Articles

Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui

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Spiritual insights into fasting during the month of Ramadan

The podcast Serial has riveted millions of listeners throughout the world. As it now comes to an end, here are some of the broader lessons we can reflect upon as a Muslim community.

Whether that child is a US elementary school student, a villager, or a student in a distant land, is of no matter. There is no distinction in the killing of children. It is always wrong.

A general covenant has been taken from us by Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) that we, out of fear of Allah’s chastisement, abstain from showing off to anyone in our acts of worship, whether that ostentation is during the act or after it.

Ya Allah, from the depths of degredation you lift me with your light, nur ala nur, it penetrates the darkness of my black heart like the brightness of stars in the sky that radiate hope to the destitute and dreams to lovers. From your embrace let me never fall…

The Rodney King and Amadou Diallo cases of the 1990’s at least went to trial. We can’t say that about Michael Brown or Eric Garner. Progress? Their killers are not even getting indicted anymore! Whenever Islam spread it was because their community offered a solution to the land's problems. We are in this situation now. Only knowledge and taqwa will allow our communities to overcome racial divides.

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

Our frustration with the apathy of our community on issues like Ferguson cannot be chocked up to leadership alone. The rank and file Muslim also shares a healthy dollop of blame.

The existential and cosmic "seeking" which is the privy of all creatures and servants from the Heavens to the earth—but the privy of human beings in a specific and special way—can only take on two general modes of seeking: seeking God through a state of need and seeking God through a state of thanks.

On Friday, November 21st, 2014, Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi delivered the Friday sermon and led a funeral service for Abdul-Rahman (Peter) Kassig, who was recently killed by the extremist group ISIS in Syria. Abdul-Rahman's parents and many friends of the family attended the service.

Muslim apologists, extremists, reformists, centrists—who is on the path of wisdom and guidance? Not only did our beloved Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) deal with immense trials and struggles during his prophetic lifetime, but he foretold of periods of great fitna (tribulation) for the believers in the future. In this short but powerful discussion from Al-Madina's "Trials of the Messengers", Shaykh Yahya Rhodus lays the foundation for Muslims living during times of tribulation, compiling and analyzing traditions specifically advising us on how to respond to the modern landscape by preserving our dignity, maintaining faith, and remaining vigilant against our egotistical desires to associate with those who sow the seeds of division and violence over unity and forbearance.

Doubt has become a dirty word for many believers. However, it is in losing doubt, which in turn is a loss of faith, that one takes their first step towards dogmatism.