WHO IS THE LOVE OF MY HEART?

As the weather cools, and the humid heat lifts from the air, it is replaced by this feeling of endless time, which to me means that fall is settling in.

In my residency days it meant I had to drive out to the old part of town where the leaves of the old oak trees were turning to gold, red and orange……….. my favorite colors.

As the pages of my life turn towards the last third of my life, fall has meant preparation of the children going to college and then the anticipation of their coming back at Thanksgiving.

Unlike other Holidays Thanksgiving at our house was always stress less for me, as Paul makes the turkey and the sides have gotten fewer with the passage of time. Images of people I love, times gone by fill my brain as I reminisce who I was and who I am becoming.

IMAGES……..

Thus it was a wrenching experience at my first retreat on Tazkiyah Nafs where the Shaykh said “in order to fill your heart with Allah Subhanawataala, we have to empty it of other images” and he was not referring to idols.

At that time, not understanding the wisdom if it. I was deeply resentful when I heard that. Did he mean that I had to empty my heart of all those I deeply loved? The very thought was obnoxious and unacceptable.

TRUE LOVE…

As I have studied the concept of the “Love of Allah” I realize that you can only have ”one true love”. Now comes the moment of truth: who is that going to be? Is it going to be a human in the form of a lover, a child, a mother or a profession? Or is it going to be The Divine.

NAFS..

As I have studied, experienced and struggled with challenging my Nafs, I have found it to be a strong adversary. Perhaps sometimes even stronger then Shaytaan. Since Shaytaan is a known quantity and is external it is possible to bar its entry into ones life by remaining vigilant.

However the Nafs is such an intrinsic part of us given to us for survival that if I become careless for even a moment, it fattens up and sits on top of my spiritual endeavors and suffocates my spirituality and my heart.

LOOK WHO IS IN YOUR HEART!

The example used by the Shaykh, which floored me, and left me floundering despite my rationalization, as I found myself “guilty”, was as follows:

He said: “ There is a Sahih Hadith of RasoolAllah peace be upon him, as follows: “Angels (carrying the mercy of Allah) do not enter a house that has images of living things or dogs”

He continued: “and if the Angels (with the Mercy of Allah) do not enter a home with images of living things than how can we expect Allah Subhanawataala to enter our hearts if they are filled with images”.

But…………but, but………a thousand rationalizations flash through my mind, but none of them stand up to this scrutiny of evidence.

RAISING THE BAR…….

After all only one in one thousand believers will enter Jannah. This selection process thus raises the bar, and sifts out the weak and the lazy with or without rationalization………..

The question is where do I stand with this? Am I up to this marathon, which is gearing up, with my Nafs?

……………..And where are you?

QURB……………

Qurb is inadequately translated as nearness to Allah, however Qurb has a far more intimate inflection, of being the one who is close to Allah Subhanawataala in many ways and forms.

“Muqarabeen” in the Quran are those who are closest to Allah Subhanawataala.

Qurb is desired, pursued and struggled for by all the Seekers of The Path to Allah, not everyone makes it in their lifetime.

Here is advice for the Seeker of the Path desiring Qurb to Allah………..

Make sure that:

He, Subhanawataala does not find you where He has forbidden you to be
And
He Subhanawataala finds you where He has commanded you to be.

For a beginner like me, my first step is to delineate in my environment what places, people and stimuli qualify for each of the above.

Excerpted from the Retreat on “Tazkiyah Nafs” 2009 with Shaykh Mokhtaar Magroubi

THE TONGUE: AN INSTRUMENT OF DHIKR OR……….

I guess I would now be classified as a retreat veteran and yet when ever I open my notepad with pen poised, what I hear from the Shaykh is never a repetition of before but something new and energizing………

Does this mean that I have come along some, on the path of Tazkiyah? or does it mean that I missed part of what he said last time due to inattention? or my brain and my heart just did not register it as they were not ready to accept this new concept of living?…………..or a possibility that may be true but difficult for me to admit is that my Nafs and my arrogance stood like a wall when some of the things were said?

When I had first started on this path I wondered why I was here at the retreat. What would I learn from a bunch of lectures, early mornings, late nights and patience and prayer that I could not do by myself?

