Exploring the Qur’an with Sh Yahya Rhodus (Class 2 Notes)

On Feb 17th, we were blessed to sit in Shaykh Yahya’s second session for the new SeekersGuidance live class, Exploring the Qur’an. This week, Shaykh Yahya reminded us to make learning about the Qur’an a priority, and emphasized that we need to reflect upon the akhira. He spoke about the reality of the Garden and the Fire and stressed that because it is difficult for the mind to accept these realities, we need to have environments where we can understand these topics.

He also spoke about the need to have role models we can follow, the importance of connecting ourselves to scholars who are part of a tradition, and advised us to take ourselves to account daily. Shaykh Yahya stressed that the more we take ourselves to account now, the better we will be when it comes to the Ultimate Accounting.

I love this class because Shaykh Yahya’s lessons are nuanced. At one point in the class for instance, he mentioned that “no one can ever say that if someone doesn’t wear hijab they are not going to Jannah. One of the most dangerous things you can do is have someone despair of the mercy of Allah and feel distant”. He followed this statement by reminding us that “the rules of the sacred law are beautiful, and we should strive to implement them.” An answer of perfect balance alhamidullah, and the whole session was like that.  My notes from class 2 are below.

 

Humility is the Glue that Keeps Everything Together (Sidi Amjad Tarsin at the SeekersHub)

The Hub was blessed yesterday to have Sidi Amjad Tarsin, the Chaplain at the Muslim Chaplaincy of U of T teach from the Book of Assistance by Imam Haddad. The lesson was on the chapter of Social Duties, and subhanAllah, it was beautiful to have the words of Imam Haddad explained in such a relatable, lively way. It was a practical, powerful talk  about how we need to be people who love each other, who don’t have malice or anger in their hearts, who sincerely wish the good for others and who strive to serve. It was a reminder that we are here for a purpose, and we can’t get sidetracked in chasing self recognition. Below, selections from my notes.

Lasting Love: What Makes for Successful Marriage (Notes from the SeekersHub)

 On November 3rd 2012, the SeekersHub held a seminar titled “Lasting Love: What Makes for a Successful Marriage”. The course was live -streamed, and I logged on from Vancouver to hear the sessions. It was masha’Allah, a day that was well worth the investment in time. In summary, what I learnt from the course was that the core of marriage is good character, and that marriage is a long term opportunity for you to strive to be a better person. It is a means for you to work on the lifelong task of returning back to Allah with a sound heart. When two people have that intention, insha’Allah that leads to lasting love and a successful marriage, but really the seminar was not so much about marriage as about being a good human being. The video of the event is now available, and can be accessed here. And they are by no means comprehensive, but below are my notes from the event.

Thankfulness is The Secret of Increase

I was in Toronto a couple of weeks ago for a visit, and had the blessing of being able to visit the SeekersHub for the Friday night Surah Yasin class and Family Potluck. It had been at least several months since I had last been to the Hub, and in the interim, the Hub had only increased in light. It’s beautifully designed, there is dignified segregation with equal space for both genders, and it feels like a community space. I met family friends I hadn’t seen for a while, and was warmly welcomed by others who had never met me before. While there is good in both, the visit was a reminder that there is a world of difference between studying online, and changing your routine to get on a train and journey to a class. It was also a reminder that really, if you want to study in a way that takes into account your local context, and you value healthy communities, this is a project to support. Below, some of my notes from the evening.

• Thankfulness is a sign of intelligence and the secret of increase.
• Allah is the Fulfiller of all needs.  All neediness should be with Allah. If your reliance and seeking of assistance is with Allah,you’ve directed your needs in the right direction. Remember whose servant you are. If you know that, nothing whatsoever to worry about. Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will be Mindful of you. He will grant you assistance. If ask, ask Allah. If seek, seek Allah. Remember Hadith 19 of Imam Nawawi.
• Don’t let anything in created universe shake you up. Know who to turn to. Things have a reality in the knowledge of Allah. In eternity.
• Remember the verses of Surah Imran 190-194. The Prophet used to pray them at Tahujjud.
• Have shyness before your Lord. Slavehood entails turning.
• Just as plan worldly life,  plan your spiritual life too. Use walking time to listen to Quran, to recite and review what you’ve learnt. Don’t waste a moment.

~Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, November 16th 2012, SeekersHub, Final Surah Yasin Class.

Why Do We Do Good?

These notes are from a lecture Shaykh Faraz and Shaykh Yahya gave during Shaykh Yahya’s visit in Sept 2011. For greater clarity and as a self-reminder, am reposting this section of the talk here.

Tie Your Camel And Have Faith (Gems from Shaykh Yahya Rhodus)

We really only have control when we realise that we really don’t have control and that all we really have control over is how we respond to a situation. You have to attempt to organise and arrange your life in a way that is pleasing to Allah. Planning as long as it is done in the proper way, with the proper etiquettes, is not blameworthy. At the same time as you do this though, at the same time at the level of your heart must be a deep surrender.

One of the ways to have this is that in terms of asking for things that you know are good for you, such as asking Allah to be a sincere person, you ask. And as for the things that you don’t know whether they are good for you, a specific job, a marriage, and other things where you can’t say hundred percent that the matter is good for you, it is ok to ask for them, but at the same time as you’re making dua, assign your affairs over to Allah and don’t ask for that thing unconditionally. You should have in your heart the sense “Ya Rabb grant me this if this is what is good for me”.

If you overly rely in yourself, age, health, people, whatever the thing might be, Allah will break that for you. Allah ultimately wants each and every one of us to rely solely on him. But that doesn’t negate the means.

Imam Ghazali says that if you think that you should throw yourself like a rag on the floor and you think that is tawakkul, you are mistaken.

We are now building communities in the west, and there are ways to learn sustainably and see the fruits of your progression. But we have to be real about the deen. We have to be willing to work hard and give up our privilege. The nature of privilege is that if you have it, you have to be willing to give it up to make a change. (Read Tim Wise –> critique on privilege). Whether we are studying fiqh or seerah or whatever, we have to make them relevant for the context in which we are.

In closing, you are required to do whatever is needed for your own life. To regulate your life. To make time for dhikr, study, plan your life. Should plan because you’re commanded to do so, but you should be open to the bounty of Allah. If something comes your way beyond what you’ve planned, see it from Allah and welcome it.

~Shaykh Yahya Rhodus, Nov 24th, Habib Kadhim Muwasala Tour.

This is the Month of the Victory of Mercy (Gems from Shaykh Ramzy during July 30th 2011 Qurba Ramadan Course )

• Santify the month. Important to enter the month with joy. One must not be heedless in revering the month in understanding its magnitude, in yearning to turn to Allah from all other things. One should be careful.
• Woe onto the one who is not forgiven for in the month of Ramadan b/c the month of Ramadan is a month of mercy and pardoning.
• We haven’t been left a thing except that he (peace and blessings be upon him) showed us the way to it, the way to perfect it. Whoever fasts the month with iman anticipating the blessing of Allah, with firm conviction, then his/her sins are forgiven, all of them. May Allah give us tawfiq to fast the month with this anticipation and tawfiq!
• Your attitude is very important. Your opinion of Allah is very important, it is part and parcel of your wayfaring and suluk. Part of the tuning of your heart.
• Waves are present, but without a receiver one won’t receive waves. Without turning on radio, won’t receive signal. Without fine tuning to station, then you won’t pick up anything except static. We all have hearts, they have to be turned on. Similarly must fast in anticipation, waiting for it and yearning for it and connecting with month of Ramadan. Allah is looking onto your hearts. This is the point of the fast, secret of fast. We want to connect to goal and meaning, We don’t want to be those who fast and do not receive anything from it except hunger and thirst.
• To fast is to refrain from things that break the fast. Obeying Allah is the primary motivation of the fast. Not for servant to ask the Lord why, but still, every act of worship has a hikma(wisdom).
• The fast has been prescribed for you.
• Taqwa: to fulfill the commandments and refrain from the prohibitions. To fulfill the shariah is meaning of taqwa
• We all struggle with fulfilling commandments. fasting is a shield.
• Obstacles: passions and desires (Shahwa).
• You are body and spirit. One nature that is heavenly, one nature that is animal. More we pay attention to body, more spirit becomes weak. if we are just people of jasad (sleeping eating, having children) this makes obedience to Allah very difficult.
• Obstacles: dunya. nafs, shaytan.
• Best example is the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him), who gave everything its rights. combined rights of body and spirit so beautifully that the one who follows him will attain salvation insha’Allah.
• Meaning of shield: protects you from what harms you from shahawat.
• Shield: shields you from sin and  from being enslaved to our passions and our bodies.
• Whoever does not leave his actions, Allah has no need from him to leave his food and drink. If you are not aiming for this goal in speech and action, then no point of fast.
• Madhab of Sayyiduna Aisha that giba (backbiting) broke the fast
• If want to see if you are mukhlis (sincere), good to see how you are with the fast. If you are as you should then glad tidings, because this is only for Allah..

