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Monthly Archives: June 2022


29
Jun 2022
How to navigate your way to Allah (part 2)

The journey How to travel safely, especially these days, can make one concerned or even anxious. It is no surprise therefore that scholars have written many books on the journey, often referred to as ar–rihla, or at-tareeq (the way), as–safr (the journey) in different books. Essentially, they are all about the same thing: how to reach your destination safely. We have many choices on which route to take – google maps has a variety, and then we need to choose between the motorways and the A roads, the scenic route, the country......

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26
Jun 2022
Ghazali on Zuhd

Ghazali lived in 5th century Hijri and his book, Kitaab Al-Arba’in Fi Usul ad-Din, ‘The Forty Principles of the Religion,’ which he wrote before his death, is a summary of Ihya Ulumuddin, and his life’s works and thoughts. In the last ten principles of the forty, he looks at good traits. The first is tawbah. The second is khawf and the third is Zuhd. There is no good translation of the word zuhd, which is commonly translated as asceticism , so we will stick to zuhd. Ghazali starts his chapter on zuhd......

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25
Jun 2022
Fulfil your commitments

In the opening of Surah Ma’idah, which was from the from the last surahs revealed to the Prophet (peace be on him), Allah Almighty says: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ ۚ “O you who believe! Fulfil your commitments” (5:1) In another translation, it says fulfil your contractual obligations. Therefore, Allah Almighty is teaching us in the opening of the last surahs in the Qur’an to fulfil our contractual obligations and our commitments and be from those who honour their word: وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ Those who are faithful to their......

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17
Jun 2022
Without reconciliation we can never be a strong Ummah

In Surat Al Anfal, Allah Almighty said: يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَنفَالِ ۖ قُلِ الْأَنفَالُ لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ ۖ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَصْلِحُوا ذَاتَ بَيْنِكُمْ ۖ وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ They ask you about the bounties. Say, “The bounties are for God and the Messenger, so be mindful of Allah and reconcile between yourselves and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you are believers. (8:1) إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ In Surat Hujurat, Allah Almighty said: The believers are brothers, so reconcile between your brothers, and remain conscious......

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16
Jun 2022
Ghazali on fear (khawf). Part 2

Ghazali lived in 5th century Hijri and his book, Kitaab Al-Arba’in Fi Usul ad-Din, ‘The Forty Principles of the Religion,’ which he wrote before his death, is a summary of Ihya Ulumuddin, and his life’s works and thoughts. In his last ten principles (good traits) out of the forty principles, he covers tawbah (repentance) first and then khawf (fear), explaining them from his own understanding. Ghazali quoted that only those who have knowledge truly fear Allah. They fear Him more than those who do not have knowledge. Only those fear Allah, from......

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10
Jun 2022
Do not insult my companions

The Prophet (peace be on him) commanded us not to insult his companions. In the commentary on this narration in Sahih Bukhari, we are told that the reason behind this narration was a conflict between Khalid bin Walid and Abdur Rahman bin Awf. Khalid insulted Abdur Rahman bin Awf, and the Prophet (peace be on him) was angry. It is one of the great sins is to insult them. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ......

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03
Jun 2022
The prohibition on being wasteful and the command to be moderate in spending

Spend Allah Almighty says in the Quran: Those who spend their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly, have their reward with their Lord; on them shall come no fear nor shall they grieve. (2:275) This description of the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be on him) is those who work 24/7 spending and supporting each other. They are lively and active, not passive and apathetic. In other verses Allah talks about the prohibition of being wasteful, and wasting the blessings that Allah has given you. Do not waste Allah says in......

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03
Jun 2022
Ghazali on Khawf (fear)

The reward for fearing Allah Allah has granted those who fear Him guidance (huda), mercy (rahma), knowledge (ilm) and His pleasure (ridwan). هُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِرَبِّهِمْ يَرْهَبُونَ guidance and mercy for those who are fearful of their Lord. (7:154) إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَـٰٓؤُا۟ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ “It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah” (35:28) جَزاؤُهُم عِندَ رَبِّهِم جَنّٰتُ عَدنٍ تَجرى مِن تَحتِهَا الأَنهٰرُ خٰلِدينَ فيها أَبَدًا ۖ رَضِىَ اللَّهُ عَنهُم وَرَضوا عَنهُ ۚ ذٰلِكَ لِمَن خَشِىَ رَبَّهُ Their reward is with......

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03
Jun 2022
Ghazali on Tawbah (part 3)

Ghazali lived in 5th century Hijri and his book, Kitaab Al-Arba’in Fi Usul ad-Din, ‘The Forty Principles of the Religion,’ which he wrote before his death, is a summary of Ihya Ulumuddin, and his life’s works and thoughts. We are looking at the last ten principles (good traits) out of the forty. The first is tawbah. One of the main issues is that persisting in a sin breaks tawbah. Ghazali, known for being the spiritual master, teaches how to diagnose and cure it. He mentioned the rarity of doctors who can cure......

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