Tawakkul means perfect reliance and trust. The root of tawakkul is wao-kaf-lam. One of the words derived from this root is wakil – the person whom we trust. The person …
Dealing with Deniers of Divine Reality
Freedom of choice is a unique privilege and blessing enjoyed by mankind. This choice is given not without purpose, however. It is central to the divine plan. As the Qur’an …
Tafseer of Verse 13 of Surah Al-Hujurat
In this verse, the whole of mankind has been addressed to reform it of the great evil that has always caused disruption in the world, that is, the prejudices due …
Racism After Ferguson: Where Do We Go From Here?
Following the fatal shooting in Ferguson on August 2014 of an unarmed African American teenager, Michael Brown, by white police officer Darren Wilson, protests were sparked in Ferguson. The protests …
Dawah Campaign in Brazil: Important Lessons
“Who is better in speech than he who invites people to Allah and does righteous deeds, and says ‘I am of those who have submitted [to Allah]’” (Qur’an 41:33). “Invite …
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)’s Care for the Poor
The Prophet, peace be upon him, wanted every individual in society to care for others and to help them as much as they could. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) feared for his …
The Joy of Caring and Sharing
Muslims everywhere—young and old, weak and strong, materially well-off or not—observe fasting in the month of Ramadan, striving for greater discipline, deeper faith, and increased compassion and generosity. Charitableness is …
Faith, Submission, and Service: Important Questions
What is Islam? What does it mean and what does it stand for? More specifically, who is a Muslim and when a Muslim says he/she has submitted to Allah, what …
Thoughts on Thankfulness
How can we thank Almighty Allah for all His great blessings upon us? For sure we are unable to do so properly or adequately in any ultimate way, as His …
The Meaning and Making of Interfaith Dialogue
Ignorance breeds prejudice, and misinformation multiplies the harm. Among religious communities, this dynamic of confusion becomes vulnerable to extremist manipulation on all sides, and is particularly volatile if there is …