Thirst and Ambition to Seek Knowledge Knowledge is a vast ocean, and the seeker will never attain all of it. You should not be frustrated by the little you know, however this should not make you become lazy by being content with the little you do know. Have the desire to learn, starting with the…
Sincerity and purity are interwoven. Purity of intention leads to sincerity in one’s action, and sincerity in action will in turn bring further purity of the heart. The student must be sincere to himself and to his Lord when seeking knowledge. Since seeking knowledge is an act of worship and as stated in earlier in…
‘Everything has a fruit, and the fruit of knowledge is being closer to Allah’. Rabi’ah al Adawiyya; great female scholar once said this, and a poet once commented that if you have impurities in your heart then the seed of imaan and Islam will never grow toward excellence (ihsan). Rather than utilising the shade of this tree of knowledge…
What Have You Packed? Being Prepared to Face Death Whenever you go on a journey you pack for it. Our most significant journey is to the Hereafter to meet Allah the Almighty, and so it is important to check what have we packed. It would be insane to go on a journey without provision. Therefore,…
How to Get the Best from Students Islam has placed a burden of responsibility on the shoulder of all people, from none may be excused. The Prophet (peace be on him) of Allah said: ‘Each one of you is a shepherd (trustee) and each of you is responsible for his flock (that which is entrusted…
Keeping the Audience Engaged Space out Lessons, Lectures and Circles The gathering of knowledge should not be every day because this will cause the student of knowledge to become weary. It was recorded in Bukhari Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud used to give a sermon to the people on every Thursday. A man said to Abdullah Ibn…
A scholar must be aware of the reality in order to give rulings specific to locations, times and the reality of people.
What Causes the Fall of Nations? What are the four main causes for any nation to collapse? What do we need to do to protect ourselves and our children from the factors that lead to decline? If a wound should touch you – there has already touched the [opposing] people a wound similar to…
How Should We React to News of Terror Attacks? And know that among you is the Messenger of Allah. If he were to obey you in much of the matters you put forward to him, you would face difficulty, but Allah has endeared to you faith (imaan) and has made it pleasing in your hearts…
Be Shy of Allah Almighty O People, be shy before Allah Almighty as He merits The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘Be truly shy from Allah.’ The companions said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, praise and thanks be to Allah, we are shy from Him.’ Upon which he replied, ‘It is not that I…
Beware the Green-Eyed Monster Do not covet something in which Allah has made some of you superior to others. For men there is a share of what they earned, and for women there is a share of what they earned. Pray to Allah for his grace. Surely Allah is all aware of everything. (4:32) Hasad-…
Knowing Sins. The Big and The Small Allah wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation. (4:27) Just as you can’t challenge a parking permit if there was no sign there saying you can’t park there, Allah Almighty has given us the sign posts…
Why There is No Limit to Recklessness, Hubris and Greed In a world riddled with oppression and injustice, one wonders why do we sin? Is it forgetfulness or rebelliousness? Or is it just that it is so easy to sin and there’s nothing to stop us? And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded,…
Knowing the Limits of your Knowledge Knowledge is a trust; the one who has knowledge should not betray what Allah has entrusted him with. A teacher should not deceive or misguide his student by giving them wrong information or the wrong advice or even give advice where he does not have adequate knowledge. Deep knowledge…
Why So Sad? O you who believe, do not be down-beat or in a state of despair. Allah fashioned you with His own Two Hands. He made you, but He is not in need of you, rather, it is you who is inherently, inseparably and intricately in need of Him. He created you because He is…