Tasawwur Islam - 17 Feb 2010

Tonight's class Syeikh Abdul Halim concluded the program by talking about change, development and progress from Islam's perspective.

In the Secular Worldview, the 'goalpost' (aim) keeps shifting, so man is always in constant motion of  'becoming' (change) without ever reaching the status of 'being' (progress). This makes him feel inadequate most of the time as though the 'changes' made do not lead to 'progress'. Never ending story. Sounds familiar?

The beauty of Islam is that its Ummah has a definite clarity of purpose at the core of it (the aim remains a fixed constant so one knows where he is heading). That is the fitrah or substratum. And self-development is about making progress whether one is facing up to a challenge (and be suboor), avoid munkar (and have a strong Imaan) or enjoy ni'mah (and be syukor or grateful). More importantly, Islam prescribes the methods for one to reach the aim (and elevate one's standing in the eyes of Allah SWT), subhan Allah.

Afternote: Tasawwur Islam or Islamic Worldview is defined as Ru'yatul Islam Li al-Wujud. Wahyu Allah is the source of knowedge for Muslims and having a strong Islamic Worldview enables us to evaluate and improve our millah so that we be true to haqiqah and reject bathil, insya Allah.

True 'Aqidah

"The most beautiful names belong to Allah, so call on Him thereby. Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah, for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction." [Surah al-Araf: 180 and Surah al-Rad: 28]

Many recite Surah al-Ikhlas during their daily prayer. Many acknowledge there is one Rabb (Tawheed Uluhiyyah) but only some truly worship Allah alone (Tawheed Rububiyah). To know the true meaning of this Surah, read this tafseer. 

In view of this, we are compelled to not only know the Asma ul-Husna (the 99 attributes of Allah SWT) but also to acknlowledge, at a deeper level, how these attributes will instil true Tawheed Rububiyah in us:

‘Abd (from the stem "`a - ba - da,") means to submit, to worship and to obey, creatively expressed in `ibadah (worship), `ubudiyyah (pure worship and trust - a specific type and a general type), and `ubudah (ultimate perfect worship and internal unlimited submission and denial of the share of the self). [Source: Ibn `Ajeebah, `Iqadh Al-Himam fi Sharh Al-Hikan. Cairo, 1985, p.8]

Download The Belief of the Ahlul Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, a must read containing important Ilm' (knowledge) for True Muslims.

References:
- The meaning of 'abd.
- Types of 'ubudiyyah. 

Operationalising Islamic Sciences

I attended a seminar where Syeikh Abdul Halim spoke about Islam and Science while Dr Adi Setia provided clarity in vision about what is Islamic Science. Truly, Islam is beautiful - every creation in the ecosystem already has its proper place in the scheme of things. And Islam and Science are not separate, instead they are integrated in a consilient manner, reflecting unity (Tawheed).

So, besides ta'dib (the instilling and inculcation of adab in man), one must tafakur (contemplate) the perfect creation and miraculous workings of the ecosystems by Allah SWT (ayatulLah) to realise that scientific findings validate and strengthen the Haqq (Truth).

The next time you drink a drop of water - contemplate the water cycle, how blessings of the rain provided food a bounty for mankind, sea water produces different food supplies from water from streams, how water comes in many forms, some permissible for ablution, while some are not, think about how you use your 5 fingers to hold the glass of water and bring it to your mouth, how the water you drink flows through your throat to quench your thirst and flush out toxins from your body so that you maintain a healthy well-being, subhan Allah. May we not take for granted the countless ni'mah from Allah SWT as though they are a 'given'.

