Unveiling the Purpose of Life: An Islamic Sufi Perspective

Unveiling the Purpose of Life: An Islamic Sufi Perspective

Introduction:

Life's purpose has been a subject of contemplation for humanity since time immemorial. People seek meaning, fulfillment, and a sense of direction that transcends the transient nature of our existence. Within the realm of Islam, Sufism, the mystical dimension of the faith, offers profound insights into the purpose of life. Embarking on a journey through the spiritual path of Sufism allows individuals to delve into the depths of their souls and connect with the divine essence, unveiling the purpose that lies within. In this blog post, we will explore the purpose of life from an Islamic Sufi perspective.

Unity with the Divine:

Islamic Sufism teaches that the ultimate purpose of life is to seek unity with the Divine. Sufis believe that every human being possesses a divine spark within, and the purpose of life is to ignite and nurture that spark, allowing it to merge back with its source—the Creator. This unity is not just a conceptual or intellectual understanding but a deeply experiential and transformative state of being.

Path of Love and Devotion:

Sufism emphasizes the path of love and devotion as a means to attain unity with the Divine. Through love, a Sufi seeks to establish an intimate connection with God, transcending the boundaries of the material world. This love is all-encompassing, extending not only towards the Creator but also towards fellow human beings and all of creation. By fostering love, compassion, and kindness, Sufis believe they can cultivate the divine qualities within themselves and contribute to the betterment of the world.

Self-Realization and Self-Transformation:

Self-realization lies at the heart of Sufi teachings. Sufis strive to unravel the layers of their ego and worldly attachments, recognizing that these are barriers to the realization of their true selves. By purifying the heart and attaining a state of inner awakening, Sufis aim to align their will with the Divine Will. This process of self-transformation requires introspection, self-discipline, and adherence to moral and ethical values.

The Journey of Knowledge:

In Sufism, the journey towards the purpose of life involves seeking spiritual knowledge. Sufis believe that knowledge is not limited to the acquisition of information but encompasses a deeper understanding of the metaphysical reality and the mysteries of existence. Through the study of sacred texts, contemplation, and guidance from spiritual teachers, Sufis gain wisdom that illuminates their path and deepens their connection with the Divine.

Service to Humanity:

Sufis recognize that the purpose of life extends beyond personal spiritual growth. They emphasize the importance of serving humanity as an integral part of their journey towards unity with the Divine. Sufi masters teach that the true servant of God is one who selflessly serves others, displaying acts of kindness, generosity, and social responsibility. Through service, Sufis seek to alleviate the suffering of their fellow beings and contribute to the establishment of justice, peace, and harmony in society.

Conclusion:

From an Islamic Sufi perspective, the purpose of life is to seek unity with the Divine through love, devotion, self-realization, and service to humanity. Sufism offers a transformative path that goes beyond mere theoretical understanding and encourages individuals to embark on a personal journey of spiritual growth and enlightenment. By nurturing the divine spark within and cultivating virtues such as love, compassion, and selflessness, Sufis strive to fulfill their purpose and experience the ultimate union with the Creator. May this exploration of the Islamic Sufi perspective on the purpose of life inspire us to embark on our own spiritual journeys, transcending the boundaries of our existence and connecting with the eternal truth that lies within.

What is Ihsan and how is it related to Sufism?

In Islamic tradition, the concept of Ihsan is derived from a famous hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) known as Hadith Jibril or Hadith of Gabriel. This hadith is found in Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhari, which are considered two of the most authentic collections of hadith.

In the Hadith of Gabriel, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) narrates an encounter with the angel Gabriel in the form of a man who came to teach him about the different levels of religion. When asked about Ihsan, Gabriel explained it as follows:

"Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then know that Allah sees you."

This hadith highlights the concept of Ihsan, which can be understood as the highest level of faith and excellence in worship. It encompasses a sense of excellence, perfection, and sincerity in one's relationship with Allah and in one's actions.

The hadith suggests that believers should strive to worship Allah with the utmost devotion, as if they can see Him, even though they cannot physically see Him. This implies a deep awareness of Allah's presence, as well as a profound reverence and consciousness in performing acts of worship.

Furthermore, the hadith emphasizes that even if one does not attain the state of constantly feeling the presence of Allah, they should remember that Allah sees and knows everything they do. This serves as a reminder to be conscious of one's actions, intentions, and thoughts at all times, knowing that they are always in the sight of Allah.

Overall, the hadith regarding Ihsan teaches Muslims to strive for excellence in their worship, to maintain a profound awareness of Allah's presence, and to act with sincerity and consciousness in all aspects of life. It encourages believers to cultivate a deep and personal connection with Allah, always striving to do their best and seek nearness to Him.

