Our shield: Fasting
Fasting is the shield donned by the soul. It represents the human inclination towards the soul in the battle between the soul and the body. Fasting in other faiths According to this statement in the Holy Qur'an, all divine religions prescribe fasting: "O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you that ye may ward off (evil)." (Surah Bakara:183) T...

The Foundation of the Principles Brought by Our Prophet: Revival
When Allah the Almighty sent our Prophet to the polytheists  of Mecca for the purpose of a divine calling, his first message was to be that Allah is the only deity and that human beings, following death, would be resurrected and brought before Him (s.w.t.) Despite the fact that the polytheists were idolators, they believed in Allah. However, they denied resurrection and the Afterlife. And today, ...

Staying Vigorous With the Qur'an
How frequently does a Muslim read the Qur'an? How did the Companions do it, how do we go about this and is there an average measure to go buy? What is the status of our texts and transliterations readings that are read from one Ramadan to the next? A person who does not adorn their average days with worship and dhikr, how will they, spend important days and times, in remembrance of what? During ...

Following the Path of the Prophet
The rocky road of “Qur'an Islam” tries to distance Islam from all of the religion's visible aspect, imprisoning it in the labile world of feelings.  Accordingly, the Qur'an has not made alcohol forbidden; it has only seen it in a negative light. Women need not cover; the Qur'an rather places restrictions on dressing provocatively. What is banned in the Qur'an is not interest, but rather loan-shar...

Introduction To Islam -Part IV
  INCORPORATING THE PRACTICES OF ISLAM INTO DAILY LIFE In a Muslim's daily life, it is important when with family or friends, to pay careful attention to the planning of worship, doing charity, and demonstrating good behavior as a means of education. For example, when making plans to go out with children, thinking out loud about where and when the ritual prayers will be performed and narrating ho...

Introduction To Islam -Part III
  PERSONAL PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT AFFECT BELIEFS Reading the Qur’an can result in mental discord regarding a certain subject. A ruling on a certain matter may contradict our egos. Certain memories or past experiences may cause a sudden loss of faith. No matter what the excuse, we may very well be able to convince ourselves that we have no need for God. Regardless of our current circumstances, perhap...

Introduction To Islam -Part II
  POLYTHEISM / CREATING ALTERNATIVES FOR ALLAH In the Qur’an, the oneness of Allah is mentioned more than the existence of Allah. According to the Qur’an, the existence of Allah for humans is so indispensible and natural that expressions of astonishment are used for those who do not believe that. Atheism (denial of God) is something that is developed as a reaction against religion.Nowadays, the n...

Introduction To Islam - Part I
WHAT IS FAITH? Entering into Islam is only possible with faith. It is not possible to consider someone a “Muslim” if that person does not believe in the principles that are brought by the Qur’an. In Islam, faith is innate. God created each person with a potential that is to be fulfilled through full belief in the Supreme Might. When belief fully in a supreme being cannot be reached, the person is...

Introduction To Islam - Part I
WHAT IS FAITH? Entering into Islam is only possible with faith. It is not possible to consider someone a “Muslim” if that person does not believe in the principles that are brought by the Qur’an. In Islam, faith is innate. God created each person with a potential that is to be fulfilled through full belief in the Supreme Might. When belief fully in a supreme being cannot be reached, the person is...

Worship in Islam
The definition of worship Worship, which is explained as "humility, obedience, deification and submission" in dictionaries, connotes a person's love, adoration and submission to Allah and encompasses as actions he or she exhibits in order to win the pleasure of Allah. In Islamic resources, the term "ubudiyya" meaning obedience and servitude to Allah is used alongside worsh...

What Kind of a Human Model Does The Qur'an Present?
The human being, as told in the Holy Qur’an possesses an excellence as compared to the other creations. He is worthy of the title ahsani taqwim (the best of moulds) (Surah At-Tin 95-4) and carries with him manifestations of the attributes of Allah. However, he is a creature that is deficient in relation to Allah. Because only Allah possesses absolute perfection. According to the Qur'an, man is th...

The Sunna of Prophet Muhammad
A Muslim who believes in the Qur’an is obliged to accept the [figures of } authority that have been prescribed by the Holy Qur’an. The Sunnah is "are the words, works and behaviors of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and what he has found appropriate and supported through these." Hadith are the narrations or statements of the Sunnahs of Prophet Muhammad's words, affa...