revelation that He sent down to Muhammad, the last of the messengers. It is the greatest miracle that attests to the truth of his prophethood (ﷺ). The Noble Qur'an embodies truth in its rulings and authenticity in its narrations.Allah Almighty challenged the deniers to bring forth even a single surah of its like, but they were unable to do so due to the greatness and inclusiveness of its content, encompassing everything related to human life in this world and the Hereafter. It contains all the faith-related facts that man must believe in.It also includes the commandments and prohibitions that guide human beings in their relationship with their Lord, themselves and the rest of creation. All of this is presented in a lofty style of eloquence and clarity.Furthermore, it contains numerous rational evidences and scientific facts indicating that this Book cannot be the work of humans, but is indeed the speech of the Lord of humankind, Glorified and Exalted be He.What is Islam?Islam is submission to Allah Almighty through monotheism, obedience to Him, compliance with His legislation with willingness and acceptance, and rejection of any worship directed to other than Allah Almighty.Allah Almighty has sent all messengers with one message: To call people to worship Allah alone, without associating partners with Him, and to reject the worship of anything besides Him.Islam is the religion of all the prophets, with a unified message but differing legislations. Muslims today are the only ones adhering to the correct religion that was preached by all the prophets. The message of Islam in this era is the true and final message from the Creator to humanity.The Lord who sent Ibrāhīm, Mūsa, and 'Īsa (peace be upon them) is the same Lord who sent the seal of the messengers, Muhammad (ﷺ). The Islamic Sharia has come to abrogate all previous legislations.All the religions that people follow today, except Islam, are either man-made religions or religions that were originally divine but were distorted by human hands, becoming a mixture of superstitions, inherited myths, and human reasoning.As for the religion of Muslims, it is one, clear and unchangeable religion. Likewise, their acts of worship dedicated to Allah Almighty alone are uniform. They all perform the five daily prayers, give Zakah, and observe fasting in the month of Ramadan. When you ponder on their constitution, which is the Noble Qur'an, you find it the same across all countries. Allah Almighty says:﴿ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَٰمَ دِينٗاۚ فَمَنِ ٱضۡطُرَّ فِي مَخۡمَصَةٍ غَيۡرَ مُتَجَانِفٖ لِّإِثۡمٖ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ﴾{Today, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion. But if anyone is compelled by severe hunger, not intending to sin, then Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.}[Surat al-Mā'idah: 3]Allah Almighty says in the Qur'an:﴿قُلْ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ (٨٤)وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ﴾{Say, "We believe in Allah and what has been sent down to us and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants, and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets from their Lord; we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him, we submit."Anyone who seeks a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted from him; and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.}[Surat Ᾱl-'Imrān: 84-85]The religion of Islam is a comprehensive way of life that conforms to nature and reason and is accepted by sound minds. It was legislated by the Great Creator for His creation, and it is the religion of goodness and happiness for all people in this world and the Hereafter. It does not discriminate between people based on their race or color, but they are all equal. Within Islam, the only measure of superiority is linked to one's score of righteous deeds.Allah Almighty says:(مَنۡ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٞ فَلَنُحۡيِيَنَّهُۥ حَيَوٰةٗ طَيِّبَةٗۖ وَلَنَجۡزِيَنَّهُمۡ أَجۡرَهُم بِأَحۡسَنِ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ){Whoever does righteous deeds, male or female, while being a believer, We will surely grant him a good life, and We will surely reward them according to the best of their deeds.}[Surat an-Nahl: 97]Islam is the way to happinessIslam is the religion of all prophets; it is Allah Almighty's religion for all people, not exclusive to Arabs.Islam is the way to true happiness in this world and eternal bliss in the Hereafter.Islam is the only religion that fulfills the needs of the soul and body, and solves all human problems. Allah Almighty says:﴿قَالَ اهْبِطَا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ مِنِّي هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلا يَضِلُّ وَلا يَشْقَى (123)وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَنْ ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَى﴾{Allah said, "Get down, both of you, from here altogether [with Satan] as enemies to one another. Then, when there comes to you guidance from Me, whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray nor fall into misery.But whoever turns away from My Reminder will have a miserable life, and on the Day of Resurrection, We will raise him blind.}[Surat Ta-ha: 123-124]What benefits do I get from embracing Islam?In fact, embracing Islam yields immensely valuable benefits, including:- Attaining success and honor in the worldly life by becoming a slave of Allah Almighty, otherwise, one becomes a slave to Satan and desires.