Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
The scholars are the heirs of the Prophets, for the Prophets did not leave behind dinars or dirhams, rather they left behind knowledge, so whoever gains knowledge has gained great good fortune.
Hadith by al-Tirmidhi, classed as Sahih by al-Albaani
Islam has become synonymous with global political jihad today, and Islamic spirituality is often mistaken for orthodoxy. Then how do young Muslims hold on to their faith? How do they open the door for others to appreciate the true beauty of their religion?
In his attempt to understand Islam in its true form, social activist and entrepreneur Raamish Siddiqui brings together the most thought-provoking works of eminent scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Through the Maulana's writing, Raamish discovers that it was Prophet Muhammad who first lay the foundations of universal secular education, that Islam believes in gender equality and allegiance to the nation one is born in, and that the Quran makes it obligatory for its adherents to not engage in violence except in self-defence.
In a deeply introspective introduction, Raamish talks about his own dilemmas after 9/11 and how he transformed as a person when he learnt to differentiate between the true spirit of Islam and its misappropriation by those who have politicized it.
Deeply insightful and, in some ways, provocative, this is a vitally important guide to the most misunderstood religion of modern times.
Khan, Maulana W.: - MAULANA WAHIDUDDIN KHAN is an Islamic spiritual scholar. Internationally recognized for his contributions to world peace, he has received the Demiurgus Peace Award, the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award and the Padma Bhushan. The World's 500 Most Influential Muslims named him 'Islam's Spiritual Ambassador to the World'. Well versed in both classical Islamic Scriptures and modern disciplines, he presents Islamic teachings in the style and language of the post-scientific era. He was conferred the Sayyidina Imam Al Hassan Ibn Ali Peace Award in May 2015. To spread spiritual wisdom based on peace, Maulana established Al Markazul Islami (the Islamic Centre) in 1970 and the Centre for Peace and Spirituality International in 2001. The monthly magazine Al-Risala was launched in 1976 and continues to be published till date. RAAMISH SIDDIQUI is the grandson of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. He has been working as a volunteer for his grandfather's organizations (the Islamic Centre and CPS International) for the last decade and has participated in inter-faith seminars and conferences across the world. He is an MBA graduate and an entrepreneur. He is also a student of law. He actively engages in politics and social service and is therefore closely connected with people of diverse ethnicities and religions. His interviews have appeared in a number of newspapers and magazines. This is his first book.
