Imam Ibn al-Jawzi and others mention that the Qur’an cites the word ‘Kufr’ in five different cases one of which is to deny the existence of Allah, the Messenger, etc. Linguistically there are various meanings but technically it means when a person does not believe in Allah or Islam.

I don’t want to delve into the deeper meanings of Kufr but when a person says he does not believe in Allah and the last day, should we not consider him to be a Kafir? (disbeliever/non-Muslim). It seems some people, due to their inferiority complex, want to even evade calling a non-Muslim . . . → Read More: Concept of Kufr

Another Ramadan has come to its end. Yet again it seems that every year it comes and goes as fast as a speeding train. May Allah accept the prayers, sujud and supplications of all the Muslims here and the rest of the world.

I am reading a brilliant book by Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanwi on the wisdom behind the commands in Islam and thought I’d share the the wisdom of the six fasts of Shawwal. Continue reading Maqasid: the six fasts of Shawwal

As I was making my way to deliver the Friday sermon my attention was drawn to an advert on the underground publicising a mobile phone package. I won’t disclose which mobile company it was, but the advert was very telling of the current condition of the society we live in. It read, ‘Freedom to gossip, text, chat etc. The package is offering its subscribers cheap and free unlimited text to other people who subscribe to the same package.

From this and other frivolous activities we can conclude that society or the culture of a Godless and secular society makes it very appealing and easy for individuals to commit such deeds.

Allah says, “O you who believe, aviod much suspicion. Indeed some suspicions are sins. And do not spy, nor backbite one another. Would one of you like that he eats the flesh of his dead brother? You would abhor it. And fear Allah. Indeed Allah is Most-Relenting, Most-Merciful’’. (49:12) Continue reading Freedom to gossip

I think it is common knowledge to everyone reading this that as Muslims we are commanded to learn and study, and knowledge occupies a grand and sacred position in our heritage.

Islam calls us to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. ‘Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.’ [Sunan Ibn Majah]. Even the first verse or command to be revealed to the Prophet was Iqra, which means to read or to lean.

Scholars like Imam Shafi’i categorise knowledge into two types, he said: “Knowledge is only of two kinds: religious knowledge and worldly knowledge. The knowledge that belongs to the domain of religion is Islamic Law and the knowledge that belongs to the domain of worldly matters is medicine.” Continue reading You have 1 new PhD in text messaging

The British Beer & Pub Association said that UK pubs closed at a rate of 52 per week in the first half of the year – a third more than the same period in 2008.

The global economic crisis has made many people redundant and forced many businesses to cut down on their production while others are forced to close down. However, although it is bad news for some people in the UK, the recent news of the British pubs closing down at a record rate, in my opinion, is good news.

Every year thousands of people die due to drink related problems or diseases. Crime and anti-social behaviour which is rife in many of our communities is fuelled by alcohol. Continue reading Mother of all vices