Search for Truth
Introduction
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INTRODUCTION
The theme of this book is evident from its title. Its
purpose is to present Islam as it is, drawing on its
original sources rather than judging it by the later
day interpretations and commentaries or the
practices of present day Muslims in different parts
of the world. A distinction is made between Islam
as presented by the Prophet Muhammad, may
peace be upon him, and his Companions
(information about which is available to us in the
Qur’an and the
sunnah
) and Islam as represented by
later Muslim generations—both in theory and
practice. This is what we call the scientific
approach.
We are living in the age of the media. Before the
advent of the modern media there were large
numbers of people in the world who knew nothing
of Islam. With the invention of the printing press
and now the electronic media it is difficult to find
today a single person who is unaware of it.
But there is a clear-cut difference. In previous ages
it happened that wherever Islam spread people
