sharia

The Battle of Badr is a significant event in Islamic history, and it serves as a testament to the piety and bravery of the Sahabah

In Part 1 of this article, four of the ten characteristics of believers were discussed by the author. Whatever the situation a believer does not change, a believer is loving and caring of believers, a true believer is a well-mannered person and reciting the Quran is a requirement for the believer . In this second

There are many authentic prophetic hadiths that talk about the characteristics of the believer. Someone may ask: Why did the Prophet (peace be upon him) describe the believers’ characteristics? The answer is: Because the human being always flatters himself; he constantly complains about his livelihood, even though he praises his intellect. Self-flattery is part of

By Bilal Philips To remove the obstacles we have to focus mostly on self-change and this is because Allah says: {Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of good within themselves…} (13:11) This is an area which we have control over. We

The topic of inner peace addresses a universal need. There is nobody on this planet that does not desire inner peace. It is not a desire that is new to our time; rather, it is something that everybody has been searching for throughout the ages, regardless of color, creed, religion, race, nationality, age, sex, wealth,

We are living in a time when worldly desires are flying high. People strive for fame, power, and money. How Muslims can have a clarity about their priorities

As we mentioned in previous articles, worship can be divided into two categories: the worship of the heart and worship of the limbs. The worship of the heart can be dearer to God because they give meaning to the worship of the limbs. Ridaa (contentment with the decree of Allah) is one of the acts

Whenever I think about Islam’s stance on freedom, I am shocked by the words of some Muslim thinkers who see freedom as a Western and liberal deviation that has no basis in Islam and does not agree with the spirit of religion. They wave in your face the verse “And I did not create the

Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of his time said: “I have missed more than 9.000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions, I have been entrusted to take the game-winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that

Sometimes it feels like it’s just too much – these fluctuations in our faith, the repeated sinning, the feeling that “I just don’t deserve Allah’s mercy.” The tests always feel like punishments. There is a constant worry about the future: my marriage, my money, my career, my nation… And some difficulties just feel like they

It is easy for one to talk about righteous deeds and actions and all required steps to achieve them. Yet in today’s society and busy life and lack of time to focus, one may need more details and specific directions and activities to guide him through this great journey. This series on the topic of

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions knew something that is not often displayed today. They were able to face difficulty with a certain determination in their hearts; they were grateful for even the seemingly small blessings; they took pleasure in praying at night while the people were asleep. What they knew was

Islam is more than a religion; it is a complete way of life. Nothing is too small or too big to be covered by the teachings of Islam. Rejoice and be happy, remain positive and be at peace. This is what Islam teaches us, through the Quran and the authentic teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace

(And of people are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more (than anything else)) (Al-Baqarah 2:165) If I asked you, have you ever felt true love? What would you say? Would you think about your spouse?

Since the time we were children, we have learned the difference between good and bad. The formula is simple. When something good happens, we are happy. When something bad happens, we are sad. And the criterion is clear. Good is about acquiring, and we work to see results that can be weighed and measured. For

{[And it will be said], ‘Indeed, this is for you a reward, and your effort has been appreciated.} (Al-Insan 76: 22) Failure can take a toll on a person: that feeling of trying and trying, over and over, yet somehow never getting where you want to be. Or sometimes the task just seems too huge

In our journey to gain tranquility of the heart, we explored what we need to know when faced with difficult situations. We need to understand that God has told us we will be tested, that these tests are for a reason, and that there will be relief. When we are worried thinking about the future,

Indeed, all sins poison the heart and lead to its illness, disease and destruction. Being in effect as harmful to the heart as actual poisons are to the body, they sicken it and define its will as other than what God wants (of His servant). Imam Ibn Al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 

In Surat Al-Mutaffifin Almighty Allah draws a comparison between two groups of people and gives us the chance to choose for ourselves: in which group would we like to fit? The first group comprises the friends of Sijjin whose situation in this worldly life is described in the noble Qur’an as well as what awaits

The essence of belief in the Almighty Allah and the story of the young boy as mentioned in Surat Al-Buruj

Tips on how to boost your spirit during this longed-for month Ramadan.

