Imam Ghazali on Repentance

The weighty words of the Proof of Islam:

"If you repent then break your repentance by returning to sin, then rush back to repentance. Say to yourself, 'Perhaps I will die before returning to sin this time.' Similarly, do this a third and fourth time. Just as you have made sin and returning to it a profession, make repentance and returning to it a profession. Do not be more incapable of repentance than you are of sin, nor lose hope, and do not let the Shaytan use this to prevent you from repenting. For indeed it is a sign of good. Did you not hear his [the Prophet's] (Allah bless and grant him peace) saying, 'The best of you are every one who is often tried and often penitent.' Which means they are often tried by sin and repent much and return to Allah (Transcendent and Exalted is He) with remorse and seeking forgiveness. Remember the saying of Allah (Most high): 'And he who does evil or wrongs himself, then seeks forgiveness from Allah, he will find Allah Very Forgiving, Merciful.'[4:110]" [1]

And Allah knows best and He alone gives success (tawfiq).

[1] Muhammad Bin Muhammad al-Ghazali, Minhaj al-'Abidin Ila Jannah Rabbi al-'Alamin (Damascus, al-Dar al-Dimashqiyyah, 1422 A.H.[2002]), pp.31-32.

Four Keys to the Reality of Faith (Seeker's Digest)

Four Keys to the Reality of Faith (Seeker's Digest)

Sahl ibn Abd Allah al-Tustari said,
“One doesn’t attain unto the reality of faith until one has four traits:
(1) Fulfilling one’s obligations, in accordance with the sunna
(2) Eating the halal, with scrupulousness
(3) Avoiding prohibitions, both outward and inward
(4) Remaining steadfast on this, until one’s death.”

[Ghazali, Ihya `Ulum al-Din, 2.91]

وقال سهل التسترى لا يبلغ
العبد حقيقة الإيمان حتى يكون فيه أربع خصال أداء الفرائض بالسنة وأكل الحلال
بالورع واجتناب النهي من الظاهر و الباطن و الصبر على ذلك إلى الموت

Sh. Nuh: Recommended Books

Shaykh Nuh recommended some very important books to read tonight...I thought I'd post them here for anyone who may be interested:

• Failure to Connect : How Computers Affect Our Children's Minds -- and What We Can Do About It -- by Jane Healy
• Endangered Minds : Why Children Dont Think And What We Can Do About It -- also by Jane Healy
• Silicon Snake Oil: Second Thoughts on the Information Highway -- by Clifford Stoll

Anyone who cares about the future, especially those with children...read!

Free SunniPath Course: The Hadith Jibril Explained

SunniPath Academy Presents:

The Foundation of Prophetic Guidance: The Hadith Jibril Explained A free 3-lesson course with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani June 10 - 24, 2006 View Flash Presentation Register Now

SunniPath Academy's Summer Intensive Program

More Knowledge - SunniPath Academy's Summer Intensive Program

Are you seeking to spend your summer immersed in the Islamic sciences, but are unable to travel or need a flexible schedule? SunniPath Academy has a solution for you. As part of the Summer 2006 semester, SunniPath is offering an engaging summer intensive program, MoreKnowledge. Designed especially for university and secondary school students on summer vacation, this intensive is perfect for anyone whose summer does not require the same level of worldly commitment as the rest of the year.

MoreKnowledge seeks to offer a balanced curriculum in four key subject areas, while allowing you the flexibility to choose the specific level or topic. You will be able to select four classes that fit into the following subject areas: Belief, Fiqh, Methodology, and Enrichment. Courses will run from June 24, 2006 through September 24, 2006.

This package of four courses is priced at only $495. Students at secondary schools or institutes of higher education are eligible for an additional 30% discount. Family members in the same household enrolling in the same set of courses will also receive a 50% discount off the second family member’s admission. Country specific special rates also available. Repeat or study circle discounts, however, do not apply. SunniPath also offers a helpful payment plan. Details on the payment plan are available here.

So why are you waiting? Spend your summer seeking MoreKnowledge.

Three Friends

"Know that you have three friends. The first of them is your wealth,
which you shall lose at the time of death. The second of them is your
family, who shall leave you once you are in your grave. The third of
them are your actions, which shall never depart from you. So befriend
that which will accompany you in your grave, and be intimate with it.
The intelligent one is he who knows Allah, His commands and His
prohibitions."