As the time at the retreat unfolded, after the initial discomfort of my body, my heart and mind started to transcend the physical discomfort and dive into the Shaykh’s method of teaching, which he describes as:
“We learn to do” and “We do to learn”
It is only when you have sat for what seems like a very long time between Asar and Maghrib repeating the evening Dhikr that you realize, there is a hyperactive child within you that wants to get up and go………..the hyperactive inattentive child or is it the headstrong brat of my Nafs that want to get it done and be over with it and go out.

It is only when the Nafs is patted down on the head repeatedly, quietened with a consistent discipline and not given attention that it finally calms down. It is then that the first opening occurs in the true connection with Allah Subhanawataala…………..it may last a few seconds, minutes or even longer if you have better control of your Nafs.

Thus it was the “doing” that I practiced and have continued to practice with the morning evening Dhikr after fajr and as often as I could after Asar that finally brought me to a point in this retreat when I actually began to enjoy the Dhikr with the slow passage of light from Asar to Maghrib in the skylights of the musallah.

As the words of Dhikr left my lips and ascended to my Creator, It brought me an intense feeling of being loved and enfolded in a sensation which can be translated into happiness or security…………even though fleetingly.

“Doing, teaches us more than listening to teachings,” said the Shaykh and I am living proof of that. Three retreats ago, I could not fold my feet to sit in Tashahud to do my Dhikr; I changed posture uncountable times in an hour. Overcoming the Nafs in me that pestered me like a hyperactive brat, by “doing” finally got me past the brat.

The morning Dhikr which is my favorite. I guess because it is long and it takes me a little while to get warmed up. This Dhikr comprises of a series of stunningly comprehensive masnoon supplications that engulf the physical, emotional, and personal needs at every level that one can think of. No wonder Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him, did this Dhikr on a regular basis………….

It also is a protective shield from all evil things and obsessive ill thoughts. When I read the translation of the supplications I can recognize why. Hidden in the simple though potent words, are supplications that protect you, bring blessings on you, shower you with spiritual, emotional and physical health and protect you from the arch enemy of our father, Adam (AS) and his progeny.

“Dua or supplication is emphasized as an essential part of being on the Path of the Seeker”

“Thus the Dhikr is………….to beg Allah, to be prayerful in heart, mind, soul and tongue”

“The lack of dua is a sign of “kibr” or arrogance……….says Allah Subhanawataala in the Quran, and recommends the abd (slave) to often be in dua.“

“Prophet Muhammad pbuh had long stretches of quietness…….as he was constantly in Dhikr”

The tongue can either be in idle chatter or in Dhikr…….thus we as Muslims are taught to be reflective of what we say and to say only what is meaningful, true, sincere and beautiful (with ehsaan). Even better is to remain silent and be in Dhikr.

This permission to remain silent has been one of the most stress releasing aspects that I was introduced to at the retreat. I have always been “the mediator” all my life and have taken it upon my self to entertain the wall flower, to be the liaison between two strangers etc etc……….I was happy to learn, though it took quite some time (three retreats☺) before I could actually be happy and not feel guilty, not to talk and be in silent dhikr.

Our voice is an instrument…………we can use it in so many ways……….Allah Subhanawataala  instructs us in the Quran….”shield your voice” or “lower your voice”.
Luqman (AS) advice to his son in the Quran is:
“And be moderate in thy pace, and lower thy voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass.” 031.019 Yusufali’s translation:

The final words of the Shaykh regarding this aspect were “Guard the tongue, it was put behind two prisons (the lips and the teeth) for a reason” It can lash out and say things that cannot be recalled, or say things to fill the sound void and then we become responsible on the Day of Judgment for each word uttered.

Silent Dhikr………………it took me three retreats of “doing” to know what it means and what happens when you actually “do” it!

