In recent years, one encounters advertisements proclaiming, with the breezy boldness of a street magician, “Learn Arabic in six months!” The assurance is delivered so serenely that one almost begins to suspect that the long centuries of scholarship, pedagogy, and intellectual labour behind the language were merely the fussy hesitations of overcautious academics. Yet the… Continue reading Cucumbers in six months
Authority, interpretation, and unity
The absolute and unique authority of the Qur’ān and the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ constitutes a foundational principle of Islamic thought and practice. No individual, however learned, righteous, or influential, can reproduce, appropriate, or claim the authority inherent in divine revelation. This principle, while universally acknowledged in theory, has often been compromised in practice.… Continue reading Authority, interpretation, and unity
From dividuality to individuality
Islam, in its profound and comprehensive vision, is frequently misconstrued as chiefly concerned with the establishment of social or political order. While the faith indeed provides guidance for communal conduct, jurisprudence, and societal ethics, such structures are secondary to its ultimate aim: the cultivation of the individual’s relationship with God and the pursuit of moral… Continue reading From dividuality to individuality
Manner of difference
Disagreement is one of the quiet inevitabilities of human life, as ancient as conversation and as natural as breath. No two consciousnesses, however close or however loving, can ever coincide perfectly. The miracle is not that we differ, but that we can differ and still remain together. What threatens this fragile possibility is not the… Continue reading Manner of difference
The seven groups of the Qur’ān
The Noble Qur’ān’s verse: “And indeed We have granted you seven of the oft-repeated (verses) and the Magnificent Qur’ān” (al-Ḥijr: 87), and likewise the related declaration: “A Book consistent in its parts, paired in its themes”, are clear proofs that the Qur’ān’s structure is profoundly intricate, wise, and exalted. Since ancient times the Muslim community… Continue reading The seven groups of the Qur’ān
Democratic System of Governance
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم (Note: In this article, only the theoretical conception of democracy is discussed. The practical shortcomings and corruptions often found in democratic systems fall outside the scope of this essay.) The very mention of democracy brings to people’s lips the famous verse of ʿAllāmah Iqbāl: “Jamhooriyat ek tarz-i-ḥukūmat hai ke jis meṅ… Continue reading Democratic System of Governance
Distinguishing pity and compassion for an Islamic perspective on relief work
The fiqh related to relief work generally begins and ends with an account of the obligations of zakah and its voluntary counterpart, sadaqa. Much of the discussion on zakah is focused on the legitimate expenditures from zakah funds and the right procedures for their collection and distribution. In the present age very few, if any,… Continue reading Distinguishing pity and compassion for an Islamic perspective on relief work
An Investigation of the Ḥadīth: “Beat Them for It When They Are Ten Years Old”
Among the prophetic traditions frequently cited in discussions of the religious training of children is the report, “Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and beat them for it when they are ten.” This study examines the authenticity of the principal ḥadīths invoked as evidence for such a ruling, analysing their… Continue reading An Investigation of the Ḥadīth: “Beat Them for It When They Are Ten Years Old”
When history is not the measure of truth: rethinking Jesus, faith, and meaning
The religious commitments of Muslims and Christians converge on the figure of Jesus, yet diverge sharply on the significance of certain events in his life. Muslims must affirm what many educated Christians today regard as “myth”, the virgin birth and the miracles. Conversely, Muslims must deny what those same Christians insist is certainly historical: the… Continue reading When history is not the measure of truth: rethinking Jesus, faith, and meaning
Democracy as a System of Governance
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم (Note: This article introduces the theoretical concept of democracy. The practical corruptions found in democratic systems today fall outside the scope of this discussion.) At the very mention of democracy, people instinctively recall Iqbāl’s famous couplet: Jamhooriyyat ek tarz-e-hukūmat hai ke jis mein Bandōñ ko ginā karte hain, tōlā nahīñ karte… Continue reading Democracy as a System of Governance