A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT
DAVID CRYSTAL, a British linguist, is the foremost writer and
lecturer on the English language. For students who wish to
improve their English language skills, he prescribes reading the
quarterly English Today three times daily before or after meals. Being
so passionate about mastering the English language, I followed this
advice to the letter.
Existential questions, faith in the unseen, peace and spirituality are
the areas that have always grabbed my attention. I feel it equally
important to have a reason-based understanding of faith and religion
to live a productive and uplifting life. To aid me on this journey, I read
the magazine Spirit of Islam (SOI) three times daily. SOI has been the
source of my spiritual nourishment.
Every day, this world throws up new challenges that may well unseat
the reason of any person. It becomes all the more important to know
the bigger picture behind everyday occurrences. Human reason, with
its limitations, stands stunned to challenges such as the problem of
evil, why one needs to follow a universal code of conduct, violence,
injustice, natural as well as man-made calamities. Human reason sans
divine guidance is prone to misjudgement. What a relief it is to find
practical solutions for not only mundane affairs but also lofty questions
of human intellect in the pages of SOI! Read this passage that appeared
in the first issue of SOI if you are thinking about why you cannot always
have all the good things in life:
God has placed unpleasant things alongside the pleasant things
of life. Just as the rose bush, along with its exquisite flowers,
also possesses piercing thorns, so also does life contain an
amalgam of both pleasing and displeasing objects. This is the
way God has created the world. There is nothing for us to do but
to fit in with this order of nature that He has laid down. Much as
we may try, it is impossible for us to have things any other way.
(January 2013)
The contents of SOI are based on the writings and ideas of Maulana
Wahiduddin Khan. The uniqueness of SOI lies in the fact that its
contents take into account the divine guidance enshrined in the Quran,
the practical model of the Prophet Muhammad, a true understanding
of human nature and modern science. This results in very practical and
real solutions to problems and challenges. We all wish to see an ideal
society come into existence. We have some ideas as to how that should
be brought about. It is also an undeniable fact that an ideal society has
never materialized. Read this passage on this topic:
A man builds his personality by his own decision. It is enough
for a human being to have individual willpower, but it cannot
be with the whole society. The will is within an individual, the
collective will within society is just an imaginary concept. It
does not exist in reality. That is why in history there have been
many individuals who possessed an ideal character, but it never
happened that the whole society or the whole collective system
became an ideal society. According to the creation plan of God,
this is not possible. (April-June, 2021)
SOI helps us to gain perspective. It guides towards a God-oriented life.
It emphasizes a duty-conscious life as opposed to right-conscious life.
It teaches us to learn positive lessons from the seemingly negative
occurrences. It inspires us to never lose hope. It encourages us to
trust the indomitable human spirit. It opens doors for us to have direct
communion with God. And, it guides us to believe in God and put our
trust in His creation plan for us.
Because of the profound relevance of SOI in our life, I am tempted, like
David Crystal, to suggest to all our readers to read it daily. With this
issue, Spirit of Islam enters the 10th year of its publication. This is a
humbling occasion. It is special succour of God
that SOI has come thus far. I, along with the SOI
team, offer our praises to God for the plenteous
bounty and gifts which He has bestowed upon
us.
We wish all our readers a safe, peaceful and
happy New Year. May God bless you with health,
peace and happiness! May God guide us all to
the Straight Path!
Mohammad Usman
Sub-editor
FROM THE EDITORINCHIEFS DESK
Prof Farida Khanam is an author, editor, translator,
public speaker and former professor of Islamic Studies
at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Among her books
are ‘A Simple Guide to Sufism’ and ‘A Study of World’s
Major Religions’. She has translated into English
many books authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan.
Currently the chairperson of CPS International, she is a
regular contributor of articles to various publications.
Prof Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of
the Quran and has also translated his Urdu commentary
on the Quran into English. She can be reached at
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SPIRIT OF ISLAM
Your Spiritual Companion
THIS January 2022 is the beginning of the 10th year of our
magazine. Its wide readership is a special blessing of God. We
have been receiving good news all along that it’s reach has
increased manifold all over the world. We are grateful to the readers
who have continued to benefit from this magazine.
So much has changed since the start of 2020. The pandemic, the
lockdown, quarantine, social distancing, Oxygen supply and the race
to produce vaccine in order to see the world get going again: How
tumultuous, nerve-racking and testing these times have been! We had
to make radical adjustments to our mode of living. Although the threat
is far from over, we do find ourselves in a better position now to deal
with Covid-19, thanks be to God for the human intelligence to find
solutions to the problems.
This was also the occasion when the existential questions started to
trouble the human mind. A perusal of the newspapers, magazines and
audio-visual broadcasts during the last one year makes it quite clear
how interested we were in finding answers to age-old questions like:
Where do we come from? Where are we destined to go after death?
What is the purpose of life? Why is there so much suffering in the world?
This magazine also had to make some radical adjustments in these trying
times. The founder of Centre for Peace and Spirituality, International, our
mentor, guide and ambassador of peace Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
passed away on April 21, 2021. We converted Spirit of Islam into a
bimonthly and digital-only publication.
We are now more than ever pledged to keep bringing the peaceful
teachings of Islam to people. The contents of the magazine comprise
of the spiritual aspects of everyday lives, teachings of Islam on the
burning questions of existence, dispelling the misconceptions about
Islam and providing practical guidance in a changing world.
We wish you well-being in the year 2022 and hope and pray that we
will acknowledge the blessings of God and utilize the resources to
develop ourselves intellectually as well as to be physically healthy. Each
one of us in some way or the other has gone through health issues
which should teach us the value of both a healthy mind and a healthy
body. Through Spirit of Islam we strive to present peace and spirituality
concepts to help us face this challenge with the right response.
We would be pleased to hear from you. Please write to us at:
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Prof. Farida Khanam
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WHEN WORDS BECOME THE TRUTH
IN the early period of Islam, there are many events that showcase
the exemplary character of the Muslims. Of these, I find a few
moments in Islamic history very rare. The words that were said in
these moments cannot be said again in history.
The first such moment is about the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet
had migrated in secret from Makkah to Madinah. He was hiding in the
Cave of Thawr with his Companion Abu Bakr. Meanwhile the Quraysh
search party scoured the area south of Makkah where the Prophet and
Abu Bakr where hiding. They came upon the mouth of the cave, and
had they looked down while standing at the edge of the cave, they
would have surely found the men they were hunting.
With the Quraysh so close to discovering their hiding place, Abu Bakr
became very tense about the Prophet’s safety. The Prophet reassured
him, “How can you be apprehensive about the two with whom is a third,
the third being God Himself?”
This is not some plain statement. These words express the Prophet’s
utmost trust in the help of God.
The second moment is about the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
The people at large were greatly perturbed. It was at this time Abu Bakr
came riding his horse from his dwelling place. He got down from it,
entered the Mosque and did not speak with anybody and went directly
to the Prophet, who was covered with a marked blanket. Abu Bakr
uncovered his face. He knelt down and kissed him and then started
weeping and said, “My father and my mother be sacrificed for you, O
God’s Prophet! God will not combine two deaths on you. You have died
the death which was written for you.”
Then he went out and said, “Whoever worshipped Muhammad, then
Muhammad is dead, but whoever worshipped God, then God is Alive
and shall never die.”
These words show the quality of differentiation that a believer shows
between God and His servants.
The third moment shows the emotional turmoil Umar underwent when
he heard the news of the Prophet’s death. He refused to believe that
the Prophet had died. He stood at the gates of the Prophet’s mosque
with his sword in his hand.
