Renewing Religion: An Overview of Ghazali's Ihya

In this re-broadcast class, visiting scholar, Shaykh Riad Saloojee, gives an overview of Imam Ghazali’s chapter on the Etiquettes of Seclusion from the book Ihya Ulum al-Din. Shaykh Riad delves into the benefits and harms of seclusion that one should keep in mind. The benefits of seclusion: [1] Taking time to reflect and remember Allah, which leads to solace and connectedness of the heart with Allah [2] Saving oneself from being in situations of disobedience [3] Avoiding ostentation or doing actions of obedience for others instead of for Allah. [4] To be safe from disputation and partisanship [5] Being away from the harm that may a crew to me because I deal with people [6] Be away from the inclinations of wanting to please others or engage in worldly matters [7] Shields one from interacting with people who are ignorant and the possibility of not responding properly to them.

The harms of seclusion or the benefits of interacting with others: [1] Learning knowledge and teaching others [2] Benefiting people with one’s time and resources [3] Taking benefit from people and earning a livelihood [4] Training oneself and disciplining oneself and character, and assisting others in that [5] Loneliness and missing out on companionship with others [6] The chance to earn reward and give others the chance to earn rewards Balancing between the two depends on who you are interacting with and what your intention is in both seclusion and in interacting with others. Thus one should aim for beneficial interaction and seclusion when necessary.

Shaykh Riad reminds us that continuous interaction with others who are not righteous we will get used to seeing these acts of disobedience and it will become normalized. This also goes to interactions on social media or through television.

Shaykh Riad concludes by advising us to pick a routine time for seclusion every day to engage in remembrance and in reflection. The recommendation is to take 5 min after every prayer. The more one does this the more patient one becomes with seclusion and the deeper your reflections will become. In addition, try to sit after fajr till sunrise because there is great reward in that.

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences), this series will serve as a blueprint for how the believer can bring to life their religion. It will aim to help the believer to not just practice the form of the religion properly, but to also practice it with excellence.

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In this re-broadcast lesson, visiting scholar, Shaykh Riad Saloojee gives an overview of the Chapter on Duties of Brotherhood from Imam Al-Ghazali’s Ihya. This chapter is divided into several sections: [1] The virtues of fraternal relations and brotherhood [2] Loving one another for the sake of Allah [3] How one should deal with and interact with people engaging in varying levels of disobedience [4] The criteria for choosing a companion [5] The rights that are due upon us vis a vis others.

This lesson will focus on the first principles of character and its connection to the spiritual quest to Allah. The first question then is, what is character? Character is what one looks like on the inside, our internal image. Character is dependent on the beauty of one’s heart, and the fruits of a beautified heart is character.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, was of the utmost character and he is our guide to the best of character. In fact, the Prophet, peace be upon him, says that the reason he was sent was to perfect our character. As such, whoever is better than you in character is better than you in deen. Shaykh Riad goes on to describe some of the characteristics of those with good character. Such as respect, patience, and truthfulness.

Shaykh Riad concludes the lesson by reminding us that our societies and cultures are cultivated through the sum of our individual characters. The key to lifting our institutions and societies is to first begin by beautifying our individual characters. In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences), this series will serve as the blueprint for how the believer can bring to life their religion. It will aim to help the believer to not just practice the form of the religion properly.

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In this re-broadcast lesson, visiting scholar, Shaykh Riad Saloojee gives an overview of the Chapter on The Permissible and The Impermissible from Imam Ghazali’s Ihya. The chapter is divided into the following sections: [1] the virtue of the permissible and the problems of the impermissible [3] the doubtful and how to judge and evaluate between them [4] the extent to which someone should question the gifts they’ve been given [5] what one should do when they have obtained unlawful wealth and would like to turn back to Allah. [6] the relationship between a person and power.

In this lesson, Shaykh Riad focuses on the first section of the chapter: the virtue of the permissible and the problems of the impermissible. The Prophet, peace be upon him, tells us that actions are either lawful or unlawful and between the two there are doubtful matters, and whoever avoids doubtful matters are free and saved and whoever engages in doubtful matters is walking a difficult path in which they may fall into the impermissible.

He continues to say, that every king has a sanctuary and the sanctuary of Allah in His Earth is His prohibitions; meaning that that is where we should not even come close to. Lastly, the Prophet, peace be upon him, says that in each body there is a morsel that if it were to be corrupt the whole body would too, and if it were to be healthy then the whole body would be too; that is the heart. With this the Prophet connects the action of the limbs to the impact it has on one’s spiritual heart. Conversely as well a sound spiritual heart will push one to the permissible as well.

Shaykh Riad continues to explain that the permissible and impermissible actions have levels. In addition, lawful matters and unlawful matters can be dependent on their circumstances, so one needs to be smart and thoughtful in understanding the law and the circumstance. Shaykh Riad concludes by reminding us of the strength to engage in the halal and avoid the unlawful is derived not by intellectual understandings but through a sound heart and spiritual strength. The door to that is to continually engage in a lot of remembrance on a daily basis.

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences), this series will serve as a blueprint for how the believer can bring to life their religion. It will aim to help the believer to not just practice the form of the religion properly, but to also practice it with excellence.

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

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In this re-broadcasted lesson, visiting scholar, Shaykh Riad Saloojee gives a brief overview of the chapter on the etiquettes of Earning a Livelihood from Imam Al-Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum al-Din. This chapter is divided into several sub-themes: [1] The virtue in earning your own livelihood [2] The fiqh of contracts or the laws that govern the earning livelihood [3] The idea of justice and equity in earning one’s livelihood [4] Excellence in acquiring livelihood [5] The connection between earning a livelihood and the afterlife.

Shaykh Riad delves into each of the subsections explaining in overview what the main points relating to each are. Shaykh Riad concludes by reminding us that it is possible to have Allah in the background of our hearts with all that we do and that includes while we pursue our livelihoods. For this reason, Allah has given us a prayer to recite when entering the marketplace with a distinguished and high reward if one says it. That is because Allah wants us to remember Him in the places when most others would find it difficult to do so.

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences), this series will serve as a blueprint for how the believer can bring to life their religion. It will aim to help the believer to not just practice the form of the religion properly, but to also practice it with excellence.

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

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In this lesson, visiting scholar, Shaykh Riad Saloojee, gives an overview of the Chapter on the Etiquettes of Marriage by Imam Ghazali. Shaykh Riad delves into the spiritual meanings that can be observed during the marriage. Shaykh Riad begins with a beautiful quote that sums up the lesson “two bodies cannot connect in the same way that two souls can”. There are many material benefits to being married, but the real meaning is the connection of our hearts to Allah through it. However, before we come to marriage we need to have an understanding of ourselves. In addition, one should be aware not only of their spiritual self but of their nafs (lower self) as well, to understand my wants and needs in relation to that. Lastly, Imam Ghazali also speaks in the chapter about the fiqh of marriage which is important to learn prior to.

There are three main verses of the Quran that the Prophet, peace be upon him, referenced in relation to marriage. All of these verses begin with “oh you who believe” or “oh people have consciousness (taqwa) of Allah”; that is to say that God-consciousness is at the center of any successful marriage and in the dealings between the couple. Conversely, as well, marriage is a way for one to attain greater God-consciousness (taqwa). Shaykh Riad reminds us to take marriage as a field of training for my character, one that exposes a person to their faults and shortcomings. As such, it is a great way for one to also grow their character and address their mistakes.

Lastly, Shaykh Riad concludes with a reflection on thankfulness and Allah’s promise to increase one if they are thankful; Ramadan is a great time to be thankful and to use the bounties Allah gives us in a way that pleases him. Thus, while fasting, one should be grateful for their spouse, their children and for the love, they are blessed with. In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences), this series will serve as a blueprint for how the believer can bring to life their religion. It will aim to help the believer to not just practice the form of the religion properly, but to also practice it with excellence.

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

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In this re-broadcasted lesson, we are joined by visiting scholar, Shaykh Riad Saloojee, giving a brief overview of the Etiquettes of Eating chapter from Imam Al-Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum al-Din. This is the first chapter in the second quarter of the book, which is on acts of worship. When the heart is in tawheed of Allah through remembrance and reflection then that heart becomes beautified by certain values like patience, such that our character is the image of our heart. This is important to remember because all the etiquettes of eating are the fruits of a beautified character.

Shaykh Saloojee explains that this is the relationship between the first and second quarter of the book. Shaykh Riad asks, how then can one be engaged in remembrance when eating? [1] Mentioning Allah at the beginning and end of eating [2] Facing the food with gratitude and part of that gratitude is manifested in not wasting food [3] Thanking the host for being the means of feeding us and do not criticize the food. [4] Not to eat until satiation, or until one is full, and that takes patience to do that [5] Reflect about what you eat and the bounties Allah has provided you. [6] Have cleanliness in eating by washing your hand before and after as well as eating with three fingers. [7] Eating a morsel at a time, and having patience in chewing it before going on to the next. [8] Prefer others before yourself by feeding others and hosting others. [9] Have chivalry by recognizing the various cultures of those with whom you share food and respecting them.

In addition, Shaykh Riad reflects on the etiquettes of eating during Ramadan, one must take extra care in fasting not just from food but from other spiritually harmful acts. For example, one should fast from materialism in general and not just from food. One should be careful at iftar as well, not to demolish their fast by forgetting about having the presence of heart when eating. In conclusion, Shaykh Riad reminds us of the importance of being generous in hosting others and be in the service of others by feeding them. The best example of this is the story of Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him, that Shaykh Riad relays.

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences), this series will serve as a blueprint for how the believer can bring to life their religion. It will aim to help the believer to not just practice the form of the religion properly, but to also practice it with excellence.

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

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