A MESSAGE FOR THE NEW YEAR

and qital, the status of women according to Islam, the place of peace and spirituality in Islam, the need for ijtihad, (re-application of Islamic teachings in changed times) etc. The magazine has enabled me to apply Islamic principles to my daily life. Prior to reading Spirit of Islam, the religion of Islam to me was a set of commandments and rituals that I had to follow, but they had no relation to my real life. As such, I did not understand what importance these had to the building of my personality. However much I tried, the pillars of Islam were not living parts for me. But after reading articles from the magazine I was able to discover a living Islam that had a direct bearing on my life. I would like to give one example. There is a verse of the Quran which states, “(Paradise) is for those who undertake tazkiyah” (20: 76). Previously this verse did not have any meaning for me. But when I understood the principle of conversion given in one of the articles of the magazine I realized that tazkiyah is another name for purification of the soul, a method to reform one’s character and personality. In spite of having negative experiences from people I have the ability to convert the negative into positive in my mind, and respond to others in a positive manner. I try not to get angry or react in a negative manner. However, it is a day-to-day struggle. As a result of my reading the various articles in the magazine I have discovered Islamic spirituality. It is nothing mysterious in nature. Islamic spirituality is based on a two point formula: Simple Living and High Thinking. Dear readers, I wish that this New Year helps all of us start a new journey in life which is filled with wisdom and knowledge. Let us pray that this year brings us peace and well-being and empowers us with the ability to manage the day-to-day challenges of life. o Thank you, Dr. Naghma Siddiqi Editorial Committee