cambridge khutbas etc.

Ashura and Karbala - Spiritual Renewal

2011-12-05T12:44:00.001Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 2nd December 2011 - 27mins 7secs

'Think not of those who are slain in the way of Allah as dead. Nay they are living! With their Lord they have provision. Jubilant are they because of that which Allah hath bestowed upon them of His bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not joined them but are left behind: that there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve. They rejoice because of favour from Allah and kindness, and that Allah wasteth not the wage of the believers'. Surah Al-Imran Verses 169-171

A few days before Ashura the Sheikh began his khutba by noting that Shahada is not to be simply translated as martyrdom, but rather an act of ultimate sincerity and testimony. In the pre-Islamic period a death was a cataclysmic event, but tawhid brought with it the knowledge that as you die, you pass through the veil towards God Himself. This is why the martyr is shaheed, witnesser, as he lays down his life knowing where his destiny lies.

The Sheikh then went on to explore the themes of the Holy Month of Muharram, a month where acts are subjected further to the Divine Scrutiny, especially in the first 10 days and none more so than on the 10th: Ashura. The history books - sometimes verifiably, sometimes less so - tell of an Ancient day resonating through the ages with tremendous affairs: the day of the Exodus of Musa, the day Allah relented toward Adam, the end of the Flood of Nuh, the day Sulayman was crowned, the day Allah relented toward Dawud, the day Isa was born, may Allah's peace be on them all. The thread that runs through all these events is one of spiritual renewal, a movement from sin toward obedience, shadows to light.

The day was also of course the day upon which the most tragic event in the history of Islam after the death of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, occurred. The events of the dread day of Karbala are well known and the Sheikh recounted them, but he moves on to ask 'what should be the monotheistic response to this apparently terminal and unimaginable disaster?' Of course grief and sorrow spring forth. But hanging onto the thread of spiritual renewal we note that the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Erdogan gave an Ashura speech last year in which he noted that "Karbala is a sign of Unity, everybody agrees on the principle of it, nobody supports the killing, nobody takes the side of the killers". The Sheikh went onto note how Karbala - not just Ashura - is commemorated by the Sunni population in Istanbul, for example at the Sunbil Sinan Pasha Camii in Koca Mustafa Pasha district, where thousands take part in mersiye (lament) poems and read a khatm of the Qur'an for the shuhada of that day. What emerges from these gatherings is a feeling of optimism and joy, spurred on by the words of Allah "they are alive in the presence of their Lord, receiving sustenance". To the extent of what we believe about shahada, something in us is glad. We grieve because those we love are no longer here and their relatives suffer, but in our heart of hearts we rejoice, for they have moved through this Vale of Tears and are in the presence of their Lord, in the highest of gatherings.

The picture in this blog is the Sancak (standard) of the legendary Ottoman Admiral Hayrettin Barbaros Pasha (Barbarossa), who ruled the waves during the reign of Sultan Suleyman. The flag is replete with intriguing symbolism, more here.

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The Hajj Collection

2011-11-01T21:17:00.002Z

As we received so much positive feedback for our Ramadan Reader, please find below an assortment of resources that centre on the days of the Hajj and the festival of Eid-ul-Adha.

Talks and Lectures

Hajj: The Inward Spiral - A sermon exploring the deep significance of the Hajj, with its rites echoing in distant pre-eternity when all souls past present and future stood in witnessing before God.

The Purification of Hajj - A striking khutba discussing the transformative qualities of yearly festival and ritual, moving beyond mere pageantry to times when our selves can be cleansed and elevated.

Sacrifice and Submission - An Eid-ul-Adha khutba drawing the parallel between the sacrifice that Abraham was commanded to make and the ones we have to make when clearing our lives of those obstacles in our lives barring us from the Divine.

Fathers and Sons and Hud and her Sisters - A pair of sermons that both centre on the House of Abraham, which of course feature so strongly and prominently in the origins and the significance of the Hajj.

Articles

Ten Good Manners for Hajj - A translation by the Sheikh from Imam Ghazali's magisterial Ihya ulum ad-Din.

From Drury Lane to Makka - A moving account of the first recorded visit English Muslim to the Holy Sanctuary

Hajj: an inward journey - An article published in Emel magazine, exploring the idea that Hajj is a journey on different planes, the effects of which transcend space and even time.

Thought for the Day transcripts

21st January 2005 - Hajj in full swing

Fathers and Sons

2011-10-30T13:42:00.003Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 21st October 2011 - 25mins 54secs

Hagar, that ‘root out of a dry ground’, the most fertile woman in history.

Contentions 1:30, Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad

In the run up to the pilgrimage of Hajj the Sheikh gave a captivating account of the prophetic destinies of the houses of the sons of Ibrahim, upon them all be peace. Highlighting the difference between the Testament and Qur'anic accounts of how Hajar (Hagar) came to find herself in the barren valley of Mecca, the Sheikh shows how then, as now, truth and righteousness is still to be found with the outcast, or in the Prophet's words, peace be upon him, "with the broken-hearted".

However despite the divergences within the great Abrahamic stream we learn that the Islamic message is one of inclusiveness. The Qur'an is replete with the accounts of the scions of Isaac; Ya'qub (Jacob), Yusuf (Joseph), Musa (Moses), Harun (Aron), Dawud (David) and Isa (Jesus). Later in the khutba, after regaling us with the thrilling account of the discovery of Zamzam, the Sheikh tells us of the fulfillment of this other Abrahamic line, with the arrival of Muhammad, the Chosen One, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. The universal nature of his mission is resoundingly confirmed with his words "I was sent (as a Messenger) to mankind, in its totality".

Lest our blog-post title intimate to some that the Abrahamic and Muhammadan story is another androcentric saga, the Sheikh dwells during the sermon on the monumental matriarch of our tradition, Hajar. A perfect example of one who would put her reliance solely with God, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would invoke her memory and those like her on the battlefield when he would exclaim:

"I am the son of heroines, and pure women"

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'Two Ravenous Wolves'

2011-10-15T12:02:00.001+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 7th October 2011 - 27mins 37secs

"Whomsoever wants of this lower life, We shall give him his fill in this lower life, and in it he will not be disappointed. It is these whose affair in the akhira is the fire; empty is what they used to do, and futile their former acts"

This is the unflinching Qur'anic designation of those who set fire on the earth, who set alight their egos and aspirations. In this first khutba of Cambridge University's Michelmas term the Sheikh describes those who, rather than act as gardeners, stoke the fires of the lower potentialities of the soul. The fires of the love of wealth and status, worryingly enticing to many of us are described by Imam Ghazali as 'rukna ad-dunya', pillars of this corrupt world. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, himself put it in his own unique way:

Even two wolves let loose in a flock of sheep would do no more harm more quickly than the love of status and wealth do to the religion of the Muslim believer.

The Sheikh goes on to note that the real crisis of modern humanity is that of status and wealth. In Ghazalian terms these could be described as the acquisitive desires for ownership of 'things' ('Who's on Forbes' list? What kind of car does he have?'), and hearts; the desire for fame. Unfortunately in a reflexive manner we tend to venerate those who have wealth and status, regardless of their qualities. This why Tony Blair can be held as the leader of the Middle East Quartet and head of a Faith Foundation; a Pied Piper leading his entranced faithful to the melody of his own fame.

Fortunately the Sheikh tells us that there is a way to banish these wolves that are baying at our door. Religion snaps us out of the trance. Islam is the sharp tonic that we need but it must be added it does not lead to us to the opposite extreme; only to the middle way. We do have the right to wealth, and a certain status, honour, sharafa. The shari'a grants us the right to property and the right to dignity; the crux of the matter lies in the intention behind what we do, whether we are Princes or paupers. The Sheikh highlights this point by drawing from the example of the Sahaba Abu Dujana, the famous Red Turbaned Samurai-like Warrior of Islam.

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Come Dine with Me

2011-10-12T21:19:00.002+01:00

Talk - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - London - 10th May 2011 - 50mins 45secs

You were a prized falcon, trapped by an old woman.

Then you heard the Drummer's call,

and flew beyond space and time...

Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi (may God be pleased with him)

Earlier this year Sheikh Abdal Hakim gave an address at an event hosted by Ulfa Aid. He began by outlining the homogenous monoculture bequeathed to us by globalisation, with its lack of family values but perhaps more importantly lack of a belief in the unseen, the magical. This age that we find ourselves in is not modern or post-modern but rather "post-everything"; an age in which the sarcastic quip and the cynical put-down is king.

Despite this the Sheikh reminds us that within all humans is a capacity for wide-eyed amazement that cannot be entirely blunted. As a respected astrophysicist would have it, 'the strangest thing in existence is that existence itself can be perceived', and answers to the inevitable questions that arise can be found within Islam's cosmological narrative. In this age the truth is posited precisely where the power structures of the day would say it is not; God is not to be found with the well-fed investment bankers but with the seemingly impoverished taxi drivers that drive them around. These are the inheritors to the Ishmaelite tradition, for God is with the outcast, the downtrodden, the despised.

As Mevlana Rumi notes our task in this life is to respond to the calling of the drum. Humanity is not inherently sinful; rather we have forgotten our origins and the incessant beating of the drum led by the Prophets urges us to waken from our slumber, for as Mevlana says 'an-nawmu 'ala-l-ashiqi haram': 'sleep for the lovers is forbidden'. At its start this path can seem exacting. However this is a small effort to be made for us to become falcons, spread our wings and fly to that Court that lies 'beyond space and time'.

Talk published with kind permission of Ulfa Aid. Please visit the Ulfa Aid website, we can't recommend highly enough the work that they have been doing for countless around the world, may Allah bless their efforts and accept it from them. They will be holding a 'Night Walk' along Southbank, London on 29th October to raise money for victims of the recent Japan earthquake, some more details to be found here. Another exciting development is the opening of the Ulfa Aid shop in Willesden Green next week. Called 'Rumi's Cave' it will be a versatile space that will - insha-Allah - be used as a cafe, antique shop, exhibition area and community centre. Please check the website and mailing list for more details.

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Listen to the Q and A

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Photograph and videos taken from the Ulfa Aid website, 'Come Dine with Me' event.

Come Dine With Me - Abdul Hakim Murad ( Timothy Winter ) from Ulfa Aid on Vimeo.

Come Dine With Me - Abdul Hakim Murad ( Timothy Winter ) Q&A from Ulfa Aid on Vimeo.

The Presence of the Qur'an

2011-08-21T16:25:00.008+01:00

Talk - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 17th February 2011 - 67 mins 55 secs

"He is dead who does not feel the Qur'an move in his hands"

Contentions 6:20, Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad

In this talk the Sheikh addresses an important aspect of the Qur'an, namely the transformative experience of the Word of God in the breast of the believer. Whilst the Qur'an's power is not contained by mere history the Sheikh demonstrates how the Book stands at the isthmus of the Ancient and Modern world and yet belongs to neither time; it exists rather as the driving force and symbol of Islamic civilisation, itself a unique being. Without experiencing the Presence of the Qur'an, with its ability to reach into the mysterious depths of the soul, the phenomenon of Islamic civilisation is not understandable. The question is thus posed: why has this text, often described as being impenetrable, taken up such a prominent position in the lives of Muslims and indeed non-Muslims from the time of the Prophet - peace be upon him - to this very day?

The Sheikh mentions various approaches to the Qur'an, notably exploring Mevlana Rumi's poetry:

"The Qur'an is like a bride.
Although you pull
the veil away from her face,
she does not show herself to you.
When you investigate the Qur'an,
but receive no joy or mystical unveiling,
it is because your pulling at the veil
has caused you to be rejected.
The Qur'an has deceived you
and shown itself as ugly. It says,
"I am not a beautiful bride."
It is able to show itself
in any form it desires.
But if you stop pulling at its veil
and seek its good pleasure;
if you water its field, serve it from afar
and strive in that which pleases it,
then it will show you its face
without any need for you to draw aside its veil."

