sharia

What are the good deeds that can benefit the dead by the permission of Allah

From among the stations of worshipping Allah and seeking His help is the station of fear. Allah said, "So fear them not, and fear Me alone, if you are believers."

What do we mean by the state of repentance (Tawbah) in Islam? How can a believer obtain this state?

It is necessary for an individual to pause at the end of each day that has passed, taking oneself to account for self-criticism

One’s heart should always be filled with the remembrance of Allah. Forgetfulness and negligence are the main weaknesses of human beings. The only remedy is that the believer should develop God-consciousness and be constantly aware that Almighty Allah watches him. All acts of worship aim at drawing man closer to Allah. The Qur’an says, (Establish

(As for the unbelievers, their deeds are like a mirage in the desert that the thirsty traveler supposes to be water, but when he comes near to it finds that it is nothing. But he finds that Allah (has always been present) with him, and that He will pay him his account in full; for

Heart is a very important part of the human body. A lot depends on the heart: Not only our physical health, but also our spiritual and moral health depends on the soundness of the heart. Someone said rightly, “The problem of the heart is the heart of the problem.” All problems, whether individual, familial, social,

This is the message of peace, the message of salvation. This is the message of liberation from being enslaved to mundane things that keep shackling souls with worries and sorrows. This is a call from the One Who controls everything, calling you, humankind, to submit! Submit your life to Him and be calm. Make your

This article seeks to examine what light means to us in Islam. It begins by discussing An-Nur, Allah and his light.

Before we embark on the next stage of this journey, I want to mention two things. First, much of what you read here will not be radically new. The reason for that is that Allah (swt) has equipped us with ways to achieve tranquility of the heart, yet we seldom use them in that way.

The Holy Qur'an explains the formation rain and clouds as follows: "And We have sent the fertilizing winds and sent down water from the sky and given you drink from it..

Anyone who looks around modern society will quickly notice the many blessings of technology and scientific advancement. As Muslims we recognize that these are blessings from our beloved Creator who provided us with the means to achieve success. We also see, as a result of people straying from God and His message, the ugly side

Ordinary souls experience serene moments, pure from earthly dross and defilement, when any bitter or harsh feelings they have are softened, and their thoughts are elevated from earth to the pure and fresh air of heaven, where a sense of peace and tranquility pervades their being. But they soon descend to their low ground, where

The following are a set of supplications from the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet carefully selected from correct sources.

The article explains the importance of devotion in prayer, summarized from a show called: “How can you taste the sweetness of prayer?”

A Muslim should steer clear of all sins, major and minor ones. A faithful Muslim takes care of every utterance or deed, avoiding anything that makes him subject to the punishment of Allah and His Wrath. The major sins are those acts which have been forbidden by Allah in the Qur’an and by His Messenger

In continuing with the noble traits of the true servants of The Merciful, we find that they are characterized by a deep sincerity; they give up their precious sleep time in devotion to their Most Gracious Creator. The Most High elucidates the next quality of His servants who are, “Those who spend part of the

People can be very different when faced with irritating, bothersome, or offensive situations. Some are easily upset and lose their composure; others can remain calm, gentle and yielding through the toughest of trials. Most of us are somewhere in between. The truth is that many people are predisposed to such characteristics and others acquire these

The people in heaven are rewarded differently based upon how much they made this life a means to achieving success in the hereafter. Those who disciplined themselves to live this life for the hereafter are those who embraced the test of life with faith and wisdom. We all have goals that we would like to

The following series will be about the characteristics of those people who truly know God, the Most Merciful and thus live a lifestyle which reflects that

    cure can not be found until the disease has been diagnosed and medicine is useless unless it counters the causes of the disease. From this we learn that the only thing which nullifies a thing, is its opposite. The reason why a person persists in sin is heedlessness and succumbing to desires. Only knowledge

When Allah commands us to give up sins and to avoid them it is not because our sins will harm Him. It is only us who will benefit by avoiding sins. Likewise, we alone will be affected by the sins we commit. It was the habit of the righteous ancestors to think about their sins

One of Satan’s favorite tricks is to make people think and say, I will do such-and-such soon, in a little while, maybe tomorrow, or next week and so on. He makes them delay their actions making them feel secure and happy with the present. Some people have named this “The Great Obstacle.” A person may

Suspicion could ruin the relations between people, particularly when it is based on flimsy evidence, or hearsay. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke in very clear terms about misplaced suspicion, giving clear orders to refrain from it. One clearly authentic hadith that combines some of the actions that cause discord within the

This world is like an exam hall. This life is like an exam-period. As the examination period is short, so is the life of this world. However, the list of important tasks of a believer is not short. Along with worship like salah, sawm, zakah, hajj, a believer’s list of duties includes many other things.

