On December 13, 2020, Al-Maqasid held an online retreat titled, “Reflections on Death and the Afterlife,” based on Book 40 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din. This series of five lessons covers a variety of topics including: the merit of remember death and brief hopes; the account of the Messenger of Allah’s ﷺ passing; the true nature of and experiences after death; and the major events of the Afterlife. In this first session, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus begins with a brief introduction of Iman al-...
Dec 23, 2020•42 min
“Account yourselves among the dead...” In Session 2 of this five-part series, “Reflections on Death and the Afterlife,” based on Book 40 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin defines what it means to have “brief hopes,” discusses the dangers associated with long hopes, the major causes for long hopes, and why one must hasten to perform righteous actions. For the English translation of this book by Dr. Timothy Winter (Sh. Abdal Hakim Murad): https://www.meccabooks.com/180-a...
Dec 23, 2020•41 min
“Whoever conceals the faults of a believer shall have his own faults concealed by Allah on the Day of Arising.” The discussion of Book 40 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din continues in Session 3 of al-Maqasid’s retreat, “Reflections on Death and the Afterlife,” with Shaykh Yahya Rhodus exploring various aspects of the Afterlife including: the Trumpet Blast, the Inquisition, the Scales, the Restoration of Wrongs, the Traverse, and the Pool. For the English translation of this book by Dr. Ti...
Dec 23, 2020•49 min
"And surely your Lord will give so much to you that you will be pleased." [Quran 93:5] At this point in this five-part series, “Reflections on Death and the Afterlife,” based on Book 40 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din, the emphasis moves from looking at some of the harsher realities of the Afterlife which evoke fear in the believer to those realities that engender hope. In Session 4, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin discusses the beautiful ways in which our beloved Messenger ﷺ intercedes for his Umma...
Dec 23, 2020•51 min
"On that Day some faces will be bright, looking at their Lord." [Quran 75:22-23] Al-Maqasid’s December 2020 retreat, “Reflections on Death and the Afterlife,” based on Book 40 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din, concludes in this last video with Shaykh Yahya Rhodus’s discussion on the bliss believers experience when they behold the Countenance of Allah the Exalted and the many other examples of Allah the Exalted’s Mercy once we leave this earthly life. For the English translation of this bo...
Dec 23, 2020•42 min
Lecciones de la vida del Profeta de un libro de Habib Hadi bin Ahmad al-Haddar. Esta es una serie acerca de la noble biografía profética. La quinta y última clase es una sipnosis de las características internas y externas del Mensajero ﷺ. Además de estudiar su vida y la forma en la que transmitió el mensaje, es de suma importancia conocer como fue su carácter y apariencia física. No hay duda de que quien lo conocía le amaba profundamente.
Dec 23, 2020•44 min
The next trait of Futuwwa (spiritual chivalry) mentioned in Imam al-Sulami’s Kitab al-Futuwwa, is to realize one’s complete impoverishment (faqr) before Allah the Exalted in all of one's states. Here, Sh. Yahya Rhodus explains why it is in our benefit to realize our servitude before Allah the Exalted. He also discusses the four types of impoverishment and the four traits of servanthood.
Dec 21, 2020•28 min
Lecciones de la vida del Profeta de un libro de Habib Hadi bin Ahmad al-Haddar. Esta es una serie acerca de la noble biografía profética. La cuarta clase trata la migración del Mensajero ﷺ a Medina junto a su compañero Abu Bakr. Al-lah, el Altísimo, les protegió todo el camino hasta que fueron recibidos a salvo por los demás emigrantes (Muhayirín) y los ayudantes (Ansar). Esta clase culmina con el fallecimiento del Profeta ﷺ y de como sus compañeros respondieron a este evento.
Dec 18, 2020•1 hr 1 min
In this introductory khutba, Sh. Yahya Rhodus begins his series on the well-known and foundational Hadith on intentions, “Actions are by intentions. And every man will have that which he intended...” [Bukhari & Muslim] He discusses the merits of having righteous intentions and mentions the various dimensions of intention that will be discussed over the next several khutbas, insha Allah.
