The Quran mentions many numbers, often in reference to events or descriptions of people and prophets. But how should we understand these numbers, literally or metaphorically? Let us explore two famous cases: the height of Adam (peace be upon him) and the lifespan of Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him). Literal vs. metaphorical in the…
Mental health The growing conversation around trauma, healing, therapy, and where it sits within Islamic practice deserves a nuanced and careful discussion. Across Muslim spaces today, there’s a noticeable rise in both the uptake of secular therapy and a reactionary rejection of it, often due to perceptions that it is unscientific, overly focused on victimhood,…
The position of women during salah in the Hanafi Madhhab In the Hanafi school of thought, the manner in which a woman performs salah differs in several key ways from that of a man. It differentiates between the prayer posture of men and women based on modesty and humility. 1. Standing (Qiyām) A woman…
When we read the Qur’an with reflection, one recurring theme that stands out is the warning against deception, corruption, and the plots of those who oppose the truth. Allah ﷻ does not merely recount historical plots against the prophets; He teaches us how to be alert, how to prepare, and how to respond with faith…
The moments following a person’s death are deeply emotional and spiritually significant. One of the questions often asked in Muslim communities is whether it is permissible to view the face of the deceased. The answer is not entirely uniform, as Islamic practice on this matter varies across cultures and is subject to interpretation, though both…
In the tenth year after migration to Madinah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed his first and last Hajj since they arrived in Madinah. On that day, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stood on Arafah and it was Jummuah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) delivered his memorable Final Sermon over the blessed…
The Prophet (peace be on him) used to reciteSurat Al-‘Ala and Surat Al-Ghashiyah at Eid. These are Makkah surahs, which characteristically mention imaan, the challenges of society and the temptations of dunya and reward for obedience contrasted by the punishment for ignoring or defying Allah. The same theme is repeated in both surahs. This way…
The ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated in a Hadith: “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” (Bukhari) These ten days of Dhul Hijjah are very special. Scholars have even…
We’re surrounded by activities that may seem harmless – buying a lottery ticket or playing arcade games to win prizes. These may appear to be just fun and games, but how should a Muslim approach these forms of entertainment? Gambling is clearly prohibited in Islam Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’an: “O you who believe!…
Is my slate wiped clean when I go for Umrah or Hajj? It is a common perception that going for ʿUmrah or Ḥajj erases one’s sins, and this is indeed true to a great extent. Both acts are immense opportunities for purification and renewal, but there are important nuances to understand. Hajj as a purifier…
The virtue of being chaste Chastity and honour are known as al-‘Afaaf wal Hayaa’ in Arabic, or sha’af sometimes. The importance of chastity is highlighted in the Quran, particularly at the beginning of Surat al Mu’minoon, where Allah mentions the value of being chaste. In the opening verses, Allah calls believers successful and describes them…
The call to Hajj In Surat al-Hajj, Allah Almighty says: وَأَذِّن فِی ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡحَجِّ یَأۡتُوكَ رِجَالࣰا وَعَلَىٰ كُلِّ ضَامِرࣲ یَأۡتِینَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِیق And announce the pilgrimage to mankind—they will come to you on foot and on every lean mount; they will come from every distant pathway, لِّيَشْهَدُوا مَنَافِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فِي…
Delusion and distraction Allah Almighty has spoken about the dunya in many verses. In Surat al Fatir, He states: O mankind, indeed the promise of Allah is true, so let not the earlier Life deceive you, and let not the Deceiver deceive you regarding Allah. (35:5) The dunya is often described by Allah as a…
Chastity and honour is a huge and important topic. First, we will look at why we have prohibitions and boundaries in Islam. Why did Allah Almighty talk about chastity and honour in the Quran, and how did the Prophet (peace be upon him) apply these teachings? We will address the balance between desire and soul,…
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: عن أبي هُريرة رضي الله تعالى عنه قال: قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: “الْمُؤْمِنُ القَوِيُّ خَيْرٌ وَأَحَبُّ إلى اللهِ مِنَ المُؤْمِنِ الضَّعِيفِ، وفي كُلٍّ خَيْرٌ. احْرِصْ علَى ما يَنْفَعُكَ، وَاسْتَعِنْ باللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْجِزْ، وإنْ أَصَابَكَ شَيءٌ، فلا تَقُلْ: لو أَنِّي…