evening, he realizes how precious are the food and water which have been provided to him by God. This experience greatly increases his feelings of gratitude. Fasting reinforces moral discipline. By curtailing

break through the boundaries set by God. By observing this fast, a person engages himself more and more in worship, in recitation of the Quran and in remembrance of God. Fasting accentuates the effects of

of acts of worship. In this way, remembrance of God, worship and recitation of the Quran become more effectual. Fasting is a kind of special training course extending over a whole one month designed to

meaning of remembrance of God from this tradition. Abundantly remembering God means that whatever a person sees or whatever he experiences, he should make it a point of reference for the remembrance of God

Everything should remind him of God. Every experience should become a reason for strengthening his faith. Every study and observation should bring him nearer to God. Point of Reference for Prayer In

reference in it for prayer. When a believer reads this verse, he will be so moved that, he will say: “O God! This is my case in relation to Paradise. I have not done

should remember God at all times, how exactly does one do it? Suppose one is busy doing something: say, eating one’s meal or going for a walk, or driving a vehicle. If one’s mind is on God at every moment

the task one is doing? So, in this context, how can one be engaged in dhikr (remembrance) of God all the time? Remembering God at all times does not mean remembering Him every moment—it means most of the

which you are engaged in other things, but this may also lead, in an indirect manner, to the remembrance of God. Please explain, with the help of one or two examples—say, of going for a stroll or washing

meaning of remembrance of God from this tradition. Abundantly remembering God means that whatever a person sees or whatever he experiences, he should make it a point of reference for the remembrance of God

Everything should remind him of God. Every experience should become a reason for strengthening his faith. Every study and observation should bring him nearer to God. Point of Reference for Prayer In

reference in it for prayer. When a believer reads this verse, he will be so moved that, he will say: “O God! This is my case in relation to Paradise. I have not done

break through the boundaries set by God. By observing this fast, a person engages himself more and more in worship, in recitation of the Quran and in remembrance of God. Fasting accentuates the effects of

of acts of worship. In this way, remembrance of God, worship and recitation of the Quran become more effectual. Fasting is a kind of special training course extending over a whole one month designed to

to enable a person to lead his life as a worshipper of God and as one who feels good will towards all of mankind. ZAKAT The Law of Almsgiving Almsgiving, Zakat, is given to human beings, but, in reality

reminded of God by the things amidst which he spends his days and nights in this world. Influenced by these things, his heart and mind overflow with spiritual feelings of remembrance of God. Throughout

person repeatedly experiences such a connection with God, as causes him to ponder upon his existence, and his heart is filled with the sense that it is God who has created him in the best of moulds and given

feelings come to his lips in various ways in different words again and again. This is a true form of remembrance. A person in his daily life has to come to grips with various ups and downs, and undergo different

is in the remembrance of God. It is this reality which finds expression in the following verse of the Qur’an: “It is only in the remembrance of God that hearts are comforted.” (13:28) Here comfort means

everyday convenience, but the real comfort with its implications of peace of mind that can stem only from God Almighty. Man by nature is an idealistic creature. Anything short of ideal can attract only fitful

in limitlessness. The Universe—A Source of Divine Inspiration The universe has been fashioned by God in a way that it may become a source of spiritual inspiration for man. According to the Qur’an, it

whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of God—surely in the remembrance of God hearts can find comfort. (13: 28) This Quranic verse refers to the creation plan of God. The formula given in this verse

verse is: Contentment in this world is only for those who willingly accept the creation plan of God. According to the Quranic explanation, the present world was created for only a limited period and also

has many deviations from the straight one. The Quran (16: 9) explains: ‘The straight way leads to God and there are ways which deviate from the right course.’ The straight path is that man should have

term for making creation one’s concern is shirk. Starting with the birth of humankind, in every age God sent prophets, who gave people guidance regarding right and wrong. The mission of all the prophets

shirk, was based on nature worship. Nature’s status is that of a creation. It has been created by God. But ancient man gave natural objects the status of a deity. He adopted the evil of nature worship

THE WORD OF GODFrom The Scriptures The Quran is the book of God. It has been preserved in its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam between AD 610 and 632. It is a book that brings glad

take protectors other than God can be compared to the spider which builds itself a cobweb, but the frailest of all structures is the house of the spider, if they but knew it. God surely knows what they invoke

One. Such are the comparisons We make for people, but only those understand them who have knowledge. God has created the heavens and the earth for a purpose; surely in this there is a sign for true believers