path of the building when the work was first started. As the story goes, Alexander decided to see what the genies were about. He gave orders for a large box of wood and glass to be made, and when it was

tale gained currency shows the credulous state in which the whole world lived before the advent of Islam. In old historical records, the most striking omissions are the lives and influence of the world’s

The reason for his prominent inclusion in historical records is that, by setting in motion the Islamic revolution, he was able to change precisely those factors—

ForewordThe Prophet of Islam said that wisdom is the lost property of the believer. He should accept it wherever he finds it. (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 2687) This hadith explains the universality

the progress of knowledge would just not be possible. Wisdom is the ability to judge or discern what is true or right. Wisdom, the greatest asset of all men and women, is likewise a common treasure house

seeker. I have spent my entire life extracting wisdom from the Quran, the life of the Prophet of Islam, from human knowledge, from observing the universe and by interacting with others. In this book I

excerpts from the Quran and Hadith, Hajj is one important pillar among the five foundation pillars of Islam: “Pilgrimage to the House is a duty to Allah for all who can make the Journey.” (3:97) “The first

that at Makkah, a blessed place, a beacon for the nations.” (3:96) “There are five basic pillars of Islam,” said the Prophet Muhammad: “To bear testimony that there is no deity save Allah, and that Muhammad

another, been brought into play. The sacred duties of Hajj revolve around the House of God in Makkah. What does the House of God represent to a believer? It brings to life a whole prophetic tradition, stretching

are confronted with truth, they will not accept it, because they have not understood the spirit of what they repeat. They will go through the ritual of prayer (Namaz) but once outside the mosque they will

to the five pillars of Islam is a Faithful and a Muslim. He has made himself entitled to God’s bounty, in this world as well as in the world hereafter. But the five pillars of Islam have to be accepted in

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

zealously. In India, most communal riots are triggered off by such small incidents. What is the reason for this? When the Islamic Shariah has not ordered us to stop non- Muslim processions passing by our mosques

the procession, they imagine they have boosted their community’s prestige. This is an entirely un-Islamic approach. God and His Prophet certainly do not prescribe this. It is only their own egos that instigate

He cannot transgress.” (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 11335)FASTING: A SPIRITUAL CULTUREAccording to Islamic teachings, Ramadan, the ninth month of the Hijra calendar, is the month of fasting. In this month

month. What is fasting? Fasting does not simply amount to observing hunger for a temporary period. In fact, it symbolizes a lifelong culture, that is, a culture of dedication. According to Islamic ideology

FLAGS AND PERPETRATE VIOLENCE. CAN THIS BE CALLED AS AN ISLAMIC WAR SINCE IT HAS THE PROPHET S SEAL?Not at all. This is completely un-Islamic. Islam does not teach war, it only speaks of peace. Sometimes

a mark of defence. Full-fledged war is not allowed in Islam. The mission of Islam is to purify an individual – how is that connected to war? Islam is only peace, from the beginning to the end.31.SOME