Revitalize Islam, Pursue Excellence
I was at a Muslim Conference several years ago where at dinner time a stand-up comedian was performing. During his act he made fun of a Muslim lady in the audience. She was an advocate for reform in Islam. His dig at her was “You don’t speak Arabic? And you want to reform Islam”. Almost … Read more
Following tradition, well to do Muslims celebrate Eid-al Adha by sacrificing a cow, sheep, goat, or camel. Most of the meat is eaten by people who are well-fed and want for little. As a result, Eid is now a celebration marked by excessive and unwarranted eating of meat. This is accompanied by displays of brutal … Read more
What is Triple Talaq Triple talaq is the practice in Sunni jurisprudence where a man can divorce his wife summarily by saying ‘I divorce you’ three times. This practice is called talaq al-bid’ah. The practice of Triple talaq is common in Muslim societies. . Triple talaq differs from other forms of talaq in that it … Read more
Every year as the month of Ramadan approaches, imams in mosques motivate people with khutbas on blessings of fasting. The khutbas are more or less the same around the world as they repeat statements of Prophet Muhammad quoted in Hadith. In these khutbas the imams ignore the fact that Prophet Muhammad was speaking to a … Read more
It is a tradition in the Muslim world that some people memorize the Quran by heart. A person’s becoming a hafiz is considered to be a sign of deep devotion to the holy book, deserving of admiration by people and rewards by God. Because the text is sacred it has to be recalled by the … Read more
1. In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful 2. I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, 3. The King of mankind, 4. The Illah of mankind, 5. From the evil whisperings of the sneaking whisperer 6. Who whispers into the hearts of men, 7. From among jinn and men. This is a … Read more
The equality and inherent dignity of all human beings are among the central teachings of Islam. These ideals should effectually result in the liberation of the oppressed. However, empowerment can only be attained through a deep understanding of Islam from its basic sources, the Quran and the confirmed Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This means … Read more
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a champion of women’s rights. The Prophet was surrounded by women throughout his life; he greatly respected them and considered them equal to men. His first wife Khadija, with whom he lived in a monogamous marriage for 25 years, until her death, was a strong, independent, wealthy businesswoman 15 years his … Read more