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
Nahdlatul Ulama
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
Sohbet 03.09.2020
Sohbet on the times of prayer (salah/namaz) and how these indicate how we benefit from being more tuned in to ourselves and natural cycles, this being a path to achieving harmony in ourselves, our families, and our communities. Correction: I said in Ramadan we stop fasting at Sehri, when I obviously meant we stop eating…Read more Sohbet 03.09.2020
Imam Hussain
Imam Hussain courageously stood with only 72 people, and then alone, upholding Islam, liberty, justice, and human rights. When he was mercilessly slaughtered, Yazid thought he'd won. Oh how mistaken he was... Yazid died 3 years later. Today, Hussain’s standard flies high in Karbala and in the hearts of people around the world. Nor is…Read more Imam Hussain
Ashura 2020
Allahumma salli ala sayyidina Muhammadin wa ala ali sayyidina Muhammadin wa barik wa sallim. Oh Allah, send blessings and peace on our master Muhammad, and the family of our master Muhammad. 📿💓🤲🏻🌹💐
Friday Reflections 28.08.2020
Salam alaikum. Jummah Mubarak. This week I read part of the sohbet “Shaitan’s Mission” by Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani in the book, “Through the Eye of the Needle” (2007). I then reflect on some points and the fact that our focus is all wrong today. Instead of focussing on what holds importance and true…Read more Friday Reflections 28.08.2020
Paul Salahuddin Armstrong 