May these wahyu bring our hearts closer to the Creator, Allah SWT, insya Allah:

"... remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say): Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from the doom of Fire." [Surah al-E-Imran: 191]

"He (Allah) hath created the heavens and the earth with truth. High be He Exalted above all that they associate (with Him)." [Surah an-Nahl: 3]

"Allah, it is Who raised up the heavens without visible supports, then mounted the Throne, and compelled the sun and the moon to be of service, each runneth unto an appointed term; He ordereth the course; He detaileth the revelations, that haply ye may be certain of the meeting with your Lord." [Surah al-Rad: 2]

"Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth, and causeth water to descend from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you, and maketh the ships to be of service unto you, that they may run upon the sea at His command, and hath made of service unto you the rivers; And maketh the sun and the moon, constant in their courses, to be of service unto you, and hath made of service unto you the night and the day. And He giveth you of all ye ask of Him, and if ye would count the bounty of Allah ye cannot reckon it. Lo! man is verily a wrong-doer, an ingrate." [Surah Ibrahim: 32-34]

The key message is that the core of our belief system (Islamic Worldview) must be rock-solid such that our speech, thoughts and deeds are aligned (not fragmented). Only then can we discern if prevalent theories of other Worldviews do not fit our Islamic Worldview and recommend a counter theory (that appreciates nature, not exploit it) that is aligned to the Islamic Reality (Haqq) as we engage Allah's creations in a harmonious manner (la darar wa la dirar: no harming and no reciprocating harm, muamalat alam al-tabiah: ethics of mercy)  in this physical world (al-Tabi'ah).

Afternote: BBC has a series on Islam and Science. Our da'wah is to approach Science that respects and preserves Allah's creations (Intelligent Design), whether it is biomimicry, bio-intensive agriculture, green chemistry, organic living, etc.

Labels

"Speech about people must be with knowledge and justice, not with ignorance and injustice..." - Ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimullaah)

I personally believe that mankind, by design, has a good heart. It is our fitrah. And it is out of love for one's Ummah, for the sake of Allah SWT, that a piece of advice, gentle reminder or a friendly nudge was given when one sees something 'amiss' from one's perspective. Nonetheless, the intent is always good but sometimes the approach may be unsuitable for the situation or context.

Truly, it takes hikmah (wisdom: putting things in its proper place i.e. Adab) to do da'wah. In essence, before one speaks, ensure one must be equipped with Ilm' (knowledge). Know when to speak and when to be silent. Know how to speak and to whom one should speak.

Afternote: I don't understand the 'labelling culture' of calling someone salafi or wahhabi, etc. Always bear in mind Satan's determined whispers to break the Ummah. Mum's constant reminder stays with me - that we should always see the good in people because that was how our beloved Prophet SAW treated people of all walks of life, race or religion. Indeed, his mercy and compassion for humankind was beyond compare.

Child Education in Islam

"If you are a teacher, just think of the delicate, sensitive and affectionate Prophet SAW conveying the pearls of his heart to the students of Suffa by the Masjid'un-Nabawi... If you have children then learn the affectionate conduct of the father of Fatimah, the grandfather of Hasan and Husayn... Whoever you may be and in whichever circumstance you may find yourself in, you will find in Muhammad SAW as the most perfect master and most beautiful guide at all times and places."

[Source: The Exemplar Beyond Compare: Muhammad Mustafa SAW by Osman Nuri Topbas]

Following from my post earlier on Bedtime Storytelling, I agree with Syeikh Abdul Halim on the topic of Childhood Education from the Islamic perspective or worldview.

Truly, Islam is syumul and there is clear guidance in all aspects of a Muslim's life. For example, it is stipulated that children below the age of 9, should not be 'burdened' with heavy-duty concepts or 'Ilm (knowledge) simply because they are not ready for such (they have not developed the ability and maturity to reason).

Instead, before the age of 9, Muslim parents are encouraged to constantly engage their child in conversations or play about love for mother, love for family and politeness, with the aim of instilling Adab in the child.

Download the guide on Child Education in Islam. Syeikh Abdul Halim encouraged educators or parents to also read "The educational philosophy and practice of Syed Muhammad Naguib Al-Attas: an exposition of the original concept of Islamization" by Wan Mohd. Nor Wan Daud. May we benefit from the information, insya Allah.

Tasawwur Islam - 10 Feb 2010

And there is a kind of person who would willingly give up personal interests,
seeking Allah's pleasure; and God is Most Compassionate towards His servants.
Successful indeed is the one who purifies his whole self.

