This is a special episode of SoulFood where we explore stories to nourish young souls. It is part of our LaunchGood campaign to help SoulFood reach more people. If SoulFood has touched your life, or if you believe in the power of stories to nurture faith and hearts, we ask for your support. Please consider donating generously and sharing this campaign with others. Become a SoulFood supporter today at www.launchgood.com/soulfood ~~~ Imam al-Ghazali & the Fly Producer: Ilyas Curtis Designer: Selma Tarsin Voice of Imam al-Ghazali: Imam Rasul Suluki Narrator: Amjad Tarsin

Supplicating (duʿa) represents the very essence of our trust in Allah ﷻ. It's a gift from Him and spiritual lifeline, as Allah says, “Call upon Me, I will respond to you.” [Quran 40:60] In this episode, we cover: • That duʿa is the essence of worship • Allah's mercy and generosity • The power of duʿa Intro music from Dar al-Mustafa

Your spirit is a jewel, the nafs is like a corrosive material that damages the jewel. How do you purify the nafs so that the spirit can experience divine realities? In this episode, we cover: • The ugliness of the ego • Spiritual purification • Levels of the soul

In commemoration of the Isrāʾ & Miʿrāj, we're re-releasing the episode on the Prophet's wondrous journey ﷺ. Part 2 focuses on the Prophet's heavenly ascent. ——— Part 2 of the Night Journey & Heavenly Ascent After the Night Journey to Jerusalem, the Prophet ﷺ begins his ascent through the seven levels of Paradise to the Lote Tree––and then is given a vision of his Lord ﷻ. In this episode, we cover: • The Seven Heavens • The Lote Tree • The Divine Meeting Additional Resource: • The Seeds of Paradise: Subḥān Allāh, al-ḥamdu lillāh, wa lā ilāha illā Allāh, wa Allāhu akbar––wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh [God is Transcendent, all praise belongs to God, there is no deity except God, and God is the Greatest––and there is no power nor might except by God] Intro and outro music by Ahbab al-Mustafa

In commemoration of the Isrāʾ & Miʿrāj, we're re-releasing the episode on the Prophet's wondrous journey ﷺ. ——— The greatest spiritual journey occurred on the night when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was taken to Jerusalem, then ascended to Paradise. In this episode, we cover: • Purity of the Prophet’s Heart ﷺ • Blessed places • Manifestations of the Unseen • The Imam of the Messengers Additional Resource: • 'The Night Journey & Heavenly Ascent' by Al-Sayyid Muhammad Alawi al-Maliki (translated by Gibril Fouad Haddad): https://a.co/d/7aLMR8L • The Prophet's Heart ﷺ: https://medium.com/@amjadtarsin/the-prophets-heart-ﷺ-d0cd35bff41f • Dua for Protection: Aʿūdhu bi-wajhillāhi al-Karīm wa bi kalimātillahi al-tāmmāt al-latī lā yujāwizuhunna barrun wa lā fājir min sharri mā yanzilu min al-samāʾ wa min sharri mā yaʿruju fīhā wa min sharri mā dharaʾa fil-arḍ wa min sharri mā yakhruju minhā wa min fitani al-layli wal-nahār wa min ṭawāriq al-layli wal-nahār illā ṭāriqan yaṭruqu bi-khayrin yā Raḥmān Translation: I seek refuge in Allah’s Noble Countenance and in Allah’s perfect words which neither the righteous nor the disobedient overstep from evil that descends from the heavens and evil that ascends to it and evil that is created in the earth and the trials of night and day and the visitors of night and day save the visitor that visits goodness upon us, O Most Merciful! Intro and outro music by Ahbab al-Mustafa

By protecting our natural spiritual state (fitra), we preserve our God-given ability to recognize and access truth and goodness. One of the ways to maintain our fitra is by being in touch with nature. In this episode, we cover: • Preserving the fitra • Being connected to the earth • The blessings of farming

Selfishness places your ego at the center of existence, which blinds you from Allah. Generosity refines your nafs so that you can come to witness Allah's perfection. In this episode, we cover: • The dangers of selfishness • The beauty of generosity • Why we should have generous hearts

God the Exalted says, "O believers! Be mindful of Allah, and say what is right. He will rectify your deeds for you and forgive your sins." [Quran 33:70-71] Being mindful of the language we use helps bring light to our hearts and to the hearts of others. In this episode, we cover: • The tongue is the translator for the heart • How speech affects all of our actions • Beautiful speech

We're re-releasing this episode from the SoulFood archives on the story of Jesus and his mother Mary in Islam (peace be upon them both). As many of those around us celebrate Christmas and the miraculous birth of Jesus, it is a great reminder of the immense love and respect we as Muslims have for Jesus as well. Feel free to share with friends and family who might be interested to learn about Islam's perspective on one of the most beloved human beings to ever live. In this episode, you will learn: • The Family of 'Imran • The Lady Mary ﷺ • The Birth of Jesus ﷺ • His Life and Miracles • Relationship between Prophets Jesus and Muhammad (upon them both be peace) Recommended Links: • Lessons from the Life of Jesus ﷺ by Habib Ali al-Jifri (youtu.be/9OfQjEY7x0s?si=k4Lgk7p0kG9CfTnn) • "The Muslim Jesus" by Tarif Khalidi (a.co/d/1rhNrK0) • "Mary: the Blessed Virgin of Islam" by Aliah Schleifer (a.co/d/h5mV7FX) Intro and outro music by Nader Khan (www.naderkhan.com)