Islam is the second largest religious group in the world. It entails about 1.8 billion of followers or more than 24% of the world population. Nowadays, many studies are showing that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world and may become the world’s largest religious group by the second half of this century.

One of the major troublesome areas of human existence is the problem of sin or evil in the world. It is commonly believed that sin started with Adam and Eve during their life in the Garden of Eden. That event led to the Fall and has ever since branded the human race with guilt, stigma,

Allah the Almighty says: {O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except as Muslims.} (Aal `Imran 3:102) O you who believe! The message is clearly directed to us as believers. It is not a general statement but is specifically addressed to the believers. This ayah from Surat Aal

The verse of Qur'an mentioned in the article reveals four basic qualities of pioneers in good deeds

A quick flashback when my daughter Salma was then attending her first classes in kindergarten. Miss Zainab, her respectful teacher, taught her how to write the alphabet in both Arabic and English, as well as how to draw some interesting objects: a duck, a bird, and a watermelon. Salma started practicing and training on exploring

If we say that sins are dangerous, then belittling sins and taking them lightly is more dangerous than sinning itself

When I see someone repenting, see their return to Allah, see their efforts to walk on the straight path, my heart is filled with joy. Alhamdulillah, the number of repentant men and women is increasing day by day. Despite the happiness for these virtuous ones, there are also some people whose acts and deeds make

In Surat Ash-Shams, Allah swears by the nafs [here translated “soul” but better understood as “self”] saying {By the soul [nafs] and He Who proportioned it, and inspired it its wickedness and its righteousness; he has succeeded who purifies it, and he has failed who instills it (with corruption)}. (Ash-Shams: 7-9). The above Qur’anic verses

The Prophet's approach in dealing with two very different societies, the Makkan society before Hijrah and the Islamic society in Madinah.

Part of lessons taught from the hijrah (migration) of the Prophet Muhammad to Madinah is the hijrah of hearts.

The Hijrah, the migration of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his companions from Makkah to Madinah, is one of the greatest landmarks in the history of Islam. It is a unique event in the history of humankind. The Hijrah that marks the beginning of the construction of an ideal Islamic society

The article discusses the definition and legal ruling related to martyrdom in Islam, and the revered status of martyr.

What will we bring back from Makkah and Madinah when we go to Hajj and Umrah? Many friends ask me such questions. In this article, I try to mention the summary of the answer I give to these friends, in sha Allah. 1. Tawhid, Iman and Yaqin Tawhid, Iman and Yaqin are the first and

We believe that God has given us free will, and we freely choose our actions. From the outset, we should point out that this is an issue in which the world’s greatest minds have applied themselves, and on account of which many people have lost their way. The Prophet’s companions did not speak about questions

Do we obey Allah in Hajj only or do we take heed to His commandments in the Quran? Reflecting on the meaning of Hajj or pilgrimage, a Muslim realizes that this is about a long journey to the most sacred place, Makkah. Traveling to Hajj is more than just a physical journey, it is also

Since the advent of Islam, till a few decades before today, traveling to perform hajj and staying there was extremely difficult. There was a lot I was told about hajj before I performed mine for the first time in my life. I was told that it was physically very tasking; that it involved practicing and

Three tips for Muslim pilgrims on the best way to embark on hajj rites with full strength and correct understanding.

The article entails the journey of Hajj and its incredible experiences of selfless brotherhood for most pilgrims

With the right preparation, Hajj can be one of the most beautiful times of our lives. Hajj is an amazing journey.

