Welcome to the University of Sufism's Ramadan reading of Rosina Fawzia al-Rawi's book The Call of Allah,
A companion to the holy month of Ramadan.
Today I will be sharing day 20 about peace,
Also known as salaam.
Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim But those who are conscious of their sustainer will be urged on in throngs towards paradise till when they reach it they shall find its gates wide open and its keepers will say unto them peace be upon you well have you done enter then this paradise herein to abide.
Quran 39 73 The word salaam indicates inner peace well-being and safety from all types of evil whether on the physical or spiritual plane.
Salaam means to feel the divine protection wherever we are regardless of the situation we are confronted with.
It is surrendering to the divine laws.
When we observe nature and the universe we are met with harmony,
Balance,
And peace.
Why then do we fail to find harmony,
Balance,
And especially peace amongst human beings?
We have been entrusted with free will and the ability to think so that as a result of this freedom of choice we may get to know and experience God's love.
Yet through our ignorance of God and through our ego which keeps striving for its wishes and desires to be fulfilled in the best possible way,
We have forgotten our duty which is to form a just and peaceful community here on earth.
Indeed our situation is very similar to that of minerals,
Plants,
And animals.
Yet within us is a core,
An essence,
An inner light,
A form of existence that differentiates us human beings from everything else and that we can attain consciously by using our mind and our heart.
To tune into our true self means to open to and make ourselves available for our true purpose.
Allah has given us the possibility and out of his love for us he has ordered us to go deeper,
To put distractions aside,
And to turn to our true purpose here on earth.
He has bestowed upon us one month of purification,
Cleansing,
And spiritual detoxication so that we may remove everything that stands in our way and prevents us from truly loving him.
He has granted us one month to find inner peace.
Allah knows that nothing weakens the ego,
Naps,
Like fasting.
Ramadan gives us the possibility to break those habits which distract us or keep us away from Allah.
Allah offers us a solution through the path of peace,
Salam.
Within us a battle is constantly at rage between our true self,
Our soul,
And the ego,
Naps,
And we can feel it very clearly during Ramadan.
By obeying Allah's command,
By fasting,
We show that we love Allah more than our naps desires,
Habits,
And expectations.
In this way we show our naps that it is meant to serve,
Not rule.
If you come into a situation where you get irritated and lose your inner balance,
Soak your tongue in the following words,
Peace and fulfillment through the word of a sustainer who dispenses all grace.
Quran 36 58.
It is during this month that Allah has granted us divine guidance through the Quran and opened the heavens.
God wills that you shall have ease and does not will you to suffer hardship,
But he desires that you complete the number of days required and that you extol God for his having guided you aright and that you render your thanks unto him.
Quran 2 185.
Salam,
Peace,
Is not the opposite of war.
When we use this name in a greeting,
We refer to the time when none of us existed.
In the great mystery of life,
What difference do our problems,
Our conflicts,
Our differences of opinion really make?
Peace,
Salam.
This name connects us to the past and the future,
Lifting us from the narrow circles of ourself,
Widening our vision,
And bringing lightness to our hearts.
All believers are but brethren,
Hence whenever they are at odds,
Make peace between your two brethren and remain conscious of God so that you might be graced with his mercy.
Quran 49 10.
Salam is the surrender of the self to its true nature.
Those who taste their true nature free their heart from need,
Fear,
Melancholy,
And worries.
For peace loves peace and gives peace to those who ask for it.
Those who rely on God,
Taslim,
Will never fear because God's power will carry them,
Protect them,
And grant them strong faith.
The Quranic imagery draws on the one hand on battles because Islam was born in an atmosphere of war,
And on the other hand on a deep and strong serenity.
Although the soul must fight the seductive tyrannical nafs on nafs al-amarah in its quest for God,
Through peace everything is illuminated in Allah,
The absolute.
It is through our God consciousness and our love of God that peace comes into a world,
Pray to constant turmoil and unrest.
Through the Quran,
Allah thus helps us find the middle path and the balance between the struggle and the light.
Even if there were only one free space left in paradise,
Jannah,
Nourish the hope to obtain it.
And even if there were only one free space left in hell,
Jahannam,
Worry about being sentenced to it.
Keeping this balance enables us to perfect our nafs.
Al-Ghazali said in this respect,
Worship based on hope is better because hope induces love,
Whereas fear induces despair.
Oh Allah,
Heal my body,
Mind,
And heart,
And grant me reconciliation,
Peace,
And security,
So that I may see your immortal power and love in all your revelations.
Free me from errors,
Visible and invisible,
So that I may surrender to the stream of your eternal unity.
Practice suggested for today.
Oh Allah,
Oh God,
You are the peace.
From you comes the peace,
And to you the peace returns.
Let me live in peace.
When they come up,
Give as-salam to your every feeling,
Your every thought,
Your every deed.
Give as-salam to every person you meet.
Give as-salam to all those who have ever helped you,
Relatives,
Friends,
Teachers.
Give as-salam to all creatures.
Thank you for listening,
And may peace be upon you.