The concept of Ihsan is closely related to Sufism, which is a mystical branch of Islam. Sufism emphasizes the inward dimension of Islam, focusing on the purification of the heart and the attainment of spiritual closeness to Allah.

Sufism places a strong emphasis on Ihsan as a central aspect of its teachings. Sufis strive to attain the state of Ihsan, which involves a deep awareness of the Divine presence, sincere devotion, and the perfection of one's character and actions.

Sufis seek to experience a direct and intimate connection with Allah, often described as the "Divine Beloved." They strive to cultivate a state of constant remembrance and consciousness of Allah, aiming to worship Him as if they can see Him.

In Sufism, Ihsan is often associated with concepts such as love, devotion, spiritual excellence, and selflessness. Sufis believe that through practicing Ihsan, individuals can transcend their ego, purify their hearts, and attain a higher level of spiritual realization.

Sufi practices such as dhikr (remembrance of Allah), meditation, contemplation, and seeking the guidance of a spiritual teacher (Murshid) are all aimed at developing the state of Ihsan. Sufi poetry, music, and dance are also seen as vehicles for expressing the inner states of devotion and longing for the Divine.

Overall, Sufism places great importance on the concept of Ihsan as a means to attain spiritual enlightenment, purification of the soul, and a deeper understanding of the Divine. It offers a path of experiential knowledge and seeks to transform the believer's relationship with Allah into one of deep love, devotion, and closeness.

Do we really need to land on a comet to find the origin of life?

The Holy Qur’an is the book given to us by the Creator of the Universe. Allah, (literally: THE God) which is His personal Name, knows us best and is aware that humans can be very skeptical creatures.

Allah points out, "...if you were to seek a tunnel into the earth or a ladder into the skies and bring them a sign, (they still wouldn’t be convinced.) If it were Allah’s will, He could gather them all into true guidance, so don’t be among those who are influenced by ignorance." (6:35)

Allah, the Keeper of Wisdom, makes it a point to give as many proofs in the Qur’an about His existence and creative abilities as possible so the maximum number of humans can be guided. We need proof, and Allah gives us that proof. (2:26, 40:57)

Allah, of course, does not need us to follow Him, or believe in Him. As He states, "Allah can do without them and Allah is free of all needs." (64:6)

He merely wishes that people would choose to believe in Him so He can reward them for their choice. Allah is ready to forgive even those who acted wrongly if they but ask for His forgiveness.

In a Hadith, or saying of the Blessed Prophet Muhammad, we learn, "When Allah decreed the creation (of the universe,) He set down in His book which is with Him, ‘Indeed, My mercy is stronger than My wrath.’" (Bukhari & Muslim. Also see 6:12)

Among the proofs given in the Qur’an for us to learn from is a very detailed explanation of the different features of the universe, how it was made and how the planets and stars were formed. Allah says that, "To Him is due the origin of space and the Earth." (6:101)

Of course, most people who lived at the Prophet’s time would never have understood what those ayat really meant, but they accepted them anyway and interpreted them as best they could. Sometimes they came up with very interesting explanations.

Allah instructs us to accept everything in the Qur’an, even if we don’t yet know how to understand it. The understanding of the Qur’an grows with each passing generation. As He said, "The intelligent people declare, ‘We believe in the book, the whole of it is from our Lord." (3:7)

Modern Science and Islam.

Modern day scientists have been awe-struck at how complex and intricate the universe is. (67:3-4) The sciences of astronomy, chemistry, astrophysics and molecular biology have pushed the limits of our knowledge ever further.

These new discoveries have assisted greatly in the understanding of what the ayat in the Qur’an mean. For example, there is a section of verses where Allah mentions that during the process of human development, there is a stage where we were an ‘Alaq in the womb. (96:1-5) The word literally means, "a clinging thing." But no one knew in past centuries how that could be part of the process of growth for a fetus.

So translators, commentators and scholars have tried to explain it as meaning we were clots of blood or other such strange things in the womb. But new discoveries in the last few years have shown that in the early stages of pregnancy, the fertilized egg actually attaches itself to the uterine wall and clings there as it is growing. Thus, modern knowledge unlocks another mystery that previous Muslims could only guess at.

Qur’anic History of Creation.

After we find the references to creation in the Qur’an, then we can piece them together to get a picture of how Allah’s revelation explains the beginning. As Muslims, however, we must not forget to look into the lesson taught in each passage. We must remember what the purpose is for including these signs in the Qur’an so we can be enlightened spiritually as well as mentally.

