Renewal By The Book: Quran Tafsir Based on Imam Ghazali's Ihya

In this re-broadcasted lesson of Renewal by the Book we are joined by visiting scholar, Shaykh Riad Saloojee. Shaykh Riad reviews key verses of the Quran that correspond to Imam Al-Ghazali’s chapter on supplication. He covers verse 60 from Surat Ghafir, the 40th chapter of the Quran. وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ And your Lord says, “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible. Shaykh Riad reflects on this verse, indicating that this verse points to one’s relationship with Allah that it is one of neediness. So one should ask Allah for both material and spiritual giving. The verse continues to say that “those who are too proud for My worship…” and worship here refers to supplication. Those who refrain from supplication are thus characterized by arrogance and pride. Thus the scholars say when I find myself refraining from supplication or find it hard to engage in it, then that is an indicator of one’s pride and arrogance.

In order for one to engage in proper supplication, one should not do it as a form of ritual. Rather, one should engage in supplication with the presence of heart and with sincerity. Indeed, one should make supplication like a drowning person with your reliance solely on Allah. In turn, the greatest prize of supplication that your heart is focused on Allah. In conclusion, Shaykh Riad reminds us that the most important part of the supplication is reminding ourselves that there are no means other than Allah and that requires work, especially at a time when there may be many other superficial means that one thinks they can rely on, but our true reliance should always be on Allah.

In this series Shaykh Faraz, and the other scholars and teachers will be looking at points of reflection from key verses in the Quran. The series will follow the thematic order of Imam Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences). The aim is to connect the key verses of guidance from the Book of Allah with the blueprint of renewal, the Ihya so that we experience a renewal by The Book.

  For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts.

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The post 10-Supplication- Renewal by the Book-Shaykh Riad Saloojee appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

In this re-broadcasted lesson of Renewal by the Book we are joined by visiting scholar, -. Shaykh Riad reviews key verses of the Quran that correspond to Imam Al-Ghazali’s chapter on spiritual routines. He covers verse 28 from Surat Al-Kahf, the 18th chapter of the Quran. وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَلا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا “And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.” It is difficult for the nafs to focus on Allah and continue in its remembrance of Allah and so to be able to do so one needs to find the company that will push us to do so and so we can imbibe their characteristics. Allah then warns us of following those who are not righteous because the consequence of that is that your heart will be affected by your lower self.

Instead of following Allah’s commands, you make your own lower self your idol. Shaykh Riyad reminds us that even if one is doing community work or advocating on behalf of the community, their work should not be devoid of remembrance of Allah. The lack of remembrance can me one more prone to mistake and to following our base self over doing what is right or most pleasing to Allah.

Shaykh Riyad concludes with a counsel to the listener to always prioritize the remembrance of Allah because it gives one a balanced perspective and makes one less prone to extremes of action.

In this series, Shaykh Faraz, and the other scholars and teachers will be looking at points of reflection from key verses in the Quran. The series will follow the thematic order of Imam Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences). The aim is to connect the key verses of guidance from the Book of Allah with the blueprint of renewal, the Ihya, so that we experience a renewal by The Book.

For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts.

Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate

The post 09- Spiritual Routines – Renewal by the Book- Shaykh Riad Saloojee appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

 In this re-broadcasted lesson, Shaykh Faraz looks at the key verses in the Quran corresponding to the ninth chapter of Imam Ghazali’s Ihya: Remembrance and Supplication. He highlights the verses 151-153 from Surah Al-Baqarah, which detail the importance and virtue of the remembrance of Allah.“Just as We have sent among you a messenger of your own who recites to you Our revelations, purify you, and teach you the Scripture and Wisdom; and to teach you what you did not know” This verse outlines the gift that Allah has bestowed upon us and that is the gift of guidance.

“So remember me and I will remember you; be thankful to Me and never ungrateful. You who believe, seek help through steadfastness and prayer, for God is with the steadfast.” The consequence of the gift that Allah has bestowed upon us is that we must engage in His remembrance and in thankfulness of Him. The sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him, is balanced on two pillars that are the foundation of it: to remember Allah and to be thankful.

In addition, Shaykh Faraz highlights the role of the Prophet, peace be upon him, as mentioned in verse 151: to convey revelation, to purify you (and that is the purpose of revelation), explains to you the revelation and teaches you wisdom (and that is the sunnah).

Shaykh Faraz explains that true remembrance is for your heart to be conscious of Allah without being attached to anything else and the reward for that is that Allah will grant you spiritual openings. Ultimately, this remembrance should stem from your love for Him. In summary, Shaykh Faraz reminds us to keep our tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah.

