On the Nexus Between Knowledge and Power in the Western Media

Orientalism

When the British people headed to the polls in 2020 to vote either for a Corbyn or Johnson government, for a fair number of them, the general election was more than party politics or an expression of their democratic liberty. Rather, in an unprecedented first, it was seen as a defence of their human rights; their freedom to practice their religion without discrimination, derision, and disdain. A BBC coverage of a Muslim tour group in London revealed a single dominant issue as their agenda and voting criteria: Islamophobia.[1] This fact is evident in the very electoral campaign itself, where the pro-Conservative mass media’s nemesis has been aligned with Islam; thereby sealing his electoral fate, while a sensationalist paper brands him a terrorist-sympathiser.[2] How has Islamophobia increased to a level whereby it has found its way within a political manifesto?[3] The answer may lie within the Western media’s portrayal of Islam and Muslims.

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Rise of The Digital Khulwa

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على سيد الأنبياء والمرسلين واله وأصحابه أجمعين أما بعد

We are all aware of the fitnah of al-ikhtilāt, which is the fitnah of free-mixing and intermingling between men and women. Yet, owing to the digital revolution we comprise, the analog doors to evil are now almost archaic. In place, however, are sinister and covert new ways that are currently working to destroy the fabric of our societies. More than ever, the time is rife to address them and bring them to the foreground so collectively we may find new ways to avert some of the degradation of this and the next generations.

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The False Dichotomy of the Post-Colonial Dualism of Knowledge in Islamic Pedagogy

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على سيد الأنبياء والمرسلين واله وأصحابه أجمعين أما بعد

“Say: ‘Truly, my prayer, and my service of sacrifice, my life, and my death, are all for God, The Cherisher of the Worlds:'”

al-Qur’an, 6:162

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Should Muslims in the North Adopt Makkah Fasting Times Due to Hardship?

Fasting

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على سيد الأنبياء والمرسلين واله وأصحابه أجمعين أما بعد

I remember many years ago, a traditional scholar and teacher of mine noted, wryly: “in the upcoming years as Ramadan coincides with the long days of the summer, expect fatawa [Islamic juristic rulings] to emerge to alleviate the Muslims from those fasts”.

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What is The Goal in Disagreements?

Disagreement

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على سيد الأنبياء والمرسلين واله وأصحابه أجمعين أما بعد

Many of us have heard of the expression, “let us agree to disagree”. But what does it actually entail and how is it expressed?

Usually, when we ask of our interlocutor to agree to disagree with us, we are merely asking them to suspend their view for the sake of temporal harmony, until we somehow find the time to conclusively prove them wrong. 

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Consumption and The Near Absence of Meat in The Prophet’s ‎ﷺ Life

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على سيد الأنبياء والمرسلين واله وأصحابه أجمعين أما بعد

As billions of Muslims feast in the evening during this auspicious month of Ramadan, meat will be on the table for many, and lots of it. But how Islamic is the widespread consumption of meat, and consumption in general?

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Earn The Reward of 80 Years Worship in Minutes

80 Times Friday Durud

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على سيد الأنبياء والمرسلين واله وأصحابه أجمعين أما بعد

Sayyidina Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that the Prophet ‎ﷺ said,

“Whoever recites the following Durud 80 times after Asr Salah on the day of Jumu’ah before standing from his place, Allah will forgive 80 years of his sins and grant him the reward equivalent to 80 years of Worship:

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How To Tackle The Pandemic Spiritually, Mentally and Physically

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

All praise belongs to Allah – The Lord of the Worlds – and Peace and Blessings be upon His Final Messenger and His Beloved, The Chosen One ﷺ.

