Islam and the World around

Islam views life as a compact whole and does not divide it into many separate and conflicting parts. The economic aspect is one of the most important parts of our life, while not being the whole of it. The Islamic system is balanced and places everything in its right place. Islam has given detailed regulations for the conduct of our economic life which concerns mainly the earning and use of wealth.  Man needs bread to live but he does not live for bread alone. This means that earning and spending money is essential for our living, but we do not live only for this. We have a greater purpose in life. We are Allah’s agents (Khalifah) on earth. We not only have a body but we also have a soul and a conscience. Without our soul and conscience, we would be considered little more than animals.  Everything in Islam is for the benefit and welfare of mankind. The economic principle of Islam aim at establishing a just society wherein everyone will behave responsibly and honestly, and not ...

Tolerance means ‘’to bear.’’ As a concept, it refers to respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of cultures, forms of expression and ways of being human. In Arabic, it is called  tasamuh . Words like  hilm  (forbearance) or  ‘afw  (forgiveness) or  saf-h  (overlooking) also convey the meaning of tolerance. In Persian and Urdu, we use the word  rawadari  which is derived from  rawa  meaning acceptable or bearable and dashtan  meaning “to hold”. Thus it means to hold something acceptable or bearable. Intolerance has become the culture of the day. It is causing death, genocide, violence, religious persecution as well as confrontations at different levels. Sometimes it is racial and ethnic, sometimes it is religious and ideological, and sometimes it is political and social. Whatever may be the reason, intolerance is painful in each situation. How can we solve the problem of intolerance? How can we bring tolera...

Thirteen representatives from  Thajeeb  tribe of Yemen, came to visit Prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Prophet hosted them nicely and assigned Bilal (May Allah be pleased with him) to help them. They learned many things from prophet and were ready to return to their tribe to teach them what they have learned. Prophet advised his companions to present each of them with gifts better than what he used to give to any other representative groups. He inquired if any one had left to get the gift. “Yes, the boy who guards our vehicles outside” “Please ask him to come over”. They took that boy to Prophet. He introduced himself. “I am from  Abadee  tribe. You have given all members of our group with whatever they need. Will you give me what I need too?” “Indeed, What are your needs?” My needs are different from that of my friends. Though they came out of their love for Islam, I came here so that Allah’s prophet will pray for me to get my sin...

When it comes to  Zakat , many a time people discuss only about items, rates and the difference of opinions among scholars about these. But, they tend to ignore the very important side- that is establishing a  Zakat  system in place.  Many times, Qur’an discusses  Zakat  right after mentioning Salah. The very first problem arose in the Islamic society after the demise of beloved Prophet, who established an ideal  Zakat  system, was some people declining the payment of  Zakat . Some hypocrites claimed that Prophet is no more, so they don’t have to pay  Zakat . This is how Khalifa Abu Bakr(R) responded to them: I swear upon Allah, I will declare war against those who distinguish (offering one and denying another) between Salah and  Zakat . And the Companions of Prophet supported him. The hesitation in giving out wealth is a human nature. Remember what Qur’an says: Indeed mankind, to his Lord, is ungrateful. And indeed, he is t...

It is said that one day Bahlool went to Haroun , who was busy drinking wine. He wanted to prove that he was safe from forbidden eating and drinking, so he asked Bahlool, “Is it forbidden to eat grapes?” “No!” said Bahlool “What if after eating grapes, water is drunk over them?” “There is no harm.” replied Bahlool “After eating the grapes and drinking water, one sits for a while in the sun?” “Even then there is no harm.” Then the Khalifa said, “Then if grapes and water are placed in the sun for a time, how does it become forbidden?” Bahlool said, “If some dirt is put on one's head will it cause any harm?” “No.” said Haroun “Afterwards if water is poured on it, will it cause any pain?” “No.” replied Haroun “If that dirt and water are mixed to make a brick, and thrown on a person's head, will it cause any pain?” The Khalifa said, “True, the brick will break a person's head.” Bahlool said, “The way dirt and water mixed together break the human's ...

