Women
Youth
Marriage and relationships
Culture/customs misconceptions
Navigating challenges
Coping with calamities
Suicide
Death
Social code and etiquette
One day, Mu‘adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) was riding behind the Prophet ﷺ on a donkey. Imagine how blessed he was to share that precious time in the proximity of the Prophet ﷺ! The Prophet ﷺ at the reins and Mu‘adh probably holding on to him, behind him, close enough to…
Islamic law distinguishes between two broad areas: huquq Allah (the rights of Allah) and huquq al-‘ibad (the rights of people). Huquq Allah are the rights of Allah. They include acts of worship, such as prayer, fasting, zakah and Hajj. They also include rulings that uphold Allah’s commands, such as the prescribed punishments in the Shariah….
Most people know they should have a will, yet many delay writing one. We assume there will be time later. We assume our family will know what to do. We assume everything will work itself out. However, the Quran and Sunnah have instructed us not to leave important matters to chance. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ…
The Quranic principle of spending Allah says in the Quran: ويسألونك ماذا ينفقون قل العفو “They ask you what they should spend. Say: what is beyond your needs.” (Surah Baqarah, 2:219) This ayah gives us a clear principle about spending, charity and responsibility. The Companions asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) what they should…
The reality is that we are all human. We all have shortcomings. And so do others. Allah tests us through one another. How we deal with each other, live with one another, tolerate one another, forgive, respond and grow together. But if we flip that, others are being tested by us. Just as much as they are testing us, we are testing their patience. We are the ones provoking them, annoying them and perhaps boring them.
When religion becomes a tool for ego, control, and self-glorification Religion is meant to soften the heart. It should humble the soul and draw a person closer to Allah Almighty. True spirituality increases sincerity, mercy, self-awareness. It instills khawf (a deep awareness of standing before Allah). The more a person truly knows Allah, the more…
When someone is close to death, it is a difficult time for their loved ones – in addition to feeling the pain of losing someone dear to them, they may be uncertain about what to do practically. It is natural that one wishes to do everything they can to ease their passing, and ensure that…
When a person has been missing for a long time, it is natural for people to begin wondering whether they have passed away. Yet, in Islamic law, Salatul Janazah can only be performed if there is certainty. Therefore, as long as the death of the missing person has not been established, Janazah prayer cannot be…
The limits set by Allah Allah Almighty has not left us without guidance. He did not leave us to decide for ourselves what is right and wrong according to changing moods, pressure, or convenience. He laid down obligations, set boundaries, prohibited what is harmful, and out of His mercy remained silent on certain matters. The…
Emotional balance in marriage Balance is also needed in the emotional life of marriage. If there is one thing we see repeatedly, it is that extremes do not help. Extremes, whether difficulty regulating emotions or emotional distance, can both be challenging. Some people are overwhelmed by emotion and cannot regulate themselves well. Others become so…
Keeping momentum after Ramadan Ramadan, as you know, is a very special month in our Islamic calendar. It comes once every year, but at different times and in different weather, as it moves through the seasons. Each time it returns, it gives us a new experience and a new taste of how to live Ramadan…
When we speak about the treatment of women, sometimes people feel uncomfortable raising these issues, not because there is anything embarrassing in the Qur’an or the Sunnah, but because what we see in some homes and communities is not always the Islam of the Qur’an and the Sunnah. It is often culture. Of course, there…
Burying a foetus in Islam The loss of a foetus is one of the most painful experiences a family can go through. The rulings on how to bury the foetus differ according to the stage of pregnancy and whether the baby showed signs of life after delivery. The basis for the 120-day distinction A key…
At our Utrujj Iftar, we had a full house, not just full of guests but also full of the mercy of Allah, full of happiness, full of love. Alhamdulillah, as Pakistani, Bengali, Lebanese, Iraqi, Palestinian, French, German guests sat side by side, with all their different languages, different cultures, different histories, they were united by…
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…