Spirituality

An attendee at Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq’s talk on Friday night writes about one of his key takeaways: ❝The obligation of practising on what one knows is not restricted to only those we (or others) may deem ʿulamāʾ. Rather, the …

Imam al-Bukhārī’s  رحمه الله memory was amazing and he was renowned for it. Someone once asked him if there was any medicine available to obtain the kind of memory that he had for memorisation. People thought that perhaps Imam al-Bukhārī …

Allāh told the Prophet ﷺ at the beginning of Prophethood ‘Read by the name of your Lord.’ [Sūrat ul-ʿAlaq]. We look at this verse and think look how much the Qurʾān has emphasised learning and education. It is true. But, …

Fasting curbs our animalistic indulgence and carnality, and enables us to break free of the shackles of bestiality and soar to spirituality.

The exterior teaching of religion is the key to the door to the inner world of spirituality. The interior (spirituality) cannot be achieved without the exterior but the danger is that we stop at the door and do not move …

Apparent knowledge in itself is a weapon. Ilm creates arrogance and without the necessary tools is extremely dangerous. Ilm is only beneficial when it comes accompanied with adab, spirituality and fear of Allāh. Rasūl Allāh ﷺ used to supplicate “O …

Always remember that spirituality can easily be lost – climbing is difficult but falling is easy. Consolidate what you have i.e. fardh and sunnah acts of ibadah and take things slowly, with patience and perseverance.

A reminder from an old post that we naturally deteriorate in spirituality over time and we most strive to arrest that natural decline. http://www.contentsoul.com/2010/08/05/spiritual-deterioration/  

The sahabah were not just concerned with physical, external ritual purity. Their external purification was also reflected in their inner spirit. 

It is sad to see an emphasis on the words of the Qurʾān without any appreciation of the inner reality.

The shell of Dīn is present today but there is a lack of inner spirituality and reality.

Ramadan Day 27: We can get obsessed with halal and haram but we forget about the essence of worship, the core spirituality.

A routine, mechanical performance of salah in reality is not sufficient although it may fulfil the obligation. We also need to consider social etiquettes, and fulfilling the rights of the creation as well as the creator. We can get obsessed …

1. Fasting curbs our animalistic indulgence and carnality, and enables us to break free of the shackles of bestiality and soar to spirituality. 2. The Islamic purpose of fasting is to create taqwa: the soul’s own immune system, which develops …

Imam Nasa’i and others relates a ḥadīth where it is mentioned that Rasūl Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم led Fajr salah. He was reciting the Holy Qur’an and experienced some difficulties in the recitation. After salah he turned to the congregation and …

Just as martial arts is physical training, tazkiyah is spiritual training. Martial arts instructors train and discipline their students in order that they may defend themselves. Tazkiyah under the guidance of a spiritual guide is training in order that we …

وَالْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ By time Indeed man is in a great and constant state of loss [Surah al Asr 103:1-2] We learn from the Qur’an and hadeeth that man is in a constant state of spiritual decline. You …

Ilm ul zaahir (outward knowledge) is appealing for a number of reasons including the fact that such knowledge is tangible and stimulates the mind e.g. learning Arabic, fiqh and tafseer. Ilm ul baatin (inner, spiritual knowledge) does not have the …

Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in the Holy Quran, وَمَنْ جَاهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَاهِدُ لِنَفْسِهِ “And whoever strives, thus he strives only for himself.” [al ʿAnkabūt 29/6] One can never progress on the path of tazkiyah without mujāhadah (striving against one’s nafs …

Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in the Holy Qur’an: أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ Has the time not come for the hearts of those who believe to be affected by Allah’s Reminder. [al Ḥadīd 57/16] In order …