BELONGING TO A GROUP“The believers, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabaeans—all those who believe in God and the Last Day and do good deeds—will be rewarded by their Lord; they shall have no fear, nor shall

period of time, he felt that his hearers were not going to believe in God’s message, and so deserved divine punishment for their denial of monotheism. Arriving at this conclusion on his own, he left Nineveh

work for only a limited period of time does not warrant the stigmatizing of a people as deniers of God’s message. Therefore, when Prophet Yunus (Jonah) found himself in the whale’s belly, he gave himself

work has reached its completion. When he realized his mistake, he sought forgiveness from God and prayed. God granted his prayer. The whale then brought him to a dry land and regurgitated him. After this

period of time, he felt that his hearers were not going to believe in God’s message, and so deserved divine punishment for their denial of monotheism. Arriving at this conclusion on his own, he left Nineveh

work for only a limited period of time does not warrant the stigmatizing of a people as deniers of God’s message. Therefore, when Prophet Yunus (Jonah) found himself in the whale’s belly, he gave himself

work has reached its completion. When he realized his mistake, he sought forgiveness from God and prayed. God granted his prayer. The whale then brought him to a dry land and regurgitated him. After this

Muslim scholars wisely used to, that ‘God knows best’. This does not mean hopeless relativism, though. One could contend that interpretations of religion that reflect God’s attributes such as love, justice

wisdom, compassion and generosity, are truer than others, in that they reflect vital truths about God and goodness. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, the well-known New Delhi-based Islamic scholar, has for decades

from God, not a thing to be worshipped, but, still, something to be respected, to be taken good care of by man and to be wisely and kindly harnessed. This reflects the understanding that man is God’s vicegerent

one revealed by God. They have made religion a topic of argument and disputation, and have forgotten that religion is something to be practised, not just to be talked about. The “God” that they have

that man practises in this world. It can only prevail until the Day of Reckoning comes to pass, when God’s truth will eliminate all falsehood and His justice will put an end to all injustice. Man is free in

when the pretences that people put on fade away, and reality comes to the fore. In this world only God knows a person’s true state; in the next world it will be plain for all to see. Those who appeared

never satisfied with what he has; he always seeks more. As a result, he is perpetually discontented. God has favoured everyone in some way or another, but man is more concerned with what he does not have

and pays scant regard to what he has. People with this attitude cannot be moved to offer thanks to God. They lack that priceless virtue which is essential for admission into Paradise. No one can be absolutely

difficulties he encounters, for he is being tested in this world. He should concentrate on earning God’s pleasure, and not achieving a trouble-free life, for that can only be achieved in the next world.

possibly afford to adopt this counterproductive attitude. Living in God The case of Muslims in present times is that, while believing in God, they have allowed their focus upon Him to become diminished. This

be seen in the context of making something other than God one’s main concern. Finding God is to find the greatest thing. One who has discovered God becomes so highly elevated in his thinking that all else

starts living by the maxim: you can take away from me whatever you want, but you cannot take away God. This attitude turns a believer into a positive thinker to the ultimate extent. He harbours not even

being committed as are completely opposed to Islam. Instead of attracting people to the religion of God, these deeds are only driving them away from it.  The Islamic System  In present times, numerous violent

power. They have made Islam seem like a religion of hatred and violence, whereas the Islam sent by God is a religion of peace and concern for the welfare for all. A true Muslim is concerned about the welfare

of Islamic Jihad (struggle in the way of God) which has clearly determined conditions or requisites. An action that fully observes these conditions would, in God’s eyes be a jihad. Anything else is meaningless

towards God (51: 56). Pride leads to egoism and selfishness, whereas a feeling of servitude results in humility and responsibility. A truly Islamic movement is one which seeks to warn man of God’s punishment

Islam that Muslims are striving for today is a national version of Islam, not the true religion of God. For a feeling of pride is the foundation of national religion, whereas divine religion can only be

IN SEARCH OF PARADISEKnow God’s Creation Plan IN every person’s mind lies the idea of a beautiful world, a world that is perfect and ideal, where all his desires can be fulfilled. This concept is the biggest

person dreams about is in fact the world of Paradise. This is in accordance with the creation plan of God. According to this divine plan, this ideal world, i.e. Paradise will be found in the post-death period

the place of preparation for Paradise. He will also realize that according to the creation plan of God, an ideal world cannot be achieved here.