A Catholic Priest's Journey To Islam with Said Abdul Latif (Father Hilarion Heagy): Bogging Theology Interview by Paul Williams 3/20/23

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/llRITjZqO3Y?si=uSNhtNACb2Y9YCoJ

Father Hilarion Heagy ( Said Abdul Latif's Blog)

Medium: Notes from the journey of an American Priest to Islam

https://medium.com/@SaidAbdulLatif

The ' Muslim Priest' An Introduction by Said Abdul Latif Part 1,2,3,4 -(Biography) Part 1:"My discovery of Sufism was not my first encounter with Islam, however. Aside from reading about the central tenets and pillars of Islam as a teen, 9/11 was my first real encounter — as it was for many Americans… and American converts to Islam. After the terrorists attacks, in October of 2001, the local Islamic Center held an open house which I attended. I ate with the Muslim men there. I prayed with them. Listened to them. Attended lectures and speeches about what it is to be Muslim. My interest piqued. I signed up for courses on Islam in college. In a course on Islamic Civilization, I listened to the Quran beautifully recited for the very first time. I was deeply moved. I was inexplicably drawn to it. But my interest, then, was still mostly political and academic in a post-9/11 America. Rumi, however was the gateway. He provided the missing key. By 2003. I yearned to become Muslim. I saw the beauty of it. The depth. The truth of it.I spoke with Imam about conversion. I hung out at the local Islamic Center.I made Muslim friends.It was a beautiful and joyful moment."

 Source: https://medium.com/@themuslimpriest/introduction-part-i-1c7fd73069d

Part 2: " I witnessed the phenomenon of Western converts to Islam who, after seeing a loss of prayer, a loss of reverence, and a loss of true religious conviction in their Catholic and Christian peers, turn to Islam as a sure faith, a solid bedrock, and a counter-cultural force directed towards God. One particular article struck me about an American Catholic college girl who embraced Islam by simply observing Muslims that she knew. The saw how they dressed. How they treated each other. How they ate. How they prayed five times a day — often in public. What she saw as honorable, admirable, and pious in her Muslim friends she could not identify (at least outwardly) in her Catholics peers. How many Christians make it an effort to pray five times a day? Even in public among ridicule? How many Christians regularly fast? And in what practical way does faith shape the day-to-day life of the average Christian? This student convert found a true faith and a true piety — as well as a true spiritual home — in Islam and in the Ummah (the global Muslim community). Testimonies like this impressed me deeply."

 Source Full Article: https://medium.com/@themuslimpriest/the-muslim-priest-an-introduction-part-2-fb6cc0f13564

Part 3: "It wasn’t simply that I had more time during this period to read about my “hidden” love — Islam. Even more than this, I began to envy a spiritual life like Islam which was not so tied to a priestly class and corrupt hierarchy. Here was born, in the desert, a nomadic faith — bare forehead and face touching the ground before a magnificent monotheistic God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāh, Muḥammadur-rasūlu-llāh.

The pull to Islam was stronger than ever. And I think, for me — as a monk — my experiences were drawn mostly from prayer. From a sort of poetic intuitiveness. Reading rational arguments for Islam was helpful. Theology is, of course, indispensable. The historical case for Islam was also something that occupied my intention. All of this was very helpful in building an intellectual case for Islam, but only as a sort of foundation. A launching point. At the end of the day, God is met in prayer. Forehead touching the ground. It was this love that drew me. There was no mediator. There was no sacrament save the Word. Lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāh, Muḥammadur-rasūlu-llāh. The voice of the Divine calling out through the Quran. The call to prayer. Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem."

Source, Full Article:https://medium.com/@SaidAbdulLatif/the-muslim-priest-an-introductio

n-part-3-7582bf990d5f

The Christian Post: Eastern Catholic Monk,Priest renounces Christianity for Islam: https://www.christianpost.com/news/eastern-catholic-monk-priest-renounces-christianity-for-islam.html

The Laws of the Heart: An Introduction to the spiritual path in Islam : Shaykh Muhammad Emin Er (RA)

 

"This is an excellent book about the spiritual life of a Muslim in accordance with the Shariah and the Sunnah. Its author was a saintly scholar of Islam who passionately dedicated his long life to practice the Sunnah externally and internally and to transmit it to his students the way he learned from his mentors". Dr.Recep Senturk 

"The most wonderful experience I had in the presence of Shaykh Muhammad Emin was observing his character. He was beautiful in the way he spoke, ate, smiled ,and walked. Everything he did was done with beauty. Allah imbued him with elegant majesty and elegant beauty. I have never encountered anyone as spiritually and morally elegant as him. He was a living friend of God." Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui 

 "This brilliant text is a translation of a terse yet concise manual that maps the journey along the spiritual path written by the last Ottoman scholar, Shaykh Muhammad Emin Er. In keeping with the true scholarly tradition in Islam, the text demonstrates that the spiritual path entails rigorous observance of the Sunnah and pious adherence to the instructions of the Sharia. It is not merely a book to read, but more accurately a book that guides practice". Imam Khalil Abdur-Rashid. 

