Why to Seek Forgiveness from Allah

“Before you could ask for forgiveness, God has already forgiven you. Each second He's calling for you knocking at your door so that you may follow the straight path and return to Him peacefully”. In this Hadith e Qudsi Allah says I forgive you before you could ask for forgiveness that shows Allah is Merciful and Quran uses the attribute “Raheem, Kareem” for Allah, Allah forgives a person if he is guilty. While Quran Recitation I read an Ayat which is about forgiveness which is as follow:

“O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as its.”

Every day every second we done many things wrong, we do a lot of sins but we forget that Allah is seeing us, nothing is hidden from Allah. But if we ask Him for forgiveness, He definitely forgives His creatures. As our Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said “O people! Repent to Allah and seek for His forgiveness. I repent to Him in a day 100 times” (Reported by Muslim).

Why Islamic Schools are Preffered

An Islamic School is a place where children are groomed according to the principles of Islam. The ideal Islamic school must have syllabus conforming to the needs of modern education to compete the world.

The purpose of an Islamic school is essentially to create an environment that reflects an Islamic ideology. It is warm, embracing, encouraging and its decor redirects its inhabitants towards God remembrance and good actions. Students of Islamic schools can better live their life according to the teachings of Islam by understanding the concepts of Qur’an.

The role of an Islamic school teacher is to then produce a wholesome child who carries out his obligations as set out by the precepts of Islam. Teaching of Quran Recitation is the most valuable feature of an Islamic School. Teacher’s directive is to educate a child by giving him or her mannerisms and the etiquette that will serve the child and the community; to ultimately make the child understand the purpose of his life and to provide that child with knowledge that will equip him/her to pursue both worldly gains and most importantly after-life gains. Such a child does not feel coerced, stifled or imprisoned but feels motivated, free and eager.

An essential prerequisite is that religious and secular subjects should be made an indivisible whole. The compartmentalization of religious and secular education, based on a factitious division of life into spiritual and temporal, is not sanctioned by Islam.

People of Pakistan

Pakistan is a country that was created as a welcoming haven for Muslims. Majority of the people in Pakistan are Muslims. It became a country following the partitioning of India in the second half of the 1940s. Hindus living in the region that is now Pakistan fled to India. Muslims living in what is now India fled to Pakistan to practice their religion i.e. offer their prayers independently, celebrate religious events, build Islamic institutes for Quran Recitation and other Islamic practices.

Pakistan is a versatile land enriched with precious resources, having rivers, deserts, fertile land, and mines. Culture of Pakistan in constituted with different cultures. Different languages are being spoken in different part of the country.

The education in Pakistan is a bit immature but progressing very fast. There are so many Islamic Schools as well as conventional schools, colleges and universities in Pakistan providing quality of education across the country.

People of Pakistan faced many problems right after and before the independence. Armies from the ancient Persian Empire once invaded the territory now known as Pakistan. After Alexander the Great marched into Persian, he marched further east. His army also tried to control the people living in the mountains that were east of Persia.
Monguls have invaded Pakistan. Turks have invaded it. Arabs have invaded it. Afghanis have invaded it. The blood of all those invading armies has been mixed into the blood of the people of Pakistan.

Today the people of Pakistan no longer need to fight off invaders because of gaining atomic power and strong military force. Pakistani people are playing their part in the progress of Pakistan and soon they will be successful to put their country among the developed nations of the world.

All Educational Institutions are Reopening in Islamabad

All educational institutions working under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), the Punjab government as well as majority of private institutions and Islamic Schools will reopen today (Monday) after a six-day break announced in the wake of security threats.

