The Basic Ideas of Islam: A Comprehensive Introduction »

Foreword Macksood Aftab Aftab, Macksood

Introduction A story of a Professor 2

Ch. 1 Definitions and the Story of Creation

1 Is Religion a Necessity? 5

2 The Meaning of the Word "Islam" 6

3 Muslim Population around the World 11

4 The Meaning of the Word "Allah" -The Exalted- 14

5 Divine Attributes of Allah -The Exalted- 17

6 The Qur'anic Story of Creation 30

7 Structuring the Life of Man by Revelation 46

8 Prophet Abraham 51

9 The Qur'an 53

10 Four Chapters from the Qur'an 61

Ch. 2 The Life of Prophet Muhammad

1 The Need for a prophet 67

2 The Deference between Prophet and Messenger 68

3 The Life of Prophet Muhammad 69

4 The Beginning of Revelation 78

5 Attributes and Manners of the Prophet 82

6 The Miracles of the Prophet 86

7 Life and Legacy of the Prophet in Mecca 91

8 The Migration or Hijra 132

9 The Establishment of the Islamic State in Madinah 146

10 The Death of the Prophet Muhammad 171

Ch. 3 Islam: Faith and Rituals - Islam, Iman, and Ihsan

1 The Five Ruling Values (Ahkam) 181

2 The Prophetic Tradition of Gabriel 193

3 Islam: The Five Pillars- Shahada 195

4 Prayer (Salat) 198

5 Obligatory Charity (Zakat) 214

6 Fasting (Sawm) 217

7 Pilgrimage (Hajj) 221

8 Iman: The Six Articles of Faith- Belief in Allah 228

9 Belief in the Angels 229

10 Belief in the Books 232

11 Belief in the Messengers 232

12 Belief in the Last day 234

13 Belief in al-Qadar 235

14 Ihsan: Sufism- How to Make a Successful Journey? 239

15 The Heart and How to Prepare it for Spirituality 240

Ch. 4 The Islamic Law (Shari'ah)

1 The Sources of the Islamic Law: Qur'an as the First Source 245

2 The Tradition of theProphet (Sunnah) as the Second Source 248

3 The Consensus of Muslim Scholars (Ijma') as the Third Source 264

4 Analogical Reasoning (Qiyas) as the Fourth Source 266

5 The Objectives of the Islamic law (Maqasid) 269

6 The Story of the Abandoned Ship 269

7 Categories of Benefits and the Five Necessities Paradigm 271

8 The Divisions of the Islamic Law: Jurisprudence (Fiqh) 283

9 Scholastic Theology (Usul al-Deen) 286

10 Ethics (Purification of the Soul) 287

Ch. 5 Islamic Sciences and Knowledge

1 Clarification of Sciences 289

2 Islamic Scholastic Theology ('Ilm a- Kalam) 292

3 Islamic Philosophy (Falsafa) - Theory of Knowledge 297

4 Metaphysics: The World is not Eternal 304

5 Metaphysic: Proofs of the Existence of Allah 312

6 Algebra (al-Jabr wal Muqabalah) 315

7 A Story of a Woman on How to Divide Inheritance 315

8 Interpretation of Dreams 321

9 Rules of Interpretation 323

10 Requirements for a True Dream Vision 325

Ch. 6 Islamic State

1 The Supreme Authority of the Islamic State 329

2 The Legal Steps in Establishing the Islamic State 334

3 Consultation (Shura) 334

4 Equality (Musawat) 336

5 Justice ('Adl) 338

6 Prescribing Good and Forbidding Evil 341

7 Legality and Principles from Jurisprudence 343

8 Characteristics of Islamic Legislation 348

9 Islamic State and Leadership 350

10 Who Appoints the Muslim Ruler? What are the Requirements? 350

Ch. 7 Islamic Stories and Poetry

1 The Qur'anic Story of Prophet Joseph 356

2 The Story of Umm Salama 368

3 The Story of Abu Al-Darda' 373

4 Parables from Al-Ghazali 378

5 Two Poems from Hafiz 379

Refrences 380

Index 384