-Ibn 'Ata' Allah (Taj al-'arus al-hawi li tahdhib al-nufus, 32). 

All Together Now (Sunni Sister)

All Together Now (Sunni Sister)

Salaam ‘Alaikum

“The Ummah is like one body…”(Muslim)

Bring up the idea of all humanity being connected as one organism, and most people, Muslim or not, will probably look at you like you followed the Grateful Dead on tour for too long…

The Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said that this Ummah is like one body. When one part of it complains, the rest of it responds with fever and wakefulness. But what I was thinking about last night is simply how people are in tune with each other, outside of empathy or sympathy for pain and suffering.

Some people say that this “psychic abillity,” but I think what it is is simply human instinct. Some are more attuned to their inner voices than others. A lot of people are taught to ignore their instincts, esp. women (we talked about this last year). But when you think of all the “strange” things, those funny “coincidences” you’ve experienced…

I know I’m not the only mother out there who is doing something, say, cooking, or reading, when I suddenly have the feeling that I must go now b/c the baby is about to wake. And sure enough, as soon as I step into the room or sit down next to where he is, his eyes pop open. This must happen to me at least twice a day, maybe more.

Or how many times do you pick up the phone to call your husband and he’s there on the other end? This happens to us all the time. I also, almost all the time, know when he’s coming down the street, even though I can’t see or hear his car unless I’m standing right at the window (which I’m too busy to do). It isn’t a coincidence. It’s being part of the same body of humanity. There is some connection there, through the hearts or through blood, something that ties us together, mash’Allah.

Is this connection stronger for the Muslimeen, because our hearts are inclined a certain way? I don’t know, but so, so many people, throughout the centuries, have attested to special connections like these among the people who are close to a particular teacher or who are in a tariqa, and especially among those who are close to the Prophet (sallalahu aleyhi wa salaam) in terms of sending salawat on him and loving him as Allah commands us to, and those who are close to Allah because His Name is never far from their lips. Asra Adiba talks about this connection between the Muslimeen, between family, between students and teachers, and between the Muslim, Allah, and His Messenger in the halaqa entitled, “Boundaries of Love.”

Anyway, I just wish that we could be more conscious of this than the things that preoccupy us. We are supposed to compete in doing good works, but so often, we compete in one upmanship. Even da’wah workers are not immune to this. People get caught up in having control, authority, leadership, and exclusivity. We lose sight of the big picture; sometimes temporarily, and sometimes until it’s too late. Being aware of our human and Muslim connection would lead to things like courtesy, like a real unity… It’s a small thing, but you have to start somewhere.

Friends

I remember Shaykh Hamza saying that if you have even one friend whom you sincerely love, and who sincerely reciprocates that same love -- without condition, unbound by time or place, you should make shukr to Allah...or as some scholars have said, actually make two rakats of the prayer of thankfulness.

May Allah bless our friends, our companions in deen that help us on our journey through this world, increase the love between our hearts, and make us neighbours in this life and in Jannah, insha'Allah. Amin.

As the Prophet (Allah bless him and give peace) said, "the believer is a mirror to his believing brother".

What We Should Be Teaching Our Children - Imam Zaid Shakir

When we talk about Islamic education and our children, the discussion usually revolves around strictly academic issues related to technical aspects of curriculum development, testing standards and methodologies, balancing between secular and religious education, and similar concerns. Sometimes we miss the greater objective of an Islamic education. That objective, in terms of what is necessary for the immediate success of our children in this world, and their ultimate success in the next, is nurturing balanced, wholesome, honest human beings who live lives based on principle and who exemplify good character in their dealings with other people. [Read More...]

Theory without practice (Imam Hujwiri)

Practice what you have learned, for theory without practice is like a spirit without a body. One who is content with learning alone is not learned, for the truly learned seek more than mere words. Divine guidance entails self-mortification, without which contemplation is unattainable.

- Al-Hujwiri, Kashf al-Mahjub

Mawlana Rumi on Doubt

Doubt is a precipice on the way to God. Blessed is he who is freed from its bonds. He who fares without any doubt, adhere to his footprints if you do not know the way. Cleave to the footprints of the deer and advance with care that you may reach the musk-gland. By means of such trekking, even if you walk on fire, you will reach the luminous peak.