Excerpts and reflections from the Retreat on Tazkiyah Nafs 09 with Shaykh Mokhtaar Magroubi (Most of the the statements in inverted comma’s are quotes from the Shaykh)

The Adhkaars (Dhikr) after Salah can be found at :http://ibnayyub.wordpress.com/2007/12/29/adhkaar-after-salah-sheikh-haitham-al-haddad/

2009: A REGULAR DIET OF ILM

Here is a plan thanks to the Brother listed at the end of the info courtesy HS:

All the best in your summer endeavors,
on behalf of Fawakih Resource Team

–starts—

LONG TERM PROGRAMS (3-4 weeks) – Domestic

American Learning Institute for Muslims – ALIM
Summer program
Livonia, MI
July 12 – Aug 8
alimprogram. com

Deen Intensive Foundation
Rihla Summer Program
Baltimore, MD
July 17 – Aug 7
deen-intensive. com

Fawakih – (recommended dual program)
Quranic Arabic and studies
Indianapolis, IN
July 9 – Aug 6
fawakih.com

LONG TERM PROGRAMS (3-4 weeks) – International

Reviving the Islamic Spirit – RIS
Sacred Caravan – Umrah program
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
May 6 – May 18
sacredcaravan. com/

The Dowra Program
40 day Islamic studies intensive
July 1 – August 10
Tarim, Yemen
thedowra.com

SunniPath (details available soon)
Shifa Summer Intensive Program
Amman, Jordan
June 20 – Aug 20
daraltawfiq. com

Imam Ghazali institute (check website for updates)
Summer study abroad Intensive
location TBA
dates TBA
imamghazaliinstitut e.org

SHORT TERM PROGRAMS (1-2 weeks) – Domestic

Almaghrib Institute
Various double weekend seminars
All over US
almaghrib.org

DarulHikmah (website currently not working)
Various double weekend seminars
Chicago, IL
darulhikmah. com

Tazkiyah Retreat (stay posted)
Sh. Mokhtar Moughraui
near Albany, NY
jannah.org/retreat/

Fawakih (recommended dual program)
Living the Hadith Program
Herndon, VA
June 19 – July 2
fawakih.com

SHORT TERM PROGRAMS (1-2 weeks) – International

IslamiCity Travel (check website for updates)
Travel Study Program
location TBA
dates TBA
islamicity.com

Umrah 360
Umrah and Islamic Studies
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
June 16 – June 26
umrah360.com

ARABIC PROGRAMS – Domestic

Zaytuna Institute
Arabic intensive
Berkeley, CA
June 22 – Aug 14
arabicintensive. org

DarUlQasim
Summer Arabic Program
Chicago, IL
dates tentative (July – Aug)
darulqasim.org

Bayyinah Arabic Institute (contact for details/updates)
Arabic courses/Summer Intensive
all around US / Texas (possibly)
http://www.bayyinah .com

ARABIC PROGRAMS – International

Al Diwan Center
Arabic Intensive Programs
(a) May or (b)June or (c)July + August
Cairo, Eygpt
aldiwancenter. com

Al Fajr Institute
Arabic Intensive Programs, all 14 levels
(Ibn Aqueel) June 25 – Aug 23, (Sibhawah I) June 25 – July 21, (Sibhawal 2) July 21 – Aug 23
Cairo, Egypt
fajr.com

Qasid Institute
Arabic Program
Amman, Jordan
June 16- Aug 20
qasid.com

Muslim American Society (MAS) (check website for updates)

Youth study abroad program – Arabic
Jul 24 – Aug 26
Cairo, Egypt
masyouth.net

ONLINE CLASSES

Sunnipath Academy (stay posted for summer schedule)
Various summer semester courses
sunnipath.com

Zaytuna Institute (stay posted for summer schedule)
Various Distance learning summer semester courses
zaytuna.org

Arees Institute (stay posted for summer schedule)
Various summer semester e-courses
arees.org

Seekers Guidance (stay posted for summer schedule)
Various downloadable summer semester courses
seekersguidance. com

AlHuda International (pleace check for updates)
Summer Quranic certification
July – Aug
http://www.alhudain stitute.ca/

–ends –

–
“We need spirited, energetic, and strong young people whose hearts are filled with life, enthusiasm, zeal and dynamism; whoe souls are full of ambition, aspiration and vigor and have great goals, rising and aspiring to reach them until the eventually arrive at their destination” – Hassan Al-Banna

Fawaad Iqbal Haider

ENTERING THE CIRCLE OF PEACE…………..STEP ONE AND TWO

From my personal diary………..

Each one of us on this earth is in search of peace, outer and inner. A sense of frustration arises because we find ourselves unable to control external events and the turmoil it creates within us.

