Category: Articles

When a person enters Islam, or begins seriously learning the religion, one of the first things he or she needs is a clear understanding of what Muslims actually believe. Islam is not only a set of rituals. It is not only prayer, fasting, dress, marriage, food laws, or religious customs. Before all of that, Islam…

One of the great misunderstandings of Islam in the modern world is the claim that Islamic marriage leaves little room for romance, love, and emotional intimacy. Many people, including some Muslims, have absorbed the idea that an “Islamic marriage” is mainly a practical arrangement: a way to avoid zina, build a household, produce children, and…

Among the most beloved stories in early Islam is the story of Bilāl ibn Rabāḥ. His life is a testimony to the power of faith, the dignity Islam gave to the oppressed, and the truth that honor with Allah is not based on race, wealth, tribe, or status, but on īmān, sincerity, and steadfastness. Bilāl’s…

Few words in Islam are more misunderstood in the modern world than jihad. For many non-Muslims, the word immediately brings to mind terrorism, war, fanaticism, and violence. For many new Muslims, it can be confusing because they hear the term used in very different ways—sometimes spiritually, sometimes politically, and sometimes by people who distort it…

What Sharia in Islam Really Means—and What It Does Not Few words in Islam are more misunderstood in the modern world than Sharia. For many people, especially in the West, the word has been reduced to a political talking point, a frightening slogan, or a media caricature. It is treated as though it means cruelty,…

In modern conversation, people often mix together many different kinds of non-monogamous relationships. Some speak about polyamory, some about open relationships, some about casual non-monogamy, and some about polygamy. But from an Islamic perspective, these are not all the same thing, and they should not be treated as though they are. Islam does not permit…

Facing the Strongest Criticisms Without Fear Anyone who comes to Islam seriously—whether as a new Muslim, a curious non-Muslim, or a lifelong believer trying to think honestly—will eventually run into difficult questions. Some of these questions are asked in good faith. Others are raised as accusations. Some are rooted in pain, confusion, politics, propaganda, or…

One of the things many new Muslims encounter very early is disagreement. One Muslim says to fold the hands one way in prayer, another says differently. One teacher says a certain action is required, another says it is recommended. One masjid follows one pattern, another follows another. Very quickly, a new Muslim can begin to…

One of the first things a new Muslim discovers is that prayer in Islam is not merely something done whenever one happens to feel spiritual. Salah is tied to time. It is woven into the day. From dawn to night, the believer returns again and again to Allah through acts of worship that are anchored…

One of the quiet struggles many new Muslims face in America has very little to do with belief itself. It is not always about prayer, or fasting, or learning the pillars of Islam. Sometimes it is something more personal and more confusing. It is the feeling that in order to become a real Muslim, you…