The Internet is a unique environment that enables learning and information sharing in a way that has never been experienced before. But this environment is far from being perfect because while there are numerous sources of authentic and correct information, there are also many totally fabricated and biased sources that the Internet has helped flourish. Being under the spotlight, Muslims today who are subjected to many of the wrong information circulating about Islam need to have a better Islamic education to help them distinguish between what is true and what is not true and be in a better position to fight the fabrications with the real truth.

The course material “Introduction to Islam” compiled and published by the Wisdom Enrichment Foundation acts as a good starting point in one’s quest to learn more about this great religion. It provides a strong foundation of knowledge that one will (God willing) build upon in an effort to construct comprehensive understanding of Islam.

The e-book consists of 15 chapters that cover the main teachings of Islam ranging from the meaning of Islam, its pillars and fundamentals, and ending with the things that nullify one’s Islam. In between many subjects were covered like the moral, educational, social, military, political, and economic aspects of Islam. The e-book also proceeds to introduce in a coherent way the features that distinguish Islam from other religions as well as the authentic proofs of the Excellence of Islam.

The e-book uses the Qur’an and the Sunnah to explain many of the key concepts of Islam and to prove that Islam is the true religion that God ordained for mankind. By doing so, the e-book helped me achieve the following objectives:

1)      Confirm one’s belief in Islam as well as increase one’s knowledge of this great religion by providing convincing examples and arguments that show that Islam is the last and true religion that God sent to mankind. In the Qur’an, Allah (S.W.T.) says: “Surely the (true) religion with Allah is Islam, and those to whom the Book had been given did not show opposition but after knowledge had come to them, out of envy among themselves; and whoever disbelieves in the communications of Allah then surely Allah is quick in reckoning.” (Qur’a, Al-e-IMran, verse 19).

2)      The e-book acts as a reminder of what our mission is on this earth and also as a reminder of what we need to do to help mankind and ourselves in this world as well as in the next. Allah (S.W.T) instructs us: “I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me. I seek no livelihood from them, nor do I ask that they should feed Me.” (Qur’an, Adh-Dhariyat  , verses 56-57). Allah (S.W.T.) also teaches us that we must develop sincerity (Ikhlas) to Him: ““Say: ‘Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death are (all) for Allâh, the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the Worlds’” (Qur’ân, 6:162).

The e-book introduces a number of concepts that are of great value to anybody who wants to understand Islam. I personally have found the following ones key to my belief in Islam:

2.      In Islam God sent down specific laws and rules that govern a Muslim’s behavior. These rules aim at enhancing man’s life by clarifying what is to be done and what is not to be done, how to treat fellow humans and how to basically live life in a way that is beneficial in both this world and the next. It is needless to say that throughout history, the human race never succeeded in producing consistent rules and laws that are able to provide peace, justice and prosperity to mankind. Although humans have endeavored over the centuries to reach justice, it is clear that these trials were in vain because the rules they created and enforced were very dependent on the perceptions and norms of that specific period while God’s laws and rules are meant to govern human life for every age and place. Compare for example the way humans treated animals in Europe in the middle ages and the way they are treated today. In the middle ages it was common to try animals in court for offenses like killing, and injuring humans while today we look down and laugh at such trials and in contrast animals now enjoy the protection of law against their maltreatment and abuse. Also compare the application of severe punishments in Europe in the middle ages and today. While it was common for example to try and burn to death those accused of witchcraft in the Middle Ages,  today the capital punishment is completely abolished even for serious offenses like homicide not to mention burning humans on the stake. The laws, rules, and teachings of Islam on the other hand have been consistent over the years without losing the flexibility to cater for changes in society.

3.      While examining the teachings and rules of Islam introduced in this e-book, I was amazed by how practical Islam is. One of the examples that come to mind is the Prophet’s (s.a.w.s) advise to his followers to satisfy their needs…. In a time when women were treated as inferiors, it is amazing that only Islam paid so much attention to their needs and wants, something that 1400 years later, women still lack in many of the world’s civilizations.

4.      Islam is both a religion and a way of life that aims at providing a human being with happiness and satisfaction in this world and success in the next. The course material succeeded in portraying how Islam balances these two seemingly contradicting objectives by giving examples of guidance from the Quran and the Sunnah that show how one should live and enjoy this world while also working for the next one. Allah, glory to him, points this out: “But seek, (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the abode of the hereafter, and neglect not your portion of the world, and be kind even as Allah has been kind to you.” (Qur’an, Al-Qasas, verse 77)

The course material provided the translated version of many verses from the Quran, but the beauty of these verses can only be fully appreciated in the original Arabic text. Accordingly, I suggest that both the Arabic text is added as well as the Arabic wording in the Latin alphabet (for those who can not read Arabic). This way it is easier for both the Arabic speakers as well as the non-Arabic speakers to appreciate and probably memorize these great verses.