Guidance is an important concept in our religion and it is mentioned in the Quran. But what comes first, is it faith or guidance? This is very important to understand. - aboutislam.net
Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Be Positive in Your Life – It’s Sunnah
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
Strive for what benefits you and rely on God, and do not give up. If something befalls you, do not say: ‘If I had only done such and such.’ Instead say: ‘It is as God decreed and He does what He pleases’. (Muslim)
When Prophet Muhammad said: “Strive for what benefits you…” he was encouraging us to hasten in seizing the positive opportunities that come our way.
When he added: “… and rely on God…”, he was showing us that we should draw upon our faith in order to strengthen ourselves in our efforts.
This is why the Prophet Muhammad did not stop there. He continued by saying: “… and do not give up.”
How can anyone give up on the fuel of one’s spirit and the embers of one’s faith?
Finally, he concluded by saying:
If something befalls you, do not say: ‘If I had only done such and such.’ Instead say: ‘It is as God decreed and He does what He pleases’.
Faith is not blind, nor is it a form of resignation and a denial of our great human potential. It does not mean we should spend our time lamenting in the ruins of the past and reject change.
Instead, faith is our certainty that good is wherever God places it, and that every day you bring forth a new dream, a new hope, and a new success.
Be Optimistic
A young man once asked me about a book entitled The Secret by Australian author Rhonda Byrne. His question compelled me to buy it and read it. I took it with me and read it on some of my travels.
It presents the idea that we must encourage ourselves to be optimistic, positive, and believe that what we want can happen; indeed that it will be reality as soon as we utter it, believe it in our hearts, and rid ourselves of our pessimistic thoughts.
Positive people have to focus their minds and thinking on what they want and what must be, instead of on what they fear and detest.
This idea reminded me of something that Ibn al-Qayyim said:
“If a servant relies on God as He ought to be relied upon regarding moving a mountain off its base, then if that person is required to move a mountain, he will do so.”
I found that the basic idea of The Secret is one that we need to instill in ourselves, without dissipating its spirit by debating its finer details.
This is because the book’s basic idea is in reality one of the prime motivators for productive work and fortitude.
She says hundreds of things in her book trying to explain the detailed implications and patterns of her ideas, but they really introduce only two or three new concepts.
One of these concepts is reflected in something Prophet Muhammad quotes his Lord as saying:
I am as my servant thinks of Me, so think of Me how you wish.
In some narrations, it continues:
If he thinks well of Me, it is for his benefit, and if he thinks ill of Me, it is to his detriment.
The expectations being referred to here pertain to this world as well the Hereafter. Good thoughts lead to good actions and good expectations lead to productive work.
When we want to take hold of a new idea, we do not want to undermine it by over-thinking it, dissecting it, and qualifying it with exceptions.
If we do that, it will sputter away and die. Once the idea is firmly in mind, it becomes easier to modify it and improve upon it.
Think Well of God
The second new idea she introduces is expressed in the hadith where the Prophet said:
When you beseech God, you should be certain that He will answer. (At-Tirmidhi)
What this means is that when we call upon God in prayer, we should know in our hearts that He will answer us.
We should not supplicate with an attitude of experimentation or with feelings of doubt and skepticism.
`Umar used to say: “I do not worry about my prayers being answered, but about what I am going to pray for, because if I pray for something, its answer comes with it.”
These are among `Umar’s many inspired words. He is not only referring to deciding what to say in his supplications, which is in itself a good and blessed concern; he is speaking about something more profound: the need for our hearts and minds to have full trust in God and His promise.
God says:
Call upon me; I will answer you. (Quran 40:60)
And He says:
Who is it that answers the one in need when he calls out? (Quran 27:62)
And He says:
When my servant asks you about me, I am near. I answer the supplications of those who beseech me. (Quran 2:186)
Avoid Pessimism
Dark thoughts are enough to hurl us into dark places, as dank and stifling as we can imagine. It is as is we are hastening on death with our pessimistic thoughts.
It is no surprise that pessimistic people in their psychological isolation, often appeal for death to hasten itself, and they lash out those who prevent them from attaining the only “relief” they can see in their lives.
The Prophet was once asked:
“Who are the best people?”
