THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION AND ITS BENEFITS

The universe has been created by the ruler and the Creator who is alone, has no comparison and lives forever. He has the power over all things and knowledge of all things. None of His actions are free from wisdom. From His creations are the skies, the earth, the mountains, the trees, rivers, oceans, humans and Jinns. He brings up everyone and feeds them all. He has no offspring. It is a defect for him to have offspring. He has no need to have a helper. He grants offspring to whoever He desires.

He has grace, bounties and mercy. He has granted excellence and exaltation to humans over the rest of the creation. He has granted them understanding and intellect. Humans have control over the seas, land and the air. He created humans so that they become viceroys of their Master and Creator on this earth. Humans are the rulers over all life forms on earth and they use them according to their needs and understanding. Being more understanding than the other creatures, it is necessary and compulsory for humans to recognise their Creator, understand His being and attributes, engross themselves in his worship and remembrance, prepare themselves for the life after death and think and worry about what is going to happen after death.

It is a grace of the Ruler and Creator that he did not require man to search for truth relying solely on his own intellect but sent messengers for guidance. They educated him to believe in his Ruler and Creator to confess His being and attributes and to worship Him. They showed the correct way of worship, the necessary acts that a human being has to perform and the acts which are compulsory to refrain from. They showed us the rules and regulations of eating, drinking and wearing clothing so that humans must differentiate their way of life from animals.

Now look at man's stupidity that he has forgotten his Creator. A great number of people invented their own ways of worship in contrast to the teachings of the Prophets. Some people began to take certain personalities as the Creator's offspring and a number of people began to ascribe partners to the Creator in their worship and began to prostrate in front of mortals. This is not only against common sense and understanding but is also against the teachings of the Prophets. Amongst the religions which are flourishing in the world are Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. It is a well-known fact that the one who created man is also the one who sent messengers and the messengers showed the ways of worship. A person who worships according to the ways shown by them, will be successful. Now is has to be seen what proof a person has for the truthfulness of his religion and whether his religion is divinely ordained or not? Everybody knows that the necessity of religion is to gain a good life after death.

The livelihood of the world, its wealth and sustenance and the prosperity of businesses or their failure are worldly things. People of all religions eat and earn. There are rich and poor in all the religions. When we have accepted and understood that religion is compulsory for the life after death, then it is also understood that only the religion which will bring refuge and success in the life after death is to be accepted.

This world is a place of trials - there are who believe in the Ruler and Creator and there are also those who refuse to believe in His existence. There are people calling towards monotheism and there are polytheists. There are oppressors and the oppressed. There are people with good deeds and some evil deeds. Through the intellect and understanding, every human being has to search for the religion that will benefit him in the life after death. To follow in the footsteps of one's ancestors or the cultural traditions of one's fellow-countrymen and family traditions without proof is an insensible act.

It is a most worrying fact if the religion which we are following does not save us from the punishment in the life after death when there is no chance of returning from there. Hence the followers of every religion have to think very deeply and look for proof whether their religion is correct. Is it accepted by God? Will it grant them success? They should think about it in solitude, converse with friends and relatives and also ask the elders of their religion whether the religion they are following will benefit them after death. It so, how can they be sure of this? Have we received this religion from the Creator or has it been invented by man? If it has been invented by humans, then how can we obtain success from it? If it is sent by the Creator, then what is the evidence to prove this? One has to think very deeply, setting aside the blind following of one's parents, ancestors, priests and the leaders of one's religion, because this personal question affects every individual.

We thought deeply and extensively and came to the conclusion that Islam is the only religion from God which He sent through His last messenger Muhammad (Sallallaahu layhi Wasallam) who is the messenger and the prophet for the whole of mankind. A number of people praise the Qurãn and Muhammad (Sallallaahu layhi Wasallam). They show Islam to be true and right, but in their greed for worldly wealth and fame, refuse to accept Islam. Is it common-sense to risk eternal punishment in the hereafter for little worldly wealth? There are millions of people in every religion who are not happy in every religion who are not happy with their religions. Especially in the Christian faith, the priests find it impossible to keep the new generation happy with their religion.

We call all non-Muslims as a gesture of goodwill to accept Islam. We especially warn you not to fall prey to the priests and followers of your religion. Worry and think individually about your life after death. We urge the responsible people of all religions to leave falsehood and accept Islam. Leave aside nationalism and stubbornness and worry about the life after death. Do not think it a weakness to accept Islam after its truthfulness has been made evident? Do not ruin your hereafter for the fear of losing worldly wealth and fame.