Islam presentation

A Presentation on

Islam : A Total Islam : A Total System for System for

Mankind to achieve Mankind to achieve Universal Universal

Brotherhood of Brotherhood of ManMan

By

Abdul Rahman Kamaruddin

Former Advisor to UNESCO, UNIDO & IDB on Information Systems and Services

E-mail: [email protected]

Ph: 26535438 (R) 41248209 (O)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Islam : A Total Islam : A Total System for System for

Mankind to achieve Mankind to achieve peace andpeace andUniversal Universal

Brotherhood of ManBrotherhood of Man

A religion is entirely personal, yet… it has a tendency to envelope the whole universe, seen and unseen… It permeates, sometime or other, our hearts, our souls, our minds, their conscious and sub-conscious parts…..

It is highly desirable that one should try to know all religions of the world, in the proper spirit, to promote mutual understanding and better appreciation of our neighbourhood, immediate and remote.

Prof. K.S.Ramakrishna Rao Muhammad, The Prophet of IslamCrescent Publishing Co. Feb, 1979

RELIGION PERMEATES TOTAL PERSONALITY

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ISLAM – A PATHWAY TO PEACE

Islam is a generic term derived from two Arabic words Salam – Peace and Tasleem – Surrender.

Islam means to attain perfect peace by absolute submission to the will of God.

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ISLAM – A UNIVERSAL RELIGION

Islam is a simple, open, transparent, natural, secular & universal religion for mankind. It does not discriminate based on race, nationality, color, sex, caste creed, status or wealth.

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ISLAM – THE ORIGINAL RELIGION OF MAN

Islam is not a new religion. It is the same message given by God to the first Prophet Adam and to innumerable prophets to different people across time and space. The message has been distorted by man over time. Therefore, the original message has been recapitulated and revealed, by God, in its final evolutionary form to Prophet Muhammad (SAS).This has been recorded & authenticated in the Qur’an during his lifetime & has remained unchanged ever since.

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MISSION OF A MUSLIMMISSION OF A MUSLIM

O Lord grant us the Best in this World and the Best in the

Hereafter…

PRAYERS OF A MUSLIMPRAYERS OF A MUSLIM

Oh Allah please grant me the Knowledge which is Beneficial, the Sustenance which is Pure, the Heart which is Sincere and Honest, the Work

which is Acceptable to YOU and Cure me from all Diseases (physical, mental and spiritual).

ISLAM – A TOTAL SYSTEM FOR MAN

Islam is not only a religion but a total system for human beings to live in perfect harmony with man, nature and Cosmos for achieving the best in this world and in the next, by submitting to the will of the Supreme GOD, code named ALLAH in Arabic.

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1. Five Pillars- Realising unity

2. Basic Tenets – For best life

3. Approaches to service to mankind

4. Information and Resources for

guidance of Islamic practice

5. Matrix of subjects in the Qur’an.

SYSTEM DIAGRAM OF ISLAMSYSTEM DIAGRAM OF ISLAM

CONCEPT OF UNITYCONCEPT OF UNITY

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Peace

Moderation

Scientific Approach

Service to Humanity

Purity

Democratic Approach

Brother Hood

Humility

Social Approach

Justice

Equality

Economic Approach

Truthfulness

Tolerance

Spirituality: Sufism

Hadith: Sayings of ProphetQuran

Seerah:

Prophet’s Life

Ijma: Consensus

Ijtihad: Interpretation

RESOURCES FOR GUIDANCE

BASIC TENETS OF ISLAM

APPROACHES TO SERVICE

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MANMAN

GODGOD

WORLDWORLDCOSMOSCOSMOS

KNOWLEDGEKNOWLEDGE

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Unity Concept

Tawheed

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KNOWLEDGEKNOWLEDGE

Peace

Moderation

Scientific Approach

Service to Humanity

Purity

Democratic Approach

Brother Hood

Humility

Social Approach

Justice

Equality

Economic Approach

Truthfulness

Tolerance

Spirituality: Sufism

QuranSeerah:

Prophet’s Life

Hadith: Sayings of

Prophet

Ijma: Consensus

Ijtihad: Interpretation

RESOURCES FOR GUIDANCE

BASIC TENETS OF ISLAM

APPROACHES TO SERVICE

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Matrix of QUR’ANRelationships and Subjects

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1. Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created-

2. Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:

3. Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,-

4. He Who taught (the use of) the Pen,-

5. Taught man that which he knew not. Qur’an: 96: 1,2,3,4,5

Importance of Knowledge and Reason in Islam

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Islam and Democracy“It was the first religion that preached and

practiced democracy; for, in the mosque, when the minaret is sounded and the worshippers are gathered together the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim, “God is great”.

