Archive for the ‘Seeking Knowledge’ category
This Tree
By Abid Mohammed “Daddy!” I said. “Yes, son?” my father replied. “Why do people only work five days a week and not seven?” I asked. “Well, because most people need a break from all the hard work that they…” “But why?” I asked again. “If you’ll just let me finish, I’ll tell you wh..” “But [...]
A Prophetic Way of Teaching
The traditions of the Prophet ﷺ, namely in the form of sayings (hadith) as well as being a source of law and religious guidance, also holds many other meanings and lessons, available to those who read it analytically. This is alluded to in the following Hadith: “May Allah brighten [the face of] a person who [...]
Start with the Qur’an
Lecture by Suhaib Webb | Transcribed by Fuseina Mohamad Surat Luqman, Qur’an 31 The Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) said in a hadith recorded in Bukhari, related by Uthman ibn Affan: “.خيركم من تعلم القرآن و علمه” “The best of you is the one who learns the Qur’an and teaches it.” The word تَعَلَّمَ ta`allam is [...]
I’m Better Than You
Transcribed by Abdul Alim Abdullah The following story is an extract from ibn al-Jawzī’s Ocean of Tears. It has been related through some reports that there was a man who was from amongst the Islāmic jurists of Baghdād. He was a source of knowledge and authority for the people in addition to being a great [...]
Meditations on Menstruation
Most Muslims today are generally familiar with the rulings of purification and menstruation in Islam, but there is often much to be desired in how we, as a community, discuss these rulings and how we understand them. In a previous post, I touched on the need to change some of our negative ideas about menstruation. [...]
Understanding Usul al-Fiqh
Usul al-Fiqh Series: Part I Primer in Conceptualizing Usul al-Fiqh The following series is intended to introduce usul al-fiqh in a systematic manner. In this section, we will introduce some key concepts that outline briefly what usul al-fiqh is about, what is beneficial about this science, and why it is important. Defining and Describing Usul [...]
The Arqam Effect: From Reading the Qur’an to Action
Those familiar with the biography of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him) are versant with the story of a young man named Arqam. Arqam played an instrumental role in the unfolding of the history of the Arabian Peninsula. Despite his key role in history, he is noted in the books of Prophetic biography to [...]
The All Knowing, the Most Wise
Names of Allah Series: Part I |Part II | Part III| Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX | Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII | Part XIV | Part XV When learning Allah’s Names, it is important to understand that Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) is not just one attribute at a time. Just like if we describe our [...]
There can only be one truth, right?
There can only be one truth, right? So when it comes to Islamic law this must also be the case. There may be different opinions but only one of them is correct and therefore my ‘shaykh’, ‘madhab’, ‘tariqa’, ‘group’ is usually right to the exclusion of others. This may be the type of logic that [...]
How to Review What You’ve Memorized of the Qur’an
The Qur’an Series: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII “Shaykh Moheb, I can’t do this!” I vented to my Qur’an teacher. He had put me on a strict daily Qur’an schedule that included review, memorization and reading. I simply could not find the time to maintain it; I [...]
Reasons of Revelation
Qur’anic Reflection Series: Part I | Part II | Part III We have been looking at the way the reasons of revelation can aid us in developing a sound understanding of the Qur’an. Here we look at this issue with much more depth. Imam ash-Shatibi radi allahu `anhu (may God be pleased with him) states in al-Muwafaqat: “Knowledge [...]
Is Ignorance Bliss?
By Maira Mukhtar “No, stop! I don’t need to know,” interrupted a friend not wanting to discuss religion. “I’m not ready to practise just yet and Allah is too kind to punish anyone for things they are unaware of.” Her simplistic view made me wonder whether or not I was putting myself under unnecessary burden [...]
Al-Fattah – The Opener
By Sarah Ibrahim At some point in our lives, we have all experienced the feeling of having a block in every part of our path. It could be as small as not understanding a complicated concept in a class or as significant as continuously applying to jobs and just not getting a call back. It [...]
Hijab: Fard (Obligation) or Fiction?
I am in a dilemma and need you to help me put things into perspective. It’s the age-old question of whether hijab is fard (mandatory) or not! I have been wearing hijab for many years now. I always believed that the ayah (verse) in Surat An-Nissa (Qur’an 4) is a personal choice that women make [...]
“And Every People Knew its Watering Place”
This article is based on the book “Qur’anic Principles” by Dr. Umar ibn Abd Allah al-Muqbil This verse in Surah Baqara is specifically referring to the incident wherein Moses prayed for water for the children of Israel: “And [recall] when Moses prayed for water for his people, so We said, “Strike with your staff the [...]
Living the Bayyinah Dream
By Fuseina Mohamad Reflections of a student from the Bayyinah Dream Program “Ustadh Nouman, about this speech, how long should it be? Mine is four minutes.” Ustadh shook his head and leaned on the pool cue. “No. Three minutes, max.” “But…” “Three minutes, Fuseina. Three minutes. ” I’d been giving Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan grief [...]
“Not educated… No expert…”
By Nabil Ahmed Part I | Part II In our last article we reminded ourselves of how little in reality we know—and how an obsessiveness of thinking that we’re “right” is not a characteristic of a humble Believing Mind. In this second article, we explore how we can reach the intellectual humility that we crave. [...]
In Need of Him
By Nabil Ahmed Part I | Part II What do I know anyway? One of my teachers taught us in a class earlier this year: ‘The less you learn, the more you think you know. And the more you learn, the more you realize how little you know!’ This shook me to my core. I [...]
Shah Walliullah al-Dehlawi’s Approach to Reform
By Abu al-Hassan al-Nadwi | Translated by Suhaib Webb Imam al-Dahlawi undertook efforts towards revival and reform by focusing on the following: During his age, the majority of Muslims had major shortcomings in understanding how to have faith in God (Ar. tauhid). It was clouded by numerous ignorant ideas, corrupted philosophies, and un-Islamic customs, so [...]
My Theories on Life
By Omaer Khan Muslims are weird. They talk differently, they dress differently, they think differently. What is wrong with them, and why can’t they be more like everyone else? I come from a secular family. My mother was a Hindu, and my father a Muslim. They fell in love, got married and gave birth to [...]
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