- Success in the Hereafter means that Allah forgives the slave, bestows His pleasure upon him, and admits him into Paradise, whereby he wins pleasure and everlasting bliss. It also means that a person is saved from the punishment of Hellfire.The believer will be in the company of the prophets, the affirmers of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous on the Day of Judgment. How beautiful is such a company! As for those who do not believe, they will be with the tyrants, the wicked, the criminals, and the mischievous.- Those whom Allah admits into Paradise will live in eternal bliss without death, illness, pain, aging, or sadness. Their desires will be fulfilled, and they will have everything they wish for. As for those who enter Hellfire, they will endure perpetual and uninterrupted torment.- In Paradise, there are delights that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind can imagine. One of the proofs of this is Allah's saying:﴿مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ﴾{Whoever does righteous deeds, male or female, while being a believer, We will surely grant him a good life, and We will surely reward them according to the best of their deeds}[Surat an-Nahl: 97]Allah Almighty also says:﴿فَلَا تَعۡلَمُ نَفۡسٞ مَّآ أُخۡفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعۡيُنٖ جَزَآءَۢ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ﴾{No soul knows what delights are kept hidden for them as a reward for what they used to do.}[Surat as-Sajdah: 17]What potential loss might I face by refusing to embrace Islam?- Those who refuse to embrace Islam would forfeit the opportunity to acquire the greatest knowledge, which is knowing Allah and gaining insights about Him. Additionally, they would lose faith in Allah, Who grants security and peace of mind in this life, as well as the promise of eternal bliss in the Hereafter.- They would miss out on exploring the greatest Book that Allah has revealed to humanity and believing in this magnificent book.- They will lose the opportunity to have faith in the great prophets, as well as the opportunity to accompany them in Paradise on the Day of Judgment. Instead, they will be accompanied by devils, criminals, and tyrants in the fire of Hell. How wretched is their abode and companionship!Allah Almighty says:﴿قُلْ إِنَّ الْخَاسِرِينَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَلا ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ (15)لَهُمْ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمِنْ تَحْتِهِمْ ظُلَلٌ ذَلِكَ يُخَوِّفُ اللَّهُ بِهِ عِبَادَهُ يَا عِبَادِ فَاتَّقُونِ﴾{Say, "Indeed, the losers are those who will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. That is indeed a clear loss.They will have layers of fire above them and below them. That is how Allah threatens His slaves. Then fear Me, O My slaves.}[Surat az-Zumar: 15-16]Whoever desires salvation in the Hereafter, he must enter into Islam and follow Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).One of the facts unanimously agreed upon by the prophets and messengers (peace be upon them) is that only Muslims who believe in Allah Almighty and do not associate partners with Him in worship, and who believe in all the prophets and messengers will be saved in the Hereafter. All followers of the messengers who believe in them and confirm their message will enter Paradise and be saved from the Hellfire.Those who lived during the time of Prophet Moses and believed in him and followed his teachings were righteous Muslims and believers. However, after Allah had sent Prophet Jesus, the followers of Moses were required to believe in Jesus and follow him.So, those who believed in Jesus are righteous Muslims, and those who refused to believe in him and remained followers of the religion of Moses are not believers because they refused to believe in a prophet sent by Allah Almighty.Then, after Allah sent the last of the messengers, Muhammad (ﷺ), it became obligatory for everyone to believe in him. The Lord is the One Who sent Moses and Jesus, and He is the One Who sent the seal of the messengers, Muhammad (ﷺ). Whoever denies the message of Muhammad (ﷺ) and says, 'I will continue to follow Moses or Jesus, is not a believer.It is not enough for a person to merely claim respect for Muslims, and it is not enough for his salvation in the Hereafter to give charity and assist the poor. Rather, it is necessary for him to believe in Allah Almighty, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, for Allah to accept that from him! There is no graver sin than associating partners with Allah Almighty, disbelieving in Him, rejecting the revelation He sent down, or denying the prophethood of the last of His prophets, Muhammad (ﷺ).So, the Jews, the Christians, and others who heard of the mission of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and refused to believe in him and rejected to enter the religion of Islam will be in the Hellfire, wherein they will abide eternally. This is the judgment of Allah Almighty, not the judgment of any human being. Allah Almighty says:﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ الْبَرِيَّة﴾{Those who disbelieve from the People of the Book and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding therein forever. It is they who are the worst of creatures.