Dec 18, 2020•35 min
Allah the Exalted tells us the Quran: O you who believe, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. [Surah al-Anfal, 8:24] With this and several other verses in the Qur’an and statements of the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him (hadith), Ustadh Amjad Tarsin explains what it means to be truly living and the reality to which we have been invited.
Dec 13, 2020•25 min
Lecciones de la vida del Profeta de un libro de Habib Hadi bin Ahmad al-Haddar. Esta es una serie acerca de la noble biografía profética. La tercera clase trata de como el maltrato de los incrédulos hacia los creyentes intensificó y del boicot en contra del Mensajero ﷺ y sus seguidores. Esto fue sucedido por el año más difícil de la vida del Profetaﷺ, al perder a su amada esposa Khadiya y a su tío Hamza, que Al-lah este complacido con ellos. Poco tiempo después el Mensajero se prepara para dejar...
Dec 11, 2020•51 min
Sh. Yahya Rhodus discusses the next trait of Futuwwa in Imam al-Sulami’s book, Kitab al-Futuwwa: feeling joy in the privilege of serving Allah the Exalted. He also explains what the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, meant by “...the coolness of my eyes is prayer” and suggests a du’a related to this statement.
Dec 10, 2020•19 min
Lecciones de la vida del Profeta de un libro de Habib Hadi bin Ahmad al-Haddar. Esta es una serie acerca de la noble biografía profética. La segunda clase abarca el momento en que el Profeta ﷺ recibió la revelación a través del ángel Gabriel en la cueva Jirá. También se discute como Al-lah, el Altísimo, protege el mensaje en sus etapas tempranas de los incrédulos. El Mensajero ﷺ a través del mensaje divino cambió la vida de quienes lo aceptaron a pesar de que la sociedad estaba sumergida en pura...
Oct 28, 2020•54 min
Lecciones de la vida del Profeta de un libro de Habib Hadi bin Ahmad al-Haddar. Esta es una serie acerca de la noble biografía profética. Da inicio con la introducción al estudio de la síra y su importancia para el creyente; además se hace un comentario sobre las primeras secciones del libro que abarcan el nacimiento del Profeta ﷺ, su niñez y juventud y de cómo la protección divina se manifestaba preparando todo para el inicio de la profecía.
Oct 27, 2020•49 min
Imam al-Ghazali states that “It is evident that reflection is the key to illumination, the basis for insight, the net for catching forms of knowledge, and the snare to capture direct perception and understanding.” In this first of five sessions covering Book 39 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din (Revival of Religious Sciences), Ustadh Amjad Tarsin introduces the topic and discusses the merit of reflection through Quranic verses, Prophetic Hadiths, and sayings of the pious predecessors.
Oct 16, 2020•51 min
In this second session on reflection (tafakkur), covering Book 39 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din (Revival of Religious Sciences), Sh. Yahya Rhodus defines tafakkur and related terms and then looks at seven types of reflection and their fruits as described by Imam al-Haddad (1634-1720 CE) in his work The Book of Assistance. He then finishes with a discussion on the five degrees of reflection.
Oct 16, 2020•1 hr 3 min
Ustadh Amjad Tarsin continues with Imam al-Ghazali’s teachings on reflection (tafakkur) in Book 39 of his work Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din (Revival of Religious Sciences) in this third session by commenting on Imam al-Ghazali’s reflections upon the marvelous creation of the human being.
Oct 16, 2020•54 min
In this extremely useful session, Sh. Yahya Rhodus explains the context in which Imam al-Ghazali places reflection (tafakkur) and how the Imam categorizes different aspects of it into a logical framework. What is impermissible to reflect upon and what is most beneficial is also discussed, as well as practical suggestions on how to begin to implement reflection towards the goal of witnessing Allah the Exalted.
Oct 16, 2020•54 min
This final session on the Sunna of Reflection from Book 39 of Imam al-Ghazali's Ihya Ulum al-Din focuses on reflecting upon the signs on the earth and in the heavens. When studying and contemplating the signs and meanings within Allah's creation, one ascends in the degrees of reflection, which helps the seeker attain knowledge of Allah the Blessed and Exalted.
