[Q]: [At work], we have an open space that has been provided for us that is approximately twenty to thirty kilometres away [from town]. My brother and I go there after ʿAṣr ṣalāh, and we stay there to pray Maghrib. I lead him in the ṣalāh. Sometimes, we also form a congregation with some of my muslim brothers and friends that join us. I am not able to go to the local masjid because all of the masājid that are in my locale belong to a certain group from among the people of innovation. They also consistently pray late and [if we were to join them], we would not be able to easily return to our l…

Pure negation denotes nought but completion or perfection. For this reason, regarding the places in the Qurʾān that are meant to praise, negation serves two contextual purposes: complete negation of the deficiency being addressed confirmation of its opposite or antithesis This rule applies to many passages. The greatest of them is that Allāh has negated from Himself many things that are contrary to His perfection. For example, He has negated Him taking partners in many places, which stipulate His Oneness in complete perfection. That He possesses no partners in His Lordship, His right to…

In al-Ṣaḥīḥayn [al-Bukhārī and Muslim] as narrated by Anas (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, son, and all of mankind”. Imām al-Qurṭubī comments: This ḥadīth, despite its brevity, mentions the various categories of love. They are: Respect and reverence-based love. Like love for one’s father, the scholars or people of righteousness. Love that stems from compassion and mercy. Like the love one possesses for his offspring. Love for one’s colleagues or compatriots with whom he bears similariti…

Allāh—the Most High—said: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ ‎﴿١٢﴾‏ “O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allāh. Verily, Allāh is the One Who accepts repentance, Mos…

New inventions have surfaced and claims have been made by contemporary theorists. Thus, the people have divided into two groups: those who hurriedly reject these theories and those who readily accept them. It may be that both groups cite the texts of the Qurʾān and Sunnah (to support their position). Perhaps it is more appropriate to mention firstly that modern-day theories are of two categories: Theories that clearly contradict the Qurʾān. These are rejected without dispute, like the theory that the sun is stationary compared to the statement of Allāh:   وَٱلشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَ…

If, after striving to determine the time for (obligatory) prayer, it is clarified to a person that his prayer actually occurred before its proper time, then this prayer will be considered supererogatory. Otherwise, he would have fulfilled his compulsory responsibility. That is, despite having strived to determine the time for prayer, it is made evident to him that his takbīrat al-iḥrām1 was performed before the start of the time for the ṣalāh in question. In this circumstance, his ṣalāh is considered supererogatory and he is still deserving of reward for its performance. The aforementioned s…

Allāh has not commanded an act except that Shayṭān has two types of incitements to evil with regards to it, they are: That one should be either deficient or lackadaisical, or extreme and obsessive in its performance. He does not care which of these mistakes he uses to gain victory over the servant of Allāh. He comes to the heart of the servant and watches it carefully. If he finds within it deficiency, laziness, indecisiveness, and permittance, he pulls on those strings, blocking him from acts of worship, arresting him from their performance. He strikes him with laziness, negligence, and l…

How Much Exposure of the ʿAwarah Is Objectionable Exposure? Concerning the person whose ʿawrah1 is uncovered in ṣalāh, whether it be their private parts or any other part of their body which is considered ʿawrah, with respect to them and the exposed portion is extensive enough to be considered objectionable: What is considered objectionable here should be in consideration of the custom of the people. As the poet said: ‘Every rule that is left without clear boundaries by legislation should have its boundaries set based on custom’. The word ‘extensive’ here should be interpreted according to t…

The Three Categories of ʿAwrah [Legislative Private Area] What is considered al-ʿawrah which must be covered in ṣālāh is divided into three categories according to the Ḥanbalī madh`hab.: Males, 7-10 yrs old: The least stringent: is the ʿawrah of a male between the ages of seven and ten, which is just the genitalia. That is, as long as he has covered his private parts from the front and back, then he is considered to have covered himself, even if his thighs are visible. Females who have reached puberty: The most stringent: is the ʿawrah of a woman over the age of puberty. Her entire body…