Leaders are created by their followers
Islamic teachings on leadership and obedience, examining accountability, influence, and the burden of guiding or misguiding others.
When faith feels overwhelming
Islam, certainty, and finding peace in faith Some Muslims today describe a feeling of anxiety around religious practice. This can show itself as constant self-doubt, repeated checking of rulings, fear that worship is invalid, or a feeling of being mentally trapped by religion. Religious practice seems heavy and exhausting. Yet this experience is not…
The inner meanings of Hajj and Umrah
Many people wonder why we perform the rituals of Hajj in the way that we do. We know that they were prescribed by the Prophet ﷺ, and that our worship is to follow what he taught us, exactly as he taught it. At the same time, scholars throughout Islamic history have reflected on the deeper…
Major Principles in Islam: Halal earnings (part 11) Not harming the contracting party
As we continue this journey through the main principles of Islam relating to halal earnings, we are still focusing on seeking the lawful, on its etiquettes, its conditions, and its finer details. Alhamdulillah, this topic sits at the heart of a believer’s life, and it touches every interaction, every transaction, and every choice that brings…
Islamic rulings on washing after being licked by a dog
If you are licked by a dog, what are the rulings regarding cleaning the saliva? The Prophet ﷺ said: طَهُورُ إِنَاءِ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا وَلَغَ فِيهِ الْكَلْبُ أَنْ يُغْسَلَ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ أُولَاهُنَّ بِالتُّرَابِ “The purification of the vessel of one of you when a dog licks it is to wash it seven times, the first of…
How to perform ghusl
What is ghusl? Ghusl is the full ritual bath required in Islam to lift major impurity and enter a state of purity. It is not simply washing for physical cleanliness but a spiritual purification, preparing the believer to stand before Allah in a state of dignity and purity. When ghusl becomes obligatory Ghusl becomes required…
How to overcome negative people in your life
De-constructing the types of people who spread negativity from the Qur’an In every community there are people who hold you back. You want to move forward, but they pull you backwards. All of us have experienced such people at different points in our lives. Some are within our own families, some in our mosques, some…
If you travel between homes, do you count as a traveller?
The fiqh of dual residents Imagine you live part of the year in London and part of the year in Karachi, or you split your life between your parents’ house in one city and your own flat in another. When you go from one to the other, are you a traveller (musafir) in the shariʿah…
Four lessons from the opening of Surat al Ahzab
In Surat al-Ahzab, Allah says: يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْكَافِرِينَ وَٱلْمُنَافِقِينَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا O Prophet, be mindful of Allah and do not obey the deniers and the hypocrites. Indeed, Allah has always been All-Knowing, All-Wise (Surat al-Ahzab, 33:1) Surat al-Ahzab was revealed at the end of the fifth year…
Major Principles in Islam: Seeking the Halal (part 10) – Unjust financial dealings
The original title of this series is Al-Kasb, meaning halal earning. In this journey we have been following the footsteps of Imam Muhammad bin al-Hassan al-Shaybani, the student of Abu Hanifa and the one who recorded and preserved the Hanafi school. The Hanafi tradition is deeply indebted to him. He is the one who wrote…
Adventures in taxis – Uhud re-visited
Following my exciting adventure up Jabal Nour, I decide to embark on my next escapade… Mount Uhud. Free to go where I want, when I want, how I want… the prospect is exciting. Following another negotiation with a taxi driver in which I know he is overcharging me, I swiftly agree to 50 Riyals –…
Worth the wait
Something inside me said ‘Leave right now!’ I felt I didn’t have a moment to lose. I quickly slipped on my trainers and threw on my abaya, wondering whether it would be getting in my way when I was climbing… As I prepared to leave, Mum wondered why I was in such a rush, we…
How excellence transforms your relationship with Allah and everyone around you
In Surat As-Sajdah, Allah is talking about ihsan (perfection and excellence). If you search for the word ihsan in the Quran, you find many verses on this topic. Allah Almighty is teaching us through His attributes and actions how to deliver excellence and perfection. ٱلَّذِیۤ أَحۡسَنَ كُلَّ شَیۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۥۖ وَبَدَأَ خَلۡقَ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مِن طِینࣲ ﴿…
Issues in modern Islamic Finance
Contemporary practice of mudaraba In modern settings, the most common example of mudaraba (profit sharing) is when you deposit money into an Islamic bank. The bank acts as the mudarib, investing the money in Sharia-compliant ventures, while you, the depositor, are the rabb al-mal. You remain a silent partner, and the bank conducts the business….
A simple guide to musalsal hadith and the musalsal narrations of love (al musalsal bil mahabbah)
Understanding musalsal hadith Musalsal hadith are a fascinating part of hadith studies because they show not only what was narrated but how the narration was passed from teacher to student across generations. Instead of focusing only on the words of the hadith, this category highlights repeated patterns in the chain of transmission, such as a…