incomplete knowledge, he will be doing a grave injustice to his fellow human beings. In such a situation what a person has to do is to rid himself of biased thinking and on the other hand before forming any opinion

others. This is an internal jihad and that is why this act will merit a great reward according to Islam.

accept it wholeheartedly when someone discerns faults in us. According to a tradition, the Prophet of Islam once observed: “A believer is another believer’s mirror and when he finds some shortcomings in him

person’s humanity demands that he should be the well-wisher of other human beings. Everyone should wish what is best for others. Everyone should regard others as brothers and sisters, and should be happy about

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

the books amongst many 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

on peace-building, countering extremism and conflict resolution. THE ARABS AND THE EMERGENCE OF ISLAM WITH an area of 120,000 square miles, the land of Arabia is the largest peninsula in the world. It

and committed to writing by His devotees before the advent of the Quran. Then what particularly distinguishes the sacred Islamic text from its forerunners? It is not just that it is complete and the other

way would amount to discriminating between the Prophets themselves which is certainly not right. What then is its great distinguishing feature? There is only one. A simple, but a major one. The text of

leader of the doves. The latter replied: Perhaps you have failed to understand our point. Actually, what we are complaining about is that all of you came here in the garb of Sufis yet acted as hunters. Had

heart to bestow upon others. Now I should like to say a few words about prayer and meditation in Islam. Let me begin with a question from the Quran: “When My servants question you about Me, tell them

trust in Me, that they may be rightly guided.” (2:186) This verse of the Quran tells us that in Islam there is no need for any intermediary to establish contact between God and man. At any time and place

them the justice of Islam.” This statement by Rabiy, brief as it was, summed up the universal principles on which Islam is based. When a man’s thinking is revolutionized by Islamic teachings, he passes

vastness of the universe, there can be no further involvement in the petty affairs of this world. Islam raises one above the hair-splitting arguments which are the hallmark of other religions. It enables

Ad-Dirasat Al-Islamia (July-Sept 1955) published from Islamabad in a detailed report of Islam in France, tells of how a prominent French man, Le Cleck, now called Daniel Yousuf Le Cleck, accepted Islam. He subsequently

it a condition that the existing political system should first be conducive to the acceptance of Islam before they started their religious mission, they would have failed to make a positive start for an

other poets present fell in prostration before him—they were so enchanted by his verses. In pre-Islamic days, outstanding poets used to be honoured after annual gatherings by having their works hung on

to the Kabah, so that the public could read them, the whole year round. Before his acceptance of Islam, Labid once composed a poem in reply to the Quran which was thus displayed. Shortly after this, a

declared that they must be the work of some superhuman mind, and, without further ado, he embraced Islam. But this was not the end of the matter. Famous as he was as an Arabian poet, he was so greatly impressed

made by believing Muslim women to the cause of Islam. WOMANHOOD IN ISLAM Fear of God and honoring one’s fellow men—this is the twin foundation of Islam laid down in the Quran in these words: Mankind

name you entreat one another, and be careful not to sever your ties of kinship. God is watching over what you do.32 The words, “and created man’s mate from the same soul” have been explained as meaning that

A comparative study of these two traditions shows that changing what is not good or disapproved of is not to be taken in the absolute sense. As a command it should be seen as relative to circumstances

ability to do things is not the sole factor in changing what is evil. It has to be accompanied by wisdom. After the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet of Islam became the ruler of Arabia. He then had the power