By Fatima Zahir

1. So what’s this Zakat business all about?

The word “Zakat” literally means “that which purifies” and “that which fosters growth”. So the act of giving Zakat means purifying one’s wealth to gain the blessings of Allah (swt).

Zakat is the third pillar of Islam and is one of the most fundamental acts of Ibadah (worship) hence being mentioned over 30 times in the Holy Quran. In simple terms, it is the more able people giving 2.5% of their yearly income to those who are less financially able. Performing Zakat is to re-distribute wealth from the rich to the poor so the rich can help those who are less fortunate than themselves. (Read More…)

Question

What are the rulings of ghusl(bath)? When does it become compulsory to have ghusl and how should one perform it?

Answer

Answer by Shaykh Salim Ghisa

Under Islamic Shariah law bathing has three obligations (Fardh) and there are 5 reasons according to the Hanafi Madhab (school of thought) that make it obligatory. (Read more…)

Today, the term “Islamic tolerance” causes confusion. So, could you please shed light on the spirit of tolerance in Islam?

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear brother in Islam, thanks for the very interesting question you posed and the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake. (more…)

Q.When Islam is against idol worship why do the Muslims worship, and bow down to the Kaaba in their prayer?

A.Kaaba is the Qibla i.e. the direction Muslims face during their prayers. It is important to note that though Muslims face the Kaaba during prayers, they do not worship the Kaaba. (more…)

Today, the abundance of wealth is everywhere, especially in the western societies where the race is on for the biggest house, the best cars, the latest clothes…but STOP! (more…)

How to become a Muslim

It only requires a very simple act, but the meaning behind it is very deep. You have to believe that there is only one God, Allah, who created the entire universe, and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is his final messenger on earth. (more…)

Some of the biggest misconceptions that many non-Muslims have about Islam have to do with the word “Allah”. (more…)

Buildings that are reserved for Islamic worship are called Mosques, or Masjids. Any place where Muslims gather for prayer is a mosque, it doesn’t have to be a special building. (more…)

If we would like to know whether a religion is true or false, we should not depend on our emotions, feelings, or traditions. Rather, we should depend on our reason and intellect. (more…)

Al-Hijra (1 Muharram): New Year’s Day

This festival commemorates the Hijra (or Hegira) in 622 CE when the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) moved from Mecca to Medina. The Hijra was the beginning of the growth of Islam into a world faith. (more…)