ISLAM A SCHEME OF SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENTThe dictionary meaning of spirituality: The quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. The Quranic term for

life which Islam expects from its believers. In the following article we bring you a bouquet from the garden of Islamic principles PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM SERVICE TO MAN All the teachings of Islam are based

principles into practice, there can be no true fulfilment of one’s religious duties. In its followers, Islam inculcates the spirit of love and respect for all human beings. By serving human beings on the one

due consideration of what equality—in its best sense—ought to mean, or what in practice it entails. According to modern thinking, giving equal status to women meant bringing them out of their homes and

in all facets of life without any regard for the practical and moral problems which might ensue. Islam, on the other hand, defines separate roles, and, therefore, separate spheres of work for men and women

importance—in short, inferior. As such, the West concluded that in giving a separate role to woman Islam gives them an inferior position. Conversely, since it is held in the West (in theory) that women must

violence. But Islam is a religion of nature. It has held violence as inadmissible from the outset. Islam has been an upholder of peace, not violence, from day one. In the past, Islam played a great role

progress and development. The time has come today for Islam to play a great constructive role, leading human history once again into a new age of progress. What is called scientific or technical progress is the

times, religion and science (divine knowledge and human knowledge) were linked with one another. What Islam did was separate religion (which had become, in essence, a set of irrational beliefs) from scientific

of the worship of the one God. In pre-Islamic times, Hajj was associated with all sorts of practices that are characteristic of tribal or ethnic festivals. Islam put an end to these. In this context, the

Hajj, one is taken out of one’s limited environment and is taken to various places of prominence in Islam over a period of several days. In this way, Hajj removes one completely from one’s worldly environment

of this area, God selected it to be an arena where people come to rehearse the true and peaceful Islamic way of life, so that when they go back to where they came from they can be better equipped and inspired

adding insult to injury, even if their movement has been launched in the name of Islam. For such people it is the decree of God that they never reach their political goal, and whatever blessings of peace

peace and worldly provision they have already enjoyed be denied to them. They will lose what they already possess. This is the way of God.

adding insult to injury, even if their movement has been launched in the name of Islam. For such people it is the decree of God that they never reach their political goal, and whatever blessings of peace

peace and worldly provision they have already enjoyed be denied to them. They will lose what they already possess. This is the way of God.

of Madinah to whom the Prophet had preached Islam was probably Suwayd ibn Samit al-Khazraji. When the Prophet had given him an outline of the teachings of Islam, Suwayd said: “It seems that your message

then recited a few verses of the Quran, and Suwayd immediately accepted Islam. He went back to Madinah and preached the message of Islam to his own tribe, but they killed him.22 After this, a chieftain of

they were in Makkah. He went to see them and said: “Shall I tell you about something even better than what

of Madinah to whom the Prophet had preached Islam was probably Suwayd ibn Samit al-Khazraji. When the Prophet had given him an outline of the teachings of Islam, Suwayd said: “It seems that your message

then recited a few verses of the Quran, and Suwayd immediately accepted Islam. He went back to Madinah and preached the message of Islam to his own tribe, but they killed him.22 After this, a chieftain of

they were in Makkah. He went to see them and said: “Shall I tell you about something even better than what

fasting for the month of Ramadan (sawm). These then are the fundamental principles, or pillars of Islam. The rest of the teachings fall into the category of detailed explanations of and elaborations upon

part of the basic tenets of Islam is misguided and unacceptable. On further investigation, we find that these five basic teachings have a spirit as well as a form and, what is of real significance is that

that the true essence of Islam resides not in its outward forms but in its inner spirit. That is why our actions, according to a hadith, must be judged by their intentions alone. (Sahih al-Bukhari) Let

that are God’s Luke 20: 25 This same advice has been given by the Prophet of Islam in these words: Give to the rulers what is due to them. And ask your dues from God. Sahih Bukhari BOTH these sayings