History vs. hadith
The original meaning of the Greek word from which ‘history’ is derived is ‘inquiry’, that is, asking questions, seeking knowledge. However, history is not, and never has been, a disinterested questioning about what happened in the past, still less a disinterested,...
Unity before method: moonsighting and collective responsibility
The determination of the beginning and end of Ramadan represents one of the most prominent expressions of collective religious life in Islam. These moments are intended to unite Muslims in shared worship, discipline, and spiritual renewal. Yet in many contemporary...
Crowdfunding, Financial Assistance, and Riba Based Mortgages in Islam
Question: I have a question. Can we apply for crowdfunding, or can we raise fund through such platforms once end up in financial hardship? Is it allowed in Islam to request help from a human being rather than Allah? Is it not contrary to the wisdom of Surah Fatiha:...
An investigation of the Hadith: “beat them for it when they are ten years old”
Among the prophetic traditions frequently cited in discussions of the religious training of children is the report, “Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and beat them for it when they are ten.” This study examines the authenticity of the...
The life of the prophet: from the passing of Abu Talib and Khadījah to the hijrah
The years that followed the deaths of Khadījah bint Khuwaylid and Abū Ṭālib mark one of the most pivotal and spiritually profound periods in the life of the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ. These events, which occurred approximately three years before the Hijrah, initiated a...
Some cautionary advice to women travelling for umrah
It is important to do our religious obligations according to the norms and manners prescribed for those duties. But it is no less important to accomplish these duties in secure and peaceful environments. It is obvious, for example, that because men and women must,...
Understanding the signs of the end times
Question: I have been reflecting on the signs of the end times, especially the prophecies about wars and conflicts that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned. With the tragedy in Gaza and Palestine, people often refer to the Malhamah al Kubra and the hadith “Umran Bayt al...
Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim on the meeting of narrators
Question: Dear Shaykh, I have a question regarding Imam Bukhari's condition on the meeting of narrators. Did Imam Bukhari hold the same view as Imam Muslim, namely that if two narrators lived in the same period and the possibility of their meeting exists, there is no...