How Does Ramadan Work? A Beginner’s Guide
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The Meaning of La Ilaha Illa Allah: An Annotated Translation of Imam al-Zarkashi’s Treatise on the Islamic Testimony of Faith
Sh. Yousef WahbIntroduction In the forty-seventh sūra of the Qur’an, Sūrat Muḥammad, God commands, “So know that there is no deity except Allah.”[1] What makes this command especially striking is its timing; it was revealed approximately fifteen years into the Prophet’s mission, at a point when he and his companions already held an unshakable conviction in the oneness of God. Why, then, would such a foundational truth require reaffirmation? The verse suggests that knowing God’s oneness involves more than a one-time acknowledgment; it is an ongoing process that demands sustained reflection, deliberate cultivation, and inner renewal. Scholars have interpreted this divine command in various ways, many […]
The Divine Wisdom Behind the Pairing of Allah's Names in the Qur'an
Jinan YousefIntroduction “Allah has ninety-nine names. Whoever preserves (ahsaha or hafidhaha) them will enter Paradise.”[1] Such was the teaching of the Prophet ﷺ. Many of us have heard this hadith, but fewer of us have internalized the true scope of its meaning. To preserve Allah’s names is not simply to memorize them—it is to live by them. “To Allah belong the best names, so call upon Him (udʿuhu biha) with them.”[2] Duʿa in the Qur’an can refer to supplication specifically and worship more broadly, depending on the context.[3] Here, we are being told to call upon Allah with His names—for example, “O Allah, forgive me, You are the Most Forgiving […]
Love and Hate for God’s Sake: Revisiting the Doctrine of al-Wala’ wal-Bara’
Dr. Hatem al-HajIn the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful Properly reconciling commitment to God and compassion for man is among the most pressing needs of today’s world. It is no secret that Muslims’ relationship with the “other” (including fellow believers of other theological orientations) has become such a major trial for many—particularly those hailing from the Western world[1]—that it risks eroding the sweetness of their faith, or even pushing them away from it. The Islamic doctrine of al-walaʾ wal-baraʾ, often translated as loyalty and disavowal, has the power to remedy this conflict—if and when accurately defined. The equilibrium it achieves between obedience to God and compassion to mankind attests to Islam’s […]
Marriage and Gender Roles in Islam: Beyond Rights and Duties
Dr. Tesneem AlkiekIntroduction Over the past two centuries, Muslim societies confronted what often felt like insurmountable trials: from colonial domination and military defeat to political fragmentation and institutional decay. And yet, even as the Western world began to stagger under the recoil of the very ideologies it violently imposed, Muslim societies remained remarkably resilient in one vital domain: the family. Muslim homes buckled down to weather waves of religious and intellectual onslaught. Marriage was not merely a social arrangement but a space for cultivating moral values and sustaining quiet resistance. But the storm has now caught up with us too, straining one […]
Virtues of Surah al-Baqara: Healing and Protection in the Qur’an’s Longest Chapter
Sh. Suleiman HaniIntroduction One night, standing underneath the vast stretch of the starry sky, Usayd ibn Ḥuḍayr found himself reciting Surah al-Baqara. His horse, tied beside him, suddenly grew agitated. When Ibn Ḥuḍayr paused his recitation, the horse fell silent. He resumed his recitation, only for the horse to again become visibly distressed. He stopped, and again so did his horse’s agitation. For one final time he tried to continue his recitation, but to no avail—his horse was unsettled and worked up, and his son, Yahya, was too close for comfort. Ibn Ḥuḍayr, fearing that the horse might trample his son, bent down […]
Surah al-Fatiha’s Benefits and Virtues: The Greatest Surah in the Qur’an
Sh. Suleiman HaniSurah al-Fatiha is the greatest surah in the Qur’an, the foundation of Islam, the summary of truth, a healing for illnesses, a comfort for worries, a protection, and a fortress. Surah Al-Fatiha is an unrivaled divine revelation to the final nation, recited at least seventeen times a day by Muslims praying their five obligatory prayers, a consistent conversation with the Creator, and a prescription for the hearts of creation.