- Mawlana Rumi

Sh. Yaqoubi: ‘ Grief and sorrow upon the loss of my heart’

REMEMBERING Al-Hajjah Farizah Rabbat Umm Ibrahim Al-Yaqoubi Al-Hasani By Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi Al-Hasani

‘ Grief and sorrow upon the loss of my heart’

Patience is in the Moment...Sh. Hamza Yusuf

If I recognize it correctly, this an earlier video excerpt of Sh. Hamza at the University of Toronto.

Patience is in the Moment...Sh. Hamza Yusuf

Three minutes of your life will be very well spent if you listen to this, insha'Allah :)

Zaytuna Mawlid! (hahmed.com)

Sidi Haseeb comes through again with awesome audio/video links! Available for download!

Mawlid at Zaytuna! Shaykh Hamza, Imam Zaid, and Dr. Umar Faruq Abdallah

Jazak Allah khayr!

Sh. Hamza Yusuf - Changing My Faith to Islam

An early video of Sh. Hamza talking about his conversion to Islam (~ 1992)...from Google Video

Sh. Faraz Rabbani: Alive in our hearts: Lessons from the Prophet (peace be upon him)

In light of the recent passing of Shaykh Yaqoubi’s wife, Umm Ibrahim, as well as other occurrences in the days surrounding the birth of the beloved of Allah (Allah bless him and give him abundant peace) who was sent as a Mercy to the Worlds, a surge of introspection has come about. The other night my teacher, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani who has been a source of much guidance for me over the last few years, gave a talk at the University of Toronto, entitled: “Alive in our hearts: Lessons from the Prophet (peace be upon him)”, and I’ve decided to record some of the notes I took, so that some benefit may be gained by those who were unable to attend, insha’Allah.

We find ourselves in life, in desperate need of guidance of what to do in this finite life. The scholars often mention the example of someone who suddenly awakes to find himself on a moving train. What will you do? Besides having fear, panic, and being mesmerized, upon waking, your immediate questions will be:

• How did I get here?
• Where am I going?
• What must I do while I’m here?

All of creation has this intrinsic yearning to know where to go in life, with every heartbeat there is this need for guidance, finding the Creator, and doing the right thing. This fundamental need is found in the Fatiha, “Guide us to the straight path”, for we are essentially lost and bewildered: what are we to do and how are we to do it? And in reality, the entire Qur’an is an answer to that request, to help us, to save us from crashing so that we arrive at our destination in the best of states. It provides the way of living this life in the best way, and being granted the best of the next life.

Guidance involves turning to the Creator in our worship and in our human relations: our dealings and conduct (our transactions and how we comport ourselves). What are the sources of guidance? -- The Qur’an and the Sunnah, both of which are preserved.

What is the key to the Sunnah? – Turning to Allah in all of one’s affairs.

A man of the Quraysh mocked one of the companions (sahaba) about being taught everything by the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), even mannerisms related to the using the toilet. The companion replied without any hesitance or shame, that this was indeed the case because the Rasul (Allah bless him and give him peace) was sent to show us the best way to live in every aspect of our life, and to perfect the most noblest of character.

In our race for success in the world, we often forget the hereafter. The Sunnah shows us how to re-connect with Allah and our ultimate purpose – khalwa, reflecting privately on one’s life, conduct, and dealings. After writing an exam one studied hard for, for instance, rather than wasting time twiddling one’s thumbs or talking to others and speculating, one should instead turn to Allah and supplicate, asking for His assistance. In the first moments of marriage when husband and wife are alone, praying two rakats before setting out on their path of married life.

In short, remembering Allah, and following the example of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), can make the mundane the sublime. For every action, do the “what/why analysis”: “What am I doing? Why am I doing it?” For instance, when putting on one’s shoes, starting in the name of Allah, putting the right shoe on first, and intending gratitude towards Allah for the mercy and blessing of being able to walk and wanting to walk to that which is pleasing to Allah. Visiting friends for the sake of Allah, to deepen love.

These were just a few of the things that Shaykh Faraz touched on. Insha’Allah, they’ll remind us all to bring the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) to life in our hearts and lives by implementing his Sunnah, his noble character, and his beautiful presence in our daily lives.

And Allah knows best.

May Allah grant us all good in this life and the next. Amin.

