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 –…
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…
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…
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….
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…
The one who argues vs the one who submits his face to Allah Allah Almighty says in Surah Luqman: أَلَمْ تَرَوْا أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُۥ ظَـٰهِرَةًۭ وَبَاطِنَةًۭ ۗ وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَـٰدِلُ فِى ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍۢ وَلَا هُدًۭى وَلَا كِتَـٰبٍۢ مُّنِيرٍۢ “Do you not see that…
What were the major outcomes of the establishment of the Prophet’s ﷺ marketplace (Souq al-Nabi ﷺ)? The existing markets When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he sought to understand the city’s economic structure. At the time, there were three markets, the largest of which was operated by the Jewish tribe of Banu Qainuqa. It…
Introduction to Mudaraba In this section, we will explore the contract of mudaraba, following the sequence of Imam al-Ghazali, in his renowned work Ihya Ulum al-Din, particularly in the section about al-kasb (earning). Imam al-Ghazali divided earning into six common contracts that people frequently use in business transactions. We have already discussed most of them,…
Journey through the events of the Last Day as vividly described in the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah. This booklet brings to life every stage, from the blowing of the Trumpet to the gathering of humanity, the weighing of deeds, and the crossing of the Sirat. Written in accessible language, with authentic references, and powerful imagery,…
The Prophet ﷺ said: يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ الصَّابِرُ فِيهِمْ عَلَى دِينِهِ كَالْقَابِضِ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ “A time will come when the one who patiently bears the pain and trials of staying true to his religion will be like someone grasping a piece of burning coal.” (Tirmidhi) We are familiar with this hadith, which the Prophet…
Are string instruments permissible in Islam? The permissibility of music In Islam, any ruling of prohibition has to be based on authentic evidence and clear meaning. In music there is no such evidence, so we can’t pronounce it haram. The use and the accompanied actions might be haram, that’s a different discussion. If a…
Shaykh Haytham’s speech at the Ijazah Ceremony for his students Alhamdulillah. Some things never change. Twenty-five years ago, I delivered my very first course at the Muslim World League, and I am standing here again today… Teaching has always been my passion, but not in English! Arabic is my language, and English was never my…