Archive for the ‘Hot Topics’ category
Declaring Apostasy (Takfir) on Muslims
by Ustadh Luqman al-Andalusi Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV Kafir (Arabic: كافر kāfir; plural كفّار kuffār) is a term used in an Islamic doctrinal sense, usually translated as “unbeliever” or “disbeliever” or sometimes “infidel.” The term refers to a person who rejects God or who hides, denies, or “covers” the truth. The Protection of [...]
On Greek Logic: An Islamic Response with Shaykh Akram Nadwi
This discussion is based around a recent one-day course by Shaykh Akram Nadwi entitled ‘Greek Logic: An Islamic Response’ (organized by the innovative London-based Islamic Circles who specialize in original courses), as well as some time spent with Shaykh Akram in Oxford immediately afterwards. Such a presentation is aimed at focusing on the general themes [...]
Pearls from Scholars
Shaykh Sa`id Ramadan al-Bouti is a well-respected modern-day scholar and author who is most popularly known for his esteemed work Fiqh us-Seerah. In my time in Damascus, I saw hundreds of people from every walk of life – mothers and shopkeepers, students and cab drivers, young and old – flock to his weekly classes at [...]
The Manners of Scholars: Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi on the Passing of Shaykh Muhammad Tantawi
by Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi | Translated, with slight modifications, by Jinan Bastaki Recently, Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi published an article on the passing of Shaykh Muhammad Tantawi. It is a beautiful example of love and respect between two scholars who disagreed with each other, and something we can all learn from, insha’Allah (God willing). “Blessed is [...]
When is the difference of opinion (al-Ikhtilāf) amongst scholars a mercy?
A quick search within the plethora of fatāwa (Islamic scholarly opinion) available on the internet alone will quickly help one to conclude that difference of opinion in matters relating to Islam is indeed a reality. The purpose of this short article is neither to address the causes of such differences nor to support one position [...]
Understanding Priorities
In his autobiography, Imam Hasan al-Banna narrates the following incident, which occurred shortly after he began giving regular lessons in a small, local masjid. One of these nights I felt a strange feeling, a feeling of disarray. I saw that the listeners were separated between themselves, even in their seating, and I had barely started [...]
The Use of Weak Ahadith to Encourage Virtuous Deeds
by Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi | Translated and Abridged, with slight modifications, by Suha Abu Shakra Question: Many preachers, reformers, and scholars frequently use ahadith (pl. of hadith) known even to novice students of knowledge as being weak. When critiqued, such people claim that weak hadith can be referred to when encouraging virtuous deeds, deterring people from [...]
Put Out the Fire of Doubt
How often do we encounter an ayah (verse) in the Qur’an that we do not understand or are puzzled at how to apply it? Though we have access to tafsir books in masjid libraries, Islamic bookstores, online, and oftentimes, in our own homes, how frequently do we research the question until we find the answer? [...]
Is a Woman’s Prayer at Home Better?
Answered by Shaykh Muhammad al-Hassan al-Dado | Translated and Abridged by SuhaibWebb.com Question: Some jurists say that the increased reward for praying in the masjid does not apply to women because of the known hadith, “A woman’s prayer in her house is better than in her courtyard, and her prayer in her own room is [...]
The Case Against Interest (Part 2)
Part I | Part II The Wisdom in Prohibiting Interest Yusuf Qaradawi writes in The Lawful and Prohibited: “The strict prohibition of interest in Islam is a result of its deep concern for the moral, social, and economic welfare of mankind.” In view of succinctness, he then summarises the wisdom behind the prohibition that Razi articulated [...]
The Balance between Following Scholars (Taqleed) and Fanaticism (Ta`ssub)
There is a fine line between following (taqleed تقليد) a juristic school of thought (madhab مذهب) or an established scholar of Islamic Jurisprudence (faqih فقيه) and fanaticism/blind partisanship (ta`ssub تعصب) to a scholar or school of thought. The former is something that the scholars of Islam have recommended for the common people who aren’t able [...]
The Case Against Interest (Part I)
Part I | Part II The prohibition of interest in Islam is a Divine ruling; hence a Muslim seeks to submit to it. Nonetheless, there are two crucial aspects to such submission. Firstly, we believe that all Divine rulings have wisdom, even if we are not cognisant of the wisdom. Secondly, with abstinence of and [...]
A Question on Migration to the Lands of Islam answered by Dr. ‘Abdullah bin Bayyah
Answered by Dr. ‘Abdullah bin Bayyah | Translated by Suhaib Webb The Question: The following question was put to the erudite scholar, Shaykh `Abdullah bin Bayyah: “I’m interested in leaving my homeland and migrating to the lands of Islam. I’ve heard that it is an obligation to do so and wanted your guidance on this [...]
It’s a Desert
“It’s a desert.” That’s how I always referred to the weather back home when explaining to my American friends about the climate I grew up in. I thought that summed it up, and gave an accurate description of how sunny and intolerably hot it was most days of the year. One day while hanging out [...]
“…and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty”
There are many proofs for the fact that the shari`a (Islamic law) is based on ease and facilitation and is against rigidity and unnecessary constriction. Any good book on Usūl al-Fiqh will usually provide all such proofs. One of the key proofs used is the Qur’ānic verse mentioned above, in which Allāh subhanahu wa ta`ala [...]
No Condemnation in Areas of Ijtihad
By Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi | Translated by Jamaal Diwan No Condemnation in Areas of Ijtihad from ‘How to Deal with the Tradition, Mathabs, and Differences in Opinion’ From the foundations of this fiqh (the fiqh of disagreement) and its focuses is the principle: There is no condemnation in issues of ijtihad1 (la inkaara fi masaa’il al-ijtihad). [...]
On Celebrating The Prophet’s Birthday ﷺ – Shaykh Abdullah Bin Bayyah
Answered by Dr. Abdullah bin Bayyah | Translated by Suhaib Webb Background: The celebration of the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is an issue of controversy amongst the scholars. Thus, there were some who considered it a disliked innovation, a few even saying it reached the level of [...]
Love in Islam
Valentine’s Day I once dropped by the MSA at the University of Tulsa and heard a very disturbing story. A man from the area had left Islam and had recently given a talk at a local church about his apostasy. He claimed that there was no love in Islam. He felt that the Islamic way [...]
Between Hardship and Ease: Imam al-Qarafi Drops Mad Science
by Imam al-Qarafi | Translated by Suhaib Webb “When you come upon a question with two opinions, one making things easy and the other difficult, you must not issue verdicts to the masses with what is difficult, or to the specialized (scholars and people known for their worship and piety) or the rulers with what [...]
“Koran Boy” and Miracles
Last October a popular British tabloid, The Sun, printed a story about a young Muslim boy in Dagestan, dubbed “Koran Boy” whose family claimed that miraculous imprints of the Quran would appear on his body at varying times.1We all may have encountered stories in this vein at one time or another – reports of a [...]
Contribute to Your Virtual Mosque
Follow us on:
Recent Comments