Facing financial difficulties as a Muslim
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Facing financial difficulties as a Muslim

Financial hardship can affect every part of our lives. As businesses come under financial strain, inflation, unemployment and unexpected bills can leave us worried about how we will provide for our families. That pressure can affect our sleep, our relationships and our ability to think clearly. Financial hardship is one of the tests of life…

mosque in UK
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Can the Friday khutbah be delivered in any language?

Delivering the Friday khutbah in the language of the congregation is not just permissible according to recognised scholarly opinions and established fatwas, but important. It is not imperative that the Jumu’ah khutbah be delivered in Arabic. The khutbah is intended to remind people of Allah and strengthen their imaan. It is also meant to guide…

Islamic Ethics: Rights, Responsibilities and Professional Conduct
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Islamic Ethics: Rights, Responsibilities and Professional Conduct

The danger of cheating, withholding people’s rights and losing barakah Allah Almighty says in Surah al-Mutaffifin: وَيْلٌ لِّلْمُطَفِّفِينَ ۝ الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ ۝ وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَو وَّزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ ۝ أَلَا يَظُنُّ أُولَٰئِكَ أَنَّهُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ ۝ لِيَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ ۝ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ “Woe to those who give less than due! Those…

man on social media
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Concealing Sins – Allah Loves to Conceal the Faults of His Servants

One of the beautiful qualities of Allah Almighty is that He conceals the faults and sins of His servants. Even when we disobey Him, He does not immediately expose us. Instead, He gives us the opportunity to recognise our mistakes, repent and return to Him. In Islam, concealment (satr) is an important principle. We are…

Debt
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The dangers of getting into debt

Debt is sometimes unavoidable. Situations arise that mean finances are no longer balancing – people borrow because of illness, loss of income, family responsibilities etc. However, the Prophet ﷺ repeatedly warned us not to take debt lightly. Debt can turn financial security into anxiety, place pressure on a person’s character, and remains an obligation even…

Don’t wait for the big ticket. Be the big ticket.
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Don’t wait for the big ticket. Be the big ticket.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) to follow seven commands, and through him taught the Ummah. عن أبي ذَرٍّ الغِفاريِّ رضي الله عنه، قال: أمرَني خليلي ﷺ بسبع: ١-(أمرَني بحبِّ المساكينِ والدُّنوِّ منهُم. ٢-وأمرَني أن أنظرَ إلى مَن هو دُوني ولا أنظرَ إلى مَن هو فوقي. ٣-وأمرَني…

life support
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Is it permissible to switch off a ventilator in Islam?

Being told that a loved one’s ventilator may be switched off is tough and daunting. No one envies the person who has to make such a decision, yet with the medical technology now available, it is a situation that many families find themselves facing. The Islamic ruling depends on why the ventilator is being withdrawn…

public spending
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Poverty leads to envy and unrest. Spending on the poor is a public duty

Seven prophetic instructions for a believer عن أبي ذَرٍّ الغِفاريِّ رضي الله عنه، قال: أمرَني خليلي ﷺ بسبع: ١-(أمرَني بحبِّ المساكينِ والدُّنوِّ منهُم. ٢-وأمرَني أن أنظرَ إلى مَن هو دُوني ولا أنظرَ إلى مَن هو فوقي. ٣-وأمرَني أن أصِلَ الرَّحِمَ وإن أدبَرَتْ. ٤-وأمرَني ألا أسألَ أحدًا شيئًا. ٥-وأمرَني أن أقولَ الحقَّ وإن كان مُرًّا. ٦-وأمرَني…

funeral
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Can zakat be used to pay funeral expenses?

In general, zakat should not be used to pay a deceased person’s burial expenses directly, even if the deceased was zakat-eligible during their lifetime. The main reason is that most scholars stipulate that zakat must involve transferring ownership (tamlik) to a living recipient who is one of the eight categories mentioned in Surah al-Tawbah (9:60)….

What is the difference between Islamic mortgages and conventional mortgages
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What is the difference between Islamic mortgages and conventional mortgages

The difference between conventional and Islamic mortgages For Muslims, one of the greatest financial challenges of our time, is purchasing a home without falling into riba (interest), which is strictly prohibited in Islam. Conventional mortgages are based on interest-bearing loans, while Islamic banks and financial institutions offer alternatives that aim to comply with Shariah. Among…

Be a key to goodness: The ethos of service in Islam
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Be a key to goodness: The ethos of service in Islam

In an age where success is often measured by status, wealth and influence, Islam offers a very different vision of greatness. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that true honour is not found in being served, but being a servant of Allah, the Most High, and then serving others. As for being a servant of Allah,…