Modesty of slave girls

Is the awrah of slave-women not like that of free women? Were they not covered except what is between the navel and the knees? In other words, were they bare chested?[1] This is a very important and thoughtful question, and one that many students of Islamic history, law, and ethics have struggled with. Before we…

Clarifications regarding the (evil) eye

The following Hadith is under discussion:  ‘Amir b. Rabi’ah saw Sahl b. Hunayf’s (رضي الله عنه) body and commented: ‘By Allah! I haven’t seen such an attractive body. Sahl then fell to the ground. The Prophet (ﷺ) was dismayed and said: ‘Why do you’ll kill your fellow brothers. Why didn’t you make du’a for him to…

Was Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) a hypocrite because he ‘followed the Prophet (ﷺ) for food’?

Islamophobes often cite a statement attributed to Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه): “I used to accompany Allah’s Apostle to fill my stomach”, claiming this proves he followed the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) for material benefit and was therefore a hypocrite. This argument collapses once the historical context, Arabic usage, and Islamic definition of hypocrisy are understood.…

A unique miracle of the Qur’an

If someone asks ‘why should I believe in the Qur’an‘ or ‘why should I take the Qur’an to be the word of God‘ then the answer to that is simple. The Qur’an is the only book which claims to be from God. No other scripture even makes this claim. The claim of the Qur’an is…

The Dajjal’s Allusion in the Qur’an: Hidden Mentions and Symbolic Parallels

Introduction The Qur’an, as the ultimate revelation and final guidance from Allah (ﷻ), conveys truths that transcend time and space, often through multi-layered expressions that reveal deeper meanings upon reflection. One of the most enigmatic figures discussed in the Prophetic traditions is the Dajjal i.e., the false messiah and great deceiver, who will appear before…

Gender determination Hadith (part 2)

There have been quite a few questions regarding this topic, and I thought to add a new post to address them in one place. The two Hadiths under question are as follows: The questions asked are as follows: According to many of the scholarly opinions I have read, they have used the hadiths in the…

Hellfire: Does It Exist Now? Qur’ānic Verses, Hadith, and Scholarly Insights

Among the authentic narrations of the Prophet ﷺ is the Hadith about Hellfire’s two “breaths”; one in summer and one in winter, which explains extreme heat and extreme cold on earth. Some critics raise objections to this narration, arguing that the Qur’ān mentions “when Hell is kindled” (Q.81:12), implying it does not yet exist. Others…

Understanding ‘odd’ narrations

This is a clarification piece on how to understand problematic Hadiths or narrations and especially when they are not followed or implemented by the Muslims. Hadith reports are often concise and to the point and do not indulge in extra complications as opposed to others, and keep the account crisp, to-the-point, and user-friendly. There are…

Layers: Deeper Reflections on the Qur’an

Assalaamu’alaykum, I am pleased to announce the launch of notes/commentary on the Qur’an in a book format and covers the first two Surahs and Surahs 51 to 114. It is a life-time project and the introduction section below the image has the idea behind it. If it helps someone in any way, that would be…

The sleepers of the cave

Muhammad b. Ishaq mentioned the reason why the chapter 18, Surah al-Kahf, was revealed: The Quraysh sent two men to the Jewish rabbis in Madinah and told them: ‘Ask them (the rabbis) about Muhammad, and describe him to them, and tell them what he is saying. They are the people of the first Book, and…

Islamic stance on evolution

How do we reconcile evidences for evolution with Islamic texts? Before I state the theory (or theories), let me state that it is meant to be a discussion on the different possibilities without concluding decisively on one as a fact. Furthermore, it is meant to be a possibility that does not contradict both Islam and…

Parallel Passages of the Qur’anic Text

Is there a contradiction? There are a number of passages of the Qur’an where the quoted words appear to be different when they are repeated in another passage. Some Muslims are not too confident approaching this issue while the enemies of Islam have utilized this opportunity to level attacks against the noble faith. It comes…

Is Qur’an literal or metaphor?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله وحده و الصلاة و السلام على من لا نبي بعده و على آله و أصحابه أجمعين The short answer to this question is that it is literal where not explicitly stated as metaphor and metaphorical where Allah Ta’ala explicitly states it. This is not an issue for Muslims; however…