Ramadan is not just a month of fasting, but a month of spiritual healing. Presented from an interfaith perspective as a means to motivate believers to action, the articles by such famous writers as Muhammad al-Ghazzali, Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani, Imam Jawziyya, Ibn Sireen, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Mawlana Mawdudi and Laleh Bakhtiar include essays on both the Law and the Way. They are divided into the traditional threefold method of spiritual healing, namely, knowledge, inner processing and action. Read more here
Ramadan for Children
The Mysteries of Charity & Fasting for Children
Understanding the spiritual meanings on which the practices of Islam are based, opens up the vastness of the inner life. Even though young Muslim children are not yet obliged to fast or pay zakat, the virtues and spiritual dimensions on which these are based can easily be introduced and comprehended even by five-year olds. Imam al-Ghazali’s stories and metaphors offer an effective way for parents to communicate with their children, in a language which can be used and directly related to the occurrences within everyday life. In the following two books of the Ihya, such virtues as generosity, gratitude, selflessness, reflection, self-discipline, patience, honesty, moderation, and trust in God’s loving wisdom are no longer abstract concepts but can be clearly seen instead as urgent and absolutely relative to each individual. We are indeed blessed to have Imam al-Ghazali’s systematic presentation of aspects belonging to the inner sunna and his detailed map for guarding and perfecting our innate and noble nature. Read Here ordownload
Ramadan Treasure Fun with Imam Al-Ghazali – 27 Days Exploring The Book of Fasting
A Ramadan surprise offering carefully prepared by a group of Ghazali home and pilot school educators. The first activity begins with moonsighting today. read here
Shukr to Allāh جل جلاله, today is the second of the three holy months. Rajab is over. We have entered the holy month of Sha‘bān, shukr to Allāh جل جلاله. This month is the month of our Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. It has great blessing. Our Holy Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam used to fast most in this month, after Ramaḍān. Sha‘bānu l-Mu‘aẓẓam Mukarram (Sha’bān, the Exalted and Honoured) is a month which contains great bounty. Allāh جل جلاله grants different favours each and every day. The grants of this month are great. Their greatness is for the honour of our Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Worship performed in this month is preparation for Ramaḍān. The worship of Ramaḍān becomes complete.
And people will profit from the bounty of the three holy months. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla will grant people who do this the greatest of grants. If He جل جلاله has written it for you, it is a great honour. There are holy nights in this month, especially the night of the fifteenth. On this night, Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla assigns who will remain, and who will go, and what the portion of rizq will be for the coming year. Who is to stay will stay. Who is to go will go. Therefore, making du‘ā’ on this night brings the favours of Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla. He جل جلاله bestows His جل جلاله favours. Who doesn’t forget Allāh جل جلاله, Allāh جل جلاله won’t forget him. He جل جلاله shows mercy to whomever wants it. Who doesn’t want it knows for himself. Because who asks, wants goodness. Who doesn’t ask, doesn’t want anything. Therefore, his condition is difficult. To do good, which is like this… Every day is precious in people’s lives. They should do goodness every day. They should obey Allāh جل جلاله. They should make du‘ā’ that He جل جلاله increases their love to our Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم The three months are for giving bounteous grants. The holy nights in these three months are even greater gifts from Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla to humanity, to people. But people don’t appreciate them. They appreciate useless things. They don’t appreciate precious things.
May Allāh جل جلاله let all of us know these good things. And may He جل جلاله let us know things that are not good so that we do not approach them. May we do the good things. May we not waste our lives and days.
There are duties in this month, of course. The greatest duty we must do is to make more ṣalawāt to our Holy Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam. Tasbīḥāt, Ikhlāṣ, Āyatu l-Kursī, lāilāha illā Llāh, reading Qur’ān and Dalā’il al-Khayrāt. Don’t forget them. Many people cannot do it in other months. They should do at least during these months: Rajab, Sha‘bān, and Ramaḍān. It is the season of the holy months. It is a beautiful season. May Allāh جل جلاله bless it for all of us.
