Why we talk about Hijrah in Muharram Although we often talk about the Hijrah in Muharram, it is important to clarify that the Hijrah actually took place at the end of Safar and the beginning of Rabi’ al-Awwal. The reason we celebrate it in Muharram is because it is the beginning of the new year…
Allah’s beautiful name Ar-Razzaaq has been translated in various ways, but they are all connected to rizq, which is provision. So accordingly, you see the translation of Ar-Razzaq as the Total Provider or the Provider or the Sustainer. Also as the One who creates the sustenance for all His creation. And it is one of…
The Best Companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Best of this Ummah after the Prophet (peace be upon him) Regarded as the closest confidant and the foremost companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the life of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) deserves our attention and reverence….
The loss of a child is a deeply sorrowful and painful experience for parents and the community. Islam recognises that this is a time of immense grief and therefore, provides clear guidance on how to cope with this tragic event. Find patience and acceptance The death of a child is seen as a test and…
The tasbih, tahmeed, tahleel and takbir We are familiar with the phrases Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar, wa la illaha illallah. We recite them in our Salah and after the Salah and before we sleep. It does not matter which order you say them. There are many narrations which show how much the Prophet (peace be…
The Etiquettes of Wudu The wudu is divinely prescribed (tawqifi). It was demonstrated by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to his companions. The differences of opinion between the different schools arise due to their using different narrations. It is not the case Imam Abu Hanifa, or Malik or Shafi are creating their own styles…
Tahara (purification) Not everyone is aware that the parts of wudu are divided into the obligations (fard) and the Sunnah, which are rewarding but not essential for a wudu to be valid. Why is this important? If one finds they are short of water, they can do the minimum aspects of wudu for it to…
Every Friday we are recommended to recite Surat al Kahf which is part of the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) because through it we are granted a special light during the week until the following Friday. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ…
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَدْعُو بِهَؤُلاَءِ الْكَلِمَاتِ “ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ غَلَبَةِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الْعَدُوِّ وَشَمَاتَةِ الأَعْدَاءِ ” . رواه النَّسائي. ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) used to say*:…
Dua to be saved from the loss of favours Abdullah bin ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ كَانَ مِنْ دُعَاءِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ زَوَالِ نِعْمَتِكَ وَتَحَوُّلِ عَافِيَتِكَ وَفُجَاءَةِ نِقْمَتِكَ وَجَمِيعِ سَخَطِكَ The Messenger of Allah (peace…
Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an: إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ Surely We revealed the Message, and We will surely preserve it. (15:9) Allah Almighty has promised that He will protect the Quran – the final message. Allah Almighty promised clearly to preserve it. He never promised to protect any other previous revelation…
The story of Eid therefore embodies the principle of certainty (yaqeen), commitment and sacrifice. Every Eid we are reminded of the story of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). He is the symbol of sacrifice. When he was commanded to sacrifice his son, he had absolute certainty (yaqeen) in Allah Almighty and true tawakkul (trust). It…
Ad Dhahir wal Batin, the Evident and the Hidden Know Allah Almighty through the manifestation of His creation Ad Dhahir in Arabic comes from dhahara which means to appear, to be very clear, very obvious, and dhahir i.e. evident. In Arabic dhara means obvious and so this is why Dhuhr prayer is when the sun…
“He who knows the name of his Lord, forgets his own name” – Imam al Qushayri Imam al Qushayri, one of the greatest scholars in spirituality and in the purification of the heart, ethically and morally in his beautiful book at-Tahbeer mentioned many wisdoms related to the names of Allah Almighty. One of these is…
The sacred months Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, and Muharram are the three consecutive prohibited months – meaning that no one was permitted to fight any battles during these months, or use their arms against anyone else, so that security was assured in this period and it gave safe passage to pilgrims traveling to Makkah to…