Tagheyyur.

It is a common notion that Quaid-e-Azam united Muslims of India but it is hardly ever acknowledged that the Muslims of India were an organic entity and it was growing on its own terms especially after 1857. This aspect is discussed in depth in my teacher's book "Azaadi" in which he describes painstakingly how Muslim Nation evolved and Pakistan came into being. I am by no means diminishing Quaid's role in freedom movement, no. What I mean to highlight is the Muslims of India had developed their intuition and they were growing onto that. Quaid himself always believed that the people had bestowed the power upon him and not vice versa. He acknowledged this principle number of times. For example, when he was proposing the 14 points for Muslim League he clearly conveyed that these are only suggestions based upon numerous meetings with different minority groups within India and it is unto these groups whether they accept them or reject them.  Here, in below responses al...

The mind of Goethe, The heart of Rumi, The message of the Quran. This was the unparalleled legacy of the poet-philosopher credited with birthing a nation and a state, and at no other time has the world been more ready to embrace his ideas than it is right now.  The story of his mind, and what he taught, as told herein from a new and compelling angle, leads us on a trail of discovery towards a new way of life. You're invited to approach this as a handbook for implementing his life-giving ideas. The above-quoted blurb reflects the spirit in which my new book, Iqbal: His Life and Our Times, is being offered. The book is a tribute to Iqbal by ten sovereign states, since it is being published jointly by Iqbal Academy Pakistan and the Cultural Institute of the Economic Cooperation Organization, which is the successor organization of the RCD and now includes Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The...

"Go to Pharaoh and say, 'We are the messengers of the Lord of the worlds, [Commanded to say], "Send with us the Children of Israel."'" [Pharaoh] said, "Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you remained among us for years of your life? And [then] you did your deed which you did, and you were of the ungrateful." Quran (Ash-Shuara [26:16-19]) Sheikh Abdul Nasir Jangda explains the ayah (in bold), that when a person, who had had a bad past, for example; he/she was sinful, disobedient or non-believer at a certain time period in their past, comes to you with something good, or calls you towards Allah; make dawah, then don't scoff him/her away. Or look down upon them or remind them of what they have been because at that time we'll act exactly like Pharaoh did when Hazrat Musa (Moses) aleyhs salam went to him and called to him to Allah, and then later asked him to free Children of Israel and let them go with him. Pharaoh laughed at ...

The death of Shahzeb Khan has really affected me. It makes me think about so many things among which is, uncertainty of death itself. There's a general believe that people die when they are old. And it is true to an extent. The young/children die in special cases like wars, epidemic, or brutal injustice. Shahzeb's death has left me thinking how much time do I have. It's true that nobody knows when one will die but still. When one dies, all doors are closed on that person. The time for action is up. What I shall have would be the product of those action. What are we doing with our life? Where are we spending our precious time which is silently creeping away. What we shall reap in hereafter? These questions haunt me most of the time. And I earnestly pray for Shahzeb that whichever way he spent his life, may Allah have rehmah on him. May Allah shower his blessings on him and give him place in His glorious gardens. And this prayer is for all who are living or dead. May Allah...

"God", says Allama Iqbal, "is the birthright of every human being." He further states that there is fear in nature and man must be liberated from fear and thus become conscious of himself or herself since there's no mediator. ( Islam as Moral and Political Ideal ) In another* place he states, Tauheed is the manifestation of solidarity, equality and freedom.  Now think about what if each human being on this planet starts exercising this right.   * Our online course, Wisdom of Moses, explains this principle quite beautifully. you can also check this principle here  and here .

by  Brother Ali Ruqaya It was related by Anas bin Malik that the Prophet   (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)  said:  “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.”  [ Sunan Ibn Mâjah ] However, as with all things in our Deen, there are proper ways of going about doing things. We have a certain way of taking wudhu, making salaah, tasbeeh, zikr, fasting and hajj. Here we give you 7 etiquettes for knowledge seekers in sha Allah: 1. Have a sincere intention An example is: I am studying to help the ummah with this beneficial knowledge, to enlighten my intellectual growth...

