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Arguing Over Aqeeda in Black Muslim America, a Disaster in the Making, Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
Actually it’s more like a disaster already made. Our obsession with aqeeda inquisition and aqeeda wrangling is not something we came up with on our own. In fact, the role that aqeeda plays in our division, in our domestic dialogue, in our masjid politics, and in our priority assignment, is not organic; it is totally…
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An Introduction to the Different Types of Books of Hadith by Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
There are many ways to approach hadith study. Primarily as Muslims, we want to know and understand what the Prophet ﷺ did and said so we can obey him and follow him.
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Ignorance of Religion in Marriage, Divorce, and Child Rearing and Custody
Ignorance of fiqh and the absence of a shared madhhab are especially damaging for Black American Muslims in the areas of marriage, divorce, child custody, and the rights of children because these are the domains where Islamic law is meant to provide structure, protection, and predictability. When that structure is missing, the community does not simply…
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The Crack-Pipe Da’wah: The Phenomena of Muslim-Owned Liquor Stores in Inner-City America.
أعود بالله من الشيطان الرجيم بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم While conversations surrounding the challenges facing American Muslims frequently focus on civil liberties, political backlash, Islamophobia, or institutional growth, a critical domestic issue, that constitutes one more fitna of the many fitan (trials) of our time is routinely sidelined: Muslim-owned liquor and party stores situated in…
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Understanding the Hadith of the Three Best Generations, by Imam Luqman Ahmad
One of the most foundational statements of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is his pronouncement regarding the virtue of the early generations of Muslims (the Salaf). Recorded in authentic collections such as Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, and narrated by different companions such as, Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, Abu Hurraira, Aisha, Abdullah ibn Umar, and…
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The Islamic Ruling Regarding How Much a Man has to Pay in Maintenance Clarifying the Legal Scope of Nafaqah (Maintenance) according to Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
The financial maintenance (nafaqah) that is legally obligatory upon a husband is precise and well-defined. It does not encompass an open-ended list of personal preferences, social activities, or external luxuries. Across the major schools of thought, nafaqah strictly comprises the essentials required for human survival and dignity: food (ta’am), clothing (kiswah), suitable housing (sukna), and…
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Real Talk: The Dilemma of the Muslim Mental Health Practitioner in the Modern Age, Imam Luqman Ahmad
Let’s keep it real with each other: for a Muslim mental health practitioner today, walking into the clinic every day can feel like standing at a major, existential crossroads. This isn’t just a niche issue for a single demographic; it is a profound dilemma facing Muslim professionals and believers across the globe, particularly those living…
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Spiritual Abuse: A Flawed Terminology That Muslims Should Retire, Here’s why, Imam Luqman Ahmad
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم و به نستعين In recent years, a new phrase has quietly woven its way into the vocabulary of the Western Muslim community: “spiritual abuse.” Borrowed from modern psychology and Christian theological discourse, this quasi-psychological term is increasingly popularized to describe situations where religious authorities, such as Imams, community leaders, Islamic teachers,…
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Ruling on Sneezing and a person responding “yar’hamuka Allah” during the Friday khutba (sermon), by Imam Luqman Ahmad
When a person sneezes while the Friday sermon (khutba) is being delivered, the rulings regarding saying ‘Alhamdulillah’ and responding with Yarhamukallah are as follows: Saying Alhamdulillah: The person who sneezes should say Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) quietly to himself (silently). He should not raise his voice. Saying Yarhamukallah: If someone hears him sneeze and…
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The Notion of Single-Gender Accountability in Islam, Kufr in Disguise, by Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
A troubling double standard has permeated parts of the modern Black American Muslim dialogue. While a man is rightly condemned for fornicating, the woman involved is frequently absolved of blame, treating the sin as if it were exclusively his responsibility. This asymmetric view mirrors ideological frameworks that frame the man as the sole perpetrator and…
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The Islamic ruling regarding a Muslim woman being uncovered before her stepson/father in law. By Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
Question: Can a Muslim woman leave her hair uncovered in the presence of her stepson, or father in law? Answer: Yes, a Muslim woman is permitted to uncover her hair, neck, and forearms in front of both her stepson (her husband’s biological son) and her father-in-law (her husband’s father). Both individuals are considered permanent mahrams…
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Scholarship Versus Entertainment: A Historical and Modern Crisis, Imam Luqman Ahmad
In the classical Islamic tradition, scholarship (Ilm) and public oratory (Khatabah / Wa’z) were treated as distinct, often separate specializations. While many major jurists possessed deep linguistic competence, not all engaged in public preaching or were historically celebrated as orators. Understanding this distinction illuminates a profound irony in how the Muslim community approaches religious leadership…
Imam Luqman Ahmad Mosque Without Borders 