21. June 2017

WHEN Imam Zuhri, a famous scholar of Sunna (Prophet Muhammad's traditions), indicated to Qasim ibn Muhammd (a scholar of the Qur'an), a desire to seek knowledge, Qasim advised him to join the assembly of a well-known woman jurist of the day, Amara bin Al-Rahman. Imam Zuhri attended her assembly and later described her as "a boundless ocean of knowledge." In fact, Amra instructed a number of famed scholars, such as Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Hazama, and Yahya ibn Said. Amra was not an anomaly in...

19. June 2017

Free Download in 4 Parts. Dr. Abou El Fadl presents the lives of Muslim women jurists, as documented from the original Arabic texts, and discusses what the facts of their lives reveal about their position as women, jurists and teachers in Islamic history. Link to Listen/Download on Hightail.com

08. June 2017

Walakum salam, May Allah accept your fasts and good deeds this Ramadan and eternally. I appreciate your response to my email and I cannot wait to read your new book next year insha Allah. May Allah give you health and happiness. I pray to Allah that we continue to have such learned people such as yourself to assist Muslims in their journey to knowing Allah and serving Him as best as we can. If you have the time to answer this one last question I would truly appreciate it. But if you cannot I...

15. March 2017

ASA Dr. Abou El Fadl, I need to understand why Allah would give men inheritance rights that are superior to women. I believe Allah is Just and I am not understanding the text. Recently, my father in law passed away and the estate was dissolved and funds transferred to the family members. My husband and his brother received much more than their sisters and I don’t understand the wisdom behind this. Help! [Name Withheld for Privacy] ********************* Al-salamu ‘alaykum, Thank you for...

30. January 2017

Dear Dr. Abou El Fadl, First I'd like to thank you for your efforts and thoughts, which I very much appreciate. I wanted to reach out to you however for a personal Enquiry or rather a spiritual crisis as you once called it. I have seen your fatwa on Hijab, thinking it will relieve my struggle but I'm still unsure of which way to go. I have been wearing the headscarf for 24 years (since I was 16) out of strong urge by sheikhs and the belief that it is mandatory, and the strong fear that I'd be...

15. November 2016

Asalamalaikum Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl, I am writing to you with a great sense of urgency. I'm hoping to get some insight in the following matter. My muslim daughter wishes to marry a man who is from a christian background but who is not a follower of the Christian faith. He believes in the oneness of god and he has no objection to my daughter or their future children practicing Islam. I would like to know whether a Nikaah is permissible in this particular situation. I have met with a couple of...

15. September 2016

Assalamu Alaikum Brother, Want to ask a question on whether it is permissible for a Muslim girl to study a degree in a mixed university if the degree is something which can be given back to the community like science? Best Regards, [Name Withheld for Privacy] ******************** Al-salamu ‘alaykum, I pray that Allah grants you peace, mercy, and repose. There is no evidence that ikhtilat (the mixing of sexes) in educational contexts is haram, as long as you lower your gaze and exercise...

30. June 2016

Dear Dr. Abou El Fadl, I would like to begin by saying that I am an avid reader of your work, and have a deep respect for the Islamic tradition. If it isn't too bothersome, I just have a few questions that I have yet to find satisfying answers too. A good friend of mine recently confronted me on the issue of the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) wife, Aisha. I was rather confounded on how to answer, particularly because he phrased the question approximately as such: "Did...

04. June 2011

Keynote Lecture, Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl Inspire Conference London, June 4, 2011 The Conference of the Books: The Search for Beauty in Islam[1] is very dear to my heart. I often tell my students that this is the one book that I want buried with me so that I can hold it in my defense in the Hereafter. The Conference of the Books invites the reader to share with me what can only be described as truly intimate and metaphysical and transcendental moments that scholars are often not honest enough to...

05. April 2010

Salaam Aliekum, Dear Brother Khaled, We here at [Name Withheld for Privacy] have a small problem which I hope you can advise us on. Having met you when you did a NPR program at the MIT auditorium, and being a frequent distributor of the book, "The Place of Tolerance in Islam," to friends, I believe you might be able to offer some guidance in the following matter: For the past two years the young students here, male and female, have been guided in prayer by a young man, Egyptian, raised in Saudi...