Al-Madina Institute: Biography of Shaykh Muhammad Emin Er (RA) & Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui PDF https://www.almadina.org/uploads/files/Biography-of-Shaykh-Muhammad-Emin-and-Shaykh-Mokhtar.pdf  "Concurrent with his studies in the Islamic sciences, Shaykh Muḥammad Emin devotedly pursued the study and practice of taṣawwuf, tazkiyat al-nafs, or iḥsān – the normative discipline of spiritual purification, which is the essence of Islam. He had a number of spiritual teachers, all from the Naqshbandī order. Following the death of Shaykh Aḥmad Ghaznawī, whom he met while he was in Syria, he became a student of Shaykh Muḥammad Sa‘īd Saydā al-Jazarī and remained under his tutelage until he was granted an ijāzah to guide students of his own"                                                              " In the sacred sanctuary of Makkah during Ḥajj in 2006, Shaykh Muḥammad Emin granted Shaykh Mokhtār Maghraoui an ijāzah (a traditional diploma and authorization to teach) in taṣawwuf and licenced him with spiritual authority to guide seekers to Allāh. In 2010, Shaykh Muḥammad Emin conferred upon him an ijāzah of sacred knowledge".  

Sophiscated Purity Blog: Shaykh Muhammad Emin Er - The Last Ottoman Scholar - Imam Khalil Abdrur-Rashid ( Adjunct Professor, Harvard Divinity School & Muslim Chaplain) " It is with deep humility and honor that I sit to transmit a snapshot of the life of my teacher whom I spent 8 years of my life studying under; who would refine me, educate me, advise me, and transmit ijaaza to me thus becoming the father of my spiritual life, Shaykh Muhammad Emin Er".https://sophisticatedpurity.blogspot.com/2012/05/shaykh-muhammad-emin-er-last-ottoman.html

Obituary: Seyda Muhammad Emin Er hodja passed away at the age of 104 in Ankara. June 28,2013 https://oppressedpeoplesonlineword.ning.com/profiles/blogs/shaykh-muhammad-emin-er-the-last-ottoman-scholar-by-imam-khalil-a

Shaykh Muhammad Emin Er (RA) with Professor Khalil Abdur-Rashid

Introduction to the Treatise for the Seekers of Guidance || Imam Harith al-Muhasibi -Shaykh Sulayman Van Ael - Karima Foundation

Shaykh Sulayman will take us through a brief explanation of the Imam al-Harith al-Muhasibi’s Risala al-Mustarshidin (Treatise For The Seekers Of Guidance). The work is intended to serve as a layman’s guide to Islamic spirituality. Al - Muhasibi presents most of the central ideas that would both serve as the basis for a full program of spiritual development and comprise an insightful overview of a system of Islamic moral psychology. He examines in great depth and penetrating insight the psychological motivations and justifications for moral thought and action and correspondingly the associated bases of immorality. In so doing, he has provided a road map that any person can follow to overcome the guiles of his fundamental enemies: the world, the ego, the whims of the soul, and Satan.

YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com

/watch?v=u-Hl-i-n8PU&list=PLeCp9pA-cLK2aRO6xyFa2tU-HiLNphdYz

Amazon: Treatise for the Seekers of Guidance: Risala al-Mustarshidin - Imam al-Harith al-Muhasibi RA , Translated by Imam Zaid Shakir.   

   The  translation, notes, and commentary of Imam al-Harith al-Muhasibi’s Risala al-Mustarshidin (Treatise For The Seekers Of Guidance) by Zaid Shakir is intended to serve as a layman’s guide to Islamic spirituality. Al - Muhasibi presents most of the major ideas that would both serve as the basis for a full program of spiritual development and comprise an insightful overview of a system of Islamic moral psychology. He examines in great depth and penetrating insight the psychological motivations and justifications for moral thought and action and correspondingly the associated bases of immorality. In so doing, he has provided a road map that any person can follow to overcome the guiles of his fundamental enemies: the world, the ego, the whims of the soul, and Satan.                                                                                                                                                   Review: *Powerful and magnetic ... it is difficult to put this book down. An essential primer for self-rectification and drawing closer to the divine, this is a highly accessible translation of a classical Islamic text that provides ample guidance and advice for souls longing for spiritual nourishment and refinement amid the prevailing state of social and moral disintegration. This book not only offers definitive counsels on rectifying the self and becoming responsible and dignified human beings, but it also showcases the moral and ethical standards which Islam calls to. Imam Zaid Shakir has done a tremendous service in rendering this crucial text into the English language. --Aftab Ahmad Malik, Visiting Fellow -Department of Culture & Ethnicity, University of Birmingham 