Indeed the Next abode - it is truly the life!
[Surah al-Baqarah : 207, ash-Shams: 9, al-Ankabut: 64]

The Aristotelian relates 'happiness' (Eudemonia) as fulfilling all of one's potential, and that happiness is an end in itself. Western Worldview defines 'happiness' as the psychological state of satisfying one's desires. Both definitions are rejected by Islam.

In Islam, 'happiness' (sa' adah) is a a permanent state of consciousness natural to what is permanent in man and perceived by his spiritual organ of cognition which is the heart (qalb). To be enduringly happy, one must submit fully to the will of Allah SWT, requiring certainty (yaqin) in one's heart of the ultimate Truth and fulfillment of action or deed conforms with that certainty.

Truly, the definition of 'happiness' in Islam is beautiful, subhan Allah - it is peace, security and tranquility of the heart (tuman'ninah); it is knowledge (ma'rifah) and knowledge is true faith (Imaan). It is Tawheed. It is Adab. It is acknowleding one's proper relationship with the Creator accompanied by requisite action (ibadah). When all these conditions are present, we get justice ('adl).

The levels of happiness are:

1. The psychological and temporal states is attained when needs and wants are achieved by means of right conduct in accord with virtues - wisdom, temperance, courage and justice.

2. The spiritual, permanent and consciously experienced, when attained, occurs concurrently with the first, except that wants are diminished and needs are satisfied (Zuhud: diminishing of wants and desires).

3. The third level is the ultimate in the Hereafter, which is the Vision of Allah SWT.

Afternote: The 'ideal' state of happiness is attainable in Islam and has been attained by the best example, Prophet SAW who led a simple life free of material wealth but full of Adab, Imaan, Taqwa and Tawheed. Download The Early Hours to maintain the single minded desire to seek the pleasure of Allah SWT by using relevant methods and instruments in order to attain the ultimate goal, Jannah. 

77 Branches of Imaan

RasululLah SAW said there are over 70 things which are connected with Imaan, the highest of which is the Kalimah Shahadah and the lowest is the removal of a harmful object from the road. Modesty and hayaa is also a major part of Imaan.

Imaan means to accept in your heart (Tasdiq Bil Qalb) and bear witness verbally (Iqrarun Bil Lisaan).

When you scan through the list and read the commentaries, you will realise that Islam is indeed syumul (complete). Every good deed, even one which is 'as small as an atom' gets rewarded by Allah SWT by elevating one's Imaan to a higher point, Subhan Allah.

If you are keen to know the details, with ayat and hadeeth cited, download the book Furu' ul Imaan.

Bedtime Storytelling

I've always envisioned that one fine day in the near future, loving Muslim parents will read stories of our beloved Prophets at bedtime to their kids (instead of the Western Fairy Tales which does not add much value to the spiritual development of our young Ummah).

I believe every parent whose amanah is nurturing the Ummah of tomorrow hopes that his or her kids will grow up acknowledging the beautiful traits of Allah's Messengers from Prophet Adam AS to Prophet Muhammad SAW.

More importantly, instill those traits and values such that they strengthen their Adab, Islamic identity and Tawheed. Truly everything in the heavens and the earth belong to the Almighty Azza wa Jall, ameen.

Afternote: Parents can read the version by Ibnu Kathir and then simplify it according to the age of the kid and his or her level of curiosity and maturity. Or listen to these podcasts by Sacred Knowledge for inspiration :)

The Opening Chapter

It is our fitrah to affirm that every word of the Surah al-Fatihah is the compulsive voice of our syahadah. I was compelled to pick up this book - The Opening Chapter of the Quran: Surah Al-Fatihah by Mawlana Abdul Kalam Azad - about the Quranic concept of God, the role of Islam not as a new religious doctrine but as the reminder of the Divine Message proclaimed by numerous Prophets in different places and at different times. 