[No misfortune can happen on earth or in yourselves but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: that is truly easy for Allah. In order that you may not despair over matters that pass you by, nor exult over favors bestowed upon you. For Allah loves not any vainglorious boaster.] (Al-Hadid

The article explores some of the Prophet’s hadiths related to Hajj that reveal the significance of this great worship

The Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad provides the means to achieve the noble purpose for which God created the human being. I remember meeting a young man in the sacred mosque of Makkah once during the month of Ramadan. He had come to Makkah to perform `umrah. He was wearing a white turban and had hair

Muhammad and the Rebuilding of the Kaaba The modesty of the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was the most prominent trait of his personality.  Even from an early age, his sense of shame in an open society of the Arabs prior to Islam was remarkable.  In one instance,

Modesty before God according to His right to modesty is that you protect your mind in what it learns; your stomach in what it ingests … Muhammad and Modesty before God Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), said: “Every religion has its characteristic, and the characteristic of Islam is modesty.” (Hadith in Al-Muwatta) Modesty, in

Modesty can be seen as the means by which morals and ethics in society are maintained and pursued. Modesty and shyness focus a special aspect in the relationship between man and his Creator, this important role made all prophets and messengers encourage modesty, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed from the teachings

Do we obey Allah in Hajj only or do we take heed to His commandments in the Quran? Reflecting on the meaning of Hajj or pilgrimage, a Muslim realizes that this is about a long journey to the most sacred place, Makkah. Traveling to Hajj is more than just a physical journey, it is also

Pilgrims performing Tamattu’ Hajj first perform Umrah upon arrival in Makkah. They then end their ihram and wait in Makkah till the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah Every year, millions of Muslims from the four corners of the world head to Makkah to perform Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam. The journey needs dedication, energy and a

“We orbited God’s House in accord with the atoms, in harmony with the planets” After sunset, the mass of pilgrims proceeds from Arafat to Muzdalifah, an open plain about halfway between Arafat and Mina. There they first pray and then collect a fixed number of chickpea-sized pebbles to use on the following days. Before daybreak

Namira Mosque at Arafah The hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah, a central duty of Islam whose origins date back to the Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, brings together Muslims of all races and tongues for one of life’s most moving spiritual experiences. For fourteen centuries, countless millions of Muslims, men and women from the

Cramps attack those people with normal bodies who carry out arduous works under high temperature and thus exert great amounts of perspiration. The phenomenon of exhaustion frequently takes place in the summer or in places with high temperature such as the Holy Sites. Sometimes, it attacks the person suddenly, but it mostly be caused by

At every step and every action, a pilgrim remembers God and makes supplication to Him. Therefore, mentioning God’s name is the ultimate goal of Hajj. Muslims believe that Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) is one of the five pillars of Islam. Hajj has been made obligatory on those who are physically and financially able to perform

When the pilgrim utters the “Talbiyah”, everything around him recites it in the complete submission to the one God. “Tawheed” (the Oneness of God) was the message with which all the messengers and prophets were sent to establish on earth. Every prophet was ordered to convey the message of “Tawheed” to his people. In all

Continuing his speech he said: “People, you have an obligation towards your womenfolk and they have an obligation towards you… When the time of pilgrimage drew near, the Prophet caused it to be known all over Arabia that he intended to offer the pilgrimage to the Ka’bah, which has always been a religious ritual ever

Few examples on the Prophet's leadership characteristics during hajj

Imagine a place full of throngs of different colors and races from around the globe. They are all full of sincere love toward one another. Can you think of such a place in today’s world? If not, then you have to see Makkah and Madinah during the season of Hajj. At this time of the

{Perform to their completion both the pilgrimage and the `Umrah purely for God’s sake. If you are prevented from doing so, then make whatever offering you can easily afford…} (Al-Baqarah 2:196) The exact date of the revelation of this verse is not known, except for one report indicating that it was revealed at Al-Hudaybiyah during

After highlighting the significance of Kabah, Surat Aal-Imran moves on to state that God has imposed a duty on mankind to make pilgrimage to this House once they are able to do so. Otherwise, they let themselves fall into disbelief which causes God no harm: {Pilgrimage to this House is a duty owed to God

The Jews sought constantly to exploit the question of changing the direction of Muslim prayer (qiblah) which meant that the Muslims faced the Kabah in prayer instead of turning towards Jerusalem. The Prophet and his Companions faced Jerusalem in their prayers for 16 or 17 months after the Prophet’s emigration to Madinah. This topic has

{Safa and Marwah are among the symbols set up by God. Whoever visits the Sacred House for pilgrimage or `Umrah, would do no wrong to walk to and fro between them. He who does good of his own accord shall find that God is most thankful, All-Knowing.} (Al-Baqarah 2:158) Several reports suggest a specific cause

What are the blessings of Hajj? One may describe them in great detail. But, in the Qur’an, where Allah instructs Ibrahim to invite people to come to Hajj, it is said:{So that they may witness things that are of benefit to them}(Al-Hajj 22: 28). Hence, the real blessings of Hajj can only be experienced by

