Orphan The Prophet ﷺ was born as an orphan, having lost his father before his birth. It is a consolation to orphans that despite the fact he had no father he went on to achieve greatness and achieve a lot. It shows that having no father should not hold you back. The definition of orphan…
As another year draws to a close, momentarily our attention is drawn to the passing of time. Certain milestones flicker in our minds. Shaky legs learnt to walk, wobbly teeth fell out, exams were passed (though not always), knots were tied, steady legs began to wobble and loved ones left us. 365 days expired – never…
Why people turn to astrologers Across cultures and societies, people most often consult astrologers at moments of anxiety and uncertainty. The most common trigger is marriage. Individuals worry about whether marriage is written for them, when it will happen, whether a particular person is a suitable match, or whether obstacles they face are signs of…
Islamic teachings on leadership and obedience, examining accountability, influence, and the burden of guiding or misguiding others.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Umrah is a highly rewarded act of worship performed by entering the state of ihram, completing tawaf around the Kaʿbah, praying two rakʿahs, performing saʿi between Safa and Marwah, and finally trimming or shaving the hair. This guide is written to be practical, simple to follow, and based on mainstream Sunni fiqh. The pillars and…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 –…