How Does Ramadan Work? A Beginner’s Guide
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The Meaning of La Ilaha Illa Allah: An Annotated Translation of Imam al-Zarkashi’s Treatise on the Islamic Testimony of Faith
Sh. Yousef WahbIntroduction In the forty-seventh sūra of the Qur’an, Sūrat Muḥammad, God commands, “So know that there is no deity except Allah.”[1] What makes this command especially striking is its timing; it was revealed approximately fifteen years into the Prophet’s mission, at a point when he and his companions already held an unshakable conviction in the oneness of God. Why, then, would such a foundational truth require reaffirmation? The verse suggests that knowing God’s oneness involves more than a one-time acknowledgment; it is an ongoing process that demands sustained reflection, deliberate cultivation, and inner renewal. Scholars have interpreted this divine command in various ways, many […]
The Divine Wisdom Behind the Pairing of Allah's Names in the Qur'an
Jinan YousefIntroduction “Allah has ninety-nine names. Whoever preserves (ahsaha or hafidhaha) them will enter Paradise.”[1] Such was the teaching of the Prophet ﷺ. Many of us have heard this hadith, but fewer of us have internalized the true scope of its meaning. To preserve Allah’s names is not simply to memorize them—it is to live by them. “To Allah belong the best names, so call upon Him (udʿuhu biha) with them.”[2] Duʿa in the Qur’an can refer to supplication specifically and worship more broadly, depending on the context.[3] Here, we are being told to call upon Allah with His names—for example, “O Allah, forgive me, You are the Most Forgiving […]
Love and Hate for God’s Sake: Revisiting the Doctrine of al-Wala’ wal-Bara’
Dr. Hatem al-HajIn the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful Properly reconciling commitment to God and compassion for man is among the most pressing needs of today’s world. It is no secret that Muslims’ relationship with the “other” (including fellow believers of other theological orientations) has become such a major trial for many—particularly those hailing from the Western world[1]—that it risks eroding the sweetness of their faith, or even pushing them away from it. The Islamic doctrine of al-walaʾ wal-baraʾ, often translated as loyalty and disavowal, has the power to remedy this conflict—if and when accurately defined. The equilibrium it achieves between obedience to God and compassion to mankind attests to Islam’s […]
Marriage and Gender Roles in Islam: Beyond Rights and Duties
Dr. Tesneem AlkiekIntroduction Over the past two centuries, Muslim societies confronted what often felt like insurmountable trials: from colonial domination and military defeat to political fragmentation and institutional decay. And yet, even as the Western world began to stagger under the recoil of the very ideologies it violently imposed, Muslim societies remained remarkably resilient in one vital domain: the family. Muslim homes buckled down to weather waves of religious and intellectual onslaught. Marriage was not merely a social arrangement but a space for cultivating moral values and sustaining quiet resistance. But the storm has now caught up with us too, straining one […]
Virtues of Surah al-Baqara: Healing and Protection in the Qur’an’s Longest Chapter
Sh. Suleiman HaniIntroduction One night, standing underneath the vast stretch of the starry sky, Usayd ibn Ḥuḍayr found himself reciting Surah al-Baqara. His horse, tied beside him, suddenly grew agitated. When Ibn Ḥuḍayr paused his recitation, the horse fell silent. He resumed his recitation, only for the horse to again become visibly distressed. He stopped, and again so did his horse’s agitation. For one final time he tried to continue his recitation, but to no avail—his horse was unsettled and worked up, and his son, Yahya, was too close for comfort. Ibn Ḥuḍayr, fearing that the horse might trample his son, bent down […]
Surah al-Fatiha’s Benefits and Virtues: The Greatest Surah in the Qur’an
Sh. Suleiman HaniSurah al-Fatiha is the greatest surah in the Qur’an, the foundation of Islam, the summary of truth, a healing for illnesses, a comfort for worries, a protection, and a fortress. Surah Al-Fatiha is an unrivaled divine revelation to the final nation, recited at least seventeen times a day by Muslims praying their five obligatory prayers, a consistent conversation with the Creator, and a prescription for the hearts of creation.
American Muslims and the 2024 Election: Why American Muslims Are Rethinking Political Alliances | Blog
Dr. Osman UmarjiAmerican Muslims have historically supported the Democratic party due to perceptions that they have Muslims’ interests closer to heart. In recent years, they have grown disenchanted with this political alliance. What are the political attiudes of Muslims going into the 2024 US elections?
