This hardback version comes complete with dust jacket.
This easy-to-read yet comprehensive book invites readers to explore Islam as a cohesive and holistic way of life, highlighting the intricate beauty of one of the world's major religions. Central to Islamic teachings is the concept of divine love, which permeates daily life through service to humanity, contemplation, introspection, and meaningful rituals that nurture spiritual, moral, and social development.
While many works focus on individual aspects of Islam-such as history, theology, mysticism, or worship-this book responds to the contemporary need for an integrated understanding of Islam as a practical framework for everyday living. It elucidates divine love within the Islamic tradition, addressing both its spiritual dimensions and its practical applications, a defining strength of Islamic teachings.
Grounded in precise citations from the Quran and Hadith, the book functions as both a scholarly textbook and a practical guide. It clearly explains core rituals, distinguishing between obligatory and supererogatory elements of prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage, while illuminating their deeper spiritual significance.
Organized into three sections and seventeen chapters, the book explores Quranic foundations, modes of worship, and key philosophical questions, presenting profound insights in a clear and accessible manner.
Dr. Yousuf Habibur Rahman is a distinguished economist and fiscal policy expert who served at the New York City Office of Management & Budget (OMB) from 1986 to 2013, spanning four mayoral administrations. During his long tenure, he played a central role in shaping key economic and fiscal policy reforms, overseeing major public projects, and directing the city's economic and tax revenue forecasting. For over a decade, he held the position of Chief Economist of New York City and represented the OMB at professional conferences across the United States.Alongside his government service, Dr. Rahman maintained a deep and sustained engagement with academia. He served for over 25 years as an adjunct professor of public policy at New York University's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, specializing in econometrics and public finance. Earlier in his career, he held full-time faculty positions at the State University of New York and, briefly, at the University of Dhaka.Dr. Rahman's contributions extend well beyond the realms of government and academia. A respected figure in the Downtown Manhattan Muslim community, he co-founded Masjid Manhattan near Wall Street and has long been a source of spiritual and civic leadership. In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, he played a vital role in offering guidance, support, and reassurance to the local Muslim community during a time of intense adversity and scrutiny. He is also a lifetime member of the Long Island Muslim Society of New York, where he regularly delivers lectures on the spiritual foundations of Quranic teachings.Since retiring from public service, Dr. Rahman has dedicated himself to Islamic scholarship and spiritual education. LOVE of GOD - Practical Spirituality in Islam, is the culmination of over a decade of rigorous study and research, contemplation, and devotion. He regards this endeavor as a profound blessing from the All-Loving Lord.
