The Mercy of Diversity

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.

Islam & Extremism (Arabic)

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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Duty To God

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

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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The Power of Monotheism

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.

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Living with Our Selves

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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Is Islam Compatible With The West?

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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Islam and/in/of the West Pt. 3

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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Islam and/in/of the West Pt. 2

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

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

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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Twlight of the Islamosaurs

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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An Appeal From Cambridge

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

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

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

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

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

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

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?

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

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.

Thoughts on Evangelical Christianity

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

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.

'Fasting Is Mine'

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

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

TRANSCRIPTION PENDING

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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