================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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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Meaning of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama'at

SUNNAH


In the language: “a path/way or a course”. [1]


Its usage in the Shari’ah: “the guidance which the Messenger and his companions were upon in terms of knowledge, belief, speech and action. This is the Sunnah, the following of which is obligatory, whose adherents have been praised, and whose abandoners have been rebuked [2]. The term ‘Sunnah‘ is also used for the various acts of worship and beliefs, just as everything which is contrary to it is termed ‘bid’ah‘ (innovation).” [3]


 


JAMA’AH


In the language: “is from Ijtima’ (a gathering, where people come together, i.e. a unification) and this is the opposite of separation, dispersal. The Jama’ah are a people who have united together on a certain matter/affair.” [4]


Its usage in the Shari’ah: “They are the salaf [5] of this Ummah, from among the Companions and the tabi’in (successors of the Companions) and whoever follows them in goodness until the Day of Judgement. They are those who unite themselves upon the Book and the Sunnah and upon their leaders (i.e. their scholars) and those who travel upon that which the Messenger, His Companions and those who followed them in goodness were upon.” [6]


 


AHL US-SUNNAH WAL-JAMA’AH


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Meaning of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama'at
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