-trans. William C. Chittick

The image above is taken inside the Mihrimah Camii, Uskudar, Istanbul by the CKETC team

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A Ramadan Reader

2011-08-01T11:47:00.024+01:00

Updated with new Thought for the Day - 7/8/11

Please find below a collected of assorted articles and talks from Sheikh Abdal Hakim about the blessed month we find ourselves in. Whilst extensive, this is by no means exhaustive and so if you have any suggestions for additions to the list please get in contact!

Also, please consider donating to the Cambridge Mosque is Moving Ramadan Brick by Brick appeal! Any help you can offer, no matter how modest, would be warmly and greatly appreciated. Details can be found here.

Talks and Lectures

Preparing for Ramadan - How to prepare ones body, mind and soul for Ramadan, this most welcome of guests.

'Abdal Hakim Murad - Ramadan' - A talk given in the last few days of Sha'ban, again about approaching Ramadan with ihsan.

Benefits of Fasting - A talk in the run up to Ramadan about the manifold benefits of fasting.

Restraint in an age of excess - This khutba outlines some of the tribulations afflicting the modern world that fasting - insha-Allah - can help lift.

'Fasting is Mine' - A lecture exploring the hadith qudsi in which Allah says 'Fasting is Mine'.

Charity - A khutba that discusses one of the very beneficial acts one can perform whilst fasting during this month.

'On Ramadan' - Delivered Aylesbury Mosque, UK November 1999

Eid-ul-Fitr - An Eid-ul-Fitr khutba given long ago, a treat to savour at the end of the month!

A Fairtrade Ramadan - From the Radical Middle Way

Articles

Ramadan in Turkey - A brilliant snapshot of the vibrant Ramadan experience in Istanbul

The Ramadan Travelogue 2010 - Last year the Sheikh treated us to a daily Ramadan Travelogue, some of them covering his thoughts whilst travelling in Turkey. Sparkling, rich and always relevant, we hope for more entries this year. Please return to the site regularly for more updates on this.

Thought for the Day transcripts

A collection of textual offerings from Aunty Beeb, some directly relevant, others tangentially so (audio here)

15 October 2004 - Retro-Ramadan

1 September 2008 - Annual Muslim Challenge Ramadan Day 1: Attack the Convolvuli

16 September 2009 - The Da Vinci Code and the Night of Power

23 September 2009 - The Hospitality of Eid
2 August 2011 - Ramadan Welcome!

12 January 2004 - Lust: a double edged sword

27 July 2007 - The Fundamentals of Fat

The image above is taken from inside Sultanahmet Mosque (the 'Blue Mosque'), Istanbul. Taken by the CKETC team.

The Last days of the Prophet

2011-07-23T14:38:00.006+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 11th March 2011 - 25mins 23secs

Martin Luther King Jnr once said that "the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

In this khutba the Sheikh used the passing of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to explore some of the reasons he is considered to be the best of men. Passing through the isthmus between this mortal life into the realm of the next is known to be a dread affair, when all are tested to their limits. In this trying time, when others would trouble themselves only with the fate of their own mortal soul, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, repeatedly concerned himself only with the fate of the community of believers. As the angel Gabriel, upon him be peace, came to him, he could only ask as to the fate of his ummah after his passing. Despite the immense trial he was going through he presented himself to the people for the last time again only exhorted them to good and gave them words of comfort to ease their hearts. He, peace and blessings be upon him, was given glad tidings of being the first to be resurrected on the day of arising: how could it be otherwise for a man whose last words, as he lay in lap of his wife, were "the prayer, the prayer..."

This event, the wafat an-nabawiyya, was the greatest tribulation the Muslims of that time, or possibly any time, had ever faced. Again the situation allowed those companions with the loftiest rank to show their quality. Whilst many were lain low, struck dumb or driven to righteous anger, Abu Bakr, may God be pleased with him, the second of the two, led the Muslims onward in their journey with the now famous words:

"To proceed, if anyone amongst you used to worship Muhammad, then Muhammad has passed away, but if anyone of you used to worship Allah, then Allah is Alive and shall never die. Allah said, "And Muhammad is but a messenger; the messengers have come before him; if then he dies or is killed will you turn back upon your heels? And whoever turns back upon his heels, he will by no means do harm to Allah in the least and Allah will reward the grateful." (Qur'an 3.144)
The image above is the first line of the Burda, to be found in Topkapi palace, Istanbul. Taken by the CKETC team.

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The Royal Wedding: Ancient Origins

2011-05-28T16:23:00.007+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 29th April 2011 - 25 mins 54 secs

On the eve of the wedding of the to-be Duke and Duchess of Cambridge the Sheikh gave his own take on the fanfare surrounding the Royal Wedding.

The public interest in the ceremonies may have been aroused for a number of reasons, not all of them edifying, but perhaps one factor behind it was a collective response of the fitra, the natural state lying more or less dormant in every individual.

It may have been that being attracted by the pageantry was in fact a respect for the ordinances of that most ancient bond of marriage. The Sheikh mentioned how Adam, peace be upon him, was taught the Names of things by Allah, and that he was not taught them in isolation but rather with a partner, Hawa (Eve). Returning back to his original postulation, Sheikh Abdal Hakim commented that the dual singularity of marriage is in the natural order of things, the modern obsession with the individual identity being an aberration a step removed from the primordial path.

The image above is of the spring blossom - to be found at the time of the wedding - in Selwyn College, Cambridge. Taken by the CKETC team.

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The Mercy of Diversity

2011-05-18T16:42:00.006+01:00

As-salaam 'alaykum. Please accept my sincere apologies for the hiatus in posting. InshaAllah a new administrator will be taking over the site shortly, who has more time to manage it and update more regularly. There are some great recordings to come, including Sheikh Abdal Hakim's khutba on the royal wedding (!) among other things.

For those of you who have contributed to the transcription project, I also wanted to thank you sincerely for your response and let you know that we are working on getting the transcripts up online inshaAllah.

So, apologies again for the unscheduled break in posts. Please forgive me for that, and rest assured that regular posts will resume shortly with the injection of some new blood!

In the meantime, here is a very interesting recent talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim on the significance of diversity in modern Britain, which he delivered during Habib Umar b. Hafiz's tour of the UK. You can also see talks by Habib Umar himself here.

Bandwith & Upcoming Posts

2011-03-26T10:00:00.003Z

We're temporarily out of bandwidth this month, so if you are trying to download any talks you should be able to do it from April 1. Apologies for any inconvenience. We're looking into upgrading or changing our file hosting to avoid this problem in the future.

We've got a lot of great sermons and lessons coming up, including Sheikh Faraz's talk we promised a few weeks ago (sorry, tech goblins temporarily ate it!) and some very moving sermons from Sheikh Abdal Hakim. So please check back soon once the downloads are flowing freely once more inshaAllah!

The Life of Hazrat Shah Shahidullah Faridi

2011-03-16T23:06:00.011Z

Circle - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 16th March 2011 - 62 mins 4 secs

The last few centuries have seen many an Englishman and Englishwoman convert to Islam. Prominent figures in the modern Muslim collective consciousness, their journeys into the faith have often-time been sources of amazement and wonder to all who would hear them. And yet one would be hard pressed to find an account more stirring and more beautiful than that of John Gilbert Lennard. Born in 1915 into an upper class family, Lennard's heart was turned towards Islam after reading Imam Hujwiri's Kashf al-Mahjub.

In this memorable circle Sheikh Abdal Hakim traces out Shah Shahidullah's life, from the spires of Oxford to the slums of Karachi, from the world of Wodehouse to the realm of Data Ganj Baksh, Baba Fareed Ganjshakar and his own Sheikh, Hazrat Maulana Syed Muhammad Zauqi Shah

In an age of scepticism and doubt, the life of Shah Shahidullah Faridi stands out as a beacon of light, a proof of the spiritual way and the heights that man can reach when he sets out with sincerity on the path towards the Divine.

May Allah accept Shah Shahidullah's efforts and prayers in this life, and grant him the heights of paradise and proximity to the ones he loves in the next. Ameen.

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Islam & Extremism (Arabic)

2011-03-11T12:13:00.007Z

This interview with Sheikh Abdal Hakim and Sheikh Usama al-Sayyid from Al-Azhar was broadcast on Yemen Radio around New Year. They discuss the topic of Islam and extremism. Good Arabic practice for anyone learning!

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The Idol Within

2011-03-09T16:40:00.010Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 18 February 2011 - 25 mins 09 secs

It is relatively easy not to be seduced into the worship of idols in the obvious sense - bits of wood and stone, statues of powerless 'gods'. How much more dangerous and harder to avoid are the numerous other ways we distract ourselves from our true, natural orientation to the One and Only God. In this sermon, Sheikh Abdal Hakim warns us against 'dividing the qibla' by placing our own desires and self-satisfaction before our efforts to worship Allah, and describes some ways the scholars have recommended to avoid this 'hidden shirk'.

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Duty To God

2011-03-01T16:42:00.006Z

Talk by Sheikh Jihad Brown - Cambridge - 31 January 2011 - 44 mins 14 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

This is the first of a pair of talks we were blessed to hear in Cambridge recently on the topic of 'Duty To God, Duty To Society'. In this first part Sheikh Jihad Brown discusses our duty to Allah in light of how we orient ourselves toward Him with courage, consciousness and authenticity. InshaAllah we will post the second of these talks, given by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani, later this week.

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Enjoining Good, Forbidding Wrong

2011-02-04T22:54:00.008Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutbah) - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 4 February 2011 - Cambridge - 23 mins 32 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

In the past days and weeks people all over the world have been following the events in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere. The people's struggle for freedom inspires hope, but the dangers they face provoke fear and anxiety. Many question the role of religion in such difficult circumstances. Some fear mixing politics and religion. Others criticise the absence of leadership from religious figures, and say the ulema are out-dated and irrelevant. In this sermon, Sheikh Abdal Hakim provides a timely reminder of the fundamental importance for our leaders of 'enjoining the good and forbidding the bad' (amr bi-l-ma'ruf wa-nahy 'an al-muhkar) - so important that Imam al-Ghazali called it 'the greatest pillar' (al-rukn al-'azim) of the religion.

Among the many great scholars and saints who have discharged this weighty responsibility, despite the grave threat to their livelihoods and even their lives, Sheikh Abdal Hakim mentions Hasan Kaimi Baba of Bosnia, Sheikh al-Hasan al-Yusi of Morocco and Sheikh Amadou Bamba of Senegal. They were true followers of the Prophetic example, because they resisted injustice and oppression. May Allah grant our leaders, our scholars and us ourselves the determination to do the same, and may He in His All-Encompassing Mercy guide and protect the people of Tunisia, Egypt and all over the world wherever they face cruelty, corruption and repression.

Ya Qawiyyu ya Matin ikfi sharr al-zalimin, aslah Allah umur al-muslimin, sarraf Allah sharr al-mu'dhin.

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Purification & Repentance

2011-02-01T13:34:00.004Z

Friday sermon by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 21 January 2011 - Cambridge - 28 mins 27 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

In this sermon, Sheikh Abdal Hakim discusses some of the many sayings of the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) that emphasise the importance of ritual cleanliness. If religion is ultimately about the state of our hearts, why should we attribute so much importance to outward ritual? Many Muslims, as well as non-Muslims, conclude of course that we should not. But here the sheikh explains the interconnectedness of all aspects of the human condition, and consequently the fundamental relationship between inward state and outward action.

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From Hippy To Imam: John Muhammad Butt

2011-01-22T22:09:00.006Z

A wonderful report from the BBC on the life and work of Imam John Muhammad Butt, who works as the Muslim Chaplain of Cambridge University during his time in the UK each year. He arrived in 1960s Pakistan via the hippy traveller trail, and was so attracted to the region, its people and their religion that he became Muslim and went on to graduate from the prestigious Darul-Ulum Deoband.

An amazing life story from which we can all take inspiration. Jaan-Muhammad Sahib, please pray for us back in Cambridge, and we look forward to seeing you soon inshaAllah!

