The Prophet, salla-llahu ‘alayhi wa-sallam, said that he was sent to make things easy for the believers. His sunnah for deciding the times of the daily prayers, and the beginning and end of Ramadan, was meant to make things easy so that the people would come together, in good will and trust, and worship together.… Continue reading Don’t waste Ramadan in bickering with your fellow-Muslims
Ramadan: what is it for?
There is, for the moment of breaking the fast, a famous du`a that most Muslims learn as children. It is famous because the Prophet used to say it, ﷺ. The du`a is short and to the point, and uncomplicated; it has a clear rhythm, and it rhymes – all of which makes it (in the… Continue reading Ramadan: what is it for?
Supplications in the Qur’an
In the Qur’an supplication is a special form of human speaking addressed to God. We say human speaking because the Qur’an tells us that we humans do not understand the speech of other creatures who also address God. They address Him through their awareness that He gave them existence and that He provides the means… Continue reading Supplications in the Qur’an
Women’s prayer in the Mosque
That women do not go to the mosque for congregational prayer, however widespread this has become, and however long standing, is a departure from the sunnah, which some people will call innovation or bid`ah. The norm in the time of the Prophet and his Companions was that women were encouraged, not passively tolerated, to come… Continue reading Women’s prayer in the Mosque
The Women’s Mosque and Centre for Excellence (Bradford, UK)
During a recent teaching visit to Bradford I came to know about the project to set up, in this city, a women’s mosque and centre for excellence (ihsan). I was able to meet some of the women leading this project and they explained to me their need for it and their hopes for it. Women… Continue reading The Women’s Mosque and Centre for Excellence (Bradford, UK)
Feminism
Two kinds of feminism Feminism everyone can agree with: helping women in trouble and in need when their relatives will not or cannot do it. This includes speaking up for their right when they are wronged. This is good because it is always good to help those who are suffering from injustice, poverty etc. The… Continue reading Feminism
Taqwa
Taqwa is the root of all the virtues that adorn religious life, and the virtues in turn strengthen the root from which they grow. Without taqwa the motivation for religious life is clouded and confused, brittle, vulnerable to being distracted and destroyed. Taqwa consists principally of two strands in the believer’s consciousness of God: awareness… Continue reading Taqwa
Tell Us : What Are You?
By this link, “You’ve written on Islamic Fiqh through the school of Imam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) and gathered (in your writings) proofs from him. Additionally, you’ve written a biography about him. So you’re a Hanafi. But then we see that you combine between prayers during travel, and give fatwa declaring the… Continue reading Tell Us : What Are You?