Islam is the last of the Abrahamic faiths, preached by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who was born in 570 CE in Mecca and passed away in Medina in 632 CE.

The Qur'an is the book of divine guidance, correcting and completing the earlier testaments of the Torah and the Bible. Its major themes revolve around three central concepts: the absolute unity of God, the role of God's prophets and messengers, and human resurrection with accountability in the Hereafter.

God is the transcendent reality, uniquely one, the creator and controller of everything that exists. It is God who created all that exists—the universe or universes (as there are other universes beyond ours)—and everything within them. What secularists refer to as "nature" is also God’s creation, existing and continuing according to His commandments.

To become a Muslim, one simply recites the Shahada, or "Witnessing." The Shahada declares belief in the unseen God and acknowledges Muhammad as His messenger. According to the Qur'an, all of God's prophets and messengers brought the same message of obedience and submission to one God. While Jews were once considered the "chosen people," it is repeatedly stated that Jesus is neither God nor the son of God.

Humans: God's Representatives on Earth

The Qur'an proclaims that God created humans, both male and female, as His representatives on earth. For example, the verse states: “Behold, your Lord said to the angels: ‘I will create a Khalifa (or representative) on earth.’” (2:30). God also imparted His spirit to humans: “But He fashioned him in due proportion and breathed into him something of His spirit” (Al-Sajdah 32:9).

Humans are honored and dignified above all of God's creation: “We have honored the sons of Adam; provided them with transportation on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favors, above a great part of Our creation” (Al-Isra 17:70).

Human Faculties and Accountability

God gave humans the faculties necessary to fulfill their role as His representatives. He placed nature at their disposal: “Do you not see that Allah has subjected to your use all things in the heavens and on earth, and made His bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, both seen and unseen?” (31:20).

Muhammad was instructed to constantly remind humans of God, the source of all their development, and the faculties He bestowed upon them. Yet, many remain ungrateful, misusing these faculties for wrongful purposes: “Say: It is He who has created you and made you grow, and made for you the faculties of hearing, seeing, feeling, and understanding. Little thanks do you give” (67:23).

Accountability of Deeds in the Hereafter

The Qur'an refers to "resurrection" 68 times, emphasizing its importance in the Day of Judgment. Every person will have their deeds recorded, and they will be presented before God to witness them. As stated: “On that day, men shall come forth in companies to be shown the deeds they had done. Then anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good shall see it. And anyone who has done an atom’s weight of evil shall see it” (99:6-8).

Another verse reinforces this: “On the day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between itself and its evil. But Allah cautions you to remember Him. And Allah is full of kindness to those who serve Him” (3:30).

The Equality of All Humans

All humans originate from the same source: “O mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single soul, created from it its mate, and from them scattered countless men and women. Fear Allah, through whom you demand your mutual rights, and reverence the wombs that bore you. For Allah ever watches over you” (4:1).

Differences among people exist only to help them distinguish one another, not to promote discrimination: “O mankind! We created you from a single pair of male and female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another, not despise one another. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well-acquainted with all things” (49:13).

Justice: A Core Islamic Principle

Justice is one of God's attributes, and standing for justice is a form of witnessing to God, even when it conflicts with personal interests or those of loved ones. Islamic justice transcends human laws, addressing motives and intentions, as humans are always in the presence of God.

This is affirmed in the Qur'an: “O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, your parents, or your kin, whether it be against rich or poor, for Allah can protect both. Follow not the desires of your hearts, lest you swerve, and if you distort justice or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do” (4:135).

Similarly, the verse emphasizes: “Allah commands you to render back your trusts to those to whom they are due; and when you judge between people, judge with justice. How excellent is the teaching which He gives you! For Allah hears and sees all things” (4:58). This emphasis on fairness can often be found inscribed in Muslim courts of justice, honoring this foundational Islamic edict.