The Beauties of Islam

At this time in Islam's history, when the entire religion is being judged by the actions of a few, it is appropriate to step back from the glare of the media spotlight and examine the beauties that infuse the way of life known as Islam. There is greatness and splendour in Islam that is often overshadowed by actions that have no place in Islam or by people who speak about topics they only vaguely understand. Islam is a religion, a way of life that inspires Muslims to try harder, reach farther and act in a manner that is pleasing to those around them and most importantly pleasing to their Creator.

The beauties of Islam are those things that are part of the religion and make Islam stand out. Islam answers all of humankind's eternal questions. Where did I come from? Why am I here? Is this really all there is? It answers these questions with clarity and in a beautiful way. So then, let us begin our journey and discover and ponder over the beauties of Islam.

1.  The answers to all your questions about life are in the Quran

The Quran is a book detailing the glory of God and the wonder of His creation; it is also a testament to His Mercy and Justice. It is not a history book, a storybook, or a scientific textbook, although it does contain all of those genres and more. The Quran is God's greatest gift to humanity – it is a book like no other, for it contains the answers to the mysteries of life. It answers the questions and asks us to look beyond materialism and see that this life is little more than a transient stop on the way to everlasting life. Islam gives a clear aim and purpose to life.

"And I (God) created not the jinn and humankind, except to worship Me (Alone)." (Quran 51:56)

Thus it is the most important book and Muslims have no doubt that it is exactly the same today as it was when it was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him. When we ask those most important questions, we want to be sure that the answers we receive are the truth. Knowing that the answers are coming from a book which is the unchanged Word of God, gives comfort and solace. When God revealed the Quran, He promised to preserve it. The words we read today are the same as those memorised and written down by the companions of Prophet Muhammad.

"It is We Who have sent down the remembrance (i.e. the Quran) and surely, We will guard it from corruption." (Quran 15:9)

2.  True Happiness can be found in Islam

Rejoice and be happy, remain positive and be at peace. ^[1] This is what Islam teaches us, for all God's commandments aim to bring happiness to the individual. The key to happiness is in understanding and worshipping God. This worship serves as a reminder of Him and keeps us always conscious of Him and hence we stay away from evil, committing injustices and oppression. It elevates us to being righteous and of good character. By following His commands, we lead a life that guides us to the best in all our affairs. When we lead such a meaningful life, then and only then are we able to see happiness all around us, at any given moment and even on the darkest of times. It is even there in the touch of a hand, in the smell of rain or newly mown grass, it is in a warm fire on a cold night or a cool breeze on a hot day. Simple pleasures can make our hearts truly happy because they are manifestations of God's Mercy and Love.

The nature of the human condition means that amongst great sorrow can be moments of joy and sometimes in moments of despair we can find an anchor in the things that bring us happiness. Prophet Muhammad said, "Indeed amazing are the affairs of a believer! They are all for his benefit. If he is granted ease then he is thankful, and this is good for him.  And if he is afflicted with a hardship, he perseveres, and this is good for him." ^[2]

3.  In Islam we can easily communicate with God at any time of day or night

Every member of the human race is born innately knowing that God is One. However those who do not know how to communicate with God or establish a relationship with Him tend to find their existence puzzling and sometimes even distressing. Learning to communicate with God and worshiping Him gives life a whole new meaning.

According to Islam, God is accessible at any time and in any place. We need only call on Him and He will answer the call. Prophet Muhammad advised us to call on God often. He told us that God said,

"I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to me walking, I go to him running." ^[3]

In the Quran God says, "Remember Me and I will remember you…" (Quran2:152)

Believers call on God in any language, at any time and in any place. They supplicate to Him, and give thanks. Muslims also pray in a more ritualised way five times every day and interestingly the Arabic word for prayer is 'salah', which means a connection. Muslims are connected to God and can communicate with Him easily. We are never alone or far from God's Mercy, Forgiveness and Love.

4.  Islam gives us real peace

The words Islam, Muslim and salaam (peace) all come from the Arabic root word "Sa - la – ma". It denotes peace, security, and safety. When a person submits to the will of God he or she experiences an innate sense of security and peacefulness. Salaam is a descriptive word that entails more than tranquillity and calmness; it also encompasses the concepts of safety, security and submission. In fact, Islam in the complete sense means submission to the One God who grants us safety, security, peace and harmony. This is real peace. Muslims greet each other with the words 'Assalam Alaikum'. These Arabic words mean 'May God grant you protection and security (real and lasting peace)'. These brief Arabic words let Muslims know that they are among friends, not strangers. This greeting encourages believers to be a worldwide community unencumbered by tribal or nationalistic loyalties and bound together by peace and unity. Islam itself is inherently associated with inner peace and tranquillity.

