Exploring the Qur’anic Chronology of Creation reveals a profound perspective on how our universe transformed from a single point into the complex world we live in today. While modern science focuses on the "how," the Qur’an describes creation in meaningful stages that highlight the purpose behind the heavens and the earth. This layered journey moves from the initial act of creation to the detailed shaping of the stars, planets, and life, finally culminating in the appearance of human beings. In this article, we break down these stages to show how the Qur’an presents a beautifully coherent and purposeful vision of the universe. 1. Chronology of Creation Allah Almighty says in Surah Fussilat: 9. قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُۥ أَندَادًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ 10. وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ مِنْ فَوْقِهَا وَبَارَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَا أَقْوَاتَهَا فِي أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ سَوَىٰ لِلسَّائِلِينَ 11. ثُمَ...
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
Al-Mughni is a well-known Islamic legal reference written by Imam Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi Rahimahullah [547-620 H], a prominent medieval Muslim scholar of
Introduction
Al-Mughni is a well-known Islamic legal reference written by Imam Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi Rahimahullah [547-620 H], a prominent medieval Muslim scholar of the Hanbali school of Islamic Jurisprudence. The book is a comprehensive guide to Hanbali fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and covers a wide range of topics related to Islamic law, including acts of worship, family law, commercial law, criminal law, and inheritance law. In fact Al-Mughni is a magnum opus of Islamic jurisprudence.
Al-Mughni is a Sharh (commentary) of Mukhtasar al-Khiraqi. Rather, Mukhtasar al-Khiraqi is a concise manual of Hanbali fiqh authored by Abu al-Qasim Umar ibn Husain ibn Abdullah bin Ahmad al-Khiraqi Rahimahullah [d.334 H].
There are several salient features of Al-Mughni that make it a unique and valuable work of Hanbali fiqh. Some of these features include:
Comprehensive Coverage:
Al-Mughni covers a wide range of topics related to Hanbali fiqh, including acts of worship, family law, commercial law, criminal law, and inheritance law, among others. It provides detailed guidance on various legal issues and is considered one of the most comprehensive works of Hanbali fiqh.
Clarity and Organization:
Al-Mughni is known for its clear and concise writing style, making it easy for readers to understand and navigate its contents. The book is also well-organized, with each legal issue presented in a systematic and logical manner.
Use of Evidence:
Imam Ibn Qudamah relies heavily on evidence from the Quran, Hadith, and the opinions of earlier scholars to support his conclusions on legal issues. This demonstrates his commitment to following the sources of Islamic law and presenting a well-reasoned and evidence-based approach to Hanbali fiqh.
Engagement with Other Schools of Islamic Law:
While Al-Mughni is primarily a Hanbali fiqh reference book, Imam Ibn Qudamah engages with the opinions of scholars from other schools of Islamic law, demonstrating a willingness to engage in comparative jurisprudence and consider different perspectives on legal issues.
Influence on Later Scholarship:
Al-Mughni has been a highly influential work in the field of Hanbali fiqh and has been subject to numerous commentaries and annotations by later scholars. Its continued relevance and importance are a testament to its enduring value as a reference book for Hanbali fiqh.
Al-Mughni is considered one of the most important works in Hanbali fiqh and is widely studied and referenced by scholars and students of Islamic law. It is known for its clarity and conciseness, making it accessible to both scholars and laypeople alike. The book has been subject to many commentaries and annotations, attesting to its significance as a reference for Islamic law.
Al-Mughni is a voluminous work that consists of multiple volumes. The book is divided into different sections and covers a wide range of topics related to Hanbali fiqh. The exact number of volumes and pages can vary depending on the edition and publication, but generally, it is a multi-volume set that can run into several thousand pages.
For example, one popular edition of Al-Mughni published by Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah contains 10 volumes, with each volume consisting of around 500 to 600 pages. Another edition published by Dar al-Fikr contains 14 volumes, with each volume consisting of around 500 pages. Despite its length, Al-Mughni is known for its clarity and organization, which makes it easy for readers to navigate and understand its contents.
Fiqh al-Muqaran (comparative jurisprudence) is not the primary subject of Al-Mughni. Rather, Al-Mughni is primarily a Hanbali fiqh reference book that deals with Islamic law according to the Hanbali school of thought. It presents the Hanbali perspective on various legal issues, based on the sources of Islamic law, including the Quran, Hadith (Prophetic traditions), the consensus of the scholars (ijma’), and legal reasoning (ijtihad).
That being said, there are instances in Al-Mughni where Imam Ibn Qudamah refers to the opinions of other schools of Islamic law and engages in comparative jurisprudence.
