Renascence Foundation

Theology

Virtue of Monotheism

Presented below is a selected translation of chapters (7 through to 10) from Part 8 of Kitāb al-Tawḥeed (Book of Monotheism) by Professor Muḥammad ibn Abdullah al-Mas’ari. These chapters focus upon the virtues of...
Questions/Answers

Stargazing

وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ ۖ وَالنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَاتٌ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ By His command, He has made the night and day, the sun, moon, and stars all of...
Scholarship

Exalted is He who holds all dominion

Presented below is a complete translation of the Tafsir of chapter 67 from the Qur’ān, which is entitled Surah Mulk. The translation is rendered from the acclaimed Tafsir of the grand Imām, the scholar’s scholar,...
Questions/Answers

Q&A Tall buildings in Mecca

Question Are these ḥadith sound? Are the references provided correct and accurate? When you see the belly of Makkah will be cleft open and through it will be dug out river-like passages (i.e. tunnels) (or water in...
Scholarship

Selected issues from: The Book of Prayer

Seek help with steadfastness and prayer– though this is hard indeed for anyone but the humble; who know that they will meet their Lord and that it is to Him they will return [Qur’an, 2:...
Contemporary Subjects

A declaration of war?

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَذَرُوا مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الرِّبَا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا فَأْذَنُوا بِحَرْبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ O you who believe, beware of Allah: give up any outstanding dues from...
Theology

Say: He is Allah, the One

Presented below is a complete translation of the Tafsir of chapter 112 from the Qur’ān. Rendered from the acclaimed Tafsir of the grand Imām, the scholar’s scholar, Abu Ja’far Muḥammad ibn Jarir al-Ṭabari [see: Tafsir...
Theology

So which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?

Presented below is a short extract from the acclaimed Tafsir (Jāmi al-Bayān ‘an Ta’wil ay’ al-Qur’ān) of the grand Imām Abu Ja’far Muḥammad ibn Jarir al-Ṭabari regarding the oft-repeated verse in chapter 55, Surah al-Raḥman. ...
Questions/Answers

Q&A Knowledge revival

Question Can this ḥadith be verified? The Prophet said: ‘He whom death overtakes while he is engaged in acquiring knowledge with a view to reviving Islam with the help of it, there will be one...
Contemporary Subjects

March of the Black Banners

Introduction The traditions of the ‘black banners’ or march of the ‘black banners’ al-Riyāt al-Sawd, for some are truly evocative. In a world characterised by oppression, injustice and even outright evil, the reported wording of...
Scholarship

The majority of the hypocrites

Presented below is translation of a short piece written by Professor Muḥammad ibn Abdullah al-Mas’ari which covers the sourcing for the ḥadith: ‘The majority of the hypocrites from among my Ummah are (to be found...
Contemporary Subjects

Justice is a fortress

Justice is a fortress in which all who are frightened take refuge. In fact, if a tyrant feels oppressed, does he not call for justice and scorn and condemn injustice? But you never see the...
Scholarship

The Sufficient Tract

Introduction For those actively looking to reinvigorate Islamic discourse, the works of Ibn Ḥazm (d. 1064 CE) are invaluable. The approach that he takes cannot be characterised as representing a madhab (legal school of thought)...
Theology

The Historic Reality of Paganism in Arabia

Introduction Reconstructing the precise reality of the paganism as it existed in Arabia is a complicated task. What were its essential features? What exactly did the pagan Arabs actually believe about God, the afterlife, the...
Contemporary Subjects

Allegiance

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him forewarned us that the era prior to the advent of the Dajjāl would be characterised by years of deception and treachery. This is exemplified by...

Was the Prophet (ﷺ) a vegetarian or vegan?

There are some that have the inclination to try and depict the latest trend, fashion or fad as being something that was “originally Islamic” to begin with. Some do so quite innocently, others sincerely...

Contemporary Subjects

The Battle of India (Ghazwat-ul-Hind)

Introduction Prophecies relating to the coming of the final hour, have a powerful propensity to capture the imagination. None more so than those which appear in our tradition, the final revelation sent to mankind. ...

Questions/Answers

Q&A Judgement in Yemen?

Question At last Friday prayer, the Imām discussed at length a ḥadith from the companion Mu’ādth ibn Jabal, when he was sent to Yemen and his discussion with the Prophet peace be upon him regarding...

Questions/Answers

Crypto currency and Bitcoin

Question Is Crypto currency such as Bitcoin essentially prohibited because it is issued by unknown people? Some argue that it is not tangible, being not made from anything physical, except being backed by software. Wealth...

Contemporary Subjects

Medicine Men

Introduction ‘Anyone who practices medicine but is not known as a practitioner, and injures a person or inflicts harm on him, will be held liable.’ This statement, purportedly referred to as a Prophetic ḥadith has...