Scholarship

Dreaded Punishments?

For the first time in English we present a complete translation of Mas’ala (Issue) 2303 from Al-Muḥalla bil’ Athār, the magnum opus of fiqh (jurisprudence) written by Ibn Ḥazm.   Often described as a being free-thinker,...

To vote or not to vote: that isn’t the question

        يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ بِالْقِسْطِ شُهَدَاءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْأَقْرَبِينَ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًا فَاللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا الْهَوَىٰ أَن تَعْدِلُوا وَإِن تَلْوُوا أَوْ...

Clarifying Ramadan Fasting Practices

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you...

He raised his hands saying: ‘my nation’ and he wept

Despite the many variables that exist in life, there are some constants that never change.  Everyone who has a long-life must grow old and weaker; everyone who is born must eventually die.  Despite having free-will and...

‘Leave me, as I leave you’

Very often in conversations the following retort is heard: ‘The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not do that; the Companions did not do that.’  It is often marshalled in lines of argumentation concerning many topics,...