his other marriages were entered into for the political and missionary advantages that accrued to Islam from them. The year after the Peace of Hudaybiyyah (A.D. 628), the Prophet—along with 2000 Muslims—went

did not join in any hostilities against the Muslims, and before long he himself entered the fold of Islam. After his marriage to Maymunah the Prophet had arranged a wedding reception for the people of Makkah

ibn ‘Ubaydah. The Ansar had made enormous sacrifices for the cause of Islam. They had given shelter to the stranded ship of Islam when it had been forced to leave its own waters. Yet despite their sacrifices

the feeling of being God-fearing and the feeling of being grateful. Undoubtedly, another name for Islam is to live with these feelings.FASTING: A CULTURE OF SELF-CONTROLFasting, in some form or the other

prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard yourselves against evil.” (The Quran, 2:183) In Islam fasting is called roza. The Arabic equivalent of roza is sawm. Sawm literally means abstinence, that

trust in Him. Similarly, God has asked the believers to perform the task of conveying the message of Islam to people. During this task He takes the responsibility of protecting the believer from those who

perseveres.THE SPIRIT OF IFTARIftar is an Arabic word, which literally means ‘to break’. In the Islamic context, it means to break the fast, to eat and drink in the evening after the daylong fast. Iftar

Persia. When Islam entered Persia, a complete civilization was already in existence there. Many things were introduced into Muslim culture from the Persian culture. As per the pre-Islamic Persian culture

name of Islam, but that such an act would only lead to strife. I told him that I disapproved of their method of proceeding, as a movement that took shape in such a manner was not truly Islamic and could

good will. In no way should one harbor ill-will against the other.134THE MEANING OF PROVISIONIn Islamic jurisprudence, the material arrangements which a man makes for his divorced spouse are termed “divorce

fact, a product of modern civilization. It was never at any time enshrined in divine laws, either in Islam, Judaism or Christianity. In material terms ‘provision’ simply takes the form of a gift handed over

SALVATIONEternal Blessings of God WHAT is the greatest issue facing man in this world? It is how to secure salvation in the life after death so that he may find his true abode and have a share in God’s

to him as trial.  Those who are held to be deserving will be granted from God’s blessings exactly what they actually merited. But those who have done nothing to deserve God’s blessings will have nothing

specifically asked about how we spent our youth. The period of youth is the best period in a person’s life. What you can do in this period you cannot do either before or after it. In our youth, we have great strength

energy. That is why most people at that age don’t really think they face very difficult problems. What the Hadith referred to above means is whether in this precious part of our lives we thanked God for

for others or did we do them harm? The period of youth is the best period in a person’s life. What you can do in this period you cannot do either before or after it. But there is a weakness as well

economic liabilities. Economic activity is a natural requirement of human existence. That is why Islam gives full freedom in this matter. However, it is essential that economic activities be subordinated