when there are more women than men. Failing this, it is out of the question. Is it conceivable that Islam, just to satisfy man’s desires, would give us a commandment that is neither possible nor practical

monogamy because of the limited number of women.160 To have more than one wife is not an ideal in Islam. It is, in essence, a practical solution to a social problem.

reading, that is, with education. This is a clear indication that the proper starting point for Islamic activism must remain within the realm of the possible. At the time of the Prophet’s advent, the prevailing

therefore, of shunning the impossible in favour of the possible, whenever he engaged himself in Islamic activism. There is a saying in English which goes: “Politics is the art of the possible”. The way

Difficulty When the Prophet of Islam and his early companions began communicating the message of monotheism in Mecca, it seemed that Meccan soil would yield up little to Islam except problems and difficulties

communication of the message of Islam. That is why, in spite of the Moghul Empire’s decline and fall after Aurangzeb the spread of Islam was actually accelerated. That the spread of Islam also cemented the foundation

regain the nation’s pride and independence from the alien English. This process of spreading of Islam continued until Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah (1876-1948) appeared on the scene. It was he who invented

outcome of the Islamic revolution, it has become possible to begin ail serious and beneficial dialogue between Islam and non-Islam, the result of which will necessarily be in favour of Islam. Now, this being

them back to non-violent Islam, by helping them to understand that their violent version of Islam is not the true one. As soon as Muslims take to the path of non-violent Islam, they will be able to become

natural result of this vast interaction of Muslims and non-Muslims will be that everywhere dialogue on Islam will be started, formally as well as informally. In modern times, because of the extremist and violent

political system. As a result of this wise policy, Arab unity remained intact and the furtherance of the Islamic mission continued unhampered, even after the death of the Prophet. 6. Positive Status Quoism in

demise of Prophet Muhammad, this practice of positive status quoism continued in the early phase of Islam. One outstanding example is the policy adopted by the religious scholars during the latter half of

scholars free to produce that great treasure known as the library of Islam. It is a historical fact that almost the entire classical Islamic literature was prepared during this period. The development of the

According to a hadith, the Prophet of Islam observed, “By God, anyone who is a threat to his neighbour is no believer.” According to this hadith, if a Muslim becomes a source of trouble to his neighbours

neighbour serves as a test of whether a person has human feelings or not, and whether he is sensitive to Islamic teachings or not. If a person’s neighbours are happy with him, that is a proof of his being a good

NOVEMBER 14 The Way of GentlenessAfter adopting the teachings of Islam, the attitude formed in the believer is that of gentleness. In Islam he discovers the reality that God is great (Allahu Akbar). This

on both the religious and secular levels. This universal monotheistic revolution brought about by Islam made it possible to bring the age of superstition to an end. The phenomenon of nature was displaced

for man. Everything else was a mere object of creation. An American Encyclopaedia rightly says of Islam: Its advent changed the course of human history. With the ousting of the phenomenon of nature from

thus the culmination of the Islamic revolution. MUSLIMS OF TODAY Now a question does arise here. How is it that the Muslims of today, who are the followers of that same Islam which taught science to the

ZAKAT: THE PRESCRIBED CHARITYZakat or the alms-tax, is one of the five basic tenets of Islam. Zakat means purity. This means that a man purifies his earnings by giving away one part of them in the path

their rightful share in his wealth, for this is as God has ordained. Zakat gives a clear indication of what one’s responsibilities to others should be. Everyone is required to recognize the rights of others

world. For instance, according to Islam, man ought to act with total fairness in all his dealings (57:25). This teaching, which deals with man’s personal life, was changed by giving this verse a political

man had to establish justice everywhere in the world, he was obliged to do so by force. Another Islamic teaching was that man should observe God’s commands in his life. This was misrepresented as meaning

commands here on earth.The Concept of Complete ReligionAnother basis for the political interpretation of Islam was the concept of a “complete religion”. “Complete religion” meant that civil and criminal laws must