Divine and Eternal Success

We are in a unique age in which we are struggling for the Soul of Islam. We are literally at war to claim and define what Islam is and what it means to be a Muslim.

In many ways, we are in an Age of Darkness. Things are happening in the name of Islam that could hardly have been imagined by the pious of previous generations.

The media focuses on such things, and we are often inundated with images of the very antithesis of what it means to be a Muslim.

Incredibly, the Messenger of Allah Almighty foretold of this.

There will come a day when nothing shall remain of Islam but it’s name. They will recite the Qur’an, but it will not descend below their throats. They will call themselves Muslim, yet they will be the furthest people from Islam.

— Prophet Muhammad (saw)

These words of the blessed Prophet (saw) are incredibly profound on so many levels.

He (saw) indicated that there will come a time in which the understanding of Islam will be completely lost, obscured and veiled.

Yet this statement also indicates that hidden within the name, al-Islam, will remain the secret to its essence.

The Prophet (saw) also stated that the Qur’an will be recited, yet that it “will not descend beneath their throats,” indicating that it will not enter into the hearts of people, and that religion will be localized in the head, in the mind, and thus in ego-based consciousness.

When religion becomes usurped by ego, it becomes the antithesis of its very purpose. Rather than heal and make whole, it destroys, separates, splinters and fractures. Rather than bring life, safety, security, peace and prosperity, it brings fear, pain and suffering. Rather than bring light, religion devoid of spirituality brings darkness.

And so concluded the blessed Messenger (saw), “They will call themselves Muslim, but they will be the furthest people from Islam.”

Where once Islam was equated with excellence and sophistication, with knowledge, evolution, progress and the advancement of human culture, it is heartbreaking to witness how far the global consciousness of our Ummah has slipped from the light, beauty, perfection and excellence of al-Islam.

Yet it is also said that it is darkest just before the dawn.

Sometimes, we must lose what we have to truly know, understand and appreciate it. And in the chaos surrounding Islam, we have no choice but to go deeper into the truth and reality of what this noble way of living truly is.

In the beginning, Islam was a spiritual path focused primarily on spiritual development and reestablishing a human being’s connection with his or her Creator. It was primarily a path of self-purification and the cultivation of personal excellence in every detail and in every action, in every breath and in every intention.

Somewhere along the lines, the spiritual essence, the living Way, became lost as the focus shifted and piety became equated with forms. Yes, the forms are necessary, but they do not constitute the essence. They but house and give expression to the essence. If this essence is lacking, of what value are the forms?

We can only reclaim the Soul of Islam by becoming Islam. We can save ourselves and al-Islam by becoming peace, serenity, tranquility, patience, strength, forbearance, mercy and compassion.

How do we get closer to Allah Almighty? By manifesting His attributes and qualities. We draw nearer to the Divine Presence by purifying ourselves of ego-consciousness, so that nothing remains but the divine qualities and attributes of God.

Mercy.

Compassion.

Forgiveness.

Love.

Light.

Patience.

Strength.

Forbearance.

This is self-purification, the heart and soul of Islam, also known as Jihad an-Nafs, Tazkiyyat an-Nafs, Tasawwuf, Sufism, Tarbiyya, ‘Ilm al-Ihsan and so on. The name is not important. The reality is important.

We must reclaim the Soul of Islam. It’s up to us to save Islam. You and I. It falls on our shoulders to manifest al-Islam. To become al-Islam.

We must show the world, and our own Community, that Islam is peace. Yet we can only do this by becoming peace. By becoming patience. By becoming calm, clear and connected.

Learn to be still. Learn to be patient. Learn to be peaceful. Learn to be Islam.

To your divine and eternal success.

— Ihsan