It is possible to distinguish the right religion from others through three main points, which are: [44] Quoted from "Khurāfat al-Ilhād" by Dr. ‘Amr Sharīf, the edition of 2014.
. The attributes of the Creator or God in this religion.
. The qualities of the messenger or the prophet.
. The content of the message.
The heavenly message or the religion must contain a description and an explanation of the attributes of beauty and majesty of the Creator, and an introduction of His essence, and the proofs of His existence.
{Say: “He is Allah, the One; Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is He begotten, and there is none comparable to Him.”} [45] Surat al-Ikhlās: 1-4.
{He is Allah; none has the right to be worshiped except Him, Knower of the unseen and the seen; He is the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. He is Allah; none has the right to be worshiped except Him, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Most Perfect, the Granter of Security, the Watcher over all, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah far above what they associate with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. He has the most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and earth glorifies Him, for He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.} [46] Surat al-Hashr: 22-24.
Concerning the concept and the qualities of the messenger, the religion or the heavenly message must:
1. Explain the manner of communication between the Creator and the messenger.
{I have chosen you, so listen to what is being revealed.} [47] Surat Taha: 13.
2. Clarify the fact that the prophets and messengers are responsible for conveying the message from Allah.
{O Messenger, convey what has been sent down to you from your Lord...} [48] Surat al-Mā’idah: 67.
3. Clarify the fact that the messengers were not sent to call people to worship them but to worship Allah alone.
{It is not for a human being whom Allah has given the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood to say to the people, “Be my worshipers instead of Allah.” Rather, he would say, “Be devoted servants of your Lord because of your teaching of the Scripture and because of your study thereof.”} [49] Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 79.
4. Confirm the fact that the prophets and messengers represent the highest peak in the limited human perfection.
{Indeed, you are of a great moral character.} [50] Surat al-Qalam: 4.
5. Confirm the fact that the messengers represent the human role model for people.
{Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for those who look forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remember Allah much.} [51] Surat al-Ahzāb: 21.
It is impossible to accept a religion whose texts tell us that its messengers are adulterers, murderers or killers, and traitors, or a religion whose texts are congested with treason in its worst levels.
As for the message content, it must contain:
1. A definition of the creating God.
The right religion does not describe God with attributes that do not befit His majesty or that undermine Him, by saying that the God is embodied in the form of a rock or an animal, or that He begets or is begotten, or that He has a peer from among His creatures.
{...There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.} [52] Surat ash-Shūra: 11.
{Allah: none has the right to be worshiped except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that can intercede with Him except with His permission? He knows what was before them and what will be after them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge, except what He wills. His Kursī [footstool] extends over the heavens and earth, and safeguarding of both does not weary Him, for He is the Most High, the Most Great.} [53] Surat al-Baqarah: 255.
2. A clarification of the objective and the goal behind existence.
{I have not created the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.} [54] Surat adh-Dhāriyāt: 56.
{Say, “I am only a man like you; it has been revealed to me that your God is One God. So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous deeds and associate none in the worship of his Lord.”} [55] Surat al-Kahf: 110.
3. Religious concepts that are within the limits of the human capabilities.
{...Allah wants ease for you and does not want hardship for you...} [56] Surat al-Baqarah: 185.
{Allah does not burden any soul greater than it can bear. For it is what it has earned, and against it is what it has incurred...} [57] Surat al-Baqarah: 286.
{Allah wants to lighten your burdens, for man was created weak.} [58] Surat an-Nisā’: 28.
4. Logical evidence on the soundness of the concepts and axioms that it presents.
The message must offer clear and sufficient logical proofs of the soundness of what it presents.
Not only has the Noble Qur’an offered logical evidence, but it has also challenged the polytheists and the atheists to offer proofs of the soundness of their claims.
{And they say, “None will enter Paradise except a Jew or a Christian.” That is their wishful thinking. Say, “Produce your proof, if you are truthful.”} [59] Surat al-Baqarah: 111.
{Whoever invokes another god besides Allah, for which he has no proof, his reckoning will be with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will never succeed.} [60] Surat al-Mu’minūn: 117.
{Say, “Look at what is in the heavens and earth.” But the signs and warnings are of no avail to those who do not believe.} [61] Surat Yūnus: 101.
5. No contradiction between the religious contents presented in the message.
{Do they not then ponder on the Qur’an? If it had been from anyone other than Allah, they would have surely found in it many discrepancies.} [62] Surat an-Nisā’: 82.
{It is He Who has sent down to you the Book. In it are definite verses, which are the foundation of the Book; while others are ambiguous. Those with deviant hearts follow the ambiguous verses, seeking discord and seeking their [false] interpretation. But no one knows their [true] interpretation except Allah. And those who are well-grounded in knowledge say, “We believe in it. It is all from our Lord.” None will take heed except people of understanding.} [63] Surat Āl ‘Imran: 7.
6. No contradiction between the religious text and man's natural moral law.
{Adhere sincerely to the true religion in all uprightness. This is the natural disposition with which Allah has created mankind. There is no change in Allah’s creation. This is the straight religion, but most people do not know.} [64] Surat ar-Rūm: 30.
{Allah wants to make things clear to you and guide you to the [righteous] ways of those before you, and accept your repentance; and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. Allah wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow their lusts want you to deviate a massive deviation.} [65] Surat an-Nisā’: 26-27.
7. No contradiction between the religious concepts and the concepts of the material science.
{Are the disbelievers not aware that the heavens and earth were joined together and then We split them apart? We created from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?} [66] Surat al-Anbiyā’: 30.
8. It must not be isolated from the reality of man's life and it must keep abreast of the civilizational progress.
{Say, “Who has forbidden the adornments and lawful provisions that Allah has brought forth for His slaves?” Say, “They are for the believers in the life of this world, and they will be exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection. This is how We make the verses clear for people who have knowledge.”} [67] Surat al-A‘rāf: 32.
9. It must be fit for every time and place.
{...Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion...} [68] Surat al-Mā’idah: 3.
10. The message must be universal.
{Say [O Prophet], “O people, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and earth; none has the right to be worshiped except Him; He gives life and causes death.” So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him, so that you may be guided.} [69] Surat al-A‘rāf: 158.