Kuna dini takriban 4,200 duniani leo! Hili linashangaza unapofikiria kwamba kuna Mungu mmoja tu, ambaye peke yake aliumba Ulimwengu na kila kilichomo ndani yake. Inawezekanaje kuwa na zaidi ya dini 4,000 kwa Muumba mmoja?

There are an estimated 4,200 religions in the world today! This is astounding when you consider there is only one God, who alone, created the Universe and everything in it. How can there be over 4,000 religions for one Creator?

Wazo kwamba kila mtu anaweza kumwabudu Mungu kwa kadiri ya matamanio yake, na hivyo kunaweza kuwepo dini zisizo na idadi, haliwezi kufikirika. Vivyo hivyo, wazo kwamba tunaweza kumpuuza Mungu na kuishi maisha yetu bila uwajibikaji haliwezekani hata kuwazika. Mungu hakutuumba bure wala hakutuacha bila mwongozo. Kwa rehema yake, ametuwekea njia kamili ya maisha, kwa ustawi wetu katika maisha haya ya duniani na Akhera. Kwa kuwa kuna dini nyingi duniani, tunajuaje ni ipi ya kufuata? Huenda ukashangaa kujua kwamba miongoni mwa dini zote za dunia, kuna dini moja tu inayoelekeza ibada zake zote kwa Muumba peke yake, bila kumshirikisha na washirika wowote wala kumfananisha na viumbe vyake. Kuna dini zinazoamini kwamba Ulimwengu una miungu mingi, kama ilivyo katika hadithi za Kigiriki. Baadhi ya dini zinaamini kwamba sanamu ni taswira ya kimwili ya Mungu, hivyo huelekeza ibada zao kwa michongo au vinyago. Nyingine zinafundisha fundisho la kuombea kupitia kwa wanaoitwa watakatifu. Baadhi wanafanya aina ya ibada kwa mababu, wakiamini kwamba wafu wanaweza kuathiri bahati ya walio hai; huku wengi wakiamini kwamba Mungu alizaa mwana ambaye naye pia anaabudiwa na hutumika kama mpatanishi kati ya mwanadamu na Mungu.

The notion that everyone can worship God according to their desires, and thus there can be countless religions, is inconceivable. Likewise, the thought that we can ignore God, and live our lives without accountabil ity is unimaginable. God did not create us in vain or leave us without guidance. Due to His mercy, He outlined for us a complete way of life, for our prosperity in this life and the Hereafter. With so many religions in the world, how do we know which one to follow? You may be surprised to learn that out of all the world religions, there is only one religion that directs all aspects of worship to the Crea tor alone, without associating any partners with Him or deeming Him to be similar to His creation. There are religions that believe the Universe contains many gods, like Greek mythology. Some religions believe idols are a physical representa tion of God, so they direct their worship toward carvings or statues. Others teach a doctrine of intercessory prayer to so-called saints. Some practice a form of ancestral worship, believing the dead can influence the fortune of the living; while many believe God begot a son who is also worshipped and serves as an intermediary between man and God.

Mifano yote iliyotajwa ina ibada tofauti, zenye majina mahsusi, lakini zinashiriki jambo moja la pamoja. Zote zinaelekeza baadhi ya vipengele vya ibada kwa viumbe; ama kwa kitu kilichoumbwa au kwa mtu aliyezaliwa.

All of the mentioned examples have different rituals, carrying distinctive names, while sharing a common practice. They all direct aspects of wor ship toward the creation; either something that was created or someone that was born.

Dini sahihi, njia ya asili ya maisha, ni kumwabudu Muumba wako peke yake, si kiumbe. Nabii Muhammad ﷺ alilirahisisha hili alipoulizwa, "Dhambi kubwa kuliko zote ni ipi?" Akasema, "Kwamba umweke Allah washirika katika ibada, ilhali Yeye peke yake amekuumba." Hii ndiyo Uislamu. Hii ndiyo dini ya Ibrahim. "Sema: 'Hakika Mola wangu Mlezi ameniongoza kwenye njia iliyonyooka, dini iliyo sahihi, mila ya Ibrahim, mwenye kuelekea haki. Wala hakuwa miongoni mwa wale waliomshirikisha Allah.'" (Qur'an, Sura ya 6, Aya ya 161)

The correct religion, the natural way of life, is to worship your Creator, alone, not the creation. Prophet Muhammad simplified this when asked, “What is the greatest of all sins?” He said, “That you set up rivals with Allah in worship, while He, alone, created you.” This is Islam. This is the religion of Abraham. “Say, ‘Indeed, my Lord has guided me to a straight path—a correct reli gion—the way of Abraham, inclining toward truth. And he was not among those who associated partners with Allah.’” (Quran, Chapter 6, Verses 161)