The Quran: Historical Text or Living Address? Regarding the understanding and interpretation of the Holy Quran, the most fundamental question is whether this book is merely a historical text—its relevance confined to the era of its revelation—or whether it is a living address that speaks directly to every subsequent reader, just as it did to… Continue reading The Quran: A Living Dialogue of the Contemporary Age
Are you God?
A venerable shaykh had taken residence in a quiet corner of the city, renting a modest apartment, having journeyed from the environs of Multan. Cloaked in simplicity, pure of heart, discerning of mind, and composed in presence, he bore on his face the traces of serenity and profound reflection. Every greeting began with a gentle,… Continue reading Are you God?
The Speaker’s habit as a principle for understanding the Qur’an
The interpretation of the Qur’an is inseparable from the question of language, and language is inseparable from the one who speaks it. Words do not exist as free-floating containers of meaning to be filled at the discretion of the reader. They are bound to meanings through intention, convention, and the recurring habits of a speaker… Continue reading The Speaker’s habit as a principle for understanding the Qur’an
Probability and the irreducibility of existence: an existential critique
The theory of probability provides a rigorous framework for understanding uncertainty, regularity, and expectation within the natural and social sciences. By assigning likelihoods to classes of repeatable events, it enables prediction and rational decision-making under conditions of incomplete information. Yet, despite its undeniable utility, probability theory encounters a decisive philosophical limit when confronted with the… Continue reading Probability and the irreducibility of existence: an existential critique
Unity before method: moonsighting and collective responsibility
The determination of the beginning and end of Ramadan represents one of the most prominent expressions of collective religious life in Islam. These moments are intended to unite Muslims in shared worship, discipline, and spiritual renewal. Yet in many contemporary contexts, particularly within Muslim minority societies, the issue of moonsighting has become a persistent source… Continue reading Unity before method: moonsighting and collective responsibility
Qiyām al-Layl and Tarāwīḥ
The Question A friend of Professor Muhammad Arshad has raised the following questions: • What is the difference between Qiyām al-Layl and the Tarāwīḥ prayer? • Is it better to perform Tarāwīḥ at home or in the mosque with congregation? • Are the number of rakʿāt in Tarāwīḥ fixed, or is there flexibility? • As… Continue reading Qiyām al-Layl and Tarāwīḥ
A Silent Custodian of the Nadwah Tradition
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم I received the following message concerning Mawlānā Aʿẓam Sharqī Nadwī from my dear friend Mawlānā ʿAbd al-Jī Nadwī, currently resident in Qatar: > Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. I hope you are well. By the grace of Allah, we are all in good health… Continue reading A Silent Custodian of the Nadwah Tradition
The Loftiness of the Chain of Transmission of Mawlana Fadl al-Rahman Ganj Murādābādī (رحمه الله)
Mawlānā Faḍl al-Raḥmān Ganj Murādābādī (may Allah have mercy on him) Introduction and Background Some time ago, this writer authored an article concerning the hadith chain of transmission (isnād) of Mawlānā Muḥammad Yaḥyā Nadwī (may Allah have mercy on him). In that article, it was demonstrated that, in the latter period of his life, no… Continue reading The Loftiness of the Chain of Transmission of Mawlana Fadl al-Rahman Ganj Murādābādī (رحمه الله)
ʿIlm al-Kalām and the Proof of God
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم The Qurʾān’s call to faith is not founded upon intricate philosophical premises or abstract rational syllogisms. Rather, it rests upon the fiṭrah salīmah—the sound, uncorrupted human nature—which the Creator Himself has implanted within the human being. This fiṭrah, by its very constitution, guides a person to the recognition that this universe… Continue reading ʿIlm al-Kalām and the Proof of God
Performing Ṭawāf on the Ground Floor by Deception
17 January 2026 ⸻ The Question Respected Shaykh, Mawlānā Dr Mohammed Akram Nadwi (may Allah preserve you), Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah. I hope you are well. I am travelling to perform ʿUmrah. For some time now, the Saudi authorities have designated the ground floor area around the Kaʿbah… Continue reading Performing Ṭawāf on the Ground Floor by Deception