Surah Al-Fatihah: A Brief Explanation
Al-Fatihah literally means The Opening because the Qur’an opens with it. It is the first chapter (surah) of the Qur’an and is considered its ‘greatest surah’. It is seen to be a precise table of contents of the…
Surah Al-Kafirun: A Brief Explanation
This chapter instructs the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to inform the disbelievers that the worship of false deities and the worship of One God are not, and can never be, compatible. It takes its name from…
Wisdom Behind the Ḥudūd Laws in Islam
By Ibn ‘Ashur (d. 1973) Translated by Mohamed El-Tahir El-Mesawi Thus, the aim of the Sharī’ah with regard to the legislation of fixed penalties (Ḥudūd), just retribution (Qiṣāṣ), discretionary penalties (ta’zīr) and injury compensation (urūsh…
The Truth About Taqlid
By Surkheel (Abu Aaliyah) Sharif The initial era of Islam produced many great jurists and legalists: men who not only possessed exceptional acumen, but who led profoundly spiritual lives too. These jurists have been described…
Religious Knowledge Should Increase Your Righteous Actions
“No person to whom God had given the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood would ever say to people, ‘Be my servants, not God’s.’ [He would say], ‘You should be devoted to God because you have taught…
Understanding Ijtihad
By Surkheel Abu Aaliyah The science that evolved in understanding the shari‘ah, or Sacred Law of Islam, is called fiqh: usually translated as “jurisprudence”, and comes from the word faqiha, meaning: “to understand”. Fiqh, therefore,…
Al-Muttaqun: Those Mindful of God
Allah Says [meaning of which is]: “Allah loves those who are mindful of Him (Al-Muttaqeen)” [Qur’an 9:4]. The word Muttaqun comes from the word Taqwa. It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Taqwa is here”…