SAUM – THE DISCIPLINE OF SELF-RESTRAINT By Paigham Mustafa Fasting is commonly understood as abstaining from food and drink, usually for religious or penitential purposes. Cruden’s Concordance notes that across cultures, fasting has been associated with mourning, sorrow and affliction—an observation borne out in the religious history of many peoples. Among the Jews, fasting functioned largely as a sign of grief. David is said to have fasted for seven days during the illness o

Was the West Ever Civilised? By Paigham Mustafa Western civilisation likes to present itself as the apex of human progress: rational, humane, law-bound. It claims a moral lineage running from Magna Carta to human rights law, from parliamentary democracy to universal values. Yet when measured not by rhetoric but by outcomes—by who benefits and who pays the price—the story looks far less flattering. A civilisation is not defined by its monuments, markets or military reach. It i

Misogyny? Debunking the ‘Tilled Women’ Myth By Paigham Mustafa Ex-Muslims and atheists routinely weaponise verse 2:223 of the Quran to ridicule Islam, alleging that it sanctions the abuse of women by likening them to fields to be ‘tilled’. If anything warrants ridicule, it is the ignorance of these belligerent critics—for their objection collapses the moment one engages with what the Quran is actually conveying. No amount of outrage can rewrite human biology. The intimate pro

BEYOND ORIGINS How Free Will Defines What We Become By Paigham Mustafa When a student once ask[1]ed Noam Chomsky, “Is there free will?”’, he replied, “Did anyone compel you to ask this question?” “No.” said the student. “There,” replied Chomsky, “you have your answer.” The exchange captures a simple yet powerful truth: freedom feels self-evident. We question, deliberate and act with an immediate awareness that our choices, in some meaningful sense, belong to us. Yet this

Deen–Islam: A Dynamic System of Life Beyond Ritual and Abstraction The Deen-Islam as preserved in the Quran is the most rational means of improving the human condition in an enduring manner. Unlike religion, it is not about an individual’s quest for personal salvation but a collective system for universal welfare and progress. It is understandable that many readers of the Quran—particularly those who regard themselves as progressive thinkers—seek to reinterpret or expand its

The Real Problem Behind Anti-Islamic Rhetoric – and Why Muslims Keep Handing Their Critics the Weapons By Paigham Mustafa Anti-Islamic sentiment is nothing new. It has existed in one form or another throughout history. But the current wave of hostility sweeping through parts of America and Europe feels especially venomous — more organised, more far-reaching, and amplified by a digital echo chamber that thrives on outrage. This new generation of agitators may be few in number,

What should people study to understand your beliefs? A discussion about Islam, the Quran or God should not begin as a contest of winning and losing, but as an attempt to understand one another honestly. Meaningful dialogue comes from clarity and reflection, not hostility. Before debating beliefs, it is worth recognising the common ground we already share: we are all human beings trying to navigate life, morality, purpose, and relationships. Whether religious or non-religious,

The Quran NME: Accurate and Accessible in a way other renditions are not The Quran: New Millennium Exposition (Quran NME) represents a deliberate and necessary departure from conventional approaches to the translation of the Quran. Its defining strength lies in its rigorous engagement with the Classical Arabic root system, ensuring a level of accuracy that other renditions do not achieve. Rather than offering a simple rewording of the Arabic text, the Quran NME presents a

An Incomparable Feature Of The Quran While translations of the Quran may be open to misinterpretation or distortion, the original Arabic text is not. From its revelation, it has been carefully preserved through both writing and memorisation—now by millions worldwide, including many non-Arabic speakers. It remains unique in this regard. Even if all physical copies were lost, it could be accurately reproduced from memory. Regardless of how far people may stray, the Quran stands

Individuals need balance to grow and flourish, society too depends on balance to function and prosper. When socio-economic justice is displaced turmoil takes over from peace, personal development falters and social wellbeing declines. Society becomes fragmented and chaos ensues.

Without unity, there can be no peace. Divisions based on religion, ethnicity, nationalism, or racism continue to fuel conflict and suffering. In the absence of a universal way of life, humanity remains fragmented into competing groups, making lasting peace, security, and shared prosperity impossible. The Quran directly addresses this reality, consistently calling for the unity of humankind. Islam, as presented in the Quran, is described as Deen—a concept that goes beyond reli

We Can Deny God, But Can We Deny Order? The question of belief — and the freedom to believe or not — sits at the heart of human existence. Every civilisation must wrestle with it; every individual must answer it. Belief may appear personal or cultural, but in the Quranic view it expresses a universal law — the law of freedom: the liberty to choose truth or falsehood, justice or injustice, growth or decay. What we choose determines the outcome. C. S. Lewis puts this aptly: “