What is Zakat and How to Pay It?

Zakat: In Islam, Zakat is the fourth pillar. Zakat refers to purification in general and purification of wealth in particular, therefore, those Muslims who have wealth over a certain ratio, they are liable to pay Zakat on it and give it to those who are less fortunate and don’t have sufficient means to live their life in a standard way. Pertaining to the question of Zakat,...

Read More

Ramadan Mubarak!

Ramadan is the month of fasting for Muslims around the globe.  As we enter this month, we observe our fast with the abstinence of food, drink and sexual relations with our spouses from sunrise to sunset.  We also restrain ourselves from indulging in evil actions including backbiting, ridiculing, anger outbursts and harming others through our actions.  "Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Quran, as a guide...

Read More

Gender Equality in Islam

"I shall not lose sight of the labor of any of you who labors in My way, be it man or woman; each of you is equal to the other (3:195)" Spiritual equality, responsibility and accountability for both men and women is a well-developed theme in the Quran. Spiritual equality between men and women in the sight of God is not limited to purely spiritual, religious issues, but is the basis for equality in all temporal aspects of human endeavor. Adam and...

Read More

Why does Allah need our worship?

The answer to this question is given in the verse: Worship your Lord, Who created you and those who came before you, that ye may guard (against evil). There is an outcome of worship: Attaining the degree of guarding (taqwa). Man attains the degree of taqwa, that is, he attains the degree of fearing of Allah, abstaining from his prohibitions, keeping away from what He has forbidden. It means, the benefits of worship pertain to man. People,...

Read More

Abortion in Islamic Law

A Brief Description of the Question:  Consider yourself a Muslim judge working in the Islamic judicial system. You are asked to rule on the legal status of abortion. How would you proceed? The Answer:  People are encouraged to have children in the hadiths having the meaning “The auspicious of your women is the one who is capable to have children”. “ The child’s odour is from the Heaven’s odour” and “Favourable child is heavenly...

Read More

What kind of rules did Islam establish for the preservation of life?

Islam Religion attaches great importance to life. It regards slaying as one of the great sins and again regards killing a human as the greatest crime as killing all humankind. He who kills a soul unless it be (in legal punishment) for murder or for causing disorder and corruption on the earth will be as if he had killed all humankind; and he who saves a life will be as if he had saved the lives of all humankind. (Al-Maidah...

Read More

How do you interpret the phrase come to (falah) salvation in azan (call to prayer)?

Falah means salvation. The word salvation is interpreted differently by various groups.  This word is imagined in the eyes of a poor man as a comfortable home where he can stay, as enough food to fill his stomach and clothes to be covered in. In short what he understands is salvation from poverty and begging.For a patient it is synonymous with recovery. For a soldier it means demobilization whereas a student sees it as graduation. For...

Read More