Ustadh Amjad Tarsin explains the chapter of Imam Haddad’s Book of Assistance on following the Qur’an and sunna. He highlights its centrality to faith and warns against innovations contradicting the sunna, while clarifying that this does not refer to everything not practiced by Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace). He also sheds […]

Ustadh Amjad Tarsin continues exploring Imam Haddad’s Book of Assistance as part of the series “Embracing Excellence: 30 Steps on the Straight Path.” In this session, he covers the chapter on remembrance. He explains the importance of remembrance from the Qur’an and hadith, as well as the importance of having a set litany of remembrance […]

Ustadh Amjad Tarsin moves on to look at Imam Haddad’s chapter in the Book of Assistance on acquiring knowledge. He sheds light on the three core sciences necessary for the Muslim to understand and operationalize the Qur’an and sunna — beliefs (ʿaqida), sacred law (fiqh), and spiritual purification (tasawwuf) — in addition to hadith and […]

In this episode, Ustadh Amjad covers the section from Imam Haddad’s Book of Assistance on regular devotions. After beginning with a reminder on the importance of structuring one’s time, he comprehensively examines the routines of worship a seeker should have in his day. He encourages us to value consistency rather than excess, outlining the various […]

Ustadh Amjad continues exploring Imam Haddad’s Book of Assistance, a concise manual on the path to the Divine. In this section, he explains how the outward and inward aspects of faith fuse together. He highlights a prayer of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) that Allah make his inward be better […]

Ustadh Amjad Tarsin continues the series “Embracing Excellence: 30 Steps on the Straight Path” covering Imam Haddad’s manual The Book of Assistance. In this session, he looks at the second chapter, on Intention. He sheds light on the centrality of intention, its virtues, and how it can be used to bring life to our actions. […]

Ustadh Amjad Tarsin gives some key pointers on the importance of constructing a plan for Ramadan, in order to make the most of it, and how to do so. He also explains that fasting is not just abstaining from food and drink in the daytime, it is abstaining from all prohibited actions of the limbs. […]

In this talk Ustadh Amjad highlights the virtues of the night of the 15th of Shaaban, and encourages everyone to seek it out and to give life to that night.  

In this video, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin highlights the great virtue, rank and special uniqueness of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) through the tremendous event of the night journey and ascension (Isra’ and Mi’raj). He calls us to recognize these meanings about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and try our […]

Forgiveness in Light of Being With The People, by Ustadh Amjad Tarsin Capturing the Spirit of Ramadan Mercy, Forgiveness and Salvation Every night our Ramadan scholars will explore one of the three key spiritual goals of Ramadan. Each talk will conclude with a dynamic conversation as we explore mercy, forgiveness and salvation deeply and see […]

In a Friday sermon given in Cape Town, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin reminds us about the relationship between the believers and the state of their hearts, to their connection with Allah. He quotes the hadith, “The Messenger of Allah(peace be upon him), said, “Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but rather he […]

Ustadh Amjad Tarsin gives some perspective of what Muslims should look forward to at the end of Ramadan. Eid is a celebration of having completed the month of Ramadan in a state of worship, and having drawn closer to Allah. In that sense, every day that passes by where one abstains from sin is Eid. […]

In this Eid al-Adha sermon, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin calls all believers to rejoice in the bounties of Allah. He reminds us of all the great blessings that Allah has granted the Muslim community. Ustadh Amjad highlights hadiths and the sunna of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) of establishing communities upon, love, peace […]

In this lesson of Renewing Religion, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin, reflects upon the chapters from Imam Ghazali’s Ihya on sincerity, self examination, meditation and reflecting on death. Ustadh Amjad begins with the chapter on sincerity, explaining that true sincerity can lead habits to be acts of worship if they are done with the right intentions. Many […]

In this lesson, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin, gives an overview of the chapters on patience and thankfulness, fear and hope, poverty and abstinence from Imam Ghazali’s Ihya. In this chapter, Imam Ghazali explains that faith is of two halves: half is patience and half is gratitude and having certainty of Allah is the whole of faith. […]

In this lesson, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin, gives an overview of select verses from the Quran that correspond with the chapter on breaking desires from Imam Al-Ghazali’s Ihya. Allah tells us that our salvation is connected to not giving in to one’s lower self and that is why it is crucial for one to control their […]

In this lesson, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin, gives an overview of three books from Imam Ghazali’s Ihya: Marvels of the Heart, Discipling the Soul, and Breaking Desires. Struggling against one’s lower self is an obligation that Allah talks about in the Quran, that whoever purifies their heart is successful and whomever doesn’t is at loss. The […]

In this lesson, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin gives an overview of the chapter from Imam Ghazali’s Ihya on the etiquette of living and the prophetic mannerism. This chapter is the last in the section on worship and it details main life skills that one should utilize on a daily basis. One of the most damaging things […]

In this lesson, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin reviews the chapter on etiquettes of reciting the Quran from Imam Al-Ghazali’s book Ihya Ulum al-Din. The Chapter goes through the outward etiquettes of recitation as well as the inward implications of those practices. Learning the Quran and teaching the Quran is not limited to teaching, but rather should […]

In this lesson, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin, reviews the chapter on Hajj from Imam Al-Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum al-Din. Imam Al-Ghazali begins by outlining a general rule: that one cannot draw nearer to Allah except through letting go of their worldly attachments. Ustadh Amjad explains that Hajj, unlike any other forms of worship, cannot be rationalized as […]

In this lesson, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin gives an overview of the chapter on zakat (alms) and charity from the Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences), the fifth chapter. He highlights the adaab (etiquettes) of giving charity that Imam Al-Ghazali mentions in this chapter. Ustadh Amjad also emphasizes the importance of learning the fiqh (legal […]

In this lesson, Ustadh Amjad Tarsin reviews the chapter on prayer from the Ihya Ulum al-Din (Renewing the Religious Sciences), the fourth chapter. Imam Al-Ghazali emphasized the importance of both the outward and inward in prayer. This condition is in line with the purpose of prayer and that is remembrance of Allah. Imam Al-Ghazali adds […]

In this interview, Ustadh Amjad shares with us his story that revolved around one of Imam al-Haddad’s books, which inspired him to study Islam. He tells us about some of the challenges he initially faced and how he overcame them. Ustadh Amjad also shares some of his first memories from going to Dar al-Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen […]

Loving Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) entails loving his family and companions (may God be pleased with them). There is a special sanctity to all believers, and we should love them for that. There is also a special rank and virtue to the household of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), […]