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January 12, 2025 8:44 pm Volunteer Application: Compiling Shaykh Akram’s Articles
December 28, 2024 1:03 pm Wiping Over Socks: A Brief Overview
December 27, 2024 4:50 pm ASI Graduation 2024
November 28, 2024 11:38 am The Hereafter
November 16, 2024 3:55 pm Visit to the Shrine of Mawlana Jalal al-Din al-Rumi in Konya
November 12, 2024 1:42 pm Men don’t own women
October 24, 2024 1:43 pm Maqasid al-Shari`ah
October 3, 2024 5:03 pm Between Extremes: Navigating Purpose & Responsibility
May 28, 2024 5:16 pm Al-Jami al-Muin By Dr Akram Nadwi
February 4, 2024 4:27 pm Reading the Qur’an During Menstruation
December 16, 2023 12:20 pm Inheritance: a general overview of the laws
September 19, 2023 12:36 pm Taysir
September 15, 2023 11:22 am The successful life
June 14, 2023 11:32 am Al-Muhaddithat: The Women Scholars of Islam
March 12, 2023 9:47 am The meaning of ‘inshallah’, ‘mashallah’ and ‘bidhnillah’
June 25, 2022 8:40 pm The Classical persistent western attitude to the natural world
May 15, 2022 8:49 pm The Qur’an should not be valued as merely a sacred object
January 4, 2022 2:02 pm Muqaddimah of ibn al-Salah
December 8, 2021 9:15 pm Modern science seeks power, not wisdom
November 25, 2021 10:42 pm Balancing General Principles and Specific Rulings in Islamic Law
April 2, 2021 12:00 am Reflections on How Muslims Disagree, Dispute, and Divide
March 15, 2021 7:01 am Questions about the Dictionary of women scholars
February 28, 2021 6:49 am Three questions related to the on-going pandemic
January 13, 2021 2:53 pm Al-Muhaddithat has been published!
December 23, 2020 10:27 pm Why are the writings of the scholars unread? Address to the students of Madrasas (Islamic institutions)
December 23, 2020 10:06 pm السلام انسٹيٹيوٹ لندن كى سالانه تقريب
December 3, 2020 3:08 pm ما سنن الدارقطني؟
December 3, 2020 2:58 pm علة حديث: لا توتروا بثلاث
October 27, 2020 5:58 pm Al-Ihkam
October 6, 2020 10:19 pm Beautiful Names
September 14, 2020 5:20 pm Jurisprudence of Muslim Minorities
July 25, 2020 9:57 pm The evil eye
July 23, 2020 11:20 am The Most Ridiculous Question
July 21, 2020 1:26 pm Practices on the Days of Dhu al-Hijjah
July 20, 2020 2:38 pm Passing of Shaykh Salman al-Mazahiri
July 7, 2020 2:23 pm Questioning your studentship – an address to the students of Al-Salam Institute
June 30, 2020 10:28 pm Missing jumu`ah without excuse
June 20, 2020 8:50 pm Eulogy on Moulana Farahi
June 20, 2020 8:27 pm Desire is desire, not will
June 5, 2020 11:42 am Prayer in the mosques during the easing of the lockdown
May 13, 2020 6:22 pm Shaytan’s Tricks
May 5, 2020 2:21 am Mixed classes for men and women
April 29, 2020 12:42 pm The Month of Ramadan
April 24, 2020 1:16 pm The Soundest Book
April 20, 2020 5:24 pm Contemporary Issues in Congregational Prayer: Live Broadcasting and Women’s Congregation
April 18, 2020 9:59 am The pandemic and Ramadan
April 13, 2020 10:14 am Contagion in Islam
April 3, 2020 8:20 am Coping with the Covid-19 outbreak
March 30, 2020 4:58 pm Washing the Deceased from COVID-19
March 24, 2020 8:03 pm Addressing Practical Religious Concerns During the Covid-19 Pandemicntroduction The Covid-19 pandemic has not only posed significant health challenges but has also raised important questions regarding the intersection of religious practices and public health measures. Medical professionals, who are on the frontlines of this crisis, face unique dilemmas that require thoughtful guidance. This article addresses specific concerns raised by Muslim medical practitioners in the UK regarding maintaining religious obligations while ensuring safety during these unprecedented times. 