Category: English

English, Understanding Islam, Videos

Muslim converts’ stories: Robert Carter

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Story of an English Christian person intrigued by Muslim friends. I’ve lived in Enfield, North London for all my life. So really growing up in North London I can explain to you the easiest ways. It’s very sort of traditional English in the sense that because it’s so close to Essex and it’s away from central London. It’s kind of kept hold of a lot of its sort of English roots, there’s a lot of English people, therefore, example in the sense that when you come to central London, you know, there’s a lot more sort of cultural mix. But … Continue reading Muslim converts’ stories: Robert Carter

Diversity, English

The ‘Othering’ of Ahmadiyya Community in Bangladesh

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In “The ‘Othering’ of the Ahmadiyya Community in Bangladesh”, Humayun Kabir notes that the Ahmadiyya community has been historically subject to “othering” by the mainstream Muslims who are strongly antithetical to the Ahmadi belief in the prophethood of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835–1908). Distinctive in the process of “othering”, as delineated in this chapter, is that earlier the nature of resistance against the Ahmadiyya community was limited to theological debates, reform and preaching activities, but now it is becoming increasingly intolerant, hostile and violent. Kabir captures the shift from the Bengali Deobandis’ preaching (tablighi) and reformist activities that began to construct … Continue reading The ‘Othering’ of Ahmadiyya Community in Bangladesh

Diversity, English

Religion and Animal Welfare—An Islamic Perspective

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Sira Abdul Rahman Clive J. C. Phillips, Academic Editor Abstract Simple Summary Cruelty to animals occurs during production, handling, transport, and slaughter in most countries where Islam is a major religion. Most of the people involved in this, such as those involved in the transport of animals, animal handlers, and butchers, are Muslims. However, many Muslims and Islamic religious leaders are not aware of this cruelty. Islam is a religion that shows compassion to animals as mentioned in the holy book Qur’an and sayings of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). This paper highlights what Islam says of the welfare of animals and … Continue reading Religion and Animal Welfare—An Islamic Perspective

English, Sufism

Sufi Orders in Pakistan

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Tayyab Baloch Sufism (Tasawwuf) Somebody asked Abu Hafs: “Who is a Sufi?”   He answered: “A Sufi does not ask who a Sufi is.” Sufism (Tasa wwuf) is generally accepted the name for Islamic mysticism because the word Tasawwuf meaning “mysticism” has been use in Muslim society for long time. To understand the concept of Sufism first we should have a look into meaning of mysticism. Mystery refers to “religious truth via divine revelation”. Philosophy, reason, even sensual and rational methods can not reveal it because it depends on spiritual experience.  In fact without real practical experience, it is hard … Continue reading Sufi Orders in Pakistan

English, Sufism

Extract from the Fusus al-hikam of Ibn Arabi

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Bulent Rauf The Calling by Revelation of the Brides of Absoluteness in the Places of Absoluteness of the Wisdoms of the Bezels In the Name of the All-Compassionate and Merciful, praise and glory to God, Who brings down the Wisdom to the hearts of the Words by the uniqueness of the straight and closest (amâm) Way from the Most Ancient station. Indeed, because of the difference of the people, the creeds and the religious communities became different. And God gave praise (salât) to the mamad al-himam (the source of extension of all himmah) from the treasuries of Munificence and Generosity, with the most … Continue reading Extract from the Fusus al-hikam of Ibn Arabi

English, Sufism

Reflections of Ibn ‘Arabi in Early Naqshbandî Tradition

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Hamid Algar It is often assumed that the Naqshbandî tariqa has formed a singular case of imperviousness to the almost universal diffusion of the teachings and concepts of Ibn ‘Arabi.[1] This misapprehension rests not only on a lack of acquaintance with the relevant texts but also on a failure to understand both the perennial essence of the Naqshbandî path and the distinctive genius of ash-Shaykh al-Akbar. With its well-known insistence on sobriety and adherence to the sharî’ a and the popularity it has consistently enjoyed among the ‘ulamâ’, the Naqshbandîya is thought to be implacably hostile to theosophical speculation, to be a kind of mysticism without … Continue reading Reflections of Ibn ‘Arabi in Early Naqshbandî Tradition

English, Sufism

The Muhammadian House: Ibn Arabi’s concept of ahl al-bayt

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Claude Addas Ahlu baytī amān li ummatī’, ‘The people of my house are a safeguard for my community’. Although it is not included in any of the canonical collections,[1] this saying attributed to the Prophet is one of the innumerable traditions [2] which in Islam are the basis of the respect which the faithful have towards the ahl al-bayt,[3] the ‘Family of the Prophet’, understood here in the broader sense and including the shurafāʾ, the direct descendants of the Prophet from his daughter Fātima. The expression ahl al-bayt appears on three occasions in the Qurʾān,[4] and one of these concerns the family – this is verse 33 of the … Continue reading The Muhammadian House: Ibn Arabi’s concept of ahl al-bayt

English, Sufism

The Experience and Doctrine of Love in Ibn Arabi

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Claude Addas “By God, I feel so much love that it seems as though the skies would be rent asunder, the stars fall and the mountains move away if I burdened them with it: such is my experience of love.” If I attributed this quotation to Rūmī or to Ruzbehān Baqlī, no one would be surprised: they are both unanimously acknowledged to be among the most illustrious representatives of the “way of love” which is at the heart of the mystical tradition of Islam. But it is from the Futūḥāt, the work whose “impassive and icy tone” Massignon denounced, that this … Continue reading The Experience and Doctrine of Love in Ibn Arabi