the Self — Adherence to Society and Culture — Imitating Other People
The True Faith
Abstinence From Alcohol — Confession of Crime — Severance of Familial Ties — Giving Up Cultural Norms and Customs
The Way to God’s Pleasure
Muslims of Today
9. Are We True Muslims?
Two Types of Islam
Legal Islam — True Islam
Two Kinds of Muslims
Partial Muslims — True Muslims
What Kind of Muslims God Desires
Supreme Loyalty to Allah
Where Do We Stand?
10. Why Obey God?
Our Well-being
Obeying Others Besides Allah
The Only True Guidance
How to Benefit
No Blind Obedience
11. Difference Between Din and Shari‘ah
Meaning of Din
Meaning of Shari‘ah
Nature of Differences
Juristic Differences Between Muslims
Ignoring the Nature of Differences
Sectarianism
12. True Meaning of ‘Ibadah
Meaning of ‘Ibadah
Misunderstanding ‘Ibadah
‘Ibadah, Lifelong Service
PART III: SALAH
13. Meaning and Blessings of the Prayer
Remembering God
Blessings of the Prayer
Constant Reminder
Sense of Duty
God-consciousness
Knowledge of God’s Law
Collective Life
14. What We Say in the Prayer
Adhan and its Effects
Wuḍū’: Ablution
Niyyah: Intention
Tasbīḥ: Glorification
Ta’awwudh: Seeking Refuge
Bismillah: In His Name
Ḥamd: Praise and Thanks
The Qur’ān Reading
Surah al-Mā ‘ūn — Surah al-Humazah
Rukū’: Bowing Down
Sujūd: Prostration
At-taḥiyyāt: Salutation
Ṣalāt ‘ala ’n-nabiy: Blessings Upon the Prophet
Seeking Protection
Salām: Greetings
Du‘ā’ qunūt
Character-building
15. Blessings of the Congregational Prayer
Private Worship of God
Assembling on One Call
Purposeful Assembly
Fellowship
The Sacred Purpose
Brotherhood
Uniformity in Movements
Uniformity in Prayers
Leadership
Nature and Qualities of Leadership
Piety and Virtue — Majority Representation — Sympathy and Compassion — Vacating Office — Obedience to Leaders — Criticizing and Correcting Mistakes — No Obedience in Sin
16. Has the Prayer Lost its Power?
Parable of the Clock
Aim of Muslim Ummah
Wholeness of Islamic Teachings
Abusing the Clock
Why Worship Rites are Ineffective
Our Deplorable Condition
PART IV: SAWM
17. Meaning and Blessings of the Fasting
Life of Worship
Rituals Lead to a Life of Worship
How Does Fasting Develop Us?
Exclusively Private Worship — Sure Sign of Faith — Month-long Training — Practising Obedience — Communal Fasting
Where Are the Results?
18. True Spirit of the Fasting
Spirit and Form
The Outward Replaces the Real
Wrong View of Worship
Fasting as a Way to Piety
Conditions of True Fasting
Abstention From Falsehood — Faith and Selfscrutiny — Shield Against Sins — Hunger for Goodness
PART V: ZAKAH
19. Fundamental Importance of Zakah
Meaning of Zakah
Zakah, a Test
Early Practice
Categorical Imperative
The Sign of Faith
Foundation of the Ummah
Conditions for God’s Help
Warning to Muslims
Fate of Zakah Defaulters
20. Meaning of Zakah
Becoming God’s Friends
Wisdom and Understanding — Moral Strength — Obedience and Dutifulness — Sacrificing Wealth
Requirements for Admittance to God’s Friendship
Large-heartedness — Magnanimity — Selflessness — Purity of Heart — Giving in Adversity — Giving in Affluence — Giving for Allah Alone — Stressing Benevolence — Amassing Wealth — Making Excuses — Spending Reluctantly and Resentfully — Considering Spending a Fine — Niggardliness
The Real Test
21. Zakah, a Social Institution
Allah’s Unique Beneficence
Man’s Selfishness