I am trying to develop a narrative for the Muslim duty in the West, from key concepts of the Islamic tradition. This episode of
@thinking_muslim
offered an opportunity to further articulate this narrative:
I'm grateful to
@jalalayn
for the invite.
Dear Friends, I would like to announce that I have taken on the new role of Chief Executive at National Zakat Foundation. For those who would like to know why I've made this move and what it means to me, I have written a reflection here:
I have been giving lots of Zakat workshops for professional networks and Mosque communities this month. The presentation covers everything that I feel people need to know to understand, calculate and even promote Zakat. Here is a 17m version:
I'm grateful to
@freemonotheist
for inviting me to present on how fiqh (Islamic Sacred law) provides a civilisational map. I believe in such a thing as 'fiqh-activism' - being a change agent in the world to align it to the Prophetic city, Madina. This presentation shows how.
I've started a reading of al-Dabusi's Taqwim al adilla in Hanafi Usul al fiqh. I've recorded two sections so far. I'm open to any feedback/advice on the production and content.
Dear Friends, Here is a link to a recently published article of mine: . It defends Abu Yusuf's authorship of Ikhtilaf Abi Hanifa wa-Ibn Abi Layla. In so doing, it focuses on the central role of Abu Ja'far al-Tahawi as a narrator of Hanafi doctrine.
Dear friends, I've put together a website to share my research and facilitate engagement and discussion. It is still a bit under construction, but I thought to share. I am open to any and all feedback: .
Dear friends, this is my recently published article contrasting two different approaches to hadith and fiqh between Rumelian and Egyptian Hanafis in the Ottoman period. I'm open to any comments and feedback:
I read the conclusion of Ibn Ashur's magisterial exegesis today. The 62nd anniversary of its completion was just over three weeks ago: It was completed Friday, 12th Rajab 1380, and was written over a period of 39 years.
Inshallah starting tomorrow, a careful reading of the Usul work of Imam Shams al Aimma al Sarakhsi. I hope this will prove an excellent, accessible, and thorough introduction to Hanafi legal theory.
#USUL
AL-SARAKHSI WITH DR
@SOHAILHANIF
AT
@IRSHADCENTRE
In this course, we undertake a complete reading of the work of Shams al-A’imma al-Sarakhsi (d. 483) known as Usul al-Sarakhsi. This gives the student a strong, clear foundation in
#Hanafi
usul.
Today I had the pleasure of being invited back to the
@bankofengland
to discuss the spiritual and practical dimensions of Zakat with Muslim staff.
On a related note, we recently shared our Economic Impact Report with law makers in Parliament.
1/
URGENT MESSAGE FOR UK MOSQUES & COMMUNITY CENTRES
Thanks to the grace of Allah, after a successful pilot with Al Madinah Mosque in Barking last year,
@NZF_org_uk
is now training four new partners in community-based Zakat distribution through our Community Zakat Programme.
1/
I will be travelling next week to Australia - Sydney then Melbourne then Adelaide. I will be presenting a national zakat vision at several events dedicated to developing Muslim community infrastructure. Reach out if you'd like to connect
The Sacred Money Podcast, prepared and hosted by Taqwa Sadiq, is amazing. Please bookmark it and listen to it. 5 excellently produced 30m episodes on money, charity, the economy and especially Zakat through a Muslim lens.
Here again is my
@IFguru
podcast. We touch on 8 categories of Zakat and political and economic theory, especially regarding Muslims as minorities. The tone is more exploratory than prescriptive, although I do address
@NZF_org_uk
's past and future.
Here is the introduction which presents a unique and fascinating reason for studying usul al fiqh, namely, the pursuit of personal and societal perfection:
May God be pleased with him and benefit generations upon generations through him.His final words
أَرْجُو مِنْهُ تَعَالَى لِهَذَا التَّفْسِيرِ أَنْ يُنْجِدَ وَيَغُورَ وَأَنْ يَنْفَعَ بِهِ الْخَاصَّةَ وَالْجُمْهُورَ وَيَجْعَلَنِي بِهِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَنْ تَبُورَ
I am honoured to share with you the fantastic news of a significant partnership between the
@NZF_org_uk
and
@barkingmosque
. It is with great pleasure that we introduce Al Madinah Mosque as our Accredited Distribution Hub. 1/
I apologise to anyone following the Taqwim al adilla or Shir'at al Islam readings on my YouTube channel. March has ended up being an incredibly busy month. Inshallah I'll return to the once weekly recordings from April. Both series have 7 recordings each at the moment.