SunniPath: Traditional Halaqa Live from Bradford

SunniPath is pleased to announce that we will be broadcasting lessons from The Traditional Halaqa live from Bradford, England, during the following week starting from this Sunday, April 16th.

This broadcast is free of charge and all are welcome to attend. You can login to each session by going to SunniPath.com at 11:30am EST/4:30pm BST on a daily basis.
Broadcast Schedule

Shaykh Samer al-Nass
Sunday April 16th – Saturday April 22nd

Fiqh of Marriage
11:45am EST / 4:45pm BST

'Ilm of Ihsan
2:40pm EST / 7:40pm BST

Q&A, Nasheeds, Guest speakers
3:45pm EST / 8:45pm BST

Shifa: Remedies and Cures

A new blog that seeks to present the teachings of our beloved teacher, Sidi Hakim Archuletta on health and the Islamic tradition: Shifa should be blog of great benefit, insha'Allah.

Remedies and Cures
by Hakim Archuletta

Its an old basic that one must grasp the essence and the core of the whole subject and not go by "give this for this" In many texts, descriptions of foods in terms of their hot cold wet and dry qualities, for example, you will find conflicting information . I'm not sure of the origins or reason for this.-sometimes from country to country , honey may, for example, be described as hot and dry and even hot and wet in another text. Everything you find, however, that is not in conflict and that makes sense should be stored as a-possible- and you will find prescriptions that are consistent from across the world and through time -these we need to know for our patients as it indicates something sound. [Read More...]

Remembering Umm Ibrahim

- SunniSister reflects on the passing of Umm Ibrahim

- Shaykh Yaqoubi recounts the last days of his wife's life:

Sheikh Muhammad al Yaqoubi sends his warm salaams and utmost appreciation to everyone for the ongoing du'as for his family, and for the Khatm al Quran taking place in various parts throughout the world, mashaAllah. He asks that you please keep sending the du'as especially for his children.

Also, Sheikh Muhammad wanted everyone to know that the last couple of days of his wife's life were filled with joy and celebration. In fact there was a mawlid in their home just the day before she departed and that night Sheikh Muhammad presented her with a bouquet of flowers with a profoundly prominent one as the centerpiece. He said that night they recounted the trials of the recent past and forgave each other for everything, he was content with her and she with him. Radi'a 'alayha wa Radi'at 'alayh. They also spoke much that night about the boy they were expecting, the bundle of Aal al bayt in her belly whom they were going to name "Sharif" after Sheikh Muhammad's paternal granduncle, the famous 'Arif bi Allah, Sheikh Sharif al Yaqoubi. Radia Allahu 'anh. Sheikh Muhammad said it was a better night than their wedding night.

Masha Allah. This is why Sheikh Muhammad declared at the funeral that he was happy with her, so that she, insha Allah, would be of those wives whom the Prophet, salla Allah 'alayhi wa sallam said would be in al Jannah if they passed this world while their husband was content with them. As our consummate teacher, he wanted us all to know that he is in heightened gratitude that Umm Ibrahim, rahimaha Allah ta'ala, departed in this tranquil way. He said she shone with a light in the last couple of days that was clearly a felicitous farewell to the Dunya. Subhan Allah.

- Shaykh Gibril Haddad remembers Umm Ibrahim:

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.
{Lo! Allah's promise is the very truth. Let not the life of the world beguile you, nor let the deceiver beguile you, in regard to Allah} (31:33).

Glory and thanks to Allah in every moment and state, Glory to Him Who changes everything but never changes!

The wife of our beloved teacher Shaykh Abu al-Huda Muhammad al-Ya`qubi ibn al-Sayyid Ibrahim al-Ya`qubi al-Hasani passed away on Monday April 10, 2006 (12 Rabi` al-Awwal 1427) after a car accident and was survived by their three children who are in stable condition. The funeral prayer was prayed the next day (today) at Jami` al-Badr in Damascus after Salat al-zuhr and she was buried in the turba of Ahl al-Bayt in Bab al-Saghir cemetary.

