Unveiling the Depth of Imām Bukhārī’s Scholarship: A Reflective Encounter in Oxford
Imām Bukhārī is most celebrated for his rigorous compilation of “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī,” revered within Islamic studies. Yet, the significance of his methodology and its implications for historical scholarship often remain overshadowed by his religious achievements. Our conversation, enriched by the expertise of Dr. Bekir Kuzudisli, a well-known research scholar of Ḥadīth at İstanbul University, highlighted the innovative nature of Bukhārī’s approach to scholarship. This prompted a re-evaluation of Imām Bukhārī not merely as a religious figure but as an innovator in historical research. His exacting approach toward verifying sources and establishing stringent criteria for the acceptance of Ḥadīth has set a benchmark for authenticity in both religious and historical studies. Continue reading Unveiling the Depth of Imām Bukhārī’s Scholarship: A Reflective Encounter in Oxford
‘Kashmir in the Aftermath of Partition’: A Book Review
Shahla Hussain’s work, Kashmir in the Aftermath of Partition, presents a fresh perspective on post-partition Kashmir, moving beyond political and ideological narratives. The book highlights the diverse meanings of “Azaadi” (freedom) throughout history, amplifying the voices of local Kashmiris who share a collective sense of Kashmiri identity that transcends national boundaries. It explores the entwined concepts of “Aazadi” and “honor,” while also examining the perception of Kashmiri resistance by the outside world, which views it as a conflict fuelled by external forces rather than a reaction to internal dissatisfaction with the Indian government. Continue reading ‘Kashmir in the Aftermath of Partition’: A Book Review
Understanding Ibn Taymiyya’s Approach to Theology
Indibutably, Ibn Taymiyya is heralded as one of the more unique figures within the Islamic civilization and its scholastic tradition. A radically non-conformist scholarly dissenter, he considered himself unbound by the expectations of tradition and the religious accretions of preceding centuries, which had molded contemporary Islam into its normative, orthodox form. Continue reading Understanding Ibn Taymiyya’s Approach to Theology
Akbarian Metaphysics: A Brief Elaboration
The locus of cognition, in all senses, is the heart, which comprises a litany of layers that cognize different aspects of reality, from the material to the metaphysical, and the rational to the supra-rational. The dualism modernity promotes — one wherein the two components may never be combined harmoniously — rips matter and spirit apart, assigning everything to the function of the physical self with no spiritual significance. Continue reading Akbarian Metaphysics: A Brief Elaboration
A Tasbih
SubhanAllah, I murmur a proclamation of glory attesting my Lord free from any deficiency thirty-three times Alhamdulillah, I whisper an assertion of praise all praise belongs to Him, and Him only thirty-three times Allahu akbar, I utter a declaration of truth He is above all, far greater than any worry thirty-four times SubhanAllah. Alhamdulillah. Allahu akbar a tasbih, one hundred times one hundred trees in … Continue reading A Tasbih
Femonationalism and Homonationalism: Who Gets to Commit Genocide?
“The first ever pride flag raised in Gaza,” read the caption of a picture featuring a beaming soldier raising an In the Name of Love pride flag while standing amidst the rubble and dead children his state and army have carpet bombed. Meanwhile, Noah Schnapp, one of America’s most famous gay actors, shared a post about how unsafe he feels at Penn State and handed out Zionism is sexy and Hamas is ISIS stickers to giggling friends in a montage set to a Taylor Swift song. Continue reading Femonationalism and Homonationalism: Who Gets to Commit Genocide?
Glad Tidings to the Strangers
The rich history of the Muslim diaspora varies from culture to culture, but in every Western country where our children are raised, we are collectively othered. While our ethnic and racial differences may have been the first victims of bigotry, post-9/11 the West overtly turned its aggression onto our faith. Continue reading Glad Tidings to the Strangers
Reflections on the Palestinian Struggle: A Comprehensive Exploration by Shaykh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi
“Muslims and the Palestinian Cause” by Shaykh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi provides a profound exploration of the Palestinian struggle, intertwining Quranic wisdom, historical context, and contemporary observations. This review aims to illuminate the key themes and contributions Shaykh Nadwi brings forth, shedding light on the challenges faced by the Palestinian people. Continue reading Reflections on the Palestinian Struggle: A Comprehensive Exploration by Shaykh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi
The Artist and the Nafs in Modernity
This epitomizes the phenomena of the modern artist, marketing themselves as a part of the art, rendering the art and its meaning as secondary. The commercialization of art and the aggrandization of the self become imperative in propelling the artist’s quest for financial gain. In essence, art is now judged on its ability to be marketed to a wealthy audience who will pay top dollar to feel a sense of belonging to an upper echelon of society that is supposedly able to comprehend the deep significance of an inherently meaningless piece of art. Continue reading The Artist and the Nafs in Modernity
Thinking Palestine Through Islam: The Mirage of Secular Dissent as Epistemic Resistance Against Israel
The central tenet of Islamic belief – the proclamation of lā ilāha illallāh, or “there is no God but Allah” – forms the underlying consciousness that breathes meaning into the existence of every Muslim. This proclamation, or kalimah, is made up of two seemingly opposing statements – a negation followed by an affirmation. Ostensibly, this might seem contradictory, even irreconcilable. The reality, however, is far from it — a closer look revealing the logically consistent structure underpinning this attestation of faith. The affirmation of illallāh, literally, “but Allah,” comes after a negation, lā ilāha, meaning “there is no God,” or no “fossilized system” — with its own truth claims to a pluriversal metaphysical order, which, at its roots, questions the divine ontologically-grounded hierarchy of differentiation, or, in other words, doubts and disputes the absolute divinity of Allah. Continue reading Thinking Palestine Through Islam: The Mirage of Secular Dissent as Epistemic Resistance Against Israel