La Fuente Tambien Importa
This particular knowledge is a matter of religion. Be careful in choosing whom to learn from. I have met more than 70 people who often quoted the Prophet’s statements accurately, close to those pillars of his mosque. You could trust any one of them with the state treasury and you would be sure that he would discharge his trust most meticulously. But I did not take anything from them because they were not of the scholarly type.
-Imam Malik ibn Anas, RadhiAllahu anhu
The benefit of ‘Kalam’ in the instant age
I’ve recently come across a few Muslim blogs discussing both the situation of Muslims who renounce their faith and the difficulty of calling Westerners to Islam.
Among the apostates I’ve known and also the members of my family who’ve been unresponsive to Islam, I’ve seen a common thread: Religion (not Islam specifically) fails to “prove” itself to them (even if they believed in religion at one point).
In reading the aforementioned blogs, I was reminded of something Sheikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller said: “At the practical level, most people who believe in God do not do so because of philosophical arguments, but because they feel a presence, inwardly and outwardly, that uplifts hearts, answers prayers, and solves their problems. Yet Muslims and others find their faith increasingly challenged by an atheistic modern world. The question becomes, can traditional kalam arguments answer modern misgivings?”
The answer below.
Tests and Inspections
Regarding the proper comportment of the successful murid-
The most difficult thing in the world is for a person to leave the pursuit of vain fancies and to break his ego’s ingrained bad habits; but it is a sign of a true way that it enables its followers to take such action against the ego. It is little wonder that materialistic people feel uneasy and their lower selves positively threatened by the Sufi Way, as it demands from its followers even more than mere adherence to the Divine Law. It demands that we leave our egos will behind by accepting the leadership of a guide. Satan worshipped Allah for thousands of years but fell from his station in one instant when asked to submit to another creature and to follow him as his guide. It is most difficult for the ego to obey anyone’s advice, especially when that advice contradicts its own ideas and prevents it from seeking fulfillment of its desires. Whoever is sincerely seeking his Lord’s Love must submit himself to one of his Lord’s beloved servants; he must stop being self-willed in order to do the Will of his Creator. How can he know what his Creator wants of him? The Creator’s Will is expressed through the will of those beloved servants. Don’t imagine that those servants are serving their egos? No! Saints can only be Saints when their lower selves have been defeated by their souls; then the way is open for the Holy Prophet Muhammed (sal allahu alaihi wasallam) to impart the Secret of Sainthood. When a Sheikh orders his followers to do something or to abstain from it you must know that those orders come from the Holy Prophet Muhammed (salallahu alaihi wasallam), whose will is in total subservience to his Lord’s command.
You must also know that the relationship between Sheikh and follower is a very delicate one that needs to be preserved with great care. It is a serious agreement between Sheikh and follower and involves responsibility on both sides. Yes, at the beginning it is easy to say: “Oh my Sheikh, I am accepting you and making my will subservient to yours.” Then the Sheikh says: “Yes, I accept you.” That is the easy part; but Grandsheikhs have been ordered to try their followers in order to ascertain whether they are trustworthy or not.
For forty years I have been following the Way of my Grandsheikh, trying to submit my will to his but it was so difficult! So many times he tried me, but through his spiritual powers he extended insight to me and kept me from falling. I remember one of the biggest tests of all. One day, near the beginning of my training, I was with Grandsheikh when he said to me: “Oh Sheikh Nazim, if you notice in my actions anything that conflicts with the outward Law or established practices of Islam, please inform me of it in private as soon as you get the chance. This is necessary as I am an unlettered person and you are a learned religious scholar. Therefore, I would appreciate if you would do me this service, as I wish to conform completely to all the laws and practices.”
Quickly Divine Help reached out to me to prevent me from failing this difficult test, and I said: “Oh my Master, I am asking Allah to forgive me. He knows best that I have come here to learn, not to teach. You are my Sheikh, I am not your Sheikh.” Grandsheikh was very pleased with this reply. That was his first trial of me, and an important one.
Are you looking down at your Sheikh, thinking that you can judge his actions? Are you appointing yourself the role of “Inspector of Sheikhs”? As of yet you are all “Inspectors of Sheikhs”, “Guides of Sheikhs” and “Correctors of Sheikhs”. What is the result? You remain at your station and the Sheikh continues on towards his goal in the Divine Presence. This train is moving on: whoever has boarded it may be in connection with the Sheikh, may accompany him through every rank in the Divine Presence. But whoever objects to the train, or its engineer, its conductors, its passengers, its accommodations, etc., may get off and seek a different means of transportation, for this train carries no prisoners: no one is on it by force or against his will. Nor does the engineer permit the train to be hijacked and ordered to veer from its course or to stop on the tracks.
