The Meaning of La Ilaha Illa Allah: An Annotated Translation of Imam al-Zarkashi’s Treatise on the Islamic Testimony of Faith
Latest
Hindutva and Anti-Muslim Violence: How to Navigate Hindu Supremacy
Safa AhmedHindutva does not only harm Muslims in India; it has found resonance in diasporic communities, involves itself in transnational repression, and openly pledges its allegiance to other far-right movements. Its supporters amplify Zionist propaganda that enables Israel’s genocide in Palestine, provide...
The Divine Wisdom Behind the Pairing of Allah's Names in the Qur'an
Jinan Yousef“Allah has ninety-nine names. Whoever preserves (ahsaha or hafidhaha) them will enter Paradise.” Such was the teaching of the Prophet ﷺ. Many of us have heard this hadith, but fewer of us have internalized the true scope of its meaning. To preserve Allah’s names is not simply to memorize them—it is...
Love and Hate for God’s Sake: Revisiting the Doctrine of al-Wala’ wal-Bara’
Dr. Hatem al-HajProperly reconciling commitment to God and compassion for man is among the most pressing needs of today’s world. It is no secret that Muslims’ relationship with the “other” (including fellow believers of other theological orientations) has become such a major trial for many—particularly those...
Marriage and Gender Roles in Islam: Beyond Rights and Duties
Dr. Tesneem AlkiekOver the past two centuries, Muslim societies confronted what often felt like insurmountable trials: from colonial domination and military defeat to political fragmentation and institutional decay. And yet, even as the Western world began to stagger under the recoil of the very ideologies it...
Virtues of Surah al-Baqara: Healing and Protection in the Qur’an’s Longest Chapter
Sh. Suleiman HaniOne night, standing underneath the vast stretch of the starry sky, Usayd ibn Ḥuḍayr found himself reciting Surah al-Baqara. His horse, tied beside him, suddenly grew agitated. When Ibn Ḥuḍayr paused his recitation, the horse fell silent. He resumed his recitation, only for the horse to again become...
Surah al-Fatiha’s Benefits and Virtues: The Greatest Surah in the Qur’an
Sh. Suleiman HaniSurah al-Fatiha is the greatest surah in the Qur’an, the foundation of Islam, the summary of truth, a healing for illnesses, a comfort for worries, a protection, and a fortress. Surah Al-Fatiha is an unrivaled divine revelation to the final nation, recited at least seventeen times a day by Muslims...
What to Do on the Day of ʿArafah: Making the Most of a Blessed Day | Blog
Yaqeen InstituteFatimah sat by the window, her fingers counting as she murmured words of dhikr. Outside, the world bustled—cars honked, children walked home from school. Inside, the TV live-streamed the sea of pilgrims standing in the sacred valley, calling out to Allah. It was the Day of ʿArafah. Fatimah wasn’t...
Islam and the LGBT Question: Reframing the Narrative
Yaqeen InstituteWhat does Islam say about LGBT, gender and sexual morality? This article sets out to distinguish modern worldviews and explore Islam's view on gender, sex, and sexual morality.
Is the Qur’an Still Relevant Today? The Timeless Universality of Qur’anic Teachings
Mohannad AbusarahMuslims through the ages have believed that the Qur’anic teachings are universal and that even specific verses contain teachings and rulings of universal applicability for all times and places. In this article, we substantiate this position, outlining the grounds for Qur’anic universality and...
What to Do on the Day of ʿArafah: Making the Most of a Blessed Day | Blog
Yaqeen InstituteFatimah sat by the window, her fingers counting as she murmured words of dhikr. Outside, the world bustled—cars honked, children walked home from school. Inside, the TV live-streamed the sea of pilgrims standing in the sacred valley, calling out to Allah. It was the Day of ʿArafah. Fatimah wasn’t...
Islam and the LGBT Question: Reframing the Narrative
Yaqeen InstituteWhat does Islam say about LGBT, gender and sexual morality? This article sets out to distinguish modern worldviews and explore Islam's view on gender, sex, and sexual morality.
With the unfolding of horrific events in Gaza, our hearts and minds cannot focus on anything else. But these emotions, ranging from sadness to anger, are signs of a beating heart. We must channel these emotions to act courageously in a way that is pleasing to Allah. The senseless killing of...
Is the Qur’an Still Relevant Today? The Timeless Universality of Qur’anic Teachings
Mohannad AbusarahMuslims through the ages have believed that the Qur’anic teachings are universal and that even specific verses contain teachings and rulings of universal applicability for all times and places. In this article, we substantiate this position, outlining the grounds for Qur’anic universality and...
The Palestinians have been murdered twice – once by the Israeli army and once by the Western media. Our emotions are intense these days. The horrific images and exposure to propaganda have taken us on an emotional roller coaster, most often leaving us feeling rage. We are infuriated at the Zionist...
This section addresses the philosophical and intellectual challenges posed by atheism from an Islamic perspective. It provides reasoned arguments and spiritual insights to engage with secular worldviews and strengthen one's conviction in God.
