Islam: The Essentials (Pelican Books)

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Jesus (Isa), Moses (Musa) and Abraham (Ibrahim) are other respected prophets. Five Pillars of Islam The groom should treat his bride with kindness and it is the Sunnah to offer her something to eat or drink. Foreplay is essential: take time to kiss and touch. The Prophet ? said: “One of you should not fall upon his wife like the way an animal does, let there be a messenger between them.” [Daylami]

Islam: The Essentials - Tariq Ramadan - Google Books

Interestingly, the Qur’an literally means “that which is recited” or more simply “the recital.” As such, the Qur’an has been and continues to be experienced first and foremost as an oral tradition through the beautiful human voice of recitation. To this day, thousands of Muslims memorize the Qur’an in its entirety. Every Muslim must memorize at least a little to carry out devotional acts. When the Qur’an is recited as it ought to be, there is nothing that comes close to its aural harmony even for non-Arabic speaking listeners. Every aya flows into the next aya to form one ocean. Listening to a professional reciter can be a very enchanting experience. So, despite the Qur’an’s shifting narratives, those who listen to the Qur’an experience it as an extraordinarily harmonious text. Content of the Qur’an New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1979. Engineer, Asghar Ali. (ed.)The Shah Bano Controversy. Hyderabad, India: Orient Longman, 1987. The Qur’an speaks of a heavenly event in which God gathers all the souls that are to ever be brought into being and asks them a simple yet profound question, “Am I not your Lord?” The souls being in their pure and unveiled states gazing upon the essence of God, readily submit, “Yes! We bear witness!” This Muslims see as the primordial covenant that binds all living souls in submission to God.

Muslims also believe, with strong historical evidence, that the Qur’an in our possession today – fourteen hundred years later – is the same unchanged Qur’an that the Prophet left his community with at the end of his life.

The making of the Muslim world - New Statesman The making of the Muslim world - New Statesman

The analogy between Muhammad and Moses might be even closer as both Prophets lived parallel lives: born in the court of their enemies; tasked unexpectedly with preaching God’s Word to the mighty and powerful; leading their community on an epic migration out of tyranny and oppression; bringing both spirit and law together; serving as spiritual and political leaders. Indeed, Moses is the most mentioned Prophet in the Qur’an with his story interspersed throughout the scripture. Remember these are traditions and a cultural neccessity in certain countries. It is not a requirement in Islam. A mangni (engagement ceremony) may take place once the couple has accepted each other for marriage. It is provides an opportunity for the two families to come together and for the couple to exchange rings, if they so wish. This is not a religious requirement but cultural. ( Actually in Islam there is no exchange of rings.) The outfit of the bride-to-be is traditionally provided by the groom’s family.The Koran by Heart (An HBO documentary that follows three children from different countries to a Qur’an recitation competition in Egypt). Written marriage contract (“Aqd-Nikah”) signed by the bride and the groom and witnessed by the two adult and sane witnesses. This practice of talaq-e-biddat (unilateral triple-talaq) which practically treats women like chattel is neither harmonious with modern principles of human rights and gender equality, nor an integral part of Islamic faith, according to various noted scholars. Muslim women are subjected to such to such gross practices which treats them as chattel, thereby violating their fundamental rights enshrined in Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25 of the Constitution. The practice also wreaks havoc to the lives of many divorced women and their children, especially those belonging to the weaker economic sections of the society.”