1. Shaving Beards for Effective Use of PPE Q: Some doctor brothers are having issues in hospitals at this critical time. They have been advised to shorten or shave off their beards because face masks do not fit properly and safely with beards, thereby carrying a risk of transmitting the virus to others. Your guidance on this matter will be greatly appreciated. A: First, let me take this opportunity to thank the medical staff in this country for their inspiring dedication to saving lives, even at the risk of their own. The present crisis has placed a terrible burden on their shoulders, and they are carrying it in a way that should motivate the rest of us to be mindful of the needs of others above our own, and to serve those needs to the best of our ability. The doctors, nurses, paramedics, and all the staff in hospitals, care homes, and related services deserve the applause of the whole country. May God bless them all and reward them in the best way. Understanding Emergencies and Religious Obligations Emergencies and compelling necessities are, by definition, different from normal conditions. In normal conditions, Muslims are expected to perform all their religious obligations to the best of their ability and attend to all aspects of their everyday lives. However, during times of emergency and compelling necessity, both religious obligations and everyday duties must be adjusted on a case-by-case basis for the duration of the exceptional circumstances. Once these circumstances end and normal conditions return, religious and everyday obligations revert to their norms. The general principle clarified both in the Qur’an and in the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is to make life easier for people rather than harder, without condoning or indulging in known forbidden actions. The Qur’an and Sunnah encourage tolerance, forgiveness, kindness, and leniency; they aim to give hope rather than provoke despair. This principle applies in normal times and is even more pertinent during emergencies and extreme hardships. Shaving Beards for Health and Safety Maintaining a beard is an emphasized Sunnah in Islam for men; however, it is not mandatory. In times of hardship, one is excused from practicing Sunnahs, even emphasized ones, when it is not possible to do so. In fact, even mandatory obligations (fard) can and should be relaxed in the face of necessity for the duration of that necessity. For example, while traveling, it is permissible to miss Sunnah prayers. An important command of the Qur’an and Sunnah is that we do not knowingly and willfully harm others or ourselves. For instance, if a man’s skin condition is aggravated by wearing cotton or wool, he may (and should) wear silk garments, even though it is normally reprehensible for men to wear such garments. In the current situation, the question is addressing a known and serious risk of harm—the risk of transmitting the virus—both to the health worker and to the patients they are attending. In this case, individual interest and the general public interest converge. Therefore, Muslim health workers who maintain beards for religious reasons should, for religious reasons as well, trim their beards or shave them to ensure that their protective equipment functions effectively. This adjustment safeguards both their health and that of their patients. Once normal times return, they are encouraged to grow their beards as they prefer. 2. Combining Prayers Due to Continuous Work Q: Sometimes doctors are so continuously busy that they cannot pray on time. In this situation, can they combine the prayers? A: This question is even more straightforward. In situations of war and other similar emergencies, it is permissible to combine prayers, specifically Zuhr and ‘Asr, as well as Maghrib and ‘Isha’. People are generally aware that combining prayers in this way is permitted during the stress and hardships of traveling. Therefore, it should not be surprising that in life-threatening situations—such as doctors having to perform long procedures or being on duty for hours to handle a stream of emergency cases—Muslims are permitted to combine prayers when necessity dictates. Extending the Permission to Livelihood-Threatening Situations There is an argument that this permission extends to livelihood-threatening situations as well. Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, in his work Kitāb al-Ṣalāh found in al-Insāf fī Maʿrifat al-Rājiḥ min al-Khilāf, preferred the view of permitting the combination of prayers for cooks, bakers, and others who feared the loss of their livelihood or the livelihood of others if they did not combine the prayers. This stems from the general human concern that, even when not obvious, the public interest in the work of some people requires leniency and flexibility. This rationale is why, in the UK and other countries during the present time, the nation’s supply drivers are regarded as essential to dealing successfully with the pandemic emergency, as are health workers. Conclusion The Covid-19 pandemic has necessitated adaptations in religious practices to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals and the community. Islamic law provides flexibility in exceptional circumstances, prioritizing the removal of harm and the preservation of life. Health workers are encouraged to balance their religious obligations with their professional duties by making necessary adjustments, such as trimming beards and combining prayers, to effectively combat the pandemic while maintaining their faith. These measures embody the principles of compassion, practicality, and trust in God, ensuring that religious practices remain meaningful and respectful even in the face of unprecedented challenges. Footnotes Qur’an 4:59: “O believers […] If you are disputing about something, refer it to God and the Messenger, if you believe in God and the Last Day. That is better and more beneficial in the long run.” Qur’an 4:65: “No! By your Lord, they will not believe until they make you judge in what they disagree about among themselves, then find no resistance within themselves for what you decide, and accept it fully.” Qur’an 53:32: “Truly your Lord is vast in forgiveness; He knows you well from when He produced you from the earth and when you were hidden in the wombs of your mothers, so do not ascribe purity to yourselves; He knows best who is truly wary [of sin].”
March 22, 2020 2:22 pm Reduction (Qaṣr) in the Prayer
March 16, 2020 6:50 pm Guidelines for Muslims on Coronavirus
March 10, 2020 8:25 am Principles and applications
March 6, 2020 1:33 pm Dajjal
March 6, 2020 1:28 pm Settling disputes between Muslims in the UK
March 3, 2020 8:26 am مجلس سماع وعلم
February 27, 2020 11:04 am The role of ‘ulama’
February 25, 2020 8:21 am How to engage with what is happening in our time
February 13, 2020 8:57 am Islamophobia
February 4, 2020 8:21 am Al `Imran 121-130
January 30, 2020 10:21 am What is Balaghah?
January 18, 2020 5:38 pm The Virtue of Sūrah al-Kahf
January 14, 2020 8:30 am The passing of Dr Murad Hofmann
December 21, 2019 8:46 pm How do I study and what do I learn?
December 7, 2019 6:16 pm Is Mortgage Permissible?
December 4, 2019 1:18 pm Hanafi Fiqh Essentials
November 15, 2019 4:21 pm Accelerated Arabic Programme
November 12, 2019 5:52 pm Few Thoughts on Surah al-‘Ankabut
November 4, 2019 6:21 pm Desire and Love in Marriage
October 31, 2019 5:48 pm Reflections on Education
October 22, 2019 4:15 pm Advice to women travelling for `umrah
October 15, 2019 5:45 pm Notes on Surah al-Shu’ara’
September 24, 2019 11:14 am Thematic Overview: Surah Al ‘Imran
September 16, 2019 4:22 pm Critical Reflections on Feminism
September 16, 2019 1:46 pm Benefitting from our Differences
September 13, 2019 10:12 am Tafsir Series
September 11, 2019 2:23 pm Orientalists and Hadith
September 2, 2019 2:44 pm The Origin of a Successful Marriage:
September 2, 2019 2:18 pm Reflections on Surah al-Jinn
August 27, 2019 4:29 pm The Crisis facing Madrasah
August 19, 2019 3:22 pm Indian Triple Talaq Bill
August 10, 2019 5:18 pm The Standing on the Plain of Arafah
August 5, 2019 5:50 pm Maqasid of Shari’ah
August 5, 2019 1:28 pm The Food of the People of the Book P2
July 29, 2019 3:08 pm The Forty Hadith concept
July 28, 2019 4:51 pm The Food of the People of the Book
July 22, 2019 3:26 pm Be answerable for your speech
July 15, 2019 10:34 am Hope for Muslims
July 9, 2019 10:29 am Breath Control
July 9, 2019 10:22 am Avoiding Hypnotherapies
June 23, 2019 7:51 am Presenting Islam without deception
June 23, 2019 3:17 am Children Attending the Mosque
June 22, 2019 5:15 pm Vegetarianism/veganism
June 19, 2019 10:12 am The Nexus between Qu’ran & Sunnah
