interaction. The sole basis of superiority in Islam is taqwa—the earnestness with which one leads a God-fearing life; as such, it bears no relation to colour or race. Physical attributes certainly have their

hadith, God sees the heart and not the body. He reserves a place in Paradise only for those found deserving in terms of their inner worth. According to Islam, all greatness belongs to God. God as the Supreme

Supreme Being is ineffably superior to all men. While there is this infinitely great difference between God and man, there is no difference whatsoever between man and man.

universe and discover the universal laws. With this, the universe became a source of eternal ma‘arifah or God-realization for man. It became possible for a person to ponder day and night over the hidden creative

his journey of ma‘arifah or God-realization. Scientific Discoveries Provide Spiritual Food Mentioning the “Words of God” (31:27) the Quran tells us that these words of God are so numerous that their enumeration

enumeration would never cease. What are these words of God? There is nothing mysterious about them. Rather, these refer to the mysteries of the

interaction. The sole basis of superiority in Islam is taqwa—the earnestness with which one leads a God-fearing life; as such, it bears no relation to colour or race. Physical attributes certainly have their

hadith, God sees the heart and not the body. He reserves a place in Paradise only for those found deserving in terms of their inner worth. According to Islam, all greatness belongs to God. God as the Supreme

Supreme Being is ineffably superior to all men. While there is this infinitely great difference between God and man, there is no difference whatsoever between man and man.

terms this is to say that I cannot know that other people’s visions may not also be revelations from God —and these perhaps fuller and more illuminating revelations than the one that I believe that I myself

accordance with the nature and spirit of Absolute Reality or, in theistic terms, with the will of God—all these fellow seekers are engaged in an identical quest. They should recognize that they are spiritually

Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics has discovered 22 different concepts of God extant in different societies and it discusses the concept of God under 22 separate headings. 3. It follows that such an interpretation

these duties makes him deserving of God’s succour. The prime duty of a believer is that which he owes to God. This duty to God (called huququllah) entails accepting God with all His perfect attributes, worshipping

worshipping Him, holding himself in readiness to serve Him and willingly accepting that whatever God demands of him, he will immediately and wholeheartedly carry out. Another duty of a believer (called

Respecting those rights is incumbent on the believer. Without doing so, he cannot be held deserving of God’s succour. What are the rights of mankind? Wherever a believer comes in contact with other human beings

as the next, perfect and everlasting world. God has revealed Himself in two books—the Quran and the Universe. The Quran is a literal version of God’s word, while the Universe, or nature, is a practical

scheme. This dual source of divine inspiration is mentioned in the Quran in the following verse: “God is He who raised the Heavens without visible supports, then He ascended the Throne. He has compelled

It prepares the mind so that one may properly understand the Universe and live in it as desired by God. So, a mu’min (true believer) has precisely that kind of prepared mind. When he sees the Universe

awaiting us. This incomplete manifestation of God’s attributes requires a sequel for its fulfillment. Paradise is that eternal world of God in which His attributes will appear in all their perfection.

It will be free of all the defects we experience in the world about us. Paradise is evidence of God’s absolute power to make beauty perpetual and joy boundless in a world of everlasting peace and contentment

continue to strive, for the universe in which he lives testifies to the existence of one, infinite God. The emergence of a world of infinite blessings is just as likely as the existence of the present transitional

Womanhood in IslamFEAR OF God and honoring one’s fellow men—this is the twin foundation of Islam laid down in the Quran in these words: Mankind, fear your Lord who created you from one soul and created

these two scattering on earth many men and women. Fear God, in whose name you entreat one another, and be careful not to sever your ties of kinship. God is watching over what you do.32 The words, “and created

of Eve: And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made

The Attributes and the Great Name of GodThe Quran tells us: “God has the most excellent names.” (7:180). This has been mentioned at three other places in the scriptures. “His are the finest names” (17:110)

“names” have the extended meaning of attributes, that is, all the best attributes inhere specifically in God. How many divine attributes are there? We learn from a hadith that they number 99. Some scholars say

are finite, while the being of God is infinite. God’s attributes are, therefore, in reality unlimited. The ninety nine best names are, as it were, a major sampling of God’s infinity of attributes.

think about me. Think about yourself. Thank God that you have a healthy body. Thank God that you can eat and drink and walk on the earth. All these things are God’s blessings. He can take away all these things

never stops to think that this healthy body is wholly a gift from God. So in acknowledgement of this gift, he should surrender himself to God. The same is the case with life. As long as man is alive he thinks

successful man is one who thinks more of death than of life, who regards everything as the gift of God