Mapping The Secular Mind (IIIT)

No one denies that the modesty which is commanded by Islamic Law and by convention includes the decency and decorousness demanded of a woman, and the kind of behavior that will ensure that she is kept far away from situations of temptation and suspicion. Further more, there is no doubt that the greatest act of modesty that she can perform is to wear the hijab, which covers her face. It is the best thing with which she can adorn herself, because it protects her and keeps her far removed from temptation.

LET US BE MUSLIMS is a new edited English version of Sayyid Mawdudi’s Urdu Khutubat. It is no ordinary book, says Khurram Murad in his long Introduction, for it has stirred more hearts and impelled more lives to change their course than any of his more erudite works. In these Friday congregational addresses, Sayyid Mawdudi expounds such familiar themes as Iman, Islam, the Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, Pilgrimage and Jihad. But, in an unusually beautiful, powerfully reasoned, eloquent and passionate, and yet simple and lucid style,

“Sayyid Abul A’la Al-Mawdudui (1903-1979), one of the chief architects of contemporary Islamic resurgence, was the an outstanding Islamic thinker and writer of his time. He devoted his life to expound the meaning and message of Islam and to organise a collective movement to establish the Islamic Order. In this struggle, he had to pass through all kinds of sufferings.
Between 1948-67, he spent a total of five years in different prisons of Pakistan. In 1953, he was also sentenced to death by a Martial Law court for writing a ‘seditious’ pamphlet, this sentence being later commuted to life imprisonment. In 1941, he founded Jama’at-I Islami, of which he remained Amir, until 1972 and which is one of the most prominent Islamic movements of our day. He authored more than one hundred works on Islam, both scholarly and popular, and his writings have been translated into forty languages.”

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Allah (SWT) says: (If you fear that you will not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the captives or the slaves) that your right hands possess. That will be more suitable to prevent you from doing injustice) (An-Nisa’: 3).

Praise be to Allah (SWT) who has prescribed for His Servants a religion (Islam) that is beneficial to them in this world and the Hereafter, and Peace and Blessing be upon His Messengers and Prophets who were guided by His Guidance and conveyed His Religion. The last and seal of His Messengers was Muhammad Ibn Abdillah (SAW). He (SAW) was the best to advise his Ummah and convey the True Message, by words, deeds and his character. He (SAW) was the best model and example for the believers.

In present era we are facing lot of questions:

• What is status of women in Islam?

• Who is superior – man or women?

• What does Islam say about inter-religious marriages, man’s treatment towards his wife and privacy in homes?

• What does Islam say about dress, veil, clothing and ornaments, perfumes and the wisdom of banning gold and silk for men?

This beginner’s guide to Islam answers all such questions.

Some thinkers has said, ‘A smattering of knowledge turns people away from God. Grater knowledge brings  them back to Him’. The author concludes in this book by examining various theories that the choice humanity have is not between the universe with God and the universe with God and the  universe without God. The real option is between the universe with God and no universe at all. Therefore humanity is compelled to opt for the proposition the universe with God. Hence it is logical to say I exist, therefore, God exists.

Written originally by Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyyah is one of the important resources of knowledge for those who seek to know the Seerah of their Prophet (P.B.U.H) as well as the Fiqh learned from it. This is a book that is unique in that it explains the Sunnah through the Seerah and the Seerah through the Sunnah. It is a profound classic work containing thousands of pages written by Imam ibn al-Qayyam while on the Hajj journey, Pilgrimage, from Damascus to Makkah. Despite its being written from memory, the several thousand incidents, Hadiths, Ayat (verses of the Quran), Fiqh benefits, as well as names of the companions associated with them, were remarkably close to the truth with marginal errors.

However, those who know the status, level of knowledge ad Ta’hqiq that Imam ibn al-Qayyim had will not be surprised to know this fact. Still, it is amazing how Ibn Al-Qayyim was able to write this vast volume while traveling to Hajj (Pilgrimage), especially since he was away from the resources of knowledge and was enduring the hardships of travel. It is a blessing from Allah (S.A.T) that it was possible for him to do so. Note: As with Many English Translations this work appears to be slightly abridged but it seems to cover most of the subjects Note : With the Lack of English works covering Hanbali Fiqh , This Books would be the nearest alternative. Although not a Specifically Fiqh Book, Ibn Qayyim’s views which are based on Hanbali Fiqh are quoted throughout.