When we are deluded by our success and our blessings

When we are deluded by our success and our blessings

Self-deception It is a fact that all our blessings are from Allah. Yet this is a reality which many of us of forget. Therefore Allah Almighty keeps reminding us of His favours.  Allah Almighty says in the Quran in Surat al Nahl: وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فَإِلَيْهِ تَجْأَرُونَ…

Ghazali on envy
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Ghazali on envy. The causes and cure of Hasad

Imam Ghazali’s 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. Envy is a fire that devours your account Envy is the fourth disease which effects the heart. The Prophet (peace be on him): Hasad eats…

The end of another year
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The end of another year… Time to reflect and renew your intentions and goals

The end of another year It has been another challenging year globally, for the environment, for families communities and individuals. This year we lost many blessed souls and personally I lost my dear father. May Allah envelop them in His mercy and grant them all jannatul firdaus. As Muslims we have to be people of…

Be inspired. Lessons from the life of Maryam

Be inspired. Lessons from the life of Maryam, mother of Jesus

Muslims regard Mary as one of the best women who ever lived. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The chief of the women of paradise are four: Maryam, the daughter of Imran, Fatima, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah, Khadija the daughter of Khuwaylid, and Asiya”. (Ahmad and Al-Hakim. Good Hadith). There are…

How did the Prophet Muhammad deal with those who made mistakes?

How did the Prophet Muhammad deal with those who made mistakes?

A mercy to the world Alhamdullilah, Allah Almighty sent Muhammad (peace be upon him); a mercy for all mankind; a mercy for the worlds. Today I will be focusing on his mercy, his character with those who might have committed mistakes – big mistakes, small mistakes, small sins and big sins etc. How the Prophet…

Ghazali on breaking free from anger
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Ghazali on breaking free from anger

Emily Bronte, in Wuthering Heights, noted the damaging impact that anger can have on those around us, as well as how self-destructive anger itself is. She said: ‘Treachery and violence are spears pointed at both ends, they wound those who resort to them worse than their enemies’ We are all familiar with the Marvel figure…

Ghazali on the problems with praise
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Ghazali on the problems with praise

Imam Ghazali’s 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 chapter entitled Tazkiya al Qulub, ‘The Purification of the Heart’, he pinpoints blameworthy characteristics which we need to extract from our heart, in particular he…

Ghazali on Joking. Laugh with others, not at them.
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Ghazali on Joking. Laugh with others, not at them.

Can Muslims take a joke? Imam Ghazali’s 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 chapter entitled Tazkiya al Qulub, ‘The Purification of the Heart’, he pinpoints blameworthy characteristics which we…

The Greatness of Muhammad (peace be on him)

The Greatness of Muhammad (peace be on him)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) was the final messenger and had the perfect character, and the perfect religion. Though there were messengers and prophets before him, Abu Sa’id reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: نْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ…

ghazali on backbiting
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Ghazali on Backbiting – why people do it, when you can do it, how to stop doing it

Imam Ghazali’s book Kitaab Al-Arba’in Fi Usul ad-Din, The 40 Principles of the Faith is a summary of his great work, Ihya Ulumuddin which he wrote before he died. In the chapter on the purification of the heart, he breaks down the traits we need to excise from ourselves, and begins by focusing on the…