The train arrives at a station. Some people climb aboard and others get off: then the train moves on without delay.
-Mawlana Sheikh Nazim al-Haqqani, hafidhahullah.
To say nothing of others…
Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “He who stirs enmity among people, by quoting their words to each other, will not enter Paradise.” [Bukhari]
Dear Seeker
Dear Seeker,
Divine dispensation of Sacred Law has recurred throughout human history, by way of messengers. The messages were centred on God’s oneness, and were contextualized for a people and time. The Holy Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is the seal of messengers, bringing with him the final message for humankind. Thus, his Law represents the essential path to God, for those seeking His pleasure.
In Islam, Shar’iah refers to legal matters which God has legislated for his servants. In Arabic, Shar’ia (Islamic Law) denotes a trodden pathway which leads to water. Indeed, the Muslim relates to both of these definitions, identifying Islamic Law as a vital means of nourishment for the body and soul.
As part of our Fall Semester, SeekersGuidance is pleased to present courses on Islamic Law. These courses range in subject matter, and are appropriate for beginning and advanced seekers.
 |
Absolute Essentials of Islam: Beliefs & Worship Sh. Faraz Rabbani · 12 downloable lessons · 3 live sessions This course covers the fundamentals of the religion that all believers are obligated to know and practice: sound beliefs, valid purification and prayer, zakat, fasting, and the key principles related to one’s life and dealings. The course is based on Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s The Absolute Essentials of Islam. The course covers the basics of the religion in an approachable and practical format, making it an ideal course for new Muslims and all those wishing to learn how to perfect their faith and religious practice. |
|
 |
||
 |
Fiqh of Life: Essentials of Halal and Haram Sh. Faraz Rabbani · 12 downloable lessons · 3 live sessions In this course, students will learn about the limits of Allah related to everyday life, and will get answers to a variety of critical life questions on food, dress, gender interaction, work, earnings, relations, speech, and the avoidance of sin. Student will also gain an understanding and appreciation of the wisdom of the Shariah related to the halāl and harām, and the way of Prophetic excellence in everyday conduct. |
|
|
||
 |
Islamic Law for Seekers: Worship (Hanafi) Sh. Faraz Rabbani · 24 downloable lessons · 6 live sessions This is the first course in the Islamic Law (Hanafī) for Seekers series. The students will gain a necessary and detailed understanding of Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh) related to the acts of worship (i.e. prayer, zakāt, fasting, and the pilgrimage). The course is based on Imam al-Mawsuli’s great primer on Hanafi fiqh, al-Mukhtar, and its commentary, al-Ikhtiyar li-Ta’lil Masa’il al-Mukhtar. This expansive course will cover all the chapters on worship in al-Mukhtar. |
|
|
||
 |
Islamic Law for Seekers: Worship (Shafi`i) Sh. Omar Qureshi · 24 downloable lessons · 6 live sessions This is the first course in the Islamic Law for Seekers (Shafi`i) series. The students will gain a detailed understanding of Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) related to the acts of worship, i.e. prayer, zakat, fasting, and the pilgrimage. The course is an explanation of a famous classical didactic text (matn) in Shafi`i law by Qadi Ahmad ibn al-Husayn al-Asfahani (Abu Shuja). This course is well-suited for those who already know the absolute basics of Shafi`i fiqh, but who are ready to further their knowledge. |
|
|
||
 |
Islamic Law for Seekers: Transactions (Hanafī) Sh. Faraz Rabbani· 12 downloable lessons · 3 live sessions This is the second course of the Islamic Law for Seekers (Hanafī) series and covers the fiqh of commercial transactions. Entering into the realm of transactions (mu‛āmalāt), this course furthers one’s knowledge into the most important topics required for a Muslim to know after the fiqh of worship. Students will learn details of the required knowledge for commercial transactions, including sales, leasing, or hire. |
|
SeekersGuidance Fall Semester begins on Friday, October 9. In addition to classes in Law, we are offering affordable classes in Guidance, Belief, Spirituality, and Qu’ran. Visit our new and improved Online Academy to browse our Course Catalog.
