Category Jewels of Islam

The Fundamental Sources of Islam

From time to time, there arise claims calling for rejecting the Sunnah and following the Qur’an alone as a sole fundamental source for the religion of Islam, a call not guiltless of bad intention or a hidden agenda. If we agree to reject the Sunnah and follow the Qur’an alone, we are then abolishing a tremendous amount of laws of Islam with their details and religious ethics called for by the never doubtful act of the Prophet and his frequent practice. To refute such destructive calls, we may just mention here what Muslims have unanimously agreed upon, from the time of the prophet

Islam Calls for Good Manners

The Messenger of Allah defined the main goal of his mission when he said, “I was sent to perfect honorable morals”. It seems as if the mission which has paved its own course in the life history, and its owner exerted much effort in spreading it and gathering people around it, aspires to nothing other than enhancing people’s virtues, enlightening their perfection horizons before their eyes so that they may approach them with good insight.

Ibn Khuldun’s Views on Education

No one denies the predominance of admonitory-ethical style on the early Islamic educational output due to his growing up in a jurisprudential environment… and the confinement of educational content on Islamic sciences. However, it is not fair to generalize this opinion, especially after Muslims’ openness to neighboring cultures, and the increased need for secular sciences that can serve the Islamic Renaissance Movement.

The Arabic Language (Part 2/2)

As both the language of Islam and a medium of culture and learning for five centuries, Arabic came into close contact with several other languages. Asian and African languages such as Urdu, Turkish, Farsi, and Hausa borrowed a large number of Arabic words dealing with various aspects of culture, particularly those related to Islam.

Umm `Umarah: Nusaybah bint Ka`b (Part 2/2)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Umm ‘Umarah’s son, Habib bin Zaid as his representative to Musaylamah Al-Kadthab, in order to bring him to the right path. Breaking all norms of diplomacy, this low down man captured Habib and tied him to a pillar. He then asked him, “Do you testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah?” When he answered in the affirmative, he asked him if he also testified that he, Musaylamah, was also the messenger of Allah. Habib replied that he was deaf and could not hear him. He kept on repeating the question again and again.

Can a Sword Capture a Human Heart?

Some people claim that Islam only spread at the point of swords. The only answer capable of refuting such a false claim is that a sword can conquer and open territories but certainly cannot conquer the human heart. As opening hearts and unlocking their seals require some other instrument. It needs persuasion of the mind, attraction of emotions, and impressing the psychological element in man.

Scholars’ Status and Grace

Indeed, it is a duty in Islam. Every Muslim has to love and support the faithful after adhering to Allah and following His Messenger, exactly as it is expressed by the Qur’an. This applies in particular to the scholars who are the heirs of the prophets, whom Allah made to be like the stars which guide people in the darkness of land and sea. There is a consensus among all Muslims on their guidance and their knowledge.

Nature of Differences among People

If our different tongues and colors as well as the characteristics of our creation are but a sign of Allah the Almighty, the different perspectives and minds and what is produced by those perspectives and minds are also a sign from Him as well as an evidence of His great Power. Reconstruction of the universe, prosperity of existence, and the emergence of life would not have been possible, had all people been created equal in everything, but all is equipped to perform what he was created for.

Abu Hurairah: Master of the Memorizers

Abu Hurairah had an excellent memory and he was able to quickly memorize and did not forget. Ash-Shafi‘i, May Allah Have Mercy upon him, said about him, “He is the person who memorized the most Hadith in his time.” Abu Hurairah said about himself, “No one knows the Hadiths of the Prophet more than me except Abdullah ibn ‘Amr, for he used to write them and I did not.”

The Real Status of Women in Islam

No matter what Muslim women do or say to try to convince the world otherwise, words like hijab, burka, polygamy, and Sharia seem to do little but convince people that Islam oppresses women. Even educated, articulate women fulfilling the modest conditions of hijab can do little to dispel the myths. Women who conduct themselves with decorum and grace and function effortlessly in the modern world have their achievements and successes celebrated.