Calendar of 3 Holy Months - 2021

Islam's Anti-Racist Message from the 7th Century Still Resonates
One day, in Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad dropped a bombshell on his followers: He told them that all people are created equal. “All humans are descended from Adam and Eve,” said Muhammad in his last known public speech. “There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or of a non-Arab over an Arab, and no superiority of a white person over a black person or of a black person over a white perso...

Special Times, Special Places
 “There are no days during which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days,” meaning the (first) ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.  They said, “O Messenger of Allah! Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah?” He said, “Not even Jihad in the cause of Allah, unless a man goes out with himself and his wealth and does not bring anything back.” (Bukhari, Book of the Two Festivals,18) The moments an...

The Fifth Pillar: A Pilgrimage through the Meanings of Hajj
Why is Hajj the fifth pillar of Islam? What is its significance in our religion? Cambridge Muslim College started a daily video series with some live session on "The Fifth Pillar" Started with a Welcoming video by Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, the program provides invaluable session on Hajj during these highly sacred and important days, Dhu'l Hijjah. The videos are available on "Cambridge Muslim Coll...

The candles of Al-Quds
In his hadith book Sunan, Abu Dawud relates from Maymunah, the freed bondmaid of the Messenger of Allah (saw): One day, Maymunah Bint Sa’d (r.anha) asked the Prophet (saw), “O Messenger of Allah, inform us about visiting Bayt Al-Maqdis.” The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “Visit it for prayer”. However, there was war (between Persians and Byzantins) in Jerusalem at that time and taking this into...

Ramadan and Fasting's Global Field of Influence
In Oliver Roy's work, Globalizing Islam: The Search For a New Ummah (London: Hurst and Company 2004), he tried to take up new perspectives Muslims are following generally in the world that fall between Westernization and Neo-fundamentalism. It is emphasized in the title of the book, which is as striking as its contents, that Islam is a global reality or a reality that is becoming accepted global...

A Story of Betrayal: KARBALA
On 10 Muharram 61/10 October 680 in Karbala, near Kufa, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Hussein b. Ali, was murdered along with the close male relatives who were accompanying him. Throughout Islamic history this event had an important effect on religious, political, social and cultural developments.In order to understand the events at Karbala it is necessary to examine some earlier develo...

The Sunna of Sacrificing
Eid al-Adha is called the Great Eid. It occurs at the culmination of the Hajj, and is the culmination of the first ten blessed days of Dhu al-Hijjah, days which have been described by our beloved Prophet (pbuh) as the best days of the year, exceeding even the days of Ramadan in their virtue. From the confirmed Sunnahs (practices of the Prophet) of Eid al-Adha is the sacrifice of a suitable animal...

Fasting as a Celebration
We know the importance of fasting as an act of worship because it’s a command from Allah (s.w.t), and it’s one of the five pillars of Islam according to the Hadith Jibreel, which is a sound narration from the Prophet (s.a.w). We are also aware of its value in the eyes of God… Nevertheless, many of us experience a kind of worry and uneasiness that we avoid putting into words, bot...

How Can Muslims Respond to the Paris Attacks?
It seems to bring back to life the hours after September 11th. Now in Paris twelve journalists are dead at the hands of two murderers shouting "Allahu Akbar." How it is possible to shout something like this while killing people is a mystery. Maybe they do it just for this reason: to stain the name of Islam. The real offense against the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was committed by those two crazy kill...

Free Speech à la française
The tragic attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo should prompt sincere reflection.  For many Muslims, the incident raises once again the question of how and if the dictates of their religion should be lived and understood in a world constantly in flux, a world in which many of the assumptions and hopes of Islam’s moral and legal vision can seem outdated.  As in the case of other attacks carried ...

If You Don't Like the Mawlid, Watch Out!
The birthday of the Prophet, God’s peace and blessings be upon him, is a great blessing for our community and, indeed, for all believers. So if we know the day, it should renew our joy manifold times. The Mawlid (his birthday) has traditionally been a time to reflect on – and be grateful for – our Prophet, peace be upon him, and his life, miracles, and the sacrifices he made on behalf of his comm...