* Treatise for The Seekers of Guidance is a classic of early Islamic literature. It provides us with a document that testifies to the fundamental principles, attitudes, and incumbent conduct of Islamic moral psychology from the formative period. This work, from the pen of Imam Harith al-Muhasibi (d. 243/857), the mentor of Junayd, is one of earliest examples we have of the role these principles played in constituting the moral thought and action that constitutes the fabric of Muslim society. This translation in Imam Zaid's own words is, "a layman's guide to Islamic spirituality" and as such is a key text to our understanding today of the multiple faceted framework behind the principle themes of the teacher/disciple relationship and testifies to the manner in which these principles have became integrated within the process of Islamic spiritual orientation. Among the salient characteristics of Treatise for The Seekers of Guidance is the care Imam al-Muhasibi has taken to structure the discourse of the treatise on the foundations of the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him, in such a manner that he provides us with a clear and coherent criteria for both the theoretical and practical aspects that comprise the Islamic view of human development in general and salvation in particular. Imam Zaid Shakir has accompanied this text with an in-depth commentary based upon the Qur'an and Hadith that enriches and contextualizes the concise prose of Imam al-Muhasibi within the social milieu of our times. His employs language that is accessible and free of technical terminology. His translation thus provides sound guidance to anyone who is seeking in the midst of the uncertainties of social turmoil and personal struggle, a whole and integral path, a unity of form and substance,self-effacing comportment, and intimate knowledge of God. In short this is a work that no ones library should be without. -- Kenneth Honerkamp, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies, The University of Georgia in Athens, August 28, 2008 - 5 stars

Author:Zaid Shakir is a co-founder, Board of Trustees and Senior Faculty Member of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, CA. As a gifted author and lecturer, he was ranked as one of the world's most influential Scholars by "The 500 Most Influential Muslims", edited by John Esposito and Ibrahim Kalin, (2009).

Treatise for the Seekers of Guidance of Imam Al-Muhasibi Presented by Shaykh Jamaal Diwan - Majlis - April 30, 2023

YouTube Playlist:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjW6kYwP4yw&list=PLAiybqS_Z2hsIuw8CGoRArD6WfO1UqL6N

In the Meadows of Tafsir for the Noble Quran: Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (R.A)

 

Shaykh Ibrahim Niass is the only Tijani Shaykh to ever publish a Tafsir of Quran in its entirety. He completed the entire Tafsir of Quran between 10 and 12 times throughout his life, in public. Most of the times he would engage in the Tafsir, it would be in the Wolof language, but 2 or 3 times he did the entire Tafsir in the Arabic language for the benefit of his non-wolof speaking Murids (Students).
The very last time he did the entire Tafsir in public, was in the year 1963 and it was recorded on cassette tape.
One of his senior students from Mauritania named Shaykh Muhammad Wuld' Abdallah al-Jayjuba was present for all of his Tafsir readings and took the great task of transcribing the final recorded Tafsir into book form. It took him over 30 years to edit and check all of the Hadith and sources that Mawlana Shaykh Ibrahim Niass used in the Tafsir. The total number of Hadith that Shaykh Ibrahim mentioned in the Quran are over 6000.
Shaykh Ibrahim Niass is known to have completed (Khatmul-Quran) recitation of the entire Quran twice a week.
In one of his famous poems he beseeches Allah to "Make the memorization of Quran his Karama (Miracle)."
When Shaykh Ibrahim Niass wanted to publicly give Tafsir Quran for the first time, he requested from his older brother to borrow his copy of Tafsir Jalalayn. That request was refused and Shaykh Ibrahim said...."I only ask for Tafsir Jalalayn as a formality and Adab" In other words, he did not need it. (In those days, the Shuyukh would borrow Tafsir from each-other because it was so rare to have it in a book form)
In Reality, Shaykh Ibrahim Niass did not learn Tafsir from anyone besides Allah himself.
His brother sent spies to listen to SHaykh Ibrahims Tafsir and report back as to what he was saying since he did not have the Tafsir Jalalayn to help....The spies reported back that what they heard from Shaykh Ibrahim was so amazing that they could not stay away. They said that they heard knowledge that even the Shaykhs father did not have or explain before. They testified that Shaykh Ibrahim was indeed a Master without comparison.
This Tafsir is a Jewel that contains the meanings of the Zahir (Outward) and Batin (Inward/Hidden) explanation of the Quran.
Our Master and Seal of Muhammadan Sainthood Mawlana Shaykh Ahmed Tijani as-Sharriff has said in his Jawahir al-Ma'ni...."The Zahir and Batin meanings of Quran are Haq (Truth) and they don't contradict each-other."
This is the English Translation of this Monumental work.

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Meadows-Tafsir-Noble-Quran-ebook/dp/B086MMJW6M

Fayda Books: Publisher of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse's Books https://www.faydabooks.com/

Fayda Books Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/faydabooks

Biography of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse : Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibrahim_Niass

Nasrul Ilm America: https://nasrulilmamerica-blog.tumblr.com/Shaykh%20Ibrahim

Fayda Books Facebook Lecture 1,2,3 Videos

Ustadh Zakariya Wright Explains Ma’arifa of Allah as expounded upon by Shaykh Al-Islam Al-Hajj Ibrahim Niasse in his Tafsir of the Holy Quran.

https://www.facebook.com/faydabooks/videos/274102047066187/

Commander of the Faithful: The Life and Times of Emir Abd el-Kader al-Jaza'iri (RA): John W.Kiser

 

 Emir Abdelkader al-Qadir al-Jazairi (1808-1883) was a venerated Algerian Islamic scholar and a military leader who led a collective resistance against the mid-nineteenth century French colonial invasion of Algeria. He is remembered today as one of the nineteenth century’s most inspiring leaders for his humane treatment of Christian opponents during Algeria’s anti-colonial struggle and for leading an intervention to rescue the Christian community in Damascus from certain massacre in the midst of sectarian riots in 1860.

