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Monthly Archives: October 2024


29
Oct 2024
Is it permissible to use your photo as a profile picture on social media?

In today’s world, social media is unavoidable and there is an abundance of images that are posted and circulated. Permissibility and decency Firstly, from an Islamic perspective, there is generally no issue with using a personal photo on social media, provided it meets the requirements of decency and modesty. Both men and women are encouraged to dress and behave modestly in Islam, and this principle extends to the way we present ourselves online. Wearing appropriate clothing and maintaining a dignified appearance respects the values of modesty and humility, which are core to......

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25
Oct 2024
Democracy vs Dictatorship

When is a democracy a dictatorship? The Quran is filled with ayahs that tell us to be just. Allah says: ‫كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَ ٰ⁠حِدَةࣰ فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِیِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِینَ وَمُنذِرِینَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِیَحۡكُمَ بَیۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِیمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُوا۟ فِیهِۚ Mankind used to be one community, then Allah sent the prophets as bearers of glad tidings and as forewarners. And He sent down with them the Book with the truth to judge between mankind regarding whatever they differed over.  (2:213) Allah sent the divine Books to establish justice among people, nations, cities and......

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18
Oct 2024
Being faithful to your pledges - Anas bin An-Nadhr

There are many verses in the Quran that encourage us to be truthful and to stick to our principles and to cling to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and not to compromise, no matter what the circumstances we find ourselves in. Allah is saying you can be with the truthful or with the liars, but there is no in-between position. The in-betweeners are the hypocrites. This is how the Quran differentiates between people. Surat al Baqarah begins with five verses describing true believers,......

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16
Oct 2024
Defining Nasr: 12 ingredients for victory from the Quran

In Arabic, the word nasr (نصر) appears 33 times in the Quran. What does it mean? Nasr is commonly understood as “victory”. However, when you turn to the linguist, Ibn Faris (395 H), in “Mu’jam maqayees Al-Lughah” whose dictionary is a key reference in Arabic, the root word nasara (نصر) means ‘bringing or facilitating goodness. This was a surprising revelation, as it expands our understanding of nasr beyond just military or physical victory. It means that when you are granted nasr, Allah is facilitating goodness for you, guiding you towards success. It......

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11
Oct 2024
Recharging the Ummah - from weakness and despair to resilience and hope

In Surat al-Imran, Allah Almighty says: ‫وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَلَا تَحۡزَنُوا۟ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَوۡنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِینَ Don’t be weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will prevail if you are true believers. (3:129) ‫إِن یَمۡسَسۡكُمۡ قَرۡحࣱ فَقَدۡ مَسَّ ٱلۡقَوۡمَ قَرۡحࣱ مِّثۡلُهُۥۚ وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡأَیَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَیۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلِیَعۡلَمَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَیَتَّخِذَ مِنكُمۡ شُهَدَاۤءَۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا یُحِبُّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِینَ If a blow touches you, a similar blow has surely touched the (other) people. For such days We alternate between mankind, and so that Allah may know those who have attained faith and take......

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05
Oct 2024
Major principles of Islam: Obedience and its limits

Today my focus is obedience.  Obedience is ta’a in Arabic. In Islam, we have the concept of obedience to Allah Almighty, obedience to His messenger, and obedience to those who are in charge, as Allah Almighty stated in the Quran in many verses. For instance, Allah Almighty says in Surat al Imran: ‘Say “Obey Allah and the Messenger.”’  (3:32) The combination of ‘obey Allah and the Messenger’ appears at least five times. On another occasion, Allah Almighty says in Surat an-Nisa: O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger......

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04
Oct 2024
Those who are expelled from their homes unjustly

Allah Almighty mentions about those who are being driven and expelled from their homelands in three surahs – Surat Ale Imran, Surat Hajj and Surat al Hashr. In Surat Ale Imran, He says: ‫ فَٱلَّذِینَ هَاجَرُوا۟ وَأُخۡرِجُوا۟ مِن دِیَـٰرِهِمۡ وَأُوذُوا۟ فِی سَبِیلِی وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ وَقُتِلُوا۟ لَأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنۡهُمۡ سَیِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ وَلَأُدۡخِلَنَّهُمۡ جَنَّـٰتࣲ تَجۡرِی مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَـٰرُ ثَوَابࣰا مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسۡنُ ٱلثَّوَابِ So, those who emigrated, and were expelled from their homes, and were harmed in My way, and fought, and were killed, I shall certainly write off their evil deeds, and shall......

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01
Oct 2024
What is mahr? And how much is acceptable?

Gift to the Bride The mahr is a mandatory gift from the groom to the bride, which can be in the form of money, property, or any other item agreed upon by both parties. It forms an essential element of the nikkah contract, along with the wali’s consent, the couple’s consent, and the witnesses. For a wedding to be accepted by the shariah, mahr has to be agreed and is a debt on the husband. Obligation It is a right of the bride, which is part of her and must be stipulated......

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01
Oct 2024
Can Muslims inherit from non-Muslims?

Are Muslims allowed to inherit from their non-Muslim relatives? The European Fatwa Council issued a statement saying: Muslims are allowed to inherit from their non-Muslim relatives and accept bequests. There is no contradiction between this Fatwa and the Hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Muslim is not allowed to inherit from the non-Muslim and the non-Muslim is not allowed to inherit from the Muslim”. The non-Muslim that is meant is he/she that fights against Islam. We should also note that in the early times of Islam Muslims were......

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