How Should People Avoid Sins, Distractions, And Temptations? This article covers the answer to the question: “How Should People Avoid Sins, Distractions, and Temptations?“ The question refers to one of the greatest difficulties of modern life. Even the not-so-young, but of course especially the young live in a social environment...
What Is Shirk? Literally, shirk means ascribing or the establishment of “partners” placed beside God. It is the vice that is opposed to the virtue of Tawhid (monotheism). Those who practice shirk are termed mushrikun. Mushrikun (pl. of mushrik) are those who practice shirk, which literally means “association” and refers to accepting other gods and divinities alongside the...
Free Will In Theology Free will in theology is an important part of the debate on free will in general. Religions vary greatly in their response to the standard argument against free will and thus might appeal to any number of responses to the paradox of free will, the claim that omniscience and free will are...
Predestination In Islam This article covers the meaning of predestination in Islam. Qadar (قدر, qadar, meaning “power”), but translated variously as: “fate“, “divine fore-ordainment“, “predestination”, “Divine Decree“, “Preordainment”, is the concept of divine destiny in Islam. As God is all-knowing and all-powerful, everything that has happened and will happen in the universe—including sinful human behavior—is commanded...
What Is Theological Determinism? Theological determinism is a form of predeterminism which states that all events that happen are pre-ordained, or/and predestined to happen, by a God/gods, or that they are destined to occur given its omniscience. Theological determinism exists in a number of religions, including Jainism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is also supported by proponents of Classical pantheism such as the Stoics and Baruch Spinoza....
Test And Trial For Man The world is an arena of test and trial for man. He has been sent here to acquire the state appropriate for the other life. This is not easy. Like a tailor who, in order to make a suit fit for his customer, cuts a...
Divine Decree And Destiny, And Human Free Will This article covers the relationship between Divine Decree and Destiny, and Human Free Will. The Arabic word translated as destiny is qadar. In its derivations, this word also means determination, giving a certain measure and shape, dividing, and judging. Muslim scholars of...
The Manifest Record And The Manifest Book This article covers The Manifest Record and the Manifest Book. For example, a seed exhibits Destiny in two ways: demonstrating the Manifest Record (Imamun Mubin) and displaying the Manifest Book (Kitabun Mubin). The Manifest Record, another title for Divine Knowledge and Command, includes...
Destiny And Human Free Will This article covers the answer to the question: “What Is The relationship Between Destiny And Human Free Will?“ Human free will exists because: We feel remorse when we do something wrong. We beg God’s forgiveness for our sins. If we trouble or harm someone, we...
The Divine Wisdom In Creating People Differently This article covers the answer to the question: “What Is The Divine Wisdom In Creating People Differently?“ Why did God create us with different levels of provision and intelligence, lifestyle, and physiology? Why does He allow hardship and poverty amidst ease and luxury? Such...
Questions On Destiny And Human Free Will This article covers some interesting questions and answers on Destiny And Human Free Will. Question: Are we victims of Destiny? Do we have any part in the calamities befalling us? Answer: As this question has been discussed earlier, I will present a summarized...
Divine Decree And Destiny This article covers the answer to the question: “What is Divine Decree and Destiny?“ Divine Knowledge God is completely beyond our abilities of comparison and conception, and so we can acquire only some knowledge of His Attributes and Names, not of His Divine Essence, by meditating...
Praying God Five Times A Day Does Human Spirit Really Need Praying God Five Times A Day? Man is created rather weak, yet everything involves, affects and saddens him. Also he is utterly lacking in power, yet the calamities and enemies that afflict him are numerous. He is also extremely...
Importance Of The Daily Prescribed Prayers This article is about daily prescribed prayers. In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate The prescribed prayers are the pillar of the religion. A parable to understand the value and importance of the daily prescribed prayers If you would really like to...
Bliss and Benefit of The Prescribed Prayers What Bliss And Benefit Come With The Prescribed Prayers (Salah)? In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate O you people, worship… (The Quran 2:21) If you wish to understand the bliss and benefit that come with prayer, and the grave loss...
Hardship Of Daily Prayers This article covers the hardship of daily prayers. Does Praying Five Times a Day is Boring and Wearying? Once, a man of considerable age, great stature, and high social position said to me: ‘The prayer is OK, but five times a day is too much; it...
Daily Prayers Why Was Doing The Daily Prayer Prescribed Five Times A Day? You ask me the reasons for the apportioning of the daily prayers into five definite durations. I’ll take up just one of very many reasons. “In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate” Glory be to...
A Radiant Month In A Darkening World This article covers the Holy Month of Ramadan. The world is undergoing a series of depressions, one within the other. Humanity is restless and living with nightmares. Yet, Ramadan is once more on the way, appearing on the horizon like the silent full...
Fasting In The Month Of Ramadan This section consists of Nine Points, which explain Divine purpose for ordering the fasting during the month of Ramadan. “In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. It was the month of Ramadan in which the Quran was bestowed from on high as...
The Five Pillars of Islam The most important Muslim practices are the Five Pillars of Islam: the profession of faith, ritual prayer, alms-giving, fasting, and the pilgrimage to Mecca. Upholding the pillars is considered obligatory for all sincere followers of the Prophet Muhammad, male and female, Sunni and Shi’a, but...