O moon-faced Beloved,
the month of Ramadan has arrived
Cover the table
and open the path of praise
O fickle busybody,
it’s time to change your ways.
Can you see the one who’s selling the halvah?
how long will it be the halvah you desire? Continue reading
Islamic Banking has been increasing in popularity over the past decade but has also been of particular interest due to the global financial crisis. However, the Islamic banking industry is still small compared to the conventional system (accounting for 1% of total assets), and indeed the main criticisms are that the banks are not really ‘Islamic’, but rather a marketing tool to attract deposits from the Muslim population that deal with conventional banks, and to offer Islamic loans and investments that are merely labelled as being ‘Shari’a compliant’. Furthermore, the largest segment of the Islamic banking industry is in sukuk (bonds) issued by governments, large corporations and indeed the Islamic banks themselves and is used to finance their operations. Again these instruments have been viewed with much scepticism – none other than by leading Shari’a scholars involved in reviewing their structure and legality from a strict Shari’a compliance perspective. Continue reading
And he it is who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before his mercy, and we send down pure water from the sky,
That with it we may give life to a dead land, and slake the thirst of things we have created, cattle and men in great numbers.
And we have distributed the water among them, in order that they may celebrate our praises, but most men are averse to anything but rank ingratitude. Quran 25: 48-50
Water is one of the earths most precious and threatened resources which has not been allowed to return to its natural cycle and is over-used. Drinking water is now often contaminated with chemicals and contains bacteria and viruses. Vital aquifers are becoming toxic. Once an aquifer is contaminated, it’s not likely that it can ever recover. Continue reading
Guardians of the Natural Order
God created the Earth in a perfection and beauty that demonstrates an unequivocal balance and harmony. Tawheed, the fundamental statement of oneness of the Creator, from which everything else follows, is the primordial testimony to the unity of all creation and to the interlocking grid of the natural order. Islam teaches us to understand the naturalorder anddefines our responsibility towards it.
My understanding of health, and in particular, of how the physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions of the body connect, was revolutionised by The Book of Sufi Healing. [1] I found this in a local bookshop, and as soon as I picked it off the shelf, my heart started to hurt. A sign not to be ignored: without further ado I bought it. The book introduces the medicine system of Unani Tibb, established by Ibn Sina (Avicenna). Continue reading
Supplication, making a request, to Allah can be made both within and after the conclusion of the prayer as well as any other appropriate time. The necessity of performing regular supplication is established in a hadith related by Abu Huraira, where the holy prophet (pbuh) said, ‘Whoever does not supplicate to Allahinvokes His wrath’ (Tirmidhi). This because supplication implies an attitude of humility and reliance on the part of the supplicant, towards the Almighty. Continue reading
The importance of good character can be gauged by the following profound hadith where Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) said: “I was only sent to perfect noble character,” (Ahmad) God confirms the tremendous nature of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.s.) character and the importance of emulating him: “And you (stand) on an exalted standard of character”. (Quran 68:4) “Ye have indeed in the Messenger of God a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in God and the Final Day, and who engages much in the praise of God”. (Quran 33:21) “…If you love God, follow me; God will love you and forgive you your sins. God is forgiving, merciful.” (Quran 3:31)
