Companions were forced to fight in self-defense. Islam aims at fashioning souls which are God-oriented; which find God so great that everything else pales into insignificance; which comes to possess such boundless

illustrated by this hadith, of Prophet Muhammad: Nine things the, Lord has commanded me: Fear of God in private and in public; Justness, whether in anger or in calmness; Moderation in both poverty and

me; and forgive those who wrong me; and that my silence should be meditation; and my words remembrance of God; and my vision keen observation. (Jami’ al-Usool by Ibn al-Athir, Hadith No. 9317)

When the time for prayer comes, the greatness of God is proclaimed in the call to prayer, and the faithful are instructed to assemble for prayer as a matter of their own spiritual uplift. They then perform

perform their ablutions—in so doing reviving their sense of cleanliness—and, fixing their minds on God, they make their way to the mosque, where they all offer prayers together. The prayers are led by an

The prayer has various stages: bowing low, prostrating oneself, and standing and kneeling before God. In assuming these various postures, the congregation demonstrates their submission to the Lord. When

acquires the seriousness of the modest person. According to a hadith, the Prophet once observed that God had sent the revelation that “you (people) should adopt the attitude of modesty. No one should deal

Dawud). According to Islam, greatness belongs to God alone, and all human beings are equally servants of God. When this concept —the acceptance of God as the greatest of all beings—is firmly implanted

people’s hearts, modesty becomes the natural condition.OCTOBER 27 The Four PillarsAfter belief in God and the Prophet, four practices enjoy the status of pillars of Islam - fasting, prayers, zakat (alms-giving)

statements of the Quran relate to God Almighty, sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly. In the Quran, God Almighty directly addresses man saying: ‘O man! This is your God addressing you. Listen to Me and

of success for you.’ Some of the teachings of the Quran are eternal, such as zikr, that is, remembrance of God. Then there are a number of provisional teachings like jihad. It is very important to differentiate

Believers are seen sitting inside mosques, reciting the Quran, immersed in prayer (dua) and the remembrance of God. They become more detached and contemplative. Their boisterous and frivolous urges are curbed

individual believer. He is encouraged by the change in his brethren and inclines more and more towards God. Believers turn away from common vices and peace and tranquillity reign in all the neighbourhoods and

illustrates the meaning of the above-mentioned verse of the Quran: Prophet of Islam said, “Every moment God is ready to forgive one who seeks forgiveness from Him, is ready to help one who seeks help from Him

upon Him.” (Sahih al- Bukhari, 1145) How can we enable ourselves to find this ever-available help of God? It is by using every event in your life as a point of reference. Our world is full of points of reference

Every observation and learning can serve as a point of reference to instantly establish contact with God and seek His blessings. By following this method, you would be able to receive divine blessings every

digressions—we will safely reach our destination? The glimpse of God’s mercy that we gain from a mother shows us that this can indeed come to pass. God’s mercy to us is many times more than that of a mother to

word; it means remembrance. Dhikrullah, then, means simply to remember God. It is not a formal act, but rather a spontaneous one, which comes as naturally to one who has come to know God as singing does

utmost intensity occurs in one who discover God in all His power and glory. Suddenly, God is for ever in one’s heart and thoughts. One’s constant remembrance of God expresses itself in multifarious forms.

twittering, seem to warble hymns to God. The rising sun is the radiant hand of God extending towards him. Every leaf of every plant and tree is a verdant page on which he reads the story of divine creation

creation. Zephyrs fanning his cheeks are harbingers of his unity with God. A true believer in God is like a diver in the divine ocean. Every plunge that he makes serves to unite him in his experience more

more and more inextricably with his Maker, so that he belongs to God as God belongs to him. Faith in God means faith in a Being who is at once Creator, Master and Sustainer of all creation. Everything has

What is Closeness to God?world itself, what more reward do you think you will get for it in the Hereafter? What is Closeness to God? Few people in this world have been able to find God in such a manner that

called remembrance of God. False religiosity is touted about everywhere with much fanfare. But real piety is so rare as to be almost just a mere possibility. Today, people talk much about God and religion

found God in such a way that the awesomeness of the experience has shaken him to very roots, causing his hair to stand on end. Where is the person who, when he reads the Quran, cries out, ‘O God! Your

than Him. Man should live in remembrance of God. His name should be on his lips as he wakens and as he sleeps. As he halts or proceeds on his way, he should live in trust of God, and when he speaks or remains

his Lord. Faith in God is like the electric current, which illuminates the whole environment and sets all machines in motion. When a man finds the link of faith to connect him to God, he experiences just

mother, has his second birth from the womb of faith. He now experiences what is meant by union with God. A lover, emotionally, is one with his beloved, even when he is physically separated from the object