By Abdul Hai Introduction The term al-Waṣiyya (الوصيّة) conveys the meaning of ‘to counsel, advise, and provide final guidance’ and is derived from the Arabic triliteral root w–ṣ–y (و–ص–ي) . In al-Qāmūs al-Muḥīṭ (القاموس المحيط) Imām al-Fīrūzābādī defines w–ṣ–y as: “وأوصاه ووصّاه صفاتها: عهد إليها‘Awsāhu and wassāhu (he gave him a tawṣiya): he entrusted or…
Reviewed By Abdul Hai Katerina Brac is a collection of short poems by Christopher John Reid, a British poet, essayist, cartoonist, and writer. Katerina Brac, as indicated in the title, is a fictional and imaginary character originating from an unspecified foreign country. Reid presents the poems as if they were written in Brac’s own language,…
Edited by Zahid Pranjol and Jacob Norris. Reviewed by Abdul Hai سْمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيْمِ, Never have I been so of two minds about a book and its contents as I am about We Are Still Here: An Anthology of Resilience, Grief, and Unshattered Hope from Gaza’s University Students, edited by Zahid Pranjol and Jacob Norris….
By Abdul Hai There are three notable events in Islamic history that shook the Muslim Ummah to its core. The first was the series of Christian Crusades between 1096–1291, which appeared to break the very spirit of the Muslims. The second was the Mongol assault on Baghdad in 1258, during which hundreds of thousands of…
Allama IqbalReviewed by Abdul Hai Poets have long employed provocative language that divides their audience, generating both admirers and critics. What is particularly intriguing about this skill is that poets often withhold the true meaning of their work, allowing readers or listeners to construct their own interpretations. In this duality of meaning and interpretation, both the…
Dr Israr AhmadReviewed by Abdul Hai Several prominent figures in modern Islamic history have demonstrated unwavering dedication, commitment, and a persistent desire for the revival of Islam. Despite numerous challenges and opposition, such individuals remained steadfast in their efforts to seize transformative moments in history. One notable figure in this regard is Dr Israr Ahmad….
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Islam at the Crossroads Reviewed by Abdul Hai The Saudi writer Ibrahim Al-Buleihi is deeply convinced of the political, social, scientific, and anthropological achievements of the Western world, considering it a “civilisation par excellence.” His admiration for Western civilisation is so profound that he…
Reviewed by Abdul Hai “They are successful because they left their religion and we are backward because we left our Religion”. Jamal-uddin Al-Afghani I arrived in Cairo just after the Maghrib prayer during one of my remarkable journeys to Egypt. Upon arrival, I took a taxi with my friend, who had been waiting to receive…
A short comparative look at two travel accounts: The Road to Mecca by Muhammad Asad (1900–1992) and Desert Encounter by Knud Valdemar Gylding Holmboe (1902–1931). The modern interaction between the West and the East began when Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821) invaded Egypt in 1798. This invasion opened the doors for other European nations to explore the…
Reviewed by Abdul Hai “O Amir!! When did you start enslaving people, when their mothers gave birth to them free?” Umar ibn Khattab (RA) “We missed the bus for industrial revolution, true but we missed the bus because the British Empire threw us under its wheels”. Dr Shashi Tharoor In a world often hostile to religion, particularly Islam, discussing Islam’s intellectual contributions…
Reviewed Abdul Hai It is believed that there is both blessing and wisdom in reading about the lives of the pious. Furthermore, even for those who are sinful, there is hope in loving and learning about the pious, as it may lead to receiving their intercession, a sentiment eloquently expressed in the couplets of Imam…
Reviewed by Abdul Hai While I hold a dissenting view regarding the assertions presented in Samuel Huntington’s “Clash of Civilisations,” I find the title itself to be thought-provoking and a significant observation by the author. My perspective aligns with the notion of a Clash of Civilisations, as previously articulated in other discussions. It suffices to…
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