short read

August 1, 2021

Contentment: Software of the Soul

In a very short, yet highly instructive passage, the venerable Hanbali jurist and saintly scholar, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, said: لَا بُدَّ لِكُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ فِي سَائِرِ أَحْوَالِهِ مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ أَشْيَاءَ : أَمْرٌ يَمْتَثِلُهُ، وَنَهْيٌ يَجْتَنِبُهُ، وَقَدْرٌ يَرْضَى بِهِ. فَأَقَلُّ حَالَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ لَا يَخْلُو فِيهَا مِنْ أَحَدِ هَذِهِ الْأَشْيَاءِ الثَّلَاثَةِ، فَيَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَلْزَمَ هَمَّهَا قَلْبُهُ، وَلِيُحَدِّثَ Continue reading

heart matters, short read, sufism, suluk & spirituality

discourses of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, first discourse of Jilani, Ibn Taymiyyah on Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Jilani on contentment, meaning of contentment, meaning of rida bi’l-qada
July 13, 2021

How Did We Get Here?

This Qur’an reflection tackles, in an uncomplicated way, life’s big question: how did everything come to be? When damaged hearts are invited to confront the question of why there is something rather than nothing; when they are urged to consider that the overwhelming impressions of design in us, around us, and also above us in the starry Continue reading

consider Islam, qur’an, tafsir, tadabbur, short read, visual qur’an reflections

Islam’s cosmic proofs for God’s existence, proofs for God’s existence, The Qur’an confronting atheist hearts, why is there something instead of nothing?
June 15, 2021

The Three Kinds of Tafsir

In Dan Brown’s novel, The Lost Symbol, the book’s central character, Professor Robert Langdon, is told that the Biblical ‘manna from heaven’ – the food God sent down to the Israelites during their long desert travels – is actually a code word for a profounder scientific truth understood only by those initiated. As part of Continue reading

knowledge & learning, qur’an, tafsir, tadabbur, short read

deeper meanings of the Qur’an, examples of ishari or spiritual interpretations of the Qur’an, examples of tafsir isharah, is tafsir bi’l-ra’y authoritative?, rules for spiritual tafsir, rules of tafsir isharah, the right and wrong types of ray in tafsir, what are the three types of tafsir?, what is ishari interpretations of the Qur’an acceptable?
May 6, 2021

Remembering Allah Amidst the Noise & Chatter

‘ABD ALLAH B. ‘AWN (d.151H), one of Islam’s early pietists, said: « ذِكْرُ النَّاسِ دَاءٌ، وَذِكْرُ اللهِ دَوَاءٌ » – ‘Remembrance of people is a malady, remembrance of God is a remedy.’ After citing these words, Imam al-Dhahabi proclaimed with jubilant caution: إِي وَاللهِ، فَالعَجَبَ مِنَّا وَمِنْ جَهْلِنَا كَيْفَ نَدَعُ الدَّوَاءَ وَنَقْتَحِمُ الدَّاءَ؟ قَالَ اللهُ تعالى: Continue reading

ethics & morals, short read, short texts for reflection

Islamic ruling on gossip, remembering God amidst all the gossip and chatter, vices of too much talking, virtues of dhikr, virtues of silence
April 2, 2021

Footprints on the Sands of Time 8

These reflections are offered as part of a continued conversation about how we as Muslims can best retain meaning in modernity, and nurture an Islam that is true to its time-honoured tradition; relevant to our current context; and of benefit to man’s deepest needs. Previous ‘Footprints’ can be read here: Footprints 1 | Footprints 2 | Footprints 3 Continue reading

ethics & morals, short read

advice on mother-in-laws, Islam and critical race theory, Islam and marriage, Islam’s understanding of the age, obligation on Muslim husbands, the devil’s five steps to divert us from God, the spiritual evils of self-satisfaction
March 5, 2021

Thriving on Fitnah: The Muslim Controversialist!

THE GREAT SAGE AND scholar of early Islam, al-Hasan al-Basri, once remarked: ‘The concern of the scholar is to cultivate, the concern of the foolish is to [merely] narrate.’1 One hadith foretells: ‘There shall come upon people years of deceit in which the liar will be believed, the truthful one disbelieved, the treacherous will be Continue reading

contemporary concerns, short read

dangers of Muslim controversialists, Ibn Taymiyyah defining Muslim orthodoxy, Muslim controversialists as attention seekers, Muslims seeking controversy on social media, unjustified controversy is huge reason for Muslim disunity, who are the ruwaybidah?
February 9, 2021

How Sins Can Destroy Relationships of True Love & Friendship

THERE ARE A PLETHORA of verses in the Holy Qur’an and prophetic hadiths that speak about how the consequences of sins impact upon the well being of the social order. Their ill effect upon individuals is no less debilitating. One hadith tells us that: مَا تَوَادَّ اثْنَانِ فِي اللهِ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ أَوْ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ، فَيُفَرِّقُ Continue reading

ethics & morals, marriage, family, gender, short read

how sins can cause marital strife, Musa Kazim on how sins harm our friendships, sins can harm marriage, sins can separate friends, the effects of sins on our relationships, unrepentant sins can wreck relationships
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
November 14, 2020

Sacred Knowledge: Between Serious Seekers & Flippant Jokers

Now that certain objectionable practices have wiggled and wormed their way into the da‘wah – e.g. corporate attitudes which seems to put money first, the conscious use of comedy and tomfoolery, the culture of edutainment, the huge fees or honorariums that some charge for da‘wah, and an unhealthy celebrity culture which now surrounds certain speakers Continue reading

contemporary concerns, knowledge & learning, short read

are we allowed to joke in the da‘wah?, calling to Allah requires serious people, Islamic knowledge becoming entertainment, money concerns in the da‘wah, Muslim preachers and teachers being frivolous

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.