Added to the true turmoil in the world around us as well as in the extended world at large is the propagation of lies and the promise of depressing outcomes by people who are the ready vessels for the whisperings of Shaitan.(paraphrased from the Hadith)

Entering the circle of PEACE is a process for which there are certain essential ingredients that need to be collected and certain essential garbage that needs to be gotten rid of.

Each one of us is a unique individual and the personal process of one person may not work for another. This is most evident by the numerous shelves in each bookstore packed with self-help books, none of which work completely.

So we begin with the basic essentials. You and I are individuals with our unique needs, which may not match anyone else, how do I go from here to enter the circle of peace?

The steps for doing thus are as follows:
1.    Making the Intention
2.    Getting rid of the clutter
3.    Reading the instructions
4.    Following the instructions
5.    Finding support in others on this path
6.    Refraining from going back to collecting clutter
7.    Making amends for past mistakes
8.    Traveling
9.    Having a focus in daily life
10.    Saying No to invitations to exit the circle of peace

1.    MAKING THE INTENTION
Look at your current life, are you completely happy with yourself, your surroundings, your work, your personal life and your friends, if you are then you are perhaps already in the circle of peace, and you just need to review 8, 9 and 10.
However if any of the areas mentioned above are unsatisfactory then you need to face yourself in the mirror and make the intention that you are going to deliberately and with istiqamah (steadfastness) endeavor, struggle and do your best to enter the circle of peace and do your utmost to remain within the circle of peace despite outside interference.

Once you have made the intention, then make a supplication to God Almighty that He in his infinite wisdom, place peace in your heart, mind and soul and allow you to live and die in peace.
(Dua of living and dying a Muslim)

2.    GETTING RID OF THE CLUTTER
There are two kinds of clutter:
i)        External clutter
ii)        Internal clutter

i)    EXTERNAL CLUTTER
This is relatively easier once you have made up your mind to clear the garbage and the beautiful boxes it comes in.
The external clutter enters your environment riding in the car of desire, the driver being your Nafs. Thus when you really really want something badly, ask yourself the question “Will I die without it?” if the answer is no, then do not acquire it.
This is not an easy task, thus to reinforce yourself study the following for at least roughly half an hour every day if not more:

If you like to listen: CD series by Mokhtaar Magroubi titled: ‘Diseases of the Heart” available at www.zawiyah.net.
If you like to read: This book by Hamza Yusuf “Purification of the Heart”
If you like the Internet then review Taleem ul Quran (available in English and Urdu) at www.alhudapk.com (audiovisual and then choose Farhat Hashmi for Urdu and Amina Elahe or Hijab Iqbal for English) Start with Sipara 1.

Examine your surroundings: Do you have distracters? Is there any thing that steals your time away from the study of the Quran and the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?These two sources are your guide book and your compass in the search for entering the circle of peace.

INTERNAL CLUTTER:

Is there any thing that steals time away from cleansing your heart of the diseases mentioned above?

Is there anything that pollutes your five senses with anxiety, anger, and emotions of frustration, envy, hatred, avarice, aggression, and predatoryness? If the answer is yes remove its source and delivery system, whether it is books, magazines, journals, articles, Internet email, news, movies, so called friends and acquaintances, colleagues or any other stimulationinciting these emotions.

IMPEDIMENTS
I know at this time you are panicking because that is your whole life, how can you give up everything, remember it is not forever, you are taking out the garbage and once you have entered the circle of peace you can bring back those items back in to your life ,that will help you stay in the circle of peace.

REINFORCEMENTS TO PREVENT RE-ACCUMULATION OF CLUTTER
Meanwhile study the Life of Prophet Muhammad PBUH. He (PBUH) for he too was surrounded by vicious clutter and negative emotions, people and things and he slowly learned to remove these things and people and emotions from within him while he had to continue to live within them physically.

Row hard to enter the circle of peace

TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS & YOUR OLD YEARNINGS
Now since you have freed up a lot of your time by removing  time spent with the news, coffee shops, newspapers, Internet, magazines, journals, surfing the internet, face book, aimless wanderings of the mall, fruitless texting and phone talk, you find yourself in a void, with nothing to do.

This is where you selectively start filling this void with the Dhikr of God Almighty.
Dhikr comes in two categories:
1. Formal Dhikr: such as the five time prayers, thus learn the prayer the way Prophet Muhammad PBUH conducted it, perfect it, memorize it (it sharpens your memory and intellect).

