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Category: Essay

  • Categories of People who rejected the Divine Message

    Syed Sharfuddin We learn from the reading of the holy Quran about three types of people who were responsible for rejecting the divine message brought by the divine messengers of Allah to their nations in different times. These three categories of unbelievers were: the royalty which represented the kings and emperors of the land; the…

  • Allah sustains man and feeds him from a source he never imagined.

    Syed Sharfuddin Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, may God have mercy on him, was in Mecca during the Hajj season when on one day he saw a man from Khorasan calling out and saying: “O community of pilgrims, O people of Mecca, from the front and back, I lost a bag containing one thousand dinars. Whoever returns…

  • Allocation in Paradise

    Syed Sharfuddin Paradise is mentioned in the Quran by many names. It is called Jannah, Jannah al Firdous, Jannat al Moalla, Jannaat un Naeem, Jannaat ul Alfafa, Jannat Mukramoon, Jannat wa Nahr and Jannat wa Üyün. A detailed description of Jannah is given in Surah Rahman and Surah Al Tür. We learn from the holy…

  • Islam’s Connection with Palestine

    Syed Sharfuddin Some people ask why Jerusalem is so important to Muslims, and to Palestinians. Should this city not be left to the Jews to rebuild their prophesised Temple of Solomon, since Muslims have Makkah and Madinah as the holiest shrines of Islam. Some brothers also ask where is Masjid Aqsa mentioned in the Quran…

  • Worth of a Mosquito

    Worth of a Mosquito Syed Sharfuddin إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بهذا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ “Allah does not mind giving an…

  • Similarities between Prophet Musa and Prophet Muhammad

    Similarities between Prophet Musa and Prophet Mohammad Syed Sharfuddin “We have sent a messenger to you to be your witness, just as We sent a messenger to Pharaoh” [Al-Quran: Surah Al-Muzammil 73:15] “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren like thee (Moses), and I will put my words…

  • Qualities of Man: A Combination of Goodness and Evil

    Qualities of Man: A Combination of Goodness and EvilSyed Sharfuddin In the holy Quran Allah has described the character of man, both good and bad with clear examples. The picture of man that emerges from this description is one that is black and white, punctuated with goodness and ungratefulness, and worthy of being a true…

  • Dajjal, the False Messiah

    Dajjal, the False Messiah Syed Sharfuddin Introduction In Islamic eschatology Dajjal is known as the false Messiah. Christians call him the anti-Christ. The Jews believe in the appearance of an evil king of the last generation preceding salvation. The followers of the three Abrahamic faiths also believe in the coming of the final hour and…

  • Explaining Dajjal’s Time on Earth

    Explaining Dajjal’s Time on Earth Syed Sharfuddin In the Islamic eschatology it is believed that Dajjal’s rule of extraordinary tribulations and tests for the believers which will take place as a clear sign of the end of time with last forty days before he is killed by prophet Isa with the support of the Mahdi.…

  • Was Prophet Yusuf a King or a Governor

    Was Prophet Yusuf a King or a Governor Syed Sharfuddin There is a verse in Surah Yusuf (Chapter 12) in the holy Quran in which prophet Yusuf Alaihey Salam (AS) recounts the blessings of Allah on him and asks to be re-joined with his forefathers who were among the righteous persons for whom Allah has…

  • A spider’s home is the weakest of all homes

    Syed Sharfuddin Spiders belong to a species of insects who live both in the wild and with humans in their homes and workplaces. What makes them distinct from other eight-legged creepy crawlies is their silky geometrical webs which have fascinated us for generations, as something extraordinary and awe inspiring. Few insects resemble spiders in their…

  • Nabi and Rasul: Similarities and Differences

    Syed Sharfuddin The words Nabi and Rasul have been used in the holy Quran interchangeably (2:213-214). In essence, they both mean the same thing, i.e., a Nabi or Rasul is a pious person chosen by Allah to receive divine guidance and commandments by Allah’s Will and convey these to his people during his lifetime. Only…

  • The Tablighi Jamaat: A Movement for God

    By Syed Sharfuddin The ideology of Tablighi Jamaat (TJ), the largest Islamic revivalist movement of our times is best described by Sadruddin Ansari’s introduction of the six points of Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Khandahlawi, the founder of TJ as follows: “We all know that this world is mortal. Everyone who is born here is destined to…