I record readings of Shir'at al-Islam, a 6th century AH text on Islamic manners. I'm still at the beginning of the text. I found the section I read today on the manners of the teacher of sacred knowledge to be quite insightful (my own reading of it might not be so interesting!)
Met up with two
@CMC_Cambridge
graduates in
#Birmingham
this week. Khadija is lead community officer & resident scholar at a leading mosque & Hassnain is deputy principle at an Islamic secondary school. And little Laith in the corner has his work cut out for him!
#JummahMubarak
In January I hosted
@BBCNews
Social Affairs Correspondent
@BBCMBuchanan
at my house to discuss how British Muslims, including Zakat payers at
@NZF_org_uk
, have supported each other through Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis. 1/
I was very honoured to share some words at the graduation ceremony at
@CMC_Cambridge
for the second graduating cohort in the College’s BA in Islamic Studies. You can listen to my speech here: . 1/
The last 48 hours have been a whirlwind of outreach and community engagement. It's been such an exhilarating experience meeting so many people in our community. I began by giving a Friday sermon in New Malden's Shiraz Mirza Hall. 1/
#Ramadan2023
Here's a link to my recent talk
@CMC_Cambridge
: . The talk covers a wide range of ideas about the moral economy according to the teachings of
#Islamic
sacred law. I'm open to hearing your thoughts & advice on how to further develop this topic.
#Ramadan2023
@muadhchati
My dear Mufti Muadh, may Allah bless. I always appreciate and am grateful for your encouragement and support. Please pardon this late reply. The last days of Ramadan became exceedingly busy. Jazak Allahu khayran
Here is the second section, which presents a fourfold breakdown of the 'proofs' of sacred law, presents linguistic and technical explanations for these, and offers theological reflections on the relationship between legal causes and God's law.
Delighted to discuss
#Zakat
with young adults
@UKMuslimScout
. I was joined by
@IFguru
who also shared halal investing tips with them. Excited to attend
@MuslimCharities
on 2/3 & explain how
@NZF_org_uk
is 'investing' your Zakat to help people through the cost of living crisis.
'The Thinking Muslim Podcast' is a wonderful Islamic resource that many of you may already be familiar with. Yesterday we sat down to discuss a range of topics for
#Ramadan2023
. I understand this will be out next week. Follow
@thinking_muslim
to find out more.
Turning 40 – A Muslim Perspective
Working individuals often find their 40s to be a challenging decade, navigating job pressures with raising children & caring for aging parents. 1/
It was an honour to deliver my first
#Zakat
presentation to a school audience at the Islamia School for Girls in NW London this morning. The questions asked by the students were excellent! I look forward to continuing engagement with the school & other schools in the country.
I recently visited the
@NZFAus
office in Sydney. It was good to see the benefits of having a physical presence, a model we are implementing in the UK through our Community Zakat Programme (CZP) in collaboration with local masjids. 1/
It was a pleasure joining
@SALHACHIMI
in this podcast discussion, excellently hosted by Faraz Nomani. Many thanks to
@NZFAus
for arranging. We discuss the Ummah, Muslims in the West, and the meaning of community impact.
Today, I will be leading Friday prayers at Al-Noor Mosque in Christchurch & honouring the community in remembrance of the tragic events of 2019. I will share my thoughts and reflections afterwards, but must admit that I am feeling overwhelmed. 🇳🇿🚗✈️🌟
As part of
#ZakatAwarenessWeek
, I encourage you to learn more about our Zakat Champions, who work at the grassroots level, fostering a deeper connection between our diverse community of faith through Zakat. 1/
The report illustrates that for every £1 of Zakat distributed to a Muslim at risk of homelessness in 2022 to 2023, Zakat payers saved the public purse £73 in emergency support.
2/
I've considered what it means to belong to a faith community (ummah) and how to balance one's duty to local and global ummah. I've also reflected whether struggling to strengthen the community can properly be termed jihad. Here is one articulation of this.
Yesterday was another busy day for me! I went to Whitechapel to meet with Shaykh Dr Haitham Al-Haddad to learn more about the Islamic Council and discuss our work at
@NZF_org_uk
. I found it a positive and insightful meeting. 1/
Dear Friends, I started a fundraising page for the Wilaya Trust, a wonderful community-based education project in Oxford, directed by my teacher Sh Talal al-Azem. They have a good vision and are developing a needed model for holistic, community-based teaching. Please consider...
