Islam

Why is interest evil?

Allah says in the Qur’an:

Translation: Those who devour usury will not stand except as stand one whom the Evil one by his touch Hath driven to madness. That is because they say: “Trade is like usury,” but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. [Surah Baqarah, 2:275]

Prophet Muhammad (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said, “the best amongst you are the ones who are best to their wives.” So dear Muslim brother! Your obligations towards your wife are not limited to earning money and supporting her financially. A wife needs love from her husband, and emotional support too!

Note: Additions in brackets are notes from a sister.

Prepared by Muhammad Alshareef, reprinted from Islamway.com.

In Surah Lahab, Allah says:

Translation: And his wife, the wood-carrier. Upon her neck is a twisted rope of Masad (palm fibre).

Abu Lahab and his wife were some of the most severe opponents to the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم). They fully understood his message and recognized him as a Prophet, and still they opposed him, until the end of their days.

Touched by an Angel: Tafseer Juz ‘Amma is an AlMaghrib Institute course taught by Muhammad Alshareef.

Most Muslims learn the Qur’an starting with Juz ‘Amma–the shortest chapters of the Qur’an. But, most of us also have no idea what these verses we recite–day after day, and prayer after prayer, for many of us–actually mean, and what lessons they impart.

Touched by an Angel: Tafeer Juz ‘Amma cures that, by giving Muslims what each and every one of us desires: understanding of the Qur’an. With themes such as the Apocalypse and the End of Time, the Day of Judgment, and Paradise and Hellfire, you will now finally be able to understand and appreciate all of these beautiful surahs of the Qur’an with your heart.

The Shepherd’s Path is an AlMaghrib Institute course taught by Muhammad Alshareef.

While many of us claim to love the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم), few of us follow his path, and fewer still know more then snatches of information about him. How did he live, and how did he die? What key lesson did the angel Jibreel send by squeezing him three times before the first revelation? What deep and profound lessons can we learn and apply from his life, to our current situation? What would he do if he were in our position today?

One of the best things about Islam is that it’s a deen–a total, comprehensive, complete, and perfect way of life, and it governs every aspect of life from large-scale social phenomena (such as marriage) to the way you eat and sleep.

For people who are dating, subhanallah, they say they’re looking for that “special someone” or “the right person.” But they continue dating for 6 months, a year, two years, five years, TEN years, they have kids–they’re still just dating–and they STILL don’t know! And when someone “better” comes along, they jump ship!

The Purification Act is an AlMaghrib Institute course taught by Abdul-Bary Yahya. If you think you know wudoo, think again! This course teaches you the ins and outs of tahara (purity and purification) and salaah (prayer)–everything from whether one adhaan or two is more correct, to the proper way to purify dog-slobber from your best china, to whether a pigskin football (or for that matter, a leather jacket) is najas or not. In addition, you get a firm grasp of scholarly opinions, and learn which opinion–or opinions–are the strongest, and why.

Surah Baqarah. The name conjures to mind the story–the cow, Bani Israeel, Prophet Musa (عليه السلام), the creation of Adam (عليه السلام), the origin of magic, and others. The longest surah in the Qur’an.

Breach of Covenant is an AlMaghrib Institute course taught by Muhammad Alshareef. It teaches tafseer–the text, the lessons, the gems. Explore Surah Baqarah in a light you’ve never seen it through before. Learn, ayah by ayah, the meanings of the first juz of the Qur’an, and open your eyes to the deeper patterns, the deeper lessons, the deeper benefits.

Awrah: islamically, this refers to the area of a human being that is considered private, and, for lack of a better description, “not for public consumption.”

We know of many reports that the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said, “once a woman achieves puberty, it is not befitting that she show anything except this (indicating his face) and this (indicating his hands up to the wrists).” So we know about a woman’s awrah … but how about a man’s awrah? Know that the scholars divided this issue into two parts–awrah in prayer, and awrah out of prayer. And the main proof of a man’s awrah is a hadith where the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) states that a man’s awrah is between his navel and his knees in prayer.

Rizq Management is an AlMaghrib Institute course taught by Muhammad Alshareef. The course focuses on three pillars of Islam: Zakaah, Siyaam, and Hajj. Which moon opinion is correct–one of them? _All_of them? Does chewing gum break your fast? (Why or why not?) Does a woman pay zakaah on her gold jewelry?

Learn about these three fundamental pillars of Islam, and how to not only perform, but how to benefit from them at the highest level!