}[Surat al-Bayyinah: 6]Since the last Message from Allah Almighty to humanity has been revealed, it is incumbent upon every person who hears about Islam and the Message of the last prophet, Muhammad (ﷺ), to believe in him, follow his Sharia, and obey him in terms of his commands and prohibitions. Therefore, whoever hears about this last Message and rejects it, Allah Almighty will not accept anything from him and will punish him in the Hereafter.Among the proofs of this is the saying of Allah Almighty:﴿وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ﴾{Anyone who seeks a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted from him; and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.}[Surat Āl-'Imrān: 85]Allah Almighty also says:﴿قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ﴾{Say, "O people of the Book, come to a common term between us and you, that we worship none but Allah and associate no partners with Him, and that we do not take one another as lords besides Allah." But if they turn away, say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Allah]."}[Surat Āl-'Imrān: 64]What do I have to do to become a Muslim?To embrace Islam, one should believe in the six pillars of faith, which are:1. Belief in Allah Almighty, as the Creator, the Provider, the Planner, and the Owner. There is nothing like Him, and He has no wife or children. He alone deserves to be worshiped, and no one should be worshiped alongside Him. It is essential to believe that worshiping anything other than Him is invalid.2. Belief in the angels as slaves of Allah Almighty whom He created from light, and among the tasks He assigned to them is to deliver revelation to His prophets.3. Belief in all the books revealed by Allah Almighty to His prophets (such as the Torah and the Gospel before their distortion) and the final book, the Noble Qur'an.4. Belief in all the prophets, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and the last of them, Muhammad (ﷺ). They were human beings supported by divine revelation and were given signs and miracles that attest to their truthfulness.5. Belief in the Day of Judgment, a time when Allah Almighty will resurrect all people, including earlier and later generations and judge between them. He will admit the believers into Paradise, while the disbelievers will enter Hellfire.6. Belief in predestination (Al-Qadar) and that Allah knows everything that has happened in the past and everything that will happen in the future. Allah Almighty has known, decreed, willed, and created all things.Do not delay the decision!The life of this world is not a permanent abode...Its fleeting beauty will disappear and all desires will eventually fade away...There will come a day when every individual will be held accountable for everything he has done. It is the Day of Judgment, as Allah Almighty says:﴿وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ لاَ يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلاَ كَبِيرَةً إِلاَّ أَحْصَاهَا وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا وَلاَ يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا﴾{And the record [of deeds] will be placed before them, and you will see the wicked scared of what it contains. They will say, "Woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing, small or big, except that it has recorded it?" They will find all that they did before them, and your Lord does not wrong anyone.}[Surat al-Kahf: 49]Allah Almighty states that those who do not embrace Islam are destined for Hellfire, where they will reside forever.So, the loss is not simple; it is tremendous. Allah Almighty says:﴿وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ﴾{Anyone who seeks a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted from him; and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.}[Surat Ᾱl-'Imrān: 85]Islam is the only accepted religion in the sight of Allah; He does not approve of any other religion.Allah Almighty created us and to Him is the final return. This world serves as a test for us.Thus, one should be certain that life is as short as a dream...and no one knows when he will die!So, what will be his answer to his Creator when He asks him on the Day of Resurrection: Why did he not follow the truth? Why did he not follow the Seal of the Prophets?How will your Lord respond on the Day of Resurrection when He has warned about the consequences of disbelieving in Islam and informed that the fate of disbelievers is eternal destruction in the Hellfire?Allah Almighty says:﴿وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ﴾{But those who disbelieve and reject Our signs, they are the people of the Fire; they will abide therein forever.}[Surat al-Baqarah: 39]There is no justification for those who forsake the truth and adhere blindly to the ways of their forefathers.Allah Almighty has informed us that many people refrain from embracing Islam due to their apprehension of societal pressures.Others still reject Islam because they do not want to change their beliefs that they inherited from their fathers or acquired from their environments and societies, and they are accustomed to them. Many of them are prevented by fanaticism and bias towards the falsehood they inherited.These individuals, however, will find no justification and will stand before Allah on the Day of Judgment without valid arguments.It is not a valid excuse for an atheist to say: 'I will remain an atheist because I was born into an atheist family!' Rather, he must use the intellect that Allah has bestowed upon him, contemplate the greatness of the heavens and the earth, and think with his mind that his Creator has given to him to realize that this universe has a