Unveiling Islam

Core Beliefs of Theological Islam A Deep Dive Introduction Islam is not merely a cultural identity or geopolitical phenomenon—it is first and foremost a theological system defined by its scriptures and core doctrines. At its heart lies a set of foundational beliefs derived from the Qur'an (considered the literal word of God) and the Hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad). These beliefs form the basis of what is widely known as orthodox Sunni Islam , followed by approximately 85–90% of Muslims globally. This post conducts a detailed analysis of these theological tenets, their sources, implications, and internal coherence. 1. Tawhid (Absolute Monotheism) Definition: Tawhid is the belief in the absolute oneness and uniqueness of Allah. It is the central pillar around which all Islamic theology revolves. Qur’anic Support: "Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent." — Qur’an 112:1–4 Im...

🧵 Halal Hypocrisy When the Moral Code Obsesses Over Fabric but Forgets Ethics Subtitle:   Why Islamic law condemns gold thread but condones gender inequality, violence, and slavery. 📜 Introduction: The Law of Loopholes In Islam’s labyrinth of religious rulings, one finds something almost comedic— gold and silk are haram for men , but marrying a child, beating a wife, or owning a concubine is not . Let that settle. The same legal tradition that forbids the elegance of a silk shirt has no issue legalizing systemic inequality, judicial brutality, and patriarchal control . Welcome to the moral theater of halal hypocrisy —a code that polices style while it permits oppression. 🧂 The Fabric Fetish Islamic jurisprudence developed a peculiar obsession with textiles and materials: Men can’t wear gold rings or silk garments . Images of living beings are banned on fabric or walls. Dogs and musical instruments are impure —sometimes due to their presence in art. This hy...

What Counts as Apostasy in Islam?  A Look Through Salafi Teachings “A Muslim may apostatize from his religion by doing many acts that nullify Islam, which makes it permissible to shed his blood and seize his wealth.” — IslamQA (Salafi website) In this post, we explore a subject central to Islamic law as understood by Salafi Islam : apostasy (Arabic: riddah ). The discussion is based primarily on the teachings of IslamQA.info , a globally popular Salafi website, and reflects the jurisprudence of the Hanbali school and Salafi creed , rooted in the works of classical scholars and authorities like Ibn Taymiyyah , Ibn Bāz , Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb , and Ibn ʿUthaymīn . This article makes no critique , but simply presents how apostasy is defined, categorized, and penalized within that traditional framework. What is Apostasy (Riddah) in Islam? Apostasy refers to a Muslim leaving Islam —either through belief, speech, or action. In the Salafi tradition, apostasy is not merely...

👔 Banning of Gold and Silk for Men Modesty or Misogyny in Disguise? Subtitle: When luxury for men was outlawed—but domination remained lawful. 🕌 Introduction: The Odd Prohibition In the intricate maze of Islamic jurisprudence, men are forbidden from wearing gold and silk —two of the most prized materials in human history. According to numerous hadiths, Prophet Muhammad allegedly banned men from wearing these items, declaring them reserved for women or the afterlife. At first glance, this might look like an act of ascetic humility —a spiritual denial of vanity for men. But dig deeper, and you uncover a paradox: A religion that forbids gold on a man’s wrist allows a whip in his hand over his wife. This isn’t modesty. It’s a moral diversion . 📜 The Hadiths Behind the Ban The prohibition is rooted not in the Qur’an but in Hadith literature : “These two (gold and silk) are forbidden for the males of my Ummah and permitted for the females.” — Sunan Abu Dawud 4057 “Who...

Sacred Silence How Dissent Was Buried Beneath the Robes of the Ulama The Construction of Religious Authority and the Death of Critical Thought Summary Claim: Far from being a bastion of open debate and intellectual vitality, the Islamic tradition—especially in its post-prophetic institutional form—developed mechanisms to suppress dissent , muzzle reinterpretation , and enshrine clerical control . This post exposes how the ‘ulamā’ (religious scholars) became not just interpreters of divine will, but gatekeepers of thought—burying dissent under robes of sanctity. 1. The Qur’an: A Book Without Intermediaries? At its origin, the Qur’an seems to present a direct relationship between the believer and God: "We are closer to him than his jugular vein." — Qur’an 50:16 "No compulsion in religion." — Qur’an 2:256 "Do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are there locks upon their hearts?" — Qur’an 47:24 These verses suggest the personal responsibility o...

