General Issues About Islam
Fasting in the full-month of Ramadan every year teaches restraint by experiencing it. It brings humility, discipline, restraint, self-control and social consciousness about issues of hunger and deprivation. It is more powerful to share a state of being for the whole month in restraint than an hour of lighting out. It encourages solidarity and pro-social behaviour.
In early 2015, Muslims took to twitter to introduce our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to the world. Below are some of the tweets.
From a community of 1.6 billion people spreading in 7 continents of the world, individual instances from a small minority of deviants are picked in an effort to embarrass and tease peaceful mainstream Muslims. Close to 100 million Muslims live in developed regions alone. There has to be acknowledgement and understanding of this fact that Islam and Muslims are two different things. There can be difference of opinion, but selectively picking particular types of arguments, peoples and actions and generalizing them over 1.6 billion people is unjustified.
It is to be understood that 15 centuries ago, the institution of slavery was common in Arabs and when Islam spread, Islam took measures to get rid of the institution of slavery in a gradual process. Quran is very clear on freeing slaves in the later revealed verses. In verse 12 and 13 of Chapter Balad, Allah says: “And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? It is the freeing of a slave.”
Institution of family is highly respected in Islam. Women are indispensable part of this institution. As per Islamic worldview, mental and physical capabilities that we enjoy are the blessings of Allah and we hold them as a trust. Therefore, based on the differences in these mental and physical capabilities alone, no one is superior and powerful in the eyes of Allah.
Allah asks people to use their intellect and exploit the nature’s blessings. Islamic principles neither stop one’s use of intellect in seeking material progress, nor the pursuit of success in life hereafter conflict in any way with success in this world provided that the ethical filters and Islamic injunctions are observed where they have been explicitly given.
Message of Islam invites people of all faiths, race, color, region and gender towards its message of peace, excellence of character and living in harmony with nature and environment.
Hajj is an important Ibadah in Islam. It is compulsory for every Muslim to perform Hajj once in a life. This article looks at the philosophy of various rituals involved in Hajj and how they exhibit a believer’s acceptance of Tawheed (oneness of God), his determination of following the commands of Allah and his vow to sacrifice his wealth, interests and time for Allah’s sake.
This article looks at the social and cultural importance of Hajj and what implications it has at an individual level and how it shapes societal behavior and actions.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) delivered His last sermon (known as Khutba-e-hajjatul-Wida) on the ninth of Dhul Hijjah in 10th year after Hijrah (migration from Makkah to Madinah). The sermon was delivered in the valley of mount Arafat. It was the best example of eloquence, brevity, conciseness and the content of the message emphasized upon justice and equality. The message in the sermon was delivered more than fourteen centuries ago and is an essence of the true message and philosophy of Islamic faith.
Islamic Economics Project 