The Sharif Abu al-Huda spoke shortly before he led Salat al-Janaza and bore witness to the righteousness of his wife Umm Ibrahim al-Ya`qubi Aal Rabbat who had devoted her life to Allah and His Prophet, His Family, and the students of knowledge in the pious service of her husband. He said that it was her unfailing daily habit to pray one hundred rak`at and to do a khatma of Surat al-Baqara and Surat al-Ma'ida. She had asked him five years ago that if she should pass away he insure that she is buried "with you, Ahl al-Bayt, and in your immediate vicinity." He informed those present that she had passed away bearing in her womb a five-month old fetus from Ahl al-Bayt. Less than a week before her passing she had prepared with her own hand food for 150 people at Sayyid Abu al-Huda's home in donation to the departed soul of Mawlana al-Sayyid Muhammad al-Hashimi al-Darqawi's son. The very day before her passing she had prepared food for the students of Abu al-Huda for the specific occasion of the Mawlid of the Holy Prophet, upon him blessings and peace.

The writer of these lines owes a special debt of gratitude toward Umm Ibrahim who kindly hosted my ailing mother and us a few years ago and whose high religion I witnessed recently after a particular incident. Last `Eid al-Fitr (on the first Friday of November 2005) after the Salat al-`Eid at the Umawi Mosque I went to the Ya`qubi house a half hour away, intending to visit Shaykh Muhammad. At his very doorstep I slipped and broke my right tibia bone in two pieces. As Abu al-Huda came out I only had two words, one was "`Eid Mubarak ya Sayyidi" and the other was: "My leg ya Sayyidi!" Sayyid Abu al-Huda drove me to the hospital on the spot, paid for the operation, brought me back home a couple of days later after, and paid all my family's expenses for the subsequent months, in addition to which, every few days, Umm Ibrahim would drive over from her house to ours with plenteous food she had prepared with her own hands. At the time of her accident she was driving to visit her parents for Mawlid. May Allah repay her with the food and consolation of Paradise!

The first visit I made after I could walk again was to the house of Sayyid Abu al-Huda where he told me: "The greatest tests are for the Prophets, after whom, Allah Most High pours down the trials and tribulations of the world on the Ghawth, who carries what mountains cannot carry, and he is charge of distributing them, first in intensity to the Aqtab, then the Abdal, then the rest of the Awliya, then the commonality." And this loss of his is a test of tremendous proportions which the eyes and ears of witnesses saw and heard Abu al-Huda carrying with words of light and glorification from the Book of Allah and the Sunna and serene states of His Messenger, upon him blessings and peace.

May Allah justify the glad tidings of the many signs He manifested regarding his wife, this pious righteous woman who was blessed with the supportive character of our Mother Khadija in love and respect for her husband who bore witness in her behalf of his being well-pleased with her, in illustration of the Prophetic promise that such a wife enters Paradise. May He ease her entry into the earth, widen her grave for her and illuminate it, and receive her into the vastness of His Paradises and the highest company,

{with those unto whom Allah has shown favor, of the Prophets and the saints and the martyrs and the righteous. The best of company are they!} (4:69). Amin.

`Azzama Allahu ajrakum Aala Ya`qubi wa-Aala Rabbat, and may Allah grant you sabr and the highest reward bi-hurmat al-Habib wa-Surat al-Fatiha.
- Gibril Fouad Haddad

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji 'un

Fatiha...

We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved teacher Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi's wife, Umm Ibrahim, who was dearly loved by many, passed away today in a car accident. Their daughter, Aisha, also in the accident, is in the hospital. Please make sincere du'a for all of them. We will have a khatam of Qur'an for them at Zaytuna on Saturday, April 15th at 6pm in sha Allah. To God we belong and to Him we shall all Return.

Source:

www.zaytuna.org

The Mawlid of the Messenger of Allah: The Seal of Prophets and a Mercy for the Worlds (Allah bless him and give him abundant peace)

Assalamu'alaykum wa Rahmatullah,

Alhamdulillah, the mawlid in nearly upon us once again! May Allah endlessly bless our beloved master and guide, the Messenger of Allah, his family, companions, and those who seek to follow him, until the Last Day.

May we follow the best of creation in his most noble example, in all we do. In light of the mawlid, I thought of once again posting the Reader on the Mawlid from SunniPath.

Also, please make du'a for my family and I during this blessed month, and especially on that blessed day that our guide was sent into this world.

Fatiha.

Wassalam,
Salikah

• Love & Praise of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & grant him peace)

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf on BBC: In Praise of God - The Prophet's Birthday

Beautiful Praise of the Beloved of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)

The Fiqh of Sending Peace

Love of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)

Love of the Prophet - 2 (Allah bless him and grant him peace)

On the Necessity of Loving the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)

How much should the Prophet be loved? And: How?

