Blog


16
Dec 2018
Book Review: Religion and Revolution: Spiritual and Political Islām in Ernesto Cardenal

Sheikh Farrokh has written the book review below of the book: Religion and Revolution: Spiritual and Political Islam in Ernesto Cardenal by John Morrow. Islām is one multi-dimensional religion possessing an exoteric realm and, more importantly, infinite esoteric layers and depths. The more one abides by the former, the more this will enable one to transcend though the latter. The ultimate goal being Him (Allāh)! And the nature of this journey to Him is one of the soul (anfusī), as one tradition narrates Allāh as saying: “your external side (ẓāhiruka) is to......

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25
Jul 2017
Hajj: an inner call to all (Part 2)

(This is part of the series Hajj: The Inner Journey updating daily on Sheikh’s Telegram Channel @haj1438) “And announce the intention (of attaining to God) inside the people (to their innate nature)…” (22:27) So far we have established that although there exists a superficial and historic narrative to this verse, the esoteric aspect relates to the ingrained yearning to God that resides in the innate nature of all people. How do people react to this call towards absolute perfection (God)? The verse reads: “And announce the intention (of attaining to God) inside......

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25
Jul 2017
Hajj: an inner call to all (Part 1)

(This is part of the series Hajj: The Inner Journey updating daily on Sheikh’s Telegram Channel @haj1438) And announce the Hajj to the people, they’ll come to you by foot and they will come (riding) on thin camels that come from every distant place. (Quran 22:27) This holy verse has an exoteric meaning which is apparent. But on closer scrutiny to the esoteric meaning, hidden truths can be unveiled. The fact that Prophet Abraham was ordered to stand on a platform and physically proclaim the invitation is a reality and we do......

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25
Jul 2017
Why the abundance of exoteric, zahiri rituals in Hajj? [Part 3]

(This is part of the series Hajj: The Inner Journey updating daily on Sheikh’s Telegram Channel @haj1438) In Hajj, there is a plethora of ghaybi realities, embodied in physical rituals. Examples include: Although the satans are physical realities (albeit not visible to the naked eye), their war zone (temptations) against man deals with the immaterial ghaybi realm of the mind. In Hajj, the satan is embodied in a series of stone pillars and man’s immaterial struggle against satan is embodied by the physical throwing of stones against the pillars. The immaterial mortification......

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25
Jul 2017
Why the abundance of exoteric, zahiri rituals in Hajj? [Part 2]

(This is part of the series Hajj: The Inner Journey updating daily on Sheikh’s Telegram Channel @haj1438) Belief in the physical occultation of the Mahdi is important but only a minimum. How does the fact that a human being is in physical occultation help ones spirituality? One of Allah’s names is the Hidden . Naturally the latter is not physical in any way. The Mahdi’s occultation which is of more significance is his immaterial occultation, him being a manifestation of Allah’s al-ghaa’ib-ness. So the appearance of the Mahdi which is of spiritual......

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24
Jul 2017
Why the abundance of exoteric, zahiri rituals in Hajj? [Part 1]

(This is part of the series Hajj: The Inner Journey updating daily on Sheikh’s Telegram Channel @haj1438) Before answering this question it’s important to understand what the term ‘ghayb’ (unseen) means. Belief in the ghayb is a manifestation of one’s faith. Sometimes one believes in the unseen by means of rationality or philosophy. That is a minimum in faith. For example proving by deduction that there are metaphysical, immaterial realms and existents is a step one prerequisite to faith. But were one to see such realms – whilst asleep or awake –......

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24
Jul 2017
Why is the essence of the Hajj ritual on the brink of destruction? [Part 2]

(This is part of the series Hajj: The Inner Journey updating daily on Sheikh’s Telegram Channel @haj1438) Whenever one enjoys going to salaat without undergoing burdens, one must truthfully evaluate oneself. By way of example, when one attends a congregational prayer every day and enjoys doing so without there being a burden at all, and in fact not attending becomes difficult, one must ask oneself why? Duties and ibaadaat are burdensome by nature because they tame one’s ego and animalistic pleasures. Now imagine one attends a prayer to be seen by others,......

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24
Jul 2017
Why is the essence of Hajj on the brink of destruction? [Part 1]

(This is part of the series Hajj: The Inner Journey updating daily on Sheikh’s Telegram Channel @haj1438) In Arabic, the term duty (takleef) means ‘being burdensome/difficult’. Why? Because Islamic rituals and duties entail a degree, albeit tolerable, of burden. Let’s briefly peruse through some of them. In salaat (five obligatory daily prayes), there are a series of disciplines one must observe at least for five periods during the day at specific allocated times, thus preventing one from being occupied in other activities during such moments. In sawm/fasting, one must avoid committing a......

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06
Jul 2016
Eid Message 2016

Salaamun alaykum dear brothers and sisters! I would like to offer my sincere congratulations and felicitations on the auspicious occasion of Eid al-Fitr. This year the holy month had manifested in a divine manner – albeit with a superficially different facade – to which I am most grateful to our Lord. I thought it was necessary to mention a few words out of respect to you all. Hundreds of people – Muslim and non-Muslim – have emailed me during the last month. To those who prayed for this unworthy servant – irrespective......

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12
Jun 2016

In light of the tragic incident in Orlando last night, I would like to offer my utmost, sincere condolences to the friends and families of those massacred. I am saddened and disturbed by this act of brutal violence against innocent people. The killing of innocent life is never justified by religion. I reflect on the following verse in relation to those who kill innocent life, 5:32 reads “…it is as if he had slain mankind entirely…” The perpetrator of this shooting has directly violated this holy commandment and displayed a complete disregard......

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