Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Falling In Love With Islām: Handbook 1 - The Essentials of Islam; by Ms. Ra'ana Khan

‘Falling in Love with Islām’ is a series of Books I am compiling, recognizing the dire need of the present era; especially for the Muslim youth (teens and young adults); realizing that the youth of today unfortunately lacks the perseverance or the attention span to dedicate themselves to researching their Religion i.e. Islām, on their own; an effort is being made to put together these series of handbooks, in a simplified, brief (yet detailed) manner. Thereby providing them with the basic fundamental knowledge required for an average or common Muslim to correct their Beliefs, understand the rationale, and know the essentials pertaining to the bare basics or foundation of Islām. Likewise, for them to have a clear know-how of the requisites and elements of the rituals of worship; including wuzu, salāt, zakāt, Hajj, Tālīm-e-Dīn, Tablīgh-e-Dīn, Jehād, Zikrullāh, nikkāh, burial rites. The duties incumbent upon each individual in different roles as a member of a society at large and as a member of the family are also to be detailed in this series. These books in the series shall be presented as handbooks or guide books for the common Muslim person as a basic reference or guide for knowing the general Code of Life and Code of Love presented to us by Allāh , through His Beloved Prophet . The main aim and objective of this series is to make a Muslim individual orthodox in their Beliefs, and relieve them of their dependence upon pseudo Maulvīs; due to their own lack of knowledge and know-how of the implementation of their Dīn.   

Handbook 1 – The Essentials of Islām: this book focuses upon the Beliefs, fundamentals and rationale in regard to them. It aims to equip each Muslim individual with the necessary information required to independently herald his or her own staunchness and conviction in their individual Beliefs; thereby ensuring that they are not left as a pawn in the hands of groups or individuals; accordingly, not falling prey to any confusion deliberately being created by people with vested interests to create and promote sectarianism, or worse still manipulate our youth into falling victim to organized groups who inculcate terrorism and promote hatred on the basis of any distorted Belief or corrupted version of Islāmic history, with which they wish to indoctrinate our Muslim youth and young adults. It is a reminder for all of us to come back to the Islām revealed upon and delivered by Prophet Muhammad and not the versions of it that have evolved through time creating confusion, hatred, or focus solely upon the torment and retribution of Hell or the Hoors and Jewels of Heaven. It is in fact a means of putting things into their rightful perspective; similarly, highlighting the reality and purpose of the creation of this life of trials; most of all it aims to ensure that one recognizes that despite all that Islām Guides us in regard to who to trust and who to befriend, under no circumstances whatsoever does Islām encourage or endorse behaving in a less than dignified manner nor does it appreciate negativity and hate towards any person or creation; concern and apathy have been made a significant part of our beings as humans and Islām teaches us that anything which causes to evade these feelings is in fact degrading us from ‘being human’, likewise it is below our dignity as Muslims.

The handbook 1, in fact seeks to inculcate and promote the foundation of Islām, which is ‘Love’. Accordingly, to remind the Muslim individuals that the do’s and don’ts of Islām are all there for our individual, social, economic and national benefit; yet bearing in mind that being human we are bound to err, which applies to all others as well. Hence, none of us have been given the right or authority to Judge, which is something Allāh has solely reserved for Himself ; in fact it has been established as our responsibility to help one another overcome our weaknesses and perform as best as we can supporting each other wherever necessary; consequently sometimes stopping each other from indulging or giving into crime; likewise, by covering up the mistakes of each other; similarly, by highlighting the positives in one another; furthermore, also by quietly guiding each other back toward the path of salvation. It seeks to also point out that just because we as humans and due to our own shortcomings, fall short of being able to fully implement the injunctions of Islam upon ourselves; thereupon we should neither allow this to become a reason or justification for us to acquire an attitude of negligence in the obedience of Allāh and His Prophet ; likewise, nor should it bring us to a point of such despondency that we take to becoming defiant in order to derive some sort of peace of mind, which in fact can never attained in such a manner.

Handbook 1 – The Essentials of Islām, has been published at an international level and is presently a click away, available on Amazon Kindle (the link to which is shared below). In some days the Hardcover Books too will be available worldwide, via Amazon Books (the link shall be provided as soon as it is made available).  For all those looking to buy subsidized copies of my Book; a Black and white version has been made available at almost half the price. It is available on the following link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1549748459

Kindle e-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075J3TYN4

Amazon Hardcover Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1549678035