A Muslim Convert Once More

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Prior to the last century, almost no work of Islam mentioned the word Islam in its title.   Now, we have titles like “Marriage in Islam”, “Truth in Islam”, anything “in Islam”, “Muslim” such and such.   Have Muslims reverted from believing that Islam is the Universal Truth?   In the Old Testament, it should be noted that the Religion of God was presented as monolatric as opposed to monotheistic.   The Chosen People have their Supreme God but tacitly acknowledging the gods of the surrounding tribes.   Herein lies the true greatness of Moses ( a.s. ).   He was the first to truly turn Judaism into a monotheistic faith.   Deuteronomy 6:13-15 13 Take heed diligently lest you forget the Lord, Who Brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.   You shall fear the Lord your God, and shall serve Him only, and you shall swear by His Name.   14 You shall not go after the strange gods of all the nations, that are round about you:

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Shah Muhammad Baha’ ad-Din an-Naqshband ( q.s. ) is the 17 th Shaykh of the Golden Chain of the Naqshbandi Haqqani Thariqa’ .   He is acclaimed as the greatest of those who have kept the Secret of the Golden Chain, and it is from him that the Naqshbandi thariqa’ get their name.   Shah Baha’ ad-Din an-Naqshband ( q.s. ) was born on the 14 th Muharram on 717 AH / 1317 CE.   He was born in Qaswr al-’Arifan, near Bukhara, Central Asia.   He learned about the Path from Shaykh Muhammad Baba as-Samasi ( q.s. ), and later from Sayyid Amir al-Kulal ( q.s. ), whom he succeeded.   He also learnt through uwaysi from the Prophet’s ( s.a.w. ) presence and one of the stars of the firmament of the Naqshbandi. There is a story from the Qadiri thariqa’ of Shah an-Naqshband ( q.s. ).   It is said that 150 years after the death of Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Abu Muhammad ibn Abu Swalih ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani ( q.s. ), people asked Shah an-Naqshband ( q.s. ), “Shay

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ One time, Shaykh Jamal ad-Din al-Ghumuqi ( q.s. ) was with his followers in the big mosque of the city praying the night prayer in congregation.   When the prayers were finished, everyone went out and they locked the mosque from the outside.   One person remained behind, inside the mosque, hiding behind a pillar.   His name was Urkallisa Muhammad ( q.s. ), one of the best muridun of Shaykh Jamal ad-Din ( q.s. ). Shaykh Urkallisa Muhammad ( q.s. ) said to himself in a state of introspection, “O Urkallisa Muhammad, now there is no one with you, you are alone.   Defend yourself.” And he answered himself, “How can I defend myself?   I am the worst person that Allah has Created on the face of the earth.   To prove it, I swear an oath that if what I say is not what I honestly believe, then may my own wife be haram to me!”   He did not know that his shaykh was still in the mosque and observing him.   The shaykh looked into Shaykh Urkallisa’s ( q

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ It has been 10 years since I became a Muslim.   And on the 19 th of January, my birthday, I decided to leave the religion.   I met my shaykh , Shaykh Zakariya ibn ‘Umar Bagharib ( q.s. ), and I stated my intention.   He asked me, “When you came to Islam, did you come for anyone?”   I came alone, like coming out of the desert into an oasis, in a long spiritual journey. “So, why are you leaving because of people?   Do you believe that Allah ( s.w.t. ) is One, and Muhammad ( s.a.w. ) is the Messenger?”   I never doubted that. And then he smiled and said, “That is not apostasy.   That is a tantrum.” I took my wudhu’ , and we performed our swalah , and I went on my way.   I had to start from scratch, rediscovering what it was that brought me to Islam.   It was certainly not the Muslims.   What brought me to Islam was the comprehensive theology, the spiritual connection with the people that mattered, and a certain focused drive to understa