Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) is reported to have said: “He did what one of you would do in his house. He mended sandals and patched garments and sewed.” (Adab Al-Mufrad) In another narration, Aisha, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), was asked: “What did the Prophet (peace be…
Allah Almighty said in the Quran: And to Allah belongs the east and the west. So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of Allah. Indeed, Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. (2:115) Islam is not the property of one country or place. It is all over the world and each country its own culture….
Ibn ’Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said: He who imitates any people is considered to be one of them. (Abu Dawud and Ibn Hibban) Though this hadith is just one line, it has generated a huge amount of discussion among scholars. How not…
Extreme fear There are many lessons we can learn from different stories in the Quran about handling fear and anxiety. All of us experience moments and periods of overwhelming fear, when we do not have control over our emotions. How do we exit this predicament? What is the solution? At this time, many of us…
Ear piercing for women Women have pierced their ears across cultures and throughout history, and this is generally permissible in Islam. When it comes to multiple ear piercings, this enters the area of personal appearance within marriage. Islam encourages spouses to be considerate of one another’s feelings and preferences. For this reason, changes that significantly…
Surah Hadid: Reflecting the beautiful meanings of a beautiful Surah In the beautiful surah, Surat Hadid, Allah Almighty says: He is the First and the Last, and the Manifest and the Hidden, and He is All-Knowing about every thing. (57:3) It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then settled…
A Capitol Disaster Todays reflection is about reckless leaders. It is very topical due to the violence that took place when the Capitol in the US was stormed on Wednesday by right-wing insurgents. In the Quran, Allah Almighty revealed to us how He informed Ibrahim (peace be on him) that He had chosen him and…
The New Year begins Today is a new day: it’s like a blank page, a new chapter. We decide what to write on it. We have a new day; we have a new year. So we should decide what to write on this new page in our lives. And without doubt, it’s recorded. We create…
Lessons from a remarkable person and a remarkable life As Muslims we find meaning in the Quran. When we reflect on the meaning of life, our lives and our purpose, we look to the Quran for answers. The Quran gives us answers but also presents to us figures from the past so that we can…
I would like to make a comparison between what Allah Almighty sent Eesa and what Allah sent Muhammad (peace be on them). Servants of Allah When Allah Almighty talked about the miraculous birth of Eesa (peace be on him), He said: قَالَ إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ آتَانِيَ الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا He (Eesa) said, “I am the…
The best and the worst leaders In a beautiful hadith, narrated by ‘Auf b. Malik, who embraced Islam after the Treaty of Hudabiya, the Prophet (peace be on him) taught us who are the best leaders and the worst leaders. He said that the best leaders are the ones you love and who love you….
Are mortgages halal? In Islam usury is clearly forbidden. It is a major sin and is one of the seven gravest ones. Those who commit it are considered as waging war against Allah Almighty and His Prophet (peace be on him). Fiqh Councils throughout the Muslim World state that bank interest is usury. Those who…
What is the definition of zina? Zina is illicit sexual intercourse – having sex with someone you are not married to. We have been warned about zina in many narrations in the hadith and in the Quran Allah Almighty did not just say ‘Don’t commit zina’ but ‘Don’t come near zina’ (la taqrabu zina). This…
Equality for women’s pay Where does Islam stand on women’s place in society? Is she allowed to have equal pay and be in positions of leadership? I wonder why people separate women from society as if they are a different species. When Allah Almighty said, Ya Ayuhal Ladhina Amanu, (O you who believe) He did…
The beautification and adornment of women goes back to time immemorial. If a woman wants to beautify herself what are the limits? Beautification can be sinful and can be rewarding. The basic principle in Islam is that beautification in public is not permissible. In Islam, women can beautify themselves within their homes (i.e in front…