Bayt al-Fatwa

08/31/2026

Meet Dr. Magdy Ashour.
A scholar with extensive experience in Islamic law and fatwa, Dr. Ashour has served in senior scholarly roles in Egypt, including as an academic advisor to the Grand M***i of Egypt and a Fatwa Trustee at Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah.
His work reflects an approach at the heart of Bayt al-Fatwa: serious engagement with the Islamic legal tradition, alongside a careful understanding of the realities people face today.
Because sound guidance requires more than knowing the texts. It requires scholarship, context, and experience.
Learn more about Dr. Magdy Ashour and Bayt al-Fatwa’s scholars on our website.

08/27/2026

Mawlid is also a literary tradition.
For centuries, Muslim scholars wrote texts dedicated to the Prophet … in poetry, prose, hadith narration, and accounts of his birth and life.
Some were recited. Some were sung. Some were taught as lessons.
The forms differed, but the purpose remained centered on remembrance, praise, and love for the Prophet.
In the final part of our Mawlid series, we look at the rich literature that developed around this tradition.
Watch the full discussion on YouTube.

08/24/2026

The love and praise of the Prophet existed from the earliest Muslim community.
The formal public celebration of Mawlid developed later.
The Fatimids were among the first to organize public Mawlid celebrations in Egypt and North Africa. Over time, the practice became established across Sunni communities and spread widely through the Muslim world.
Its form varied from place to place, but the focus remained the same: remembering, praising, and honoring the Prophet.
Watch the full discussion on YouTube.

08/20/2026

Why do Muslims commemorate the Prophet’s Birth?
At its heart, Mawlid is about gratitude.
It is an opportunity to remember the Prophet, reflect on his life, send blessings upon him, and thank Allah for the blessing of being from his Ummah.
The point is not simply to mark a date.
It is to pause, remember who the Prophet is, and renew our connection to his teachings and example.
Watch the full discussion on YouTube.
Next in our Islamic Holidays series: How did Mawlid become a formal celebration?

https://youtu.be/QGusJH1HOXM?si=WjpRKV4BgOcusOaY

08/17/2026

How exact do you need to be when facing the Qibla?
Does your prayer require perfect alignment - or is there some acceptable variation in direction?
It is a practical question, especially when praying somewhere unfamiliar or when different Qibla indicators seem to point slightly differently.
Watch the full answer on YouTube to understand how Islamic law approaches facing the Qibla.

https://youtu.be/eBKsQmGFBwE?si=xKozy27VDYa0ctq9

08/13/2026

Context understood. Text studied. Now comes the final step: application.
In Part 3 of our Behind the Fatwa mini-series, we look at how a m***i applies Islamic legal guidance to the reality of the question being asked.
That means considering the time, place, people, and circumstances involved — as well as the possible consequences of the ruling and the broader principles of Islamic law.
A fatwa is not simply a rule taken from a book and placed onto a situation.
It is the result of understanding the context, understanding the text, and bringing the two together carefully.
Watch the full Behind the Fatwa series on YouTube.

08/10/2026

Introducing our Islamic Holidays series - exploring significant days, traditions, and devotional practices found throughout Islamic history and literature.

We begin with the Last Wednesday of Safar.

Some Islamic sources contain weak narrations associated with this day, and devotional practices of prayer and supplication developed around them.

These practices are not a specific established Sunna for the day. But voluntary prayer, remembrance, and du‘a remain permissible acts of devotion.

Most importantly: Safar is not a month of bad luck, and this day should not be treated as an omen.

Interested in the history and devotional practices associated with it? Read The Last Wednesday of Safar on the Bayt al-Fatwa website.

08/06/2026

Once the context is understood, the next step is the text.
In Part 2 of our Behind the Fatwa mini-series, we look at how a m***i approaches the Qur’an, Sunna, and the wider Islamic legal tradition.
The process is not simply finding a verse or hadith that appears relevant.
It means asking how scholars understood that evidence, why different legal schools reached their conclusions, and what reasoning sits behind those rulings.
This depth is part of what makes fatwa work a trained legal process rather than a quick search for an answer.
Next: Part 3 — Applying the Text to the Context.

08/03/2026

NEW VIDEO:

Let's breakdown the process of issuing a fatwa in this mini-series....

08/03/2026

What happens before a fatwa is issued?
In this 3-part Behind the Fatwa mini-series, we break down the process.
Part 1 starts with understanding the context.
For new or complex issues, that can mean reading, research, consulting specialists, and understanding how the matter actually works before considering its Islamic ruling.
Because a ruling can only be as sound as the understanding it is built on.
Next: Part 2 — Understanding the Text.