Framing admonition in general terms
Al-Risala (English), December 1990, p. 4
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
Framing admonition in general terms
1990 12 December 4 Framing admonition in general terms (58) According to ‘Aisha, when the Prophet used to hear something displeasing about a person, then he would not take that person’s name when administering admonishment. Rather he would say: “What’s up with people who do or say such things.” Thus he would discourage people in a general way from following suit, without directing criticism at anyone in particular.
Why She Chose Islam
1990 12 December 4 Why She Chose Islam (305) Three years ago, Miss Sandra Sterling, (now renamed Alia Sterling) an American living in Washington, decided to enter the fold of Islam. Giving an account of her conversion, she told me that it had all started with her finding some old books in a cupboard in her home. These books had been bought by her mother when she was living in Cairo with her grandmother who was, at that time, an official of the American Embassy there. The significant part is that these books included a copy of an English version of the Qur’an. Miss Sterling began reading it, and, as she read on, she found her interest in Islam beginning to grow. She therefore bought more books in Washington on the history of Islam and the Prophet’s biography. After studying these books, she could confidently say that “Islam answered all the questions I had in mind. Islam is based on monotheism, and that is what distinguishes it from all other religions. For instance, Judaism too speaks of one God, but its followers claim that all the blessings of God are reserved by God for one nation, that is, the Jew. I fail to understand how God, who is the Creator of all things, could possibly reserve all His blessings for one particular group.”
Then there was Christianity, whose followers claimed that Jesus Christ was the son of God. Again, she failed to understand how a human being could possess the attribute of divinity. After pondering over this for a long time, she finally announced her acceptance of Islam. (Islamic Voice, Bangalore, November, 1987.)
A model of the desired religion exists from birth in man’s nature. That is why, when he becomes acquainted with the true religion, he immediately accepts it, because it corresponds exactly to the model which already exists in his subconscious mind.
