Assalamu 'alaykum everyone!
So in the last week, the most common relevant issues that folks have been approaching me with are the three below, and I thought I'd write a few words on them. As everyone locks in to their Deen for these last ten auspicious nights, there is a particular responsibility on practising Muslims, experienced Muslims and students of knowledge to ensure they remain educated and educate others as well to protect key aspects of our deen and identity. So let me say:
1. The current situation in the Middle East
However all that mess is being sold to you, have no doubt there is only one side you should be supporting.
Israel has not attacked Iran directly and false-flagging in the Gulf left right and centre, because of any other reason except that Islam is a threat to them.
Our support remains with the Muslims. Iranians are Muslims. The fact that the majority of them belong to the Shi'ah sect, doesn't make them non-Muslim. As for their leaders and scholars then that's a different story. Your heart should ache and your du'as should flow for all the believers that are being killed in the region, whether Shi'i in Lebanon and Iran, or the Sunnis in the same regions and the Gulf in the wider fitnah. This is not the time to remind everyone what a criminal entity Iran is and their crimes, recent and historical. Now is the time to stand on the right side of Deen and history. And you should ensure that no deviation in their 'Aqidah justifies any of Israel's or the USA's aims. Please educate those who can't get their heads around 'Aqidah 101.
2. My current Zakat recommendations
Every year, we get the same drama. Someone, somewhere, is trying to justify using Zakat for some unacceptable reason. I have covered this issue in so much detail over the years that nobody needs any more info on this. But you still have to stay alert, because there will always be a new fatwa or three (the American Fiqh Council and their political use one, for example) and there will always be a new charity initiative that tries it too.
This year's bakrah was IFG's "Zakat Fund" where the usual mistakes were made. And they are mistakes. Nothing more. Ignore all the Youtubers and click-bait Muslims who desperately pray for these moments so they can market "refutation" and "defending the Deen" content and build their brands. This was not wilful evil or whatever from our brothers. And as expected from IFG, they swiftly fixed the problem alhamdulillah.
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1March 9, 2026 1.6K 25
