Yesterday, my sister in faith shared the following article with me. I found it very insightful, so I thought I would share as well. It is a tafsir, an Arabic word meaning the science of explaining and interpreting the Koran. A tafsir can only be given by a Mufassir, someone who can authoritatively interpret the Koran and must have extensive knowledge of Islam and the Koran as well as be familiar with Islamic history. The following is the tafsir of Imam WD Mohammed

To build a community, we have to have, what is called in this religion, Fiqh. There were great leaders who were established for their ability to teach fiqh … Maliki, Hanbali, Sha'afi, Hanafi, the great Imams.

They were established for their ability to teach fiqh, Maliki mostly in Africa. Those men are still honoured even today. They were not Prophets, they were followers of the Prophet (pbuh). But did God guide them? Yes He did!

They were guided men just as the Khalifahs, Rasidoon (Rightly Guided Khalifahs). Who were also guided. They weren't blessed to be companions of the Prophet (pbuh), but they were guided by God into fiqh.

What is fiqh, Brother Imam? It is “Aynal Yaqeen” knowledge for sure. It is insight into the nature of a knowledge.

Where you know the purpose of it. Where you know the basis for it, and you know the discipline in it. You know it in its totality.

What you don't know is how God did it from the very beginning. So even the best of knowledge has a basis in faith. Once you don't have any basis in faith, you are not a Muslim. Once you don't have any basis in faith, you are not a Jew, you are not a Christian!

You bring me a person who claims that he knows everything and ask him: “Well man, is there something that you stand upon that you don't know?” If he says: “No, everything that I stand upon is what I know.” Then tell him: “Man, I will see you later.”

I would lie to you if I told you that I know the Hereafter, I don’t. I believe in it, and that's a Muslim.

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Faith and Fiqh go together. Fiqh is an Arabic word that means to have deep understanding and full comprehension. Indeed it takes fiqh to acquire faith. The Koran states that nothing in this world should be dearer to a true believer than faith.

Muhammad (pbuh) is reported to have said that he gained sweetness of faith and was pleased to accept God as Lord, Islam as religion and Muhammad as a prophet. The Koran says that faith can grow with the remembrance of God.

Bermuda in all that we do, let’s always remember God, this will strengthen our faith. Bermuda stand strong for what is right and just, never faltering; always standing on truth and faith.

As salaam alaikum (peace be unto you).

• Linda Walia Ming is a member of the Bermuda Hijab Dawah Team, a group of Muslim women who reside in Bermuda and have a goal of educating the community about the religion of Islam