  • Destiny and Free Choice

    Syed Sharfuddin The philosophical debate about destiny and choice has enchanted many people, including the believers. There is a view that if the outcome of every action is already predetermined and is in the knowledge of the Creator, then where is the freedom of choice for human being to act on his own and be…

  • Evolution and Relevance of Fatwa in Islam

    Syed Sharfuddin Fatwa in Islam means a legal opinion given by a Muslim scholar on a matter of concern or interest to Muslims, both individually or collectively, at a set time, situation, location or circumstances. In Islam the institution of fatwa has had a significant impact on the interpretation of Sharia law which governs the…

  • Thoughts on the Validity of a Second Hijrah

    Syed Sharfuddin There are three types of emigration (Hijrah). One form of emigration results from persecution of a person or group on grounds of faith and endangers its life, property and values which are different from those of the dissenting population. The persecuted individual or group may or may not share the ethnic or tribal…

  • The Concept of Ruh in Islam

    Ruh is energy, which can activate human body and deactivate it without any apparent source that can be observed or measured through a physical instrument. Imam Abu Abdullah Al-Qurtubi said Ruh may have a form, but we do not know it. It enters human corpus through divine breath. “Then He [Allah] moulded him [man]; He…

  • Why is Islam Uncompromising on Apostasy

    Syed Sharfuddin Critics of Islam often put Muslims on the defensive by pointing out that Islam is the most intolerant religion among all other faiths on the question of apostasy. They point out that its uncompromising attitude on punishment by death has no place in the civilised world where freedom of religion is a fundamental…

  • Our Journey through a ten dimensional Universe: an Islamic perspective

    Syed Sharfuddin The string theory of universe states that there are at least ten dimensions that enable a complete view of the cosmos. Humans can see an object in only three dimensions. For example, a one-dimension object is a line. It has only length. To see this, you need to be standing very close to…

  • The ungrateful nation of Saba

    Syed Sharfuddin In Surah Saba (Chapter 34) Allah Subhanuhu wa Taala compares the life of two types of people – those who are humble and grateful for His blessings and those who are ungrateful and impatient. To illustrate the former, Allah gives the examples of two of His great peygambers (messengers) who were blessed with…

  • The End of Time

    The End of Time Syed Sharfuddin In Surah Muhammad in the holy Quran, Allah says: “are (nonbelievers) waiting for the Last Hour to take them by surprise? Yet, some of its signs have already appeared. When the Last Hour befalls them, will it not be too late for them to submit?” [47:18]. In Surah Al-Ahzab,…

  • Keep the Quran but abandon Hadith: A new salvo against Islam

    Syed Sharfuddin There is a gentle  but mischievous campaign going on in some young Muslim internet chat rooms that they should focus on the Quran as the source of Muslim faith but reject hadith (sayings of the holy Prophet) because these were collected several centuries after the demise of the Prophet, peace be upon him…

  • Blowing of Wind: A Sign from Allah

    Syed Sharfuddin Every year before the start of summer, strong winds blow over the mountains and plains of southern Turkey that faces the Mediterranean. It is the sea which links Turkey to the land of past prophets and their nations who lived in Egypt and adjoining lands all the way to the Red Sea on…

  • Bound in Mortgage

    Syed Sharfuddin In the holy Quran a very interesting word appears twice which has become a part of our everyday living. This word is ‘raheen’ meaning collateral. These are the two verses where the word ‘raheen’ has been used: وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَا أَلَتْنَاهُم مِّنْ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ…

  • The Parable of Sinners

    Syed Sharfuddin In Surah Al-Qalam, Chapter 68, Allah mentions two types of people: those who accept the faith and those who deny it. In verse 68:35 the faithful are called Muslimeen and the sinners Mujrimeen. The subsequent verses challenge the sinners. They are asked if Allah has sworn a covenant with them that on the…

  • The Parable of Orchard Owners

    This parable also addresses us directly about our own nature. How many of us do not despise the company of the poor when we are celebrating success or are at a feast. On the contrary we change our walkways to avoid encountering them in our good time. We think the empty and dark ‘world’ of…