Surah al-Fatihah is referred to as Al-Kafia (the Sufficient), Asasul-Quran (the Basis of the Quran), Sab’a al-Mathani (the Oft-repeated 7), ’Umm-ul-Quran (the Core of the Quran). If one reads this Surah and grasps its true meaning, he, with the Grace of Allah SWT, will understand the essence of the Islamic Faith which forms the subject of detailed explanation in the Quran – the human devotion to God and all that it implies presented via 7 brief phrases, each of not more than 5 words, every word crystal clear and impressive. Every word reveals the great purposes which underlie the Deen (way of life) sponsored by the Quran, Subhan Allah.

According to Bukhari and Muslims, the Islamic form of prayer is incomplete without a recitation of this Surah – When one recites it in the daily prayers, it brings to mind, everyday, the substance of his beliefs and his program of righteous living. The prayer form helps to voice the inward condition of one who, in sincerity, invokes Allah SWT. During salah, Allah SWT will reply to us:

When one recites the first ayat and pauses, Allah SWT replies:

“My servant has praised me.”

When one recites the second ayat and pauses, Allah SWT replies:

 “My servant has extolled me.”

When one recites the third ayat and pauses, Allah SWT replies:

“My servant has glorified me.” 

(On 1 occasion, Allah SWT says: “My servant has submitted to My power.”)

When one recites the fourth ayat and pauses, Allah SWT replies:

“This is between Me and My servant and My servant shall have what he has asked for.”

And when one recites ayat 5 to 7 and pauses, Allah SWT replies:

“This is for My servant and My servant shall have what he has asked for.”

[Source: Hadith Qudsi]

Afternote: From Deen Show's Library, download The Spiritual Cure.  

Comparative Study of Religions

Following up from my earlier post on TUoR, I made a promise to myself to start learning comparative study of religions, starting with understanding the Monotheistic Faiths - Judaism, Christianity and Islam from the time of Prophet Adam AS to Prophet Muhammad SAW.

AlhamdulilLah, I found these useful links:
1. al-Huda link (with ayat from the Quran cited)
2. Link talks about the Prophet Muhammad's arrival is the Gospel (Good news) of Prophet Esa AS
3. Link talks about Prophet SAW and his relationships with the Ahlul Kitaab (People of the Book)

Also, view this link on the 'Origin of Religion' from the Western Worldview versus Islamic Worldview. I'll end this post with a collection of downloadable resources by the late Syeikh Ahmad Deedat (may Allah SWT bless the soul of this great man) via TruthWay TV, specifically about Christianity from the Islamic perspective. Here is a sneak peak on one of them (estimated duration: 2 hour video):

[Source: TruthWay TV]

May we benefit from this information as we strengthen our Islamic identity, insya Allah.

Tasawwur Islam - 3 Feb 2010

"What is Iman? asked my reason to my heart. Whispering into the ear of my reason, my heart replied, Iman is but manners (adab)." [The Exemplar Beyond Compare: Muhammad Mustafa SAW by Osman Nuri Topbas]

In Islam, when you have Adab, like our beloved Prophet SAW, you attain progress. The term progress refers to a definite direction that is aligned to a final purpose - the Hereafter (not the illusionary 'progress' of material wealth or investing in the wordly life proposed by the Secular or Western Worldview).

Now, the Quran does not derogate the world itself; or dissuade one from contemplation and reflection of it and its wonders; rather it extols the world of creation and urges man to contemplate and reflect upon it and its wonders in order that he might be able to interpret and derive their practical and beneficial purpose:

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

 

Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil 'akhirati hasanatan waqina 'adhaban-nar

"Our Lord! Give unto us in the world that which is good and

in the Hereafter that which is good, and guard us from the doom of Fire."

[Surah al-Baqarah:201]

There is a difference between Ni'mah, Barakah and Hasanah:

Ni’mah means a specific blessing or bounty. It is a good situation or thing, which can be small or large, little or plentiful [Raghib al Isfahani, Mufradatul Quran].

It is only called a ni’mah when the receiver is an intelligent being. Allah SWT says we could not enumerate all of His ni’mah’s even if we tried to count them [Surah Ibraheem: 34].

When ascribed to Allah, it is also used in a general, singular sense to mean “the Divine Favor” which He has granted. It includes His signs, rewards, and beneficence that He has done to His creation.

