The story of Laylā and Majnūn has, since ancient times, been recognised in Eastern literature as a celebrated and authoritative tale of love. For centuries this narrative has captivated the imagination of the people of the East, becoming a symbol of love, fidelity and sacrifice. Yet the question remains: do we truly know Laylā? Was… Continue reading We Do Not Know Laylā
Religion, Opinion and Madhhab
Islam is not merely a religious system or a set of rituals and acts of worship. Rather, it is an all-encompassing, divinely revealed way of life that, by the light of revelation, provides human beings with guidance in every aspect of their individual, social and spiritual existence. Its foundation is the Qurʾān, the direct speech… Continue reading Religion, Opinion and Madhhab
The Explanation of a Report from Abū al-Dardāʾ (رضي الله عنه)
This query was received from a sincere and pious teacher: “Al-salāmu ʿalaykum. In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī there is a statement of Abū al-Dardāʾ (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhu): وقال ابو الدرداء فی المری ذبح الخمر النينان والشمس. Could you please explain this? Does fish annul the effect of wine, thereby rendering it lawful?” The prohibition of khamr (wine)… Continue reading The Explanation of a Report from Abū al-Dardāʾ (رضي الله عنه)
Was It Obligatory upon the Prophet ﷺ to Follow Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (ر.ض)?
Last time the respected Muftī Ṣāḥib had visited me, he had posed a question: “Tell me, which aspect of intelligence do you most admire?” When I answered, he became so upset and agitated that I did not expect he would forget his anger so swiftly. Muftī Ṣāḥib is indeed sincere and pious, but when seized… Continue reading Was It Obligatory upon the Prophet ﷺ to Follow Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (ر.ض)?
Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl al-Hāshimī – May Allah Have Mercy on Him
A Pillar of Hadith Has Fallen A pillar of ḥadīth has fallen, and a sun from the suns of knowledge has set. On the night of the third of Rabīʿ al-Awwal 1447 AH, a lamp of the Sunnah was extinguished – a light that shone upon the people, guiding the bewildered to the springs of… Continue reading Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl al-Hāshimī – May Allah Have Mercy on Him
Three Whose Supplications Are Not Answered – An Analysis of the Ḥadīth
A respected query was conveyed to me from Maulana Miṣbāḥ Aḥmad Qāsimī, through the kind offices of Ḥāfiẓ Maḥmūd Karīm Ṣāḥib: Maulana Dr Akram Nadwi, السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته I hope you are well. Please provide the chain authenticity and interpretation of the following ḥadīth: “Three kinds of people call upon Allah, yet their… Continue reading Three Whose Supplications Are Not Answered – An Analysis of the Ḥadīth
Exalting God and His Messenger
A retreat in Leicester Al-Salam Institute arranged a retreat for its students in the city of Leicester, United Kingdom, from 26–29 Shaʿbān 1445 AH. Around one hundred students, male and female, from within and outside the UK attended. They benefited from lessons in tafsīr, ḥadīth, fiqh, and Arabic literature, and took part in other activities.… Continue reading Exalting God and His Messenger
Which Aspect of the Intellect do I Admire Most?
Ordinarily, Muftī Ṣāḥib and I engage in debates on a daily basis, and almost every matter becomes a point of contention between us. Yet most of these disagreements are merely verbal in nature; in truth, what divides us is expression and preference. Whenever I select a word, Muftī Ṣāḥib delights in discovering some fault in… Continue reading Which Aspect of the Intellect do I Admire Most?
Horizons of Silence: Flight from Heathrow to Chicago
It is the morning of the 28th of August 2025. I am seated in the lounge of London Heathrow Airport. Every passing moment feels as if time itself has chosen to pause and move with the rhythm of my breath. Through the glass walls the gentle rays of the sun enter, reaching into the innermost… Continue reading Horizons of Silence: Flight from Heathrow to Chicago
Tawfīq, not Talfiq
They said: We dislike that you leave the madhhab of Abū Ḥanīfah in some matters in order to follow the opinions of Mālik, al-Shāfiʿī, and Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. This is talfīq (arbitrary patching together). I replied: If we mix the water of a well with other pure water, does it not remain pure in essence?… Continue reading Tawfīq, not Talfiq