From: hra2@Lehigh.EDU (Hibatur Rahman Ahmad)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: FOR PEOPLE WHO THINK (Introduction)
Date: 12 Aug 92 22:34:12 GMT
Reply-To: hra2@Lehigh.EDU (Hibatur Rahman Ahmad)
Originator: gwydion@wookumz.gnu.ai.mit.edu

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The following article is taken from a booklet title "The Light of Revelation
-A Glimpse of The Meanings of The Final Divine Revelation To Humankind- The
Quran" published by Islamic Outreach-ABIM 3402 Jalan Ampang Hilir 2, 55000
Kuala Lumpur MALAYSIA.  Tel: 6-03-457-4608  There is NO COPYRIGHT for this
booklet.  Any organisation or individual wishing to reproduce the booklet may
do so freely.  An acknowledgement would be appreciated.
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The Light Of Revelation (Introduction)

WHAT IS LIFE?  Man's existence in this world and the creation of this entire
universe are not mere accidents or products of fortuitous nature.  This
universe, every single atom of it, manifests and points us to the realization
of a Loving, Merciful, and All-powerfull Creator.  Without a Creator nothing
can exist.  Every single soul knows that he is existing and that his existence
is dependent on a Creator- he knows for sure that he cannot create himself.
Therefore it is his duty to know his master creator - God.

MANKIND:  Man is a unique creature.  God establishes man as His Representative
or Deputy to govern over all other creatures in this world.  He is endowed
with the faculty of REASON, which differentiates him from all other animals.
The Prophet said:

"God has not created anything better than Reason or anything more perfect or
more beautiful than Reason....."

Together with this faculty to discriminate and discern, Man is given the
freedom (free-will) to choose for himself a way of life worthy of his position
as God's Representative or to fall lower than the lowest all animals or
creations.  Man is born pure and sinless.  He is given the free-will to
believe and be rightous or to transgress and become a sinner.

DIVINE GUIDANCE:  God, out of His abundant Love and Mercy for mankind, has not
left us in darkness to discover the right path by trial and error alone.
Coupled with our intellectual capability to reason, God bestowed upon us
DIVINE GUIDANCE that outlines the Criterion for truth and the knowledge and
reality of our existence in this world and the Hereafter.

REVELATIONS:  From the beginning of mankind God sent Examplers or Prophets to
convey His REVELATION and to invite all mankind to the path of TRUE PEACE and
OBEDIENCE to one true God.  This is ISLAM.  This message was conveyed to all
nations and tribes in this world through-out successive generations through
more than 124,000 thousand Prophets - all inviting mankind to the same path.
However all earlier messages or revelations from God were distorted by later
generations.  As a result pure Revelation from God was polluted with myths,
superstition, idol worshipping adn irrational philasophical idealogies.  The
religion of God was lost in the confusion of religions.

Human history is a chronicle of man's drift between light and darkness, but
God out of His abundant Love for mankind has not forsaken us.

FINAL REVELATION:  When mankind was in the depth of the Dark Ages, God sent
the final Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) to guide the
humanity.  The revelation to Prophet Muhammad represents the ultimate and
permanent source of guidance for the mankind.

CRITERIA FOR TRUTH:

How do we know that a revelation like the Quran is the word of God?  The
criteria for truth can be easily understood by all unbiased minds.

1.  RATIONAL TEACHINGS:  Since God bestowed reason and intellect to mankind,
it is our duty to use it to distinguish truth from falsehood.  True
undistorted revelation from God must be RATIONAL and can be reasoned out by
all unbiased minds.

2.  PERFECTION:  Since God is ALL-PERFECT, His revelation must be perfect adn
accurate, free from mistakes, omissions, interpolations and multiplicity of
versions.  It is also free from contradictions in its narration.

3.  NO MYTHS OR SUPERSTITIONS:  True revelation from God is free from myths or
superptition that degrade the dignity of God or man.

4.  SCIENTIFIC:  Since God is the creator of all knowledge, true revelation is
scientific and can withstand the challenges of science at all times.

5.  PROPHECY:  God is the knower of the past, present and future.  Thus His
words of Prophecies in His revelation will be fulfilled as prophesied.

6.  LIVING MIRACLE:  True revelation from God is infallible and cannot be
imitated by man.  God's true revelation is a living miracle, an open book
challenging all mankind to see and prove for themselves.

===TO BE CONTINUED (God Willing)===
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                     | "Did ye then think that We had created you in   |
Hibatur Rahman Ahmad |  jest, and that ye would not be brought back    |
Lehigh University    |  to Us (for account)?"                          |
Bethlehem PA         | "On that Day will men proceed in groups sorted  |
                     |  out to be shown the Deeds that they (had done).|
hra2@lehigh.edu      |  Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight|
                     |  of good see it!  And anyone who has done an    |
                     |  atom's weight of evil shall see it."           |
                     |                          --- The Last Testament |
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