Contents

Foreword

The universality of Islam is an undeniable fact, a characteristic peculiar to Islam, the Righteous Religion. Almighty Allah has assigned Muhammad Ben Abdullah as Prophet and Messenger to the entire mankind, revealing to him His Holy Book to serve as a means of guidance and a reminder to all humanity. It was the will of Almighty Allah to make the Islamic Message the seal of revealed messages, which thus gave form and substance to the Righteous Religion. Being the final incarnation of the divine ordinance to mankind, this universal Righteous Religion makes no distinction among humans as to gender, race, colour, language, economic level or social caste. Islam has made all humans equal in terms of duty assignment and the legal capacity as well as in terms of rights and duties. Hence the universal, perennial character of the Islamic Message, a Message unbound by the constraints of time and space. It is a divine Message addressed to mankind wherever they are and in whichever epoch they live, a beacon that invariably guides them to the right path in this world and in the Hereafter, the path of dignified, blissful life.

The full, permanent legitimacy of the universality of Islam stems not only from the perennial and comprehensive character of the Islamic Message, which is always relevant in all time and place, but also from the fact that the principles enshrined in the Holy Quran and the authentic Hadiths all underline fraternity among humans on the basis of unity of human origin and fate.

To shed ample light on the truths embedded in Islam and disseminate the latter's authentic teachings have always ranked high in the priorities of action of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the Abu Dhabi Welfare Organization. In their books, conferences and ongoing activities under their competence, the two institutions have been working actively to spread far and wide the Islamic culture, which is founded on these very truths and teachings. In so doing, they seek to enlighten minds to the glory, tolerance and universality of Islam.

One of the valuable books published recently in Arabic on the topic of universality of the Islamic Message is the Universality of Islam, by the author Dr. Shawqi Dayf, Chairman of the Arabic Language Academy, Cairo. Tackling this theme in an in-depth way, the book focuses on the characteristics of universality of Islam, expounding its advantages and showing its basic principles and goals. In this connection, the Islamic Organization and Abu Dhabi Welfare Organization requested the authorization of this distinguished scholar to have his excellent book translated into English and French in order to generalize benefit therefrom through its large-scale distribution in these two languages, in a way to enable the Muslims speaking these languages to take advantage of its contents, and to give an opportunity to non-Muslims to gain insight into the essence of the Righteous Religion and take stock of its guiding call and tolerant Shariah. The author of the book has generously advised approval, expressing his responsiveness to the goal pursued by ISESCO and Abu Dhabi Welfare Organization, and autho-rizing the two institutions to translate his book Universality of Islam.

We, therefore, take pleasure to present this translation to the reader, commending the academic value of the book, and inviting readers to ponder over its contents in view of its intrinsic value and useful knowledge. The book is tantamount to a call to Islam, based on vast knowledge and culture to the best interest of mankind, the type of culture which leaves an everlasting impact. Our action aims to fulfill one of the most important duties required for promoting the Islamic culture and showing its crystal-clear image to public opinion worldwide.

May Almighty Allah guide our steps to the Right Path, the Path leading to the promotion of our Ummah and the dissemination of its radiance far and wide.

Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri

Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Mr. Issa Khalifa Suwaidi

Secretary General Abu Dhabi Welfare Organization

Publications of the Islamic Educational‭, ‬Scientific and Cultural Organization