Posts Tagged ‘Qur’an’

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 [...]

Leaving Islam

Question: We have a 25-year-old son who lives 3000 miles away from us.  We went to see him a couple of weeks ago and he informed us that he was no longer Muslim, that he does not believe in any religion. He believes that religions are one of the main reasons why there are so [...]

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 [...]

Heavenly Breeze of Hope

By Othman Mohammad It is a hallmark of depressed people that they give up on hope. Life for these people can seem void of color, so mundane that it is not worth living any more. Any energy spent on the face of earth seems such a waste for them. Hence, depressed people seem to care [...]

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 [...]

The Lesser of Two Good Deeds

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 IX | Part X | Part XI | Part XII | Part XIII | Part XIV| Part XV | Part XVI | Part XVII | Part XVIII | Part XIX | Part XX | Part XXI | Part XXII | Part XXIII | Part XXIV | Part XXV   The Lesser of Two Good Deeds The sixth trick of Shaytan – if he can’t make [...]

You Will Find Me, if Allah so Wills, Among Those Who Are Patient

By Shohala Hakim In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful. “And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, “O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.” He said, “O my father, do as you are commanded. You [...]