by Kanwal Ahmed, MD, Al-Amin Ethics Student, Psychiatry Resident Dr Kanwal Ahmed, a student of Shaykh Amin, takes us to the shores of hope and creativity “beyond colonialism”. This paper summarizes Shaykh Amin’s address delivered at the Islamic Association of Addison on Jumada II 12, 1446 AH (December 13, 2024). In recent history, many […]
Author: Al-Amin Ethics Webmaster
Dream Interpretation in Islam: A Challenge to AI
by Dr. Zamir Syed, PhD The following is a delicious exposé of the deficiency in AI as it pertains to dream interpretation. The recent craze and fascination with A.I. is creating a mindset of disengagement from human beings and indeed human interaction. At Darul Qasim, we see the learning and transferring of knowledge as a […]
The Meaning of Iqra
The command iqraʾ (اقْرَأْ) given to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at the beginning of Sūrat al-ʿAlaq is frequently translated as a command to “read.” Through the illuminating insights of our ʿulamāʾ, we understand that iqraʾ is more than the act of reading text. It signifies the initiation of recitation, which itself is connected with nūr […]
Iqra
The epistemological framework by which Muslims derive truth affirms that the quintessential source of truth, without doubt, is revealed knowledge—knowledge in both word and spirit. As Muslims, when defining anything, we lean upon this source to shed light on how we should perceive any creation, whether tangible or intangible. The command to “Read” invites reflection: […]
How to Read
In both English and Arabic, “to read” is an action that is beyond the common colloquial use of the word. If you were to ask someone what the word means without any context, its likely that they would say it has something to do with combining letters into words. But the meaning is much more […]
IQRA
This essay aims to contextualize and interpret the command of Allah, Iqra (recite), as presented in Verse 1 of Surah Al-Alaq, the 96th chapter of the Quran. A closer examination of this command highlights underscores the significance of understanding the Quran through the lens ofthe Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Additionally, this essay will […]
How to Read Beyond a Book
In these lectures, Shaykh Amin challenges the popular understanding of the word “iqraʾ” in Sūrat al-ʿAlaq by pointing out that the object of the command is omitted, leaving it to the reader to fill in. He demonstrates the flexibility of the English word “read”, then reflects that flexibility and creativity to the Arabic. He then […]
Islamic Ethics Course
Course Background Darul Qasim College’s purpose is to facilitate learning and teaching from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Within the context of this purpose, Shaykh Mohammad Amin Kholwadia has developed courses in bioethics, tech-ethics, and legal ethics and has created a unique and vibrant academic space where professionals and ʿulamāʾ can work together in answering some of the […]
The Crisis in Gaza is Every Physician’s Crisis
First published on darulqasim.org Authors: Deena Kishawi, MD; Omar Jamil, MD; Omar Hussain, DO; Umar Shakur, DO; Corresponding Author: Omar Hussain, DO On November 7th, Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson for the World Health Organization, reported that 160 healthcare workers have died in the service of patients in Gaza (1). The WHO also reports dwindling supplies, overwhelmed […]
The 2022 Bioethics Conference in Dallas
What is the ‘Muslim’ response to June 24th, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing states to develop their own standards for abortion laws? How can shifāʾ — the all-encompassing cure mentioned in the Quran — inform the modern drug development pipeline? Where can Muslim physicians draw on their desire for ihsān (excellence) to improve care for patients, be they Muslim or not? Muslim physicians likely account for at least 4.5% of all practicing physicians in America, but beyond our strength in numbers, what else can we offer to the broader society that is informed by our Islam?