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Knowing Allah

Welcoming Ramadan

By Arshad Gamiet
“Many of us think that Ramadan is a time to ‘go slow’ and to avoid exerting ourselves. Some of us would want to sleep all day until iftar. This is completely wrong. Ramadan is not a time for hibernation. That’s for the polar bears and grizzly bears in the cold north American winter. It’s not for wide-awake, Allah-aware Muslims!” Read more…

Isra and Mi’raj: The Mystical Night Journey and Ascension through the heavens

By Arshad Gamiet
“Before the Mi’raj occurred, Muslims had no idea as to how and when they should pray. Now we not only know how and when, but also the ‘why’ part. Why do we pray? Why 5 times a day? Why not just once? … When we Muslims pray, we enjoy a very special relationship with Allah. While other faiths have intermediaries, Muslims have no priest, no Rabbi, no Archbishop or even a Pope to stand between us and Allah. We worship Allah directly and Allah answers us directly. Allah says “I listen to the prayer of everyone who calls me. Let them also then, listen to My call, so that they may walk on the straight way.”

How to avoid hypocrisy

By Ahmed Baghdadi

This khutbah traces the history of hypocrisy amongst the followers of the Prophets, and shows us clearly how to avoid incurring Allah’s anger. A few small steps daily will help us cultivate healthy habits to refine our character and bring us closer to Allah…

Religious OCD: A Khutbah for Imams

by Nadia Hawa

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can affect Muslims as anyone else. If we detect it in good time, we can deal with it effectively. This khutbah helps to recognise the symptoms, and offers a way to solving the problem..

Youth killings, culture, credibility and the Quran

By Basharat Ali

Gangs thrive on pride, status and arrogance, aspects of the lower Self (Nafs), They destroy our social fabric, whether as local drug gangs or as corrupt politicians funded by lobby groups. 14 centuries ago Islam transformed the warring gangs of Arabia to become leaders of a world civilisation. And, in our time, Islam transformed a low-life gangster called Malcom X into an exemplary Muslim, Malik El-Shabazz, who has so far brought more than a million lost souls to Islam…

Russell Brand, Women and promiscuity

By Basharat Ali
Our ‘consumer’ society has been degrading women, exploiting their bodies and their insecurities. Toxic masculinity and toxic feminism is damaging relationships. Muslims are also affected. Islam teaches us how to live more harmoniously, in mutual respect and dignity…

One of our greatest teachers

By Basharat Ali

Who was Sa’id ibn Jubair? He was one of our greatest teachers: a man of faith, integrity and courage. He refused to bow to the whims of a tyrant Caliph, Al-Hajjaj. The Caliph ordered his execution. Within a month, the Caliph himself lost his mind and died.