January 2021

January 25, 2021

Humiliation of the Muslims: Causes & Cure

In one hadith that is so incredibly relevant to our times and our plight – which pinpoints the causes for why Muslims shall suffer collective humiliation and weakness, and what the cure for such socio-political degradation is – we read: ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates; that he heard the Continue reading

activism, contemporary concerns, politics & society

causes for Muslim political weakness, dangers of becoming too clingy to the world, explaining the hadith of ‘inah, four reason why the ummah is experiencing humiliation, how will Allah lift the humiliation from the ummah?, place of jihad in Islam, restoring Muslim glory, root causes for Muslim weakness and the cure, types of jihad in Islam, why is the Muslim ummah suffering humiliation?
January 17, 2021

On Praiseworthy Trials, Patience & Firmness Upon the Path

While describing the ordeal endured by Imam Malik in which he was severely beaten, to the extent that ‘his arm was wrenched out of its socket and a huge injustice had been perpetrated against him. Yet, by God, Malik didn’t cease to be held in high esteem,’1 Imam al-Dhahabi wrote the following: ‘This is the Continue reading

psychology & mental health, short read

correct response to trials and adversities, Imam al-Dhahabi on praiseworthy trials, Imam Malik and his trials, Islamic view on trials and ordeals, not to become obsessed with those who mistreat us, purpose behind life’s trials and tribulations, sins lead to trials and divine punishment, why do people suffer trials and ordeals?
January 10, 2021

On Narcissism: My Oh My! It’s Just Me, Me, Me & I, I, I

Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, wrote: وَلْيَحْذَرْ كُلَّ الْحَذَرِ مِنْ طُغْيَانِ ’أَنَا‘ ، وَ’لِي‘، وَ’عِنْدِي‘، فَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الْأَلْفَاظَ الثَّلَاثَةَ ابْتُلِيَ بِهَا إِبْلِيسُ وَفِرْعَوْن، وَقارُوْن، (فَأَنَا خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ) لِإِبْلِيسَ، وَ (لِي مُلْكُ مِصْرَ) لِفِرْعَوْن، وَ (إِنَّمَا أُوتِيتُهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ عِنْدِي) لِقارُوْن. وَأَحْسَنُ مَا وُضِعَتْ ’أَنَا‘ فِي قَوْلِ الْعَبْدِ: أَنَا الْعَبْدُ الْمُذْنِبُ ، الْمُخْطِئُ، Continue reading

psychology & mental health, short read, short texts for reflection, sufism, suluk & spirituality

Ibn al-Qayyim on I and me, Islam and narcissism, main narcissistic traits, Muslim refutation culture is narcissistic, narcissism and social media, the Islamic principles of refutation, the nafs and narcissism, the sin of refuting other Muslims without proper knowledge

About Me

My name is Surkheel Sharif (aka Abu Aaliyah). Born and raised in London, England, I began my more formal, but gradual studies of the Islamic sciences around the late 1980s (just a few years after having quit my degree in Astrophysics). I also gained an MA in Islamic Studies from Birkbeck College, University of London, in 2009.

I’ve translated a few Islamic works from Arabic into English; one of them, a short text on Muslim spirituality, called The Exquisite Pearl (2000). I have also authored a few books, including: More Fish Please & the Earth’s Complaint (2011); Fussing Over the 15th of Sha’ban & the Golden Rule of Differing (2011); A Muslim’s Guide to Modernity (2025); and Salafism Reconsidered (forthcoming)

I am the founder and current Director of the Jawziyyah Institute (est. 1999): a non-profit organisation dedicated to cultivating an Islam true to its time-honoured tradition, relevant to its current context, and of benefit to wider society.

January 2021

Humiliation of the Muslims: Causes & Cure

On Praiseworthy Trials, Patience & Firmness Upon the Path

On Narcissism: My Oh My! It’s Just Me, Me, Me & I, I, I