It means that there really is no separateness in the world. We are all interconnected, whether we see the connections or not. We are also beings consisting of several energy layers; the thickest and most obvious of which is the physical layer, or the outer shell. We know that man is much more than a physical shell, as man’s own consciousness exists non-physically. We do not have the ability to physically observe one another’s thoughts and emotions unless expressed or manifested in some way on the outer shell....

The human being is more than just flesh and blood. The human being is a spiritual entity as well. Humans are comprised of a physical, mental, and spiritual structure.[1] Thus we exist in these separate areas. Each one of these areas coupled completes the human. These areas comprise the human consciousness. The mannerism of the human being is a culmination of these three things....

A Muslim is one who surrounds himself with beauty and cultivates beauty within and then sees all things transfigured, wrapped up in glory and utters Subhan Allah (glory to God). For the sage every sight can evoke “Glory to God!” The Prophet (SAW) ordered good grooming. It is women rather than men who follow this order more strictly. Another mode of worshipping God that women are privileged to opt for is use of jewellery. Cosmetics (the word is derived from Cosmos – ordered whole) help “bringing ourselves into line with the Cosmos itself, by maximising our small part in its order and beauty”....

Islam does not approve or ask us to permanently isolate ourselves from this world, since our test is in living here according to the Commands of our Creator. But it does ask us to take periodic breaks from it. The mandatory Salat (five daily prayers) is one example. For a few minutes every so many hours throughout the day, we leave the affairs of this world and appear before Allah to remind ourselves that none but He is worthy of worship and of our unfaltering obedience. Ramazan takes this to the next higher plane, providing intense training for a whole month....

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

While leading his life in this world, such a person is always very cautious about an all-powerful God who knows about all his actions. At the same time, if he unknowingly commits a sin, he hopes that God is all-merciful and will forgive him;...

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf

There are two ways to live our religions. We can live them out of their historical particularities, which divide us from each other, or we can live them out of their focus on God, which unites us. There is no doubt which of these God prefers. God commands us not to divide over our religions (Quran 42:13). The religions jointly express in different cultural languages a single eternal truth: our lives founder unless they focus on God....

Rafia Zakaria

It is a spiritual catastrophe. Solitude and its pursuit are central to Islamic history; the very origins of faith are inextricably tied to the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) search for truth in the silent deserts of Arabia. And yet while most other aspects are duly discussed in the Ramazan transmissions of every television channel and the religious columns of every newspaper, this core truth is often left out....

Sadia Dehlvi

The Prophet said, “Man is asleep and when he dies he awakens.” When a disciple is initiated by a Sufi master, it is called an “initiatic death”, that is meant to be followed by an awakening. The disciple is supposed to die to his or her old self and be born anew. The concept of detachment in Sufism is to live with purity of heart and mindfulness....

We often assume God is worried or concerned about our sins and we have a long list of them. And the funny – and tragic – part is that we keep thinking more about what God doesn’t mind. God does mind certain things that we mostly don’t mind. Let us ask if God minds about all or some percentage of around a million questions asked to jurists on daily basis by Muslims – one can find them on sites on Islam or Fiqh manuals. Let us also ask that even if God minds are we advised to mind what He minds in others’ lives.  Some think God is worried about our dressing room routine – Burqas/Hijabs/length of Shalwar/hair style....

According to many narrations, the eve of the 15th of Sha’baan, known as Laylatul-Baraa’a, is one of the most powerful nights in the Islamic calendar. The month of Sha’baan is part of a three-month long trajectory of spirituality, a banquet of opportunity to benefit in the blessings of personal development and self-realisation. This period gifted by Allah starts with the month of Rajab culminating in the crescendo of Laylatul-Qadr, or the Night of Power in the holy month of Ramadan, where the following years’ divine decrees for the universe are ordained....

Nikhat Sattar

But while dirt and grime is visible and easily removed, it is less obvious for one to observe the spots on one’s Nafs. The word is used in the Quran in the meaning of desires, attributes, feelings, emotions leading to actions. These exist also within beasts, such as anger, carnal desire, hunger and thirst. When human beings submit to their desires without putting any limits or boundaries, they are using their Nafs-I-Ammara. God has given humans the capacity to do wrong and commit sins as well as to distinguish between right and wrong and correct themselves.....

Sadia Dehlvi

It is often said that Duniya (world) is like a shadow. If you chase it, it moves further away. If you turn your back against it, it will follow you. An Islamic tradition attributed to Prophet Jesus states, “The world is a bridge; so pass over it to the next world, but do not try to build on it.” The word Duniya has a negative connotation in Islam. One of the root meanings of the Arabic word is to reach out for something you can never grasp....