It's Okay to Be Different: How to Talk to Kids About Halloween and Islam | Blog
Sh. Ibrahim HindyI was driving my 5 year old son home from his swimming lessons when he told me about a conversation he had with his swimming instructor. It’s a conversation I imagine many Muslim kids and parents in the West have had in one form or another.“He asked me what I’m going to be for Halloween,” Yunus said during the car ride home.I said, “Oh. So what did you tell him?” Yunus just made a gesture of zipping his lips shut and said, “I didn’t say anything.”“Why not? Why didn’t you tell them that you don’t believe in Halloween?” I inquired.“I […]
Introduction Nana Asma’u bint Uthman (1793-1864) was a Muslim scholar and prolific poet from the West African Sahel. She was the daughter of Shaykh Uthman ibn Muhammad ibn Uthman ibn Salih (d. 1817), known as Uthman dan Fodio, the founder of the powerful Sokoto caliphate and one of the most esteemed scholars in the traditions of law, Sufism, and governance in the early modern period. Raised in a poetry-loving culture, Nana Asma’u used poetry to teach the Qur’an and transmit Islamic values, memorialize great people, and preserve her people’s history. Asma’u’s brother Muhammad Bello, who succeeded their father as caliph, also wrote many poetic and prose […]
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues in North America, and anxiety disorders are increasingly becoming a global concern. Islam offers a wealth of insights and practical strategies for coping with anxiety and stress, emphasizing spiritual well-being, community support, and balanced living. Anas (rA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever is mainly concerned about the hereafter, Allah will make him feel independent of others and will make him focused and content, and his worldly affairs will fall into place. But whoever is mainly concerned with this world, Allah will make him feel in constant need of others and […]
American Muslims and the 2024 Election: Why American Muslims Are Rethinking Political Alliances | Blog
Dr. Osman UmarjiAmerican Muslims have historically supported the Democratic party due to perceptions that they have Muslims’ interests closer to heart. In recent years, they have grown disenchanted with this political alliance. What are the political attiudes of Muslims going into the 2024 US elections?
Happiness in Qur’anic ethics The desire for happiness is a natural desire, and both the Greek and Islamic philosophers agree that happiness is the final end, but they differ as to what this end is and how it should be achieved. A key question that philosophers pose is whether virtues are sufficient for happiness, or whether they require external goods such as health, wealth, and friends for the fulfillment of happiness. We know from experience that a passionate attachment to external goods such as wealth and material possessions can be harmful to human life. However, we cannot also dismiss the […]
It's Okay to Be Different: How to Talk to Kids About Halloween and Islam | Blog
Sh. Ibrahim HindyI was driving my 5 year old son home from his swimming lessons when he told me about a conversation he had with his swimming instructor. It’s a conversation I imagine many Muslim kids and parents in the West have had in one form or another.“He asked me what I’m going to be for Halloween,” Yunus said during the car ride home.I said, “Oh. So what did you tell him?” Yunus just made a gesture of zipping his lips shut and said, “I didn’t say anything.”“Why not? Why didn’t you tell them that you don’t believe in Halloween?” I inquired.“I […]
Tahajjud: Fuel for the Self and Society
Dr. Tamara Gray
Introduction Damascus is a beautiful city. Jasmine vines and bright purple bougainvillea flowers grow on balconies all over the city and jacaranda trees sneak up in the small spaces between blocks and buildings. I used to live in a twelve-story cement block building that stood in a row of at least ten other buildings almost exactly like it. At maghrib time, the sun would go down and the buildings’ windows would light up with crystal chandeliers and fluorescent lights. People would go about the evening work of children’s homework, supper, and soap operas all up and down the floors. It was a […]
The Art of Worship: How to Make the Most of Ramadan Nights
Dr. Ovamir Anjum
Worship is an art. It is an art that every worshipper must master. Yet few ever do. This article offers five simple steps toward mastering the art of worship.
