Confusion about destiny People have been confused by this topic from the time of the companions of the Prophet (peace be on him) till today. What is destiny? How much control do we have? Can it be changed? What is the role of dua? Believe in destiny Al Walid bin ubadah bin al Samit came…
What is Istikharah? The istikharah du’a is a supplication asking Allah for guidance on what is the best decision. It is a beautiful du’a which the Prophet (peace be on him) taught us to seek goodness from Allah when you have a specific decision to make. In the past, people used chance and superstitions to…
Sacred knowledge brings us closer to Allah. The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said, ‘Allah makes the way to Jannah easy for him who treads the path in search of knowledge.’ (Muslim) ‘Verily, the angels lower their wings for the seeker of knowledge out…
Can you change your character? People often wonder if it is possible to change your character. Allah Almighty talked about the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) in many verses in the Quran, but one of the unique verses, were when he said: Indeed you have the best character. (68:4) We all long to follow…
The Prophet (peace be on him) used to fast the 6 days of Shawwal. They do not have to be fasted consecutively but at any time during the month. When can you fast after Eid? You can fast from 2nd Shawwal, but it is better to delay the fasting the six days of Shawwal until…
A good starting point for the concept of intercession is an occasion when the Prophet (peace be on him) disappeared, and his companions were extremely worried what had become of him, and whether they had been replaced by some other set of companions. Ubada bin As-Samit narrated that One day the Companions did not find the…
The determination of the scholars and how they tread the path of knowledge was accompanied by continual sacrifice on their part. Sacrifice of their sleep, the luxuries and the pleasures of life. They were not choosing between halal or haram when they gave them up, but were made knowledge their priority over enjoyment, relaxation and…
Your sins are screened Among the favours of Allah is being saved the humiliation and embarrassment of having your sins exposed. Allah Almighty told us: And if you tried to enumerate the favours of God, you will not be able to count them. God is Forgiving and Merciful. (16:18) Allah has showered us with blessings…
In the opening verses of Surat al Qasas, Allah Almighty says: We recite to you from the story of Moses and Pharaoh—in truth—for people who believe. Pharaoh exalted himself in the land,and divided its people into factions. He persecuted a group of them, slaughtering their sons, while sparing their daughters. He was one of the…
The importance of purity of reflection is a powerful combination with high himma, which is the quality of tenacious determination. Khatib al Baghdadi was one of the great scholars of hadith and such a prolific writer that he contributed a book to every branch of Islamic knowledge, so that everyone who came after him, could…
As the Black England footballers are subjected to disgusting racial abuse in the wake of England’s Euros 2020 defeat, we are reminded again of the continuing systemic racism in our countries, which led to the protests in the US and around the world, following the tragic death of George Floyd just a year ago. Fundamentally,…
What is tayammum Tayammum is making wudu with dust instead of water. The word tayammum comes from from yummama which linguistically means ‘to intend’ (qasada) e.g. I intend to go to Makkah. We do not cover all parts of the body with dust as we do with water. Certainly not our noses or mouths or our feet. O you…
Travelling is part of seeking knowledge The importance of travelling to seek knowledge is highlighted in the book of Patience by Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah who has described some of the arduous journeys undertaken by great scholars of the past. The virtues of seeking knowledge There are many verses which talk about the importance…
Month of mindfulness Ramadan is about becoming more mindful of your Lord, mindful of your duties towards Him and towards His creation as well. All the messages that were sent by God to humanity since Adam and Noah and Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammed (peace be upon them) were sent to make the human race…
How to deal with sinners Whether it is your family or friends or a public figure, every now and then, they make mistakes. Unfortunately as a community, we have many shortcomings, and one of these is that we don’t know how to handle people’s misdemeanours and mistakes, or ill judged statements, from an Islamic point…