There is a common misconception that Islam is a religion of Violence. There is no basis for this in Islam. Islam is a religion of peace. The very first verse of the Quran reads:  In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the most Compassionate . This verse, which is repeated in the Quran 114 times, clearly shows that the God of Islam is the God of Mercy and Compassion, and the book of Islam too is the book of mercy. The people of Islam must also possess the quality of mercy and compassion; otherwise, they could not be true believers. If you go through the Quran you will find that from most verses, either directly or indirectly there emanates the spirit of peace. There is a verse, which says ‘And God calls to the home of peace.’ (10:25) This means that the destination of Islam is peace. All the teachings of Islam are oriented towards the goal of peace. If you make a detailed study of the Quran you will discover many verses, which deal with the objects and events of the universe,...

Once, An-Numan bin Bashir’s father took him to Prophet (May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) and said, “I have given a slave I had to this son of mine” The Prophet (PBUH) asked, “Have you given all your sons the like?” He replied “No”. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Then, take back your gift”. (Sahih Bukhari, Chapter 49, No. 770) Different narrations of it says that, Prophet (PBUH) denied to be witness to this gift and advised Numan bin Bashir’s father like this “Be afraid of Allah, and be just to your children” (Sahih Bukhari, Chapter 49, No. 770) and he added (mentioned in another narration), “Won’t you like all your children being nice to you?” when replied “yes” to this, Prophet (PBUH) said, “then, you shouldn’t do so”. Children are one of the greatest blessings of Allah. Birth of a child is a celebration in any marriage. Those who are on years long wait to fondle a little one know its value, well. The presence and playfullness of little ones weaves the hearts of parents. An...

Things become easy for a person if he/she is in a habit of doing something regularly, and in advance. The one who practices charity on a regular basis finds it very easy to give out Zakah  once in a year.   The student who studies and prepares himself in a systematic way, finds it easy  while sitting for the exams.  Establishing Salah is not hard on those who are in the habit of offering nafl, that is extra/supererogatory prayers, regularly. Islam appreciates this approach in order to make things easy  FOR THE MAIN EVENT.  Our Nabi Kareem (sal-lal-laahu-alaihi-wa-sallam) and his noble companions (radhiyallahu anhum) used to prepare themselves two months before the coming of the main event: Ramadhaan.

On Monday morning, a van ploughed down Muslim worshippers, as they were leaving a north London mosque after late night prayers. This was the latest in a string of attacks that has jolted the British capital in past four weeks. This sadly marks the fourth terror attack in the UK in four months, after attacks on Westminster Bridge, Manchester, and London Bridge. At least one person died and more than ten people were injured in this latest attack. However, the right wing media was quick to display its bias. As the news of this attack emerged, newspapers such as the Daily Mail assured its readers that the driver of the van was a ‘clean shaven’ man and later blamed a radical cleric who used to preach at the mosque. This victim blaming or ‘what goes around comes around’ narrative has only fuelled more tension. But more importantly, it reflects how Islamophobia is now a reality that even the conservative British Prime Minister had to acknowledge in her speech. The fact that the Finsbury Park...

The word “sexual crime” (fahsha) and its derivatives are used 24 times in the Quran. The word “transgression” (baghy) and its derivatives are also used 24 times. Since these behaviors deserve wrath, the word “wrath” (ghadab) also is used 24 times in the Quran. The relationship between the words “sexual crime” (fahsha) and “transgression” is seen clearly in the verse below: - ...and forbidden sexual crime, impropriety and transgression... (16 The Honeybee: 90) An example for “wrath”: - The path of those You have blessed, not of those who have deserved wrath,    nor the strayers. (1 The Prologue: 7) (Reference:The Quran Unchallengeable Miracle by CANER TASLAMAN  ,page:297)

When the Holy Prophet conquered Mecca with his strong army of twelve thousand soldiers, he treated people so kindly that they all were surprised. No one could believe that a victor could treat the defeated party in this way. People of Mecca had gathered in the Sacred Mosque to see the leader of Muslims and Islam come out of Ka`bah and judge those who committed all kinds of persecution against him for thirteen years. However, after breaking the idols, the Holy Prophet came out of Ka`bah addressing the people of Mecca as such,  “O people! You were bad kinsmen and neighbors for me.You expelled me from my hometown and fought against me in an unmanly way. You did not spare any attempt to persecute me, my friends and my companions. You killed my uncle, Hamzah. You fought against Allah’s Messenger so I have the right to avenge myself on you. Based on this right, your men must be killed, your wives and children must be taken captive, your property must be seized by the conquerors, an...

