In the beginning of Surah Baraqah Allah Almighty says beautifully: This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for the mutaqeen (those have taqwa) (2:2) The word mutaqeen has been repeated many times in the Quran and it does not really have an equivalent word in English, though it has been…
Famously, the Prophet (peace be on him) called ‘Fasting a shield.’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) used the word ‘junna’ meaning shield, and then he explained how to practice this: ‘If one of you is fasting, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor raise his voice. If anyone tries to quarrel with him,…
Change is particularly appropriate topic in Ramadan. May Allah make this month a month for change for ourselves, our families and our communities, so we become better. Apart from new year resolutions we have ongoing goals and lists. Another year comes and we renew our list. Some years we manage to achieve part of it,…
Looking at life afresh Now that we have had our normal lifestyle taken away from us, and so many of our favours, they have become apparent to us. We realise what we should be grateful for. There is reason for any test and a wisdom behind it, not just GCSES and A levels which have…
Engaging the heart, the lips and the mind The month of the Quran As we are preparing for Ramadan, we all know that Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an, so we delve more into the Qur’an. شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَىٰ وَالْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ…
Time for repair Every year Ramadan comes with a different flavour. Although you are fasting in Ramadan but you can still taste its sweetness. It is a favour from Allah which He never gave to any nation before us. Fasting itself was also prescribed to previous nations, as we know from Surah Al-Baqarah: O you…
Managing the Fear Factor Fear is everywhere. Fear is also a striking feature of two battles in Islamic history – the Battle of Uhud and the Battle of Al Khandaq (the ditch). In the Battle of the Ditch (Battle of Al Ahzab), 10,000 enemy troops surrounded Madinah and were about to attack the believers. Allah…
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Take advantage of five before five: 1-your youth before your old age, 2-your health before your illness, 3-your wealth before your poverty, 4-your free time before your work, 5-and your life before your death….
Once Sha’ban is here, the countdown to Ramadan has truly started. The Prophet (peace be on him) used to fast regularly throughout the year, but it was in the month preceding it, Sha’ban, when he cranked up his efforts and would fast almost the entire month. In a famous hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon…
How to simplify your life and prioritise it – Part III عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ مَا شَبِعَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُنْذُ قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ مِنْ طَعَامِ بُرٍّ ثَلاَثَ لَيَالٍ تِبَاعًا حَتَّى قُبِضَ . ‘A’isha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: Never had the family of Muhammad (ﷺ) eaten to the fill since…
How to simplify your life and prioritise it – Part II Don’t make your concern dunya There are many hadith warning us about dunya. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said: The world is sweet and green. Verily, Allah will make you…
How to simplify your life and prioritise – Part 1 Nothing happens but by the will of Allah. And everything good comes from Allah Almighty. Today our situation reminds me of the financial crisis of 2008 when the Queen asked the government, ‘How is it you did not see this coming?’ No one knew this…
In his book, Adab an Nufus, Imam al Muhasibi (d.243H) writes on different topics related to the control of the nafs, the lower self, and its cravings, urges and desires. How to improve it and purify it. Imam Al-Muhasibi, a master in this field, wrote from his experience. In this chapter he focused on…
Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, Whoever recites Surat al-Kahf on Friday will have a light between this Friday and the next. (Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Hakim) An ayah which we recite every Friday from Surah Kahf describes the world around us: And present to them the…
We are still in isolation, still trying our best to keep safe. Whatever happens, we know that it is what Allah Almighty destined for us. All we can do is be careful: not be panicked or over the top, not act with fear. We just do whatever we can, and the rest is in Allah…