Allah begins by stating that the universe and planet Earth took six "days" to create. (7:54) Now it must be remembered that in Arabic the word Youm can mean a day as we know it, or it can mean any stage or period of time. As Allah points out, a day to him can be a thousand years, fifty thousand years or more. 

The creation of planets and the Earth took place in the last two periods of time. As Allah states in the Qur’an, "Declare, ‘Do you disbelieve in the One Who created the Earth in two stages? Do you make others equal to Him? He is the Lord of all the worlds.’" (41:9)

The process of creation can be summarized as follows: All matter in the universe was compacted together in one place. Then Allah gave the command and it blew apart scattering molecules and gases in all directions. ("The Big Bang.") The force of this initial explosion keeps the universe expanding.

Space was filled with matter, anti-matter and gases which eventually combined into larger particles. These bits of matter eventually grew into asteroids, planets, stars and moons. Each object of inter-stellar space conformed to a set of physical laws which governed the trajectory of their orbits so a regular pattern of rotation could be seen. (21:33, 29:61)

Stars ignited in a fury of radioactive fusion and gave off light and heat which brought warmth to those planets near them. (86:3) Small moons were captured in the orbit of larger planets and came to have a regular orbit around them, often reflecting light from the sun. (54:1-2)

Finally, the planets themselves developed and formed in a variety of ways with fantastic geologic formations and movements both above and below the surface. (27:61)

The planet Earth, in particular, cooled near its outer layers, forming a thin crust made up of plates that moved and grated against each other. (15:19) This allowed the Earth’s surface to constantly erase the damage caused by occasional asteroid impacts. But the colliding of the plates also had the side effect of raising tall mountains and exposing the geologic history of the planet.

Escaping gases from the ground and water, warmed in the sunlight, eventually raised to a high altitude where they formed a protective layer. This Ozone Layer shielded out harmful radiation and ultraviolet rays from the sun.

After a time, life was to appear but that is the subject of the next lesson. For now, it is amazing that this scientific narrative is almost exactly the same as what Allah revealed in the Qur’an. Look at the following illustrations showing what happened, what Allah said about it, and the ayat from which they come.

You will be amazed and can only proclaim your wonder at Allah’s Revelation. Remember, He mentioned these things to teach us to be believers in Him. If He tells us the truth, we would be fools not to believe in Him. Right?

"Don’t they see anything in the functioning of space and the Earth and in all things Allah created?" (7:185)

Read the full article here: http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/orignlife.html

Did you know humans can all be uniquely identified?

Image Source: www.quranmiracles.com

Genn Ginsen (1856) found out that the pattern of lines at the tip of a person’s finger was something unique to the individual. Until the year 1856, we knew nothing about this amazing characteristic of fingertips. The discovery of the fact that the pattern of lines on fingertips was a sort of identity card is often used by the police to help find criminals. The pattern lines of the fingertips differ even in identical twins! This identity card cannot be forged; it affixes a unique signature to whatever it touches. One cannot imitate or deny it. We carry it about us till the end of our days.  This amazing fact was revealed 1400 years ago in the last message from God, the Quran: 

Does the human being think that We cannot assemble his bones? (Quran 75:3)

Surely, We are able to reconstruct even his fingertips. (Quran 75:4)

At the time of the descent of the Quran, fingertips had nothing special about them. God, who will cause man to come back to life on the Day of Judgment, stresses the importance of fingertips.

Muraqabah - Silent Dhikr (Meditation)

Muraqabah is knowing that Allah is watching over us. Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, says, "And know that Allah knows what is in your minds, so fear Him." [2:235] "And Allah is Ever a Watcher over all things." [33:52] "And He is with you wherever you may be." [57:4] There are many other similar verses stating the same concept.

In the hadith of Jibreel, when he asked the Prophet (s) about ihsan (goodness and excellence), the Prophet (s) replied, "Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, but since we do not see Him we should know that He sees us at all times." (Bukhari and Muslim). 