Abu Bakr told him to sit down but Umar refused. Abu Bakr again told
him to sit down but Umar again refused. Then Abu Bakr left him alone
and addressed the gathering. Among the things he said, he also recited
this verse of the Quran: Muhammad is only a messenger. Messengers
have passed away before him. If he should die, or be killed, will you
turn back on your heels? Those who turn on their heels do not harm
the Lord in the least. God will reward the grateful. (
The effect of Abu Bakr’s address was electrical
in character. It appeared as though the people
did not know that this verse of the Holy Quran
had come down until Abu Bakr had recited it
that day. Umar later said:
“By God when I heard Abu Bakr recite these
words I was dumbfounded so that my legs
would not bear my weight, and I fell to the
ground knowing that the Holy Prophet was
indeed dead.”
A person’s character
is expressed through
his words. The words
of a true believer
radiate with trust in
God, realization of
the greatness of God,
acceptance of reality
and a keen sense of
the mission that he
has to follow.
This is a statement of recognition of truth,
even if it is against one’s own wish.
The fourth moment is that of the Caliph Umar
bin Abdul Aziz, also known as Umar II. One of his governors, Jarrah bin
Abdullah, said he did not want to encourage people embracing Islam.
His reason was that if a large number of people became Muslims, the
amount of money collected in the form of taxes will be reduced, and
the government finances will be affected tremendously. It must be
noted here that this tax exempted the followers of others faiths to join
the army and it was the responsibility of Muslim rulers to provide them
security and safety.
Umar bin Abdul Aziz replied: God Almighty sent the Prophet Muhammad
as a guide to humanity, not as a collector of taxes.
This profound statement is an expression of the complete realization
of the responsibility of the believers to communicate the Word of God
on the one hand and realization of the true mission of the Prophet on
the other.
REMEMBRANCE OF GOD
THE Quran states: “Remembrance of God is surely the greatest
thing.” (
remembrance of God is the greatest form of worship.
This rememberance of God is what is most desired of a human being.
Therefore, the Quran adjures us to remember God very frequently
(
What is meant by remembrance of God? Abu Bakr Jassas Raazi (d.
took the meaning of “remembrance” as signs of God and thinking
about God’s majesty and power. And he regarded this form of worship
as superior to other types of remembrance (such as saying God’s name
while counting the beads on the rosary).
The fact is that we understand God only
through those phenomena or attributes of
God which are scattered everywhere in our
own existence and across the universe. We
achieve the realization and discovery of God
through contemplation on these phenomena
of nature.
It is a fact that we
cannot observe
God’s Being, yet, we
can definitely see
glimpses of God in
His creation. This
contemplation on
God’s creation is
another name for
remembrance of God.
The reality is that, remembrance does not
mean verbal repetition of God’s name.
Remembrance means contemplation on
God’s creation to discover God’s greatness
through the wisdom and perfection of His
works. This is remembrance, and through it,
one can achieve a higher level of realization of God.
It is a fact that we cannot observe God’s Being, yet, we can definitely see
glimpses of God in His creation. This contemplation on God’s creation
is another name for remembrance of God, and through it one is able to
achieve that high level of firm faith which is called realization of God.
Trying to observe God’s Being leads one either to ecstasy or to
confusion, and both of these are actually undesirable. In this case, the most desirable thing is divine realization, which is achieved through
contemplation and deep thinking. There is no other way to reach this
goal.
One can understand the meaning of remembrance of God from a
report by Aisha, the Prophet’s wife: “The Prophet Muhammad used
to remember God on every occasion.” (Sahih Muslim) Abundantly
remembering God means that whatever a person sees or whatever
he experiences, he should make it a point of reference for the
remembrance of God. Everything should remind him of God. Every
experience should become a reason for strengthening his faith. Every
study and observation should bring him nearer to God.
TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE
We often talk of peace in the context of war. But this is
a very narrow and restricted notion of peace. Peace is
deeply linked with the entirety of human life. Peace is
a complete ideology in itself. Peace is the only religion
for both—man and the universe. It is the master-key
that opens the doors to every success. Peace creates a
favourable atmosphere for success in every endeavour.
Without peace, no positive action—small or big—is possible.
CONSTRUCTIVE ENTERPRISE VS.
POLITICS
ABU ALI MUHAMMAD ibn Ali ibn Muqla (885-940) was a man of
great talent and capability. He made a substantial reform of
the ancient Arabic script (Kufic script) with his extraordinary
artistic ability. He succeeded in making it beautiful and comprehensive.
He took the Arabic script out of the early stages and carried it to the
highest stages. Philip K Hitti in his book History of the Arabs calls him the
founder of Arabic Calligraphy. (p.
Encyclopedia Britannica wrote that Ibn Muqla was born in Baghdad and
was the most prominent calligrapher of the Abbasid period (750-1258).
He gave the Arabic letter a novel beauty. (V/272)
Ibn Muqla was initially appointed as secretary on a six-dinar monthly
payment in an office of the Abbasid government in Baghdad. His artistic
mastery took him to the court of the Caliph. Here he gained so much
popularity that he was the vizier of three consecutive kings. First of
Al-Muqtadir Abbasi (895-932), then of his brother Al-Qahir Abbasi (
950), then of Al-Razi Abbasi (909-940).
It should be noted that the position of ‘vizier’ used to be synonymous
with the Prime Minister in ancient times. The king had only one vizier,
and he had all the powers. Hamid bin Abbas was a minister in the early
days of Al-Muqtadir. The king appointed Ali bin Isa al-Jarrah as a deputy
minister. This evoked surprise from the people. A poet wrote:
The strangest thing we’ve seen
That is, there are two ministers in one country.
These abilities of Ibn Muqla could have helped immensely in the
development of his art. If he had put these opportunities into the
development and research of the art of writing and other related
things in this regard, not only would the Arabic script have reached its
perfection long ago but many other inventions of the field of writing
and printing which came to light much later would have come into
existence much earlier.
For example, the paper was invented in China
in AD 105, eight hundred years before Ibn
Muqla. It was invented by Cai Lun who, like
Ibn Muqla, was the minister of the Chinese
Emperor Han Ho Ti. Some Chinese prisoners
who came into the hands of Muslims in
the Battle of Arabs and Chinese in Russian
Turkistan knew how to make paper. They were
asked to make paper in Samarkand. After that
in 795, the manual papermaking industry was
established in Baghdad. However, the work of
making paper through the machine was first
started in 1750 in Holland. The papermaking
in the form of a continuous roll started in
1798 in France.
History can forgive
Ibn Muqla of the
past, but what is
the excuse for the
present “Ibn Muqla”
who does not put
his abilities into
constructive work,
but is shying away
from his valuable
opportunities while
indulging in selfglorifying acts of
personal ambitions?
Similarly, the printing press was probably
first discovered by the Chinese in 770. This
was 115 years before the birth of Ibn Muqla. The oldest specimen of
printing was discovered in China even earlier in the fifth century AD.
The developed printing press in Europe was created by Gutenberg in
the 15th century and he used it to print the Bible. However, the printing
press in the Muslim world reached Egypt for the first time in 1798
through Napoleon.
Ibn Muqla was not only an expert in the art of writing but also had
amazing creativity. If he had put his God-gifted abilities in this field, then
paper printing and other such blessings which became available in the
Muslim world much later would have been made available during the
life of Ibn Muqla. Ibn Muqla would have been able to take the Muslim
world into the age of the printing press a thousand years ago. But he
was not content to restrict himself to this field. He could have utilized the opportunities available at the Ministry in the development of paper,
writing and printing. On the contrary, he used these opportunities as
stepping stones to jump to a life of fame and glory. As a result, he not
only ruined his life but the Muslims also lost the precious advantage
that could have been achieved through his abilities.
