Shifting from passive observer to active reformer
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Shifting from passive observer to active reformer

In the midst of the atrocities taking place in Gaza and the subsequent shock and pain we are experiencing at a human level, I tried to look back to the verses of the Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah to seek guidance and clarity on understanding this catastrophic situation and the lessons we can take to…

7 ingredients for victory from the Quran
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7 ingredients for victory from the Quran

وَلَقَدۡ سَبَقَتۡ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِینَ إِنَّهُمۡ لَهُمُ ٱلۡمَنصُورُونَ وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ ٱلۡغَـٰلِبُونَ And Our Word has already come to pass in favour of Our servants, the messengers (that) they are the ones who will be victorious, and verily it is Our forces (of chosen servants) that prevails. [As-Saffat:171-173] In these verses of Surat As-Saffat, Allah…

Knowing Allah through His Beautiful Names: Al Latif
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Knowing Allah through His Beautiful Names: Al Latif

Every name of Allah has its own unique reflection and divine light. The name Al Latif has been mentioned in the Quran seven times. It has been translated variously as Benevolent, The Kind One and The Subtle One depending on the context. In Surat al Anam, Allah says: لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ ۖ…

Knowing Allah through His Beautiful Names: Al Jabbar
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Knowing Allah through His Beautiful Names: Al Jabbar

The mender of hearts The name Al-Jabbar has different meanings in Arabic. The Irresistible, The Restorer, The Mender. It means the One who mends weakness. Jabbara in Arabic, and Jabara yajburu, is to mend the weakness or broken hearts. Al Jabbar is the One who mends hearts, strengthens the broken, enriches the poor and makes…

Optimism in the midst of adversity
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Optimism in the midst of adversity

The Battle of the Trench (Ghazwat Al-Ahzab) took place five years after the migration of the believers to Madinah. It was one of the significant military campaigns in early Islamic history. An army ten thousand strong came to attack the believers who were just three thousand. The battle lasted for about thirty-three days, during which…

How to deal with injustice
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How to deal with injustice

In Surat Ibrahim Allah Almighty says: وَلَا تَحۡسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَـٰفِلًا عَمَّا یَعۡمَلُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَۚ إِنَّمَا یُؤَخِّرُهُمۡ لِیَوۡمࣲ تَشۡخَصُ فِیهِ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرُ Never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers are doing. He is but giving them respite up to a day when the eyes shall remain upraised (in terror). [Ibrahim:42] In this verse, Allah is…

Peace does not come with violence and peace does not come without dignity
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Peace does not come with violence and peace does not come without dignity

The distressing situation in Palestine is a cause of deep pain for Muslims all over the world. Nu’man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: مثل المؤمنين في توادهم وتراحمهم وتعاطفهم، مثل الجسد إذا اشتكى منه عضو تداعى له سائر الجسد بالسهر والحمى” ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏…

Reciting the Dua al Qunut in times of calamity
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Reciting the Dua al Qunut in times of calamity

What is the dua al qunut? The dua al qunut is a supplication made standing. It is recited during Fajr prayer in the Shafi madhab, and during the witr prayer in the Hanafi method. In addition, it can be prayed if a calamity befalls the Ummah, particularly when atrocities are committed against Muslims or disasters….

Knowing Allah through His Beautiful Names: Al Mu’izz and Al Mudhil
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Knowing Allah through His Beautiful Names: Al Mu’izz and Al Mudhil

Pairs of names Two of the beautiful names of Allah Almighty are Al-Mu’izz and Al-Mudhill. Al-Mu’izz is the One who gives honour while it’s opposite, Al-Mudhill is the One who humiliates. As we have seen with other names, they sometimes come in pairs such as Ar-Rafi, the One who elevates and Al-Khafid, the One who…