Al-Maqasid

“Glory be to the One Who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran 17:1]

Of the most significant events that occurred in the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the Isra’ wa’l Mi‘raj (the Night Journey and Heavenly Ascension). On this night, the Prophet’s heart ﷺ was washed and he traveled to Jerusalem where he led all the Prophets and Messengers in prayer. He then ascended the seven heavens, arrived at the Furthest Lote Tree, and was entered into the Divine Presence where Allah the Exalted honored him and granted his Umma the five daily prayers.

The Main Program consists of Quranic recitation, several brief lessons detailing the major events of the Isra’ & Mi‘raj, and singing of chapter 7 from the Burda of Imam al-Busiri. The following is an outline of the lessons covered in this year’s commemoration:

(1) Opening verses of Sura al-Isra’ (17:1-20) - Sidi Mouaz Nass (7 mins)

(2) “I seek refuge in the Light of Your Countenance” - Sh. Qasim Hatem (10 mins)

(3) Washing the Prophet’s Heart ﷺ - Ust. Omar Popal (15 mins)

(4) Traveling to Jerusalem - Sh. Amin Buxton (10 mins)

(5) Witnessing Unseen Realities - Ust. Yusuf Weltch (10 mins)

(6) The Imam of the Messengers - Ust. Hasan Petrus

(7) Chapter 7 of the Burda - On the Prophet's Night Journey and Ascension ﷺ - Sidi Mouaz Nass (10 mins)

(8) Ascending the Seven Heavens - Sh. Abdul Karim Yahya (15 mins)

(9) The Furthest Lote Tree - Imam Amin Muhammad (10 mins)

(10) The Divine Presence - Sh. Yahya Rhodus (20 mins)

(11) The Return - Ust. Amjad Tarsin (10 mins)

“Glory be to the One Who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran 17:1]

Of the most significant events that occurred in the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the Isra’ wa’l Mi‘raj (the Night Journey and Heavenly Ascension). On this night, the Prophet’s heart ﷺ was washed and he traveled to Jerusalem where he led all the Prophets and Messengers in prayer. He then ascended the seven heavens, arrived at the Furthest Lote Tree, and was entered into the Divine Presence where Allah the Exalted honored him and granted his Umma the five daily prayers.

The Main Program consists of Quranic recitation, several brief lessons detailing the major events of the Isra’ & Mi‘raj, and singing of chapter 7 from the Burda of Imam al-Busiri. The following is an outline of the lessons covered in this year’s commemoration:

(1) Opening verses of Sura al-Isra’ (17:1-20) - Sidi Mouaz Nass (7 mins)

(2) “I seek refuge in the Light of Your Countenance” - Sh. Qasim Hatem (10 mins)

(3) Washing the Prophet’s Heart ﷺ - Ust. Omar Popal (15 mins)

(4) Traveling to Jerusalem - Sh. Amin Buxton (10 mins)

(5) Witnessing Unseen Realities - Ust. Yusuf Weltch (10 mins)

(6) The Imam of the Messengers - Ust. Hasan Petrus

(7) Chapter 7 of the Burda - On the Prophet's Night Journey and Ascension ﷺ - Sidi Mouaz Nass (10 mins)

(8) Ascending the Seven Heavens - Sh. Abdul Karim Yahya (15 mins)

(9) The Furthest Lote Tree - Imam Amin Muhammad (10 mins)

(10) The Divine Presence - Sh. Yahya Rhodus (20 mins)

(11) The Return - Ust. Amjad Tarsin (10 mins)

As the 27th of Rajab approaches, the night our beloved Messenger ﷺ traveled to Jerusalem and ascended into the Divine Presence, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus reminds us of the tremendous blessing of believing in the Unseen, the first pillar of taqwa (see Surah Baqara, 2:3). He explains how belief in the Unseen is necessarily connected with the belief and love of the Messenger ﷺ. And because we believe in the Messenger ﷺ without ever seeing him, he longs to meet us and will wait for us at the basin, alhamdulillah.

In this fascinating discussion, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus explains the four steps in decision making: thought, inclination, judgment, and intention. He discusses in detail the sources of one’s thoughts, as well as how to combat and discourage thoughts that lead to bad actions and how to embrace and encourage thoughts that lead to good actions.

To listen to the other Khutbas in the series: soundcloud.com/al-maqasid/sets/khutbas

Our ultimate goal is to know Allah the Exalted in this world and to be near Him, in eternal bliss, in the next. In this highly encouraging reflection, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus discusses the next trait of Futuwwa (spiritual chivalry) mentioned in al-Sulami’s book, Kitab al-Futuwwa: seek knowledge of Allah through Our knowledge. He discusses the ranks of the righteous and the type of knowledge about Allah that each of them can obtain. And even if we cannot obtain those ranks, Shaykh Yahya explains that through the Bounty of Allah, we will not be denied our aspirations, even if it is on the way to our grave.

Seeking the company of the good is among the virtuous traits of Futuwwa (spiritual chivalry) mentioned in al-Sulami’s book, Kitab al-Futuwwa. It has been to said, “Don’t ask about a man, ask about his friends.” In this reflection, Shaykh Yahya discusses the importance of carefully choosing one’s companionship in this life as it impacts the next. He mentions the hadith about the three traits of the people whom one should seek, as well as the significance of the dog who was with the companions of the cave (Surah al-Kahf, 18:18, 18:22).