When Ibn Muqla reached the position of vizier (or Prime Minister),
the ideal thing for him was to use this great opportunity in some
constructive enterprise. But he suffered from the same psychological
disease which often afflicts those who are brought to a higher position.
His artistic and constructive ambitions now turned into political
ambitions. Instead of engaging in silent service, he now became the
leader of the secret political and military movements. Now he wanted
to bring about a revolution in the system of government for his own
benefit. He started plotting secretly to dethrone Caliph Al-Qahir and
crown Abu Ahmad ibn Muktafi as the Caliph of the Abbasid Empire.
There is an Arabic saying that the love of something makes a man
blind and deaf. Ibn Muqla suffered from this weakness despite all his
intelligence. He could not accurately assess his circumstances and the
power of the Caliph in comparison. So the secret was revealed. Ibn
Muqla was accused of conspiring with the army chief Monis Khadim to
dethrone Al-Qahir.
Ibn Muqla’s house was burnt down after the conspiracy was revealed.
Abu Ahmad ibn Muktafi was entombed alive. The intelligence of Ibn
Muqla came in handy for him. He escaped and then received the
ministry again after offering 500,000 dinars to the Caliph. But his
political ambitions again created problems for him. Al-Razi deposed
him from the ministry and put him under house arrest and cut off his
right hand. It was undoubtedly the harshest punishment that could
have been given to an artist. This is one of the verses he composed in
the prison of the house:
There is no enjoyment in life after the right hand is cut off,
O my life, when my right hand is separated from me, then you
also be separated from me.
Ibn Muqla’s extraordinary ability can be gauged from the fact that
when his right hand was cut off, he started practising writing with his
left hand. Even with his left hand, he would write as well as he would
write with his right hand. He attached a pen in his severed hand and
wrote with it too. It is said that no one could discern any difference in the writings before the hand was cut off and from the writings after the
hand was cut off. This man of extraordinary talent died at the age of 56
in his prison. (Hitti, p.
Ibn Muqla was also a poet. He penned many verses in mourning his
severed hand. He used to say: The hand which wrote a number of
copies of the Quran, which recorded a number of Hadith reports of the
Messenger of God, which wrote down the court commandments that
were sent to the east and the west, was cut off like the hand of thieves.
But in this world, such emotional words have no value. Ibn Muqla’s
fault was that he did not stop at writing the Quran and Hadith. And
whoever goes beyond the limits like this, this is how it ends for him.
Ibn Muqla died, but his character is still alive today. There are still many
people who are following exactly the path of Ibn Muqla. They invest
their opportunities in acquiring personal glory rather than building
society. The result is that today the history of the Muslim community has
become a history of destruction rather than a history of construction.
History can forgive Ibn Muqla of the past, but what is the excuse for
the present “Ibn Muqla” who does not put his abilities into constructive
work, but is shying away from his valuable opportunities while indulging
in self-glorifying acts of personal ambitions? Do they not remember a
saying of the Prophet that a believer is not stung twice (by a snake)
from the same hole.
It is a fact that the best talents have always been ruined by political
ambitions. Only those jump into the field of politics who are born with
great potential from nature. Instead of putting their great potential
into a constructive service, they try to oust political rulers from power.
As a result, numerous human lives are lost. Numerous economic
resources are wasted. What actually transpires is that some people
gain leadership and fame, and instead of one ‘wrongdoer’, another
‘wrongdoer’ gets to sit on the throne.
There is no precedent in history that the politics of tussle has ever
yielded any real results. The secret of raising the nation is that the
leaders of the nation should lower their political flag. When the seeds
of individual courage are buried in the earth, then the magnificent tree
of the national future grows. Today, our history awaits the same kind
of psychological evidence, not murder and death.
THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUE LEADERSHIP
Important and Sensitive
IN Sahih al-Bukhari (a compilation of the sayings and the deeds of
the Prophet Muhammad), a chapter is devoted to the description
of the merits of the people of Madinah who helped the Prophet
Muhammad when he migrated there. A part of a long Hadith is as
follows: A woman asked the second Caliph Abu Bakr, “How long the
matter of religion will stay on the right path?” Abu Bakr replied, “You
will continue to follow the true religion so long as your leaders remain
true and sincere.”
A movement, whether good or bad, is always run by the leader. The
leadership of a nation is the opinion-maker class. A leader is the one
who mobilizes the people on an issue, he motivates people and puts
them on a front. A movement that appears to have arisen in the name
of the people (mass movement) is actually started and run by some
leaders.
The true nature of any issue cannot be
understood by the public. Only the select few
are capable to understand its true nature and
guide the public. This guidance is decisive
for the future of a nation. If the leader has
raised and mobilized the nation on true
principles, only then it is possible to reach
its destination. And if the leader mobilizes
the nation for wrong goals and he does not
follow the principles that govern a movement,
then despite all the sacrifices, the nation will
find itself in the pit of destruction. Instead
of gaining anything, it will lose something of
great value.
To swim in the river,
only that person
will venture who
knows the art of
swimming. Similarly,
only a person
who has fulfilled
essential conditions
of leadership should
come into the field of
leadership
The role of a leader in the life of a nation is very sensitive and important.
Therefore, it is necessary that the leader is serious to the last extent,
because if he mobilizes the nation in the wrong direction, then the
responsibility for the destruction that will follow will be on the leader
the most.
To swim in the river, only that person will venture who knows the art of
swimming. Similarly, only a person who has fulfilled essential conditions of leadership should come into the field of leadership. These essential
conditions are, a thorough knowledge of religion, a deep study of the
present era, a correct estimate of the religious and moral standing of
the nation, a commanding knowledge of the external forces at play.
Only those people should try their hands at leadership who have a
commanding grasp of these aspects. It is a crime to enter the field of
leadership without having these prerequisites.
MATURE AND PROACTIVE INDIVIDUALS
Asset for a Mission
ABDULLAH IBN UBAYY (d.
Madinah. The people of Madinah had unanimously agreed to
make him their king. However, it so happened that the Prophet
Muhammad left Makkah and came to Madinah. The people of Madinah
(Ansar) now started to treat him as their leader. In the beginning,
the people who had migrated to Madinah (Muhajiroon) were in the
minority. But people continued migrating from different places until
the Muhajiroon became the majority and Ansar became a minority.
So far, Abdullah ibn Ubayy had been the ruler of the Ansar. (Tafsir Ibn
Kathir, 4/370)
This was the reason Abdullah ibn Ubayy had feelings of antagonism for
the Prophet and the Muhajiroon. He would somehow try to find ways
of accusing and humiliating them. One of the incidents in this regard
happened during the expedition against Banu Mustaliq (December
support of the Muslims. Taking advantage
of an incident on the way, he made some
accusations against the Prophet and the
Muhajiroon. Addressing the people of his tribe,
he said, “Indeed, when we return to Madinah,
[we] the ones most worthy of honour will
surely drive out from there the contemptible
ones!’ [referring to poor Muslims]." (
The success of a
mission depends on
the fact that it gets
a team of prepared,
proactive and mature
people. Without such
a prepared team, no
mission can succeed.
This event is described in detail in books. In
summary, the caravan continued to move
until it approached Madinah. At that time a
very unusual incident happened:
His son Abdullah stood at the entrance of Madinah waiting for his father
Abdullah ibn Ubayy. When Abdullah ibn Ubayy reached the gate, his
son stopped him saying, “Wait, by God you cannot enter the city until
the Prophet of God allows you to enter.” When the Prophet reached
there, Abdullah ibn Ubayy asked him for permission to enter the city.
