them—refrain from committing indecent deeds, whether openly or in secret; and do not kill the life which God has made sacred, save by right. That is what He has enjoined upon you, so that you may understand.

you speak, observe justice, even though it concerns a close relative; and fulfil the covenants of God. That is what He has enjoined upon you so that you may take heed. (6:151-152) Say,‘My Lord has forbidden

own country to see the Prophet. When he arrived, the Prophet was delivering a sermon. “Prophet of God,” he said “I have come from afar to seek knowledge of religion, for I know nothing of its teachings

approached Abu Rifaah and seating himself next to him, he began to tell him about what he had learnt from God. When the Prophet had finished talking to him, Abu Rifaah arose and went on his way. Only then did

longer contain himself. “Enemy of God!” he cried out, “We are not dead! And may God keep you alive so that you may have the taste of humiliation. “ (AL-BUKHARI, SAHIH) Learning the facts by asking the

Abdar, Rahman, enquiring as to what had caused the Commander of the Faithful such grief, observed, “God has granted you victory over your enemies, giving you possession of their riches so that you may be

Umar replied that he had heard the Prophet say: “Whenever worldly riches are showered upon a people, God stirs up enmity and hatred among them until the Day of Resurrection.” “That is what I fear,” explained

and strives for God’s cause? These are not held equal by God. He does not guide the wrongdoers. Those that have embraced the faith and migrated from their homes and striven for God’s cause with their wealth

wealth and their persons are held in higher regard by God. It is they who shall triumph.5 Initially, the message of the Prophet of Islam had nothing but conceptual truth behind it. It was an abstract

became insolent and encouraged anarchy in the name of freedom. That is why on the Day of Judgement God will select righteous people who will be given the opportunity to establish a divine civilization.

proved to be a deserving candidate of Paradise by having purified his soul. The Quran tells us that God’s words are so innumerable that even if the seven seas were doubled and all these seas were turned into

suffice to write down all of God’s words. The Quran expresses it thus: “If all the trees on earth were pens, and the sea [were] ink, with seven [more] seas added to it, the words of God would not be exhausted

once said, “One who never expresses his gratitude to other human beings will never be thankful to God.” Thankfulness is a state of mind which cannot be compartmentalised. If it manifests itself in one

On the contrary, God’s kindness, being an indirect experience, is not at all obvious. One has to be perceptive, and reflective to be able to realise what favours are granted to man by God. While the favours

favours a man does are observable, God’s favours can be realized only by thinking about them. One who fails to perceive an event which is directly observable cannot be expected to grasp something which can

universe. Nature Subjected to Mankind One of God’s blessings to man is the subjecting of nature to him. There are two verses in the Quran which say: “It is God who has subjected the sea to you so that you

those who ponder.” (45:12-13) ‘Subjecting’ something means harnessing something to make it usable. God, who is the Creator of the entire universe, has subjected all things in nature. Everything is governed

tap into the potential of the world around. As such it has become possible for man to make use of God’s creation to fulfill his own needs. Had natural phenomena not been conquered or subjected by divine

and strives for God’s cause? These are not held equal by God. He does not guide the wrongdoers. Those that have embraced the faith and migrated from their homes and striven for God’s cause with their wealth

wealth and their persons are held in higher regard by God. It is they who shall triumph.5 Initially, the message of the Prophet of Islam had nothing but conceptual truth behind it. It was an abstract message