MuslimMatters.org Discourses in the Intellectual Traditions, Political Situation, and Social Ethics of Muslim Life

Synopsis: This article seeks to discuss, in moderate detail, the fiqh ruling on giving zakāt al-fiṭr in the form of money instead of staple food item. In this author's opinion, although it is best to give zakāt al-fītr in staple food, there is no unequivocal evidence to suggest that giving ... Read More »

Of the acts of worship special to this month is that of I'tikaf. Allāh (تعالى) mentions I'tikaf in one place in his book: أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ لَيْلَةَ الصِّيَامِ الرَّفَثُ إِلَى نِسَائِكُمْ هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَهُنَّ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَخْتَانُونَ أَنْفُسَكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَعَفَا عَنْكُمْ فَالآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا ... Read More »

Assessing our Ramadan As the last 10 nights are now upon us, it is time to re-evaluate where we have come so far. Two-thirds of the month have passed and will not return. We have enough time to make a final push in this month, to maximize the benefit that ... Read More »

Keith Olbermann delivers a crushing blow to Horowitz. Apparently the ad used on a poster that is promoting this event of bigotry and religious intolerance displays a photo of a female “victim” of “Islamic savagery”. Turns out the photo is of an actress, who is still very much alive, apparently ... Read More »

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Ramadan is a time to make much du‘ā’. In Surah al-Baqarah, verses 184-188 discuss fasting and Ramadan in considerable detail. In the middle of all these verses the following verse is interjected: “And when My servants ask you concerning Me – indeed I am near. I ... Read More »

Probably the most intense component of ṣalāh is sajdah. No other position expresses worship and obedience as powerfully as bowing all the way down with your face on the floor. Nearly every sense is involved in worship – your sight, smell, touch and hearing. I would argue that you can't ... Read More »

“There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self,” Read More »

In light of what's been going on these last couple days (the whole pact issue), I've decided that it's time for some words of rememberance and words of reminder, for verily the believers benefit from the reminder. Abu Malik al-Ash'ari reported: The Messenger of Allāh (may peace be upon him) ... Read More »

This presentation was passed along to me and I wanted to share with you. It's a wonderful informative PowerPoint about Ramadan used by Shell Inc. for diversity training. Enjoy and share! Shell Ramadan PowerPoint Presentationan Read More »

Anxiety and nervousness are inevitable symptoms indicating the imminence of Ramadan. People seem to have the same feeling of butterflies in their stomach whenever Ramadan draws near. We usually become more alert and extremely careful as Ramadan gets closer and closer. Why do we have this anxiety? What is it ... Read More »