a true religion calls for the best of morals and deeds. Allah the most High says: }151. Say (O Muhammad pbuh): “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty - We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to Al-Fawâhish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, and kill not anyone whom Allâh has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islâmic law). This He has commanded you that you may understand. 152. “And come not near to the orphan’s property, except to improve it, until he (or she) attains the age of full strength; and give full measure and full weight with justice. We burden not any person, but that which he can bear. And whenever you give your word (i.e. judge between men or give evidence, etc.), say the truth even if a near relative is concerned, and fulfill the Covenant of Allâh, This He commands you, that you may remember. 153. “And verily, this (i.e. Allâh’s Commandments mentioned in the above two Verses 151 and 152) is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqûn{ (Al-An’âm:151-153)
He also says: }Verily, Allâh enjoins Al-Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allâh Alone - Islâmic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsân [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allâh, totally for Allâh’s sake and in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet pbuh in a perfect manner], and giving (help) to kith and kin (i.e. all that Allâh has ordered you to give them e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help, etc.): and forbids Al-Fahshâ’ (i.e all evil deeds, e.g. illegal sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right, etc.), and Al-Munkar (i.e all that is prohibited by Islâmic law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds, etc.), and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression), He admonishes you, that you may take heed.{(An-Nahl:90)
A religion is never a true one if it promotes lying, murder, injustice, theft, rape, disobedience or the like.
a true religion regulates the relationship between man and his Creator, and the relationships among the creation. Allah says: }You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you and your fathers, for which Allâh has sent down no authority. The command (or the judgement) is for none but Allâh. He has commanded that you worship none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism), that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not.{(Yûsuf:40)
That religion must regulate man’s duties towards his Creator, and also regulate relationships existing among the people.Allah says: }Worship Allâh and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masâkin (the poor), the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess.{(An-Nisâ’:36)
it respects man and honors him. It does not differentiate between its followers according to race, color or tribe.The deemed criterion for differentiation is what man has gained and what deeds he has performed with regards to knowledge and having fear of Allah. The Almighty says: }And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea.{(Al-Isrâ’:70)
He also says: }O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allâh is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of the Muttaqûn (pious). Verily, Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Aware.{(Al-Hujurât:13)
Eighth: such a religion guides to the straight path, which has no crookedness or deviation.It must have a healing effect on people, and be a light and guide to them. Allah says about the Jinn that when they heard the Qur’an they said the following to each other: They said: }O our people! Verily! We have heard a Book (this Qur’ân) sent down after Mûsa (Moses), confirming what came before it, it guides to the truth and to a Straight Path (i.e. Islâm).{(Al-Ahqâf: 30)
Allah says: }And We send down from the Qur’ân that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism and act on it), and it increases the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers) nothing but loss{(Al-Isrâ’:82)
It is a light and a guide that leads people from the darkness of ignorance and misguidance to the path of obedience and happiness, here and in the Hereafter. Allah says: }O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad pbuh) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture and passing over (i.e. leaving out without explaining) much. Indeed, there has come to you from Allâh a light (Prophet Muhammad pbuh ) and a plain Book (this Qur’ân).{(Al-Mâ’idah:15)
The Almighty also says: }256. There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Tâghût and believes in Allâh, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower. 257. Allâh is the Walî (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve, their Auliyâ (supporters and helpers) are Tâghût [false deities and false leaders, etc.], they bring them out from light into darkness. Those are the dwellers of the Fire, and they will abide therein forever.{(Al-Baqarah:256-257)
