The Quran consists of 114 chapters and over 6,000 passages. The scholars of Islam have always looked at the first revelation to see how the message of Islam began. We know that the first revelation took place in the month of Ramadan as mentioned by God in the Quran. As Muhammad neared 40 years of age, he used to go to the mountain of Hira for successive nights. He would go to a cave towards the peak of this mountain in order to worship God and show devotion. He did not approve of the evil practices of his people and the widespread paganism and this retreat practice became appealing to him. Read More
The month of Ramadan ends when the crescent moon is sighted for the month of Shawwal (10th Islamic lunar month). The first day of Shawwal is the day of Eid al-Fitr (lit. the celebration of breaking the fast). This is a day of happiness and celebration for the achievement of fasting and devotion the previous month. It is forbidden to fast on this day. There are a number of important acts that you can do on this day:
The experience of fasting for a new Muslim may present a number of challenges. This blog post will look at some of those challenges:
Fasting Around Non-Muslim Family Members
Muslims refrain from food, drink, and intimacy during the hours from dawn to sunset throughout Ramadan. Muslims also stay away from sins and unlawful desires during Ramadan. This is not something many non-Muslims will be familiar with. When surrounded by people who are eating and drinking or committing sins, the new Muslim may feel some discomfort. Read More
You may hear a number of Arabic words and terms during and around the month of Ramadan. Here is a glossary for the main words you’re likely to come across connected to Ramadan. Read More
Ritual cleansings are always performed with water. This is under normal circumstances. However, sometimes water cannot be used. This can be due to the absence or scarcity of water, whether due to drought or while travelling and a person only has enough water to drink and cook with and not enough for ritual cleansing. It may also be that a person cannot use water on their body or parts of it due to an injury, and water would exacerbate the harm of the injury. Read More
The Story of Job is repeated in the Quran due to its importance and the lessons we can derive from it. These are some of the main lessons from this story: Read More
The human body belongs to Allah and we are entrusted with it. We are expected to care for it and not abuse it. The regulations of Islam regarding what we consume are about taking care of the body according to the guidelines given by Allah. In Islam, the consumption of intoxicants, such as alcohol and drugs, is strictly prohibited. Read More
There are several reasons why Muslims should not celebrate New Year’s Eve, or any other holiday that is not specifically recognized in Islam. Some of the main reasons include:
In Islam, there are only three special occasions or celebrations, and all three are related to acts of worship and devotion. We are therefore instructed not to participate in the religious celebrations of other traditions and faiths. Any religious celebrations that non-Muslims have are not days of celebration for Muslims. Therefore, Muslims do not celebrate or partake in Christmas, Easter, Diwali or Passover.
The three celebrations in Islam with each one marking acts of worship are:
As new Muslims, it is natural to feel hesitant about participating in holiday gatherings that do not align with our religious beliefs. It is important to remember that we have the right to practice our faith and make decisions that are in line with our values. At the same time, it is important to be considerate of the feelings and beliefs of others.
One way to politely decline participation in holiday gatherings is to simply explain our reasons for not participating. For example, we could say something like “I appreciate the invitation, but as a Muslim, I am not able to participate in celebrations that are not in line with my religious beliefs. I hope you understand.” This approach is straightforward and respectful, and it allows us to explain our position without being confrontational.