Medicine as a trust and an act of worship Ibn Sina and the purpose of medicine Muslim scholars made major contributions to the development and transmission of medical knowledge. One of the best-known figures in this history is Ibn Sina, known in the Latin tradition as Avicenna. He was honoured with the title al-Shaykh al-Ra’is,…
Allah Almighty says: الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا “Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your way.”(Surat al-Ma’idah, 5:3) We are all familiar with this verse. It was revealed on the Day of ‘Arafah during the Farewell Hajj of…
In an age where success is often measured by status, wealth and influence, Islam offers a very different vision of greatness. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that true honour is not found in being served, but being a servant of Allah, the Most High and then serving others. As for being a servant of Allah,…
What does seerah mean? Linguistically, seerah means the way or path. In Arabic, you may say that a person followed the seerah of someone, meaning he followed his path, his way, or his manner. So when we speak about the Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ, we are speaking about the way he lived. Sometimes people…
One of the questions people ask today is whether Islam is compatible with modern life. Everything seems to be changing at an incredible pace – technology is advancing, cultures are shifting, lifestyles are becoming busier, and every day brings a new trend, a new opinion or a new way of thinking. And there is a…
There are so many things to reflect on in the story of Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him). The first is that his ordeal took place at night, and there is something about the loneliness of the night. People sometimes call it “the dark night of the soul”: that quiet, difficult journey which happens when…
One day, Mu‘adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) was riding behind the Prophet ﷺ on a donkey. Imagine how blessed he was to share that precious time in the proximity of the Prophet ﷺ! The Prophet ﷺ at the reins and Mu‘adh probably holding on to him, behind him, close enough to…
Islamic law distinguishes between two broad areas: huquq Allah (the rights of Allah) and huquq al-‘ibad (the rights of people). Huquq Allah are the rights of Allah. They include acts of worship, such as prayer, fasting, zakah and Hajj. They also include rulings that uphold Allah’s commands, such as the prescribed punishments in the Shariah….
Muharram is a special month. It is the beginning of the Hijri year, and within it is the tenth of Muharram, the Day of Ashura. Although the Hijrah itself took place in Rabi’ al-Awwal, the Islamic calendar begins with Muharram and counts its years from the Hijrah. So when the new Hijri year begins, it…
The Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ evokes mixed feelings – joy and pain. But before we go into that, we need to ask: why did the Prophet ﷺ migrate? It may appear to be a simple question, but there are many lessons we can learn from this momentous historic event. One answer might be that…
Secret righteous deeds: what only Allah knows Allah Almighty says about Prophet Yunus: فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ “If he had not been one of those who glorified Allah,” لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ “he would have remained in its belly until the Day they are resurrected.” (Surat As-Saffat, 37:143-144) These verses contain a…
The Hijrah did not begin on the road to Madinah. In one sense, it was on the cards from the very first days of revelation. When the Prophet ﷺ received the first revelation in the cave of Hira, he was shaken by what had happened. Jibril had come to him in the form of a…
Most people know they should have a will, yet many delay writing one. We assume there will be time later. We assume our family will know what to do. We assume everything will work itself out. However, the Quran and Sunnah have instructed us not to leave important matters to chance. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ…
What is the best dua for opening and closing a meeting? We should always begin and end our gatherings with the remembrance of Allah. This brings blessings to the meeting and reminds us of our higher purpose. When we end the meeting it should also be with Allah’s name, praise, and repentance for anything that…
The Quranic principle of spending Allah says in the Quran: ويسألونك ماذا ينفقون قل العفو “They ask you what they should spend. Say: what is beyond your needs.” (Surah Baqarah, 2:219) This ayah gives us a clear principle about spending, charity and responsibility. The Companions asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) what they should…