short texts for reflection
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On True Salafism, False Salafism & Ijma‘ Theology (1/2)
Much has been written about Salafism (salafiyyah) over the past half a century or so, particularly after 9-11. Among Muslims who ascribe to Sunni Islam, the whole concept of Salafism and what it stands for (and what it has done at the ground level) continues to be a source of great contention. While some see Continue reading
contemporary concerns, knowledge & learning, orthodoxy & ahl al-sunnah, salafism reconsidered, short texts for reflection, theologyare most Muslims in hellfire?, are today’s salafis the real saved sect?, is the saved sect a tiny clique of people?, meaning of salafism, place of ijma‘ in Sunni orthodoxy, salafi ‘aqidah v. salafi manhaj, splitting over ijtihadi issues is hallmark of deviants, true salafism v. false salafism, who are the innovators?, who or what is a salafi? -
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
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Adab’s Golden Rule & Its Minimum Rule
SHAYKH ‘ABD AL-QADIR AL-JILANI’S “golden rule” is the height we must aspire to in how to be sincerely devoted to God, intending only His good pleasure without others sharing in our worship of Him; and how to be of sincere service to people: كُنْ مَعَ الْحَقِّ بِلا خَلْقٍ وَ مَعَ الْخَلْقِ بِلا نَفْس ‘Be with Continue reading
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Taking Money to Teach Islam: Is It Lawful?
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned a golden principle about taking payment for acts of worship. As part of his reply about whether it is permitted to charge a fee to perform pilgrimage on someone else’s behalf (hajj al-badal), he stipulated this rule: أَنْ يَأْخُذَ لِيَحُجَّ لا أَنْ يَحُجَّ لِيَأْخُذَ ‘He may take [payment] to [help him] perform the pilgrimage; he may Continue reading
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Revisiting the Sensitive Question of Islamic Orthodoxy
For much of Islamic history, the question of who embodies the majoritarian orthodox path of ahl al-sunnah wa’l-jama‘ah has been rather contentious. One view holds that it is only the Atharis [Salafis] that are orthodox, with the Ash‘aris and Maturidis being the closest of the heterodox Muslim sects to ahl al-sunnah. Another view is that Continue reading
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Turning to God After All Else Has Failed Us
Isn’t it the height of bad faith if we turn to God only after everyone else, or after everything else, has failed us? Isn’t that trivialising God’s greatness that we’ve put Him last on our list? If so, will He still listen to my plea for help? Should I still turn to Him? Or will it be a case of: ‘The cheek of it!’? ♦ In Continue reading
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The Signs of Bliss & Misery
Some people are catapulted into the limelight; some have a quiet greatness thrust on them; most, though, live simple, ordinary lives. The ordinary believer believes in God and realises he is here through God’s purpose, love and compassion. So he lives each day as God’s blessing and acknowledges what he has he owes to God Continue reading
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Better the Devil You Know than the Devil You Don’t
‘It is a pity,’ argued Gai Eaton, ‘that so few people believe any longer in shaytan, the devil, if not in a personalised form, at least as an influence or a tendency. We need to be able to identify evil, not only when it manifests itself in genocide or torture, but in its roots and Continue reading