Mary in the Qur’an: The Power of Faith in the Face of Pain and Scorn | Blog
Yaqeen InstituteImagine yourself alone in a barren desert, withdrawn from the world, immersed in solitude and worship. You’ve sought this seclusion to draw closer to Allah, to find peace in His presence. Suddenly, everything changes. Unmarried and chaste, you are told by an angel that you will bear a child that is destined for greatness. As the realization sets in, the weight of the future and what your community will think presses down upon you, and in a moment of anguish, you cry out, Oh, I wish I had died before this and was a thing long forgotten!(Qur’an 19:23) This was […]
We Should Have Done More: A Tribute to Imam Jamil Al-Amin | Blog
Dr. Altaf HusainWhen I reflect on what I have been able to accomplish in service to the community by the grace of Allah, the goals “completed” never occupy my heart or mind as deeply as those left unfinished, especially the places where I know I should have exerted more effort. One such glaring example is our beloved Imam Jamil Al-Amin, Allah have mercy on him. He returned to Allah the Exalted, on Sunday, November 23, 2025. He is now free from the shackles of this world, but spent nearly twenty-five years unjustly incarcerated. While the system imprisoned his body, it never touched […]
How to Overcome the Fear of Death: A Prophetic Cure for Death Anxiety | Blog
Dr. Jibran KhokharLiving with the awareness of death is part of what makes us human. But for many, that awareness is destabilizing, manifesting as fear, avoidance, or death anxiety. Death anxiety is an intense and persistent fear of one’s death that is often magnified in times of illness, loss, or global uncertainty. For some, the fear of death might be less severe, showing up as a low hum in the background, an uneasiness that something could be taken away at any moment. Despite its centrality to the human condition, many of us lack the language or frameworks to navigate death. While this short […]
Mary in the Qur’an: The Power of Faith in the Face of Pain and Scorn | Blog
Yaqeen InstituteImagine yourself alone in a barren desert, withdrawn from the world, immersed in solitude and worship. You’ve sought this seclusion to draw closer to Allah, to find peace in His presence. Suddenly, everything changes. Unmarried and chaste, you are told by an angel that you will bear a child that is destined for greatness. As the realization sets in, the weight of the future and what your community will think presses down upon you, and in a moment of anguish, you cry out, Oh, I wish I had died before this and was a thing long forgotten!(Qur’an 19:23) This was […]
Introduction The Shari’ah consists of some laws that remain the same regardless of changing circumstances and others that change with them. Most of the Shari’ah is up to individual Muslims to follow in their own lives. Some are for judges to implement in courts. Finally, the third set of laws is for the ruler or political authority to implement based on the best interests of society. The Shari’ah ruling on Muslims who decide to leave Islam belongs to this third group. Implemented in the past to protect the integrity of the Muslim community, today this important goal can best be […]
Introduction How exactly did the Qur’an come to be preserved in writing? The Islamic tradition provides a considerably detailed narrative of the Qur’an’s textual preservation. The Qur’an was written down by scribes during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ on various materials. It was the first caliph of Islam, Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (rA, d. 13/634, r. 11-13/632-634) who compiled the earliest complete official codex of the Qur’an, according to the traditional narrative found in canonical hadith sources.[1] Despite this, for a variety of reasons, the compilation of Abū Bakr remains understudied as considerably greater academic attention has been paid to the codices assembled by the third caliph, ʿUthmān […]
We Should Have Done More: A Tribute to Imam Jamil Al-Amin | Blog
Dr. Altaf HusainWhen I reflect on what I have been able to accomplish in service to the community by the grace of Allah, the goals “completed” never occupy my heart or mind as deeply as those left unfinished, especially the places where I know I should have exerted more effort. One such glaring example is our beloved Imam Jamil Al-Amin, Allah have mercy on him. He returned to Allah the Exalted, on Sunday, November 23, 2025. He is now free from the shackles of this world, but spent nearly twenty-five years unjustly incarcerated. While the system imprisoned his body, it never touched […]
How to Overcome the Fear of Death: A Prophetic Cure for Death Anxiety | Blog
Dr. Jibran KhokharLiving with the awareness of death is part of what makes us human. But for many, that awareness is destabilizing, manifesting as fear, avoidance, or death anxiety. Death anxiety is an intense and persistent fear of one’s death that is often magnified in times of illness, loss, or global uncertainty. For some, the fear of death might be less severe, showing up as a low hum in the background, an uneasiness that something could be taken away at any moment. Despite its centrality to the human condition, many of us lack the language or frameworks to navigate death. While this short […]
Special written resources and journals designed to maximize your productivity during the holy month. These publications often include daily planners, reflections, and spiritual exercises.