⚖️ From Fatwa to Firepower When Islamic Law Became the Caliph’s Sword Subtitle:   How Sharia was forged into a weapon not of wisdom—but of war, obedience, and political dominance. 🔰 Introduction: The Birth of a Legal Leviathan In theory, Sharia means "the path to water"—a poetic image of divine guidance and moral refreshment. In practice, for much of Islamic history, Sharia was a sword , sharpened not by prophets but by caliphs and jurists, and wielded to serve not God but governments. Fatwas became weapons. Scholars became enforcers. Law became power—and power rewrote the law. This is the story of how divine law was not merely interpreted but instrumentalized , turning legal opinions (fatwas) into instruments of state control and religious violence. 🏛 Sharia’s Imperial Conversion: Law by the Ruler, for the Ruler The Early Umayyad Shift After the death of Muhammad, power shifted quickly to rulers who had no prophetic authority , only political ambition. ...

🕌 The Minbar State How the Pulpit Became a Throne in Islamic Governance Subtitle:   When the sermon became a sword and the imam a state official, faith transformed into a function of power. 🔰 Introduction: Not Just a Sermon In the modern imagination, a pulpit is a platform for moral clarity, ethical exhortation, and spiritual reflection. But in the Islamic world, the minbar — the elevated platform from which Friday sermons (khutbahs) are delivered — has not always served this noble purpose. Instead, it has often become a throne for the state , a political loudspeaker cloaked in divine robes. The minbar did not remain a place for truth; it became a mechanism of control. Let’s explore how Islam’s central preaching platform was co-opted by caliphs, sultans, and kings — and why the echoes of that transformation still shape geopolitics today. 📜 From Medina to Empire: The Minbar’s Political Genesis The minbar’s origins trace back to Prophet Muhammad himself, who used it...

Prayer as Power How Islamic Supplication Serves the Political Agenda Subtitle:   Behind the veil of piety lies a strategy: spiritual invocations as instruments of social control and state policy. 🧎 Introduction: When Worship Becomes a Weapon Prayer is meant to be personal. Supplication (duʿāʾ) is intended to express vulnerability, gratitude, and humility before the Divine. But in Islam — especially when shaped by political power — supplication often becomes a spectacle . A calculated performance. A tool of theological signaling. From Saudi Arabia to Tehran, from pulpits to parliaments, we find a recurring theme: Islamic duʿāʾ is often less about submission to God and more about domination over others. This isn't just accidental. It's deliberate — and historical. In Islam, supplication serves the state . 📡 The Minbar and the Microphone: Public Prayer as Political Theater Walk into a mosque in the Islamic world during Friday khutbahs , Ramadan nights, or wartime cr...

🕌 From Du’a to Division How Supplications Became Weapons in Islamic Liturgy Subtitle:  What begins as prayer ends as a curse — a ritualized hostility sanctified five times a day. 🧎 Introduction: When Worship Wounds Prayer is supposed to elevate the soul, unify the people, and connect humanity to the divine. But in the Islamic context, especially in formal communal worship, prayer often turns partisan — a blunt theological weapon wielded not for introspection but for aggression. Behind the façade of peaceful supplication lies a disturbing truth: Islam’s liturgical prayers — especially the oft-recited du’a al-qunūt — are less about seeking mercy and more about invoking curses. These aren't fringe additions. They're routine in mosques worldwide — publicly recited, emotionally charged, and targeted . 📖 Qunūt: The Sacred Supplication That Became Sectarian Du’a al-Qunūt is a special supplication included in certain daily prayers, especially during times of hardship , Ramadan ...