Islam, a major world religion with more than one billion followers, has an enormous influence on the cultural, social, and political milieu of many nations. Muslims are confronted with various obstacles as well as opportunities that shape their religious practices, identities, and relationship to society at large in today’s changing world. This essay discusses Islam in different aspects of life in modern times which include how they are affected by these dynamics.

Historical Context and Modern Developments

Historical OverviewIslam was founded by Prophet Muhammad in the Arabia Peninsula around the 7th century CE; it then swiftly spread across Europe, Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. Islamic civilizations have for centuries contributed immensely to science, philosophy, medicine, and arts. The decline of Islamic empires followed by European colonization of Muslim-majority areas during the 19th and 20th centuries created significant sociopolitical and cultural changes.

Modern DevelopmentsThere was a resurgence of Islamic identity and thought following independence from several Muslim-majority countries during the post-colonial era. The last decades of the twentieth century into the early years of the twenty-first century experienced increased globalization as well as technological advances.

In all human history, this desire to know the cosmos has been universal; and nothing would change with the diverse cultural perspectives on it. One of the most amazing episodes in that ongoing story is Islamic astronomy. It developed into a rich tradition during the Golden Age of Islam (8th-14th century). In that period, many scholars in the Islamic world made contributions to science generally, thereby making further exploration possible while also changing our understanding of how sciences work.

To grasp how much impact Islamic astronomy had, we need to be aware of its historical context. The era was marked by a proliferation of scientific activities as well as cultural and intellectual pursuits in huge Islamic caliphates from Spain to central Asia. This was the time when Muslim theologians greatly advanced various fields of science based on knowledge borrowed from ancient Indian, Greek, and Persian civilizations.

One key figure in Islamic astronomy was Al-Battani (858-929 CE), who is also known by his Latin name Albategnius. He contributed great ways that improved celestial observations and challenged existing astronomical theories derived from Ptolemy.

"Assalamu Alaikum" is an Arabic phrase commonly used as a greeting among Muslims. This means "peace be upon you" in English. It is a way of wishing peace, blessings and happiness to the recipient. This phrase is often followed by "wa alaikum assalam", which means "and peace also to you", in response to greetings. 

पंचराम क्षेत्र मंदिर में स्थापित शिवलिंग एक ही शिवलिंग से बना है।

In the chaos of workplace 21st century, tension is what prevailed, endangering both the staff welfare and effectiveness. Nevertheless, amid all the turbulence, a smooth lane with the ideas of mindfulness derived from the old wisdom of Buddha arises here. This piece is dedicated to revealing an idea of how the addition of Buddhism’s mindfulness teachings in the workplace can relieve anxiety and increase effectiveness, therefore, designing a balanced atmosphere that inspires development and contentment.

From the Buddha teachings, mindfulness was created (connecting to “sati” in Pali and to “smṛti” in Sanskrit) as a way to find present-moment awareness, be attentive, and observe without judgment. It centers on focusing the attention on breathing, bodily sensations, and mental activities through which one can release tensions, gain clarity, free himself/herself, and embrace inner peace.

Breath as Anchor:

Breath awareness plays a central role in Buddhist mindfulness practice that helps to remain focused on anchor while the mind, often, receives various emotions in waves.

The workplaces can use deep conscious breathing exercises as a tool to cope with periods of stress and overloads and to bring the mind back to a level of peace and balance.

Buddhism has morphed in the present age – one of the most practiced religions worldwide. It has been in existence since time immemorial and originated from Asia. Some of the major dimensions of Buddhism nowadays include socially active Buddhism, westernized Buddhism among others. The present Buddhism is also characterized by secularism, engagement with contemporary leaders as well as teachers who are influential.

Engaged Buddhism: Socially Active BuddhismEngaged Buddhism is a contemporary movement within Buddhism that emphasizes the application of Buddhist principles and practices to social, political, and environmental issues. This approach was notably popularized by Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Not a Hanh and has inspired many practitioners globally to actively engage in social justice and humanitarian efforts.Origins and PrinciplesEngaged Buddhism emerged in the 20th century as a response to social and political turmoil, particularly in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Thich Nhat Hanh, a prominent figure in this movement, advocated for the idea of “interbeing,” which emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life. This principle underpins Engaged Buddhism, promoting compassion, non-violence, and mindful action in addressing societal challenges.