Oct 16, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Allah the Exalted tells us multiple times in the Qur’an that no one can escape death. In this Khutba, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus discusses the importance of preparing for death’s consequences by striving for the higher levels of certainty so that, at the moment of death, one’s faith is absolutely firm and one longs to meet his Lord. To test the strength of one’s certainty, he provides five signs to look for in oneself.
Oct 13, 2020•23 min
Sh. Yahya Rhodus continues his discussion on spiritual chivalry (futuwwa) looking at the virtue of being a servant to Allah the Exalted alone, as mentioned in Imam al-Sulami’s book, Kitab al-Futuwwa, and in two aphorisms by Ibn‘Ata Illah al-Iskandari.
Oct 13, 2020•22 min
Ustadh Amjad Tarsin continues his Khutba series on the five foundational hadith, which scholars have indicated that all other hadith stem from their meaning. In this Khutba, he discusses the hadith, "It is from the excellence of a person's Islam is that he leaves that which does not concern him," and how to implement it in one’s life. To listen to the other Khutbas in the series: https://soundcloud.com/al-maqasid/sets/the-5-foundational-hadith
Oct 04, 2020•35 min
Ustadh Amjad Tarsin reminds us that Rabi’ al-Awwal—the birth month of our beloved Messenger, blessings and peace be upon—is soon approaching. In anticipation of this beautiful occasion, he relates four things to do in order to see the Prophet ﷺ in one’s dreams, in shaʾ Allah.
Oct 02, 2020•6 min
Sh. Yahya Rhodus translates a poem of love and praise of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by a great knower of Allah the Exalted, al-Habib Ali bin Muhammad al-Habashi, who died in 1333 AH (1915 CE). He points out that the righteous all over the traditional Muslim world say the same things and ask for the same things, and he stresses the importance of understanding this discourse.
Oct 02, 2020•9 min
In this Khutba, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin begins the first Khutba on the five foundational hadith which scholars have indicated that all other meanings stem from. He begins with the well-known hadith, "Actions are judged according to intentions..." and he describes the intentions of various categories of people, including the generality, the ignorant, the hypocrites, the scholars, the people of the spiritual path, and the people of reality. To listen to the other Khutbas in the series: https://soundcl...
Sep 28, 2020•33 min
The only line repeated three times in the Ḍiyā al-Lāmiʿ Mawlid is the following: "O Lord, gather us and our loved ones in Your abode of Firdaws, O You Who are our only hope" In this uplifting talk, Sh. Yahya Rhodus discusses a Hadith Qudsi (Divine saying) in which Allah the Exalted tells us four simple and attainable ways that we can become beloved to Him.
Sep 25, 2020•15 min
Iman, faith, is the greatest of all gifts, and Allah the Exalted only gives faith to those whom He loves. It is incumbent upon us to preserve this great blessing and to strengthen it. Strengthening one’s iman leads to a related concept of certitude (yaqīn), which has various degrees. In this Khutba, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus discusses the three main levels of certainty and provides four ways to increase one’s certainty with the ultimate goal of drawing nearer and nearer to Allah the Exalted.
Sep 21, 2020•34 min
Shaykh Yahya Rhodus discusses the importance of establishing and preserving the five daily prayers, especially praying in congregation (Salat al-Jamā’a) and in particular with respect to the 'Isha and Fajr prayers. Six benefits of praying in congregation are mentioned, along with several hadiths and stories of the righteous that demonstrate the more one’s life revolves around the prayers, the better one’s life will be.
Sep 11, 2020•14 min
In this relevant and extremely beneficial Khutba, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin discusses what we should do in this time when there are so many inversions in morality, knowledge, and the natural ways Allah the Exalted has taught us to be. He bases his discussion on the Hadith of Jibril, peace be upon him, and verses from the Qur’an (4:64-65 & 49:1-2) and gives three practical steps that can help us to protect ourselves and our families.
Sep 07, 2020•26 min
“The melodies are there to help you reflect on the meanings.” With these few words, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus reminds us that the weekly Mawlid is far more than just listening to uplifting rhythms or gathering together socially. Rather, we are preparing ourselves to be with the Messenger, blessings and peace be upon him, in the next life, along with his Companions and the righteous servants of Allah the Exalted, may Allah be pleased with them all.
Sep 06, 2020•14 min