On my recent flight back to the UK from New Zealand, I occasionally checked where we were. And on one occasion i found myself flying by Sarakhs. May Allah grant us love of the Imam from these lands and benefit us with his knowledge.
Thank you to
@Islamchannel
for highlighting what we’re seeing at
@NZF_org_uk
and why we need to step up as a faith community to support each other this Ramadan. Please take a few moments to read the article here: . 1/
#Ramadan2023
✨Our other panelist is the CEO of
@NZF_org_uk
, Dr Sohail Hanif!
@sohailhanif
✨
Dr Sohail explained what the blessed month of Ramadan represents. Not just fasting, but reflection on the Holy Qur’an and being generous in giving charity to those in need!
📣 EVENT | Get Ramadan Ready 🌙
Join us for a full day of spiritually uplifting talks and interactive workshops, designed to deepen your understanding and connection to Ramadan, preparing your hearts and minds for the holiest time of the year.
🎟️ & ℹ️:
I hope your
#Ramadan
is going well so far! My sincerest thanks to everyone who joined me for Iftar in Bradford on Friday, it was a pleasure to update you about the work
@NZF_org_uk
is doing in the North West as we sat down to share food. 1/
@salyounas
May Allah bless you my dear shaykh Salman. This is the narrative we continue to develop together. I look forward to continuing this fiqh journey in your company
@muadhchati
Mufti Muadh Sahib, jazakum Allahu khayran. It's a real honour to be mentioned by a widely read and experienced fiqh teacher such as yourself. May Allah bless you and benefit many people through you.
I returned home after a week away: Birmingham, Solihull, Bradford, Keighley, Rochdale and Manchester. I became unwell and lost much of my voice. With semi voicelessness I delivered my final talk of Ramadan on Bidding Ramadan Farewell.
Now, more than ever, Muslims in the UK are in need of a community-based Zakat distribution model. I am actively seeking more mosques and community centres to join our program.
4/
@IFguru
have just released a 2h50m podcast conversation I had with the wonderful and ever inquisitive Ibrahim Khan. It is a wide ranging discussion on the topic of Zakat, with classical and modern interpretations and a bit of political theory.
Our new partners include Acton Mosque, Al-Emaan Centre in Bromley, Purely Masjid, and Bradford Foundation Trust. Each of these organisations offers a wide range of services for Muslims in their respective areas.
2/
@nottiredd
Here is a link to a presentation on commentaries: . It starts and ends with data on legal commentaries. In the middle there is a summary of the key insights of my thesis regarding how Hanafi commentaries function.
The recent events in
#Gaza
have been difficult to bear...How do we balance our concern between the local and the global? What is the best way to wish well for the Ummah? I penned the following reflective piece on this. 1/
Thanks to
@bbcasiannetwork
for talking to me about the
#CostOfLivingCrisis
& the UK Muslim community. Great to discuss the kind of cases we are seeing
@NZF_org_uk
, how we are coping with the surge in applications for
#Zakat
- and the incredible response from our Zakat payers.
I'm looking for an experienced Chief Operating Officer to lead our operational teams, oversee strategic projects, & drive organisation-wide transformation at
@NZF_org_uk
. Find out more & apply here: .
*Closing date: 30.7.23
#CharityTuesday
#charityjobs
If you have yet to pay your
#Zakat
and want to support our work at
@NZF_org_uk
, visit or call our 24-hour donation line on 03333 125 125. For more information about giving through NZF, visit .
#Ramadan
#CostOfLivingCrisis
Happy
#1stFeb
! My team
@NZF_org_uk
are looking for an experienced Head of Programmes to design & ensure the effective delivery of our flagship
#Zakat
programme. This is a fantastic opportunity to be right at the heart of our work. Find out more & apply:
Thanks to the Muslim network at
@bt_uk
for joining me for our fifth Zakat education webinar this week! Colleagues
@NZF_org_uk
will be at
@Visitmwhs
in Sheffield this evening - come & say hello if you plan on attending the special Tarawih prayers scheduled for today :)
#Ramadan
On a new road trip! Heading to New Zealand with my
@NZFAus
colleagues to help our Muslim Kiwi community kickstart their own Zakat initiative. Excited to share our expertise and give them the best chance of success. 🇳🇿🚗✈️🌟
It was an honour & a pleasure to be invited to
#Iftar
at
@lambethpalace
with a group of prominent Muslim advocates, where we were warmly welcomed by
@JustinWelby
. I discussed our work at
@NZF_org_uk
& emphasised our desire for faith communities to collaborate.
