Author: Greg Carr (Abdullah Ismael)

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Swearing Oaths on Other than Allah

﷽الحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُوْلِ اللهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَمَنْ وَالَاهُ وَبَعْدُ الحلف بالمخلوق مكروه كالنبي والكعبة وجبريل والصحابة والآل. قال الشافعي رحمه الله: أخشى أن يكون الحلف بغير الله تعالى معصية. قال الأصحاب: أي حراما وإثما، فأشار إلى تردد فيه، قال الامام:والمذهب القطع بأنه ليس بحرام، بل مكروه. ثم من حلف بمخلوق لم … Continue reading Swearing Oaths on Other than Allah →

Briefly, What is Traditionalism, Modernism, Postmodernism, and Metamodernism?

﷽الحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُوْلِ اللهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَمَنْ وَالَاهُ وَبَعْدُ Purpose The purpose of this article is to briefly introduce and explain these ideologies from a Muslim author and perspective for both a Muslim and general readership. Most of the Muslim public (outside of Turkey where this is frequently taught in grade … Continue reading Briefly, What is Traditionalism, Modernism, Postmodernism, and Metamodernism? →

The Riwaq in Islamic History and Architecture

﷽الحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُوْلِ اللهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَمَنْ وَالَاهُ وَبَعْدُ A riwāq رواق in Islamic architecture is a portico or colonnade, meaning basically a series of columns supporting a roof. In time this became a metaphor for a place of study for students under a sheikh, for each group had its space … Continue reading The Riwaq in Islamic History and Architecture →

The Most Hidden Veil

﷽الحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُوْلِ اللهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَمَنْ وَالَاهُ وَبَعْدُ Source: Tabaqat al-Sufiyyah Dhu al-Nun al-Misri (رحمه الله) was asked: What is the most hidden and severe veil? He said: observing the nafs and its tadbir (planning, devising, contriving, plotting, scheming, managing). (Another possible translation is "seeing the nafs and managing it.") … Continue reading The Most Hidden Veil →

Biography and Sayings of Dhun Nun al-Misri

﷽الحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُوْلِ اللهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَمَنْ وَالَاهُ وَبَعْدُ Source: Risala Qushayriyyah Among them are Abu al-Fayd Dhu al-Nun al-Misri and his name was Thawban ibn Ibrahim. It was said: al-Fudayl ibn Ibrahim and his father were Nubianis (from Nubia in Upper Egypt). He died in the year 245 AH. He … Continue reading Biography and Sayings of Dhun Nun al-Misri →

The problem of evil – why does evil exist?

﷽الحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُوْلِ اللهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَمَنْ وَالَاهُ وَبَعْدُ The problem of evil - why does evil exist? If you ask me why evil exists, I would say a better question is why do we look at it and choose it? Mankind and jinn were given the responsibility and ability to … Continue reading The problem of evil – why does evil exist? →

A Word of Caution: Hulul and Tajalliyat in Tasawwuf

﷽الحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُوْلِ اللهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَمَنْ وَالَاهُ وَبَعْدُ Something important to understand in aqida and tasawwuf: hulool and tajalliyat.Hulool حلول is the idea that Allah ta'ala enters the creation, audhu billah. Like the belief of the Christians about nabi Isa alayhi as-Salaam. This is kufr. He never enters the creation. … Continue reading A Word of Caution: Hulul and Tajalliyat in Tasawwuf →

Hadith and Commentary on Growing the Beard and Trimming the Moustache in Islam

﷽الحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُوْلِ اللهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَمَنْ وَالَاهُ وَبَعْدُ Hadith in Musnad Ahmad ٨٦٧٢ - حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: " أَعْفُوا اللِّحَى، وَخُذُوا الشَّوَارِبَ، وَغَيِّرُوا شَيْبَكُمْ، وَلَا تَشَبَّهُوا بِالْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى " (١) … Continue reading Hadith and Commentary on Growing the Beard and Trimming the Moustache in Islam →