On the authority of Umar (r) who said: One day while we were sitting with the Messanger of Allah (s), there came before us a man with extremely white clothing and extremely black hair. There were no signs of travel on him and none of us knew him. He [came and] sat next to the Prophet (s). He supported his knees up against the knees of the Prophet (s) and put his hand on his thighs. He said, ‘O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.’  The Messanger of Allah (s) said, ‘Islam is to testify that there is none worthy of worhsip except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messanger of Allah, to establish the prayers, to pay the zakat, to fast [the month of] Ramadan, and to make pilgrimage to the House if you have the means to do so.’ He said, ‘You have spoken truthfully [or correctly].’ We were amazed that he asks the question and then says that he had spoken truthfully. He said, ‘Tell me about Imaan (faith).’ He [the Messanger of Allah (s)] responded, ‘It is to believe in Allah, His angles, His books, His messangers, the Last Day and to believe in the divine decree, [both] the good and the evil thereof.’ He said, ‘You have spoken truthfully.’ He said, ‘Tell me about al-Ihsaan (goodness).’ He [the Prophet (s)] answered, ‘It is that you worship Allah as if you see Him. And even though you do not see Him, [you know] He sees you.’ He said, ‘Tell me about [the time of] the Hour,’ He [the Prophet (s)] answered, ‘The one being asked does not know more than the one asking.’ He said, ‘Tell me about it’s signs.’ He answered, ‘The slave-girl shall give birth to her master, and you will see the barefooted, scantily-clothed, destitiute shepards competing in constructing lofty buildings.’ Then he went away. I stayed for a long time. Then he [the Prophet (s)] said, ‘O Umar, do you know who the questioner was?’ I said, ‘Allah and His Mesanger know best.’ He said, ‘It was [the angel] Gabriel who came to teach you your religion.’  (Recorded in Muslim)

The meaning of this hadith is the definition of Muraqabah. Namely, the endurance of the servant's knowledge and his conviction and certainty that Allah is watching over his internal and external affairs. To have this knowledge and certainty at all times is called Muraqabah. It is the fruit of the servant's knowledge that Allah is his Watcher, Over-seeing him, Hearing his utterances, and Observing all of his deeds at all times.

Sahih International

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.

The Journey Of The Human Soul & Spirit

Allah created all the souls of the descendants of Adam and Eve who were predestined to come to this earth. Everything about the universes and our soul before and after creations are documented and recorded in the tablet (book) board in heaven(Lau Ho Mahfuz).

Allah once asked all the created souls, "who is your Lord?". All the souls said "You are our Creator our Lord". But souls forget the covenant when they descend to the earth. Some have faint or vague memory of Allah (God) in the inner core of the heart. At times of life threatening danger man will automatically shout "Oh God !". But who is that God? If no one tells him he will not know. At that time they usually do not address false gods. They usually point up to the heaven and say Almighty God meaning ALLAH.. If they say that many times they will forget false gods. That is the inner instinct of Humans.

The soul is sent down to this earth into the body of fetus developed in the mother's womb and the fetus becomes alive. The fetus was swimming in the amniotic fluid inside the uterus like a fish. It does not breathe air. The fetus was fed by the blood through the placenta of the mother and supplied to the body of the fetus by means of umbilical cord. In pregnant women there is no menstruation until the baby is born. Do we remember how we lived 9 months inside the mother's womb? 

After the soul departs from the body at the time of ones death, Allah keeps it in a place called Alam Barzaak. Good people's soul are kept in a good place and bad people's soul in a bad place until Kiyamat (Judgment Day) arrives, when everything is destroyed except Allah. There will be resurrection of all Mankind.

Read the full article here: http://www.islamicity.com/Articles/articles.asp?ref=KK1012-4379

Jehova Witness Converts To Islam - The True Religion

Brother Abdullah shares his experience of leaving the Watchtower organization and being guided to the light of Islam. He was associated with the Jehovah's Witness community for 11 years and served as a Regular Pioneer and Ministerial Servant for 8 of those years during his time with them.

See why he left his former belief and how he came to accept Islam as the truth revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who carried the same message of all the Prophets and Messengers, namely, that Allah, the Creator, is One, Who is alone deserving of worship without any partners.



All other parts are available on youtube and will be available here soon.

If you have questions or comments for him, you can visit his channel at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/user/Piercingtheveil81

Children are born believers in God

Children are "born believers" in God and do not simply acquire religious beliefs through indoctrination, according to an academic.

Dr Justin Barrett, a senior researcher at the University of Oxford's Centre for Anthropology and Mind, claims that young people have a predisposition to believe in a supreme being because they assume that everything in the world was created with a purpose.

He says that young children have faith even when they have not been taught about it by family or at school, and argues that even those raised alone on a desert island would come to believe in God.

"The preponderance of scientific evidence for the past 10 years or so has shown that a lot more seems to be built into the natural development of children's minds than we once thought, including a predisposition to see the natural world as designed and purposeful and that some kind of intelligent being is behind that purpose," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"If we threw a handful on an island and they raised themselves I think they would believe in God."

In a lecture to be given at the University of Cambridge's Faraday Institute on Tuesday, Dr Barrett will cite psychological experiments carried out on children that he says show they instinctively believe that almost everything has been designed with a specific purpose.

