Notes on Islam   By: Ahmed Hussain (1863-)

BY

SIR AHMED HUSSAIN, K.C.I.E., C.S.I.

(NAWAB AMIN JUNG BAHADUR)

Collected and Edited

by

Khan Bahadur Hajee Khaja Muhammad Hussain

" The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. " Proverb

HYDERABAD, DECCAN GOVERNMENT CENTRAL PRESS

1922

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

TO

THE MEMORY

OF

K. AMJUD HUSSAIN.

One of the four for whom these Notes were first written, in 1917.

Transcriber's note: Bold characters are shown with "" signs. Arabic names are kept as in the original text. Arabic transliterations are according to ISO 233 system in most cases and from the version by the CANADIAN SOCIETY OF MUSLIMS with their kind permission.

[Printer's mark]

FOREWORD

The following Notes were enclosed by the author in his weekly letters to his brother and sons who were students in the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh and Birmingham. I persuaded him to allow me to have them printed, as I thought they were suggestive and useful. He has however desired me to say that they should not be regarded as anything but concise memoranda jotted down (at short intervals between the busy hours of his official life) as general answers to questions put to him. They contain some passages which are too concise or abstract, if not vague or enigmatic. But, the author says, he left them designedly so in order to induce his readers to try to understand them or at least to seek explanation and illustration. Numerous foot notes have been added for the same purpose.

He frankly admits that his view of Islam is neither quite orthodox nor quite heterodox but something midway between the two. It was put forward in order to make his boys think for themselves and argue with him. The first three Notes may be 'skipped' at the first reading.

Sincere acknowledgments are due to Nawab Imad ul Mulk Bahadur Bilgrami, C.S.I., Mr. J.C. Molony, I.C.S., Khan Bahadur Abdur Rahim, B.A., B.L., Mr. Syed Ross Masood, M.A., and others who very kindly read the proofs and favoured the author with valuable suggestions.

Banganapalle, } 11th August 1922 . } K.M.H.

Duty is Deity Work is Worship. Sanskrit Proverb

CONTENTS

PAGE

FOREWORD 7

MUSLIM PRAYER 9

NOTE 1. INTRODUCTION 11

" 2. THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE QUR'AN 15

" 3. WHAT IS RELIGION? 20

" 4. WHAT IS TRUE ISLAM? 25

" 5. WHAT IS NOT ISLAM 29

" 6. "ISLAM" AND "NOT ISLAM" 35

" 7. WHY IS ISLAM THE BEST RELIGION? 43

" 8. UNITY & UNION 49

" 9. PERFECTION & SELF HELP 57

" 10. MODERATION & VIA MEDIA 63

" 11. EVOLUTION & SURVIVAL 73

" 12. "RELIGION BEGINS WITH THE FEAR OF THE LORD AND ENDS IN THE LOVE OF MAN" 79

APPENDIX:

MUSLIM REFORMATION 87

OUR PRAYER 97

Worship Truth Love Humanity. Islamic Maxim

THE MUSLIM PRAYER.[1]

Surai Fatiha

Praise be to Thee my God, Lord of the Worlds! O Merciful, Compassionate art Thou! The King of all on Day of Reckoning, Thee only do we worship and adore, To Thee, most merciful, we cry for help; O guide us ever more on the straight path, The path of those to whom Thou gracious art On whom Thine anger falls not then nor now, The path of them that from Thee go not stray.

Amen.

Grant that the knowledge I get may be the knowledge worth having. Thomas a Kempis.

NOTES ON ISLAM