Why Laylatul Qadr? The Significance & Virtues of the Most Important Night of the Year
Dr. Nazir Khan
Islam makes certain times and places especially sacred. The Night of Power is one of these times. Learn the significance of Laylatul Qadr and how to seek its reward.
Tahajjud: Fuel for the Self and Society
Dr. Tamara Gray
Introduction Damascus is a beautiful city. Jasmine vines and bright purple bougainvillea flowers grow on balconies all over the city and jacaranda trees sneak up in the small spaces between blocks and buildings. I used to live in a twelve-story cement block building that stood in a row of at least ten other buildings almost exactly like it. At maghrib time, the sun would go down and the buildings’ windows would light up with crystal chandeliers and fluorescent lights. People would go about the evening work of children’s homework, supper, and soap operas all up and down the floors. It was a […]
How Muslims Feel About Ramadan 2020: A Report
Dr. Osman Umarji
Introduction As we begin an unprecedented Ramadan, Muslims are trying to figure out how to approach this blessed month while being isolated at home and without access to the masjid. How do they anticipate their experience this Ramadan to be compared to prior years? Are people optimistic? If so, what predicts their optimism? This brief report is meant to describe the attitudes and behavioral intentions of Muslims for this Ramadan and provide recommendations based on our findings. Yaqeen Institute released a survey earlier this week that was completed by 450 Muslims from all over the world. This survey was meant to […]
The Spiritual Psychology of Worship
Dr. Zohair Abdul-Rahman
Introduction Many young Muslims have grown up dreading acts of worship, viewing them as cumbersome tasks devoid of any meaning or fulfillment. 58% of respondents to a Yaqeen Institute survey of Muslims from the United States admitted that religious beliefs and practices not making sense to them contributed to feelings of doubt.[1] Even those who are certain in their Islam may feel empty in their five daily prayers (ṣalāh), recitation of scripture (tilāwah), or engaging in remembrance (dhikr). While the Qur’an describes worship as the meaning of life,[2] many still see it as a dry chore that they would rather not engage in. These attitudes […]
Reframing Ramadan: How to Flourish While the Masjids are Closed
Dr. Omar Husain
Introduction On Friday, March 12, 2020, religious leaders and board members at masjids across the country made the excruciating decision to suspend the Friday (Jumuʿah) prayer due to the spread of COVID-19. This decision was not taken lightly but, after consultation with scholars and medical professionals, it was seen as absolutely necessary. The community had to face the reality that there would be no Jumuʿah prayer for some time. Now, nearly six weeks after the decision, Jumuʿah prayer continues to be suspended at the masjid, in addition to daily prayers, weekend schools, and Friday night programs. Additionally, there is no hanging out, drinking tea together, or youth […]
Special written resources and journals designed to maximize your productivity during the holy month. These publications often include daily planners, reflections, and spiritual exercises.
Why Laylatul Qadr? The Significance & Virtues of the Most Important Night of the Year
Dr. Nazir Khan
Islam makes certain times and places especially sacred. The Night of Power is one of these times. Learn the significance of Laylatul Qadr and how to seek its reward.
