Knowledge, Devotion & Service

In this session, Shaykh Faraz looks at the section on reflection from Imam Haddad's Book of Assistance. He first explains the centrality of reflection to religious practice. Next, he explores the various types of reflection -- reflecting on Allah's creation, His favours, His encompassing knowledge of one, one's shortcomings, the paltry nature of this world, death, the virtues mentioned in the Qur'an, and on the Divine names and attributes -- citing the relevant verses and hadiths related to them.

 

This is part of the series presented by SeekersGuidance in Ramadan 2019.

Ustadh Amjad Tarsin continues exploring Imam Haddad’s Book of Assistance as part of the series “Embracing Excellence: 30 Steps on the Straight Path.” In this session, he covers the chapter on remembrance. He explains the importance of remembrance from the Qur’an and hadith, as well as the importance of having a set litany of remembrance which one performs. Ustadh Amjad sheds light on some of the proprieties of remembering God, particularly that it involves both the tongue and heart. He also mentions many Prophetic invocations (adhkar) to be performed throughout the day, offering useful tips on how to bring these into one’s life. He closes with some of the virtues of sending prayers on the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).

This is part of the series presented by SeekersGuidance in Ramadan 2019

 

This is made possible solely by supporters like you. Be a partner in this blessed work by making a small donation at https://seekersguidance.org/donate , even $10/month can go a long way. Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, "Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a similar reward". So don't forget to share this lesson, and join us in spreading Prophetic Guidance

Ustadh Amjad Tarsin moves on to look at Imam Haddad’s chapter in the Book of Assistance on acquiring knowledge. He sheds light on the three core sciences necessary for the Muslim to understand and operationalize the Qur’an and sunna — beliefs (ʿaqida), sacred law (fiqh), and spiritual purification (tasawwuf) — in addition to hadith and Qur’anic commentary. He discusses the importance of gaining a sound foundation in sacred learning and recommends the practical writings of Imam Ghazali in particular. He cautions against reading high-level Sufi works (such as those of Ibn ʿArabi) which can be easily misunderstood leading to religious deviation.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani continues the series "Embracing Excellence: 30 Steps on the Straight Path" exploring Imam Haddad's Book of Assistance. In this episode, he explores the chapter on reciting the Qur'an

This is part of the series presented by SeekersGuidance Canada in Ramadan 2019.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani reminds of the gift of the guidance of the Qur'an, which provides the answers to the fundamental questions of life. He advises that we use Ramadan to reflect on the gift of the Quran and reconnect with Allah's Book, and reminding of the great rank and virtue of "the people of the Qur'an" described in Prophetic traditions. Shaykh Faraz advises that we establish a sustainable goal of recitation of the Quran in Ramadan that we maintain after. He encourages us to take advantages of opportunities to recite, listen, and learn the Qur'an for eternal joy. He closes by giving pointers on how we should make our relationship of the Qur'an a relationship of love.

 

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This is made possible solely by supporters like you. Be a partner in this blessed work by making a small donation at https://seekersguidance.org/donate. Even $10/month can go a long way.

Our Beloved Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a similar reward". So don't forget to share this lesson, and join us in spreading Prophetic Guidance.

In this episode, Ustadh Amjad covers the section from Imam Haddad's Book of Assistance on regular devotions. After beginning with a reminder on the importance of structuring one's time, he comprehensively examines the routines of worship a seeker should have in his day. He encourages us to value consistency rather than excess, outlining the various acts of devotion -- prayer, Qur'an, seeking knowledge, remembrance, and reflection -- that makeup one's litanies (wird). He also discusses the inward and outward proprieties of one's devotions, prioritizing the obligatory and sunna and acts of worship, and the virtue of night prayer and other supererogatory prayers.

 

This is part of the series presented by SeekersGuidance Canada in Ramadan 2019.

Ustadh Amjad continues exploring Imam Haddad's Book of Assistance, a concise manual on the path to the Divine. In this section, he explains how the outward and inward aspects of faith fuse together. He highlights a prayer of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) that Allah make his inward be better than his outward and his outward virtuous. He cautions against adorning one's outward while neglecting to purify oneself inwardly. In the same vein, he warns against occupying oneself with one's public appearance rather than aiming for the sincerity of devotion, for instance in our recitation of the Qur'an.

 

This is part of the series presented by SeekersGuidance Canada in Ramadan 2019.

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani continues the series "Embracing Excellence: 30 Steps on the Straight Path" covering Imam Haddad’s manual The Book of Assistance. In this session, he looks at the third chapter, on Vigilance (muraqaba), which, he explains, is consciousness that Allah sees you, is with you, and is constantly aware of everything you do. Shaykh Faraz offers an explanation of the six solutions given by Imam Haddad for laziness in performing acts of worship and leaving sin. In addition, he explains how the awareness that God sees one leads to the beholding of the Divine.

 

This is part of the series presented by SeekersGuidance Canada in Ramadan 2019

Ustadh Amjad Tarsin continues the series "Embracing Excellence: 30 Steps on the Straight Path" covering Imam Haddad’s manual The Book of Assistance. In this session, he looks at the second chapter, on Intention. He sheds light on the centrality of intention, its virtues, and how it can be used to bring life to our actions. Ustadh Amjad gives a "spiritual pro tip" on how to magnify one's actions through multiple intentions. He reminds of the great opportunity of the reward granted by Allah through intentions for good works. He also sheds light on the different types of intention.

This is part of the series presented by SeekersGuidance Canada in Ramadan 2019

Ustadh Amjad Tarsin covers the first chapter of Imam Haddad’s manual The Book of Assistance, on Certainty. He explains how we can nurture sincerity through the reflection in our lives and to our how this applies to our recitation of the Quran in Ramadan. Ustadh Amjad explains why certainty is seen as the first step, not the final, in this outline of the path to Allah. He also describes the three levels of certainty of believers outlined in the text.

 

This is part of the series presented by SeekersGuidance Canada in Ramadan 2019, “Embracing Excellence - 30 Steps on the Straight Path” based on Imam Haddad’s Book of Assistance