Before entering into these prayers take your time to prepare for wudu, wear clean, well-ironed, crisp clothes that you enjoy wearing for yourself (i.e. not to show others), annoit yourself with perfume if you like it as you have an appointment with your creator and empty your head of all obligations.

Perform the salaat over as extended a period as you can. If you only know one surah repeat it many many times in iqamah and the same for the ruku and sajdah, do long sajdahs, as that is when we are closest to God Almighty.

Learn and finesse the five prayers and learn a new surah every day or every few days if you are slow like me. Memorize its meaning and repeat it in every prayer.

2. Informal Dhikr or Dhikr on the go:
When the desire to indulge in the raucous aspects of the Internet, TV or radio, touches you, repeat the simple dhikr of “Astigfirullah” or “Subhanallahe wabehamdeh” which translates as “How perfect God is and I praise Him”

WHY DO ALL THIS?
TO ENTER THE CIRCLE OF PEAC E ………….everyone wants it, everyone yearns for it, everyone does not get it, ……..All these action points may sound superfluous and simplistic and those of you from Pakistan and other Muslim countries these acts may remind you of the uneducated class, but take it from me it will open a path in front of you towards the circle of peace………..such that you will be amazed at the happiness it will bring you. Keep doing it till the negative feelings go away and the path towards the circle of Peace is lighted with your Dhikr.

When ever you find yourself extending your hand to buy yet another glossy magazine, your feet move towards the mall to kill some time, or your fingers go to surf mindless websites on the internet, remind yourself that it is nothing bu clutter in your home, your heart and your mind and will fill your senses with unwanted clutter, and deviate you and distract you from your intended goal of entering the circle of peace.

STUMBLING AND CATCHING YOURSELF….
Sometimes you will feel despondent and may have the perception that you are not making progress and you may even yearn for the raucous movies, sad or joyous songs, and old friends with whom you killed time, but remember this too shall pass. Repeat the Dhikr with meaning and feeling till the feeling of despondency goes away.

Once you have entered the circle of peace, you have clarity of vision, a clean heart and you will be able to choose what you have found to be beneficial and bring it into the circle of peace with you and it will be worth the wait and the peaceful home you will bring it into…………..

To be continued………..

WHAT YOU SEEK IS STILL AHEAD…………..

THE HIKAM #20
Whenever the yearning Seeker attempts to stop at what has been revealed to him, then he is called by the voices of Truth: “What you seek is still ahead of you” and hardly do the external aspects of created beings display their charms than the voices of their inner realities call out” we are only a trial, so do not deny (The truth) (2:102)

Commentary by Sheikh Fadlhlalla Haeri:
The serious seeker may be distracted by insights and openings. Allah’s call is for the total and utter dedication to His Absolute Light and not to any secondary reflections. If you dedicatedly and relentlessly seek the Truth then you will be lead to full unveiling. Otherwise your are caught in constant creational conflicts and afflictions due to subtle shirk and other veils.

Commentary by Sheikh Mokhtar Magroubi:

Courtesy MS

DO WE COME WITH USER INSTRUCTIONS…?

GUEST ARTICLE:
SEVEN WAYS TO GUARD THE SELF
(Taken for Sheikh Mokhtar Magroubi’ s talk on this subject)
Allah SWT created us to only one purpose to fulfill Ubboodyia (Submission with worship) to Him.

He has designed a course for us via Rasool Allah and that is Tazkiyah Nafs and Akhlaaq.
A mission of elevating the Nafs to be polished, cleansed and beautified to the extent to be reflected in the Qalb as Qalb e Saleem, and Qalb Mutmaina (in balance) thus being able to enjoy the presence of the Divine in the Hereafter

What is the nature of the Human Psyche (Nafs/Self) according to Islamic Psychology?

1.    Bahemi or cow like Nafs
2.    Shaytaani or Satan like Nafs
3.     Predatory like a predatory animal
4.     Malaiki or Angel, with the spirituality that connects to Allah.

HOW IS OUR AKHLAAQ DETERMINED?
Our Akhlaaq is defined by which characteristic of our Nafs do we develop most.