Hajj is an obligation which none can undertake except those who are strong as well as honest, and none can perform its rites in full except those whom Allah has granted good knowledge and healthy bodies. In addition, its superior horizons cannot be perceived except by those who have perfect faith, sound body, great heart,

These two adversaries have become engrossed in contention about their Lord. For the unbelievers garments of fire shall be cut out; and scalding water will be poured over their heads, melting all that is in their bellies and their skin. In addition, there will be whips of iron for them. Whenever, in their anguish, they

Many of us have experienced a time in our life when we have fallen out with a friend or family member and have not spoken to them for a while because of things that were said. Most often these arguments last a very short time and we soon make up our differences and carry on

A believer’s sole aim is to attain the good pleasure of God (Allah). However, Allah’s good pleasure is not only earned solely by performing certain acts of worship at definite times. Allah’s good pleasure is also earned by conducting oneself correctly throughout one’s lifetime. The following verse informs us that a believer’s entire life must

Sacrifice is the theme to which I have been asked to address myself today. What does the word mean? In a wider sense, ‘sacrifice’ means giving up things which are vauled or desired. Those things may be tangible, countable like time, wealth or life, or intangible, unmeasurable like feelings, attitudes, opinions or aspirations. They are

In this article, the author continues discussing the basic prerequisites for approaching the Qur’an. In part one, he highlighted the importance of having deep faith that the Qur’an is the word of God. He also emphasized the necessity of approaching the Qur’an with a pure and sincere intention. In part two, he draws our attention

In the first article of this series, the author highlights the importance of having a strong and deep faith that the Qur’an is the word of Allah. Such faith is the only means to transform and improve yourself by the Qur’an. The second prerequisite emphasized by the author is the necessity of approaching the Qur’an

Have you ever touched a bare electricity wire with wet hands? Have you ever put your hand on burning coals during a barbeque? Have you ever tasted thick bleach? Have you ever thought of why your answer to the above three questions is “no”? The reason why your answer to the above three questions is

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to offer the Eid prayers in the prayer-place (musalla). There is no report of his offering the Eid prayer in his mosque. Al-Shaafa’i said in al-Umm: It was narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to go out on the two Eids

Many are those fettered with chains of sin, and those captivated by bad habits of whose damage and dangers they are completely aware. They stay imprisoned by those habits after their wills are weakened. Habits have their own power over souls and authority over hearts; they become implanted in the human being, and turn into

Overeating…Ramadan…it sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Actually, many people  compensate for the meal missed during the day at iftar because the body is deprived of food for a long period of time. However, overeating does not help; we usually eat more than what is needed to compensate. Our aim at iftar should be to eat only

Sahl ibn Sa’d (RA) narrates that An-Nabi (SAAWS) said, “In Jennah there is a gate called Ar-Rayyan, a door which the Saa’imoon will enter from, no one else except them. It will be announced, ‘Where are the Saa’imoon?’ and the Saa’imoon will stand. No one except them will enter from the Rayyan gate.” Have you

A Purpose for Every Work There are essentially two component factors in any work which a man has to perform. The first thing is the purpose for which a work is done and the second thing is the particular shape of that work which is chosen to achieve that purpose. For instance, take the case

Muslims everywhere are expecting the blessed month of Ramadan. At the beginning of Ramadan, Allah bestows His Mercy on people; at the middle period of it, Allah forgives the sins of the repentant; at the end of it, Allah delivers his righteous servants from Hell-Fire. In Ramadan, people observe fasting by day and perform Vigil

Every Ramadan, Muslim minorities all over the world start the month of Ramadan and end it with a sour taste, the taste of differing over when to start and when to finish. You may find in the same local town or city, a mosque that may fast with an Arab country, another one that may

We have mentioned that worship like Salah, Sawm, Zakah and Hajj are very important and renewed sources for provision in our path. We tried clarifying that concerning prayer, and now we will do the same with Fasting and may Allah help us. Allah, Most High, says, {O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you

If you ask most young people how they feel generally and how they feel within their families, the most common answer is ‘isolated’ ‘different’ ‘lonely’. What has happened to us that we have forgotten how to communicate with our kids! Are we just too busy to really listen to them? Have we forgotten how it

Muslims all over the world begin fasting, from dawn until dusk, for 30 days as ordained in the Qur’an (2:183). ”O, you who believe. Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you can learn Taqwa.” The Arabic word, Taqwa, is translated in many ways, including God-consciousness, God-fearing,

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