22
Aug 2022
What can Islam offer us today? Connect people to God You could talk for volumes on this question, but let me summarise. Firstly, we must understand that Islam is a divine revelation, so the first thing the revelation does is to connect people with God. Continuity of the divine message since time began From the time of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, til Muhammad (peace be on them all), the divine message has been sent down to mankind. The message has always been the same, as mankind has remained the same. Despite......
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24
Nov 2019
In one of the most seminal hadith, Abu Hurairah narrated: One day while the Prophet (ﷺ) was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Jibril came and asked, ‘What is imaan (faith)?’ Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) replied, ‘Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection.’ Then he further asked, ‘What is Islam?’ Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) replied, ‘To worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts during the month......
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22
Oct 2019
By the soul and the One who perfected it And inspired it of good and evil Successful is the one who purifies it, And failure is his who corrupts it. (91:7-10) There is a hadith which Usamah ibn Sharik narrated: I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and his Companions were sitting as if they had birds on their heads. I saluted and sat down. The desert Arabs then came from here and there. They asked: ‘Messenger of Allah, should we make use of medical treatment?’ He replied: ‘Make use......
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07
Oct 2019
Muslims need to Go Green When your Lord said to the angels, I am placing a successor on earth.’ They said, ‘Will You place in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood, while we declare Your praises and sanctify You?’ He said,’ I know what you do not know. (2:30) Humans were appointed guardians of the earth Allah Almighty mentioned that He was appointing a guardian on earth and He created man from the earth and there are plenty of verses, in the same vein, talking about humans......
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29
Aug 2018
Why Belief has to be Coupled with Thought Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the day and the night are evidence (of the existence of God) for people of reason. It is these who remember God while standing, sitting, or resting on their sides and who think about the creation of the heavens and the earth and say, ‘Lord, you have not created all this without reason. Glory be to you. Lord, save us from the torment of the fire’ (3:190-191) In this particular......
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18
Aug 2018
The Essence of Eid al Adha Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: When the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) came to Medina, the people had two days on which they engaged in games. He asked: What are these two days (what is their significance)? They said: We used to engage ourselves on them in the pre-Islamic period. The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said: Allah has replaced you something better than them, the day of Adha and the day of the Fitr. (Abu Dawoud)......
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14
Aug 2018
The Battle between Self Interest and Truth And remember We said: “Enter this town and eat of the plenty therein as ye wish; but enter the gate with humility, in posture and in words, and We shall forgive you your faults and increase (the portion of) those who do good.” (58) But the transgressors changed the word from that which had been given them; so We sent on the transgressors a plague from heaven, for that they infringed (our command) repeatedly. (2:58-59) Bani Israel’s attitude beggars belief at times. Rescued from slavery,......
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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......
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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......
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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......
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02
Aug 2018
How to Keep Knowledge Safe Moving Away from Student Mentality We all know that from experience that sitting in a classroom as a student is not the same as being in the class as the teacher. The difference is in the preparation. If you were the teacher, you would have prepared the subject matter, what topics to address and the amount of time you allocate to each. You would have also extended your research into other relevant areas to the topic at hand and prepared for potential questions that the student may ask.......
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19
Jul 2018
The Importance of Being Open Minded Islam is far greater than any school, any imam, any sect and any opinion. It is the Divine Revelation to perfect human character and conduct to spread peace and justice. ‘It is not advisable for the believers to march out altogether. Of every division that marches out, let a group remain behind, to gain understanding of the religion, and to notify their people when they have returned to them, that they maybe aware.’ (9:122) Allah the Almighty says in surah Taubah, it is not necessary for all Muslims to go......
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18
Jul 2018
Makkah Al Mukarramah: Spirit and Fruits of Hajj Why is Hajj a pillar? Hajj is full of blessings. When you dig deep down it is full of fruits and sweetness despite the challenges which you face; it is a gift from Him Almighty. Hajj is about unity and also a way of elevating you: 1. Unity In Hajj, you experience different colours, languages, hopes and wishes. 2. Elevation When you enter the state of ihram it connects you to the Hereafter and disconnects you from the dunya. This is the place to......
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10
Jul 2018
‘The strong believer is more beloved to Allah than the weak believer. And in both there is goodness’ (Muslim) What does ‘strong’ believer mean? Is it muscles and brawn? Is it intellect? Or is it Imaan? If it is Imaan does that exclude physical strength? The strong believer is not the one with greater physical strength, otherwise the athlete would be closer to Allah Almighty than others. However this does not diminish the importance of physical fitness and strength. A strong Muslim should ideally be strong not just in Imaan but......
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07
Jul 2018
What Makes One Deed Acceptable to Allah but Not Another? ‘And say: Work; so Allah will see your work and (so will) His Messenger and the believers; and you shall be brought back to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, then He will inform you of what you did.’ (9:105) Allah Almighty always pushes us towards good deeds through the Qur’an. However it is not only work, but the quality of the work, or the action which is important. If the quality of the action is good the fruits......
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