DowryTHE CUSTOM OF DOWRY IS NOT ISLAMIC The 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

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

God-oriented thinking, God-oriented speech, God-oriented behaviour, God-oriented morality, etc. Islamic spirituality is, in essence, God-centred and not self-centred. When you discover your Creator, you

rab-oriented person. In fact, Islam is a religion of spirituality. It is a discipline that can be explained in terms of reason. Islamic spirituality is based on thinking. Islamic spirituality is based on contemplation

Muslim WomenWOMEN, throughout the history of Islam, have played significant roles and, by their feats, have demonstrated not only the vast arena which Islam affords them for the performance of noble and

and heroic deeds, but also the exaltedness of the position accorded to women in Islamic society. Within the sphere of lslam, ‘Aishah, the daughter of Abu Bakr and wife of the Prophet, stands out as a woman

woman of notable intelligence, whose intellectual gifts were fittingly utilized in the service of Islam. Very young in comparison with the Prophet, she survived him by almost half a century, during which

desirable in Islam. In the Quran it is called coming before one’s Lord with a “pure heart” (26:89). According to a hadith, the Prophet observed while praying “May God fill my heart with light.” Similarly

is this spiritual progress which is the actual goal of Islam. Those who fail to make spiritual progress will certainly never become truly Islamic in character.OCTOBER 24 Superior EthicsThe morality that

Quran in these words: ‘Surely you have a sublime character’ (68:4). This means that the Prophet of Islam was of such a high moral character, that his behaviour was a model of perfection for his followers

BECOME THE TRUTHIN the early period of Islam, there are many events that showcase the exemplary character of the Muslims. Of these, I find a few moments in Islamic history very rare. The words that were

II. One of his governors, Jarrah bin Abdullah, said he did not want to encourage people embracing Islam. His reason was that if a large number of people became Muslims, the amount of money collected in

THE CULTURE OF DIALOGUEIntellectual Development ONE significant aspect of the culture of Islam is dialogue. It is mentioned thus in the Quran: “They conduct their affairs by mutual consultation.” (42:

everyone. The practice of consultation (shura) was common among the Companions of the Prophet of Islam. For example, it is reported of Umar bin al-Khattab, the second Caliph, that he used to learn from

preserved religions to enter the fold of Islam, which has been preserved in its pristine form. This is plain for all to see. A glance at the journal Al-Alamul Islami issued from Mecca, will suffice to prove

forward at a great speed. Both Muslims as well as non-Muslims are publishing Islamic literature on a large scale, and Islamic conferences are being held by non-Muslims as well as by Muslims. Big institutions

institutions are being established for this purpose. This is a historical process in which even anti-Islamic elements such

new generation in Egypt. In this way, he would have been better able as an educator to bring the Islam he wanted into his country than in the position of an administrator. The same happened in Pakistan

the name of the ‘Islamization of Pakistan’. At that time the same series of events took place in Pakistan as in Egypt. In The Vanguard of the Islamic Revolution: The Jamaʻat-i Islami of Pakistan, Seyyed

studies instead. For encouragement he offered Mawdudi the post of vice- chancellor of the Bhawalpur Islamic University. In no mood to be appeased, Mawdudi rejected both the offer and the counsel.’2 This offer

women in Islam. Preserving their femininity, they participated in all kinds of religious and worldly activities. For instance, the Prophet’s wife Aisha, having gained full knowledge of Islam from the Prophet

many such workplaces where women are able to exploit their full potential. Since earliest days of Islam we find Muslim women working outdoors. Umm Dahdah, wife of a Companion of the Prophet worked in her

orchard. Khadija, Prophet’s wife conducted business, to cite only a few of such examples. However, Islam sets great value on the proper management of home. It is because home is the most important unit of

wholly communal one, and had nothing to do with Islam. Had these Muslims been truly religious, they would have remembered that when the Prophet of Islam started the mission of monotheism in 610 AD, there

simply ignore them. They should rather take it as an opportunity to convey to people the message of Islam, just as the Prophet did. This is an example which shows how present-day Muslims are engaged in non-prophetic

name of following the way of the Prophet. They launch such movements in the name of Islam, as have nothing to do with Islam. Such Muslims must learn that the matter is not going to end in this world itself