This book will serve as my map for this journey and I am blessed to have a skilled teacher as a guide. All I need to do is to endeavor to not let this opportunity escape me, and to pray that I will be granted the tawfiq to make the most of this time.
So far our teacher has asked us to read carefully the introduction and to reflect upon Imam Al Ghazali’s question to the reader to test our heart’s readiness for this journey. We have been assigned daily dhikr to help to cleanse and purify, as well as discipline ourselves.
And recently we have opened the chapter on obediences. I hope that it is not by any delusion that I feel my heart inclining towards the immersion in this path and that I find myself one of the fortunate ones in which the path of knowledge and it’s application is opened for me and I am found worthy (by Allah) of it’s preservation and application.
It has been said that books will help to keep your heart alive but are like dead flesh in comparison to having a teacher open them and guide you along the way until you reach your destination.
By the generosity of Allah a teacher has appeared to serve as a guide through the journey of tazkiah using the works of Imam al-Ghazali as tools to serve as a map through the precipitous path of striving towards the pleasure of Allah, embarking on the lifelong journey of seeking sacred knowledge and purification of the nafs.
I am entirely humbled and consider this opportunity to be a dua answered. Imam Al Ghazali has been with me from before I became a Muslim and inshaAllah will continue to reflect the light of Divine guidance into my heart like a mirror catching the illumination or noor of Allah Most High.
Mu’awiyah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “To whomever Allah wills goodness, He grants him understanding of the religion.”
May Allah protect me from loss, from bad intentions and waste, and keep me steadfast on this path, and protect my teachers from being partners in my transgression. May my heart be open and receptive to this knowledge and may I receive the tawfiq, or Divine support, to apply and make use of what I’ve learned.
I approach this path with tenderness, with a heart fearful of Allah’s displeasure not due to the punishments of the fire but due to the longing and need for His tenderness, from fear of a loss of the blessings and bounties afforded to me and with the hope of feeling His presence and illuminating guidance in this life and the next.
If in my ignorance, I make any errors, please be so generous as to explain my faults and shortcomings to me. If you in any way benefit from my reflections please make dua for my teachers, and if you are feeling especially generous please ask that Allah guide me and keep me steadfast on this path of knowledge.
Abu Musa reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنَّ مَثَلَ مَا بَعَثَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْ الْهُدَى وَالْعِلْمِ كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَصَابَ أَرْضًا فَكَانَتْ مِنْهَا طَائِفَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ قَبِلَتْ الْمَاءَ فَأَنْبَتَتْ الْكَلَأَ وَالْعُشْبَ الْكَثِيرَ يَرْفَعْ وَكَانَ مِنْهَا أَجَادِبُ أَمْسَكَتْ الْمَاءَ فَنَفَعَ اللَّهُ بِهَا النَّاسَ فَشَرِبُوا مِنْهَا وَسَقَوْا وَرَعَوْا وَأَصَابَ طَائِفَةً مِنْهَا أُخْرَى إِنَّمَا هِيَ قِيعَانٌ لَا تُمْسِكُ مَاءً وَلَا تُنْبِتُ كَلَأً فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ مَنْ فَقُهَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ وَنَفَعَهُ بِمَا بَعَثَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِهِ فَعَلِمَ وَعَلَّمَ وَمَثَلُ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْفَعْ بِذَلِكَ رَأْسًا وَلَمْ يَقْبَلْ هُدَى اللَّهِ الَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ
Verily, the parable of the guidance and knowledge that Allah Almighty sent with me is the likeness of rain falling upon the earth. Among them is a good group which receives the water and thus there is abundant growth of herbage and grass. Among them is a barren land which retains the water and thus Allah benefits people from it; they drink from it and graze their animals. And it falls upon another group which is only abysmal; it does not retain water, nor does herbage grow. Such is the parable of one who understands the religion of Allah and benefits from what Allah sent with me; he learns and he teaches. Such is the parable of one who does not raise his head and does not accept the guidance Allah sent with me.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 79, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Allow me to leave you with a supplication from the Prophet ﷺ as narrated by Zaid ibn Arqam:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لَا يَخْشَعُ وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لَا تَشْبَعُ وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowledge which does not benefit, from a heart that does not entertain the fear (of Allah), from a soul that is not satisfied and the supplication that is not answered.” (Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2722, Grade: Sahih)
If interested in listening to the audio, check it out on Muslim Matters here.
Here’s one more for good measure, because who doesn’t love learning more duas?
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعْنِي بِمَا عَلَّمْتَنِي وَعَلِّمْنِي مَا يَنْفَعُنِي وَزِدْنِي عِلْمًا
O Allah, benefit me with what you have taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and increase my knowledge. (Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3599, Grade: Hasan)
