The Spirit of Islam
An Exposition of the Teachings of Islam
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THE SPIRIT OF ISLAM. Since the end of the Crusades a large number of books on the religion of Islam have been published, and are being published by non Muslim writers in European languages. Because of the fundamental differences that exist in the perception of God, nature of divine revelation, the blessing of prophethood, object of man’s worship of God and other beliefs, between Islam and other religions, hardly any one of these publications can be viewed as acceptable to practising Muslims. In this volume the writer has presented a life sketch of the Holy Prophet of Islam and the teachings of Islam as revealed and recorded in the Holy Qur’an as well as the example of the Holy Prophet of Islam. The book has been written in the form of essays. Each essay/chapter may be read as an aspect of the teachings of Islam. The writer has devoted three chapters to the decline of faith that began in the 17th century CE and the Movement for its revival and reinvigoration, inaugurated by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian. In 1889, he claimed to be the Promised Messiah, Prophet and Mahdi. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad challenged all Muslims to abandon un-Islamic beliefs and national practices that have crept into the faith, and return to the purity of the Holy Qur’an. in belief and practice. His advent had been predicted by the Holy Prophet of Islam. In the last essay, entitled; The Spirit of Hijra, the writer reminds Muslims that the spirit of hijra or migration, is the spirit of Islam. The challenge of the migration of mind, heart and soul from the lowest to the highest intellectual, moral and spiritual state, is similar in nature to the physical migration of a person who intends to achieve success in life. The Holy Prophet of Islam set an example with his own migration from Mecca to Medina and by demonstrating the teachings of the Quran in his own life for all Muslims as part of his mission.
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About the Book
The book presents a life sketch of the Prophet Muhammad, his ancestors, Abraham and Ishmael, religious and social conditions that existed in Arabia at the time of his birth in Mecca in a family of merchants. His father passed away a few days before his birth. His mother mother mother died when he was about eight years old. Even at a young age he was devoted to prayers to God, fasting and meditation. He received the first divine call at the age of 40 years to invite all human beings to the path of righteousness. The divine revelations that he received in the years that followed were recorded in a book known as the Holy Quran, in his life time. He himself made the arrangement of chapters, Suras and verses of the Holy book as we see it today, without the slightest alteration in the text ever made by anyone in the past nearly 1500 years. Copies of the Quran were made immediately after his demise. His message, the religion of Islam, provides guidance to mankind in every possible aspect of human life. Apart from daily prayers, fasting in Ramadan, Hajj, charity and personal and communal piety, the Quran deals with social matters as well as Islamic laws. Three chapters are devoted to the decline of faith and its revival inaugurated by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in the 1889.
About the Author
Munir Mian was raised in a devout Ahmadiyya Muslim family. He was educated at the university level, in Pakistan, Great Britain and the US. He holds a Master's degree from the University of Maryland. He acted as President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Quebec, for a number of years from 1969 to 1979. He is married t Dr, margarete Mian. They have two sons, Alec Humayoun and Adnan Mark.