Read the full story here.

The Mawlid of Imam al-Barzanji

2011-01-21T09:01:00.002Z

Mishkat Media has released a beautiful live recording of the celebrated Mawlid of Imam al-Barzanji. A classic of Islamic culture, it is a sung celebration of the birth and greatness of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

The recording was made in Cape Town at the annual Mawlid Jama’at at the Al-Zawiya mosque, under the direction of Shaykh Seraj Hendricks.

The performance is available on DVD, with full English subtitles of the Arabic recitation as well as several bonus features, including an explanation by Shaykh Seraj on ‘Understanding the Mawlid’. It is also available as an MP3 with the recitation of the mawlid only.

Like all Mishkat Media products, all profits go to the Cambridge New Mosque Project!

The History of Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam

2011-01-17T22:21:00.004Z

The name of Abdullah Quilliam is one that has been thrust into prominence recently, but how much closer are we to discovering who the man really was and what he was about? In what promises to be a fascinating broadcast Shaykh Abdal Hakim goes in search of the truth behind the remarkable story of the first Shaykh ul-Islam of the British Isles.

Find out when the programme will be broadcast

Unity & the Manners of Difference

2011-01-14T16:00:00.005Z

Talk by Mufti Muhammad al-Kawthari - 11 December 2010 - Cambridge - 56 mins 22 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

Another talk at the recent FOSIS Winter Conference in Cambridge was by the renowned scholar Mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari. In it he addresses the perennial problem of the lack of respect for others with different opinions. He explains the nature of the unity of ahl al-sunnah wa-l-jama'ah and the proper adab (manners) for engaging in debate and respectful disagreement.

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Can You Help This Site?

2011-01-13T15:08:00.007Z

UPDATE 26 JANUARY 2011: Many, many thanks to all who have volunteered for this project, jazakum Allah kheir. It's great to make this blog more of a group effort! It will take us some time to process the transcriptions we have promised so far, so we don't need any more volunteers for the time being. InshaAllah we will start to post transcriptions in the next few weeks.

If you have promised a transcription in the Comments section but not emailed in yet, please do so we can have your address to stay in touch - cambridgekhutbasetc [at] gmail [dot] com

***

We are looking for volunteers to help us develop the resources at cambridge khutbas etc. by transcribing one or more sermons or talks.

If you have benefited from the resources on this site, why not help others do the same?

InshaAllah we will then use these firstly to provide transcriptions of the talks here for the benefit of the deaf and hard of hearing and anyone else who would like to read instead of listen.

Secondly, we intend to translate as many of the talks as possible to give speakers of other languages access to good free resources about Islam. We will focus on European languages, as Muslims living outside traditionally Muslim countries generally have less extensive resources.

As you can imagine, transcribing and translating more than 100 talks on this site will be very time-consuming, so we need your help!

Imagine the reward you could receive inshaAllah if you transcribed a talk and it helped someone increase in their belief? Or if someone listened to that talk and then donated to the Cambridge New Mosque Project?

So if you have an hour or a few hours to spare in the coming weeks, please do a wonderful deed by transcribing a talk or sermon of your choice and emailing it to us at the address here. If you do not feel confident transcribing any parts in Arabic, don't worry - just send us the talk without those and we can add them in, but please indicate the time in the recording of the parts you have left out so we can find them easily to add them in.

If you start a transcription for a particular talk, let us know and we will add a note to that entry so no one starts a transcription someone else is already doing. Once the transcription has been sent in, we will update the entry again and add a downloadable file.

If you think you could help with translation, please get in touch as well. We are focusing initially on French and Spanish, but other European languages are welcome - as long as you are fluent enough to give accurate and idiomatic translations. We already have one highly qualified translator working on this project alhamdulilah.

So what are you waiting for? We're waiting for your transcriptions!

The Power of Monotheism

2011-01-09T18:22:00.011Z

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 11 December 2010 - Cambridge - 46 mins 59 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

In this subtle and beautiful talk, delivered at the FOSIS Winter Conference, held late last year in Cambridge, Sheikh Abdal Hakim reflects on the amazing transformative power of a true understanding of the Divine Unity (tawhid). Why was it that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forgave the people of Mecca when he had conquered them? How was it that Islam was welcomed and honoured as it spread? What is it that brings people from all over the world to the Two Holy Cities in peace and brotherhood? Each of these and many many more examples testify to the unparalleled power of the pure monotheism of Islam to overcome hostility, division and the lust for revenge. By fully perceiving the One True Reality, we let go of the petty hatreds of our many apparent differences. But perhaps because we are so familiar with these stories, we seem to have forgotten how clearly this real capacity for forgiveness and empathy contrasts with the usual course of human behaviour. Certainly the state of the world today strongly suggests we are failing badly in our responsibility to enact the message of La ilaha illa Allah. May Allah grant us a true understanding of tawhid that will transform our hearts and through our hearts the world around us.

Listen to this talk

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Hajj: the Inward Spiral

2010-12-19T23:19:00.009Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 12 November 2010 - Cambridge - 20 mins 51 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

This sermon, delivered just before Eid al-Adha, reminds us of the deep significance of Hajj. The great annual gathering of pilgrims from all over the world recalls an even greater gathering before time when every human soul bore witness to Allah's Divine Sovereignty: "Bala shahidna!" The outward ritual of journeying to the Noble Sanctuary thus corresponds, with Allah's help, to an inward journey toward remembrance of our true nature and station. The pilgrim's call of "Labbayk Allahumma labbayk!" ("At Your service oh Allah!") echoes the soul's primordial attestation. It is the worldly counterpart to the acknowledgment that He is our Lord, and we are His humble servants. Sheikh Abdal Hakim explains the kissing of the Black Stone in this context, and describes the fundamental tranquility brought about this great journey of remembering and submission. May we all be able, God willing, to journey to Mecca and receive the treasure of inward transformation that is the gift of travelling as humble supplicants to Allah's earthly court.

Image: 'Meccacentric' by Lateefa Spiker. Used with permission.

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Travelling Light Series III MP3s - 10% Off

2010-12-13T12:41:00.003Z

Series III of Travelling Light with Shaykh Seraj Hendricks is out now as downloadable MP3s - a perfect alternative to the surrounding seasonal excesses. As a special introductory offer, there is 10% off until 1 January 2011 when buying the complete series.

Shaykh Seraj studied at the Al-Zawiya mosque in Cape Town, and then at Umm al-Qura University in Mecca. He was Chair of the Fatwa Committee of Cape Town, and is currently Imam of the Al-Zawiya mosque, where he regularly teaches the works of Imam al-Ghazali.

In Series III, he covers Books 13-16 of The Revival of The Religious Sciences, which are: The Courtesies of Earning a Living; The Halal & the Haram; Friendship, Brotherhood & Companionship; and The Courtesies of Seclusion.

As always, every penny of profit goes to support the Cambridge New Mosque Project, so please spread the word as far as possible and encourage your friends and family to buy!

Living with Our Selves

2010-12-08T11:20:00.010Z

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 30th November 2010 - Cambridge - 1 hour 30 mins 46 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

How can one leave the self behind on the path to Allah when we are the self? This was the central paradox behind the sheikh's latest circle: living with our selves.

Approaching the question through the language left us by today's monoculture makes our task difficult; the word has been so desacralised that it is nigh on impossible. This is not to say that signs are not present. Ironically the depth of modern scientific study has only given us the opportunity to diversify our appreciation of God's signs, from the far reaches of the universe down to the enigmatic workings of the subatomic realm; these ayat all urge us to be what the sheikh calls 'New Cynics', the Rindan of Mevlana Rumi. Akin to the intoxicated joyful ones of old who would laugh at the absurdity of their own selves and the world around them, we need now more than ever to marry the exuberance of youth with a learned cynicism over what the modern world seeks to beguile us with.

This futuwwa has Hadhrat Ali - Shah e Merdan - as its champion, for his sword Zulfiqar with its two points indicated to the inward and outward rectification required of those who would tread the path of Islamic chivalry. That this dual jihad was and indeed is necessary was highlighted by the Sheikh in a chilling passage: al-Hasan al-Basri said that 'this world is a bridge, it is for passing over, not building on'; if you cannot realise this then your thoughts are not your own, and you are as good as dead.

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Humility & Recognition

2010-12-02T21:00:00.005Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 5 November 2010 - Cambridge - 22 mins 3 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

Humanity has a glory and a dignity granted to us by Allah the Creator, but His religion enjoins us always to humility. Pharaoh's definitive error, the paradigmatic opposite of the wonderful examples of the prophets of Allah (peace be upon them), was to seek 'exultation in the earth'; whereas we can reach the highest point of human dignity at the very moment our foreheads are on the floor in prayer and submission. Sheikh Abdal Hakim explores this theme in this sermon, mentioning the many reports of the spiritual benefit of humility, but also going on to describe how we can legitimately promote our qualifications and abilities when necessary in daily life.

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Is Islam Compatible With The West?

2010-11-14T21:07:00.006Z

Talk by Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad - Luton - 2009

We know from the Holy Qur'an that "East and West belong to Allah" (2:115). We also know from the manifestation of Allah's religion throughout so many different times and places that His Guidance nourishes and uplifts humankind in any circumstance. Yet today we are dogged by the controversy of 'Islam versus the West'; and many people assume that the two are at best incompatible, at worst utterly inimical. In this talk, Shaykh Abdal Hakim discusses this perennial debate, and attempts to break down the monolithic assumptions that often accompany it.

This talk was originally sponsored by the Reflection Project at World Appeal. Many thanks to Sidi Junaid for sending in the audio, may Allah reward him.

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Belief & Conviction

2010-11-06T22:31:00.004Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) - Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 22 October 2010

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

In this sermon, Shaykh Abdal Hakim discusses the nature of iman (belief) and yaqin (conviction, certainty), how they differ from ordinary knowledge and the role of Allah's guidance in producing them. He discusses in particular the story of Ibrahim's youth (may peace be upon him), his search for true knowledge and how Allah guided him to it. Especially nice to reflect on the story of Ibrahim at this time of year when pilgrims from all around the world are gathering at the house he built in honour of the Lord who guided him. May Allah accept all their efforts!

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Making the Most of Student Life

2010-10-26T22:30:00.011+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 10 Oct 2010 - 10 mins

In this short talk, delivered on the occasion of a welcoming dinner hosted by the Cambridge University Islamic Society for new students, Sheikh Abdal Hakim offers some thoughts on how to make the most of student life. In particular, he highlights the importance of enjoying the extraordinary experience of the alleged clash of civilisations and of figuring out one's own way of establishing his or her identity as both 'Western' and 'Muslim'.

Apologies for the relatively barren run during the summer. InshaAllah, we hope to update the site regularly now with new talks and sermons to benefit us all. JazakAllah for all your patience.

LINK TEMPORARILY REMOVED

Love For Others

2010-09-07T16:27:00.005+01:00

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

All the videos from the Travelling Light webinar are now available online - just in time for Eid! There are beautiful reminders and uplifting lessons from Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Mohammed Magid, Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, Shaykh Muhammad Ninowy and Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.

You can watch all of them on the Cambridge Mosque Is Moving channel on Vimeo, but in the meantime Shaykh Abdal Hakim's video is embedded here. His talk on loving others provides a wonderful message to take away from Ramadan as the hustle and bustle of everyday life reclaims us again.

Sorry for the relative lack of posts over the summer, but we will try our best to bring you more excellent talks very soon. In the meantime, please keep praying for all of us in Cambridge, spread the word about the Cambridge New Mosque Project, and may you all have a blessed and enjoyable Eid.

Ramadan Travelogue

2010-08-22T02:49:00.006+01:00

A series of reflections on Ramadan - updated daily!

