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The Salaf and Traditional Knowledge, Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
The period of the Salaf (the first three generations) of Muslims, is not a madhhab of fiqh or a singular madhhab of aqeeda. It is a period of time with many variances and scholarly nuances within the scope of what people refer to today as “traditional knowledge”. There is no one ‘Salaf” school of thought…
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Marriage in Islam; 50/50? Or Love and Mercy? By Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
I could be off a little but I guesstimate that the bulk of our internal marital problems can be traced back to flagrant disregard, ignorance and flat out refusal to follow or show respect for our own laws and advices from our scriptures. No where is following the laws, boundaries and guidelines of scripture (Quran…
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The Islamic Ruling on Eid Ad’hiya (slaughter). Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
The adhiyya sacrifice of an animal (qurbaani) after the eid is a practice established by the Prophet Ibrahim the friend (khalil) of Allah (AS). It is a means of getting closer (taqarrub/تقرب) to Allah. Its practice is considered sunna mu’akkadah (firm prophetic tradition) according to the Shaafi’ee, Hanbali, and Maliki schools of Islamic law (madhaahib)…
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Music, Poetry, and the Muslims, by Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
MUSIC, POETRY AND THE MUSLIMSIn some of the pre-Islamic poetry of jaahiliyyah, there were glimpses of wisdom (hikma) and truths. The Prophet (SAWS) was not a poet per se. However, there are several instances when he himself uttered poetry, and many where he sanctioned it. However, when he did use it himself, he would either…
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Arguing Over Creed in Black Muslim America; Following the Yellow Brick Road. Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
Most people, even scholars cannot tell you the difference, or even explain to you in detail the differences between Maatureediyya and Ash’ariyyah aqeeda (creed), or elucidate the details of each one. Some Ash’ari and Sunni scholars consider the Maatureediyya the people of bid’ah. (It gets messy) lol. Aqeeda wrangling is messy business period. It was…
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Is Legitimate Black American Muslim Independent Thought Possible? Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
Black American Muslim Independent Thought. For hundreds of years, even since the time of the Prophet (SAWs) the Muslim world were sworn enemies against the Christian and non-Muslim world and vice versa That hostility and conflict continued through the crusades. colonization, the toppling, and overthrow of Muslim states through western military and political hegemony, intervention,…
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The Bamboozling of Black American Muslims. Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
This is not a difficult topic for me to write about. However, it is difficult for many to read about if addressed candidly and honestly. Censorship, is still very much an unspoken rule and a one sided conversation in Muslim America when it comes to issues of race and the relationship between Muslim immigrant communities…
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Black American Imams Seen but Rarely Heard. Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
In fact, Black American Imams aren’t seen that much either. Not speaking independently on any national stage. In Muslim America today, Black American Imams are rarely viewed as equal to other Imams, especially if they open their mouths with anything that rejects the prevailing narrative of Black American Muslim intellectual inferiority to immigrant Muslims. That…
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Muslim Activism, and the Companions of the Prophet SAWS, Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
ACTIVISM AMONST THE COMPANIONS OF THE PROPHET (SAWS) The Prophet (SAWS) was a strong proponent of leadership development. The sharia supports a broad range of Islamic work and activism, in organization, leadership, follow-ship, accountability, delegation of authority, fealty, contractual agreements, treaties, military, and governance. That was the way of the Arabs even before Islam and…
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What is an Ijaaza Anyway? Imam Abu Laith Luqman Ahmad
WHAT IS AN IJAAZA ANYWAY? (because someone asked) The word ‘Ijaaza’ in the Arabic language, literally means ‘permission’. In the terminology of traditional Islamic knowledge and scholarship, ijaaza is when a student of knowledge seeks permission from a teacher or shaykh to listen or to receive narrations of knowledge from the shaykh, that the shaykh…
