Renewing Religion: An Overview of Ghazali's Ihya

In this chapter, Imam Ghazali explains that faith is of two halves: half is patience and half is gratitude and having certainty of Allah is the whole of faith. Ustadh Amjad explains that everything that one goes through in life is neither a blessing or punishment rather our response to it is what matters. That is why the Prophet would pray to Allah not to turn away His decree but to have gentleness in His decree.

The next section of the lesson deals with the chapter on thankfulness. Allah says that if you are thankful then Allah will increase you. Ustadh Amjad advises that we should be especially thankful when we have things to complain about, turn to your numerous other blessings and be thankful for them.

Ustadh Amjad then speaks to the chapter on fear and hope and explains that one should have a balance of both. On fear, he says that some of the most fearful people of are the companions of the Prophet, particularly those that the Prophet had told them that they would enter Paradise. However, one should also have hope in Allah’s mercy. Remember that particularly when you sin and want to return to Allah. But one should never underestimate the gravity of their shortcomings and that should always push us to do better.

Lastly, Ustadh Amjad speaks to the chapter on poverty and abstinence. Our deen advises us to have less, and the Prophet would often praise the poor people of the community. The Prophet would continually warn of worldliness. Ustadh Amjad counsels us to not be attached to the things of this world but attached to the things that one can do in this world that will yield results in the hereafter.

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum 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.

Checkout all of the SeekersHub podcasts by visiting https://seekershub.org/podcasts/

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Shaykh Faraz begins by explaining that each person has a self that requires affirmation and that affirmation can manifest in the form of pride or delude oneself into thinking that you are doing well. It is common for people to be heavily concerned with the progression of their worldly matters and along with it with their selves, however, when it comes to matters of the deen they don’t feel the urgency and the need to change to improve. For that reason, the condemnation of the dunya in this chapter refers to everything that busies you from Allah. One should strive in this dunya but consider what you really need of this life to get you to the hereafter. Thus one should always remember the lowliness and fleetingness of this life and the vastness of the Hereafter in comparison.

On pride and conceit, Imam Ghazali defines pride is to think oneself great and conceit is to be self satisfied and impressed with oneself. Imam Ghazali explains that the basis of all damndest is pride, because it is the original sin of Iblees (Satan) and that’s why we have to be very weary of it. As for arrogance, the signs of it is to look down on people and reject what is true. That is why the sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him, is grounded in humility, both in outward actions and inward consciousness.

Shaykh Faraz advises that the best way to guard oneself from pride is to attribute all good in your life to Allah and praise Him for it. That stems from an understanding that you are a servant of Allah and every blessing you have is from Allah.

The next vice Shaykh Faraz discusses is delusion and that refers to a satisfaction one has with themselves or their lives, it is a fake satisfaction that is fleeting and does not lead to contentment. One can fall into various type of worldly and religious delusion that are explained in the lesson. Shaykh Faraz recommends that one reads more on this topic in particular through Shaykh Nuh Keller’s Reliance of The Traveller book.

The last portion of the lesson is devoted to the chapter on repentance. Repentance has three integrals:

The fuel of repentance is having good opinion of Allah and rejoicing in your return to the one you love. Allah has made repentance obligatory because it is mandatory to enter paradise, unless you refuse it, so make it a habit to continually repent. Shaykh Faraz explains in the lesson the various levels of repentance that one can aspire to.

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum 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.

Checkout all of the SeekersHub podcasts by visiting https://seekershub.org/podcasts/

The post 24: Worldliness, Pride, Conceit, Delusion & Repentance – Renewing Religion: An Overview of Ghazali’s Ihya – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

All these vices are primarily about how one interacts with these things, wealth status, etc. Wealth in and of itself is not wrong, however, it can’t be all consuming such that it distracts you from everything else. One of the principal objectives of zakat to force you to give something you love for the sake of Allah.

Shaykh Walead counsels us to make a regular habit of taking stock of our shortcomings and identifying ways to improve upon them. One is either on a path of increase or decrease in their deen and iman and as such one should always strive to improve because if you stand still you will inevitably be on a downward trajectory. The nature of the world is that one is never satiated of it and thus one has to be content through other means that are not materialistic.

The remedy to this is a combination of knowledge and practice, to be content in your heart with Allah’s decree and to only be in need of Allah and that is the true wealth. Shaykh Walead explains that research has shown that one has a minimal threshold of needs that one needs to be fulfilled but beyond that any additional wealth doesn’t make you happy.

The chapter following that is on the condemnation of status and ostentation. How one is viewed by others is one of the most ingrained inclinations in a human and thus only those of truly high status are those who let go of their love of status and leadership. Seeking fame for the sake of fame has become central to our society today and that is blameworthy. Imam Ghazali comments that one should be famous only if Allah has made them known not through any effort or objective of their own.

Shaykh Walead concludes with a reminder that first and foremost one should seek roots through cultivating ourselves and character. If then Allah decides that we should be known to others and for us to bear fruit and benefit to the community then that should be but one should not seek it out.

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum 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.

Checkout all of the SeekersHub podcasts by visiting https://seekershub.org/podcasts/

The post 23: Condemnation of Love of Wealth & Status – Renewing Religion: An Overview of Ghazali’s Ihya – Shaykh Walead Mosaad appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Shaykh Walead begins with the chapter on holding one’s tongue and the criteria for one should or should not speak. One should know that there speech is significant and has an effect. In addition, speech is not limited to what we say, but also what we propagate on social media. We have gotten into the habit of naming and shaming online in order to showcase that they’ve made a mistake. However, the sunnah of the Prophet was about having wisdom, and his speech was always measured. As such, we should follow his example and not what we have become used to in our cultures or current state of affairs.

The Quran and Sunnah give us very vivid descriptions of the punishments people are given for the sins of the tongue because of the gravity of those actions in the eyes of Allah. Imam Ghazali lists the sins of the tongue from the least worst to the worst:

The second chapter, Shaykh Walead reviews relates to the condemnation of rancour and envy. The desires of the human are divided into two types: appetites and anger. These desires are there to support a person’s survival. For this reason, anger can be both justified and unjustified. Unjustified anger stems from entitlement and ego, when one isn’t recognized for that which they are deserving of that makes them angry. When that is left to fester it develops into enmity and envy. The cure to it is a combination of knowledge and practice. Knowing that this is wrong and harms you more than the other person. In addition, practicing patience and suppressing anger; there is great reward in that.

Lastly, remember that anger and envy stem from an objection to Allah’s decree and Allah’s giving to you and to them.

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum 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.

The post 22: Guarding Speech, Condemnation of Envy & Rancour – Renewing Religion: An Overview of Ghazali’s Ihya – Shaykh Walead Mosaad appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

Ustadh Amjad explains that by treating the diseases of the heart it becomes purified and by leaving it to its devices it becomes ugly. The path to purifying the soul is through beautiful character and that is why the Prophet was sent to perfect noble character. In addition, there are some characters that are naturally innate to a person and others that need to be cultivated. So one should be mindful of their innate good characters and cultivate others that they might not have.

Allah tells us that He sent us the Messenger to teach us the scripture and to purify us. As such the Prophet was able to teach the companions by example how to purify our souls and trained the companions how to do so as well. This is exemplified most in the way the Prophet, peace be upon him, responded to his enemies and those who have wronged him with beautiful character. Ustadh Amjad reminds us that the path to beautiful character begins with small consistent steps that will lead to larger changes in character.

The next book of Imam Ghazali’s is breaking the desire. Ustadh Amjad explains that this book can be summed up in not giving yourself everything it wants, even if that which is permissible. Such is the example of fasting, where one withholds from the permissible because of the command of God. Even then Imam Ghazali says that one should not give in to all it desires of food after you break your fast.

Ustadh Amjad concludes by reminding us that it will be a struggle to control our desires but we must start from where we are at right now and work slowly towards change. Our nafs may resist that change but it is important to be in control of it and not let it be in control of you.

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum 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.

The post 21: The Heart & Breaking Desires – Renewing Religion: An Overview of Ghazali’s Ihya – Ustadh Amjad Tarsin appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

One of the most damaging things to a community is people following the outward actions of religion having bad character. This is due to the self’s inclinations when first seeking the spiritual path and for this reason it is important to study and connect to the Prophet, peace be upon him. That is why Imam Ghazali says that having outward etiquette is a sign of having inward etiquette; and your deeds are the consequences of your character; and your etiquette is the sprinkles that come out of the knowledge of Allah; and the secret areas of the heart are the planting ground for good deeds; and the lights that are in the heart are the things that emanate on the limbs.

Ustadh Amjad advises everyone to study the Prophetic character to understand his normative sunnah and exceptional situations. One of the most interesting aspects of the Prophet’s life is his character and habits at home because it is the most intimate and it is where a person’s true character manifests. For example, the Prophet, peace be upon him, never used a harsh word and never insulted any of the believers and he never cursed a woman or a servant with any form of curses.

Imam Ghazali focuses part of the chapter on the way the Prophet, peace be upon him, dealt with his enemies and times of difficulty. Many times the Prophet asked the companions to have patience during times of great and grave injustices and the Prophet did not curse his people, instead, he asked Allah to guide them. The Prophet did not return to Mecca victorious except after 21 years of serious problems and injustices from the non-believers. Even after all that, the Prophet, peace be upon him, still forgave them. With that the Prophet teaches us that even the worse of people need Allah and even the worst of people can change and become one of the best.

Ustadh Amjad concludes with a reminder to always live the Prophetic character because that is what has the greatest impact in our interactions with others, not through our words but actions.

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum 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.

The post 20: Prophetic Living – Renewing Religion: An Overview of Ghazali’s Ihya – Ustadh Amjad Tarsin appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

There are numerous examples of the companions singing spiritual poems as they dug trenches or during weddings. That is also the reason why the Prophet had his own poets. Thus there was a general understanding of the permissibility of spiritual singing. The Prophet also encourage beating the ‘duff’ at weddings. Conversely, however, many scholars believe that other musical instruments are not allowed within Islam. There are a minority of scholars that allowed music as long as the environment in which the music is, is not associated with other sinful acts such as dancing.

Shaykh Faraz outlines in the lesson the etiquettes of listening to music:

Shaykh Faraz concludes by reminding us to uphold caution and stick to what is permitted to music and continue to listen to it with purpose and intention. Lastly, remember that the greatest of what you can listen to is the Quran.

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum 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.

The post 19: Spiritual Music – Renewing Religion: An Overview of Ghazali’s Ihya – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Whoever of you sees wrongdoing then let him change it with his hand. If he is not able to do so, then with his tongue. And if he is not able to do so, then let him feel it wrong with his heart. And that is the weakest of faith.”

This hadith gives us an opportunity to understand the meanings of hadith from the text. The way this text has many lessons that have been derived from it by our scholars. In order to derive meaning from a text one must first have an understanding of fiqh theory and principles. The application of the text must produce benefit, because the whole religion is bring upon benefit. In order for one to begin enjoining the good and forbidding the evil, one must first ask themselves these questions:

Shaykh Riad reminds us that this whole enterprise rests on having good character and that is dependent on a sound heart that is attached to Allah. This hadith can apply to all types of activism that one might want to undertake. Lastly, never think that your advice or doing is indispensable so if you feel like your intentions are not sound for what you are about to say or do, then do not do it.

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Ulum 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.

The post 18: Enjoining Good & Forbidding Evil – Renewing Religion: An Overview of the Ihya – Shakh Riad Saloojee appeared first on SeekersGuidance.