The Hadith lectures of the respectable Shaykh Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani on Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī were transcribed and published in Urdu, entitled Dars Tirmidhī and Taqrīr Tirmidhī, in five volumes. Over the years, they received the approval of scholars, teachers and students alike. Turath Publishing now has the honour of presenting its readers with a translation of this monumental work. This particular publication comprises the commentary of the chapters on trade and commerce. In addition to a lucid and highly readable translation, the translator has added useful footnotes from Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani’s other works, making it truly a manual on Islamic finance. A must for Islamic scholars, students and Islamic finance industry experts alike.
In Islam, two sources are used to explain the religion and its laws: the Qur'an, a revered text, and the hadith, the sayings and activities of the Prophet Muhammad as reported by friends and followers during his lifetime. This skilled translation, which includes the Arabic of one of the key Islamic texts, long-awaited in English, presents a fascinating selection of hadith compiled by the ninth-century scholar at-Tirmidhi that humanizes the Prophet for modern audiences, presenting him through the eyes of contemporaries who comment not only on his spiritual demeanor and qualities but also on his physical appearance and mannerisms--including his hairdressing, his sitting posture, his sandals and turban, his armor, his favorite condiments, and his jests and laughter. Summary This new edition of the Sham 'il translated by Muhtar Holland, published by Fons Vitae Press is a welcome addition to the classic works of the world's spiritual traditions. The work represents a continuation of a textual tradition reaching back over a thousand years. This translation provides us at the same time with a window opening onto the roots of the spiritual tradition of Islam itself, a tradition that perceived spirituality as a process of transformation in the individual that was integrally linked to one's adherence, both inwardly and outwardly, to the example of the Prophet Muhammad. This implied that the degree to which one was participating in the Prophetic model was the degree to which one was considered to be participating in Islamic spirituality itself. The present translation also provides meaningful material for responding to the urgent need to revisit and re-evaluate what Islamic spirituality actually entails. This is as important for Muslims today as it is for other faith traditions. Access to original texts serve this purpose better than any third person account or interpretative work. Finally, this work as a portrait of a prophet in all its intimacy and detail, compiled by a venerated master of the hadith tradition, is a timeless testimony to the aspirations of all those who would seek to follow the spiritual life. A Portrait of the Prophet as Seen by His Contemporaries offers to the specialist and general reader alike access to this treasure of prophetic lore that has enlivened the hearts and imaginations of Muslims throughout the world, from the first Islamic community until today. This works also offers anyone, seeking a deeper understanding of the human spirit, a lofty example - at once timeless and personal, of the potential of our individual human nature. The present translation would be a valuable addition to any university course dealing with Islamic spirituality, history, or literature, whether at the introductory or upper level. In a course dealing with the life and legacy of Muhammad I envisage it becoming a standard text. Many thanks to Muhtar Holland and Fons Vitae for the service they have rendered us all in the translation and publication of the Sham 'il of al-Tirmidh and making this priceless text available to an entirely new audience. Kenneth Honerkamp, January 29, 2008
Birth control, or family planning through contraception, has become a common practice in society. Many new methods of permanent and temporary contraception have become widespread. Consequently, Muslims have also increasingly begun adopting the various means of limiting or spacing out procreation. This no doubt has a deep influence on the very core of our society and thus raises many ethical and religious questions, particularly surrounding abortion. Birth Control & Abortion in Islam systematically and concisely presents the relevant rules and regulations of Islamic law on these issues. The discussions are based entirely on the Holy Qur’an, Sunna, and the formal legal rulings propounded by the jurists of the four major Sunni schools of Islamic law. After learning of the significance of the topic through the author’s simple writing style, the reader is guided through the Islamic teachings on the various forms of birth control and abortion with unequivocal conclusiveness. Short and to the point, it contains all the essentials one needs to know about the subject.
Fulfilment of sexual desire and needs are key in sustaining a harmonious marital relationship. However, in today’s society, sexual boundaries are being pushed further and further, and often, sexual deviance is openly practised. In such circumstances, there is a need to identify which sexual activities are permissible in Shari’ah. Islamic Guide to Sexual Relations is a serious endeavour to tackle these sensitive matters in a clear and concise manner. While being respectful and dignified in the language he employs, the author does not shy away from discussing sensitive issues. He records, in thorough detail, the guidance Islam provides regarding sexual encounters with one’s spouse. The book covers a wide range of issues, and thus, answers many frequently asked questions on the topic of sexual relations. It concludes with a short chapter addressing Islamic etiquettes and practises pertaining to newlyweds on their first night.
The forgotten story of Central Asia's enlightenment—its rise, fall, and enduring legacy In this sweeping and richly illustrated history, S. Frederick Starr tells the fascinating but largely unknown story of Central Asia's medieval enlightenment through the eventful lives and astonishing accomplishments of its greatest minds—remarkable figures who built a bridge to the modern world. Because nearly all of these figures wrote in Arabic, they were long assumed to have been Arabs. In fact, they were from Central Asia—drawn from the Persianate and Turkic peoples of a region that today extends from Kazakhstan southward through Afghanistan, and from the easternmost province of Iran through Xinjiang, China. Lost Enlightenment recounts how, between the years 800 and 1200, Central Asia led the world in trade and economic development, the size and sophistication of its cities, the refinement of its arts, and, above all, in the advancement of knowledge in many fields. Central Asians achieved signal breakthroughs in astronomy, mathematics, geology, medicine, chemistry, music, social science, philosophy, and theology, among other subjects. They gave algebra its name, calculated the earth's diameter with unprecedented precision, wrote the books that later defined European medicine, and penned some of the world's greatest poetry. One scholar, working in Afghanistan, even predicted the existence of North and South America—five centuries before Columbus. Rarely in history has a more impressive group of polymaths appeared at one place and time. No wonder that their writings influenced European culture from the time of St. Thomas Aquinas down to the scientific revolution, and had a similarly deep impact in India and much of Asia. Lost Enlightenment chronicles this forgotten age of achievement, seeks to explain its rise, and explores the competing theories about the cause of its eventual demise. Informed by the latest scholarship yet written in a lively and accessible style, this is a book that will surprise general readers and specialists alike.
Meticulous attention and care have been taken to prepare this new edition of The Noble Qur’an: With meaning and explanatory notes by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani. The clear and beautiful typeset text of the Qur’an is based on the Madīnan muṣḥaf while retaining the useful features of the Indian subcontinent copy. The Arabic text is existing at the top of each page, accompanied by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani’s renowned English translation and notes below it. The cover design and internal typesetting is the meticulous and patient work of the renowned designer ARM of WTP. The opening spread of the Fātiḥah and Baqarah has been carefully produced by a Bahraini artist for this edition.• The Qur’anic text is concluded with a beautiful and meaningful supplication to be read upon completion and taken from the Tipu Sultan (1441–1442/845ah) muṣḥaf. An English transliteration and translation of the supplication is included. A detailed twenty-two-page index is appended at the end.
This volume, the first of six to be published, studies fundamental values of Islam, along with the nature of rights and the responsibilities in a general context. The authors analyse the development of social thought and morality in Islam, and ways in which they are enforced through the family and education. Particular attention is paid to the status of women, children, youth and the socially excluded. Several chapters broach specially Islamic approaches to economics, government and justice. A world religion since its inception in the seventh century A.D., Islam is today seeking vigorous answers to contemporary problems through its multi-faceted history. Issues of poverty and wealth, inequality and demands for political expression, and respect for diversity in a difficult world of conformity are dealt with in this series. The study is organized along thematic rather than chronological lines and thus it is not necessary to read the volumes in order. Volume II is in fact the first to have been published. Volume IV is forthcoming end 2002, volume V mid 2003 and volumes III and VI in 2004. This volume, the first of six to be published, studies fundamental values of Islam, along with the nature of rights and the responsibilities in a general context. The authors analyse the development of social thought and morality in Islam, and ways in which they are enforced through the family and education. Particular attention is paid to the status of women, children, youth and the socially excluded. Several chapters broach specially Islamic approaches to economics, government and justice.