June 10, 2019 2:20 pm The Meaning of Du’a
June 5, 2019 5:39 pm Women doing qada’ of their missed fasts
June 5, 2019 5:22 pm Fasting six days of Shawwal
May 21, 2019 5:52 pm Religious emotion and self-knowledge
May 16, 2019 6:05 pm Manners in Islam
April 30, 2019 4:09 pm Don’t Waste Ramadan
April 12, 2019 11:47 am Marriage
April 12, 2019 10:39 am Islamic Finance
April 3, 2019 10:02 am Charity in Islam
March 25, 2019 3:42 pm Unity and Solidarity
March 25, 2019 3:34 pm Reflections on Theory of Evolution
March 19, 2019 4:23 pm Da’wah – Invitation to Islam
March 15, 2019 3:37 pm Surah al-Nazi`at
March 15, 2019 3:37 pm Surah al-Mursalat
March 15, 2019 3:37 pm Surah al-Kahf
March 15, 2019 3:37 pm Surah al-Takwir & Surah al-Infitar
March 15, 2019 3:36 pm Surah al-Insan & al-Dahr
March 15, 2019 3:36 pm Surah al-Tatfif
March 15, 2019 3:36 pm Surah Nuh
March 15, 2019 3:35 pm Surah Al-`Imran
March 14, 2019 11:59 am Not being able to take a bath after menstruation
March 7, 2019 12:36 pm Those eligible for Zakah
February 12, 2019 6:32 pm Who Taught You Literary Criticism?
January 30, 2019 11:03 am Taqwa
January 29, 2019 4:43 pm The Prophet as a Teacher
January 14, 2019 2:02 pm The Sunnah Explains the Qurʾān
January 10, 2019 10:27 am Sunnah and Ḥadīth
January 8, 2019 3:11 pm Stress and Anger
December 31, 2018 1:43 pm Departure of Scholars from the Way of the Ḥadīth Imāms
December 26, 2018 9:50 am Virtue of the Juristic Approach in Fiqh
December 25, 2018 12:43 pm Between Hadith and Fiqh
December 11, 2018 1:07 pm How to Motivate yourself for Study
December 4, 2018 5:19 pm Islamic Law and Water
November 27, 2018 2:19 pm The Right Pathway to Studying Ḥadīth
November 12, 2018 3:03 pm Silence
November 6, 2018 4:42 pm Some Reflections on ‘Aqidah
October 30, 2018 3:18 pm The Meaning of Ijāzah
September 27, 2018 4:52 pm Sahih al-Bukhari
September 25, 2018 12:21 pm How to Benefit from the Qur’an
September 6, 2018 2:46 pm Surrogate Motherhood
August 3, 2018 5:07 pm Authenticating the Ascription of Ṣaḥiḥ al-Bukhārī to its Author
July 27, 2018 10:20 am Hajj
July 18, 2018 5:10 pm The Appropriate Methodology for Teaching Grammar
July 6, 2018 6:03 pm A New Perspective on the Hanafi Madhhab
June 26, 2018 7:23 pm The True Meaning of Ḥasan
June 26, 2018 7:23 pm The True Meaning of Ṣaḥīḥ
May 31, 2018 3:34 pm From the Sirah of the Prophet ﷺ – The Messenger as a Teacher
May 31, 2018 1:56 pm The Length and Number of Units of Prayer
May 30, 2018 5:08 pm Tarawīḥ Prayer is not Obligatory
May 11, 2018 5:57 pm Sexual Abuse
May 11, 2018 5:08 pm The Role of Reason
May 11, 2018 4:55 pm The True Meaning of Study
May 11, 2018 3:30 pm What do you have?
May 11, 2018 3:19 pm Don’t Waste Ramadan
May 10, 2018 10:53 am Mixing Between Madhabs
May 10, 2018 10:50 am Tell us: “What are you?”
May 10, 2018 10:48 am The Best Madrassa
May 10, 2018 10:46 am Nuzhat al-Nadhr
May 10, 2018 10:41 am Wiping on Socks
May 10, 2018 10:25 am Combining Prayers whilst Travelling
May 10, 2018 10:23 am Knowing the Exalted Lord
May 10, 2018 10:15 am The Virtue of Sabr
May 10, 2018 10:12 am Advice to the New Generation of Nadwa
May 10, 2018 10:09 am The Jumu’ah Khutbah in Non-Arabic
May 10, 2018 10:04 am Shaykh Akram Nadwi on Sahih Muslim
May 10, 2018 10:02 am Who really are the ones possessed by evil jinn?
May 10, 2018 10:00 am Why study the Sirah?
May 10, 2018 9:58 am Non-Muslim Festivals
May 10, 2018 9:55 am Between Hadith and Philosophy
May 10, 2018 9:15 am The Book is Two Books
May 10, 2018 9:07 am Mawlana Muhammad Deedat
May 10, 2018 7:53 am How Should You Write an Article?
May 10, 2018 7:50 am Who Has Taught You Generosity?
May 10, 2018 7:46 am Who Has Taught You Kindness?
May 10, 2018 7:44 am Who Has Taught You Perception?
May 10, 2018 7:39 am Who Has Taught You the Remembrance of Allah?
May 10, 2018 7:36 am The Meaning of Supplication
May 10, 2018 7:17 am Usul al-Hadith According to the Hanafi Madhhab
May 10, 2018 7:12 am Mawlana Syed Rashid
May 10, 2018 7:04 am Who Has Taught You Fear?
May 4, 2018 3:35 pm The Muqaddimah of Ibn Khaldun
May 4, 2018 1:04 pm Apostasy among Muslims in the UK
May 4, 2018 12:40 pm Supplications in the Quran

