When the nations of Europe ignited the flames of the Balkan War in 1912, the entire Indian subcontinent was shaken. Eyes wept blood, the scholars mourned and lamented, and the elders wailed and sobbed. At this, the great scholar Allama Shibli Nu‘mani (d. 1914) composed a powerful poem in Urdu that stirred the hearts of… Continue reading Lament by Shibli on the Collapse of the Islamic States
Learning Etiquette with Allah from the Example of Ayyub (peace be upon him)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ When a person raises his hands towards the heavens, he is not performing a passing gesture; rather, he is engaging in the most intimate expression of servitude, proclaiming his neediness and humility before his Master, and placing his hopes in the One who holds the dominion of all things. Yet this… Continue reading Learning Etiquette with Allah from the Example of Ayyub (peace be upon him)
A Verse That Always Moves Me
There is a verse in the Book of Allah that never fails to move me. It penetrates deep into my being and flows through me like fire racing through dry grass. My limbs tremble at its mention, and the hardness of my soul softens. Every time I recite it, hear it, or it crosses my… Continue reading A Verse That Always Moves Me
The Natural Disposition upon Which Allah Created Mankind
Last night (Saturday night, the 7th of Shawwal 1446 AH), my daughter Fatimah and her husband, Dr Imran, were blessed with the birth of a daughter at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. At the time, I was in the town of Reading with my daughter Aisha, teaching Qur’anic tafsir to a group of men… Continue reading The Natural Disposition upon Which Allah Created Mankind
Between the Intellect and the Heart
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ I have previously published several articles explaining the concept of innate disposition (fiṭrah), the sources of knowledge, and the functions of the intellect. These are all interlinked and coherent, and a proper understanding of this new article depends on reviewing them. Therefore, no one should be hasty in judging this piece… Continue reading Between the Intellect and the Heart
I am a Coward and an Ally of the Arabs
It has reached me that one Arab said to his brother: “If you do not ride your horse boldly through the encampments, and your wounds do not drip blood upon your chest and your feet, you are not of me.” Another said: “He who is a coward is not from our tribe.” I have seen… Continue reading I am a Coward and an Ally of the Arabs
The Passing of Professor Yahya Michot, May Allah Have Mercy on Him
Today, the 3rd of Shawwal, 1446 AH, our esteemed and brilliant colleague Professor Yahya Michot passed away in the United States of America after a prolonged illness that exhausted and fatigued him. Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we return. When the news of his passing reached me, I said: لِتَبكِ عَلَيهِ الإِنسُ… Continue reading The Passing of Professor Yahya Michot, May Allah Have Mercy on Him
The Order of Hearing and Sight in the Qur’an: An Analysis
During my classes on Tafsir (interpretation) of some Surahs of the Qur’an at Cambridge Islamic College on Saturday and Sunday, 15th–16th Ramadan, I received numerous questions. Among them was: “Why does the Qur’an sometimes place hearing (السمع) before sight (البصر), and at other times reverse the order?” This is a frequently asked question, so I… Continue reading The Order of Hearing and Sight in the Qur’an: An Analysis
On That Day, the Event Shall Occur
I returned once during my student days, in the month of Shawwal, to Darul Uloom Nadwat al-Ulama. The director’s office was crowded with those seeking admission. Suddenly, a young boy approached me and said: “I am your neighbour from Jaunpur; fulfil the right of neighbourliness and help me.” I asked, “What is your situation?” He… Continue reading On That Day, the Event Shall Occur
Do Not Count Your Istighfar on Beads
You are proud that in Ramadan you recite Astaghfirullah a hundred thousand times. Some people make a habit of saying Astaghfirullah one hundred times every day. Among you are those affiliated with a Sufi order, repeating the prescribed wazifah of istighfar under their Shaykh’s instruction. Today, I dare to request something from you—stop counting your… Continue reading Do Not Count Your Istighfar on Beads