After the attack on Islamic University, students are still enthusiastic to go to their educational institutions and continue their education of Science, Fiqah, and Quran Recitation etc

Educational institutions were closed as a security measure and now the ministry had decided to re-open them so that students’ time was not wasted. All Pakistan Private Schools Owners Association (APPSOA) President Malik Ibrar Hussain said 750 private educational institutions registered with the association would reopen today. He said “We are hiring security guards from different private companies and have submitted an application to the chief commissioner for providing weapons to the schools owners”.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Zahid Saeed said all government educational institutions would reopen today (Monday). He said the provincial government had announced that all educational institutions would open on Monday. He said all educational institutions had been directed to strengthen their security. He said the district administration had formed special teams to inspect the security arrangements and submit reports to the provincial government. “If any institution failed to strengthen its security, the institution would closed,” he warned. Dr Shamim Zaidi, the spokesman for Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), said that the university would open on Monday and the staff would start their working. However, she said, the classes would not be held, as majority of students had gone back to their hometowns.

Why Taliban Attacked Islamic University

The worst example of terrorism is seen in Pakistan when two suicide bombers blew themselves one after the other at the new campus of the International Islamic University in Islamabad, on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. The blasts killed six people, including three girls, and left many other injured.

Taliban have taken credit for the suicide attack at the International Islamic University in Islamabad. As noted in yesterday's report on the attack, Taliban have no problems with striking at mosques, Islamic Schools and other religious institutions and events. The question is why Taliban would strike at an Islamic university where teaching of Quran Recitation and sharia is given along with scientific education. The answer is simple yet shocking. They want to destabilize Pakistan and few important factors made Islamic University a vulnerable place.

1) More than 6,000 women are among the 17,000 students at the International Islamic University in Islamabad. To the Taliban, women attending schools is against sharia.
2) There are more than 2,000 foreign students from 45 countries (mostly from China and Africa, according to Dawn. The foreigners are prime targets for the Taliban.
3) One of the suspected targets, the chairman of the Imam Abu Hanifa Block, is "known for his liberal views" on Islamic law.

Attack on Islamic University is condemned by every Muslim and non-Muslim in the world as it is a major setback for the people of Pakistan. The outcome of this attack is the stoppage of educational activities in Pakistan which is quite alarming for youth as well as for the parents of the students.

Do We Need a Spiritual Master

Before Islam, everyone was in the darkness of false worship of stone made gods who were helpless themselves. To pull out the humanity from darkness Allah sent his last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In the childhood he lived totaly differently as compared to other children of Makkah. He was well known of his honesty and beauty. After the time he was blessed with Islam, he started preaching Islam and the one and only Allah. He was blessed by countless miracles. The biggest and outstanding miracle is Holy Qur’an.

When the anti-Muslims came to peek against Islam and the people started teasing Muslims on Quran Recitation and performing prayers, then Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) started preaching the Oneness of Allah and the Greatness of Islam. At that time he was a Spirtual master for everyone. The one, who came in the circle of Islam, had great blessings on him.

There were thousands of people who embraced Islam at that time. But after the death of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) a lot of Sahaba Karaam preached Islam and gave their lives in the way of Islam. Those were the successful men who were the students of their spiritual master Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). After Sahaba Karaam, this duty was fulfilled by the saints of Islam through Islamic Schools who were real lovers of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and Allah. The saints of Islam preached in different areas of the world and those who became the real lover students of their spiritual masters earned great names in Islam and also in the world.

There are many examples before us who followed their Spiritual masters and got a famous name in this world and there miracles can been seen in this world. We need to have a spiritual master who cam guide us to the right path.

Fortune Telling

Many people claim to have the knowledge of unseen and the future. They are known by various names, among them: fortune-teller, soothsayer, foreseer, augur, magician, prognosticator, oracle, astrologer, palmist, etc. Because of the sacrilege and heresy involved in fortune telling, Islam has taken a very strong stance towards it in Qur’an. Islam opposes any form of association with those who practice fortune-telling, except to advise them to give up their forbidden practices.

These people can be divided into two categories.

