Author: The Qarawiyyin Project

History, Spirituality

An introduction to the history of Hadith compilation

Marzuqa Karima “The Isnad (chain of transmission) is part of the religion. If it were not for the Isnad, any person would say what they wanted.” This statement of the great 8th century Khorasani scholar Abdullah Ibn Al-Mubarak is still religiously quoted verbatim by Hadith teachers and re-echoed by their students across the Muslim world. These few, but calculated words represent one of the greatest … Continue reading An introduction to the history of Hadith compilation

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History

Reflections on events in the month of Rajab

Umm Mohammed As we get closer to Ramadan, Allah ﷻ helps us prepare for the blessed month by sending upon us two others of particular importance, namely Rajab and Sha’ban. A time to gain extra reward and mentally prepare ourselves for Ramadan, these months also serve as an inspiration when we look back at what occurred at these times in our history. When one looks … Continue reading Reflections on events in the month of Rajab

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Gender, Identity

Khadijah (ra): A standard working mother?

Today, for many women struggling against glass ceilings and unequal pay, the fact that the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, Khadijah (ra), was a wealthy entrepreneur in a time where most business owners were men is a source of pride. Often cited as a true representation of women’s empowerment under Islam, our knowledge of how Khadijah (ra) proposed marriage to the Prophet ﷺ when she … Continue reading Khadijah (ra): A standard working mother?

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Politics

Ghouta: Why knowing the details matters

Umm Mohammed Seven years into the war in Syria, the conflict shows no sign of abating and the indiscriminate killing of civilians has become the norm. Yet despite all the atrocities the Syrian people has witnessed, the latest assault in the Syrian suburb of Eastern Ghouta have been particularly brutal and impossible to ignore. Nearly 1,000 people have been killed over the past 20 days … Continue reading Ghouta: Why knowing the details matters

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Society

Does representation lead to empowerment?

Aisha Hasan Prior to her stepping down over anti-Israel tweets, news that L’Oreal had featured their first hijab-wearing woman, Amena Khan, in a shampoo advert caused a stir on social media this week. The “history making” decision was (initially) praised as just one of many measures that have sought to integrate minority communities, particularly Muslims, into mainstream branding – from Revlon hiring YouTuber Dina Torkia … Continue reading Does representation lead to empowerment?

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