Read More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/3512686/Children-are-born-believers-in-God-academic-claims.html

David Cameron's Ramadan 2013 Message

Transcript

I’d like to send my sincere greetings to everyone observing the Holy month of Ramadan.

This is a month which demonstrates the true spirit of Islam.

Muslims in Britain and around the world will sacrifice the day-to-day luxuries that we can take for granted, they will pray for people in need, and they will fast to show devotion to God and recognise those who go hungry in our world.



I am very proud to be Prime Minister of a nation in which people can freely practise their beliefs.

And it should be a source of pride to all Muslims that this month, even those living with extreme hardships will give up the little they have and pray for others.

Many will be praying for Muslims around the world. Those caught up in conflict, those who are seeking justice and democracy, or those living in the poorest regions on earth, who struggle to get by day to day.

As Prime Minister I am delighted that the British Government has been able to keep its promise to invest 0.7% of our gross national income on helping the world’s poorest and I am grateful that we have been able to partner with Muslim and other organisations to help those in need overseas.



Ramadan is a shining example of how humanity can come together in a positive way for a common good, and I pay tribute to all those who take part. 

To Muslims at home and overseas I wish you: Ramadan Kareem!

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-ministers-video-message-for-ramadan-2013

Channel 4 To Broadcast Daily Muslim Call To Prayer (Azaan) During Ramadan

Morning call: Channel 4 will broadcast the first call to prayer for the 30 days of Ramadan. There are five calls to prayer each day

Channel 4’s head of factual programming Ralph Lee said the channel would act as a ‘nationwide tannoy system’ for Britain’s 2.8million Muslims while they observed Ramadan.

He said almost five per cent of the British population would ‘actively engage’ in Ramadan this month, adding: ‘Can we say the same of other national events that have received blanket coverage on television such as the Queen’s coronation anniversary?’ 

Critics questioned whether the decision to transmit the call to prayer was a ‘publicity-seeking stunt’ by the controversial broadcaster.

Mr Lee said Ramadan usually received minimal coverage on Britain’s main television channels and said he believed Channel 4’s series of programmes during July and August was chance for Britain’s moderate Muslims to be heard.

Listen to the call to prayer: 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2353250/Channel-4-broadcast-daily-Muslim-prayer-Ramadan-month.html#ixzz2XsNr3AhG

Magic and the Occult in Islam: Ahmad al-Buni (622H/1225CE?) and his Shams Al-Ma'arif

City Council Mistakenly Pronounces Nelson Mandela Dead

The city council of an Amsterdam neighborhood observed a minute of silence to mark the death of South African icon Nelson Mandela on Tuesday. Mandela, however, is not dead.

Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that members of the council of Southeast Amsterdam concluded based on Facebook messages that Mandela had passed away Tuesday evening.

"Mart van de Wiel of the D66/OZO fraction told us during the pause that his hero had died," clerk Sjam Jokhan told Dutch newspaper Het Parool. "I tried to verify the report," he added. "I found dozens of messages on Twitter that seemed to confirm the news, includuing messages like breaking news and it's official."

The council decided to hold a minute of silence honoring South Africa's former president. However, council members quickly learned of their mistake.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/26/dutch-city-council-nelson-mandela-dead_n_3503903.htm

Everyone is scared of dying and rightly so.  The uncertainty of what lies beyond is frightening. It may be that of all religions, Islam, provides the most graphic details of what comes after death and lies beyond.  Islam views death to be a natural threshold to the next stage of existence.

Islamic doctrine holds that human existence continues after the death of the human body in the form of spiritual and physical resurrection.  There is a direct relation between conduct on earth and the life beyond.  The afterlife will be one of rewards and punishments which is commensurate with earthly conduct.  A Day will come when God will resurrect and gather the first and the last of His creation and judge everyone justly.  People will enter their final abode, Hell or Paradise.  Faith in life after death urges us to do right and to stay away from sin.  In this life we sometimes see the pious suffer and the impious enjoy.  All shall be judged one day and justice will be served...

Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.

Holy Quran(21:35)

A Ramadan Message by Shaykh Ahmad Saad Al Azhari Al Hasani رسالة رمضان

In this video, Shaykh Ahmad Saad talks about the importance of Ramadan, how we should behave in it and to welcome it. He also suggests that we dedicate our time & efforts this Ramadan to our parents & the elderly.

Amazing Response to the Woolwich Killing - Shaykh Shams Ad Duha

This Friday sermon presents a response by a British Imam (muslim scholar) to the killing of Lee Rigby in Woolwich and how extremism can take root when the teachings of Islam are distorted and promoted in the fringes.



