Topic: A basic question from a new Muslim

[jaz]

Assalamu 'alaykum to all

I just registered in to your lovely site.

I read in your introduction....

"We are a group of friends, students of traditional Islamic sciences and sometimes teachers. We are firmly anchored within the orthodox Sunni majority whose rigour and moderation we endeavour to represent. Our fundamentals are the Qur’ân, Sunnah (prophetic tradition), unanimity of jurisconsults and their jurisprudence. We work within the frame of the four schools of our virtuous predecessors: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi^i and Hanbali . Our method in theology is Ash^ari and Maturidi and we strive to follow the Sufi path."

...and I understand up to "...and we strive to follow the Sufi path".

I am fairly new to Islam...and I just do not yet know...what the "Sufi path" is... or the reason that a person needs to go outside of ..or beyond...what is described in the initial part of the introduction. Is this a requirement in Islam?...the "Sufi" aspect?

I hope this question is not to bothersome...as it is so basic...and clearly you all understand...but I do not. Would someone here be willing to address this question for me?

Thank you.

Jaz  

[Ihab]

Assalam 3alaykoum

The statements which comply with the laws of the Religion are the sound sayings, whereas the sayings which contradict the Religion are abhorrent and evil. With reference to Sufism, the sound saying which complies with the laws of the Religion is that Sufism is the methodology implemented by the true Sufis and is very much a part of the Religion.
True Sufis are people who realize the importance of the Obligatory Knowledge of the Religion and endeavor to acquire it through proper channels, i.e., through trustworthy and knowledgeable teachers. They acquire the knowledge, then implement it and encourage others to do the same. Sufis are a people who follow the great Messenger, Muhammad, in a full manner by following his teachings and his example. They weigh things by the scale of the Religion. They do not deem lawful that which Allah ordained as unlawful, and they do not deem unlawful that which Allah ordained as lawful. They judge ugly what the laws of the Religion judge ugly, and they judge good what the laws of the Religion judge good. They do not indulge their appetites, and do so willingly. They go against the desires of their selves. They are a people who keep busy worshipping their Lord, fighting laziness and ignorance. They may work in the matters of this life, yet they do not have an interest in worldly acquisitions because the world has departed their hearts.


Beware of suficlaimers. these are not Sufis and have bad intentions. Anyone who claims that Allah is a body that fills the space around us, or that He becomes a part of the man or inhabits the man, or that He sits on the Throne is a blasphemer not a Muslim and not a Sufi. Some Suficlaimers these days say that they become one with Allah, that Allah is in them, and that is blasphemy. beware of searching the internet all by yourself if you lack knowledge, and reading all by yourself their sick websites (I read many that contain blasphmy) becasue you might be lost if you didn't learn the rules of the religion...

For more information please read the three parts in this lesson
http://www.aicp.org/IslamicInformation/English/SUFISMvsSUFICLAIMERS.htm
wassalam

[jaz]

Peace

Thank you  

That is a wonderful article. It was very clear. I feel that I have a much better understanding after reading this.  I love it when that happens

So I will be interested in learning what are some of the practices that are good innovations that are used by true Sufis. I will spend some time reading here...maybe I can see from some of the posts.

I am not a Sufi...just a new Muslim...but I think that I would like to stay around here...if that's okay  

Jaz

[Ihab]

Salam and welcome my brother to this forum. I am happy that you read the answer and the article and you are very smart to ask asking is a good way to learn. many people don't ask and they form their own opinion not based on knowledge.
If there's a trustworthy Muslim in your town who has more knowledge, please ask him to teach you, if not, there are a few trusted websites and forums online that follow the sayings of the prophet salla Allah 3alayhi wa sallam and the Quor'an, jut be carefull not to follow the bad people who claim that Allah is a body, a shape that has eyes, hands and face like a human and sits on the throne like humans. Likening Allah to his creation is pure Blasphemy. Allah exists without a place, He created all places and doesn't need them, and He is not a body, form or shape, and there is nothing like him at all.  this is the true creed of the Muslims since Adam peace be upon him, and this is the creed of all Angels too.