Do you think that our conception of God influences how we see our role in the universe?  How, or how not? This was the question asked in our recent lesson. This lesson gave us a chance to explore the possibilities of a human in the light of Iqbal's third lecture in  Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam .  There are five elements in the Islamic conception of God, i.e. God is (a) the Infinite Ego; (b) Creative; (c) Knowing; (d) Powerful; and (e) Eternal What I understood from this lecture (and Mr. Khurram's discussion)  is that  the human  reflects in his actions and deeds whom he worships.  The character and color of the one who is worshiped are  automatically transferred into the worshiper. If someone worships  a mere statue then  ultimately they retain the habits of [the material] of their god. This is the case if someone worships money, and could be why the hypocrites are detested so much be...

"There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord [during Hajj]. But when you depart from 'Arafat, remember Allah at al- Mash'ar al-Haram. And remember Him, as He has guided you , for indeed, you were before that among those astray." Al-Quran (Surah Baqarah:198) "Then depart from the place from where [all] the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." Al-Quran (Surah Baqarah:199)   "And when you have completed your  rites, remember Allah like your [previous] remembrance of your fathers or with [much] greater remembrance. And among the people is he who says, "Our Lord, give us in this world," and he will have in the Hereafter no share."  Al-Quran (Surah Baqarah:200)

"Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do - Allah knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding." Al-Quran (Surah Baqarah:197)

I am tired of people abusing openly at social network sites. and they don't even pause for a lady. they have apparently brought down all walls. The civility which was attached to 'educated' is nowhere to be seen. The degrees and job descriptions written after your name on these sites are of no importance if one checks out your tweets and the things you say-even to ladies. This is audacious. I was plainly shocked when I read that tweet. My eyes physically hurt when I read something like this. And it was ReTweeted-meaning forwarded to others. Lord. What an age. I was thinking about un-following all the people who used hate as their weapon but than I realized I will be following very few. If this is freedom of expression than God forbid we are better without it.  Though I am enraged and want to say more but ending it on few quotations IF 'they' would just try to listen . "And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the t...

2- Safeguard of Honour: To honour the self Allah made the rule of nikah which is taking a hold over woman by man in witness of Allah.   then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four.(4:3)                              Allah made hudood laws which cannot be changed by anyone.  Allah prohibited jealousy and all of it's other kinds. 3- Safeguard of Property: The best way for Muslims of preserving the property/assets is to pay elms (Zakaat).  Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them, (2:3) Other than that, money laundering, bribery, interest, measuring less (than due), are all prohibited. It's against Muslim character to commit any of these acts. Woe to those who give less [than due], (83:1) Those who consume interest cannot stand [on the Day of Resurrection] except as one stands who is being beat...

 Principles of Literary Criticism                           The Poets  Translation of Verses 224-227, Chapter 26, the Quran And the Poets― it is those straying in Evil, who follow them:  Do you not see that they wander distracted in every valley? And that they say what they practise not? Except those who believe, work righteousness, engage much in the remembrance of Allah, and defend themselves after they are unjustly attacked. And soon will the unjust assailants know what vicissitudes their affairs will take! "Once at the end of a workshop on creative writing which I conducted in Mauritius, I was asked by an old school teacher, “Can you describe literature in a single word?” I said, “Yes,Quran.” A veteran Muslim poet was also on the panel with me and he hastened to contradict me from the bottom of his heart. He said something to the effect, “The Quran is just a religious b...

"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], "Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire." (Surah Al-Imran:191-192) To determine the meaning of the expression , we look into the word ' albab ' which is the plural of lubb . Lexically, it means the essence . Since the essence of everything is its sum-total and the key to its nature and uses, therefore human wisdom has been called lubb, for wisdom is the essence of human nature. thus, 'albab' means ' the people of wisdom' Now the problem before us is how to identify the people of wisdom because the whole world claims to be wise. Not even a moron would be ready to admit b...