all one. The basis for distinction, if any, between them is as to who are God-fearing and who are not. And this is known only to God. Chapter 49 of the Quran states: “Mankind! We have created you from a

and tribes, so that you might come to know each other. The noblest of you in God’s sight is the one who fears God most. God is all-knowing and all-aware.” (49:13) Men apparently appear to be different

another, but all of them initially are the children of the same Father and Mother, Adam and Eve. When God decided to create a human being, He initially created the first pair, one man and one woman. It was

universe having been consciously planned as a purposive entity. A sign of the limitless extent of God’s power is the infinite variety of animal species all thriving on the same nutrients and water which

things because that is how God causes nature to function. If death in the universe is only a temporary phase, that is because God wills it to be so. Man’s God is only One God. He alone is worthy of becoming

attention. Our existence and all the things we have been provided with on earth are attributable solely to God, the source of all divine blessings. Man must make Him his object of worship in the real sense and

setting one’s own home ablaze. Such is the God-fearing life and only those who lead it will be given a place in God’s paradise. To His true servants in this world, God has promised supremacy. But this is not

everlasting supremacy. God will rid them of their fear and grief, and accord to them His everlasting beneficence.The Islamic LifeIslam can be summed up very briefly: fear of God and benevolence towards

realizes God’s omnipotence and man’s utter helplessness in comparison. The power which man apparently wields has been given to him only so that he may be tested by it. When his trials are at an end, God will

Calling people to God means warning man of the evil consequences of the self-oriented life, and therefore, inviting him to adopt the God-oriented life. The most authentic and reliable source of knowledge

Calling people to God is purely otherworldly in nature. That is, it is in no way directly associated with national, social or economic issues. It is a campaign to call people to God. It starts in the spiritual

religious idiom and goes on in the same idiom and style till the end. The mission of calling people to God is, in essence, a divine task, which is performed by human beings. It is important that it should be

concept of mediation, the religious guide (shaikh) himself becomes the goal, or the focus, whereas it is God Who must be at the centre, and the position of the religious guide must be purely peripheral, i.e.

contact with God, without any mediation; no mediation can be of any help in this matter. Tazkiya in reality is bestowed by God. There is no need of mediation to receive this gift from God. God directly bestows

tazkiya is to come close to God rather than rely upon mediation or a mediator. He, who wants to purify himself, ought to awaken his mind and make efforts to come as near to God as possible. No mediation

mind, the other, is his being God-fearing. A scientific bent of mind results from the realization of knowledge. And a God-fearing mind is the result of the realization of God. When excessive pride builds

modesty in a scientific or learned person. Similarly one who has fear of God, or taqwa, will see his affairs in relation to God, the Almighty. Here too, the same principle applies with greater force. When

than others. But when one sees oneself in relation to God, everyone becomes small, in relation to God. No one is great. In this way the belief of a God-fearing man or woman makes him or her a balanced person

The Prophet Muhammad had a ring made of silver inscribed with the words “Muhammad the messenger of God.” He used to seal his letters with this ring. These letters, short and simply written, gave the basic

Persia: “In the name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent. From Muhammad , God’s messenger, to Khusru, the leader of Persia. Peace be to him who follows right guidance, believes in God and His messenger,

declares that there is no deity save God, the only God, Who has no partners, and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. I wish to convey to you God’s call, for I am God’s messenger to all mankind, sent

responsibilities. These responsibilities for man are to consider the blessings of God as the trust of God. And he should put God’s bounties to use only in accordance with His will. The creation of man is for

that it may be judged who put these bounties of God to the proper use and who failed to do so. On this Day of Justice, which is to come after death, God will judge all men according to their records. Those

fear of God. He is forgiving and merciful. Mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and divided you into nations and tribes, so that you may know one another. The noblest of you in God’s sight

sight is the one who fears God most. God is wise, and all-knowing. (49:6-13) Calling to God Call people to the way of your Lord with wisdom and kindly exhortation. Argue with them in the most courteous manner

wrong with patience. So be patient; your patience is for God. Do not grieve over the unbelievers, and neither be distressed by their plots. God is with those who keep from evil and do good works. (16:125-128)

beautiful names which God has chosen to introduce Himself to man—asma-e-husna—are such as will open the gate of mercy to man. God’s beautiful names tell us what the meeting points between God and man are. It

It is through these meeting points that man may achieve closeness with God. Wahiduddin Khan January 20, 2021 New Delhi