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Why Did Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Marry Aisha? Dismantling the Controversy of Aisha's Age
Was Aisha (ra) a child when she married the Prophet ﷺ? What is an appropriate age to get married? Explore the legacy of Aisha (ra) - the youngest wife of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Finding Hope in Faith: An Optimistic Outlook During Hardship
Even amidst such widespread negativity, there are those voices we all naturally gravitate toward and secretly wish to adopt as our own – those of the optimists who see the proverbial glass as half full.
Islam and the Abortion Debate
Is Islam pro-life, pro-choice, or both depending on the circumstances? And what implications does the answer to this question have for current political discourse? This essay seeks to offer a comprehensive look at how classical and contemporary Muslim jurists have dealt with the subject in accordance with evolving methods, circumstances, and debates surrounding the topics of contraception and abortion.
Stoning and Hand Cutting—Understanding the Hudud and the Shariah in Islam
Is Shariah the most barbaric form of law? Dr. Jonathan Brown explains what Shariah is, where it comes from, and reviews the purpose behind its severest corporal and capital punishments, known as the Hudud (pronounced Hudood).
How to Get Closer to Allah: Exploring the Sequence of Allah's Names in Surah Al-Hashr
What is the purpose of the unique pairings and sequence of Allah's names in Surah Al-Hashr? How can it increase our knowledge of God and bring us closer to Him?
Do you need Islam to be an ethical person?
A common sentiment held by many is that humans can be good without religion. While our fitrah, our innate human nature, is inclined towards good, it does not necessarily mean that it knows and follows the most ethical stance. Who defines what is ethical, anyway? In this unit, students will explore why humans are in need of ethical guidance by analyzing the limitations of the fitrah. Students will recognize that even though we all have the capacity to be good, we need revelation to center our understanding of ethics. By the end of this unit, students will appreciate the transformative power of revelation and learn to apply moral excellence in their own lives through the example of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Navigating Palestine’s struggle through faith
Muslims all over the world are witnessing the senseless violence and destruction against our Palestinian sisters and brothers. In these difficult times, we may find ourselves frustrated and in pain as we see the loss of innocent life. Such emotions are a natural response to the atrocities taking place, but is there more we can do as Muslims? How can faith help us navigate our current crisis? The purpose of this lesson is to deepen our perspective on the presence of evil and suffering through a God-centered worldview.
Islam and homosexuality: Reframing the narrative on LGBTQ
One of the major challenges facing religious communities is the pressure to conform to the popular rhetoric of the LGBTQ movement, and to accept the movement’s stances on same-sex acts. In this unit, we help students understand what Islam says about same-sex desires and acts and empower them to challenge the principles that underlie the LGBTQ movement.
Fasting and zakat: Winning through sacrifice
It is natural for Muslim youth to wonder about the purpose of rituals in Islam, specifically those that require sacrifice. This unit takes a multi-dimensional approach to understanding sacrifice in Islam, and explores the innumerable benefits religious rituals can procure in our lives.
How can evil coexist with a merciful God?
The 'problem of evil' is a major point of contention in philosophical and religious circles. To address the topic, this unit first clarifies the terms of the debate by explaining that human knowledge can never encompass the reality of 'goodness' or 'evil.' It then surveys how Islamic theodicies have responded to the problem of evil. The unit concludes by inviting students to explore how the prophetic model allows them to find meaning and be inspired to act positively in a world where 'evil' exists.
Conscious or coerced: Divine decree in Islam
This unit explores a difficult question brought up by Muslim youth and adults alike: if God has knowledge of all things and we are subject to His will and power, then how do we have free will? Students will explore the Qur'anic discourse on predestination and free will to equip them with the tools to navigate and resolve this apparent paradox.