We are all fed up with the headlines. With constant bad news and a worsening geopolitical situation, random and absurd threats of aggression that make Lex Luther look tame, and barefaced lies every time we hear politicians make statements, it’s hard not to feel down. Add to that the rising cost of living…the doom and gloom…
Explaining Islam to non-Muslims – beyond the myths and misconceptions Two billion people, (about a quarter of the globe) are Muslim. Muslims believe in one God, who is called Allah, the Arabic word for God, which is also used by Arabic-speaking Christians. Muslims believe that God is the Creator of everything, including the universe, and…
One of the questions people ask today is whether Islam is compatible with modern life. Everything seems to be changing at an incredible pace – technology is advancing, cultures are shifting, lifestyles are becoming busier, and every day brings a new trend, a new opinion or a new way of thinking. And there is a…
How did Imam al-Bukhari gather and verify thousands of hadith without modern technology? This article explores the rigorous science behind Sahih al-Bukhari, including oral preservation, narrator verification, written documentation, and the methodology that made his collection the most respected hadith compilation in Sunni Islam.
Can non-Muslims eat halal meat? Yes. Halal meat can be eaten by anyone, including non-Muslims. It is simply meat prepared according to Islamic dietary laws, slaughtered in a similar fashion to kosher meat in Judaism. Eating halal food does not make someone Muslim or involve them in Islamic worship. In Islam, life is sacred. Muslims…
In order to understand beauty as Allah describes it, first we should know that the Qur’an does not speak about beauty as something shallow or decorative. When it uses the word jamal, it directs the heart. It teaches us that true beauty is connected to tranquility, purpose, and spiritual growth. I traced the word jamal…
Beauty is mentioned in Qur’an and Sunnah as jamal and husn. It encompasses external beauty, clothes, cleanliness, adornment, as well as internal beauty, character, serenity, patience, forgiveness. When you see something beautiful, do you pause and reflect on it? Do you ask: “Why did Allah create this beauty? What purpose does it serve?” Beauty is…
Beauty in Allah’s creation When you read the Quran, we find that in the core of the Quran, Allah talks about beauty. First, He said He perfected everything He created: ٱلَّذِیۤ أَحۡسَنَ كُلَّ شَیۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۥۖ وَبَدَأَ خَلۡقَ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مِن طِینࣲ who gave everything its perfect form. He first created man from clay (Surah Sajdah, Ayah…
Refreshing the Soul in Ramadan Striving Any achievement requires hard work. It needs sacrifices and it needs commitment. But we live in a world of instant and constant self-gratification. So, we have to strive to reach our potential, we have to strive against the pulls in a world of social media, surplus food, constant stream…
A simple guide to working out your zakat Checklist identify the date you first reached nisab (your zakat start date) one lunar year later, total your zakatable assets (cash, gold/silver, shares as applicable, business inventory as applicable) subtract immediate debts that are actually due (and apply your chosen view on longer-term debts consistently) if you…
The general principle of prompt burial The starting principle in Islamic law is that the deceased should be buried without unnecessary delay. The Prophet ﷺ said: «أَسْرِعُوا بِالْجَنَازَةِ» “Hasten with the funeral.” (Agreed upon) This hadith establishes that burial should not be postponed without need. The scholars understood from this that delaying burial for emotional…
The topic of destiny (al-qadar) is one of the most difficult topics to understand. The more you go into it, the more complicated it feels. I will try my best to simplify it, and also give you some tips on how to deal with it and understand it, because it is one of the most…
Ramadan is a month that returns every year. Only the fortunate among us are those who witness Ramadan, and more fortunate still are those who truly benefit from it. How people receive Ramadan Some people receive Ramadan as if it is just another month. Others long for it, welcoming it with passion, commitment, sincerity, and…
There is an enormous amount of information and research work on Muslim women that is confused with culture and unsubstantiated. A big part of that confusion is that we no longer know what is genuinely Islamic and what is just culture. On top of that, we are constantly being fed images from media, films, drama,…
Why would someone born in London, who had lived her entire life in London, and who had very few close friends in a headscarf choose to wear a headscarf (hijab)? Let me start by asking: When is a piece of cloth not just a piece of cloth? When it is a superhero cape. This is…