He replied:
Those who live long and do the best deeds. (At-Tirmidhi)
He also said:
None of you should ever wish for death. Never pray for it before it comes to you of its own accord. When you die, your deeds come to an end, and a believer’s life is never prolonged except for good. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Life is a blessing which God bestows upon the living. It was the Prophet’s habit that when he woke up, he would thank God and say:
Praise be to God who revived us after causing us to die and to Him is the final gathering. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet’s guidance is not just a provision for the next life, but for this one as well.
- aboutislam.net
Monday, 28 April 2025
A Blessed Life and a Continuous Impact
In his well-known book, Al-Hikam (Words of Wisdom), sheikh Ahmad ibn `Ataa’illah as-Sakandari says:
How often has a long life brought about so little, and how often has a short life brought about so much. If someone’s life is blessed, he will attain, in a short time, bounties from Allah that cannot be expressed in words or comprehended in descriptions.
In Islamic terminology, especially in Sufism, there is a lot of attention given to what is called barakah (blessing). Blessing is defined as the divine good displayed in something.
When we invoke Allah’s blessing in something, this means that we would have favorable results due to the divine blessing.
The Sheikh says in this word of wisdom:
‘How often has a long life brought about so little, and how often has a short life brought about so much.’
He wants to say that someone may live for so many years but there is no blessing in his life, and that some other person may live for a short time but there is much blessing and great good in his life.
Then, the Sheikh says:
‘If someone’s life is blessed, he will attain, in a short time, bounties from Allah that cannot be expressed in words or comprehended in descriptions’.
This means that you cannot count Allah’s bounties in a blessed life even if it were to be short.We have a good example in Prophet Muhammad’s life. During the twenty years which he lived after receiving Allah’s revelation, he conveyed Allah’s message to the world at his time, and he changed the course of human history until the Day of Judgment.
Great Examples
The Prophet’s life was a blessed life which brought about much good and success to all people of all ages in all aspects of life.
Some of the Prophet’s companions died at the age of thirty or forty, but they contributed greatly to the faith. Mus`ab ibn `Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him), for example, died when in his twenties, but he served the cause of da`wah (the call for the faith) in Madina before the Prophet’s immigration. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) governed for three years only, but he founded a strong state and protected Islam against its many enemies at that time.
Many imams and scholars, such as, Shafi`i, abu Hamid al-Gazali, ibn al-Qayyim, died in their fifties. Yet, they left behind dozens of influential books and thousands of students. Today, after many centuries of their passing away, their knowledge and wisdom still benefits millions of people every day.
Seizing Barakah Opportunities
Because Allah knows that we are far behind those great people, He placed His blessings (barakah) in certain times and places. For example, Allah filled the Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qdar) with infinite blessings:
{We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand; Peace! This until the rise of morn!.} ( Al-Qadr 97)
Worshipping Allah in this night is better than worshipping Him for a thousand months other than this night.
Allah also made Friday a blessed day. The hour before the dawn is a blessed hour. The early hours of the day are blessed by Allah. If you get up early, everything you do will be blessed, be it work, worship, sport, or anything.
Allah has also chosen some places to be more blessed than others. Allah says:
{Limitless in His glory is He who transported His servant by night from the Inviolable House of Worship at Mecca to the Remote House of Worship at Jerusalem – the environs of which We had blessed.} (Al-Israa’ 17:1)
{Behold, the first house ever set up for mankind was indeed the one at Bakkah [Mecca]: rich in blessing, and a source of guidance unto all the worlds}. (Aal `Imran 3:96)
These places have been blessed by Allah in a special way.
There is abundant blessing (barakah) in sincerity. When something is done with pure sincerely for Allah, it will certainly be blessed. A sincere life is a blessed life, which cannot be expressed in words or comprehended in descriptions.
- aboutislam.net
Sunday, 27 April 2025
Turn Your Regrets into Positive Energy
Hala has huge regrets when it comes to how she treated her parents in the past. ”It’s not like I was mean to them,” she tells me, the tears rolling down her face.
”It’s that now that they’re both gone, I feel like there is so much more I could have done for them – so much time I wasted away from them.”
