IT’S BEEN NEARLY a year since the fall of the tyrant Hasina in Bangladesh. If you’re unfamiliar with what happened—or want to revisit those harrowing days—watch the Al Jazeera documentary closely. It’s brutal. It’s heartbreaking. And it’s deeply inspiring. Whether at home or abroad, for many of us, life came to a halt as we … Continue reading 36 Days in July: Lessons From the Fall of a Tyrant
A READER RECENTLY asked me if I could recommend any reading material on the seerah of the Messenger ﷺ for his 8-year-old son. I told him I didn’t have a specific recommendation for that age group. Instead, I shared what I believe is the most powerful way to convey the seerah—not through reading a book, … Continue reading Tell It From the Heart: Teaching the Seerah to Our Children
IN MY LAST post, I ended with the point that Gaza is a test for all the Believers. The people of Gaza are being tested—and they are victorious, even in death. Their patience, resilience, and steadfastness in the face of unimaginable suffering testify to their strength. But we, the rest of the Muslim ummah who … Continue reading Iman, Despair and the Forgotten Duty
BACK IN 1950, scientist Ancel Keys studied the effects of a very low-calorie diet on 36 healthy men for six months. His paper ‘The Biology of Human Starvation’ has helped scientists understand how the body reacts when it doesn’t get enough food. Starvation happens when someone doesn’t get enough food over a long period. This … Continue reading Starving Before the World’s Eyes: A Trial for the Ummah, A Victory for the Martyrs
SUMMER USHERS IN the wedding season — a time of joy, blessings, and new beginnings. Yet, for my family and me, invitations to many Muslim weddings have become a source of discomfort. Increasingly, we find these gatherings to be non-segregated, with men and women freely mixing without regard for the boundaries our deen upholds. As … Continue reading A Sacred Union or a Social Spectacle?
IBN BATTUTA, THE early Muslim traveller, once said: ‘He who lives, sees. He who travels, sees more.’ When I was growing up, travel was rare. The only journeys most of us took were the occasional trips to visit relatives back home. But things have changed. Our generation, now settled in the West, has more disposable … Continue reading From Selfies to Soulfulness: Rethinking Muslim Travel
DEMOCRACY HAS LONG been a product of Western political thought. In modern times, it has been marketed as a cure for tyranny, corruption, and extremism. In the Muslim world—familiar as it is with these afflictions—democracy thus often appears as the solution. But after spending 35 years in Britain, the world’s oldest continuous democracy, and witnessing … Continue reading Democracy and Bangladesh: Not Our Solution
THERE ARE MOMENTS in life that change you forever. Moments that don’t just shift your perspective, but tear through everything you thought you knew — about the world, about justice, and about humanity. Moments that shape your soul. The 11th of July, 1995, was one such moment for me. This was a time before smartphones, … Continue reading From Srebrenica to Gaza: The Ummah Needs Its Shield
TODAY, THE DAY of Ashura marks a monumental moment in human history — the day Allah granted victory to Musa (as) over Pharaoh, putting an end to one of the greatest tyrants the world has ever known. But what made Musa (as) worthy of that victory? What traits did he possess that we can learn … Continue reading Ashura and the Legacy of Musa (as): Responsibility, Courage, and Action
“FOR FASTING THE day of ʿAshura, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that came before,” said our beloved Prophet ﷺ (Ibn Majah) As the sacred day of ʿAshura draws near, many of us prepare to fast on the 9th (Tasu’a) and 10th of Muharram, seeking the immense reward of having … Continue reading ‘Ashura: Not Just a Fast
Living For Islam 