Archive for the ‘Seeking Knowledge’ category
Well-Formed Goals
By Huda Shaka Whether it’s losing weight, quitting smoking, or memorizing Qur’an, I have recently learnt that developing a “well-formed goal” is half way towards achieving it1 . Not only that, the remaining half becomes easy and even enjoyable. Too good to be true? Try it out for yourself. Below is a checklist describing a [...]
The Language Argument
Balancing Arabization Series: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX Judging any argument should not be done with preconceived notions or according to cultural influence, rather it should be judged objectively after looking into its intrinsic merit. As Muslims, our criterion of validity for religious matters is that [...]
Taking Notice of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah
By Umm Kulthoom Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim (in the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent) When we study, even very briefly, the Most Beautiful Names of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He), we feel our love for Him grow. And when we can recognize His Names during certain moments and experiences in our [...]
Craving “Middleness”
By Maryam Sakeenah I travel across two worlds in my 20-minute commute between both my workplaces: a modern religious school, and a private grammar school where scions of Pakistan’s moneyed elite are privileged with quality education in tune with modern needs. The mindsets I deal with and the attitudes I encounter make for interesting comparison. [...]
10 Tips to Becoming One of Allah’s Special People
The Qur’an Series: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII I was not a conscientious Muslim. As I entered my freshman year of high school, I had one very specific goal which I was determined to accomplish: to become popular. “Piety” was not consistent with this goal – at least not in my [...]
Three Steps of Knowledge
Two Hundred Word Tidbits: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V The great scholar Sufyan ath-Thawri (may God be pleased with him) is reported to have said, “Knowledge is three hand-spans: the first breeds arrogance, the second breeds humility, and in the third, you realize you know nothing.” When one first embarks on religious [...]
Two Hundred Word Tidbits
A series of beneficial points from various classes each written in two hundred words or less. Two Hundred Word Tidbits: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V The Benefits of Hearing Stories of the Scholars and the Righteous: To be inspired by others who have struggled to get close to Allah subhanahu wa [...]
True Knowledge
By Chad Earl Last week I finished the last of my nine written exams to enter Al-Azhar. I had been preparing for these exams for months, but as the time drew near I realized that I hadn’t put as much time into preparing for them as I should have, and felt a serious race against [...]
Heirs of the Prophets
The Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) said, “Knowledge is to be carried in every generation by the upright and just. They repel from it the distortions of the over-zealous, the forgeries of the fabricators, and the misinterpretations of the ignorant.” There are many relevant points to be taken from this hadith (record of the [...]
Watch Over Your Heart
On Arrogance & the Student of Sacred Knowledge Purifying one’s heart is a critically important matter for all believers, as the Qur’an and teachings of our Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) emphasize, but for one traveling the path of sacred knowledge it is an even more crucial endeavor. This is because the state of [...]
Where Do We Begin?
Imam Suhaib Webb’s lecture at Kumpulan Karangkraf, Shah Alam, Malaysia on the 5th October 2011. In this lecture, Imam Suhaib discusses three main questions pertaining to the question “Where do we begin?” Where do we begin with Allah (swt)? Where do we begin with the Prophet Muhammad? Where do we begin with Islam itself?
Spoken Qur’an
The Qur’an was always conveyed through speech. When it was sent down, it was not sent down as a physical book that was read by the Companions. The Messenger ﷺ (peace be upon him) would recite it out loud and it would be heard and would move those who heard it. It had a penetrating [...]
A Letter to the Aspiring Western Student of Islam
As salaamu `alaykum (Peace be upon you all), To my dear brother or sister from the West, You dream of escaping from the rat race and empty materialism of our modern, fast-food culture and traveling to a traditional land of Islam – a land that is exotic and different, steeped in history, where mosques stand [...]
11 Anchors for the Beginner
Shaykh ‘Ali Rajab al-Salihi’ al-Azhari’s Approach Towards Building a Student Shaykh ‘Ali was from the great scholars of al-Azhar. He wrote that 11 sciences (‘Uloom) should be mastered by anyone who truly wanted to start on a path towards becoming from the people of knowledge and da’wah (the call to Islam). This curriculum is still taught in [...]
Being Religious Without Being a Jerk
“There is nothing that has gentleness in it except that it is beautified, and there is nothing that has harshness in it except that it makes it ugly. So be calm, O Aisha!” The above words were spoken by our beloved Messenger ﷺ to his wife, `A’isha radi allahu `anha (may Allah be please with her). [...]
The Abandonment of the Qur’an
By Iman Badawi It is known as “al-Kitab” (the Book). It is so well known and highly revered that when any Muslim refers to “the Book,” it is understood to mean the Holy Qur’an. It is the book above all books because it is the complete and final revelation of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted [...]
Reflections of an Aspiring Student of Knowledge
by Alaa Suliman “One of the ways to acquire proper akhlaq (character) and adab (manners) is to seek knowledge,” our teacher told us. “To seek knowledge with a scholar who has studied with someone.” Last night, our teacher shared that advice before we started our weekly fiqh (Islamic law) class. He then shared a story with us. “My [...]
True Knowledge
Ten years ago, while in pharmacy school, I gave a quick presentation about the use of Over the Counter (OTC) smoking cessation products. It was an exercise in counseling patients on what is available in the market without a prescription to help them quit smoking. It was a very well put together presentation that garnered [...]
Towards Understanding Ijtihad and Taqleed: A Brief Introduction
The Ijtihad Series: Part 1 “In the Arabic dictionary, the root (ج ح د: j-h-d ) is defined as “the exertion of effort on a matter that requires it.” In all of its different applications, the term denotes the expenditure of mental and intellectual effort. A mujtahid, therefore, is a scholar who researches and studies [...]
The “Sheikh Google” Phenomenon
Islam and the Internet Series: Intro | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IV Googling The Sheikh The term ‘Sheikh Google’ generally refers to an amateurish approach of studying Islam, more specifically to the study of Islamic Law (fiqh) and [...]
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