When I ask for clarification, she mentions how she left them to go to school far from home (even though she didn’t even end up using the degree she worked hard to achieve – another regret).
Then when she got married, the work she put in to help her husband’s business grow consumed her to the point of exhaustion.
“I had little time off, and I couldn’t visit them except for a few times over the ten years before they passed. Then my father died and we brought my mother to live with us. But, even though she lived in the same house for almost a year, she was just there, you know? We were planning a family vacation, but she got sick before it and things got worse from there.”
Almost everyone’s suffered the pain of regret on some level.
A job you should have taken. A marriage proposal that you could have considered. A career path you would have followed, and other related decisions.
But when regrets start eating us up alive – making us wallow in guilt and depression – measures need to be taken.
Regrets don’t have to paralyze us.
They shouldn’t be something that bring us grief – but rather, regrets, when harnessed in the right way can make our lives better, help our well-being, and be a source of good works, InshaAllah.
How?
Try these three steps to turn your regrets from missed opportunities into reawakened purpose-filled ones:
Stop Stewing
Hala kept on thinking of her regrets when it came to time wasted away from her parents. So much so that she was actually wasting the moments she had now.
The thoughts were obsessive in nature, and she was allowing them to stew in her mind.
And you know how stews get darker the longer they simmer on the heat?
Oftentimes, the things that we allow to loop around in our brains are there so that we can avoid taking action on them.
It’s definitely not a problem to solve. Recognizing this is the first step in transforming your regrets.
Know Your Compensation Strategy
Find a way to make up for what has happened in the past with what you can do now to compensate for it.
Maybe you wished you had finished a higher degree or studied the Qur’an in depth.
Is it too late to enroll for next semester? Or perhaps there is a Qur’an teacher in your area who can mentor you?
Hala is already starting to practice this step. ”I made `Umrah for my father last year,” she says, brushing the tears away. “Maybe I’ll do Hajj for my mother this year.”
And your plan doesn’t have to involve large steps, but smaller ones that make you feel like you’re reversing regret’s pull on you will build your confience and ensure success in the long run, InshaAllah.
Just make sure to have a back-up plan strategized, one that requires action, rather than thinking.
We think too much. So, now, what are you going to DO about it?
Practice This Prophetic Protocol
In Release Your Inner Queen of Sheba, I base an entire protocol on the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in which he says,
“Wondrous are the affairs of the believer, for him there is good in all his affairs. When something pleasing happens to him, he is grateful and that is good for him. And when something displeasing happens to him he is patient, and that is good for him.”
It is the art of reframing.
In coming to terms with a regret that you may have, you should try to make peace with what happened.
Understand that it was the will of Allah, and that as He is the Most Forgiving, you too can practice some self-forgiveness – and move forward.
The fact is that we are resilient as humans, and the more we seek (and work) to turn our regrets into catalysts, the more productive our lives will be, Insha’Allah.
***
- aboutislam.net
Saturday, 26 April 2025
3 Forms of Dhikr That Will Benefit You Through Thick and Thin
Best Type of Dhikr
Let me first confirm that the two phrases you are asking about are the frequently recited type of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) that Muslims say every day.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Purity is half of faith. ‘Al-hamdu lillah (all praise and gratitude belong to Allah)’ fills the scales, and ‘subhan-Allah (how far is Allah from every imperfection) and ‘Al-hamdulillah (all praise and gratitude belong to Allah)’ fill that which is between heaven and earth.” (Muslim)
Meaning of Subhan Allah
With regard to the meaning of Subhan Allah, the word tasbih in Arabic includes many meanings such as negation, amazement, exaltation, majestic, etc.
Negation
The meaning of negation is reflected in these verses:
*{Allah has not taken any son, nor has there ever been with Him any deity. [If there had been], then each deity would have taken what it created, and some of them would have sought to overcome others. Exalted is Allah above what they describe [concerning Him]. }* (Quran 23:91)
*{And they have claimed between Him and the jinn a lineage, but the jinn have already known that they [who made such claims] will be brought to [punishment].
Exalted is Allah above what they describe.}* (Quran 37:158-159)
The word Subhana Allah negates what has been falsely attributed to Allah in terms of taking any son or taking any other deity beside Him.