This Ramadan Shaykh Abdal Hakim will be sharing with us an exclusive Ramadan Travelogue in order to mark the countdown to The Cambridge New Mosque Project Ramadan Appeal. A new installment will be posted everyday at http://www.cambridgemosqueismoving.org.uk/ramadantravelogue.html

As a taster we've included the first of Shaykh Abdal Hakim's offerings below:

Metabolically and internally, Ramadan knocks the stuffing out of us. Like all the basic practices of our religion, it is an idea as simple as it is shattering. The body and spirit respond at their deepest level. The ego squeals with pain. To the extent that we are still babies, we cry and cry.

There are some elemental human experiences where the body, detecting its limits, transforms the spirit. Making love, famously, is one example. But there are others. Once, walking in the Alps, I passed a lake as blue as cobalt, formed from the meltwater of a glacier which towered over it. No-one was in sight, so I stripped off and ran straight in. The shock of that freezing water around me was staggering, and I could feel my heart straining. Coming out, shivering uncontrollably, I felt like a king. All of life seemed to be shivering around me, and the world seemed to have become strangely sharp and bright.

The experience of being born must be similar. From a comfort zone we experience the pain of delivery, and the outrage of new existence in an external world of bright lights and strange sounds. The baby screams, but its pain is its first experience of true life. Spiritually, it has begun its career.

The fast blasts us, and exhausts us. We feel the laughable flab melting away, and start to remember the important fact that we are alive. Life is a symbiosis between our bodies and the world. We are alive when we feel that interaction and dependency at work.

On August 30, 2010 (21st night of Ramadan) join the Cambridge New Mosque Project at http://www.cambridgemosqueismoving.org.uk/fundraising/ramadanappeal.html and Channel S at www.chsuk.tv as they team up for a LIVE APPEAL in support of the first purpose built mosque in Cambridge and the first eco-friendly mosque in Europe (http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/07/eco-mosque-england/). Our goal this Ramadan is simple: One night. One million. In order to reach this we need you! If you have gained benefit from this post then please commit to support The Cambridge New Mosque Project (http://www.cambridgemosqueismoving.org.uk/fundraising/ramadanappeal.html), and please remember us in your prayers.

Ramadan & Charity

2010-08-04T14:32:00.003+01:00

Friday sermon (Jum'ah khutba) - Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - date unknown - 19 mins 45 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

In this sermon, Shaykh Abdal Hakim explains the importance of charity during Ramadan. May Allah bless us in this month, and make us grateful for the food we have when millions of people around the world are suffering. May He, Almighty and Exalted, in particular relieve the suffering of the flood victims in Pakistan - please remember the importance of sadaqah and donate to help them.

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Preparing for Ramadan

2010-08-03T22:40:00.008+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 1 Aug 2010 - 36 mins 48 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

In this talk, Sheikh Abdal Hakim discusses how to prepare one's body, mind and soul to reap the most benefit from the holy month of Ramadan. He expands on the concept of taqwa and goes on to explain how this enables one to understand the wisdom behind the Divine Commandment of fasting.

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Healthy Hearts, Healthy Communities

2010-07-23T16:57:00.002+01:00

Mishkat Media & SeekersGuidance present ‘Healthy Hearts, Healthy Communities: the life and teachings of Imam al-Ghazali in the modern world’, a webinar in aid of Cambridge New Mosque Project.

The exclusive broadcast will feature a special message from Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, a talk and LIVE Q & A with Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, and talks by Shaykh Yahya Rhodus and Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.

The webinar will be broadcast inshaAllah on Saturday August 7th at 2pm EST / 8pm BST (7pm GMT).

Places to view the webinar are strictly limited and are by registration only. Registration is FREE but donations for the mosque project are welcome!

Everyone who registers will also receive a discount code for 20% off all Mishkat Media products for a limited time. All profits from Mishkat Media go to the Cambridge New Mosque Project.

REGISTER HERE

Mountains in the Qur'an

2010-06-20T23:01:00.008+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - May 2010 - 1hr 16 mins 40 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

In this talk, Sheikh Abdal Hakim discusses the reality of nature as a series of signs or ayat that point toward the relationship of creation and Creator. In the later part of the talk, he focuses particularly on mountains, and their symbolism in the Qur'an and biography of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

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The Ship of Salvation Pt. 3

2010-06-11T12:26:00.004+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Hounslow - April 2003 - 50 mins 46 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

The last part of this talk on the work of Imam al-Ghazali (may Allah be pleased with him) and its relevance today. Apologies again for the delay posting it.

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The Science of Wayfaring

2010-06-04T12:53:00.004+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Granada - June 2008 - 44 mins 59 secs

In the second of the Heart Surgeon series on Islamic spirituality, Shaykh Abdal Hakim reminds us that Islam is not just a fixed state of being, but a process of becoming. We are all returning to Allah - our aim must be that this is not just by the inevitable process of time, but that it becomes also a spiritual progress, by which Allah brings us ‘out of the shadows and into the light’.

You can download this talk here - all profits to the mosque as always.

The Pursuit of Happiness

2010-06-02T07:45:00.007+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 21st May 2010 - 25 mins 46 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

In this sermon, the Sheikh explores how the Glorious Names of Al-Qabid (The Constrictor) and Al-Basit (The Expander) reflect states that human beings naturally pass through and how these are spiritual extensions of the concepts of fear (khawf) and hope (rajaa') . The Believer is one in whom these 2 states are in constant balance. Happiness and joy, thus, can only be fully appreciated after one has known fear and sadness and it is Allah (swt) who bestows the sakinah into the hearts of whomsoever He wishes.

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Reconnecting The Heart

2010-05-28T22:41:00.004+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Granada - June 2008 - 36 mins 04 secs

Our hearts are often distracted by the artificial and superficial all around us in the modern world. In this talk, Sheikh Abdal Hakim discusses some of the fundamental ayat (signs) of Allah’s creation that He in His Mercy has laid out as a means to revive the heart and purify ourselves from distraction. This talk was given in Rajab two years ago, and among the several themes the sheikh addresses is the importance of the lunar Islamic calendar and the importance of preparing for Ramadan. As we approach Rajab again, his words are a particularly valuable reminder.

This talk is the first of the new Heart Surgeon series, a number of talks on Islamic spirituality given by Sheikh Abdal Hakim, Sheikh Ibrahim Osi-Efa and Sheikh Idris Watts. It is available from the new Mishkat Media site, where you can also download MP3s of the Travelling Light series. As always, all profits go to the Cambridge New Mosque Project.

PS Apologies for the delay on posting Pt. 3 of The Ship of Salvation - we've been a bit busy with the new Travelling Light/Mishkat Media site. InshaAllah it's coming soon, along with several other great talks we have to post.

Travelling Light MP3s & Website

2010-05-22T18:15:00.006+01:00

Travelling Light has a new look website with new content too. As well as being able to get Travelling Light lectures in MP3 format for the first time, you can also hear and download more of the beautiful nasheeds from the three series so far.

As most of you may know, Travelling Light aims to spread the timeless wisdom of Imam al-Ghazali's Ihya Ulum al-Din, bringing it alive for today by the teaching of leading scholars. As always, all profits from the project go to help build the new Cambridge mosque.

The site will be regularly updated with more talks and nasheeds inshaAllah, including the exclusive new Heart Surgeon series featuring Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, Shaykh Ibrahim Osi-Efa and Shaykh Idris Watts. And of course, news of the next series will be here first.

So check out the site and please, please spread the word! You can join the Facebook group if you are so inclined.

May Allah reward you for each friend you tell who buys or donates for the mosque, or who simply benefits from the blessed work of Imam al-Ghazali or any aspect of the Travelling Light project. Please keep praying for the success of the mosque project!

The Ship of Salvation Pt. 2

2010-05-11T17:07:00.004+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Hounslow - April 2003 - 1 hr 12 mins 45 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

The second of a three-part recording in which Sheikh Abdal Hakim discusses the work of Imam al-Ghazali (may Allah be pleased with him) and its relevance to our situation today.

Thanks to brother Rich this time, who is helping out improving the quality of some of our recordings including this one - jazahu Allah kheir.

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The Ship of Salvation Pt. 1

2010-04-14T18:51:00.009+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Hounslow - April 2003 - 1 hr 06 mins 06 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

This is the first of a three-part recording in which Sheikh Abdal Hakim discusses the work of Imam al-Ghazali (may Allah be pleased with him) and its relevance to our situation today. He reflects on the significance of some of the 'deep structures' of Islam, and how it is designed, by Allah's Mercy, to carry humanity safely through the storms of history. The sheikh reminds us that despite the anger and fear that sometimes threatens to overwhelm the Muslim community, we can find reassurance in the divinely-endowed resilience and generosity of Allah's final religion.

This talk was originally given at Hounslow Jamia Masjid at an event called 'Reviving the Ihyaa', organised by the now (I believe) sadly defunct Light Study group. You can see the original video here. To the best of my knowledge, there is a new organisation doing similar work in the same area, called the West London School of Islamic Sciences, about which you may be interested in finding about or to which you might like to donate.

A big thank you to brother Junaid, who sent in this recording, may Allah reward him.

Listen to this talk

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UPDATE - the video for the 'Reviving the Ihyaa' event is actually up here on the WLSIS website and they have some other great resources on their Multimedia page.

Supporters of Allah

2010-04-10T12:29:00.005+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - date unknown - 25 mins 16 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

The Holy Qur'an commands those who believe to 'be supporters of Allah' (Al-Saff, verse 14), but what does that mean? How is it possible for us, the created and dependent, to support Him who is uncreated, utterly independent and far beyond any need? In this sermon, Sheikh Abdal Hakim explores this concept and relates it to the Qur'anic narration of the People of Israel, in particular what it means for a people to uphold what Allah has commanded, and the challenges and inward discipline and piety that weighty station requires.

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Blessed Births & Beginnings

2010-03-11T19:38:00.009Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 26th February 2010 - Cambridge - 27 mins 21 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

This sermon was given just after the celebration this year of the birth of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and reflects on the importance of remembering and giving thanks for the blessings of Allah - none more necessary to thank and praise Him for than sending His Guidance through the example of the best of creation. Sheikh Abdal Hakim in particular focuses on the role of the mothers of some of the prophets (may Allah bless them all), by whose determination, love, strength and faith Allah renewed the manifestation of His Mercy in the world through the sons they bore and raised.

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Islam and/in/of the West Pt. 3

2010-03-09T22:41:00.006Z

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 16th February 2010 - Cardiff - 46 mins 09 secs

The third installment of our loosely-linked trilogy on Islam and identity in the West, this talk was given by Sheikh Abdal Hakim at the Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK at Cardiff University. Intriguingly entitled 'Can Non-Muslims Be Indigenous? Reflections on the Paradox of British Islam', it uses the work of Hilaire Belloc and G. K. Chesterton (particularly The Flying Inn, a fantasy novel set in a teetotal Britain under the sway of a renewed Ottoman Empire) to explore some underlying resonances between Islam and the religious culture and history of the British Isles. Beyond that, it somewhat defies easy explanation or summary, at least by this listener, but is all the more interesting for that. Enjoy!

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Ethics of Trade

2010-03-05T19:42:00.006Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 19 February 2010 - Cambridge - 28 mins 15 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

What is the place of ethics in trade and business? Judging by the exploitation of the developing world through 'free trade' or the disastrously amoral speculations of international banks, one might conclude there is no place for them. In this sermon, Sheikh Abdal Hakim reminds us that despite the example of the major economic forces around us, we each have individual responsibilities when we engage in any kind of trade. The benefits of the justice and fair dealing mandated for us by the example of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings upon him) would of course have huge social benefits if all of us upheld them. But even more important than any worldly benefits of course, is Allah's reckoning of our dealings on the Last Day, when the everlasting profit or loss is accounted. May He forgive us our shortcomings and in His Mercy make the judgment easy upon us.

PS Part 3 of 'Islam in/and/of the West' next week inshaAllah.

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Islam and/in/of the West Pt. 2

2010-03-01T21:13:00.003Z

Talk by Tariq Ramadan - 15 February 2010 - Cambridge - 43 mins 28 secs

The second part of this week's loosely-themed audio triptych, this talk was delivered by Prof. Ramadan at last month's CU ISoc Experience Islam Week. In 'Hostility, Loyalty and Change: the Future for Muslims in the West', he analyses the current situation of Muslims in the West and offers his thoughts on the future.

