The legal ruling concerning the beard in Islam has long been a subject of juristic discussion and recognised scholarly disagreement. This divergence arises from differing interpretations of the Prophetic instructions concerning the beard and the extent to which such instructions convey binding legal force. While it is universally acknowledged that the Prophet ﷺ maintained a… Continue reading The beard in Islamic jurisprudence
Surojni Did Not Debate, Yet She Triumphed
Oxford, 31 December 2025 *A Scholar Remembered* Nearly twenty years ago, an Indian scholar and researcher came to England. I had the opportunity to meet him and spend time in his company. He was exceptionally intelligent, serious, and hardworking. In Indian scholarly circles, he was widely known by the title “Ghamarr”. I no longer recall… Continue reading Surojni Did Not Debate, Yet She Triumphed
Where does the Gomti river’s water come from?
If the distance between Mani Kalan and Jamdahan were measured, it would not seem very great. But in the early days of our consciousness, this distance felt like it stretched for miles. It was a time when the roads were unpaved, questions were immature, and knowledge was an unfamiliar thing. In winter, dew was abundant… Continue reading Where does the Gomti river’s water come from?
Ibrāhīm عليه السلام and the Philosophical Foundations of the Five Daily Ṣalāh
[This talk, edited and abridged by Sulayman Qadhi, was delivered by *Shaykh Dr Mohammed Akram Nadwi* at his residence in Batley, West Yorkshire, after Fajr Ṣalāh on Sunday, 21 December 2025. A number of friends and acquaintances were present, including Habibullah Akudi, Zubair Chothia, and Hāfeẓ Muhammad Gardee. Owing to the importance and significance of… Continue reading Ibrāhīm عليه السلام and the Philosophical Foundations of the Five Daily Ṣalāh
The Reins Are Mine
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم For several days I had been travelling continuously, and a variety of commitments had so completely hemmed me in that I did not find even a moment of leisure or calm. During that period, a debate entitled “The Existence of God” was held in Delhi, which was regarded in religious circles… Continue reading The Reins Are Mine
Human reason, effort, and responsibility before God
Human existence unfolds within a world characterised by a notable degree of consistency, regularity and reliability in the sequence of events that lead to particular outcomes. This applies equally to the natural world and to the sphere of human action. Plants do not grow in the absence of water, light and appropriate nutrients, just as… Continue reading Human reason, effort, and responsibility before God
The limits of religious debate
Religious debate has long been employed as a means of defending doctrines, contesting rival claims, and articulating theological positions. From classical disputations in antiquity to contemporary public debates and interfaith forums, debate is often assumed to function as a pathway to religious truth or even to personal belief. Such assumptions, however, rest on a misunderstanding… Continue reading The limits of religious debate
An Educational Journey
On the morning of Saturday, the twenty-ninth of Jumada al-Thani, I set out for the bustling city of Cambridge. A distinguished scholarly session was held at Cambridge Islamic College, devoted to the biography of the Prophet ﷺ, covering the period from the blessed Hijrah to the momentous events of the Battle of Badr. The gathering… Continue reading An Educational Journey
An Overview of the Hijrah
The Hijrah in the time of the Prophet The meaning of the experience of the Hijrah was fully understood by the believers who lived through it. It meant for them the responsibility of transitioning Islam from a personal discipline to a settled way of life, a distinctive civilisation. The Hijrah was the first step, a… Continue reading An Overview of the Hijrah
Principles and applications: the conditions of meaningful practice
Human creation, whether understood in theological, philosophical, or practical terms, is oriented towards purpose. The fulfilment of that purpose depends not merely on the acquisition of skills or the repetition of correct actions, but on the integration of general principles with concrete applications. When principles are severed from practice, or practice from principle, human activity… Continue reading Principles and applications: the conditions of meaningful practice