is the book of God. It has been preserved in its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam between CE 610 and 632. It is a book that brings glad tidings to humankind, along with divine admonition

commentator). I swear by the glow of sunset, by the night and what it covers, and the moon when it grows full, you will progress from stage to stage. What is wrong with them that they do not believe? When the

fall to their knees? Indeed, those who are bent on denying the truth reject it—God is quite aware of what they are storing in their hearts. Therefore, give them the news of a painful punishment. But for those

what is called fasad, or anarchy. None of these socalled jihads has been launched by an established government. All of them have been launched and are being carried out by what in today’s parlance is called

government has the right to engage in jihad only if it openly and explicitly announces this. According to Islam, it is unlawful for a Muslim government to engage in war without an open declaration. The violent

war and proxy war. Both of these are, without any doubt, wholly illegitimate in Islam. A guerilla war is illegitimate in Islam because it is conducted by non-governmental actors and not an established government

secular extremism, it is because this leads ultimately to violence. Islam, however, is a religion of nature and has always been an upholder of peace. For this reason, violence and extremism have been held

one. For human construction, Islam has played a great role as a result of which human history entered a new phase of progress and development. The time has come today for Islam to play its constructive role

role once again and lead human history into a new phase of progress. What is known as scientific or technical progress is the result of the discovery of nature. This nature has always existed in our world

secular extremism, it is because this leads ultimately to violence. Islam, however, is a religion of nature and has always been an upholder of peace. For this reason, violence and extremism have been held

one. For human construction, Islam has played a great role as a result of which human history entered a new phase of progress and development. The time has come today for Islam to play its constructive role

role once again and lead human history into a new phase of progress. What is known as scientific or technical progress is the result of the discovery of nature. This nature has always existed in our world

war can never lead to a solution to any problem. Hence, in line with God’s guidance, the Prophet of Islam adopted a new method to solve the problem. This method could be called the ‘Wisdom of Hudaibiyah’

conditions insisted upon by the opponents. After signing the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, the Prophet of Islam started on the journey back towards Madinah. The Chapter Al-Fath (Victory) was revealed to him during

propagation of their ideology. The benefit of the Hudaibiyah policy was not restricted to the success of Islam through a brief and bloodless revolution in Arabia. This revolution that happened in Arabia by virtue

The Spiritual Goal of Islam What is the spiritual goal of Islam? That is, what is that spiritual target which Islam sets before man? The answer in the words of the Quran is: ‘A soul at rest’ (89:27).

Thus, the spiritual goal of Islam is to attain this state of peace in the soul. According to the Quran this is the ultimate stage in a man’s spiritual development. When he reaches this stage of progress

ISLAMIC VIRTUESModel Character FOR centuries the lives of the Prophet and his Companions have served as models of a truly God-fearing existence for all humankind, and will continue to do so. Hence God’s

of Islamic history, we have not, till now, received such a sum of money. In my opinion, it should be divided into equal portions and distributed among the people.” When he asked the gathering what they

PROPHETHOODPROPHETHOOD Divine Guidance HUMAN destiny, by Islamic teachings, is a matter of man having been placed on this earth by God, so that he may be put to the test—the test of his capacity to make

should he find the guiding principles for such a course? The true source of guidance, according to Islam, is to be found in prophethood. God has endowed man with a thinking mind so that he may understand

beyond the reach of human perception. The true source of guidance, according to Islam is to be found in prophethood. What the Prophet does is to enlighten people so that they may overcome the human inadequacy

between Islam and Muslims. Islam is an ideology. One who adopts this ideology in full is a Muslim, otherwise he is not a Muslim. It is essential that Muslims be judged in the light of Islamic ideals: Islam

Islam should not be judged in the light of what Muslims do in the name of Islam. Prophetic Perspective In a hadith the Prophet Muhammad e observed: My generation is the best one, then the second generation

that Islamic virtue was at its peak in the first generation, and that there was a decline in righteousness through the second and the third generations. This stage is known in the history of Islam as the

haraam in Islam. Islam does not allow for innocent people to be harmed, no matter on what grounds. It is clear from the Hudaybiya Treaty that the Prophet entered into that if an opposing party takes a

And oppressing an innocent person in order to extract or express revenge is not permissible in the Islamic shariah. Sometimes, hijackers kill innocent passengers in pursuing their criminal goals. This is

passengers—all these are completely forbidden, or haraam, in Islam. It is completely forbidden in Islam to deceive anyone, no matter for what purpose. Hijacking is a form of complete deception. Hijackers