بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم For several days I had been travelling continuously, and a variety of commitments had so completely hemmed me in that I did not find even a moment of leisure or calm. During that period, a debate entitled “The Existence of God” was held in Delhi, which was regarded in religious circles… Continue reading The Reins Are Mine
Human reason, effort, and responsibility before God
Human existence unfolds within a world characterised by a notable degree of consistency, regularity and reliability in the sequence of events that lead to particular outcomes. This applies equally to the natural world and to the sphere of human action. Plants do not grow in the absence of water, light and appropriate nutrients, just as… Continue reading Human reason, effort, and responsibility before God
The limits of religious debate
Religious debate has long been employed as a means of defending doctrines, contesting rival claims, and articulating theological positions. From classical disputations in antiquity to contemporary public debates and interfaith forums, debate is often assumed to function as a pathway to religious truth or even to personal belief. Such assumptions, however, rest on a misunderstanding… Continue reading The limits of religious debate
An Educational Journey
On the morning of Saturday, the twenty-ninth of Jumada al-Thani, I set out for the bustling city of Cambridge. A distinguished scholarly session was held at Cambridge Islamic College, devoted to the biography of the Prophet ﷺ, covering the period from the blessed Hijrah to the momentous events of the Battle of Badr. The gathering… Continue reading An Educational Journey
An Overview of the Hijrah
The Hijrah in the Time of the Prophet The meaning of the experience of the Hijrah was fully understood by the believers who lived through it. It meant for them the responsibility of transitioning Islam from a personal discipline to a settled way of life, a distinctive civilisation. The Hijrah was the first step ––… Continue reading An Overview of the Hijrah
Principles and applications: the conditions of meaningful practice
Human creation, whether understood in theological, philosophical, or practical terms, is oriented towards purpose. The fulfilment of that purpose depends not merely on the acquisition of skills or the repetition of correct actions, but on the integration of general principles with concrete applications. When principles are severed from practice, or practice from principle, human activity… Continue reading Principles and applications: the conditions of meaningful practice
Sincerity and the Search for Validation
As a person progresses upon this path, they must guard themselves against seeking validation from others regarding the quality of their īmān or the depth of their spirituality. No scholar, teacher, or community can truly assess the state of a person’s heart. The reality of one’s faith is known only to Allah جل جلاله. Even… Continue reading Sincerity and the Search for Validation
Reason Does Not Challenge Religion, But the Loyalty to the Schools
Oxford, 15 December 2025 From 11 to 14 December 2025, Al-Salam Institute held its *Winter Student Retreat* in Leicester. The retreat was not a routine academic programme; it brought students together in an environment of focused reflection and serious inquiry into one of the most urgent issues facing Islamic thought today. These students came not… Continue reading Reason Does Not Challenge Religion, But the Loyalty to the Schools
Selling diamonds in a land that does not buy them
The graduation ceremony of al-Salam Institute On the evening of 13 December 2025, the city of Leicester bore witness to a deeply moving and memorable occasion: the graduation ceremony of Al-Salam Institute for its male and female students who had successfully completed the rigorous ‘Alimiyyah programme. Conducted in an atmosphere marked by dignity, warmth, and… Continue reading Selling diamonds in a land that does not buy them
Formation of thoughts: an inquiry into the pre-discursive
Human cognition, though commonly associated with rationality, linguistic structure, and the articulation of concepts, is rooted in layers of experience that precede reflective thought altogether. Before cognition becomes available to introspection or deployable as inferential reasoning, it subsists as a primordial, pre-discursive orientation of the subject toward the world. This pre-reflective level of experience is… Continue reading Formation of thoughts: an inquiry into the pre-discursive