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Author: Dr. Tanveer Hussain

The Quran on Charity (Sadaqaat)

The Quran on Charity (Sadaqaat)

  The Arabic term sadaqa (plural: sadaqaat) has been used in the Quran both for charities given to the poor by individuals (Al-Quran 2/271) and for the contributions/funds collected by the Islamic Authority/State (through a centralized mechanism) to be spent for the purposes defined in the Quran (Al-Quran 9/103 and 9/60). The term ‘Sadaqaat’ has been used in contrast with the term ‘Riba’ (i.e. usurious gains or interest on loans). يَمْحَقُ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَيُرْبِي الصَّدَقَاتِ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ…

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Giving Respite and Relief to the Debtor

Giving Respite and Relief to the Debtor

    وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُوا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ   If the debtor is in (financial) difficulty, let there be postponement of the payment till ease (of his monetary condition). But if you remit/write-off the debt by way of charity, it would be better for you, if you understand (its benefits for your spiritual development/self-actualization). Al-Quran 2:280

Spending for the Welfare of Humanity (Infaaq)

Spending for the Welfare of Humanity (Infaaq)

Human beings have generally turned out to be miserly قُل لَّوْ أَنتُمْ تَمْلِكُونَ خَزَائِنَ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّي إِذًا لَّأَمْسَكْتُمْ خَشْيَةَ الْإِنفَاقِ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ قَتُورًا Say, “If you were in control of the treasures of my Sustainer’s Beneficence, you would certainly hold them back for fear of spending/exhaustion (of these treasures); As human being has turned out to be miserly”. [Al-Quran 17/100] Allah has commanded the Believers to spend their resources in His way وَأَنفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى…

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Primary Teachings of Islam

Primary Teachings of Islam

  Primary teachings of Islam in the light of the Quran are given as follows:   Treat all human beings with respect Human dignity is an inherent, inalienable and inviolable right of every human being. Allah has honoured all the Children of Adam[1]. All human beings are the Children of Adam. So, all human beings must be treated with honour, respect and regard, without distinction of any kind, such as the colour of their skin, their race, descent, social background, national…

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Understanding the Term ‘Islam’

Understanding the Term ‘Islam’

ROOT OF THE WORD The root of the word Islam (اِسلام) is : S-L-M (س ل م). The triliteral root sīn lām mīm (س ل م) of the word Islam occurs 140 times in the Quran, in 16 derived forms: • six times as the form II verb sallama (سَلَّمَ) • 22 times as the form IV verb aslama (أَسْلَمَ) • 42 times as the nominal salām (سَلَٰم) • twice as the noun sullam (سُلَّم) • five times as the…

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Faculties OR Processes of Mind

Faculties OR Processes of Mind

Fahm (فہم) is a faculty or process of mind which enables a person to grasp the true meaning of a word/concept or real substance of a case, e.g., فَفَهَّمْنَاهَا سُلَيْمَانَ And We gave understanding of the case to Solomon [Al-Quran Surah 21: Verse 79] Shu’oor (شعور) is a faculty or process of mind which enables a person to perceive subtle realities or grasp the minute particulars of a subject, e.g., وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَن يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ أَمْوَاتٌ ۚ بَلْ…

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Difference between “bashar” and “insaan”

Difference between “bashar” and “insaan”

Two commonly used Arabic terms in the Quran, to refer to human beings are: al-bashar and al-insaan. The term al-bashar is often used to refer to the physical characteristics or appearance of human beings. The term ‘al-insaan’ is used when reference is to be made towards human behaviour or conduct. All of Allah’s Messengers were apparently human beings with respect to their physical characteristics. So the Quran used the term ‘al-bashar’, when physical aspect of human beings was under discussion….

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