Raised in his father’s zawiya, he excelled as a student, memorizing the Qur’an by the age of 14, and studying the Islamic religious sciences as well as subjects such as philosophy, medicine, and mathematics. He was especially known as a gifted orator who outshone his peers in the recitation of poetry and in delivering religious talks. His father, a notable spiritual leader affiliated with the Qadiriyya order, recognized his son’s precociousness, and cast a leadership role upon him shortly after the invasion of Algeria by France in 1830.              Source: Full Article- https://www.emir-stein.org/articles/emir-abdelkader/  

YouTube Video:  When Americans Honored an Icon of Jihad: John Kiser , Emir-Stein Center ,May 10, 2020 -Meet Emir Abdelkader the 19th century Statesman-scholar-warrior-leader, who won the hearts of friend and foe alike -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIHl6LhDbUk

Amazon:Commander of the Faithful: The Life and Times of Emir Abd el-Kader al-Jaza'iri (RA): John W.Kiser -This well-researched and compelling biography of the Muslim warrior-saint who led the Algerian resistance to French colonization in the mid-nineteenth century sheds light on current US involvement with a global Islam. The most famous "jihadist" of his time, Abd el-Kader was known equally for his military brilliance and his moral authority. His New York Times obituary called him "one of the few great men of the century."  https://www.amazon.com/Commander-Faithful-Life-Times-el-Kader/dp/0982324669

Amazon: The Compassionate Warrior: Abd el-Kader of Algeria - Elsa Martson -A brilliant military strategist, superb horseman, statesman, philosopher, Muslim hero . . . Emir Abdel Kader (1808-1883) was an international celebrity in his own time, known for his generosity and kindness even towards enemies. Today he is recognized as one of the noblest leaders of the 19th century and a pioneer in interfaith dialogue. This fascinating biography of the heroic Arab who led the resistance to the French conquest of Algeria, endured betrayal and imprisonment, and in 1860, in Syria, saved thousands of innocent people from mob violence brings a vital message for our times. https://www.amazon.com/Compassionate-Warrior-Abd-el-Kader-Algeria/dp/1937786102

Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emir_Abdelkader

Ibn Arabi Society: " God and The Perfect Man in the Experience of Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iry" Itzchak Weismann -This article deals with the spiritual experience of Amir ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza’iri, the most outstanding advocate of Ibn ‘Arabi’s thought at that crucial point of transformation into the modern era. Beginning with a sketch of ‘Abd al-Qadir’s life, I shall then proceed to explore his Akbarian mystical worldview in general and, within it, his concept of the Perfect Man in particular. Full Article :https://ibnarabisociety.org/abd-al-qadir-al-jazairi-god-and-the-perfect-man-itzchak-weismann/

The Spiritual Writings of Amir Abd al-Kader: Michel Chodkiewicz - https://sunypress.edu/Books/T/The-Spiritual-Writings-of-Amir-Abd-al-Kader2                                                              

Reenvisioning Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution in Islam : Qamar ul-Huda

 

Reenvisioning Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution in Islam examines the variety of strategic peacebuilding and conflict resolution activities conducted by Muslim practitioners and nongovernmental organizations in Muslim-majority communities.

Qamar-ul Huda explores ways that Muslim scholars, civil society members, and communities interpret violence and nonviolence, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution in an interconnected globalized age, focusing on methods, practices, and strategies. He shows how a faith-based commitment can empower effective social, political, and intellectual action that results in meaningful change.

The book sheds light on a variety of vital topics, including how the state utilizes hard and soft power in global, religious diplomacy; ways in which civil society organizations and NGOs maximize networks to engage in peacebuilding and conflict resolution; the role of civil society in soft power politics; and how some peacebuilding organizations are out of step with local Muslim cultures & religious customs, and why that matters. Qamar-ul Huda charts a vision of contemporary ethics of peacebuilding, pluralism, reconciliation, and dialogue.

Source:https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538192245/Reenvisioning-Peacebuilding-and-Conflict-Resolution-in-Islam

Amazon: Reenvisioning Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution in Islam: Reenvisioning Approaches within a Global Framework 

Review

“This book does what many books in the field of peacebuilding fear to do: it acknowledges religion’s vital role in peace and conflict and legitimizes religious peacebuilding with research and analysis. Qamar-ul Huda provides a resource to the broader community, from peacebuilders to policymakers, that will transform their work to become more inclusive, expanding the peacebuilding toolkit.”

-- Paul Turner, president, The Peace Fund

“Qamar-ul Huda’s insightful work provides a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of Islamic peacebuilding principles and practices in the modern world. The book outlines a practical vision for fostering inner and communal peace amidst global conflict, highlighting real-world applications of peace education and conflict resolution strategies. This book is essential reading for both scholars and practitioners.”

-- Tahir Abbas, professor, Institute of Security and Global Affairs, Leiden University

“Qamar-ul Huda’s work is a must-read for the international affairs and donor community. There is often a mismatch between peacebuilding and conflict resolution educational endeavors and the reality on the ground in Muslim-majority societies. This engaging and astute analysis unpacks this conundrum and provides an alternate conceptual and practical framework."

