In an age of cloud storage, databases, and instant communication, many people struggle to understand how a scholar living over twelve centuries ago could gather, verify, memorise, and transmit such a vast number of narrations. However, the modern lens does not fully appreciate how knowledge functioned in the pre-modern world, particularly in Islamic civilisation. To…
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.
One of the beautiful booklets I read on Hajj is by Imam Mulla Ali al-Qari. It is a short booklet, around twenty pages depending on the copy, but it is very beautiful. Mulla Ali al-Qari was a great muhaddith, hafiz and faqih. He was encyclopaedic in many different Islamic sciences. Although he also wrote a…
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…
Can non-Muslims eat halal meat? Yes. Halal meat can be eaten by anyone, including non-Muslims. It is simply meat prepared according to Islamic dietary laws, slaughtered in a similar fashion to kosher meat in Judaism. Eating halal food does not make someone Muslim or involve them in Islamic worship. In Islam, life is sacred. Muslims…
It is permissible to give zakat to someone who is in debt with interest – they are considered among the debtors entitled to receive zakat, provided that they are sincere in their intention to repay and have repented from dealing in riba.
A mercy from Allah that gathers the heart The Prophet ﷺ is our greatest example in how to worship Allah, how to draw close to Him, and how to ask from Him. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) once stayed overnight in the house of his aunt Maymunah (may Allah…
Who is the lucky one? عَنِ الْمِقْدَادِ بْنِ الْأَسْوَدِ قَالَ : ايْمُ اللَّهِ، لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ : ” إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ، إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ، إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ، وَلَمَنِ ابْتُلِيَ فَصَبَرَ فَوَاهًا “. أبو داود. Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him)…
When someone is close to death, it is a difficult time for their loved ones – in addition to feeling the pain of losing someone dear to them, they may be uncertain about what to do practically. It is natural that one wishes to do everything they can to ease their passing, and ensure that…
Facing the qiblah is an essential condition of a valid salah. It is a requirement mentioned clearly in the Quran. Allah says: فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ “So turn your face towards al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you are, turn your faces towards it.” (Surat al-Baqarah 2:144) This command…
In Surat al-Baqarah, Allah says: وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ “And when his Lord tested Ibrahim with certain words, and he fulfilled them. He said, ‘I am making you a leader for humanity.’ He said, ‘And from my…
When a person has been missing for a long time, it is natural for people to begin wondering whether they have passed away. Yet, in Islamic law, Salatul Janazah can only be performed if there is certainty. Therefore, as long as the death of the missing person has not been established, Janazah prayer cannot be…
Allah says in Surat al Isra: وَإِذَاۤ أَرَدۡنَاۤ أَن نُّهۡلِكَ قَرۡیَةً أَمَرۡنَا مُتۡرَفِیهَا فَفَسَقُوا۟ فِیهَا فَحَقَّ عَلَیۡهَا ٱلۡقَوۡلُ فَدَمَّرۡنَـٰهَا تَدۡمِیرࣰا “When We decide to destroy a town, We command those corrupted by wealth [to do good], but they persist in their disobedience; Our sentence is passed, and We destroy them utterly.” (Surat al Isra, 17:16)…
The limits set by Allah Allah Almighty has not left us without guidance. He did not leave us to decide for ourselves what is right and wrong according to changing moods, pressure, or convenience. He laid down obligations, set boundaries, prohibited what is harmful, and out of His mercy remained silent on certain matters. The…
Emotional balance in marriage Balance is also needed in the emotional life of marriage. If there is one thing we see repeatedly, it is that extremes do not help. Extremes, whether difficulty regulating emotions or emotional distance, can both be challenging. Some people are overwhelmed by emotion and cannot regulate themselves well. Others become so…