Muharram
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Lessons from Muharram: Standing against oppression, being united and showing gratitude by worshipping Allah

Muharram is a special month. It is the beginning of the Hijri year, and within it is the tenth of Muharram, the Day of Ashura. Although the Hijrah itself took place in Rabi’ al-Awwal, the Islamic calendar begins with Muharram and counts its years from the Hijrah. So when the new Hijri year begins, it…

Saved from the belly of the whale – the power of secret deeds
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Saved from the belly of the whale – the power of secret deeds

Secret righteous deeds: what only Allah knows Allah Almighty says about Prophet Yunus: فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ “If he had not been one of those who glorified Allah,” لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ “he would have remained in its belly until the Day they are resurrected.” (Surat As-Saffat, 37:143-144) These verses contain a…

how to divide spending
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Facing the cost of living crisis: helping those in need

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…

How to successfully survive times of trial
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How to successfully survive times of trial

Who is the lucky one? عَنِ الْمِقْدَادِ بْنِ الْأَسْوَدِ قَالَ : ايْمُ اللَّهِ، لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ : ” إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ، إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ، إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ، وَلَمَنِ ابْتُلِيَ فَصَبَرَ فَوَاهًا “. أبو داود. Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him)…

Leadership is a test, not just a privilege
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Leadership is a test, not just a privilege

In Surat al-Baqarah, Allah says: وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ “And when his Lord tested Ibrahim with certain words, and he fulfilled them. He said, ‘I am making you a leader for humanity.’ He said, ‘And from my…

Why nations fall

Why nations fall

Allah says in Surat al Isra: وَإِذَاۤ أَرَدۡنَاۤ أَن نُّهۡلِكَ قَرۡیَةً أَمَرۡنَا مُتۡرَفِیهَا فَفَسَقُوا۟ فِیهَا فَحَقَّ عَلَیۡهَا ٱلۡقَوۡلُ فَدَمَّرۡنَـٰهَا تَدۡمِیرࣰا “When We decide to destroy a town, We command those corrupted by wealth [to do good], but they persist in their disobedience; Our sentence is passed, and We destroy them utterly.” (Surat al Isra, 17:16)…

When silence becomes complicity – levels of dhulm
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When silence becomes complicity – levels of dhulm

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…

If you don’t stop the fire, do not be surprised when it reaches you
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If you don’t stop the fire, do not be surprised when it reaches you

The duty of the Ummah is to prevent harm Allah stated in Surat Ale Imran, ‫كُنتُمۡ خَیۡرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخۡرِجَتۡ لِلنَّاسِ تَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَتَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَتُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِۗ You have been the best community that was ever brought forth for mankind: you command to what is fair and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah….

Appointing the wrong people to positions of power accelerates the signs of the Day of Judgement

Appointing the wrong people to positions of power accelerates the signs of the Day of Judgement

The loss of amanah is one of the signs of the Hour عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ، قَالَ : بَيْنَمَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي مَجْلِسٍ يُحَدِّثُ الْقَوْمَ، جَاءَهُ أَعْرَابِيٌّ فَقَالَ : مَتَى السَّاعَةُ ؟ فَمَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُحَدِّثُ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْقَوْمِ : سَمِعَ مَا قَالَ فَكَرِهَ مَا قَالَ، وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ…

Have your good deeds been accepted?

Have your good deeds been accepted?

How sincerity leads to a happy ever after In Surat al-Ma’idah, Allah states:  إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous. [5:27] In this ayah, Allah is talking about the acceptance of deeds and the fact that He only accepts the deeds of the righteous – the muttaqeen. Ramadan has come…

Do not turn back to your old ways after Ramadan
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Do not turn back to your old ways after Ramadan

Abdullah ibn Sarjis (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said O Allah, I seek refuge in You from decline after prosperity (al-hawr ba’d al kawr) and I seek refuge in your from the supplication of the oppressed. (Muslim) Scholars commented on this very special dua, which literally means…