Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam

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DR. NAZITA LAJEVARDI, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University and author of Outsiders at Home: The Politics of American Islamophobia Hampir dua bulan lamanya ane ngalamin reading slump, Gengs, alias bosen baca buku. Alhasil selama itu ane kaga ada nyentuh buku sama sekali. Bahkan buat sekadar beresin raknya aja kaga pernah. Barulah akhir bulan kemarin mood baca ane balik lagi dan ane buka dengan membaca buku religius islami super kece. Judulnya "Secrets of Divine Love"by A. Helwa. So kali ini ane bakal tulis review bukunya di mari. Simak ye! The Secrets of Divine Love Journal is based on the award-winning book, Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam. Through heart-centered reflections, insightful prompts, and thought-provoking questions, Secrets of Divine Love Journal can help you foster a deeper relationship with Allah by connecting you with the heart of your faith in a more intimate and inspiring way. God does not test us because He hates us, but because He loves us and sees in us a potential that can only be manifested and unveiled through the fires of purification. Just as muscle must tear to grow, the friction between sin and our inner holiness creates the conditions for spiritual growth". Melalui buku ini, penulis ingin mengenalkan kepada para pembacanya mengenai jati diri dan juga sifat Allah SWT yang sangat indah. Di dalam buku ini, Helwa tidak pernah sedikitpun menyinggung mengenai siksa kubur, neraka, ataupun hal-hal mengerikan lain. Buku ini semata hanya ditujukan untuk mengajak para pembaca untuk melihat Allah sebagai Tuhan yang Maha Kasih tanpa adanya catatan.

Secrets of Divine Love : A Spiritual Journey Into The Heart

Di sini, Helwa menggunakan pembuktian ilmiah, meditasi terbimbing, dan juga latihan praktis dalam buku ini. Sehingga kita bisa mengembangkqnnua untuk membedakan dan mengatasi berbagai macam kritik batin yang negatif yang ada di dalam diri kita. Ibaratnya adalah cahaya penuntun. Dimana buku ini akan mengembalikan pembacanya pada sumber kedamaian dan juga penyerahan Ilahi. In fact, it has been said that the distance between our head and our heart is approximately 18 inches, but it is arguably the longest journey we will spiritually ever take". So often we are asked where and how one accesses the inner heart of the Islamic tradition — here it is!" —Professor Omid Safi, Duke University 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.

Just as when you read a beautiful and thoughtful book you are naturally inclined to ponder the brilliance of the author, when we reflect on the intricacy of our creation, it naturally points us to the unfathomable perfection of the Author who wrote us into existence". I cannot describe my deep connection with the Almighty after reading the book, so rather I decided to cite some content from the book for you to be able to feel its warmth and love language: Through the use of scientific evidence, practical exercises, and guided meditations, you will develop the tools and awareness needed to discern and overcome your negative inner critic that prevents you from experiencing God's all-encompassing love. Simply put: this is my favourite Islamic book I have ever read so far. Truly inspiring, compassionate, heartwarming, sentimental, and eye-opening. A. Helwa delicately discusses the many aspects of Islam including the question of God, who we are, the ‘mysterious’ world of the Qur’an, the spiritual dimension of Islam, repentance, the shahadah, salat (prayer), zakat, Ramadan, Hajj, death, and the mysteries of Heaven and Hell. Most of the things discussed are things we already know, but in my opinion A. Helwa’s writing has the power to make me sit down, internalise and reflect the practices of Islam that I have taken for granted. It also helps me put my life: the good and the bad in perspective.

Of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey Into The Heart Of Secrets Of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey Into The Heart Of

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 READING WITH AN OPEN HEART W hen we open our hearts to the light of God the answers to our most bewildering questions begin to blossom. It is my hope that through reading this book with an open heart you will have an experience of God, instead of simply acquiring new information about God. There are many techniques and experiences that summon the opening of the spiritual heart. One of the ways of doing this is by taking a few deep breaths, placing your hand on your chest, and following your breath down to your heart. This may be followed by setting the intention to listen and read these words not just from your mind but with the eyes and ears of your heart. Even if our doubts span an entire ocean, the light of God’s wisdom can rise beyond the furthest horizons and illuminate our hearts with contentment. My deep prayer is that this book will give you a taste of this. 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. The book explores the primary rituals of Islam giving us a deeper appreciation and understanding of them. “Prayer (salat) brings to light your false idols’ since the outer form can be misaligned and contradictory with the inner state…one prayer to God frees you from a thousand prostrations to your ego.” We do not worship God because God needs it, we worship God because we need it. Prayer is not you reaching out for God, it is you responding to God, who first reached out to you".

