When God’s Decree Becomes Your Pleasure

When God’s decree becomes your pleasure,
you become a willing slave,
not because of burdening yourself,
not on account of recompense,
but by virtue of the nature now so pure
that wherever divine edict may take you,
living and dying will appear the same.
You live for God, not for riches;
you die for God, not from fear or pain.

-Rumi, “Mathnawi”

Sidi, how can I find Allah?

If you want to come to Allah, you will find Him beside you. If you want Allah, you must be polite because Allah is not outside of you. First look inside. Many people read about the truth (al-haqq) because they want to know, but Allah is not with a person if he does not want to know Allah from his heart. Allah will not give you this truth unless you are sincere. If you are not sincere with everything, you will not reach. This is your message.

- Sidi Shaykh Muhammad Sa‘id al-Jamal ar-Rifa‘i

The Balance of Truth and Law

The truth (al-haqiqa) and the law (ash-shari’a) are the two balances of a scale, and you are its heart. If you leave to go to the side of the shari’a, you become of the shari’a and you lose the inner truth of al-islam. If you go to the truth and abandon the law, you may break the law and this law is from God. Know that you are the driver of the ship and God asks you about the ship – how it moves through the sea. For this reason, hold both of the reins in your hands. Do not look to the right or to the left. Be the Noah of your time.

- Sidi Sheikh Muhammad al-Jamal ar-Rafa'i

True Prostration

Whomever Allah wishes to lift out of the turbulent water of this dark world, He picks up with His own hands and puts in the ship of surrender. This is the inner meaning of the religion, of the Qur’an, and of the judgment. If anyone is not truly prostrated before the presence of the One who gives the law, no matter how many prostrations he makes with his body, no matter how many injunctions he follows with his mind, he is not, in truth, a believer (al-mu`minin).

- Sidi Sheikh Muhammad al-Jamal ar-Rafa'i

Allah

How transcendent and immaculate is God! He has neither place, nor time, nor beginning, nor temporal continuity, nor posterior eternity, nor temporal priority, nor terminal end, and yet all the while, He is neither occupied with, nor seeks succor from, that which He has brought into being. Nonetheless, He is just in all affairs wherein His commandments are issued to people.

- Shibli in Sarraj Tusi: "Kitab al-luma"

Understanding the Value of Women in Nation Building

Despite their under-representation in the literatures of traditional Muslim societies, the prominent public roles of women in those societies cannot be overlooked. Perhaps the most prominent role that women have traditionally played as partners in societal advancement, however, has been as the spiritual center and functional head of the Muslim family. In Islam, women are considered the bedrock of the family, not in terms of worldly tasks, but as the spiritual well-spring. In the ‘Islamic’ society, one based on the teachings of Islam, such a role is in no way inferior than that of the full-time worker. On the contrary, the role of homemaker is all the more important for society cannot exist peacefully and advance successfully without them. Arguably, it is in this role that women everywhere have and continue to make their greatest contribution to societies' advancement and progress. Women as homemakers are not mere task-masters, but are educators, nurturers, counselors, doctors, nurses, cooks, cleaners, mechanics, who, through their love and hard work make their families oases of tranquility, love, harmony and peace. It is from this foundation and platform that the other family members in the home can thrive. Many a life and society have been ruined on account of the proverbial ‘broken home’. Why, then, do critics continue to de- and undervalue the role of homemakers as the spiritual foundation of family and home life? Arguably, the root cause of inequality between men and women has never been due to what has been written in the annals of law and policy or even societal norms, but rather in the disregard of the absolute value and necessity of women for the healthy and robust functioning of families and societies.

Women in Islamic teachings, therefore, are considered critical for nation building in a number of ways, both from their work in the home and outside of it. The role of women in the establishment and maintenance of peace, therefore, begins with their role as the spiritual foundation of the family, followed by the variety of additional roles that they may take on outside of the home. The all-important role that they play as homemakers cannot be disregarded in any discussion on nation building, and unfortunately, it often is. Stable, peaceful and loving families are a primary, major and integral element for the advancement and progress of any society, and in this role, women as homemakers are key partners in nation building.

