What is the spirituality of Islam?

1. Islamic Spirituality
Ayman Refaat

2. Religion
Creed
• There is no god except the God.
• Muhammad is last messenger of God.
Code
• Islamic legislation (Shari’ah):
• Degrees of approval: obligatory, Recommended, lawful, hated, and
Sinful
• Sources: The Quran, Tradition of the Prophet, Consensus
(unanimous agreement), and Analogical deduction.
• The schools: Imam Malik, Imam Ash-Shafi’i, Imam Abu hanifah,
and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal.
Community
• Prayer
• Alms-giving
• Fasting
• Pilgrimage.

3. Spirit and Soul

4. Spirit – rooh – ‫وح‬ُ‫ر‬ - rū-aḥ - ַ‫ּוח‬ ֣‫ר‬
• And [mention], when your Lord said to the angels, "I will create a human
being out of clay from an altered black mud. And when I have proportioned
him and breathed into him of My [created] spirit, then fall down to him in
prostration." 15:28-29
• And mention, in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her
family to a place toward the east. And she took, in seclusion from them, a
screen. Then We sent to her Our Spirit, and he represented himself to her as a
well-proportioned man. 19:16-17
• And Mary the daughter of 'Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed
into it of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and
of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (servants). 66:12
• And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the Spirit. Say, "The Spirit is of the
affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a
little." 17:85

5. Soul – nafs – ‫س‬ْ‫ف‬َ‫ن‬ – nephesh - ‫ׁש‬ֶ‫פ‬ ָ֫‫נ‬
• [The king] Said [to the women], "What was your condition when you sought to seduce
Joseph?" They said, "Perfect is Allah ! We know about him no evil." The wife of al-
'Azeez said, "Now the truth has become evident. It was I who sought to seduce him, and
indeed, he is of the truthful. [Then Yusuf (Joseph) said: "I asked for this enquiry] in
order that he (Al-'Aziz) may know that I did not betray him in [his] absence and that
Allah does not guide the plan of betrayers. And I do not acquit myself (my soul). Indeed,
the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy.
Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful." (12:51-53)
• I swear by the Day of Resurrection. And I swear by the reproaching soul [the self-
reproaching person (a believer)]. Does man think that We will not assemble his bones?
(75:1-3)
• [To the righteous it will be said], "O reassured soul, Return to your Lord, well-pleased
and pleasing [to Him], And enter among My [righteous] servants. And enter My
Paradise." (98:27-30)
• And [by] the soul and He who proportioned it. And inspired it [with discernment of] its
wickedness and its righteousness, He has succeeded who purifies it, And he has failed
who instills it [with corruption]. (91:7-10)
• Every soul will taste death. Then to Us will you be returned. (29:57)

6. Spiritual Journey
• The try to purify and clean your mind, heart, and
soul from the effect of the sin, by repentance,
seeking to return back to God’s original design.

7. • This journey is the goal, not
the destination; because
you will never reach it. You
will never be perfect. You
will be god.
• You should try to reach the
destination, even though
you will never reach it. But
it is better to die on this
path.

8. Religion including Spirituality
• God does not
need our beliefs
or worship, but
we need them.
• Our beliefs and
worship have
meanings and
goals to affect us.

9. • Our belief in God would be just saying if we are too much
worry about future, and do not depend on God or trust in
Him.

10. • Our prayer would be just action and
exercise, if:
We raise our hands at the beginning
of prayer saying “God is Greatest”, but we
do not concentrate and reverence in our
prayer.

11. We stand up in
rows, shoulder by
shoulder, foot by
foot, but we still
are prejudiced.

12.  We put our
face in the
ground, in the
prostration
“sujood”, but
we are still
arrogant.

13. • Our fasting would be just a diet, if:
We cannot have empathy for needy and hungry.
We cannot be patience and self-control.
 We do not Clean the inner soul.

14. • Prophet Muhammad said:
• “There may be people who fast and get nothing
from their fast except hunger, and there may be
those who pray night and get nothing
from their prayer but a sleepless night.”

15. Spirituality of Islam

16. Trust in God

17. Self
confidence
Trust in God

18. Respect
others
Self
confidence
Trust in God

19. Trust in God
Is:
• Depending wholeheartedly Upon God.
• Perfect trust in God’s plan and reliance on Him alone.
• God-consciousness.
• A consequence of perfect faith.
• The application of your faith in God's Predestination
(divine decree and will).