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Islam and/in/of the West Pt. 1

2010-02-25T19:53:00.005Z

Talk by Abdal Hakim Murad - 8 February 2010 - London School of Economics - 45 mins 20 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

It's a triple header of talks this week, linked by the theme of Muslims living in the West. We start with this one by Sheikh Abdal Hakim, entitled 'Can Liberalism Tolerate Islam?', given at LSE Discover Islam Week, and kindly recorded and sent in by LSE ISoc. In it Sheikh Abdal Hakim inverts the usual framework of the debate about the relationship between Islam and liberalism, defined by the implicit or explicit suspicion of Muslims' ability to accept liberal values and the demand that they should do so. He unpicks this submerged 'intolerance of intolerance' in order to interrogate the significance of the secular orthodoxies liberal Europe has created, and considers how Muslims can and should respond to them.

Later in the week inshaAllah we will post a talk given in Cambridge recently by Prof. Tariq Ramadan on 'Hostility, Loyalty and Change: the Future of Muslims in the West', and in part three another recent talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim with the intriguing title 'Can Non-Muslims Be Indigenous? Reflections on the Paradox of British Islam'.

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Infinite & Finite

2010-02-20T19:05:00.004Z

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - October 2007 - Cambridge - 33 mins 30 secs

Part of the beauty of Islam is its clarity and intelligibility: its fundamental creed is strikingly simple. Yet any expression within creation's finite limits of the Divine Infinite must necessarily result in some mysteries, hazy areas at the outer limit of what human language can express and human intellect comprehend. These have a different kind of beauty, and an important wisdom and lesson for us to appreciate. In this talk, Sheikh Abdal Hakim reflects on the meeting of the finite and the Infinite, in particular on the revelation of the Holy Qu'ran to the Prophet, may God's peace and blessings be upon him.

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Love for the Sake of Allah

2010-01-29T22:33:00.006Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 22 January 2010 - 27 mins 55 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

In this sermon, Sheikh Abdal Hakim discusses the significance of love for our fellow mankind that is purely for the sake of Allah, rather than for any worldly attachment or desire.

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The Certainty of Death

2010-01-21T18:24:00.004Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 15 January 2010 - Cambridge - 21 mins 44 sec

In this sermon, Sheikh Abdal Hakim discusses the importance of appreciating the certainty of death. In the modern world, we are conditioned to think of death as the worst thing that can befall us, the worst punishment that could be inflicted. Yet in a hadith the Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings be upon him) called death 'a precious gift for the believer', a description that seems almost incredible to us. This does not mean we should seek death out or glorify it, since if it is Allah's decree for us to remain in this world for a longer time, we should be equally grateful and make the most of it by living well. But on the other hand we cannot forget the certain arrival of death, nor neglect to prepare for it. Those who attach too much importance to this world become blinded to the examples all around them, of the relative who is hit by a car or a friend who dies of a sudden illness. Those who learn from such sad experiences come to appreciate their true place in creation.

Many thanks to our brother Kacem who recorded this one at Omar Faruque mosque and sent it in.

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Poverty & Riches

2009-12-17T21:22:00.005Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 30 October 2009 - Cambridge - 22 mins 30 secs

The Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) famously prayed to be resurrected among the masakin (poor, downtrodden, oppressed), but what does it mean to be miskin and what was the prophetic attitude to poverty or hardship? In this sermon, Sheikh Abdal Hakim outlines the Qur'anic and prophetic description of the poor (fuqara') and shows why it is important not to be afraid of poverty as we often are today. This is not because it is necessarily a good thing in itself to be poor, or on the other hand a bad thing to be rich or powerful, but because of the beauty and dignity of cultivating reliance on Allah whatever one's outward state.

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The Story of Solomon

2009-12-14T20:40:00.006Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 27 November 2009 - 25 mins 08 secs

In this sermon, Sheikh Abdal Hakim examines the role of stories in the Holy Qur'an. On one level these can seem simply entertaining or even fanciful, but within the stories are contained deep and important truths. This sermon focuses in particular on the story of Sulayman/Solomon (peace be upon him), whose miracles and power over different aspects of creation - by the grant of Allah - seem almost incredible, but which point to fundamental aspects of the relationship between the outward and the inward.

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Twlight of the Islamosaurs

2009-11-22T16:43:00.009Z

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Oxford - 6 November 2004 - 50 mins 33 secs

As an early Eid present, here's a talk recorded five years ago by Oxford University ISoc and preserved over on IslamOnline.net. It's not one for the audio purists unfortunately but we've done our best. It's definitely worth a listen for Sheikh Abdal Hakim's perceptive and invigorating review of the history of Islamism. Through this reading, he makes an analysis of some of the most fundamental aspects of the umma's reaction to modernity and its current state. As a counter-point to these sobering reflections, he also offers some optimistic thoughts on the future. May you all have a blessed Eid inshaAllah, and may Allah accept the efforts of all this year's pilgrims.

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Marriage & Family Life

2009-11-22T14:12:00.006Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 6 November 2009 - 24 mins 05 secs

In this sermon, Sheikh Abdal Hakim discusses the significance of marriage as a prophetic sunna, and how family life relates to internalising the seeking of Allah's pleasure and the practice of His religion.

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An Appeal From Cambridge

2009-11-16T19:37:00.007Z

As-salaam 'alaykum wa-rahmat Allah wa-barakatuh.

As you all may know, we are raising money here in Cambridge to build the first purpose built mosque in this historic and prestigious city, which will accommodate the rapidly growing community here. Thanks to Allah, we have the land and we have a design for a beautiful and inspirational building. Now we reaching the stage of construction, and we need YOUR help to raise the necessary funds.

Historically, wherever Muslims have travelled, Islam has become embedded in the spiritual and cultural life of the local society. Whether the Muslims became the majority or not, the message they were blessed to bear ennobled and enlightened each place. For that to happen in the UK, we need mosques in towns like Cambridge and to support leaders like Sheikh Abdal Hakim.

You can help in at least these three ways:

1) Donate - whatever you can give will help. You can donate by credit card, cheque, standing order or bank transfer, and Just Giving will be added soon inshaAllah. Can you spare even just £1 or $1.50 - not even the cost of a cup of coffee - for each download you have made or will make? If each of you donated just that much, we could raise tens of thousands of pounds.

2) Spread the word - about the mosque project and about this site. Please tell all your contacts about the free downloads they can get here and encourage them to donate. Just one minute writing an email may be rewarded inshaAllah!

3) Pray for the success of the project - inna Allah mujib al-da'wat, so please pray for the Muslims of Cambridge and for the success of the mosque building project.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said that, 'Whoever builds a mosque, desiring thereby Allah's pleasure, Allah builds for him the like of it in Paradise'. So please, for the sake of Allah and out of love for the religion of His Beloved and Final Messenger, help us in whatever way you can.

For those of you who have already donated or helped this project in any way, and to those who will in the future, thank you. May Allah reward you all and bless you.

The CKetc team

P.S. We've got more great content for the site coming up soon inshaAllah - inspirational khutbas and a MP3 of a talk from several years ago intriguingly entitled 'The Twilight of the Islamosaurs' - so check back soon!

Society & Solitude: Part 2

2009-11-10T21:41:00.007Z

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 10 November 2009 - 56 mins 07 secs

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In this talk, Sheikh Abdal Hakim elaborates on some of the themes of a previous talk, discussing here the importance of companionship (suhba). He reads from a letter on the subject by Sheikh Sharafuddin b. Yahya Maneri, known as Makhdoom Sahib, a noted saint of the 13th century CE who lived in the Bihar region in India and was among the great spiritual leaders who brought Islam to what is today north-east India and Bangladesh. Sheikh Sharafuddin's letters were compiled by his students and studied ever since as an inspirational source of spiritual guidance. With reference to this letter on suhba, from the collection known as the Hundred Letters, Sheikh Abdal Hakim talks about the nature of suhba, and its importance for the individual and society, in particular for the relationship between the generations.

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The Charity of Love

2009-11-10T20:46:00.006Z

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - London - 9th November 2009 - 12 mins 05 secs

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In this talk, given at an fundraising event as part of the Islamic Help Orphans Tour, Sheikh Abdal Hakim discusses the motives behind giving charity. He mentions the particular quality and blessing of charity given out of love for Allah and out of gratitude to Him, rather than out of guilt, pride or any other cause; and he highlights the importance for the ummah - before any other of the many social, economic, or political revolutions Muslims are devoting themselves to in the hope of renewing their communities - of a revolution of love.

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Where Is The Love?

2009-11-06T17:29:00.007Z

Talk by Sheikh Jamal ud-Deen Hysaw - Cambridge - 21st October 2009 - 58 mins 56 secs

Cambridge was blessed recently with a visit by Sheikh Jamal ud-Deen Hysaw, who was here in the UK giving a series of talks in aimed at the addressing the issues faced by specifically by young people. Sheikh Jamal ud-Deen hails from Chicago in the USA, and has studied for almost a decade in Damascus and Tarim. In this talk, he addresses the perennial question of relationships and gender, and gives the perspective of traditional knowledge on some modern conundrums.

Watch this talk at likeMEDIA.tv

The Mantle Adorned: Imam Busiri's Burda

2009-11-05T16:59:00.008Z

The Mantle Adorned: Imam Bûsîrî's Burda, translated, with further poetic ornaments, by Abdal Hakim Murad. Quilliam Press, 2009.

A new English translation of the celebrated Poem of the Cloak (Qasidat al-Burda) by Imam Busiri (may Allah be pleased with him) is now available. With calligraphy by Betül Kırkan and illumination by Ersan Perçem, the beautiful production of this edition reflects the esteem in which the poem is held, as well of course as its high purpose, the remembrance and honouring of God's Beloved and Final Messenger, Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

Sheikh Abdal Hakim's translation renders the poem in beautiful and moving English in a parallel text alongside the original Arabic. In addition, each verse is followed by lines from other poets - classical and modern, and from many parts of the world - echoing and amplifying its theme, encouraging the reader to reflect on its meanings more fully.

Published by Quilliam Press, with typography by Abdallateef Whiteman, this edition is available from Central Books, online Islamic bookstores or on Amazon.

UPDATE: There is now a separate site about The Mantle Adorned here, with more information about its content, the people who contributed to it and where you can buy it.

The Chivalry of Youth

2009-10-31T19:22:00.005Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 23 October 2009 - 23 mins 48 secs

It often seems that our society locates human perfection at a certain age - children and younger people are only becoming it, older people are considered past it. Here Sheikh Abdal Hakim discusses how people of every age have a divinely ordained station appropriate to them, and in particular the characteristics young people can aspire to.

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Love for Allah's Decree

2009-10-27T18:59:00.004Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 16 October 2009 - 21 mins 44 secs

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In this sermon, Sheikh Abdal Hakim discusses the difference between having patience (sabr) during the struggles of life, and taking pleasure or having contentment (rida') in them. By Allah's Mercy, accepting what He decrees with patience for us is a route to salvation, but it is a higher degree for us to embrace and love that decree. By another inspiring aspect of Allah's guidance, the latter is initially harder but actually makes the path toward Him easier. Instead of religion just being a set of duties or things we have to put up with, it becomes an on-going source of wonder and contentment. May Allah grant us the state of being contented with His Decree.

NB The first 2-3 minutes of this recording are disrupted by noise from a game of squash taking place next to the room in which the prayer was held this week. Apologies for this unavoidable acoustic infelicity.