1. Those who have no real knowledge or secrets but depend on telling their customers
about general incidences which happen to most people.
2. Those who have made contact with the Jinn. This group is of most importance because it usually involves the grave sin of Shirk, and those involved often tend to be highly accurate in their information and thus present a real Fitnah (temptations) for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

According to Islamic School of thought anyone who visits a fortune-teller believing that he knows the unseen and the future is that of Kufr (disbelief). Abu Hurayrah and al-Hasan both reported from the Prophet (pbuh) that he said, "Whosoever approaches a fortune-teller and believes what he says, has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad. Such a belief assigns to creation some of Allaah's attributes with regard to the knowledge of the unseen and the future. Consequently, it destroys Tawheed alAsmaa was-Sifaat, and represents a form of Shirk in this aspect of Tawheed.

Through Quran Recitation we clearly no one knows the unseen besides Allah. Not even the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Allaah said: With Him are the keys to the unseen and none knows it except Him alone."

So Muslims must take utmost care in dealing with books, magazines, newspapers as well as individuals who, in one way or another, claim knowledge of the future or the unseen.

Optimism

We have been advised in the Qur’an that goodness and evil are not equal. Therefore we should return good for evil (41:34). We come to know through Quran Recitation that this has been expressed repeatedly in the Qur’an in different wording.

This means that believers should always react positively. At all events they should refrain from negative reaction. Their behavior should be proper, not only in normal circumstances, but also in abnormal circumstances. That is, even when any group displays bad behavior, it is still incumbent on the believers not to display a retaliatory mentality. At that moment, too, they should prove to be men of principle. They should maintain their good behavior, even in the face of bad behavior from others.

Interpreting this verse, Abdullah ibn Abbas comments: ‘God has commanded Muslims in this verse, even when they are angered, to resort to patience and tolerance. Whenever anyone shows any signs of ignorance or a biased mentality, believers should adopt the path of tolerance and fortitude. And whenever anyone displays bad behavior, believers should forgive him.

This Islamic School of thought may be described as positive behavior. That is, opting for moderation instead of retaliation. Whatever the attitude of others may be, believers should always remain true to the highest Islamic standards of human character.

A believer is one who begins to lead his life in accordance with the higher realities; the level of whose thinking is above that of ordinary human beings. Such a person comes to have a limitless capacity for tolerance. His inner-self is so deeply immersed that in peace, no outward event can disturb his emotional balance. He takes pity on those who are easily angered. Where ordinary people become provoked, he remains blissfully serene.

Online Education Gaining Popularity

Online learning has gained popularity over the past several years simply because it makes the students life easier. Though it may not really provide the socialization process that one can get by attending school the traditional way, in online learning students can complete their program in their own convenience and pace.

With the advent of the Internet getting an education now is easier and more convenient than before. You have an option to complete your degree in two ways. There's the traditional way where you attend classes in your colleges or universities with the other students. And there's the distance learning where you can get your degree online.

Online education is suitable when you are living in a region where there is no such school from where you could learn the desired course. As if you are living in a Non-Muslim country and you want to get Islamic education, what you can do is to join an online Islamic School where you can easily learn Quran Recitation and other Islamic knowledge sitting at your home. It is seen that many people in US, UK, Canada and other countries opt this method to get religious education because it is trustworthy and easily.

Online education will provide student the independence to complete their work in their own pace since there's no deadline. Schedules are flexible and you have full control of time. They have the choice to finish one module in a short period of time or do the same module for several days. It has always been the case that people will tend to delay their work to the point where it's impossible for them to even continue.

Online learning requires you to attend online classes, online discussions, downloading learning materials and uploading the completed assignments. You need to know how to do conferencing, logging in to servers to download materials and uploading content or finished materials to the same server.

Character Building in Schools

Character development is a fundamental part of Islamic education and a primary interest in Muslim family's agenda for educating their children. Character building should be the ultimate goal of education followed by professional skills and knowledge. A perfect Islamic School should be a platform where children can learn to be the good citizens.

The role of parents is pivotal in nurturing the development of a child's aptitude toward learning at the most early stages of its growth. That’s why Muslim parents are focused to give the their children teaching of Qur’an. What is it that we actually want our children to learn? Obviously, we would like our children to eventually become professionals in a particular field. But during the early stages, what do we want our children to develop most? It is of course a child's character.

