it that circumstances have changed. However, what is required is that, by the exercise of ijtihaad, we must present the teachings of the final prophet of Islam in a manner that is entirely understandable

search of practical methods, what is actually worthy of consideration is the situation and circumstances rather than an absolute ideal. The importance of idealism in Islam is no doubt as great as that

travellers and those who ask [for charity], and to set slaves free.” (2:177) This verse shows in what ways the realization of faith finds expression in the family and in society. The Quran tells us that

of complaints there can be no expectation that the relatives will be grateful to him. That is why Islam strenuously encourages assistance for needy relatives. Similarly, a believer loves to help orphans

Islam: Creator of the Modern AgeThe year was 1965, and I was on a visit to Lucknow. I met a highly educated non-Muslim who did not believe in religion and considered religious discussions quite meaningless

meaningless. During the conversation, he asked me, “If Islam had never come into being, would there have been anything seriously lacking in world history?” I spontaneously replied, “Yes. There would have been

advent of Islam.” My answer silenced him. Then he had to concede that from the historical standpoint, all that would generally come under the heading of progress had not existed in the pre-Islamic era. All

delimits his freedom, drawing the line between desirable and undesirable freedom. And it is only Islam which can provide him with such an ideology. Now is the time for this ideology to be presented to

of communism (1991), the world is faced with an ideological vacuum. This vacuum can be filled by Islam alone. In the present world the developed countries have become economic or military superpowers,

ideological superpower, and that, potentially belongs to Islam. There is only one obstacle in converting a great potential into a reality in favour of Islam. And that is the repeated recourse to violence by

is the book of God. It has been preserved in its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam between 610 and 632 AD. It is a book that brings glad tidings to humankind, along with divine admonition

ascertain the correctness of the report fully, lest you unwittingly harm others, and then regret what you have done, and know that the Messenger of God is among you. If he were to obey you in many things

of Muslims in Makkah had reached intolerable levels, some of them started spreading the message of Islam in Madinah, and soon it reached every home there. At that time some of the people of Madinah resolved

allegiance to the Prophet, and invite him to emigrate to Madinah. Jabir al-Ansari later recalled how, when Islam had spread to every house of Madinah, they held consultations among themselves. “How long can we let

Seventy representatives of the people of Madinah took this oath of allegiance. We can tell under what precarious conditions they did so from the account of one of their number, Ka’b ibn Malik. He tells

money from Abu Bakr for the Journey.THE PROPHET’S CALLLooked at from a logical point of view, the Islamic call consists of certain constant, recurrent factors. It is the same points—the oneness of God, the

preacher’s own person; he adds an element of individuality to what are basically unvarying themes. This addition means that the message of Islam, far from being a repetition of set texts, is expressed with

the last 1500 years. If this history were to be taken away from the Prophet of Islam, he would return to being “Ibn Abi Kabshah” in the eyes of men. Were this to happen, there is not a shadow of a doubt

who has become an established historical personality is relatively easy. The Prophet of Islam has now secured what the Quran calls a “position of praise and glory.”1 Small wonder, then, that those who sing

Islamic institutions of the sub-continent are located in India. All across India, is imprinted a thousand yearhistory of the Muslims, which should give them courage and inspiration. Moreover, India provides

opportunities to Muslims in the footsteps of the Sufis to follow and spread the peaceful message of Islam—a task which, according to a hadith, can earn them salvation in the hereafter. Once, on a short visit

India is a vast country. If you produce a product in India; you have a huge market to sell it in.” What this Pakistani industrialist told me has now become a fact of life. In the twenty-first century, the