20. What is Trust in God?
• Success is achieved when trust is in God and the believer is
steadfast and obeys God's commands, and they will be tested in their
faith.
• And whoever puts all his trust in God, He will be enough for him.
(65:3)
• And put all your trust [in the God], if you truly are believers. (5:23)
• He is the lord of the east and west, there is no dıety except Him, so
take him as your Protector. (73:9)
• Put your trust in the living God who never dies, and celebrate His
praise. (25:58)
• In God should the trustful trust. (14:12)

21. "If you all depend on God with due
reliance, He would certainly give you
provision as He gives it to the birds that go
forth hungry in the morning and
return with full bellies at dusk."
Prophet Muhammad said:

22. Examples of Trust in God
• And We inspired to the mother of Moses, "Suckle him; but when you fear for
him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will
return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers." (28:7)
• He said, "Then do you worship instead of Allah that which does not benefit you
at all or harm you? Uff to you and to what you worship instead of God. Then
will you not use reason?" They said, "Burn him and support your gods - if you
are to act." Allah said, "O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham." And
they intended for him harm, but We made them the greatest losers. And We
delivered him and Lot to the land which We had blessed for the worlds. And We
gave him Isaac and Jacob in addition, and all [of them] We made righteous.
(21:66-72)
• And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed
I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He
said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if God wills, of
the steadfast." (37:102)

23. How can we reach this level
• Test your faith: “And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and
the earth that he would be among the certain [in faith] So when the night
covered him [with darkness], he saw a star. He said, "This is my lord." But
when it set, he said, "I like not those that disappear." And when he saw the
moon rising, he said, "This is my lord." But when it set, he said, "Unless my
Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray." And when he
saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my lord; this is greater." But when it set, he
said, "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah.
Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth,
inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with God."
(6:745-79)
• And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty. (15:99)
• And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for
the humbly submissive [to God] (2:45)
• And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various
colors similarly. Only those fear Allah , from among His servants, who have
knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving. (35:28)

24. How do we Trust in God?
To put one’s complete trust in God is not equivalent to fatalism or the doctrine that
all events are subject to fate or inevitable.
• And when you have decided, then rely upon God. Indeed, God loves those who
rely [upon Him]. (3:159)
• [Jacob] said, "Never will I send him with you until you give me a promise by
Allah that you will bring him [back] to me, unless you should be surrounded by
enemies." And when they had given their promise, he said, " God, over what we
say, is Witness." And he said, "O my sons, do not enter from one gate but enter
from different gates; and I cannot avail you against [the decree of] God at all.
The decision is only for God; upon Him I have relied, and upon Him let those
who would rely [indeed] rely." (12:66)
• One day Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) noticed a Bedouin leaving his
camel without tying it and he asked the Bedouin, "Why don't you tie down your
camel?" The Bedouin answered: "I put my trust in God." The Prophet then said:
"Tie your camel first, then put your trust in God“.

25. Way Goal Result
Work Money Gain or lose
Have sex Get kids Get kids or not
Exercise and healthy
food
Good health Being healthy or die
• Your
responsibility is to
do your best and
follow the ways to
achieve your
goals.
• Trust in God is to
accept any result
as God’s decision
for you.

26. • No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves
except that it is in a register before We bring it into
being - indeed that, for Allah , is easy. In order that you
not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in
pride] over what He has given you. And Allah does not
like everyone self-deluded and boastful. (57:22-23)
• Perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and
perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And
Allah Knows, while you know not. (2:216)

27. The Five Stages of Grief
1. Denial: The diagnosis is somehow mistaken, and cling to a
false, preferable reality.
2. Anger and frustration: "Why me? It's not fair!"; "How can
this happen to me?"; '"Who is to blame?"; "Why would this
happen?".
3. Bargaining: The negotiation, compromise, the hope to avoid a
cause of grief.
4. Depression: "I'm so sad, why bother with anything?"; "I'm
going to die soon, so what's the point?"; "I miss my loved one,
why go on?“
5. Acceptance: "It's going to be okay."; "I can't fight it, I may as
well prepare for it."

28. Which one is the correct Trust in God?
1. Follow a way and accept the result.
2. Follow a way and not accept the result.
3. Do not follow a way and not accept the result.
4. Do not follow a way and accept the result.

29. Self-Confidence
What is self-confidence?
• Those to whom hypocrites said, "Indeed, the people have
gathered against you, so fear them." But it [merely]
increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us
is God, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs." (3:173)
• Or do they say, "He has invented it?" Say, "If I have
invented it, you will not possess for me [the power of
protection] from God at all. He is most knowing of that
in which you are involved. Sufficient is He as Witness
between me and you, and He is the Forgiving the
Merciful." (46:8)

30. Prophet Muhammad said:
• Be mindful of God and God will protect you.
• Be mindful of God and you will find Him in front of you.
• If you ask, then ask God.
• And if you seek help, then seek help from God .
• And know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with
anything, they would not benefit you except with what God had already
prescribed for you.
• And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they
would not harm you except with what God had already prescribed
against you.
• The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.”

31. Examples of Self-Confidence
• Prophet Noah: He continued inviting his people to God's message
for 950 years, and did not give up although very few people only
believed in it, and continued building the ship although everybody
make fun at him because there was no water and everything was
dry.
• Prophet Joseph: How did he get the strength as a slave to refuse
having sex with his master’s wife? Chastity, bashfulness, modesty,
and guilt are raising self for trivial things, but shame is the
inability to sin.
• Prophet Moses: He did not argue vanities with the God's good
servant to raise himself or to win, but he wanted sincerely to know
the truth sincerely.

