Sh. Abdul Hakim Murad: Understanding Islam Lectures

Peace, one and all…

I wanted to share this excellent lecture series on the key elements of Islam, by Shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad.  They are an excellent, academically sound introduction to the Islamic tradition, its theology, history and scriptural links with Judaism and Christianity.  May they be of benefit, and may all who pass by be blessed.

Part 1 The Five Pillars of Islam

Part 2 Sunnah, Shari`ah, Sectarianism & Jihad

Part 3 Scriptural links: Judaism, Christianity & Islam

Part 4 Muslim-Christian Views of One Another

Part 5 Muslim Theology & Islamic Mysticism 1

Part 6 Muslim Theology & Islamic Mysticism 2

Part 7 The Muslim Influence on Europe and the West 1

Part 8 The Muslim Influence on Europe and the West 2

The Heart is a City

Peace, one and all…

‘The heart is a city which encompasses whatever the Real (may He be praised and exalted) created from the heavenly throne downward, be it large or small, and there are two rulers in this city: one is godly (rahmani), the other is satanic.  The godly ruler is called intellect (aql), his regent is faith and his superintendent is poverty.

On the right flap of the heart there are seven castles.  In charge of each castle the Real (may He be praised and exalted) placed a constable (dizdar) and the names of these constables are known one by one:

The name of the first constable is knowledge.
The name of the second constable is munificence.
The name of the third constable is reserve.
The name of the fourth constable is patience.
The name of the fifth constable is abstinence.
The name of the sixth constable is trepidation.
The name of the seventh constable is good manners.

Each constable has one hundred thousand communities, and each community has one hundred thousand soldiers and there are all protectors of faith’.
(Hz. Haji Bektash Veli, Quddus Allahi sirruhu)

Love is Better than Fear

Peace, one and all…

Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (God sanctify his noble soul) is reported to have said:

‘Love (of God) is better than fear (of Him)’
The Scale of Wisdom, 1324

Wherever We Are Sent

Peace, one and all…

Wherever we are sent,
there do we go
and whatever we are given,
that do we use.

And from all these gifts
we strive to become
fully human beings,
love’s true offspring.

Beloved, You are the lodestone
and love of You the catalyst.
Wherever love sends us,
we shall always be well.

Abdur Rahman, November 15th 2011

Ibn Arabi Symposium 2: James Morris – The Instruments of Divine Mercy

Peace, one and all…

A second offering from the Ibn Arabi Symposium held in Istanbul.  This lecture is by James Morris.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

In Every Waystation in Which you Reside

Peace, one and all…

Imam Zayn al-Abidin (God sanctify his noble soul) writes, in his Treatise on Rights (Risalat al-Huquq):

‘Know – God have mercy upon you – that God has rights against you and that these encompass you in every movement through which you move, every rest through which you rest, every waystation in which you reside, every limb which you employ, and every instrument which you put to work’

The Oil is Acquired from the Olive Tree

Peace, one and all…

‘Know, O seeker of the mysteries of Reality! What is intended by the blessed olive tree is ‘knowledge’, and by the oil thereof, ‘knowledge of God’, which is obtained through the perfection of knowledge, just as the oil is acquired from the olive tree’
(Isma`il Anqarawi, The Lamp of Mysteries, referring to 24:35)

Truly, ‘the beginning of knowledge draws to a close in the art of relationship‘

Words to Lure the Breath of that Sweet One

Peace, one and all…

These sayings of mine are really a prayer to God,
words to lure the breath of that sweet One.
If you seek an answer from God,
how then can you fail to pray?
How can you be silent, knowing He always replies to
your, ‘O Lord?’ with, ‘I am here’.
His answer is silent but you can feel it from head to toe.
Masnavi 2.1189-1191

Centre of the Circle

Peace, one and all…

The heart is the centre of the circle,
that still, silent point
upholder of all this circumference of me.
And within this heart
lies another heart,
and another and another:
heart upon heart,
light upon light;
A series of lenses
reflecting and refracting,
enabling vision,
that thereby we might see the way,
that thereby we might become the way.

Abdur Rahman, 31st January 2012