The Prophet permitted him to enter the city. His son Abdullah then left
his father so that he could enter.
This incident shows that the Companions of the Prophet were so
mature and proactive that they knew what they needed to do without
someone telling them. The Prophet had said nothing to Abdullah. He knew what he had to do on this occasion. The most appropriate thing
at that time was to show in front of Abdullah ibn Ubayy that he was no
longer a leader or chief of Madinah. It was the Prophet Muhammad
who was the chief of Madinah now.
Abdullah took the most timely and correct way of demonstrating this.
The best way to do this was to get the son of Abdullah ibn Ubayy to
do it. Abdullah understood this fact and at the right time played the
desired role that was expected of him on this occasion.
The success of a mission depends on the fact that it gets a team of
prepared, proactive and mature people. Without such a prepared
team, no mission can succeed.
There must be two qualities among the members of this team. One is
that every person of the team should be obedient. He should obey what
is said to him. He should not make excuses, whether it is a personal
excuse or an external excuse.
The second attribute is that the members of this team should be
mentally so mature that they are able to know what they need to do
without being told to. They should understand the situation without
someone telling them about it.
The importance of this second attribute is that there are many things
that cannot be said. When the mission expands and new requirements
emerge, it becomes impossible to tell people all the necessary things. In
such a time, the only practical thing is that a man himself understands
the depth of things with his own intellect, and he himself can take
necessary steps according to it at every opportunity.
No other attribute can replace this attribute of mental maturity and
readiness.
COMMUNICATING THE WORD OF GOD
Finding Newer Horizons
THE Quran is the final and preserved message of God to
humankind. It was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in the
seventh century. The Prophet Muhammad is the last messenger
in the noble chain of prophets. Now, no new prophet will arrive to guide
humankind to the straight path. It is the Quran now that addresses
human beings. This status of the Quran is mentioned thus in the Quran:
Blessed be He who has revealed the criterion [the Quran] to
His servant that he may warn the nations. (
The Quran also says that it is a ‘reminder for all humankind’ (
The believers are now given the responsibility to communicate the
message from God, i.e. the Quran to all human beings. The Quran says:
Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation
and reason with them in a way that is best. (
Since the time the Quran was revealed, believers have continued
to communicate the Word of God. The ancient time was an age of
traditional communication. Some would read out a portion of the
Quran to their addressees. Such people were known as Muqri, i.e.
readers or reciters. With the advancement of human knowledge, newer
means of communication were invented. After the invention of printing
press, copies of the Quran began to be translated and printed in large
numbers. The message of the Quran has been continuously broadcast
through radio and television in all parts of the world.
God’s Plan for the Quran
The Prophet said, “There will be no home remaining—big or small—in
which God will not have entered the word of Islam.” (Musnad Ahmad)
It is the solemn responsibility of the Muslims to engage in and employ
those means of communication that would facilitate the Word of
God reach every home on planet earth. Achieving this target was not
possible in ancient times as the means of communication was still in
nascent age. In fact, the true import of the relevant Quranic verses and
the sayings of the Prophet was not even realized. When the modern
age dawned, it became possible to envision how this task could be
accomplished.
The Advent of the Information Age
We are living in the Information Age. A Wikipedia entry informs that the
Information Age (also known as the Computer Age, Digital Age, or New
Media Age) is a historical period that began in the mid-20th century.
This age is characterized by a rapid shift from the traditional industry
established by the Industrial Revolution to an economy primarily based
upon information technology. According to the United Nations Public
Administration Network, the Information Age was formed by capitalizing
on computer microminiaturization advances. These advances led to
modernized information and to communication processes.
The new tools of information and communication have made global
communication possible. Now, a person sitting at home can reach
every place on earth through modern means of communication. The
process of information transfer is now just a click or a finger press away.
However controlled or difficult human movement is at any given place,
one cannot hinder the movement of information. Wireless connectivity
is a feature that has revolutionized this field.
Newer Horizons
We shall now present few of the newest tools that have been made
available to communicate the message of the Quran. These are:
• Podcasts
• Virtual Assistant Technology
• Artificial Intelligence
A Podcast is a series of spoken-word digital audio files. Podcast can
be uploaded in episodes. Podcasting is a way to share information as
digital audio files. Discussion and content within a podcast can range
from carefully scripted to completely improvised. Popular podcasting
platforms are Google Podcast, Spotify and Apple Podcast, etc. The
audio files of the Quran translations and its explanatory material are
now available on these platforms.
Virtual Assistant Technology uses software that can perform tasks or
services for an individual based on commands or questions. It is also
known as chatbot. Virtual Assistant Technology is powered by artificial
intelligence. It is primarily available on mobile and smart home devices.
This technology is available on Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant, etc.
We can now ask our smartphone or smart speakers to read us verses,
passages or the whole Quran. It works by our voice command.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the ability of a computer or a robot
controlled by a computer to do tasks that are usually done by humans.
It is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines. AI has
become the most exciting and fondly discussed topic around the world.
AI allows a computer to think like a human. When a device like computer
or a robot is powered by AI, it gets the ability to respond to questions
and stimuli as any human beings would respond. Now, questions
about Islam and the Quran can be directed to such devices, and the
device would answer as any religious scholar would reply. Gabriele
Trovato is a Researcher at Waseda University. He has developed what
is now called the world’s first Catholic robot named Santo. It answers
existential as well as scriptural questions directed by the visitors.
Major global faiths are discussing their relationship with AI, and some
are starting to incorporate this technology into their worship. Robot
priests can recite prayers, deliver sermons, and even comfort those
experiencing a spiritual crisis. (God and robots: Will AI transform religion?
October 21, 2021 BBC Video Feature)
Challenges and Opportunities
The message of the Quran is meant to be communicated to every nook
and corner of the world. To accomplish such a task just a few decades
ago would have been beyond anyone’s imaginations. Thanks to the
latest developments in the information technology, for the first time
ever in history, the doors have opened to realize this once gargantuan
task. This is not a simple statement. For the believers who claim to
follow the message of the Quran, this development means two things.
First, they need to understand the gravity of the matter. Now that
the means of global communication are at hand, they will be held
accountable to God if they fail to communicate the Word of God.
Second, they need to learn and employ this technology.
As is the case with human beings, these intelligent machines also throw
some challenges. People throw up their doubts, questions, criticisms
and objections about Islam on these platforms. Some researchers have
found bias in AI. Talking about these biases, an article mentions this:
Being profoundly aware of these threats and seeking to minimize them
is an urgent priority when many firms are looking to deploy AI solutions.
Algorithmic bias in AI systems can take varied forms such as gender
bias, racial prejudice and age discrimination. (Why Artificial Intelligence’s
religious biases are worrying, Indian Express, October 13, 2021)
Another article published in The New York Times informs us thus:
Researchers at an artificial intelligence lab in Seattle called the Allen
Institute for AI unveiled new technology last month that was designed
to make moral judgments. They called it Delphi, after the religious
oracle consulted by the ancient Greeks. Anyone could visit the Delphi
website and ask for an ethical decree. (Can a Machine Learn Morality?
New York Times, November 19, 2021)
The Role of CPS International
The foregoing pages have made it abundantly clear about the most
important field through which the Word of God is to be communicated.
Recognizing this importance at the beginning, CPS International
founded by the late Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (1925-2021) has
undertaken the initiative. A dedicated podcast channel named Spiritual
Message can be found on all podcast platforms that contains a number
of episodes on the message of the Quran. English translation of the
Quran with many user-friendly features is available at Amazon Alexa.