Amazement
The meaning of amazement is reflected in this verse,
Exalted is He who created all pairs – from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know. (Quran 36:36)
When a Muslim says Subhana Allah, he declares that his heart and mind are far removed from thinking that there is any shortcoming in Allah, or attributing any evil to Him, and declaring Him to be far above any fault that is attributed to Him.
Imam Ahmad reported that:
“When the Prophet came to a verse which spoke of Allah being above any fault or defect, he said Subhan Allah.”
Ibn Abbas is reported to have said:
“Subhan Allah means declaring Allah to be above every bad thing.”
There is no contradiction between the two meanings mentioned in your question. Therefore, it is not a matter of which meanings to be preferred over the other.
The Meaning of Al-Hamdullilah
The simple and common meaning of Al-Hamdullilah is all praise and thanks belong to Allah the Almighty alone. Muslims say Al-Hamdullilah because Allah is the originator of everything, He is the Creator, the Giver, the Provider, the Sustainer, etc.
Al-Hamdullilah is simply is translated as ‘Praise be to Allah’.
Al-Hamdullilah is an expression of gratitude to Allah for the things He gave, still gives and will continue to give.
Al-Hamdullilah is a combination of appreciation and thank.
Health Benefits of Dhikr
Scientists say that when we see something exciting, our adrenal cortex is stimulated. Followed by an increase in our blood sugar. This, in turn, stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin into the blood to lower the sugar level, causing us to then feel tired or weak.
Based on this, we are recommended by the Prophet to say Al-Hamdullilah ” for what we have; and, “Subhana Allah” when we see something exciting or amazing.
The Opening Chapter of Al-Fatihah starts with the phrase of Al-hamdullilah. So every Muslim recites this phrase every single rak`ah (unit of prayer) that Muslims offer throughout the day which is a total of 17 times in obligatory prayer only.
Also after each prayer, the Prophet recommends that we recite Subhana Allah 33 times, Al-Hamdullilah 33 times, and Allahu Akbar 33 times.
The Prophet said:
“He who recites after every prayer: Subhan-Allah (Allah is free from imperfection) thirty-three times; Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah) thirty-three times; Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest) thirty-three times; and completes the hundred with: La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shai’in Qadir (there is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner with Him. His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent), will have all his sins pardoned even if they may be as large as the foam on the surface of the sea.” (Muslim)
The Meaning of the Word ‘Ilah’
The literal meaning of the word Allah is the only entity in existence Who truly possesses the qualities of divinity and lordship.
The name Allah belongs only to Allah, no other one can be called Allah.
The deeper meanings of the word Allah include the following:
Allah is the only One whom all creations praise and glorify.
Allah is the Provider, the Sustainer, the All-Knowing, the All-Hearing, the Ever Merciful and the Most Merciful.
Allah is the First before Him there was nothing.
Allah is the Last after Him there will be nothing.
Allah is the Manifest above Him there is nothing.
Allah is the Hidden below Him there is nothing.
Allah is the Only God on Him we put our trust.
Allah loves those who obey Him and promised them great rewards in the Hereafter.
- aboutislam.net
Friday, 25 April 2025
The Virtues of Friday
There are many virtues that you can get from Friday, because it is the best day of the week for Muslims around the world. Check out the virtues in this short, inspiring video! - aboutislam.net
Thursday, 24 April 2025
Islam is Not Just Rituals: Love is at its Core
Islam consists of three main layers.
Unfortunately, many Muslims focus on, or adhere to, only one or two of these layers.
Some think that Islam consists in believing in God and his Prophet, five daily prayers, fasting the month of Ramadan, paying poor due, and Pilgrimage if one can afford it.
These are the five Pillars of Islam, without which there is no Islam. Yet this is only the first layer! The Pillars go hand in hand with the six Articles of Faith – or the second layer.
What many may not be conscious of is the third layer which is called Ihsan. It is through this layer that a believer would truly experience the essence of Islam.
This level cannot be achieved without the first two levels. Yet, when we neglect this layer, one may feel lost or disoriented about the true purpose of life and their relationship with Allah. In such state, the true essence of “love” also gets distorted.
