degeneration, they think it is they themselves who are true. The first conception engenders the fear of God. The second promotes a false sense of superiority. When Muslims are on the right path, they perceive

basis of God-realization is obtained directly from God. That is why a person whose Islam is of this sort is suffused with the attributes that emerge within someone who has seen and experienced God. He trembles

trembles on witnessing God’s glory. His awareness of God’s perfection divests him of his tendency to defy God’s will. In contrast, someone who receives Islam as an inheritance considers it as a matter

chaste woman, was quite distraught at this news. But the angel reassured her that this was the will of God, that it was not a difficult thing for Him and that it was a sign and a blessing to all humankind.

clarifies that his creation was no different from that of the first human being: “Jesus in the sight of God is like Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him, ‘Be!’ and he was.” (3: 59) When Mary gave

to Jesus and brought him to her people, they all pointed their fingers at her. But she was told by God to remain silent and to point to the baby. As the people were wondering how they could talk to a child

is part of his faith to behave well with his neighbours. The Prophet thus said: “He who believes in God and the Last Day must not put his neighbour to inconvenience.” (Bukhari and Muslim) Similarly, on another

comes in contact with. Developing good relations with neighbours is therefore an important aspect of a God-oriented life. A neighbour, be he a co-religionist or an adherent of another religion, be he of one’s

therefore an important aspect of a God-oriented life A teaching of the Prophet has been worded thus: “By God, he is not a believer, by God, he is not a believer, by God, he is not a believer, with whom

phrases represent the spirit of salath, and they can be rephrased as: Hamd (praise of God), Takbir (glorifying God) and Salamati (peace and security). A believer who incorporates these three in his life

will be able to purify his personality such that he may be held deserving of Paradise. Praise of God When we offer prayer, in every unit of prayer we read Surah Fatiha, which is the first chapter of the

The Surah Fatiha begins with the words: ‘Alhamdulillahi rabbil alameen’ meaning, ‘All praise be to God, the Lord of the universe’. Generally, people have translated hamd as ‘praise’. However, the best meaning

this proposition seems when we consider that the arrangement of the entire world is in the hands of God Himself; He has never abdicated His control in favour of any particular community. Therefore, holding

the laws of their Divine Maker like everyone else. The following verse of the Quran describes how God deals with nations, depending upon whether they are useful or useless to society at large. He sends

along swelling foam, akin to what rises from smelted ore from which man makes ornaments and tools. God thus depicts truth and falsehood. The scum is cast away, but whatever is of use to man remains behind

fulfillment of all desires in this world is not possible at all. It goes against the creation plan of God.

THE MEANINGFULNESS OF THE UNIVERSEThe Way to God-realization SCIENCE is the study of nature. Nature comprises of everything we call the universe. The study of science began initially with very few discoveries

an excerpt from a book review by physicist Alan Lightman on the book Why Science Does Not Disprove God? by mathematician Amir D. Aczel: “There is plenty of good scientific evidence that our universe began

in the lab that such creation from “nothing” can occur.) Krauss’s punch line is that we do not need God to create the universe. The quantum foam can do it quite nicely all on its own. Aczel asks the obvious

‘External activity’ here refers to the peaceful mission of the Prophets— conveying the message of God to mankind—which a person undertakes after having seen the places where Prophet Abraham, Ishmael and

on God. By ‘internal activity’ is here meant a heightened sensitivity towards and awareness of piety, self-control, avoidance of violence and aggression and the need to lead life devoted to God, instead

quarrelling while on the pilgrimage. Whatever good you may do, God is aware of it. Make provision for yourselves—but surely, the best of all provision is God-consciousness. Always be mindful of Me, you that are

people towards God) is not required to perform miracles to verify his message. Rather he has to provide proofs for his message in terms of established scientific knowledge. The Existence of God The first question

question relates to the proof of God’s existence. Earlier, belief in God was a matter of conviction. Modern science provides proof of the existence of God, at least potentially, if not actually. The existence

valid an argument as other scientific arguments of the material world  The focus of science is not God or the existence of the Creator. Its focus is the study of nature or creation. In the initial stage

QADR THE NIGHT OF DESTINYLAILATUL QADR (THE NIGHT OF DESTINY)  A Long Arduous Search In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful We sent it [Quran] down on the Night of Destiny. And what will

Prophet Muhammad what she should do if she finds the Night. Prophet Muhammad said she should pray: O God! Certainly You are the One who grants forgiveness for sins. You love to forgive, so forgive me. (Al

because by doing so, a believer realises the smallness of his being and the greatness of God. He realizes that God alone has the power to forgive, and none else.  Common belief is that the Night of Destiny