This feature is named as Quran Player. The same will be available on
Google Assistant soon. A team comprising of CPS members from many
countries is now working to produce AI-enabled Quran.
AN INCOMPLETE LIFE
Be Realistic
THE world of advertising and marketing is strange indeed. How
far removed is this world from the real world is strikingly shown
in a recent interview published in the Times of India website on
November 17, 2021.
Mr Vijaypat Singhania is a former chairman emeritus of the Raymond
Group and a former Sheriff of Mumbai (19 December 2005 to 18
December 2006). He is 83-years-old.
Raymond Group is an Indian branded fabric and fashion retailer,
incorporated in 1925. It produces suiting fabric, with a capacity of
producing 31 million meters of wool and wool-blended fabrics.
Mr Singhania recently published his new memoir titled ‘An Incomplete
Life’. Interestingly, Raymond’s tagline is ‘A Complete Man’. The fabric
produced by Raymond makes one ‘A Complete Man’, while the person
who headed the company for a decade feels his life to be incomplete.
When asked about this, he said, “My title ‘An Incomplete Life’ had much
to convey about my life. I have written that every person, to complete
his life, needs an association with his grandkids, which has been denied
to me. My grandkids have been forbidden to see me which I think, I’m
sorry to use the word, is criminal.”
It appears in the interview that he has had some very strong
disagreements with his son and his son has denied him to see his
grandkids. While taking a sympathetic view of this unfortunate turn of
events, there are many important lessons one can learn from this sorry
affair.
One should never forget that there is a great difference between
appearance and reality. One should strive to pierce the veil of
appearance that lies on reality. This is so important that the Prophet
Muhammad used to pray: O God! Show me things as they are in their
reality.
The reality of this world is that it functions according to the creation plan
of God. According to this creation plan, human beings are undergoing
a period of test on this earth. Based on how human beings performed
in this test, they will be granted everlasting bliss or eternal damnation
in the Hereafter. Everything that a person gets in this world is part of
the test. The Quran says:
Your wealth and your children are only a trial; God’s reward is great: so
be mindful of God as best as you can; and listen, and obey, and spend
in charity. (
The life of this world is but a sport and a pastime. Surely the Home of
the Hereafter is best for those who fear God. (
In view of this reality, we should do well to come out with flying colours
in this test. We should be ever watchful of our association with family,
friends, business and society, etc. This is the place where we appear
for the test. This is not the place where we get the reward. It is in the
Hereafter that we shall get reward commensurate with our deeds in
this world. It is God on Whom we should pin our trust.
ISLAMIC VIRTUES
FOR centuries the lives of the Prophet and his Companions
have served as models of a truly God-fearing existence for all
humankind, and will continue to do so until the end times. Anyone
who is sincere about learning from their example can know, even today,
every detail of how they lived and died.
The following are a few selections from the deeds and saying which
make up this model, giving an authentic picture of the Islamic way of
life.
Do not regard knowledge as a means to personal prestige
Ubayy ibn Kaab said: “Acquire knowledge and use it. Do not acquire
it in order thereby to enhance yourselves. Otherwise a time will come
when learning will be used as an adornment in the manner of clothes.
Lust for fame the worst single danger for man
On his death bed Shaddad ibn Aus said to those around him: “What
I fear most for this community is ostentation and the harbouring of
secret desires.” The meaning of “secret desires” was explained by
Sufyan Thauri: “It is the fondness of praise for one’s good deeds.”
When the Prophet himself was questioned on this subject, he said that,
“secret desires” were harboured, for example, by those who sought
knowledge because the idea that people would then come and sit at
their feet was pleasing to them.
Acting ‘to be seen by men’
Abu Hurayrah records the Prophet as having exhorted his followers to
seek refuge from the Pit of Grief. When asked what this Pit of Grief was,
he said it was a gorge in Hell from which Hell itself sought refuge four
hundred times a day. The Prophet was then asked who would enter
that Pit. “Those scholars who act to be seen by men”, he replied.
Hardness of heart comes from using religion for worldly ends
“A learned man is punished by having his heart to die,” said Hasan alBasri. Asked what was meant by the dying of the heart, he replied that
it came from seeking the world through actions whose sole direction
should be towards eternity.
Thinking nought of one’s actions
Saeed ibn Jubayr, a companion of the Companions of the Prophet, was
asked who was the greatest worshipper. “One who has sinned then
repents,” came the reply. “Then when he recalls his sins, he sets no
great value upon his good deeds either”.
Being conscious of one’s own faults, not of others
Although Rabi’ ibn Khaythama never used to speak ill of anybody, he
once remarked upon people’s extraordinary habit of fearing God with
regard to other people’s sins, but not with regard to their own.
Reforming others and being ready to be reformed oneself
The following is part of the address delivered by Abu Bakr on being
elected Caliph: “My people, your affairs have been entrusted to me,
although I am no better than you. The weak among you will be the
strongest until I have ensured that they received what is rightfully
theirs. The strong among you I will look upon as the weakest, until I
have made sure that they pay their due. I am just like anyone of you.
When you see that I am proceeding correctly, follow me; and when you
see me waver, set me straight.
Greatness comes from inward grace not from outward actions
Commenting on the Caliph Abu Bakr’s outstanding greatness, Abu Bakr
Muzani observed that it was not because he fasted or prayed more than
others; it was because of something in his heart. Ibn Aliyya, explaining
this statement of Abu Bakr Muzani, said that what he had in mind was
love of God and kindness for His creatures.
No desire for self-glory
Hamdun Nishapuri, who lived in the third century Hijri, when asked
who God’s true servant was, answered: “One who worships and has no
desire for people to worship him.”
The greatest deeds are the most difficult of all
“Three actions are the most difficult”, the Prophet once remarked:
“Being fair with others on matters concerning oneself; helping others
by giving from one’s own possessions; and remembering God at all
times.”
THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN ISLAM
An Interview with Ms Fahmida Khan
MS FAHMIDA KHAN (b. 1964) is a
senior CPS member. She conducts
weekly online lectures in Urdu. Her
lectures are focussed on the learnings from
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan and are broadcast
on Facebook Live. She plays an active role in
the group comprising of women members of
CPS. From a homemaker busy in mundane
affairs to a life of a missionary spreading the
peaceful message of Islam, her journey has
been truly inspiring. She lives in Faizabad.
Dr Safeena Tabassum interviewed her so that we could get the details
of this amazing journey in her own words. Dr Safeena Tabassum is
an ophthalmologist. She completed MBBS and MS (ophthalmology)
from Aligarh Muslim University. She joined CPS International in 2007.
Presently, she is moderating the CPS Ladies Group on WhatsApp that
was started by Fahmida Aapa.
Let’s start with your childhood. What was the environment in which
you were brought up? I mean what role women were expected to play
in the family or society?
There was no particular thrust on educating women. Performing the
household chores, rearing the children formed the responsibility of
a woman. Women could somehow pursue higher studies, but when
it came to their participation in the sphere of religion, they were
considered unfit.
For centuries, the contribution of women in Muslim societies especially
with regard to their participation in the field of religion was almost
zero. It was aapa (Dr Farida Khanam) who played an important role
in my life. She unveiled the true status of women in Islam. Trained
and guided by her father Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, aapa has been
playing her part in communicating the message of Islam.
Maulana has written books on this topic such as Woman in Islamic
Shariah and Woman between Islam and Western Society. After reading
these books, I have come to realize the role women can play in family
and society. Countless women have now realized their role in the
sphere of religion. They are now associating themselves with the CPS
mission.