May He جل جلاله protect us from disasters. As we are living in the end of times, it is unclear what will happen. As no one is secure, our security is to seek refuge in Allāh جل جلاله. There is no other security. As Nūḥ ‘alayhi s-salām told his son when he said, “I will hide on top of the mountain,” even on top of the mountain your are not protected, if Allāh جل جلاله doesn’t protect you.
Therefore, we seek refuge in Allāh جل جلاله. May Allāh جل جلاله help us. May Allāh جل جلاله protect people and our īmān. Our īmān is more important than our life. May Allāh جل جلاله protect it, in shā’a Llāh. Wa-min Allāhi t-tawfīq.
We are al-ḥamdu liLlāh, we come to, Allāh جل جلاله make us to reach, second holy month. First, Rajab, al-ḥamdu liLlāh finished. Today, for us, first of Sha‘bān. Sha‘bānu l-Mu‘aẓẓam Mukarram, month of Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam. Second one from holy blessed months, three months: Rajab, Sha‘bān, Ramaḍān. One month also passed from our life. Good month, in shā’a Llāh. This month, Allāh جل جلاله accept what we done, and Allāh جل جلاله bless people who are… Many people this month also, there was earthquake and they lost, many people lost, their life, or their, many things. It was big, but Allāh جل جلاله will reward who believe Him جل جلاله and was – he not lose anything. Who lose his life? Who not following Allāh جل جلاله. Other people, they are not losing anything. They are win[ning] everything, in shā’a Llāh.
This is month we said, al-ḥamdu liLlāh, blessed holy month. Each day to pray more, to keep your praying more, to fasting, also. Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam, he صلى الله عليه وسلم was fasting in Sha‘bān. After Ramaḍān, the most month he صلى الله عليه وسلم was fasting – this month. He صلى الله عليه وسلم not fasting all, because, if he صلى الله عليه وسلم fast, it will be for us also farḍ. For this, he صلى الله عليه وسلم was fasting, and breaking. But the most after Ramaḍān, this month he صلى الله عليه وسلم was [fasting]. He صلى الله عليه وسلم sign for us to make this, from which Allāh جل جلاله give from His جل جلاله reward, more than any time else.
So, this we are trying to follow him صلى الله عليه وسلم, in shā’a Llāh, and to prepare ourselves for Ramaḍān. Old people, old time people – This time people they are not knowing anything. Only few people they are taking care about these months. Even, who will claim they are Muslim, they make Muslim to be [in] doubt for this. “This is, you do wrong. You are fasting? You are mushrik, you are ahlu l-bid‘ah. You praying? You are ahlu l-bid‘ah, you are mushrik also.” But, when you worship Allāh جل جلاله, you are, they said, doing good. They not interfere with other people. All they are make – shayṭān make them to make people not to make any worshipping for Allāh جل جلاله, to come near more for Allāh جل جلاله, near for Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam – They don’t want this. Only they want to be accept them, and do what they are doing, which [is] taking īmān, belief from your heart, and throwing away.
But this month make people following Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam making sunnah, praying, fasting, preparing for Ramaḍān, to prepare with their Zakāt, and their business, to be ready for Ramaḍān. It will be, Allāh جل جلاله accept this, and reward them, and give them barakah and keep them safe. Because, in this month also, many good nights, blessed nights, especially the night of fifteen, Laylatu l-Barā’ah, which it is everything from year to year, Allāh جل جلاله write what will happen for people, for rizq, for drought, for rain, for everything in this night also writing. For this we must be ask for from Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla to give us the best thing. To give us health, and wealth, and strong īmān, in shā’a Llāh – this is: ” ‘Afwa wa-l-‘āfiyata wa-l-mu‘āfāta l-dā’imah”, in shā’a Llāh.