WHAT HAPPENS & HOW?
When the Nafs is given what it wants and allowed to immerse itself in Shahwaat then it obscures our rational and intellectual abilities.
Our judgment of truthfulness and righteousness are affected.
When the Nafs is in the state of Shahwaat and the Qalb (the Heart) is in the state of ailment then the heart mirrors that state. If the Qalb is in that perturbed state, the mirror of the Qalb reflects a disturbed image.

Allah Swt  says, “I am sufficient for my ebad”

By cultivating the lower three states of our Nafs we invite Shaytaan into ourself and this is where the Ikhlaaq comes in and is reflected in our manners.

THE GATES TO OUR HEART
The gate that shyataan uses to break into our Qalb is via our Nafs.

Those gates have keys. And those keys are our senses:
1.    Our sight
2.    Our hearing
3.    Our tongues
4.    Our stomach
5.    Our sexual organs
6.    Our hands
7.    Our legs

These keys we must hold, or we can make them available to shaitaan

WHAT IS GRATEFULNESS TO OUR CREATOR AND HOW DO WE DEMONSTRATE IT?
Definations (Shariah)
Every time we use a naimah (blessing) of Allah (anything that we like is Naimah) in a manner that was not intended by the Giver (Allah SWT) of that naimah then we are in a state of ungratefulness or kufraan e naimah (to conceal and hide the goods that the Generous one gave me)

SELF EVALUATION OF HOW I USE MY BLESSINGS:

1.   Eyesight, every time I use my eyesight to look at Haraam, e.g. gender relationships. Allah did not make it in the manner that I am using it and if I do then I am being ungrateful and disrespectful to the most giving, most generous, and most kind, most compassionate and loving God. What am I reading, what pictures am I looking at, what television programs am I looking at? If it does not fulfill the purpose of uboodiya then I am being ungrateful.

2.    Hearing; what sounds do I hear, do I listen to the sounds of Dhikr in nature, or do I listen to sounds and words that do not fulfill uboodiya of Allah SWT. How am I using my ears, do I watch talk shows filled with lies and ridicule of others or am I using my ears to listen to ilm, of Allah SWT which will instill love of Allah in my heart.

3.    How am I using my tongue? It suffices that RasoolAllah PBUH never spoke a word out of the lower state of the Nafs.

Hadith: O Muadh …………………..(something missing here)  The looseness of the tongue causes people to be dragged on their faces into the Fire of Hell. Quran: “Every word uttered” says Allah SWT “is recorded”

Yet what is the naimah most by us? The tongue. A scholar said: Allah SWT created two gates before we get to the tongue: the teeth and the lips.  A sahabi said: Do justice to your ears; you were giving two eras, one tongue. ” My tongue is like a scorpion, if I let it loose it will begin by biting me. Every word I utter is a poisonous sting, which I will have to account for on the Day of Judgment.”

A sage advice:” When you have an urge to speak, keep quiet, when you have the urge to keep quiet, you can speak“

RasoolAllah would have prolonged intervals of silence and when he spoke he spoke gems, diamonds and pearls.

Hadith: whosoever has emaan in Allah and the Day of Judgment let him or her keep quiet, or speaks words of truth or khair (Khair means: beneficial: it is relative to morality: any activity that helps me in my journey to Uboodiyah to Allah Zojal).

When shaitaan enters the heart through the tongue: backbiting, conspiring with words, ridiculing people, lying, Namimah, (in talk shows people are paid millions of dollars to lie and ridicule others). The Nafs in the lower state feeds the desire for talking and talking.

4.   The stomach: The more we eat, and desire different types of food; it weakens us and encourages the lower nafs. The worse of the vessels to be filled is the stomach. Rasool Allah PBUH Khulooq of eating: a third a third and a third. (halal solids, halal liquid, and air). A person eats once everyday is a habit of those very close to Allah.  If we eat the level of the lowest nafs bahemi then we are constantly eating.

5.  Our Sexual Organs: We have freedom of sexual activity, prostitution is legalized. Cattle like behavior. Hadith: Even if they were to enter the hall of the desert…………there are steps of levels before we get to sexual violence and disobey Allah SWT. The decrease in modesty is gradual until the lower Nafs takes a grip of the human being and interprets it as ok. The precursors to that are how we dress, how we talk. (Nakedness in school locker rooms at a stage when sexuality is developing) The elements that lead most people to jahannam are what are between their jaws and between their legs. Those who guarantee to guard these two I guarantee them jannah.