However, this is not the primary focus of the book and these discussions are generally limited to specific legal issues where there are differences of opinion among the scholars.
Overall, while Al-Mughni may touch upon comparative jurisprudence at times, it is primarily a reference book for the Hanbali school of Islamic law, and its main
focus is on presenting the Hanbali perspective on various legal issues.
While Al-Mughni is a comprehensive reference book of Hanbali fiqh, it is not typically considered a “fatwa book” in the sense that it provides specific rulings on contemporary legal issues.
Because Al-Mughni presents detailed discussions on legal issues and provides evidence-based conclusions, it can be a useful resource for scholars and muftis when issuing fatwas. When a scholar or mufti is presented with a legal question, they will often consult the relevant sources of Islamic law to develop a well-reasoned and evidence-based opinion.
In the case of Hanbali scholars and muftis, Al-Mughni can be a valuable resource for consulting the Hanbali school’s legal doctrines and gaining a deeper understanding of the evidence and reasoning behind those doctrines. By reviewing the relevant discussions in Al-Mughni, a scholar or mufti can develop a more informed and nuanced opinion on a legal issue, and can provide a well-reasoned and evidence-based fatwa.
It is worth noting, however, that while Al-Mughni can be a useful resource for scholars and muftis, it is not a substitute for the process of ijtihad, which is the independent reasoning and interpretation of Islamic law based on the sources. Ultimately, a scholar or mufti must use their own independent reasoning and interpretation, informed by the sources of Islamic law and the guidance of earlier scholars, to issue a fatwa. Al-Mughni, therefore, serves as a valuable reference tool to supplement the process of ijtihad and to support a well-informed and evidence-based approach to issuing fatwas.
While Al-Mughni is primarily a reference book for the Hanbali school of Islamic law, it is widely respected and valued by scholars of other schools of Islamic law as well. The comprehensive coverage, clear writing style, and well-reasoned legal analysis found in Al-Mughni make it a valuable resource for any student of Islamic law, regardless of their school or perspective.
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Pornography has been linked to a number of negative impacts on the human mind, hormones, and neurotransmitters. One impact is the potential for addiction, as viewing pornography can lead to changes in the brain's reward system, similar to other addictive behaviors. Introduction Pornography refers to sexually explicit materials, such as videos, photographs, magazines, or literature, that are intended to arouse the viewer or reader. It can be found in various forms, including magazines, books, videos, and online content. The term “pornography” comes from the Greek word “pornographos,” which means “writing about prostitutes.” Types of Pornography Allah Almighty says: إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَن تَشِيعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ Indeed, those who love to see immodesty spread among the believers will suffer a painf...
Exploring the Qur’anic Chronology of Creation reveals a profound perspective on how our universe transformed from a single point into the complex world we live in today. While modern science focuses on the "how," the Qur’an describes creation in meaningful stages that highlight the purpose behind the heavens and the earth. This layered journey moves from the initial act of creation to the detailed shaping of the stars, planets, and life, finally culminating in the appearance of human beings. In this article, we break down these stages to show how the Qur’an presents a beautifully coherent and purposeful vision of the universe. 1. Chronology of Creation Allah Almighty says in Surah Fussilat: 9. قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُۥ أَندَادًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ 10. وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ مِنْ فَوْقِهَا وَبَارَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَا أَقْوَاتَهَا فِي أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ سَوَىٰ لِلسَّائِلِينَ 11. ثُمَ...
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. The Abraham Accords are a series of diplomatic agreements initiated in 2020 between Israel and several Arab or Muslim-majority countries , aimed at normalizing relations and fostering cooperation in various areas, including trade, technology, and security. These agreements mark a major shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics, breaking from the long-standing Arab consensus that normalization with Israel should be contingent upon a resolution of the Palestinian issue . 1. Origin and Naming The accords are named after Abraham (peace be upon him), a patriarchal figure revered by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, symbolizing shared roots and an aspiration for interfaith unity. The term was coined to promote the idea of reconciliation among the descendants of Abraham — Jews and Arabs. Announcement Date: August 13, 2020 Broker: United States (Trump Administra...