Barakah means increase, growth and happiness. It is the establishment of divine goodness in something; from whence it exudes cannot be sensed by people, nor can it be outwardly quantified, nor is it limited by anything, but rather, something with barakah in it is called mubaarak, and has an unexplainable increase and benefit in it from Allah. Barakah is not the specific blessing (ni’mah) itself, but an increase in that given bounty. [al-Qushayri, Tafseer al Quran].

Hasanah comes from a root word which implies something pleasant and desirable to the intellect, fancies and desires, or the physical senses. It denotes every delightful ni’mah, or bounty, which a person can obtain for his body, mind and soul. Often translated as “the good” of this world and the hereafter, it also means good words or deeds (doing so beautifies one’s character and leads to a desired reward). The good of this world are Allah’s ni’mahs (bounties), and the good of the next world is His Paradise [al-Suyuti, Tafseer al Jalalayn]. 

[Source]

What is hasanah in this world? Good in this world according to:
1. Ali RA is a pious wife
2. Qatadah RA is a peaceful existence and necessary livelihood
3. Hasan Basri RA is knowledge of Islam and prayer
4. Suddi RA is Lawful earnings
5. Ibn Umar RA is righteous children and goodwill of mankind
6. Jafar RA is ‘good health, honest living, knowledge of Qur’an, victory over Islam's enemies and the
    company of the pious

[Source]

We live in this dunya, we have needs, and we are allowed to ask for them. So in our prayer, we ask for “hasanah” (good) in this world. Then we say, “and good in the hereafter, which means Jannah, and all the steps that lead to it. We ask for protection from the punishment of the grave. We ask that when the trumpet is blown on the Day of Judgment we are not among those who are terrified:

“Whoever brings a good deed, will have better than its worth, and they will be safe from the terror on that Day.” [Surah an-Naml: 89].

We ask that our book will be given to us in their right hand:

“Then, as for him who will be given his Record in his right hand, He surely will receive an easy reckoning, and will return to his family in joy!” [Surah al-Inshiqaq: 7-9].

We ask that when our deeds are weighed, our good deeds will be heavier than our bad deeds:

“And the weighing on that day (Day of Resurrection) will be the true (weighing). So as for those whose scale (of good deeds) will be heavy, they will be the successful.” [Surah Al-A'raaf: 8]

We ask that when we have to cross the Siraat, we cross it with ease and quickness:

"There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell): this is with your Lord, a Decree which must be accomplished. Then We shall save those who used to fear Allah and were dutiful to Him, And We shall leave the wrong-doers therein (humbled) to their knees (in Hell).” [Surah Maryam: 71-72]

We ask to pass the Qantarah without any hardship. Abu Sa’eed al Khudree reports that the Prophet SAW said:

"When the believers cross the Hellfire, they will be stopped at a small arched bridge (Qantarah) before entering the paradise and will be given retribution for injustices between them until they become purified. (Then) they will be permitted to enter Jannah. So, by the One in whose hands is my soul, they will know their way to their homes in Jannah, better than they knews their ways to their homes in Dunya.” [Saheeh Bukhari]

[Source]

Afternote: To ask to enter Jannah with ease, we should envision all these in our mind’s eye, acknowledging that there are steps to go through in the Akhirah when we make Dua. Knowledge of what we are asking for helps our dua come from the heart; when a person knows what he is asking for, he sincerely thinks about what the words include and know what a severe torment and punishment awaits those in the hellfire, nauzu billahi min zaliq.