So, What is Ihsan?
Here is a very interesting story from the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Umar ibn al-Khattab said:
“One day when we were with God’s messenger, a man with very white clothing and very black hair came up to us. No mark of travel was visible on him, and none of us recognized him. Sitting down before the Prophet, leaning his knees against his, and placing his hands on his thighs, he said, “Tell me, Muhammad, about submission.”
He replied, ‘Submission means that you should bear witness that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is God’s messenger, that you should perform the ritual prayer, pay the alms tax, fast during Ramadan, and make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to go there.”
The man said, “You have spoken the truth.” We were surprised at his questioning him and then declaring that he had spoken the truth. He said “Now tell me about faith.” He replied, “Faith means that you have faith in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and that you have faith in the measuring out, both its good and its evil.”
Remarking that he had spoken the truth, he then said, “Now tell me about doing what is Ihsan.” He replied, “Ihsan means that you should worship God as if you see Him, for even if you do not see Him, He sees you.” Then the man said, “Tell me about the Hour” The Prophet replied, “About that he who is questioned knows no more than the questioner.”
The man said, “Then tell me about its marks.” He said, “The slave girl will give birth to her mistress, and you will see the barefoot, the naked, the destitute, and the shepherds vying with each other in building.” Then the man went away. After I had waited for a long time, the Prophet said to me:
“Do you know who the questioner was, ‘Umar?”
I replied, “God and His messenger know best.”
He said, “He was Gabriel. He came to teach you your religion.” (Al-Bukhari, 300)
From this narration, many scholars have concluded that Ihsan is the inner most spiritual part of Islam.
We find in Prophetic narrations and the Quran to often refer to those embodying these three stages as Muslim, Mu’min and Muhsin.
Love is Islam’s Inner Dimension
Is it possible for anyone to achieve true love for others and the self before loving the Creator first?
You may say yes, and go on to say that even atheists can feel a deep love for others and even themselves.
That is true, but worldly love is at the mercy of a person’s emotions, state of mind and circumstances. But when one loves the Creator above all else, and reaches the level of Ihsan, all other surface love melt into this eternal love which is manifestation of Divine presence in the soul of the believer.
Love in a worldly sense is the product of the mind. Yet love in a spiritual sense is the product of the soul.
Here comes the role of religion which fills a purpose beyond its apparent form, with creeds, rituals and physical acts. But one with a deep inner wisdom will see religion as a house with inner dimension which is its soul.
Love – Western Style
Searching for Western interpretation of “love,” I came across a few interesting quotes:
“Love knows no reason, no boundaries, no distance. It has a sole intention of bringing people together to a time called forever.”
“When you have a good heart: You help too much. You trust too much. You give too much. You love too much. And it always seems you hurt the most.”
“Love is true when nothing needs to be said, and when nothing needs to be done.”
“True love is like a ghost, always talked about but rarely seen.”
“True love knows no boundaries even though it crosses many.”
Love – Islamic Style
In Islam, true love has to penetrate the soul. The only way to get there is through reaching the inner dimension of Islam. It is in this state that a deep manifestation of love radiates from the entire being by which all others are blessed. This was the state of the Prophets and those near to God.
Can we achieve such state?
The answer is a definite yes, but with some deeper reflections and practices.
Body without a soul is dead. Yet, a soul without deep love and awareness of the Creator serves only as a conduit between this world and the next for its owner but without purpose. So, a believer strives for the state of Ihsan.
The state of Ihsan is a state of immense awareness of the divine presence of Allah Almighty. It is the state of consciousness. It’s an awakened state and this is the actual goal of Islam.
But one cannot attain this without knowledge and adherence to the first two states. The best time to practice reaching this state is during the daily prayers as well as during dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
With time, practice and steadfastness, we move from the state of being a Muslim (accepting and practicing Islam), to a Mu’min (a believer) and lastly to a Muhsin (the ever aware of Allah’s presence).
The Prophet Muhammad said that there’s a piece of flesh within the body. If it’s good, the entire system will be good, and that is the heart.
We can thus see that the heart, which most people consider to be the abode of love and compassion, is the seat of the religion of Islam. Purification of the heart is very closely related to purification of the soul. The heart we are speaking of here is the spiritual heart which is closely connected to the spiritual soul.
