Women
Youth
Marriage and relationships
Culture/customs misconceptions
Navigating challenges
Coping with calamities
Suicide
Death
Social code and etiquette
THE POWER TO FORGET Is one man equal to two women? Allah Almighty says: “Call two witnesses from among your men. If two men are not available, then one man and two women from among those you accept as witnesses, so that if one of the two women errs, the other may remind her.”…
Marriage is not a life sentence. Breaking taboos Islam is not an alien religion which puts women under threat or expects them to tolerate abuse or harm. Any abuse is haram. I am not in any way promoting or encouraging divorce, or the break up of families and upheaval of children, but if a marriage…
When a loved one passes away, what practices are cultural and what are Islamic? Islamic funeral arrangements can often evoke quite heated feelings. There are those who are adamant that certain practices should take place and others who are quite vocal against them. Allah Almighty wants ease, simplicity and compassion for the grieving family, yet…
Marriage and Intimacy ‘Your women are a tilth for you, so go into your tilth when you like, and do good beforehand for yourselves; and fear Allah, and know that you are to meet Him, and give good news to the believers.’ (2:223) The Essence of Marriage ‘And of His signs is that He…
A Woman’s Cycle and Intimacy And they ask you about menstruation. Say it is a discomfort; therefore, keep aloof from the women during the menstruation and do not go near them until they have become clean; then when they have cleansed themselves, go in them as Allah has commanded you; surely Allah loves those who purify…
The Ummah of the Qur’an Never Sleeps What is the connection between staying awake and spreading the Salam? These two are symptoms of an alert ummah, that is caring and connected – to each other and to Allah Almighty. Those who spend their wealth (in Allah ’s Cause) by night and day, in secret and…
The Divorce 101 There are many misconceptions regarding divorce, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. With TV dramas stringing endless storylines out of these misconceptions, there is much need for clarity on the topic. Divorce should not be the creation of a problem. It should only be a solution. First Divorce could be – Talaq-Raj’i –…
Can Muslims Marry Non-Muslims? ‘Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters/mushrikaat) until they believe; a slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman even though she allure you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: a man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever even though he allure you. Unbelievers do…
Good marriages need ‘mawadda’ or love plus more. The word comes from ‘wud’ meaning deep love. Without this essential component, a marriage is a union in which the partners tolerate each other at best and hate each at worst. You can’t live with anyone you hate. If hatred controls a marriage, it creates a generation of hatred. Hearts full of hatred are likely to be trouble makers and criminals. By contrast, where there is love, there is mercy.
7 Tips for a Successful Marriage Unlike other relationships which we are born into, we make a choice and a commitment in marriage and need to work at it to create love, peace and security. How can a couple improve this within their marriage? Here are 7 tips to improve this sacred relationship. 1. Understanding…
Debts – The Nitty Gritty How is it is relevant to us today? Why did Allah Almighty reveal the longest ayah of the Qur’an about debt? Simply, money concerns us all. All our dealings have financial repercussions. Ayat ul dain (2:282), the longest ayah of the longest surah of the Qur’an relates to debts and contracts. ‘Dain’…
The Mistake Hunters What do you focus on when you attend a gathering? What do you remember when you left? Was it the mistakes of the speakers? The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him said): Seeking knowledge is incumbent on every Muslim. (Ibn Majah) The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said: ‘The…
The Difference between Culture and Islam This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. (5:3) Perfection and Completion In this famous part of the ayah in Surah Al-Maidah, Allah Almighty told us that the religion had been perfected, the Qur’an…
When Differences Shatter the Community With Muslims always at odds with each other… With clashing points of view and clashing egos… What does the Qur’an tell us about differences amongst us? There are many verses talking about differences, one of these is surah Yunus, Allah Almighty says: Mankind were but one community (i.e. on one…
Whether it is a child or a politician, the importance of honesty and integrity is the bedrock of a productive and successful society. When honesty is lacking from our leaders and absent in society, we risk failure in every sphere of life. A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands the Muslims are…