We cannot see Allah because, first, there is nothing like Him (al-Shura, 11). Our eyes, and other senses and faculties, are relative things and thus, can only see other relative things belonging to the corresponding existential realms. They cannot see, hear or recognize beyond the orb of our everyday existential things and objects. Second, nobody s

This paper discusses the views of the 8th Umayyad Caliph, ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz (‘Umar II), on mosque decoration. It resolves an ostensible inconsistency between what he as the governor did to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, and what he intended to do to the great Umayyad Mosque in Damascus after becoming the Caliph. The paper concludes

This article discusses the theme of the Qur’ān and Sunnah as a conceptual foundation of Islamic architecture. It concludes that Islamic architecture is the type of architecture that is inspired and guided primarily by the teachings and belief system of Islam. Islamic architecture in its capacity as a physical locus of life, which to Muslims sign

Islam is the religion of guidance and truth. It conveys truth to man and teaches him the ways how to grasp, actualize and apply it. Existence and truth are virtually synonymous. Islam thus teaches man how to be true to himself and live life not according to the fluctuating whims and limited capacities of his weak being, but according to the absolut

Almighty Allah as the Creator communicates with His creation. He does so in various ways most of which are unknown to man. He informs us through His revealed Word, the Holy Qur’an, for example, that He communicates with the heavens, the earth, mountains, the fire, hellfire, animals, etc. Allah communicates with man, His vicegerent on earth, too.

Islam categorically prohibits drawing images and erecting statues of humans. The matter pertains as much to fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) as ‘aqidah (Islamic belief system). There are many authentic hadiths (traditions) of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that testify to this. According to those hadiths, the image makers are cursed; t

As yet another blessed month of Ramadan unfolds, the perennial, and somewhat disturbing, truth re-emerges. That truth is that a great many Muslims fast. In many countries, overwhelming majorities – perhaps all -- do so. In some countries, it is an anomaly to see or discover that any Muslim, from any societal stratum, does not fast, even for legit

Preserving relevant traditional mosques was another trend with respect to the evolution of the contemporary mosque architecture in Madinah. The trend was inspired by the way the Prophet’s Mosque successfully integrated tradition into its own avant-garde outlook and form. Peaceful coexistence between old and new, tradition and modernity, in the Pr

Following the New Zealand tragedy, much has been said and written about Islamophobia, hate, racism, extremism, etc. The causes, objectives and modi operandi of the unfortunate phenomena have been dealt with extensively and with different degrees of success by a great many religious leaders, politicians, educators and social activists alike, with Ne

In the academic world, or academia, one frequently hears dispiriting comments to the effect that since not many people read academic research papers, articles and books, most of them should not be embarked on and produced in the first place. It is a waste of time, energy and resources. As a remedy, some suggest that standards be lowered somewhat, a