The spiritual heart and soul are nourished through the remembrance of Allah.
{Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.} (13:28)
We strive to reach this deeper stage first with the body, then mind and ultimately with the heart/soul. This is really the essence of Islam. The mind is transcended from a lower base to a much higher state of being where it is in harmony with the soul. This is the transcended mind.
It is important we realize that labeling ourselves as Muslims and followers of Muhammad, merely gives us an outer identity. Yet what makes us special is our sincerity in pursuit of truth, love for others and eagerness to be bearer of Divine love and light.
A Re-Awakening Story
A Muslim sister once told me that before she embraced Islam, she looked for an identity and a safe community to belong to. She liked what she saw with the Muslim community. “I got what I wanted,” she said.
Soon she realized that she needed deeper experience of Islam over and above her new identity. Allah guided her to all three dimensions of Islam due to her zest to go beyond the surface of Islam. She went for the depth of Islam. “I wished to go beyond form,” she said.
Today, she is a great manifestation of love, light and guidance for those around her. She has gained knowledge of Islam while she reached out to the more spiritual inner core.
“I feel like a winner. I looked for knowledge and practice that pointed toward Allah and I got immersed with love in return!”
Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Spirituality in Islam – How is it Different from Other Faiths?
Google, in 0.49 seconds, describes “spirituality /spiriCHo͞oˈalədē/ (noun) [as] the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.”
All faiths have some form of spirituality.
After all, identifying that we are more than a tangible, material existence—that we have a spiritual reality—is perhaps the basis of most faiths.
But an intangible, spiritual existence and spirituality is a complex topic to discuss especially since we live in a world obsessed with the material.
In an attempt to understand spirituality better, it might be helpful to take a look at what spirituality means in different faiths.
Spirituality in Islam
Dina Mohammad Basiony writes:
“Spirituality in Islam is more than just a feeling. It is true knowledge of The Source of the Spirit, sincere pursuit of Him, persistent connection with Him and commitment to loving Him and remaining on His path until The Day we meet Him.
So, it is a life journey of growth, sincerity, and commitment to The Creator (The Source of the spirit), not a fleeting moment of excitement or spiritual boost.”
Worship in Islam is that pursuit of spiritual health and growth beyond the material existence.
God, knowing how important this is to our spiritual health and also knowing how distracted by the material world we can get (He’s the Creator and All-Knowing after all), has directed us to the five pillars of religion to refocus our lives, our energies, and our love toward Him.
God gives us physical actions to grow spiritually, to find peace, and contentment with God, ourselves, and the rest of God’s creation.
Five times a day, Muslims leave what they are doing to reconnect with God in prayer.
Once a year, for a month, Muslims leave food, drink, and intimacy with spouses during daylight to feed and quench the thirst of the soul, to redirect their focus to connecting with God.
Twice a year, Muslims part with a portion of their wealth to those in need, to remind them that their love of God should be greater than their love of anything else.
At least once in their lifetime, Muslims leave their home and all they know and love to travel to the very first structure dedicated in the worship of God, to remind them that their ultimate attachment should be to their Source, The Everlasting.
But that doesn’t mean seeking God and knowing Him is limited to times of prayer or fasting, etc.
Every action one takes can be an act of worship if it is done in accordance with what pleases God (morality and ethic- we know this standard through the Prophets’ examples and following their path) and with the intention to seek nearness to Him.
All of this is echoed in the testimony of faith- There is no god but God and Muhammad is His messenger. God is our Source, the source of guidance, love, peace, and contentment. And every pursuit should be done in an effort to draw nearer to Him.
The pillars are the baseline so that we never get too far away from our connection with God.
But in Islamic thought education, good manners, humility, and kindness to God’s creation are also essential to the health of the spirit because it is a recognition that everything is from the same singular Source.
Spirituality in Christianity
There are many sects of Christianity and a multitude of views on what spirituality means in this faith tradition.
But if we go back to the basic definition of what spirituality is—identifying that we are more than a material existence, that we have a spiritual reality—might be helpful.
In many faiths this spiritual existence necessitates a higher spiritual power and therefore a connection with that power, God.