-- Peter Weinberger, senior advisor, World Learning Institute

“This is a significant contribution to peace and methods of conflict resolution as recorded in the classical sources of Islam. Huda’s work explores the relevance of these Islamic methods and approaches to peacebuilding in contemporary circumstances where there are many misperceptions. This work is a bold vision to help readers understand peacebuilding from the perspectives of Islam.”

-- Muhammad zia Rehman, President of International Islamic Research University, Pakistan

“Huda, a master of the art of peace and diplomacy, skillfully blends scholarship, passion, and practicality to offer fresh perspectives on conflict resolution and peacebuilding, as demonstrated in this timely and captivating book."

-- Flamur Vehapi, author, The Alchemy of Mind and Kosovo: A Short History

About the Author

Qamar-ul Huda is the Michael E. Paul Distinguished Visiting Professor of International Affairs at the United States Naval Academy. He has previously served as Senior Policy Advisor for U.S. Department of State Secretary's Office for Religion and Global Affairs (S/RGA) where he focused on civil society, religious communities, and diplomacy with non-government organizations.

Source:https://www.amazon.com/Reenvisioning-Peacebuilding-Conflict-Resolution-Islam/dp/1538192241

Why I became Muslim with Jacob Williams : Blogging Theology - Jan 15,2024

Paul Williams of Blogging Theology Interviews Jacob Williams                                                           YouTube Video:                                                                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuWla29Xeew&t=20s 

 

M Jacob Williams , Director, JPW, London, Education: B.A Philosophy,Politics & Economics, University of Oxford, MA, Religious Studies, King's College, London, PhD Candidate, University of Oxford.

 Publications: * Islamic Traditionalists:" Against the Modern World" ?                                         The Muslim World '"Islamic traditionalism' or 'neo-traditionalism' has been analysed by scholars as either (à la Masooda Bano) a progressive movement sympathetic to gradual reform of Islamic traditions, or (à la Mark Sedgwick) as a contemporary incarnation of the radically anti-modern Traditionalist School connected to René Guénon and Julius Evola. Neither judgement can be the whole truth. Through an analysis of the discourse of three prominent Islamic traditionalist thinkers -- Timothy Winter, Hamza Yusuf, and Umar Faruq Abd Allah -- on three topics salient to debates about the place of Islam in the modern world, a more nuanced picture will emerge. The Islamic traditionalist positions on religious pluralism, Western identity, and gender roles illustrate an attempt to represent Islam as a balancing principle that preserves the good in modernity while rejecting excesses. This view owes a surprising amount to an extensive engagement with Western conservative intellectuals beyond the radical Traditionalist School. Islamic traditionalists today neither wholly negate nor enthusiastically support the ideas of modernity, progress, and liberalism".                                     Source: Full Article - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/muwo.12475

* Why I became Muslim? - First Things

The first part of the Islamic ­shahada, or testimony of faith, is la ilaha il’Allah, “there is no god but God”—an uncompromising statement of pure mono­theism. Islam puts the One God front and center, a simple and commanding being. Philosophy had persuaded me that God was an intellectual and moral necessity. I did not know whether his existence could strictly be proven, but I recognized the dishonesty and intellectual contortions atheism required. Without an absolute, transcendent Lord, I could see no way to objective morality and to a purpose and order in the cosmos that could overcome the transience of this world. I doubted that we could justify even belief in causal regularities without a constantly acting Creator to guarantee them. If I were to embrace God, then God would need to be an ­unmediated, undifferentiated, and decisive Omnipotence, whom I might ­willingly obey."

"I experience being Muslim and being British not as tension, but as convergence. As the Islamic scholar Umar Faruq Abd-Allah puts it, Islam is the clear water of pure mono­theism, colored by the bedrock of the native soil over which it flows. Life as a Muslim in the West does not consign you to being a diasporic Arab or Desi; it need not produce awkward and anxious suspension between two civilizations. Another scholar, Timothy Winter, sums up my feelings eloquently: “[Islam] is generous and inclusive. It allows us to celebrate our particularity, the genius of our heritage; within, rather than in tension with, the greater and more lasting fellowship of faith.” It is my ardent hope that the cause of God and truth will be served when others, too, come to see this."

Source -Full Article :https://www.firstthings.com/article/2019/05/why-i-became-muslim

Dr. Umar Faruq Abdallah : Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani's Reform of the Religion's Scholars of his time & the appearance of Salah al-Din Ayyubi - Qadiriyya Association of Gambia

The Qadiriyya Association for Revival of Sunnah in Gambia - 3rd Annual Conference  (2011)          Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, Chairman of the Board & Scholar-in-Residence, Nawawi Foundation, USA, spoke on “Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani’s (RAA) Reform of the Religious Scholars of His Time & the Appearance of Salah al-Din“. 

 Video: https://vimeo.com/20147497 

 PDF of Lecture's Slides:   https://qadriyya.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Dr_UFA_Lecture_QARS_2011.pdf

Source: https://qadriyya.org/archives/video/3rd-annual-conference-2011

The Qadiriyya Association for Revival of Sunnah in Gambia 

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu and welcome to our website. Under the leadership of our beloved Sheikh Muhammad Haydara al-Jilani, The Qadriyya Association – The Gambia, aims to serve the local community by providing education, healthcare and spiritual guidance.