There are degrees of fasting. Let us raise our fasting so that this Ramadan stands apart.

1) Refrain from desires of stomach and private parts from dawn to dusk with a neglect of the actions of limbs and actions of heart. this person has nothing from fast except hunger and thirst. Have to refrain from actions that don’t reflect our purpose. Our purpose is to worship Allah.

•  Things may be permitted but not elevating us and not praiseworthy

2) Refrain from every act that gets in the way of our spiritual realization  Ie- Don’t get involved with things that don’t concern you. Over actions and speech you are vigilant. (From the goodness of a person’s Islam is to leave things that do not concern you)

• In Ramadan should extra cautious: not looking at things shouldn’t be looking at, surfing net. If you’re not going to muster up your spiritual energies and yearnings in this month, then what month? Every second, every moment important!

3) Watching thoughts, internalization of the fast. To be present with Allah.  In your heart of hearts, absent from anything other than Allah.

• We should be aiming for 2nd stage. Refrain from reading things, talking on the phone, surfing net. Enliven nights, don’t miss meaning/point of it all! This is the month of the victory of mercy. The month of victory of the spirit over body. Victory for those who are merciful as well.

Qurba: drawing near.

• What condition are you in inwardly in your heart of hearts? Don’t stop at outward. The outward is meaningless without secret of sincerity of yearning, of sacrifice, of love. If void of meaning and not motivated from good place within us, its like giving a gift to King who isn’t in need of you, and you bringing a dead gift. Come with yearning and sincerity. Duas. Come with alive heart. You call upon Him and He answers. If you are fasting and you ask, that is reason for dua to be answered. Don’t let the month pass by without making the most of it.

• Great opportunity sisters, to manifest mercy to your children. Invigorate yourself and your minds. When serving guests, children, family,  all great mercy. Sisters have a great potential to draw nearer in this quality of mercy.
• The Merciful shows mercy to the merciful.
• If unable to go to mosque, pray in middle of night
• When menstruating: do dhikr, give of wealth, do salawat.

Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was more intensely active, and intensely beautiful at this month. Show the world the mercy of the Prophet. Don’t let a night go by that you get up not with niyyah of food but niyyah of calling on Lord.

Purifying our Hearts at U of T (Counsels on Good Character)

In our final Purification of the Heart class with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani on March 20th, we had an amazing class filled with beautiful gems about the meaning of good character,  patience, good company, and ways to improve our own character traits. It’s impossible to share everything that was covered during the class, but insha’Allah these notes are of benefit. 

In Everything, Uphold Good Character (Session 10 of Purifying Our Hearts at U of T)

In our penultimate session of the Purification of the heart class with Shaykh Faraz, it was beautiful to hear both the gems of wisdom he had to share, but also to observe practically what good character looks like. We were unable to get power in the room so the slides couldn’t be projected, the class couldn’t be live streamed in its entirety, and we didn’t have a proper desk for Shaykh Faraz. With each challenge, Shaykh Faraz simply said “no problem” and adapted to what was going on with a smile. It was beautiful, and one of the most memorable things I’ll take away away from these sessions. Here are a few gems from the tenth session of the course.

My Favourite Response to Conversations on Marriage

In marriage, true commitment is even more romantic than true love. (In my humble opinion:) (~@DebbieMolnar )