Devotion to God

This facet of worship entails that one fulfill certain deeds which God has commanded in His religion, whether they deal with the inner self or the outer body, and whether they be obligatory or voluntary.  This facet of worship is not only limited to following His commandments, however, but it is also inclusive of leaving those things which He has forbidden.  Worship in this sense, maybe defined as anything believed, felt, or done as...

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Worship in Islam: Concept and Purpose

The concept and purpose of worship in Islam is unparallel to any other religion in existence.  It combines the mundane with the spiritual, the individual with the society, and the internal soul with the external body.  Worship has a unique role in Islam, and through worship, a person is regarded as a true Muslim who accords his entire life to the Will of God. The importance of worship may be seen in the fact that it has been prescribed...

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Hadith of the day:The Pillars of Islaam

On the authority of Aboo `Abd ir-Rahmaan `Abdullaah, the son of `Umar ibn al-Khattab radiAllaahu 'anhumaa, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) say: Islaam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, establishing the salaah (prayer), paying the zakaah (obligatory charity), making the Hajj (pilgrimage)...

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The recording of the hadith

The recording of the hadeeth of the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, began during the time of the Prophet himself.  Al-Baghdaadi records a number of hadeeth that show that the Prophet explicitly allowed the recording of his hadeeth.  Here are some examples: 1.    Al-Daarimi and Abu Dawood in their Sunans (books) recorded that Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As stated that they used to record everything...

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God’s Preservation of the Sunnah: Al Hadith

Before discussing this topic, it should be noted that, in order for something to be preserved, it is not a necessary condition that it be recorded or written down.  That is, simply because something was not written down, it does not mean that it was not accurately and correctly preserved.  Furthermore, the writing of something down itself is not sufficient for the preservation of something.  It is possible that something is recorded...

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What is Hadith?

The Arabic word Hadith means ‘statement' or ‘talk'. In the Shariah,  the word Hadith means those things or action, which Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said or did. You will also come  across the word ‘Sunnah' which is also used for Hadith, but usually  ‘Sunnah' is used to report a deed, such as how the Prophet  Muhammad (Peace be upon him) slept or ate etc,  while Hadith is used for ‘talk'. There...

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Who does qualify to receive Zakat?

He has raised some of you in ranks above others that He may try you in the gifts He has given you.” (Quran 6:165) Zakat has both humanitarian and socio-political value.  It is designed by our Creator to redistribute wealth and encourage social responsibility.  When Zakat is collected and distributed correctly it minimises the needs of citizens to such an extent that there may be no poor or needy within the Muslim community.   It...

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Zakat – Obligatory Charity

In the glossary of The Noble Quran[1]  the term Zakat is defined as follows, “A certain fixed proportion of the wealth and of every property liable to Zakat of a Muslim to be paid yearly for the benefit of the poor in the Muslim community.  The payment of Zakat is obligatory as it is one of the five pillars of Islam.  Zakat is the major economic means for establishing social justice and leading the Muslim society to prosperity...

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The concept of wealth in Islam

“Man’, said the Prophet, ‘says: My wealth!  My wealth!’  Have you not any wealth except that which you give as alms and thus preserve, wear and tatter, eat and use up?” The whole concept of wealth is considered in Islam as a gift from God.  God, who provided it to the person, made a portion of it for the poor, so the poor have a right over one’s wealth.  Zakat reminds Muslims that everything they have belongs to...

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The Third Pillar of Islam: Charity

Charity is not just recommended by Islam, it is required of every financially stable Muslim.  Giving charity to those who deserve it is part of Muslim character and one of the Five Pillars of Islamic practice.  Zakat is viewed as “compulsory charity”; it is an obligation for those who have received their wealth from God to respond to those members of the community in need.  Devoid of sentiments of universal love, some people know...

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what is Qibla?

There are more than 1.5 billion Muslims in the world, and each time they pray, they turn their faces in one direction, towards Mecca.  The Islamic term for this direction is qibla.  When a Muslim prepares to pray, no matter where he is, he turns towards the qibla, the direction of the Kaba.  The Kaba is a small cube shaped building in the courtyard of the mosque known as Masjid Al Haram, in the city of Mecca, in the country of...

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What is a Masjid?

Masjid is the Arabic word for mosque, the building in which Muslims worship God.  Throughout Islamic history, the masjid was the centre of the community and towns formed around this pivotal building.  Nowadays, especially in Muslim countries masjids are found on nearly every street corner, making it a simple matter for Muslims to attend the five daily prayers.  In the West mosques are integral parts of Islamic centers...

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