Allah the Exalted says, Allah bears witness that there is no god except Him—as do the angels and people of knowledge.” [Quran 3:18] Allah the Exalted also says, Allah will elevate those of you who are faithful, and ˹raise˺ those gifted with knowledge in rank. [Quran 58:11] And the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever Allah wills good for, He grants him an understanding in religion.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Imam al-Ghazali states, “With respect to the human being, nothing is greater than attaining eternal felicity. And nothing is more virtuous than the means to it. Eternal felicity is only attained through knowledge and action. One can only truly act when he has the knowledge of how to perform the action. Therefore, the foundation of felicity in this world and the next is knowledge. It is the best of all actions.”

In these sessions, we will cover the merit of knowledge and learning, reframing the misuse of religious terminology, distinguishing beneficial from blameworthy knowledge, the etiquette of teachers and students of knowledge, the etiquettes of debate, and the signs of the scholars of the Hereafter. We welcome you to join us in what we pray will be a weekend filled with abundant blessings through knowledge and devotion.

Objectives:

Learning the merits of knowledge and differentiating between beneficial and blameworthy knowledge

Internalizing Imam al-Ghazali’s conception of the Science of the Way to the Hereafter (‘ilm tariq al-akhira)

Etiquettes of teaching, learning, and debating

Identifying the qualities of the scholars of the Hereafter

Allah the Exalted says, Allah bears witness that there is no god except Him—as do the angels and people of knowledge.” [Quran 3:18] Allah the Exalted also says, Allah will elevate those of you who are faithful, and ˹raise˺ those gifted with knowledge in rank. [Quran 58:11] And the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever Allah wills good for, He grants him an understanding in religion.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Imam al-Ghazali states, “With respect to the human being, nothing is greater than attaining eternal felicity. And nothing is more virtuous than the means to it. Eternal felicity is only attained through knowledge and action. One can only truly act when he has the knowledge of how to perform the action. Therefore, the foundation of felicity in this world and the next is knowledge. It is the best of all actions.”

In these sessions, we will cover the merit of knowledge and learning, reframing the misuse of religious terminology, distinguishing beneficial from blameworthy knowledge, the etiquette of teachers and students of knowledge, the etiquettes of debate, and the signs of the scholars of the Hereafter. We welcome you to join us in what we pray will be a weekend filled with abundant blessings through knowledge and devotion.

Objectives:

Learning the merits of knowledge and differentiating between beneficial and blameworthy knowledge

Internalizing Imam al-Ghazali’s conception of the Science of the Way to the Hereafter (‘ilm tariq al-akhira)

Etiquettes of teaching, learning, and debating

Identifying the qualities of the scholars of the Hereafter

Allah the Exalted says, Allah bears witness that there is no god except Him—as do the angels and people of knowledge.” [Quran 3:18] Allah the Exalted also says, Allah will elevate those of you who are faithful, and ˹raise˺ those gifted with knowledge in rank. [Quran 58:11] And the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever Allah wills good for, He grants him an understanding in religion.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Imam al-Ghazali states, “With respect to the human being, nothing is greater than attaining eternal felicity. And nothing is more virtuous than the means to it. Eternal felicity is only attained through knowledge and action. One can only truly act when he has the knowledge of how to perform the action. Therefore, the foundation of felicity in this world and the next is knowledge. It is the best of all actions.”

In these sessions, we will cover the merit of knowledge and learning, reframing the misuse of religious terminology, distinguishing beneficial from blameworthy knowledge, the etiquette of teachers and students of knowledge, the etiquettes of debate, and the signs of the scholars of the Hereafter. We welcome you to join us in what we pray will be a weekend filled with abundant blessings through knowledge and devotion.

Objectives:

Learning the merits of knowledge and differentiating between beneficial and blameworthy knowledge

Internalizing Imam al-Ghazali’s conception of the Science of the Way to the Hereafter (‘ilm tariq al-akhira)

Etiquettes of teaching, learning, and debating

Identifying the qualities of the scholars of the Hereafter

Allah the Exalted says, Allah bears witness that there is no god except Him—as do the angels and people of knowledge.” [Quran 3:18] Allah the Exalted also says, Allah will elevate those of you who are faithful, and ˹raise˺ those gifted with knowledge in rank. [Quran 58:11] And the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever Allah wills good for, He grants him an understanding in religion.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Imam al-Ghazali states, “With respect to the human being, nothing is greater than attaining eternal felicity. And nothing is more virtuous than the means to it. Eternal felicity is only attained through knowledge and action. One can only truly act when he has the knowledge of how to perform the action. Therefore, the foundation of felicity in this world and the next is knowledge. It is the best of all actions.”

In these sessions, we will cover the merit of knowledge and learning, reframing the misuse of religious terminology, distinguishing beneficial from blameworthy knowledge, the etiquette of teachers and students of knowledge, the etiquettes of debate, and the signs of the scholars of the Hereafter. We welcome you to join us in what we pray will be a weekend filled with abundant blessings through knowledge and devotion.

Objectives:

Learning the merits of knowledge and differentiating between beneficial and blameworthy knowledge

Internalizing Imam al-Ghazali’s conception of the Science of the Way to the Hereafter (‘ilm tariq al-akhira)

Etiquettes of teaching, learning, and debating

Identifying the qualities of the scholars of the Hereafter