Performing the prayer is a command of Allah. It is the most important pillar of Islam. It distinguishes between the believers and non-believers. Prayer is not an option; it is obligatory. It is not once or few times a week. But, it must be performed five times a day. All prophets of Almighty Allah merely

With the approach of Ramadan every year, how can a Muslim reap the benefit of the first night of Ramadan

When we fast in Ramadan, we inevitably think of those who feel hunger every day of the year. We experience hunger and look forward to breaking with the food at iftar

Learning how Islam encourages the Muslim to spend his money for the sake of Allah in form of charity (Sadaqah) especially during Ramadan.

In times of crisis and affliction, Muslims should return to Allah, putting their trust in Him and depending on Him in all of their affairs. Why should we Muslims trust in Allah and rely on Him? The answer can be summed up in the following points: –    Because Allah is capable of all things. –   

The habit of almsgiving and generosity of the first generations of the Muslims, the Salaf during the period of Ramadan.

Tips for the best manners to welcome the most anticipated guest Ramadan, and benefit from its fruits.

In this age of international competitions in numerous fields and at various levels, can Muslims turn their attention to a new kind of race on an entirely different plane? A race for attaining Allah’s medals of honor for piety. In the Noble Qur’an, Almighty Allah commands us in the language of the times, to compete

Mercy is a favor from Allah that He puts in the hearts of whomsoever He wills of His servants. Verily, Allah will have mercy on His servants who show mercy to others, as He is the Most Compassionate the Most Merciful. He loves the merciful and calls to mercy. He orders His servants to enjoin

The Battle of Badr was the first great battle in the history of Islam, and those who participated in it were granted honor and grace by Almighty Allah. There are many Qur’anic verses revealed with regard to the Battle of Badr, but what attracts attention are the first verses of Surat Al-Anfal (The Spoils of

Ramadan is a month of serenity and spiritual elevation. But when the body’s glucose level decreases too much from fasting, this could lead to irritability and aggression. Other factors may also contribute to the feeling of irritability, such as refraining from the habitual cigarette. Prophet Mohamed (peace be upon him) advised us to ‘keep our

One of my professors of Tafseer (Qur’anic Exegesis) gave me an assignment. He told me to read Surat Qaf, the fiftieth chapter of the Holy Qur’an one thousand times during the week and to compose a journal where my thoughts and reflections on those profound words would be kept. At first the task seemed daunting,

Tips for the attainment of happiness through the belief in Allah as offered by Sheikh `A'id Al-Qarni

The blessed days of Ramadan are passing so quickly. The special days of Allah's great mercy, forgiveness and favors are going

There is no doubt that the Quran is the Book of Allah, His eternal word and divine miracle. How does Quran cover the virtues of Ramadan

Some people have butterflies in their stomach when Ramadan draws near. They become more alert as Ramadan gets closer. Why do we have this anxiety?

Fasting during Ramadan was ordained during the second year of Hijrah. Why not earlier? In Makkah the economic conditions of the Muslims were bad. They were being persecuted. Often days would go by before they had anything to eat. It is easy to skip meals if you don’t have any. Obviously fasting would have been

The ruling of the ill and travelers who are exempted from fasting Ramadan and must make up for the missed days

Elderly men and women are permitted to break their fasts, as are the chronically ill, and those who have to perform difficult jobs under harsh circumstances and who could not find any other way to support themselves. All of these people are allowed to break their fast, because such a practice would place too much

There are few things that can invalidate the act of fasting in Islam. The detail as follow: 1-Intentional eating or drinking: If one eats due to forgetfulness, a mistake, or coercion, then he does not have to make up the day later or perform any expiation. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet said: “Whoever forgets he

I`tikaf (Spiritual Retreat) meaning & legitimacy: I`tikaf means to stick to something, whether good or bad, and to block out everything else. Allah says in the Qur’an: “What then are images that you pay devotion [akifun] to them?” (Al Anbia’: 52)—that is, what they devoted themselves to in worship. What is meant here is the

The virtues of observing voluntary fasts during the following days: six days of Shawwal, first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and the month of Muharram.

Few things to do for obtaining the treasures of the last ten nights of Ramadan

The virtue of the last third of Ramadan and the importance of maximizing the period with several good deeds.

The explanation of the Prophet Saying: Maintain truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Heaven..

Before answering whether earthquake is a punishment or a universal norm, there is a need to understand what an earthquake means, and why it happens.

