Basic Tenets of Islam - Part 1 of 8: Introduction, There is no god but Allah, Allah encompasses everything, Allah is near to man.

The Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is an integral part of Islam, as he delivered the teachings of the Quran to the believers. The Qur'an is the final revelation from Allah and is the only holy book to have survived intact. It serves as guidance for mankind and is full of wisdom, instructions and stories of the prophets. The Sunnah, or hadiths, is the living interpretation of the Quran by the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and provides insight into how to lead one's life. Together the Qur'an and the Sunnah provide the foundation of Islam, which teaches us to be responsible, considerate and to ponder the wonders of the Universe. The Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was sent to us to teach us about Allah, the universe, and Islam. He taught us that Allah is the only true existence and all else is His Creation. The universe and all living things were created by Allah, and are under His control. We must accept the truth that there is no god but Allah and understand that He has no son. Through this knowledge we can draw closer to Allah and gain infinite bliss and salvation. Allah, mentioned in Islam, is everywhere and all-encompassing. He is the only absolute being and holds all creatures by the forelock. This is made clear in the verses of the Qur'an, which state that Allah's Footstool encompasses the heavens and the Earth. Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) also taught that Allah is very close to us and hears our prayers, even our innermost thoughts. He is closer than our own jugular veins and answers our call when we call on Him. We must remember that Allah is near to us and all-encompassing, so that we will believe in Him and be guided. Part 1 of 8: 1. Introduction 2. There is no god but Allah 3. Allah encompasses everything 4. Allah is near to man