St Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Paradise, trans. Sebastian Brock (Crestwood NY: St Vladimir?s Seminary Press, 1990).
Compiled by Asif Iqbal
Page 119
Strophy 7.1
In times of temptation
console yourselves with God’s promises,
for there is no deceit
in the word of Him who repays all,
and His treasure house is not so paltry
that we should doubt His promise;
He has surrendered His own Son forRead more ..

Asif Iqbal
If the Qur’?nic verses mentioning houris are carefully placed and critically studied in the order of their revelation, then the following picture emerges ? the transition from the more sensual to the more spiritual ? be especially noteworthy:
* First Meccan Period (i.e., from the first to the fifth year of the Prophet’s Mission, 612?17 CE) (classification after Th.Read more ..

Asif Iqbal
It has already pointed out previously that the Arabic word “hur al-ayn” (houris), meaning a beautiful, voluptuous woman, was already well known in the pre-Islamic Arabia and many instances of its usage have been preserved in the pre-Islamic poetry.
Some examples may be seen as follows:

Running translation: “And the maidens like ivory statues white of eyes, did we capture.”

RunningRead more ..

Mohd Elfie Nieshaem Juferi
We note with regret that many Muslims do not have the proper knowledge about the al-Aqsa mosque and its exact area and buildings. Some believe that the Dome of the Rock is the al-Aqsa Mosque while others are mixed up over the term “al-Aqsa” mosque. Hence, we find it necessary to write on this issue to clearRead more ..

Hesham Azmy[1]
The Jewish Orientalist Ignaz Goldziher claimed that the Umayyad Caliph cAbd al-Malik ibn Marwan had built the Dome of the Rock to prevent the people of Syria and Iraq from the Hajj (pilgrimage) to Makkah and in order to religiously justify this act, his friend Al-Zuhri fabricated the hadith of “Do not set out on a journey…” Goldziher’s chargeRead more ..

Mohd Elfie Nieshaem Juferi

The most universally recognized symbol of Jerusalem is not a Jewish or Christian holy place but a Muslim one: the Dome of the Rock, or Qubbat as-Sakhra as it is known in Arabic. When people see its golden dome rising above the open expanse of Haram as-Shareef, they think of only one place in the world. TheRead more ..

Mohd Elfie Nieshaem Juferi

The purpose of this article is to explain the significance of Jerusalem, or also known to Muslims as Bayt al-Maqdis (The Holy House) or simply al-Quds (The Holy); and the Haram As-Shareef (The Noble Sanctuary) area from the viewpoint of Islam and Muslims. At the same time, we also seek to look at the common objections ofRead more ..