The series will follow the thematic order of Imam Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences). The aim is to connect the key verses of guidance from the Book of Allah with the blueprint of renewal, the Ihya, so that we experience a renewal by The Book.

The post 08 – Remembrance & Supplication- Renewal By the Book- Shaykh Faraz Rabbani appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

In this re-broadcasted lesson, Shaykh Faraz looks at the key verses in the Quran corresponding to the eighth chapter of Imam Ghazali’s Ihya: Etiquettes of Reciting the Quran. He highlights the verses 29-34 from Surah Fatir, which detail the merits of the people of the Quran. These verses were referred to by the early Muslims as the verses of the Quran reciters. Those who recite the book of Allah and act upon it, they pray, give in charity, and fulfill the commands of Allah so Allah promises them a tremendous reward. Allah rewards those who recite the Quran and live it and Allah will give an increase of His from His bounty. Scholars say that that increase in bounty is that Allah allows them to gaze upon Him when they enter paradise, and they are not given a greater reward than that one. “Those who recite God’s scripture, keep up the prayer, give secretly and openly from what We have provided for them, may hope for a trade that will never decline; He will repay them in full, and give them extra from His bounty. He is most forgiving and most appreciative” [35:29-30] Any act that one engages for the sake of Allah is rewarded, at least, in 10 fold and Allah gives extra from His bounty. In this ayat Recitation does not only refer to reading the Quran but also implementing what you have read from requirements, state of being, and virtues.

Lastly, the Quran calls us to be content with our Lord fully in this life, have gratitude to Allah and to praise Him. Reciting the Quran with reflection allows one to reach all of this.

In this series, Shaykh Faraz will be looking at points of reflection from key verses in the Quran. The series will follow the thematic order of Imam Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences). The aim is to connect the key verses of guidance from the Book of Allah with the blueprint of renewal, the Ihya, so that we experience a renewal by The Book.

For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts.

Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate    

The post 07 – Recitation of the Qur’an- Renewal by the Book- Shaykh Faraz Rabbani appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

In this re-broadcasted lesson, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani looks at the key verses in the Quran related to Hajj, corresponding to the seventh chapter of Imam Ghazali’s Ihya. He highlights the verses 27-32 from Sura Al-Hajj, which outline the meaning and purpose of Hajj. “Proclaim the pilgrimage to all people, they will come to you on foot and they’ll come on all kind of mount emerging from every deep mountain pass. In order to witness all kinds of benefits for them and in order to remember the name of Allah for a known number of days for what Allah has provided for them. So feed yourself of that livestock and give to feed the destitute and the unfortunate… “ [Quran, 22:27-28] In these verses Allah tells us some of the spiritual aims of Hajj.

The Pilgrimage has many acts of worship each of which has its own benefits. Each act is done out of submission to Allah and to the extent to which it is done with that intention you will find benefit in it. People with respect to Hajj are of 3 types: [1] Those who go to Hajj unprepared and that is foolishness, they gain some benefit but miss out on a lot. [2] Those who prepare outwardly only for the Hajj, and that is important. [3] Those who prepare outwardly but also understand why they are doing it. One should prepare well advance to Hajj. One of the highly recommended resources for this is Imam Ghazali’s Chapter on Hajj (or as translated in the book Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship) that details the spiritual benefits of Hajj.

Imam Al-Ghazali describes Hajj as a reenactment of resurrection and the Hereafter or as a reenactment of the various challenges of life. The metaphor of tawaf is a metaphor of love so throughout our day we keep turning towards the One we love through prayer. However, the believer wants to express more fully the nature of their love to Allah and the Hajj expresses that.  “So let the pilgrims perform their acts of cleansing, fulfill their vows, and circle around the Ancient House.” “All this [is ordained by God]: anyone who honors the sacred ordinances of God will have good rewards from His Lord…” [Quran, 22:29-30] In these verses Allah reminds us that this is a devotional act and that we are servants to Allah as such we carry out the acts of devotion in the way He ordained not in the ways we prefer. “Steadfastly upright for Allah, not associating any with Him.

In this series, Shaykh Faraz will be looking at points of reflection from key verses in the Quran. The series will follow the thematic order of Imam Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences). The aim is to connect the key verses of guidance from the Book of Allah with the blueprint of renewal, the Ihya, so that we experience a renewal by The Book.

The post 06-Hajj- Renewal by the Book- Shaykh Faraz Rabbani appeared first on SeekersGuidance.