ISLAM AT A GLANCE by Maulana Sadruddin Islahi Content

ISLAM AT A GLANCE
 
(New English Version of Urdu “Islam Aik Nazar Main”)
 
Author Maulana Sadruddin Islahi

INTRODUCTION.....................................................................7
CONCEPT AND MEANING..............................................9-19
Basic Concepts of Islam....................................................9
Inherent Islam...................................................................9
Voluntary or Terminological Islam................................12
Islam and Man.................................................................13
The Religion of every Nation was Islam........................14
Islam is the Name of the Ultimate Religion only...........15
Reason for Distinction....................................................16
FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS..................................................21
BELIEF IN ALLĀH...........................................................23-31
Meaning of the Belief in Allāh.......................................23
Ascribing Partners unto Allāh.........................................28
FAITH IN THE AFTER-LIFE...........................................33-40
Meaning of the Faith in the After-life.............................33
The Importance of the Faith in the After-life..................34
The Unbeliever’s Concept of Intercession......................35
Islamic Concept of Intercession......................................37
FAITH IN THE PROPHETHOOD....................................41-56
Need for Prophethood.....................................................41
Nature of Prophethood....................................................48
Universality of Prophethood...........................................49
Position of Prophet’s Teachings.....................................50
Innocence of Prophets.....................................................51
Position of Prophets........................................................53
Denying of a Single Prophet is also Disbelief................54
The Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). .56
4 Islam at a Glance
THE MUSLIM’S FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES
(Relating to the Practical Side of Islam)........................57-60
Pillars of Islam................................................................57
Admission of the Unity and the Prophethood.................59
PRAYER............................................................................61-70
Importance of Prayer in Islam.........................................61
Reason for the Vital Significance of Prayer...................64
Some Supplementary Objects of Prayer.........................66
Real Prayer......................................................................68
ZAKĀT (Poor-Due)...........................................................71-90
Importance of the Poor-Due............................................71
Objectives of the Zakāt (Poor-Due)................................75
Purification of the Soul...................................................75
Help of the Poor..............................................................79
Support of Islam..............................................................81
Quantum of the Poor-Due...............................................82
Management of the Poor-Due.........................................87
Variety of Terms Used for the Poor-Due........................89
FASTING (Saum).............................................................91-106
Special significance and features of the Fast..................91
Fast: A source of Piety....................................................91
Fast: An essential means of acquiring a Life of Piety....96
Fast: The Index of the Islamic concept of Piety.............98
Some Special Blessings of the Fast..............................103
Conditions for the attainment of the Objectives
of the Fast..................................................................106
THE PILGRIMAGE (Hajj)............................................107-125
The Importance of Pilgrimage......................................107
The Construction of Ka‘bah and its Significance.........108
Rites of the Pilgrimage..................................................113
The Pilgrimage and the Sentiments of Worship...........118
The Comprehensive Character of the Pilgrimage.........122
A Collective View of the Pillars of Islam.....................124
ISLAM AS A WAY OF LIFE........................................127-176
Various Concepts of Religion.......................................127
Islam at a Glance 5
Asceticism not permitted in Islam................................128
Islam does not cover Individual Life only....................131
Islam: A Complete Code of Life...................................133
Spiritual System............................................................135
Moral System................................................................136
Family Laws..................................................................143
Social System................................................................145
Economic System..........................................................157
Injunctions to the Rich in Respect of Providing
Needs of the Poor......................................................164
Legal Responsibilities of the Rich in Respect
to the Poor.................................................................166
Political System............................................................167
Legal System.................................................................173
RELIGION AND POLITICS : An Important ...............177-192
problem of Our Time........................................................177
Belief in Allāh and the Concept of Politics..................178
Islamic Law and Politics...............................................179
Adherence to Religion and the Authority
of Government..........................................................180
Politics is an integral part of the Religion.....................182
Islamic Government and Muslim Government.............184
Mission of the Prophets and the Power to Rule............186
Invitation to Islam and the Government.......................191
ISLAMIC LAW AND WORSHIP.................................193-210
Status of Worship..........................................................193
Meaning of Worship.....................................................194
Literal Meanings...........................................................195
Religious Connotation..................................................196
The term worship as used in the Qur’ān.......................198
Submission required by the Qur’ān..............................202
Special Importance of Pillars of Islam..........................205
Misunderstanding and Reason for it.............................208
ISLAM AND OTHER RELIGIONS..............................211-225
Concept of the Homogeneity of Religions....................211
Pre-eminence of the Prophethood of Muhammad
6 Islam at a Glance
(peace be upon him)..................................................212
Natural Consequences of the Pre-eminent Position
of the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) 217
Islam alone deserves to be followed.............................217
Islam, a pre-condition for Salvation..............................222
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MUSLIMS AS A NATION
226-238
Special Requirements of the Pre-eminent position
of Islam.....................................................................226
Special Responsibilities of the Muslims.......................227
Meaning of the Testimony of Islam..............................233
Verbal Evidence............................................................233
Practical Evidence.........................................................237
IMPEDIMENTS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS.........239-270
Internal Jihād.................................................................240
Jihād through Intelligence and Invitation.....................243
Physical Jihād Or Jihād by means of Arms..................246
Forms of Jihād through War.........................................248
Conditions for Physical Jihād.......................................253
Importance of Jihād in the Religion..............................256
Internal Jihād.................................................................256
Jihād through Preaching and Reasoning.......................259
WORLDLY BLESSINGS OF ISLAM..........................271-288
Material Prosperity and the Apostolic Missions...........271
Islam Guarantees the Welfare of the Temporal World.274
Relations between the Observance of the Religion
and Prosperity...........................................................275
An Essential Condition for Material Prosperity............280
A Confusion and its Removal.......................................285