A child's character is a key-indicator and provides distinctive qualities which may indicate their level of development. These qualities may also be used to distinguish between strong or weak progressions. Likewise, in adulthood we use character to identify and distinguish an individual or groups from one another.

It is observed that in Quran Recitation schools, teachers are more concerned about the moral character of the children than scientific and modern education.

Forgiveness

Islam attaches great importance to the concept of pardoning of sins by Allah so that one may be saved from Hellfire. On several occasions, the Qur’an gives such prayers as ‘Pardon us, forgive us our sins, and have mercy upon us’ (Qur’an 2:286). Allah assures us that no matter what our sin, if we truly repent and seek His forgiveness, and take steps to put right our wrongs, He will forgive us. The Prophet Muhammad said, "My heart is clouded until I have asked God’s forgiveness seventy times during the day and night."

By Quran Recitation we come to know that we are likewise asked to show mercy to our fellow men. (90:17) Since God is Himself forgiving, He desires that people should cultivate this attribute and show forgiveness to other human beings. (The Qur’an, 24:22; 64:14).

The Prophet Muhammad taught his followers that the individual who pardons his enemy, even while having the power to extract revenge, will be nearest to God in the Hereafter. Once the Prophet was asked, "How many times are we to forgive our servants’ faults?" He remained silent. The questioner repeated his question. But the Prophet gave no answer. But when the person asked a third time, he said, "Forgive your servant seventy times a day." So the Islamic School of thought is very clear regarding the importance of forgiveness.

The Qur’an makes it clear that a strong, adverse, emotional reaction such as anger does not befit the true believer, and instead cites as a mark of excellence the quality of forgiveness: "When they become angry, they are forgiving." (42:37)

Worship as a Social Service for Muslims

Worship in Islam is not only for the remembrance of God but it serves for humanity in great deal. Serving for humanity is always the first priority for a true Muslim as the rights of humans in Islam are of immense importance. The Holy Qur'an declares that they have been made "in the best of moulds"

The equality between the people is established with Salat (Prayer). In congregational salat Muslims say their prayers standing in rows five times a day. Big and small, rich and poor, powerless and powerful, literate and illiterate all stand in the same rows without any discrimination. The lesson of equality is also taught in Islamic Schools when all the children are irrespective of their status are dealt equally.

Fasting is to live without food and water from dawn to dusk. A man may be very rich, but he has to go hungry and thirsty just like any common man. In this way by observing the fast in the process of worshipping God, a Muslim personally experiences human need as well.

Hajj, too, is essentially a form of worship. During Hajj many different kinds of people come together, but the pilgrims are forbidden to fight. The pilgrim must avoid all friction lest his pilgrimage become unacceptable in the eyes of God. Similarly Quran Recitation makes a man to think about the teachings of Islam and acts upon them to worship and to serve for the humanity.

Zakat is a form of worship of God along with a form of service to humanity. By apportioning a share of one’s wealth to God, man acknowledges God as the giver, while at the same time he trains himself to fulfill his responsibilities towards human beings.

Spiritualism and Mysticism

The concept of spiritualism or mysticism has existed in the world for thousands of years. It has many schools of thought, which must be dealt here, albeit briefly, in order that the Islamic School of thought about spiritualism can come out clearly vis-à-vis other schools of spiritualism.

Three basic concepts are worth mentioning here. According to the first concept, spiritualism means to establish contact with one’s own inner personality. To them man’s inner existence is akin to a mysterious ocean, which remains, under normal circumstances, undiscovered for man.

The spiritual quest means from the Islamic point of view that the servant (of God) wants to join/contact God, his Creator. Islamic spiritualism is in actual fact a realization of God. Whatever man gains at the level of his heart and mind through the realization of God is known as Islamic spiritualism. This is all related to the worship and Quran Recitation in depth. Islamic spiritualism has come to have two schools of thought, one may be called Qur’anic school of thought and the other is commonly known as tasawwuf.

The other concept of spiritualism is basically produced under the influence of the philosophy of monism. According to the concept of monism, leaving the details aside, all forms of existence are in actual fact manifestations of the same source. According to this concept of spiritualism, to put it in simple words, it is for the part to realize its whole in order that it may join it by discovering it.