- From "Muslim Women and Peace: Toward Understanding the Role of Islamic Religiosity as a Contributor to Nation Building," Steven Eric Krauss (Abdul-Lateef Abdullah) and Azimi Hamzah

The Highest Stage of Worship

The truest and highest stage of worship is to see God face to face, and to receive his guidance from his own mouth. Those who attain this highest stage, choose for themselves whatever God chooses for them. Their entire characters are transformed by God. They are God's friends; so they no longer discriminate between people, but regard all people as friends. Wherever they go, they go from God; wherever they arrive, they arrive at God. Whatever they do, they do for God; whatever service they perform, they perform it in God. The self has been truly annihilated. - Junayd, "Tawhid"

Meaning and Labels in Islamic Law

If it is said: "Would you say that in the modern age with all the considerations surrounding sovereignty and inter-connectedness, the classical labels (of Islamic law) do not apply any longer...?"

We say: As Imam al-Ghazâlî would say:
"Once the real meaning is understood, there is no need to quibble over names."

Labels can never be relied upon; it is the meaning behind them that must be properly understood. Once they are unpacked, they immediately become relevant for all times; just as with the following loaded terms: jihâd, mujâhid and shahîd. The result for Muslims who fail to notice the relevance and fail to connect the dots of our own inherited medieval terms with the modern world may be that they will live in a schizophrenic cultural reality and will be unable to associate themselves with the surrounding society and will not be at peace [sukûn] with the rest of creation. Just as the sabab al-wujûd (reason for existing) of this article is a Muslim's misunderstanding of his own medieval terminology from a long and rich legacy, the fitna in the world today has been the result of those who misunderstand our Law.

Pay heed to the words of Mawlânâ Rûmî (may Allâh sanctify his secrets!):

"Go beyond names and look at the qualities, so that they may show you the way to the essence.
The disagreement of people takes place because of names. Peace occurs when they go to the real meaning.
Every war and every conflict between human beings has happened because of some disagreement about names.
It's such an unnecessary foolishness, because just beyond the arguing there's a long table of companionship, set and waiting for us to sit down."

- Sheikh Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti

On Knowing Allah...

Allah communicates to us knowledge of Himself through contemplation of the in-time. He tells us that He shows us His signs in the in-time, so we draw conclusions about Him through ourselves. We do not describe Him with any quality without also possessing that quality, with the exception of that essential autonomy. Since we know Him by ourselves and from ourselves, we attribute to Him all that we attribute to ourselves. For that reason, divine communications came down on the tongues of our interpreters, and so He described Himself to us through ourselves. When we witness, He witnesses Himself. We are certainly numerous as individuals and species, yet we are based on a single reality which unites us. So we certainly know that there are distinctions between individuals. If there were not, there would be no multiplicity in the One. - Shaykh al Akbar Muhi-d-Din Ibn al-'Arabi

From Part to Whole

A human being is a part of a whole, called by us a universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest… a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. ~ Albert Einstein

Allah

"Al-llah!" is the Arabic word meaning simply "One God". (Arabic is often referred to as the language of Al-llah!). "Al-llah!" is the Name by which the Divine Creator refers to Himself in the Revealed Qur`an.

It is called the "Divine Name", and has a singular power reflective of His Uniqueness and Transcendence over all creation. It is, without doubt, a Divinely revealed Name of God, indicative of nothing other than The One Supreme - Conscious, Living, Creating - over Whom there is none, greater than Whom there is none, and other than Whom there is none. This indicated Oneness is the very Truth of which Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad all spoke, the "God" in Whom we all believe.

