Not Everyone Marries: Lessons from Imam Nawawi’s Life
Imam Nawawi, one of the greatest scholars of Islam, is known to have never married. He spent all his time studying, teaching, and writing books that Muslims still benefit from today. It’s not that he didn’t value marriage—he just felt that his purpose was to serve the religion through knowledge, and he didn’t want anything […]
Timing Matters: Marriage Decisions for Students
Deciding to get married while you’re still in school is a big choice and needs careful thought. It’s important to ask yourself if you’re really ready—mentally, emotionally, and financially—to take on both school and marriage at the same time. Talk to people you trust, like your parents, teachers, or mentors, and most importantly, pray istikhārah […]
Reflecting Divine Light: Living by the Light of Allah in Our Hearts
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth—a reality that not only illuminates all creation but also brings clarity, guidance, and purpose to our hearts. This divine light is not like any physical light, but the light of truth, knowledge, and presence. When Allah places this light in a person’s heart, it transforms […]
Beyond the Red Sea: Escaping Our Inner Tyranny
The Day of ʿĀshūrāʾ is a day of remembrance and gratitude, marking the miraculous victory when Allah saved Prophet Mūsā (ʿalayhi as-salām) and the Children of Israel from the tyranny of Pharaoh. As we reflect on this divine liberation, we must also ask: what Pharaohs rule our own hearts? What forms of ego, greed, or […]
Let’s Read Surah al-Kahf Today Faith in Trials: The Echo of Musa’s Story in Surah al-Kahf and Ashura
On the Day of Ashura, we reflect on the story of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) and the miraculous salvation of the Children of Israel from Pharaoh’s tyranny—an event commemorated through fasting in gratitude to Allah. Surah al-Kahf, though not directly about Ashura, echoes the same themes of divine guidance, patience in trial, and […]
When the Divine Knocks: From Wārid to Wird
When Allah loves you, He sends you a wārid—a spiritual influx, a sudden moment of clarity, presence, or longing that awakens your heart and draws you toward Him. A wārid is not something you create; it is a divine gift from the unseen, a subtle call from Allah inviting you closer. That sacred impulse inspires […]
Polishing the Heart for Divine Light
Divine light is a gift, not something earned by our deeds alone. It enters the heart through sincerity, humility, and presence with Allah. One of the aphorisms of Ibn ʿAṭā’illah says, “Lights are the mounts of hearts and secrets.” That this light allows the heart to perceive truth clearly, to be protected from deception, and […]
Du‘ā of Light (Du‘ā al-Nūr)
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِي قَلْبِي نُورًا، وَفِي بَصَرِي نُورًا، وَفِي سَمْعِي نُورًا، وَعَنْ يَمِينِي نُورًا، وَعَنْ يَسَارِي نُورًا، وَمِنْ فَوْقِي نُورًا، وَمِنْ تَحْتِي نُورًا، وَأَمَامِي نُورًا، وَخَلْفِي نُورًا، وَاجْعَلْ لِي نُورًا Allāhumma ajʿal fī qalbī nūran, wa fī baṣarī nūran, wa fī samʿī nūran, wa ʿan yamīnī nūran, wa ʿan yasārī nūran, wa min fawqī nūran, […]
Marriage with Honor: Seeking Blessings Through Family Respect
Marriage is one of the most important decisions of your life—a sacred covenant, not just between two people, but between two families, made in the sight of Allah. While it may be legally possible in some cases to marry without your parents’ knowledge, Islam teaches us that seeking the blessings (barakah) of our parents is […]
Sacred Appointments: When Prayer Shapes Our Lives
A believer’s life must revolve around the prayer, not the other way around. The five daily prayers are not interruptions to our day—they are the very purpose of our existence, sacred appointments with Allah that give structure, meaning, and barakah to everything else. When we prioritize ṣalāh, we align ourselves with the rhythm of the […]
Begin Daʿwah with the Self
Our duty as Muslims is to uphold amr bil maʿrūf wa nahy ʿan al-munkar—to command what is right and forbid what is wrong—not just in public, but first within ourselves. The true daʿwah begins in the heart: when we purify our intentions, our actions naturally call others to Allah. Spreading Islam is not limited to […]
‘Umar’s Legacy and the Forgotten Depth of True Knowledge
When ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb died, it was said that nine-tenths of knowledge disappeared—not the knowledge of legal rulings or memorized texts, but the knowledge rooted in deep awe (ḥashya) of Allah. ʿUmar embodied a type of sacred awareness that made him just, humble, and constantly afraid of his accountability before Allah. Though we live in […]