Every Ramadan we make plans to improve ourselves as Muslims, but those plans do not always come to fruition later because the surge of faith that we have now is severely lacking outside this blessed month. Part of the reason is because the devils are locked up during this month, so to repel the devils

As the last ten nights are now upon us, it is time to re-evaluate how far we have come. Two-thirds of the month have already passed and will not return. However, we still have enough time to make a final push in this month, to maximize the benefit that we can attain, and draw closer

These are few questions on fasting and its ruling in Islam: 1-Until Dawn, One Can Eat, Drink and Have Intercourse: If someone has food in his mouth when Fajr is beginning, he should spit it out. If he is having intercourse (with his wife) at that time, he should immediately stop. If he does so,

What are the gates of paradise? Who will receive this great reward? Who will be able to defeat his evil desires more than anyone else?

How being sincere for Almighty Allah can affect the faith of believers in Islam.

Pleasures of this world are tangible and present, while delights of Paradise are unseen promises. People are readily influenced by what they can instantly see and know. It is hard for them to forgo something that is in front of them for the sake of something that is in the future, so how much harder

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that is believed to have originated from the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on February 15th. The festival was a fertility celebration and involved the pairing of men and women by lottery. In the 5th century, the Christian church replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day, which was

Every day, as we go through the same old routine of life, getting up, praying, going to work, dealing with people, going home, sleeping, etc, how easy is it for us to walk with blinders on our eyes? I thought of this the other day when I was scolded by someone about a thing that

Like other Islamic injunctions, the benefits of Ramadan are not limited to either “spiritual” or “temporal” elements of life. In Islam, the spiritual, social, economic, political and psychological intermingle in a consistent and cohesive whole. For convenience of presentation, the significance of fasting is discussed under four subheadings; spiritual and moral, psychological, social, and physical

Knowing the heart and its qualities and functions is an integral part of the religion and a basis for those who seek the cause of Allah

The list below include things that people do during their fasting day and do not invalidate their acts of fasting. 1-Pouring water over oneself and submersing oneself in water: Abu Bakr ibn `Abdurrahman reported from a number of companions that they had seen Allah’s Messenger pour water over his head while he was fasting due

1-The Days of `Eid: All scholars agree that such a fast is prohibited. It does not matter if the fast is obligatory or voluntary. `Umar testifies: “The Messenger of Allah has forbidden fasting on these two days. Concerning the `Eid of breaking the fast, it is for you to break your fast [of Ramadan]. On

The example of the Prophet, his Companions, and the earliest generation of Muslims in realizing the benefit of Ramadan

Introducing Abu Hurairah, an important companion who helped preserved and transmitted the valuable legacy of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)

The holy month of Ramadan is a time of restraint, reflection, and renewal. Muslims make every effort to better themselves and to be drawn closer to their Creator. They guard their tongues, engage in long hours of worship, exercise patience, and open up their hearts and pockets to charitable causes. However, when it comes to

Tips and guidelines on how to maintain a balance life in Islam through its principles of moderation.

It creeps up on you, sometimes, knowing that you’ve changed. You didn’t realize, you still don’t know, how it happened. And the scary thing is that the change was a fundamental part of you. It was all of who you thought you were. It was your destination and your journey. But you lost it. Now,

Muslims believe that God created them to worship Him and lead a life of righteousness and piety. They also believe that Islam is not only about religious affairs. Islam is a complete way of life. In their endeavors to lead their life, they, as humans, aspire to attain wealth, health, social position, etc. It is

It’s never easy to stand when the storm hits… As soon as it starts raining, lightning shortly follows. Dark clouds replace the sun and all you can see are the waves of an ocean, once calm, surrounding you. No longer able to find your way, you reach out for help. You begin by calling the

Richard Dawkins said of religion: “I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.” Others think the same as Dawkins. And there are times when I meet some ‘religious’ people and almost sympathize with the Oxford academic. Too many people hide behind religion in order not to think,

This article seeks to outline the revelation in the Qur’an on thankfulness, and discuss its various attributes. It also explains how the believer can become more thankful

How do we gain the tranquility of the heart by earning the love of Allah?

