The Quran asks us to see signs of God’s Qualities in the book of nature, and it’s worth contemplating the spider a little further in order to get a better perspective on patience. Web-weaving spiders patiently wait for their prey to come to them – they are receptive in a deadly way. Females are generally the most prolific web-weavers, and are also more deadly than the male. Interesting to note, too, that like patience itself, spiders are often something we would prefer to overlook.....

The notorious “sex education” and “family welfare education” schemes are just one example of this effort. The NGO’s (Which are in fact FGO’s or Foreign Government Organisations), the international “aid agencies”, and the UN have been working feverishly to introduce all the wrongs in the name of “rights”. Together they act as one big Commission for the Elimination of All Forms of Haya and Morality from the World....

Sadia Dehlvi

The hearts of those who have never known truthfulness, humbleness, generosity, compassion or struggles in the way of God are what are referred to spiritually dead hearts. When the heart becomes pure, serene and sound, it is able to hear the call of God, the call of the Prophets, Sufis and sages....

Related Article:

 'Only In the Remembrance of God Is the Solace of Hearts' (Quran13:28)

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

Who dare rebel against God when He appears before one? Everyone will submit to Him then. But the only creditable submission to God is that which comes before He makes Himself manifest. Those who do wrong will bow to God when He reveals Himself before them. But a sincere person bows to Him while He is still invisible....

A final thing you should know about Muslims who do get radicalised (literally no more than 0.01 percent of us) – they tend to know little or nothing about the faith (as above) and would just as easily leave the faith (also as above). These are highly unstable individuals who are very easily manipulated and find some emotional crutch for being the ‘toughest kid on the block’. I have had the unpleasant experience of debating some of this lot....

Ejaz Naqvi

Ever wonder if your heart gets filled with so much kindness and compassion, then how could the Most Kind and the Most Compassionate allows it happen? After all God is All-Powerful and certainly can prevent it if He wanted to. Does He want to punish someone’s sins? If so, why do the rest of us have to suffer? Moreover why can’t He wait till the Day of Judgment to serve justice?...

If the Book is studied and its meanings are pondered upon in an authentic quest for truth, all the veils of darkness shall be lifted from our heart, and the inner self – the soul – will get illuminated by the light of true faith.  Note that faith is not something that can be planted in us from the outside. It is an embodiment of fundamental truths that already exist inside us; the practice of pondering over the ayahs of the Qur’an serves to bring them to the surface of our consciousness....

It should be borne in mind that just as rewards are multiplied in a holy month, punishment is also increased if a sin is committed in a holy month. Respect the month of Ramazan because it is the month of Allah. In this month, Allah has ordered His servants to emulate His practice by abstaining from food and drink. Allah has given you eleven months in which you can eat, drink, and indulge in other Halal pleasures. He has set aside just one month for Himself in which He has ordered you to abstain from food, drink, and other Halal pleasures.....

If one attends to Ramadan in letter and spirit (fasts as Ghazzali would define its highest degree, goes in seclusion, seeks/accesses Lailat ul Qadr or opens his heart to the saving Word or the Quran) one has virtually completed important stations in Tariqah and one is saved. What a reward! It is a love letter written from a waiting God that few can truly read and respond to. One wishes such letters were written too frequently and not just once in a year....

Nur Rofiah

Ali bin Abi Thalib, a cousin and son-in-law close to the Prophet Muhammad, once said that those who are not your brother/sister in religion are brothers/sisters in humanity. Now we can say that those who are your brothers/sisters in humanity are brothers/sisters in carrying out the core mandate of all religions.  Fasting during Ramadhan has improved our ability to keep a safe distance from various physical pleasures, and sharpen our spiritual eye, so that we can be more critical in carrying out our faith and hold steady onto our values of humanity.....

There are groups of people who fall in the category of the exalted. These groups shall be blessed with Allah (SwT)’s mercy and shall be immensely rewarded. Those who fast fall in this category, as ordained: ‘’Muslim men and Muslim women, believing men and believing women, obedient men and obedient women, truthful men and truthful women, patient men and patient women, humble men and humble women, ....

Ejaz Naqvi

The importance of good behaviour is not only limited to when dealing among Muslims. The following verse is a guide I keep in mind during my interfaith work with everyone, though this particular passage pertains to dialogue with Jews and Christians.

