[17:23] or the Prophetic hadith “Paradise is beneath the...

[17:23] or the Prophetic hadith “Paradise is beneath the feet of the mothers” Wasa>’el al-Shi‘ah, vol. 15, p180, and the Prophetic hadith “he who has three daughters and raises them a fine upbringing, paradise would be obligatory for him.” al-Ka>fi, vol. 6, p6. Editor. 226 For example one of the libraries that was established in Cairo by the Fatimid dynasty, who reigned North Africa 909-1171 CE, contained more than one millions books.

newspapers and magazines, radio and television, cinemas and theatres, satellite channels or the internet? A. Islam encourages everything that helps disseminate understanding and bring about awakening amongst the people, and globalise, publicise, and make widespread humanist culture amongst the nation.227 Of course it prohibits any kind of corruption, decadence, and evil temptation in these mediums, if they are free of those; Islam is amongst the strongest supporters of these media. Q.

What is the major difference between Islam’s educational program and the Western educational program today? A.

The general difference is: Islam combines knowledge with faith, education with morality and virtue, whereas Western education today lacks faith, morality and virtue, and as a consequence knowledge, which is the best means for progress and advancement, and education is the strongest tool for achieving understanding and coexistence, peace and security within the nation – or rather throughout the entire world, has become the means of degradation and ignorance, and the tool of disseminating fear, terror, anarchy, distress, war and destruction in the community – but rather in the entire world.

Peace in Islam Q. Is Islam a religion of war or a religion of peace? A. Islam is the religion of peace, as the Almighty says, .O ye who believe enter into peace all together.228.

However, if any one would commit an act of aggression against the people, or wages war against the Muslims, then Islam would not standby like 227 The values of humanist culture of respecting and dealing with other human beings, are those such as “the people are one of two; they are either your brethren in religion, or your equal in creation”, as taught by Imam Ali, peace be upon him, the prophet’s first appointed successor. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 75, p 251.

228 The Qur’an, The Heifer (2): 208 someone whose hands tied behind him, but rather it would rise in defence to protect justice and the truth, and to repel the aggression and alleviate oppression. Q.