Mahmoud Ahmad

It was reported that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “Whoever eats garlic, onion, then keep away from our Masjid because the angels get offended from what offends the children of Adam.”(Bukhari and Muslim). This again brings us to people who eat food, such as garlic, which leaves a stench in one’s mouth and then come to the mosque. Such careless attitude in hygiene bothers worshippers....

He may grant our prayers here; or He may reward us for it in the hereafter; or He may give us something better than what we asked for. In any case a praying person can never lose for prayer is the highest form of submission to Him. “The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was the best of mankind because he was the best in submission to Allah,” says Maulana Manzoor Naumani. “Anyone who studies his supplications cannot but be awestruck with the perfect understanding of our relationship to the Creator reflected by them.”....

Completing our first Umrah was a beautiful and joyous experience. Many group members over the course of the remaining nights performed the Umrah again on behalf of family and loved ones. Performing the rituals helped strengthen our willpower and discipline. It was a workout for the soul. Every Tawwaf (circumambulation) we completed around the Holy House was a step closer to achieving nearness to Allah (swt). We felt lighter. Cleansed.....

Islamic sources of the Qur’an, Hadith literature and Epistemology, offer some guidance as to how to navigate through the modern media.  As Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a) is narrated to have said, “Working without proper understanding and insight is like travelling in the wrong direction; it only takes one further away from their destination.” In this context, turning to propagandist news for guidance and insight into what is happening in the world will only send you further from the truth.....

The Earth is green and beautiful, and Allah has appointed you his stewards over it. The whole Earth has been created a place of worship, pure and clean. Whoever plants a tree and diligently looks after it until it matures and bears fruit is rewarded. If a Muslim plants a tree or sows a field and humans and beasts and birds eat from it, all of it is love on his part....

“Architecture is central to Islam because it represents a formalization of virgin nature; it is symbolic of the highest place of worship created by God. Architecture is seen as the art of ordering space not only on a physical level but also on the metaphysical plane-placing man in the presence of God through the sacralisation of space.”...

Sadia Dehlvi

There was a time when all the souls from Adam’s progeny yet to be born were bought forth, “When thy Lord drew forth from the children of Adam — from their loins — their descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): ‘Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?’ — they said: ‘Yes! We do testify!’ This, lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: ‘Of this we were never mindful.’”...

The war against terror cannot only be fought with arms and weapons; extremism will always resurface one way or another if we do not combat the roots of the problem. The roots lie in the education; schools must start teaching the coming generations to love God, educate them about his compassion, which is written and emphasized upon many times in the Quran. Only then can we eradicate religious extremism.....

Amin Valliani

The Quran directs us to be helpful and do good as Allah has been good to you (28:77). Human life is prone to a variety of circumstances. Imagine the extent of a government’s responsibility in the light of Hazrat Umar’s reported saying that even if a dog dies hungry on the bank of the Euphrates, he (the caliph) will be responsible for dereliction of duty.

The act for which we perform Taubah and Istighfar is not necessarily a sin, or an act of disobedience to Allah; it also includes our shortcomings. As we realise Allah’s immense favours to us, all of our thankfulness and devotion clearly appears to be inadequate. As we realise the grandeur of Allah, Most High, our acts of worship and obedience clearly are seen to be insufficient. The higher a person is on the scale of Taqwa, piety and God consciousness, the greater is this sense of inadequacy....

Quoting a saying of the Prophet, Zainal reminded Muslim parents that hitting children below the age of 10 would be against a religious prohibition. Even with a child older than 10, he said, parents should punish him only to educate him and never use him as a punching bag to vent out their frustrations....

I can’t stress this enough. Would you be a relationship with someone you never talk to? No. So how do you expect to have a relationship with God when you never talk to Him? Yes, prayer is key, but your Dua’ is where your personal relationship with God lives. After prayer, just talk to Him. Tell Him what’s on your mind. Tell Him you’re frustrated at home. You’re unhappy with school. Give thanks for His blessings. Ask for forgiveness for your wrongs. Tell Him you’re sorry. Tell Him you’re working on being a better Muslim. Talk as if He’s standing right in front of you, essentially, He is....

The beggar and I are both dependent on one Sustainer. We both supplicate, consciously or unconsciously, to the Most Generous and are looked after by Him. What I give to the needy is not from me but from Him, for none of what I posses is mine, and I, too, am equally in need of my Guardian’s blessings. These verses resonate with me, but I struggle to understand why….