gift to Umar, which he returned. Asked by the Prophet why he had done so, Umar replied: “Messenger of God, did you not tell us that we had best not take anything from anyone?” The Prophet then explained, “That

“That is when you ask for something. When you have not asked for anything, what you receive is God’s bounty.” Umar then swore an oath: “By the one who has control over my soul, never will I ask anyone

GOD—THE SUBLIME, THE TREMENDOUSGod: there is no deity save Him, the Living, the Eternal One. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belong whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the

humanity (collectively) to determine its beauty or ugliness. But according to the creation plan of God, the right method of the interpretation of history is to view the individuals rather than the humanity

6:68 Who could be more astray than he who follows his own likes and dislikes with no guidance from God? AL-QASAS, 28:50 Do not commit adultery, for it is an indecent thing and an evil course. AL-ISRA’

when we study a man in the light of God’s scheme. That is to say, along with understanding man the creature, one must also understand the purpose of man’s Creator—God—in creating him. This is the proper

lack of clarity about the man was only because people tried to understand man without considering God’s creation plan. A machine is a created thing, not its maker. Similarly, man is a creature, not the

heeded his words. The rest persisted in their sinful ways. Then, in accordance with the ways of God, a huge flood engulfed them by way of punishment. Noah and his small band of followers were saved in

in in later generations and they again deviated from the path of monotheism as well as of justice. God’s messengers—the Qur’an has mentioned twenty-six by name—continued to come for several thousand years

thousand messengers came to the world. In this way a long period elapsed between Adam and Messiah, when God’s messengers continued to come to the world in almost every generation. But each time only a few individuals

God’s RewardPeople are searching among thorns for flowers. They are reducing their lives to rubble while imagining that very soon a big palace of their own is going to come up! Everyone is busy trying

against them, but they think they can do whatsoever they like to others, imagining that they are God’s soldiers. God has placed in this world everything that a

How many creatures cannot fend for themselves! God provides for them and for you. He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing. AL-‘ANKABUT, 29:60 We have explained in various ways in this Quran, for the benefit