It has been called more influential, wide-ranging and comprehensive than the web resources of Al-Azhar University and its sympathisers put together.

The website was started by South African Islamic scholar and jurist Ebrahim Desai, who formerly headed the Darul Ifta of Madrasah In'aamiyyah.

[2] It aims to help people who use the World Wide Web to access common Islamic questions and answers.

[4] According to scholar G. R. Bunt, Askimam reflects the views of Muslims living as a minority in non-Muslim societies.

[9] The site provides answers only to Fiqh- (Jurisprudence) related questions in light of the Hanafi school.