Superiority of the Prophet, upon him peace

Decorating the Mosque for Mawlid Season

• Is the Celebration of the Mawlid Permissible?

Is it permissible to celebrate the Prophet's birthday (Allah bless him and give him peace)?

Should we celebrate Mawlid (The Prophet's (S) birthday)?

RE: Milad (Is it permissible to celebrate the Prophet's birthday (Allah bless him and give him peace)?

The Concept of Bid'a In The Islamic Shari'ah

Making Du`a for the Umma of the Beloved of Allah (peace and blessings unlimited be upon him, his family, companions, and followers) Ma`ruf al-Karkhi, one of the righteous imams of the early Muslims (salaf), said, "Whoever says,

'Allahumma aslih Ummata Muhammad Allahumma farrij `an Ummati Muhammad Allahumma Rham Ummata Muhammad [salla Allahu `alayhi wa sallam]

(O Allah, improve the state of the Umma of Muhammad O Allah, grant ease to the Umma of Muhammad O Allah, have mercy on the Umma of Muhammad),'

ten times every day will be written down as one of the highest of elect believers (abdal)." [Abu Nu`aym, Hilyat al-Awliya , 8.366]

اللهم أصلح أمة محمد اللهم فرج عن أمة محمد أللهم ارحم أمة محمد

Why? The Prophet of Mercy (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

"Have mercy on those on earth, and the Lord of the Skies will have mercy on you." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Bukhari in his al-Adab al-Mufrad from Abd Allah ibn Amr (Allah be pleased with him

Gems of Wisdom: from our master Abu Dardaa Radhiallanhu

"If you knew what I know, you would go out to the jungle, weeping and crying and leave your property unguarded. But your hearts are heedless of the requirements of the Hereafter and you have, before you, worldly hopes and aspirations. That is why the world has become your master and all your activities are directed towards it; you have reduced yourself to a condition of stark ignorance. What is worse, some of you have become like the animals, indulging in lustful activities, not minding the evil consequences.

What has happened to you that you do not love one another, nor admonish one another, though you are brothers in Islam? There is discord among you because of your wrong desires, arising out of the corruption within you. If you are united in the cause of 'Deen' and affairs of 'Deen', your bonds of mutual relationship will be strengthened.

What has happened to you, that you counsel one another about affairs of this world, but do not do so about affairs of the Akhirah? You are incapable of admonishing those whom you love and do not give them good counsel about the affairs of the Hereafter. This is only because of your weak faith. If you had faith in the good and evil things of the Hereafter, like your belief in the good and evil things of this world, you would certainly give preference to the Akhirah. The Akhirah should have greater control over your affairs.

You may say that the needs of this world are immediate, while those of the Hereafter are remote. Just imagine how many activities there are, in this world, of which the fruits have to be reaped later. Still you toil and fret and struggle hard for them! For example, you work hard in the fields, for months together, hoping to reap crops in the end. Similarly, you take pains to plant trees in the garden, hoping to pick the fruit after years of hard labour and patient waiting. You have deteriorated, in matters of faith, so much that you do not care to gauge the level of your Imaan (faith) by doing things that would reveal it'.

'If you have any doubts about the revealed knowledge conveyed to us by Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, please come to us, so that we may show you the truth of this knowledge and make it abundantly clear to you. Come, we will show you the light by which you will be able to see, for yourself, that whatever Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam said is absolutely true. You are no fools that we should regard you incapable of understanding it. For, you hold sound views about worldly affairs and act upon them most carefully. Then, what is wrong with you that you do not exercise wisdom, nor act with due care in affairs of the Akhirah.

What has happened to you? Why is it that you feel very happy over a paltry gain of this world and feel very sad over a little loss, to the extent that its effect is reflected in your faces. You complain of your 'sufferings', calling a little trouble a 'suffering' and hold meetings to console one another. But you are not grieved, nor feel sad, when you happen to miss an important religious requirement; your faces do not wear an _expression of sorrow.

When I see your indifference towards 'Deen', I feel inclined to think that Allah Ta'ala has forsaken you. You greet one another happily but everyone avoids saying anything which may be unpleasant, though true, to the other. He fears lest the other person should say to him something in return, which would displease him. So, you live amicably, keeping all dark thoughts to yourselves. Thus you have become corrupt from within though, outwardly, you seem to be enjoying life. And you seem to have all agreed not to think of death.

