02: Faith & Certitude – Renewing Religion: An Overview of Ghazali’s Ihya – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

In this epoisode, Shaykh Faraz gives an overview of the second chapter from Imam Ghazali’s Ihya Uloom ud-Din, Foundations of Islamic Belief. Shaykh Faraz highlights the what Muslims believe, how faith is nurtured and the understanding of faith. He concludes with an example of the Prophetic through one of narrated supplications of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

Shaykh Faraz tells us that it is personally obligatory for every Muslim to know with clarity and certitude what is necessary to believe about Allah, His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the transmitted articles of belief.

Below are some resources of courses and a podcast on Islamic beliefs, provided by SeekersHub. All resources are free of charge.

Shaykh Faraz then highlights the point Imam Ghazali makes about how faith is nurtured. He says that faith is not nurtured by mere study. Rather, it is nurtured by submission and by turning to Allah Most High in devotion. This is done through living faith in one’s life, by acquiring virtuous traits and by ridding oneself of blameworthy traits.

Then, Shaykh Faraz outlines the levels of faith. The first level is mere faith; accepting without understanding. The second level is faith with understanding. The third level is living faith with consciousness.

In understanding and studying the proofs of Islamic beliefs, there is a strengthening of faith, Shaykh Faraz tells us. He highlights the following resources through SeekersHub (all free):

Courses
[1] Understanding Islamic Beliefs: Dardir’s Kharida Explained
[2] Ghazali’s Foundations of Islamic Beliefs
http://seekershub.org/home/course-catalog-t12017/#beliefs
[3] Allah’s Beautiful Names Explained
http://seekershub.org/home/course-catalog-t12017/#livingreligion

Podcast
Why Islam is True
http://seekershub.org/podcast/names/why-islam-is-true/

Shaykh Faraz then clarifies the relationship between iman (faith) and islam (submission). He tells us how they intertwine and intersect and their different levels.

Finally, Shaykh Faraz concludes with Prophetic supplication that portrays faith:
(يا حي يا قيوم برحمتك أستغيث أصلح لي شأني كله ولا تكلني إلى نفسي طرفة عين)
(Oh Living! Oh Sustaining! In Your Mercy do I seek urgent aid! Rectify all my affairs — and do not leave me to myself for a blinking of an eye.)

In this brief overview of Imam Ghazali’s opus magnum, Ihya Uloom ud-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences), this series will serve as blueprint for how the believer can bring to life their religion. It will aim to help the believer to not just practice the form of the religion properly, but to also practice it with excellence.

Join our Ramadan 2017 program: #RamadanRenewal, in-person at SeekersGuidance Toronto or online through the SeekersGuidance Global platform. For more details, visit: https://seekersguidance.org/ramadan.

Checkout all of the SeekersGuidance podcasts by visiting https://seekersguidance.org/podcasts/