Door of the Holy Ka’bah. Picture taken on May 8th, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. during Tawaf-e-Wida.

Welcome to Institute Al Islam, one of the most authentic Islamic websites on the Internet. At Institute Al Islam we are engaged in publishing free Islamic literature using the Internet as an effective distribution medium. We publish articles, books and literature at this site to help Muslims and non-Muslims explore Islam with better understanding of the basic beliefs and practices. Video programs are a next step and will be published soon, but a definite launch date is not available.

With a modest beginning in November 1998 we have been able to provide an excellent collection of Islamic materials. We add new literature regularly and make sure all information remains up to date.

Furthermore, by the Grace and Help of Allah Almighty, on April 21st, 1999 we were successful in publishing an online copy of the most popular English translation of the Holy Quran by Abdullah Yusuf Ali. We have also published the preface to the first edition to the translation and other introductory notes as available in the printed edition.

What is Islam?

“Say: He is Allah* the One and Only; Allah the Eternal Absolute; He begetteth not nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.” Holy Quran; Surah 112; Verses 1-4

* According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Fifth Edition 1995) the meaning of the word ‘Allah’ is, “the name of God among Muslims and among Arabs of all faiths”. AskOxford.com reports the meaning of the word as, “the name of God among Muslims (and Arab Christians).”, Dictionary.com that’s based on Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines Allah as, “the Supreme Being; God.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition says it means, “God, especially in Islam.” The Online Etymology Dictionary defines it as, “Muslim name of the Supreme Being, from Arabic Allahu, contr. of al-Ilahu, from al “the” + Ilah “God,” rel. to Heb. Elohim.”

Who is Allah?

Unlike the belief of some (non-Muslims) that Muslims believe in a God called Allah and that this God is a Black Box in the desert of Saudi Arabia, this is untrue and the truth is that all Muslims believe in the one true Eternal God Almighty who is the One and the Only Lord of all the universe, its Creator, Owner, Organizer, Provider, Master, Planner, Sustainer, Cherisher, and Giver of security.

The Black Box (the door of which features in the above photo) is the House of God on Earth and is known as Bait Al Ka’bah. We as Muslims revere the Ka’bah as one of the signs of God Almighty on Earth. We do not consider the Ka’bah as our God or a manifestation of God Almighty on Earth.

Allah is One God, with no partners! Read more about Allah here >

What is the Holy Quran?

It is the duty of every Muslim, man, woman, or child, to read the Quran and understand it according to his own capacity. If any one of us attains to some knowledge or understanding of it by study, contemplation, and the test of life, both outward and inward, it is his duty, according to his capacity, to instruct others, and share with them the joy and peace which result from contact with the spiritual world.

The Holy Quran - indeed every religious book - has to be read, not only with the tongue and voice and eyes, but with the best light that our intellect can supply, and even more, with the truest and purest light which our heart and conscience can give us. It is in this spirit that we would have readers approach the Quran. Read more about the Quran here >