Atheism and Radical Skepticism: Ibn Taymiyyah’s Epistemic Critique
Dr. Nazir Khan
Epistemology is the academic discipline that addresses the question, “How do I know what I know?” In other words, it studies how knowledge is established, what makes a belief justified, what constitutes proof, and so on. Often surface-level polemics are in fact representative of deeper...
Can Childhood Experiences Predict Religiosity and Doubt in Adults? An Empirical Analysis of Muslims
Dr. Osman Umarji
Apostasy and atheism have been on the rise in America in the past decade. In a 2019 survey, more than one in four Americans (26%) identified as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” up from 17% in 2009. American Muslims are no exception to this statistic, as 24% of those raised Muslim...
The Importance of Conscious Parenting in Raising Confident Muslims
Roohi Tahir
Is there a connection between parent behavior that contradicts their professed religious beliefs and the eventual outcome of atheism in their children? This question was the subject of a recent study conducted with over five thousand participants from diverse backgrounds, all of whom identified as...
The Divine Wisdom in Allowing Evil to Exist: Perspectives from Ibn Al-Qayyim
Tallal Zeni
In times of despair, we may start to question why God would allow the Coronavirus and other viruses to spread. While we can consider how the Sahaba responded to a plague for guidance, it may also help to understand the Divine wisdom in allowing evil to exist in the first place. For more on the...
Why Do People Suffer? God's Existence & the Problem of Evil
Sh. Mohammad Elshinawy
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Grantor of Mercy This essay argues that the existence of evil offers neither a logical nor probable case against God’s existence and that Islam offers a comprehensive theodicy: that is, a systematic solution to the problem of evil. This paper is...
This section addresses the philosophical and intellectual challenges posed by atheism from an Islamic perspective. It provides reasoned arguments and spiritual insights to engage with secular worldviews and strengthen one's conviction in God.
Atheism and Radical Skepticism: Ibn Taymiyyah’s Epistemic Critique
Dr. Nazir Khan
Epistemology is the academic discipline that addresses the question, “How do I know what I know?” In other words, it studies how knowledge is established, what makes a belief justified, what constitutes proof, and so on. Often surface-level polemics are in fact representative of deeper...
Can Childhood Experiences Predict Religiosity and Doubt in Adults? An Empirical Analysis of Muslims
Dr. Osman Umarji
Apostasy and atheism have been on the rise in America in the past decade. In a 2019 survey, more than one in four Americans (26%) identified as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” up from 17% in 2009. American Muslims are no exception to this statistic, as 24% of those raised Muslim...
The Importance of Conscious Parenting in Raising Confident Muslims
Roohi Tahir
Is there a connection between parent behavior that contradicts their professed religious beliefs and the eventual outcome of atheism in their children? This question was the subject of a recent study conducted with over five thousand participants from diverse backgrounds, all of whom identified as...
The Divine Wisdom in Allowing Evil to Exist: Perspectives from Ibn Al-Qayyim
Tallal Zeni
In times of despair, we may start to question why God would allow the Coronavirus and other viruses to spread. While we can consider how the Sahaba responded to a plague for guidance, it may also help to understand the Divine wisdom in allowing evil to exist in the first place. For more on the...
Why Do People Suffer? God's Existence & the Problem of Evil
Sh. Mohammad Elshinawy
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Grantor of Mercy This essay argues that the existence of evil offers neither a logical nor probable case against God’s existence and that Islam offers a comprehensive theodicy: that is, a systematic solution to the problem of evil. This paper is...
Islam and the Secular Age: Between Certainty and Uncertainty
Dr. Khalil Abdurrashid
Modernity was birthed in violence. It produced the nation-state, nationalism and with it a myriad of other “isms” which serve as new idols or heroes competing for people’s allegiances. Liberalism, feminism, Marxism, individualism, atheism, agnosticism, extremism, communism, capitalism, socialism,...
Islam and the LGBT Question: Reframing the Narrative
Yaqeen Institute
What does Islam say about LGBT, gender and sexual morality? This article sets out to distinguish modern worldviews and explore Islam's view on gender, sex, and sexual morality.
Atheism and Radical Skepticism: Ibn Taymiyyah’s Epistemic Critique
Dr. Nazir Khan
Epistemology is the academic discipline that addresses the question, “How do I know what I know?” In other words, it studies how knowledge is established, what makes a belief justified, what constitutes proof, and so on. Often surface-level polemics are in fact representative of deeper...
Finding Truth in a Post-Truth World
Dr. Tamara Gray
It was a cold winter day and bits of icy snow were still falling on the windshield. I was in the passenger seat of our station wagon and my mother’s mouth was set in “stress.” She said, “When we go inside, you will hear me apologize for being late, and blaming the snow. This is a white lie. We...
Does Islam Need Saving? An Analysis of Human Rights
Anonymous Guest Contributor
It is a common argument, made both implicitly and explicitly in Islamophobic rhetoric, that Islam, on the whole, is antithetical to modern secular notions of human rights. Whether it is through the lens of the rights of women in Islam and the oppression of women in the Muslim world, or through...