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Thoughts on Evangelical Christianity

2009-10-19T21:22:00.006+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Alquería des Rosales, Spain - 29 June 2009 - 34 mins 12 secs

In this talk, Sheikh Abdal Hakim offers some thoughts on the increasingly assertive evangelical trend in Christianity, and how Muslims can constructively repsond to it. He emphasises firstly the importance of the Qur'anic principle of responding with what is better, and not being dragged into the abusive slanging matches so often sadly seen on Internet discussion fora and elsewhere. He then outlines some of the important points of discussion that can be had with committed Christians who want to engage in respectful dialogue. These points include: the importance in all religious traditions of God's love for the poor and outcast, and the problems of being identified with worldly, especially military, power; the importance of respecting that the Divine Love makes redemption available throughout history, not only during a defined period; and the need to deconstruct the stereotype often imposed upon Muslims (as on Jews in the past) as being legalistic. As the sheikh points out, the Muslim theology which considers God, while the source of Justice, as absolutely free in His Love and Mercy to forgive who He chooses seems a lot less legalistic than a theology that considers mankind's sinfulness a debt that He must collect.

Many thanks to Zak Whiteman for sending this in, jazahu Allah kheir.

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Muslim Identity In Europe

2009-10-14T18:19:00.004+01:00

Talk by Prof. Tariq Ramadan - 7 October 2009 - Cambridge - 38 mins 44 secs

Prof. Ramadan recently gave the first CMC Lecture for Cambridge Muslim College at an event organised in association with Trinity Hall Islamic Society. You can listen to the lecture here.

Avoiding Hypocrisy

2009-10-12T22:33:00.004+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 9th October 2009 - Cambridge - 23 mins 57 secs

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At the beginning of another new academic year here in Cambridge, Sheikh Abdal Hakim takes the opportunity to remind himself and us of the importance of going back to first principles. In particular, he considers the very beginning of Surat Baqara and analyzes how we can actualise our belief with sincerity and avoiding being on the wrong side of the line that divides the believer from the hypocrite.

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Prophetic Manners

2009-09-18T02:59:00.012+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 7th August 2009 - 34 mins 19 secs

Eid Mubarak! May Allah accept it from you and from us. Insha-Allah a recording of the Eid khutba is imminent, but in the meantime here's something from a few weeks ago to tide us over.

In this khutba the Sheikh illustrates the high Islamic principle of adab (loosely translated as 'manners') with examples drawn from the rich tapestry of prophetic stories woven into the Qur'an. We learn how Ayyub (Job) is exiled from his loved ones, how Ibrahim (Abraham) receives unexpected desert visitors, how Isa (Jesus) is questioned over that which others ascribe to him, how Musa (Moses) was met with unexpected rewards in exile, may Allah be pleased with them all. These ancient examples of profound adab before a breakthrough moment is what we are called on to emulate in this present day and age.

Of course such a khutba would not be complete without mentioning the last of the emissaries of Allah - after the tribulations of Taif, the death of his uncle and patron, his wife, his son and the persecution of his enemies, Prophet Muhammad - may Allah grant him His blessings and peace - was able to say "O Allah, I ask that you do not change your decree, but that you be gentle with it". This is the maqam an-nubuwwa, the station of prophethood.

Allahumma la as'aluka radda-l qada', lakinni as'aluka lutfa fih

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Ramadan Redux

2009-09-16T19:11:00.003+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Hounslow - 12 September 2009 - 1 hr 1 min 41 secs

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In a second Ramadan talk, Sheikh Abdal Hakim revisits the blessings of the month, may we all benefit from its closing days.

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Miracles of Badr

2009-09-11T21:15:00.003+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 11 September 2009 - 30 mins 53 secs

In this sermon, the sheikh relates some of the miracles that occured during the battle of Badr, and what we can learn from them. On that historic day - the anniversary of which, 17th Ramadan, fell just a few days ago - the Muslims' apparent weakness was the key to their victory, since their awareness of their dependence on Allah and their trust in Him was accentuated to a remarkable degree; and through that trust they also had true thankfulness to Him. The sheikh goes on to relate the story of Badr to another aspect of the blessed month of Ramadan, Laylat al-Qadr. May we imitate the experience of Badr as far as possible by translating our experience of weakness and humility in the month of fasting into greater awareness of and thankfulness to Allah.

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'Fasting Is Mine'

2009-08-24T14:28:00.004+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Peterborough - 22 August 2009 - 1hr 4 mins 40 secs

In this talk, Sheikh Abdal Hakim shares some thoughts on the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan. He focuses in particular on the famous hadith qudsi in which Allah says 'Fasting is mine'. May all of you out there have a blessed and uplifting month, and may your fasting be accepted inshaAllah. Please remember us here in Cambridge in your prayers, and keep circulating these talks to all your friends and encourage them to donate to the building of Cambridge mosque at this special time of year!

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Lessons of Khwaja Ubayd Allah Ahrar

2009-08-12T09:19:00.004+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Warwick - 8 August 2009 - 47 mins 48 secs

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In this talk, Sheikh Abdal Hakim shares some lessons from the life and example of Khwaja Ubayd Allah Ahrar (806-895 AH), a great saint of Samarkand and sheikh of the Naqshbandi tariqa, may Allah be pleased with him. Among the excellent qualities of that saint of his time, those highlighted here are his consistent humility and instinct to attribute the best to others; his constant remembrance of Allah and his consequent perception of spiritual opportunity in apparently unlikely circumstances; his tireless service to others and the openness of heart that resulted from it; and his noteworthy courtesy and respect even for those with whom he had a difference of opinion. Through contemplating the example of this great saint, and others, Sheikh Abdal Hakim encourages himself and us to remember the importance of personal development and transformation by means of the perfected message given to us through thr Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). The Way of the Chosen One is too profound, too precious to be reduced only to formalities and rules, however important they are in conjunction with inward good character.

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'Beauty upon all things'

2009-07-25T16:38:00.009+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 24 July 2009 - 25 mins

In this sermon, the sheikh relates a hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) in which he said that 'Allah has prescribed ihsan (doing or causing beauty/good) upon all things', and related this to the slaughter of animals. The sermon continues with an explanation of the meaning of this hadith, and the significance of the juxtaposition of the performance of good or beautiful things with an act about which we often feel squeamish at best.

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Two Emigrations

2009-07-17T19:04:00.005+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - date unknown - 20 mins 40 secs

In this sermon, the sheikh relates parts of the stories of the migration of Musa (peace be upon him) and his people from Egypt to Palestine, and of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Companions from Mecca to Medina. The two stories are of course very well known, but with every re-telling they offer new lessons and inpsiration. Here the two stories are told and compared once more, may Allah allow us to benefit from them.

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Outward Compassion, Inward Rigour

2009-07-11T12:43:00.006+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 16 June 2005 - Cambridge - 1 hr 35 mins 56 secs

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In this talk, the sheikh discusses the role of the shari'a and the ulema in our age. We are closer now to the time when, in the words of the well-known hadith, a person who does one-tenth of what is prescribed will be saved. It is an age when we fear that being too demanding in our religion will drive people away from it, yet without steadfastness and scrupulousness we risk being swamped by the demands and temptations of modernity. The sheikh discusses how people of genuine knowledge resolves this tension by being gentle and compassionate with others and helping them see the Mercy of Allah, glorified and exalted is He; but at the same time themselves practising and worshipping with rigour and discipline. In this of course, they have the supreme example in the life of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who was a mercy to the worlds and in his daily life the most generous and hospitable of men; but who in his own behaviour and worship was the most ascetic and self-denying. Sadly many people today act in the opposite away, and so by ostensibly (and often ostentatiously) calling people toward good they actually subvert the real role of religion in people's lives. In the second half of the talk, the sheikh discusses the life and work of Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, who notably embodied the wisdom of being attuned to the needs of the age. Born in Baghdad in 736 AH (1335 CE), he lived in a society still traumatised by the aftermath of the Crusades and even more so by the Mongol invasions. He exemplified the work of the real ulema whose teaching and preaching was a source of healing and comfort to those around him. May Allah reward him and protect the people of knowledge who live among us today.

Please don't be put off by the faint sounds in the background coming from another room (including apparently a choir practice!). Such is life in Cambridge!

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Society & Solitude

2009-06-20T17:04:00.006+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - 12 June 2009 - Cambridge -1 hr 12 mins 44 secs

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We often feel the need to 'get away from it all', an impulse which seems to reflect a strange paradox of modern society. On the one hand, we can be overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of daily life, always part of a busy crowd. Yet at the same time, are we truly connected to what is around us? Or are we somehow cut off from a genuine relationship with our environment and fellow human beings, always 'alone in the crowd'? In this talk, the sheikh reflects on the spiritual importance of solitude, and discusses how to cultivate the inner sense of stillness and realisation it can bring. But he also reminds us that this cannot be achieved at the cost of actually cutting ourselves off from society. Rather it should be enhanced by channelling it to transform our relationships with those around us, following the incomparable example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) whose mission began in the solitude of the Cave of Hira but which continued in the upliftment of his people and all of mankind.

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Travels, Tests & Intentions

2009-06-11T16:53:00.006+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim - Cambridge - 5 June 2009 - 20 mins 37 secs

At a time of year when many of us are planning a summer trip, this sermon relates to the theme of travel in the Qur'an and hadith. The sheikh reminds us that, as with all actions, the most important aspect of travelling is forming a clear intention. The scholars have divided travel into that which takes us away from something disliked or toward something desirable and beneficial for us. The rich history in Muslim cultures connecting travel and the search for sacred knowledge is of course paradigmatic in this respect. The Qur'an also encourages to consider the example of the ancient civilisations that came before and how they declined - something we can easily do today to make what otherwise would be meaningless tourism an experience that can bring us closer to the reality of creation. Even the process of travelling, can be a means to refine the character and increase in remembrance of God. Just a simple train ride or a wait in an airport lounge takes us out of our comfortable daily routine and can therefore raise our consciousness of our surroundings. In these ways, the sheikh explains, what might otherwise be a simple summer holiday can become a form of guidance and upliftment inshaAllah.

(Hopefully you will notice an improvement in the sound quality of this recording compared to previous postings, since alhamdulilah we have started using a better recorder. There are still older recordings we will post over time, but inshaAllah anything new recorded will be of higher quality.)

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'To every people a guide'

2009-05-29T16:53:00.007+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 29 May 2009 - 26 mins 40 secs

Islam is often perceived as an exclusive religion, dividing humanity into believers and non-believer. It is true that that the Divine Message of the Qur'an is rigorously uncompromising in its demand for a clear distinction between right and wrong, truth and falsehood. But, as the sheikh reminds us in this sermon, these divisions do not necessarily correspond to divisions between different religious groups. Muslim does not always mean right, and non-Muslim wrong, although we often act is if they do. Discussing the Christians of Najran, the response of Waraqa b. Nawfal to the Prophet Muhammad's message (peace and blessings be upon him), and other examples, the sheikh elaborates on this important aspect of the Qur'anic message. Perhaps uniquely among ancient scriptures, the Qur'an asserts the correct belief of more than one religious community. The sheikh also touches on the role of Khadija (may God be pleased with her), Waraqa's cousin and of course the Prophet's first confidant and follower; thus highlighting another compelling aspect of the Prophet's mission which the ummah could do so much more to bring alive today.

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Hypocrisy & Sincerity

2009-05-29T11:25:00.007+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 22 May 2009 - 23 mins 39 secs

In this sermon, the sheikh relates a hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about the qualities that indicate hypocrisy (nifaq) in someone's heart: telling lies, breaking promises, distorting the truth in an argument and breaking one's pledge. He highlights the seriousness of these faults because of God's command to be among the people of truth and sincerity (sidq), and discusses how they can affect us in everyday life.