And do not argue with the People of the Book except in the best manner, save with such of them as do wrong; and say: We believe in that which has been revealed unto us, and revealed unto you; our God and your God is One, and unto Him we (peacefully) submit....

Ahmad Raza

There is a manifest Mizan (balance) between the heavens and earth. The proportions, dimensions and sizes of physical objects lead us to wonder about the hand of the merciful and compassionate Maker. None of the heavenly objects — be it the sun, moon, planetary system and beyond, the luminous galaxies — can escape this inherent cosmological conformity and order. The prevalence of the cosmic order is nothing but the expression of divine mercy.....

Thus a believer going to work is performing Ibadat when he seeks Halal income to discharge his responsibility as a bread-winner for the family. However a distinction must be made between the two. The first category consists of direct Ibadat, acts that are required for their own sake. The second category consists of indirect Ibadat — worldly acts that become Ibada through proper intention and observation of Shariah....

M Aamer Sarfraz

Islam perceives every Muslim to be a corporal for the cause so that the regular army is small. Quranic scholars consider that the main idea behind fasting and prohibitions was to instil self-discipline along with acquiring and revival of martial skills. Therefore, a refresher time for military exercises was entailed upon them once a year. This was also mandated an Ibadat — the real meaning of which is to go ahead according to the guidebook (Quran). “Fasting men and fasting women, God has prepared forgiveness and a splendid wage for you”....

In Ramzan, man becomes closer to God by controlling his actions in all aspects and takes special care of his intentions. In other words, he focuses more on the latent side of his deeds by linking each of his thought with God. He does not eat because, in fasting, he is not permitted to eat before Iftari. He does not quench his thirst despite having water in front of him. He controls his anger and takes extra caution in his social conduct just for the sake of Allah. Moreover, he reduces his sleep timing and stands in front of his Lord in night....

Muslims need to demonstrate through observance of ‘Roza’ (in its totality), Islam’s relevance in today’s world. Let us make clear once and for all that any type of violence has no place in Islam. One of the greatest advantages of observing the month of fasting is that its true observance inculcates in a person the habit of speaking the truth, remaining patient, practising the concept of hospitality and neighbourhood and give charity to the needy....

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

Roza is a way of self-empowerment. It is a saintly method of self-uplift and fasting inculcates the spirit of self-control. Self-control is the other name of spiritual strength. The spirit of self-control is key to all kinds of success and one who can control himself, can control the whole world. Roza is a course of annual re-strengthening of one’s inner personality....

Ramazan is the month of kindness and charity. With those in distress in the millions in the world today, the need for remembering this message of Ramazan cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, today Ramazan has become the month of celebrations, shopping; fancy Iftars at posh restaurants, entertainment and gossip....

Nikhat Sattar

In the Muslim sense of the term, fasting means practising patience and putting restrictions upon actions that are normally carried out to please our senses. Keeping guard over our thoughts and actions every moment even while our physical energies are depleted during fasting is what strengthens our spirituality and perseverance....

Wajahat Ali

The Arabic root for the word Ramadan means “scorched.” The month deliberately disrupts your routine, your comfort and your mode of thinking. You hunger, you thirst, you long for sex, you engage with family members and community members that you’d otherwise avoid and disown. The disruptions bring pain and annoyance, but they can also create opportunities for growth....

Ahmad Raza

Intuition, intellect and direct observation all corroborate the existence of multiplicity and plurality of creative expression of life in tangible and intangible realms. There exist multiple human cultures, languages, habitats and ecosystems. This multiplicity drives one to appreciate the inherent beauty and creativity of life....

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

God’s might is indeed manifest in a thousand ways, but it is only those who open their minds and hearts to Him who can be truly aware of His blessings. Only those who ponder and reflect over the creation and the numerous phenomena of nature can discover the Creator in such profound and thrilling manner....

Another significant feature of the month of Sha’ban is that it consists of a night which is termed in Shariah as “Laylatul-Bara’ah” (The night of freedom from Fire). This is the night occurring between 14th and 15th day of Sha’ban. There are certain traditions of Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, to prove that it is a meritorious night in which the people of the earth are attended by special Divine mercy....

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

This creation plan of God is mentioned both in the Bible and the Quran. The Bible says: “The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever.” (Psalms 37:29) Similarly, the Quran says: “My righteous servants shall inherit the earth. Herein, surely, is a message for true worshippers.” (21:105-06)...