You are a niece of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. So, how did your
association with this mission start? Did it come naturally to you
because of the family bond or was there some other reason?
From childhood, I had a special bond with Maulana. I remember that
when I was 10 or 12 years old, how happy I would feel when Maulana
visited us. He was always engrossed either in reading or in writing. I
would observe him stealthily from behind a curtain. Whenever I got the
chance, I would sit by his side silently. I liked to do something he asked
me to do. I even enjoyed just sitting by his side. This was how I knew
him but I knew nothing about the mission he was working on and also I
knew nothing about the God-oriented life he had been living. It was yet
to dawn on me that Maulana was a different person and that he had
dedicated his life to God.
I always felt this special attachment with Maulana that I did not feel for
other family members. The Urdu monthly Al-Risala that Maulana wrote
would arrive regularly at my home. I never consciously learned any
lesson from the magazine. To put it in a nutshell, for me Maulana was
always right. I would see the light of truth with him. Then it happened
that the travails of life forced me towards his mission. I consider this
shift a great blessing of God. Here, I found my soul at rest and peace
of mind.
Who played a bigger role in your upbringing, your father or Maulana?
I would say that Maulana played a bigger and integral role in my
upbringing. My father was a regular reader of Maulana’s writings.
Through his example, I would read Maulana’s books. In this way, father
and daughter, we both were trained by Maulana.
What are the lessons that you learned from the company of Maulana?
Some learnings are so thrilling that they cannot be described in words.
I would mention some very special life lessons that I have learned from
Maulana.
1. Maulana lived a need-based life, whereas people live a desirebased life.
2. He lived quite simply. He ate simple food. His life was far removed
from what we may call materialistic.
3. He used to quote: Simple living, high thinking. He lived his life
exactly in accordance with this quote.
4. The mentality of the people is shaped by how they see the world.
They are affected by what the people would say, what the other
people are doing, material comfort and success, etc. People do read
the Quran but they plan their lives making this world their goal.
They consider success in this world as a real success. Maulana told
us the true meaning of reading the Quran. He told us that reading
the Quran means striving to become the person the Quran wants
us to become. It means to live one’s life in accordance with God’s
plan. It means to realize the true aim of life. It means to accord
supreme importance to the Hereafter and doing one’s utmost to
achieve success in the Hereafter. Maulana once wrote: People start
reading the book of life without first learning the language of life.
How did the idea of getting the women members of CPS International
on one platform come to your mind?
After attending Maulana’s Sunday Classes, I realized that I was not able
to do justice to the task of communicating the Word of God. I was fired
with the zeal to make more effort for this noble task. I kept praying to
God. Then came a new idea to my mind. I formed a WhatsApp group
consisting of women members of CPS in which we started discussions
among ourselves about the ideology of the Al-Risala Mission.
Please tell us more about this group.
This CPS Ladies Group includes more than 100 women from all over the
world, who expand their scope of God-realization through it and try to
understand how to carry forward the task of communicating the Word
of God. They then strive to share it with other women members of
their family and office. This WhatsApp group includes not only women
from India but also from outside India. They ask each other a question
about religion and etiquette of life that they have about everyday life,
or they ask a question about religion about which they do not have
clarity. Then they discuss it among themselves. This discussion is based
either on the Quran and the corpus of Hadith and Al-Risala articles or
the personal experience of the members. This removes much of their
confusion. Many new aspects of religion open up, and their intellectual
development continues.
What is the response you are getting from the members?
It is very inspiring and positive. One member gave the impression:
“Today I have not been able to participate much in the discussion, but it
is great to read all the messages. My takeaway today is that I will focus
on education and intellectual development in myself and my family, and take this work forward in such a way that it continues for the next
generation.”
Ms Arifa Naseer (New Delhi) wrote: “I learn a lot of new things every
day, and for the first time it is happening that I am also practising what
I learn.”
Ms Razia Khan writes: “God gave me an opportunity to learn from a
scholar like Maulana Sahib. Every day I listen or read Maulana Sahib’s
teachings through this group. Then there is a discussion on it, which
brings out new points. It opens the mind, allows you to recover and
improve. Since I joined this group, my tension has decreased.”
How did Maulana respond to the new development involving women
members?
Maulana was very pleased with this development. He even wrote an
article about it. I would like to reproduce here what he said:
When I heard about the CPS Ladies Group, I remembered a
saying of the Prophet Muhammad. He said: “The whole earth
has been made a mosque and pure for me and for the people
who follow me. (Musnad Ahmad) In an extended way, this saying
means that there will come a time when people can freely
perform the task of communicating the message of God as
they are free to worship in mosques throughout the earth. This
task is now possible through the use of the virtual world of the
Internet i.e. Facebook and WhatsApp, etc.
This initiative of women members of CPS is undoubtedly
commendable. This is an effective way through which women
can carry forward the peaceful mission of spreading the Word
of God in the present times. I pray to God that this CPS Ladies
Group should do a great job of communicating the Word of God
at the global level. May God accept their efforts, and protect
them!
This mission asks one to learn positive lessons from negative
experiences. What is your discovery in this regard?
Greater the shock, greater the discovery. I wanted to study more, but
I was not allowed and then I was married. This was my first shock.
Then, the people in my life demanded so much from me that I could
not spare time for the mission. Unilaterally, I continued giving my all to
my family with the expectation that all will be well in the end. However, this hope never materialized and life went on. My health and wealth,
everything was used up for material causes.
When my father died, this came as a great shock to me. Now, I could
not gather myself to continue my old way of life. This time around,
when I came to Maulana, I was mentally prepared to understand his
words. I started reading his books sincerely. I remember reading this:
If you place a seed on a plate made of gold, it will dry and wither away,
when the same seed is placed in soil, it sacrifices its existence and it
turns into a plant, then a tree which provides flowers and fruits.
These words shook me to the core. I realized as if these words are
directly addressing me. A seed after losing its existence is converted
into a new life. In the same way, God has trained me and given me new
life. I felt I have been divinely trained. I felt that I have left the darkness
behind and entered the light. My restless soul was now at peace.
After getting free from the clutches of the material world, I found peace.
When I forsook the world, I found God. After wandering for most of my
life, I discovered God. For a person, there can be no discovery greater
than this. The discovery of God is my greatest discovery.
PATIENCE
A Wise Policy
PATIENCE is neither a passive attitude nor any kind of inaction.
According to the Quran, patience is a superior action. Patience
means wisdom-based thinking. It means planning your strategy,
assessing your resources and taking into consideration the relevant
natural factors. That is right planning. If impatience is the result of
unwise thinking, patience is the result of wise thinking. That is the
secret of life and also the secret of wise planning.
You cannot fight against nature, so you
cannot afford the luxury of being impatient.
Impatience means trying to achieve things on
a unilateral basis. But that is impossible. On
the other hand, having patience means doing
things on a bilateral basis. And it is a fact that,
in our world, unilateralism is an unrealistic
approach, while bilateralism is entirely a wise
approach.
Patience means
wisdom-based
thinking. It means
planning your
strategy, assessing
your resources
and taking into
consideration the
relevant natural
factors. That is right
planning
The policy of wait and see is the best policy
in this world and it is this policy that is called
patience. Impatience means: Don’t wait, but
jump into the situation without thinking about
the consequences. The wait and see policy is
the only wise policy in this world of competition and challenge.
Every goal needs wise planning, for it is wise planning that leads to real
success. And wise planning is that in which considerations other than
your emotions have been taken into account.
THE VALUE OF PRAYING
The True Status of Man
PRAYING is the most powerful weapon in the hands of a believer.
Praying bestows upon the believer courage and hope. It offers
refuge from the negative experiences in this world.