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Religious Freedom & the Sunna

2009-05-17T15:52:00.005+01:00

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - June 2008 - 1 hr 18 mins 17 secs

In this talk, the sheikh discusses the role in the modern world of following the sunna ('example', 'practice') of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). He begins by analysing the fragmentation of the modern world, in which different aspects of human existence and even of an individual are disconnected from each other. As humanity learns more and more about the material details of our existence, there seems to be a correlating reduction in our real understanding of the overall meaning of creation and our place in it. Yet how can we find an antidote to this in the practice of the Prophetic sunna, which, superficially at least, is concerned with the very fine details of our day-to-day life? The sheikh explains the importance firstly of the fact that it is a source of harmony by allowing us to integrate our outward and inward states and conform both to the fundamental reality of our existence. Secondly, the sunna is a shelter and liberation from the imprisonment with which our uncultivated egos (nafs) and desires (hawa') threaten us. To the modern eye, trained to judge only by the criterion of personal freedom, limiting oneself to a prescribed type of behaviour seems a surefire route to misery and repression. Yet what real freedom is there in living according to the unrelenting demands of the nafs, which will always push for more and more because any apparent happiness it finds in transitory acts is just as fleeting? Unfortunately, for many of us religion has become just another way of acting out the hyperactive impulses of our unquiet souls. But, the sheikh reminds us, its real function is just the opposite - a route to inner contentment (sakina) and thereby freedom.

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Sincerity & Salvation

2009-05-09T12:52:00.005+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - date unknown - 23 mins 32 secs

In this sermon, the sheikh discusses another aspect of the different hadiths that emphasise how apparently straight-forward it is to achieve salvation through the simple testimony of God's Uniqueness and Unity. He explains the significance of putting this testimony into action by bearing witness to it through word as well as deed, and hence the relationship between ikhlas ('sincerity') and khalas ('delivery' or 'salvation').

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Restraint in an Age of Excess

2009-05-03T23:27:00.002+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutbah) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 8 October 2004 - 26 mins 12 secs

In this sermon, the sheikh relates a sound hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that what he feared most for his community was the following of the uncontrolled urges of gluttony and lust. Although we often hear important warnings in sermons and elsewhere against the influence of the sad and tawdry modern culture of immodesty and sexual permissiveness, less attention is paid to the greedy and dysfunctional attitude toward food that the Western monoculture promotes. Yet not only is it a problem against which the the Blessed Prophet strongly warned us (peace be upon him), but one which is increasingly and obviously widespread among Muslims. The sheikh therefore reminds us of the importance of the prophetic virtue of restraint, which has so many important benefits, both spiritual and physical, and discusses how we can attempt to imitate it.

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The Prophet and the Reckoner

2009-04-14T23:24:00.003+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - date unknown - 23 mins 3 secs

The Sheikh begins with the name of Allah ‘the Reckoner’; one of the “banners under which caravan of Prophethood triumphs”. Prophets have always repeated the maxim ‘Allah is our sufficiency and a best guardian is He’. These figures are the best exemplars of the trait of reliance as they stake the most, lost the most, risk the most, are hated the most and are loved the most. This khutba looks at the events that occurred at the genesis of our faith and how the Prophet, peace be upon him, dealt with his tremendous early test.

Even before formal Islam the Prophet was disenchanted with this world, his heart responsive to the poor and downtrodden. His purity of heart was rewarded with the righteous dream, and after nights of tahannuth – worshipping in the cave of Hira – was met with the Angel of Revelation. The impact of the uncreated Word brought from the unimaginably higher realm left his heart shaken, only to be comforted by his wife Khadija, Allah be pleased with her: “You uphold the ties of family. You give to the poor. You endure misfortunes. You honour your guests. You help other people when the misfortunes decreed by heaven descend. Allah will never humiliate you.” Indeed her cousin Waraqa b. Nawfal was to go further: “This is the namus (in Greek Nomos; the angel come bearing the law) that Allah sent down upon Moses…If only I were a young man again, alive on the day when they drive you out. Never does anybody come with that which you are coming with without being opposed. And if I live to that day, I will support you”.

Clearly the Messenger of Allah was tested with something that will never be visited upon his community; the sheer weight of revelation being cast into his breast by his otherworldly visitor. There are many lessons we can derive from the way he dealt with this shaking, not least of all his turning to the seemingly weak and disenfranchised for assistance and succour. The Sheikh ends with some wise words: “although we can never achieve his status we can still engage in his imitation as he was a basharun mithluna, a man like us. Human perfection does not mean that human beings are no longer human”.

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The Paradox of Forgiveness

2009-04-12T21:11:00.005+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - date unknown - 26 mins 43 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

In this sermon, the sheikh discusses the Divine Attributes of Justice and Forgiveness, and how we can understand the relationship between these two apparently contradictory qualities. We know that God Almighty will manifest both His Justice and His Forgiveness absolutely on the Last Day without compromising either, because He transcends our comprehension. But how can we act upon His Divine Commands to enforce justice or grant forgiveness when they seem to conflict? The sheikh explains how we can try to overcome this through the perfect example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). In the Qur'an, the Prophet is enjoined 'Keep to forgiveness, command what is right and turn away from the ignorant' (7:199). Thus, although he strove to secure justice for others, especially the weak, the prophet in many instances when he himelf had been wronged set aside the case for strict justice and chose forgiveness. Through the profound and subtle wisdom granted to him by God, therefore, the Prophet exemplified the resolution of this apparent paradox, and guided us toward a clearer understanding of the Divine Guidance.

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Sincerity & Intention

2009-04-07T00:33:00.008+01:00

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - date unknown - 22 mins 08 secs

In this sermon, the sheikh discusses the importance of differentiating between appearances and real value, and how to do so. It is true that Muslims are supposed to take care of their appearance and deportment, but as a famous invocation (dua') of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) reminds us, our inner character is more important than our outer appearance. The danger is that we can become distracted not just by the apparent nature of others, but - more importantly - by the success of our own reputation and outward deeds. The sheikh reminds us of the fundamental importance of clarifying our own intentions and sincerity to avoid this, mentioning several sound hadith (prophetic sayings) as well as the story of the Bosnian bear.

Sincere apologies from us at cketc for the delay between posts, due in various cases to the upcoming exam season, a thesis deadline and work. We will try to do better, God willing. Your prayers for our success would be very welcome indeed.

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Purpose of the Sacred Law

2009-03-19T21:48:00.009Z

Talk by Sheikh Jihad Hashim Brown - Cambridge - 2 March 2009 - 1 hr 34 mins 45 secs

Earlier this month, Cambridge benefited from the visit of Sheikh Jihad Hashim Brown, the well-known scholar and speaker, currently acting as Director of Research at the Tabah Foundation in Abu Dhabi. In this talk, he considers the ethical purposes of the shari'a (Islamic law) and how by connecting with its fundamental meanings and rich heritage we can act to help ourselves and those around us. As he reminds us at one point by relating a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), 'God does not cease to assist His slave as long as His slave does not cease to assist his brother'. In a rich and thought-provoking talk - as you would expect from someone in regular contact with some of the wisest scholars of our time, such as Mufti 'Ali Juma'a and Sheikh 'Abd Allah b. Bayyah - the sheikh discusses how the dynamic and profound techniques of the shari'a can be used to address the problems of the modern world and bring it back into harmonious submission to the order of creation. It is well-known that the root meaning of shari'a is 'a path to water', a route back to the substance of life. The sheikh reminds us, however, of the necessity of uncovering this water of the Divine Guidance through istinbat (to open up or tap a source of water, as in digging a well). Only through active engagement with the tools of our tradition can we use them to address the questions around us today and thereby promote its fundamental aims for humanity.

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Mevlidi Sherif

2009-03-17T01:43:00.006Z

Cambridge and Oxford, 13th and 11th March respectively

Assalamu 'alaikum,

"Allah and His angels send blessing on the Prophet; O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him and salute him with all respect".

Surah al-Ahzab Verse 56 [Abdullah Yusuf Ali]

Last week - during the month of Rabi al-Awwal - millions of Muslims around the world raised themselves singly and in gatherings of tens, hundreds and thousands to praise the Messenger of Allah Muhammad, peace be upon him, his family and his companions. For it was on a Monday, on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal that al-Mustafa - the chosen one - was brought into this world to change it and our hearts forever. He was sent to all peoples and thus praise of him - peace be upon him - echoes from voices heard around the world. The scholastic cities of Oxford and Cambridge both joined in this wave of rejoicing in gatherings wonderfully expressive of the love Muslims have for he who is most beloved of Allah.

Cambridge

Cambridge's town and gown met in Wolfson College during this year's 'Love for the Beloved' event. Both this and the Oxford gathering can be downloaded in whole or as parts outlined below:

Listen to the whole Mawlid
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1. The gathering opened with Fatiha, Surah al-Ikhlas, Falaq, Nas, then continued with some istighfar and salawat led by Sheikh Abdal Hakim.

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2. The Sheikh recites two poems written by the great wali and pillar of Istanbul Aziz Mahmud Hudayi (Allah have mercy on his soul), who now rests in the neighbourhood of Uskudar.

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3. The Sheikh leads the recital of another of Aziz Mahmud Hudayi's poems 'Asikin Maksudu'. The text and translation by Shiekh Abdal Hakim can be found here.

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4. The gathering now moves on to recite the eminent Hadrami scholar Habib Umar's mawlid text about the Prophet - peace be upon him - titled al-Diya al-Lami', the Shimmering Light, which can be downloaded with translation here. Traditionally in between chapters of such a text an Arabic qasida is recited. In light of the nature of our community English songs are sung instead: Litany VII, Litany XXX. In addition, an English translation of parts of the Ottoman wali Suleyman Chelebi's mawlid poem Mevlidi Sherif - text found here.

Listen to Al-Diya al-Lami'
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5. We now move onto two songs, the first, Bird of the Soul was written by Sefer efendi and translated by Sheikh Abdal Hakim and is set to a melody written by Zeki Altun.

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6. This qasida is written by the great 17th century scholar and saint Imam Abdallah b. 'Alawi al-Haddad (Allah have mercy on his soul), who was born and died in the Hadrami town of Tarim, Yemen. The melody is from a royalist air titled 'When the King enjoys his own again'. The musical notation is here and the arabic text here. Imam Haddad's Diwan can be found on this website also replete with other valuable resources (warning; may take some time to load).

Listen to Qul lilladhi...
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7. Poems written in Farsi including the famous lines by Sheikh Sa'di (Allah have mercy on his soul) are now recited by members of Cambridge's Iranian community.

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8. A few of the Brothers from the Isoc contributed with a few well known Arabic nasheeds including Talama ashku gharami and Tala al Badru 'alayna - a song that has been on Muslim lips since the emigration of the Prophet peace be upon him from Mecca to Medina in the year 622 (0 H). The text can be found here

Listen to the Brothers' Medley and Dua'
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Oxford

A few days previously the Oxford Isoc organised a wonderful gathering with Sheikhs Babikr and Ozturk and Sudanese nasheed reciters as part of their Experience Islam Term. We apologise in advance for the poor quality of some of the recordings - the event overwhelmed our hearts but unfortunately also the capabilities of our recorder. The videos may act as a compensation. A full video recording will soon be available; please keep visiting www.ouisoc.com for this and other information.

Listen to the whole Mawlid
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1. Sheikh Ozturk, a visiting scholar from Istanbul, opens with the recitation of the famous verses (40 to 48) from the Chapter of the Confederates in praise of the Prophet peace be upon him.

Listen to Surah al-Ahzab
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Surah al-Ahzab verse 56 - Sheikh Ozturk - Salute him!

2. Sheikh Ozturk then moves on to beautifully recite the passages in Suleyman Chelebis Mevlidi Sherif (mentioned above) regarding the birth of the Prophet peace be upon him through the eyes of his mother Amina hatun.

Listen to Mevlidi Sherif
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3. This begins a series of anasheed sung in the Sudanese fashion. Unfortunately some of the other recordings are obscured somewhat by the voices of others in the gathering.

Listen to Ibrahim Madih [1]
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Ibrahim Madih - La ilaha Illa Allah

4. One of the most beloved of our Shuyukh, Sheikh Babikr scarcely needs an introduction but just in case one can be found here. He delivers a powerful talk about the Prophet peace be upon him, and our need to realise our humanity by harkening back to what he laid down for us in his sunnah.

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Tala al Badru 'alayna - Sheikh Ozturk

5. The second of Ibrahim Madih's Sudanese contributions.

Listen to Ibrahim Madih [2]
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6. And the third

Listen to Ibrahim Madih - Anta nur min nur [3]
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7. Sheikh Babikr offers some closing remarks and the gathering closes with supplications to Allah.