This Name indicates the One Who is the Author and Creator of the Divine and inescapable Reality of the Unity of us all, unto Whose Benevolent Will Surrender is truly due. Sustainer and Cherisher of creation, Wise, Compassionate, and Merciful. Beyond comprehension and known only by His manifest signs. Begetter of none and never begotten. The Lover and the Beloved, of Whom the Sufi poets sing. The heavens and the earth are but tokens of His Divine Power and Love.

So say the Name of Al-llah! often and much. Certainly no harm has ever come from it, and it promises to deepen your present awareness of the blessing, gratitude and knowledge of God, the Divine Creator whose throne is to be found in the hearts of His true believers. - Ali Ansari

Need Brings us to Allah

Every moment of need is an opportunity to increase in richness. If it is need that forces you in your contentment with Allah to call on Allah, and it is calling on Him that increases you in richness, then see His wisdom in creating for you a situation in which you find yourself needy. Ya Ghaniyyu, Ya Kareem. - Ali Ansari

One Paragraph That Explains Life

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player, was dying of AIDS he had gotten from infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983. From the world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed: "Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"? To this Arthur Ashe replied: The world over -- 50,000,000 children start playing tennis, 5,000,000 learn to play tennis, 500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5,000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 the semi-finals, 2 the finals. When I was holding my championship cup I never asked GOD "Why me?" And today in pain I should not be asking GOD "Why me?"

Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keep you Strong, Sorrow keeps you Human, Failure Keeps you Humble, Success keeps you Glowing, But only God keeps you Going...

Cherokee Wisdom

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

The Current Struggle for the Soul of Islam

"In recent decades, Wahhabi/Salafi ideology has made substantial inroads throughout the Muslim world. Islamic fundamentalism has become a well-financed, multifaceted global movement that operates like a juggernaut in much of the developing world, and even among immigrant Muslim communities in the West. To neutralize the virulent ideology that underlies fundamentalist terrorism and threatens the very foundations of modern civilization, we must identify its advocates, understand their goals and strategies, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and effectively counter their every move. What we are talking about is nothing less than a global struggle for the soul of Islam." - Abdurrahman Wahid

Self Manifestation

...Tasawwuf (Sufism) is the process of uncovering the truth, not the process of seeking it. We seek knowledge until we find what we are looking for, which is perfect self expression, self manifestation. The whole world is a self manifestation (of God) and it exists for that very purpose. We each need to be able to manifest in our own way as free, loving, cooperating individuals in communion with self as communion with God. .. - Ali Ansari

The Ego and the Heart

I struggled hard but did not reap the fruits of my labors. Then I gazed into myself and found that my ego and my heart were unified. When the ego and the heart are united, a portion of all that shines upon the heart is seized by the self. Thus I came to know the cause of my dilemma, that the light illuminating my heart was being seized by my ego. -Al-Nuri, in "Islamic Sufism"

Religion: What's Missing?

The true point of all religions is to provide a formula (teaching) and catalyst (teacher) for alchemy (the spiritual transformation of the student); the guided transformation of lead (the childish ego) into gold (the spiritually mature adult). So all teachings must have their outward formulas, but without the chemist, the alchemist, the transformed teacher to act as guide, these laws are without reality, meaningless and ineffective. Under mature guidance, the religion of Islam is a spiritually and socially transformative influence par excellence, and the Sufi way is widely known as an alchemy for spiritual evolution.
- Ali Ansari

On the Need for Self-Discipline

Gluttony feeds on itself. The more that the appetite is indulged, the stronger it becomes - and the harder it is to control. But if the appetite is restrained, then it soon grows weak and feeble, and finally disappears altogether.

-Razi, "Kitab al-Muluki"

The Spirituality of Sadness

Melancholy may enter your soul, and ambush your happiness; but it will prepare you for true joy. Melancholy drives out all other emotions and feelings, so the source of all goodness may occupy the whole house. It shakes the yellow leaves from the tree, allowing fresh leaves to grow. It pulls up old bodily pleasures by the roots, allowing divine spiritual pleasures to be planted. Melancholy takes many things from the soul, in order to bring better things in return.

-Rumi, "Mathnawi"