However, before we jump into the ocean of divine love, there are a few stylistic things that I would like to further clarify to avoid any confusion. The fragrance of the Beloved permeates every passage of this magnificent book, gently opening the gates of the heart and inviting the reader into a direct experience of that which the author so beautifully evokes. Whether you identify as a Muslim whose faith has perhaps grown weary or as someone who would like to taste of the essence of a tradition you do not understand, Secrets of Divine Love is a masterful map of the landscape of the soul on its journey home to the One who both transcends and dwells within all that is." In Arabic, the word fitna, meaning “hardship,” stems from the word fatanah, which means “to test gold, burn with fire.” Just as gold is heated to extract valuable elements from the useless surrounding material, it is through the fire of our trials that our golden essence is unearthed.” When I use the word “mystics” in the text I am referring to spiritual masters in the Islamic tradition that delved past the literalism of the religion and into the realm of the heart. A mystic is not someone who ignored the rules of the Qur’an and prophetic tradition, but someone who sought to learn the esoteric teachings of the faith from a place of love and joy. In fact, most of the utterances of Muslim mystics are directly inspired by the Qur’an and the Prophet , or inspired by the family of the Prophet and his closest companions. 7. I rely heavily on the profound wisdom of the seventh-century Islamic sage Ali ibn Talib, affectionately known by many as Imam Ali. The spiritual master Imam Ali, may Allah be pleased with him and grant him peace, was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet and the first person after the wife of the Prophet to convert to Islam. The Prophet Muhammad said of Imam Ali, “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.”1 Imam Ali is known to be a symbol of unification and peace, as Sunnis, Shias, and Sufis follow his guidance and adore his examples of bravery, leadership, and spiritual knowledge. I also rely on the beautiful contemplations of the Islamic theologian and poet Jalaluddin Rumi, whose most famous book, The Mathnawi, is a poetic masterpiece that was directly inspired by the Qur’an. 8. When words in Arabic could not properly be translated into English, I put the Arabic transliteration of the word in parenthesis as a point of reference. 9. Many of the quotes, spiritual stories, and teaching parables I have included in this book are not cited, as they are oral stories that have been passed down through different cultures and religions. I am forever grateful to all of my friends, teachers, and especially my grandfather, for taking the time to share these priceless stories with me so that I could in turn share them with you.

of Divine Love — A. Helwa Secrets of Divine Love — A. Helwa

I rely heavily on the profound wisdom of the seventh-century Islamic sage Ali ibn Talib, affectionately known by many as Imam Ali. The spiritual master Imam Ali, may Allah be pleased with him and grant him peace, was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet ﷺ and the first person after the wife of the Prophet ﷺ to convert to Islam. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said of Imam Ali, I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate. ¹ Imam Ali is known to be a symbol of unification and peace, as Sunnis, Shias, and Sufis follow his guidance and adore his examples of bravery, leadership, and spiritual knowledge. I also rely on the beautiful contemplations of the Islamic theologian and poet Jalaluddin Rumi, whose most famous book, The Mathnawi, is a poetic masterpiece that was directly inspired by the Qur’an. Words have power, which is why Imam Ali says, “Speak only when your words are more beautiful than the silence.” After all, everything in existence sprouted from the vibration of the divinely uttered word “Be! And it is” (36:82). So remember, your tongue is like a knife; it can either kill like the sword of a samurai or save like the scalpel of a surgeon.” Give Like the Sun Gives to the Earth Reflection: Reflecting Divine Light Chapter 9—Ramadan: The Holy Month of Fasting The Month of Endless Mercy Becoming Receptive to Divine Guidance The Spiritual Stages of Fasting The Outer Fast of the Limbs The Inner Fast of the Senses and Mind The Heart-Centered Fast Laylatul Qadr: The Night of Power The End Is the Beginning Only for the Sake of Allah Reflection: Observing the Illusion Chapter 10—Hajj: A Pilgrimage to God Prophet Abraham: The Father of Monotheism The Mysteries of the Kaaba Mystical Symbolism in the Rituals of Hajj Every Moment Is Hajj Reflection: What Is in the Kaaba of Your Heart? Chapter 11—The Spiritual Secrets of Death The Pricelessness of Time Losing a Loved One This Is Not Your Home Impermanence and the Hidden Mercy of God Death Unveils the Truth If You Fear Death, This Is WhyWhen words in Arabic could not properly be translated into English, I put the Arabic transliteration of the word in parenthesis as a point of reference. Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam is an inspiring guide that will lead you towards the hidden meaning of the Qur'an through passion and joy. Written with care and precision, Helwa’s metaphoric insights invite you on her earnest search for truth and understanding. By accessing the inner workings of the Islamic tradition, your struggles in faith will be met with a deeper connection to Allah rooted in compassion. The author’s work has a special way of speaking to the heart. This reading offers exceptional spiritual nuances on the core of Islamic belief and practices. More than ever, we are in need of content like this that shines a luminous light on a faith that is frequently misunderstood.

Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the He…

we know everything about someone or their faith based on an article we read online or a sermon we heard. Plus, the truth will never have a chance to blossom if we keep cutting people out of our lives or religion that we do not agree with. After all, only God can see into a person’s heart, so only God can say who has genuine faith in their hearts. It is not up to us to make that decision. History has shown us the great strides that both the family of the Prophet and the most righteous amongst his companions made to establish and preserve unity through the different conflicts the early Muslim community had to traverse. May we follow in the righteous examples left behind by those our Prophet loved. May we strive to create bridges where there are walls and work toward establishing peace on this Earth. May we answer the call of God and live the best life we can by holding tight to the Qur’an and the examples of the Prophet , and humbly sharing our faith through acts of kindness, love, and mercy toward all humankind. I believe that intrafaith communication or bridge-building within the Muslim community is not just possible, but can easily be done when we focus on our shared moral principles, use the Qur’an as our compass, and take the Prophet Muhammad as our guide. To be as inclusive as possible, this book will focus on the five pillars that Sunni Muslims follow, as these core principles are all also included within the Shia doctrines of the Roots of Religion (usool-ad-deen) and the Branches of Religion (furo-ad-deen). The book will be centered around the following universal truths of the Islamic faith: witnessing God’s singularity and Muhammad’s prophethood (shahadah), ritualistic prayer (salat), fasting (sawm), the poor alms- tax (zakat), and the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). Although this book will not specifically discuss the additional practices and tenets that are staples in the Shia branch of Islam, it feels important for the sake of intrafaith awareness to share some of them here. Alongside the five core principles that all Muslims embrace, many Shia Muslims consider the following beliefs and tenets cornerstones of how they experience their faith: belief in God does not love you just because of who you are; He loves you because love is who He is. So never stop praying. Even when the pain is too much to bear, even when you have broken a thousand promises, even if all that comes out is a silent whisper that only God can hear. No matter what storms you are facing, no matter how bad you mess up, no matter how painful life becomes, the door to prayer is always open for you. After all, as Imam Ali said, “When the world pushes you to your knees, you’re in the perfect position to pray.” Love. It is the reason there is something instead of nothing. It is from the soil of love that all of existence blossoms into being. Love is why we are here. Love is why you are holding these words in your hands, speaking them on your tongue, or hearing them with your ears. This book did not call you or find you because of who I am, but because of how loving God is. A marvelous book that gives a sound grasp of this great religion and nourishment to the heart we deeply need. This book is a source of majesty and beauty.Secrets of Divine Love: Sebuah Perjalanan Spritual yang Mendalam tentang Islam ditulis untuk hati yang rindu, untuk orang yang mencari sesuatu yang belum bisa mereka temukan. Untuk orang yang kadang-kadang berputar dalam keputusasaan dan merasa tidak terlalu sempurna untuk mencintai Tuhan yang sempurna. Buku ini untuk orang yang berada di tepi iman mereka, yang telah mengalami agama sebagai musim dingin yang keras bukannya musim semi yang menopang kehidupan dari Tuhan.

Secrets of Divine Love by A. Helwa, TBD - Ebook | Scribd Secrets of Divine Love by A. Helwa, TBD - Ebook | Scribd

In this moment, I was ready to be molded. I felt like clay in the hands of the Maker. I trusted that God would make a way for me—not because of who I am, but because of how merciful and loving He is. The Powerful Prayer of a Stranger Mystics throughout time have said that they believe in God like they believe in light, not because they can see light, but because through it they see everything else.” Although this book will walk you through major concepts of Islamic spirituality, it is not a textbook on Islam. Instead of emphasizing every aspect of a Muslim’s spiritual practice, it highlights inspirational and practical insights from the Qur’an and Islamic tradition. Kemudian buku ini datang untuk memberi ramuan dari racun pudarnya iman. Bukan dengan cara menampar kita dengan ancaman azab dan siksa kubur, melainkan dengan menarik kembali kesadaran kita dengan uraian dan bukti-bukti cinta Allah. Helwa memaparkan semua Keagungan dan Kemurahan Hati Tuhan lalu menjabarkan esensi cinta Tuhan, sehingga iman yang hampir kering kerontang kembali gembur disiram embun kasih Tuhan. In a precise and precious introduction, A. Helwa explains that she wrote this lovely and lyrical paean of praise to Allah especially for those with a "longing heart." She guides us through the Divine mysteries and practical exercises that "inspire love, strengthen faith and increase reliance on and intimacy with God."Helwa covers key Islamic understandings of Allah, who we are, the message of the Qur'an, repentance and return, and the ecstasy of oneness. She does a fine job explaining the importance of salat (five-times-a-day prayer) as a means of tuning into Divine Love. She defines prayer as "swimming in the current of God's generosity and immersing every atom of our souls in gratitude for the blessing of being given another day to serve God's will on Earth." In sturdy chapters on Zakat: Giving as an Instrument of God; Ramadan, the Holy Month of Fasting; and Hajj: A Pilgrimage to God, Helwa presents these traditional pillars of Islam as poignant ways in which Muslims affirm to the world the Oneness of God. Secrets of Divine Love was written for the longing heart, for the one who is searching for something they have not been able to find. For the one who sometimes spirals into hopelessness and cannot help but feel too imperfect for a perfect God to love. This book is for the one who is at the edge of their faith, who has experienced religion as a harsh winter instead of the life-bearing spring it was sent to be by God. Awakening to faith is not a one-time event, but a continuously unfolding reality. The journey of faith is not a race, but a marathon of love that each person walks at a different pace.”