Spiritual Counsel: Wisdom on Turning to God from the Islamic Tradition

In this Eid al-Adha sermon, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin calls all believers to rejoice in the bounties of Allah. He reminds us of all the great blessings that Allah has granted the Muslim community. Ustadh Amjad highlights hadiths and the sunna of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) of establishing communities upon, love, peace and joy. He points out that gathering for the Eid prayer in itself is an expression of that sunna of community.

Ustadh Amjad also encourages us to share that sense of community, love, peace and joy with others. We as Muslims have a lot to offer, give and share with the world, so we shouldn't let that good stop at us.

This Eid al-Adha sermon was delivered in September 2017, at SeekersGuidance Toronto (seekersguidance.org/toronto)

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In this Friday sermon, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani highlights some key meanings and themes underlying the hajj. He gives practical means of how one could bring those meanings into their lives. Shaykh Faraz reflects on the specific acts of hajj and identifies how through these acts we are called to seek and turn towards Allah Most High. If one seeks and turns towards Allah, then they would have realized the meanings of Hajj in their lives.

This Friday sermon was delivered in August of 2017 at the Jame Masjid Mississauga (http://blog.jamemasjid.org/).

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Cover Photo by oddyssey

In this interview, we sit down with visiting scholar Imam Siraj Wahhaj. We ask him about his community work, his comments on the last NBA season and everything in between.

Imam Siraj Wahhaj is the Imam of Al-Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn, New York. He is one of the most senior, respected and much loved religious leaders in America. There isn't a major Muslim community that he doesn't know or have friends in so he is uniquely placed to give us a sense of where American Muslim communities are at.

Imam Siraj talked to us about his experience founding and leading Masjid Al Taqwa, what it means to work in the inner cities and the lessons he's learned over the years. Through this community work, Imam Siraj also councils us on how he continues to have the have the hope and courage that he has to face the problems of our community today. He comments on how he views the severe racial divide in the US and whether he sees that playing out both from within the Muslims community in the North America at large.

Lastly, Imam Siraj explains why he finds it vital for more Muslims to pursue reliable sacred knowledge and how that can make a difference in our daily lives as well as within the community and Ummah at large.

This interview was conducted in June of 2017 at the Sayeda Khadija Centre in Mississauga (http://www.skcentre.com/).

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In this Friday sermon, Shaykh Faraz reminds us that everything in creation glorifies Allah -- not just things, but also actions and events, both good and bad. In all matters, the believer beholds Allah's Glory (tasbih).

How? By recognizing that everything is from Him, and in everything, there is the opportunity of turning and returning to Allah.

In everything, one can find the light of Allah's Glory by considering the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and how he would respond--with beauty, mercy, justice, resolve, and excellence.

Shaykh Faraz shared the beautiful example of Ka'ab ibn Zuhair who spent much of his life attacking Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) with vicious poetry. Yet, after the Opening of Mecca, when he came seeking the forgiveness of the Prophet, the Prophet (peace be upon him) not only accepted but also enveloped Ka'ab in his beautiful mantle (Burda).

This Friday sermon was delivered in August of 2017 at the Jamiat-ul-Ansar (http://www.jamiatulansar.ca/).

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In this Friday sermon, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani reflects on Surat al-Ma'un (Qur'an 107), and how it points to the reality of religion and the purpose of life. He highlights that the purpose of life could be found in religion. Shaykh Faraz calls to reflect on the purpose of life through reflecting on death, not in a morbid way. Rather as believers we view death as a higher reality through which our souls transition to another life. The purpose of religion is to provide clear guidance, by which we can realize our full human potential and enter paradise.

This Friday sermon was delivered in August of 2017 at the Brampton Islamic Centre (http://www.bsia.ca/).

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In this talk Shaykh Riad Saloojee reflects on the night journey (isra') and ascension (mi'raj) of the Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) as it relates to al-Aqsa Mosque. He links our love of the holy precinct of al-Aqsa to striving to attain the excellent prophetic character.

Prophet Muhammad's (peace and blessings be upon him) night journey to al-Aqsa Mosque, and his ascension is the Divine gift of the perfection of his servanthood ('ubudiya). This event is the most perfect human manifestation of the Divine Attributes in the Prophet's character (peace and blessings be upon him).

The realization of beautiful character is the true and lasting legacy of the prophets (peace be upon them). It is the path to revive the sunna of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). A love and claim of connection to the sanctified places of Allah can only be truly made if we sanctify ourselves with the sacred values and character of our Messenger (sallalaho 'alayhi wa sallam).

