formal. They were the ones that God chose to accompany His prophet, and to establish his religion. What polytheism had deprived man of more than anything was the ability to see truth on an abstract level

prophets have been subjected to in every age. The polytheists had not denied the existence of God. What they had done was mould Him in the image of insensate objects. Finding it difficult to fathom a God

they must find it out for themselves by reading the silent signs of nature and then acting upon them. What a discerning farmer will do, then, is wait until the ground is moistened by rain before planting.

Prophet. When he had told his nephew what the Quraysh had said, the Prophet raised his eyes up to heaven. “By God,” he said, “is anyone among you able to light a fire from a flame of the sun? Well, I am

substantiation of the Quran’s claim that no one would be able to write a work like it11 comes from what Ernest Renan has called the “linguistic miracle” of the Arabic

explaining the situation, ask them for their opinion. Though he appeared to be consulting with everyone, what actually used to happen was that there would be silence for a while, then Abu Bakr would get up and

for the Partition of India was, in part, a reaction to the attitude of others. But the question is: What is the practical use or benefit of making this claim? This sort of claim may be useful only if the

the history of humankind. Muslims today present an entirely different picture, however. Faced with what they perceive as unfavourable conditions, they see everything in a negative light,

but now ‘principle’ becomes their guide. Fasting is a special training to help distinguish between what is allowed and forbidden, a preparation to lead a principled life not merely during the month of fasting

overwhelmed with feelings of thanksgiving and praise for God. Fasting produces patience and forbearance are what lead man to the state of the heart which enable him to experience the feeling of nearness to God.