Murad Flashcards
Why did Murad claim there is a case to “revive the spiritual life within Islam”?
Writing at a time when Islam was in crisis regarding extremism and he claims that this type of extremism in Islam is not meeting the contemporary needs of the people. Islam needs to do something about this as a community
What does he call extremism?
Islamic revivalism - reviving the salaafi tradition
For Murad what was the first step to reviving Islam?
Need to see that Islam is in crisis. The whole ummah must carry out a collective self examination.
For Murad, what change does there need to be?
There has to be spiritual change - a transformation of the lower self - one cannot give into desires. Then there should be joy - tawba?
What Qur’anic quote does Murad give? What does it mean?
“No one shall enter the Garden by his works”. This means works are not important it is faith that matters and the extremism of Salaafism does not follow the Middle way of the Prophet - they will not enter the Gardens of Heaven according to the Qur’an.
What does Murad say about the faith of extremists?
The faith (din) is not stable or of sound heart. The emphasis is on following the fiqh rules rather than faith.
Why does Murad think Islam has become lost?
It has downplayed innovative thinking and yet Murad claims this innovative thinking has always been part of the development of it after the Prophet died. It should not be ignored. The extremist groups ignore it.
What is the Middle ground of Islam for Murad?
Muslims should be focused on developing the virtues and nourishing the nafs by following the way of the Sufis. There must be a return to Classical Islam. He terms this a return to activism within.
Why does Murad think extremism has developed?
There is a lot of insecurity of young men in the Islamic world. This is because it is in a period of transition from mud huts to huge glass buildings - cities are being built like never before in Islamic countries and this makes people insecure - they need something to hold onto. This makes them intolerant, narrow minded and exclusivist in their views.
Why does Murad think Salafi movements are unsuccessful?
Because they are not based on true din (faith) or tawba (joy). They do not have sound heart.
What does Murad say about Shaikh Hamdi?
He describes Shaikh Hamdi who having been a radical Islamist became western in his ways and turned his back on Islam. This is because he did not have true faith - his faith was born out of insecurity.
What does Murad say about Shaikh Hamdi?
He describes Shaikh Hamdi who having been a radical Islamist became western in his ways and turned his back on Islam. This is because he did not have true faith - his faith was born out of insecurity.
What does Murad say about following the Sufi way?
It will enable Islam to reform itself and revise itself. He writes that “God will not change the condition of His people until they change the condition of themselves” - it is for individuals to develop true din (faith) and sound heart (Qalb) and in turn this will develop the faith of the whole of the Islamic community. The individual must come to God through sound faith and heart.
Give the Qur’an quote which talks about the Ruh.
“And they ask you about the spirit; say, the spirit is of the command of my Lord and you have been give of knowledge only a little.” The spirit is the ruh which survives death. This is what Muslims should be developing as far as possible but it remains a mystery.
What does the Qur’an say about the ego?
“Slaughter your ego with knives of mujahada”. Mujahada refers to the fight against the daily nafs.
