What Islam Is All About ?

I got this email long time ago from a friend of mine, and I think it can serve as a reference for any one interested in Islam. You can get to know the basics of Islam through some of the links listed here.

"This Message is for every inquiring and broad-minded human being. It is for every seeker of the truth who might have once wondered what the religion of Islam is all about? Who is Allah? What is the ultimate goal of man's existence? Or what happens after death? These questions and many others one may come across on certain occasions but brushed them aside for various reasons. Islam is indeed misunderstood and misrepresented in the West. 'This is hardly surprising' ,remarks the Frenchman, Dr. Maurice Bucaille, in the introduction to his book, The Bible, The Qur'an, and Science: 'If we consider the way so many generations in the West were instructed in the religious problems facing humanity and admit the ignorance in which they were kept in about anything related to Islam.'

Hence Islamic ideals remain obscure for the vast majority of non-Muslims. This Message does not attempt to answer all the questions you may have. It will open before you, however, a new dimension of thinking and will help you appreciate the importance of your role as a human being in this universe, and the relationship between you and your Creator, God Almighty Allah. It presents Islam to you concisely, and provides straightforward answers to many questions about Islam and its credentials.

You may start here http://discover.islamway.com/
especially these Audios (The Purpose of Life - Reasons of Becomming a Muslim )
or http://sultan.org/
or go directly to the videos --->
V i d e o s
Note: In each Video you have got the CD Quality Downloadable version of the video
followd by the google video streamable version to watch it online
Bilal Philips
The True Way of Life/Religion of Godhttp://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Bilal_Philips/Bilal%20Philips%20-%20The%20True%20Religion%20of%20God%20%5b300k%5d.mpg
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-7496991507660475917&hl=en

In Search of Peace
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Bilal_Philips/Bilal_Philips_in_India-In_Search_of_Peace_300kbps.mpg
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=999690101672857178&hl=en

More Videos by Shikh Bilal Philips
http://www.bilalphilips.com/bilal_pages.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=288

Yusuf Estes
In search of peace 2
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Yusuf_Estes-in_search_of_peace_2_300k.mpg
(sorry couldn't find google video for this.)

Priests and Preachers Enter Islam
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Yusuf_Estes_in_India-Priests_and_Preachers_300k.mpg
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1489047104871776788

Does Islam Equal Terrorism
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Does_Islam_Equal_Terrorism-Yusuf_Estes_in_India_300k.mpg
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Yusuf%20Estes%20-%20Does%20Islam%20Equal%20Terrorism%20QA%20%5b300k%5d.mpg
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3539132033695405747

Jesus In Islam
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Yusuf_Estes-Jesus_In_Islam.wmv
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4757022845544241963
Jesus and the message
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Yusuf_Estes-Jesus_and_the_message_300k.mpg
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1035865114770309345

Building bridges between faiths
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Yusuf_Estes-building_bridges_between_faiths_1_300k.mpg
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Yusuf_Estes-building_bridges_between_faiths_2_300k.mpg
(sorry couldn't find google video for this.)

Clearing misconceptions
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Yusuf_Estes-clearing_misconceptions_300k.mpg
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8502813350415489073

Common sense of islam
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Yusuf_Estes-common_sense_of_islam_300k.mpg
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4306527867002555738

Muhammad A to Z
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Yusuf_Estes-muhammad_az_300k.mpg
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1357552157029002370

Women in Islam
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Yusuf_Estes-women_in_islam_300k.mpg
http://www.nooralanoor.com/mpeg/Yusuf_Estes/Yusuf_Estes-women_in_islam_q_a_300k.mpg
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5920175252140330826

Also Don't forget to have a look at YouTubeIslam
http://www.youtubeislam.com/video.php
and WatchIslam
http://www.watchislam.com

Read:
Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam http://www.islam-guide.com/islam-guide.pdf
Holy Quran (Translation of the Meanings of The Noble Quran in the English Language)
http://www.islamway.com/SF/quran/download.php?lang=en
French, German, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Greek, Indonesia (http://www.islamway.com/SF/quran/ )
Note :
The Qur'an exists only in Arabic. Allah did not reveal its contents in any other language. Therefore no one can give literal translation of the meaning of any Ayah (verse) or Surah (chapter) of the Qur'an into any other language. The same applies, though to a lesser extent, also to the sayings of the man commissioned by Allah to interpret the Qur'an, namely, the Prophet, Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Spread The Word
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided (Quran 16:125).
There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. (Quran 1:256)



and Allah Knows The Best

Equality In Islam: A Brief Review

One of the greatest values set forth in the Noble Qur'an is human equality. No one is better than any one else, all are created equal, by the word of God. This may sound an old-time cliché but it highlights the foundation on which the early Muslim state was built. Early Muslims set the highest example of emancipation. A black companion of the Prophet Muhammad, Bilal Ben Rabah, was among the closest associates to the Prophet and a brief reading into his biography will show how a religion can bring change and cause people to act in a different way than they used to do before. And it is not applicable to Muslims only, but to all members of the human family, as the Prophet was sent as a mercy for all human kind, not to a certain group of people or for Arabs only as it may be thought by some in the West.

Allah says" O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware." (49:13).

It is this form of addressing, O mankind, to denote that every human being is meant by the rights and obligations to follow. A universal principle for human rights and the core of any modern human rights instrument is enshrined in this verse. The one who is the best in conduct is the noblest in the sight of Allah. An Arab is no better than a non-Arab except in piety. The universality of human rights is bolstered in this verse, revealed almost 1400 years ago, and is perfectly applied in Islam.

Let this verse be our springboard for further reading in the basic of Islam and for a more healthy inter-religion dialogue. May Allah guide us all to straight path.