The vital role of understanding Allah in our lives Our foremost obligation is to know Allah Almighty, and reflecting on His beautiful names helps us to do this. Before any other duty, gaining knowledge of Allah Almighty is incumbent upon us. The Quran emphasises this by stating, فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ “Know that…
Allah Almighty says in Surat āl-Imran in the Quran that we should be united: وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا ۚ وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ And hold fast to the…
The interconnected meanings of Al-Fattah Al-Fattah is one of Allah Almighty’s names. It has different meanings, but its primary meaning is the Opener, or the One who opens things for you. It also has other meanings which we will look at. For instance, in the only ayah that Al-Fattah has been mentioned in the Quran,…
Why we talk about Hijrah in Muharram Although we often talk about the Hijrah in Muharram, it is important to clarify that the Hijrah actually took place at the end of Safar and the beginning of Rabi’ al-Awwal. The reason we celebrate it in Muharram is because it is the beginning of the new year…
Allah’s beautiful name Ar-Razzaaq has been translated in various ways, but they are all connected to rizq, which is provision. So accordingly, you see the translation of Ar-Razzaq as the Total Provider or the Provider or the Sustainer. Also as the One who creates the sustenance for all His creation. And it is one of…
The Best Companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Best of this Ummah after the Prophet (peace be upon him) Regarded as the closest confidant and the foremost companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the life of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) deserves our attention and reverence….
The loss of a child is a deeply sorrowful and painful experience for parents and the community. Islam recognises that this is a time of immense grief and therefore, provides clear guidance on how to cope with this tragic event. Find patience and acceptance The death of a child is seen as a test and…
What is Salatul Tasbih? It is a voluntary salah which is called Salatul Tasbih because it entails reciting tasbih in various positions during the salah. It can be recited as 2 rakahs with 150 tasbih or 4 rakahs with 300 tasbih. Is the Salatul Tasbih a sunnah? This salah is a voluntary salah which is…
The tasbih, tahmeed, tahleel and takbir We are familiar with the phrases Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar, wa la illaha illallah. We recite them in our Salah and after the Salah and before we sleep. It does not matter which order you say them. There are many narrations which show how much the Prophet (peace be…
The Etiquettes of Wudu The wudu is divinely prescribed (tawqifi). It was demonstrated by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to his companions. The differences of opinion between the different schools arise due to their using different narrations. It is not the case Imam Abu Hanifa, or Malik or Shafi are creating their own styles…
Tahara (purification) Not everyone is aware that the parts of wudu are divided into the obligations (fard) and the Sunnah, which are rewarding but not essential for a wudu to be valid. Why is this important? If one finds they are short of water, they can do the minimum aspects of wudu for it to…
Every Friday we are recommended to recite Surat al Kahf which is part of the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) because through it we are granted a special light during the week until the following Friday. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ…
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَدْعُو بِهَؤُلاَءِ الْكَلِمَاتِ “ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الْعَدُوِّ وَشَمَاتَةِ الأَعْدَاءِ ” . رواه النَّسائي. ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) used to say*:…
Dua to be saved from the loss of favours Abdullah bin ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَاءِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ زَوَالِ نِعْمَتِكَ وَتَحَوُّلِ عَافِيَتِكَ وَفُجَاءَةِ نِقْمَتِكَ وَجَمِيعِ سَخَطِكَ The Messenger of Allah (peace…