Glossary of Arabic Terms:
Subhanahu wa ta'ala - Glorified and Exalted is He
Sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam - Peace and blessings be upon him
Deen - Religion
Shari' / Shari'ah - Islamic legislation
Ulama - Islamic Scholars
Khilafah - Caliphate

The Revival of the Religions Sciences (Ihya Ulum al-Din إحياء علوم الأديان)

The Revival of the Religions Sciences (Ihya Ulum al-Din) is widely regarded as one of the great work of Muslim spirituality, and has, for centuries, been the widely read work in the Muslim world.

The masterpiece of Imam al-Ghazali, unquestionably one of the greatest thinkers and theologians of Islam. 
It is divided into four parts each containing ten chapters. 

First part deals with knowledge and the requirements of faith—ritual purity, prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage, recitation of the Qur'an, etc.; Part two concentrates mostly on people and society—the manners relating to eating, marriage, earning a living, friendship, etc.; Parts three and four are dedicated to the inner life of the soul and discuss first the vices that people must overcome in themselves and then the virtues that they must strive to achieve.

Volume 1 - Book of Worship, 
Volume 2 - Book of Worldly Usages, 
Volume 3 - Book of Destructive Evils, 
Volume 4 - Book of Constructive Virtues. 

As far as we know this is the only English Translation of the complete set of this well known Work of Imam Al-Ghazali (Although Parts of it may be Abridged translation)

The Quality of the Print and the translation does not do justice to this Monumental Work, (For a better Quality Print and Level of translation see the translations of Individual Sections 

Some have criticised the book for quoting Weak Hadith and other traditions. This is true, however Imam Ghazali was well aware of the Rulings of the fuqaha (Jurists) of his time and he himself followed the Shaf'ee fiqh and he does not use these weak traditions as a basis for deriving Hukm (Rule) Shar'ee. Rather he uses it in the process of tackling some real Issues that we face during the course of everyday Life. 

Click here to purchase it from Amazon:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ihya-Ulum-Id-...
Click here to purchase it from Kitaabun:http://kitaabun.com/shopping3/product...
Click here for more recommended books:http://www.youtube.com/playlist?p=PL5...

Watch weekly lessons available on youtube, based on this book:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBc--JvTRQs&list=UUfbWpXahU-I-V4ymNpv2CHQ&index=4

BREAKING NEWS: Prophet Muhammad's Name Found in the Bible

The name "Muhammad" has been discovered in the Bible in the original Hebrew language.
In the 5th chapter of the Shir haShirim ( שיר השירים ), which is one of the five megilot or Sacred Scrolls that are part of the Hebrew Bible or for short the "Song of Solomon" (also called "Song of Songs"). That chapter is giving a prophecy about an individual to come, a mystery man. 

Song of Songs 5:15 compares this prophetic mystery man to the land of "Lebanon" which is the land of the Arabs. This implies that the mystery man would be an Arab.

Song of Songs 5:10 says: "My beloved is white and ruddy, pre-eminent above ten thousand." This is a prophecy of Prophet Muhammad as he conquered Mecca. It is a well known historically documented fact that in the year 630 CE Muhammad entered Mecca as the leader of an army of "ten thousand men". This verse and the preceeding verse (v. 11) also match Muhammad's physical discription as found in Muslim sources (light skin and black hair).

In reading the English translation of Song of Songs 5:16 it finishes the description by saying: "He is altogether lovely" but what most people don't know is that the name of that man was given in the original megilot. Here is the name written in ancient Hebrew as it appears in verse sixteen: מחמד . It is read as : "Mahammad". According to Ben Yehuda's Hebrew-English Dictionary, it is correctly pronounced as "Mahammad". 

If you don't believe me, go to these translator links, paste the name מחמד and then translate it into English. You will see that מחמד is translated as "Muhammad".

http://www.freetranslation.com/

http://worldlingo.com/en/products_ser...

You can also see and listen to the Song of Songs in its original form, in Hebrew where Muhammad is mentioned by name in the below link (please notice the "im" in Hebrew is a plural of respect):

http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt30...

I am sorry, O Prophet… Arnoud Van Doorn

Former Dutch Islamophobe and a former leading member of far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders’ party Arnoud Van Doorn visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah to pray and say sorry for becoming part of a blasphemous film.

Doorn was among the Freedom Party leaders who produced the blasphemous film, Fitna. Last month he reverted to Islam after an extensive study about the religion and the Prophet (peace be upon him). 

Arnoud Van Doorn (extreme left), former leader of the Dutch rightist Freedom Party, prays at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. — Okaz photo

A member of the Dutch parliament and The Hague City Council, Doorn announced his decision to accept Islam on his Twitter profile. He also posted a tweet in Arabic declaring that “there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet.”

