Muslim Woman

The economics of Zakat and its relevance to modern times is a hotly debated issue among both religious and liberal Muslims. This series of articles will attempt to explain the concept of zakat in the light of only the Quran and the faithful implementation of this concept by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). We will see how a similarly implemented system can solve the current economic problems of not just Muslims, but of the whole world.

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As every Muslim knows or should know that Iman (firm belief) is the foremost and essential requirement of Islam. Without proper Iman, one cannot become a Muslim even if anyone born in a Muslim family. In fact,Iman is something which has to be self consciously acquired in order to become a Muslim, which constantly maintained in order to remain a Muslim and also continually reinforced and fortified in order to begin the next life as a Muslim. Therefore,Iman is something which should not be taken for granted, but unfortunately many of us has taken it for granted. Now, If Iman (belief) has a significance that it is the purpose of life here and a saviour in the hereafter, then it becomes necessary for each of us to find out what Iman really is.It is not right to say that I am a Muslim and therefore I have Iman because I was born in a Muslim family. What is Iman and what is its definition in the context of Islam? This is a fundamental question concerning Muslims and Islam. But one thing is quite clear: A definition of Iman which contradicts any Quranic principle cannot be accepted as Iman in Islam, no matter where and whom so ever it may have come from. After this preamble,let us explore first of all the meaning of the arabic word Iman and its definition given in the Quran by Allah Almighty.

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Hi Folks

Adam, as the original human being or as the archetype human (Rashid: Human Development Theory: Islamic Vs. Western Perspective, P.4) has been bestowed potentialities to acquire knowledge of how everything else in the universe functions (2:33, The Quran). Now it is unto him to utilize these potentialities and conquer/ harness all that lies in the universe.

In this universe man is the only creature who is given choice and discretion. He may obey the laws of God (Allah Almighty) or may not; this discretion isn't given to any other creature. Man decides to disobey Allah Almighty 's laws when his feelings and emotions overpower him. These emotions instigate him for personal gains as against universal good. He bypasses the laws of Allah Almighty and starts following his own emotions. At this stage his intellect manipulates him the ways and means to achieve these objects. These emotions or feelings and the intellect which guides such feelings to achieve the objectives are given the name of Satan (Iblis) by the Quran allegorically. Because of this rebellious nature (define in Taj ul Uroos and Lane Lexicon), it was said that he was born out of fire (7:12 The Quran) and since feelings of human beings remain hidden, Iblis/Shaitan was also called a Jinn (18:50 - Quran) and Jinn means one who is hidden (Raghib). Along with the feelings or emotions the men is also given the discretion by virtue of which he is capable of disobedience at the time of his birth and these accompany him through his life span (15:36, The Quran).

A person who decides to follow the path of disobedience becomes deprived of the resultant benefits which accrue by virtue of following the laws of Allah Almighty, that is why Iblis is termed as the disappointed - the dejected or devoid. About those who follow Allah Almighty Almighty laws, the Quran says that they will not suffer any fear or sorrow (2:38, The Quran ) and Iblis will have no hold on them (15:42, The Quran).

The Quran has termed Iblis and Shaitan as the two faces of the same to the foreground. These are termed as projection, repression, fantasy, denial of reality, rationalization, intellectualization and reaction formation. All these varieties of adjustive mechanisms have the underlying roots in disappointment. And a feeling of rebellion or aggression closely follows this. In this way there is clearly a direct and deep-rooted connection between the feelings of rebellion and disappointment experienced by a person. This is also exemplified as "Iblis and Shaitan relationship".

The Quran supports the above deliberations that frustration leads to aggressiveness. When a person feels that he cannot achieve what he desires, he gets angry. If he gives vent to his anger against his own self, it results in worry, tension or depression. When he uses this anger against anyone else, which/ who in his opinion is responsible for this, it is called revenge. But if he is incapable of taking revenge from the person concerned then at times he gives vent to his feelings against unconcerned thing - which is madness. One can see the direct and deep contact between disappointment and rebellion. And this is the relationship of Iblis and Satan. In fact these are the psychological feelings of a human being. The Quran wants to establish such a social order, where chances of disappointments ain't occur (39:53, The Quran). Therefore Quranic Social Order, the feelings of Iblisiat cannot overcome anyone; particularly in respect of those who follow His laws (15:43, The Quran).

The Quran has described the results of misdeeds as the torturing fire! As the fire burns everything, so the bad deeds burn the human personality and stop its growth. According to the Quran life is a continuous process and has to go a long way. If life is led according to the laws given by its Creator Allah Almighty, then its latent potentialities are developed and enable it (life) to continue progressing and going from one stage to another. But if the potentialities/capacities are not developed, it doesn't have the strength to travel or grow further and stops at one stage or point. This process of stoppage is called al-jaheem in the Quranic terminology. Life is like an ever-flowing stream, the moment it stops it turns into a stagnant pond. Out of dust God rose Adam and out of good deeds would rise the man for the world hereafter.

How to overcome these thwarting forces? What to do? And who will think and reciprocate for the establishment of Islamic Social Order?

Regards
Nawaz
Religion Islam

Deen is the name of a system. This system meant that human beings should live together in such a manner that every individual should have an equal opportunity for to develop its full potential or self-realisation. A system in which each individual should become a means for the development of potentials of others and in this way finds way of his/her Own development of potentials. In this system, the needs of the natural life are very elementary things. A system that is responsible for the development of all natural potentials, cannot forget the natural needs of human beings.Obviously, such a great system will have many elements of various kinds. Any tiny element of the system will be unique and vital and will have a role in producing the results of the system, while the whole system will be paralysed if that tiny element failed to function, just like a loose of a screw of railway track will stop all trains.Various injunctions in the Islamic system have equal importance. When that system was established, all actions those were in accordance with the system principles played role in bringing out the results. But when the system vanished, its elements remained like a railway junkyard, with out-of-order signals and broken railway tracks. We heard about the blessings of this (like railway) system, but did not see it in practice. Now we consider the old signals and broken railway track (the elements of Shariah) a means of blessings of the system.

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