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INTRODUCTION TO
ISLAM By
Dr. HAMIDULLAH
I.
I.
F . 1970
S .
O
^Bismiilafi
!
INTRODUCTION There has been a wide demand for a correspondence course on Islam In response to this, a modest effort has been made with the help of several collaborators, particularly of Prof. M. Rahimuddin and the present series of fifteen monographs has been prepared under the joint auspices of the Centre Cultural Islamique and the Mosque, in Paris. This will, it is hoped, give a general idea of Islam, its history and culture and its handling of the diverse aspects and problems of life. Each subject is a monograph in itself and self-contained, hence a certain repetition has been unavoidable, the more so because life is a variegated affair and the fields of human activities are closely related to one another and often overlap. For further inquiries, suggestions or useful ciriticism the "Centre Culiurel Islamique, c/o The Mosque, Place Puits del' Ermite, Paris V.. France," may be referred to. For the Editorial Board, MUHAMMAD HAMIDULLAH.
Paris, Sha'ban 1376 11. (1957) To the 2nd Edition The first edition was exhausted in a few months. Opportunity is taken of the second edition to improve the text and carry out several amelioration, which, it is hoped, will be appreciated. It is a pleasant duty to acknowledge with thanks numerous friendly suggestions received from various quarters. M. H.
Paris, Rajab 1378 11. (1959).
CONTENTS
Paragraph The Prophet of Islam—- His Biography ... The Preservation of the Original Teachings of Islam ... ... .. The Islamic Conception of Life ... ... Faith and Belief ... ... ' • ... Devotional Life and Religious Practices of Islam The Cultivation of Spiritual Life ... ... The System of Morality ... ... The Political System of Islam ... ... The Judicial System of Islam ... ... The Economic System of Islam ... ... The Muslim Woman ... ... Status of non-Muslims in Islam ... ••• Contribution of Muslims to the Sciences and Arts ... ... ... ... General History of Islam ... ... Map Showing the Lands under Muslim Rule for one Time or other Daily Life of a Muslim ... ... Various Postures of Prayers Service (Illustration)
INTRODUCTION
APPENDIX
No. 1 43 99 126 160 199 223 258 300 337 380 406 443 489 516
Map showing tbe direction of Qiblah from various parts of the globe Text® referred to for Prayers ... ... 577 Translation of the Appendices ... ... 57g Transcription of the Appendices ... — 579 Table of Principal Islamic Feasts ... ... 31® Time Table for Daily Prayers in Abnormal Zones 581 Permanent Time Table for Abnormal Zones ... 583 Personalia ... ... — 514 Select Bibliography of Muslim Authors
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Bismillah!
THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - MIS BIOGRAPHY la the annals of men, individuals have not been lacking who conspicuously devoted their lives to the socioreligious reform of their connected peoples. We find them in every epoch and in all lands. In India, there lived those who transmitted to the world the Vedas, and there was also the great Gautama Buddha; China had its Confucius; the Zend-Avesta was produced in Iran. Babylonia gave to the world one of the greatest reformers, the Prophet Abraham (not to speak of such of his ancestors as Enoch and Noah about whom we have very scanty information). The Jewish people may rightly be proud of a long series of reformers : Moses, Samuel, David, Soiomon, and Jesus among others. ' 2. These reformers claimed in general to be the bearers each of a Divine mission. They left behind them sacred books incorporating codes of life for the guidance of their peoples. But there followed fratricidal wars, and massacres and genocides bccame the order of the day, causing more or less a complete loss of these m