Secrets of divine love : a spiritual journey into the heart of Islam

Tariq Ramadan

Named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most important innovators of the century, Tariq Ramadan is a leading Muslim scholar, with a large following, especially among young European and American Muslims. Now, in his first book written for a wide audience, he offers a marvelous biography of the Prophet Muhammad, one that highlights the spiritual and ethical teachings of one of the most influential figures in human history. In the Footsteps of the Prophet is a fresh and perceptive look at Muhammad, capturing a life that was often eventful, gripping, and highly charged. Ramadan provides both an intimate portrait of a man who was shy, kind, but determined, as well as a dramatic chronicle of a leader who launched a great religion and inspired a vast empire. More important, Ramadan presents the main events of the Prophet's life in a way that highlights his spiritual and ethical teachings. The book underscores the significance of the Prophet's example for some of today's most controversial issues, such as the treatment of the poor, the role of women, Islamic criminal punishments, war, racism, and relations with other religions. Selecting those facts and stories from which we can draw a profound and vivid spiritual picture, the author asks how can the Prophet's life remain -- or become again -- an example, a model, and an inspiration? And how can Muslims move from formalism -- a fixation on ritual -- toward a committed spiritual and social presence? In this thoughtful and... Read more…

Sheikh Safi-Ur-Rahman Al-Mubarkpuri

A complete authoritative book on the life of Prophet Muhammad (S) by Sheikh Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarkpuri. It was honored by the World Muslim League as first prize winner book. Whoever wants to know the whole life style of the Prophet in detail must read this book. Muhammad (S) is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him, are severe against the disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking bounty from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. The mark of them (i.e. of their Faith) is on their faces (fore heads) from the traces of prostration (during prayers). This is their description in the Taurdt (Torah). But their description in the Injeel (Gospel) is like a (sown) seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, and becomes thick and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers, that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward (Paradise). (Al-Fath: 29) The Prophet Muhammad (S) said: "The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth. Some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain-water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And) another portion of it was hard and held the rain-water and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, (making their animals drink ... Read more…

Hafiz Ibn Kathir

Stories of the Prophets Compiled by Imam Imaduddin Abul-Fida Ismail Ibn Kathir Translation by Rashad Ahmad Azami In this book, the stories of the prophets have been compiled from 'Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah' (The Beginning and the End) which is a great work of the famous Muslim exegete and historian Ibn Kathir and has a prominent place in the Islamic literature. The stories of the prophets and all the events in their lives have been supported by the Qur'anic Verses and the Sunnah (traditions) of the Prophet (S). Wherever it was necessary, other sources have also been reported for the sake of historical accounts, but on such places a comparative study has been made to prove the authenticity of the sources. Ibn Kathir has reproduced the views and interpretations of all the great exegetes of the Qur'an of his time. The systemic narratives of the Stories of the Prophets have been written in chronological order which renders a historical style to the book. Allah the Most Exalted says in the Qur'an: "We are relating unto you the most beautiful of stories in that what We have revealed to you from the Qur'an, though before it you were from among those who were not aware of them." (12:3) "We have indeed sent aforetime Messengers before you, of them there are some whose stories We have related to you, and whose stories We have not related to you..." (40:78) "We relate to you the important news of their story in truth..." (18:13) "And all that We relate to you of these... Read more…

Khurram Murad; Edited By Riza Mohammed

How are we to become true believers who seek God's good pleasure? How are we to become mindful of God, to be thankful or worshipful? How are we to control our anger and pride? How are we to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)? This inspirational book of wise advice answers these questions and guides us toward the spiritual life.Khurram Murad (1932–1996) was the director general of The Islamic Foundation, United Kingdom, and a renowned teacher who spent 40 years in the spiritual teaching and training of thousands of young Muslim people around the globe. He has published more than 20 works in English and Urdu. Read more…

Shafak, Elif

Listen to Elif Shafak's The Forty Rules of Love reviewed on NPR In this lyrical, exuberant follow-up to her 2007 novel, The Bastard of Istanbul, acclaimed Turkish author Elif Shafak unfolds two tantalizing parallel narratives—one contemporary and the other set in the thirteenth century, when Rumi encountered his spiritual mentor, the whirling dervish known as Shams of Tabriz—that together incarnate the poet's timeless message of love.Ella Rubenstein is forty years old and unhappily married when she takes a job as a reader for a literary agent. Her first assignment is to read and report on Sweet Blasphemy, a novel written by a man named Aziz Zahara. Ella is mesmerized by his tale of Shams's search for Rumi and the dervish's role in transforming the successful but unhappy cleric into a committed mystic, passionate poet, and advocate of love. She is also taken with Shams's lessons, or rules, that offer insight into an ancient philosophy based on the unity of all people and religions, and the presence of love in each and every one of us. As she reads on, she realizes that Rumi's story mir­rors her own and that Zahara—like Shams—has come to set her free.This is a mesmerizing novel about finding love and inspiration in the most unlikely of places. Read more…