Repentance as a Way of Life: Islam, Spirituality, & Practice
Roohi Tahir
Abstract While the general notion of repentance may be familiar to most, the Islamic concept of repentance is far less familiar and is often the subject of misconceptions and doubt. Repentance plays a central role in Islam and is comprehensive in nature. Deeply rooted within the belief system, it manifests in multiple dimensions—as the core of Islamic theology (aqeedah), as a subject of jurisprudence or rulings (fiqh), and ultimately in practice as an act of worship (‘ibadah). Equally important are the spiritual and self-purification (tazkiyah) aspects of repentance which reside in the heart. This paper specifically addresses how to repent, with a […]
Hijab: Spotlighting Servitude to God
Roohi Tahir
This paper focuses on the spiritual dimensions of the hijab, to read more about the legal definition of hijab go here. Introduction One of the most contentious debates about Islam and Muslim women in society revolves around the religious construct of ḥayāʾ (modesty, shyness) and ironically, what has become its most discernible expression—the observance of hijab. The word hijab is linguistically derived from the meaning to be veiled, concealed, or protected[1] and can be used both in its literal and metaphysical sense, as it appears in the Qur’an.[2] However, the term has become synonymous today with the headscarf worn by Muslim women. The staggering level of scrutiny on hijab, particularly in the […]
Tahajjud: Fuel for the Self and Society
Dr. Tamara Gray
Introduction Damascus is a beautiful city. Jasmine vines and bright purple bougainvillea flowers grow on balconies all over the city and jacaranda trees sneak up in the small spaces between blocks and buildings. I used to live in a twelve-story cement block building that stood in a row of at least ten other buildings almost exactly like it. At maghrib time, the sun would go down and the buildings’ windows would light up with crystal chandeliers and fluorescent lights. People would go about the evening work of children’s homework, supper, and soap operas all up and down the floors. It was a […]
The Art of Worship: How to Make the Most of Ramadan Nights
Dr. Ovamir Anjum
Worship is an art. It is an art that every worshipper must master. Yet few ever do. This article offers five simple steps toward mastering the art of worship.
Repentance as a Way of Life: Islam, Spirituality, & Practice
Roohi Tahir
Abstract While the general notion of repentance may be familiar to most, the Islamic concept of repentance is far less familiar and is often the subject of misconceptions and doubt. Repentance plays a central role in Islam and is comprehensive in nature. Deeply rooted within the belief system, it manifests in multiple dimensions—as the core of Islamic theology (aqeedah), as a subject of jurisprudence or rulings (fiqh), and ultimately in practice as an act of worship (‘ibadah). Equally important are the spiritual and self-purification (tazkiyah) aspects of repentance which reside in the heart. This paper specifically addresses how to repent, with a […]
Hijab: Spotlighting Servitude to God
Roohi Tahir
This paper focuses on the spiritual dimensions of the hijab, to read more about the legal definition of hijab go here. Introduction One of the most contentious debates about Islam and Muslim women in society revolves around the religious construct of ḥayāʾ (modesty, shyness) and ironically, what has become its most discernible expression—the observance of hijab. The word hijab is linguistically derived from the meaning to be veiled, concealed, or protected[1] and can be used both in its literal and metaphysical sense, as it appears in the Qur’an.[2] However, the term has become synonymous today with the headscarf worn by Muslim women. The staggering level of scrutiny on hijab, particularly in the […]
Being Black and Muslim in America: A Study on Identity and Well-Being
Dr. Osman Umarji
This research study is an empirical investigation into the identity and well-being of Black Muslims in America.
A Punishment or a Mercy? What We Can Learn from COVID-19
Dr. Osman Umarji
Introduction “Is the coronavirus a punishment from Allah?” “Is Allah angry at us?” “Is the coronavirus a blessing, test, or punishment?” These theological questions are in the hearts and minds of many Muslims since the coronavirus spread worldwide, infecting over two million and taking the life of over 100,000 people thus far.[1] Answering these questions requires a discussion of core theological concepts, including a thorough understanding of the concept of punishment. In this paper, we seek to answer these questions, describe what American Muslims actually report believing about the topic, and provide practical solutions to the questions. The concept of punishment Punishment […]
Parenting Style and Our Relationship With God: The Influence of Parental Love on Our Perception of God
Dr. Osman Umarji
Introduction One of the most foundational Islamic beliefs is the acknowledgment of Allah’s sovereignty. Sovereignty refers to Allah’s absolute ownership, power, and supreme authority over the universe. Allah refers to Himself as ‘the Owner of Sovereignty’[1] (Mālik al-mulk), and Sūrat al-Mulk begins with the proclamation, “Blessed is He in whose hand is all sovereignty.”[2] “Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the throne. He covers the night with the day, which is in haste to follow it; and the sun, the moon, and the stars are subservient to His command. Unquestionably, to Him belongs […]
Belief in Divine Love: Discovering Spiritual Attachment Styles
Dr. Hassan Elwan
What is your spiritual attachment style? Explore how our belief in divine love can effect our attachment to God scale and how our image of God influences how we relate to Him.
Closer in Quarantine: A Study of Successful Marriage in Social Isolation
Menahal Begawala
Introduction We are living in unprecedented times with stressors that span social isolation to job uncertainty and everything in between. During this time, there may be added pressure on marriages. Issues that may have been previously dormant within marriages can rise to the surface. While difficult, if approached correctly, the current situation can present an opportunity to make a positive shift that is likely overdue. All relationships require intentional and active effort to thrive. If a marriage has been neglected, the consequences will hit harder now than at times when we could have escaped or distracted ourselves from the painful experience of […]
