What have you given to Islam? إِنَّا كَفَيْنَـٰكَ ٱلْمُسْتَهْزِءِينَ Surely, We are sufficient for you against those who mock, [15:95] At the end of Surat al-Hijr, Allah reminds us of the tests which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went through when facing the Quraysh. Scholars of tafsir talk about five people who were the main enemies…
The story of Adam and Iblis is mentioned often in the Quran, sometimes by a brief reference, and other times taking up a whole page. In Surat al-Hijr, Allah talks about Shaytan’s promise to lead people astray and make evil appear attractive to them, which is a challenge that we face everyday. Humans can make…
Many people worry about visiting the dentist during Ramadan. With water sprays, rinsing, and possible bleeding, it is natural to ask: Will this break my fast? The simple answer is: yes, you can have dental treatment while fasting, as long as you do not swallow anything. Does dental treatment break the fast? Dental procedures such…
Allah sometimes gives us metaphors and examples in the Quran to make us think, and a special one of these appears in Surat Ibrahim: أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا كَلِمَةًۭ طَيِّبَةًۭ كَشَجَرَةٍۢ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌۭ وَفَرْعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ. تُؤْتِىٓ أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍۭ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا ۗ وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ. وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ…
Allah says in Surat al Baqarah: یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَیۡكُمُ ٱلصِّیَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِینَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿ ١٨٣ ﴾ O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may practice taqwa. (Al-Baqarah, 2:183) Fasting was made an obligation…
How to escape darkness and choose the light Surat Ibrahim opens with the verse: الٓر ۚ كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ Alif, Lam, Ra. This is a book We have sent down to you, so that you may deliver the people, with the will of…
Who are people understanding? Allah says in the Quran: أَفَمَن يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ٱلْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَىٰٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ Now, can the one who knows that whatever has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, be equal to one who is blind? Only the people of…
Refreshing the Soul in Ramadan Striving Any achievement requires hard work. It needs sacrifices and it needs commitment. But we live in a world of instant and constant self-gratification. So, we have to strive to reach our potential, we have to strive against the pulls in a world of social media, surplus food, constant stream…
We are fortunate to witness Ramadan again. It feels like yesterday we were last here; the days run very quickly. May Allah enable us to recognise His favours by being grateful to Him and by Him not taking them away. Lessons from Surah Yusuf There are many lessons to learn from Surah Yusuf –…
A simple guide to working out your zakat Checklist identify the date you first reached nisab (your zakat start date) one lunar year later, total your zakatable assets (cash, gold/silver, shares as applicable, business inventory as applicable) subtract immediate debts that are actually due (and apply your chosen view on longer-term debts consistently) if you…
The general principle of prompt burial The starting principle in Islamic law is that the deceased should be buried without unnecessary delay. The Prophet ﷺ said: «أَسْرِعُوا بِالْجَنَازَةِ» “Hasten with the funeral.” (Agreed upon) This hadith establishes that burial should not be postponed without need. The scholars understood from this that delaying burial for emotional…
The Prophet ﷺ said: قال رسولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : «بُنِيَ الإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ». “The religion of Islam is built on five: the testimony that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and…
Where we are in the series We started this series, Seeking Halal Earnings, a while ago now, a few months back. We began with the book of Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, the student of Abu Hanifah, and the one to whom the Hanafi school is indebted, because he recorded the Hanafi madhhab of Abu Hanifah….
Islam is a faith and way of life that combines belief and practice. Muslims hold to the Six Articles of Iman (Faith) and live by the Five Pillars of Islam. The beliefs are called the Six Articles of Iman (Faith). The actions are called the Five Pillars of Islam. This guide is designed to be…
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…