Jihad al-Nafs: the Greater Struggle
Muslim scholars have long identified two types of jihad (lit. "striving" in God's cause): an outer form of jihad and an inner one. The outward jihad refers to state-sanctioned military force (i.e. armed combat), and is waged defensively to protect both religion and realm, or offensively to combat tyranny and protect the innocent and the defenceless against any unjustified aggression. As for the inner jihad (jihad al-nafs), it is the struggle to oppose the ego (nafs) and its impulses until it is in submission to God. That this inner jihad is known as the "greater" or "most obligatory" jihad, as per mainstream Sunni scholarship, has raised some objections in our time. Abu Aaliyah explains why there needn't be any concern about such a designation.
Read MoreOn Softening Hearts
This piece by Ibn al-Jawzi (d.597H/1200CE), Hanbali jurist and prolific author, is from his book Sayd al-Khatir. Part autobiographical, part exhortational and part meditative, the book is a frank account of Ibn al-Jawzi's life experiences, hopes, anguishes and aspirations. Here, Ibn al-Jawzi reminisces over how certain types of knowledge can, if the student is not careful, make the heart dry and hard; and how it is critical to keep spiritual company and bathe the soul in the stories of the righteous, if the heart is to be kept "moist". One of Islam's enduring wisdoms says: inda dhikri'l-salihin tanzilu'l-rahmah - "On mention of the righteous, mercy descends."
Read MoreOn Knowing Allah
Contemplating the Maker’s handiwork in creation enables us, to some extent, to admire His wisdom, splendour and sublime power. This, in turn, inspires reverence and love of God in human hearts. For the natural world is like a mirror, itself beautiful while reflecting an even greater beauty of Allah. So if the starry heavens elicit in us a sense of awe; if a newly sprung red rose evokes in us a sense of beauty; if the solemn stillness of an autumn woodland kindles in us a sense of sublimity, then how much more awesome, beautiful and sublime must the Creator of such things be. Appreciating the splendour of creation is, therefore, a means of knowing and glimpsing the still greater splendour of God. Ibn al-Qayyim tells us, along with knowing Allah via His revelation, precisely this.
Read MoreSigns of Bliss & Misery
Some people are catapulted into the limelight; some have a quiet greatness thrust on them; most, though, live simple, ordinary lives. The ordinary believer believes in God and realises he is here through God's purpose, love and compassion. He lives each day as God's blessing and acknowledges what he has he owes to God - and therefore, what he can he seeks to share with others. He does good unassumingly and unostentatiously, because that is what believers do. The ordinary believer's life, then, in its simplicity, radiance and gravitas, is actually quite extraordinary. Here, Ibn al-Qayyim outlines the path of a content, meaningful and blissful life, and points to their opposites. An insightful read.
Read MoreTen Things Devoid of Benefit
Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (Ibn al-Qayyim, for short - d.751H/1350CE) was a hadith master, Hanbali jurist and master of the realities of faith. His writings and books are dominated by the theme of al-umur al-qalbiyyah - "matters of the heart". One such work, al-Fawa'id ("The Benefits"), contain numerous spiritual benefits and insights. Presented here is a translation of one such benefit, and is intended to be the first of a series of on-going translations from the book. This benefit simply addresses the issue of those works and thoughts which brings no benefit to a person, but only disappointment, toil and tribulation.
Read MoreWere It Not For You, I Would Not Have Created Creation.
The Qur'an obliges the faithful, not just to believe in the Prophet, peace be upon him, or to obey, emulate and love him; it also insists on ta'dhim al-nabi - that we "honour" and "venerate" him too. The books of hadith and sirah are filled with examples of the deep love the Companions had for the Prophet, and their profound veneration of him too. One notion long associated with ta'dhim al-nabi is that of: "If it were not for the Prophet, God would not have created the universe." This has caused many an outcry in our time, with many denouncing it as a gross exaggeration; prophet worship, even! Abu Aaliyah, citing such religious authorities as Ibn al-Jawzi and Ibn Taymiyyah, discusses whether opposition to this claim is justified or not.
Read MoreInner Dimensions of Fasting
This is a translation of the chapter on fasting and its spiritual realities, from the celebrated Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin, which is an abridgement of Ibn al-Jawzi's Minhaj al-Qasidin; itself, a reworking of al-Ghazali's masterpiece, Ihya 'Ulum al-Din. The author, Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi (of other than al-Mughni fame), explains the inner ethics of fasting - albeit in an abridged form - in the hope that our fast will bear the desired fruits and that we may thereby grow in self-knowledge, God-consciousness, worship, love and submission. Given all this, it makes for essential reading.
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