Family, history, self-building and the questions of everyday Muslim life.
Picture this scenario: You are standing in front of your Lord, Allah (swt) on the Day of Judgement and all your deeds are being exposed. You know that your good deeds are not enough to intercede for you, and you are shaken and mortified by the impending doom of eternal punishment that awaits you. At … Read more
Today marks the death anniversary of the famous Egyptian Qur’an reciter, Muhammed Siddiq al-Minshawi (20 January 1920 – 20 June 1969). Since he is considered among the unique Qur’an reciters and huffaz of the twentieth century, it is important to remember him and be inspired by his great legacy. Al-Minshawi comes from a well-known family … Read more
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of human rights and humanitarian initiatives? You probably didn’t think of the Oath of Brotherhood; an under-appreciated yet revolutionary event that transformed society at it’s time, and has the potential to transform society today. So, what is the Oath of Brotherhood? And … Read more
This Ramadan, Kalima Institute has developed a printable worksheet for you to write down what you want to change in this month and how. The activity consists of 5 simple steps, designed to help you focus on one bad habit of yours and work to change it this month. Also included are tips on changing … Read more
What would Imam Musa al-Kazim (as) do with so much free time? These days mark the anniversary of the martyrdom of our blessed Imam and role model, Imam Musa ibn Ja’far al-Kazim (as), who spent his life working towards the pleasure of Allah (swt). During such occasions we must not only remember these exemplar personalities, … Read more
Most Muslims have heard that “marriage is half of religion”, but what does this truly mean? Is it simply because it preserves one’s chastity? Is anyone in a marriage completing half their religion even if they are abusing their spouse? What if their spouse leads them further away from religion? Firstly, marriage is supposed to … Read more
It is that time of year where thousands of people start travelling all over the world to enjoy some time away from their daily routines and to make the most of the summer break. For those of us who live in Australia, that almost always means taking long-haul flights to reach the final destination, whether … Read more
Yasin al-Rumeithi is one of the most prominent reciters of poems about the event of Karbala and the heroic roles of Imam Hussein and the other martyrs. He had a unique original technique in reciting, and he used to recite powerful poems that are full of knowledge, values and wisdom. These qualities made him one … Read more
What is the secret ofthe immortal poems of the late Haj Hamza al-Saghir and the late Haj Kazim al-Mandur al- Karbalai? And why should every reciter learn from them and follow in their footsteps? In the history of the Husseini literature, many distinguished reciters and poets emerged. They produced masterpieces that became ingrained in the … 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
Sheikh Al-Kaaby was a prominent Iraqi scholar who used to teach at the hawza (seminary) in Karbala. He was born on the anniversary of the birth of Fatima AlZahra in 1909 (hence his name). He became prevalent in 1970s Iraq, at the peak of the Baa’th movement, to which he openly opposed. Speaking out against … Read more
Beginnings are crucial. If you start something in the right direction, then the end will be successful a well. Read on to find out about the Islamic Hijri year and how best to prepare for it. What is the importance of the Hijri calendar? The Hijri year is important in the lives of Muslims. It … Read more