This book deals with one of the most important questions in Islamic Law, which is who is a Muslim, and who has ceased to be a Muslim, because of their wrong ideas.

In the Nineteenth Century India Imam Ahmad Raza (Rahmatullahi Alaih) was concerned to defend Islam from groups that were trying to seize the leadership of the Muslim Community. They did this by trying to get rid of the real Islam, and raise themselves up as leaders. To raise themselves up they tried to lower the dignity of the Prophet (Sall Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam), and even of Allah Ta’ala Himself! These Deobandis said that Allah Ta’ala could lie, and that the Prophet (Sall Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam) had less knowledge than Satan, and even than madmen and animals!

Imam Ahmad Raza denounced these people as Kaffirs (Unbelievers who have left Islam). This book is his proof of his verdict on them.

The verdict of Kufr in Islam is a very complicated question, and this book gives an excellent account of all the complicated issues. In fact the verdict of Kufr can only be passed in clearcut cases, and Imam Raza explains here his own Islamic legal reasoning in arriving at this verdict.

Salam is the most beautiful poem ever composed in praise of the Prophet (Sall Allahu Alahi wa Sallam) of Islam. This poem is full of love for him, and does no more than call for blessings on him, and on the Muslims of Ahle Sunnat. This poem is sung by the congregation at Mosques on Fridays and at other times, and at all meetings in honour of the Prophet (Sall Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam).

Professor G.D Qureshi has produced here an English translation of Salam, which is accurate, beautiful, and poetic. It is Professor Qureshi’s unique achievement to present this fine work to the English reader.

To understand the 169 couplets of this poem requires a thorough knowledge of Islam, for the poem is a miracle of compression. It contains many details of the life, character, miracles and work of the Prophet (Sall Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam), and tells of his friends and family, and of the Caliphs, the Imams of the Four Schools of Law, Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, and of many other details of the creed of Ahle Sunnat.

Salam is the centre of the life of Imam Ahmad Raza (1856-1921), who was called the Revivor of the 14th Islamic Century. In his day Islam was being attacked by the West, and from within, by people like the Qadianis and Wahhabis, who were trying to seize power over the Muslims. The key to all their attacks was an attempt to lower the dignity and importance of the Prophet (Sall Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam). The whole aim of Imam Ahmad Raza, in composing this Salam, was to defend Islam by upholding the complete superiority of the greatest Prophet (Sall Allahu Alahi wa Sallam).