Because of this connection between the spirit and God, the Christian belief in the Trinity informs Christian spirituality.
It is through these three entities— God the father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit—the Christians view of God, that they seek a spiritual life.
The Holy Spirit
According to Compelling Truth, “true [Christian] spirituality depends on the supernatural power God gives through the Holy Spirit rather than dependence on human strength.”
Jesus
Bible Study Tools, explains how spirituality in Christianity is found through Jesus.
“Christian spirituality begins with our [Christians’] redemption in Christ. We are baptized into Christ […]. It begins with a divine call, rebirth, and conversion (John 3:3-8; Acts 2:38-39) wherein we admit we are helpless to help ourselves in our bondage to sin and enmity with God (Rom 5:6-11).”
God the father
And Peter Feldmeier, professor of Catholic Studies at the University of Toledo, explains:
“Christian spirituality is engagement with God as God has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. But it also has to be grounded in a religious tradition.”
Christian spirituality is not solely an effort made by the human being nor is it simply a relationship between The Originating Spirit and one’s own spirit, but it requires multiple channels as the trinity necessitates.
It also seems that Christian spirituality is at times beyond human powers and only achievable through the supernatural.
Spirituality in Buddhism
Since spirituality is usually based around a belief in God, the relationship between The Creator and the created, it might be interesting to take a look at a religious tradition that has no central belief, like Buddhism.
Buddhism is based on spiritual development of the individual, but there is no belief in a personal God.
Buddhists believe that nothing is permanent, and the path to spiritual enlightenment is through morality, meditation, and wisdom.
According to Mark W. Muesse, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Rhodes College:
“Buddhist spirituality is concerned with the end of suffering through the enlightened understanding of reality.
The spiritual practices of the Buddhist tradition vary significantly among its several major varieties, but all of them are oriented toward ultimate freedom from suffering and the cultivation of wisdom and compassion.
The spiritual life [ …] is the life lived in pursuit of these ideals.”
Spirituality in Buddhism is based on a personal journey to end suffering. It is not about connecting with or even identifying a greater Being than one’s own self or spirit.
The belief in the impermanence of everything would perhaps make even following the Buddha and an understanding of what suffering, wisdom, compassion, and morality are impermanent in themselves and different for each individual and even varying in each individual’s lifetime.
Spirituality is a complex concept to grasp for many. It is cultivated in the physical world, but exists in the world of emotion, a very real, but private experience.
However, it is difficult to describe to those who have not cultivated spiritual maturity or even an understanding of the spiritual existence.
One thing is for sure, having a different understandings of God makes the matter of spirituality that much far complicated.
Many people who come to Islam say that it is the uncomplicated concept of spirituality that draws them to the faith.
Converts often say the conception of the human spirit in Islam speaks to their nature.
Most notably, converts find a deep connection with God that they could not find in any other faith. And they say it is this connection that brings a real peace and contentedness into their hearts.
- aboutislam.net
Tuesday, 22 April 2025
Entering Paradise: Is It Grace or Good Deeds?
Understanding Allah’s Grace in Islam
Almighty Allah says, “And We shall strip away all rancor from their hearts – beneath them will be rivers flowing – and they shall say: ‘Praise be to Allah, Who guided us on to this. Had it not been for Allah Who granted us guidance, we would not have found guidance. Surely, the Messengers of our Lord did come with Truth.’ Then a voice will cry to them, ‘Behold! This is the Paradise which you are made to inherit as a reward for your deeds.’” (Al-A`raf 6:43)
In this verse, there is a beautiful description of the people of Paradise. Before they enter their blessed abode, Allah will purify them from any lurking sense of rancor or grudge that they might have had against each other. Then He will grant them a most happy place to live. Then there is a wonderful dialogue that will take place. They will praise Allah’s grace. They will not boast of their virtues or good deeds that led them to Paradise.
The Role of Good Deeds in Earning Paradise
However, Allah on the other hand will appreciate their goodness and will say that whatever they are receiving is not some crumbs of charity from Him, but this is a due recompense because of their own good deeds. This is a kind of mutual appreciation and gratitude between the human and divine that is the hallmark of this verse.