Sarojini Naidu in Muhammad, The Prphet of IslamBy Prof. K.S.Ramakrishna Rao,

Crescent Publishing Co. Feb 1979, P 7.

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Note: Islam promotes Democracy based on Shura- Consultation and consensus in which

everyone participates in the decision and action.

MODESTY IN MANNERS & DRESS FOR MEN

Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.

- Sura 24 An-Nur Ayat 30ARK

And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to….

MODESTY IN MANNERS & DRESS FOR WOMEN

- Sura 24 An-Nur Ayat 31ARK

KILLING OF INNOCENT PEOPLE FORBIDDEN

If anyone slew a person unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if anyone saved a life it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear Signs yet even after that many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.

-Sura 5 Al- Maida Ayat 32 ARK

Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things.

NO COMPULSION IN RELIGION

- Sura 2 Al-Baqara Ayat 256ARK

O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).

UNITY OF MANKIND

- Sura 49 Al-Hujurat Ayat 13ARK

It was in a totally objective spirit, and without any preconceived ideas that I first examined the Qur’anic Revelation. I was looking for the degree of compatibility between the Qur’anic text and the data of modern science…

I had to acknowledge the evidence in front of me: the Qur’an did not contain a single statement that was assailable from a modern scientific point of view.

THE QUR’AN AND SCIENCE

The Bible, The Qur’an and ScienceBy Maurice Bucaille, France

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All Praise to Allah the Sustainer of the Worlds The Compassionate, the Merciful.

Lord of the Day of Judgement You alone do we worship,

and your help alone do we seek. Guide us to the Straight Path.

The path of those you have favored.Not of those who earned your anger,

nor of those who lost the way.

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IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL

The Opening Chapter of Qur’an

Surah Fathiha

THE SIGNS OF ALLAH

By the Sun and his (glorious) splendor;By the Moon as she follow him;

By the Day as it shows up (the Sun's) glory;By the Night as it conceals it;

By the Firmament and its (wonderful) structure;By the Earth and its (wide) expanse;

By the Soul and the proportion and order given to it;And its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right;

Truly he succeeds that purifies itAnd he fails that corrupts it!

- Sura 91 Ash-ShamsARK

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: lit from a blessed Tree an Olive neither of the East nor of the West whose Oil is well-nigh luminous though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light. Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things.

ALLAH IS THE LIGHT

- Sura 24 An-Nur Ayat 35 ARK

Prophet Prophet Mohammed: Mohammed:

Mercy to Mankind Mercy to Mankind

A tradition, although not very authentic, related by A tradition, although not very authentic, related by Khatib Baghdadi says that when Muhammad(SAW) was Khatib Baghdadi says that when Muhammad(SAW) was born a celestial voice was heard commanding the born a celestial voice was heard commanding the angels: “Take Muhammad (SAW) from one land to other angels: “Take Muhammad (SAW) from one land to other and to the depth of the ocean so that the whole world, and to the depth of the ocean so that the whole world, every man and jinnee, every beast and bird and every every man and jinnee, every beast and bird and every sentient being may know his name and fame. Give him sentient being may know his name and fame. Give him the morals of Adam, gnosis of Seth, courage of Noah, the morals of Adam, gnosis of Seth, courage of Noah, Faithfulness of Abraham, eloquence of Ishmael, Faithfulness of Abraham, eloquence of Ishmael, resignation of Isaac, oratory of Salih, wisdom of Lot, resignation of Isaac, oratory of Salih, wisdom of Lot, perseverance of Moses, endurance of Job, Obedience of perseverance of Moses, endurance of Job, Obedience of Jonah, fighting spirit of Joshua, melody of David, love of Jonah, fighting spirit of Joshua, melody of David, love of Danial, esteem of Elias, chastity of John and abstinence Danial, esteem of Elias, chastity of John and abstinence of Jesus and bathe him in the water of their morals.of Jesus and bathe him in the water of their morals.

Source:Source: Moulana Saiyid sulaiman Nadwi : Moulana Saiyid sulaiman Nadwi : Mohammad: The Ideal Prophet, Khutub-e-Madras, oct –Mohammad: The Ideal Prophet, Khutub-e-Madras, oct –Nov-1925 Nov-1925

“ If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in Modern history with Muhammad?

Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?”

Greatness of Prophet Greatness of Prophet Mohammad’s Achievement:Mohammad’s Achievement:

Lamartine, Histoire de la Turquie, Paris 1854Voll II, PP.276-77 ARK

“He was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without pope’s pretentions, Caesar without the legions of Cesar; without a standing army without a body-guard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue; if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Mohammed, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports”.

