With the increase in affluence and advances in transport, long distance travel has become part and parcel of our modern lives. Whether we’re attempting to attend an Islamic conference in another city or pursuing an adventurous urge half way across the world, believe it or not there’s a whole chapter of Islamic jurisprudence dedicated to this aspect of our lives. But how many of us equip ourselves with the Islamic know how along with the lonely planet guide and our sun glasses to ensure our voyage truly meets both dunya and akhira travel regulations?

Speaking to family members, Muslims and non-Muslims there has been a mixed reaction about the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) latest production on Islam.

Do you find yourself feeling tired during Ramadan or even falling asleep in the middle of the day, just because you’re fasting, and your sleeping patterns are all messed up? Worse still, have you been seriously considering not fasting because you can’t hack the working day?

Her eyes were burdened with a cry for help, and her mind fraught with fear. She feels weak and cries, standing in the hot shower; her sight is fixated on the dirty water was exiting through the drain. She thought to herself what has changed? How did it become like this? Is she to blame?

How many years have we been fasting Ramadan? 10,15 or 20 years? Are we 10 or 15 or 20 times better? Or, does it seem like we have arrived back at the drawing board every time Ramadan comes around? Ramadan is not only a time for fasting and increasing our charity, the Prophet (SAW) and his companions would increase in their struggle for Allah SWT, read more to find out how.

I ran to my car as the rain poured. Minutes before, the sky was pregnant with the possibility of a thunderstorm. Within minutes, the promise had been fulfilled and the heavens had opened up to produce a non-stop barrage of water. I threw my umbrella in the back and sat in the car. Driving home, my thoughts turned once more to him.

I stood, completely frozen and speechless. I was in a grave, but I was still alive. How did this happen? Well, it started from a school trip that we took. We must have been in 7th or 8th grade. My school was not entirely normal as it had a very strong emphasis on Islamic education and many of the teachers were scholars from different parts of the Muslim world. So when it was announced that our class was going on a field visit, it was not surprising to anyone that instead of the Zoo or a museum, we were going [...]

So where do I begin? It’s been three days since my mother passed away, and one day since we buried her. I’ve finally got a chance to collect my thoughts so I want to get them written down, I’ll make a start now and keep adding to it and send it out later. In some ways this is probably going to be one of the most difficult things I will write in my life, but in others, it’s all coming so easily.

During the last 8 years of organising charity week, I have come across all kinds of people. Some very conservative, others liberal. For every intelligent organiser there was someone who was lazy and chaotic. For every fruity arty type, there’s a nerdy scientist. I have grown accustomed to dealing with people whose attitudes & views are wildly different from my own.

“O assembly of jinns and men! If you have power to pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth, then pass (them)! But you will never be able to pass them, except with authority (from Allah)!” [Quran. Surah Rahman Ayah 33] I remember reading this ayah in the Quran, Surah Rahman, for the first time. It’s not often that you can pinpoint reading a specific ayah, but the reason it stood out was due to how puzzled I was by it.