Malcolm X’s Letter From Hajj

Back in the 1960s, American civil rights activist and popular figure Malcolm X performed Hajj. This was a period when the American society was rife with racial tensions, and there was rampant segregation between Black and White. Initially, Malcolm X was associated with a group called Nation of Islam, which considered the white man to…

Islam: The Forgotten Aspect of Rumi’s Poetry

Rumi has become a household name in the world of poetry. Be it in meme culture, or internet statuses or just popular literature, translations of Rumi’s poetry are easy to come across. He is, in fact, counted among the best selling poets of all time. So, who was Rumi? The absolutely common answer is “a mystic”.…

The Fall of Seville

For centuries, Spain shone and progressed under Muslim rule. Unfortunately, the city of Seville fell prey to the barbaric onslaught of the Kingdom of Castile in the year 1248. Several innocent Spaniards were killed, many were forced to leave their homeland and seek refuge elsewhere, whereas many others were captured and taken as slaves. The…

In Praise of Our Prophet

Professor Haroun Mustapha Leon, better known as Abdullah Quilliam, was an English scholar who reverted to Islam at the age of 17. He was also the founder of England’s first masjid and Islamic centre — Liverpool Muslim Institute in the year 1889. He travelled extensively, and published several essays and journals related to Islam. In 1894, Professor…

A Morisco’s Appeal To The Ottoman Sultan

In Europe, the late 15th and early 16 centuries were periods of great political upheaval. On one hand, the Ottoman Empire was gaining momentum and it would soon emerge as the biggest force of its times, whereas on the other hand, al-Andalus (present-day Spain) was reeling and on the verge of collapse. Under Islam, Spain…

In Memory of Khubayb ibn Adiy (RA)

In the early days of Islam, the Battle of Badr was one of the most decisive and important turning points in history. However, following their defeat in the Battle of Badr, the anger of Quraysh knew no bounds, and they sought excuses to have revenge against Muslims. One such case of “revenge-killing” was the martyrdom of…

The Inward Requirements of Ramadan

Praise be to Allah who has thwarted the hopes of Satan and frustrated his designs by making fasting a bulwark and a shield for his righteous servants; who taught them that the way of Satan to their hearts lies in secret lust; who has made known unto them that only through subduing its secret lust could…

Thou Art The Only Giver

Khwaja Abdullah al-Ansari al-Hanbali was a famous Sufi poet and saint who lived in the 11th century in Herat (then part of Khorasan, now known as Herat province, Afghanistan). He was well-known for his Arabic and Persian poetry, as well as commentaries on the Quran. (Learn more about him on this page). Following is an English…

Say: “Allah is Enough For Us”

While my heart recited the verse: “And if they turn away, say: Allah is enough for me, there is no god but He; in Him do I place my trust, for He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.” My mind too addressed my soul, crying out in distress and terror, saying: Cry not out…

O Breeze! Turn Towards Medina

Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya (1238-1325 CE) was a renowned Sufi saint of South Asia. He stressed on the importance of working for the betterment of the poor and weaker masses, and generally kept himself away from the company of nobles and richer people. Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya spent most of his life in Delhi. He was a…