(This presentation is an excerpt from "Extinguishing The Flames Of Hell")
In establishing the principles of Islam at the beginning of the seventh century, the Prophet Muhammad was inspired by the moral code of Christianity, the monotheism of the Jews, and visions believed by Muslims to be revelations from Allah brought by the Angel Gabriel.
As a gifted and widely acclaimed spiritual teacher, negotiator, administrator, and military commander, the Prophet Muhammad transformed a land of isolated villages and idol-worshipping nomads into a nation. And, in less than a century after his death in 632 C.E., this small desert nation had reached out into three continents and converted half the Mediterranean world to Islam.
Today, there are over a billion Muslims worldwide. The appeal of Islam is undeniable. It provides a clear-cut code of morality and precise instructions for maintaining a line of communication with God.
For all its virtues, however, Islam fails to accurately define man’s relationship to God. The problem with teaching that human beings are God’s slaves, instead of His children is two-fold in that it misinforms individuals about their true status in God’s Kingdom, and it leaves room for doubt about the professed loyalty to God of a person who subscribes to this belief.
For clarification, consider the comparison of two residents of a royal palace. One is the son of the benevolent king, the other his slave. Which of the two can expect to benefit more from the generosity of the king? Without question, the son’s prospects are infinitely more promising than the slave’s, even to the probability of inheriting the kingdom itself. The slave can only hope that the king will continue to provide the basics of life: food, clothing, and shelter.
And, what if you were the king?
Your son and your slave both declare unconditional loyalty to you. But, of the two, which one would you be more inclined to trust: the son that can go forth into the world and become his own man if he disagrees with you, or the slave over whom you have the power of life and death?; the son that demonstrates his faith in your leadership because of his own free-will decision, or the slave that has no choice?
And so, while Islam has been instrumental in converting pagan worshipers to the cause of Almighty God, the time has come for Muslims to advance to the next level of spiritual enhancement, and to acknowledge their true status in the Universe as the sons and daughters of God.
There is also an urgent call at this time for honorable Muslims to reclaim the leadership of their spiritual family from those who defame the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
The evil elements of Islam must be exposed and challenged. Those that pervert the teachings of the Qur’an and poison the minds of innocent Muslims with lies about paradise for suicidal murderers must be openly confronted and brought to justice for their crimes.
Those who would conspire to keep women in a state of ignorance must be persuaded to come into the 21st century where intelligent males and females are equally prized.
And the practice of incorporating ritualized, synchronized prayers in worshiping God must be replaced with sincere, spontaneous expressions of reverence from the heart.