Al-Maqasid

On December 13, 2020, Al-Maqasid held an online retreat titled, “Reflections on Death and the Afterlife,” based on Book 40 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din. This series of five lessons covers a variety of topics including: the merit of remember death and brief hopes; the account of the Messenger of Allah’s ﷺ passing; the true nature of and experiences after death; and the major events of the Afterlife.

In this first session, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus begins with a brief introduction of Iman al-Ghazali and his work Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din. He then discusses the merit of remembering death, quoting and explaining many hadith and statements made the pious such as, “Death is a precious gift to the believer.”

For the English translation of this book by Dr. Timothy Winter (Sh. Abdal Hakim Murad): https://www.meccabooks.com/180-al-ghazali-on-the-remembrance-of-death-and-the-afterlife-9780946621132.html

To access all the lessons: https://soundcloud.com/al-maqasid/sets/ihya-ulum-al-din-book-40-the-remembrance-of-death-the-afterlife

“Account yourselves among the dead...”

In Session 2 of this five-part series, “Reflections on Death and the Afterlife,” based on Book 40 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin defines what it means to have “brief hopes,” discusses the dangers associated with long hopes, the major causes for long hopes, and why one must hasten to perform righteous actions.

For the English translation of this book by Dr. Timothy Winter (Sh. Abdal Hakim Murad): https://www.meccabooks.com/180-al-ghazali-on-the-remembrance-of-death-and-the-afterlife-9780946621132.html

To access all the lessons: soundcloud.com/al-maqasid/sets/ihya-ulum-al-din-book-40-the-remembrance-of-death-the-afterlife

“Whoever conceals the faults of a believer shall have his own faults concealed by Allah on the Day of Arising.”

The discussion of Book 40 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din continues in Session 3 of al-Maqasid’s retreat, “Reflections on Death and the Afterlife,” with Shaykh Yahya Rhodus exploring various aspects of the Afterlife including: the Trumpet Blast, the Inquisition, the Scales, the Restoration of Wrongs, the Traverse, and the Pool.

For the English translation of this book by Dr. Timothy Winter (Sh. Abdal Hakim Murad): https://www.meccabooks.com/180-al-ghazali-on-the-remembrance-of-death-and-the-afterlife-9780946621132.html

To access all the lessons: soundcloud.com/al-maqasid/sets/ihya-ulum-al-din-book-40-the-remembrance-of-death-the-afterlife

"And surely your Lord will give so much to you that you will be pleased." [Quran 93:5]

At this point in this five-part series, “Reflections on Death and the Afterlife,” based on Book 40 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din, the emphasis moves from looking at some of the harsher realities of the Afterlife which evoke fear in the believer to those realities that engender hope.

In Session 4, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin discusses the beautiful ways in which our beloved Messenger ﷺ intercedes for his Ummah, as well as providing practical advice on how to seek this intercession.

For the English translation of this book by Dr. Timothy Winter (Sh. Abdal Hakim Murad): https://www.meccabooks.com/180-al-ghazali-on-the-remembrance-of-death-and-the-afterlife-9780946621132.html

To access all the lessons: soundcloud.com/al-maqasid/sets/ihya-ulum-al-din-book-40-the-remembrance-of-death-the-afterlife

"On that Day some faces will be bright, looking at their Lord." [Quran 75:22-23]

Al-Maqasid’s December 2020 retreat, “Reflections on Death and the Afterlife,” based on Book 40 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din, concludes in this last video with Shaykh Yahya Rhodus’s discussion on the bliss believers experience when they behold the Countenance of Allah the Exalted and the many other examples of Allah the Exalted’s Mercy once we leave this earthly life.

For the English translation of this book by Dr. Timothy Winter (Sh. Abdal Hakim Murad): https://www.meccabooks.com/180-al-ghazali-on-the-remembrance-of-death-and-the-afterlife-9780946621132.html

To access all the lessons: soundcloud.com/al-maqasid/sets/ihya-ulum-al-din-book-40-the-remembrance-of-death-the-afterlife

Lecciones de la vida del Profeta de un libro de Habib Hadi bin Ahmad al-Haddar.

Esta es una serie acerca de la noble biografía profética.

La quinta y última clase es una sipnosis de las características internas y externas del Mensajero ﷺ.

Además de estudiar su vida y la forma en la que transmitió el mensaje, es de suma importancia conocer como fue su carácter y apariencia física. No hay duda de que quien lo conocía le amaba profundamente.

The next trait of Futuwwa (spiritual chivalry) mentioned in Imam al-Sulami’s Kitab al-Futuwwa, is to realize one’s complete impoverishment (faqr) before Allah the Exalted in all of one's states.

Here, Sh. Yahya Rhodus explains why it is in our benefit to realize our servitude before Allah the Exalted. He also discusses the four types of impoverishment and the four traits of servanthood.

Lecciones de la vida del Profeta de un libro de Habib Hadi bin Ahmad al-Haddar.

Esta es una serie acerca de la noble biografía profética.

La cuarta clase trata la migración del Mensajero ﷺ a Medina junto a su compañero Abu Bakr. Al-lah, el Altísimo, les protegió todo el camino hasta que fueron recibidos a salvo por los demás emigrantes (Muhayirín) y los ayudantes (Ansar). Esta clase culmina con el fallecimiento del Profeta ﷺ y de como sus compañeros respondieron a este evento.

In this introductory khutba, Sh. Yahya Rhodus begins his series on the well-known and foundational Hadith on intentions, “Actions are by intentions. And every man will have that which he intended...” [Bukhari & Muslim]

He discusses the merits of having righteous intentions and mentions the various dimensions of intention that will be discussed over the next several khutbas, insha Allah.

Allah the Exalted tells us the Quran: O you who believe, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. [Surah al-Anfal, 8:24]

With this and several other verses in the Qur’an and statements of the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him (hadith), Ustadh Amjad Tarsin explains what it means to be truly living and the reality to which we have been invited.