NOTES ON ISLAM Note 1. Introduction.
NOTES ON ISLAM
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.
Printers 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, | paranthesis | K.M.H. |
| 11th August 1922. |
Duty is Deity Work is Worship.—Sanskrit Proverb
CONTENTS
| | | Page |
| Foreword | 5 |
| 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.
