Women’s Right to Fair Treatment Women’s Day is a reminder that we still have not secured freedom from oppression for women. Isn’t it time that we deliver women the rights that Islam gave them 1400 years ago? O mankind we have created you from a male and female and we have made you into tribes…
How can I get hikmah? He grants hikmah to whom He pleases, and he, to whom hikmah is granted, is indeed granted abundant good. But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding. (2:269) Are we born with wisdom or can we gain it? Are wisdom and knowledge the same thing? What is the best way…
The Six Doors of the Heart Imam Al Muhasibi wrote in his Risala al Mustarshidin (Treatise for the Seekers of Guidance) that the wise men (i.e. himself) said: The heart is like a house with six doors. If you let anyone enter through these doors without your knowledge then your valuables are at risk. Hence…
Not Shooting the Messenger The Prophet (peace be on him) said: ‘I do not break my covenant and I do not imprison the ambassadors or the messengers.’ (Sunan abi Dawood) Abdullah bin Masud said: The Sunnah is not to kill the ambassadors. (Ahmad) No one would quibble with this. It is common sense. Yet it…
‘They want to extinguish the light of Allah Almighty but Allah Almighty will complete His light, even though the disbelievers dislike it’. (9:32 and 61:8) Allah Almighty is highlighting the fact that whenever we have the truth, there are always enemies against it. The truth always faces challenges. How can we identify those who…
Cornering the Cat – Why Allah Forbid Oppression Oh my servants, I have made oppression forbidden on myself and made it forbidden amongst you so do not oppress one another. (Bukhari) This is one of the fundamental rules and pillars in Islam – the prohibition of oppression (dhulm). There are different types of dhulm. The…
Choosing Your Words Wisely Tell my servants to say what is best. (17:53) And say to the people what is good.(2:83) The Prophet (peace be on him) said: Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day let him say something good or let him be silent. (Bukhari) There are so many narrations which are about…
Ijtihad (reasoning) and Taqleed (imitation) Do I need to follow a madhab? Who is qualified to make Ijihad? What essential knowledge does a mujtahid need? Definition While Ijtihad is the process of systematic legal reasoning carried out only by mujtahids (those trained in ijtihad), taqleed is to follow a certain school, or scholar or opinion. The…
The Differences among the Fuqaha In particular we are focusing on the scientific differences among the fuqaha (jurists) and why we have more than one opinion. The main difference is linguistic difference. The second one is evidences and the third is in understanding. When we look at linguistic differences, it becomes clear quite quickly that…
The Origins of the Fiqh Schools Fiqh at the Time of the Prophet (peace be on him) During the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be on him) how was fiqh decided? If someone needed a ruling on a case what did the Prophet (peace be on him) himself do? The first thing the Prophet (peace be on…
Why Scholars Differ This was the first course I delivered in the UK in 2001, but it is as relevant today as it was then, if not more. I used to deliver this course over three months at shariah college, so here I am going to condense it and give you an overview. Why do…
THE LOW DOWN ON BORROWING AND LENDING What Everyone Should Know A loan is a loss on paper. The lender has no access to that money until it is repaid. Yet there are times when we need to borrow and others when we are in a position to lend. In fact, the Prophet (peace…
Du’a is an act of worship that draws us closer to Allah Almighty. In making du’a, the supplicant acknowledges their complete dependence on and need for the One who created, nurtures, and sustains them—and to whom they will ultimately and inevitably return. Since our needs are infinite and endless, one of the best ways to…
The Mistake Hunters What do you focus on when you attend a gathering? What do you remember when you left? Was it the mistakes of the speakers? The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him said): Seeking knowledge is incumbent on every Muslim. (Ibn Majah) The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said: ‘The…
What Causes Du’as to be Rejected? Check Yourself When people are afflicted naturally they turn to Allah Almighty for relief. Some times that relief is not granted. I am frequently asked: How do I know if I am being tested or punished? The answer to this question lies with you. You need to analyse why an affliction…