Renewing Religion: An Overview of Ghazali's Ihya

In this re-broadcasted episode, Shaykh Faraz gives an overview of the second chapter from Imam Ghazali’s Ihya Uloom al-Din, Foundations of Islamic Belief. Shaykh Faraz highlights what Muslims believe, how faith is nurtured, and the understanding of faith. He concludes with an example of the Prophetic through one of the narrated supplications of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Shaykh Faraz tells us that it is personally obligatory for every Muslim to know with clarity and certitude what is necessary to believe about Allah, His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the transmitted articles of belief.

Shaykh Faraz then highlights the point Imam Ghazali makes about how faith is nurtured. He says that faith is not nurtured by mere study. Rather, it is nurtured by submission and by turning to Allah Most High in devotion. This is done through living faith in one’s life, by acquiring virtuous traits and by ridding oneself of blameworthy traits.

Then, Shaykh Faraz outlines the levels of faith. The first level is mere faith; accepting without understanding. The second level is faith with understanding. The third level is living faith with consciousness. In understanding and studying the proofs of Islamic beliefs, there is a strengthening of faith, Shaykh Faraz tells us.

 Finally, Shaykh Faraz concludes with Prophetic supplication that portrays faith: (يا حي يا قيوم برحمتك أستغيث أصلح لي شأني كله ولا تكلني إلى نفسي طرفة عين) (Oh Living! Oh Sustaining! In Your Mercy do I seek urgent aid! Rectify all my affairs — and do not leave me to myself for a blinking of an eye.) In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Uloom ud-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences), this series will serve as 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-broadcasted lesson, Shaykh Faraz gives an overview of the first chapter from Imam Ghazali’s Ihya Uloom al-Din, the chapter on knowledge. Shaykh Faraz explains Imam Ghazali’s statement that “the purpose of religion is knowledge – knowing Allah”. Shaykh Faraz further explains that all the forms of religion require knowledge. A believer needs to know how to submit to Allah, how to seek Allah, and how to be sincere and beloved to Allah.

He also gives some definitions of knowledge, and which knowledge Imam Ghazali is referring to. Shaykh Faraz also discerns between knowledge which is personally obligatory and that which is communally obligatory.

Finally, Shaykh Faraz highlights that knowledge is sought through adab. The fruits of knowledge is becoming a “Lordly scholar”, who is able to turn their heart to Allah and help guide others to Allah as well. The great opportunity of knowledge is that it is the Prophetic inheritance. Action without knowledge is toil without fruit. Therefore, through knowledge one is able to fulfill the potential that Allah has created us for and called us to. In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Uloom al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences), this series will serve as 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.

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In this re-broadcast introductory episode, Shaykh Faraz gives us an overview of this new series in Ramadan: Renewing Religion. Throughout the month of Ramadan Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin and our other visiting scholars will be sharing with us a thematic overview of each of the 40 chapters in Imam Ghazali’s Ihya Uloom al-Din (Renewing Religious Knowledge). 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, but to also practice it with excellence. The Ihya is broken down into four quarters: [1] devotion, [2] social responsibilities, [3] the destructive traits of character, and [4] the salvific virtues.

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The post 00-Introduction- Renewing Religion- Shaykh Faraz Rabbani appeared first on SeekersGuidance.