Moon-fighting and Flying Goats The annual moon-fighting fiasco is a pain we endure every year first with uncertainty when it will be, guessing which day to take off from school and work and inevitably ending with families divided on the day of Eid, when half celebrate on one day and the other half, even within…
What’s the solution to atheism in the media? In surah Ghafir, Allah Almighty mentions the story of Pharaoh, Pharaoh said,: ‘Leave me to kill Moses, and let him appeal to his Lord. I fear he may change your religion, or spread disorder in the land.’ (40:26) If you read this with the name Pharaoh…
…even when it does not appeal to us When what is good for us is bitter Allah the Almighty created us, and He wrote our destiny before He created us in a book which will never change. Yet He gave us choices. Without doubt, after He sent the messengers and the prophets to clarify the…
Celebrate Eid with a Smile Alhamadulillah we have been able to fast in Ramadan and pray, and stand in night prayers. The good news that that Prophet (peace be on him) said: Whoever fasts in Ramadan out of imaan and expecting the reward from Allah, his former sins will be forgiven, and whoever stands up…
Reform your Character in Ramadan Reflections by Shaykh Haytham Tamim Day 1 – Mercy and Deceit Positive Action Reflect on the mercy in our lives. In the hadith the Prophet ﷺ said if we want more mercy, we have to practice more mercy. Allah bestows His mercy only on those of His servants who are merciful…
A special annual guest There is a guest we wait for every year. Some people long to receive him, some don’t care and some dislike him. He stays with us for a month. The bearer of gifts When he arrives he brings many gifts with him, large and small. Throughout the month he distributes an…
Ramadan: Reclaiming your inner and outer peace Talk by Shaykh Haytham Tamim on 28th May 2019 at Open Iftar, Westminster Abbey and Khutbah 31st May 2019 Life is busy – full of stress, fatigue, conflicts, tests and temptation… We are missing tranquility and peace. Ramadan comes and brings peace back to our lives. It puts…
Ramadan is the time to smell the perfume of jannah When it’s the first night of Ramadan, the devils will be chained and the giant jinns will be chained and the gates of hell will be closed and none of it will be open and the gates of paradise will be open and none of…
Freeing the space in your heart The gates of heaven are open every Monday and Thursday, and Allah forgives everyone who is not associating anyone with Him, except two people who have a conflict between them. It will be said, ‘Postpone the forgiveness for them until they reconcile, postpone forgiveness for them until they reconcile,…
Understanding the release from hell Spotting weak and fake Ramadan hadith When a hadith offers you reward that sounds too good to be true this is usually a sign it is not authentic. It goes against common sense. If someone has accumulated a huge pile of sins, and has not repented, all their sins will…
Catching the gold dust The last ten nights of Ramadan are just round the corner. Alhamdulilah we wait for Ramadan for 11 months and Ramadan comes full of blessings, khairat and goodness. The Prophet (peace be on him) as Aisha, Ibn Abbas and others (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated, said that he was…
The Prophet (peace be on him) said: ‘He will not be admitted to Jannah, the one who has in his heart an atom’s weight of pride.’ A man asked the Prophet (peace be on him): ‘We like to have beautiful dresses and shoes. Is it out of pride? Will this be classified under kibr?’…
Ramadan is the Month of Ihsan Fasting is a shield. When anyone of you is observing fast, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise his voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him, he should say: ‘I am fasting.’ By Him in Whose Hand the soul of…
When changing direction helps you find your true direction And thus we have made you a just community (ummah wasata) that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you. And We did not make the qibla which you used to face except that We might make evident…
Reflections on Ramadan By Shaykh Haytham Tamim Every year I reflect on Ramadan and try to capture its meaning. Over the years I have accumulated many reflections, here is a selection on what I think Ramadan is about. Glorify what Allah has glorified One of the great tabiyeen, Qatada bin Di’ama as- Sadusi, (61-118 AH)…