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, before … 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
THE PEOPLE OF this world are like passengers on a ship journeying across the sea. During their voyage, the ship halts at a beautiful island. The captain announces that they may go ashore for a short time but warns them not to linger too long. The passengers disembark and wander in various directions. The wisest … Continue reading Left Behind on the Island: The Danger of Worldly Distraction
A QUIET KNOCK on the door. It was late. But Abu Bakr (ra) had been expecting it. He had been ready for this moment ever since the Prophet ﷺ told him that Allah had granted him permission to emigrate. Abu Bakr (ra) had prayed to be chosen as the companion on this momentous and dangerous … Continue reading 1447 Years: History, Meaning and Relevance of the Hijrah Today
SOME IN OUR community express that we were better off under the iron fists of rulers like Saddam, Gaddafi, and Mubarak than under those who have replaced them since the Arab Spring. As they watch, helplessly, the unimaginable horror unfold in Gaza they ask: Surely, the old guard would not have stood by silently in … Continue reading From Complaint to Commitment: Building What Allah Commands
IN THE SIXTH year after the Hijrah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw a dream in which he was performing the rites of Hajj. The dreams of the prophets are divine revelation, so he shared it with the Sahabah. Imagine the excitement that rippled through them—especially among the Muhajirun. Finally, after years of exile, they … Continue reading Tribalism: Past and Present
THIS MORNING’S CLINIC was really tough. Halfway through my morning surgery, a Muslim mother was booked in to see me. As I glanced over her notes before she entered, one line stopped me: she had lost her 12-year-old son just a week ago. A sudden, unexplained death. She was already crying before she even sat … Continue reading From Her Son to Their Sons: But Still Holding On
