QaysArthur.net Blog

  بسم الله The proverbially strange similitude of those who were charged to bear the Torah, yet incredibly bore it not, is like the strikingly strange likeness of a donkey laden with great tomes of enlightening wisdom: Vile a similitude indeed is that of a people who cry lies to the very verses of Allah Himself! And Allah guides not the people of the wrongdoers. (The Quran Beheld 62:5) I recently received a question from Pakistan that concerned responding to those who criticize the Sharia as it is implemented there. The questioner described two murder cases. In both cases the perpetrators were from a higher social stratum and the next of kin of the victims forgave the perpetrators who were set free as a result. Media outlets then publicized reports claiming that in both instances the next of kin were threatened by the perpetrators. As a result, secular-minded commentators are claiming that the Sharia provision which places the perpetrator’s fate in the hands of the next of...

 بسم الله اللَّهُمَّ أَرِنَا الْحَقَّ حَقًّا وَارْزُقْنَا اتِّبَاعَهُ، وَأَرِنَا البَاطِلَ بَاطِلًا وَارْزُقْنَا اجْتِنَابَهُ This is the first in a series of weekly posts that will be part of the  QA report , a curated list of articles from mainstream media outlets, insha Allah. Staying abreast with the news is only useful to the extent that it helps, or least doesn't hinder, drawing near to Allah Most High. Yet much of that depends on the reader. It turns out that cultivating fear, cynicism, and gloom are much better for profit generation than the  nasiha  that's  encouraged  in the Sunnah. Yet without nasiha  the signs of Allah in the happenings in the world can be easily misread leading to despair, apathy, cynicism, and eventually questioning Providence.  So the articles in the QA report are chosen with nasiha  and giving the benefit of the doubt in mind. This week witnesses more evidence of America's dysfunction and decline and, on the o...

By Qays Arthur Illness can be a major test. Sometimes even with the best treatment pain and misery can persist. The following is some general advice from the Sunnah that can help with achieving good health and when dealing with physical pain. This is not meant to replace a visit to the doctor for those who suspect major issues, but the benefits of these tips can't be denied. Firstly , one should try as much as possible to avoid excessiveness in food and drink. By that I mean to avoid eating for “comfort” and/or to relieve stress, and rather eat only when one is hungry and in moderation. This is the Sunnah and many of our books mention that it is the foundation of good health. If one snacks, avoid processed foods (which are often consumed without checking the ingredients) and do so with moderation and gratitude to Allah for his favor, and to gain strength and encouragement to worship. Secondly , it is generally a good idea to ensure that one's diet includes date...

By Qays Arthur The venerable shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah (Allah have mercy on his soul) mentions in his  Decorum in Islam  ( Min Adab al-Islam ) that at times of death and loss it is beneficial to recall the words of Allah Most High: وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىۡءٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَٲلِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ‌ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ (١٥٥)  ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتۡهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ۬ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيۡهِ رَٲجِعُونَ (١٥٦)  أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ صَلَوَٲتٌ۬ مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡ وَرَحۡمَةٌ۬‌ۖ وَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُهۡتَدُونَ (١٥٧) “Surely We will try you with something of fear and hunger, and diminution of goods and lives and fruits; yet give thou good tidings unto the patient who, when they are visited by an affliction, say, 'Surely we belong to God, and to Him we return'; upon those rest blessings and mercy from their Lord, and those -- they are the truly guided.” (2:155-157) He then ...

By Qays Arthur Jarir bin 'Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) said: "I asked the Messenger of God (ﷺ) about the inadvertent glance and he instructed me to avert my gaze." Commenting on this hadith, Imam Al-Nawawi (13th century C.E.) says in his explanation of Sahih Muslim : "The meaning of the 'inadvertent glance' is when a man's gaze falls upon on an unrelated woman, by accident. He does not sin immediately though it becomes necessary for him to immediately avert his gaze. Once that is done sin does not occur. But if he continues looking he thereby sins given what this hadith indicates. This is so because the Prophet (ﷺ) instructed Jarir to avert his gaze in accordance with the command of Allah, Most High, 'Say to the believing men to lower their gazes...' (Quran 24:30) Qadhi Iyadh (11th century C.E.) remarked that the scholars say: 'This is evidence that the woman is not obligated to conceal her face as she goes about her aff...

By Qays Arthur While we may look for advice in the form of directives, concerning what to "do" to "produce" good children, that old adage, "The apple never falls far from the tree." seems to be persistently true. Children are pure human beings, uncomplicated by those things that make adults less genuine and lucid. They are like mirrors and their conduct may tell us a great deal more about ourselves as adults than we may be comfortable with. A man may go to great lengths to assume the appearance of one who lives in comfort, but if he is poor you will know from his children. A woman may assume the manner of a gracious hostess but if she is in fact troubled it will be reflected in her child- in simple, uncomplicated ways. I've come to appreciate that this reflective-ness of the child is very much connected to the way the child learns and to the veracity of that old adage. The simple fact is that there is very little a parent can purposely  say...