ASK MAULANAYour Questions Answered What is your view on the Ram Mandir—Babri Masjid issue, and how can the Indian government resolve the issue with peace and satisfy all parties? In my lifetime, I have

by Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, Syria and Egypt. Post Islam when the requirement to offer congregational ‘namaz’ (form of worship in Islam) emerged in many places, Muslims made mosques wherever the

to the ulema (Islamic Scholars) for discussion and the renowned Arab cleric, Sheikh Abdullah bin Baaz gave a fatwa (unanimously accepted) to relocate these mosques. And this is exactly what followed. For

for discerning the demands of faith. Islam is a religion of nature. And so, whatever is in accordance with the demands of nature will also be considered part of Islam. For instance, every person loves his

although nowhere is it written in words in the Quran and Hadith that one must love one’s parents. An Islamic scholar during a discussion disagreed about the example of love for parents being not mentioned in

behaviour. What is logical reasoning? It is but another name for correct reasoning. Reasoning that is based on facts, in which while making an assertion, the distinction between what is relevant and what is not

endeavour. Without peace, no positive action—small or big—is possible. MUSLIM SEPARATISM IS UN-ISLAMIC IN many countries where Muslims form a minority, Muslim groups are fighting for independence in

allegedly destroying the Islamic identity or culture of these groups. Hence, they claim that, their demand for independence is legitimate in order to preserve their faith and Islamic identity. This politics

however, totally un-Islamic. It has nothing to do with Islamic teachings. This politics of separation undertaken by Muslims in different countries is however, totally un-Islamic. It has nothing to do

Khanam is an author, editor, translator, public speaker and former professor of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Among her books are ‘A Simple Guide to Sufism’ and ‘A Study of World’s

programmes, these questions are often posed by our Christian brothers and sisters: What is the hierarchical order followed by Islam? How the faith and principles are taken care of or explained to the believers

institutions. In this article, we shall see where Islam stands in this regard. A question is often asked to this effect: What is the hierarchical order of Islam? In Islam, the Quran and the practical model of conduct

Prophet of Islam has become a symbol of pride. And this feeling of pride can be perpetuated only when one’s hero is acknowledged as supremely successful. The Quran has presented the Prophet of Islam as an example

the teachings of the Quran, what is most important for us is to find out the secret of the supreme success of the Prophet of Islam. Only by learning this secret can we take Islam once again to the position

have granted you a clear victory. THE QURAN 48: 1 What Dr. Hart called supreme success, the Quran calls a clear victory. How did the Prophet of Islam achieve this supreme success or clear victory? This

ASK MAULANAYour Questions, Answered What is the greatest mark of an exalted nature? The greatest mark of an exalted nature is the ability to set aside grievances and differences in order to support another

delicate situations and to use one’s mind to find a course of action along result-oriented lines. What differentiates gentleness from haughtiness? Gentleness is an attribute of successful people, while

increased in modern times? As far as I can gauge, physical suffering has not increased. It is still what it used to be. But it would be right to say that mental tension has increased in modern times, and

KAFIR AND KUFRWho are Kafirs? MANY people who do not have much knowledge of Islam have at least heard of the words kafir and kufr. The generally-held view is that those who are not Muslims are kafirs.

According to Islam, the fact is that those who are not Muslims are simply non-Muslims. We must look at them as such, rather than classify them as kafirs. The right way, according to Islam, is to call each

communities with words such as ‘O people of Quraysh’, ‘O Children of Abdul Muttalib', etc. The Prophet of Islam spent the first 13 years of his prophet-hood in Makkah. After this, he migrated to Madinah and remained

JOURNEY AFTER DEATHEternal Joy or Eternal Suffering WHAT is Death? Dictionaries often define death as ‘the permanent cessation of life’. This definition reflects a negative image of death. It seems to

contrast to this, Islam presents a positive understanding of death. Islam teaches us that death is not the end of life. Rather, it marks the beginning of a new phase of our lives. According to Islam, man has been

be of any use to us. In that phase of our life, we will only reap the fruits, sweet or bitter, of what we had sowed in our pre-death phase. Death is a message from life, as it were. The message is "Whatever

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

two of the books amongst 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

peace-building, countering extremism and conflict resolution. THE ECONOMIC TEACHINGS OF THE QURAN ISLAM not only allows but encourages honest trade and commerce. The Prophet is reported to have said that

HUMAN EQUALITYPractical Demonstration ACCORDING to Islamic tenets, all human beings are equal. In prayer, all members of the congregation stand before God in the same rows together, and on the Hajj pilgrimage

noteworthy that the Prophet of Islam declared that no Arab was superior to a non-Arab and that no white was superior to a black. All were equally servants of God. In Islamic society, everyone is accorded

rationalize what are apparently very great differences in human beings in terms of colour and race, etc., considering that the concept of human equality ranks so high in the value system of Islam? We find