Following the resounding defeat of the Labour Party in the recent general election of Dec-2019, bitter recriminations from the fallout continue to reverberate. Party activists that staked enormous political capital in the...
QuestionI found out playing games which require dice are (ḥarām) . I need to know in what context was it said, as our family plays Ludo (a Pakistani board game is very popular amongst all ages).Answer For readers in English,...
QuestionFollowing the death of the former deposed Egyptian President, many Muslims around the world performed Ṣalāt-ul-Janazah (funerary prayer) for him. Is this something that has precedent in Islam? Why are others seemingly...
QuestionT here is a recent article that seemed to not only question but undermine altogether the notion that it is recommended or rewardable to fast six-days in the month of Shawwāl . Is this correct? In particular, the following...
The Book of MonotheismKitāb ut-Tawḥeed: The Basis of Islam and the Reality of Monotheism, occupies a unique place amongst contemporary Islamic works.Volume 1 is now published and is the first book in the series.The book is the...
IntroductionThe article presented here is an adaptation of Appendices 3 and 4 from the major study entitled ‘Permissibility or Impermissibility of Foods: A ruling application for guidance concerning the permissibility or impermissibility...
QuestionMany popular Muslim speakers are quoting this ḥadith:“Two voices are cursed in this world and the hereafter; Music at the time of happiness and wailing at the time of calamity.” Is it correct?AnswerIt is correct to note...
Question: Are we required to have a niyyah (intention) when performing the wuḍu (ablution)?Answer:i. Ṣalāh (prayer) is an integral part of Islam. Its prerequisite is the required level of purity. Most books and manuals...
Question:Are these Prophetic narrations about winter authentic?‘Winter is the best season for the believer. Its nights are long for him to pray in, and its days are short for him to fast in.’ ‘Fasting in the winter...
The companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the Ṣaḥābah, hold a truly special place in the history of Islam. Whether one considers the most famous of them or even those that are perhaps less well known, their...
Question & Answers
Roll the dice?
Question I found out playing games which require dice are (ḥarām) [sic. screenshots provided]. I need to know in what context was it said, as our family plays Ludo (a Pakistani board game is very popular amongst all ages). Answer For readers in English, there does seem to be a degree of confusion over the traditions that are found in some of the prominent collections of aḥādith on this subject
Published Books - Available on Amazon
Kitab ut-Tawheed: The Basis of Islam and the Reality of Monotheism
The Book of Monotheism Kitāb ut-Tawḥeed: The Basis of Islam and the Reality of Monotheism, occupies a unique place amongst contemporary Islamic works. Volume 1 is now published and is the first book in the series. The book is the magnum opus of Professor Muḥammad ibn Abdullah al-Mas’ari (may Allah preserve him), and has been rendered into English for the first time. The work represents an in-depth study into the
An in-depth study into the very root origins of Islam, the essential nature of Tawheed (monotheism). Coupled with that it tackles head on not only the age old problem concerning the precise nature of worship and shirk (polytheism) but how these topics corresponds to the contemporary issue like ruling, governance and allegiance. Liberated from confused ill-disciplined divisions, primacy is given to the original sources, challenging many of the phantasms which plagued Islamic thought for far too long.
Theology
Tawheed: Recognition & Worship
Executive Summary The very essence of Islam is the testimony that there is no god or deity except Allah and that the Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) is the Messenger of Allah. It is the root of faith (al-‘Imān) from which other branches are built upon. There is no pantheon of gods and goddesses; there are no demi-gods, semi-divine beings and there is
History
‘The one who spoke, was Ja’far ibn Abi Ṭālib…’
The companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the Ṣaḥābah, hold a truly special place in the history of Islam. Whether one considers the most famous of them or even those that are perhaps less well known, their steadfastness, sacrifice, commitment and devotion is truly unparalleled. It should be of no surprise that they are credited with having the accolade ‘may Allah be pleased with him/her’ after the very
Pillars of Islam
Reminders from the Farewell Pilgrimage
The days of Dhul-Ḥijjah are blessed days, culminating in the day of ‘Arafah, followed by Eid ul-Adha. On the day of ‘Arafah it is worth reminding ourselves of what the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him) mentioned this very day, which was also the day of his farewell pilgrimage. While the contents of the sermon he (peace be upon him) gave at the farewell pilgrimage are oft-repeated, how often is
Contemporary
Brexit’s bitter harvest
Following the resounding defeat of the Labour Party in the recent general election of Dec-2019, bitter recriminations from the fallout continue to reverberate. Party activists that staked enormous political capital in the hope that the Labour Party would oust the incumbent Conservative and Unionist Party from power are now engaged in a series of bitter recriminations, not least over the selection of the new leader. Factions within the party,
Scholarship
Dreaded Punishments?
For the first time in English we present a complete translation of Mas’ala (Issue) 2303 from Al-Muḥalla bil’Athār, the magnum opus of fiqh (jurisprudence) written by Ibn Ḥazm. Often described as a being free-thinker, but nevertheless invariably castigated by those rigid adherents of the other legal schools, Ali ibn Aḥmad ibn Sa’eed ibn Ḥazm, Abu Muḥammad (d.1064CE) was from Cordoba and was one of the acclaimed leading scholars of his
Prophethood
Prophets
Belief in Prophethood is one of the central tenets of the Islamic faith (al-‘Imān) and there are many facets to this. At its root though, is the idea that revelation and guidance sent from Allah is conveyed via the medium of human beings. Prophethood is carried by mortals; no Prophet or Messenger of Allah is regarded as being divine, semi-divine or angelic. In Islam to believe so, would in fact