From Islamic viewpoint man’s existence has two aspects/levels to it. One is man’s visible body which is in need of a number of material things. Without providing the material things like food, water, clothes, home etc. physical body cannot survive. The other aspect of human personality is that in it there is an invisible being called soul. The soul too requires certain things, but these are not of material nature. These are entirely of non-material nature, hence its requirements too was to be fulfilled.

Islamic Movements

There are always two distinct kinds of movements. One is launched positively, on the basis of some discovery which is held to be of great benefit of mankind, whereas the other is a negative process, set in motion out of a sense of deprivation, or in order to recover something which has been lost. The Islamic movement, for its part, was certainly launched with a prior sense of having found something of inestimable value.

The wonderful sense of discovery with which the companions of the Prophet were imbued was that of having become aware of the oneness of God, Qur’an and great Islamic values in contradiction to polytheism. The realization had come to them that the life hereafter - man's entry into paradise - was the only goal worthy of man's endeavors. They learned too that a life devoid of principle was one of utter degradation and that the highest human objective should be to become a man of principle. They had been stirred to the very core of their beings by this thought. Their very souls had been moved by it, their minds enlightened by Quran Recitation, and new doors to reality opened before them. Their lives were so truly transformed by this idea that it was kind of re-birth for them. Although whatever they had gained in the process was apparently non-material - a thing of the mind - it was so great a thing for them that it took precedence over all else. This discovery gave them the strength to remain content, even when bereft of all their worldly possessions. No sacrifice was then too great for them to make.

Another benefit of their discovery was that it conferred upon them the position of da'is (preachers) through Islamic Schools, conveyors of the divine message to the entire world. Let me stress that it is important at this point to understand the essential difference between a da'i (preacher) and a national leader. The latter is one who, at the apex of the ruling party, expects to be able to command others and to make demands upon them, whereas the da'i (preacher) is always the giver. He never takes anything from other.

What the companions of the Prophet had was greater than anything else in this world. What they had discovered was a guarantee that they might stand before the world as givers, not takers. It was this characteristic which endowed them with such irresistible power, and it was not long before the greater part of the inhabited world came under their sway, for their moral superiority was undeniable.

But this, regrettably, cannot be said of present-day Muslims, who parrot the names of the Prophet's companions without their religion being in any sense a great discovery for them. Hence this desire of theirs is to appear before the world in the garb of national leader, and not as da'is (preachers). The Muslim image in the world today is that of the taker, not of the giver. And that being so, the man behind the image is utterly without value. It is his sense of loss which motivates him, and not his sense of gain. Propelled by such people, the Islamic movement is doomed to lose momentum, and it will not be long before it comes to a complete standstill unless we take measures to re-energize it. We must surely undertake individual and mass reforms, returning to the basic tenets of Islam, if we are not to be swamped by total moral inertia.

Freedom of Thought in Islam

Islam for the first time in human history brought about a revolution in freedom of thought. In all the ages of history prior to Islam, the system of absolutism prevailed, and man was consequently denied freedom of thought. This was a matter of the utmost gravity for it is a fact that the secret of all human progress lies hidden in such freedom.

The first benefit of intellectual freedom is to enable man to achieve that high virtue which in the Qur’an is called "fearing the unseen." That is, without any apparent compulsion or pressure from God, man, of his own free will, acknowledges God and leads his life in this world, going in fear of Him. In the absence of an atmosphere of total freedom, no one can undergo this spiritual experience—an indescribable spiritual pleasure—which is called in the Qur’an, going in fear of the Lord. Without such freedom it is not possible to give credit to anyone for this highest of human virtues.

