Ayah of Sabr in Surah al-Baqarah
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ١٥٥ We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and fruits. Give good news to those who patiently endure [Surah al- Baqarah, The Heifer (2):155] This Ayah mentions the greatest categories of loss […]
Intellectual Humility and Spiritual Openness
The two biggest flaws I find in people is a lack of intellectual humility and a lack of spiritual openness. We tend to believe that guidance comes as a result of the efforts of our own minds and simultaneously limit the scope of what we can possibly be the truth. Usually that limitation of scope […]
A Critique of Salafi Fiqh
Jurisprudential Salafism (al-fiqh al-muqarrin) was a product of a revolution or reform that occurred in the Islamic sciences at the turn of the 20th century. With the technological shifts brought about by the usage of oil, geopolitical shifts towards an American international hegemony, and the collapse of the Ottoman empire – Islamic sciences fell into […]
Do Not Underestimate Allah!
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم We must never underestimate Allah. He (Mighty and Majestic is He) says: يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌۭ فَٱسْتَمِعُوا۟ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَن يَخْلُقُوا۟ ذُبَابًۭا وَلَوِ ٱجْتَمَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ ۖ وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ ٱلذُّبَابُ شَيْـًۭٔا لَّا يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ ۚ ضَعُفَ ٱلطَّالِبُ وَٱلْمَطْلُوبُ ما قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدرِهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ […]
A Brief Introduction to Islam
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Islam is a comprehensive way of life (in Arabic, Din). Islam means “submission,” referring to surrender and submission to the One True God. This Din is based on five things: foundational principles, practices, spirituality, a Revealed Book, and the example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (may Allah bless him and grant him […]
Why Do Muslims Worship Allah?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم While almost every other religious tradition is in decline, Muslim religiosity is actually on the rise. Globally Muslims are growing closer to Allah and worshipping Him more. Why is this the case? Why would such a significant percentage of humanity wish to worship Allah? Gratitude The Arabic word for praise and thankfulness […]
Who Is Allah?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Knowing Allah The paramount importance for Muslims to know Allah is evidenced within our daily ritual practices and prayers. In fact Muslims begin their ritual prayer (salah) by declaring: “Allahu akbar,” which means “Allah is the greatest” or “Allah is greater.” Before commencing recitation of the Qur’an, Muslims say “Bismillah,” which […]
The Muslim Marriage Crisis: Diagnosis and Prognosis
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم What Is Marriage? In the Din, marriage can be defined in a few ways. Legalistically, it is a contract between a man and a woman, endorsed by her guardian unless she is a divorcee, and witnessed by two people. The contract represents the exchange of a certain amount of wealth (mahr) […]
How the US “Neutralizes” Muslim Leaders: The Case of Ahmed Omar Abu Ali
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Muslims in the United States often lament the quality of their leadership. Muslims across the globe are often shocked at the narrative that imams and “scholars” in the United States promote. However, chance does not explain such a consistent stream of high-profile leaders working with an agenda tailored to deconstruct the […]
The Paradise of the Disbelievers: On Guantanamo
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، – يَعْنِي الدَّرَاوَرْدِيَّ – عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ الدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَجَنَّةُ الْكَافِرِ ” . The world is a prison for a believer […]