"And those who believed (in the Oneness of God and His Messengers and whatever they brought) and did righteous deeds, will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow, - to dwell therein for ever (i.e. in Paradise), with the Permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be, salaam!" (Quran 14:23)

5.  Islam allows us to know God

The first principle and focal point of Islam is belief in one God, and the whole of the Quran is dedicated to this. It speaks directly about God and His Essence, Names, Attributes and Actions. Prayer connects us to God, however truly knowing and understanding the Names and Attributes of God is an important and unique opportunity, one that is only available in Islam. Those who do not make the effort to really know God may find the nature of their existence puzzling or even distressing. A Muslim is encouraged to remember God and be grateful to Him and a person can do this by contemplating and understanding God's beautiful Names and Attributes. It is through this that we are able to know our Creator.

 "God! (None has the right to be worshipped but He)! To Him belong the Best Names." (Quran 20:8)

"And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to God, so call on Him by them, and leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names…" (Quran 7:180)

6.  Islam teaches us how to care for the environment

Islam recognises that human beings are the custodians of the earth and all that is on it, including vegetation, animals, oceans, rivers, deserts, and fertile land. God provides us with the things we need to survive successfully and flourish, but we are obligated to care for them and preserve them for future generations.

In 1986 Prince Phillip the then president of the World Wildlife Fund invited the leaders of the world's five major religions to meet in the Italian city of Assisi. They met to discuss how faith could help save the natural world, the environment. What follows is from the Muslim statement in the Assisi Declarations on Nature:

Muslims say that Islam is the middle path and we will be answerable for how we have walked this path, how we have maintained balance and harmony in the whole of creation around us.

It is these values which led Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, to say: 'Whoever plants a tree and diligently looks after it until it matures and bears fruit is rewarded.'

For all these reasons Muslims see themselves as having a responsibility towards the world and the environment, all of which are the creations of Allah.

Unlike many other religions, Muslims do not have any specific festivals in which they give thanks for the harvest or the world. Instead they give thanks to Allah regularly for his creation. ^[4]

7.  Islam is respect

Another beautiful aspect of Islam is respect for humanity and the universe in which we live. Islam states clearly that it is the responsibility of each member of the human race to treat creation with respect, honour and dignity. The most deserving of respect is the Creator Himself and of course respect begins with loving and obeying His commandments. Total respect for God allows all the manners and high standards of morality that are inherent in Islam to flow into our lives and the lives of those around us. Because Islam binds respect to peace, love and compassion this involves respecting the honour, reputation and privacy of others. Respect involves staying completely away from the major sins of backbiting, lying, slander, and gossip. It means avoiding sins that will sow discord among the people or lead to destruction.

Respect also includes loving for our brothers and sisters what we love for ourselves. It involves treating others the way we expect to be treated and the way we hope God will treat us – with compassion, love and mercy. Major sins put a barrier between humanity and God's Mercy and cause all the torment, misery and evil in this world and the hereafter. God commands us to stay away from sin and to strive against our own destructive character flaws. We live in an age where we often demand respect from others but may not respect those around us. One beauty of Islam is that it allows us to regain lost respect by submitting wholeheartedly to the will of God. However if we do not understand how and why we surrender to God's will we cannot gain respect we want and need. Islam teaches us and God reminds us in the Quran that our sole purpose in life is to worship Him.

8.  The Equality of men and women

Quran states that all believers are equal and that only righteous deeds elevate one person above another. Believers therefore have an immense respect for pious men and women and Islamic history also tells us that both men and women served and showed righteousness in all areas. A woman, like a man, is obligated to worship God and fulfill the duties upon her. It is thus required that every woman testify that there is none deserving worship but God, and that Muhammad, may God praise him, is His Messenger; to pray; to give charity; to fast; and to perform the pilgrimage to God's House if she has the means and ability to do so. It is also required that every woman to believe in God, His angels, His scriptures, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in God's decree. It is also required that every woman worship God as if she sees Him.

"And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or female, and is a (true) believer in the Oneness of God such will enter Paradise and not the least injustice, even to the size of a speck on the back of a date-stone, will be done to them." (Quran 2:124)

Islam however recognizes that equality does not mean that men and women are the same. It takes into account their differences in physiology, nature and temperament. It is not a question of superiority or inferiority, rather a question of natural abilities and having different roles in life. The laws of Islam are just and fair and take these aspects into consideration. Men have been assigned the duty to work and provide for their family and women have been assigned the role of motherhood and homemaking. Islam states however that that the roles are not exclusive nor are they inflexible. Women can work or serve society and men are able to take responsibility for their children or their household. It is interesting to note that where women choose to work the money they earn is their own however a man must provide financially for the whole family.

