Love for Allah's Decree

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

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.

Avoiding Hypocrisy

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

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

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

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'

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

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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'

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

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

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

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

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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