By Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi Two questions have often been put to me since the publication in Arabic of al-Wafa’ bi asma’ al nisa’ (Biographical dictionary of women narrators of hadith). This work was published in 43 volumes by Dar al-Minhaj from Jeddah in January 2021. The English translation of its muqaddima (preface) was first published in 2007 under the title al-Muhaddithat: the women scholars in Islam. This work has helped to promote hadith scholarship in Muslim societies, to highlight women’s role in it, and to draw attention to many questions concerning the status and respect due to women in…
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Three questions related to the on-going pandemic
By Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi Being vaccinated while fasting: I have been asked about whether it is lawful to take the covid-19 vaccine while fasting. For some people, the chance to be vaccinated will come during the fasting month of Ramadan, and they are wondering if they should try to postpone their appointments. Sawm (fasting) means ‘abstaining from’. As a term of fiqh, sawm means abstaining from eating, drinking, and sexual intercourse from first light to sunset. Whoever, while fasting, deliberately eats or drinks (either to nourish himself or as a medicine) or deliberately has sexual intercourse, has committed a…
The Ulama and Covid-19 vaccine
By Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi and translated by Syed Huzaifah Ali Nadwi In the last few days, there has been an increase in the number of inquiries and fatwas regarding the Covid-19 vaccine. I am also being asked such questions, and without giving a formal response, I hope that scholars and Muftis alike will consider my thoughts. Before making any comments on the Covid-19 vaccine, we need to keep the following in mind: 1. The scientists who have developed this vaccine are not scholars, nor have they studied in a Madrasa. They have not consulted any Dar al-Ifta’ or any…
Why are the writings of the scholars unread? Address to the students of Madrasas (Islamic institutions)
By Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi and translated by Syed Huzaifah Ali Nadwi There was a long period in human history when the writings of scholars were popular in every class because they were the best examples of knowledge and research and the highest example of eloquence. If we look at these writings even today, we can see great qualities and wisdom. Books such as Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, al-Sībwiyah’s al-kitāb, Ibn Sinā’s al-Shifā and al-Qānūn, Imam Shāfiʿī’s al-Risālah, Ibn Ḥazm’s al-Muḥalla, Zamakhsharī’s al-Kashshāf, Ibn Khaldūn’s Muqaddimah, Shātibī’s al-Mawāfaqāt, Shāh Walīullah’s Dehlawī’s Ḥujjatullāh al-Bālighah are among the top scholarly works. Later,…
The worst stupidity
By Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi and translated by Hala Akram and Aisha Akram They asked: What is the worst stupidity? I replied: It is to associate with Allah. The polytheists are many types, but the inception is one: polytheism. They differ in its manifestation. Amongst them are those who carve idols, making monuments and statues to which they prostrate. Some worship the sun, moon, stars, earth, mountains, seas, rivers, trees and plants. Others revere animals, beasts, insects and worms. And there are those who call upon the angels, devils, tyrants and the righteous children of Adam, the living and the…
When I had to reverse my car
By Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi and translated by Hala Akram and Aisha Akram There is a large population of South Asian Muslims in East London. Situated near Whitechapel station is the London Muslim Centre. I have taught numerous courses here and even now, give lectures from time to time. In 2006, I taught the Muwatta of Imam Malik for several months. This class was once a week and I would drive from Oxford and back; Due to London’s traffic, the sixty-mile route would take between an hour and a half to two hours. I once drove into a street near…
The Most Ridiculous Question
By Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi and translated by Dr Abu Zayd They asked: To atheists, we affirm the existence of God and point to the causes of everything, and then to the causes of those causes until we arrive at the cause of all causes, the Prime Mover, God, who is the creator of the heavens and earth. They then ask us who created God in the first place. We direct this question to you and are confused about the right response, as if we have lost our senses and shaken our confidence. I replied: This argument of yours is…
The evil eye
By Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi and translated by Hala Akram and Aisha Akram A question was put to me by the well known Quranic scholar, Ustādh Nouman Ali Khan about the truth of the evil eye. The answer: Imam Bukhari narrates in his Sahih from Abu Hurayrah, and Imam Muslim narrates in his Sahih from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The evil eye is real.” Ibn Manzur mentions in Lisan al-Arab: Al-’ayn: The evil eye; the smiter is ‘Ā`in and the smote is Ma’yūn. The evil…