9.  Humankind is able to regret past actions and reform

Muslims believe that all members of humankind are able to reform; in addition they believe that the possibility of successful reform is greater than the probability of failure. This belief is derived from the fact that God has given humankind the means to reform, not once but over and over again right up until close to the Day of Judgement. God sent Messengers and Prophets to each and every nation. Some we know from the Quran and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, others are known only to God.  

"And for every community or nation there is a Messenger; when their Messenger comes, the matter will be judged between them with justice, and they will not be wronged." (Quran 10:47)

God does not hold any person responsible until he has been clearly shown the right way.

"...And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger. " (Quran 17:15)

At the same time we are responsible to search for the truth and upon finding it we should accept it and reform our lives accordingly. The past bad actions can be left behind. There is no sin that cannot be forgiven!

"Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of God. Indeed, God forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'" (Quran 39:53)

A person should take advantage of God's mercy by sincerely repenting for the past or if one is not a believer, by converting to the religion of Islam. Every person must work towards his salvation by combining faith, belief and action.

10.            God loves beauty in all its forms

Prophet Muhammad said, "No one will enter Paradise who has an ant's weight of pride in his heart." A man said, "What if a man likes his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good?" He said, "God is beautiful and loves beauty. Pride means denying the truth and looking down on people." ^[5]

Beauty is the opposite of ugliness. The beauty that exists in creation attests to God's beauty as well as His power. He who created beauty is the most entitled to beauty. And indeed Paradise is adorned with beauty beyond imagining. God is beautiful and this is why the greatest of all pleasures in Paradise is to look upon God's Face. God says,

"[Some] faces, that Day, will be radiant; looking to their Lord." (Quran 75: 22-23)

He refers to His names as being the Most Beautiful:

"And the Most Beautiful Names belong to God, so call on Him by them..." (Quran 7:180)

Noted Islamic scholar Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, had the following to say about beauty in Islam:

"God is to be acknowledged for beauty that bears no resemblance to anything else, and He is to be worshipped by means of the beauty which He loves in words, deeds and attitudes. He loves His slaves to beautify their tongues with the truth, to beautify their hearts with sincere devotion, love, repentance and trust in Him, to beautify their faculties with obedience, and to beautify their bodies by showing His blessings upon them in their clothing and by keeping them pure and free of any filth, dirt or impurity, by removing the hairs which should be removed, by circumcision, and by clipping the nails. Thus they recognize God through these qualities of beauty and seek to draw close to Him through beautiful words, deeds and attitudes. They acknowledge Him for the beauty which is His attribute and they worship Him through the beauty which He has prescribed and His religion." ^[6]

Al Salam Alaykom w rahmat allah w barkato

Dear : mr \  mrs

We are pleased that on behalf of the Al-Madinah International University [MEDIU] greetings and best wishes for you continued success , coupled with the sincere invitations for your further success and development and growth.

Al-Madinah International University [MEDIU] Malaysia: "University City World [MEDIU] Malaysia" is one of the leading universities of Malaysia, which is characterized by excellence and excellence of technical and higher education areas, and " Al-Madinah International University [MEDIU] " is a multiple cultures and areas of study and is based

Malaysia  Shah Alam , Here is a brief history.

1. " Al-Madinah International University [MEDIU]" founded early in 2004 in Medinah  Almonowra

2. In 19 / July / 2006, the university received the invitation of the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education for the establishment of the University Centre in Malaysia.

3. On 20 / July / 2007, the university obtained full license from the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia to be the first international  Malaysian University pursuing a systematic distance education using e-learning Targeting the  Students from around the world.

4. In early of February of 2008 the university began full operation of reception of students.

5. joined the university for beginning of the year 2009, approximately [1500 ] students from different countries, while the number of applications submitted to the University of [3000] enrollment request.

. 6. Early / 2009. University offered more than (24) academic program accredited by the Accreditation Authority and the Ministry of Higher Education (Malaysia), and more (34) accredited course in Arabic and English language center.

. 7. Early 2009. Varied the levels of academic programs at the university to include foundation studies ,  Pre-university, diploma, bachelor's degree - graduate studies, language training courses.

8. Mid-2009. The number of students who were enrolled in the university more than (4701) students from more than 40 nationalities around the world.

. 9. The third quarter of 2009. The Al-Madinah International University [MEDIU] Passed successfully institutional inspection held by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education to ensure quality of academic and administrative of the University.

10 . The end of 2009. The number of applications increased by the University of (6508) Application from more than (60) countries around the world, while the number of students enrolled in the University (2482 )

11. The end of 2009.The university Completed the (10) new programs of study for approval by the  Malaysian accreditation of Graduate Studies.

12. The end of 2009. The Al-Madinah International University [MEDIU] started the procedures to start the constituent university education in the disciplines of direct scientific and practical, including a new Computer Science, Finance and Administration, Engineering and intending to be started by mid-year 2010.