Tahajjud: Fuel for the Self and Society
Dr. Tamara Gray
Introduction Damascus is a beautiful city. Jasmine vines and bright purple bougainvillea flowers grow on balconies all over the city and jacaranda trees sneak up in the small spaces between blocks and buildings. I used to live in a twelve-story cement block building that stood in a row of at least ten other buildings almost exactly like it. At maghrib time, the sun would go down and the buildings’ windows would light up with crystal chandeliers and fluorescent lights. People would go about the evening work of children’s homework, supper, and soap operas all up and down the floors. It was a […]
How Muslims Feel About Ramadan 2020: A Report
Dr. Osman Umarji
Introduction As we begin an unprecedented Ramadan, Muslims are trying to figure out how to approach this blessed month while being isolated at home and without access to the masjid. How do they anticipate their experience this Ramadan to be compared to prior years? Are people optimistic? If so, what predicts their optimism? This brief report is meant to describe the attitudes and behavioral intentions of Muslims for this Ramadan and provide recommendations based on our findings. Yaqeen Institute released a survey earlier this week that was completed by 450 Muslims from all over the world. This survey was meant to […]
The Spiritual Psychology of Worship
Dr. Zohair Abdul-Rahman
Introduction Many young Muslims have grown up dreading acts of worship, viewing them as cumbersome tasks devoid of any meaning or fulfillment. 58% of respondents to a Yaqeen Institute survey of Muslims from the United States admitted that religious beliefs and practices not making sense to them contributed to feelings of doubt.[1] Even those who are certain in their Islam may feel empty in their five daily prayers (ṣalāh), recitation of scripture (tilāwah), or engaging in remembrance (dhikr). While the Qur’an describes worship as the meaning of life,[2] many still see it as a dry chore that they would rather not engage in. These attitudes […]
Reframing Ramadan: How to Flourish While the Masjids are Closed
Dr. Omar Husain
Introduction On Friday, March 12, 2020, religious leaders and board members at masjids across the country made the excruciating decision to suspend the Friday (Jumuʿah) prayer due to the spread of COVID-19. This decision was not taken lightly but, after consultation with scholars and medical professionals, it was seen as absolutely necessary. The community had to face the reality that there would be no Jumuʿah prayer for some time. Now, nearly six weeks after the decision, Jumuʿah prayer continues to be suspended at the masjid, in addition to daily prayers, weekend schools, and Friday night programs. Additionally, there is no hanging out, drinking tea together, or youth […]
Blind Spots: The Origins of the Western Method of Critiquing Hadith
Dr. Jonathan Brown
Author’s Introduction A few years ago I was involved in a debate on the radio with a prominent British historian who had recently written a sensationalist book on the origins of Islam. He claimed, in a distinctly haughty tone not uncommon among academics, that praying five times a day was not originally part of the Prophet’s message but was, in fact, imported into early Islam by Zoroastrian converts as an imitation of their own Zoroastrian five-times daily prayer.[1] Along with many other Western scholars, he argued that, since Muslim sources like the Sira and Hadith collections consisted of material compiled at earliest […]
The Infinitely Merciful and the Question of Hellfire
Sh. Mohammad Elshinawy
Introduction In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Grantor of Mercy Is Allah really more merciful with us than even our own mothers? How can that be possible when He created Hellfire and will cast some people into it? The study Modern Pathways to Doubt in Islam, published by the Yaqeen Institute, determined that many young Muslims find it difficult to reconcile the idea of a Merciful God with the existence of hellfire. Similarly, the claim of the “New Atheists” that the very concept of tortuous damnation found within Islam and Christianity grates against our sense of justice. As a […]
Love and Hate for God’s Sake: Revisiting the Doctrine of al-Wala’ wal-Bara’
Dr. Hatem al-Haj
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful Properly reconciling commitment to God and compassion for man is among the most pressing needs of today’s world. It is no secret that Muslims’ relationship with the “other” (including fellow believers of other theological orientations) has become such a major trial for many—particularly those hailing from the Western world[1]—that it risks eroding the sweetness of their faith, or even pushing them away from it. The Islamic doctrine of al-walaʾ wal-baraʾ, often translated as loyalty and disavowal, has the power to remedy this conflict—if and when accurately defined. The equilibrium it achieves between obedience to God and compassion to mankind attests to Islam’s […]
Are Hadith Necessary? An Examination of the Authority of Hadith in Islam
Dr. Emad Hamdeh
Introduction The Qur’ān and the Sunnah have served as the primary sources of Islam. Together with the Qurʾān, the statements and actions of the Prophet ﷺ form the basis of Islamic law and theology. Historically, all Islamic sects have acknowledged the necessity of at least some ḥadīths, even if few, to understand the Qur’ān. Despite their many theological and legal differences, Muslim sects have all drawn from these two primary sources: the Qurʾān, which is considered to be the direct word of God revealed to the Prophet ﷺ, and the Sunnah, which consists of the words and actions of the […]
Does God Exist? The Case for Allah’s Existence in the Quran and Sunnah
Anonymous Guest Author
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful Knowledge of God’s existence is often taken for granted by believers. The authentic religious experience—affirmed again and again in a Muslim’s daily life—makes faith in God feel so natural as to be assumed. But belief in God and the quest for existential truth is not an easy prospect for many people, especially in a social environment in which faith is derided as superstition, wishful thinking, or even as a dangerous fantasy. In the Islamic tradition, the case for God’s existence is solid in terms of its rational foundations as well as […]