Know that what is befalling the ummah today, is of Biblical proportions. It is no longer a mere virus – but rather, a pandemic that is visiting almost every house in every city in every country in the entire world. As we are inundated with unfolding information, we have to remain pragmatic. But know that not a blade of grass moves without the Will of Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ. We must therefore have utmost trust upon Allah. We need tawakkul – reliance and faith upon Allah, but with it, we need to heed the advice given such as social distancing measures, as the Prophet ﷺ told us to first tie our camel, then have faith upon Allah. Meaning, we must try our best to prevent us from contracting this virus. Conviction needs to be coupled with action, just as hope alone or fear alone, is unbalanced and will lead to ruin.

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Can a Muslim Woman Travel Alone?

Muslim Woman Vacation

According to the traditional four schools of Islam, a woman may not travel for an extended distance without a male chaperone, specifically one that she cannot marry; a mahram. This is based on many narrations in which the Prophet ‎ﷺ is related to have prohibited a woman to travel for more than three nights except when there is a Mahram with her.1 Variations of this narration exist in multiple collections with the number of days ranging from a single, to triple, hence, it is not surprising that this has been accepted wholly by all of the schools, as such.

            However, in recent times, the discourse of maqasid al-shariah has become prominent with many scholars questioning the objective behind such rulings.

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The Days of Dhul Hijjah

Hajj

The life of a Muslim is very special as it is full of opportunities to get closer to Allah ﷻ‎ by performing the various forms of worship that Allah ﷻ loves.  These forms of worship turn the life of a Muslim into a life of righteous action, speech and continuous activity for the benefit and goodness of everyone.  This means that the life of Mu’mins should be devoted to worship, obedience, righteous deeds and absolute connection with Allah ﷻ in every part of their life, and in all their affairs.  They do not need to go to the mosque, in particular, to approach Allah ﷻ, as He is with them all the time, as He said in the Qur’an (Surah Qaf: 16):  “…and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein.”

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Willpower

Willpower

بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم

“Nothing can be done, except little by little” – Charles Baudelaire.

This life is a journey that we all need to traverse in order to reach our ultimate destination; death, practically, as that is the end of all actions for us.

Yet, the Prophet ﷺ cautioned against exerting one’s self in this journey. He likened it to a horse who has a set amount of distance to traverse. If the rider attempts to finish the journey considerably faster, he will end up breaking his horse and be stranded. This characteristic is called josh in Urdu and means extreme enthusiasm. The Qur’an also cautions us against such extremes and asks us to take the “middle path” (Qur’an, 2:143).

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Sha’ban 1440 – Re-enter the Moon War

fajr

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين، والصلاة والسلام على سيد الأنبياء والمرسلين واله وأصحابه أجمعين أما بعد

Confusion has arisen all over the UK with regards to the 15th of Sha’ban. Some claim it is tonight (Friday 19th April) while others assert that it is in the evening of Saturday the 20th of April.

This is therefore an attempt to investigate both claims and to further see the cause of such disagreement, as well as a comprehensive look at the whole Saudi moon sighting debate and whether Muslims in the UK should be following Saudi Arabia or not.

The first of Sha’ban would determine what day the 15th coincides with in the Gregorian calendar.

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Persistent Twilight

What is Persistent Twilight? A Very Brief Explanation

As the sun sets below the horizon, the sky turns a deep red colour. This colouring is because the Sun’s rays can still reach the sky above it. After a while, the Sun will descend further, by a certain angle, below the horizon until none of its rays will be able to reach the sky. It is at this point we get complete darkness.
In northern parts of the world, the Sun does not descend by an angle sufficiently below the horizon for the sky to turn completely dark. The Sun’s rays will continue to reach and illuminate the sky for the whole night. It is this phenomenon that is termed Persistent Twilight. Continue reading “Persistent Twilight”

Does Maghrib Begin at Sunset?

بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The Arabic noun Maghrib comes from the root gharaba, “to depart, to set, to go away,” and the noun formed from this root literally means “the place of the sunset.” It is thus apparent that Maghrib means actual sunset or sundown, as understood universally, i.e, the time of departure or declension of the sun from the horizon when it is no longer visible.
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