Listen to the closing remarks and ad'iya
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Wassalamu 'alaikum

"Allah and His angels send blessing on the Prophet; O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him and salute him with all respect"

Limits of the Law

2009-03-15T23:00:00.007Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 13 March 2009 - 23 mins 27 secs

In this sermon, the sheikh relates a hadith (saying) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in which he divided actions into the compulsory, the forbidden, and things about which God has been silent out of mercy for mankind. At first, this idea seems confusing or troubling: why would God leave some things out of the guidance He has established? The sheikh goes on to explain this by examining the relationship between the boundaries and signposts provided by God through the shari'a on the one hand, and on the other the human conscience - called in another hadith 'God's preacher' (wa'iz Allah). Through the dynamic of this relationship, we can see the importance of understanding the fundamental purpose of the law we follow. Further, we can appreciate another dimension of God's Mercy in establishing His law in such a way that it facilitates that understanding.

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Living & Dying

2009-03-07T09:53:00.010Z

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 3 March 2009 - 56 mins 41 secs

In this talk, the sheikh discusses God's Divine Attributes as the Living (al-Hayy) and the Giver of Life (al-Muhyi), and how they relate to mankind. Although of course we only do so through Him and by His Mercy, we can if we choose attempt to conform ourselves to these Divine Qualities as far as our limited nature allows. The sacred law (shar'iah) is a means to do this; the ethical system enjoined by God through it is based firstly on His Name of al-Muhyi (the Giver of Life), so that the right to life (of all categories of creation) is one of its fundamental principles. Another means is prayer: as the sheikh reminds us, the verb in the adhan (call to prayer) normally translated as 'come to' (prayer/success) actually has the root meaning to be or come alive. However, the modern world has manifested an excessive attachment to this quality and the life of this world - with the paradoxical but clear effect of actually bringing about its opposite. In other words, in our longing for life in the limited modern sense, mankind now more frequently manifests the Divine Quality of al-Mumit (Bringer of Death), but a disproportionate and misguided fashion. The sheikh discusses some means to overcome this, and perceive our journey through this world in the true light. It is not from life to death as materialist philosophies assume, but just the opposite: from the dead matter of this world from which we are given temporary physical form, to the world which God calls in the Qur'an the truly living (al-Hayawan, i.e. al-Akhira)

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'Hud and her sisters...'

2009-02-27T21:06:00.012Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 27th February 2009 - 32 mins 31 secs

The Sheikh began with the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him) 'Hud and her sisters have turned my hair grey (shayyabatni)'. This statement of his alludes to the immense gravity of the themes explored in these surahs. On previous occasions the Sheikh has used this hadith to illustrate the terrifying eschatological implications of Surah Hud. He bears these in mind when continuing with the last khutba's theme of 'upsetting the balance'. We are led through the Qur'anic event when the angels visited Ibrahim (upon him be peace) and his wife Sarah - both aged in extremis - with the good news of a child, an episode similar to the Annunciation of Isa b. Maryam (upon them be peace).

Various lessons are teased out from this; the Qur'anic address to Sarah in stark contrast to the androcentric Biblical telling of the episode and the humility and hospitality that Ibrahim showed to his heavenly guests. We are also reminded of his yearning for the same blessings to be bestowed upon the children of Lot as were to be bestowed upon his children Isaac and Ishmael, the great twin streams of prophecy. The Sheikh ends on a topical note - Abraham and his children represent the fertile possibilities of the life that is turned inwardly upwards to heaven. The fate visited on the people of Lot in contrast reminds us of the perils of turning an 'inverted' gaze to ourselves only, an attitude sadly all too prevalent in the present age. This leads to the upsetting of the balance that Hud tries to protect us from.

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Islam, Gender, Marriage & Sexuality

2009-02-23T23:23:00.012Z

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Rhodes House, Oxford - 9 February 2009 - 1 hr 00 mins 04 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

In another talk for OUISOC's Experience Islam Term, Sheikh Abdal Hakim offers some further thoughts on gender in Islam (which dovetail quite nicely with previous talks posted here and here). He begins, with characteristic catholicity, by discussing the career of Valentine de Sainte Point, an early French feminist and Futurist who in later life rejected what she perceived as the dehumanising trajectory of Western culture and converted to Islam, in which she found a more integrated and integrative understanding of human nature.

From that, the sheikh moves on discuss some aspects of the Islamic understanding of gender and sexuality, and how in this respect, as in others, the message of the Qu'ran and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) acted as a rectification to misinterpretations of previous revelation; in this case, the rejection and excoriation of human sexuality often manifested by Christianity. The Prophet, by contrast, as 'mankind perfected', embraced this aspect of his humanity as he did every other, according to the Divine Guidance. His role as exemplar was thereby extended to women partly through his marriages, which provided multiple models of exemplary female behaviour. The sheikh finishes by discussing this in relation to the Prophet's wives (may God be pleased with them) and Qur'anic examples of ideal women.

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Some Excellent Links

2009-02-23T20:48:00.004Z

Nothing from Cambridge this time, but some really thought-provoking talks recently posted elsewhere that can benefit us all, God willing.

Eyeless in Gaza, a talk given by Habib 'Ali al-Jifri during the recent Radical Middle Way tour.

Removing the Silence on Domestic Violence, a sermon delivered by Sheikh Hamza Yusuf in San Jose on Friday 20 February 2009.

The Qur'anic Jesus

2009-02-19T22:05:00.009Z

Talk by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Keble College, Oxford - 9 February 2009 - 1 hr 25 mins 09 secs

Our brothers and sisters over in Oxford have also been working hard, outdoing us with a whole term of Experience Islam events, may God reward them. Check out the impressive programme here, and get along to some of the events yet to come if you can. Among the talks so far was this one on Islamic perspectives on Jesus by Sheikh Abdal Hakim. In it he presents the Qur'anic understanding of Jesus ('Isa, peace be upon him), and relates it to historical and contemporary debates about his nature and role. The talk highlights in particular the possibility of a shared Christological dialogue between the Abrahamic faiths.

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Corruption on the Earth

2009-02-18T23:03:00.004Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 13 February 2009 - 29 mins 21 secs

Alhamdulilah, thanks to the hard work of the ladies and gentlemen of the Cambridge University Islamic Society and the speakers who kindly attended, we were lucky enough here to have many interesting and beneficial talks during the recent Experience Islam Week. You can see the whole programme and download many of the talks here. In this sermon, delivered during EIW, the sheikh reflects on the Qur'anic warning about the corruption of the earth caused by man's abuse of the blessings of creation. The practical implications of this are becoming distressingly evident in our own times, testament to the dimming of our perception of the signs (ayat) of which our entire environment consists. The sheikh discusses the deep love of the prophets' for all aspects of creation and how this relates to their sound understanding of mankind's true place within in it.

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Supporters of God

2009-02-09T23:05:00.005Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - date unknown - 24 mins 49 secs

In the Qur'an, God Almighty commands the believers to be His supporters or helpers (ansar). Since God is, among His other beautiful and majestic atrributes, the Indepedent and Self-Sufficient (al-Ghani') and the Sovereign of All (Malik al-Mulk), He does not need our assistance, so what does this command mean? In this sermon, the sheikh discusses some aspects of this question, relating it to the covenant of Bani Isra'il (the Israelites). In the Qur'an, the stories of that people are told as an example and an emblem of both a sound and an unsound relationship with God. Rather than assuming complacently that this is simply the history of another community, they have forced, and must continue to force, Muslims to consider how we ourselves measure up to that example.

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God, Science & the 'New Atheism'

2009-02-07T16:48:00.007Z

Lecture by Prof. Keith Ward - Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Cambridge - 27 January 2009 - 1 hr (approx.)

It's a bit off our usual posting, but this is a very interesting and thought-provoking lecture given in Cambridge last month. In the last few years, the works of the 'New Atheists' such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens have gained wide media and popular attention. In this lecture, Prof. Ward, Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford and author among many other things of Why There Almost Certainly Is A God, deconstructs the reasoning behind this trend and analyses the limits of scientific knowledge, presenting the philosophical case for the rational belief in a power beyond time and space. Great stuff for dealing with any tedious religion-bashers among your friends, colleagues or acquaintances. The Faraday Institute has lots of other good resources on related topics. At one point, Prof. Ward refers to Bernard d'Espagnat's highly suggestive phrase 'veiled reality', to describe the point beyond which reality is not scientifically knowable. May God make us grateful for the profound gift of revelation that has given us another path past the veil to understand Him who is truly Real.

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The Teeth of the Key

2009-02-04T23:33:00.005Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 20 October 2006 - 25 mins 09 secs

In this sermon, the sheikh relates some sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings be upon him) about the power and significance of bearing witness to the Unity of God (shahada). Taken literally, these sayings seem to suggest that simply saying La ilaha illa Allah ('There is no God but God') with sincerity is enough to attain salvation. However, the sheikh relates the opinion of the 'ulama who have said that to believe in God's Oneness is necessarily to want to act according to it. The gateway to this action is the Revelation given to the Prophet Muhammad and his own example. Hence the first witnessing to God's Unity is inextricably linked to the second witnessing of Muhammad's prophethood.

(Apologies that the first minute or so of the sermon are missing.)

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Unveiling the Qur'an

2009-01-22T17:07:00.007Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim - Cambridge - date unknown - 26 mins 43 secs

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

The Holy Qur'an is in every Muslim home and every mosque, a ubiquitous presence in our lives as a material object. But how many of us can say that it is so present in our hearts, where it serves its true purpose? In this sermon, the sheikh reminds us of the outward and formal courtesies (adab) necessary to approach the Qur'an, and how these relate to the unparalled inner purification and upliftment it can effect. When viewed clearly, it is the most dazzling of God's signs, taking us as directly as it is possible for us to come to knowledge of Him because its content is co-eternal with Him; yet, as the sheikh says, unless we approach it with the proper reverence and love, its meaning and significance may be veiled to us. May God soften all of our hearts to the message of His Divine Book, and protect us from arrogance or hard-heartedness before it.

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Gaza: Sakina Through a Long View of History

2009-01-16T22:07:00.014Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - 16 January 2009 - 24 mins 24 secs

In this sermon the sheikh discusses some aspects of the noble history of Gaza, burial place of the great-grandfather of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and discusses its current despicable treatment by Israel. He mentions various historical and contemporary factors that may have contributed to events, from upcoming Israeli elections to the Arab Revolt incited by the British during First World War which led to the collapse of the Islamic Caliphate. The sheikh relates our search for meaning and understanding of events to one of Islam's earliest tragedies, the murder of Husayn b. 'Ali (may God be pleased with him) which of course also took place in Muharram as the crimes of Gaza have. During their most trying ordeals the Companions of the Prophet and their successors - by God's Mercy - maintained their faith in Him and their commitment to justice whilst resisting the human impulse for revenge and indiscriminate violence. May God Almighty, Lord of All the Worlds, grant the people of Gaza quick relief from their unspeakable suffering and show the ummah and the whole world the path to true justice for them.

The picture here is of the Great Mosque of Gaza, built as the sheikh mentions on the site of the Eudoxiana church when the people of the city rushed to embrace Islam.

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The Tongue

2009-01-10T17:04:00.006Z

Friday sermon (jum'ah khutba) by Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad - Cambridge - date unknown - 20 mins 08 secs

Ours is an age of constant chatter, gossip and debate, often uncomfortable with silence and deep reflection. Yet the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) warned very strongly about the dangers of thoughtless use of the tongue, a warning emphasised by the Companions and great scholars. In this sermon, the sheikh relates some of the prophetic insights about the nature of the tongue and its relationship with other parts of the body. When we speak untruthfully, for example, we make it easier to commit other sins; we distract ourselves from the possibility of real reflection and remembrance, and raise a barrier to perception of the true situation. The tongue often expresses and reinforces the whims of the ego, with sadly damaging results for ourselves and those around us.

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