================Our Recommendation================

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

Islam and Salvation

The true MuslimHow Islam Sees LIfe. Read more ... » believes that man must work out his salvation through the  guidance of AllahThe Meaning of Al-Fatihah and its Various Names. Read more ... » – Almighty GodWhy Islam?. Read more ... ». This means that in order to attain salvation a person must combine  Faith and action, belief and practice. Faith without action is as insufficient as action  without Faith. In other words, no one can attain salvation until his Faith in AllahThe Meaning of Al-Fatihah and its Various Names. Read more ... » – Almighty GodWhy Islam?. Read more ... »  becomes dynamic in his life and his beliefs are translated into  reality. This is in  complete harmonyCONCERNING MUSIC AND DANCING AS AIDS TO THE RELIGIOUS LIFE. Read more ... » with the other Islamic articles of Faith. It shows that Allah – Almighty God does not  accept lip service, and that no true believer can be indifferent as far as the practical  requirements of Faith are concerned. It also shows that no one can act on behalf of  another or intercede between him and Allah – Almighty God (see, for example, the Qur’ an, 10:9-10;  18:30; 103:1-3).

The true MuslimHow Islam Sees LIfe. Read more ... » believes that Allah – Almighty God does not hold any person responsible until He  has shown him the Right Way. This is why Allah – Almighty God has sent many messengersWhy Islam?. Read more ... » and  revelations, and has made it clear that there would be no punishment before giving  guidance and sounding the alarm. So, a person who has never come across any Divine  revelations or messenger, or a person who is insane is not held responsible to Allah – Almighty God for  failing to obey the Divine instructions. Such a person will be responsible only for not  doing what his sound common senseAre We Muslims born Sinners?. Read more ... » tells him to do. But the person who knowingly  and intentionally violates the Law of Allah – Almighty God or deviates from His Right Path will be  punished for his wrong deeds (4:165; 5:16 & 21; 17:15).   This point is very important for every MuslimIslam - the best safeguard of peace and harmony. Read more ... ».

There are many people in the world  who have not heard of IslamQuranic Verses on Nikah Marriage. Read more ... » and have no way of knowing about it. Such people may  be honest and may become good Muslims, if they find their way to IslamQuranic Verses on Nikah Marriage. Read more ... ». If they do  not know and have no way of knowing, they will not be responsible for failing to be  Muslims. Instead, the Muslims who can present Islam to such people will be the ones responsible for failing to invite them to Islam and show them what Islam is. This calls  upon every MuslimIslam - the best safeguard of peace and harmony. Read more ... » throughout the globe not only to preach Islam in words but also –  and more importantly – to live it in full (see, for example, the Qur’ an, 3:104; 16:125).

The true Muslim believes that in human nature, which Allah – Almighty God created, there is more  good than evil, and the probability of successful reform is greater than the probability  of hopeless failure. This belief is derived from the fact that Allah – Almighty God has tasked man with  certain assignments and sent messengersWhy Islam?. Read more ... » with revelations for his guidance. If man  were by nature a hopeless case, impossible to reform, how could Allah – Almighty God with His  absolute wisdom assign him responsibilities and invite him to do or shun certain  things? How could Allah – Almighty God do that, if it were all in vain? The fact that Allah – Almighty God cares for man  and takes a stand in his interest proves that man in neither helpless nor hopeless, but is  more appreciative of and inclined to good than otherwise. Surely with sound Faith in  Allah – Almighty God and due confidence in man miracles can be worked out, even in our own times. To understand this properly, one has to carefully study the relevant passages in the  Qur’ an and reflect on their meanings.

The true Muslim believes that Faith is not complete when it is followed blindly or  accepted unquestioningly unless the believer is reasonable satisfied. If Faith is to  inspire action, and if Faith and action are  to lead to salvation, then Faith must be  founded on unshakable convictions without any deception or compulsion. In other  words, the person who calls himself a Muslim because of his family traditionsTHE KNOWLEDGE OF THE NEXT WORLD. Read more ... », or  accepts Islam under coercion or blind imitation is not a complete Muslim in the sight  of Allah – Almighty God. A Muslim must build his Faith on well-grounded convictions beyond any  reasonable doubt and above uncertainty. If he is not certain about his Faith, he is  invited by Allah – Almighty God to search in the open book of Nature, to use his reasoning powers, and  to reflect on the teachings of the Qur’ an. He must search for the indisputable truth  until he finds it, and he will certainly find it, if he is capable and serious enough (see,  for example, the Qur’ an, 2:170; 43:22-24).   This is why Islam demands sound convictions and opposes blind imitation. Every  person who is duly qualified as a genuine and earnest thinker is enjoined by Islam to  employ his facultiesHow Islam Sees LIfe. Read more ... » to the fullest extent. But if a person is unqualified or uncertain of  himself, he should pursue his thinking only as far as his limits can take him.

It will be  quite in order for such a person to rely only on the authentic sources of religion,  which are sufficient in themselves, without applying to them any critical  questioning  of which he is incapable. The point is that no one can call himself a true Muslim  unless his Faith is based on strong convictions and his mind is clear from doubts.  Because Islam is complete only when it is based on strong convictions and freedom of  choice, it cannot be forced upon anybody, for Allah – Almighty God will not accept this forced faith.  Nor will He consider it a true Islam if it does not develop from within or originate  from free and sound convictions. And because Islam insures freedom of belief many  non-Muslim groups lived and still live in the Muslim countries enjoying full freedom  of belief and conscienceAre We Muslims born Sinners?. Read more ... ». The Muslims take this attitude because Islam forbids  compulsion in religion. It is the light which must radiate from within, because  freedom of choice is the cornerstone of responsibility. This does not exempt the  parentsMYSTIC LIFE OF BAYAZID BASTAMI. Read more ... » from responsibility for their children. Nor does it condone their being  indifferent to the spiritual welfare of their dependents. In fact, they must do  everything possible to help them to build a strong inspiring faith.

 extract from ISLAM   IN  FOCUS  by HAMMUDAH ABDALATI  www.islamicbulletin.com

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