A Muslim Convert Once More

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is extracted from “The Prophet Muhammad Muswthafa the Elect ( s.a.w. )”, by Shaykh ‘Utsman Nuri Tufbas.   Having completed the six-month preparation toward perfecting his spiritual development so that he was now ready to receive Divine Revelation, Prophet Muhammad ( s.a.w. ) was now forty years old.   It was the seventeenth day of the holy month of Ramadhan.   The Prophet ( s.a.w. ) was in the Cave of Hira as usual, when Jibril ( a.s. ) suddenly appeared and said, “Read!”   “I cannot read”, answered our Beloved Prophet ( s.a.w. ).   Thereupon, the angel seized and constricted the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) so hard that he left him almost unable to breathe.   “Read!” Jibril ( a.s. ) then ordered once more.   But the Light of Being ( s.a.w. ) responded in the same manner: “I cannot read!”   The angel then seized him for the second time, compressing the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) until he had no stren...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is extracted from “The Prophet Muhammad Muswthafa the Elect ( s.a.w. )” by Shaykh ‘Utsman Nuri Tufbas.   It was, thus, these ayat of the Qur’an that the Blessed Prophet ( s.a.w. ) received first from the gates of Heaven as a source of grace and vigour.   Jibril ( a.s. ) departed not long after and the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) returned home to Sayyidatina Khadijah bint Khuwaylid ( r.a. ), trembling from the unbearable fright of the moment: “Cover me, Khadijah, cover me!” he was saying.   After a few moments, the Blessed Messenger ( s.a.w. ) recounted the experience to his wife, our mother, Sayyidatina Khadijah ( r.a. ), the noble woman with whom he lived an upright family life for the rest of humankind to emulate.   Anxiously, he asked her: “Who is going to believe me now, Khadijah?”   But the noble woman reassured her life companion, “I assure you that Allah will never embarrass you; for you protect your kin...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Faraj ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Jawzy ( r.a. ) wrote, in Thib ar-Ruhani , that arrogance is glorifying one’s self and disdaining others.  The reason why arrogance occurs is due to feeling superior over others that are less in lineage, wealth, knowledge, or worship and such like.  The sign of arrogance is disdaining those who one feels superior over, also swaggering, pride and one's love for being glorified by others.   The cure for this disease lies in two approaches: a general approach and a detailed approach.  The general approach is further divided into two types; theoretical and practical.  The theoretical cure is through textual and logical evidence of the demerits of arrogance.  The practical cure is achieved by accompanying humble people and hearing their stories.   On the other hand, the detailed approach is achieved by reflecting on the flaws of the self and knowing that if someone is...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Shaykh ‘Utsman Nuri Tufbas wrote, in “The Prophet Muhammad Muswthafa the Elect ( s.a.w. )”, as the advent of prophethood drew near, the Messenger-to-be ( s.a.w. ) often found himself delving into the depths of contemplation, in seclusion, distant from the public eye.  At times, he would set out from his home and leave Makkah far behind him, to seek the haven of places silent.  Many a time, on the way, he would hear the outlying stones and the trees on the path greet him with the words, “Peace be upon you, Messenger of Allah”.  In hope of making out the owner of the voices, he would look around, but see only trees and stones.   Later, the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) is reported to have said, “I remember there being a certain stone in Makkah that used to greet me before the arrival of my prophethood.  I could identify its place even today.”  This is recorded in Swahih Muslim .   Confirming this are the words of Sayyidina...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ “ Da’wah ” is when we introduce Islam to non-Muslims.  When we address Muslims, it is “ iswlah ”, from the same root as “ swalah ”.  Da’wah is about inviting.  Iswlah is about refining.  Nowadays, some people classify everything as “ da’wah ” and do not differentiate between the two.  How did it come to this?   It is primarily the Wahhabi sect that classifies educating the masses of Muslim as “ da’wah ”.  This is because, as taken from  Shaykh Taqi’ ad-Din Ahmad ibn ‘Abd al-Halim ibn Taymiyyah  ( r.a. ), instead of the Sunni understanding of tawhid al-ilah , the Divine Nature, the Wahhabi sect have tawhid ar-rububiyyah , the “oneness of worship” and tawhid al-uluhiyyah , “the sincerity of the acts of worship”.  The implication here is that mere testification of faith, the recitation of the shahadah , is insufficient to be considered a Muslim.  As the heretic, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab, sa...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following question was posted by me, on The Sharing Group, on the 09 th April 2015: “Can reason alone prove that there is a God and deduce His Nature?”   Brother Colin Turner : Brother Terence, as I am sure you know only too well, the issue of reason and Revelation could fill numerous threads.   Insha’Allah, I will have a think and get back to you, but I have a lot of questions myself on this one and am unsure about the whole issue.   I look forward to learning more.   Brother Terence Helikaon Nunis : I look forward to your thoughts, brother.   Brother Raja Chawla : This is a two-part question.   Can reason alone prove that there is a God.   And deduce His Nature.   Brother Colin Turner : There are many different strands to the argument or issue of reason versus Revelation, and maybe we can discuss some of these strands in the fullness of time.   As regards your particular question, since i...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ After Isma’il ibn Musa Mink was banned from public speaking in Singapore, his lawyers, who I assume are quite new to this defamation business, sent me a laughable letter demanding some sort of response.   Naturally, since it is in my good nature, I responded comprehensively.   Please find below, Ismail Menk’s lawyers on my alleged defamation.   This here, is my response.   This is different from the format I sent out.   Regarding the defamation on the character and person of “ Mufti ” Ismail Menk, I refer to your letter, dated 10 th December 2015, in regards to the supposed defamation of your client, Ismail ibn Musa Menk.  I acknowledge as well as point out several erroneous claims on your part in regards to the matter.  The premise of this letter is based on the presumption that the addressee already knows the basics of Wahhabism in terms of its principles and origins.  I will assume you know what yo...