I wish Allah Ta'ala would grant me death and relieve me of sorrow on your account! And, I wish to join the company of those I love most dearly (meaning Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam and the Sahabah Radhiallaho anhum). If they were alive, they would not have liked to associate with you, even for a short while. If there still remains an iota of good in you, take heed. For, I have told you what I think of you clearly and without hesitation, and I have spoken the truth. It is quite easy to achieve that which Allah Ta'ala has got in store for you (the boons of the Hereafter). And I seek help from Allah Ta'ala, both for you and myself'. "

Found via Alexandalus

Praying for the Deceased (SunniPath)

Imam Ghazali mentions the following story: “Said Bashshar ibn Ghalib al-Najrani, ‘I once saw Rabi`a al-`Adawiya, the worshipper [al-`abida] in my sleep, it having been my custom to pray for her abundantly. ‘Oh Bashshar ibn Ghalib,’ she told me. ‘Your gifts come to me covered with silken cloths upon salvers of light.’ ‘How should that be?’ I asked, and she replied, ‘Thus are the prayers of the living believers: when they offer a prayer for the deceased and are granted a response, that prayer is set upon salvers of light and covered with silken cloths, after which it is brought to the one who has died with the words, ‘This is So-and-so’s gift to you.’’”

Imam Ghazali continues, ‘The Emissary of God (May God bless him and grant him peace) said, ‘The dead man in his grave is like a drowning man shouting for help, as he waits for a prayer to come to him from his father, his brother or his friend. When it comes it is more beloved to him than the world and all it contains. Indeed, the gifts of the living to the dead are prayer and the petitioning of God for His forgiveness.’ [i][i] This should serve to remind us of two things. Firstly, that while we are alive and thus not as a drowning man depending on the prayers of another, we should embrace Islam in every facet of life, for in our graves we will be alone with nothing but our deeds. Secondly, we should remember to pray for our deceased ancestors, teachers, friends, martyrs, and all Muslims and pray that the same is done for us one day.

Rabi`a once said, “You are but a set of numbered days. When one day goes, a part of you goes as well. And with the disappearance of the parts, the whole is nearly lost as well.” [ii][ii]

- Taken from SunniPath Answers

Rumi: The Promise of Tomorrow

Relying upon the promise of "tomorrow," many people have wandered around that door, but that tomorrow never comes.

Rumi, Mathnawi, 1:2279

Evil and Good are not Comparable

Say, "Evil and good are not comparable, even though the abundance of evil may tempt you. Remain observant of Allah, O men of understanding, that you may prosper."

Qur'an 5:100

Their Eyes Fill with Tears...

When they listen tot he revelation received by the messenger, you see their eyes fill with tears because of their recognition of the Truth. And spontaneously they say, "Our Lord! We believe. Inscribe us among the witnesses."

Qur'an 5:83

Burial Site of Nabi Harun (Peace Be Upon Him)

Burial Site of Nabi Harun (Peace Be Upon Him)

found via Seeker's Digest

A Weekend with Hakim Archuletta...

Assalamu'alaykum wa Rahmatullah,

I promised some people I'd post a few points from a recent weekend with Sidi Hakim Archuletta, on my blog...so here it is, insha'Allah...they're not a linear set of points (as he says his lectures aren't either)...just things that stuck out for me...

I should start by saying that meeting him was itself a healing for me -- his presence really warmed my heart and I found myself missing him before he even left, subhan'Allah. I pray Allah bring us together again soon.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
"There is a part of the body that, if sound, the entire body is sound"
and that part is the heart.
(Hadith #6 reported by Bukhari and Muslim)

Sidi Hakim started by telling us that the world 'health' comes from the Old English word 'wholth', so to be healthy means to be whole. Hikmah means "wisdom" and Allah is al-Hakim (the Wise) -- the principle in the hikmah tradition is that each thing has its place in the universe -- when this is proper, we have wholeness. So we have to find our place by finding our true nature. Why are we here? What are we? That is what Islam is here to tell us: we are here to worship Allah Ta'Ala...with our entire being!

