body in a grave very respectfully. Mud was then poured on the grave. I thought to myself, “Why has Islam ordained such deference for a dead body?” It is true that after a person dies his body is nothing

me on the Day of Judgement, not withstanding the fact that I am His messenger.’’ The Prophet of Islam was a man like other men. Joyous things would please him, while tragic things would sadden him. But

you, or you should have to leave it to us.” (AL-BIDAYAH WA AL-NIHAYAH) Their greatest strength was Islam In the face of unrelenting oppression by the Quraysh, a group of some eighty Muslims emigrated, under

take any step as an emotionally-driven reaction. When faced with any situation, he stops and thinks what response he should make that is in accordance with his principles and purpose in life, distinguishing

fulfilling the desire as soon as it emerges. You control the desire and think about it and then do what wisdom demands of you in that situation. This is exercising patience. Suppose someone has caused you

you trouble. You feel overwhelmed by the desire for revenge. But you stop yourself and then do what your faith wants you to do. This is exercising patience. In other words, impatience is reflected in a

they grow and they have feelings. But animals and men surely represent a higher form of life. In what way does man excel animals? Many theories have been advanced in answer to this question over the ages

pressures from within. It is in terms of this unique conceptual quality of man that we can conceive of what his higher purpose in life should be. The latter can only be one, which does not result from the pressures

which displays him as the superior being that he is. If one pauses at this stage to take note of what the Quran has to say, one will find that it gives us clear guidance in this matter. Man’s purpose

family. Like any other social unit, this requires an organizer or supervisor. For this special role, Islam has chosen man. Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because God has given the one more

conveyed the injunction: ‘Read!’ (Iqra) (96:1). By perusing this verse we learn about the initiation of Islamic action. It begins from the point where there is hope of continuing the movement along peaceful lines

pre-Renaissance and post-Renaissance. At this stage, according to the traditions of the Prophet of Islam, that event took place, which was referred to by the Prophet as ‘making a hole in the barrier of Gog

oneself from this dark deception of words? The answer is to be found in a hadith. The Prophet of Islam observed, “Realization of God is the shield against this fitnah.” It means that there is only one

non-Islamic temperament. Non- Muslims rely on their own strategies; Muslims place total trust in God. This explains why non-Muslims always erected forts for their own protection and security, while Muslims