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The book is studded with deep, thought-provoking, and carefully chosen quotes from scholars, mystics, and poets of all faiths. For example: “Enlightenment is when a wave realises it is the ocean”, says Thich Nhat Hanh, a Zen Buddhist master. have said that the word Rahman linguistically implies that it is happening in the here and now.11 In other words, Allah is loving, caring, and merciful not just in a general sense, but in this very moment right now.12 Allah emphasizes His name, The Most Merciful (Ar-Rahman), over His name, The Most Loving (Al-Wadud) because Rahman is all- encompassing and present in all places and times. Love is not separate from but enfolded into the meaning of Rahman. “Limitless is your Lord in His Mercy” QUR’AN 6:147 Allah’s Rahman is like the sky, it covers everything in existence, including us and the worst of our sins. We were created from Allah’s mercy, and the Qur’an was sent like a ladder from Heaven to Earth, so that we could get closer to the Divine. Allah has opened the door for us; it is up to us whether we walk into the palace of His mercy and love. The Importance of Divine Justice It is important to understand that God’s mercy and justice go hand in hand. The word for justice in Arabic is ‘adl, which at its root means “to proportion, to create symmetry, to be equitable.” In other words, harmony and balance are dependent on justice. Jewish mystics metaphorically describe God’s justice as scolding hot water that, if poured on its own into a clay vessel, would break it. God’s mercy is described as freezing cold water; if poured on its own into a clay vessel, it would also break it. But if you pour them together, a neutralizing balance is created, preventing the vessel from breaking. The clay vessel in this story is a metaphor for the human heart, which is unable to contain only God’s mercy or only God’s justice. If God was only merciful there would be chaos on Earth because there would be no accountability; however, if God was only just there would be no one on Earth because no human being is perfect. As The spiritual path is not one where we find out way to God, but rather one where we remove everything that prevents us from seeing that we're already in the Divine court."

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

In fact, I couldn't fast read it as every message of it made me think deeply, understand myself and the world surrounding me, burst into tears feeling the love and mercy of God, and feeling peace inside of me. I have found out that before reading this book, I didn't understand what peace truly feels, and I am soo much blessed having touched by the mercy and love of God. Through practicing and reflecting the attributes of Allah, “both men and women are called to be the mirrors of God on earth.” This is what it means to be a khalifah (deputy) of Allah, for “our work on earth is not to become something different but to awaken from the illusion that we are separate from what we seek.” This is simply a wonderful book, written with care and precision, weaving us into God’s beautiful tapestry.”

Helwa menulis buku ini setelah melewati perjalanan spritual yang panjang. Dalam satu wawancara disebutin kalo Helwa sempat nggak menyembah Tuhan mana pun selama hampir 10 tahun karena ia masih bingung dengan entitas Tuhan mana yang harus ia sembah. Lalu setelah mencari-cari dan berguru ke sana ke mari, hatinya pun tertancap di Islam dan jadilah ia seorang Muslimah yang taat, cerdas, dan menyenangkan sampe sekarang. A. Helwa not only unveils dozens of spiritual secrets hidden within the Qur’an, but she does so in an uplifting and gentle way that meets each reader exactly where they are on the path to God. While staying true to classical Islamic theology, A. Helwa’s emphasis on the forgotten teachings of love in Islam has a way of speaking not to just Muslims but to spiritual seekers of all traditions. Unlike your average book on religion that is focused solely on rules and outer practices, Secrets of Divine Love is a motivational and inspiring guide of how to experience the beauty hidden in the heart of the Qur'an and the Islamic tradition from a place of love, passion, and joy. If you have been longing to experience a more intimate and loving relationship wiht Allah, then this book was written for you. EGO: “Edging God Out” There Is No Compulsion in Religion Unwrapping the Gift of Divine Love Life Is a Test Jihad for Peace Polishing the Mirror of the Heart Returning to God Through Repentance Returning to God Through Divine Remembrance God Can Use You Exactly as You Are Unveiling Your Divine Purpose Reflection: Healing Your Heart with the 99 Divine Names Reflection: Gratitude Journal Chapter 3—The Mysterious World of the Qur’an The Mysterious Power of Recitation The Qur’an Is Not Actually a Book The First Word of Revelation: Iqra’ The Message of the Qur’an X = God Is Unconditionally Merciful Why the Qur’an Was Revealed in Stages The Secrets of Alif, Lam, Mim How to Read the Qur’an from the Heart The Transforming Power of Scripture Revelation Meets You Where You Are The Power of Metaphors and Symbolism The Healing Vibration of Revelation “Be! And It Is.” Everything Is a Manifestation of God’s Speech Memorizing the Qur’an Secrets of Divine Love ini, seperti reminder kepada apa yang kita dah sedia maklum dengan pendekatan yang lebih meluas, meraikan dan lebih terperinci, tentang syahadah, zakat, puasa di bulan Ramadan, solat, haji, kematian, syurga dan neraka dan lain-lain. Kalau sebelum ini, kita rasa berat nak buat sesuatu mengikut apa yang dianjurkan Islam, tetapi lepas dah baca, aku rasa ramai pembaca yang akan bersetuju, kita akan lebih bersemangat untuk melaksanakan. Kita akan lebih faham kenapa sesuatu itu diperintahkan dan impak-impak positifnya dalam kehidupan seharian kita. Selain gaya penyampaian penulis, pada aku yang membuatkan buku ini lagi seronok dibaca sebab ada bahagian reflection dan tips yang dikongsikan oleh penulis. Shahadah, Part 2: “I Testify That Muhammad Is the Prophet of God” Who Was the Prophet ? Inspiring Stories of the Prophet The Prophet Reminds Us Who We Are The Prophetic Light of Wisdom Reflection: La Ilaha Illa Allah Reflection: Connecting with the Light of the Prophet Muhammad Chapter 7—Salat: How to Tune Into Divine Love Prayer Is for You God Gave the Salat to the Prophet The Secrets Behind Pre-Prayer Rituals: Adhan and Wudu Turning Toward the Kaaba Why Does the Salat Have a Set Form? The Symbolism of the Postures of Prayer Al-Fatiha: The Heart-Opener The Celestial Power of Prayer Times The Mystery of Repetition and Remembrance Reflection: Overcoming Distractions During Prayer Chapter 8—Zakat: Giving as an Instrument of God Spoken Sadaqah Give Without Judgment Zakat: A Divine Tax on Your Blessings Your Zakat Does Not Belong to You Every Atom of Giving Counts The Science of Giving Give for God’s Grace, Not for People’s Praise

Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of

With the prominence and ever-increasing popularity of inspiring and positive personalities like Sheikh Javad Shomali and Sayed Hussain Makke, we already find ourselves drawn to a different perspective of Allah that we may not have grown up with. The spotlight shifted from the Justice of Allah that sees all of creation being held accountable for their deeds to balancing this with His endless mercy and kindness. Secrets of Divine Love Journal will follow chapter-by-chapter the Secrets of Divine Love book. The journal has additional reflections, stories, and quotes while supplementing each chapter with reflective prompts alongside ample space for the reader to journal. Each chapter of the Secrets of Divine Love Journal starts with a quote from Secrets of Divine Love alongside a verse of the Qur’an followed by a story and reflection, a heart-opening prayer, journal prompts, a quote to contemplate upon, and a closing prayer of gratitude. of love.16 The variation in this spectrum occurs not because Allah is withholding from us, but because of our forgetfulness and the veils that result from our misperceptions, false identities, and sins. Just as the sun doesn’t stop shining if we close our eyes, when we sin it is not that God hates us, but rather we who are closed off from experiencing His love.17 “Moonlight floods the whole sky from horizon to horizon; How much it can fill your room depends on its windows.” RUMI Allah loves and provides for whom He wills “without accounting” (3:37), so if we feel limitations, they exist in the containment of our receiving and not in the outpouring of His giving. Some linguists say that the word Allah is based on the word waliha, which translates to a love that is so passionate and ecstatic that it completely transcends the senses.18 This implies that to know God we have to surrender our minds, everything we are, and everything we know in exchange for love, because self-surrender to divine love is the only path to God. Unlike the angels, we have been given the gift of not only knowing of love, but becoming it. Since Allah is the origin of all love, to know Him you must drown in the essence of love. To know Him you must be empty of yourself entirely, for love leaves no witnesses. How can there be two with the One? We must stop trying to understand with our limiting minds what the heart already knows. As Rumi says, “I looked in Temples, Churches, and Mosques. But I found the Divine in my heart.” In this poem, Rumi reminds us that God is most brilliantly reflected in the mirror of the spiritual heart, which is the seat of consciousness. God Transcends the Human Mind God is limitless. It is our vision of God that is limited to the qualities we seek in the world and reflect within our own existence. Since we see the world through the filter of how we see ourselves, The author's work has a special way of speaking to the heart. This reading offers exceptional spiritual nuances on the core ofIslamic 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.”

There is so much wisdom creatively presented here that it is hard to capture the sweep and sweetness of this volume. Given our interest in spiritual practices, we especially appreciated the reflections at the end of each chapter designed to help us apply the teachings in our daily lives. Helwa explains: "These sections felt important to include because the Qur'an describes the acquiring of knowledge without internalizing that wisdom and putting it into practice like that of 'a donkey carrying books' (62:5)" (See the practices for examples.) Alhamdulillah, aku berjaya juga habiskan Secrets of Divine Love ni dalam bulan Ramadan. Takut juga kalau aku tak dapat habiskan, sebab tiba-tiba ja bulan Ramadan aku jadi penuh dengan aktiviti. Haha. Allah SWT telah menciptakan alam semesta ini dengan sangat sempurna. Siklus galaksi dan juga tata surya yang sudah dihitung dengan akurat. Pergantian siang dan malam, rantai makanan, dan semua mekanisme fisika yang sudah diatur dengan hukum Allah. Sehingga siapa saja yang menghuni alam ini bisa hidup dengan nyaman.