Man is a thinking creature. Of necessity he forms opinions. If curbs are placed on the independent expression of his views, the content of his thought may remain unchanged, but his ideas will never find expression in his speech and writings. Islamic Schools promote freedom of thoughts by removing the curbs. Curbs of this nature, imposed by a community or a state, will ultimately produce a society of hypocrites. No sincere person can ever flourish in such a repressive atmosphere. It is only freedom of thought and expression which can save man from hypocrisy. Moreover, intellectual freedom is directly related to creativity. A society with freedom of thought will produce creative human beings: a society which places curbs on freedom of expression will necessarily witness intellectual stagnation; it will stop producing creative minds, and its development will come to a final standstill.

Non-Muslims claim that they respect the freedom of every human but Muslims were brutally tortured on practicing their religion i.e. for offering prayers and Quran Recitation. In matters of criticism or expression of differences, the right approach is for people to end unnecessary sensitivity to it instead of attempting to put an end to criticism and differences. This is the demand of Islam as well as of nature.

According to the Hadith it is a virtue on the part of believers: to accept the truth without any reservation when it is presented to them. That is to say, a believer is one who has the ability in the perfect sense of the word to accept the truth. Whenever truth is brought before him, whenever his faults are pointed out to him, no complex comes in the way of his accepting of the truth.

This quality is present to the maximum degree in one who is ready and waiting to accept the truth when it is brought before him. Eager for his own improvement, he accepts the truth with pleasure. This keenness for self-reform through acceptance of the truth is perfectly expressed in the words of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab: "May God bless on one who sends me gifts of my own shortcomings."

Promoting Equality Through Education

Equality is to give equal right to everybody in the society regardless of the religion, cast, color, ethnicity and status. Equality can b attained by giving proper education and through awareness and b setting up rules and regulations to make sure that rights of the people are respected.

The Islamic shariah, in accordance with original uncorrupted creation, does not propound such equality as may ignore individual differences and talents and the natural variety among humans. The very diversity is a great source of good for mankind that the Islamic School of thought has realized. This may be supported with the following verse from the Holy Qur'an:

"0 Mankind ! we created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other." (49, 13).

It is obvious at the same time that diversity among humans in traits and talents is natural to them; therefore there will be limitations in natural, social and political positions, as one inquirer did notice. Some of the limitations are temporary, some permanent; some are infrequent, some frequent. However, a limitation is specific. It may not be generalized to inequality in other rights. A person who is morally upright is not equal to a crook in terms of morality, but they may be equal otherwise. Nor is an intelligent person equal to a dull one, but they are equal in other spheres. In the same way, woman is not identical to man in her traits, gifts, and abilities ( as we shall be discussing in detail later on ).

The limitations in these examples are natural. The social limitations are those imposed by society as a result of experiences and practice. They are, in the final analysis, intellectual attitudes related to the above-mentioned traits. There is, for instance, the established difference between the ignorant and the learned. No one would assign to an ignorant person major responsibilities that are crucial to the community.

Political limitations are those accepted by politicians and administrators which sanction barring certain classes from positions of authority for political or military reasons. There are restrictions on military personnel's marriage to foreign women, and many other limitations. It is under such rules that non-Muslims are forbidden in the Muslim state from occupying certain key positions. For similar reasons, non-Muslim men are forbidden from marrying Muslim women. But of that later.

Through Quran Recitation we come to know that equality has got mere importance in Islam. Children should be such education that they respect the right of everyone equally.

If absolute equality were maintained, it would lead to unendurable complications. Men would underestimate their abilities and neglect their talents, with deleterious consequences for mankind. The system of life is absolutely linked to recognizing legitimate privileges and rights, and no progress is possible without accepting these facts. The collapse of communism is a glaring example for those who have insight.

Therefore variance in talents and their use and employment must be reflected in real terms where abilities are used for the good of society. People will be graded in a hierarchy in offices and departments.

Importance of Religious Education for Pupils

The world has changed drastically due to the advancements in the field of education. In early ages education was thought to be important only to earn a decent amount of money and to live a life in good manner but now humans are exploring more and more things to get the knowledge of this universe and to innovate latest things.

No doubt, science has brought revolutionary changes in our lives but religious education is still that much important as it used to be few decades ago. Therefore a good Islamic School is the one which provides modern scientific education as well as Islamic education.

