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A contemporary mystical Islamic philosopher offers clarification about common misconceptions of the Islamic concept of God.

Hulusi is an Islamic scholar whose writings mirror the mystical dimension of Islam known as Sufism, made well known in the U.S. through translations of the Sufi poet-theologian Rumi. But many who read the English translations of Rumi fail to realize the complexity of the system of spiritual thinking that Sufism represents. Hulusi explicates one of the most difficult concepts in mystical Islam--the notion that "Allah," commonly misunderstood in the West and even in parts of the Muslim world as "God," encompasses more than the word "God" can illuminate. Drawing upon his interpretations of the Quran, Islam's most sacred scripture, Hulusi claims that nowhere in Muhammad's transmission of the Quran is there the assertion that Allah is a god. Instead, Hulusi writes that Allah is "an infinite, unlimited, whole One, in which case...there is nothing in existence other than Him." The consequences of this assertion are that individual lives are fated by Allah, predestined to heaven or hell after physical death. The point of religion, writes the author, is to gain nondualistic awareness of Allah, which is realized through essential self-knowledge and the rejection of illusionary dualities in daily life. The author relies on short paragraphs to frame his beliefs and uses abstract language to describe consciousness, but the gist of these abstruse ideas is helpfully noted in bold throughout the book. One can only imagine the difficulty translator Atalay faced in converting the author's esoteric Turkish style into readable English. Yet it does read clearly as a kind of Sufi manifesto of faith. Get the Book NOW

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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Concept of Righteousness (Birr) in Islam

The Concept of Righteousness (Birr).   IslamQuranic Verses on Nikah Marriage. Read more ... » always warns against superficial concepts and rituals, against lifeless  formalities and non-effective beliefs. In one representative verse AllahThe Meaning of Al-Fatihah and its Various Names. Read more ... » – Almighty GodWhy Islam?. Read more ... » explains the full  meaning of righteousness as follows:   It is not righteousness that you turn your faces (in prayerMYSTIC LIFE OF BAYAZID BASTAMI. Read more ... ») towards East or West; but it  is righteousness to believe in AllahThe Meaning of Al-Fatihah and its Various Names. Read more ... » – Almighty GodWhy Islam?. Read more ... » and the Last day, and the Angels and the Book, and  the MessengersWhy Islam?. Read more ... »; to spend of your wealth – in spite of your love for it – for your kin,  for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of  slaves; to be steadfast in prayerMYSTIC LIFE OF BAYAZID BASTAMI. Read more ... » and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts  which you have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain and adversity and  throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah – Almighty God – minded  (Qur’ an, 2:177).

In this verse there is a beautiful and clear description of the righteous man. He should  obey all the salutary regulations, and should make his sincere motive the love of Allah – Almighty God  and the love of his fellow man for the sake of Allah – Almighty God. Here we have four elements:(I)  our Faith should be true and sincere, (II) we must be prepared to show it in deeds of  charity and kindnessWhy Islam?. Read more ... » to our fellow man, (III) we must be good citizens by supporting  charitable institutions and social organizations, and (IV) we must be steadfast and  unshakable in all circumstances.

It is clear, that therefore, that righteousness is not merely a matter of void utterances.  It must be founded on strong faith and constant practice. It must cover the person’ s  thinking and action and extend to his inside and outside life, to his individual and  common affairs. When the Islamic principle of righteousness is established, it  provides the individual with peace in all circumstances, the society with security on  all levels, the nation with solidarity, and the international community with hope and  harmonyCONCERNING MUSIC AND DANCING AS AIDS TO THE RELIGIOUS LIFE. Read more ... ». How peaceful and enjoyable life can be when people implement the Islamic  Concept of Righteousness!

What can be more reassuring than faith in the Beneficent  Creator and investing in such good worthy causes? What can be more humane than  relieving the deep anxieties of the subjugated, alleviating the sufferings of the  exploited, and responding to the needs of the helpless? What is more methodical and  honest than the fulfillment of commitments, the preservation of clear conscienceAre We Muslims born Sinners?. Read more ... », and  the maintenance of integrity? And what is more spiritually joyful than doing all this  regularly, as a matter of course, and for the love of Allah – Almighty God?

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