Volunteer Application: Compiling Shaykh Akram’s Articles

Al-Salam Institute is seeking volunteers to help compile, translate, and organise Shaykh Akram’s articles. Over the years, Shaykh has written extensively on a wide range of topics and often references these articles during classes. While a robust collection of his...

Wiping Over Socks: A Brief Overview

Introduction Among the everyday matters of Islamic jurisprudence is whether one may wipe over cloth socks (masah ‘ala al-jawrabayn) during ablution (wudu). While many classical scholars permit wiping over leather socks (khuffain), questions often arise regarding...

ASI Graduation 2024

Al-Salam Institute (ASI) celebrated its esteemed graduation ceremony for the academic year 2023-24. Held at the Islamic Foundation in Leicestershire during the ASI Winter Retreat, the event was a momentous occasion, bringing together students, faculty, and honoured guests.

The Hereafter

Published on: Nov 28, 2024 Human life is inherently complex and difficult to sustain without a sense of intrinsic value. Mere survival—marked by the acts of eating, sleeping, accumulating wealth, and reproducing—is insufficient to fulfill the deeper needs of human...

Visit to the Shrine of Mawlana Jalal al-Din al-Rumi in Konya

Among the most significant artifacts is a handwritten manuscript of the Masnavi, an experience that evoked a sense of profound reverence. While I possess a facsimile of this manuscript in Oxford, witnessing the original illuminated its historical and spiritual significance.

Men don’t own women

Shared Responsibilities of Men and Women “The believing men and believing women are supporters of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, establish prayer, give zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those – Allah will have mercy upon them....

Maqasid al-Shari`ah

Introduction to the Maqasid al-Shari`ah The maqasid al-shari`ah are intellectual abstractions of general principles derived from particular, historical rulings in Islamic jurisprudence. The mental operation involved in such abstraction consists of extracting an...

Between Extremes: Navigating Purpose & Responsibility

Interpreting faith in the world today, discussing gender, identity, culture, politics and contemporary issues in the world today The Global Influence of Culture I don’t think it makes much difference on these issues that Muslims are living as minorities or as...

Al-Jami al-Muin By Dr Akram Nadwi

كتاب الجامع المعين في طبقات الشيوخ المتقنين والمجيزين المسندين د. محمد أكرم الندوي، أوكسفورد صدر لي أخيرا كتاب (الجامع المعين في طبقات الشيوخ المتقنين والمجيزين المسندين (ألف ترجمة أو أكثر في سبعة مجلدات) بطباعة دار الكتب العلمية ببيروت سنة 2023م، فسألني بعض إخواني أن...

Reading the Qur’an During Menstruation

There are two predominant scholarly opinions regarding this issue. In the following response, I will outline these opinions in detail and then offer my reflections and some practical guidance that Muslim women might consider adopting.