Hajj – the spiritual journey of a life-time
Hajj is not only a physical journey to Makkah, but a journey of the heart. It is a reminder of sacrifice, submission, equality, forgiveness and the believer’s return to Allah Almighty.
A History of the Pillar of Hajj
Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, and it has a very special status. The main difference between Hajj and the other four pillars is that Hajj is only obligatory once in a lifetime. That is it. The other pillars are continuous or repeated. The shahadah is something we carry throughout our lives. We…
Can non-Muslims eat Halal meat?
Can non-Muslims eat halal meat? Yes. Halal meat can be eaten by anyone, including non-Muslims. It is simply meat prepared according to Islamic dietary laws, slaughtered in a similar fashion to kosher meat in Judaism. Eating halal food does not make someone Muslim or involve them in Islamic worship. In Islam, life is sacred. Muslims…
Can you give zakat to someone who is in debt and owes interest?
It is permissible to give zakat to someone who is in debt with interest – they are considered among the debtors entitled to receive zakat, provided that they are sincere in their intention to repay and have repented from dealing in riba.
Gathering our scattered affairs back together
A mercy from Allah that gathers the heart The Prophet ﷺ is our greatest example in how to worship Allah, how to draw close to Him, and how to ask from Him. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) once stayed overnight in the house of his aunt Maymunah (may Allah…
How to successfully survive times of trial
Who is the lucky one? عَنِ الْمِقْدَادِ بْنِ الْأَسْوَدِ قَالَ : ايْمُ اللَّهِ، لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ : ” إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ، إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ، إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ، وَلَمَنِ ابْتُلِيَ فَصَبَرَ فَوَاهًا “. أبو داود. Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him)…
What to do when someone dies
When someone is close to death, it is a difficult time for their loved ones – in addition to feeling the pain of losing someone dear to them, they may be uncertain about what to do practically. It is natural that one wishes to do everything they can to ease their passing, and ensure that…
Is my salah valid if I was facing the wrong direction?
Facing the qiblah is an essential condition of a valid salah. It is a requirement mentioned clearly in the Quran. Allah says: فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ “So turn your face towards al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you are, turn your faces towards it.” (Surat al-Baqarah 2:144) This command…
Leadership is a test, not just a privilege
In Surat al-Baqarah, Allah says: وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ “And when his Lord tested Ibrahim with certain words, and he fulfilled them. He said, ‘I am making you a leader for humanity.’ He said, ‘And from my…
Can you pray Salatul Janaza for a missing person?
When a person has been missing for a long time, it is natural for people to begin wondering whether they have passed away. Yet, in Islamic law, Salatul Janazah can only be performed if there is certainty. Therefore, as long as the death of the missing person has not been established, Janazah prayer cannot be…
Why nations fall
Allah says in Surat al Isra: وَإِذَاۤ أَرَدۡنَاۤ أَن نُّهۡلِكَ قَرۡیَةً أَمَرۡنَا مُتۡرَفِیهَا فَفَسَقُوا۟ فِیهَا فَحَقَّ عَلَیۡهَا ٱلۡقَوۡلُ فَدَمَّرۡنَـٰهَا تَدۡمِیرࣰا “When We decide to destroy a town, We command those corrupted by wealth [to do good], but they persist in their disobedience; Our sentence is passed, and We destroy them utterly.” (Surat al Isra, 17:16)…
When silence becomes complicity – levels of dhulm
The limits set by Allah Allah Almighty has not left us without guidance. He did not leave us to decide for ourselves what is right and wrong according to changing moods, pressure, or convenience. He laid down obligations, set boundaries, prohibited what is harmful, and out of His mercy remained silent on certain matters. The…
All About Eve (Part III): Balance and Communication
Emotional balance in marriage Balance is also needed in the emotional life of marriage. If there is one thing we see repeatedly, it is that extremes do not help. Extremes, whether difficulty regulating emotions or emotional distance, can both be challenging. Some people are overwhelmed by emotion and cannot regulate themselves well. Others become so…
Deep lessons from 5 verses on fasting
Keeping momentum after Ramadan Ramadan, as you know, is a very special month in our Islamic calendar. It comes once every year, but at different times and in different weather, as it moves through the seasons. Each time it returns, it gives us a new experience and a new taste of how to live Ramadan…
All About Eve (Part II): Islam Honours Women
When we speak about the treatment of women, sometimes people feel uncomfortable raising these issues, not because there is anything embarrassing in the Qur’an or the Sunnah, but because what we see in some homes and communities is not always the Islam of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. It is often culture. Of course, there…