Man is in constant struggle to unleash the mysteries of life and religious education is equally important in accomplishing this task with scientific education. That’s why it is stressed that religious education should also be given to the children with modern education. Being a Muslim we can benefit Quran Recitation to know what Qur’an says about the mysteries which are still unrevealed.

Seeking agreement on what might constitute a national framework for religious education has been a protracted and carefully negotiated process requiring decisions to be made regarding what should be recommended and with what degree of prescription. Determining the curriculum for any subject is bound to be fraught with difficulty, as choices have to be made concerning what to include and so inevitably what to exclude. In religious education the process has always been regarded as particularly sensitive, given the potential for controversy when there is a need to take account of more than one major religious tradition and limited curriculum time available.

At the same time as this issue has preoccupied religious educators, other advancements in the syllabus have challenged the addition of religious education as a compulsory subject. The strengthening of personal, social and health studies in the National Curriculum and the introduction of citizenship as an additional compulsory subject has led people to question the worth of religious studies to the education. Religious studies provide a heavy set of arguments that demand serious attention of religious educators, not only in the US but also across other international communities.

Islam and Ethics

Ethics generally refers to a code of conduct, that an individual, group or society hold as definitive, in differentiating right from wrong. Islam as a comprehensive way of life encompasses a complete Ethical system that is an important aspect of its world-view. We live in an age where good and evil are often looked at as relative concepts. Islam however, holds that Ethical positions are not relative, and instead, defines a universal standard by which actions may be deemed Ethical or unethical.

Islam’s Ethical system is striking in that it not only defines Ethics, but also guides the human race in how to achieve it, at both an individual as well as a collective level.

According to the Islamic School of thought Ethical system stems from its primary creed of belief in One God as the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. Islam considers the human race to be a part of God’s creation, and as His subjects.

From an Islamic perspective, the purpose of human life is to worship God, by leading this worldly life in harmony with the Divine Will, and thereby achieve peace in this world, and everlasting success in the life of the hereafter. Muslims look to the Glorious Qur’an and the Traditions of the Prophet as their Ethical guides.

The Glorious Qur’an says:

“It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah-fearing.” [Al-Qur’an 2:177]

The love and continuous awareness of God and the Day of Judgment enables man to be Ethical in conduct and sincere in intentions, with devotion and dedication.

The guiding principle for the behavior of a Muslim is what the Qur’an refers to as Al `Amal Assalih or virtuous deeds. This term covers all deeds, not just the outward acts of worship.

By Reading Islamic literature and through Quran Recitation we come to know that some of the most primary character traits expected of a Muslim are piety, humility and a profound sense of accountability to God. A Muslim is expected to be humble before God and with other people. Islam also enjoins upon every Muslim to exercise control of their passions and desires.

Charity is one of the most commendable acts in Islam. In fact, Zakah, the annual charity that is obligatory on every Muslim who has accrued wealth above a certain level, is one of the pillars of Islam.

Gratitude in prosperity, patience in adversity, and the courage to uphold the truth, even when inconvenient to one, are just some of the qualities that every Muslim is encouraged to cultivate.

For an individual as well as a society, Ethics is one of the fundamental sources of strength, just as immorality is one of the main causes of decline. While respecting the rights of the individual within a broad Islamic framework, Islam is also concerned with the Ethical health of the society.

The Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) summarized the conduct of a Muslim when he said: “My Sustainer has given me nine commands: to remain conscious of God, whether in private or in public; to speak justly, whether angry or pleased; to show moderation both when poor and when rich, to reunite friendship with those who have broken off with me; to give to him who refuses me; that my silence should be occupied with thought; that my looking should be an admonition; and that I should command what is right.”

The Mosque

A mosque is a place where followers of Islam. Muslims offer prayers five times a day. It is the place where collective prayers are offered lead by an Imam. The word "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship.

A mosque is also a center of social activities for Muslims where different people come for prayers and Quran Recitation and worship of Allah five times a day and meet each other, discuss some religious affairs, take guidance and help each other.