Bedtime Ritual

Besides the usual Surah al-Fatihah, Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah an-Nas and Surah al-Falaq at bedtime, try reciting Surah al-Mulk. The way Sheikh Mishary al-Efasy recites the Surah, he could touch the depths of one's soul and make one's heart weeps, Subhan Allah:

Prophetic tradition has named this Surah as Waqiyah (means protector) and Munjiyah (sarviour). In a tradition, the Holy Prophet SAW was reported to have said:

"The Surah is the protector and saviour which will rescue and redeem one who recites it, from the torment of the grave.” [Source: Qurtubi, graded it as ‘hasan, gharib']

Sayyidina Ibn Abbas RA. reported that the Prophet SAW said:

"It is my hearts desire that Surah Al-Mulk be in every believers heart.” [Source: Tha’labi]

Sayyidina Abu Hurairah RA. reported that the Prophet SAW has said:

"Verily, there is a Surah in the book of Allah (Quran) containing thirty verses that will intercede on behalf of him who recites it until he is rescued from Hell and admitted to Paradise, and it is Surah Al-Mulk.” [Source: Qurtubi cited it from Tirmidhi]

Freedom and Justice in Islam

I feel compelled to put my thoughts down on the true definition of "freedom", especially for the youths of today, whether they come from a broken family or simply live within a secular society in this era of Fitnah.

From the Secular or Western perspective, freedom is defined as the liberating development in choosing between good and bad to an extent that some go through civil marriage instead of the prescribed solemnisation via Syariah court simply because they misinterpreted the ayat:

"There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Tâghût and believes in Allâh, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower." [Surah al-Baqarah: 256]

"Freedom" as defined by Islam is beautiful - a choice between good deed and better deed because it is unfathomable for a True Muslim to even consider an evil deed that goes against the Truth (Haq), doing this is not exercising smart choices. Truly, freedom is to act as one's real and true nature demands - that is, as one's haq and one's fitrah demands. That is why training of the soul (Tazkiyatul Nafs) is needed to enable us to discern reality and truth from falsehood and it is our ibadah that provides constant reminder of the All-Seeing.

Afternote: I could totally relate to this especially during the earlier days of my youth. Human being, by design, makes mistakes resulting in our Imaan fluctuating between a low and  high point and when it is at a low point, we feel lousy, simply because our heart and soul is not aligned to the Haq as it is supposed to. And when we increase our good deeds, it resulted in that feel-good aura. Hence, we have to perpetually ikhtiyar to counter our bad deeds with good deeds. Dowload the article Symptoms of a Weak Iman and Its Cure. May Allah protect us from the hellfire, ameen.

Tasawwur Islam - 27 Jan 2010

I discovered that Quranic Arabic is different from Classical Arabic, which explains why the people of Quraish, when hearing the wahyu, were astounded because they knew Classical Arabic but have not heard of the beautiful poetry of Quranic Arabic and many reverted to Islam because they had the conviction that the Prophet SAW, the unlettered man, was truly a Messenger from the Almighty. The language is familiar yet a new innovation, subhan Allah.

So, language is important because language plucked from one worldview and integrated in another worldview will result in confusion due to the subtle but fundamental changes in meaning of key terms resulting in a change in mindset, then deeds... ultimately a crisis in one's Islamic identity and the disintegration of the Ummah.

Afternote: Imagine, unwittingly taking perspectives from Secularism or Westerners and integrating it in a muslim's life, nauzu billahi min zaliq. So in essence, we do not islamize by integrating one knowledge to another. Rather, we islamize our mindset or worldview to see things in the Islamic perspective, the religion of truth (Haq). Realised there is a difference between 'knowledge' and 'skills', subhan Allah.

Tasawwur Islam - 20 Jan 2010

Syed Naquib al-Attas defines knowledge (Ilm') as the arrival of meaning in the soul, and the soul's arrival at meaning, the recognition of the proper places of things in the order of the creation, such that it leads to the recognition of the proper places of Allah SWT in the order of being and existance. This happens only with the grace of Allah Azza wa Jall.

Interestingly, knowledge does not become education unless the recognition of proper places is actualized by acknowledgment, which necessitates action proper to its recognized place. When the Ummah collectively practice adab, justice prevails (a sign of wisdom). Profound?

