Table of Contents
1 Essentials of Belief 1
Proofs of Divine Oneness and Unity 1
What Is Meant by General [Ijmali) and Comprehensive (Tafsili) Belief? 1
Can Belief Blossom and Develop? 3
What Are the Conditions Concerning the Validity of Belief? 3
Did the Universe Come into Existence on Its Own, by Chance? 7
Belief in Allah 9
"Allah Created Everything, but Who Created Him?!" 20
Belief in the Angels 21
Belief in the Divine Books or Scriptures 25
Belief in the Prophets 28
Belief in the Hereafter 31
Belief in Divine Destiny 33
2 Basics of Islamic Practice 37
What is Ilmihal? 37
The Obligations of the Responsible (Mukallaf) 37
What Are the Responsibilities of the Mukallaf? 37
Cleanliness 40
Ritual Ablution (Wudu) 42
Dry Ablution (Tayammum) 46
Ghusl: The Complete Ablution 48
3 Why Must We Read the Qur'an? 55
What Is the Qur'an? 55
What Are the Names of the Glorious Qur'an? 57
What Are the Main Purposes of the Qur'an? 58
The Best of People Are Those Who Learn the Qur'an and Teach It 59
The Qur'an Is a Guide and Remedy for All Afflictions 60
The Qur'an Will Intercede on Judgment Day for Those Who Recite It 61
Angels, Mercy and Tranquility Descends Where the Qur'an Is Recited 62
Satan Flees from Houses Where tire Qur'an Is Recited 63
Many Rewards Are Recorded for Each Letter of the Qur'an 64
Which Themes Are Addressed in the Qur'an? 65
A Hadith of the Messenger of Allah 66
What Should Be Kept in Mind While Reciting the Qur'an? 67
4 The Wisdom of Worship 71
What Is Worship? 71
The Great Honor of Servanthood 72
Worship Is Performed Solely Because Allah Commands It 73
Why Must We Worship Allah? 75
5 The Prescribed Prayer 93
Why Must We Observe the Prescribed Prayer? 93
Adhan: The Announcement of the Prayer 93
The Words and Meaning of the Adhan 94
Respecting the Call to Prayer 94
The Iqama before the Far A Prayers 95
What Are the Times for Prayer? 95
Requirements of Prayer 99
The Prerequisites of Prayer 99
Obligatory Acts or the Pillars of Prayer 99
What Are the Pillars of the Prescribed Prayer? 100
What Are the Binding Necessities of the Prescribed Prayer? 102
What Are the Sunnah Acts of the Prayer? 104
What Are the Disliked Acts of the Prayer? 106
Things That Invalidate Prayer 107
How to Perform the Prayers 108
How to Perform the Sunnah Units of the Morning Prayer 108
How to Perform the Far A Units of the Morning Prayer 109
How to Perform the Other Prayers 110
Witr Prayer 110
Are Prayers Performed outside the Prescribed Time Accepted? 118
Nafi (Supererogatory) Prayers 119
Is Wearing a Cap During the Prayer Necessary? 122
Tasbihat (Recitations after the Daily Prayers) 122
6 The Morality and Servanthood of Allah's Messenger 127
1 The Morality of Allah's Messenger 127
2 The Servanthood of Allah's Messenger 143
7 Loving the Messenger of Allah 151
1 Why Are We Supposed to Love Our Noble Prophet More than All Other Creatures? 151
2 What Are the Results of Love of Allah's Messenger? 152
3 What Are the Signs of Loving the Blessed Prophet? 152
8 Scholars, Saints, Revivers of Faith and their Servitude to Allah 169
Who Is the Scholar? 169
What Are the Characteristics of the True Scholar? 170
Who Is the Saint? 171
Who Is the Mujtahid? 172
Who Is the Mujaddid? 173
Knowing the Importance the Scholars Attached to Worship 178
Answers 189
