Callers at the Gates of Jahannam
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Callers at the Gates of Jahannam

The Prophet ﷺ warned his ummah of times that would come when clarity would fade, and truth would be mixed with falsehood. Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān (may Allah be pleased with him) used to ask the Messenger of Allah ﷺ not about good, but about evil, fearing it might reach him. He said, “O Messenger of…

Abortion in Islam
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Abortion in Islam

Is abortion permissible in Islam? Islamic law upholds two paramount concerns in the matter of abortion: the sanctity of foetal life and the preservation of the mother’s life. The Qur’ān explicitly prohibits unjust killing: وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الِتِي حَرَّمَ اللهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ “And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right.”…

Those who spread corruption are doomed
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Those who spread corruption are doomed

The stories of A’ad and Thamud are two of the major stories in Arabic history, and they are repeated many times throughout the Quran, particularly in the Makki surahs. Allah used them as an example and a warning to the people of Makkah, that they would be punished if they spread corruption in their society….

Major Principles in Islam: Halal earning (part 4)
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Major Principles in Islam: Halal earning (part 4)

  Foundations of halal earning: contracts in Islamic transactions On the subject of halal earning (al-kasb al-halal), we started by exploring one of the earliest works on the topic, written by Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Shaybani, a prominent student of Imam Abu Hanifah. He was a mujtahid in his own right and wrote a short yet…

Major Principles in Islam: Halal earning (Part 3)
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Major Principles in Islam: Halal earning (Part 3)

Halal income Halal earning refers to how to earn your living in a way that pleases Allah. It also includes how to avoid falling into haram, doubtful matters, disliked things, or areas that are grey and uncertain. In the previous session, we mentioned the work of Imam Muhammad ibn al-Hasan, the student of Abu Hanifah….

Major Principles in Islam: Halal earning (part 2)
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Major Principles in Islam: Halal earning (part 2)

Seeking halal income Earning a ḥalāl living, which is called al-kasb in Arabic, is a very important topic related to everyone’s business transactions, dealings, sales, and so on. It’s essential to understand what is permissible, what is not, the boundaries, the details, and so forth. As I mentioned last time, the first to write on…

Navigating the mental health landscape: seeking healing with Islamic values

Navigating the mental health landscape: seeking healing with Islamic values

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,…

Are Lottery Tickets and Arcade Games Haram in Islam?
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Are Lottery Tickets and Arcade Games Haram in Islam?

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!…

Building a strong nation by becoming strong believers
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Building a strong nation by becoming strong believers

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…

The sea ahead and the enemy behind
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The sea ahead and the enemy behind

The exodus Musa (peace be upon him) received the permission to leave Egypt after Firaun refused to accept the truth that he was not a god, and that there is only one God. He refused to release Bani Isra’il from slavery, who had been abused for generations.  Similarly the Prophet (peace be upon him) received…

Major principles in Islam: Halal earning (part 1)
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Major principles in Islam: Halal earning (part 1)

Halal Earnings and Income – al kasb al halal Seeking an income is known in Arabic as الكسب (al-kasb), which literally means “earning.” From a Sharia perspective there are many aspects to earning such as how to earn a halal income and avoiding acquiring any wealth through haram means. The first scholar to write on…

The Seven Tactics of Oppressors: from the Story of Musa (peace be upon him) and Firaun
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The Seven Tactics of Oppressors: from the Story of Musa (peace be upon him) and Firaun

Throughout history, oppression has followed predictable patterns, and tyrants have repeated the same tactics to silence dissent and maintain their grip on power. The exchange between Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and Firaun depicted in Surat Ash-Shu’ara, offers a blueprint of oppression that we still see being used today. Allah Almighty commanded Musa (peace…

The qualities of the righteous and the qualities of the corrupt
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The qualities of the righteous and the qualities of the corrupt

In Surat Nur, Allah Almighty stated: ‫فِی بُیُوتٍ أَذِنَ ٱللَّهُ أَن تُرۡفَعَ وَیُذۡكَرَ فِیهَا ٱسۡمُهُۥ یُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ فِیهَا بِٱلۡغُدُوِّ وَٱلۡـَٔاصَالِ ‬ (Such light shines) in houses which Allah has permitted to be raised up and in which His name is remembered. Highly exalting Him therein, mornings and before sunset, (24:36) ‫رِجَالࣱ لَّا تُلۡهِیهِمۡ تِجَـٰرَةࣱ وَلَا…

Don’t expect Allah to do your job for you
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Don’t expect Allah to do your job for you

There are two important ayahs at the end of Surah Yunus. The first ayah is: قُلِ ٱنظُرُوا۟ مَاذَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَا تُغْنِى ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتُ وَٱلنُّذُرُ عَن قَوْمٍۢ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ Say, “Look at what is there in the heavens and the earth.” But, signs and warnings do not suffice a people who do not believe….