Creator.Likewise, for those who worship stones and idols, there is no valid excuse for following their forefathers. Instead, they must search for the truth and ask themselves: How can I worship an inanimate object that does not hear me, see me, or benefit me in any way?!Similarly, a Christian who believes in matters that contradict sound natural disposition and reason must ask himself: How can it be just for the Lord to kill his innocent son for the sins of others?! This is injustice! How can humans crucify and kill the son of the Lord?! Is not the Lord capable of forgiving the sins of humanity without allowing them to kill His son? Is not the Lord able to defend his son?It is incumbent upon a rational individual to follow the path of truth, free from blind adherence to the falsehoods inherited from forefathers.Allah Almighty says:﴿وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا إِلَى مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ وَإِلَى الرَّسُولِ قَالُوا حَسْبُنَا مَا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ﴾{When it is said to them, "Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger," they say, "What we have found our forefathers upon is sufficient for us." Even though their forefathers knew nothing nor were they guided?}[Surat al-Mā'idah: 104]What should people do if they wish to accept Islam but are worried about the reaction of their family members?Those who desire to convert to Islam but have concerns about their immediate environment can embrace Islam privately until a more suitable situation arises that allows them to openly practice and express their beliefs.It is incumbent upon a person to embrace Islam immediately, but it is not obligatory for him to inform those around him of his conversion or publicize it if it would cause harm to them.You should know that as soon as one embraces Islam, he becomes a brother to millions of Muslims. He can communicate with the mosque or Islamic center in his country and seek advice and assistance from them, to which they will respond with happiness.Allah Almighty says:﴿وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًاوَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِب﴾{Whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for himand He will provide for him from where he does not expect.}[Surat at-Talāq: 2-3]Dear reader,Allah the Creator has bestowed upon us all His blessings, provided us with sustenance while we were embryos in our mothers' wombs, and granted us the air we breathe now - Is not pleasing Him more important than pleasing people?Is not the pursuit of gaining success in this world as well as the Hereafter worth sacrificing transient pleasures? By Allah, it is worth it!Therefore, a person should not let his past hinder him from correcting his wrong path and doing the right thing.Let one be a true believer today, and not allow Satan to prevent him from following the truth!Allah Almighty says:﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بُرْهَانٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَنزلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ نُورًا مُبِينًا (174)فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَاعْتَصَمُوا بِهِ فَسَيُدْخِلُهُمْ فِي رَحْمَةٍ مِنْهُ وَفَضْلٍ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَيْهِ صِرَاطًا مُسْتَقِيمًا﴾{O people, there has come to you conclusive evidence from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light.As for those who believe in Allah and hold fast to Him, He will admit them into His mercy and grace, and guide them to Himself through a straight path.}[Surat an-Nisā': 174-175]Are you prepared to make the most significant decision of your life?If all that has been mentioned is logical, and a person has recognized the truth in his heart, then he should take the first step towards becoming a Muslim.Whoever wants assistance in making the best decision in their life, and needs guidance on how to become a Muslim,he should not let his sins prevent him from entering Islam. Allah has informed us in the Qur'an that He forgives all of our sins if we embrace Islam and repent to our Creator. Even after accepting Islam, it is normal for a person to commit some sins because we are human beings, not infallible angels.However, it is required to seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty and repent to Him. If Allah sees that we hastened in accepting the truth, entered Islam, and professed the Two Testimonies of Faith, He will help us leave other sins. Whoever turns to Allah Almighty, follows the truth, Allah will guide him to do more good. Therefore, a person should not hesitate to enter Islam immediately.This is proven by the saying of Allah Almighty:﴿قُلْ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ يَنْتَهُوا يُغْفَرْ لَهُمْ مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ﴾{Say to those who disbelieve that if they desist, their past will be forgiven.}[Surat al-Anfāl: 38]To become a Muslim, what should I do?Embracing Islam is quite simple and does not involve any rituals or formalities. You only follow these two simple steps: 1. Utter the Two Testimonies of Faith, understand their meaning, and believe in them. The Two Testimonies are: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." While it is preferable to say them in Arabic, you can also express them in your mother tongue if you find it challenging. 2. Learn about your religion, as it will be the source of your happiness in this world and your salvation in the Hereafter. Source: IslamHouse.com