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This book presents a collection of short articles that focus on the Hajj and how Islamic Law seeks to make the Hajj easy. I have drawn these articles from my much longer work: A Commentary on the Book of Hajj from `Umdah al-Fiqh. In this present work, I deal with some very pertinent issues that Muslims need to know about. These are issues of general relevance that people frequently ask about and wherein many people face unnecessary hardships. Some of these articles have previously appeared in a different form, either on the IslamToday website or in various newspapers, where they have been well received by the public. They have also received the recommendation of members of the scholarly community. This positive reception has encouraged me to republish these articles in book form.

[Excerpt from the book]
I was once asked by some Muslims in California to participate in a conference that they were holding. They suggested the topic: “Approaches to Re-examining Contemporary Islamic Issues”. I presented to them a talk by telephone. Soon thereafter, I was requested by a group at the International Islamic University in Kuala Lumpur to present a lecture on renewal in Islamic Law. After presenting both lectures, I realized that their topics overlapped to a considerable degree and I decided to bring the two lectures together in the body of a larger work.

[Excerpt from the book]
A friend had written to me a while back asking about the Mahdî and my assessment of what is presently being circulated on the Internet regarding his appearance, the signs foretelling his arrival, and the dreams that people have about him. He also urged me to deal with the particulars of this topic. I responded to this brother that what is being circulated about the Mahdî is baseless and has no bearing on reality whatsoever. These reports amount to nothing more than rumors and wishful thinking on the part of those who have fallen into despair.

[Excerpt from the book]
The Qur'ân came to humanity after all the previous revealed scriptures had either been lost or, like the Torah and the Gospel , corrupted. Allah speaks about how people had corrupted the scriptures, saying: “Woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say: ‘This is from Allah' to gain from it a paltry price. So woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they gain from it.” [ Sûrah al-Baqarah : 79]

[Excerpt from the book]
The struggle between Islam and secularism is nothing new. It is just the age old struggle between Islam and Jâhiliyyah in a new guise. Jâhiliyyah, the way of ignorance, comes in many forms, has many names, and adopts various symbols, but it always has the same common denominator – polytheism. The conflict between Islam and secularism is none other than the conflict between Islam and polytheism. It is the struggle against the enemies of the Prophets that began in antiquity when Allah sent the very first Prophet to humanity and it will continue until Allah puts an end to the Earth and everything on it.

[Excerpt from the book]
It is the duty of all who know the truth and know the evidence supporting it to convey it to the people and make it clear, especially in these times when Islam has come to be viewed as strange and good and evil have become confused with one another. Few people today are willing to raise their heads and declare the truth.

We can take solace in the following words of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him): “Islam began strange and it will become strange again, so give glad tidings to the strangers.”

[Excerpt from the book]
One of the pitfalls that a student can fall into is to seek knowledge for its own sake. Knowledge is a desire like any other human desire. It can be sought for the pure pleasure of acquiring it and not for the sake of Allah. People love to discover new things. It is a natural human inclination. When a person strives long and hard to find something out, then comes upon the answer, it can be quite exhilarating. This encourages him to study further.

[Excerpt from the book]
If we look at the societies that exist and have existed throughout the world, we find that some of the institutions commonly associated with civil existence may not be present. There have been societies without schools, for instance, and societies without industry, and even societies without government. On the other hand, there has never been a society on Earth without homes in which families could take comfort. It does not matter whether the society is rich or poor, large or small, Muslim or non-Muslim. Families dwell in homes and homes exist in all human societies. An institution of such pervasive and universal importance warrants our attention.

[Excerpt from the book] When a contemporary development comes along with sweeping implications and numerous interrelated causes, many people, even some who are supposed to be specialists, begin to talk about it glibly. It is as if the novelty and general interest of the matter strips it of the aura of respect that matters of Islamic Law are supposed to command. People tend to view the issue as an example of Islamic Law's flexibility or as a matter of public domain. They forget the implications that the matter must have for the rights and welfare of the people as a whole - which are the very things that Islamic Law has come to secure and uphold.

[Excerpt from the book] [ A Discussion on Independent Juristic Reasoning in Islamic Law ] "When a person gives an Islamic legal ruling on an issue, he is in effect speaking on behalf of Allah. This should not come as a surprise to anyone. When a person gives an Islamic ruling, he is not being asked about his personal opinion, his attitudes, his likes, or dislikes. He is being asked about the ruling that has been given on a matter by Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him)."

[Excerpt from the book] "A person can receive great rewards from Allah on account of his good intentions alone, even if he is prevented from carrying out the intended deed. On the other hand, the deeds that he performs can become bereft of blessings if they are not accompanied by a good intention. Such deeds can actually be sinful."

[Excerpt from the book] "Everything that Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) came with is our religion, and we should be concerned about it. It should never become an object of jest or mockery. No one who acts upon it should be criticized. At the same time, everything should be given the amount of attention that it warrants, and the relative importance of everything must be taken into consideration."
[Excerpt from the book]

The individual is the basic element from which all principles and beliefs are brought forth, and upon which all nations and civilizations are built. If a nation is successful in developing its people as strong and complete individuals, then, with Allah's help, it will be able to realize a glorious future for itself. It will also be able to promote and defend its religion and its beliefs. If, on the other hand, a nation fails to develop its individual members, or if its people are deficient in carrying out some of the activities of life, then that nation is doomed to weakness, destruction, and obscurity. [Excerpt from the book]

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A Muslim reads this magnificent chapter of the Qur'ân many times throughout the day with every unit of prayer that he or she performs. This is because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is no prayer without the opening chapter of the Book." The commentators of this hadîth explain to us that this chapter must be read in every unit of the formal prayers. This shows just how important and esteemed this chapter is. All Muslims - not to mention the students of knowledge among them - should contemplate the meanings found within it, because Allah chose it from among all the chapters and verses of the Qur'ân for us to repeat in our prayers, and He did so from His divine wisdom.
[Excerpt from the book]
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