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. The Sinking Coastlines, Drowning Villages, and Human Crisis in Pakistan’s Delta Region The Indus Delta, located along the southern coast of Pakistan where the Indus River meets the Arabian Sea, is rapidly transforming into one of South Asia’s most alarming climate disaster zones. Once a fertile and thriving ecological region filled with mangrove forests, fisheries, agricultural settlements, and coastal towns, the delta today faces relentless sea intrusion, land subsidence, salinity, coastal erosion, and climate-driven displacement. Entire villages are disappearing beneath seawater, agricultural lands are turning barren, and fishing communities are being forced to migrate inland. The crisis of the Indus Delta is not merely an environmental issue. It is a humanitarian, economic, ecological, and national security challenge. Climate change has intensified sea-level rise and extreme weather, but the disaster is also deeply conne...
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Pakistan’s Strategic Canals Project, aimed at diverting water from the Jhelum and Chenab rivers into the Cholistan region, has sparked an ongoing canal conflict —not merely between provinces but between competing visions of national development and federal equity. At the heart of this complex issue is the challenge of how to expand agricultural productivity in barren regions like Cholistan while ensuring fair and sustainable water distribution among the country’s riparian provinces, particularly Sindh, which lies downstream on the Indus River System. The Strategic Canals Project: A National Vision Supporters of the project argue that the Strategic Canals Plan is not a unilateral initiative of Punjab, but a nationally approved and endorsed program aimed at revitalizing Pakistan’s agricultural sector. President Asif Ali Zardari, among others, has backed the initiative as part of a broader strategy to ensure food se...
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. In this article, we shall delve into details about the compilation of the first book of Hadith, Sahifah al-Sadiqah, by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-Aas. Sahifah al-Sadiqah: Th First Book of Hadith In this article, we shall delve into details about the compilation of the first book of Hadith , Sahifah al-Sadiqah . During the early stages of the revelation of the Qur’an, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) took measures to ensure that his words, known as hadith, were not recorded alongside the Qur’an. This decision was made to prevent any potential confusion between the divine scripture, the Qur’an, and the sayings or actions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The primary reason for this distinction was to safeguard the Qur’an’s unique status as the direct word of God, as Muslims believe it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the angel Gab...
صحابۂ کرام رضی اللہ عنہم معیارِ ایمان صحابۂ کرام رضی اللہ عنہم معیارِ ایمان صحابۂ کرام رضی اللہ عنہم معیارِ ایمان تمہید ایمان محض زبانی اقرار یا چند ظاہری اعمال کا نام نہیں بلکہ دل کی وہ کیفیت ہے جو انسان کے فکر، کردار، ترجیحات اور طرزِ زندگی کو مکمل طور پر بدل دیتی ہے۔ قرآنِ مجید نے ایمان کو ایک زندہ، متحرک اور اخلاقی قوت کے طور پر پیش کیا ہے۔ اسی تناظر میں صحابۂ کرام رضی اللہ عنہم کو امتِ مسلمہ کے لیے معیارِ ایمان قرار دیا گیا، کیونکہ انہوں نے ایمان کو صرف قبول ہی نہیں کیا بلکہ اسے اپنی فطرت، خواہشات اور عملی زندگی کا محور بنا لیا۔ صحابہ کرام رضی اللہ عنہم اور معیارِ ایمان سورۃ البقرہ میں اللہ تعالیٰ فرماتے ہیں وَ اِذَا قِیْلَ لَهُمْ اٰمِنُوْا كَمَاۤ اٰمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُوْۤا اَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَاۤ اٰمَنَ السُّفَهَآءُؕ-اَلَاۤ اِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَآءُ وَ لٰـكِنْ لَّا یَعْلَمُوْنَ “اور جب ان سے کہا جاتا ہے کہ ایمان لاؤ جیسے لوگ ایمان لائے ہیں تو کہتے ہیں کیا ہم ویسا ایمان لائیں جیسے بے وقوف ایمان لائے ہیں؟ سن لو! دراصل یہی لوگ بے وقوف ہیں مگر جانتے نہیں۔ یہاں “الناس” سے مراد جمہور مفسرین...
Introduction The Qur’anic concept of Barzakh occupies a unique position in Islamic metaphysics. It is neither the material world ( dunyā ) nor the final Hereafter ( ākhirah ), but an intermediate realm that exists beyond ordinary physical perception. When examined carefully, Barzakh emerges as a parallel mode of existence , operating under laws different from physical space-time. The Qur’an presents subtle but powerful indications that human beings are not limited to a single plane of reality and that interaction with Barzakh begins even before death. 1. The Human Being: Body and Soul as a Unified System The Qur’an consistently presents the human being as a composite of body and soul , not merely a biological organism. “Then He proportioned him and breathed into him of His Spirit.” (32:9) The body is physical, measurable, and subject to decay. The soul (nafs / rūḥ) is immaterial, conscious, and life-governing. Life ...
