Al-Maqasid

“There is no such thing as major sins if you continue to seek forgiveness.” Ustadh Yusuf Weltch gives a detailed discussion on repentance, an essential quality of ihsan or spiritual excellence. Several topics are covered including: what is the core condition of repentance; why persistently committing minor sins is dangerous; how to foster remorse in one’s heart; and what do the prophets, peace be...

“Prayer is the source of ascension of the believer.” Shaykh Yahya Rhodus explains why our lives should revolve around the five daily prayers and what it means to establish the prayer as Allah the Exalted commands us in the Qur’an (as translated). He also discusses a beautiful hadith about how our prayers supplicate for or against us.

In this particularly instructive khutba, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin discusses the four things that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised people to do as soon as he ﷺ arrived in Madinah. Ustadh Amjad also provides practical suggestions on how to implement this Prophetic advice easily.

So much of what we do, such as school or work, is because we want to be ‘happy’. We talk a lot about happiness, but it is an elusive concept. In this khutba, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin explains that the real question is: What does it mean to be alive?

Continuing the discussion from last Jumua on the dhikr laa ilaaha illallah, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin explains that the way to actualize the realities of laa ilaaha illallah is found through the most beloved of creation, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He also answers the question why there are so many Prophetic du’as (supplications) in Islam.

"There is no life except the life of the Hereafter.” In this Jumua Khutba, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin explains why we should seek the good pleasure of Allah the Exalted in every moment and in every state. He also discusses the benefits of the dhikr (remembrance) laa ilaaha illallah and the meanings to have in one’s heart when repeating those words.

In this last Jumua of Ramadan 1442 (2021) with only a few days left of this blessed month, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus provides several gems of parting advice. He begins with a discussion of the Divine Gentleness in which the obligatory fast is presented in the Qur’an (2:183-85) and the etiquettes one should have with Allah the Exalted (2:186). He then explains why muraqaba (vigilance) leads to comprehens...

As the last ten nights of Ramadan approach and believers actively seek the blessed Laylatul Qadr (Night of Great Worth), Ustadh Amjad Tarsin reminds us that the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ was to strive even harder in ibadah (worship) during this time, anticipating the unique Divine gifts that are possible. He also mentions how to make oneself ready to receive these gifts and recites several powerful...

As we enter the second ten days of Ramadan, the days of forgiveness, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus explains Imam al-Ghazali’s three degrees of fasting: the fast of the common folk, the fast of the elect, and the fast of the elect of the elect. Shaykh Yahya focuses on the fast of the elect (or righteous) and its six practices to encourage us to strive for a higher level of fasting and its potential rewards....

“The seeker is not truly a seeker until he finds in the Qur’an all that seeks.” As this blessed month of Ramadan begins, it is a good time to access our relationship with the Qur’an. It has been said that to gage one’s state with Allah the Exalted, one should look at his or her connectiveness with the Qur’an. In this Khubah, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin relates an inspiring story of a Companion whose recit...

After discussing the virtues of Ramadan and the fruits of fasting, Ustadh Amjad provides a list of practical steps to prepare oneself and one’s environment in order to enhance one’s ability to take advantage of the unique blessings this sacred month offers.

“Whoever hurts a Muslim has hurt me. And whoever hurts me has hurt Allah.” Continuing with his short series on the rights of Muslims on other Muslims in preparation for Ramadan, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus mentions numerous hadith that unequivocally demonstrate that believers have a sanctity that other believers must uphold.

In this khutba, Shaykh Yahya defines the four cardinal virtues in an Islamic context and then focuses on the virtue of courage, which lies between cowardness and recklessness. He discusses the other traits of good character that rise from it, as well as the bad character traits that arise when there is an imbalance and the trait of cowardness or its opposite, recklessness, dominates.

“Learning has a beginning but it doesn’t have an end.” Shaykh Yahya Rhodus continues his short series on the rights of Muslims on other Muslims looking at three rights that Imam al-Haddad (d. 1132 AH/1720 CE) emphasized. He also relates two beautiful stories about Sayyidina Umar ibn Khattab, radi Allahu anhu, illustrating the practical application of fulfilling these rights.

“The sanctity of a believer is greater than the Ka’bah itself.” In preparation for Ramadan and over the next several weeks, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus will be focusing on the rights of Muslims on other Muslims. This topic is especially important because Allah the Exalted does not forgive a sin unless the wronged person has forgiven the sin.

In this short series in preparation for Ramadan, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus continues his discussion on the right of Muslims on other Muslims. According to Imam al-Haddad (d. 1132 AH/1720 CE), there are two key traits that facilitate many other traits. Shaykh Yahya discusses these traits and explains how to begin to implement them.

Just as there are distinct manifestations that occur in the physical seasons, the same is true for the spiritual seasons. There are blessings that we can receive in Ramadan that we cannot receive outside of Ramadan. Likewise, there are blessings available in Rajab that are very difficult to receive outside of Rajab. In this Khutba, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin explains how we can take advantage of the uniq...

“It is a believer’s duty to guard himself against sin, both small and great, in the same way he would against burning fires, floods, and lethal poison.” Imam al-Haddad On the blessed last Friday of the sacred month of Rajab, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin reminds us that it is not too late to receive Rajab’s special gifts, as actions are judged according to their endings. Rajab is the month to repent and tur...

“Glory be to the One Who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran 17:1] Of the most significant events that occurred in the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the Isra’ wa’l Mi‘raj (the Night Journey and Heavenly Ascension). On this...

“Glory be to the One Who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran 17:1] Of the most significant events that occurred in the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the Isra’ wa’l Mi‘raj (the Night Journey and Heavenly Ascension). On this...

“Glory be to the One Who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran 17:1] Of the most significant events that occurred in the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the Isra’ wa’l Mi‘raj (the Night Journey and Heavenly Ascension). On this...

“Glory be to the One Who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran 17:1] Of the most significant events that occurred in the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the Isra’ wa’l Mi‘raj (the Night Journey and Heavenly Ascension). On this...

“Glory be to the One Who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran 17:1] Of the most significant events that occurred in the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the Isra’ wa’l Mi‘raj (the Night Journey and Heavenly Ascension). On this...

“Glory be to the One Who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran 17:1] Of the most significant events that occurred in the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the Isra’ wa’l Mi‘raj (the Night Journey and Heavenly Ascension). On this...

“Glory be to the One Who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs. Indeed, He alone is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” [Quran 17:1] Of the most significant events that occurred in the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the Isra’ wa’l Mi‘raj (the Night Journey and Heavenly Ascension). On this...