Yusuf, Hamza

This exploration of Islamic spirituality delves into the psychological diseases and cures of the heart. Diseases examined include miserliness, envy, hatred, treachery, rancour, malice, ostentation, arrogance, covetousness, lust, and other afflictions that assail people and often control them. The causes and practical cures of these diseases are discussed, offering a penetrating glimpse into how Islam deals with spiritual and psychological problems and demonstrating how all people can benefit from these teachings. Read more…

Martin Lings

A revised edition of the internationally acclaimed biography of the prophet • Includes important additions about the prophet’s spread of Islam into Syria and its neighboring states • Contains original English translations from 8th and 9th century biographies, presented in authoritative language • Represents the final updates made on the text before the author’s death in 2005 Martin Lings’ biography of Muhammad is an internationally acclaimed, comprehensive, and authoritative account of the life of the prophet. Based on the __sira__, the eighth- and ninth-century Arabic biographies that recount numerous events in the prophet’s life, it contains original English translations of many important passages that reveal the words of men and women who heard Muhammad speak and witnessed the events of his life. Scrupulous and exhaustive in its fidelity to its sources, __Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources__ is presented in a narrative style that is easily comprehensible, yet authentic and inspiring in its use of language, reflecting both the simplicity and grandeur of the story it tells. This revised edition includes new sections detailing the prophet’s expanding influence and his spreading of the message of Islam into Syria and its neighboring states. It represents the final updates made to the text before the author’s death in 2005. The book has been published in 12 languages and has received numerous awards, including acknowledgment as best biography of the prophet in... Read more…

Abdur Raheem Kidwai

This Anthology Of 365 Quotations From The Quran, With Brief Explanatory Notes, Enables Readers To Gain A Clear Idea As To What The Quran Says On: • The Purpose Behind The Creation Of Man And The Universe • Concept And Attributes Of God In Islam • Man’s Obligations Toward God • Man’s Obligations Toward Fellow Human Beings • The Ideal Way Of Life • Man’s Social Relations • Husband-wife Relationship • Man’s Final End (death And The Afterlife) • Gender Equality • How To Co-exist Peacefully With Others • How To Win God’s Pleasure And Paradise • The Immense Reward For Charity, Justice And Good Conduct • God’s Creative Wonders About The Compiler And Translator Abdur Raheem Kidwai Is Professor Of English At The Aligarh Muslim University, India And Visiting Fellow, School Of English, University Of Leicester, Uk. He Obtained 2 Doctorate Degrees In English From The Aligarh And Leicester (uk) Universities. He Has Published 22 Books On Islam, The Quran, And English Literature, Including The Quran: Essential Teachings, 365 Sayings Of Prophet Muhammad (peace Be Upon Him), And What Is In The Quran?: Meaning Of The Quran In Simple English. His Latest, Commissioned Work In Progress Is From Impostor To Hero: Representation Of Prophet Muhammad In English Literature (islamabad, Islamic Research Institute) Read more…

Khan, Nouman Ali

Nouman Ali Khan offers insights on how to reorient our lives for success in both this world and the next. Read more…

Faris, Mohammed "abu Productive"; Productive

Ever wondered if there’s a practical way to lead a productive lifestyle that combines the best of Islamic tradition and modern psychology and science? In "The ProductiveMuslim" Mohammed Faris, the founder of ProductiveMuslim[dot]com, provides this practical framework that helps urban global Muslims lead a productive lifestyle ­ Spiritually, Physically, and Socially. Read more…

Dr. ‘a’id Ibn ‘abdullah Al-Qarni

If you have ever had depressing thoughts, low motivation, or if you feel stress on a regular basis, you are not alone. Dr. al-Qarni provides inspiration for all situations in life that can cause us grief. Tragedies often make us realize that in order to be the best wife, mother and woman possible, we must take care of ourselves and those that we love, as if our lives depend on it. We must remember the lessons that some of the greatest women in Islamic history have taught us by example. We must rely on Allah to give us strength when we can’t find it in our own lives. Within this book lies the encouragement to be the leading woman in all areas of your life. You will find peace and happiness by holding on to the rope of Allah. The author reminds us that when we take one step closer to Allah, He will take ten more to be closer to you.From the translator, Huda Khattab:Do you want to be happy? We are all looking for an escape from worry, stress and depression, and ways to find happiness. This book presents the route to happiness in a nutshell, drawing on Islamic teachings and the voices of “experts” both western and eastern. Sit and read it from cover to cover, or dip into it a page or two at a time in between other activities in a busy life as a wife, mother, student or worker. You are holding in your hands a treasure chest of reminders that will help you learn important lessons and set you on the path to happiness in this world and in the Hereafter, in sha’ Allah. Read more…

Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Caner K. Dagli, Maria Massi Dakake, Joseph E. B. Lumbard, Mohammed Rustom, Maria Massi Dakake, Joseph E. B. Lumbard

A classic translation of the Quran that offers a rigorous analysis of its theological, metaphysical, historical, and geographical backgrounds, and includes extensive study notes, special introductions by experts in the field, and is edited by a top modern Islamic scholar, respected in both the West and the Islamic world. Drawn from a wide range of traditional Islamic commentaries, including Sunni and Shia sources, and from legal, theological, and mystical texts, The Study Quran conveys the enduring spiritual power of the Quran and offers a thorough critical understanding of this holy text. Beautifully packaged with a rich, attractive two-color layout, this magnificent volume includes essays by 28 contributors covering the 114 surahs of the Quran, maps, useful notes and annotations in an easy-to-read two-column format, a timeline of historical events, and helpful indices. With The Study Quran, both scholars and lay readers can explore the deeper spiritual meaning of the Quran, examine the grammar of difficult sections, and explore legal and ritual teachings, ethics, theology, sacred history, and the importance of various passages in Muslim life. With an introduction by its general editor, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, here is a nearly 2,000-page, continuous discussion of the entire Quran that provides a comprehensive picture of how this sacred work has been read by Muslims for over 1,400 years Read more…

Al-Mubarkpur, Sheikh Safi-Ur-Rahman

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Mogahed, Yasmin

This is not just a self-help book. It is a manual about the journey of the heart in and out of the ocean of this life. It is a book about how to keep your heart from sinking to the depths of that ocean, and what to do when it does. It is a book about redemption, about hope, about renewal. Every heart can heal, and each moment is created to bring us closer to that transformative return. The book is about finding that moment when everything stops and suddenly looks different. It is about finding your own awakening. And then returning to the better, truer, and freer version of yourself. Many of us live our lives, entrapped by the same repeated patterns of heartbreak and disappointment. Many of us have no idea why this happens. The book is about freeing the heart from this slavery. It is about the journey in an out of life's most deceptive traps. This book was written to awaken the heart and provide a new perspective on love, loss, happiness, and pain. Providing a manual of sorts, the book will teach readers how to live in this life without allowing life to own you. It is a manual of how to protect your most prized possession: the heart. -- P. 4 of cover. Read more…

Omar Suleiman

This inspirational collection of prayers and reminders is the perfect companion for anyone who wishes to connect to the Divine. Shaykh Omar Suleiman provides us with thirty short prayers taken from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and the early generations, each with a short reminder to deepen the impact of the prayer in our lives. Prayers of the Pious provides spiritual gems that serve as valuable wisdom and practical advice for the soul. By reading this short work with an attentive heart, the reader can cultivate love for God and His Messenger and live life with gratitude and contentment. Read more…

Omar Suleiman

"In Allah Loves& Omar Suleiman explores who and what Allah loves so that we may become one of those who are beloved to Him. The Prophet Muhammad said that one of the supplications of Prophet Dawud was, "O Allah I ask You for Your love and the love of those that love You and all of those actions that would bring me closer to being loved by you." Looking at our actions, characteristics and beliefs, this book will help us become better people, citizens and believers that are deserving of Allah's endless, infinite and ever-lasting love. Made up of 30 short and spiritually enriching chapters, this book is a reminder that throughout our lives, the Creator's love is always there, increasing through everyday actions such as showing generosity or remaining consistent with unnoticeable good deeds." -- Amazon.com Read more…

Jalaluddin, Uzma

Pride and Prejudice with a modern twist AYESHA SHAMSI has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been set aside for a teaching job so she can pay off her debts to her wealthy uncle. She lives with her boisterous Muslim family and is always being reminded that her flighty younger cousin, Hafsa, is close to rejecting her one hundredth marriage proposal. Though Ayesha is lonely, she doesn't want an arranged marriage. Then she meets Khalid who is just as smart and handsome as he is conservative and judgmental. She is irritatingly attracted to someone who looks down on her choices and dresses like he belongs in the seventh century. When a surprise engagement between Khalid and Hafsa is announced, Ayesha is torn between how she feels about the straightforward Khalid and his family; and the truth she realizes about herself. But Khalid is also wrestling with what he believes and what he wants. And he just can't get this beautiful, outspoken woman out of his mind. Read more…