S1: Episode 1

In episode 1, we discussed up until pages 14 of The Refinement of Souls by Imam Ibn Ata’Allah al-Sakandari, our chosen book for Season One. This episode was our first one and it begin with us sharing our Quote of the Day. We have since changed the broadcast to make it a recorded-live upload so it will not be uploaded live on YouTube, rather it would be viewable as a recording of our live discussion together, insha’Allah.

In these show notes, you can watch the discussion and listen right here and also get the quotes from the book that were mentioned in the episode.

Watch

Listen

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Quotes

• “If you want to repent, then let no moment of your life be devoid of reflection” [Pg. 2.]
• When you are looking for someone to follow in terms of taking your deen from them, you should always see how close is their character to the Prophet ﷺ. – Shahin
• “When you perform an act of obedience, like the prayer or recitation [of the Qur’an], but find it in neither complete absorption in Allah nor reflection, then know that you have a hidden disease, such as pride, conceit or the like” [pg. 4]
• “I shall avert My signs from those who behave arrogantly on earth without. right” [Quran 7:146]
• In discussing the ‘abdal, “They did not outstrip people by profusely praying, fasting and invoking the glorification of Allah bur rather good character, genuine scrupulousness, good intentions and purity of hearts. Those are Allah’s party. Surely, Allah’s party are the one who are successful.” [pg. 3]
• “Emulation of him ﷺ is of two types: apparent and subtle. The apparent is like prayer, fasting, giving charity, performing pilgrimage, struggling (jihad) and so forth. The subtle is that you totally absorb yourself in beholding Allah alone in your prayer, and reflect and ponder on what you recite.” [pg.4]
• “If people had avoided wronging one another, they would have swiftly reached Allah.” [pg. 5]
• It is not about repentance gaining purity or comprehension, repentance gains Allah’s love – Samia
• “When a slave [of Allah] repents, his abode in Paradise rejoins for him, the heavens and the earth rejoice for him, and so does the messenger ﷺ. The Real ﷻ was not satisfied for you to be a lover,; rather, He wants you to be a beloved. And where is the beloved [in status] compared to the lover?” [pg. 7]
• The only thing better than loving Allah ﷻ is to be loved by Allah ﷻ – IG quote.
• Allah does not even want to have you experience the hardship, He wants you to experience His Love and He is telling us to do it. – Samia
• “Verily, Allah loves the oft-repentant, and He loves those who purify themselves.” [Qur’an 2:222]
• “Verily, the self (nafs) is ever commanding [one to do] evil”, which is why it is considered to be a man’s worst enemy, as it is difficult to save oneself from its evil” – [pg. 7]
• “The self by its very nature includes towards this world because it does not know of anything other than it as good.” [pg. 7]
• “If there was nothing in an act of disobedience other than the change in one’s name, then that would have been enough [as a deterrent]. In other words, if you are obedient, you will be called devout, whereas if you are disobedient, you will be called a negligent sinner. This is in terms of the change in one’s name, so what about the change in effect, such as being transformed from experiencing sweetness in obedience [to Allah] to experiencing sweetness in disobedience [to Allah] to experiencing sweetness in disobedience [to Allah], and from delight in serving Allah to delight in base desire? This is with respect to change in effect, so wha about the change in one’s description? After you were described by Allah with beautiful attributes, the matter becomes reversed, so that you are described with blameworthy states and conditions. This is in respect to change in description, so what about the change in rank? So after you were considered righteous in Allah’s sight, He now sees as being from amongst those who sow corruption; and after you were seen by Him as one of the pious, you are nw seen by Him as a traitor. So if sins manifest before your face, seek help from Allah and take refuge in Him, throw soil over your head and say, “O Allah, transport me from the humiliation of disobedience to the honor of obedience.”” – [pg.9]

What is your takeaway from this section? Share with us in the comments below.

We hope this episode was a beautiful beginning of self improvement and a growth in spirituality.

-Kalimah Book Club Team

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