 

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Masjid al Aqsa is one the holiest mosques for Muslims. It was once the direction of prayer and is the place where the Prophet ﷺ lead all the prophets in prayer and ascended to heaven to meet his Lord.

The noble sanctuary has had numerous conditions set upon it since the occupation began and has now been closed for the first time in 48 years. Shaykh Faraz explains the Virtues of Masjid al-Aqsa and the Muslims Duty of Concern for the Furthest Sanctuary

May Mercy and Justice prevail, in the ways resulting in the greatest ultimate good for all people, in the ways most pleasing to God. Truly, God is our sufficiency and He is the best of guardians." – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani has made the slides from this talk available, you can download them here.

See also:

Nasiri Dua: So Powerful, Rulers Would Ban It From Mosques

Prayers for Victory (Hizb al-Nasr) of Imam Haddad

Supplications for the Oppressed and Distressed

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In this Friday sermon, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani reflects on Surat al-Kawthar (Qur'an 108), its meanings and what it entails. He extracts from this short sura, which is three verses long, meanings and lessons in faith, affirming Divine Oneness, gratitude, and contentment. Shaykh Faraz calls to and counsels everyone to connect with the Qur'an, which nurtures our souls.

[1] (إِنَّا أَعْطَيْناكَ الْكَوْثَرَ)

Truly We have granted you the abundant good.

[2] (فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ)

So Pray to your Lord and sacrifice.

[3] (إِنَّ شانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ)

The one who derides you, they are the one who is cut off.

--

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In this Friday sermon, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani calls Muslims to recognize the blessings that Allah bestowed upon us. Sometimes we may take some of the daily blessings for granted or not notice them at all. However, the way of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was to recognize the blessings of Allah and express gratitude to Allah for them.

Shaykh Faraz reminds us of the multiple blessings that Allah has granted us and how great they are. He points out the great blessing of being Muslim, having clean water, and many of the daily facilitation that we have. Shaykh Faraz recounts the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) who ate the leftover vinegar from food and expresses great gratitude for it by saying: "what excellent sauce vinegar is".

Shaykh Faraz then urges everyone to express gratitude for the blessings we have. He highlights that if we are having difficulty in worship, that it may be a result of lacking gratitude. He advises us to say "Alhamdulillah" while thinking of specific blessings, especially when faced with hardship. So we should recognize the blessings of Allah and express gratitude to Him for it so that we may attain the love of Allah.

This Friday sermon was delivered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani at the International Muslim Organization of Toronto (IMO) on the last Friday of Ramadan 2017.

In this lesson of Renewing Religion, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin, reflects upon the chapters from Imam Ghazali’s Ihya on sincerity, self examination, meditation and reflecting on death.

Ustadh Amjad begins with the chapter on sincerity, explaining that true sincerity can lead habits to be acts of worship if they are done with the right intentions. Many of the companions would actually hide a lot of their acts of good and worship so that they would ensure its sincerity. Thus sincerity is the defining factor of our actions that determine whether our actions will be accepted or not.

The second chapter that is examined in this lesson is that on self examination. Ustadh Amjad mentions that many of the righteous would remember their mistakes years after so that it would push them to improve to the better. The Prophet, peace be upon him, says if you do not feel shame then do as you will. Here, he points to the importance of self examination and understanding that all your actions have a consequence.

Ustadh Amjad gives an overview of the chapter on the importance of meditation and reflection. Spending time in nature calms the soul and really allows our internal sounds to quiet so we can start to think about deeper matters. The second type of reflection that one should seek is reflecting on blessings and be thankful for them. The third, is reflecting upon the nature of the world, life, death and the hereafter. This allows a person to prepare for meeting their Lord.

Lastly, reflecting upon death is the last chaper of the Ihya. Reflecting upon death forces people to get done now what they would have otherwise delayed. That is why the Prophet, peace be upon him, advises us to take advantage of our free time before we become busy. Imam Ghazali likens every breath one takes to a prescious jewel becuase it can never be brought back once it is taken. The fruit of all this will be realized at the time of death if one has lived their life preparing for it then they will welcome it when the time comes but if they have lived their life headless of it they will be terrified of dying.

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.

Join our Ramadan 2017 program: #RamadanRenewal, in-person at SeekersGuidance Toronto or online through the SeekersGuidance Global platform. For more details, visit: http://seekershub.org/ramadan2017.

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