Posts Tagged ‘Muslim’

Seeing the Clouds Move

By Fyora Luul  When I was younger, I took many things for face value: leaves were green, fire burned, candy tasted yummy, and perfume smelled nice. I don’t remember ever questioning why certain things were the way they were—in depth at least—and I just sort of accepted whatever I perceived as being the ultimate truth. Which is why, [...]

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 [...]

Honor the Prophet ﷺ

When Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) loves someone, He honors them both in this life and in the Hereafter. As such, we find in the Qur’an that Allah (swt) always lovingly addresses His Messengers and Prophets in the way that a mentor addresses his student. The Prophets and Messengers are essentially the students [...]

From Facebook to God’s Book

Updated Version | Originally Posted November 2011 The Qur’an Series: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII Many of us have an addictive relationship with Facebook. We check our accounts compulsively, multiple times a day. It is sometimes the last thing many of us do before we sleep and the first thing [...]

Why Black History?

By Margari Hill O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. —Qur’an 49:13 Black History Month is [...]

Moving Out

Question: I am a 30 year old Muslim woman who lives with my family. Alhamdulilah (praise be to God) I have a loving and wonderful home, but I am ready to move out and live independently. I am looking for an apartment to rent on my own. The problem is, my father would never let [...]

Stamp Out Hunger

Amongst the most basic needs of human existence is sustenance. God talks about this in different places in the Qur’an emphasizing that all people must eat and drink and that even the Messengers who were sent to mankind ate and drank (Qur’an 5:75). He also mentions in various places in the Qur’an that He has [...]

Returning to Allah

Excerpts from Tareeq al-Hijratein wa Bab as-Sa`adatein by Imam ibn-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah Abridged and translated1 by Huda Shaka and Naiyerah Kolkailah Inaba, turning to and returning to Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He), is a concept often repeated and enjoined in the Qur’an.  The Exalted says, “And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit [...]

Al-Nur—Light

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 “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if [...]

Aspiring to the Arts

By Lena Khan More than 1400 years ago—before the significance of it was ever being debated in our community—the Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) enjoyed and utilized the arts. For him, this was often in the realm of poetry. It was something he appreciated. He encouraged its purification. He understood its influence. And he [...]

Genuine Surrender: Lessons from Labour

By Umm Sephora We learn many of life’s most profound lessons through paradox.  Here we are – human beings with a soul that yearns for the eternal and lasting, yet living in a world of the temporal and ephemeral. Our hearts seek spiritual highs, yet all the while are encased within bodies which have physical [...]

Luminosity: Lessons from the Full Moon

In the summer of 2010, my friends and I went camping during a full-moon in the famous White Desert. As the sun began to set, we made camp and had dinner under the stars. It wasn’t until later in the night that we really saw the full-moon. For all the full-moons we’ve seen, nothing compared [...]

Love in Islam: Valentine’s Day

Originally published in January 2011. 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 [...]

Allah’s Aid

By Sakina Fletcher Something amazing happened to me on Wednesday. I was making du`a’ (supplication) for a very long time for something in particular. Then, out of the blue, along came this opportunity that was seemingly the answer to my prayer. It was garbed in a cloak of religiosity, presenting the pretence of happiness and Closeness [...]

Polygamous Marriage

Question: I have been discussing marriage with a brother. He seems to have everything I’m looking for in a spouse, and even though we’re still getting to know each other better, feelings get deeper on both sides. The problem is, he doesn’t oppose polygamy, and said he could have more than one wife at a [...]

Are You Like Her?

As I stood amongst millions of pilgrims from across the globe, I noticed a girl walk up to two elderly women sitting in front of Masjid al-Haraam. After greeting them both, I noticed her asking if the women may be interested in a bag. One of the two women accepted it eagerly, excitedly pulling out [...]

Put Your Best Face Forward

Think back to the last time you caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror when you were stressed.  Did you look approachable?  What message did you send to others around you with your distressed facial expressions?  What type of reaction did your family or co-workers have when they engaged with you while you were [...]

Part and Parcel

By Lena Khan On the day that I write this, I received an email from a sister giving me advice (nasiha). I can (maybe) make documentaries, she told me—but certainly not fictional films. I should refrain from imitating the kuffar (disbelievers) in making movies. And for certain, I should be careful of engaging too much [...]

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 [...]

“Every Soul Shall Taste Death”

Make a New Year’s Resolution to Complete Your Last Will and Testament By Aneesah Nadir Happy 1434/2013!  What’s your New Year’s resolution?  Is it to lose weight, eat healthy, spend less, read more Qur’an, pray on time?  Is it to get organized? Is this the year to complete your Last Will and Testament? Did you know [...]