Bosworth Smith, Mohammad and Mohammadanism,

London 1874, P 92. ARK

PROPHET’S ROLE

I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind…….. I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the second volume (of the Prophet’s biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life.”

MAHATMA GANDHI On MUHAMMED

“YOUNG INDIA,” 1924.ARK

“ I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion, which appears to me to possess that assimilation capacity to changing phases of existence, which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied the wonderful Man and, in my opinion far from being an Anti-Christ, he must be called the savior of humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much-needed peace and happiness.

Bernard Shaw on IslamBernard Shaw on Islam

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Napoleon on Islam

I hope the time is not far off when I shall be able to unite all the wise and educated men of all the countries and establish a uniform regime based on the principles of the Quran which alone are true and which alone can lead men to happiness.

Napoleon BonaparteARK

“ My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level.”

Michael H Hart, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History. Hart Publishing 1978

New York: Hart Publishing Company, Inc. 1978ARK

Prophet Muhammad’s Prophet Muhammad’s (SAS)(SAS)

Last SermonLast Sermon

This Sermon was delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H in the Uranah Valley of

mount ArafatARK

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Hurt no one so that no one may hurt Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. you. Remember that you will indeed meet Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. reckon your deeds.

Allah has forbidden you to take Allah has forbidden you to take usury (Interest), therefore all usury (Interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth interest obligation shall henceforth be waived...”be waived...”

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Prophet’s Last Sermon 2/8

““Beware of Satan, for your Beware of Satan, for your safety of your religion.safety of your religion.

He has lost all hope that he will He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of in big things, so beware of following him in small things.”following him in small things.”

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““O People, it is true that you have O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have right women, but they also have right over you. If they abide by your over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in right to be fed and clothed in kindness.kindness.Do treat your women well and be Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery.”as never to commit adultery.”

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““O People, listen to me in earnest, O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakaat. Perform Hajj if wealth in Zakaat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to. you can afford to.

You know that every Muslim is the You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. are all equal. Nobody has superiority over other Nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good action.”except by piety and good action.”

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““Remember, one day Remember, one day you will appear before you will appear before Allah and answer for Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, your deeds. So beware, do not astray from the do not astray from the path of righteousness path of righteousness after I am gone.”after I am gone.”

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““O People, no prophet or O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my People, and understand my words which I convey to you. words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an and my example, the Qur'an and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go these you will never go astray.”astray.”ARK


““All those who listen to me All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to shall pass on my words to others and those to others others and those to others again; and may the last ones again; and may the last ones understand my words better understand my words better than those who listen to me than those who listen to me directly. directly.

Be my witness oh Allah that I Be my witness oh Allah that I have conveyed your message have conveyed your message to your people."to your people."ARK


SUFISMSUFISM

The mystical side of Islam is called Sufism. It is the purification of the heart from the recurrence of base temptations. Its purpose is to make one adhere to spiritual values, to ascend by means of divine knowledge to that which is eternally the best and to give wise counsel to all people faithfully to seek the Truth. It is an attempt to gain personal experience with God.

ISLAM AND SUFISM

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Sufism is a highly complex phenomenon based on a system of thought and action and demands passionate love towards God and sincere service to humanity. Sufis attach great emphasis to the love of God, and their only concern is to be lost in this love.

WHAT IS SUFISM?

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The entire mystical thought is based on the theory that there is a divine spark in man, who is not conscious of it. It requires rigorous training or technique to comprehend its full implications. Mystical endeavour is the generation of light from the soul and the return to its source.

THE PREREQUISITES TO STRIVE THE PREREQUISITES TO STRIVE TO BECOME A SUFITO BECOME A SUFI

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Sufism has been derived from the word Sauf, which means coarse wool, signifying a hard and simple life. It is also derived from Ashab-al-Saffa, the companions of the Prophet who used to sit in his verandas. Even in the Prophet’s lifetime, some of his followers wished to enter into a closer relationship with God by slackening their attachment to this world.

ORIGIN OF SUFISM

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As God is Absolute, we cannot know anything about His qualities except through intuition or revelation. It is possible to know the Absolute because God’s nature is not different from that of man, and because the human soul partakes of the Divine, and after death returns to its Divine source. Reason is of value only in science, but beyond reason is intuition, which gives man a simpler, a more direct and more adequate knowledge of the Absolute Truth or Ultimate Reality.

SUFISM AND INTUITION TO SUFISM AND INTUITION TO FIND TRUTHFIND TRUTH

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According to Sufism, the process of ascent or spiritual perfection involves six

stages.

