Islamic Revival

IKHLAS (‘SINCERITY’) Imam al-Ghazzali in the  Ihya’ `Ulum al-Din [1]  mentions a  hadith  from Hasan al-Basri that Hudhayfa b. al-Yaman (ra) said: The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:  “‘I asked Jibril regarding sincerity ( ikhlas ) and Jibril replied: ‘I asked our Mighty Lord about this and He replied’: ‘Sincerity is one of my secrets that I place in the hearts of my beloved servants’… ” [2] سألت جبريل عن الإخلاص ما هو فقال سألت عنه رب العزة فقال الإخلاص سرمنأسراري أودعته قلب من أحببت من عبادي In another version it has the addition:  “No angel can record it nor can Shaytan corrupt it…” [3] لا يطلع عليه ملك فيكتبه ولا شيطان فيفسده “Sincerity” Sincerity is every action or movement purely for the sake of Allah (swt) and no-one else. Sincerity is unmediated and forms part of the devotional relationship directed to Allah from His servant. Sincerity is Allah’s secret – He alone knows of it and rewards. No-one else can reward it appropriately. Angels do not know of it and

The poster girl of the pro-democracy movement, Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was this month touring Europe in the latest move to normalize Burma’s relationship with the West and remove the pariah status it has lived with for many decades. Suu Kyi spent almost two decades under house arrest in Burma as a political prisoner until November 2010 when she was released following the victory of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in the first elections in Burma in 20 years. The USDP is seen as simply an extension of the military junta but it has introduced a number of reforms including the freeing of hundreds of political prisoners, the passing of labour laws allowing trade unions, and the signing a law allowing peaceful demonstrations for the first time. This year, the new government signed separate ceasefires with rebels of the Karen and Shan ethnic group and ordered the ordered the military to stop operations against ethnic Kachin rebels in the North. Such ref

Uproar and commotion has erupted in Egypt over revelations that President Morsi has sent a communiqué confirming Egypt's commitment to peaceful ties with the Jewish state. In the letter sent to Shimon Peres, President of the Jewish State, Morsi states:  "I am looking forward to exerting our best efforts to get the Middle East Peace Process back to its right track in order to achieve security and stability for all peoples of the region, including that Israeli people." Despite vociferous denials by Morsis's representatives, the letter appears to be genuine. The English newspaper The Guardian reported that Peres's office said the president's aides received the official communiqué on July 31st 2012 from the Egyptian ambassador to the Jewish state, both by registered mail and by fax from the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv. Furthermore, the paper stated that the fax number which appeared on the faxed letter was registered to the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم As intrigues continue over "transitional government", the ‘dissident' Brigadier, Manaf Tlass, emerged in Ihram clothing (Translated) There has been much talk recently about the ‘transitional government' that would lead a process of change in Syria. As this alleged "national" government, whose formation America wants to supervise, ManafTlass - a Syrian Brigadier - has emerged on the scene. Brigadier Tlass defected in an unusual way, not seen with the natural spontaneous defections that thousands of the loyal honest officers and soldiers preceded him in that. He emerged leaving little time for speculation, to declare on the channels screens and through the press, with words revealing the real role assigned to him. He said that he wished "to draw a road map out of the crisis and re-drawing Syria in a civilized way as it was, even more beautiful". We ask ourselves: Was Syria beautiful under the rule of the

“` Aqida  Polemics: Distractions and Diversions – Some Advice to the Students of Knowledge” In what follows is a brief discussion about certain groups who have a continual preoccupation with theological matters (` aqida ) and make it their sole objective to denounce other Muslims as being out of the orthodox fold. They also insist on imposing their theological understandings and busy Muslims with ‘` aqida  discussions’ that are in effect historical theological controversies. Such preoccupations have divided the  umma  along theological lines and have often distracted her from making serious assessments of her dire political situation and its solution. This is a matter that is indispensable for any sincere and serious student of sacred knowledge to know about and reflect on. CONTEXT : The Reason why this discussion about ` aqida  is relevant is: Because ` aqida  discussions have been a cause of division and sectarianism in the Muslim community. Because ` aqida  discussions

We are serialising some sections from the draft translation of   الجامع لأحكام الصيام  ‘Al-Jami li Ahkam as-Siyam’  (A complete guide of the rules of fasting)  by  Sheikh Abu Iyas Mahmoud bin Abdul Latif al-Uweida   this Ramadhan, please note this is a draft translation so please overlook errors.      The Scholars Imaam Abu Haneefah, Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ and Imaam Ahmad Bin Hanbal held the opinion that if a fasting person breaks his fast due to forgetfulness he has not broken his fast and nothing is required from him. This is the same whether he ate a lot or a little. Al-Hasan al-Basri, Mujaahid, Ishaq bin Raahuwiyah, Abu Thawr, Daawud bin ‘Ali, ‘Ataa, Al-Awza’i and Al-Laith all held this sam opinion. Rabee’a and Imaam Maalik said: The fast is made faasid by eating and drinking through forgetfulness and Qadaa is required. The correct view is the first and this is supported by the following evidences: 1)            Abu Hurairah (ra) said that the Prophet of Allah (saw) said: “Who

Sheikh Issam Ameireh, member of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Al-Quds Palestine, elaborates upon the topic of zakat and its details. He also answers some Zakat questions posted. Introduction Right click on  download  and select 'Save Target As...' to download the talk Question and Answer Right click on  download  and select 'Save Target As...' to download the talk