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

The topic I have chosen to discuss today is the issues related to entertainment in Islam. This topic is one that comes up with many of the young Muslims. They seem to have this understanding that having fun is not permitted for the believer, and this understanding is something which drives them away from practicing Islam as they begin to find Islam constraining and difficult upon themselves. What we will be looking at in this short video is some of the proofs as to what is the Islamic position towards entertainment which is ḥalāl, which is ḥarām, and what is recommended. Read More »

Brother Siraaj's post on Ramadan fitness updated with readers questions and comments: You may remember last year I wrote a post entitled Ramadan Fitness Plan in which I outlined the program I was following for fat loss, a plan which helped me lose 8 lbs during Ramadan '09.  I continued ... Read More »

So if you hadn't noticed, there was this little ruckus a couple of weeks ago about some Cricket World Cup, specifically the India vs Pakistan match. My fellow co-workers stayed up all night watching the game, as did many of my fellow MM compatriots. I had a good friend who remotely (from the US) manages a team in India tell me that 15 of his team members called in Friday to inform him that they all would be having a family emergency...on Monday. Read More »

Irritability, fatigue and lack of recreation is a wake-up call for a da’ee to realize that he or she is swerving away from the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad [صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم]. He had more roles to play on a communal and familial level than any of us, yet he knew how to strike the perfect balance in his life that enabled him to stay positive, cheerful, easygoing, focused on both work and worship and most of all, sporting a smiling countenance and a relaxed demeanor whenever anyone met him. Read More »

Hakeem Olajuwon is inshā'Allāh being inducted to the Hall of Fame today. Having grown up in Houston, I have fond memories of Hakeem and the work he did, not just on the court, but in the community as well. I remember a long time back he organized some basketball tournaments ... Read More »

Download the latest MM podcast to hear Sh. Yaser Birjas talk about the importance of physical fitness in Islam. Does that mean the MM Staff have to start dieting now? ;) If you have iTunes – subscribe here. If you do not, you can still subscribe using ANY RSS reader ... Read More »

Monument honouring Hakeem Olajuwon to be unveiled in AprilFebruary 14, 2008, 11:44 PM ET HOUSTON – The Houston Rockets plan to unveil a monument honouring former star Hakeem Olajuwon on April 11 outside the team's arena. Organizers said they worked hard to ensure that the monument complied with Olajuwon's Islamic ... Read More »

We hasten unto them with good things (in this worldly life so that they will have no share of good things in the Hereafter)? Nay, but they perceive not. (23:56) And I (Allāh) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). (51:56) While people around the ... Read More »

Unfortunately, some other people don't think so. You may or may not have heard about the recent controversy here in Canada – 11 year old Asmahan Mansour was pulled out of a soccer game she was playing in (part of a tournament) due to her wearing a hijaab, by (of ... Read More »

Well, for most of our American/Canadian friends, cricket usually refers to the annoying insects that keep you up at nights. But, for the rest of the world; well may be I should qualify before saying that: England in Europe, South Africa in Africa, Indian sub-continent in Asia, Australia, West Indies ... Read More »