Islamic Concepts of Heaven and Hell

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by Muhammad Iqbal Heaven and Hell are states, not localities. Their descriptions in the Quran are visual representations of an inner fact, i.e. character. Hell, in the words of the Quran, is ‘God’s kindled fire which mounts above the hearts’ (104:6-7)—the painful realization of one’s failure as a human being. Heaven is the joy of … Read more

Riba or Interest

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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

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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

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“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

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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?

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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

Manifesto

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As human society has evolved over the centuries with expansion of knowledge and interactions between cultures, there is a need to restate the teachings of Islam in terms that are relevant to the contemporary world. We make the following statement of principles for reforming Muslim life. We present them not as a fixed system of … Read more