Islamic Creed

Although the vast majority of mankind believe in a Creator or Supreme Being, their concepts vary. Islam, in the Qur'an and Sunnah, affirms the existence and Oneness of the Creator and describes Him as having the most perfect attributes, thus enabling man to have the proper concept of Him and to establish a strong bond with Him based on the understanding of His sublime attributes. But the influence of philosophy and other ideas that are alien to Islam led to the emergence of distorted concepts about Allah.
In this book, Dr. Umar S. al-Ashqar discusses the wrong ideas that have crept into Muslims' minds concerning Allah and His attributes, and highlights the fact that the only correct way to understand the verses of the Qur'an and the ahadeeth, which speak of Allah and His attributes, is the way in which they were understood by the first generations of this ummah (the salaf).
Dr. al-Ashqar also examines modern concepts, such as the theory of evolution, and proves that they are wrong and false. Following the Qur'anic injunction to ponder the signs of Allah in the universe, he also pays attention to the study of natural phenomena which clearly point to the existence and Oneness of the Almighty Creator. Thus, Dr. al-Ashqar affirms the principle which lies at the heart of Islamic faith and practice, namely Tawheed, the Absolute Oneness of the Divine.

HB 479 pages

From the moment an individual is conceived in his mother's womb, until his death and beyond, angels play a part in human life. Angels bring forth the soul of the dying and they bring comfort or inflict torment in the grave. An angel will sound the Trumpet on the Last Day, and angels will be present on the Day of Judgment until they accompany people to their ultimate destination in Paradise or Hell.
Almost all human cultures, ancient and modern, have some kind of belief about angels. The pre-Islamic Arabs believed them to be daughters of the Almighty. Some philosophers thought that angels were the stars in the sky. In modern times, there has been a resurgence of interest in angels, and they feature prominently in movies and other forms of popular western culture. But these myths have no role to play in the belief of the Muslim.
Our beliefs are based on the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah, which tell us all we need to know about the reality of the unseen, including the world of the angels. In this book, Dr. Umar S. al-Ashqar draws on the sources of Islam to give us a comprehensive picture of who the angels are, their role in the universe and their interaction with mankind in this world and the next.

HB 128 pages.

Some people thing that writing about this topic is writing about a matter that should remain on the periphery of knowledge. They believe in going over this topic in the quickest of fashions and not giving it too much thought.
They think that the benefits of such a study are very limited, and that being ignorant of this topic is not harmful at all.
However, this is not a irrelevant matter. Humans today spend billions of dollars, with which they could develop countries and end poverty in the farthest reaches of the world, on research to discover whether there is any possibility of life on nearby planets. Scientists spend a great deal of their time and resources on this question. What about living beings that are known to exist right here with us on our earth? They live in our houses and they eat and drink with us. In fact, they affect our thoughts and our hearts and even drive us to destroy our own selves and to spill one another's blood.
No price can be put on the importance of texts of the Qur'an and authentic hadeeth that have reached us, giving us knowledge of this matter. Those texts uncover for us the secrets of these fellow-creatures: the world of the jinn.

HB 238 pages.

It is true that mankind today has reached such a level of progress that they have no need of the Messengers and their teachings? Are humans capable today of guiding themselves without referring to the methods set out by the Messengers?
The answer is No. Mankind need to know the Messenger, and the Message he conveyed. They have to belive in what he said and obey him. The only way to acheive happiness and sucess in this world and in the Hereafter is to follow the Messenger. By following the Messenger, man will become aware of the details of good and evil, and Allah will be pleased with him. His guidance comprises good deeds, good speech, and good morals. His speech and conduct are the criteria against which all actions are measured. Without a Messenger's guidance, man is like a fish without water. When man abondons this guidance, then his heart is spoiled.
Since man's happiness in this world and in the Hereafter is linked to the guidance of the Prophet, one should know well the Prophet's teaching and biography in order to join his true and successful followers.
This is a comprehensive work which is full of clear proofs and evidences from the pure teachings of Islam, is an essential reading for all Muslims and seekers of truth.

HB358 pages

What happens after death? When will the end of the world be? Are we really living in the “last days” ? These are questions which concern everyone, no matter what his or her background. Many have tried to answer these questions, producing theories that range from the fanciful to the nihilistic. But man-made notions cannot answer questions about matters which man has no way of finding out by himself.
In these as in so many other issues, Islam brings us answers. Surely the One Who gives life and takes it away, is the One Who is the best to inform us of what happens after death. The One Who has created this universe and mankind is the best to tell us about when this world will come to an end and mankind will be called for judgment. He has informed us about these matters, in His book and through His Prophet (pbuh).
In this book, Dr. Umar S. al-Ashqar examines all these issues from the point of view of the Qur'an and Sunnah. He looks at issues of death and what happens to a person's soul after death, including the questioning of the angels and the torment of the grave. He also examines the signs of the Hour, which indicate that the Day of Judgment is approaching – many of which are already happening. As always he quotes extensively from the texts, placing these issues squarely within the Islamic framework and dispelling the myth and misunderstandings that have arisen and become prevalent.

HB360 pages

Belief in the Day of Resurrection is one of the central tenets of Islamic faith. It is a belief that was preached by all prophets, and it is a belief that makes sense of a sometimes incomprehensible world. Belief in the day of resurrection and the final judgment brings benefits in this world, on the individual and social levels. It makes the individual focus on what is in his ultimate best interest, guiding his actions in ways that will benefit him and bring him happiness in this world and the next.
On the broader social level, this belief imposes controls on human greed and restrains people from committing transgressions for which they would ultimately have to answer.
The Qur'an and Sunnah are filled with detailed information of what will come to pass on the great Day. Drawing upon these sources of Islam, Dr. Umar S. al-Ashqar takes us through the events of the Day, from the first Trumpet-blast and the end of life in the heaven and on earth, through the terrors of the Resurrection and the ordeals of the Judgment, to the final entry to the place of eternal abode, in Paradise or Hell.

HB406 pages.

Nothing is more important to the believer than entrance into Paradise and the avoidance of Hell. This will be the fruit of his/her deeds in this life. This topics from the topics of the unseen is a major issue of faith.
The author has indeed covered all the issues of this reality in this book. The description of Paradise and Hell and its people will make every reader more conscious of his ultimate goal in life and keep him/her busy in the remembrance of its realities.

HB 351 pages.

Is this is a matter which is directly relevant to the day-to-day life of Muslims, or is it an obscure topic best left to the debates of philosophers and theologians? Does it imply that Muslims are “fatalists” who see themselves as helpless in the hands of an indifferent fate? Attitudes towards the divine will and predestination have always influenced Muslims' daily activities. In this book Dr. Umar S. al-Ashqar explores this topic in depth explaning it in clear terms for the ordinary Muslim. Drawing always on the Qur'an and Sunnah, and on the words of the greatest scholars such as Ibn Taymiyah, he covers some of the historical debates that took place within the ummah on this matter, explains the correct view, that of Ahl as-Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah.
The true Islamic concept of Divine Will and Predestination is an empowering notion. Whilst all that happens takes place within the framework of divine will, man has freedom of choice within those parameters. This is a matter which is of interest and concern for all Muslims, one which will bring many benefits, both in this world and in the hereafter.

HB158 pages