This is very important month and there is many thing – waẓīfah. Especially, you must read – many people they cannot read other times – Qur’ān, every day one juz’. From Dalā’il al-Khayrāt also, and as much you can do from ṣalawāt for Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam. You pray also Sūrah Ikhlāṣ, Āyatu l-Kursī, lā ilāha illā Llāh. As much you can do, you can do. Very few if you do, even it is – you win. Don’t make your life going without tak[ing] from this jewel for your last, next life, you take. Take as much you can. Allāh جل جلاله make it a blessed month and, in shā’a Llāh, be protected from every bad thing, from fitnah, from balā’. This world we are living in time, end of time. Everything which Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he صلى الله عليه وسلم was saying in this time, many thing, balā’ coming: like many earthquake, many flood, many war, killing.
We are living in this time, but we protect ourselves with du‘ā’ and ṣadaqah and, in shā’a Llāh, to tawakkal ‘alá Llāh (trust in Allāh جل جلاله) in shā’a Llāh. Allāh جل جلاله protect you and make us to be safe, in shā’a Llāh.
AlḥamduliLlāh we have reached this day again, Shukr to Allāh ﷻ. Tonight is a holy night inshā’Allāh. It is the night of miracles of our Holy Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam. It is a night which is worth thousands of years. The events that took place within two hours according to the worldly time require thousands of years for a person to travel and see those places. Certainly, it is especially for our Holy Prophet ﷺ, but its Barakah came to his Ummah as well.
On this night our Holy Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam travelled from Makkah to Jerusalem and visited other Prophets there. He visited holy places and then ascended to heavens. There, he went to the presence of Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla in the end, in a way known to Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla. It is a gathering, or a meeting that our minds cannot comprehend. There is always a meeting. It is impossible without meetings.
A favor granted to our Holy Prophet ﷺ was given as a present to his Ummah as well. That’s an important thing which is the order for the Ummah to pray. They used to pray before that as well, but it wasn’t five times a day. It was made Farḍ to the Ummah on that night. As a pillar of Islām, fasting was also practiced. But it was made Farḍ in Madīnah. Same with Hajj. There was no Zakāt then. They used to say Shahāda and pray. But it was ordered and made Farḍ for the Ummah on Laylatul ‘Isrā’ wal-Mi‘rāj as a present for them.
So prayer is the most valuable pillar of the religion. And prayer was ordered to our Holy Prophet ﷺ by Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla directly without any means. Jibrīl ‘alayhi s-salām used to be a means between them. But it was ordered directly, without any means to pray fifty times a day. Fifty times means that mankind was created to worship, and they would worship without stopping. We would pray fifty times a day. As the Ummah of Sayyidinā Mūsā ‘alayhi s-salām couldn’t carry it, through Sayyidinā Mūsā ‘alayhi s-salām and by the mercy of Allāh ﷻ – Our Holy Prophet ﷺ wouldn’t say that it was too little or too much in front of Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla because of his Adab. So when Sayyidinā Mūsā said that it was too much and the Ummah would not carry it… Certainly, many of us know this story of our Holy Prophet ﷺ. We will tell it again. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla reduced it to 45 times. When told it was a lot, it became 40. Sayyidinā Mūsā ‘alayhi s-salām told our Holy Prophet ﷺ to reduce it to 35, 30, 25, 20, 15 and then 5. It was reduced to 5. Even for the five times, Sayyidinā Mūsā ‘alayhi s-salām said to our Holy Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam that it was too much. Our Holy Prophet ﷺsaid, “No. If we reduce the five times, there would be nothing. There wouldn’t be the Barakah or beauty of prayer. There would be no pillar of the religion then.” Sayyidinā Mūsā ‘alayhi s-salām knew it, because everyone find it difficult to pray now. If they pray two Rakāat, even that seems hard. We sometimes tell people to pray two Rakāat. They say, “We pray two Rakāat once during Jum’ah.”