Much of his message this weekend was about coming together as a people and a community. He mentioned that one Shaykh said that the flood in the time of the Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) was one of water, and that the flood of our times is one of separation. In light of this he advised us to never eat alone and added there is a hadith in which we were told that the one who eats alone eats with Shaytan. We as Muslims believe we are what we eat (so eat whole, halal, organic foods made at home!), and we are also who we eat with, and how we eat (eat with people, with your hands, on the ground!).

He touched on the long-term problems we are creating by being distant from family and friends -- situations where mothers are raising children in isolation, having to put them in front of TV sets so they can get their work done, and the adverse effects of such parenting on both mother and child.

At the heart of his message was this advice of coming together, knowing our neighbours, visiting one another, eating together, praying together, and being together.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
"the one who knows himself knows his Lord."

We need each other to get a sense of who we are.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
"the believer is a mirror to his fellow believer"

So why do we avoid that company? Because we are afraid to face where we are at -- it's sad/sorrowful to realize the time we've wasted, the state we're in...but we need to remember that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) changed the face of the planet in his lifetime -- we're not him, but we should aspire to be like him! The largest growth industry in the world is that of illicit drugs...why? Because people can't face their own lives -- they need to get "high". We don't have time for our own friends so we watch the 'friends' on TV because they can't disappoint or hurt us. We can't live life so we watch "reality television" and let other people 'live' for us...

Sidi Hakim also spoke quite a bit on the differences between genders. One Moroccon Shaykh said the wisdom behind men being obligated to pray in congregation while women may pray alone -- that it is partially because men need to be made to come together whereas women naturally incline towards doing so.

He brought to light the fact that it was not by any accident that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) when he received the revelation, ran to his wife Khadija for comfort and consultation. So, he said, from this men should realize the need to consult their wives, to listen to them -- he told us that Shaykh Darqawi said the beginning of the path is to hear/to listen...this means men should not always feel the need to fix things or feel their wives are just complaining, but that they just need to listen!

Sidi Hakim also spent a lot of time on some basic elements of life: breathing and standing. He made us realize that most of us don't breathe. Breath is life. The more you breathe, the more you live. Real breathing means you feel the breath in every part of your body -- right to your finger tips. He showed us how our standing is not in line with our natural way of doing so -- we lock our knees, we walk rigidly, our bodies are clamped together (especially those who pump weights!), our sitting ruins our posture...things to keep in mind in our daily lives...

So...

BREATHE!

and remember,

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
"the root of all ailments is cold" ... so stay warm!

May Allah preserve Sidi Hakim, bless him abundantly, continue to make him a means of healing for people, and give him a long, healthy, happy life of 'ibaadah. Ameen.

Some links...

Hakim's Site
Lectures

Wassalam,
Salikah

Characteristics of the True Believer (Spiritual Tendencies)

Characteristics of the True Believer (Spiritual Tendencies)

Shaykh Yahyā Ibn Mu’ādh ar-Rāzī—may Allāh bless his soul—has collected in his books the characteristics of the true believer, some of which are that he/she:

• Is very bashful.
• Is harmless.
• Is very beneficial to others.
• Is unproblematic.
• Is truthful.
• Is hardworking.
• Is brave.
• Stays away from useless people and vain talk.
• Builds understanding and brotherhood.
• Is thankful.
• Is compassionate to all.
• Is generous.

And he/she stays away from the following:

• Cursing.
• Swearing.
• Backbiting.
• Looking for badness in other people.
• Rushing into actions (before thinking properly).
• Jealousy.
• Enviousness.
• Stinginess.
• Pride.
• Arrogance.
• Love of Dunya.
• Too much sleep.
• Hypocrisy.

Marriage Advice from The Beatnik Sufis

Marriage Advice from The Beatnik Sufis

hilarious :) made me start thinking back to my doc martin days!

One has to be careful when choosing a Sufi-chick to marry. There are a number of pointers which we shall endeavour to posit. Of course, Sufi-chicks have their own lists of desirable characteristics, but we don’t know about this, because fortunately we are not Sufi-chicks, we are Sufi guys, or Sufi beatniks, and Sufi guys are far out. Sufi-chicks get together in their pastel Laura Ashley bedrooms to advise each other about pre-nuptial contracts. They have a great long list. We’re not worried about such a list, as once they see our honed physiques and square jaw-lines they will melt, and forget their lists. We, on the other hand, have a far more sophisticated method for determining the suitability of a Sufi-chick for marriage: shoes.