32. How do we build our Self-Confidence?
• There is no a perfect person.
• Look at yourself to see what you miss.
• Fill your spaces and gaps inside yourself by:
₋ reading, - seeking for knowledge, - study,
₋ learn, - exercise, - education,
₋ working, - better yourself, - eating healthy,
₋ travel, - and explore yourself in new experiences.
to develop yourself.
• Do not depend on other to fill your spaces and gaps.

33. Prophet Muhammad said:
“Live in this world as (if you are) a
stranger or a wayfarer.”

34. Respect others
What is respecting others?
• Look at each one as a person not as an object.
• Give people their chance to present themselves,
listen to them before you judge them.
• Apply what God said: “O mankind, indeed We
have created you from male and female and made
you peoples and tribes that you may know one
another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight
of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed,
Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (49:13)

35. How do we respect others if they are good?
• Is the reward for good [anything] but good? (55:60)
• Prophet Muhammad said: “None of you [truly] believes until he
wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”
• Prophet Muhammad said: “Whoever believes in God and the Last
Day should speak a good word or remain silent. whoever believes
in Allah and the Last Day should honor his neighbor. whoever
believes in Allah and the Last Day should be hospitable his guest.
And Whoever believes in God and the Last Day should maintain
good the ties of blood relationship.”

36. • “And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which
is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will
become] as though he was a devoted friend. But none is granted it except those
who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great portion [of
good]. And if there comes to you from Satan an evil suggestion, then seek refuge
in Allah. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.” (41:34-36)
• Prophet Muhammad said: "Treat others as you want to be treated,(not as they
treat you)
• Prophet Muhammad said: “Support your brother, whether he is an oppressor or
he is oppressed.” A man asked, “O Messenger of God, I’d support him if he is
oppressed, but how should I support him when he’s an oppressor?” The Prophet
replied, “By stopping [preventing or repelling] him from oppressing others"
How do we respect others if they are bad?

37. Islamic Schools of thought

38. Sufi (Mystical) School of thought

39. It focus on spirituality side in Islam
- Trust in God.
- Self-Confidence.
- Respect Others.

40. Their method in interpretation the Quran
• Esoteric interpretation.
• Inner esoteric.

41. They believe
that God is
everywhere.

42. • “And on the earth are signs for the certain [in
faith]. And in yourselves. Then will you not
see? And in the heaven is your provision and
whatever you are promised. Then by the Lord
of the heaven and earth, indeed, it is truth - just
as [sure as] it is that you are speaking.” 51:20-
23
Their approve

44. Salafi School of thought
Salafism is an old Islamic school of thought that
believes in scholarly authority, and focuses on the
Islamic creed, worship, and law more than the Islamic
spirituality.

45. • It takes its name from the term salaf
("predecessors", "ancestors"), because Salafi
scholars oppose the use of dialectics or
speculative philosophy in theology, and they
think Muslims must follow the example of the
first three generations in Islam, known
collectively as the "pious Predecessors".

46. Their approve
• Prophet Muhammad said: “…Beware of newly
invented matters, for every invented matter is
an innovation and every innovation is a going
astray (misguidance), and every going astray
(misguidance) is in Hell-fire.”

47. Their method in interpretation the Quran
• Literally: out ward aspects its apparent meaning.

48. Ijtihad
• It is the reason, independent legal judgment, or
personal effort of thinking.
• It is a source of Islamic law.
• But Salafi scholars believe that only "pious
Predecessors" can use it, but not all Muslims.

49. Creed Code Community
-There is no god
except the God.
-Muhammad is
last messenger of
God.
- Obligatory
- Recommended
- Lawful
- Disliked
- Unlawful
The worship:
- Prayer
- Charity.
- Fasting
- Pilgrimage
It focus on the 3 C’s of Islam

50. • Wahhabism is the Saudi Salafism, state-sponsored
and the official form of Sunni Islam in Saudi Arabia.

51. • Salafi scholars from Saudi Arabia are generally bound by Hanbali
jurisprudence (the most strict Islamic jurisprudence) and advocate
following a scholar rather than understanding scripture oneself.
• Oil money made these Saudi scholars stars. It opened the door of the
media widely for them, published their books, and translated them to
many foreign languages.

52. Islam
Creed Code Community Spirituality
- There is no
god except the
God.
- Muhammad is
last messenger
of God.
- Obligatory
- Recommended
- Lawful
- Disliked
- Unlawful
The worship:
- Prayer
- Charity.
- Fasting
- Pilgrimage
- Trust in God.
- Self-confidence.
- Respect others.
School of
thought
Salafi (predecessors, progenitor, ancestor,
primogenitor)
Sufi (Mystical)
Their
method
Literally: out ward aspects its apparent meaning. Esoteric interpretation.
Inner esoteric.
Their
approve
The Prophet (saw) said: “…Beware of newly
invented matters, for every invented matter is an
innovation and every innovation is a going
astray (misguidance), and every going astray
(misguidance) is in Hell-fire.”
- And on the earth are signs for the
certain [in faith]. And in
yourselves. Then will you not
see? And in the heaven is your
provision and whatever you are
promised. Then by the Lord of
the heaven and earth, indeed, it is
truth - just as [sure as] it is that
you are speaking. 51:20-23