Hanafi Silence Behind the Imam Explained
The Hanafi Conception of Silence Behind the Imam Question by Zubair Chothia, Batley: Regarding the issue of the muqtadī reciting behind the imam, I…
Fiqh
Fiqh is the discipline of understanding how faith translates into practice, and this topic collects Shaykh Akram Nadwi’s writing on Islamic legal reasoning. The articles weigh questions of evidence, consensus, and the authority of scholarly majorities, and work through concrete rulings on worship and conduct. They show fiqh as a living method of reasoning, not a fixed list of verdicts.
Featured in Fiqh
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On covering the women’s head
Translated by Sumaiya Akram The Question Put to Me They said: It is not compulsory for a woman in Islam to cover her head in prayer, and in front of non-mahram men. I said: Are…
Is the View of the Majority (Jumhūr) Binding Proof?
Some statements are so baseless that no serious or occupied person would consider them worthy of wasting time upon. One such claim has been…
Is the Consensus of the Majority a Proof?
There are certain notions so devoid of merit that no serious and engaged individual would wish to waste time on them. One such notion…
Methodology in Islamic Research and Fatwa Writing
Peace be upon you, Sheikh. This is Hameem. Following up on yesterday’s question—what is your methodology for researching a topic? The question of methodological…
Sighting the Crescent
They said: The scholars have differed greatly regarding the sighting of the crescent, dividing the Muslims in determining the beginning of the month of…
Prophet Ibrāhīm 20.02.2026
*Prophet Ibrāhīm ʿalayhi as-salām and the Wisdom of the Five Daily Prayers* This paper is based on a talk delivered by Shaykh Dr Mohammed…
Over-definition of legal concepts
The phenomenon of over-definition in legal reasoning represents a critical challenge within Islamic jurisprudence. It arises when jurists, in seeking to extract universal principles…
Living Ramadan well
Students often ask how Ramadan may be inhabited so as to produce lasting transformation rather than a fleeting intensification of religious sentiment. This question…
Unity before method: moonsighting and collective responsibility
The determination of the beginning and end of Ramadan represents one of the most prominent expressions of collective religious life in Islam. These moments…
Qiyām al-Layl and Tarāwīḥ
The Question A friend of Professor Muhammad Arshad has raised the following questions: • What is the difference between Qiyām al-Layl and the Tarāwīḥ…
Performing Ṭawāf on the Ground Floor by Deception
17 January 2026 ⸻ The Question Respected Shaykh, Mawlānā Dr Mohammed Akram Nadwi (may Allah preserve you), Peace be upon you and the mercy…
The beard in Islamic jurisprudence
The legal ruling concerning the beard in Islam has long been a subject of juristic discussion and recognised scholarly disagreement. This divergence arises from…
Questions & Answers on Fiqh
View all Q&A →Zakāh, niṣāb and social justice
Recently, I wrote an article in Urdu arguing that gold, rather than silver, should be adopted as the standard for determining niṣāb in zakāh. In response, the well-known Qur’an teacher, Dr Farhat Hashmi, forwarded the following question to me: Piyari…
When arriving at the mosque during a janāzah prayer
What’s the protocol if you attend the mosque to pray and there’s a janazah going on?
Entering Masjid al-Haram while menstruating
You mentioned that a menstruating woman may enter Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. Does this permission apply to all areas of the mosque? Additionally, if her only purpose for being there is to assist an elderly parent, is she allowed to…
Books on Fiqh
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Usul al-Shashi
Usul al-Shashi is a well-known compendium on the principles of Islamic jurisprudence according to the Hanafi school. Despite…
Ibn Hazm on the lawfulness of women attending prayers in the mosque
Concerns with artificial limits being placed on a women’s right to participate in the activities of a believer…
Abu Hanifah: His Life, Legal Method & Legacy
A concise portrait of the Prophet as teacher, guide, and model of character, drawn from the Prophetic tradition.