The Hanafi Conception of Silence Behind the Imam Question by Zubair Chothia, Batley: Regarding the issue of the muqtadī reciting behind the imam, I find myself increasingly persuaded by the Maliki distinction between loud and silent prayers. This synthesis seems to naturally preserve all evidences: the Qur’anic command to listen attentively when the Qur’an is… Continue reading Hanafi Silence Behind the Imam Explained
Journey to Turkey (26)
(26) I awoke early, a habit I have cultivated over the years, for there is no time clearer for the soul or more generous to the mind than the early hours of the morning. In these moments, the noise of the world subsides, and the mind resembles a serene pond, untouched by the footsteps of… Continue reading Journey to Turkey (26)
Lost Souls in a Tumultuous Era
In this era, humanity is inundated with sounds unheard by its ancestors for centuries: the clamor of metal in motion, the hum of machines at work, and the bustling noise of cities, pulsating with life as if a single restless entity. Yet, amidst this cacophony, seldom does one listen to the subtle voice dwelling within—the… Continue reading Lost Souls in a Tumultuous Era
Bring Me Someone Who Has Himself Fallen from a Roof
The tales of Khwaja Nasiruddin are peculiar. At first glance, they provoke laughter, but if one pauses to reflect, it becomes evident that the laughter is actually at our own plight. His words are like lamps that burn with a gentle glow, yet contain such oil that if the world were to plunge into darkness,… Continue reading Bring Me Someone Who Has Himself Fallen from a Roof
Journey to Turkey (25)
(25) We set out for Istanbul at dawn, at a time when the night still clung to the edges of the sky like an old man holding onto his last memories. The city was waking slowly, like a woman exhausted by a sleepless night, roused by a distant sound, unsure if it was the call… Continue reading Journey to Turkey (25)
A Luminous Beacon of Divine Love
At this moment I am on a plane, travelling from England to Turkey to attend a conference. I was occupied with some academic work when suddenly the memory of Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Pratapgarhi came to mind. It felt as though a lamp that had been burning quietly for years in some silent corner of the… Continue reading A Luminous Beacon of Divine Love
Journey to Turkey (1)
I departed from Oxford at a quarter past seven on a cold, still morning, preparing for a new journey to Turkey. I was to participate in the Fifth International Symposium on Islamic Culture and Civilization, organized by the Faculty of Theology at Kocaeli University on the 8th, 9th, and 10th of May, 2026, under the… Continue reading Journey to Turkey (1)
Is the View of the Majority (Jumhūr) Binding Proof?
Some statements are so baseless that no serious or occupied person would consider them worthy of wasting time upon. One such claim has been circulating on social media for several years now: “The opinion of the majority is binding proof,” “Opposing the majority is misguidance,” “Truth is dependent upon the opinion of the majority,” “Whoever… Continue reading Is the View of the Majority (Jumhūr) Binding Proof?
Is the Consensus of the Majority a Proof?
There are certain notions so devoid of merit that no serious and engaged individual would wish to waste time on them. One such notion has been circulating on social media for several years, claiming that “the consensus of the majority is a proof,” “opposing the majority is misguidance,” “truth is dependent on the majority’s opinion,”… Continue reading Is the Consensus of the Majority a Proof?
In the Dust of Hind: Scattered Dreams
I still remember the life of my childhood village as vividly as if, in the twilight of evening, an old lamp were suddenly lit again. The earthy fragrance of the soil, the waving crops in the fields, the soft ringing of oxen bells, and the light of simplicity upon people’s faces — all of it… Continue reading In the Dust of Hind: Scattered Dreams