  • Prophets, Angels, Jinns and Women mentioned in the Quran

    Syed Sharfuddin Prophets and messengersIn the holy Quran prophets are of two kinds: human beings such as Nuh and angels such as Jibreel. The former are human and live among their nations. The latter are angels and do not live among people. At another level, they are also bearers of the divine scriptures such as…

  • An Index of Parables, Similitudes, Miracles and Events in the Holy Quran

    Syed Sharfuddin The main themes of the holy Quran revolve around monotheist belief and good action [2:3]. Belief concerns faith in Almighty Allah, the angels, the divine scriptures, the divine messengers, destiny and the final hour [4:136]. Action requires worship [6:162], charitable giving [9:60 and 2:177] and good conduct in society [5:93]. Muslims are required…

  • The Story of Bal’am bin Ba’ra

    Syed Sharfuddin In Surah Al-A’raaf, verses 175-76, Allah asks Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings be upon him, to relate to the Jews an account of the man to whom Allah gave His signs but he followed Shaitan and became one of the perverse. Allah would have raised this man to the heights of attainment, but…

  • A Model Salat for All

    Introduction There was a time in the history of Islam when there used to be several congregational prayers (salat with jamaat) organised in the Haram at the time of the annual Hajj. Ibn Jubair, a nobleman from Muslim Andalusia, wrote in his memoirs that he saw the Hanafi praying their slalat on one side of…

  • An Essay on Jinns

    Humans occupy the middle ground between angels and jinns. Their constituent material, clay has the flexibility to withstand extreme variations in temperature. When it is too hot, it becomes molten lava and acquires the characteristics of fire. When it is too cold it freezes and wears a layer of ice, which is reminiscent of celestial…

  • Allah’s Instructions to Muslims: A Guidance for Mankind: Comparing Surah Al Isra and Al Hujarat.

    Syed Sharfuddin The holy Quran is a beautiful tapestry of repeating parables, divine guidance, biblical warnings, and holy commandments, assertions and prohibitions which, if understood and acted in letter and spirit with full sincerity and faith, can make a Muslim a complete human being serving Allah and following His prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him,…

  • Limits of Knowledge: Lesson from Surah Al-Kahaf

    Syed Sharfuddin Every Friday millions of Muslims recite Surah Al-Kahf, as recommended in Ahadith as an anti dote to the fitna of Dajjal’s coming, as well as for blessing and guidance in this world and for reaping the reward of reading the holy Quran in the hereafter. There are many messages in the parables mentioned…

  • Wahi and Waswasa: Explaining two important meanings in the holy Quran

    By Syed Sharfuddin Wahi The root word وحى and its derivatives اوحى and اوحينا have been used in the holy Quran in a number of verses. The word wahi has various meanings. It is used as a sign, a signal, an inspiration, an awakening or a biblical commandment from the Lord Almighty. Allah Tabarak wa…

  • The power of imagination: A biblical perspective

    By Syed Sharfuddin When we read the translation and tafseer of Surah Waqea we come to know that the lucky dwellers of Paradise will remember events of their earthly life and recall their past episodes, conversations and feelings in their heavenly discourse with each other in a manner of surprise or reference for a new…

  • The Sole Purpose of Human Life is to Worship Allah

    Syed Sharfuddin As we are moving deeper into the cyber age, it is becoming harder to manage our daily commitments and keep up with family and social obligations. When we read in our religious texts that the sole purpose of life is to worship Allah we wonder who will pay our mortgages and put food…

  • Reason takes a back seat in Faith

    Reason and logic are great instruments which sharpen the understanding of religion but to suspend faith completely and place every single aspect of religion under science and technology will leave you with the a major handicap of revising your belief every now and then as new discoveries are made and science throws away its old…

  • Peygambers as Shepherds for their Flock

    Syed Sharfuddin Allah Subhanuhu wa Taala sent peygambers (prophets) to different communities of people in different epochs so that no community could say on the day of Judgement they did not receive divine Guidance to be accountable for their deeds. This stopped with the coming of prophet Muhammad, may Allah preserve him and protect him,…

