Al-Maqasid

The next session in Habib Umar Bin Hafiz’s book 'The Islamic Discourse in Religious Institutions: its Current State andFuture Development,' discusses five principles of success in Islamic discourse that correspond to the first seven verses in Surah al-Muddathir (The Cloaked One, 74:1-7). According to the author, may Allah preserve him, these are the qualities that the All-Merciful commanded His Me...

Shaykh Yahya Rhodus continues his discussion of Habib Umar Bin Hafiz’s book titled, 'The Islamic Discourse in Religious Institutions: its Current State andFuture Development.' Here, two chapters of the book are covered: (1) The Integrity of the Discourse is Dependent Upon the Integrity of the Individual and (2) The Most Evident Means for Success. Practical advice is provided on how to raise the le...

In this five-part series Shaykh Yahya Rhodus discusses selected excerpts from Habib Umar Bin Hafiz’s treatise titled 'The Islamic Discourse in Religious Institutions: its Current State and Future Development.' The series explores important principles for institutions involved in serving the religion. Topics include: the primary mission of religious institutions, the most prominent means for impact...

Allah the Exalted teaches us in the Noble Quran, "And say, 'My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.'" [Quran 20:114] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also taught us, further emphasizing the virtue of sacred knowledge, "Whoever Allah wills good for, He grants him understanding of the religion." [Bukhari and Muslim] This Khutba focuses on the virtue of seeking knowledge and the importance of seeking it with sinc...

Shaykh Yahya Rhodus discusses a statement from Habib Ahmad bin Zayn al-Habashi (d. 1144 AH, 1732 CE), one of foremost students of Imam al-Haddad, in which he gives advice to travelers on the spiritual path. In this passage, Habib Ahmad counsels the wayfarer to stand vigilantly at the door of Allah the Exalted, even if he or she is initially rejected or distanced. No matter how difficult things may...

When Eid al-Adha falls on Jumu’a, there are two Eids to celebrate, cumulating in an especially auspicious occasion. On this blessed day, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin reflects on several verses in the Quran that mention the Hajj and the remembrance and glorification of Allah. He explains how these verses help to prepare us for what Imam al-Haddad describes as the long journey to the Hereafter. Through remem...

In his Farewell Sermon on Mount Arafat given on the ninth of Dhul-Hijja, shortly before his return to Allah the Exalted, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that a white person has no superiority over a black person, nor a black person over a white, except by his or her degree of taqwa (piety). In this Khutba, Ustadh Amjad reflects upon these words and other counsel given that day over 1400 years ago. He...

Certitude (yaqīn) is perhaps the most important element for progress on the spiritual path. Weaving together verses of the Qur’an, relevant hadith, and reflections of the pious, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus explains what is meant by certitude in the Islamic context, how it is the foundation of all Islamic teachings, and why people of certitude are necessary, especially in these times. In Part II of this se...

The next virtue mentioned in Imam al-Sulami’s book 'Kitab al-Futuwwa' is bearing hardships for the sake of Allah the Exalted. Shaykh Yahya Rhodus mentions that those on the spiritual path will experience harm at the hands of people, and that part of spiritual progress is bearing that for Allah's sake. As encouragement, Shaykh Yahya recounts several stories of righteous servants of Allah the Exalte...

In this next discussion of the virtues mentioned in Imam al-Sulami’s book 'Kitab al-Futuwwa', Shaykh Yahya discusses the great trait of letting go of one’s wealth. He explains several verses from the Quran where Allah the Exalted tells us that the righteous give solely out of love for Him. Several beautiful stories of generosity displayed by people of Futuwwa, including those of modern times, are...

The following topics are covered in this session: • The decree of the Beloved is beloved • Reconciling opposition to evil and contentment with the Divine decree • Supplication does not conflict with contentment • Meeting Allah ﷻ

The following topics are covered in this session: • Contentment is the fruit of love • Quranic verses on contentment • Prophetic sayings on contentment • Reports of the Salaf (Righteous Predecessors)

The following topics are covered in this session: • The meaning of Allah's love for His servant • Longing (shawq) for Allah • Intimacy (uns) with Allah

The following topics are covered in this session: • Loving to meet Him • Preferring what He loves • Remembering Him abundantly • Finding intimacy (uns) in solitude • Enjoying worship • Showing mercy to His creation • Fearing distance from Him

The following topics are covered in this session: • The importance of love in relation to the Hereafter • Severing worldly attachments from the heart • Planting the seeds of gnosis in the heart • Spending time with the righteous who love Allah

The following topics are covered in this session: • Loving for the sake of Allah • The centrality of loving the Prophet ﷺ • Allah alone deserves love: i) Benevolence ii) Beauty

The following topics are covered in this session: • Towards a definition of love • Love and the 5 senses • The heart as the "sixth sense" • The main reasons we love: i) Benevolence ii) Beauty

This session focuses on the following: • Love is the pinnacle of religion • Quranic verses on love • Prophetic sayings on love • Reports of the Salaf (Righteous Predecessors)

In this Jumua Khutba, Sh. Yahya Rhodus comments on a Prophetic supplication to alleviate anxiety and grief. In addition to focusing on the profound meanings within the Prophet's words ﷺ, Sh. Yahya also comments on the relationship between the duʿa and the connection we should have with Quran. For more on Al-Maqasid's programs, please visit www.almaqasid.org

Allah the Exalted said, "Among the believers are men who have proven true to what they pledged to Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their pledge [with their lives], others are waiting [their turn]. They have never changed [their commitment] in the least." [Quran 33:23] In this Jumua Khutba, Sh. Yahya Rhodus focuses on the importance of being true with our covenant with Allah the Exalted. He refle...

In this special Ramadan series, Sh. Yahya Rhodus teaches from the Ihya 'Ulum al-Din's section on the etiquettes with the Quran. These lessons are meant to increase us in appreciation, reverence, and love for Allah's Book, translating into deeper connection and commitment. For more on Al-Maqasid's programs, please visit www.almaqasid.org

In this special Ramadan series, Sh. Yahya Rhodus teaches from the Ihya 'Ulum al-Din's section on the etiquettes with the Quran. These lessons are meant to increase us in appreciation, reverence, and love for Allah's Book, translating into deeper connection and commitment. For more on Al-Maqasid's programs, please visit www.almaqasid.org

In this special Ramadan series, Sh. Yahya Rhodus teaches from the Ihya 'Ulum al-Din's section on the etiquettes with the Quran. These lessons are meant to increase us in appreciation, reverence, and love for Allah's Book, translating into deeper connection and commitment. For more on Al-Maqasid's programs, please visit www.almaqasid.org

In this special Ramadan series, Sh. Yahya Rhodus teaches from the Ihya 'Ulum al-Din's section on the etiquettes with the Quran. These lessons are meant to increase us in appreciation, reverence, and love for Allah's Book, translating into deeper connection and commitment. For more on Al-Maqasid's programs, please visit www.almaqasid.org

In this special Ramadan series, Sh. Yahya Rhodus teaches from the Ihya 'Ulum al-Din's section on the etiquettes with the Quran. These lessons are meant to increase us in appreciation, reverence, and love for Allah's Book, translating into deeper connection and commitment. For more on Al-Maqasid's programs, please visit www.almaqasid.org