November 4 Revival of Islam in the Modern AgeIn modern times the history of human belief has once again reached almost the point that it was at fifteen hundred years ago. In ancient times shirk so dominated

of today. Hence the revival of Islam in modern times will not be possible so long as atheism continues to enjoy its ideological dominance. To render the revival of Islam possible in modern times, it will

sufficient. But for the other task, God has once again in modern times, just as in the first phase of Islam, taken appropriate measures on a very large scale. The need of the hour is to exploit these opportunities

published in 1843. It carried a foreword by way of introduction to Islamic teaching, which, inter-alia, stated that “the fatal point in Islam is the degradation of woman.”1 This ill-considered observation

Muhammad Ahmad-Shah Bano divorce case. To interpret the Islamic concept of woman as “degradation” of woman is to distort the actual issue. Islam has never asserted that woman is inferior to man: it has

pointing out the difference between the nail and the eye. If all the laws relating to men and women in Islam are based on this fundamental reality that men and women are of two different sexes, it is because

brought to naught. Zakat is the practical recognition of this fact through the expenditure of money. Islam requires

with which he has provided us. This scheme is based on certain tenets on which the whole of the Islamic life is based. Firstly, there is the testimony: “There is no one worthy of being served save God

from one arena and his entry into another—his departure from all that is un-Islamic and his inclusion in the ranks of Islam. Secondly, prayer, that is worship five times a day in the manner of the Prophet

means. When one fulfills these five conditions, one becomes part of the prophetically established Islamic brotherhood. Life can be lived in either of two ways; it can be founded either on the Hereafter or

relatives and subjected to all kinds of torment. Finally, he rejected Islam and reverted to his ancestral religion. (AL-BIDAYAH WA AL-NIHAYAH) God’s mercy for the merciful The Prophet said: “God will

rumour monger by the name of Jamil ibn Maamar al-Jamhi who, when he heard of Umar’s acceptance of Islam, positioned himself at the gate of the Ka’bah and said in a loud voice: “I will have you know that

that time, and Umar was also present, “The man is lying,” said Umar. “The truth is, I have accepted Islam, bearing witness that there is no god besides God, and Muhammad is His messenger.” On hearing this

opinion upon them.No AggressionAccording to Quranic teachings, aggression is completely prohibited in Islam. No circumstance whatsoever permits believers to indulge in any act of aggression. Chapter Al-Tawbah

peace, you should at once commence hostilities. This kind of instant reaction is not permitted in Islam. In fact, war is a last resort, at a stage when all efforts to de-fuse the situation have failed,

can only be resolved or terminated unilaterally. In order to achieve one's purpose, the Prophet of Islam was the first person to introduce this approach to the Arab people. The entire world was unaware of

Prophet of Islam demonstrated that a unilateral accord was the only successful method to conclude a war and usher in peace and harmony amongst the people.  In this manner, through the Prophet of Islam, God saved

are facing the same situation as the tribal Arabs of the days of ignorance before the Prophet of Islam. Muslims are showing the same culture of revenge standing on the brink of the ‘abyss of fire’, referred

EMOTIONS OF FAITHMessage of Ramazan ACCORDING to a Hadith, the Prophet of Islam said, God suggested to me, ‘We will change one of the valleys of Makkah into gold for you’. I said, ‘Oh my Lord, No! Instead

requirements of the test. In this world, situations and conditions of comfort or want are both extraneous. What is of importance is the reaction to the situation and not the situation itself. Given the situation

offers a peaceful solution to Muslim militancy by helping people understand the concept of peace in Islam. Muslim militancy is not a case of bomb vs bomb, but an ideology vs ideology. The ideology of peace

the thinking of those involved in militancy by presenting the Islamic ideology of peace based on Islam’s sources. Once they realise that Islam does not sanction violence, they will leave violent activism

CUSTOM OF DOWRY IS NOT ISLAMICTHE CUSTOM of giving dowry—a practice which has never been sanctioned by Islam—is greatly on the increase among the Muslims of India and Pakistan. As this custom is not prevalent

under Islamic law. The practice of “compensating” for this by giving them wedding presents and labelling these jahaz or “dowry” (jahez in Urdu) is, in reality, a deliberate evasion of the Islamic law of