Seeking the tranquility of the heart through having a proper understanding about the God and the actual patience in the destiny

{Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him…} (An-Naml 27: 62) For whatever problem we have, whatever difficulty we find ourselves in, we have the most powerful weapon to ward off the pain that plagues us. It is the weapon of du`a’ (supplication). We know with certainty that

How best can we love the Almighty Allah and make His love reflects in our attitudes and behaviors?

What are the things that bring about Allah's love and make it grow in our heart and thus gives us the real tranquility and faith?

What is the meaning of Ikhlas (Sincerity), its essential benefit to the growth of the faith and its effects on the good deeds.

The effect of thankfulness during the moment of hardship in the relation to the verse {And when your Lord proclaimed: If ye give thanks, I will give you more}

How is thankfulness linked to the aim of existence based on the verse {Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him}

Tips of the importance of good morals as an essential requisite of Muslim faith.

How the Holy Qur'an addresses the purpose of life? How it has always presented the reminders to Mankind on how to lead a proper life.

I admit it. I’m human. And because I’m human I like to think that I’m in control, and even that I control others (“Yes, you will eat your spinach”). I fall into the habit of thinking that I will wake up in the morning and go to work, rarely remembering that I could die at

Being sure (having yaqeen) means certainty in the Strength of God, in His mercy, in His promise, and in everything that we talked about

Before you can fill any vessel, you must first empty it. The heart is a vessel. And like any vessel, the heart too must be emptied – before it can be filled. One can never hope to fill the heart with God, so long as that vessel is full of other than Him. To empty

Fasting on Muharram 10, known as the Day of `Ashura’, expiates for the sins of the past year. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah in 622 CE, he found that the Jews there fasted on Muharram 10 and asked them the reason for their fasting on this day. They

Love is in the air. Or at least that’s what advertisers want you to think this month. While it’s nice to express your love often, Valentine’s Day comes once a year to give you no choice. And for the owners of floral boutiques and chocolate shops, Feast comes in February. But even amidst such commercialized

When the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel, it was revealed in seven Arabic dialects (Al-Bukhari, 442), therefore when different Companions recited there were sometimes slight differences in pronunciation. While Prophet Muhammad was alive, he was able to clarify and resolve any pronunciation disputes. From the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, Umar

The article shows the importance of having a proper trust in God alone and its effect in dealing with sadness and eradicating it.

Being grateful to Allah for His blessings is a behavior that Muslims have to explore during the moments of joy and sadness. It has to be a constant attribute of Muslims.

The meaning of patience in Islam and ways of maximizing its level in the moment of sadness and its potential benefits

In general, du`aa’ (supplication) can be said in your own language or in Arabic. But some, such as “Bismi-llahi” and “Al-hamdu lillahi”, are short and easily learned, and also frequently said, so you should learn them in Arabic. In the du`aa’s given below, click on the icon to hear the Arabic. 1. Whenever you eat

What do money, a good word, and removing something harmful from the road have in common? Giving charity is such an important part of Islam that even the Arabic word tasaddaqa (to give charity) comes from the root sadaqa meaning to speak the truth, to be sincere. Sadaqah (voluntary charity) is different from zakah, the

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the Pillars of Islam, and thus one of the most important acts of worship. By fasting — whether during Ramadan or other times — a Muslim draws closer to his Lord by abandoning the things he enjoys, such as food, drink and sexual intercourse. This makes

What do you say when you stub your toe or pinch your finger or worse? Is the first word that comes out of your mouth “Damn!” or “Sh__!” or “F__!”

The approach of Islam to elevate the human self and get it closer to God is realistic, comprehensive, rational, and direct.

Does a person’s religion make any difference to the way they experience death and grief?

The article demonstrates the importance of five daily prayers in the life of Muslim, how these prayers are related to Faith.

The significant benefits of being grateful and thankful for God's blessings upon His creation.

Thankfulness is a blessed attitude expressed towards others. It is an expression of love and appreciation of others. Thankfulness is not bound to time, place or religion. Everyone says thank you in any language wherever he is and at any time. In Islam, gratitude is given much importance and emphasis. Whenever you ask a Muslim:

Tips on relieving the broken heart and how the attitude of forgiveness can ease a complicated condition.

The article shows the meaning of Kindness to relatives in Islam and how best a Muslim can relate with his relatives with kindness.

A reflection on the psychology of wellbeing through the recitation of Surah Fatiha in Muslim five daily obligatory prayers