Islam is not difficult. When I was teaching at the Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), most of my students-if not all-were amazed when I remarked that Muslims are not to pray when traveling long distances on airplanes; that Muslim surgeons may choose to combine (jama’) their prayers if they are…
In IKIM Views of 28 August 2007, we have pointed out that not only are all the individual entities and events which comprise the World of Nature considered by the Qur’an to be the ayats of Allah (that is, God’s signs and symbols), but the verses in the Qur’an are themselves so called. This, we have also mentioned, has…
In a hadith celebrated as being of immense importance by Muslim scholars, the Prophet Muhammad was reported to have said that, the major portion of Religion (al-Din) consists of “sincere conduct” (al-nasihah) towards Allah, His Book, His Messenger, leaders of Muslims, and Muslims in general (narrated by Imam Muslim from Tamim al-Dari). Commenting on this…
The spiritual development of humanity has fallen far behind intellectual growth. Looking back through history, It would seem, that our greatest search for knowledge has been directed towards destruction, and our greatest discoveries the result of an all-consuming drive for power. The contemporary world is suffering from a dearth of morality. Global trends indicate that…
The fact that the language of the Qur’an and, as such, the primary language of Islam is Arabic is evident. But, the reason as to why the Qur’an was revealed in the Arabic language might not be as evident to many. For Muslims, it cannot be for no reason that Allah chose the Arabic language…
The water issue is gaining an increasingly central place in the world’s consciousness. About 2 billion people around the world either lack access to sufficient quantities of water, or are supplied with water unfit for drinking. Water is the basis for all life, without it, life cannot exist. Today, in the modern world the water…
Islam requires mankind to be humble servants of Allah, who are gracious in character, who always strive to purify their heart and control their bestial faculties of anger and desire. Now, specifically pertaining to the appetitive desire, whilst animals generally know their limits for food and drink, mankind may more often than not expose himself…
The month of Ramadhan is an important month to the Muslims. It is the time for the Muslims all over the world to fast, an obligation comprising one of the five pillars of Islam. As the end of Ramadhan approaches we see Muslims from all walks of life busy preparing for that day marking the…
Knowledge and knowledge-centred activities have always occupied a lofty and noble position in Islam. As a matter of fact, seeking knowledge in order that one becomes really learned and enlightened in religion, and is therefore qualified to educate the society, is always considered a serious endeavour in the religion of Islam, so serious that those…
The Chief Justice of Malaysia, YAA Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, in his officiating speech at IKIM’s seminar surrounding ‘Ahmad Ibrahim: His Intellectual Thought and Contributions’ last August, expressed his disappointment over the captive mentality of our legal experts, practitioners, judges and lawyers in reference to the high esteem the aforementioned accord English law,…