Islam teaches that believers should do good deeds, but they should never say that we are purchasing Jannah by our good deeds. Jannah or eternal salvation is only because of Allah’s grace and love. However, Allah also does not say in the Qur’an, “You do not deserve Jannah,” but [rather], “I shall still give it to you because I love you.” Allah always says to the believers that He will give them the eternal bliss because He is willing to forgive their sins if they turn to Him and He appreciates their good deeds and honors their good efforts.
The Role of Good Deeds in Earning Paradise
After Ramadan, Muslims complete a full month of intensive worship and devotion. They fasted, prayed, read the Qur’an, gave Zakah and sadaqah, and did many good deeds. This should not make them boast that they are virtuous people, but they should be thankful that Allah guided them to all this.
It was due to His mercy and guidance that they were able to do all these good deeds and if He accepts these things from them, then it will be also due to His grace and love that they will find His blessings in this life and in the Hereafter.
True and sincere worship (`ibadah) creates humbleness and it always leads to more acts of goodness and virtues. If our Ramadan is a successful month of learning, then the effects of these good deeds will be with us and will remain for a long time. It is said:
The recompense of a good deed is a good deed after it and the recompense of a bad deed is a bad deed after it.
To know that our good deeds in Ramadan were accepted by Allah, we must measure our actions after Ramadan. If our actions and our behavior were improved, then it will mean that the training of the month was successful.
If we go back to the same habits and life style that we had before Ramadan and we see no significant change and improvement in our personal life and interpersonal relations, then it means that our efforts were not very successful.
A believer’s life must improve every day. After Ramadan let us pay attention to the following:
- Patience
Fasting in Ramadan taught us patience (sabr). It taught us self-discipline. Now we have to use this training. We avoided some permissible things during fasting; now we know how to control ourselves and protect ourselves from unlawful (haram) things.
- Control over passions and desires
Fasting taught us to control our passions and desires. Now we have to use this training and keep ourselves always pure. We must not be the slaves of our lusts and desires. We should not obey our desires, but we must obey Allah all the time.
- Control over bad temper
Fasting taught us to control bad temper. It taught us how to avoid bad words. Now we have to use this training. We must not quarrel with others or use bad language. We should be a gentle and honorable people all the time.
- Charity
Fasting taught us charity. We paid our Zakah and our sadaqah in this month. Now we know how to be good, kind, and generous to those who are in need. Now we know how to help good causes always.
- Supererogatory Prayers
During Ramadan we prayed Tarawih during the night. Now we should be regular in our daily Prayers. We should perform them on time and in a proper manner. We woke up for sahur every night. Now we can get up for Tahajjud Prayer. We should try to pray Tahajjud as much as possible.
- Regular Visits to the masjid
During Ramadan we came to the masjid every day. Now we should make a habit to pray at the masjid as much as we can. We have our Friday which is known as the sayyid al-ayyam (the best day of the week). We should not neglect the Friday Prayer. We should also take care of the masjid. Those who come to the masjid should be also those who maintain the masjid.
- Reading of the Qur’an
During Ramadan we read the Qur’an and we listened to the Qur’an. Now we should make a resolution to read the Qur’an every day. We should read onejuz’ or half a juz’ every day. We should read with translation and try to reflect on the Words of Allah.
- Family gathering:
During Ramadan we spent more time with our families. We ate together and we prayed together. Now we should keep this habit. The families that eat together and pray together stay together. We should have good relations with our spouses. We should pay more attention to our children and our youth. We should give them more time and continue to help them to learn the principles and values of Islam. We must pay attention to their Islamic education and training.
- Concern for the Ummah
During Ramadan we prayed to Allah to help the Muslims of Palestine, Chechnya, Kashmir, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Muslims who are suffering in many other lands. We should continue to know more about them and do whatever we can to relieve their suffering and to help bring justice to them.
- More good deeds
During Ramadan we did a lot of good things. Now we should be in the habit of doing good deeds all the time. The purpose of`ibadah is to make us Allah’s servants. Allah’s servants are the best human beings. Our challenge is to become the best human beings that we are supposed to be.
Allah Almighty knows best.
- aboutislam.net