Salam alaikum! 🙏🏻 “Read, for your Lord is most beneficent, Who taught by the pen, taught man what he did not know.”~ Holy Quran 96:3-5 (Ahmed Ali) In this week's sohbet, I discuss scholarship and grand muftis, and the central place scholarship has within Islam. We should strive in the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom,…Read more Sufi Meditation 23.05.2022
Nahdlatul Ulama
Sincerity is Everything
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Religion is sincerity [nasīhah]” and emphasised this three times on an occasion reported in a famous hadith. Why is this so important? Well, intentions are at the basis of everything we do. Every action is the result of an intention. So we should check our intentions, as indeed our religion teaches…Read more Sincerity is Everything
Blessed Warning
Imam Ali, peace be upon him, said, “One who warns you is like one who gives you good tidings.” Warnings give you the opportunity to prepare yourself in the face of danger and to insha Allah avert it. So warnings are a blessing, whereas headlessness inevitably leads to disaster. Paul Salahuddin Armstrong
Friday Reflections 20.05.2022
Salam alaikum and Jummah Mubarak! I read and discuss the sohbet, “The Hearts of the Friends of God” by Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani from his book, “Banquet for the Soul” (2008), pages 19-34. May Allah ﷻ grant us that we transcend our egos, keep patience, and hold fast to the noble ways and guidance of…Read more Friday Reflections 20.05.2022
Friday Reflections 13.05.2022
Salam alaikum and Jummah Mubarak! I read and discuss the sohbet, “The Importance of Tests” by Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani from his book, “Liberating the Soul: A Guide for Spiritual Growth, Volume 6” (2007), pages 35-38. May Allah ﷻ grant us that we transcend our egos, keep patience, and hold fast to the noble…Read more Friday Reflections 13.05.2022
Sufi Meditation 09.05.2022
Salam alaikum! 🙏🏻 “Ask those of Our messengers We sent before you; did We ever appoint any deities besides the Merciful to be worshiped?”~ Holy Quran 43:45 (Safi Kaskas) “It is God who subjected the sea for you so that ships may sail with His approval and that you may seek His favor, and that…Read more Sufi Meditation 09.05.2022
Friday Reflections 06.05.2022
Salam alaikum and Jummah Mubarak! Eid al-Fitr was earlier this week and is traditionally celebrated for 3 days, so many people are still in high spirits, and some Eid events are still happening. With this in mind, I thought I'd do something a little different and more lighthearted this Friday, by reading and discussing some…Read more Friday Reflections 06.05.2022
Friday Reflections 28.04.2022
Salam alaikum and Jummah Mubarak! I read and discuss the sohbet, “Fasting is the Shelter from Egos and Evils” by Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani from his book, “Liberating the Soul: A Guide for Spiritual Growth, Volume 2”, pages 93-99. May Allah ﷻ grant us to be able to transcend our egos and hold fast…Read more Friday Reflections 28.04.2022
Sufi Meditation 25.04.2022
Salam alaikum! 🙏🏻 “Every messenger whom We have sent used his own people’s language, so that he might make [the Truth] clear to them, but God lets whoever wants to stray, go astray, and guides whoever wants [to be guided]. He alone is almighty, and The Wise.”~ Holy Quran 14:4 (Safi Kaskas) In this week's…Read more Sufi Meditation 25.04.2022
Four Qualities
On the authority of ‘Abdullah b. ‘Amr, that the Messenger of Allah said, “There are four qualities such that, if you have them, it will not harm you to be deprived of anything in the world: (1) safeguarding trusts,(2) truthfulness in speech,(3) good character and(4) purity of livelihood.” Aḥmad (Mishkāt, Book of Softening the Hearts,…Read more Four Qualities
Paul Salahuddin Armstrong 