Here are some sayings of the Prophet Muhammad concerning prayer
collected from authentic books containing Prophetic Teachings.
• Praying – that is what worship is.
• Praying is the essence of worship.
• God becomes displeased with one who does not beseech Him.
• Nothing, save prayer, can avert fate.
• As long as one does not pray for an abomination, or for the severing of some bond of kinship, God will grant one whatever one prays
to Him for, or else withhold evil from the supplicant in like degree.
• There is nothing dearer to God than prayer.
• Call on God, asking Him of His bounty, for the Lord loves to be
called upon.
• Prayer helps with regard to what has happened, and what has not
happened. Have recourse to prayer then, you servants of God.
• Praying is a means of asking God for the fulfillment of all our needs
no matter how mundane or insignificant as even a shoe lace.
Prayer is an
acknowledgement
of the supplicant’s
absolute helplessness
on the one hand, as
opposed to God’s
absolute power on
the other.
Prayer is an acknowledgement of the
supplicant’s absolute helplessness on the
one hand, as opposed to God’s absolute
power on the other. The act of prayer puts
man in his true place, and also gives God
His rightful station. Prayer, then, is to accept
things as they are. It is the supreme degree
of realism, and the apprehension of reality, in
turn, is the most excellent of all actions. For,
in this world, where man has been given a
choice between belief and disbelief, between
acknowledgement and denial, there is nothing
greater than acceptance of the true nature of things.
WOULD THAT I WERE DUST
Expression of True Belief
THE gravest and most grim prospect for a believer is to stand
before God Almighty on the Day of Judgement. The Day of
Judgement will mark the annihilation of all life, followed by
resurrection and judgement by God. This will be an event of such
magnitude and import that mere thought of it makes a believer shiver.
If believers get a chance, they would rather be a creature other than a
human to avoid giving an account of their deeds of this life. The Quran
says, “(On that Day), whoever has done the smallest particle of good
will see it; while whoever has done the smallest particle of evil will see
it.” (
The second Caliph Umar Farooq was fatally
injured by Abu Lulu Firoz. On the throes of
death, he lay with his head in the lap of his
son, Abdullah. Umar said to him, “Rub my
cheek in the dust Abdullah,” and his son did
as he was asked. With his head resting on the
ground, Umar uttered these words to himself:
“Woe betide you, Umar, and woe betide the
one who gave birth to you if God does not
forgive you.” (Tabaqat ibn Saad)
The believers bow to
God while He is yet
invisible, while those
who disbelieve bow
to God only when He
reveals Himself to
them.
Before he had breathed his last, Umar, like a true believer, wished to
be joined with the dust, and thought in fear and trembling what God’s
judgement of him would be in the life after death. How different are the
people who give no thought to such matters until it is too late—until
they stand before their Maker on the Day of Judgement. The believers
bow to God while He is yet invisible, while those who disbelieve bow
to God only when He reveals Himself to them. The Quran gives ample
warning to the deniers of truth with the verse:
We have warned you of a chastisement which is near at hand, on the
Day when man shall [clearly] see what his hands have sent ahead, and
when he who has denied the truth shall say, ‘Oh, would that I were
dust!’ (
CHILDRENS CORNER
Selections from Quran Stories for Kids
Goodword is an award-winning publishing company
with a splendid range of Islamic Books in many
languages. It offers innovative products for children,
including Quran stories, moral stories, craft and activity
books, gift packs, Islamic games, Arabic and Islamic
readers for home and school.
Dear kids,
The Quran contains many biographical events from the lives of the
Prophets, their household and other pious people. These hearttouching events quite amazingly convey to us how a God-oriented life
is lived. In this issue, we introduce to you a collection of such twelve
stories. The book is titled Quran Stories for Kids and is authored by Dr
Saniyasnain Khan. He is an award-winning author and he is recognized
as one of the world’s most influential Muslims
Here, we reproduce one story The Brave Boy from this beautiful
collection. The book is beautifully illustrated.
Name of the Book: Quran Stories for Kids
Author / Translator: Saniyasnain Khan
ISBN: 8178980916
Page: 240
Binding: Hardbound
Availability: www.goodwordbooks.com
THE BRAVE BOY
Long long ago, about 4000 years ago, there lived the Prophet Ibrahim
(Abraham). He was gracious, tender-hearted and pure in faith. His
family lived in a beautiful valley, which is now known as Makkah.
One night, the Prophet Ibrahim (May peace and blessings of Allah be
upon him) dreamt that he was sacrificing his son Ismail (Ishmael). This
was an order from his Lord. Ismail (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was still a child, but the Prophet Ibrahim told him about
the dream.
Ismail was a brave boy. He was ready to obey the command of Allah,
Who had created him. So, without hesitating, he said to his father, “Do
what are you commanded, father. God willing, you will find me one of
the steadfast.”
Ibrahim took his son away to sacrifice him. As he reached a place, which
is now known as Mina—a valley near Makkah—Satan appeared and
tried to stop him from doing his Lord’s bidding. The Prophet Ibrahim
picked a few small stones and threw them at Satan. Little Ismail and his
mother did likewise.
The Prophet Ibrahim gently placed his son on the ground and
blindfolded himself with a handkerchief so that he could not see his
beloved son while carrying out his Lord’s command.
As Ibrahim took a knife to sacrifice Ismail, Allah sent the angel Jibril
(Gabriel) down with a ram. “Sacrifice this ram. Do not sacrifice Ismail,”
said Jibril (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to Ibrahim.
Allah was so pleased with the readiness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his
beloved son that he commanded the believers to observe this day as
Id al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice. Every year, Muslims sacrifice an
animal in remembrance of the Prophet Ibrahim’s trust in Allah.
This story reminds the believers of the readiness of the Prophet
Ibrahim to give up his beloved son. Likewise, believers should be ready
to part with their precious belongings, and their wealth, and dedicate
their lives, if the cause of Islam so requires.
Thus the Quran says: “Truly, my prayers, my sacrifice, my life and my
death all belong to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.” (Surah al-Anam,
BOOK REVIEW
Name of the Book: THE FINAL JOURNEY
Author: MAULANA WAHIDUDDIN KHAN
Published by: GOODWORD BOOKS
Year: 2021
Pages: 74
ISBN: 978-93-89766-32-5
Reviewed by: BHAKTAWAR RAKHSHANI
“Death is the greatest teacher, but man lives out his life as if there was
no such thing awaiting him at the end of life’s journey.”
One of the shattering lines from the book. I have heard a lot about
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan from my teacher that how his words have a
magnetic power to catch the readers’ attention towards his perception
about Islam. Finally, I got a chance to explore one of his books.
The Final Journey is written by the Indian Islamic scholar and peace
activist, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. He has penned a commentary on
the Holy Quran along with a translation into contemporary English. He
is considered among the most influential Muslims in the world.
Throughout the book, the writer leads readers towards various stories
of different personalities. While some are at the peak of success, others
are obviously engrossed in building their world of desires pretending
to be oblivious that the final climax is only death which opens up the
door to the next world.
The main purpose of the writer is to show the readers the absolute
reality of this temporary world, which can inevitably come to annihilation
anytime. Then comes the eternal world: a world of salvation from all
troubles, a world of unprecedented bounties, and a world where the
oppressed will be superior to the oppressor. A world that never comes
to an end.
However, in order to get the ticket for the world of eternity, one must
not be careless. If one is, then there is only formidable retribution for
him.
