to divesting himself of all delicate feelings. Islam is the answer to the demands of nature. It is in fact a counterpart of human nature. This is why Islam has been called a religion of nature in the Quran

and asked him what he should do in a certain matter. The Prophet replied, ‘Consult your conscience (heart) about it.’ By the conscience the Prophet meant his finer feelings. That is, what one’s conscience

conscience tells one would likewise be what Islam would demand of one as a matter of common sense. What does human nature desire more than anything? It desires, above all, peace and love. Every human being wants

SocietyWhat are the teachings of Islam on the subject of the multi-religious society? When Islam is studied with this question in mind, we find clear commandments in this regard. In chapter

address non-Muslims thus: “I do not worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship. I shall never worship what you worship, nor will you ever worship what I worship. You have your own religion and

whatever their elected religion, must have due reverence for the religions adhered to by others. What establishes the need for such a formula is the edifice of religion being founded on the total conviction

Intellectual SeclusionItikaf is the Islamic practice of staying in the mosque for a certain number of days, devoting oneself to worship, and staying away from worldly affairs. One kind of itikaf is that

The second kind of itikaf is what may be called intellectual seclusion. According to a number of traditions, the Prophet of Islam used to reflect most of the time. This is what is meant by intellectual seclusion

Hadith No. 225) Some examples have been mentioned in Islamic literature. For instance, after the death of Abu ad Darda Ansari, someone asked his wife what special worship her husband engaged in. His wife,

Companions had for Islam. They rejoiced in the success of their faith as a father rejoices when his son is successful. When Islam received a setback, they would not rest until they had redressed it. When

When one associates oneself with a cause—as the Companions did with Islam—one needs no telling about what one’s attitude should be. Heartfelt enthusiasm shows the way. One is willing to give everything

like any other. What made them stand out from the rest of mankind was that the feeling of true love, which most people feel only for themselves, was felt by them for the faith of Islam. They built for

instance, in the view of Islam, it is not suitable for a man to share a room with a woman if they both are unrelated. Islam asks its followers to maintain a distance of respect, dignity and modesty with

is one whose heart is pure, and only God knows the state of one’s heart. We, humans, do not know what a person is in his heart and so we cannot determine a person’s purity. This matter is solely between

PEOPLE TO ACCEPT ISLAM? WHAT DID HE WANT TO ACHIEVE BY PROMOTING IT?The Prophet Muhammad had sent his messengers to heads of tribes, states and kingdoms inviting them to the message of Islam. The heads of

Intellectual Seclusion I tikaf is the Islamic practice of staying in the mosque for a certain number of days, devoting oneself to worship, and staying away from worldly affairs. One kind of itikaf is that

The second kind of itikaf is what may be called intellectual seclusion. According to a number of traditions, the Prophet of Islam used to reflect most of the time. This is what is meant by intellectual seclusion

Hadith No. 225) Some examples have been mentioned in Islamic literature. For instance, after the death of Abu ad Darda Ansari, someone asked his wife what special worship her husband engaged in. His wife,

54.WHAT IS BID AH IN ISLAM? WHAT SORT OF BID‘AH CAN BE ACCEPTED?Bid‘ah refers to innovation in religion. According to a hadith, every innovation in the religion of Islam must be rejected: Aisha has reported

is not the case with religious matters. Bid‘ah is to introduce in Islam a religious practice which was originally not a part of Islam.55.CAN A MUSLIM SELL ALCOHOL AND OTHER HARAM PRODUCTS?There are two

spirituality in Islam and what, from the Islamic viewpoint, the method was of attaining spirituality. I said that the word ‘spirituality’ (or ruhaniyat) began to be used later in the history of Islam. In the Quran

renunciation. But that is not true. What we achieve by renouncing the world is not spirituality but mysticism (rehbaniyat) and, according to a tradition mysticism is not desirable in Islam. (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No

unseen. According to a tradition, the Prophet said of Abu Bakr’s acceptance of Islam: “Whenever I invited someone to Islam, he would show some doubt or hesitation. The only one who did not do so was Abu

him of Islam.” (Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah, Vol. III, p. 27) In his evaluation of a thing purely on its merits, Abu Bakr attained to the highest point of humanity. There were some who accepted Islam because

or the ineffable style of the Quran, or the conquest of Makkah, or the material gains brought by Islam; but Abu Bakr Siddiq had reached such heights of conceptual thought that he could accept or reject

no reason to raise an objection. Such a person is only exercising his religious freedom. But if Islamic fundamentalism is taken in the second meaning of imposing it on others by force, for instance, if

such a case, Islamic fundamentalism will go against the spirit of Islam as well as reason. This second concept of Islamic fundamentalism has produced what is known in modern times as Islamic extremism or

or Islamic terrorism. But the truth is that the terms Islamic extremism or Islamic terrorism are self- contradictory. Islam is a religion of tolerance and peace. It is defamatory to attribute the words