وَٱلَّذِينَ عَمِلُواْ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ ثُمَّ تَابُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهَا وَءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهَا لَغَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ
But those who committed misdeeds and then repented after them and believed - indeed your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.
7:153
Welcome to The Qarawiyyin Newsletter!
It’s astounding to think 12 issues of this newsletter have reached your inboxes already, time has flown!
As we enter the new year, we have compiled our most popular content of 2021 for those who may have missed it the first time. Having published numerous new articles, booklists and episodes of The Qarawiyyin Podcast this year, we have seen a remarkable growth in our audience alhamdulillah, and ask you all to keep us in your prayers.
Check out our previous newsletters for additional recommendations and resources we have shared throughout the year!
NEW: Pride and Prejudice and Principle
In our latest article, Ayah A. explores themes in Pride and Prejudice and their correspondence to Islamic values, reflecting on fiction from perspectives that concern writers and consumers.
“Jane Austen uses her values as a Christian woman to write unique, dynamic, and moral characters, and manages to create a world where Muslim women can draw parallels to our own values and circumstances.”
Navigating religious knowledge on the method of Aisha (ra)
Ustadha Jinan Yousef lays out a few key principles for all those in the pursuit of acquiring religious knowledge, following the example of one of the Ummahs greatest teachers, Aisha (ra).
Islamo-leftism: The making of new vocabularies in the liberal world
Huda Mohammed Shareef examines the recent emergence of the term ‘islamo-leftism’ in the mainstream French media. She explores how language has and continues to be used by those in power as a tool of those to further their own aims. She contextualises islamophobia and the otherising of Muslims as part of the liberal project, and reflects on how we as Muslims can best respond.
Navigating the ‘scientific miracles of the Qur’an’ narrative
Rushda N. evaluates the use of science-based apologetics by Muslim intellectuals. She critiques the polemical nature of such discourse and the manner in which we should attempt to approach al-i’jaz al-’ilmi.
With eight new episodes this year, the Qarawiyyin Podcast has traversed a range of topics from the caliphate to capitalism, fiction to fashion. Find it on your favourite platform — including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more — here on Anchor.
1) The Bosnian Genocide
We compiled seven titles on Bosnian history and the genocide of the 1990s, aiming to help introduce English speakers to the Bosnian War and understand it from various angles.
2) Conceptualising the Caliphate
These five titles span the fields of history, theory, and practice, providing various angles from which to consider Islamic politics today.
3) Rediscovering Islamic History
Islamic history is vast, and understanding our past can help make sense of the present, and build towards a brighter future. This list consists of a variety of works, from classical texts to modern compilations.
As well as periodically updating our resource bank, here we share some other insightful contributions from prominent Muslim figures and organisations.
ARTICLE: A Reckoning with the Dars-i Nizāmī – Darul Qasim The Darsi-Nizami syllabus is often critiqued as outdated and unscientific, painting the scholars it produces as ill equipped to deal with matters in the modern world. However, this essay challenges these notions, arguing for the relevance of the Dars-i Nizāmī curriculum in contemporary society and claiming it may be a singular recourse to think independently outside of the scepter of colonialism and secularity; capitalism, and Marxism.
VIDEO: Turning Back to Allah, Memorising the Qur'an, Purifying Our Hearts - Dr. Haifaa Younis, Ilmfeed A heartwarming episode with Dr. Haifaa Younis, with practical advice on the purification of our hearts, and how it is never too late to start memorising the Qur'an.
ARTICLE: Uncovering the Bedrock: A Primer on Islamic Legal Maxims – Amir Abu Ghuddah, Yaqeen Institute Amir Abu Ghuddah provides an informative commentary on a few well known Islamic legal maxims and how they give us insight into the principles guiding Muslim jurists to allow for consistency in Islamic law. A brilliant introductory text, making a rather convoluted topic extremely accessible.
VIDEO: Setting Goals with Allah in Mind - Yaqeen Institute An insightful session by the Yaqeen team to help plan for the next year, from setting achievable goals, and picking up good habits with a God-centred approach.
PODCAST: The Importance of Community in Islam with Dr Shadee Elmasry - The Thinking Muslim Dr Shadee Elmasry looks at the significance of community in Islam, and the rights and responsibilities of Muslims within this framework. He discusses how the modern maladies that come from individualism can be remedied. An insightful listen, prompting us to reflect on our own role in society.
RESOURCE: Abolish Prevent – CAGE CAGE has put together a comprehensive online community resource on PREVENT featuring know your right guides, reports & views from across the board demonstrating the consensus rejecting PREVENT.
FUNDRAISER: Yemen Appeal – One Nation As a famine looms over a country torn apart by war, millions of people in Yemen are on the verge of starvation. With little medical aid available, malnutrition is rife. One Nation have established a few projects in Yemen from orphan sponsorships to malnutrition parcels for children. Please donate generously.
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.