Therefore, these five times a day are a gift from Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla to people. It is the greatest favor, the greatest goodness to people from all aspects, spiritually and physically. It’s every movement, everything in it is Thawāb, Barakah and good for people. Those who skip prayer take on a big responsibility. They deprive themselves from great benefits. They are at loss. Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla is the One who created everything. Does He ﷻ need your imperfect praying? No. Hāshā (far from it). Even if you pray imperfectly, Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla accepts it. But He ﷻ doesn’t need your prayer. He ﷻ has ordered it for your goodness. Prayer was ordered by Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla from the highest, the greatest place to our Holy Prophet ﷺ directly without any means. That’s why prayer is a very important thing.
And then, apart from this, Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla granted many gifts to the Ummah. Also the last two Ayāhs of Sūrat al-Baqarah (Āmana ar-Rasūlu..), which wasn’t sent through Jibrīl ‘alayhi s-salām but was ordered directly by Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla. In one of these Ayāhs, it is said, ‘لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا’, ‘Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.’ (Qur’ān 02:286). Allāh ﷻ didn’t order anything that people cannot carry. People can do all of them. People can do what Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla ordered easily. And if it was praying fifty times a day, people would still be able to do it. There is no obstacle for it. But out of mercy, it was reduced to five times. When Allāh ﷻ orders something, He ﷻ orders things that we can carry. He ﷻ doesn’t order what we cannot do.
Therefore, may this night be blessed for all of us. Inshā’Allāh may we pay attention to our prayers. It is a gift from Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla to our Holy Prophet ﷺ and to the Ummah. There cannot be a greater gift. Prayer is a pillar of the religion. It is important. How lucky are those who do it. And those who miss it, if they pray it as Qada’ (make up) later, they are saved. But its virtue is not even a thousandth part. If they pray all their lives to make up for their missed prayers, they won’t have the same virtue, says our Holy Prophet ﷺ.
That is why we have to be careful. We have to pay attention to our prayers. Ḥajj and Zakāt became Farḍ afterwards. The first farḍ is saying Shahāda that Allāh ‘Azza wa-Jalla is One, and the next after it is prayer. Prayer is very important. Be careful. Don’t miss it. Do it on time. Unless you have to… Allāh ﷻ forgives you when you have to skip it, or when you imitate other Madhhab. But you do so when it’s unavoidable at all. Imitating other Madhhab is not by choosing the easy way and skipping the prayer. When it’s so necessary, while you are travelling, when you can’t do anything, it is fine to imitate. Inshā’Allāh Allāh ﷻ will forgive. But otherwise, it is not right. May Allāh ﷻ make this night full of Barakah for all of us. May it be blessed and good inshā’Allāh.
The person who does not have anything from the Qur’an inside him is like a ruined house. Put the Qur’an inside you and you will be illuminated by its light. Otherwise, there will be nothing but darkness.
Allah ﷻ created mankind as the most valuable creature. Now, they are giving value to people according to their own minds and not to the truly valuable ones: those on the way of Allah ﷻ.
Understanding the spiritual meanings on which the practices of Islam are based, opens up the vastness of the inner life. Even though young Muslim children are not yet obliged to fast or pay zakat, the virtues and spiritual dimensions on which these are based can easily be introduced and comprehended even by five-year olds. Imam al-Ghazali’s stories and metaphors offer an effective way for parents to communicate with their children, in a language which can be used and directly related to the occurrences within everyday life. In the following two books of the Ihya, such virtues as generosity, gratitude, selflessness, reflection, self-discipline, patience, honesty, moderation, and trust in God’s loving wisdom are no longer abstract concepts but can be clearly seen instead as urgent and absolutely relative to each individual. We are indeed blessed to have Imam al-Ghazali’s systematic presentation of aspects belonging to the inner sunna and his detailed map for guarding and perfecting our innate and noble nature. Read Here or download
A Ramadan surprise offering carefully prepared by a group of Ghazali home and pilot school educators. The first activity begins with moonsighting today. read here
Sufi Path of Love 