The word “benefit” (naf) with all its derivatives is used 50 times in the Quran. The same is true for the word “corrupt” (fasad), that is, it and its derivatives are used 50 times as well. Corruption (fasad) is a social evil and condemned by the Quran. A person cannot benefit (naf) from corruption (fasad). The result of corruption is the opposite of benefit. - And remind, for the reminder benefits the believers. (51 The Dispersing: 55) - Who corrupt the land and do not reform it. (26 The Poets: 152) (Reference:The Quran Unchallengeable Miracle by CANER TASLAMAN  ,page:296)

If you ask people what comes to their mind when they hear the word “angel,” a majority of them will say “devil.” All derivatives of these two interrelated words (angel/devil) are used in the Quran 88 times each. It is interesting to note that the most frequent form of these two words, “al-shaytan” and “al-melaike,” are used 68 times each in the Quran. Two examples for these words: The Devil is certainly your enemy... (35-The Originator: 6) Thus, your Lord inspired the angels. (8-The Spoils of War: 12) (Reference:The Quran Unchallengeable Miracle by CANER TASLAMAN  ,page:295)

The Quran speaks of two lives: the one in this “world” (dunya), which is finite, and the other in the “Hereafter” (ahiret), which is infinite. The relation between these words in the Quran is very clear. These two words, which are used sometimes together in a verse and sometimes separately, are mentioned 115 times each. There are two examples below: ...The life of this world is no more than goods and chattels of deception.(3 The Family of Imran: 185) This should be a sign for those who fear the torment of the Hereafter... (11 Hud: 103) (Reference:The Quran Unchallengeable Miracle by CANER TASLAMAN  ,page:294)

When Allah gives a person wealth it is a test to see whether or not it is spent in the path of Allah. A common misconception is that giving wealth away will result in great loss, in reality the opposite will happen. Although his money seems to decrease in the dunya he will have a huge reward in the hereafter. Allah SWT says in Surah Baqara, 'The likeness of those who spend their money for Allah's sake, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn), it grows seven ears, every single ear has a hundred grains, and Allah multiplies (increases the reward) for whom He wills, and Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures needs, All Knower' (2: 261). Allah SWT also says in Surah Baqara, ‘Who is he that will lend to Allah a goodly loan so that He may multiply it to him many times? And it is Allah that decreases or increases and to Him you shall return’(2: 245). Remember, a person may have billions of pounds and large mansions but if there is no barakah in his wealth he will never b...

The darkness of the night had spread across the horizon and silence reigned over the face of nature. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) wished to take rest after offering his prayers in the house of "Umm-e-Hani" in the blessed city of Makkah. However, suddenly he heard a voice; it was the voice of the Archangel Jibreel (pbuh) who said: "This night you have to perform a very unique journey and I have been ordered to remain with you. You will have to traverse different parts of the world mounted on an animal named al-Buraq." Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) began his historical night journey, along with the Angel Jibreel (pbuh). "After some time, Angel Jibreel (pbuh) stopped Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and said to perform the Salat. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) dismounted from al-Buraq and performed Salat. Jibreel (pbuh) said, 'Do you know where you just prayed?' Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) replied to him in negative. Jibreel (pbuh) said, 'In Taibah (Mad...

