Please allow me to put certain statements from US politicians to the kind notice of learned readers of Radiance.
US President Doland Trump has criticised Pope Leo XIV as being “Weak on crime”, “Weak on nuclear weapons” and “terrible for foreign policy”.
Secretary of war Pete Hegseth has also said, “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy…. We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Chist.” (The Hindu, Mumbai edition, 19 April 2026)
Trump and Netanyahu have waged war against weak nations, killed millions of innocent people and destroyed property worth crores of rupees. After doing their inhuman acts, these people wear a robe of religion to justify their acts. No religion approves killing of people for no fault of theirs.
Let me conclude by quoting a famous proverb, “Satan Quotes the Bible”. Hell with America, Hell with Israel.
Bawani Farooq Abdulgafar
Rajkot, Gujarat
bawanifarooq@gmail.com
Difference between Nabi and Rasul
I have read the letter entitled” Difference between the prophets and other men’’ by Muhammad Abdus Samad (Radiance, 18 April 2026) and wanted to pen a few lines about the prophets of Allah. In Islam the prophets are classified into two: Nabi and Rasul. The man who receives the divine messages (Wahi) from Allah and faithfully delivers them to his people is called Nabi. In addition to the Wahi, when the man receives the secret inspirations (Ilm-e-ghayib) in his heart, he is called Rasul. So every Rasul is a Nabi but not every Nabi is a Rasul. Thus, the Rasul is conferred a degree position above the Nabi.
Although the Nabi and Rasul are equally regarded as the Prophets of Allah, still a special status is accorded to the last prophet Muhammad by Allah by calling him ‘’Muhammadur- Rasulullah” in the Qur’an 48:29. In the Qur’an, Allah calls no other prophet ‘’Rasulullah” along with His sacred name save and except Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Again Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is also called “Rahmatalillil -aalamin (the mercy of the worlds) in the Qur’an 21:107.
In fact, these are two exceptional epithets conferred to only Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the Qur’an resulting in
Youhanna Qureshi
Bidya Nagar, Guwahati
Haj: An obligatory Duty for Wealthy Muslims
Islam is founded on the five pillars: Iman (belief in Allah), Salat (prayer), Siyam (fast), Haj (pilgrimage to Makkah) and Zakat (poor-due). A Muslim if he/she denies any one of them ceases to be Muslim as per the Islamic Law.
Regrettably, some Muslims regularly offer Salat, observe Siyam and pay Zakat but don’t perform Haj in Makkah though it has become obligatory (Farz) for them as they can financially and physically afford it. Even they spend huge amount on travelling some countries, including Saudi Arabia for various purposes every year, still they never think of performing Haj in Makkah at least once in life, thereby denying one of the five pillars of Islam. The Glorious Qur’an announces: “And pilgrimage to the House (Kabah) is a duty owed to Allah for mankind, for those who can afford the journey. But if anybody denies the faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures ‘’(3:97). Based on the Qur’an 3:97, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warns: “If someone has the means and the transport to take him/her to the House of Allah, but does not perform Haj, it does not matter whether he/she dies as a Jew or a Christian.’’ (Tirmidhi)
Notably Haj at least once in life is made Farz for a wealthy and healthy Muslim in Islam (Muslim). If anybody fails to perform Haj for a valid reason, one may do it on his/her behalf. (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi) One who has already performed Haj, can however do it on his/her behalf. There are innumerable blessings received by a Muslim who performs Haj and one of them is that it wipes out his/her previous sins and makes him/her like a new-born. The Prophet ﷺ says: “One who performs Haj without indulging in vain talks or committing defaults, returns home as pure as he/she is, on the day born.” (Bukhari)
Muhammad Abdus Samad
Ambari, Dhupdhara, Assam