any activity whatsoever, no matter how damaging to humanity or contrary to religion it might be. What made matters worse—as a direct result of this negative psychology—was the emergence of certain Muslim

political interpretation of Islam, according to which Islam was a complete system of State and Muslims had been appointed by God to fulfill the mission of establishing this Islamic state throughout the world

Egypt, Ayatullah Khomeini in Iran and Syed Abul Ala Maududi in Pakistan. This political view of Islam, in spite of being a grave misinterpretation, spread rapidly among Muslims. The only reason for this

Muslims must rise today with the help of this dawah power of Islam. If they were to perform their dawah work properly, their condition would certainly change for the better. They would themselves benefit

opportunities to revive this dawah process of Islam have increased to an extraordinary degree. The scientific study of religions has proved that all other religions besides Islam have lost their credibility. No other

other religion is historically credible. Whereas in every scientific analysis Islam has proved to be authentic. In this way Islam is in a position to gain an unopposed victory. So far as human ‘isms’ are

THE GOAL OF RAMAZANSpirituality and Mission ACCORDING to Islamic teachings, Ramazan—the ninth month of the lunar calendar—is the month of fasting. In this month, believers refrain from food and drink

equivalent of spirituality in the Quran is Rabbaniyat, that is, a God-oriented life. This expresses what the Quran means when it refers to spirituality. Spirituality, according to the Quran, is that mental

activities as are irrelevant to his mission, and fasting symbolizes this very spirit. According to Islamic ideology, a believer is a man of mission. A man of mission is a unique person. He has little time

equals one’s Islam, and the level of one’s conscious discovery equals the level of one’s external action. God-realization is the spirit of Islam, it is the life of Islam. It makes one’s Islam a living thing

without God-realization is like dried up wood. Realization of God: Discovery of One’s Helplessness What is ma‘arifah or realization of God? It is, in fact, a discovery of one’s helplessness in relation

opponents are not ready to give us our rights even if we use peaceful means. In these circumstances, what can we do?’ The answer to this is that the responsibility for these matters lies with the government

government is failing to live up to its responsibilities, even then it is impermissible for him to take on what is the government’s work. Even in these conditions he has to choose between only two alternatives:

arises about the Islamic ruling about state terrorism, that is, when the state engages in the same sort of undesirable violence as non-governmental terrorist organisations. What is the Islamic ruling in such

times, however, the science of medicine never reached the heights of progress that it did in the Islamic era and also latterly, in modern times. It is believed that the beginning of the science of medicine—a

way to Europe, thus paving the way for modern medical science. The reason for this is before the Islamic revolution, the world had been swept by superstitious beliefs. The environment in those times was

appeasement of gods and goddesses, what appeal could the scientific method of treatment have for the people? Only when the monotheistic revolution came to the world in the wake of Islam did the door open to that

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

marked capacity for pacifying are clearly attributes which will eliminate stress. When we look at Islamic history, the first instance we find of such positive feminine influence is that of Khadija, the wife

and come into the hands of the pious. The Purpose of Worship In the political interpretation of Islam, worship or ibadat acquires a certain definite political meaning and status, as is evident in the

Prayer, fasting Haj and zakat, which God has made a duty for you and has appointed as pillars of Islam—all these things are not, as in the forms of worship in other religions, mere rituals and offerings

In his book Islami Ibadat Par Tahqiqi Nazar (‘An Analytical Perspective on Islamic Worship’), Maulana Maududi wrote about what he regarded as the purpose of congregational prayers in Islam as follows:

never satisfied with what he has; he always seeks more. As a result, he never ceases to be discontent. God has favoured everyone in some way or another, but man is more concerned with what he does not have;

have; he pays scant regard to what he has. People who have this attitude cannot be moved to offer thanks to God. They are lacking in that priceless virtue which is essential for admission into paradise. The

org/books ARTICLES  Read Maulana’s writings as he expounds on the spiritual wisdom of the religion of Islam.  cpsglobal.org/articles QURAN Read online and Download the Quran and its commentary in Arabic, English

and for being the cause of introducing it to others who may follow it.” (Prophet of Islam, reported by Ibn Majah) WHAT is said in this Hadith is not about lay people or the masses, but about those who have