Apart from learning more about our activities, we hope you will benefit from our many video and audio files of our annual conferences and sacred knowledge lessons by esteemed teachers like Sheikh Muhammad Haydara al-Jilani, Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, and others.

Website:https://qadriyya.org/

Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah (USA) on "Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani’s (RAA) Love of The Poor & The Needy".                                                                                                                                                            Video : https://vimeo.com/38167834   

Dr Sabrina Lei : Muhammad Iqbal's Reconstruction 0f Religious Thought in Islam - Cambridge Muslim College - Feb 7, 2020

Lecture by Dr Sabrina Lei Director of Tawasul International Centre for Publishing, Research and Dialogue, Rome

YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/MO09wdsa1NE?si=CoRaN9tvJnt0RBnx

Dr. Sabrina Lei Biography

Converted to Islam some years years ago, Dr Sabrina Lei, an Italian writer and researcher, is one of the emerging Western Muslim scholars and cultural activists. After getting a thorough grounding in Latin and Greek, Dr Sabrina read philosophy at Rome’s La Sapienza University, and got her research degree in philosophy, working on Wittgenstein’s concept of time in his Tractatus Logico- Philosophicus in 2000. A few years later she went back to her academic research again, and got a PhD in ancient philosophy. Dr. Sabrina Lei. Currently working as Director of Tawasul, Centre for Research and Dialogue, has published almost a dozen books on Islam and related topics so far, including a study on the spiritual and medical benefits of Salat (Muslim Prayer) and the Italian translations of the works of some of the great Muslim scholars like Muhammad Al-Ghazzali, Muhammad Iqbal,

Dr Sabrina has recently completed the Italian translation of the classic and universally read 1934 English Quran translation of Abdullah Yusuf Ali. Also, recently, she has completed the first volume of her book into the life history of the Prophet (peace be upon him). This insightful study on the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is aimed at introducing the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his mission to Western non-Muslims and academics as the fulfilment of the true mission of the Prophet Moses and Prophet Jesus (peace be upon them). Along with classical Muslim sources on the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the volume examines classical sources in Greek, Latin and Hebrew to reveal the natural continuity of the mission of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as the true completion of the earlier heavenly revealed religions.

Dr Sabrina argues for a mutually beneficial dialogue between the world of Islam and the West. And her long-term aim is to create a new Islamic discourse rooted in the humanistic principles of Islam, accepting the diversity of human experience, as manifested in today’s globalized world in the form of different religious and cultural discourses.

Converted to Islam some years years ago, Dr Sabrina Lei, an Italian writer and researcher, is one of the emerging Western Muslim scholars and cultural activists. After getting a thorough grounding in Latin and Greek, Dr Sabrina read philosophy at Rome’s La Sapienza University, and got her research degree in philosophy, working on Wittgenstein’s concept of time in his Tractatus Logico- Philosophicus in 2000. A few years later she went back to her academic research again, and got a PhD in ancient philosophy. Dr. Sabrina Lei. Currently working as Director of Tawasul, Centre for Research and Dialogue, has published almost a dozen books on Islam and related topics so far, including a study on the spiritual and medical benefits of Salat (Muslim Prayer) and the Italian translations of the works of some of the great Muslim scholars like Muhammad Al-Ghazzali, Muhammad Iqbal,

Dr Sabrina has recently completed the Italian translation of the classic and universally read 1934 English Quran translation of Abdullah Yusuf Ali. Also, recently, she has completed the first volume of her book into the life history of the Prophet (peace be upon him). This insightful study on the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is aimed at introducing the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his mission to Western non-Muslims and academics as the fulfilment of the true mission of the Prophet Moses and Prophet Jesus (peace be upon them). Along with classical Muslim sources on the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the volume examines classical sources in Greek, Latin and Hebrew to reveal the natural continuity of the mission of the Prophet (peace be upon him) as the true completion of the earlier heavenly revealed religions.

Dr Sabrina argues for a mutually beneficial dialogue between the world of Islam and the West. And her long-term aim is to create a new Islamic discourse rooted in the humanistic principles of Islam, accepting the diversity of human experience, as manifested in today’s globalized world in the form of different religious and cultural discourses.

Source:https://tawasulitaly.blogspot.com/2015/07/dr-sabrina-lei.html

The Philosophical Premises of Iqbal's Political Thought PDF: Dr. Sabrina Lei

https://www.academia.edu/8403464/The_Philosophical_Premises_of_Iqbals_Political_Thought

Islam, Conversion, And Xenophobia - A talk with Sabreina Lei Ph.D

Source:https://thecompanion.in/islam-conversion-and-xenophobia-a-talk-with-sabreina-lei

Italian Philosopher Sabrina Lei speaks on Religion, Culture and Nationalism

Source:https://globalsouthcolloquy.com/italian-philosopher-sabrina-lei-speaks-on-religion-culture-and-nationalism/

Salam: 20th July 2023 Abdullah Yusuf Ali's Translation of the Quran continues to hold appeal : Dr. Sabrina Lei has recently completed the Italian Translation.

