================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

=============================================================

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Innovative Excuses

It is with much thought and debate amongst ourselves that we write this article.  We understand the hostile reaction that it may cause, but we feel that there are sufficient, and important reasons for putting pen to paper about this subject.  Over the past year or so we have been continually criticised by the local hierarchy, who have accused us of being “Wahhabis”, “followers of Arabs”, “modernist Muslims” and of misleading the youth.  It is with this constant criticism in mind that we write this article, in order to set the record straight.  We ask all of you to keep an open mind; do not approach this subject from an emotional point of view, but rather an Islamic one.  We ask the brothers and sisters to look for the ‘clear argument’, to consider the evidence that is provided herein.  Do not let this article be a cause for creating more fitna (trial), but instead an opportunity to see a way forward for some reconciliation.  If you do disagree with this article, then let this be a chance to start a dialogue between us and you rather than a war of words.  You know our evidence, please show us yours and Continue reading “” »











Innovative Excuses
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)