Faraz Omar

Who is Muhammad ﷺ and why is he so beloved

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IT was 1433 years ago, when a man in Makkah – ridiculed and persecuted by his people – left on a mission to the close-by mountainous town of Taif. The man had declared to the Makkan people that he was a messenger of God who receives, through an angel, revelation from the Creator of the…...

How To Check If A Stock Is Halal

Update: We have launched our own halal stock screener at Muslim Xchange MANY Muslims find investing in the stock market and understanding Islamic requirements complicated. Some have resorted to using automated halal stock screeners without understanding their filters and limitations. This article demystifies the subject of halal stock screening and empowers anyone with little-to-no knowledge…...

Is our planet overpopulated?

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ARE the limited space and resources on our earth simply not sufficient for the kind of numbers we are producing every year? And will refugees and immigrants eat away our scarce resources? Let’s answer these questions using basic facts and math that Dean Esmay used in his Overcrowded Planet? manifesto…....

Hijrah: Why Muslim Countries Should Welcome Immigrants

Why Muslim Countries Should Welcome Immigrants

THREE hundred million Muslims – one-fifth of the Ummah’s population – live as minorities today. The challenges they face in an increasingly hostile world are largely incomprehensible to those living in Muslim majority countries. To be clear, each country differs in its politics, and it would be incorrect to assume that hostility exists in every…...

How To Be A Strong Muslim In Today’s World

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THE Prophet ﷺ said: “There will come a time of patience when the one who adheres steadfastly to his religion will be like one who holds a burning coal.” [Al-Tirmidhi, no. 2260, authenticated by Al-Albani] Strange, strange times we are passing through. In one part of the world, a man may grow up in a…...

Do Muslims Really Stone the Devil in Hajj?

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THE simple answer is: Muslims DON’T stone the devil in Hajj every year. We stone the Jamarat, not any devil, Shaitan or Shayateen (pl. of Shaitan). The pillars of Jamarat are not devils. This is a misconception even among a few uneducated Muslims. Scholars continue to clarify this point every year during Hajj. Throwing pebbles…...

Dear Haji, Let’s Reflect on Why We Perform Hajj

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SOON In-sha Allah you will embark on a journey that words cannot describe. Ordained by Allah thousands of years ago, from the time of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), this journey will continue until the Last Day. If there was one thing that forms the core purpose of this journey, it is realizing the…...

Jesus in Islam and Christianity

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Jesus is highly revered in Islam and Christianity. Although the religions today are different, their origins were the same, and so should have been the beliefs. Many are aware of the fundamental difference that Islam regards Jesus as a prophet of God, while Christians believe Jesus was/is God, son of God, or part of the…...

Interview with Umm Muhammad of Saheeh International

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‘It took me a long time to embrace Islam’ I cannot tell you how delighted I was when Umm Muhammad Assami, whose translation of the Quran’s meaning you know as Saheeh International, agreed to meet me during a recent visit to Jeddah. I went with my mother who is her former student. She welcomed us…...