Q 8, 9: Centers for Islamic awareness face a lot of questions posed by Muslims from many places. They require reasonable answers to give people who do not believe in the Qur'an or Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet). These people are absolute rationalists and sophists who cannot be convinced except by rational answers that are compatible with their understanding. Their aim is to spread suspicion and cast doubt into the hearts of ignorant Muslims. Some of them maintain courteous relations with Muslims like the Malayan Chinese while others have power and work in politics such as the Buddhists living in Pattani. We need to refute the following: 1- Their saying: "Islam is not different from idol worship. We worship idols and prostrate to our statues in Malaysia and you (Muslims) sell your property and other valuable possessions for the sake of going to Makkah to bow, prostrate and circumambulate around the stones of the Ka`bah in Al-Masjid Al-Haram. We have seen Muslim pilgrims doing so during the season of Hajj on television." (Part No. 1; Page No. 90) "Stones, whether of Al-Ka`bah or of idols, are all stones even if your beliefs are different from what is apparent." These false claims are spread by atheist Malay Chinese. 2- They draw an analogy between religions and rivers, claiming that religions are like various rivers of different headstreams. They all spring from one source located in highly elevated lands and all of them flow into one ocean. They mean to say that all religions have one aim; teaching their adherents good manners and beneficial deeds that will bring them success in the world and in the Hereafter and that religions will lead people to be gathered before Allah; this is the interpretation of them all springing from one source and flowing into one ocean. 3- Meaning that whoever adheres to any religion is saved because all religions belong to Allah and will return to Him in the end, whether it is Islam, Buddhism or Christianity. This aims at throwing doubt and suspicion among Muslims especially the young ones. May you confirm receipt of our message for we are eagerly waiting for a reply and we thank you in advance. It is to be noted that these are the claims and ideology of Buddhist Thais. Some Thai politicians have instilled these claims into the minds of Muslim students enrolled in their governmental schools to attract them to their Buddhist and Malay Semitic beliefs. (Part No. 1; Page No. 91)  Shiites interpret the following Ayah (Qur'anic verse) ...and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) for My Remembrance. As follows: Whoever remembers Allah in their hearts are not obligated to offer Salah (Prayer) in the exact known way. It is known that the Shi`ah offer what is known as Batini Salah (mental Salah) in which they only close their eyes for a while and imagine that they are offering Salah. They claim that Salah should be offered in this way; believing that Batini Salah is more valid and enduring than the Salah done by the apparent body postures. They use the following Ayah as evidence: Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever is with Allâh (of good deeds) will remain. They interpret "whatever is with you" as referring to Salah performed by apparent body postures of which nothing remains after finishing Salah. "Whatever is with Allah will remain" denotes the heart through which a person offers Salah, and the image and sound which cross their minds. According to their beliefs, a person can offer Salah once a day, either at the beginning of the day, specifically in the morning or at the end of the day at the time of Maghrib (sunset) Prayer. However, it is better to offer all five prayers during their stated times regardless of where they are or what they are doing, whether they are in the bathroom, having a meal, or having sexual intercourse. This is the content of the speech of the Shaykh who attended the session. May Allah guide all Muslims to do that which He loves and that which pleases Him.

A: There is a great difference between Muslims and atheists. Muslims worship no one but Allah and follow what is revealed in His Book, the Qur'an, (Part No. 1; Page No. 92) and to His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) whom He sent to Jinn (creatures created from fire) and humans, whether they are Arabs, non-Arabs, men or women. Allah ordered humans and Jinn to follow the Prophet (peace be upon him) and adhere to what was revealed to him. On the other hand, the Malahidah follow their own lusts and minds, which neither save their followers from the torture of Allah nor guide them to the deeds and sayings that please Him (Glorified and Exalted be He). Allah (Exalted be He) says: And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allâh? Regarding their claim that all religions have one source, this is false. Islam with which Allah sent the Messengers is the true religion. Its source is Allah (Glorified be He), Who created Jinn and humans to believe in it, revealed in Holy Books - the greatest of which is the Noble Qur'an - and sent the Messengers - the last of whom is Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) - to convey it. The other religions originate from the people's opinions and minds. They are fallible and none of them can be taken for granted unless it concords with the Shari`ah (Islamic law) conveyed by the Messengers (peace be upon them). After the revelation of Islam, none of the people's opinions and thoughts or any of the books revealed before the Qur'an are accepted except what concords with the Shari`ah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Allah (Exalted be He) says: Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur’ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah (Exalted be He) also says: And this is a blessed Book (the Qur’ân) which We have sent down, so follow it and fear Allâh (i.e. do not disobey His Orders), that you may receive mercy (i.e. be saved from the torment of Hell). (Part No. 1; Page No. 93) Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says about His Prophet (peace be upon him): But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission. Allah (Exalted be He) also says: ...and My Mercy embraces all things. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those who are the Muttaqûn (the pious - See V.2:2), and give Zakât; and those who believe in Our Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs and revelations, etc.) Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) whom they find written with them in the Taurât (Torah) (Deut, xviii 15) and the Injeel (Gospel) (John xiv, 16), - he commands them for Al-Ma‘rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained); and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islâm has forbidden); he allows them as lawful At-Tayyibât (i.e. all good and lawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods), and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khabâ’ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons and foods), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allâh’s Covenant with the children of Israel), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. So those who believe in him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur’ân) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful. Allah (Glorified be He) then says: Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allâh - to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), who believes in Allâh and His Words [(this Qur’ân), the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allâh’s Word: "Be!" - and he was, i.e. ‘Isâ (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), عليهما السلام], and follow him so that you may be guided." There are many Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) stressing this meaning. It is related in the two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Every prophet was sent to his nation only but I was sent to all mankind. It was related in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet (peace be upon him) (Part No. 1; Page No. 94) said: By Him in whose Hand my soul is, every Jew or Christian of this Ummah (nation) who hears about me and dies not believing in me will be of the inhabitants of Hellfire. There are many texts of Hadith stressing this meaning. Accordingly, it is obligatory to advise those atheists, invite them to the truth and remind them of the consequences of their Kufr (disbelief). They will end up in Hellfire if they do not believe that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and follow what was revealed to him. May Allah reward you and grant you a good outcome!As for claiming that they only appeal to reason, then we should use the language of reason for explaining that minds are fallible and differ from one person to another. That is why Allah's Purified Shar` (Law) does not depend on the mind as a reliable source. Rather, people should depend on what is supported by proof from the Qur'an because it is the truth after which there is no truth and because no one is more truthful than Allah (Glorified be He), Who knows the affairs of His servants. We should depend on what is authentically attributed to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) because he does not speak due to inclination but according to what is revealed to him. Moreover, falsehood cannot approach the Book of Allah in any way, and the Messenger (peace be upon him) is infallible regarding everything he conveys from Allah (Glorified be He). That is why Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) orders Muslims in the Qur'an to refer to His judgment upon differences and to the Qur'an and Sunnah of His Prophet (peace be upon him). Allah (Glorified be He) says: And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof is with Allâh (He is the ruling Judge). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) (Part No. 1; Page No. 95) also says: O you who believe! Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allâh and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), if you believe in Allâh and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. Neither Allah (Exalted be He) nor His Messenger ordered Muslims to appeal to reason and seek their own rulings because of their inability to solve problems and because of the different minds of people. We ask Allah to guide us all to what pleases Him and help us to understand His Din, hold fast to it and abandon whatever contradicts it, for He is the Most Generous.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.