What are the rulings about Alcohol in Islam? It is unthinkable for governments today to ban alcohol. The US tried it in the 1920s but found prohibition created a new wave of problems than those it was to eradicate. Often there is confusion surrounding the ayahs concerning alcohol in the Qur’an – is it haram,…
Healing the Diseases of the Heart What causes a heart to become hard? What are the consequences of a hard heart? And what are the remedies to soften the heart, revive it and bring it back to life? Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. For indeed, there are…
Beware the Green-Eyed Monster Do not covet something in which Allah has made some of you superior to others. For men there is a share of what they earned, and for women there is a share of what they earned. Pray to Allah for his grace. Surely Allah is all aware of everything. (4:32) Hasad-…
Knowing Sins. The Big and The Small Allah wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow [their] passions want you to digress [into] a great deviation. (4:27) Just as you can’t challenge a parking permit if there was no sign there saying you can’t park there, Allah Almighty has given us the sign posts…
Why There is No Limit to Recklessness, Hubris and Greed In a world riddled with oppression and injustice, one wonders why do we sin? Is it forgetfulness or rebelliousness? Or is it just that it is so easy to sin and there’s nothing to stop us? And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded,…
Leadership, Punishment, and Wealth Certainly you have knowledge of those among you who transgressed in (the matter of) the Sabbath. We said to them, ‘Become apes, abased.’ (65) Thus, We made it a deterrent for those around and (those who came) after them – and a lesson for the God-fearing. (2:65-66) Clear and Effective Leadership…
The Conflict between Belief and What We Want Surely, those who believed in Allah, and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabians, -whosoever believes in Allah and in the Last Day, and does good deeds – all such people will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no reason for them…
Do you have to Practice What You Preach? And be steadfast in Salah (prayer), and pay Zakah, and bow down with those who bow down. (43) Do you enjoin righteousness upon others while you ignore your own selves, although you keep reciting the Book? Have you then no sense? (2:44) Allah Almighty is pointing out…
How to Escape the Clutches of the Nafs Seek help through patience and prayer. It is indeed exacting, but not for those who are humble in their hearts, (45) Who bear in mind that they are to meet their Lord, and that to Him they are to return. (2:45-46) What prevents us from caving into…
Letting Go Memory is a funny thing. There some things we can’t forget and some things we can’t remember… The role of memory in our lives plays an important role but we need to make an active effort to retain what is important and to delete what is not. O Children of Isra’il (Israel), remember…
The Lessons from Adam and Eve And when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves before ’Adam!” So, they prostrated themselves, all but Iblis (Satan). He refused, showed arrogance and became one of the infidels. (34) And We said, “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise; and eat at pleasure wherever you like,…
The Courage to Recognise the Truth ‘O Children of Israel! call to mind the (special) favour which I bestowed upon you, and fulfil your covenant with Me and I shall fulfil My covenant with you and fear none but Me. (40) And believe in what I reveal, confirming the revelation which is with you, and…
What We Can Learn from Allah’s Conversation with His Angels Should you speak up if you disagree with your boss? Do you have to listen to those who are under you? And how important is it to be able to have an open discussion? (Remember) when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I am going…
Developing good communication between husband and wife Communication problems Many women complain about the lack of communication in their marriage. They have limited or zero communication with their spouse and feel isolated in their four walls. Their husband’s inability to communicate could be a common feature in his family, which he inherited from his parents….
Knowing the Creator Through His Creation What can we know about Allah Himself? What does His creation tell us about Him? It is He who created for you all that the earth contains; then He turned to the heavens and made them seven skies – and He is the knower of all things. (2:29) Allah…