The Stations of a Seeker

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy حفظه الله discusses the 3 levels of ‘ilm (Knowledge) in the scope of the scholars of Tazkiyah (purification of the heart). How does the seeker attain it?

Hikmah (Wisdom) is defined as: to allocate something in its suitable place and giving everything its right that Allah commanded us to fulfill. The one who seeks Allah سبحانه وتعالى should seek Hikmah. How can we understand the beginning station of following the path of the messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم which leads to Allah سبحانه وتعالى? Join Shaykh Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy حفظه الله for this episode on the Hikmah of the seeker.        Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Quran,         ۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِىَ خَيْرًۭا كَثِيرًۭا (Surah Al-Baqarah, ayah 269) which may mean, “whoever is granted wisdom is certainly blessed with a great privilege.”

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy حفظه الله defines all the seeker needs to know about Ihsan (excellence in acts of worship) according to the Quran and sunnah. What should the objective of the seeker of Allah سبحانه وتعالى be? What steps do seekers need to take in order to perfect acts of worship?        Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Quran,        هَلْ جَزَآءُ ٱلْإِحْسَـٰنِ إِلَّا ٱلْإِحْسَـٰنُ (Surah Ar-Rahman, ayah 60) which may mean, “Is there any reward for goodness except goodness?” And وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ (Surah Ali Imran, ayah 134) which may mean “Allah loves those who do good.”        The Hadith of Jibreel in Sahih Muslim indicates that Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him سبحانه وتعالى.

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy حفظه الله talks about seeking the Path of Allah سبحانه وتعالى versus the Path of Allah سبحانه وتعالى seeking you. What is the difference between someone who is seeking purification versus a Muraad (one who is being sought) and purified by Allah? How can we be purified from misguidance?

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy حفظه الله tells the seekers what the scholars define Ghani as: wealth of the heart rather than the wealth of the hand. Which one should the seeker of Allah سبحانه وتعالى focus on? Can we have both?

The beginning of the seeking of Allah سبحانه وتعالى is being a Faqir (needy of Allah) or not owning anything, even yourself. Join Shaykh Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy حفظه الله in this episode of “The Stations of the Seeker” on being a Faqir.        Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Quran,         يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ أَنتُمُ ٱلْفُقَرَآءُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلْغَنِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ (Surah Fatir, ayah 15) which may mean, “O humanity! It is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah ˹alone˺ is the Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.”

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy حفظه الله explains what exactly are the keys to the true Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. How can the seeker move from ghaflah (heedlessness) to Dhikr?        Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Quran,        وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ (Surah Al-Kahf, ayah 24) which may mean, “Remember your Lord when you forget.” And فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ  (Surah Al-Baqarah, ayah 15) which may mean, “Remember Me, I will remember you.”

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy حفظه الله reminds the seekers of Allah سبحانه وتعالى what it means to have Yaqeen (firm conviction) in the heart in order to see and become transformed by the Signs of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. How do the scholars describe the deeper levels of Yaqeen, from 'Ilm al-Yaqeen (knowledge) to 'Ayn Al-Yaqeen (seeing) and so on? How does the seeker begin to see through the heart? How can the seeker move from seeing through the heart to even finding comfort in Allah سبحانه وتعالى?

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy حفظه الله continues this series with the next necessary step of executing the Niyyah (intention) and Qasd (plan) when traveling the Path to Allah سبحانه و تعالى, which is the Iradah (will) of the seeker. How does the seeker have the Iradah to please Allah سبحانه وتعالى?

Shaykh Dr. Muhammad bin Yahya Al-Ninowy حفظه الله dives into what exactly are the deeper dimensions of the niyyah (intention) of the seeker in the spiritual journey back to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, from the beginner to the devoted. Scholars say, “Niyyah without Qasd is wishful thinking.” How does the seeker pair the Niyyah with the Qasd to ensure closeness to Allah سبحانه وتعالى?