The Quran tells us that the heavens are created in seven layers. The term “seven heavens” is used seven times in the Quran. 1-    2-The Cow, 29 2-   17-The Children of Israel, 44 3-   23-The Believers, 86 4-   41-Elucidated, 12 5-   65-Divorce, 12 6-   67-The Kingdom, 3 7-   71-Noah, 15 (Reference:The Quran Unchallengeable Miracle by CANER TASLAMAN  ,page:286)

Ibn Hanbal says: ‘Abdulla-h bin Ahmad has related to us from Abu al-Harth Surayj bin Yunus from Abu Hafs Abba-r from Hakam bin ‘Abd al-Malik from Harth bin Hasi-rah from Abi- Sa-diq from Rabi-‘ah bin Na-jidh from ‘Ali- (‘a), who narrates: The Messenger of Allah (S) told me: “You are like Jesus. The Jews hated him so much that they slandered his mother, and the Christians because of their extreme devotion to him placed him in a position which was not his.” Then ‘Ali- (‘a) said: “Two persons [groups] are doomed concerning me; the devoted extremist exalting me to what I am not, and the spiteful hater bearing malice towards me and slandering me" Notes:  Al-Musnad, hadith no. 1376 and also hadith no. 1377 

The word “the sea” (al-bahr) is used 32 times in the Quran. The word “al-bahr” is used both for sea and other waters like lakes and rivers. The word “al-berr” (the land) is used 12 times in the Quran. The surface of the world is 510 million square kilometers. Approximately 360 million kilometers are made up of waters, like seas, lakes, etc. In addition, 15 million kilometers are ice-sheets; if we exclude these ice-sheets from the rest, approximately 135 million square kilometers are land. The ratio of the words “al-bahr” (the land) and “al-berr” (the sea) in the Quran is 12/32 = 0.375. The ratio of the land and the sea in the world is 135 mill sq. km / 360 million sq. km=0.375. So, there is a very interesting harmony between the usages of these words in the Quran and the existing phenomena in the world. He is the One who moves you across the land and the sea. (10-Jonah, 22) (Reference:The Quran Unchallengeable Miracle by CANER TASLAMAN  ,page:283)

One of the most important among the signs is in the first verse of the surah the Moon (Qamar). The number of verses to be counted from this verse to the end of the Quran is 1389. The year 1389 in the Muslim calendar corresponds to the year 1969 in the Gregorian calendar. And the year 1969 was the year when man landed on the moon for the first time. (On the other hand, the number 1389 may also be pointing out that man will land on the moon 1389 years after this verse or after the Quran was revealed by God. This was because the Muslim calendar started at a time when the revelation was not completed.) The Hour has come closer and the The Moon has split. (54-The Moon:1) (Reference:The Quran Unchallengeable Miracle by CANER TASLAMAN  ,page:282)

The earth’s revolution around the sun takes 365 days, while the moon’s 12 revolutions around the earth takes 12 months in the lunar calendar. The Quran says that there are 12 months in a year. On the other hand, in the Quran, the word “a month” (shehr) is also mentioned 12 times to indicate that there are 12 months in a year. The following verse mentions this: ...twelve is the number of months with God... ( 9-Repentance:36) (Reference:The Quran Unchallengeable Miracle by CANER TASLAMAN  ,page:281)

The word moon (Qamar), together with its derivatives, is used exactly 27 times in the Quran. This number is equal to the number that is the moon’s ecliptic cycle around the world. The Quran indicates that both the sun and the moon follow courses exactly computed (55 Gracious: 5) . The sun’s and the moon’s definition in terms of mathematics is interesting and the word “moon” is mathematically coded in the Quran. (Reference:The Quran Unchallengeable Miracle by CANER TASLAMAN  ,page:280)

The different uses of the word “day” in the Quran is phenomenal. While the singular word “a day” is used 365 times, its plural (eyyam:ایام, yewmeyn) is used 30 times. This represents the number of the days in a month, which is 30. So it is meaningful that while the singular “day” (yewm:یوم) is mentioned 365 times, the plural of it (eyyam:ایام, yewmeyn) is mentioned 30 times. In the solar calendar, the months have either 30 or 31 days and in the lunar calendar the months have either 29 or 30 days. So, the number 30 is the intersection group for both calendars. In the community to which the Quran was revealed, the lunar calendar was in use; the mention of “30” is therefore meaningful. It takes 29.53 days for the moon, the satellite in the sky, to make a month. The rounded figure is 30. With such mathematical miracles, we witness that the Quran calculates correctly this rounding up business. Likewise, the world completes its cycle around the sun in 365.25 days exactly. The rounded figure...