Source:https://www.salaam.co.uk/20th-july-2023-abdullah-yusuf-alis-translation-of-the-quran-continues-to-hold-appeal/

Amazon: Books by Dr. Sabrina Lei

https://www.amazon.in/Books-Sabrina-Lei/s?rh=n%3A976389031%2Cp_27%3ASabrina+Lei

Facebook Dr. Sabrina Lei :

https://www.facebook.com/p/Dr-Sabrina-Lei-100035498993244/

Shaykh Jamaal Diwan: Futuwwah: The Muslim Honor Code -The Majilis - September 3, 2023

 

YouTube Playlist: 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAiybqS_Z2hsn2trEqSnML5bytoJmE8Rh

The Majlis Website: 

https://www.themajlis.us/

Books: The Way of Sufi Chivalry by Ibn al-Husayn al-Sulami, translated by Toscun Bayrak al-Jerrahi

A highly respected Sufi saint and scholar of the 10th century, Ibn al-Husayn al-Sulami compiled this book as a guide to enlightened behavior for the spiritual aspirant. In its pages, he records the teachings of renowned spiritual masters (available for the first time in English translation) as well as tales and quotations from the Koran and Hadith. The teachings reveal the true meaning of compassion, love, friendship, generosity, and hospitality, as well as the right actions associated with these virtues. According to the Sufis, Futuwwah is a code of honorable behavior that follows the example of the prophets, saints, and sages. By adhering to its precepts, the student learns detachment from the ego. The Way of Sufi Chivalry addresses the reader directly, providing the aspirant of today with living guidance on the path of perfection and the way of Sufism.                   Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Way-Sufi-Chivalry-al-Husayn-al-Sulami/dp/0892813172/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1704937256&refinements=p_27%3AIbn+al-Husayn+al-Sulami&s=books&sr=1-1

Futuwwah, Raising Males into Sacred Manhood : Imam Dawud Walid

 Futuwwah and Raising Males into Sacred Manhood concisely discusses the principles within futuwwah, or spiritual chivalry, that young men should strive to embody and should inculcate into our communities. While the virtues discusses in this text are not all exclusively related to young males becoming men, this book is tailored towards males, and the specific issues faced by males as they strive to grow into the path of manhood. Just as young women need their own spaces to learn from women how to become honorable sisters, young men require their own special places to instill in them the virtues of upright brothers. The Islamic tradition calls for a revival of organized training relating to spiritual chivalry and sacred manhood - this is the task of the hour. There are beautiful and majestic qualities embodied by the Prophet s that he passed down to his family members and pious Companions. Those upright men were methodically raised they undertook rites of passage, and manly responsibilities which were placed upon them with expectations that they would be executed with excellence. This book begins by establishing the linguistic and operational definitions of the Arabic word futuwwah, translated here as "spiritual chivalry." The text then discusses the essential virtues for developing healthy manhood, in a specific order of their priority in teaching. The Qur'anic verses, Prophetic narrations, and sayings of pious Companions and scholars on the subject of futuwwah are related with sound meaning, accompanied by meticulous citations in footnotes and endnotes.https://www.amazon.com/Futuwwah-Raising-Males-Sacred-Manhood/dp/1952306388

Shaykh Mishary Rashid Alafasy : Nasheed - Mustafa Mustafa - Arabic / English - Live 1/4/2024 UK

مصطفى حفل بريطانيا | مشاري راشد العفاسي

Source: Alafasy 1/4/2024

YouTube Video: 

https://youtu.be/LZhDlPNO3SE?si=taTv_AmNrISCWrTK

مصطفى مصطفى

The chosen one ‎منبعٌ للصفاءْ Spring of peace ‎سيّد الأنبياء Leader of prophets ‎مِشعلٌ في الوفا Ignited in loyalty ‎كان في عطفه ‎لليتامى دفى His compassion was warmth for the orphans ‎حن قلبي لهُ My heart yearns for him ‎فاض شوقا إليه Longing for him ‎ليس أرجو سوى I have no desire except ‎شربةً من يديه To drink from his hands ‎الصلاةُ عليه Salutations be upon him ‎والسلامُ عليه And peace be upon him ‎للسماءِ ارتقى For the sky he ascended ‎فأتى بالنقاء And brought purity ‎وغدا وجههُ And his face illumined ‎نيّرا مشرقا radiant and bright ‎كان من عفوهِ This was from his forgiveness ‎حين حان اللقاء When the meeting came ‎قال فلتذهبوا ‎أنتم الطلقاء He said: “you are all free to go” ‎كان في هديهِ In his guidance ‎منهجا وسطا A balanced path he paved ‎كان تُسعدهُ ‎بسمةُ البُسطاءْ The smiles of the humble would make him happy ‎سيّدٌ في الكرم ‎A leader in generosity ‎قمةٌ في العطاء The pinnacle of giving

Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad: Realities of Intention from Imam Ghazali's Ihya Book 37 "Intention, Sincerity & Truthfulness" - Lecture 1

 YouTube Video - 

https://youtu.be/WwqI59TklBA?si=movUOQDw5AOJmxPI

Source: Enver, say Masha'Allah , October 23, 2023

Book at Amazon: Al Ghazali on Intention, Sincerity and Truthfulness: Kitab al-niyya wa'l-ikhlas wa'l sidq translated by Anthony Shaker 

The 37th chapter of the Revival of Religious Sciences, this treatise focuses on the subject of intention—which is of crucial importance in ethics—posing questions such as How can someone ignorant of the meaning of intention verify his own intention? How can someone ignorant of the meaning of sincerity verify his own sincerity? And how can someone sincerely claim truthfulness if he has not verified its meaning?

https://www.amazon.com/Al-Ghazali-Intention-Sincerity-Truthfulness-wal-ikhlas/dp/1911141341

The Path to God for the Spiritual Travelers: Shaykh Muhammad Masum Naqshbandi (ra) - Sufi Illuminations Journal 2008

In the name of Allāh, most Gracious, most Merciful.

