Salam alaikum and Jummah Mubarak! In the spirit of Rabi ul-Awal, this week I read some of Chapter 1 of Muhammad, Messenger of Allah – Ash-Shifa of Qadi ‘Iyad, translated by British scholar, Aisha Bewley. This is a modern English translation of a classical text by Qadi ‘Iyad Ibn Musa Al-Yahsubi, who lived in the…Read more Friday Reflections 23.10.2020
Nahdlatul Ulama
Mawlid, Innovations, and Islam
Sohbet on celebrating birthdays, innovation, and how we approach and understand Islam. https://youtu.be/K1COBKusMTw
Mawlid, Innovations, and Islam
Sohbet on celebrating birthdays, innovation, and how we approach and understand Islam. https://youtu.be/K1COBKusMTw
Friday Reflections 16.10.2020
Salam alaikum and Jummah Mubarak! This week I read and discuss verses 168–177 in Surah Al-Baqarah, from the Quran translation by Dr Safi Kaskas. These verses capture a lot of the spirit and essence of Islam, and it's good to read and reflect upon them. https://youtu.be/2q9K9yh2vd0
Friday Reflections 09.10.2020
Salam alaikum and Jummah Mubarak! We are approaching Rabi al-Awal, when many Muslims celebrate Mawlid an-Nabi (the Birthday of the Prophet). So I felt it would be a good idea to discuss the topic of praising the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and whether there is any evidence to back this up in classical sources. As always,…Read more Friday Reflections 09.10.2020
Friday Reflections 02.10.2020
Salam alaikum and Jummah Mubarak! I have often been asked what to look for in a spiritual teacher. This week I read and discuss a chapter from Idries Shah’s book, “Learning How To Learn” to help to answer this question. Though this is one of those topics we could discuss at length on many occasions…Read more Friday Reflections 02.10.2020
Moses and the Shepherd
By Mevlana Jalal ad-Din Rumi Image: Moses and the Shepherd by Hossein Behzad Moses once heard a shepherd praying as follows: “O God, show me where thou art, that I may become Thy servant. I will clean Thy shoes and comb Thy hair, and sew Thy clothes, and fetch Thee milk.” When Moses heard him…Read more Moses and the Shepherd
Friday Reflections 25.09.2020
Salam alaikum. Jummah Mubarak. This week I read and reflect upon a couple of verses from the Sufi classic, The Conference of the Birds (Mantiq ut-Tahir) by Farid ud-Din Attar. https://youtu.be/rMmAHzVJ_LU
Khatm Khwajagan 10.09.2020
Sohbet on adab (manners), especially the adab in tariqat a murid should have with their shaykhs. Followed by the weekly dhikr/meditation of the Naqshbandi tariqat. https://youtu.be/o6uX7x3J4As
Friday Reflections 04.09.2020
Salam alaikum. Jummah Mubarak. I read the chapter, “The Wisdom of the Spirit” in the the “Bezels of Wisdom” by Muhyi al-Din Ibn al-Arabi, translated by Ralph Austin (1980). In the chapter, Ibn al-Arabi discusses his views on the nature of religion, and how it is of two types. The discussion that follows is deep,…Read more Friday Reflections 04.09.2020