some of the correct websites are :
www.aicp.org
www.forumislam.com
www.talkaboutislam. com
www.mika2eel.com
http://www.sunna.info/
http://www.alsunna.org/



Also there are lessons on paltalk too in Arabic or English. visit in paltalk the group The Call of Knowledge in Arabic and in English The light of Islam
the schedule is on http://www.aicp.org/About/OnlineClasses.htm

Lessons in Islamic Belief  
Lessons about issues from Purification (Taharah) up to Pilgrimage (Hajj)  
Lessons about the rules of dealings according to the school (madhhab) of Imam Ash-Shafi^iyy  
Lessons about the the sins of the heart and of other organs, such as the tongue  
Lessons in Qur'anic Recitation (^ilmu At-tajweed)  
Lessons in Qur'anic Meanings (Tafseer)  
Lessons in Hadeeth (^ilmu Al-hadeeth)  
Lessons in the Islamic History  
Lessons in Arabic Grammer (^ilmu An-nahu)  
Islamic Madeeh (Nasheed)  
   
   
The Online Classes are available through PalTalk during the following hours:  
   
  Day of Week  Class Hours
 
Sunday  9:00am EST -12:00pm EST  9:00pm EST -12:00am EST
 
Monday  9:00pm EST -12:00am EST    
Tuesday  9:00pm EST -12:00am EST    
Wednesday  9:00pm EST -12:00am EST    
Thursday  9:00pm EST -12:00am EST    
Friday  9:00pm EST -12:00am EST    
Saturday  9:00am EST -12:00pm EST  9:00pm EST -12:00am EST  



Also I am giving very basic English beginner lessons about the basics of the belief, prayers, fasting, zakat and other important matters every Saturday and Wednesday to someone on yahoo messenger (voice chat) we are still in the first two lessons you can join in e-mail me at ihabkal@hotmail.com

Please know we are here for you...
wassalam

[jaz]

Thanks

  I'm a sister

I will look on those sites. I have been very lucky to meet just a couple of people online that have helped me a great deal with learning about Islam...plus I have just studied a lot on my own. It would have been easier if there was someone close to teach me...but not anyone for now. That's okay.

I will be moving to a new town over the next few weeks and hope to be able to initiate some sort of study group...or something. I know there is no mosque there...and I think very small Muslim community...but I will try. So I will be looking for information of how others have ...done that. It is a little scary...you know because so much misinformation about Islam and Muslims prevail...but I still want to try.

I don't have this "voice chat"...maybe I will later. Thank you.

Jaz....sister

[Ihab]

Salam Sister,
Please add me to your hotmail friends list and whenever you find a problem in life or a question about religion ask me or post a message in this group. We are here for you.

There are some great basic lessons that you could read on:

http://www.aicp.org/IslamicInformation/English/AllahExistsWithoutAPlace.htm
http://www.aicp.org/IslamicInformation/English/IslamicConcepts.htm
http://www.aicp.org/IslamicInformation/English/TheAttributesOfTheSelfOfAllah.htm
http://www.aicp.org/IslamicInformation/English/TheBasicsoftheMuslimsPrayer.htm


and more in the parent link....to keep you with reading nice subjects.... Print them to read when you're not in front of a PC, I do that usually...

And keep writing your news in this forum we love to hear from you...

Wassalam
You brother Ihab

[Advisor]

Welcom Jaz to talkaboutIslam.com and thanks for joining us.

First off I can't think of any thing that makes us happy more than hearing that someone Converted to Islam. Please Make dua (supplication) for Allah to forgive us. since the ones who Convert to Islam after being originally on other beleifs has his sins removed so there is a huge chance that there Isteghfar (the dua that Allah forgive someone) has a great value.

For more information on true sufisim refer to Sheikh Samir Alqadi's article on Nathem Alqubrisli It's a refutation but has useful explenation on how true sufis are.

you can find it at www.aicp.org

http://www.aicp.org/IslamicInformation/English/QubrusiNegatesIslam.htm

[jaz]

Assalamu 'alaykum

Ihab and Advisor, thank you both very much.  

Jaz

[Advisor]

You're most welcome

[Milk]

Welcome to TAI sister Jaz  

I hope that this board will be of benefit for you.