25
Nov 2018
Lessons from Ibrahim (peace be on him) And when We made the House a place of return for the people and security. And take, , from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. And We charged Abraham and Ishmael, , ‘Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying for worship and those who bow and prostrate .’ (2:125) And when Abraham said, ‘My Lord, make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits – whoever......
Read More
22
Nov 2018
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, when the word haram itself has not been used? Is it permissible if consumed in small quantities which do not intoxicate you? Why did Allah say not to approach salah when intoxicated if alcohol was prohibited? What does......
Read More
15
Nov 2018
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 stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allah . And Allah is not......
Read More
09
Oct 2018
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- The In-built Feature Hasad is a feature which is built in our system – ghaira (jealousy). Pre-progammed within us, as a factory setting. Some manage to minimise it while others super-boost it. It has a switch off button, as well......
Read More
07
Oct 2018
Knowing Sins. The Big and The Small Allah wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow passions want you to digress 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 for sins, so that we know what is punishable. In order to avoid big sins we have to have know what they are. Particularly, as sinning is a form of Self harm. As Allah Almighty states in......
Read More
07
Oct 2018
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, ‘Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not......
Read More
25
Aug 2018
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 Effective leadership needs to be firm. In positive parenting, experts talk about tough love. Ultimately it is up to a leader to ensure that the people in his charge behave in the best manner. Rules and codes......
Read More
20
Aug 2018
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 to fear, nor shall they grieve. (62) And when We took the pledge from you, and raised high above you the (Mount of) Tur: “Hold fast to what We have given to you, and remember what is......
Read More
09
Aug 2018
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 the hypocrisy of preaching one thing, while personally doing another. At the time of this revelation, there were some rabbis who would instruct their followers to do one thing, but themselves would do another. Allah Almighty is......
Read More
08
Aug 2018
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 our baser cravings? The relentless pull of our nafs is tough to keep in check. Just as the irrepressible urge of a smoker to pick up a cigarette makes him feel trapped, repeating a behaviour that he......
Read More
07
Aug 2018
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 My blessing that I conferred upon you, and that I gave you excellence over the worlds; (47) And guard yourselves against a day when no one shall stand for anyone in anything, nor shall intercession be accepted......
Read More
06
Aug 2018
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, but do not go near this tree, otherwise you will be (counted) among the transgressors.” (35) Then, Satan caused them to slip from it, and brought them out of where they had been. And We said, “Go......
Read More
03
Aug 2018
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 be not the first to reject faith therein, nor sell My Signs for a small price: and fear Me, and Me alone. (41) And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what......
Read More
26
Jul 2018
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 to create a deputy on the earth!’ They said, ‘Will You create the one who will spread disorder on the earth and cause bloodshed, while we proclaim Your purity, along with your praise, and sanctify Your name?’......
Read More
11
Jul 2018
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. It is quite likely, the children of this couple will also inherit this pattern of behaviour. Sadly having no communication in marriage is a common problem. Your spouse is your partner and your support to Jannah, so......
Read More