Wahiduddin Khan, born in 1925, in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, is an Islamic spiritual scholar who is well-versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern disciplines. The mission of his life has been

Sayyidina Imam Al Hassan Peace award for promoting peace in Muslim societies. He has been called ’Islam’s spiritual ambassador to the world’ and is recognized as one of its most influential Muslims1 . His

unambiguously states that even in the seemingly very disturbing situation, a great fortune lies hidden. What is this great fortune? It is the necessity it creates for adopting a very realistic approach. The

Wahiduddin Khan, born in 1925, in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, is an Islamic spiritual scholar who is well-versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern disciplines. The mission of his life has been

Sayyidina Imam Al Hassan Peace award for promoting peace in Muslim societies. He has been called ’Islam’s spiritual ambassador to the world’ and is recognized as one of its most influential Muslims . His

unambiguously states that even in the seemingly very disturbing situation, a great fortune lies hidden. What is this great fortune? It is the necessity it creates for adopting a very realistic approach. The

to accept the morning following the evening, or one season coming after another. ISLAM AND CONVERSION Conversion in Islamic thought is not synonymous with proselytism in the formal sense. It is an event

revolution or spiritual transformation. It is not simply leaving one religious tradition for another. The Islamic ideal of conversion is for the individual to discover the truth after an exhaustive search for it

of religion in the simple sense. In the first phase of Islam, some Arab bedouins had accepted Islam just by reciting the kalima, the creed of Islam, while they had not undergone any change in character

of the Prophet on fasting. Detailed provisions regarding Ramazan are given in the books of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). The Quran says: ‘The month of Ramazan is the month when the Quran was sent down as

month, let him fast.’ (THE QURAN 2: 185) In a Hadith (words of prophet) the Prophet of Islam has said: “Every deed in Islam is rewarded from ten to seven hundred times. But God says, ‘Fasting is for ME, and

importance of fasting.   A person who fasts prepares himself for the mission of God.   The question is: what is the importance of fasting such that one who fasts shall be given unlimited rewards? The above Hadith

understanding of what is meant by calling upon God with His greatest name, which in Arabic is referred to as Ism-e-Azam. One of the Companions of the Prophet reported that once the Prophet of Islam heard someone

and the heavens without any model. Greatness and honour are Yours.” On hearing this, the Prophet of Islam said: “You have called God with Ism-e-Azam. When He is called out in this way, He will certainly answer

rote, but rather in a great state of emotion, some particular words fell from his lips, and this is what is meant by calling upon God with Ism-e-Azam. Ism-e-Azam relates in fact to spiritual or divine feelings

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

is now working as Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies and Coordinator of Centre for Research in Gojri, Pahari & Kashmiri Languages in the school of Islamic Studies & Languages at BGSB University

His most recent book, titled “Revisiting Islam: The Reformist Thought of Wahiduddin Khan”, is reviewd here by Khalid Hussain Mir. He is a Doctoral Fellow of Islamic Studies at the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah

themes of Islam”. Below is presented a summary of each chapter. Chapter 1: “Revival and reform in Islam: An overview” The author has presented an overview of the ‘History of Revival and Reform in Islam’ and

spirit of Islam, we need to identify the right reformers from the wrong ones.71.WHAT IS THE FULL SCOPE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN ISLAM?Islam has total freedom. Only one thing is taboo in Islam, that is,

violence. Once the Prophet was sitting in the mosque and an Arab who had not accepted Islam came to him. He said to the Prophet: You are a condemned person. I deny you. (Musnad Abu Yala, hadith no. 53)

that will be considered a criminal act. Peaceful expression of thought is totally allowed in Islam. In Islam, whenever there is a negative statement, it must be made a point of discussion. Muslims often

spirit of Islam, we need to identify the right reformers from the wrong ones.71.WHAT IS THE FULL SCOPE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN ISLAM?Islam has total freedom. Only one thing is taboo in Islam, that is,

violence. Once the Prophet was sitting in the mosque and an Arab who had not accepted Islam came to him. He said to the Prophet: You are a condemned person. I deny you. (Musnad Abu Yala, hadith no. 53)

that will be considered a criminal act. Peaceful expression of thought is totally allowed in Islam. In Islam, whenever there is a negative statement, it must be made a point of discussion. Muslims often

which is held justified by it allows no room for revision. What is this ‘justified violence’? It is the perpetration of violence in the name of Islamic jihad. In Muslim history, all battles were fought in the

the name of jihad. And the traditional concept of Islamic jihad is that success awaits one in either of the two situations: in the case of victory as well as defeat. If they are victorious, Muslims who

case of defeat and death, they become martyrs and go straight to Paradise. Rightfully speaking, in Islam, jihad in the sense of qital, or war, is undertaken only in defence. Since defence is a matter only