Islamic Revival

Presented here is a short translated excerpt entitled ‘There is no king but Allah’.  This is taken from chapter six (Significant issues concerning Ruling in Islam) from the book entitled Ḥakimiyah & the Sovereignty of Sharī’ah by Professor Muhammad al-Massari .  There is a substantial number of evidences from the Prophetic Sunnah that discuss matters pertaining to kingship/monarchy, ruling, and the political trajectory of the Muslim Ummah . The article therefore begins by examining the ḥadith that talk about kingship in general, thereafter examining the issue of kingship as it emerged for the Children of Israel.   What is also noteworthy, is how the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself interacted with the rulers of his time, as well as the understanding that he bequeathed to him companions.  Each of the narratives that detail this are set out and evaluated in turn.  Given that kingship has been a pervasive feature of political ruling within the Muslim world for many ce

The following is a critical assessment of the reports that discuss the Prophet (sas) and influences of magic. An Islamic frame of reference is established and the reports are evaluated through their Sanad and Matn. Furthermore, there's a discussion of the evidences presented by those critical of the fact that the Prophet (sas) had been influenced by magic.  00:00 ​ - Framework for Discussing Magic   10:02 ​ - Chronology for Reports About the Incident | The First Mention & Classical Scholars' Views   17:03 ​ - Summary of the Incident 21:03 ​ - Sanad | Investigating the Reports of the Incident  30:36 ​ - Matn | Inconsistencies in the Reports on Magic on Prophet Muhammad (sas)  38:40 ​ - Evidences Against the Influence of Magic on the Prophet (sas)  54:21 ​ - Views of Those Who Accept the Reports   57:32 ​ - Conclusion | Thoughts Regarding Strength of Evidence & Hadith Literature  This video was live-streamed on June 1st, 2019 as part of the Ramadan Series. The Ram

In this short video series commemorating the Hijri centennial of the abolishment of the last caliphate, historian Dr Uthman Lateef asks: have we become acclimatised to living with division? What is a caliphate? Is it a theocracy? Is it just for Muslims? He speaks about the Adamic project which Allāh decreed before we were even created...   Episode 1       Episode 2 In the second part of this short series commemorating the Hijri centennial of the abolishment of the last caliphate, historian Dr Uthman Lateef recalls when an English queen tried to stop a Muslim Caliph from helping the Irish. What is the role of the Caliph? Is he just for Muslims? Is a Caliph needed for the Caliphate to operate?       Episode 3 In the final part of this short series, historian Dr Uthman Lateef recalls the obligation of justice on the shoulders of the “Ummah of Justice”. He contrasts the treatment of Jews under the Islamic Caliphate compared to elsewhere in Europe, with Muslim communities heeding the

Question: What is the reporting concerning the following ḥ adith and is it authentic? The Prophet peace be upon him said: ‘I wish I could meet my brothers.  The companions of the Prophet peace be upon him said: Are we not your brothers?  He (the Prophet) said: You are my companions, but my brothers are those who have faith in me although they never saw me’ [Aḥmad].     Answer:  Answer The narration is purportedly from the companion Anas ibn Mālik, may Allah be pleased with him, and is reported outside of the commonly known books or famous books of ḥ adith . Primarily, the tradition appears in three different collections: the Musnad of Aḥmad, Musnad Abu Ya’la and in Mu’jam al-Awsa ṭ of al-Ṭabarāni. As far as can reasonably be discerned, it doesn’t appear that any of the notable scholarly authorities declared this outright to be Ṣaḥīḥ .  At best seems to be the comment of Shu’ayb al-Arnā’uṭ, giving the assessment ‘ ḥ asan li’ghayrihi ,’ as a follow-up comment after the traditi

Are we witnessing one of the portents relating to the final hour? The aḥādith of the ‘ Ruwaybiḍah’ is often mentioned in various contexts and has been feature of traditional Islamic works of ‘ Fitan ,’ relating to signs before the day of judgment, including before the arrival of the cursed false ‘messiah’ – the Dajjāl . Textually, the traditions do not relate to a legal topic. As such, when cited they are not utilised in relation to developing or substantiating jurisprudence ( fiqh ). Rather, depending upon authenticity, the text relates to a possible description of a future state of events, where deception reigns. A fixed moment in time is not specified, but rather a period prior to the coming of the Dajjāl . Some in the contemporary era have given a rating of fair or good ( ḥ asan ) to a particular narration that mentions the ‘ Ruwaybiḍah ,’ others to the set of traditions overall. Partly this seems to be on the basis that there are other channels of reporting which it is h

As much as some may behave to the contrary, there is no priestly or rabbinical order that is textually sanctioned in Islam.  The Qur’ānic text is replete with examples of censure given to the previous nations that descended into an abyss through their scholarship [e.g. 5: 44, 63; 9: 31, 34].  Whether that was altering the rulings for a miserly price, to taking the diktats of the priestly order above and beyond the revealed law. Scholarship underpinned by piety is neither conferred by virtue of holding any particular office, the mere presence upon a state-sanctioned committee, nor even by means that are inherited. Enchantment with or outright sycophancy towards those despotically holding political office is also not a sign of scholarship, let alone scholarly conduct.   Indeed, as we move inexorably towards the end of days, it is worth reminding ourselves of the words that the Prophet peace be upon him furnished us with concerning the ‘deceitful jurists.’  In al-Mu’jam al- Ṣ

I was asked to put together a political briefing on Macron’s so-called bill to outlaw separatism. Here is an edited copy (with thanks to Zakaria K). The ‘separatism’ Bill announced by Emmanuel Macron on the 2nd October is currently working its way through the institutions of the French executive. The proposed law is called the “Bill to Reinforce Secularism and Republican Principles”, the term ‘separatism’, once considered, has been removed. The Bill looks to update the 1905 law that officially separated church from state. The French Minis t er of interior, Gérald Darmanin announced on BFMTV 3 weeks ago that the completed draft will be presented to the Conseil d’État or Council of State. This is a quasi- legal branch of the French state that looks at bills to make sure it conforms to the French constitution. Based on the fragments that announced beforehand, it seems there are some constitutional difficulties with the bill. For example, the odd statement by Mr Darmanin th