Articles by Dr. Parvez

Islam answers certain pressing ontological questions on the existence of God, life after death and divine revelation. But since all these concepts lie in the realm of ghaib, we require certain epistemological tools to substantiate them - to answer the question, ‘How do we know them to be true?’ For this, let us turn to our own country's ancient epistemological tools, the pramanas, and check how they might help us in substantiating the Islamic creed. In Indian philosophy, Pramanas refer to the ‘means of knowledge’ or the ‘criteria’ that we use in the study of how we know what we know, and what constitutes a valid source of truth. Here is a brief explanation of the six Pramanas. 1. Pratyaksha (Perception) This is direct knowledge gained through the senses. It is considered the most fundamental Pramana because all other forms of knowledge often depend on it.  * External Perception: Gained through the five senses (seeing a tree, smelling a flower).  * Internal Perception: Gained t...

Who was Jesus Christ? The Jews reject Jesus Christ as an imposter and a false prophet. The Christians hail him as the begotten son of God. Between these two extremes, Islam maintains that Jesus Christ was a prophet and messenger of God. يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ ۚ إِنَّمَا ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُۥٓ أَلْقَىٰهَآ إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌۭ مِّنْهُ [an'Nisa, ayat 171] مَّا ٱلْمَسِيحُ ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولٌۭ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُۥ صِدِّيقَةٌۭ ۖ كَانَا يَأْكُلَانِ ٱلطَّعَامَ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُبَيِّنُ لَهُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرْ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ [alMaidah, ayat 75] Even the New Testament calls him a prophet: “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee” [Matthew, 21:11,46] “Yet I must be on my way today, tomorrow and the next day; it is not right for a prophet to be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem. Jerusalem! Jerusalem...

Arrogance happens to be one of the most destructive diseases of the heart. Let us understand why it is so dangerous, how it develops, and how we can overcome it. Arrogance goes against qalb e saleem: يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌۭ وَلَا بَنُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى ٱللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍۢ سَلِيمٍۢ [Surah Shuara: 88-89] Arrogance leads to kufr, and it is a Satanic trait: وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَٱسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ [Surah alBaqarah ayat 34] Arrogance vs faith: Abdullah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever has a mustard seed's weight of pride (arrogance) in his heart, shall not be admitted into Paradise. And whoever has a mustard seed's weight of faith in his heart, shall not be admitted into the Fire." [Tirmizi] All pride belongs to God alone Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ said: Kibriyai meri chadar hai aur azmat meri izaar...

Everyday, in every namaz, we ask Allah to guide us to the straight way. And whenever we deviate from that Sirat Mustaqeem, we are expected to return to it asap. This is called Taubah. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has told us that man is prone to sin; every man deviates from the straight way all along his life.  كُلُّ بَنِي آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ وَخَيْرُ الْخَطَّائِينَ التَّوَّابُونَ [Ibn Majah] And every time man deviates and sins, a black dot is stamped on his heart. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said: “Verily, when the slave (of Allah) commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. When he refrains from it, seeks forgiveness and repents, his heart is polished clean. But if he returns, it increases until it covers his entire heart. And that is the ‘Raan’ which Allah mentioned: ‘Nay, but on their hearts is the Raan which they used to earn.’” [Abu Hurairah ؓ, Jami` at-Tirmidhi] Thus, if man repents for that sin, that black dot is washed away, and the heart is returned to its pristine state - Qalb e Sal...