In this special episode of SoulFood, we are honored to engage in a conversation with Shaykh Musab Penfound. We talk about the exquisite humanity of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and how we can get in touch with the beauty of his heart, character, and way. Shaykh Musab Penfound was born and raised in Manchester, England. After a two year journey, he embraced Islam at the age of eighteen. In 2006, he moved to Tarim, Yemen to study at the illustrious Dar al-Mustafa under the guidance of Habib Umar Bin Hafiz. In addition, he has traveled in the company of Habib Kazim al-Saqqaf and Habib Umar Bin Hafiz on educational trips. Currently, Shaykh Musab lives in Tarim, Yemen where he continues to benefit from being in the company of his teachers and their blessed gatherings. He travels regularly in service of the Prophetic way to educate people in the spiritual tradition of Islam. He has taught and lectured in Europe, South Africa, Kenya, the Comoro Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia.

One of the most beloved actions to Allah ﷻ is to be of service to His creation. In this episode, we will cover: • Serving the elderly • The importance of service • Serving with humility

Modesty beautifies and dignifies us. Without it, we become dehumanized and humiliated. In this episode, we will cover: • The danger of unrestrained desires • The beauty of modesty • Preserving the purity of the Fitra

One of the greatest tragedies that affects people is the loss of virtue that comes with being cut off from divine guidance. In this episode, we will cover: • What makes a civilization? • The culture of irreverence • The healing nature of virtue

In a world of pseudo-spirituality and "augmented" reality, we have to differentiate between true spiritual experiences and counterfeits. In this episode, we will cover: • Miracles of delusion • The Prophet Muhammad's miracles ﷺ • Uprightness

In commemoration of the Isrāʾ & Miʿrāj, we're re-releasing the episode on the Prophet's wondrous journey ﷺ ——— Part 2 of the Night Journey & Heavenly Ascent After the Night Journey to Jerusalem, the Prophet ﷺ begins his ascent through the seven levels of Paradise to the Lote Tree––and then is given a vision of his Lord the Blessed and Exalted. In this episode, we cover: • The Seven Heavens • The Lote Tree • The Divine Meeting Additional Resource: • Seedlings of Paradise: Subḥān Allāh, al-ḥamdu lillāh, wa lā ilāha illā Allāh, wa Allāhu akbar––wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh [Glorious is God, all praise belongs to God, there is no deity except God, and God is the Greatest––and there is no power nor might except by God] Intro and outro music by Ahbab al-Mustafa

In commemoration of the Isrāʾ & Miʿrāj, we're re-releasing the episode on the Prophet's wondrous journey ﷺ. ——— The greatest spiritual journey occurred on the night when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was taken to Jerusalem, then ascended to Paradise. In this episode, we cover: • Purity of the Prophet’s Heart ﷺ • Blessed places • Manifestations of the Unseen • The Imam of the Messengers Additional Resource: • 'The Night Journey & Heavenly Ascent' by Al-Sayyid Muhammad Alawi al-Maliki (translated by Gibril Fouad Haddad): https://www.meccabooks.com/1388-prophet-s-night-journey-heavenly-ascent-9780954754037.html • Dua for Protection: Aʿūdhu bi-wajhillāhi al-Karīm wa bi kalimātillahi al-tāmmāt al-latī lā yujāwizuhunna barrun wa lā fājir min sharri mā yanzilu min al-samāʾ wa min sharri mā yaʿruju fīhā wa min sharri mā dharaʾa fil-arḍ wa min sharri mā yakhruju minhā wa min fitani al-layli wal-nahār wa min ṭawāriq al-layli wal-nahār illā ṭāriqan yaṭruqu bi-khayrin yā Raḥmān Translation: I seek refuge in Allah’s Noble Countenance and in Allah’s perfect words which neither the righteous nor the disobedient overstep from evil that descends from the heavens and evil that ascends to it and evil that is created in the earth and the trials of night and day and the visitors of night and day save the visitor that visits goodness upon us, O Most Merciful! Intro and outro music by Ahbab al-Mustafa

Understanding the level of authority and divine protection given to the Prophets and Messengers helps us develop our certitude. In this episode, we will cover: Infallibility of the Prophets • The Prophet's Heart ﷺ • Spiritual Perfection. Additional resource: اللهم صلِّ على سيدنا محمدٍ وآله وصحبه وسلم | Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Sayyidinā Muḥammadin wa ālihi wa ṣaḥbihi wa sallim | O Allah send blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad, and upon his Family and Companions

Prophets are the key-holders to the spiritual realm and are granted a superior wisdom given to them by Allah. In this episode, we will cover: • The rank of prophets • True wisdom • Understanding the Sunna Additional resource: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ ، وَحُبَّ عَمَلٍ يُقَرِّبُ إِلَى حُبِّكَ ِ Transliteration: Allāhumma innī as'aluka ḥubbik, wa ḥubba man yuḥibbuk, wa ḥubba ʿamalin yuqarribu ilā ