Issue 40 (October - December 2002)

The adage nowadays is that we all need love. So many people are talking about this. Islam teaches us that God's act of creating humanity was an act of mercy and compassion. Compassion represents the love between parents and children as well as that between children and parents. However, universal l…

Brainpower can be defined as intellectual ability combined with intelligence, creativity, and learning ability. The brain is made of living tissues that can restructure itself, and is composed of billions of neurons with the same capability. Hence, it is infinitely more complex than a computer. The…

In 1944 Edgar Cayce, who healed thousands of people while in a trance state, said "Music is the medicine of the future."(1) Currently, some religious scholars in the Islamic world denounce music. This paper analyzes the Islamic perspective on music and singing, and concludes that using music as a…

The term development is frequently used in third world countries as a normative concept to imply improvement. But who defines improvement? A spontaneous reply might be that œthe norms for improvement are the same as those provided by the developed countries, as they are comparatively better off in…

Metaphors are generally considered to be poetic linguistic expressions. However, we often use symbolic language and analogies in our daily lives when trying to explain what we see and hear, how we feel and think. Some common examples are time is money, love is a journey, and I feel like a cloud in…

Although many Qur'anic verses encourage us to search for God's art in nature, probably few of us have ever taken the time to do so. For example, how many of us have ever analyzed the number or arrangement of a flower's petals? If we were to do so, we would discover that the number of petals is usua…

No Qur'anic verse better sums up the world's current condition than this one. Today's world, ruled by unchecked global capitalism, is in grave trouble. Never before has the world seen such a gulf between the haves and the have nots. The gap between rich and poor continues to grow at an alarming rat…

The month of Ramadan in which the Qur'an was revealed, a guidance for humanity, clear signs of guidance and the criterion. (2:158) First point: Fasting Ramadan is one of Islam's foremost pillars and greatest symbols. Many of its purposes relate to God's Lordship and giving thanks for His bount…

The 1981 movie The Graduate ends with a remarkable scene in which Dustin Hoffman (the young college graduate Benjamin) is advised to continue his carrier with plastics. A quarter century later, Benjamin would not have regretted following this advice, especially after the exciting developments in pl…

Nature is a wonderfully designed masterpiece of art. As humanity is in continuous contact with nature, our relationship with it has always been significant. What does nature mean to us? Although we have a strong relationship with nature, the quality of this relationship is a matter of discussion. S…

Ethics and accountability have become important themes for modern government, as most countries are experiencing a severe crisis of legitimacy. Increasingly, there is a feeling that performance management alone will not solve this crisis. Also, citizens expect ethical and responsible conduct from p…

Humanity's efforts to control nature dates back as far as recorded history. However, our mastery over nature has given rise to serious concerns. Some see it as opposing God's word, while others see it as disturbing Mother Nature's delicate balance. One thing for certain, though, is that since every…

The Ottoman Empire recognized three groups of non-Muslim minorities: ahl al-kitab (People of the Book), ahl al-dhimma (protected minorities), and non-Muslims. They are not forced to follow Islamic law, have considerable freedom of choice, and have their own religious organizations.(1) This system h…

Culture and Controversy in the Homeschooling Movement Although, there is a lack of theoretical and philosophical background to understand the homeschooling movement I would like to use some philosophy of teaching theories to understand and analyze counter-culture and controversies in Mitchell L…

Q: Why does God tell Muslims to fast? A: The sparrow hawk's swooping contributes to the sparrow's alertness and evolving skills of escape. Although rain, electricity, or fire sometimes harms people, no one curses them. Fasting may be difficult, but it provides the body with energy, activity, and r…