The Forgotten Virtues of Suhūr & Iftār
It's easy to forget and take these amazing acts of 'ibāda for granted
The Fiqh of Tarāwīh
According to the Hanbali school of thought
The Language of Mercy in Islamic Discourse | Face to Face
In this Face to Face episode, Sheikh Alomgir Ali discusses the language of mercy in contemporary Islamic discourse.
Towards an Islamic Political Theory
Does Islām have a political philosophy?
Introduction to Islamic Political Theory
Introduction to Islamic Political Theory For many Muslims, politics always has a negative stigma attached to it. The reasons for this vary from the abuse of political power from those in authority to the misunderstandings surrounding the nature of politics and the position of Islām towards it. The lack of clarity vis-à-vis politics and its relationship with Islām requires us to clarify the position of Islām regarding politics and how this understanding should impact our day to day lives. This is especially true since we live in an era where many specious arguments are levelled against Islamic political theory. Also…
The need for guidance in an age of confusion
In the age of globalisation and mass media, the promotion and exchange of ideas has never been so easy. Whilst this can lead to a healthy growth in knowledge and wisdom, it can also add to more confusion, especially when falsehood is given a mouthpiece to espouse its views. In fact, the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) predicted that towards the end of time ignorance will become prevalent. “Near the establishment of the Hour there will be days during which knowledge will be taken away (vanish) and general ignorance will spread, and there will be Al-Ḥarj in abundance, and…
Prophetic Teacher Training: the Believer and the Palm Tree
Prophetic Teacher Training: the Believer and the Palm Tree ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) reported that Allāh’s Messenger (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: “‘There is a tree amongst trees, the leaves of which do not wither and that is like a Muslim; tell me which that can be?’ The people began to think of the trees of the forest.” ʿAbdullāh (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) said: “I thought that it could be the date-palm tree, but I felt hesitant . They then said: ‘Allāh’s Messenger, tell us which that can be?’ Thereupon he said: ‘It is the date-palm tree.’ I…
Be a key that opens the doors to goodness
The Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Some people open the doors to good and close the doors to evil, and some people open the doors to evil and close the doors to good, so glad tidings to those in whose hands Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta’ālā) places the keys to good, and woe to those in whose hands Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta’ālā) places the keys to evil.” In al-Munāwi’s commentary of this narration he quoted al-Ḥakīm saying, “Goodness lies in Allāh’s (subḥānahu wa ta’ālā) pleasure and evil lies in angering Allāh (subḥānahu wa ta’ālā), so if Allāh…
Fleeing to prayer during testing times
The situation of the Ummah today necessitates that we remind ourselves of some important and beneficial reminders that will help us in our situation and relieve us from the resultant grief and concerns that we suffer from. We may also suffer from personal problems that also require a similar remedy. From amongst the legislated ways to repel the negative effects of trials and tribulations is ṣalāh itself. The Prophets and the righteous understood the huge status of ṣalāh among other acts of worship and so they used to resort to it and what it contains in terms of Qur’ān, dhikr…
Al-Intikās – Relapsing in Faith.
The problem of relapsing in faith, whether due to weak commitment or ideological reasons, is a phenomenon that has existed throughout time in all faiths and traditions. Sadly, this is also a reality for Muslims as well. Hence, we find in the Qur’ān a number of places where Allāh (subhānahu wa ta’ālā) warns the believers from falling into such circumstances: “And of the people is he who worships Allāh on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face . He has lost…