15
Apr 2022
In Surat Shu’ara Allah Almighty says that the one who carried the revelation is Jibril, and he revealed it onto the heart of the Prophet (peace be on him). وَإِنَّهُۥ لَتَنزِيلُ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ نَزَلَ بِهِ ٱلرُّوحُ ٱلْأَمِينُ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُنذِرِينَ بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّ مُّبِينٍ This is certainly a revelation from the Lord of all worlds, which the trustworthy spirit ˹Gabriel˺ brought down into your heart ˹O Prophet˺—so that you may be one of the warners— in a clear Arabic tongue. (26:190-195) In these ayahs we see Allah Almighty is saying that......
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11
Jan 2022
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. Miserliness – Bukhl This is a big topic, which Ghazali broke down and summarised as 6 topics – bukhl in the Quran and Sunnah, the essence of miserliness and the reality of loving money, how wealth can be praiseworthy/blameworthy, how much wealth is sufficient for us, and the extremes in spending – squandering (israf) and bukhl. And then he explains how to......
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23
Sep 2021
Following the Sunnah In Imam Ghazali’s Kitaab Al-Arba’in Fi Usul ad-Din, The Forty Principles of the Religion, which is a summary of his great work, Ihya Ulum ad-Din, he has a chapter on Following the Sunnah. He discusses the importance of following the Prophet (peace be on him) and establishing a bondship with him. Not just following him in ibadah but in all spheres of our life. Importantly, he emphasises that we should do this even if we do not understand the wisdom behind and refers to three secrets why we should......
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18
Sep 2021
We are still reading from the book of Imam Ghazali Kitaab Al-Arba’in Fi Usul ad-Din, The Forty Principles of the Religion, which is a summary of his great work, Ihya Ulum ad-Din. In his chapter on Following the Sunnah, he talks about the importance of following the Prophet (peace be on him) and establishing a bondship with him. Not just following him in ibadah but in all spheres of our life. Internal and external aspects of following the sunnah Ghazali mentioned how wudu has an impact on the soul. Its effect......
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26
May 2021
The changeable nature of hearts Shahr bin Hawshab said: I said to Umm Salamah: O Mother of the Believers! What was the supplication that the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said most frequently when he was with you? She said: The supplication he said most frequently was: يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion Yā Muqallibal-qulūb, thabbit qalbī `alā dīnik. She said: So I said: O Messenger of Allah, why do you supplicate so frequently: ‘O Changer of......
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19
Dec 2018
Open the Curtains and Let Light of Allah in Your Heart The Light of Allah, when we receive it, has a profound effect on our hearts and on our life. What are the means with which we can seek it and what blocks it? Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly star lit from a blessed olive tree,......
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07
Dec 2018
The Importance of Connecting with Allah The Benefits of Dhikr ‘We dye ourselves with the colouring of Allah! For who is better in colouring than Allah? We are to worship none but Him.’ (2:138) Allah Almighty has endowed us with fitrah so that we may recognise the Truth. The truth is like a dye, which soaks deep into fabric leaving a permanent stain. In this ayah, Allah Almighty talks about ‘sibghah’: a dye. Imaan comes to us like the dye that changes the colour of cloth; it changes the very fabric of......
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30
Aug 2018
When, even after that, your hearts were hardened, as if they were rocks, or still worse in hardness. For surely among the rocks there are some from which rivers gush forth, and there are others that crack open and water flows from them, and there are still others that fall down in fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do. (2:74) An argumentative nature is indicative of a deeper psychological problem – a hardened heart. Our hearts are the source of our actions. Imaan emanates from the......
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13
Jun 2018
The Message of Love Allah the Almighty mentioned in surah Shu’ara: And indeed, the Qur’an is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds. The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down Upon your heart, – that you may be of the warners (26:192-4) In this very verse there are many lessons, but my focus today will be on the fact it has been revealed to you upon your hearts. It has been bought down to you on your hearts: ‘a’la qalbi’. This has been repeated twice in the Qur’an, once......
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