DOES ISLAM PERMIT VIOLENCE? DOES Islam permit violence? No, it does not. However it is true that Islam grants permission to fight in self-defence as a last resort, just as is done by any other religious

expressly forbidden in Islam. The purpose of violence, in the sense in which it is generally used, is to coerce or destroy an enemy. This has no justification or sanction in Islam. If someone is considered

lawful for the latter to engage in violence aimed at destruction. A study of the Quran shows that Islam differentiates between enemies and aggressors. If a group unilaterally commits violent aggression

Caliphate and Monarchical Despotism’), Maulana Maududi wrote that the Caliphate was an ideal system of Islamic life, and noted that after this system collapsed, a system he termed as mulukiyat or Monarchical

its place. The objective of the Maulana’s efforts was to re-establish the system of Caliphate rule. What exactly happened when the Caliphate was replaced by Monarchical Despotism? The Maulana discussed this

Expression’. In this regard, he wrote: Islam arranged, not just as a matter of right but also as a duty (and this was something that the proper functioning of Islamic society depended on), that the conscience

greatest crime. The so-called Islamic fundamentalism, if judged by its result, is the greatest crime of this kind against humanity. Any thing can be eliminated, but what is impossible to eliminate is the

without suffering any feelings of remorse or repentance. Hence the self-styled Islamic fundamentalism turns into an un-Islamic theory. One type of movement is that which is based on love. Its aim is to reform

SOCIETYA GOOD society is the cherished ideal of every human soul. But a consensus has yet to emerge on what constitutes a good society. This is undoubtedly one of the most complex questions facing us today

individual soul. A dialogue of this kind is exactly in accordance with the Islamic Shariah. The Hudaibiya peace treaty in Islamic history is an instance of a successful dialogue of this nature. After the

Representatives should not become spokesmen of their respective communities during the discussion. What should be uppermost in their minds are the vaster national interest and the paths of progress and

APPEARANCE AND REALITYSuperficial Knowledge is Misleading ONE of the fiercest battles in Islamic history was waged against the Iranians in AD 636, during the Caliphate of Umar Faruq. The Iranian emperor’s

certain warrior) were here!” Saad was angry at this and exclaimed hotly, “What could Musanna have done? Salma retorted, “What a fine thing that your cowardice should be accompanied by anger and not shame

without taking the trouble to ascertain the validity of the allegation runs counter to the spirit of Islam. It is only magnanimity, loyalty and obedience which can shore up the prospects of life’s major

all prediction. In the end, things turn out quite differently from what people had initially expected. To cite an example from Islamic history, in the year AD 628, the Treaty of Hudaibiya was signed between

THE EDITORIAL DIRECTORDr. Farida Khanam has been a professor at the Department of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. A Study of World's Major Religions, A Simple Guide to Sufism are two

two of the books amongst others, of which she is the author. She has also translated many books on Islam authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently, the chairperson of Centre for Peace and Spirituality

of Islam, but this is not so. In reality, the burqa is a part of Muslim culture and not a part of Islamic teaching. There is a great difference between the actions of Muslims and teachings of Islam. The

greatest crime. The so-called Islamic fundamentalism, if judged by its result, is the greatest crime of this kind against humanity. Any thing can be eliminated, but what is impossible to eliminate is the

without suffering any feelings of remorse or repentance. Hence the self-styled Islamic fundamentalism turns into an un-Islamic theory. One type of movement is that which is based on love. Its aim is to reform

necessary to destroy them altogether. Only then can a system of their own choice be set in place. Islamic fundamentalism—so-called—is a movement of this second type. As a result of this negative thinking

in building a healthy society. All religions give emphasis to these three issues. The Prophet of Islam once said that a strong believer is better than a weak believer, because a strong believer can shoulder

shoulder all responsibilities in a far better manner. Spirituality has been called rabbaniyat in Islam, which means to turn one’s materialistic thinking into spiritual thinking. This creates high human values

for every society. No progress and development takes place without peace. This is the reason why Islam enjoins peace, even at the price of unilateral adjustment. Therefore, a three point formula of being

for the man.”4 In this, St. Paul is simply reaffirming what is laid down as gospel truth in the Old Testament Book of Genesis. WOMEN’S STATUS IN ISLAM In ancient times, thanks to the unreasoning and unreasonable

neglect and degrading treatment which women had to suffer for centuries. It was not until the advent of Islam, that, for the first time in the history of mankind, women were given their due legal rights over

ancient India by a retired Chief Justice of the Delhi Court, Mr. Rajindar Sachar: ... Historically, Islam had been very liberal and progressive in granting property rights to women. It is a fact that there