theology
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A Perennial Problem: Is Islam the Only Valid Path to God?
Is Islam (the religion and way of life the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ came with) the only path to God? Does the Qur’an extend the validity of religions beyond Islam; to any who believe in God and act rightly? Or does the Qur’an insist that Islam is the exclusive and only path to God? And what of the idea… 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? -
Khawarij Ideology, ISIS Savagery: Caliphate & Jihad
The first instalment of this blog (here) charted the rise of Islam’s first heterodox sect, the Khawarij, who were described by the Prophet ﷺ as being: ‘the worst of mankind and beasts’1 and ‘dogs of Hellfire.’2 We saw how their defining traits were: (i) rebellion (khuruj) against legitimate state rule; (ii) declaring Muslims to be apostates (takfir) for sins or opinions… Continue reading
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Ibn al-Qayyim on why jihad is fought, ibn Kathir on the Khawarij, Ibn Taymiyyah on multiple Muslim states, ISIL, ISIS, ISIS are Khawarij, Islamic ruling on ISIS, Islamic State, jihad is not perpetual war, khalifah, khawarij, proofs against ISIS, sneaking out to join ISIS, true nature of jihad, true reasons why Muslims wage jihad, who are the Khawarij of our times? -
Khawarij Ideology, ISIS Savagery: the Takfiri Origins
As ISIS continues its murder and violence across the provinces it controls and seeks to control, and as it continues to plague the conscience of the great majority of Muslims around the world, what’s worth recalling is that we’ve seen this before in history with the sect called the Khawarij (anglicised to Kharijites). So before tackling ISIS, let’s look at their forerunners;… Continue reading
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The Sunnah’s Inner Beauty
The Qur’an says: To Allah belong the most beautiful names. [7:180] In a sahih hadith we read: ‘Allah is beautiful and loves beauty.’1 Now these aren’t statements about feelings, impressions or sentimentality, they’re statements about the very nature of the Divine Reality! Imam al-Munawi comments upon Allah’s beauty (jamal): ‘He is the possessor of absolute and perfect Beauty. From this Beauty,… Continue reading
al-Munawi explaining divine beauty, Al-Sa’di explaining concept of beauty in Islam, Allah is beautiful and loves beauty, beauty in Islam, common mistakes when following the Sunnah, don’t ignore the Sunnah’s inner beauty, Gai Eaton on the framework of beauty, God’s essence; attributes; and acts are all beautiful, How is God beautiful?, inner and outer beauty, inward beautification is the essence of faith, religion is the recognition of Beauty, The beauty of God, the Sunnah and beauty, the Sunnah is shield against ugliness, the Sunnah leads to beauty -
Tawhid is Much More Than Just A Theological Abstraction
This short read explains what tawhid is, and why it is the central theological concept of Islam. Without understanding tawhid, one simply cannot understand Islam in any real or significance sense. It also explains that tawhid isn’t meant to be a theological abstraction we merely write or academically talk about. Instead, it is meant to… Continue reading
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The World Gets Topsy-Turvier: Signs of the End Days [1/2]
The Hour is drawing near and the moon has been cleft in two, declares the Qur’an [54:1] In another of its many eschatological verses, it says: They ask you about the Hour. Say: ‘Knowledge of it is but with Allah. What will make you aware of it? It maybe that the Hour is near.’ [33:63] The Prophet, peace be… Continue reading
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Time Waits for None: Reflections on Surat al-‘Asr
In one of the shortest chapters or surahs of the Qur’an, we read: By Time! Verily man is in [a state of] loss; except those who believe and perform righteous deeds, and enjoin one another to [follow] the truth, and enjoin one another to patience. [103:1-3] This chapter, or surah, is known as Surat al-‘Asr. I hope to… Continue reading
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Ma‘rifah: Getting to Know God
When we compare our lifespans, wherein our lives unfold, to the age of the earth or to the visible universe of nearly fourteen billion years, it seems less significant than a drop of water in an endless ocean. To today’s materialists, life holds little significance beyond that of selfish genes and chance mutations (or of exploitation and unfettered consumption).… Continue reading
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Beyond the Limits of Reason & Rationality
Last year I wrote a series of blogs about Islam, the Qur’an and rationality. Like others who have discussed faith & reason in recent times, I too was motivated by the desire to address a popular fallacy: that religion, or religious belief, is irrational. It wasn’t the only reason why I felt to write about these matters, but it was a… Continue reading