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Battle of Hunayn and the Pride in Numbers
Fought in 630 CE between Muslims and the non-Muslim Bedouin tribe of Hawazin in the outskirts of Mecca, the Battle of Hunayn is an important battle that has somehow not found a place in everyday Muslim discourse if compared to the battles of Badr, Uhud, or Trench. Battle of Hunayn, among other battles, is one good example that tells us numbers don’t matter. In the earlier battles such as those of Badr, Uhud, or Trench the Muslims were vastly outnumbered, however in this one which took place after the Treaty of Hudaybiah and the Fall of Mecca, the number of Muslims was huge. It was the largest ever Muslim army…
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Guru Nanak on Muslims
“musalmaan kahaavan muskal jaa ho-ay taa musalmaan kahaavai.aval a-ul deen kar mithaa maskal maanaa maal musaavai.ho-ay muslim deen muhaanai maran jeevan kaa bharam chukhaavai.rab kee rajaa-ay mannay sir upar kartaa mannay aap gavaavai.ta-o naanak sarab jee-aa mihramat ho-ay ta musalmaan kahaavai.” Guru Granth Sahib Ji Ang 141 One of the finest definitions of who is worthy of being called a Muslim was given by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The quotation above which finds a place in Guru Granth Sahib Ji Ang 141 may be translated as follows: “It is difficult to be called a Muslim; if one is truly a Muslim, then he may be called one.First, let him savor…
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Prophet Muhammad (saw) in the Qur’an
“Proclaim! In the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, who created – created man, out of a leech-like clot. Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful, – He who taught (the use of) Pen, – Taught man that which he knew not.” – Qur’an, Iqraa (Alaq) 1-5 With these words started what would become a source of guidance for millions of people around the world. The declaration or proclamation of which was to be done ”in the name of God” – the Creator. It wasn’t for any personal benefits to the Prophet (saw) who would soon suffer persecution, sorrow, and suffering. No, he was not seized with madness (7:184) nor…
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The Power of Forgiveness
“…..when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.”…….” This is part of the verse number 30 from Chapter 2 of the Quran, when man has been informed that he has been created as a “khalifa” of God. The word “khalifa” may mean a representative or someone who follows or some one who holds affairs in absence of other. Nevertheless, whatever be the exact word meaning here, it is clear that the appointment of man is to such a post where he is either a representative of God or someone who is holding the affairs of God in his (apparent) absence or someone who God has…
Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment