Renewing Religion: An Overview of Ghazali's Ihya

In this lesson, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani gives an overview of the chapters on the condemnation of the Dunya; pride; conceit and delusion; and on repentance. These chapters are part of Imam Ghazali’s Ihya and a series of sessions on renewing religion.

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 wary of it. As for arrogance, the signs of it are 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 against 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 types of worldly and religious delusions 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: [1] leaving the sin [2] feel remorse for having sinned [3] have resolved to never return to it The fuel of repentance is having a 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 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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The post 24: Worldliness, Pride, Conceit, Delusion & Repentance – Renewing Religion-Shaykh Faraz Rabbani appeared first on SeekersGuidance.

In this re-broadcast lesson, visiting scholar, Shaykh Walead Mosaad, gives an overview of Imam Ghazali’s chapters on the condemnation of miserliness, love of wealth, status; and the condemnation of ostentation. These chapters fall in the third quarter of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum that focuses on the vices of person. 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 minimum 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 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   

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

In this re-broadcast lesson, visiting scholar, Shaykh Walead Mosaad, reviews the chapters on holding one’s tongue and condemnation of rancor and envy. These chapters are originally written by Imam Ghazali in his book Ihya Ulum al-Din.

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 their 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 bad to the worst: [1] Talking about what doesn’t concern you. [2] Talk that is trivial or repetition of something that isn’t important [3] Talking about (or watching) sins even if one doesn’t partake in them [4] Aimless disputation and arguing about things that may in and of themselves wrong to argue about [5] Say something about someone that you feel has wronged you or taken your right but what you talk about is irrelevant to the situation [6] Trying to talk very poetically to get people’s attention [7] Using vulgar language [8] Damning and cursing others (even animals) [9] Singing songs with bad meanings [10] Joking excessively … there are 10 more mentioned in the chapter that was not covered in the lesson due to time constraints.

The second chapter, Shaykh Walead reviews relates to the condemnation of rancor 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 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   

The post 22- Guarding Speech, Condemnation of Envy & Rancor – Renewing Religion- Shaykh Walead Mossad appeared first on SeekersGuidance.