Dua of need in our troubled times
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Dua of need in our troubled times

مناجاة إلهِي، لَقَد طَغَى الظُّلمُ وَالقَتلُ وَالتَّشْرِيدُ، وَاشْتَدَّتِ الظُّلماتُ، وَكثُرَ الطُّغَاةُ وَالموبِقَاتُ، وَازْدَادَتِ الفُرْقَةُ وَالخِلَافَاتُ.إلهِي، انقَطَعَ الرَّجَاءُ إِلَّا مِنْكَ، وَسُدَّتِ الطُّرُقُ إِلَّا إِلَيْكَ، أَنتَ الغَنِيُّ وَنَحْنُ الفُقَرَاءُ إِلَيْكَ، لَيْسَ لَنَا رَبٌّ سِوَاكَ نَدْعُوهُ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ نَرْجُوهُ، اَرْفَعْ عَنِ الأُمَّةِ الهَرْجَ وَالضَّيْمَ، وَالقَهْرَ وَالذُّلَّ، وَالظُّلْمَ وَالمَهَانَةَ الَّتِي نَحْنُ فِيهَا، اجْمَعْ قُلُوبَنَا عَلَيْكَ، وَوَحِّدْ صُفُوفَنَا، وَطَهِّرْهَا…

The disappearance of barakah – Signs of the Day of Judgement
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The disappearance of barakah – Signs of the Day of Judgement

One of the signs of the Day of Judgement is that time will pass quickly, knowledge will be lifted and there will be a great deal of fitan (trials and tribulations). In the narration, reported by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), he narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, عن أبي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ…

Assisted dying: the Islamic view
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Assisted dying: the Islamic view

The impermissibility of suicide In the Quran, Allah tells us of the sacredness of human life and the inviolability of the soul. It is a core principle. Allah has explicitly forbidden taking life unjustly, and suicide is considered impermissible in all major religions. Indeed, the unlawful taking of any life is a major sin. Allah…

Don’t be happy if you got away with it. The dangers of delayed punishment
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Don’t be happy if you got away with it. The dangers of delayed punishment

One should not feel happy if they did not receive punishment when they did something wrong. It is very serious. Istidraj has been mentioned in the Quran twice – it appears in Surat al Araf and also in Surat al Qalam. What is istidraj? It is to receive blessings, wealth, success, or other worldly pleasures…

What is the vaccine for the disease of ignorance?

What is the vaccine for the disease of ignorance?

Signs of the end of time عَنْ أَنَسٍ رضي الله تعالى عنه قَالَ: لأُحَدِّثَنَّكُمْ حَدِيثًا لاَ يُحَدِّثُكُمْ أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي، سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ: “‏مِنْ أَشْرَاطِ السَّاعَةِ أَنْ يَقِلَّ الْعِلْمُ، وَيَظْهَرَ الْجَهْلُ، وَيَظْهَرَ الزِّنَا، وَتَكْثُرَ النِّسَاءُ،وَيَقِلَّ الرِّجَالُ، حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِخَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً الْقَيِّمُ الْوَاحِدُ ‏”‏‏.‏البخاري. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said,…

Trust Allah’s plan and have a good opinion of Him
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Trust Allah’s plan and have a good opinion of Him

Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say, three days before his death: ‎وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ بِثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ يَقُولُ:  «لَا يَمُوتَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَّا وَهُوَ يُحْسِنُ الظَّنَّ بِاللَّه». رَوَاهُ مُسلم ‘None of you should die except…

The 6 aims of the Quran

The 6 aims of the Quran

In Surat al Isra, Allah Almighty says: ‫إِنَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ یَهۡدِی لِلَّتِی هِیَ أَقۡوَمُ وَیُبَشِّرُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَ ٱلَّذِینَ یَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ أَجۡراً كَبِیراً. وَأَنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةِ أَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا ألِيماً Indeed, this Quran guides to what is most upright and gives glad tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that for them…

Should you cut short a sunnah prayer to join a congregational prayer?
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Should you cut short a sunnah prayer to join a congregational prayer?

If one is praying a Sunnah or Nafl prayer other than Fajr, it is generally advised to end the prayer and join the Fard Salah, as the congregational prayer holds greater importance.

This understanding is based on the principle that congregational prayer has a higher priority, and missing the Fard prayer with the congregation should be avoided if possible.

Is it permissible to use your photo as a profile picture on social media?
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Is it permissible to use your photo as a profile picture on social media?

In today’s world, social media is unavoidable and there is an abundance of images that are posted and circulated. Permissibility and decency Firstly, from an Islamic perspective, there is generally no issue with using a personal photo on social media, provided it meets the requirements of decency and modesty. Both men and women are encouraged…

Democracy vs Dictatorship
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Democracy vs Dictatorship

When is a democracy a dictatorship? The Quran is filled with ayahs that tell us to be just. Allah says: ‫كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَ ٰ⁠حِدَةࣰ فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِیِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِینَ وَمُنذِرِینَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ لِیَحۡكُمَ بَیۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِیمَا ٱخۡتَلَفُوا۟ فِیهِۚ Mankind used to be one community, then Allah sent the prophets as bearers of glad tidings…

Being faithful to your pledges – Anas bin An-Nadhr
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Being faithful to your pledges – Anas bin An-Nadhr

There are many verses in the Quran that encourage us to be truthful and to stick to our principles and to cling to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and not to compromise, no matter what the circumstances we find ourselves in. Allah is saying you can…

Defining Nasr: 12 ingredients for victory from the Quran
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Defining Nasr: 12 ingredients for victory from the Quran

In Arabic, the word nasr (نصر) appears 33 times in the Quran. What does it mean? Nasr is commonly understood as “victory”. However, when you turn to the linguist, Ibn Faris (395 H), in “Mu’jam maqayees Al-Lughah” whose dictionary is a key reference in Arabic, the root word nasara (نصر) means ‘bringing or facilitating goodness….

Recharging the Ummah – from weakness and despair to resilience and hope
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Recharging the Ummah – from weakness and despair to resilience and hope

In Surat al-Imran, Allah Almighty says: ‫وَلَا تَهِنُوا۟ وَلَا تَحۡزَنُوا۟ وَأَنتُمُ ٱلۡأَعۡلَوۡنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِینَ Don’t be weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will prevail if you are true believers. (3:129) ‫إِن یَمۡسَسۡكُمۡ قَرۡحࣱ فَقَدۡ مَسَّ ٱلۡقَوۡمَ قَرۡحࣱ مِّثۡلُهُۥۚ وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡأَیَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَیۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلِیَعۡلَمَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَیَتَّخِذَ مِنكُمۡ شُهَدَاۤءَۗ وَٱللَّهُ…

Major principles of Islam: Obedience and its limits
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Major principles of Islam: Obedience and its limits

Today my focus is obedience.  Obedience is ta’a in Arabic. In Islam, we have the concept of obedience to Allah Almighty, obedience to His messenger, and obedience to those who are in charge, as Allah Almighty stated in the Quran in many verses. For instance, Allah Almighty says in Surat al Imran: ‘Say “Obey Allah…