Islamic Law: Between ‘Selecting’ and ‘Negating’ a Position

Knowledge is becoming widespread. More and more Islamic books are being translated into English. The number of avenues in which a Muslim may learn the Arabic language is growing, thus access to the abundance of resources that exist in the source language is becoming much easier. Yet if this growth in knowledge is not gradual [...]

Thoughts on Islam’s Political System

by Dr. Ahmed Al-Raissouni | Translated, with slight modifications, by Suha Abu Shakra Many evidences show a clear distinction between two categories of rulings in the shari`ah (the Islamic system of law based on the Qur’an and Sunnah). The first deals with beliefs, worship, and morals, and it is characterized by detailed and fixed rulings. The [...]

Surat al-Fatiha

A Lecture by Suhaib Webb | Transcribed by Fuseina Mohamad Surat al-Fatiha Series Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV|Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part VIIII | Part VIX| Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII | Part XIV | Part XV | Part XVI | Part XVII | Part XVIII | Part XIX | Part XX | Part XXI [...]

Choosing Opinions that Suit Your Desires

The world we live in today has brought many tests to the Muslims. Undoubtedly, it has also brought many blessings to us. One new reality—the fact that the knowledge of our religion has become readily available through mass media—can be either a test or a blessing depending upon the scholar you speak to. As a [...]

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 [...]

Scholarly Disagreement

Translated by Ustadh Arsalan Haque A Declaration by al-Majma` al-Fiqhi, Mecca Annual Convention Background All praises are due to Allah alone.  Peace and blessings be on the one after whom there will be no prophet – our master and prophet, Muhammad, may God bless him, his family, and his companions and grant them peace. To [...]

Mufti, Fatwa, and Istifta – The Asking and Answering of Religious Questions

Part I | Part II When Can A Mufti Refuse to Answer a Question? 1. The Situation Being Asked About Does Not Exist. Often times, the questioner (mustafti), will approach the scholar and ask him a question involving a scenario which has not yet happened. Sometimes the question may make assumptions which can result in changes [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Differences in Islamic Law

by Najah Nady Allah (subhanahu wa ta`ala – exalted is He) has created humans with a variety of differences in languages, colors, interests, perceptions, and idiosyncrasies. These differences are a normal and universally accepted aspect of the nature of life and they are glaring proofs of the Almightiness and Omnipotence of Allah. Allah (swt) said, [...]

“…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 [...]

Fiqh as-Sunnah (Part II)

by Arif Hussain Part I | Part II …continued from previous post. Impurities (Najasah): These are the substances that the believer must remove from himself to be considered pure for prayer. 1. Dead Animals: Animals that have died due to natural causes, not as a result of Islam-regulated slaughter. The following are exceptions to the rule: [...]

Manual of Fiqh as-Sunnah

by Arif Hussain Part I | Part II Shaykh Sayyid Sābiq has done a great service to the Muslim world by providing a solid text on Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) that brings to light the difference of opinion of scholars regarding matters of worship, while also providing a reference to the sources of Islamic law.  An [...]

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). [...]

Scholarly Consensus: Ijmāʿ Between Use & Misuse By Sh. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali

New Audio 3 in 1: Steps Towards Revelation, Usol al-Fiqh and Tasawwuf

Recordings from a recent class Shaykh Suhaib did on Revelation, Usol al-Fiqh and Tasawwuf! [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:12:57 — 25.3MB) Text: al-Waraqaat The questions didn’t come out in the audio, so I’ve posted them here, please reference them while listening to the Q&A portion: 1. Asalamu alaikum, shaykh. [...]

The Language of the Khutbah

By the Grace of Allah, we have a beautiful tradition of law filled with rich wisdom that balances between a deep understanding of our scripture and the reality of those to whom it is applied. Consequentially, our scholars have dealt with the modern world by developing two new applications of fiqh. One is referred to [...]

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 [...]

A Mufti’s Moderate Way

by Imām al-Shāti̩bī | Translated by Suhaib Webb From the Qualities of a Muftī: The skillied muftī carries the people on a balanced acceptable way; he does not push them towards severity or excess. The proof for this is that the objective of Islam, in its relationship with people, is moderation, neither radicalism nor being lax. [...]

New Reflections On Shaikh as Sayyid Sabiq’s (r) Fiqh Us-Sunnah

Fiqh us-Sunnah is of those texts which like the Riyadh us Saliheen of Imam Nawawi (r) has gained in popularity and notoreity and universality.  It is unfortunate that in the English language we possess no sound translation of Fiqh us Sunnah. There is an Indian print English version which deserves mention due to it being [...]