Mountains in the Qur'an

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

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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

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

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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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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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

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

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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.

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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

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

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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

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

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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

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

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

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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

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

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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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