What is tranquility Tranquility is one of the major principles in Islam. What is tranquillity? How can we achieve it? and what helps us to stay on the path of tranquillity? Tranquillity is a recurring theme in the Quran, and mentioned by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as well as demonstrated in his practices….
Today my focus is obedience. Obedience is ta’a in Arabic. In Islam, we have the concept of obedience to Allah Almighty, obedience to His messenger, and obedience to those who are in charge, as Allah Almighty stated in the Quran in many verses. For instance, Allah Almighty says in Surat al Imran: ‘Say “Obey Allah…
Thabaat – firmness, resolve, constancy and a strong heart! Upholding the truth and clinging to it is one of the main principles of Islam. When we read the Quran we see many verses in which Allah Almighty talks about thabaat – how to be steadfast, how to be firm in your imaan and not to…
Ad Dhahir wal Batin, the Evident and the Hidden Know Allah Almighty through the manifestation of His creation Ad Dhahir in Arabic comes from dhahara which means to appear, to be very clear, very obvious, and dhahir i.e. evident. In Arabic dhara means obvious and so this is why Dhuhr prayer is when the sun…
“He who knows the name of his Lord, forgets his own name” – Imam al Qushayri Imam al Qushayri, one of the greatest scholars in spirituality and in the purification of the heart, ethically and morally in his beautiful book at-Tahbeer mentioned many wisdoms related to the names of Allah Almighty. One of these is…
Allah Almighty is An-Noor There are four names connected to the Allah Almighty’s existence. The first one, Al Haqq, the second one is An-Noor. An-Noor means the light, or the Provider of Light, or the Creator of Light and Guidance. There are different translations. The origin of the word An-Noor in Arabic is from 3…
Islam is not theoretical, it’s practical. Our obligations are towards Allah Almighty and towards the people with whom we inhabit the world. Our relationships with people begin with our immediate families. Our immediate families are composed of those with whom we are related by blood. There are many verses in the Quran and hadith about…
Honour and dignity Allah Almighty mentioned in the Quran, We have dignified or honoured the children of Adam. (17:70) This is the only ayah in the Quran which has the word ‘karramna’ (honoured). Allah Almighty has therefore given dignity and honour to the children of Adam, all of them. This honour is a given from…
The concept of freedom In our old literature, we don’t find the word freedom as a stand-alone topic. It’s a new expression. The word hurriyya (freedom or liberty) is not a word you even find in the Quran. There’s no ayah that talks about ‘hurriyya’. However you will find the concept. Is it one of…
The General Principles series This is the third in the series on General Principles of Islam- which every Muslim should know. This series started when one of my students in my Arabic class said, ‘You have mentioned the main principles of Islam many times, but what are they? Where can I read about them?’ I…
Throughout my studies of Shariah, over 30 years now, we keep referring to the general principles of Islam. The general principles are an expression that is referred to widely by my shuyukh teachers, their teachers and their shuyukh and throughout our literature. One day, in the Monday circle I deliver, I was asked by some…