Most recently, the politician filed a formal application to the mayor of the city to allow him to perform prayers obligatory for Muslims during his working hours. 

“I can understand people are skeptic, especially that it is unexpected for many of them,” Doorn told Al-Jazeera English satellite channel.

“This is a very big decision, which I have not taken lightly.”

“In my own close circle people have known that I have been actively researching the Qur’an, Hadith, Sunnah and other writings for almost a year now,” he said.

“In addition, I have had numerous conversations with Muslims about the religion.”

Driven by his party’s anti-Islam discourse, Doorn decided to dig in for the truth about the religion himself.

“I have heard so many negative stories about Islam, but I am not a person who follows opinions of others without doing my own research,” he said. “Therefore, I have actually started to deepen my knowledge of Islam out of curiosity.”

The 46-year-old has continued on The Hague Council as an independent candidate since splitting from Wilders’s party. Doorn’s decision to embrace Islam has won mixed reactions in the Netherlands.

Source: http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130422162428

Iran, Pakistan earthquake felt across the UAE - April 2013 زلزال إيران

A massive earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale has hit Iran, with tremors felt in the UAE, Oman, Pakistan and India.

The tremors forced people to rush out of homes and offices to open areas.

The earthquake’s epicentre was at the border region of Pakistan and Iran.

Iranian state-run TV says at least 40 people were killed in the earthquake, with other estimates suggesting the death toll will be much higher...

Earthquakes according to Islam.

Earthquakes are one of the great signs of Allah in this universe, with which He tests His slaves as a reminder or to instil fear of Him or as a punishment. Man must remember, when the signs occur, his weakness, incapability, humble status before Allah and his need of Him, so he turns to Allah, may He be exalted and glorified, in supplication, beseeching and humility, in the hope that Allah will lift this great distress from the people.

Allah says (interpretation of meaning):

16.Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allâh), will not cause the earth to sink with you, then behold it shakes (as in an earthquake)?

17. Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven (Allâh), will not send against you a violent whirlwind? Then you shall know how (terrible) has been My Warning? [067:16-17]

Allah says (interpretation of meaning):
42. Verily, We sent (Messengers) to many nations before you (O Muhammad). And We seized them with extreme poverty (or loss in wealth) and loss in health with calamities so that they might believe with humility.

43. When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not believe with humility? But their hearts became hardened, and Shaitân (Satan) made fair¬seeming to them that which they used to do.

44. So, when they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened to them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them to punishment, and lo! They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrows.
[al-An’aam 6:42-44]

It is mustahabb for everyone to beseech Allaah in supplication and so on when earthquakes and similar events, such as thunderbolts and strong winds, happen, and to offer prayers on his own in his house lest he be negligent, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) said, when the wind blew strongly:

“O Allaah, I ask You for its good and the good of what is in it and the good of what it is sent with, and I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil of what is in it and the evil of what it is sent with.” Narrated by Muslim. End quote. Asna al-Mataalib Sharh Rawd al-Taalib (1/288). See also Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj (3/65).

Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta

Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta, also known as Shams ad - Din, was born at Tangier, Morocco, on the 24th February 1304 C.E. (703 Hijra). He left Tangier on Thursday, 14th June, 1325 C.E. (2nd Rajab 725 A.H.), when he was twenty one years of age. His travels lasted for about thirty years, after which he returned to Fez, Morocco at the court of Sultan Abu 'Inan and dictated accounts of his journeys to Ibn Juzay. These are known as the famous Travels (Rihala) of Ibn Battuta. He died at Fez in 1369 C.E.

1304 - 1369

Ibn Battuta was the only medieval traveller who is known to have visited the lands of every Muslim ruler of his time. He also travelled in Ceylon (present Sri Lanka), China and Byzantium and South Russia. The mere extent of his travels is estimated at no less than 75,000 miles, a figure which is not likely to have been surpassed before the age of steam.

In the course of his first journey, Ibn Battuta travelled through Algiers, Tunis, Egypt, Palestine and Syria to Makkah. After visiting Iraq, Shiraz and Mesopotamia he once more returned to perform the Hajj at Makkah and remained there for three years. Then travelling to Jeddah he went to Yemen by sea, visited Aden andset sail for Mombasa, East Africa. After going up to Kulwa he came back to Oman and repeated pilgrimage to Makkah in 1332 C.E. via Hormuz, Siraf, Bahrain and Yamama. Subsequently he set out with the purpose of going to India, but on reaching Jeddah, he appears to have changed his mind (due perhaps to the unavailability of a ship bound for India), and revisited Cairo, Palestine and Syria, thereafter arriving at Aleya (Asia Minor) by sea and travelled across Anatolia and Sinope. He then crossed the Black Sea and after long wanderings he reached Constantinople through Southern Ukraine.