6.   My hands, how do I use them? DO I use them to harm the naimah of jannah, do I use them to harm others, to kill others and destroy Allahs naimahs

7.    My legs, how do I use them as to where I go? Do I go to places where there is disobedience to Allah, thus allowing the gates of my heart to be opened to the development of the lower nafs and subjugating the higher or angelic nafs.

Do we use these seven keys that are given to us as gifts from Allah Subhanwataala by following His instruction?

Dua/Supplication; May Allah SWT shield us from the weakness of the self and help us conquer our nafs and arrive home to jannah.

WHAT IS OBSCURING THE MIND?
When the heart is encased in darkness by repeated disobediences of Allah and the lower Nafs is ruling it through the feeding of its base desires, then the lower Nafs turns the direction of the heart away from the path of happiness in seeking the love of Allah through Uboodiya.

In doing so it fools the intellectual processes of the brain to become servants of the lower nafs. Thus the intellectual mind then interprets scenarios based on the direction given by the lower nafs, rather than being ruled by the crystal clear guidance of a righteous heart moving in the direction toward the path of happiness towards Allah SWT.

Photos courtesy of flickr: islam

WHAT IS TAQWA?

Courtesy of HY notes from Sheikh Mokhtaar Magroubi’s lecture on Taqwa

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم

TAQWA تقوى

تقوى Taqwa is when one protects oneself from Allahu, Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala’s Wrath (غضب),  and His Punishment (عذاب) and
His Displeasure.

When one truly loves Allahu Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala, fearing that He would be displeased is enough to induce consciousness of His commandments and prohibitions – This is Taqwa !

تقوى  is the Shield of Good deeds that one places between oneself and Allahu, Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala’s punishment.

Taqwa is mentioned 258 times in the Holy Qur’an and this emphasizes the priority given by Allahu, Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala to it.

Meaning of تقوى   linguistically ( لغة ) : تقوى   is derived from the verb وقى  which means to shield / protect from something.
Meaning of Taqwa تقوى with regards to the Deen (شرعا ) : تقوى   is to put a shield between oneself and the displeasure / wrath / punishment of Allahu, Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala.

HAVE YOU EVER LISTENED TO YOUR HEART?

lake shore

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

We are in the retreat on Tazkiyah Nafs in the mountains………..

The log cabin on the lake is buzzing with semi-hushed activity awaiting the Sheikh. He enters and the door closes, silencing all the sounds of nature.

He says…..”Close your eyes……..and try to listen,”

I do close my eyes and at first I do not hear anything other than the rustling of paper and the movement of people as they get comfortable in their chairs and then………… as silence falls, and the inner clattering of my body quietens, the walls of the cabin melt and I hear it as if I am sitting right next to it……

The soft lapping of the lake water gently touching the rocks at the shore, kissing them and then retreating, and then doing it again. I am spellbound……I had never heard the steady sound of water lapping on the rocks on the shore in all these days through the closed door. Why not? And why now?

An inner light shines: The sounds of my heart are like the gentle sounds of water meeting the shore, they cannot be heard in the noise and hubbub of everyday life. We fill our days and nights with noise even when we are alone. With the background of ambient noise we cover what our heart is saying to us gently, softly and graciously.

It is only when I am silent in relative Khalwah far away from everything familiar, and have “nothing to do” except dhikr, is when the windows of my heart open wide and I can hear the sounds of my heart!

Itikaaf is that type of a Khalwah that was practiced by RasoolAllah Peace and blessings be upon him.

It is wherein one forgoes all worldly schedules, commitments, and distractions and shelters himself or herself in the House of God.
By creating a shield of Dhikr all external sounds are hushed, except those of my heart………..it is then that I can listen to my heart.

Having released my heart from the prison and accumulated grime of dunya I must then slowly and arduously learn to polish its seeing eye to guide me to the Siraat e Mustaqeem.

This post dedicated to my friends who helped me with my Itikaaf in the Haraam last year.

SUPPLICATION

A person who is deprived from the tawfeeq of Dua (supplication) will be deprived from being given.

Be often in supplication and dua!

(Quote taken from the Retreat on Tazkiyah Nafs  08 by Sheikh Mokhtar Magroubi)