17
Mar 2023
The first obligation of every human being is to know his Creator. Some people accepted this invitation from Allah Almighty to find out about Him and truly knowing Him can only lead to gratitude towards Him. Allah called them to His message through different prophets and messengers, and a variety of means, yet unfortunately some people decide they are not interested to know Him, and ignore His call. This is a personal choice. No one can force faith on anyone, even one’s closest family members – son, daughter, husband, wife or parent.......
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19
Nov 2022
This is the last part of Ghazali’s chapter on love. He already mentioned that the senses are our gateway to pleasure and we love everything that is pleasurable to our senses. However there is something else we love, but that is not experienced through our senses and that is the love of Allah, which we experience in our heart. Allah stated in the Qurah that He did not create man and Jinn except to worship Him, liyabudun. Mujahid (the student of Ibn Abbas) said that to worship means to KNOW Allah (liyarifun)......
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13
Nov 2022
Why do we love the Prophet (peace be upon him)? Ghazali likes to link every topic to its roots to examine it. How do we develop love? Ghazali already mentioned that we find everything pleasurable to us beloved, while we find everything painful repulsive and abhorrent. Primarily we experience love through our senses and these cause us to respond positively every time our senses are pleased – be it by fragrance, or taste or touch or sight. These are all external stimuli but we also have in addition we have the internal......
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04
Nov 2022
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 (Revival of the Sciences of the Religion), and his life’s works and thoughts. In the last ten principles of the forty, he looks at good traits that we should adopt and nurture within ourselves. The first is tawbah (repentance); the second is khawf (fear) and the third is zuhd (asceticism), the fourth quality is sabr (patience). The fifth quality is......
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18
Dec 2020
The best and the worst leaders In a beautiful hadith, narrated by ‘Auf b. Malik, who embraced Islam after the Treaty of Hudabiya, the Prophet (peace be on him) taught us who are the best leaders and the worst leaders. He said that the best leaders are the ones you love and who love you. As the Messenger of Allah (peace be on him) said: The best of your rulers are those whom you love and who love you, who invoke God’s blessings upon you and you invoke His blessings upon them.......
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24
Jul 2020
Allah Almighty says ; There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Beneficent as a slave. Maryam 19:93 And each one of them will come unto Him on the Day of Resurrection, alone. Maryam:95 No matter what position, wealth, bodyguards, throne or shield anyone has in this world, no one will come but as a slave, alone, on the Day of Judgement. The only thing we will all have are our deeds. Everything else will vanish. Allah gives comfort to believers. He says: Lo! those who believe and......
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17
Jul 2019
Love is the fortress for our children And among His signs that He created for you, from among yourselves mates, to dwell with them in tranquility and He put love and mercy among you. In that there are signs for those who reflect. (30:21) We all know this ayah it is recited at every wedding and at walimas and printed on wedding invitations. Tranquility is the core of the home In this ayah, Allah Almighty is addressing a very important issue – sakeena, which is tranquility. The purpose, beyond marriage, is......
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17
Dec 2018
LOVE – HOPE – FEAR The formula to build a connection and healthy and balanced relationship with Allah Almighty is Love, Hope and Fear. All three components are required to grow spiritually. Fear There are 124 verses that mention khawf or fear in the Qur’an. However, on their own they are not sufficient to reflect Islam or Allah Almighty. Being terrified is not what connects us to Allah Almighty. Acting from fear and acting from love deliver different outcomes. If you act from fear, you feel forced and you don’t necessarily complete......
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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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