inherited religion and embraced Islam. For example, the weekly al-Dawah (Riyadh) of 17th August 1989, has published a news item on page 41 which tells us about the acceptance of Islam by a Christian priest of

Kinshasa, the capital of Zire. His name was Moya Wamoya and he was called Holy John 23. After accepting Islam this gentleman has changed his name as Usman Wamoya. When asked about the cause of renouncing Christianity

the journey, because this guide was known to be an honest person in his profession. He is known in Islamic history as Abdullah bin Urayqit. He was a non-Muslim and died as a non-Muslim in Makkah. After the

campaigns of his opponents, known in Islamic history as Ghazwa al-Ahzab, was so devastating that even the Quran refers to it as one of the most terrifying moments in Islamic history. At the time, the Muslims

kill themselves in suicide bombing will die an unlawful death. No heaven is waiting to welcome them. Islam believes that the whole world including the Muslim world is dar al-insaan (the abode of human beings)

Muslims’ bounden duty to regard all human beings as God’s creatures. Once, in Madinah, the Prophet of Islam, on seeing the funeral procession of a Jew, stood up in deference to it. When one of his companions

had created him had also created the Jew. This is the real basis of human equality. According to Islamic teachings, there is absolutely no doubt about the fact that those Muslims who kill themselves in

support of Islam; they have travelled great distances in furtherance of the Islamic cause. As far as the quantum of effort is concerned, the struggle of present-day Muslims in the path of Islam has far surpassed

by God, so that it might become “a sign to all posterity.” (10:92)Islam in the Present AgeNow the question arises as to whether an Islam which teaches non-violence can be of relevance in the present age

position once again in new situations. The answer is entirely in the positive. The truth is that Islam’s being a peaceful religion shows that it is an eternal religion. Had it been a religion of violence

PREFACEIn early March 1992, the Students’ Islamic Welfare Society organised a seminar in Lucknow to discuss the leadership role of the Ulama. At the organisers’ invitation, I presented a paper compiled

compiled in book form. This essay aims at presenting a critical appraisal of the role of Ulama, or Islamic scholars, in present times. As per the Shariah viewpoint, two things have to be kept separate for such

a prey to negative reaction on a colossal scale; they have failed to remember that the policy of Islam is not that of violence but of non-violence. It is the result of this deviation, that despite almost

Prophet of Islam once observed, “It is the duty of every Muslim, man or woman, to acquire knowledge.” (Sunan ibn Majah, Hadith No. 224) This tradition shows the importance of knowledge in Islam. Knowledge

fields, such as education, da’wah, the service of the Quran and hadith, etc. In the first phase of Islam, it was Abdullah ibn Zubayr who violated this prohibition. He engaged in an armed confrontation with

as well as a senior companion of the Prophet, refused to take part in the campaign. They asked him what prevented him from doing so. He replied: “I refrain from joining in this battle because of God’s express

often happens in this world that man loses something, or suffers some calamity. On such occasions, Islam teaches us to willingly resign ourselves to our misfortune, taking that to be God’s decree. On all

expresses himself in words such as these: O God, You are the giver. If You have taken something out of what You have given me, You had the right to do so. Saying Inna Lillah is a form of worship. This is to