09.22.09

Purification of the Heart, by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

Posted in Aqidah, Character, Hikams, Islam, Islamic Books, Knowledge, Sufism, Taqwa, Tazkiyah at 9:46 pm by faith786

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu Alaikum,

EDIT: This is a super old post in my draft box and I am too lazy to finish it. I am still procrastinating my overdue history homework–

While I am still on my Shaykh Hamza note taking rampage, why don’t I include his book, Purification of the Heart?
I am just basically listing each illness and its cure, so they are not very good notes and I would recommend that everyone should read this book. Again, this is just to summarize or list the core principles. You should read the book.

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Purification of the Heart

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Miserliness: (stingy/hoarding money) The treatment is to realize those who achieve great wealth normally do so after wasting his/her whole life. And life goes by and soon it is over. So through contemplation can you get over this disease. Read the rest of this entry »

01.01.09

Some Hikams of Ibn Ata’allah

Posted in Aqidah, Character, Islam, Islamic Books, Knowledge, Literature, Quotes, Sufism, Taqwa, Tazkiyah at 6:49 am by faith786

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu Alaikum!

Here are a list of some of the Hikams of Ibn Ata’allah that strike a chord with me. Some of them are repeats from my Sufi Quotes post (from his book–Ibn Ata’allah/Intimate Conversations):

  • One of the signs of relying on one’s own deeds is the loss of hope when a downfall occurs.
  • If, in spite of intense supplication, there is a delay in the time of the Gift, let that not be the cause for your despairing. For He has guaranteed you a response in what He chooses for you, not in what you choose for yourself, and at the time He desires, not the time you desire.
  • Actions differ because the inspirations of the states of being differ. Read the rest of this entry »

06.20.08

My Summer Book List! [2008]

Posted in Islam, Islamic Books, Literature at 3:18 am by faith786

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Assalamu Alaikum,

I am currently absorbed in the concepts of light and sound-it might be an epiphany. Haha.

Well, Spiderman asked me to make a book list, so here is a briefly sketched up one for you guys. This book list is for ages 16+.

IR=Islamic Rating

PR=Personal Rating

DL=Difficultly level (in both comprehension and style of writing) (higher number=easier)

— Read the rest of this entry »

05.02.08

Agenda to Change Our Condition, by Hamza Yusuf and Zaid Shakir (Appendices)

Posted in Character, Islam, Islamic Books, Knowledge, Taqwa at 7:43 pm by faith786

So, the appendices:

Appendix A: Foundations of the Spiritual Path (Sidi Ahmad Zarruq)

The are 5 foundations of the path:

  1. “Mindfulness of Allah privately and publicly”
  2. “Adherence to the Sunnah in the word and deed”
  3. “Indifference to the acceptance or rejection of others”
  4. “Satisfaction with Allah in hardship and ease”
  5. “Turning to Allah in prosperity and adversity”

The foundations of the preceding five are predicated in these five:

  1. “Possessing celestial aspirations”
  2. “Preserving reverence for Allah”
  3. “Excelling in service of others”
  4. “Fulfilling one’s resolves”
  5. “Exalting one’s blessings”

“When one’s aspires to heights, one’s station rises. When one preserves Allah’s sanctity, one’s sanctity is preserved. When one excels in service, one’s standing is assured. When one fulfills resolutions, one’s guidance continues. When one exalts blessings, one is grateful, and gratitude ensures increase from the Ever-Giving in accord with His sincere promise.” Read the rest of this entry »

Agenda to Change Our Condition, by Hamza Yusuf and Zaid Shakir

Posted in Character, Da'wah, Islam, Islamic Books, Knowledge, Taqwa at 7:41 pm by faith786

Salaam! Sarah let me borrow a book she was reading, Agenda to Change Our Condition by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Zaid Shakir. It was is an AMAZING BOOK. I recommend EVERY Muslim to read it. Even Super smart and holy people out there. Even if people do follow everything that is advised in the book (which, I do not,) it is still an imperative reminder for people out there. And the use of language is excellent-not many Islamic books use the English as well as it is used in Agenda to Change Our Condition. Anyway, I totally want this book, but it is Sarah’s so I am taking notes/copying some of the passages from the book. I hope you gain a lot out of it!

Ch. 1: Taqwa: Its Definition and Benefits

Taqwa: conscious awareness of Allah (and there are 4 pathways):

  1. Fulfilling obligations outwardly
  2. Fulfilling obligations inwardly
  3. avoiding prohibitions outwardly
  4. avoiding prohibitions inwardly

To achieve Taqwah, one must undergo a spiritual struggle (mujahadah)

“This is our purpose for being here [worship to realize Taqwah]. We must simply start–not tomorrow or the day after–but today, right now, at this moment. The heart must make a firm commitment and never turn back.”

Ch.2: The Heart and Its Treatment

There are two modes of action:

  • Action of the limbs
  • Actions of the heart
  • —belief (Aaqidah)
  • ——Sound belief and removing all your doubts
  • —Sincerity (Ikhlas)
  • ——sincerity of the heart comes through the sincerity of the limbs

Achieving sincerity:

Remove the four destructive forces of the tongue:

  • Lying: it is only allowed as a means to rectify between people, an effective military tactic, and when an individual plays with young children (But these can only be practiced with HUGE discretion and as a last option)
  • Backbiting: it is only allowed in 7 circumstances:
  1. “When appealing to an authority to remove an injustice.”
  2. “When seeking help from others to change a wrong or to stop an oppressor from his wrongs.”
  3. “When seeking a legal opinion.”
  4. “When warning others concerning commerce, marriage, neighbors, and companionship (for example, it is acceptable to mention the violent temperament of a man to his prospective wife).”
  5. “When one mentions a man by a nickname he is known by, such as, the “Lamented One” (however, if the nickname is used to belittle him, it is prohibited; if not, then using another name is preferable).”
  6. “When mentioning innovation in terms of religious practice (if someone is known for practicing such innovations, then it can be mentioned in relationship to him to warn others, unless there is a valid difference of opinion about that matter, in which case it is strictly prohibited!).”
  7. “When mentioning the wrongs of someone who openly commits those enormities (however, it is prohibited to mention wrongs that others do not know about).”
  • Argumentation For Its Own Sake:like, trying to create bid’ah with Quranic verses as back up. Trying to present something false as true. Can’t explain this one very well.
  • Mirthful Jesting on Serious Occasions: self explanatory and also butting into other people’s business. Read the rest of this entry »