Research › Psychology, grief and wellbeing
16 answers in 12 recordings, 2016 to 2022. 10 with a checked position in his own words.
Indexed so far: 259 of 1,859 recordings (1,904 answers, 2014 to 2025). Anything below may change as the rest are indexed. Limits of the data
Oldest first. A checked position shows what he holds, then the sentence he says, word for word from the transcript, with its moment. Years without one list the answers that have not been checked yet. Recordings not yet indexed may hold more.
· Should religious Muslims focus on avoiding sin or on doing good?
Mufti Abu Layth says he sincerely believes that in this age Muslims need to focus on the positives rather than on wrongdoing.
“I sincerely believe this that we are in an age where we need to just focus on the positives don't worry about the the the wrongdoings”
33:48TranscriptCite 2016-12-21-S06corrected
· What happens if I miss a prayer?
Mufti Abu Layth holds that the heart of Islam's message on prayer is encouragement rather than punishment: a missed prayer is made up, and praying the obligatory prayers even late or combined is better than not praying, as the Prophet told the companion whose people slept past sunrise to pray when he woke.
“I don't believe that that is the true the kind of message that the heart of the message of Islam the message of Islam is look why don't you want to pray”
0:00TranscriptCite 2018-02-13-S01corrected
· Do you need to appear perfectly pious to be a good Muslim?
Mufti Abu Layth says one does not need to pretend to be pious, and that it is okay just to be human.
“what I am saying is you don't need to pretend to be pious I think it's okay to just be human just be yourself”
29:39TranscriptCite 2019-08-01-S05corrected
· Is Islam supposed to feel like a burden?
Mufti Abu Layth holds that the deen is one of ease that should complement a person's life rather than impede it, and that an interpretation of Islam which burdens people with guilt and suffering is not the one the religion came with.
“this theme is one of ease this Deen should complement your lifestyle people it should never impede it”
17:02TranscriptCite 2019-11-03-S04corrected
· I stopped praying because it feels mechanical and forced; will I go to hell?
Mufti Abu Layth says he personally prays out of gratitude and connection rather than fear of hell and that this is the best way to pray, that each person's journey is their own and others should not condemn them, and that someone struggling with prayer should not develop hatred for it.
“I don't personally pray out of this kind of fear of burning in hell and things like this I just pray out of a kind of sense of gratitude”
5:31TranscriptCite 2020-05-25-S01corrected
· Does 'leave what makes you doubt' mean I should always follow the strictest opinion?
Mufti Abu Layth says the hadith telling people to leave what makes them doubt does not mean following the strictest of all opinions.
“it doesn't mean I don't see it at all about the strictest thing that doesn't make any sense to me”
1:00:22TranscriptCite 2020-07-14-S14corrected
· Do women have to cover their wrists and ankles in prayer?
Mufti Abu Layth says people should not obsess over whether a hair or some small part of the body is showing.
“the dean is natural take it naturally do not obsess over these little oh my god is this showing is that showing oh my god one hair came out two hairs came”
51:32TranscriptCite 2020-09-22-S09corrected
· How do I stop being obsessive and fearful about prayer?
Mufti Abu Layth says prayer is really an expression of gratitude, not something people should be scared or threatened into.
“prayer is really an expression of gratitude it's not this scary scaremongering you know threatening”
53:26TranscriptCite 2020-09-22-S10corrected
· I don't feel spiritual in Ramadan; am I a bad Muslim?
Mufti Abu Layth says not feeling the spiritual atmosphere of Ramadan or hajj is no reflection of a person's faith and no cause for guilt, since worship is not measured by how it feels.
“it's not a reflection of your faith okay it's not it's just you know some people may not vibe with certain kind of things”
3:35:18TranscriptCite 2021-04-13-S50corrected
· Am I only praying because I fear God will punish me?
Mufti Abu Layth says salah does not benefit God in the slightest and that it is only the worshipper's devotion that reaches God.
“your salah does not benefit god in the slightest nothing we do benefits god nothing okay it is just your devotion that reaches god”
0:38TranscriptCite 2022-04-16-S01corrected
How many of these answers cite each (guest speech left out). Cited means named as evidence or discussed, not necessarily accepted: open the answers to see which.
These answers state a view in order to discuss it, often to reject it. They are never read as his position.
Cite a statement by its id: Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment id, with the date and the address of its page. Citation formats
