fiqh & usul al-fiqh
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Scholars, Speakers & the Culture of “Edu-Tainment”
In an age where craving for fame, recognition and celebrity-like status has found new outlets, “practicing” Muslims have found that they are not immune to such egotistical impulses. In fact, society and social media are currently awash with wannabe shaykhs, speakers and religious spokespersons – many (maybe even most) who are simply unfit for purpose. The Prophet Continue reading
al-Ghazali on sincerity, can fees be taken to teach Islam?, can money be charged for da’wah?, da’wah organisations following business models, dignified humour in da’wah, du’a and callers to islam who corrupt more than they rectify, effects of celebrity culture around Muslim scholars and preachers, fitness of having fans and a large following, how sincere are today’s da’wah organisations?, how to convey sacredckniowledge and da’wah, how to determine who is a scholar, Ibn taymiyyah on taking monet for da’wah, Islamic ruling on scholars charging extortionate money for lectures, joking in Islamic talks, scholars of the hereafter vs worldly scholars, scholars promoting their egos, sincerity in calling to Allah, when is praising people not allowed?, when to praise a scholar or da’i -
Knowing Qualified Scholars from Cowboy Speakers
How do we distinguish a scholar from a da‘i, motivational speaker or ‘knowledgeable brother’? What are the proper qualifications for true scholarship? How serious a sin is giving fatwas and religious rulings without appropriate knowledge? What dangers are there in the Islamic ‘edu-tainment’ and ‘celebrity’ culture we are now in, especially where poorly qualified (or even unqualified) speakers take to social media to promote themselves and attempt Continue reading
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5 Cornerstones of Islam’s Bigger Picture
What follows are five cornerstones that lie at the heart of Islam’s bigger picture of life. They concern: (i) What is life’s higher purpose? (ii) Who has the right to our ultimate love and loyalty? (iii) The obligation of faithfully keeping covenants and contracts, (iv) Loving the sacred law and thanking the Lawgiver, (v) Fatwas: between Continue reading
contracts and covenants in Islam, Ibn al-Qayyim on hiylah, Ibn Hamdan al-Hanbali, Ibn Hamdan on when fatwa cannot be given, Ibn Qudamah on the covenant of security, Islam and the covenant of security, principle of ease in Islam, purpose behind Islamic law, purpose of life in Islam, rukhsah and azimah, rules of fatwa, shariah reforms, taysir in shariah -
Joining Feet to Straighten Prayer-Rows: Is it a Sunnah?
Q. As part of straightening the rows for congregational prayer (salat al-jama‘ah), is it required or recommended that each person join their feet with those standing either side of them? A. Two issues need addressing here. Firstly, the importance of straightening the rows and the care and attention our Prophet ﷺ gave to it. Secondly, the manner Continue reading
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The Path of Knowing, Doing & Becoming
Q. I’ve been following your talks and writings, on and off for about sixteen years now. You often mention the Islamic concept of knowing, doing & becoming, describing it as the “methodology of a Muslim” and a “blueprint for a believer.” It’s even the motto of your blog and the Jawziyyah Institute. I know you’ve explained Continue reading
correctives & clarifications, fiqh & usul al-fiqh, salafism reconsidered, sufism, suluk & spirituality, theologybalanced Islam, hadith of Angel Gabriel explained, holistic Islam: iman islam ihsan, Islam is about being transformed, Islamic spirituality, manhaj of a Muslim, manhaj of Ahl al-Sunnah, moderate Islam, sound Islamic methodology, sufism is an Islamic science, the Jibreel hadith explained, three areas of Islam, three spheres of Islam: knowing doing becoming, where does tasawwuf fit in Islam? -
Zakat: Helping the Needy at Home or Just Abroad?
Thoughts that first cross the mind when it is suggested that zakat should be given at home in the UK, as well as abroad, is: foolish; nonsensical; totally irresponsible; utter ignorance; unIslamic, even! After all, who in Britain is truly poor or needy compared to, say, the millions of people in Malawi, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and other parts Continue reading
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Divorcing the Wife at the Behest of Parents
Q. Is there any religious requirement in Islam for a husband to divorce his wife merely because his parents are displeased with the marriage, or continue to disapprove of it? Didn’t the Prophet ﷺ endorse the decision of ‘Umar who ordered his son to divorce his wife? Is the son being disobedient if he refuses to do so? ♦ Continue reading