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

In this new podcast series, Shaykh Ahmed Hussein El Azhary will discuss why the art of reading is critical for students of knowledge to master. One of the greatest barriers in mastering a science is the inability to read with structure and comprehension. In this series, Shaykh Ahmed will provide students with a detailed approach to rectifying this problem.

In addition to offering practical tips and guidance in improving one’s reading and learning skills, Shaykh Ahmed will also elaborate on the development of the instrumental (foundational) sciences within the Islamic tradition and how they compare to medieval and modern theories of literary comprehension.

In this fifth episode of The Art of Reading, Shaykh Ahmed Hussein El Azhary further elaborates on how a student can build an intimate relationship with a text. He provides a framework of surveilling a text on various levels, and also how to analyze concepts and propositions laden within the text. He urges the student to always try to determine the questions the author is trying to answer in a text.

 

 

Biography of Shaykh Ahmed Hussein El Azhary:

Shaykh Ahmed El Azhary is a researcher in Islamic intellectual history and a teacher of Islamic traditional sciences. He’s currently a teacher of Hadith, Usūl, Logic, and Kalam at Rawdatul-Na`īm under the supervision of Habib `Ali al-Jifrī; and at Madyafat Shaykh Ismaīl Sadiq al-`Adawī (RA), a prominent learning center by al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo.

Formerly, Shaykh Ahmed worked as a Lead Researcher at Tabah Foundation. He was appointed by Habib `Ali al-Jifrī to architect the philosophical framework of Suaal initiative – an initiative concerned with modeling an Islamic philosophical response to contemporary existential questions, supervised by Shaykh `Ali Jumu`ah, Habib `Umar and Shaykh Usama al-Azhary. Shaykh Ahmed continues to participate in Suaal initiative through essays, public lectures, and workshops.

Shaykh Ahmed studied Anthropology at American University in Cairo and received his training in Leadership Communication from Tulane University and The University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is also a life-long learner. He holds a diversified portfolio of almost 50 certificates in a variety of subjects – extending from Teaching Character and Clinical Psychology of Children and Young People to Complexity Theory, Model Thinking and Conflict Analysis.

Shaykh Ahmed began his journey of studying traditional sciences about 20 years ago. In addition to studying with scholars from al-Azhar, he had the privilege of studying with visiting scholars from Algeria and India in a one-on-one format and was thus given an exceptional opportunity to study and discuss advanced-level texts of different sorts and over a long period of time. Shaykh Ahmed has more than 70 Ijazas from scholars from all over the Muslim world.

In this Friday sermon, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani gives a beautiful and uplifting reminder on how to respond to Allah's Call to the Believers regarding Friday prayer, with joy, gratitude, urgency, and resolve.

Allah calls us, "O you who believe, when the call to prayer is given on Friday rush to the remembrance of Allah and leave all trade..." (Qur'an, Surat al-Jumuah:9

Shaykh Faraz shares beautiful insights on how the believer, the Muslim, approaches life and work; what the true life is; who are the truly alive; our true homeland; the wisdom of religious duties; key outward and inward sunnas of Friday prayer, and more.

 

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In this talk, at the 24th anniversary of the Srebrenica Massacre of over 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys--rightly classified as a genocide--Shaykh Faraz Rabbani shares reflections on some lessons for all believers:

One: Faith and how we view tests and tribulations.

Two. How we respond to tribulations, and how we ready ourselves to be able to respond.

Three: The critical need to learn from history, past and recent.

Four: The imperative of unity for Muslims, locally and globally.

 

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Ustadh Amjad Tarsin looks at the closing chapter of Imam Haddad's Book of Assistance, on Divine Love and Contentment. He begins the section by explaining why we love Allah and the various degrees of love of God. He shows that other loves for the sake of God -- such as love of the prophets -- are in reality part of one's love for God, and discusses the signs of sincere love. Next, he discusses contentment with the Divine decree and leaving objection to Allah's Will, particularly in tribulation (though he warns against falsely applying this same outlook in relation to one's sins, from which one is obliged to repent). He closes by highlighting the importance of supplication (duʿa'), which in reality expresses the meanings of contentment with Allah and neediness to Him.

 

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

Check out the SeekersGuidance Ramadan Portal: www.seekersguidance.org/ramadan

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 Help SeekersGuidance support deserving scholars and students this Ramadan: give your zakat and charity to the Global Islamic Scholars Fund — www.seekersguidance.org/donate

The Sunna of Expressing Emotion -- Shaykh Faraz Rabbani explains some of the proper manners of expressing emotion and celebration in light of the sunna. He highlights that while the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) exhibited the best of character and experienced happiness and sorrow, inwardly his heart was always content with his Lord.

