Belief, the Qur’an, the Prophets and the practical path to closeness with Allah.
Recently, there has been a strong wave of critisim against celebrating the Mawlid of the Prophet (saw). Some have said that is is a bid’a (innovation) and goes against Islam. Others have claimed that the Mawlid celebrations lead people into engaging in un-Islamic behaviour. Through defining the specific terms and analysing the accusations, we will … Read more
*Please Note: the following is not an extensive tafsīr/interpretation of Surah Al-Māʿūn; it is a combination of explanations of this beautiful Qur’anic chapter derived from other tafasīr or from personal reflections on the Surah. My favourite resources which I have derived information from for this article are Min Wahy Al-Qur’an by Sayyed Muhammad Hussain Fadlallah … Read more
In the story of the death of Imam Hussain (maqtal), which people read every year on Ashura, is the story of Jon bin Huway, his loyal companion. They narrate that Jon said to Imam Hussain (a.s) before going out to battle: “By Allah, my smell is foul, and my lineage is lowly, and my colour … Read more
In the spirit of Muharram, we have prepared a series called #10_Days_Of_Inspiration. The events of Karbala should not be remembered merely as a story in history. It is an example from which we must learn and implement the immensely valuable lessons set down by the great leader that is Hussain (a.s) and his family and … Read more
The below is a translated poem which was originally in Arabic. Access the original Arabic poem here. Oh Eid, in you justice takes pride Through you the Ummah of justice attained its hopes And the mouths of truth smiled And the eyes of oppression drowned in tears. The universe heard a verse, That was recited … Read more
Read below for a quick factsheet about the Battle of Uhud and the lessons we can learn from it: The Battle of Uhud occurred on the 15th Shawwal in the year 3 A.H. The disbelievers sought to fight the Muslims as revenge for their humiliating defeat in the Battle of Badr. 700 Muslims gathered at … Read more
Seeking closeness with Allah (swt) is honourable and holy. The Quran is holy because it is the book of Allah (swt). The month of Ramadan is holy as it is the month of Allah (swt). So, the human being becomes honourable when he worships Allah (swt). Fasting gives us the opportunity to achieve a strong … Read more
God did not create His religious commands for the heavens; rather they were for this earth and man: ‘O you who believe! Answer (the call of) God and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life’ 8:24; He wanted man to build in this life – materialistic, spiritual and cultural building. So, … Read more
Disclaimer: This article is directly based on the Arabic lecture series: The Jurisprudence of Women by Sayyed Kamal Al-Haydari, episodes 40-45. What is written here is only part of the argument on this topic so to get a deeper understanding you can review his full lectures. Polygamy is no doubt one of the most controversial topics in relation … Read more
The year is coming to an end, the holidays are approaching and the sun is beaming joy into everyone’s spirits as the glorious summer weather approaches (for Australia at least). As you drive around the streets, you see houses with their front yards sparkling from Christmas-y fairy lights and ornaments. And of course, the Christmas … Read more
1- What was the year the prophet was born in known as? Aam al-feel, the year of the elephant 2- What was the prophet’s occupation before he became a prophet? Merchant 3- In which cave did Prophet Muhammad receive his first revelation of the Qur’an? The cave of Hira 4- What age did the prophet die? Around the age … Read more
The central image is of a beautiful Islamic mosaic. Anyone can admire the precision, the geometric perfection, the superior craftsmanship, the harmony of colours and the beauty of the design. We may wonder, who was the artist who fashioned it? Which human being had the skills to create it? No one would ever suggest that … Read more