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

consolation or shoulders to rest our heads on. The coronavirus pandemic forced us to stay separated. What possible lessons could we glean from such an astoundingly tragic year? The answer, in fact, is not

to creatively turn life’s negative aspects into something positive or constructive. In other words, what matters is to make the best of any given situation.” (Man’s Search for Meaning) If we draw positive

However, it is not generally appreciated that Islamic fundamentalism, launched in the name of Islam, has been dealing a death blow to the image of Islam as a religion of peace and mercy. For it is this

this Muslim fundamentalism which, today, has converted the image of Islam into one tarnished by violence. Let us place this form of extremism in a historical perspective. At the time of the emergence of

This brought to an end 1000 years of their political supremacy. People in general tend to accept what they see on the surface, so that Muslims all over the world came to hold that, in the break-up of

THE VISION OF ISLAMGod Worshipping, Man’s Well-wishing GOD has created man in freedom, but this freedom is not unlimited. The freedom of the individual is taken away at death. And, the freedom of the whole

been political in one way or another. What is actually desired of them is to work for a Hereafter-oriented movement, in which the goal is to make people aware of what they will have to face in the next world

which involves being God’s worshipper and man’s well-wisher. This is the vision and the mission of Islam. Petty Issues A person who is inspired by an exalted purpose in life will always ignore petty

life can be bereft of it.SEPTEMBER 2 Rituals in IslamAll religions, by dint of ritual and ceremony, give a definite form to these acts of worship. Islam likewise has its specific rites, but lays special

water.” Numerous statements of this kind, enshrined in the Quran and Hadith make it clear that, in Islam, ritual practices and spirit are not equal constituents of worship. As elements of religion, they

external form. But whatever the case, ritualized or formless, what is of overarching importance is the zeal which inspires it. While, from the Islamic standpoint, rituals serve partly as palpable identifiers

Living MEDICINES are usually accompanied by leaflets explaining what illnesses they are designed to cure, how they should be used and what their basic formulae are. But, it is a tragedy that man is born

born into the world in such a condition that he knows neither what he is nor why he has been put here. No convenient handbook accompanies him. There are no signboards fixed to the summits of the mountains

even count the innumerable treasures it contains. What is all this, and why is it there? Where did this world start from and where will it all end? What is the purpose of all this existence? He finds himself

in terms of who was in control of the House of God, the Ka’bah in Makkah: “Why don’t you accept Islam,” the Prophet said to Dhu’l Jawshan, “so that you may be counted among the first to have done so?”

showing you the path of guidance,” the Prophet said. Dhu’I Jawshan said that he would not accept Islam, until he (the Prophet) had conquered Makkah, and won control of the Ka ‘bah. “If you live, you will

Jawshan asked him what was afoot. “Muhammad has conquered Makkah and taken control of the Sacred Territory,” he said. “Woe betide me,” Dhu’l Jawshan said. “If only I had accepted Islam on that day: if I

in terms of who was in control of the House of God, the Ka’bah in Makkah: “Why don’t you accept Islam,” the Prophet said to Dhu’l Jawshan, “so that you may be counted among the first to have done so?”

showing you the path of guidance,” the Prophet said. Dhu’I Jawshan said that he would not accept Islam, until he (the Prophet) had conquered Makkah, and won control of the Ka ‘bah. “If you live, you will

Jawshan asked him what was afoot. “Muhammad has conquered Makkah and taken control of the Sacred Territory,” he said. “Woe betide me,” Dhu’l Jawshan said. “If only I had accepted Islam on that day: if I

of the political aspect of Islam that he evolved a political interpretation of Islam. This is just like how exaggerating the importance of economics beyond what was warranted led to the development of

new ideology. Maulana Maududi was not alone in desiring the revival of an Islamic state in the Subcontinent. Several other Islamic groups think in these terms, each in their own way. Each of them has its

the desire that God should bring in the day when Islam shall acquire prominence. Till here, there is no fundamental difference between the various Islamic groups. But where the difference starts is when

wrongly claim to be an Islamic jihad but which, according to the Islamic rules, is not a jihad at all. A struggle for political independence is not an Islamic movement, contrary to what its proponents might

such a movement is launched in the name of a nationality, but to claim it to be an ‘Islamic movement’ or an ‘Islamic jihad’ is certainly wrong. In this regard, it is instructive to note that no prophets

companions, did launch such a movement. If the Kashmiri Muslims want to make their movement an Islamic one, the first thing they must do is completely renounce violence. They must also admit that the

for the positive development of the human personality. This, in Islamic terms, is called a spiritual revolution. In short, belief in Islam makes accountability to God man’s greatest permanent concern. The

experience at the spiritual level. He becomes a man of God through and through.External ActivitiesThe Islamic man is one who, in consonance with his spiritual development, experiences constant intellectual activity

of an Islamic man is so extensive that he becomes cerebrally activated to the highest possible extent. What is that external factor which stimulates this kind of intellectual activity in the Islamic man