The Coherence of al-Baqarah
Surah Al-Baqarah is considered one of the richest chapters of the Quran. This is not necessarily due to its length or the fact that it is at the beginning of the Quran, but due to its content. In fact, it has been said that it contains a thousand incidents, a thousand commands and a thousand prohibitions. It is such an important section of the Quran that it has even been argued that the entire Quran revolves around it. Due to the sheer number of topics mentioned therein commentators have disagreed as to the main aims (maqaasid) of the Surah. These…
The Façade of Facebook
With over 845 million users, a little less than one seventh of the world’s population and with an increase of 39% in just one year, Facebook is a global phenomenon. For those who are unfamiliar with Facebook, it is one of over 200Social Network Sites (SNS). These are web based services that allow a user to “(1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system.” Some have commented…
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All praise is due to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the entire universe. And the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad (saw) his family and his companions . Allah (swt) says in the Holy Quran: مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنبُلَةٍ مِّئَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَٱللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allâh, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allâh gives manifold increase to…
Smiling: The Forgotten Sunnah
A brother once went to see a Sheikh with the intention of censuring him for some of his views. Full of anger, he shouted at the Sheikh, but then quite quickly he begun to calm down and smile. What is it that the Sheikh did to make this brother who was shouting at him smile? The Sheikh simply smiled at him. This is a very effective tool that helps in giving dʿawah, dissolving tension, or simply demonstrating brotherhood to others. The beautiful nature of smiling is that it is contagious and it is unfortunate that the Sunnah is usually only…
Stricken with Calamities
Our beloved Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said, “On the Day of Resurrection people will wish that their skins had been cut with scissors in this world, when they see the reward of those who were struck with calamity.” A woman is going through a divorce; a man has lost his father who he loves dearly; and a family have lost their home to an earthquake. Many of us either go through trials or know people who have been afflicted with some type of calamity. Are these calamities a trial or a punishment and how should we react in…