On his return, he visited Khurasan through Khawarism (Khiva) and having visited all the important cities such as Bukhara, Balkh, Herat, Tus, Mashhad and Nishapur, he crossed the Hindukush mountains via the 13,000 ft Khawak Pass into Afghanistan and passing through Ghani and Kabul entered India. After visiting Lahri (near modern Karachi), Sukkur, Multan, Sirsa and Hansi, he reached Delhi. For several years Ibn Battuta enjoyed the patronage of Sultan Mohammad Tughlaq, and was later sent as Sultan's envoy to China. Passing through Cental India and Malwa he took ship from Kambay for Goa, and after visiting many thriving ports along the Malabar coast he reached the Maldive Islands, from which he crossed to Ceylon. Continuing his journey, he landed on the Ma'bar (Coromandal) coast and once more returning to the Maldives he finally set sail for Bengal and visited Kamrup, Sylhet and Sonargaon (near Dhaka). Sailing along the Arakan coast he came to Sumatra and later landed at Canton via Malaya and Cambodia. In China he travelled northward to Peking through Hangchow. Retracing his steps he returned to Calicut and taking ship came to Dhafari and Muscat, and passing through Paris (Iran), Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Egypt made his seventh and last pilgrimage to Makkah in November 1348 C.E. and then returned to his home town of Fez. His travels did not end here - he later visited Muslim Spain and the lands of the Niger across the Sahara.

For more info: http://silkroadfoundation.org/artl/ibn_battuta.shtml

How to call others to Islam - How to give Dawah

Indeed calling to Allaah was the mission of all the Messengers and their followers, in order to bring the people out of darkness and into light, from disbelief (kufr) to true Faith (Imaan), from shirk to tawheed, and from the Fire to Paradise. This call to Allaah rests upon firm pillars, and is established upon foundations which are absolutely essential. If any of these are missing the da'wah will not be correct and will not produce the desired results - no matter how much effort is expended and time wasted - and this is the reality which we witness with regard to many of the present day calls which are not supported by those pillars and built upon those foundations. These pillars which support the correct da'wah are clearly shown in the Quran and the Sunnah, and can be summarised as follows:

1. Knowledge of that which one calls to:
Since the ignorant person is not suitable to be a caller (daa'ee). Allaah, the Most High, said to His prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam):

Say, O Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam): This is my way, I call to Allaah (to the testification that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, alone, having no partner) upon certain knowledge (baseerah). I, and those who follow me. [Soorah Yoosuf 12:108]

'Baseerah' is knowledge. So the caller is certain to face those who are scholars of misguidance, those who will attack him with doubts and futile arguments in order to rebut the truth. Allaah, the 

Most High, says:

And argue with them in a way that is better. [Soorah an-Nahl 16:125]

Furthermore the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said to Mu'aadh (radhiAllaahu 'anhu), "You are going to a people from the People of the Book." So if the caller is not armed with sufficient knowledge for him to face every doubt and contend with every opponent, then he will be defeated in the first counter, and will be halted at the beginning of the way.

2. Acting in accordance with that which he calls to:

So that he will be a good example - his actions attesting to his words, and leaving no excuse for the opponents of the Truth. Allaah, the Most High, said about His Prophet Shu'ayb that he said to his people:

I do not wish to forbid you from something and then do it myself. rather I only wish to rectify you as far as I am able. [Soorah Hood 11:88]

Allaah, the Most High, said to His Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam):

Say, O Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam): Indeed my Prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are all purely and solely for Allaah, Lord of all the Worlds. There is no share in any of that for other than Him. That is what my Lord ordered me, and I am the first of this nation to submit to Allaah as a Muslim. [Soorah al-An'aan 6:162-163]

Allaah the Most High, said:

Who is better in speech than one who calls the people to Allaah and does righteous deeds? [Soorah Fussilat 41:33]

3. Purity of intention (al-ikhlaas):

Such that the call is made purely and sincerely to seek the Face of Allaah (and seeking His Reward) - not for show, or repute, or status, or leadership, nor desiring worldly goals - since if any of these goals adulterate it, the call will not be for Allaah, rather it would then be a call for oneself or for the attainment of the worldly goal - as Allaah informs that His Prophets said to their people:

I do not ask you for any reward for conveying this Qur`aan. [Soorah al-An'aam 6:90]

I do not ask you for any wealth for my admonition. [Soorah Hood 11:29]