Author: Dr Ovamir Anjum

Uwaymir Anjum is the Imam Khattab Chair of Islamic Studies at the Department of Philosophy, University of Toledo. He is also professor of Islamic Intellectual History at Qatar University. He studies the connections between theology, ethics, politics, and law in classical and medieval Islam, with a subfocus on its comparisons with western thought. Related fields of study include Islamic philosophy and Sufism. His dissertation, published in 2012 by Cambridge University Press, is entitled Politics, Law, and Community in Islamic Thought: The Taymiyyan Moment. His translation of Ibn al-Qayyim's Madârij Al-Sâlikîn is forthcoming.

Learned Helplessness

IN 1965, MARTIN E.P. Seligman, while studying the relationship between fear and learning, accidentally discovered an unexpected phenomenon while doing experiments on dogs using Pavlovian (classical conditioning) technique. Seligman used a harmless electric shock to condition and restrain the dog so it…

Translation from Ibn Al-Qayyim’s Madarij Al-Salikin (Steps of the Seekers) | The Station of Remembrance (Thikr) | Part 4

Heedlessness and Remembrance Dhikr Said The author of Manâzil Al-Sâ’irîn, Shaykh ʿAbdullâh Al-Anṣâri] Al-Harawi (d. 482/1089), said: “Remembrance (Dhikr) is to be rid of heedlessness and forgetfulness.” The difference between heedlessness and forgetfulness is that heedlessness is willful neglect whereas forgetfulness is…

God Knows History

AS I WAS reading the history of the Dravidian religion of India that prevailed before the coming of the Aryans from the north, I was struck with horror by the “religious” beliefs and practices. There existed sects who worshiped the male sexual…

Translation from Ibn Al-Qayyim’s Madarij Al-Salikin (Steps of the Seekers) | The Station of Remembrance (Thikr) | Part1

AMONG THE STATIONS of worship and reliance is the station of remembrance. Remembrance is the great station of the people [of the divine path]. From it, they take [provision] for their journey. In it, they deal. And to it, they constantly return.…

The Ansar and Us

THE NAME OF Anṣâr never fails to evoke undertones of sacrifice, submission, and love of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ and warm sentiments of appreciation in our hearts. There is much for us to learn from their lives. Is there something common…

Qur’anic Interpretation | Part 2 | Tadabbur and the Need for Scholarly Explanation

IN PART ONE of this series, we addressed the basic misconceptions that cause Muslims to be deprived of the real message and infinite wisdom of the Quran. On the one hand, many self-proclaimed interpreters, denying the need for recourse to any classical…

Qur’anic Interpretation | Part 1 | Valid Interpretations of the Layman

IN THIS TWO-PART article, we address the basic misconceptions that cause Muslims to be deprived of the real message and infinite wisdom of the Quran. On the one hand, many self-proclaimed interpreters, denying the need for recourse to any classical exegeses or…

Balancing Hope and Fear: A Vision for Muslims in the West Today

ISLAM IS ON the rise in the world today. This is ironic, but a truth beyond doubt. Islam is on the rise at home, in the Muslim world, and it is on the rise in the West. Those who can see far,…