13. . Early in 2010. The number of students of the University increased to (3057) students from around the world, from the beginning of September  2010.

14. The end of 2010. The number of applications received the university for direct education on campus system around (511) applications and more than (154) enrollment students.

            15. Early of  2011. The number of applications received by the university to direct education on campus system (2312) The number of enrollment students  more than (362).

. . 16. Early in 2011. Al-Madinah International University [MEDIU] inclusion Programs of the  Al-Madinah International University [MEDIU] in full accreditation for four academic graduate programs in the Faculty of Islamic Sciences in the list of qualifications recognized by the Civil Service Commission, Malaysia

17. The end of 2011. The university  the graduating first graduating batch of students from the  Al-Medina International University  in the  master's programs, bachelor's and (84) students for the bachelor's degree, and (27) students for master's degree.

What distinguishes the Al-Medinah International University [MEDIU].

First, high-technical  and modern facilities: The technical infrastructure of the Al-Medinah International University  is designed to match the best standards in the field of modern e-learning and distance education, including those of infrastructure following matters:

Al-Medinah International University website on the Internet "www.mediu.edu.my": which offers all university services, which content  admission, registration , inquiry , direct access to the lessons and communicate with lecturers  and administrators staff of t the university.

The electronic system of educational administration "Alim" for managing  the  academic affairs of  the university, which can be both a student university lectures , administrators and supervisors to manage all the  Process of study , direct communication, and dissemination the  academic ,  exercise and lectures of subjects.

The digital library

comprehensive

http://dlib.mediu.edu.my/ar/

   which provide for the student and university lecturer the most types of works and textbooks.

a center of excellence for customer service, and to which the student or lecturer or Enquirer from which to obtain any type of services available, and has the potential to provide rapid communication. • universality: as the administrative staff and faculty members of the university comes from many nationalities and cultures from around the world, providing the University a global spin and helps students to adapt quickly in the air school at the university

Second, the various programs of study Accredited

The university from the set foundations academy to provide programs of study in varied levels : foundation studies , pre-university, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate up to PhD, in a number of scientific disciplines, including disciplines of Islamic Sciences , Arabic Language , Finance and Management, Computer Science, and Education, and Applied Science, is certified all courses at the university in advance and before it is put by the appropriations and specifications Academy of Malaysia under the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia and the universally recognized as known for short as [MQA], has got the university to recognize the academic programs of excellence in more than 90 study programs. "Al-Madinah International   University," one of the first leading educational institutions in Malaysia in the field of higher education in a number of programs and disciplines that it has never in the field of e-learning.

Third: (distance education (through the five faculties are distributed as follows: -.

. 1. Faculty of Islamic Sciences

 2. Faculty of Languages

 3. College of Computer and Information Technology

4. Faculty of Finance and Administration

 5. College of Education 6. College of Engineering

 7. Language Center

 8. Center for foundation Studies for the undergraduate

Fourth, academic curriculum, the arbitrator:

"International Al-Madinah  University " keen From the beginning to control the academic curriculum of the programs of study, preparation and by Accredited and recognized to their knowledge, experience, and the University provide a full academic curriculum, the, recording audio, text, references and sources of study and divided by the lectures of study according to the academic calendar in advance to students enrolled thus contributing to raising their level of education, academic quality and achieve the target..

Fifth, the development of comprehensive programs for students:

From through the services offered by the "Al-Madinah International University [MEDIU]" of headquarter  or centers of services its Its service centers in each of the (Kuwait - Saudi Arabia - Indonesia - Thailand - Egypt - Singapore - Malaysia - Britain - Morocco - Ghana), the university offered and provide scientific skills and educational as well as basic education-oriented experience within the unique environment and means of educational Saattabrha graduates of the university that it has changed the course of their lives. in addition to the administrative staff and the university's highest levels of academic qualification , and equipped with extensive experience in teaching methods and supervision, which provides the most appropriate opportunities for students to develop their skills through leadership of a diverse global community, and is the university students and provides them with multiple skills and capabilities, Kmharrat use of modern technology, and proficiency in different languages, skills , personal development , leadership skills, social activities and sports.

Sixth: The tuition fees are reasonable:

"Al-Madinah International University [MEDIU]" offers educated reasonable fee, where the tuition fees for diploma programs in Finance and Administration and Computer science  (the equivalent of a bachelor's degree) is about [4000] U.S. dollars to the length of the study and that the range of about two and a half to three years, while the total of tuition fees in undergraduate programs in Islamic studies and Arabic language for the entire duration of the study, which  about four years  [6000] to [7000] USD U.S., the average tuition fees for post master's degree in Islamic studies and Arabic language, which two years duration [6000] U.S. dollars.

thanks and appreciation to you for your perusal and hope of success

Best Regards,

Marketing Team of Al-Medinah International University