Riba or Interest

Interest paid by Banks is Not Riba By Abdul Hakeem Murad Several verses in the Quran and some hadith speak against charging Riba on loans. What does the Arabic word Riba mean? Let us first consider the definitions of the English words Usury and Interest. The following definitions are from the Random House Webster’s Dictionary … Read more

Self Evaluation in Ramadan

A REFORM MUSLIM’S GOALS FOR RAMADAN I look forward to fasting in the month of Ramadan as an opportunity for cleansing my body and spirit, for uplifting my soul and to review my progress in life, to reaffirm my faith in God and in the guidance brought by Prophet Muhammad. Fasting in this month is … Read more

The Attitude of Religious Tolerance

“To every community We have appointed ways of worship which they observe. Hence, do not let them draw you into disputes on this matter, but invite people to your Lord, for you are on the right way”. Quran [22:67] The attitude of religious tolerance is described in this verse. It is in recognizing the authenticity … Read more

Reflections on Prayer

The importance of regular prayer is emphasized repeatedly in the Quran. Prayer or salat is the essence of faith. It is the primary pathway to God consciousness. However, a remarkable fact is that the Quran does not prescribe a format for prayer. The Quran insists that people should pray but consistently avoids prescribing a method … Read more

To Reform or not to Reform – is it the question?

By Tehmur Sabir A question being discussed in Muslim communities is whether a reformation is desirable or even possible. We encounter several different opinions on this question. For example, most Muslims that live according to the rules of traditional Muslim doctrine are convinced that there can never be reform because they see Islam as a … Read more