In this episode, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani looks at the chapter on pilgrimage (hajj) from Imam Haddad's Book of Assistance. He first highlights the importance of the pilgrimage and of performing it as soon as one is able. He also underscores the importance of properly learning the relevant sacred knowledge related to the pilgrimage in advance of the journey. He also discusses the virtue of visiting the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). Next, Shaykh Faraz moves on to discuss how to make consultation and the istikhara prayer when making decisions. He also looks at the importance of fulfilling religiously sanctioned vows and oaths and warns against false oaths and testimony.

In this episode, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin explores the virtue of reliance on God (tawakkul), looking at the concept from Imam Haddad's Book of Assistance. Imam Haddad starts the section with the virtues of reliance from various Qur'anic verses and hadith. He explains the basis of reliance (realizing that everything is in Allah's control) and its condition (that it not violate Allah's command), and that taking worldly means does not necessarily contradict reliance. He closes by highlighting three characteristics of those of sincere reliance.

 

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

Check out the SeekersGuidance Ramadan Portal: www.seekersguidance.org/ramadan

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 Help SeekersGuidance support deserving scholars and students this Ramadan: give your zakat and charity to the Global Islamic Scholars Fund — www.seekersguidance.org/donate

In this episode, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin discusses the virtue of renunciation, covering the section in Imam Haddad's Book of Assistance. He discusses the importance of renouncing worldliness and its spiritual benefit and warns against the harms of being attached to the world. He highlights the virtue of renunciation, with key discussions on its objectives and how it is to be achieved. He also warns against love of wealth and prestige, citing religious traditions on their harm. He closes with a counsel to confine oneself to one's needs as relates to worldly things and to not go overboard in acquiring them.

 

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

Check out the SeekersGuidance Ramadan Portal: www.seekersguidance.org/ramadan

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 Help SeekersGuidance support deserving scholars and students this Ramadan: give your zakat and charity to the Global Islamic Scholars Fund — www.seekersguidance.org/donate

In this fourth episode, Nabiel Mohamed asks Shaykh Ahmed El Azhary to provide advice and insights on how to select a suitable text for reading when studying a certain discipline. Additionally, Shaykh Ahmed provides a methodology of how to utilize the various components of a book (the introduction, index, nomenclature etc) in enhancing one's understanding in a specific discipline, and also the importance of knowing which books not to read.

 

Biography of Shaykh Ahmed Hussein El Azhary:

Shaykh Ahmed El Azhary is a researcher in Islamic intellectual history and a teacher of Islamic traditional sciences. He’s currently a teacher of Hadith, Usūl, Logic, and Kalam at Rawdatul-Na`īm under the supervision of Habib `Ali al-Jifrī; and at Madyafat Shaykh Ismaīl Sadiq al-`Adawī (RA), a prominent learning center by al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo.

Formerly, Shaykh Ahmed worked as a Lead Researcher at Tabah Foundation. He was appointed by Habib `Ali al-Jifrī to architect the philosophical framework of Suaal initiative – an initiative concerned with modeling an Islamic philosophical response to contemporary existential questions, supervised by Shaykh `Ali Jumu`ah, Habib `Umar and Shaykh Usama al-Azhary. Shaykh Ahmed continues to participate in Suaal initiative through essays, public lectures, and workshops.

Shaykh Ahmed studied Anthropology at American University in Cairo and received his training in Leadership Communication from Tulane University and The University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is also a life-long learner. He holds a diversified portfolio of almost 50 certificates in a variety of subjects – extending from Teaching Character and Clinical Psychology of Children and Young People to Complexity Theory, Model Thinking and Conflict Analysis.

Shaykh Ahmed began his journey of studying traditional sciences about 20 years ago. In addition to studying with scholars from al-Azhar, he had the privilege of studying with visiting scholars from Algeria and India in a one-on-one format and was thus given an exceptional opportunity to study and discuss advanced-level texts of different sorts and over a long period of time. Shaykh Ahmed has more than 70 Ijazas from scholars from all over the Muslim world.

Shaykh Faraz covers the chapter of Imam Haddad's Book of Assistance on gratitude (shukr). He explains how, if we reflected, would we would find much to be grateful for in every state. He cites Qur'anic verses showing that gratitude bequeaths increase in blessings. Next, he discusses gratitude for wider blessings as well, such as faith and guidance. He closes by mentioning the basis of gratitude (recognizing that the blessing is from Allah, not you) and its consequence (using it in His obedience), as well as highlighting various manifestations of thankfulness.

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

Check out the SeekersGuidance Ramadan Portal: www.seekersguidance.org/ramadan

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 Help SeekersGuidance support deserving scholars and students this Ramadan: give your zakat and charity to the Global Islamic Scholars Fund — www.seekersguidance.org/donate