Knowing Allah through His beautiful names 1 and 2
The major principles of Islam (kulliyaat al Kubra) are the main principles which we cannot live without. The first main principle is to know Allah Almighty, but it is hard to do justice to...
Read More
When desire goes wild and worshipping designer brands
Desire is a natural part of the human system زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ...
Read More
Ghazali on remembering death V – carrying jewels
Acute regret Imagine you are in a dark cave filled with stones, and your friends urge you to pick up the stones and carry them back with you to the exit. You think they...
Read More
How to be safe in times of Fitnah
In the Quran Allah Almighty mentioned in many verses the signs of tribulations and trials (fitan). At that time, only the worst will be left, but we are not in this situation yet, alhamdulilah....
Read More
Major Principles of Islam – Imaan
How did the idea of compiling the major principles come about? Every Monday evening I hold an Arabic class, and at the end students ask questions. One of the questions a student put to...
Read More
Ghazali on remembering death IV
True life is after death وَمَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَآ إِلَّا لَهۡوٞ وَلَعِبٞۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةَ لَهِيَ ٱلۡحَيَوَانُۚ لَوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ The present life is nothing but sport and amusement. The true life is in...
Read More
Three ways to elevate yourself
Race to goodness In the Qur’an, Allah Almighty mentions the importance of doing good in many verses. In Surat ul Hajj, Allah Almighty says waf’alul-khayr: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا وَاعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَافْعَلُوا...
Read More
Sooner or later every transgressor will have to answer for their actions
In Surah An-Nazi’at, Allah Almighty says: فَإِذَا جَاءَتِ الطَّامَّةُ الْكُبْرَىٰ يَوْمَ يَتَذَكَّرُ الْإِنسَانُ مَا سَعَىٰ وَبُرِّزَتِ الْجَحِيمُ لِمَن يَرَىٰ فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَىٰ وَآثَرَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ...
Read More
What is the connection between al Kawthar, al Hawd and Bid’ah?
What is the difference between the hawd (lake) of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and al Kawthar? What does bid’ah (innovations in the religion) have to do with them? We have a variety...
Read More
Earthquakes in your life
Allah Almighty mentioned earthquakes in four places in the Quran, in Surat al Hajj, Surat Al Zalzalah, Surat al Baqarah, and Surat al Ahzab, Allah Almighty describes the shaking of the earth: يَا أَيُّهَا...
Read More
Ghazali on remembering death III – aspects of the soul
The People of Allah are disconnected from dunya On the topic of remembering death, dhikr al mawt, Ghazali talks about the people of Allah – those with gnosis – their state, their connection with...
Read More
Time for compassion, not conspiracy theories
Nu’man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: عن النُّعْمَان بْن بَشِيرٍ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ تَرَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي...
Read More
Ghazali on remembering death II -keeps life balanced
Remembering Death The tenth and final chapter of The Forty Principles of the Faith is about death. Imam Ghazali chose to end his book, which is a summary of the great tome, Ihya Ulum...
Read More
The connection between sincerity and the best of people – the story of Ka’b bin Malik
Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that in Rajab, in the year of Tabouk, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) addressed the people, while leaning against his mount, said: عَنْ أَبِي...
Read More
The balancing act – taqwa of Allah vs people’s rights
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about the deed which will be foremost to lead a man to Jannah. He replied, “Fear of Allah...
Read More