All adult Muslims, with exceptions for the infirm, are required to offer prayers five times daily. Most mosques will organize a formal time of prayer for each of the daily time slots. In addition to holding the daily prayers, mosques hold weekly Jumaah services which replace the midday prayer on Fridays. While daily prayers can be performed anywhere, it is obligated to attend Friday prayers at the mosque.

Mosques are also used as Islamic Schools where children come to learn and Memorize Qur’an, some of the children who are needy and orphans may reside there in attached hostels. All the expenses are paid by the people living in vicinity.

There are few rules that should be followed in the respect, when entering in the mosques e.g. one should be neat and clean, mentally normal and in senses. In mosques talking loud or irrelevant discussions are not allowed. One should not bring his shoes into the Mosque.

The third of the Five Pillars of Islam states that Muslims are required to give approximately one-fortieth of their wealth to charity as zakat . Since mosques form the center of Muslim communities, they are where Muslims go to both give zakat and, if necessary, collect it. Prior to the holiday of Eid ul-Fitr, mosques also collect a special zakat that is supposed to assist in helping poor Muslims attend the prayers and celebrations associated with the holiday.

The architecture of mosques is a continuation of pre-Islamic architecture of palaces built during the Parthian and Sassanian dynasties of Persia. The Sarvestan palace from the Sassanian era is a great example of this. For example, the idea of having an arched entrance and a central dome is clearly one borrowed from pre-Islamic, Persian architecture. After the Arab invasion of Persia, this architecture, as well as elements of Sassanian culture, was used for the new Islamic world. Many forms of mosques have evolved in different regions of the Islamic world. Notable mosque types include the early Abbasid mosques, T-type mosques, and the central-dome mosques of Anatolia. The oil-wealth of the twentieth century drove a great deal of mosque construction using designs from leading non-Muslim modern architects and promoting the careers of important contemporary Muslim architects.

Human Rights in Islam

Since Allah is the sole master of men and the universe, He is the supreme Lord, the upholder and the Merciful, Whose mercy shrines all beings; and since He has given each man human self-respect and honor, he has given equal rights to all their humans, which is clearly stated in Qur’an Hadith and other in authentic Islamic literatures.

Every human being is thereby related to all others and all become one community of brotherhood in their honorable and pleasant servitude to the most compassionate Lord of the Universe. In such a heavenly atmosphere the Islamic confession of the oneness of God stands dominant and central, and necessarily entails the concept of the oneness of humanity and the brotherhood of mankind.

Although an Islamic state may be set up in any part of the earth, Islam does not seek to restrict human rights or privileges to the geographical limits of its own state. Just like Muslims perform their religious duties like prayers, Quran Recitation, fasting etc, the people of other religions can also practice their religion in Muslim states with complete freedom. Islam has laid down some universal fundamental rights for humanity as a whole, which are to be observed and respected under all circumstances whether such a person is resident within the territory of the Islamic state or outside it, whether he is at peace or at war. The Quran very clearly states:

"O believers, be you securers of justice, witness for God. Let not detestation for a people move you not to be equitable; be equitable - that is nearer to God-fearing." (5:8)

Human blood is sacred in any case and cannot be spilled without justification. And if anyone violates this sanctity of human blood by killing a soul without justification, the Quran equates it to the killing of entire mankind.

"...Whoso slays a soul not to retaliate for a soul slain, nor for corruption done in the land, should be as if he had slain mankind altogether." (5:32)

According to the Islamic School of thought it is not permissible to oppress women, children, old people, the sick or the wounded. Women's honor and chastity are to be respected under all circumstances. The hungry person must be fed, the naked clothed and the wounded or diseased treated medically irrespective of whether they belong to the Islamic community or are from among its enemies.

When we speak of human rights in Islam we really mean that these rights have been granted by God; they have not been granted by any king or by any legislative assembly. The rights granted by the kings or the legislative assemblies, can also be withdrawn in the same manner in which they are conferred. The same is the case with the rights accepted and recognized by the dictators.