The Importance of Modesty (Haya): A Branch of Faith
Haya is modesty: a quality of the heart that shows on the body, the tongue, and the gaze. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that haya is…
The Power of Dua: Connecting with the Creator
Dua is to call upon Allah. It is worship. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that dua is worship, as recorded by al-Tirmidhi and others. He said…
Patience and Gratitude: The Wings of the Believer
Sabr is patience. Shukr is gratitude. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that amazing is the affair of the believer: if good comes he thanks, and that…
The Rights of Parents in Islam: A Path to Paradise
Kindness to parents is among the greatest deeds after Tawhid. Allah places the rights of parents next to His own worship in more than one verse. A Muslim who prays…
Brotherhood and Sisterhood in Islam: Strengthening the Ummah
The believers are brothers (Quran 49:10, meaning). Brotherhood and sisterhood in Islam are not a club of people who look like you. They are a contract of iman: to love…
The Importance of Intention (Niyyah): The Foundation of Every Action
Niyyah is intention: the aim of the heart that turns a motion into worship or leaves it as a habit. In Islam, deeds are not judged only by how they…
The Concept of Ihsan: Worshipping Allah with Excellence
Ihsan is to worship Allah as though you see Him, and though you do not see Him, you know that He sees you. That definition is not a slogan from…
Understanding the Hadith: The Second Source of Islamic Law
The Hadith is the record of the sayings, actions, approvals, and descriptions of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Together with the Quran, it is how a Muslim…
The Virtues of the Quran: A Healing and a Mercy
The Quran describes itself as a healing and a mercy for the believers (Quran 17:82, meaning). That healing is not a slogan for selling water bottles. It is the effect…
Balancing Deen and Dunya: A Guide for the Modern Muslim
Deen is what Allah legislated. Dunya is the field in which you live that deen. Islam does not ask you to abandon work, family, and rest. It asks you not…