adversity, he accepts it as part of God’s design, and if he is fortunate enough to earn profits or, in some other way, finds himself at an advantage, he is reminded of God’s blessings and his heart is filled

impatient. In all such matters, whether of loss or gain, his adoration of God is never impaired, nor does anyone or anything other than God ever become its object. No expediency ever makes him forget his Lord

discovery of God is an entirely different phenomenon. It is the direct apprehension of a Being who is all-seeing and all-hearing, and who is the repository of all wisdom and might. Discovering God

THE WORD OF GODFrom 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 610 and 632 CE It is a book that brings glad

corruption on it and shed blood, while we glorify You with Your praise and extol Your holiness?’ [God] answered, ‘Surely, I know that which you do not know.’ (2: 30) The literal meaning of khalifah or

his predecessor. According to this usage, the word came to refer to one invested with power. When God created man to dwell on earth, He decreed that he might enjoy freedom of will. The angels became apprehensive

Wahiduddin Khan A BELIEVER LIVES FOR GOD A small infant owes everything to his parents. His life revolves around them. So a believer’s life should revolve around God. God should dwell in his reflections.

He should fear and love God alone. He should do everything for God’s sake. He should put total trust in God, his Guardian and Protector. Usually, people live for mundane things. That is why they never

life should revolve around God. All these ways of living are based on false notions. They are placing total reliance on things which are ephemeral and out of place in God’s cosmic order. These things

ISLAM attaches the utmost importance to intentions. No action is acceptable to God purely on the basis of outer appearance. God accepts only such actions as are performed with proper intention and rejects

moral purposiveness which underlies all actions performed solely for God’s pleasure. One who acts on such feelings will be rewarded by God in the Hereafter. Ill-intention, on the other hand, is a negative

or of God. Things are of value only when they are pure. Intention is rooted in man’s inner thinking and feelings. A common man is unable to penetrate the inner recesses of a person’s mind but God knows

then die. (47:12) God says in the Quran: “Whosoever turns away from My reminder, will lead a straitened existence and on the Day of Judgement We shall raise him up blind.” (20:124) God’s signs are scattered

the present world. These signs introduce the Creator in the form of the creation. Those who discover God in this

conviction in the existence of God is most desirable, but experience shows otherwise. Most people are unable to have a strong faith in God. Some of them go to such extremes as to deny God altogether. This fact

the history of humankind. Why is this so? This is because in accordance with the creation plan of God, all events and incidents are a consequence of cause and effect. For every event that happens in this

event to its cause. Due to the presence of this apparent cause, they are unable to see the hand of God behind the event. This phenomenon has been observable throughout human history. But in the present

be shown good behaviour in return. According to a tradition, the Prophet of Islam once observed: “God does not remove evil from evil but he removes evil from good. Dirt is not cleaned by dirt.” (Musnad

THE WORD OF GODTHE 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 610 and 632 A.D. It is a book

intellectual level. Translated from Arabic and commentary by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Alif Lam Mim These are the verses of the Book of wisdom, a guide

offerers of prayers (salat), which is symbolic of fulfilling God’s will. They give prescribed alms (zakat), which amounts to honouring the rights of God’s subjects in the economic sphere. They shun the worship

Islam. Cosmic Approach The Quran says that God created seven tiers of the sky, and that no imperfection will ever be detected in God’s creation. (67:4) God created a great universe humming with a multitude

is controlled by God, while in human life the course of action is determined by man’s own intention. If man has been exempted from following the same system as has been decreed by God for the rest of the

the universe, it is because God has placed him on trial in this world. God has given man such freedom to prove whether he has the will and capacity to remain on the straight and narrow path. That is why

WORSHIP IN ISLAMConnect to God GOD has stated in the Quran: “I only created mankind and the Jinn that they might worship Me.” (51: 56). According to Islam, the principal goal of life on this earth, from

does not lead a life of self-dedication to God has become derailed. What is worship? Worship, the equivalent to devotion, means giving oneself up wholly to God: it means surrendering oneself in both the

at large. Hajj, while affording spiritual benefit to the individual, aims at the uniting of all of God’s servants under the banner of His religion. Each of these categories of obligatory worship has a form