A MOMENT OF GRATITUDE

Dear readers,
You are reading the 100th issue of Spirit of Islam. Publication of this issue is a solemn occasion for us to offer our profound gratitude and thanks to Almighty God. This spiritual journey began in 2013. We have come a long way since then. With the grace of God, the editorial board under the guidance of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan continues to bring articles on the most pressing current challenges. It is our constant endeavour to address the current challenges from religious and spiritual perspectives. Without these perspectives, the very existence of humankind finds itself bereft of meaning as the editorial of this issue aptly illustrates. Confined in their homes during the lockdown, living under the constant threat of contracting Covid-19, people craved for meaning in this chaos and uncertainty. During this period, Spirit of Islam (SOI) published special issues from May to November 2020 covering topics such as Truth, Science, God, Religion, Creation Plan of God, Death and Hereafter.

SOI responded to this challenge first by going digital. To produce content of high quality and to make it more interactive, the second change we have embraced is to make SOI bimonthly. Now, this bimonthly comes with insightful new features. We are making Children’s Corner, Book Reviews, Opinions and Letters, and Newsletter permanent features of the magazine. Thus, we now publish Spirit of Islam as a BIMONTHLY and DIGITAL-ONLY edition.

The magazine aims to cultivate a constructive and positive mind. We strive to introduce pristine teachings of Islam directly from the Quran and the Prophetic model enshrined in the books of Hadith. You will find in these pages answers from the Quran and the Prophetic model to the modern-day challenges.

The Quran makes it a solemn obligation of the believers to understand the message of the Quran and spread this message to every nook and corner of the earth. Believers not only failed to convey the message of Islam but they also misinterpreted and then misrepresented the divine teachings of Islam. The Islam of the Quran makes a person afraid of his fate in the Hereafter. He should live his life with the feeling that after death, he has to give an account of his deeds to God. SOI carries the message of Islam as it is.

We also wish to acknowledge our gratitude to the readers who throughout the years have continued to offer us words of encouragement and criticism. This magazine is for a serious and discerning reader. It has nothing to offer in the way of entertainment. In fact, it carries forebodings of a dire future if our lives are not God-oriented. That the magazine finds readership in all continents of the globe is a testimony that man is by nature a seeker of Truth and Meaning in life. God willing, we will continue to produce articles that provide answers to most fundamental urge of human beings.

In view of the present challenging situation, we conclude with the following prayer from the Quran:
‘Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake! Our Lord, do not place on us a burden like the one You placed on those before us! Our Lord, do not place on us a burden we have not the strength to bear! Pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy on us. You are our Lord and Sustainer. (2: 286)

Mohammad Usman
Editorial Committee