“Life is moving from light to darkness, from everything to nothing" One
of my favourite lines from this masterpiece. Unfortunately, today’s
man is extremely busy in this worldly life that he has forgotten that
something bigger, greater, and superior is awaiting for him. While
reading the book, some questions relentlessly occupied my mind ”Do
I have some preparation for the next world? Will I have empty hands
once I reach towards my final journey?
How will I justify my misdeeds before my Creator who is closer to me
than anything else?” Questions for the readers that can come over while
going through this book. What I learnt from this inspiring book is that
the most certain thing about life is that it is extremely uncertain that
one cannot assume what has been stored for him in the next moment.
It is a book for those who are totally engrossed in this worldly life and
have no preparation for the final journey. A journey that can take one
to eternal peace or complete destruction.
THE WORD OF GOD
From The Scriptures
The Quran is the book of God. It has been preserved in
its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam
between CE 610 and 632. It is a book that brings glad
tidings to humankind, along with divine admonition,
and stresses the importance of man’s discovery of the
Truth on a spiritual and intellectual level.
Translated from Arabic and commentary by
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
O Lord! I have settled some of my offspring in an uncultivable valley
near Your Sacred House, Lord, so that they might establish their
prayers. So, make people’s hearts incline towards them and provide
them with fruits so that they may be grateful. (
The hilly and desert world of ancient Makkah was a natural training
ground for the realization of God; the entire panorama of nature was
an encouragement to man to remember Him. The only sign of human
construction here, which claimed man’s attention, was the stone
mosque, the Ka‘bah, built by Abraham and Ishmael. Here man could
enter and engage in the remembrance of God.
In this atmosphere, the children of Ishmael were miraculously provided
with water from the Zamzam spring. Moreover, it was so arranged that
they received sustenance (rizq) from produce which was not grown
there. This was, in fact, a special arrangement to make them grateful.
With the provision of extraordinary bounties, extraordinary feelings
of gratefulness arise in man. This was the wisdom which was hidden
in Abraham’s prayer that in the desert they should be provided with
sustenance in the shape of fruits.
Lord, You have knowledge of all that we hide and all that we reveal:
nothing in heaven or on earth is hidden from God. Praise be to God
who has bestowed upon me, despite my old age, Ishmael and Isaac.
Surely my Lord is the hearer of prayer. Lord, grant that I may keep
up the prayer, and so may my offspring. My Lord, accept my prayer.
Forgive me, Lord, and forgive my parents and all the believers on the
Day of Reckoning.’ (
In this prayer of Abraham, one sees glimpses of all those emotions
which emerge in the heart of a true subject of God while addressing
a prayer to Him. His submissive attitude compels him to admit his
humility before God; whatever he requests is on the basis of his being
needy and not on the basis of any entitlement; on the one hand, he
admits to the bounties already available to him and, on the other,
presents his request with all due respect. He admits that God is the
Giver and man the beneficiary.
He prays to God to make him live in the world as His worshipper. He
makes this request for himself, for his family members and for all
believers also. At the time of prayer, the greatest problem before him
should not be that of the world but that of the Hereafter, where a man
has to live forever.
The prayer then made is prophetic in nature, and if such a prayer comes
from a true heart, it will necessarily be accepted by God.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
The remedy for ignorance is asking questions. (Prophet Muhammad)
The spirit of enquiry is the hallmark of an open society and the above
saying of the Prophet aptly illustrates this principle. A culture of
curiosity and open-mindedness will foster development in any society
by motivating its members to learn enthusiastically and enrich their
knowledge. This is because awareness of one’s ignorance is half of
knowledge, as it becomes a stepping-stone to seeking and finding
answers. A questioning mind is like a flowing river that is replenished
with fresh thoughts and ideas and continues on its journey.
What should be our response when people mistreat us?
The outside world knows you as you have introduced yourself to it. It
sends back its reflex responses according to the picture you have given
it. This being so, when you find others mistreating you, do not seek the
fault in them. Seek rather the fault within yourself. By recognizing your
own shortcomings and doing your best to remove them, you can better
safeguard yourself against the mistreatment of others.
I have many regrets for lost opportunities. What can I do now to save
myself from sorrow about this?
When the sun rises and night ends, it is a silent announcement by
nature that the earth’s rotation on its axis has been completed. Now
its second rotation is about to begin. Anyone can start his journey in
its light and reach his destination. The sunrise each morning makes a
person stand between two things: one is the opportunity which has
passed and the other is the opportunity that now presents itself. One
who can avail of these opportunities will surely attain his objectives.
Success, in other words, depends upon making the best of available
opportunities. No one can start his journey from the day which has
already passed. Forget about lost opportunities; take stock of the
opportunities which are on offer today and utilize them. Always
remember that a day once passed never comes back for anyone. It is
not therefore, going to come back for you either.
I am afraid of failure. How can I overcome this fear?
Success very often follows failure. In this world success is only for the
person who has the courage to accept defeat. Everything has a price
tag and acceptance of failure is the real price of success. Those who do
not pay this price will never be able to reach the destination of success
in this world.
There is only one way to success in this world, and that is thinking
of failure as something temporary. Without losing one’s patience, one
should devote oneself to converting one’s failure into success.
Do you think preparation will reduce the risk of failure?
Certainly. In a world where everyone is vying for position, one has to be
fully prepared for whatever venture is to be embarked upon. If one is
caught unprepared, the outcome is inevitable―failure!
Whatever preparation we make, it should be thorough and completely
in accord with the demands of the times we live in. If we fail to keep
pace with modernity, we can never hope for success in a society which
is so preoccupied with innovation. We must at all times keep a finger
on the throbbing pulse of life so that we may remain attuned to the
imperatives of the day. It is only in this way that we shall understand
exactly what ways we need to be prepared, and can take the appropriate
steps while the time is ripe.
Do we need to have big resources to achieve success?
The secret of success lies in following simple rules. People generally
think that success is something which can be achieved only by doing
something great, or by utilizing great means or resources. But you can
reach the peak of success just by your polite words, hard work, making
good use of your limited resources and patiently doing your work,
with perseverance. None of these things are too big or difficult for the
common man to achieve.
Do the problems in this world prevent us from making use of
opportunities?
"Starve the problems, feed the opportunities”, so goes an old saying.
Simple words, but imbued with great profundity. One who understrands
the message of these words and acts accordingly will find the doors
of success opening to him, while one who lives in ignorance of them
will find all the doors closed to him. The crux of the matter is that
an individual in this world is forever caught between problems and
opportunities. And herein lies the test for people. One person, seeing only the problems that confront him becomes caught up in them. Such
a person is bound to miss his opportunites. On the other hand, one
who concentrates on using the opportunities available to him as best
as he can will not find much time to worry about the problems afflicting
him.
Experience shows that, far from helping anyone, becoming caught up
in problems just leads to gloominess and depression and from the
practical point of view is a waste of time. It is better to concentrate on
making the best use of one’s opportunities. Not only will new avenues
open before one, but the problems that so afflicted one will gradually
pale into insignificance.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (1925-2021) was an Islamic scholar, spiritual guide, and an Ambassador of Peace. He authored over 200 books and recorded thousands of lectures giving the rational interpretation of Islamic concepts, prophetic wisdom, and the spiritual meaning of the Quran in the contemporary style. His English translation, The Quran, is widely appreciated as simple, clear and in contemporary style. He founded Centre for Peace and Spirituality (CPS) International in 2001 to re-engineer minds towards God-oriented living and present Islam as it is, based on the principles of peace, spirituality, and co-existence. Maulana breathed his last on 21 April, 2021 in New Delhi, India. His legacy is being carried forward through the CPS International Network.
What God most earnestly desires from human beings is worship. The Quran says: “I have not created jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” ( 51:56 )