In summary, adab is the spectacle of justice ('adl) as it is reflected by wisdom (hikmah). Perpetually seek knowledge to increase one's wisdom and virtue so as to avoid the corruption of knowledge which causes the disintegration of adab, resulting in the rise of the 'false leaders' in all spheres of of life, usurping the positions held by true scholars. These 'false leaders' not only do injustice to himself, to those around him, but more importantly, do injustice to Allah SWT, nauzu billahi min zaliq! So don't be zalim to yourself. Seek knowledge:

“Whoever takes a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make his path to Jannah easy for him. And the angels lower their wings over the students of knowledge (protect from any harm). And the scholar every single being that is in the sky and in the earth so much so that the ant in the hole and fish in the sea sends their blessings. The blessings of an aleem or scholar over a worshipper is like the superiority of the full moon over the stars in the sky.”

[Source: Sunnah Tirmidhi Vol. 4]

Afternote: It was due to the purity of the heart of Prophet SAW (Tasawuf) that he was able to take in the wahyu, accept, adopt and spread Islam in his lifetime. How many of us have that purity of self? Good to introspect and do a quick audit as to where we are in the scheme of things.

Back to Basics - Tawheed

I attended a talk on "The need to redefine the Islamic Education" by Ustaz Mokhtar Stork and here's what I took away from the session:

True wisdom comes from honesty, character building, discipline and seeking knowledge (which must have substance; not superficial understanding of the religion just to get you by... reflect on the true meaning of progress in Islam) in order for a morally righteous system to exist.

To attain true wisdom, Ustaz Mokhtar talked about purity of the heart and adab - look inwardly (introspect on our shortcomings and struggle towards progress at our own pace, that is the individual's jihad to the way of Islam as we are accountable for the Hereafter).

In 'redefining' Islamic education, he meant to get back to basics. He urged the Ummah to begin with Allah SWT and submit fully to the will of Allah SWT in order to attain the True Path. Having a deep and strong foundation in Tawheed is essential to one's well-being.

He also gently reminded educators to be flexible and compassionate - by offering choices to their students as not everyone have the same level of imaan and taqwa.

Narrated Anas bin Malik: "The Prophet said, "Facilitate things to people (concerning religious matters), and do not make it hard for them and give them good tidings and do not make them run away (from Islam)." [Source: Bukhari Book 1 Volume 3 Hadith 69]

At the end of the day, we have the freedom of choice as there is no compulsion in the religion. Truly, all rights bestowed upon us ultimately belong to Allah SWT and that hidayah is the sole rights of Allah SWT.

Narrated Muawiya: "I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "If Allah wants to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend the religion. I am just a distributor, but the grant is from Allah. (And remember) that this nation (true Muslims) will keep on following Allah's teachings strictly and they will not be harmed by anyone going on a different path till Allah's order (Day of Judgment) is established." [Source: Bukhari Book 1 Volume 3 Hadith 71]

Afterthought: From my personal observation, our elders who have deep understanding of Tawheed also have a high level of adab, which the youths of today should emulate.

Tasawwur Islam - 13 Jan 2010

What an eventful week! I’ve discovered that Sheikh Abu Ammar Yasir Qadhi is with Al Maghrib Institute. He has a series fo 29 talks dedicated on the Fundamentals of faith, providing clarity on Knowledge and Tawheed with references made to the Quran and Hadith.

View Video 1 here and I've included links till Video 12... you know where to get the rest , right? (Subhan Allah, words of wisdom!):

Video 2. Belief in Allah/Tawheed

Video 3. Blessings and Importance of Tawheed

Video 4. Tawheed of Lordship (Rububiyya)   

Video 5. Proof of Existance of God

Video 6. Tawheed of Lordship Not Enough 

Video 7. Tawheedul Uloohiyah

Video 8. Conditions of La ilLaha illAllah

Video 9. What is the Meaning of Worship

Video 10. Tawakul & Sabr 

Video 11. Dua & Isti' adha

Video 12. Vows, Sacrifices & Seeking Blessings

What I took away from this week’s session by Sheikh Abdul Halim and Sheikh Abu Ammar Yasir Qadhi was that Allah SWT loves a person who continues to seek knowledge as reflected in Surah Taha:114, “… My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.”

Especially if one acknowledges that the essence of all knowledge is the knowledge of Allah SWT (the life of the heart) because Tawheed is the only path that will provide eternal happiness as reflected in Surah Taha: 124, “But he who turned away from remembrance of Me, he will live a narrow life, and be blind to the assembly on the Day of Resurrection.”