  • President’s Trump is right about using a Very Powerful Light to eradicate the new Coronavirus

  • Friday prayers and the pandemic of coronavirus: The Pakistan Context

    By Syed Sharfuddin* Today, 17 April 2020 millions of Pakistani Muslims observed the first Friday after the collective decision taken by Darul Uloom Karachi on 14 April 2020 that mosques will remain open for the younger and able bodied Muslims to perform five time congregational prayers, as well as Friday prayers all over the country.…

  • کرونا وائرس کی حقیقت اور دابہ الارض

    السلام علیکم ھم سب کو چاھیے کہ ھنسی مذاق چھوڑ کر غور کریں کہ یہ سب کیا ھو رھا ھے اور کیوں ھو رھا ھے۔ اللہ تعالی سے معافی طلب کرنے کا وقت ھے اور اپنے اعمال پر نظرثانی کی ضرورت ھے۔ یہ مقالہ اسی سلسلہ کی ایک ادنی کاوش ھے۔ وقت نکال کر ضرور…

  • COVID-19, the Talking Creature of Earth and Sign of the End of Time

    By Syed Sharfuddin وَإِذَا وَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَخْرَجْنَا لَهُمْ دَابَّةً مِنَ الْأَرْضِ تُكَلِّمُهُمْ أَنَّ النَّاسَ كَانُوا بِآَيَاتِنَا لَا يُوقِنُونَ Bismillah Al Rahman Al Raheem. “Wa iz waqa’ al qawlu a’layhim a’kh rajna lahum, dabbatan min-al-ardi tukallimu hum an nasa, ka’nu bey aya’tina, la yu qenoon”. (27:82) Translation: “And when the promise will be fulfilled, We…

  • Lessons from COVID-19

    By Syed Sharfuddin The pandemic of COVID-19 has shaken humanity and created a global crisis of an unprecedented nature ever known to man in peacetime. However, alongside a justifiable fear, this extraordinary historical event has presented us with a unique opportunity for serious introspection, rather than hysteria and emotional response. In the holy Qur’an, we…

  • Signs of the Last Hour

    Signs of the Last Hour By Syed Sharfuddin It is one of the fundamental beliefs of Islam that this world is but a temporary abode for the children of Adam who are born here and spend their time on earth, partaking of their appointed provisions, exercising their choice between good and evil and going through…

  • Misconception about Animal Sacrifice

    By Syed Sharfuddin This essay is a point by point rebuttal  of an article recently printed in Al-Watan newspaper in Saudi Arabia http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/515440 which states that the Sunnah of Abraham through the act of animal sacrifice in the designated days of the month of Dul Haj is not obligatory on every Haji but is prescribed…

  • The Muslim Festival of Sacrifice: Origin, Evolution and Purpose

    By: Syed Sharfuddin Every year, 2.1 billion Muslims in the world, including 3 million Muslims who travel to Saudi Arabia for performing the pilgrimage (Hajj) celebrate the festival of sacrifice ( Eid ul Adha) on the 10th day of the Islamic month of DulHajj with great enthusiasm and fanfare involving family and friends. Gifts are…

  • The Debate about Daarul Aman and Daarul Harb and the Question of Hijrah

    Often a discussion about Islam in the West draws a blank on the point that Muslims living in non-Muslim countries do not consider these countries as Daarul Aman (abode for peace and obedience to God) but instead, as Daarul Harb (a place of war against Islam), implying that their loyalty to their country of residence…

  • Natural Disasters

    This verse from Surah Alankaboot in the Holy Quran has always made me think how true is the word of Allah that after so much advancement in science and technology we have not been able to find a way to escape the following threats to human life : فَكُلًّا أَخَذۡنَا بِذَنۢبِهِۦۖ فَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ…

  • Signs Before the Day of Judgement by Ibn Katheer RA

    English Translation

  • Accountability of Wealth and Blessings

    Please disregard the comic nature of the above video but do watch it in the overall context of the meaning of Surah Al-Takathur [Chapter 102] of the Holy Quran which is recited in the video clip by the ‘teacher’ holding the cane.  It conveys a very important message to Muslims about accountability of wealth and blessings.…