Prophet Muhammad ﷺ set an example for us in all aspects of life, and his interpersonal dealings were no exception. He said, “The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character.” (Reported by Bukhari) So here are five sayings by those close to the Prophet ﷺ regarding his attitude towards others that … Continue reading Prophet Muhammad’s Attitude in Daily Life
Islam lays much emphasis on collective efforts and cooperation. It calls upon the people to encourage and support one another in noble aims. The Quran states, “…Cooperate in righteousness and piety, and do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” (5:2) Prophet Muhammad ﷺ signed treaties with many Arab communities – including Muslim, Jewish, and Christian … Continue reading Islam and Sustainable Development Goals
Muhammad ﷺ was born in the Arabian city of Mecca in 571 CE. The society in Arabia was a tribal one, and he was born into the tribe of Quraysh, the proud custodians of the House of God (Kaaba) built by Abraham and Ishmael about 2,500 years earlier. Most of the Arabs, and nearly all … Continue reading Life Story of Prophet Muhammad
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has described seven of the major sins as the most grievous ones in the sight of Allah, and advised people to refrain from them at all costs. He has specifically referred to these as the “sever destroyers” or “seven fatalities” recorded in a famous tradition which is as follows. The Prophet ﷺ … Continue reading The Seven Major Sins in Islam
The Quran describes the women of Paradise as having beautiful large eyes and attractive features, untouched before by any man. It uses various terms, including hur (fair or pure), to describe them. But who are these women? Are they the women of this world who shall enter Paradise or a totally different creation brought into … Continue reading Who are the Virgins of Paradise in Islam?
The Quran (Koran) is the most authoritative text in Islam, and one about which little is known to the common person. Few Muslims make the effort to read it with understanding in their native languages, while non-Muslims mostly encounter forged information about it through the media. So, here are five important facts about the Quran … Continue reading Five Key Facts about the Quran
It is not uncommon for women to be forced into marriages, or deprived of their choice of husband, in many societies even today, including Muslim ones. Strangely enough, Islam is sometimes posed as a justification for such acts by the perpetrators of forced marriages, or accused of subjugating the rights of women by the anti-Islam … Continue reading Islamic Ruling on Forced Marriages
Islam has been accused by certain elements, particularly in recent years, of forcing non-Muslims to convert to Islam, and being intolerant of other religions. To test these accusations, let us view the teachings of the Quran – the ultimate source of authority in Islam – in this regard. The Quran says: “There is no compulsion … Continue reading Islam on Forced Conversions
The concept of warfare in Islam can be summed up from two decisive statements in the original Islamic texts. The first of these statements is a verse of the Quran while the second is a quotation of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ – known as a hadith. It is important to carefully understand these two statements to … Continue reading The Concept of Warfare in Islam
The term Jihad has been subject to much controversy and misunderstandings in recent years. While some people are genuinely unaware of what it really means, others have deliberately misrepresented and manipulated this term to achieve their ulterior motives. It is thus important to understand the concept of Jihad in the light of the Quran and … Continue reading What is Jihad?
The “Companions of the Cave” were a group of righteous young men who lived at least several centuries, if not more, before the revelation of the Quran. These young men had rejected the worship of false deities, and instead served Allah alone, much to the anger of their people. In order to avoid execution, or … Continue reading The Companions of the Cave in the Quran
Dhul-Qarnayn is a title, meaning the one “with two horns”. What the actual name of Dhul-Qarnayn was, or when and where he lived, is not certain, although people have equated Dhul-Qarnayn to several historical figures without any convincing evidence. Allah had granted immense power and substantial means to Dhul-Qarnayn, who remained grateful to Him, and … Continue reading The One with Two Horns: Story of Dhul-Qarnayn
Maryam (Mary) was born to a devout Israelite family about 2,000 years ago. Her mother dedicated her at a very young age for the service of Allah in the temple where Zakariya (Zechariah), who was her relative and a prophet, was made responsible for her. She was an exemplary young person, growing in knowledge and … Continue reading A Miraculous Birth: Maryam and Isa in the Quran
Yunus (Jonah) lived about 2,800 years ago in modern-day Iraq. He was sent by Allah to preach to the people of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, which was one of the largest cities in the world, with a population of over 100,000. However, because of his people’s hostile attitude to the word of Allah, Yunus … Continue reading The Man of the Fish: Story of Prophet Yunus
Dawud (David) and Sulayman (Solomon) were two prophets who were granted magnificent kingdoms and wisdom by Allah. Dawud succeeded Talut (Saul) as king of the Israelites, and the Psalms was revealed to him. He was granted eloquent speech and a melodious voice; birds and mountains used to exalt Allah alongside him. Allah further taught him … Continue reading Two Splendid Kingdoms: Dawud and Sulayman in the Quran
Talut (Saul) lived about 3,000 years ago, and was the first Israelite king. The Quran briefly describes the appointment of Talut as king and narrates how the army of true believers led by Talut defeated the far mightier Philistine army of Jalut (Goliath) that worshiped false deities. The effective leadership of Talut, and later, the … Continue reading The Warrior King: Story of Talut
Musa (Moses) is the most frequently mentioned person in the Quran. He was born in Egypt about 3,500 years ago and belonged to the tribe of Israel that had migrated to Egypt from Canaan (Palestine) during the time of Yusuf (Joseph). At the time of Musa’s birth, the ruler of Egypt, known as the Pharaoh, … Continue reading The Savior of Israelites: Story of Prophet Musa
Yusuf (Joseph) was born in Canaan (Palestine) to Yaqub (Jacob), the son of Ishaq (Isaac), who was the son of Ibrahim (Abraham) – all of whom were prophets. The intriguing life story of Yusuf has been described by Allah as “the best of stories” (12:3) and has been completely narrated in a single chapter. As a … Continue reading The Estranged Brother: Story of Prophet Yusuf
Ibrahim (Abraham) was one of the greatest and most influential prophets. Allah bestowed the highest honor upon him by making him a “leader for humanity” (4:125), and taking him as “an intimate friend.” (4:125) Ibrahim was born about four thousand years ago in the thriving city of Ur, in modern-day Iraq. His community was deeply … Continue reading A Friend of God: Prophet Ibrahim in the Quran
After the great flood that destroyed the nation of Nuh, many other nations rose to power, and prophets were usually appointed from amongst those nations for their guidance. The reason we analyze together the stories of four prophets – Hud, Salih, Lut (Lot), and Shuayb – is that they all present a common theme. In … Continue reading The Perished Nations of Hud, Salih, Lut, and Shuayb
Islam Explained 