#Ramadan2023
I wish a blessed
#Eid
to everyone celebrating. May God accept your prayers, your fasts, your charity, your sleeplessness, and your fulfilling your many responsibilities while feeling at times hungry, at times thirsty and at times sleepy. Ramadan is truly a month of miracles.
I'll be answering your questions during our 'Ask the CEO' livestream at 6pm this evening! Tune in and watch on
@NZF_org_uk
's YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook channels. I'm looking forward to talking about what matters most to you. 1/
#Ramadan2023
My team removed the name of this
#Zakat
recipient from a message they recently sent to us but you can read how our Work Fund
@NZF_org_uk
made a positive difference to them in their own words below.
#CostOfLivingCrisis
It was an honour to lead the second ever Friday service at the new Kingston Muslim Youth centre (), which is a centre that will host youth activities, socials, lessons, as well as prayer services. 1/
I am honoured to share
@NZF_org_uk
's Annual Report for the year ended December 2022. This report reflects our strong commitment to transparency and accountability in managing your generous donations. 1/
Click here to can access the full report:
A pleasure to join Ilford Islamic Centre &
@MuslimahAsso
for the first of our
#Ramadan
workshops on
#Zakat
yesterday. Speak to our new Head of Fundraising & Community Engagement
@AsifMalik1970
about arranging a workshop at your place of worship, faith or professional network.
Is Housing the biggest crisis facing UK
#Muslims
?
Housing has always been a key part of
@NZF_org_uk
. When we started in 2011 it was to provide shelter for women and families escaping domestic violence. 1/
Calling all business owners and self-employed Muslims! We invite you to join us for a special online event with
@ibrahimkhan
& Mufti
@farazadam2
this evening, designed specifically to help you calculate your Zakat this
#Ramadan2023
. It's free! We look forward to seeing you there.
I'm looking for a Head of Programmes to join our team at
@NZF_org_uk
. If you're as passionate about faith-based causes & helping those in need as we are, this is the perfect opportunity for you. The deadline for applications is tomorrow:
#CharityTuesday
For more information about my visit to Parliament and to download our report, please visit
@NZF_org_uk
at: .
I would like to extend my thanks to
@AfzalKhanMCR
and
@HinaBokhariLD
for their support during our launch.
#JummahMubarak
from
@NZF_org_uk
.
We had a truly amazing experience connecting with Islamic societies in the workplace during
#Ramadan
, like at the Bank of England, through our free Zakat education webinars – both in-person and virtually. 1/
Last year, you helped us bring comfort to over 17,000 people through your
#Zakat
but more people are waiting for support. I hope you will consider making some of your Zakat contribution in the UK with us again this
#Ramadan
: .
Individuals in the local Barking and surrounding areas can now directly approach the mosque to apply for Zakat. This fundamental pillar of our faith is now accessible to those in need without any unnecessary delays. 2/
God-willing, they will soon be providing Zakat assistance to those most in need, who are often ignored or unknown even within our close-knit communities.
3/
I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the wonderful Muslim network at Lloyds Banking Group
@LBGplc
for inviting me to lead a
#Zakat
education webinar for 110 of their members today. 1/
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting some excellent organisations and individuals at a conference entitled 'The Blessings of the Collective' organised by
@muslimcharities
. 1/
It was an absolute pleasure to host
@tawfiquec
from Mercy Mission yesterday. I was delighted to introduce him to some of our newest members at
@NZF_org_uk
and to reconnect him with those who have been with us since the beginning of our journey 10 years ago.
We are so thankful to the
@Muslimdoctors
Association for selecting us as their official charity partner for their annual
#iftar
yesterday. 1/
#Ramadan2023
Join me for an 'Ask the CEO' livestream on Friday 14th April at 6pm! We'll be discussing
#Zakat
&
@NZF_org_uk
& I'll be answering your questions. You won't want to miss it - tune in and watch on our YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook channels. See you there!
#Ramadan2023
If you have yet to pay your
#Zakat
and want to support our work at
@NZF_org_uk
, please join us in making a difference and visit or call our 24-hour donation line on 03333 125 125. 1/
#Ramadan2023