On Saturday of IlmFest 2008 in NYC, Shaykh Waleed Basyouni stepped onto the stage to give the festival of hundreds of people what is one of the most precious commodities available to a person in their life, and one that - as a person grows older - always seems to be lacking and escaping more and more: Time.

A Letter by Malcolm X, may Allâh have mercy upon him
Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all colors and races here in this ancient Holy Land, the home of Abraham, Muhammad and all the other Prophets of the Holy […]

by Abu Ammaar Yasir Qadhi
The topic of du’â and its relationship with destiny (qadr) is a very important one, and one around which much confusion exists. Many people ask: “If everything has already been destined to occur, then of what use is du’â, as, if Allah has written what I want, […]

By Muhammad al-Jibaly
From ‘The Inevitable Journey: Life in al-Barzakh’

“And that the human being can have nothing but what he has earned (good or bad)” (53:39)

Commenting on this ayah, Ibn Kathir rahimahullaah, said: “Imaam ash-Shafi’ee concluded from this ayaah that reciting the Qur’aan does not benefit […]

Imam Ahmed, may God be pleased with him, once was traveling and needed to stay somewhere overnight. When he went to the masjid, the guard (not recognizing Imam Ahmed) denied him entrance. Imam Ahmed tried numerous times, but the guard did not accept his requests. Frustrated, Imam Ahmed resolved to spend the night int he […]

We live in societies in which most men and women have lost their sense of modesty, women are obsessed with their appearances and wear clothes to be seen by others and to attract the attention of other men even if they are married! They have lost their sense of shame. Marriage is often looked upon as old-fashioned and short term affairs and frivolous relationships are the norm, everyone waiting to attract a better partner and feeling totally justified to dump one partner for another at the drop of a hat. Feminism too has reached its peak and men and women are told to suppress their natural emotions. Men are not even embarrassed when their wives are dressed up and attract the attention of other men, they don’t mind if another man sees, chats, laughs and even dances with their womenfolk and if they do mind, they are told not to be so possessive!

Aseer ibn Jaabir narrates: Whenever people would come from Yemen, Umar would ask them, “Is Uways Al-Qaranee amongst you?” until, one year, he met Uways. He said, “Are you Uways Al-Qaranee?” He said, “Yes.” Umar continued, “From Muraad, then Qaran?” He said, “Yes.” Umar then asked, “Were you once afflicted with leprosy and your skin healed except for a dirham’s area?” Uways said, “Yes.” Umar finally asked, “Do you have a mother (that is alive)?” He said, “Yes.” Umar then said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah - Sal Allahu alayhi wa Sallam - say, “Uways ibn Aamir will come to you with the delegations from Yemen, from Muraad, then from Qaran. He was once afflicted with leprosy and his skin healed except for a dirham’s area. He has a mother, and he treats her kindly. If he was to ever swear by Allah (for something) Allah would fulfill his oath. If you can, request that he ask forgiveness for you.” Umar then requested from Uways, “Ask forgiveness for me.” And Uways Al-Qaranee did.

Khalid bin Al-Waleed was one of the greatest generals in history, and one of the greatest
heroes of Islam. Besides him, Genghis Khan was the only other general to remain undefeated
in his entire military life. A measure of Khalid’s genius is that he was the only person to inflict
a (temporary) defeat on the Prophet Muhammad, (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).

A number of people sent me queries concerning the correct opinion on praying Salât al-Janâzah in absentia (on a person who is not present). The question was obviously relevant since people all over the world prayed Salât al-Janâzah for Shaykh Ibn Bâz rahimahullâh.

Before I briefly answer the question, I would like to mention the fact that this occurrence (that so many millions of people prayed over Shaykh Ibn Bâz) is in and of itself an indication insha-Allâh of the status and sincerity of the Shaykh. As some of the salaf said: The criterion between the person of Sunnah and the person of bid’ah is the Janâzah; meaning that Allâh azawajal blesses the scholar of the Sunnah to have many people pray for his forgiveness. The Janâzah of Imâm Ahmad was attended by more than a hundred thousand people, according to some reports, and for that time and age that is an astounding figure.

Many years ago in Uzbekistan, a baby boy was born blind. His Mother, the strong Mu’minah that she was, did not lose sight of He who had the Power to cure him. She prayed and prayed for her sons sight. And within a few years the boy regained his eyes.

She was widowed, the boy an orphan. She traveled with him to Makkah so that he could receive an Islamic Education. She arranged that he attend the circles of the scholars, and in those circles, he began excelling in the science of Hadeeth. He traveled to distant villages in search of the most authentic sayings of Rasul Allah (pbuh). He would pray two raka’at before accepting a Hadeeth. His mother named him: Muhammad ibn Isma’il. And many of us know him today by the book he compiled, the book that stands after the Qur’an in authenticity.