CE, the Mediterranean island of Sicily became part of the growing Islamic empire. For nearly three hundred years it remained under Islamic rule. Then, in 1070, it was re-conquered by the Normans. The founder

conquerors, and it was the Muslims whom he had defeated, he still retained a high respect for Arabs and Islam. His coronation mantle was designed by a Muslim artist, and had Arabic inscriptions woven into it

Muslims were by far and wide an advanced community in different fields of knowledge. The legacy of Islam lives in European languages, which retain many words of Arabic origin. Muslims today complain of their

Religious Harmony What the world needs today—perhaps more than anything else—is an acceptable formula for the attainment of religious harmony. This being currently one of the most important topics under

shall attempt to present here, in brief, the Islamic viewpoint. Let us begin with a verse of the Quran which reads: He that chooses a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him, and in

opinion of certain interpreters, this verse implies that salvation according to Islam is destined exclusively for Muslims. Islam thus appears to uphold the superiority of the Muslim community. But this is

controversy, he would find all other paths open to him. The same was the case in Hudaibiya. The Prophet of Islam wanted to enter Makkah, but the Quraysh did not allow him to do so. Yet the Prophet did not let the

(the propagation of Islam), a far vaster arena for their struggle in the cause of Islam. By unilaterally accepting all the conditions of the opponents of Islam, the Prophet of Islam made a no-war pact called

of the future. It is this reality which has been pointed out in the Quran in these words: ‘God knew what you did not know.’ (48: 27) At the outset, the Hudaibiya peace treaty appeared to mean nothing but

ISLAMS CONTRIBUTION TO MODERN SCIENCEConquest of Nature ISLAM inspires and propels its followers to seek knowledge for the pleasure of their Lord, and to work towards and facilitate promotion and welfare

humanity. In other words, the motto of education in Islam is: acquisition of knowledge for the sake of serving God and His creatures. That is why throughout Islamic history, equal attention has been paid to the

the learning of both the religious sciences and the natural sciences. Islam places great emphasis on learning, and in order to facilitate learning, supporting factors which are necessary to make progress

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

them out with the garbage. If all such things come to naught in the world of the Hereafter, then what is it, which will be of use in the Hereafter? There it is only a ‘purified heart’ that will be of

reform in Islam are on the increase, as the ‘old’ version of Islam cannot apparently keep pace with the modern world. But, in reality, it is not reformation which is urgent, but revival. What is needed

as superficial and erroneous the militant and political interpretation of Islam, and to adopt the original, ‘old’ version of Islam based on peace, mercy and the love of mankind. The so-called Muslim Mujahideen

It is up to right-thinking people everywhere to reject the militant version of Islam, and to start seeing and accepting Islam as it is truly represented by the Quran. Wahiduddin Khan January 4, 2002 New

THE EDITORIAL DIRECTORDr. Farida Khanam has been a professor at the Department of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi. A Study of World's Major Religions, A simple guide to Sufism are two

the books amongst many others, of which she is the author. She has also translated many books on Islam authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently, the chairperson of Centre for Peace and Spirituality

designing a series of courses on peacebuilding, countering extremism and conflict resolution. WOMEN IN ISLAM REFERRING to men and women, verse 195 of chapter 3 of the Quran says, “You are members one of another”

WOMEN IN ISLAMAs per Nature Treat women well, for they have been created from a rib. (Prophet Muhammad) IT is very important to understand the above saying of the Prophet in the right perspective. This

There is another saying which explains what this means. “A woman is like a rib”, said the Prophet, “if you try to straighten it, it will break.” The teachings of Islam with respect to women are in accordance

in environment. Islam is a religion of nature. The principles Islam requires us to follow are in fact our own instinctive human requirements expressed in words. The teachings of Islam with respect to women

three models of this kind of peace. These models are known as Pax Romana, Pax Britannica, and Pax Islamica. These models of peace successfully worked in ancient times, but in the present democratic age,

model is not acceptable by man — America is one such clear example. This country wanted to establish what may be called Pax Americana in the present world through political power, but it failed. Pax Americana

the Prophet of Islam in the form of Sulh al Hudaibiya or the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. In fact Sulh al Hudaibiya was a peace agreement between Muslims and their opponents. The Prophet of Islam finalised this

Islam in BriefWhat is Islam? This is a vast subject. In this chapter we shall give a brief account of some of its basic aspects in the light of the Quran and hadith.True GuidanceThe Quran leads us to the

intercede with Him but by His permission? He knows what is before men and what is behind them, and they cannot comprehend anything out of His knowledge except what He wills. His knowledge encompasses the heavens