from Imam Chris Caras
This article was originally published as a submission to Muslim Matters. The version below is nearly identical, with only a couple words added. When I was studying Islam in Medinah, the question of this article was one that burned deep into my mind. We learned the difference between the statement of a mufti and the ruling of a qāḍī. Muftis tell questioners what they should do with respect to…
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Contents The Salaf and the People of Innovation. 8 Al-JarH wa al-Ta`deel and “Refutation culture”. 17 The narration of “the splitting of the Ummah” [حديث افتراق الأمة] and the “saved sect”. 20 So how do we understand this narration? 24 A not-so-new paradigm for understanding Ahlus-Sunnah vs Ahl-bid`ah. 26 Positions among the Salaf regarding taking knowledge from the people…
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم، والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، أما بعد This is the third article in a series I am devoting to explain the faults of the western Salafi da`wah. I write these as having been one who lived eating and drinking Salafiyyah for a period long enough to be familiar with their positions and justifications. And like the rest of this series, on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being a…
O Allah guide us all to success in what You love and are pleased with, and purify our intentions, making them pure for You and the Hereafter, devoid of ostentation. Ameen This piece was written more like a discussion, as if I am sitting with the reader on opposite chairs. I originally wrote it as an e-mail to a frantic sister over a year ago. I’ve only edited and added some bits and pieces since…
This is the beginning of a new article series. I expect this one to have 4 or 5 installments. I will take my time writing them, as some require a little research. This series is entitled reflections and thoughts, and that is exactly how it comes off. More like a rant, admittedly, than a systematic evidence-based refutation. The reason being, I just don’t have the time to waste with these people.…
What does the imam do in his office all day? Contents Imam Care. 1 What the imam means to the community. 2 From whom should you learn? The local imam? Or the celebrity YouTube daa’iyah? 4 Time management 5 The Imam’s family. 6 Personal health, diet, and exercise. 7 Continued Education. 8 Sharpening the saw.. 10 [How much] Should Imams be compensated? 11 Job Security. 15 The Ideal Imam.. 17 In…
In the previous articles of this 5-part series, I spoke about the duties of the imam at length. In this article, I cover what goes on behind the scenes at the masjid and how it affects the imam. I should also state that issues of leadership are ijtihadi. Rarely is there is a perfect undeniable solution. But wisdom is the lost provision of the believer. Wherever he finds it, he seizes it. That…
For the third part of my series on what an imam does, I cover other essential aspects of the imam s career. This includes all that falls under the heading of outreach and then inreach . I then present what the imam actually does in his office. I ll give you a hint: it s mostly communications! And finally I touch on a couple other not-so-common duties that some imams may take up although I…
In my previous post in this series I discussed the fundamental and regular duties of a typical religious director. In this post, I cover the work that meets people at different stages of their lives. Contents Sunday School Administration and Teaching. 1 Youth. 3 Marriage. 5 Counseling. 7 Divorce. 9 Death. 11 Sunday School Administration and Teaching This is one part of the imaamah that I have,…
“The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a man of the people! He wasn’t holed up somewhere waiting for people to come to him. Rather he engaged them, not only in the musalla, but in the streets, at their homes, in the marketplace!” “Why doesn’t the imam lead all the prayers? That’s the name of the job(!!!). Why is he out having lunch with some businessmen who never attend prayers when it’s iqamah time!” “Why…