'I'm remembering Allah, but my heart's not in it; what's the point' is a typical anguish for many of us? 'When I make dhikr, my heart doesn't have focus, it's all over the place. Is there any use' is another one? So should we stop making dhikr because out heart lacks focus on Allah; because there isn't any hudur al-qalb…
40 Day Spiritual Retreat: Does It Have a Basis in Islam?
In Islam, is there any significance to the period of forty days? Why do certain people insist on going into spiritual retreats for this length of time? Some allude to the verse: And when We appointed for Moses forty nights [Qur'an 2:51], saying that it points to the importance and justification of a forty day spiritual retreat. What,…
Despair Not if Response to Your Du‘a is Delayed
'Why isn't my supplication (du‘a) being answered?' is a common complaint that some Muslims make. If we put aside the obvious gremlins (lack of sincerity in making du‘a, impatience with the response, asking for something sinful of for breaking family ties, not ensuring one's income; food; and clothing are halal), there are other factors that play…
Pitfalls of the Practising Muslim
There are, we are cautioned, certain pitfalls along the path which we must steer clear of; and it is not uncommon for those committed to religious observance (“practicing Muslims” is the usual term) to stumble headlong into such dangers, corrupting works of faith and poisoning the soul and health of the heart. Of these pitfalls is ‘ujb: vanity,…