PROCESSES OF ASCENT PROCESSES OF ASCENT IN SUFISMIN SUFISM

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Spiritual PursuitSpiritual Pursuit

TAAT

SHARIAT

TARIQAT

MAARIFAT

HAQEEQAT

FANA

Surrender to will of God

Obey Commands of God

Way to Knowledge

Gnosis: Spiritual Knowledge

Reality Ultimate Truth

EnlightenmentCosmic Confluence

Fragrance

Flower

Tree

Plant

Seedling

Seed

ALLAHALLAHSUFISM IN ISLAMMystic Ascent of Man From Earthly Being Spiritual Perfection

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2. SHARIAT: In the second stage, a Sufi would act according to the commands of God or Shariat. This is the stage of good actions, when he must serve others, relieve the distress of the suffering and develop in himself patience, sincerity and humanity.

1. TAAT: In the first stage, man has to completely surrender himself to the Will of God. This is the stage of obedience in which by ascetic practices he has to overcome the self-ego or nafs.


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3. Tarikhat: In this stage, the Sufi apprentice (Mureed) will be fully under the guidance of a Sufi Master (Peer) who guides him towards attaining gnosis.

4. Maarifath: The fourth stage is called Maarifath or gnosis, in which spiritual knowledge is attained. In this stage logical reasoning is discarded, because of its inadequacy to gain the knowledge of God. Those who recognise their own selves can know and understand God.


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5. Haqeeqat: The last stage, haqeeqat or reality is the highest stage of complete unity with Divinity. It is the transformation of the whole of man, his will, his intellect and his emotions into a state in which an unitive condition with reality is attained. IN this stage, the mystic passes away from the self and lives in essential unity with God. He crosses the domain of attributes and enters into that of essence and becomes the perfect man or Insan-e-Kamil.


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6. Fanaa: Law and religion lose their meaning in this stage and the Sufi exclaims “I am He whom I love and He whom I love is I… I become that which I love, and that which I love becomes mine”.


This is the stage of perfection wherein a man is completely absorbed in God, His oneness with God is perceptive and not existential.

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EXAMPLE OF JALAUDIN RUMI’S MATHNAVI –I-MAANAVI (COUPLETS OF INNER MEANING) ON THE STATE OF

“FANA” Rumi experienced what the Sufis call fana, or complete annihilation in the Beloved. In fana, there is no difference between lover and beloved, between self and other, the soul and God. Many of Rumi’s poems are about the experience of fana, and he uses many metaphors to express it. Sometimes Rumi calls it burning; sometimes drunkenness; sometimes it is bursting, falling, emptiness or love.

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EXAMPLE OF JALAUDIN RUMI’S MATHNAVIEXAMPLE OF JALAUDIN RUMI’S MATHNAVI

In the early morning hour, just before dawn, lover and beloved wake

and take a drink of water.

She asks, “Do you love me or yourself more? Really, tell the absolute truth.”

He says, “There's nothing left of me. I’m like a ruby held up to the sunrise.

Is it still a stone, or a world made of redness? It has no resistance

to sunlight.”

This is how Hallaj said, I am God, and told the truth!ARK

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The ruby and the sunrise are one. Be courageous and discipline yourself.

Completely become hearing and ear, and wear this sun-ruby as an earring.

Work. Keep digging your well. Don’t think about getting off from work.

Water is there somewhere.

Submit to a daily practice. Your loyalty to that is a ring on the door.

Keep knocking, and the joy inside will eventually open a window

and look out to see who’s there?.......

EXAMPLE OF JALAUDIN RUMI’S MATHNAVIEXAMPLE OF JALAUDIN RUMI’S MATHNAVI

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EXPERIENCE TO ATTAIN FANAEXPERIENCE TO ATTAIN FANA

The stage of fana or the final stage is attained by passing through a long experience of seven different types. They are:

• Repentance, toba• Abstinence, vara• Renunciation, zahad• Poverty, fakhr• Patience, sabr• Trust, tawakkal• Satisfaction, raza

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STEPS TO ATTAIN FANA STAGESTEPS TO ATTAIN FANA STAGEThere are ten states through which a mystic has to pass to attain Fana. They are:

• Meditation, murakhiba• Love, muhabbat• Fear, khauf• Hope,• ummeed• longing, shauq• nearness to God, khurb• intimacy, uns• tranquillity, itmenan• contemplation, mushahida• certainty, yaqin

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THE PREREQUISITES TO STRIVE TO BECOME A THE PREREQUISITES TO STRIVE TO BECOME A SUFI DESCRIBED IN THE WORDS OF THE SUFI DESCRIBED IN THE WORDS OF THE

PROPHET ASPROPHET AS

• Intellect, the Foundation of the faith• Enthusiasm, its Vehicle• Trust and Confidence, its Treasure• Longing of the Heart, its Companion• Knowledge, its Armour• Patience, its Dress• Penance, its Profession• Determination, its Food• Prayer, its Solace

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