As rightly mentioned by Sheikh Abdul Halim, we need to continually progress our ibadah (personal jihad) to a higher level of ihsan (upgrade ourselves from Muslims to Mukmin to ultimately Muhsin as stated in Surah Aali Imran:191). Truly Surah At-Tin:4 states, “Surely We created man of the best stature.” Yes, we can? Insya Allah :)

Tasawwur Islam - 6 Jan 2010

AlhamdulilLah, in this week's lesson, Sheikh Abdul Halim have shed greater clarity on Transcendent Unity of Religions. He mentioned the book "The Transcendent Unity of Religions" (TUoR) by Frithjof Schuon, a scholar and an authority on Comparative Religion and the Sophia Perennis (Perennial Wisdom).

Personally, to the less discerning, the content may sound almost similar (but not the same) and alhamdulilLah, I'm convinced that I'll be able to make a more informed decision on the fundamental differences between it and Islamic Worldview.

Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas indicated in his article page 16 - the Islamic Worldview rejects the 'similarity' and the 'dissimilarity' even at the trascendent/esoteric level because man lives in his physical state or exoteric existance (not at transcendent level). And in Islam, esoteric and exoteric do not contradict each other (body and soul is never in opposition). More importantly, the concept of Oneness of God is not acknowledged by other religions except Islam (hence the discussion of Rabb, ilah, Allah). There is only one revealed religion (Adeenul Khalis) cited in the article page 18, the exclusive truth lies ultimately in Islam. In short, Muslims should reject TUoR and keep faith in the one True religion.

Note to me: I realised the need to study Comparative Study of Religions (CSoR) in order to speak with conviction about Islamic Worldview and avoid TUoR.

Truth vs. Falsehood

AlhamdulilLah wa Syukran to Sheikh Abdul Halim for sharing this with me :)

In return, I'm sharing this doa that guides us towards living our lives in the light of truth. This becomes critical in today's world where 'false leaders' are a bounty; it becomes a challenge for us to differentiate truth (haq) from falsehood (bathil).

As we continue to strive to increase our knowledge in Islam, it becomes essential for us to include in our daily prayer especially during Fajr prayer (as we start our day) so that Allah SWT protects us from these 'false leaders" - the long version of the doa can be found here.

For a start just recite (and memorise) these ayat or lines:

اللهُمَّ أَرِنَا الحَقَّ حَقّاً وَارْزُقْنَا التِبَاعَةَ وَأَرِنَا البَاطِلَ بَاطِلاً وَارْزُقْنَا

اجْتِنَابَهُ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

"Allahumma arinal-haqqa haqqan warzuqnat-tiba'ah, wa arinal-batila batilan warzuqnaj-tinabah, bi rahmatika ya arhamar-rahimeen."

"O Allah! Let us see the good as good, and bless us with following it. And show us the falsehood as falsehood, and bless us with staying away from it, with Your mercy, O Most Merciful!"

Afternote: Grams, Aunt Sofie, and mum constantly remind me that our religion is complete and RasululLah has prescribed for us a set of doa for daily living and that we should first and foremost (for the love of Allah SWT and RasululLah SAW) recite and memorise these BEFORE we start adding the rest prescribed by others. Truly, who would know what is best for us if not Allah SWT and RasululLah SAW?...

Tasawwur Islam - 30 Dec 2009

As Muslims, we believe that Adam AS is the first man who submitted to the will of Allah SWT. And this message is perennial and consistent - recognising, acknowledging and worshipping the One True and Real iLah alone.

Without associating Allah SWT with any partner, rival, or equal, nor attributing a likeness to Him, all the Prophets confirmed this truth and the final truth was brought by the last Prophet SAW as it was confirmed by all Prophets before him.

Subhan Allah, with Prophet Muhammad SAW, the revealed religion achieved utmost perfection whose original purity is preserved to this day and till the final hour.

Note to me: I feel so blessed to be born a Muslim and realised the need to know the history and spread of Islam in order to strengthen my Islamic identity.