The Humble I

Knowing, Doing, Becoming

theology

March 3, 2013

Reason, Revelation, Religion: How Do They Fit Together?

The Qur’an undoubtedly requires human beings to accept the authority of religion for whatever lies beyond the scope of reason or ‘aql. It never demands that he accept what is against reason. ‘The messengers,’ said Ibn Taymiyyah, ‘came with knowledge that reason is incapable of attaining to: never did they come with what reason deems… Continue reading

contemporary concerns, orthodoxy & ahl al-sunnah, reason, religion, rationality, theology

‘aql, Hanbalis and rationalism, Ibn ‘Aqil, Ibn Taymiyyah, intellect, is religion irrational?, reason and religion, refuting atheism
February 12, 2013

The Seventy-Three Sects: Is Most of this Ummah Deviant?

The Qur’an goes to great lengths to stress the need and obligation of Muslim unity. For instance, it states in a celebrated verse: Hold fast, altogether, to the rope of God and be not divided. [3:102] It also says: Be not like the idolaters; who split up their religion and become sects, each party rejoicing… Continue reading

correctives & clarifications, orthodoxy & ahl al-sunnah, salafism reconsidered, theology

ahl al-bid’ah, ahl al-sunnah wa’l-jama’ah, firqat al-najiyah, following the salaf, innovators, Islamic orthodoxy, saved-sect
January 29, 2013

‘Aqidah Comes First! Doesn’t It?

“‘Aqidah comes first” is a phrase which has, over the last quarter of a century, become a slogan in some Muslims quarters. Yet there can be no denying that ‘aqidah or belief (from ‘aqada: to tie, bind, fasten securely; from which comes the idea of tying certain beliefs to one’s heart in utter conviction of them), is the single most important aspect… Continue reading

salafism reconsidered, theology

‘aqidah, creed, holistic Islam, Ibn Hajr al-‘Asqalani, Islam & ethics, message of Islam’s early revelations, societal obligations
January 6, 2013

Does Allah Love Everyone?

People can mean quite different things when they speak of love. For some, love means desire, passion or lust: it is often used as a byword for self-gratification. To some, love is compassion, mercy, tenderness. To others, it is soppy, sugary, gooey sentimentality. For others still, it is devotion, longing and yearning. Then there is passionate love… Continue reading

consider Islam, correctives & clarifications, theology

divine love, divine mercy, God in Islam, God’s love, Is God love?, Islam and the love of God
October 14, 2012

God: the Ultimate Concern

At the heart of Islam stands the reality of God: Allah, the One, the Absolutely Perfect, Unique, Eternal, Beautiful, Loving, Infinitely Kind and Compassionate, All-Knowing, All-Hearing, All-Seeing, beyond what man can ever conceive, yet nearer to him than his jugular vein. [50:16] Islam does not demand blind faith in God. The Qur’an tells us a great… Continue reading

consider Islam, theology

God in Islam, God in the Qur’an, God’s beautiful names, knowing God, reality of God, the Divine Names, the greatest knowledge
September 20, 2012

Beholding the Prophet’s Status ﷺ

Mainstream, orthodox Islam (Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah) has long prided itself on preserving and transmitting the descriptions and distinctions of the blessed Prophet, peace be upon him. Tirmidhi’s much celebrated Shama’il, that depicts the beautiful attributes – physical and moral – of the Prophet, peace be upon him, is one such work in this heritage. Imam… Continue reading

orthodoxy & ahl al-sunnah, prophetology, salafism reconsidered, theology

‘lim al-ghayb, did the prophet have knowledge of the unseen?, knowing the rights of the Chosen one, loving Allah’s Beloved, shama’il, status of the Prophet, the Prophet’s maqam, venerating the Prophet, yearning for the Prophet
September 6, 2012

Isn’t Loving God Enough to Make One a Believer?

The Qur’an states: There are among people those who set up equals besides God, and love them as [only] God should be loved. But those who believe are more ardent in their love of God. [2:165] One can often hear certain people puzzle over why Jews, Christians, Sikhs and others, are not considered believers – given… Continue reading

correctives & clarifications, short read, sufism, suluk & spirituality, theology

categories of divine love, Ibn al-Qayyim, types of love of God, will all who love God go to Heaven?

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.