The topic of destiny (al-qadar) is one of the most difficult topics to understand. The more you go into it, the more complicated it feels. I will try my best to simplify it, and also give you some tips on how to deal with it and understand it, because it is one of the most…
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «كُلُّ عَمَلِ ابْنِ آدَمَ لَهُ يُضَاعَفُ، الْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سبع مئة ضِعْفٍ، قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: إِلَّا الصَّوْمَ فَإِنَّهُ لِي وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، يَدَعُ…
Ramadan is a month that returns every year. Only the fortunate among us are those who witness Ramadan, and more fortunate still are those who truly benefit from it. How people receive Ramadan Some people receive Ramadan as if it is just another month. Others long for it, welcoming it with passion, commitment, sincerity, and…
There is an enormous amount of information and research work on Muslim women that is confused with culture and unsubstantiated. A big part of that confusion is that we no longer know what is genuinely Islamic and what is just culture. On top of that, we are constantly being fed images from media, films, drama,…
Why would someone born in London, who had lived her entire life in London, and who had very few close friends in a headscarf choose to wear a headscarf (hijab)? Let me start by asking: When is a piece of cloth not just a piece of cloth? When it is a superhero cape. This is…
There are many verses in the Quran that talk about the spiritual heart and its importance. Allah says in Surat Az Zumar, فَوَيْلٌ لِلْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ “Then woe to those whose hearts have grown hard and unresponsive to the remembrance of Allah.” (Az-Zumar 39:22) ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ…
Preparing for Ramadan is one circle in a bigger chain of preparation. In reality, every day we prepare for tomorrow, and tomorrow is the hereafter. So whether it is Sha’ban, or Ramadan, or any other season, it is all part of a continuous journey of preparation. Let’s look at some narrations about how the Prophet…
The Prophet ﷺ warned us in the well known hadith to stay far away from seven destructive sins, which he called al mubiqaat, meaning sins that are ruinous and fatal, the kind that can flip a person’s life and destroy them in this world and the next. The seven destructive sins (al mubiqaat) «الشِّرْكُ بِاللهِ،…
Tarbiya (التربية) means nurturing and developing a person step by step. It is training the heart, mind, and behaviour. It is not only passing on information. It is building a human being: their iman, character, habits, and connection to Allah. One of the most powerful methods of tarbiya in Islam is encouragement. It is a…
Surat al-Kahf is a key surah with many lessons. It is the sunnah to recite it every Friday. We have reflected on different aspects of this surah on many occasions, but our focus here is on young people. The very first story in Surah al-Kahf is the story of young people, who retreated into the…
The character of the Prophet ﷺ was reflected in his behaviour every day – in the home, in the street, in the masjid, and with people of all types. His character was evident in how he spoke, how he listened, how he dealt with difficulty, how he showed kindness, and how he corrected without humiliating….
The greatest role model was undoubtedly the Prophet ﷺ. What was it about him that made his personality so warm and charismatic and at the same time, made him the greatest human being ever to have lived? What were the qualities he possessed that we can improve within ourselves? Check his qualities in yourself. Here…
A year has passed from our life and tomorrow might be Tomorrow – the Last Hour. یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلۡتَنظُرۡ نَفۡسࣱ مَّا قَدَّمَتۡ لِغَدࣲۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِیرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ O you who believe , be mindful of Allah, and let every soul look what it has put forth for tomorrow, and…
Orphan The Prophet ﷺ was born as an orphan, having lost his father before his birth. It is a consolation to orphans that despite the fact he had no father he went on to achieve greatness and achieve a lot. It shows that having no father should not hold you back. The definition of orphan…
As another year draws to a close, momentarily our attention is drawn to the passing of time. Certain milestones flicker in our minds. Shaky legs learnt to walk, wobbly teeth fell out, exams were passed (though not always), knots were tied, steady legs began to wobble and loved ones left us. 365 days expired – never…