Islam is the religion of more than one billion Muslims living across the globe. From far eastern Asia to western Africa to the Americas, they come from all countries, many cultural backgrounds, ethnic groups, and speak numerous languages. However, all of them read the same book (the Holy Quran) and have the same fundamental beliefs. This book is a short introduction to who Muslims are, what they believe in, and pillars on which the building of Islam stands. The book also answers frequently asked questions and addresses common myths and misinformation about Islam.

New for the second edition:

• New chapter on commonly used words by Muslims and their meanings
• New chapter on information for educators
• Many improvements in content
• Addition of diagrams and references

Read more

The problem in traditional Islam is that it is “traditional,” grounded in tradition rather than revelation, based on the way Muslims practiced Islam rather than on the way they were expected to practice it. For how Muslims practice Islam was not always the way it was intended to be practiced by Allah. Muslims drifted from the Book of Allah to follow the books of traditions. “When they are told to follow the (Revelation) that Allah has sent down, they say: “Nay, we shall follow the ways that we found our fathers (following). “What! even if it is Satan beckoning them to the Penalty of the (Blazing) Fire.” [1]
There is a chasm between a rule and its practice, between appearance and reality, between the “normative” Islam of the Book of Allah, as Fazlur Rahman put it, and the “historical” Islam of tradition. By treating tradition as “revelation,” traditionists paved the way for tradition to become a “second” revelation (tanzil). The concept of dual revelation paved the way for the emergence of the concept of dual legislation. This is why reformers support the desacralisation of tradition. “The Indonesian reformer Nurcholish Madjid has referred to this phenomenon as the “sacralization” of tradition in Islam and called for a “de-sacralization” of tradition. However, he does not reject the importance of tradition but the notion of a fixed, static tradition, arguing that tradition and consensus or ijma are ongoing and cumulative.” [2] Islam is an Abrahamic faith. The Book of Allah refers to the Jewish prophets as well as Jesus. The Book of Allah presents itself as a reiteration of the previous revelations, known as the Bible. Traditional preachers highlight differences between the Book of Allah and the Tawrat and the Injeel. Thereby they widen the gap between different faiths. These assertions fail to do justice to the universality of Islam. The Book of Allah emphasizes its parallels with the previous revelations. The UAE established the Family of Abrahamic Faiths centre. The Book of Allah does not engage in “Bible bashing,” as a few traditional preachers do, endeavouring to showcase the “superiority” of the Book of Allah in relation to the Bible. The Book of Allah does not “abrogate” the preceding revelations, as exegetes with a penchant for a parochial perspective assert. The Book of Allah reiterates the previous revelations and clarifies misconceptions regarding them. For these revelations were misrepresented. Jesus is treated as greater than a prophet. This is tantamount to attributing a “partner” to Allah, which defies tauhid. The Book of Allah exhorts us to refrain from shirk. Associating “partners” with Allah is the worst transgression. The Book of Allah rejects associating with Allah what He gave no authority for: “Say: the things that my Lord hath indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds, whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah, for which He hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have no knowledge.” [3] “God will not forgive Shirk (choosing ‘authorities’ besides Him), though He may forgive other transgressions according to His law of forgiveness. Whoever commits Shirk, has strayed far, far away.” [4]
“Set up no god or ‘authority’ along with God. I am a plain warner to you from Him.” [5]
[1] Quran, 31:21, trans by A Yusuf Ali: https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/31/st30.htm.
[2] John L. Esposito, “Rethinking Islam and Secularism,” ARDA, Association of Religious Data Archives, p. 17,
http://www.thearda.com/rrh/papers/guidingpapers/Esposito.pdf.
[3] Quran 7:33, trans by A Yusuf Ali: https://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=7&verse=33.
[4] Quran, 4:116, trans by Shabbir Ahmed: http://quranix.org/4#116.
[5] Quran, 51:51, trans by Shabbir Ahmed: http://quranix.org/51#51.

Read more

Islam and the Institution of Marriage: Legal and Sociological Approaches is a study of Muslim marriage in modernity. The question of marriage and intimate relationships is an important site of internal contestation, as the collection demonstrates. It demands both fidelity to the tradition and its historical modes of thought and relevance to contemporary conditions. The collection of essays that make up the study engages these important and difficult questions from the perspectives of two different types of scholarship: fiqh and social science. While fiqh practitioners work with the source texts to derive new interpretations, to authorise rethinking, and thereby to create spaces of possibility for practices to change, social scientists study practices of Islam. The contributors to this volume examine challenges to fiqh posed by the contemporary by critically analysing the practices and resources available to Muslims in a range of national and historical contexts. These critical approaches will enable a wide readership to understand how Muslims engage with the assumptions and epistemologies that underpin marriage and relationships in contemporary Islamic contexts.

Read more

A simple guide explaining common issues faced by teenage Muslims. This book covers a wide range of challenges that Muslim adolescents face as they develop. Teenage brains work differently than adults when they make decisions or face problems. Their actions are guided more by the emotional & reactive process and less by the thoughtful & reasonable way of solving problems.

Topics covered:

1.Arrogance
2.Backbiting & Slandering
3.Beard & Haircuts
4.Bullying
5.Clothing & Accessories
6.Companions & Friends
7.Cursing & Swearing
8.Drawing & Photography
9.Drug & Alcohol
10.Free Mixing
11.Games & Sports
12.How To Treat Your Parents
13.Imitating the Kuffaar (Disbelievers)
14.Lowering The Gaze
15.Manners & Character
16.Purification
17.Recitation & Memorization
18.Respect Your Elders
19.Salaah
20.Singing, Music & Dancing
21.Smoking
22.Social Media
23.Suicide
24.Tattoos
25.Vacations
26.Violent Behavior

Read more