Contemporary Subjects
Exchanging gemstones for gravel
The term ‘role model’ is often utilised as a means by which others, perhaps of a similar background, gender, ethnicity or the like, can be presented with, to help inspire, influence or to even emulate. Invariably it is accompanied by an aura or narrative of what is presented as being a model of ‘success’ or ‘achievement.’ Sports personalities, musicians, entrepreneurs and many others tend to be held up as being
Questions & Answers
Winter is coming…
Q uestion: 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 is the easy prize.’ Answer: For the reasons set out below, it doesn’t appear that the cited traditions are judged to be authentic (Ṣaḥīḥ). Caution should always be
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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
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
Scholarship
Foundational Islamic Principles
Ali ibn Aḥmad ibn Sa’eed ibn Ḥazm, Abu Muḥammad, that is Ibn Ḥazm, was born in Cordoba, Spain. His own lifespan (born 994 CE, died 1064 CE) covered a period of Islamic rule in Spain often characterised by political turbulence, but also regarded as being a golden age of Islamic civilization in Europe. A true polymath, the breadth of Ibn Ḥazm’s works and overall contribution to knowledge is quite exceptional:
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