There is a reason why, when you a read a very technical text, you don’t understand it. Even if most of the words used are words you are familiar with, even if the words are arranged in ways that are familiar to you, there are enough technical words in the text to make the matter… Continue reading Forty hadith
Surat al-Takwir and Surat al Infitar
These surahs compel us to call to mind realities that we accept are true but which we almost-never include in our conscious, deliberate calculations when we decide on a course of action or when we put a value on something, when we say it is good, bad, or worth this much or that much. No… Continue reading Surat al-Takwir and Surat al Infitar
Surah Nuh
This surah is a condensed overview of the themes found in more extended narration elsewhere in the Qur’an, of the story of Nuh `alayhi s-salam, notably Surah Hud. As always in the Qur’an, the focus on certain elements does not mean that other elements of the whole story are not remembered and not relevant. Rather… Continue reading Surah Nuh
Informal notes for a tafsir class on Surat al-Muzzammil
The surah is named after the word in the opening verse. It is an important image. It first calls to mind someone wrapped up against the sharp cold of a cloudless desert night. Then, it calls to mind someone wrapped in solitude, by the cloak and by the darkness and stillness – cut off from… Continue reading Informal notes for a tafsir class on Surat al-Muzzammil
Be answerable for your tongues
I would remind my brothers and sisters in Islam – those who support me in some degree or agree with me in some ways, and those who disagree with me or oppose me or abuse me – that speech is action which has weight in the present and consequences thereafter. Therefore it is of the… Continue reading Be answerable for your tongues
Printing translations of the Qur’an without the original Arabic text
Though the Qur’an was sent down in Arabic, its message is universal. This is very clearly stated in the Qur’an itself: ‘Say: O humankind! I am God’s Messenger to you all.’(al-A‘raf, 7:158 ) ‘We have not sent you save as a bringer of good news (hope) and as a warner to all humankind; but most… Continue reading Printing translations of the Qur’an without the original Arabic text
The Meaning of Du’a
The hungry one calls upon Allah to feed him but food does not fall from the sky. The unwed calls upon Allah to grant him a child but he does not get what he wants. The supplicator calls and calls upon Allah but his wishes do not come true and so he thinks that dua… Continue reading The Meaning of Du’a
To my friends, supporters and well wishers
While I am grateful to you for your kindness and good intentions in defending me, on the internet and on social media, from those who criticise my opinions and arguments, I must respectfully ask you: please stop! Let me explain why I ask this. It is an important obligation upon all Muslims to say and… Continue reading To my friends, supporters and well wishers
Sahih al-Bukhari
The Aim of This Two-Day Course My hope for this two-day course is that, at the end of it, you will understand why the Sahih of Imam al-Bukhari has for over 1200 years held its reputation as the most reliable resource for those who want to know how the Qur’an is to be understood and… Continue reading Sahih al-Bukhari
Hope
The difficulties that Muslims are facing in our times belong to every aspect of life. Moreover, very often the loss of the political power, or strength of the opponents of Islam make many of us to loose any hope. This despair is not appropriate to the people who have the Qur’an, and who are entrusted… Continue reading Hope