All praises belong to Allāh. Peace and blessings be upon the blessed Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ,  the illuminating light, and Allāh’s mercy to humankind and all of Allāh’s creation. Praise to Allāh that there are increasingly more people seeking a sacred and holistic way of life. In a world dominated by materialistic values, Taṣawwuf  (Sufism) balances one’s spiritual life and worldly activities.

 Taṣawwuf is based on the unity of Allāh (tawḥīd). Those who practice Taṣawwuf,  the sufis, are muslims who strive to purify their hearts and dominate their worldly desires by following the Qur’ān and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet ﷺ   under the guidance of a spiritual leader. Taṣawwuf is to tread along the spiritual path by applying the ethical dictates of the Sharia'h into one’s life. Spirituality is rooted in one’s moral behavior, which is best done under the guidance of a spiritual master familiar with the difficulties and dangers of the path. As individual souls find their spiritual journey deepening, they approach divine Reality  (ḥaqīqat) and reach the highest degree of spiritual excellence (iḥsān). 

Although simple in concept, Taṣawwuf proves to be challenging and difficult in practice. In our time, difficulty in finding qualified spiritual leaders and reliable sources of knowledge makes actualizing Taṣawwuf difficult. As the level of difficulty increases along the path, the responsibility of each individual to the ethical dictates of the Sharia'h rises proportionally. With this background in mind, one realizes that the purpose of creation is to serve Allāh, as it is said in the Holy Qur’ān, "I have created jinns and humankind that they may serve me" (Q. 51:56). Our deeds and all other aspects of our being is directed to fulfill this purpose. The first obstacle to overcome on the path is the “commanding ego” (al-nafs al-ammāra), which the Holy Prophet ﷺ  called the “greater struggle” (jihad al-akbar). "Yet, I do not claim that my soul was innocent. Surely a person’s soul incites to evil -- except in so far as my Sustainer is all forgiving, most merciful" (Q. 12:53).

The challenge to overcome one’s lower nature is not easy. However, one should never lose hope because the spiritual journey is blessed by Allāh’s mercy just as those who strive for Allāh’s cause will have Allāh’s mercy with them. "We will surely guide those who struggle in Our cause to Our path; Allāh is with those who do good " (Q. 29:69).

The Sharia'h is the foundation of submitting to Allāh and the genuine Path to Allāh. Therefore, one is cautioned to avoid deviating from the ethical commands stemming from the Qur’ān and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . Deviating from the Sharia'h, whether individually or under the auspices of a sufi lineage, would go against the dictates of submitting to Allāh, which is the practice of islām.

In this path one needs a pure heart, since it is the pure heart that can reflect the light of the divine. That is why the purification of the heart plays a central role in an individual’s spiritual journey. As the Holy Prophet    said, there is a polish for everything that takes away the rust and the polish of the heart is dhikr, i.e., the invocation of Allāh. "Truly the person who succeeds purifies it (the heart) and the person who fails corrupts it (the heart)" (Q.91:9-10). …"and call Allāh in remembrance often so that you may prosper"(Q. 8:45).

Let us remember that guidance is only by Allāh. …"For Allāh guides whom Allāh wills to a path that is straight" (Q. 2:213). Allāh promised the Holy Prophet ﷺ  that his religion and book would be protected until the Day of Judgment. "And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allāh (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allāh’s favor on you. You were enemies and Allāh joined your hearts in love, so that by Allāh’s grace, you became brothers. You were on the brink of the pit of fire and Allāh saved you from it. Thus Allāh makes Allāh’s signs clear to you so that you are guided (Q. 3:103). 

May Allāh bless us with hearts that can pray with sincerity and reflect the divine light. May we have eyes whose gaze on this world will remind us of Allāh. I pray to Allāh to bless us with the ability to practice with excellence, the teachings of Islam in our daily life. Ameen.

والسلام و عليكم ورحمة الله و على من اتبع الحق و الهدی و صلی الله علی سیدنا و نبینا محمد و علی اله الطاهرین المعصومین

Shaikh Muḥammad Ma‘sụm Naqshbandī (ra) , Eminent Islamic Scholar from Kurdistan, Iraq and Religious Adviser and Spiritual Guide , Naqshbandiya Foundation for Islamic Education (NFIE) 

Source: Sufi Illuminations: A Journal Devoted to the Study of Islam & Sufism-Vol.4 No.1 Spring 2008, Published by Naqshbandiya Foundation for Islamic Education (NFIE)

Shaykh Muhammad Masum Naqshbandi (ra) with Shaykh Hashim Yusuf al-Rifai (ra) and Imad Gire , President NFIE at International Mawlid al-Nabi ﷺ  Conference, 1998, UIC, Chicago.