My Guide to Understanding Islam vol.3

This book is suitable for the curriculum of Islamic schools or for use as a self-study material.

Growing in faith, and exemplary conduct, are essential for any Muslim on the path to intellectual, social, and spiritual maturation and perfection. My Guide to Understanding Islam is a three-volume compendium of rules and standards for today’s Muslim youth. It can serve as a self-study manual, and is suitable as well for the curriculum of Islamic education.

As the eminent Muslim scholar Bediuzzaman stated, “Belief is both light and power. Those who attain true belief can challenge the universe, and, in proportion to their belief’s strength, be relieved of the pressures of events…Belief requires affirming Divine Unity; affirmation of Divine Unity requires submitting to God; submission to God requires relying on God, and reliance on God yields happiness in both worlds.”

This is the definitive handbook for young readers seeking to learn and uphold the tenets of Islam.

Table of Content

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1

THE IMPORTANCE OF READING
Reading Brings Us Closer to Our Lord
BELIEF
The Monk in the Monastery
The Second Word

CHAPTER 2

BELIEF AND WORSHIP
SALAH (DAILY PRAYERS)
How Were the Daily Prayers of Our Prophet?

CHAPTER 3

DIVINE DESTINY AND SUPPLICATION
Who Is the Most Blessed among Human Beings?
Divine Determining and Decree
Belief Requires Prayer
Medicine Has Been Found for the Illness of Sin

CHAPTER 4

BEDİÜZZAMAN SAİD NURSİ:
AN ISLAMIC SCHOLAR WITH PURIFIED MIND AND HEART
The Reason for His Cause Was Commandment,
and Its Result Was the Pleasure of Allah
Here Is the Shepherd’s Sincerity!
He Was Not Greedy, but Contented
The Question-Answer Days in Şekerci Han
The Loudest and Strongest Voice in the Coming
Upheavals and Changes

CHAPTER 5

THE QUR’AN
What Is the Purpose of the Qur’an Being Revealed to Us?
How Is the One Who Reads the Qur’an and the One Who Doesn’t?
Angels, Mercy and Tranquility Descends Where the Qur’an is Recited
The Important Duty
Why Must We Love Our Nation?
EDUCATIONAL ASPECT OF FETHULLAH GÜLEN
Fethullah Gülen as an Educator
The Educational Vision of Fethullah Gülen

CHAPTER 6

FETHULLAH GÜLEN: AN ISLAMIC SCHOLAR,
PREACHER AND PHILANTHROPIST
Gülen and Private Schools
INTELLECTUAL ASPECT OF FETHULLAH GÜLEN
AND DIALOGUE
Why Dialogue?
Gülen’s Journey to the United States
One Should Have Broad Knowledge in Religious Matters
Owning up to Religion Is a Primary Obligation upon All Believers

CHAPTER 7

REPRESENTATION
Universal Language: The Language of Conduct
How Does a White Man Serve an African?
NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS
The Sensitivity of Akif
HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS
As Long as Such Mothers Are Alive!
Feeble Mehmet

CHAPTER 8

OUR NOBLE PROPHET
Why Are We Supposed to Love Our Noble Prophet More than
All Other Creatures?
The Compass of Believers
What Kind of Humor Did Our Noble Prophet Have?
UMRAH
Qur’anic Verses
Invitation from the Sultan of the Hearts
Circumambulation of the Ka’ba
The Most Beneficial Water
The Most Important Worship of Women
Drinking Zamzam
My Brother
THE LIVES OF COMPANIONS
The Man at the Summit in Loving Our Noble Prophet: Mus’ab

CHAPTER 9

SATANIC INTRIGUES
What Are the Six Human and Satanic Intrigues?
COMPASSIONATE PUNISHMENT
What Does the Term “Blows Dealt by Divine Compassion” Tell Us?
TRUST AND RELIANCE ON ALLAH
Resigning Oneself to Allah the Almighty
What is Tawakkul?
Some Remarks on Tawakkul
SENSITIVITY REGARDING THE PROHIBITED AND THE LAWFUL
What Do Lawful and Prohibited (Halal and Haram) Mean?
The Prohibited and Lawful Aspects Regarding Food and Drink

CHAPTER 10

ALTRUISM
Our History is Ample with Such Fidelity and Altruism
WAFA (LOYALTY, FIDELITY, FAITHFULNESS)
The Messenger of Allah Was
the Exemplary Model for Wafa

ADDITIONAL TOPICS

ETIQUETTE AND MANNERS
Qur’anic Verses
Prophetic Traditions
Islamic Morality
The Caliph Carrying a Sack
The Supporter of the Truthful Is Allah the Almighty
Justice in Islam
A Muslim is Trustworthy in His Words and Essence
The Rights of Parents
The Best Human Being Is a Person Who Could Even Be
Friends with Cobras
The Passion of Abu Darda for Knowledge
Most of the Time I Cannot Keep My Chastity
and Control My Own Self!
A Brave Prophet
The Qur’an
Proof of Inayah (Grace) and Purpose
How Should the Young People Convey the Message?
What Is Representation and Tongue of Conduct?
For the Noble Prophet, Representation Came before Tabligh
The Eminence of Bediüzzaman’s Representation
A Man of Representation: Tahiri Ağabey
Owning up to Religion Is a Primary Obligation upon All Believers
If You Are Saying It, Then Do It
What Does “Fana fi’l-Ikhwan” Mean?
The Companions Were Racing with Each Other in Altruism
Consultation Is the Commandment of the Qur’an
Supererogatory (Nawafil) Prayers
Tahajjud Prayer
Duha (Forenoon) Prayer
Awwabin Prayer
Tasbih Prayer
Reading Brings Renewal
People Should Say “There Is No Lie on This Face”
Altruism in This Day and Age
The Scholars Placed Emphasis on the Night Prayers
They Led Their Lives in Devotion to Allah
The Spirit of Responsibility Should Always Be Kept Alive
We Have Also Accepted the Resignation of Those Who
Have Given Their Resignation to You!
Qualities of a Hizmet (Service) Devotee