The Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ evokes mixed feelings – joy and pain. But before we go into that, we need to ask: why did the Prophet ﷺ migrate? It may appear to be a simple question, but there are many lessons we can learn from this momentous historic event. One answer might be that…
Secret righteous deeds: what only Allah knows Allah Almighty says about Prophet Yunus: فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ “If he had not been one of those who glorified Allah,” لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ “he would have remained in its belly until the Day they are resurrected.” (Surat As-Saffat, 37:143-144) These verses contain a…
The Hijrah did not begin on the road to Madinah. In one sense, it was on the cards from the very first days of revelation. When the Prophet ﷺ received the first revelation in the cave of Hira, he was shaken by what had happened. Jibril had come to him in the form of a…
Most people know they should have a will, yet many delay writing one. We assume there will be time later. We assume our family will know what to do. We assume everything will work itself out. However, the Quran and Sunnah have instructed us not to leave important matters to chance. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ…
What is the best dua for opening and closing a meeting? We should always begin and end our gatherings with the remembrance of Allah. This brings blessings to the meeting and reminds us of our higher purpose. When we end the meeting it should also be with Allah’s name, praise, and repentance for anything that…
The Quranic principle of spending Allah says in the Quran: ويسألونك ماذا ينفقون قل العفو “They ask you what they should spend. Say: what is beyond your needs.” (Surah Baqarah, 2:219) This ayah gives us a clear principle about spending, charity and responsibility. The Companions asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) what they should…
The pledge of al-‘Aqabah in the days of Tashriq We are still in the blessed days of Eid al-Adha. These days are known as the Days of Tashriq. When we think about Eid al-Adha, we naturally think about the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), the rites of Hajj, and the remembrance of…
The final khutbah delivered by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during the Farewell Pilgrimage gathered together the essence of his message to the Ummah. Hajj was the last of the five pillars of Islam that Allah made obligatory: it was only mandated in the year 9 AH, compared to fasting and zakat in…
Complete submission to Allah Allah Almighty says: فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَىٰ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ “When he was old enough to work with him, he said, ‘My dear son, I have seen in…
Arafah is the heart of Hajj: a day of forgiveness, mercy, unity and preparation for the Hereafter.
How did Imam al-Bukhari gather and verify thousands of hadith without modern technology? This article explores the rigorous science behind Sahih al-Bukhari, including oral preservation, narrator verification, written documentation, and the methodology that made his collection the most respected hadith compilation in Sunni Islam.
The reality is that we are all human. We all have shortcomings. And so do others. Allah tests us through one another. How we deal with each other, live with one another, tolerate one another, forgive, respond and grow together. But if we flip that, others are being tested by us. Just as much as they are testing us, we are testing their patience. We are the ones provoking them, annoying them and perhaps boring them.
Dhul Hijjah is one of the sacred months and contains the best days for righteous deeds. This article explores the meaning of the sacred months, the obligation of Hajj, the importance of settling our accounts with others, and how to draw closer to Allah through fasting, dhikr, forgiveness and justice.
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.
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…