4 Dhuʻl-Qaʻdah 1443 AH
“We reached a garden of deep green dense vegetation, having all sorts of spring colors. In the midst of the garden was a very tall man and I could hardly see his head because of his great height. Around him there were children in such a large number as I have never seen.”
The Prophet ﷺ once dreamt of two people who took him through a series of visions. At one point, he saw a tall man surrounded by children. Later, it was explained to him: “The tall man whom you saw in the garden is Abraham and the children around him are those children who die upon the fitrah.” The narrator added: Some Muslims asked the Prophet, "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ! What about the children of pagans?" The Prophet ﷺ replied, "And also the children of pagans."
[Bukhari 7047]
Welcome to The Qarawiyyin Newsletter!
A belated Eid Mubarak from TQP team! We pray our readers are still reaping the benefits of Ramadan as we edge closer to the month of Hajj.
This month we reflected on the suffering of children, after 19 children were killed in cold blood in a mass shooting at an elementary school shooting in Texas - bringing attention to American gun laws and a culture of violence. Names that didn’t make the headlines were Zaid Ghniam (15) and Odeh Odeh (17), two Palestinian children, amongst many others, killed by Israeli occupying forces within the same month. As Muslims, we take heart knowing that such innocent souls will not face divine reckoning, and spend the rest of eternity in Allah’s majestic gardens. May Allah grant their loved ones strength and patience.
Check out our monthly content roundup, as well as our curated list of recommended resources below. We are currently accepting submissions for July and August; if you are interested in pitching an article to our editorial team, take look at our submissions guidelines.
Hijab: The Limits of Choice
“In this fast-paced world with rapidly changing ideals, where the Self is the most important thing to fulfill and gratify, religion is no longer a tool for spiritual fulfillment and connection with the Divine but merely a way to empower the Self. Thus, it is more acceptable to say “I choose to wear the hijab” than “I wear the hijab because, as a Muslim, this is what God wants me to do.””
In the first article of the month, Fadilah Ali examines Hijab and how the choice is invoked in justifying religious practices.
Seeking Islamic community in urban modernity
“What is the need for God when He does not fit in the equation for the machine of productivity and consumption?"
In our latest article, Fadilah Salawu reflects on modern societal structures, highlighting ways to move forward towards a God-centric community.
Podcast Ep. 12: Green Wave – Islam in Europe | ACHIME
As European populism and anti-Islamic sentiment manifest in new and uglier ways, we ask our guests ACHIME what sparked this, and what does it mean for the global Ummah? We examine the challenges Muslims face in the anglosphere, Prophetic wisdoms for dealing with them, and projections for the future of Islam in Europe.
Podcast Ep. 11: Palestine – Revelation and Realpolitik | Dr. Aysha Wazwaz
As we witness normalisation efforts with Israel in the midst of heightened violence in the region, and complicity from religious scholars, we ask: what is the religious significance of Palestine? Why are Muslims dropping the banner of Palestine advocacy? And what is the role of scholars in politics (and must we defer to them)?
‘My grandson after spending 15 days with me’
You can find all previous book lists in the literature section on TQP website. Here are some useful tips and advice on how to make the most of your reading:
As well as periodically updating our resource bank, here we share some other insightful contributions from prominent Muslim figures and organisations.
PAPER: The Forgotten Muslims: How Kashmiris Breathe Islam Under Occupation | Ahmed Bin Qasim, Yaqeen Institute Ahmed Bin Qasim, host of the Koshur Musalman podcast, writes a poignant piece on the place of Islam in Kashmir's anti-colonial struggle.
PROJECT: Fihreyaat Fihreyaat is a new research project and an online journal by a group of young Muslim women aimed at explaining liberal ideologies and world affairs from the perspective of Islamic epistemology. Their project launch is available to watch on Youtube. May Allah accept their efforts and make this project a means of khayr for us all.
COURSE: Hanafi Masters | Shaykh Dr Salman Younas, Irshad The Hanafi masters played a vital role in the development of Islamic law. In this course, Shaykh Salman Younas looks at the broader social, political, and intellectual climate within which these jurists lived, as well as their legal and theological contributions. The course takes a balanced and critical look at some points of controversy raised about the scholars in the realm of law, hadith, and creed. Sign up quick as it is currently on sale!
VIDEO: Usul al -Fiqh | Al-Arqam Institute Al-Arqam Institute hosted a brilliant 4-part series focusing on Usul al-Fiqh (Islamic Legal Theory) this Ramadan. Each hour long episode is followed by a Q&A session focusing on the historical development of Usul al-Fiqh, its status in Western modernity today, and whether there is a need for its revival.
FUNDRAISER: Qurbani Appeal | Ummah Welfare Trust As we enter the months of Hajj, UWT are preparing for Qurbani in 16 different countries this year, many of which have been devastated by war and poverty. Please donate generously, and may it weigh heavy on our scales.
If you have any questions, feedback or would like to feature in our next newsletter, let us know. Email us at contact@qarawiyyinproject.co or visit our website to find out more about our article submission process.
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Until next time, Assalaamu Alaykum