No worldly power is invincible
In Surah Fussilat we have the stories of Ad and Thamud, two Arab tribes who were demolished. This is a Makki surah, and it shows the struggle to penetrate a community as it always...
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Why women should not be excluded from mosques
The widespread exclusion of women from mosques There is a very strong and prevalent view that a woman’s place is in the home, and also by extension that her place to pray is in...
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Coping mechanisms for stress
What can we do when we are stressed? Four coping mechanisms to dealing with pressure.
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Knowing Allah through His beautiful names 4 – Al Ghani, Al Noor, Al Haadi, Al Wahab, Al Kareem
The first principle of Islam is monotheism – to know Allah Almighty, His attributes, His beautiful names and so on and to this end we have been getting acquainted with Allah Almighty through His...
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Truth vs Falsehood
Surat Ghafir contains part of the story of Musa and Firaun. This is the most repeated story in the Quran, and when you read it over and over again, from different angles in different...
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Jannah and Jahannam are choices
The word Zumar, from Surat Az-Zumar means ‘the crowds’, because Allah Almighty talks about two groups in this surah. ‘Those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in crowds… And those who were mindful...
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Becoming closer to Allah
In Surat Az-Zumar, Allah Almighty talks about those who do qiyam (voluntary night prayers) and supplicate to Allah, and how they are not equal to those who deny Allah and reject the akhirah, and...
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How to turn an ordinary fast, into a super-fast
The aim of fasting is to achieve righteousness Allah Almighty said in Surat al Baqarah: يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ O you who have believed,...
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What is the connection between closeness to Allah, excellence and fasting?
They ask you… My reflection today is on a very beautiful ayah among the 5 verses on fasting in the Quran which are found in Surat al-Baqarah (183-187). Allah Almighty says: وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى...
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Don’t judge based on one side of a story
In the story of Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him), Allah is highlighting the scene from his life, when two people came to him wanting a judge for their dispute. The first one came...
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Could you sacrifice what you love most for Allah?
Tonight we continued with Surat as-Saffat, and we recited many stories in this surah. One of these is part of the story of Ibrahim. About one quarter of the Quran involves stories which Allah...
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All oppression will come to an end one day
Alhamdulillah we are lucky enough to witness another Ramadan. May Allah have mercy on those whom we have lost, who can’t witness Ramadan with us. This is the circle of life: we receive newcomers,...
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Ghazali – If you had just one day to live, what would you do?
Munazarat an Nafs – debating with yourself The Forty Principles of the Faith ends with a debate between Ghazali and himself, and he recommends that we do this as well – rather than debating...
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Psyching up for Ramadan
Allah Almighty said in the Quran that fasting is an obligation in this famous ayah, but when was this ayah revealed and when was fasting made an obligation? يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ...
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Knowing Allah through His beautiful names 3 – Loving Allah, Al Wadud
The first obligation of every human being is to know his Creator. Some people accepted this invitation from Allah Almighty to find out about Him and truly knowing Him can only lead to gratitude...
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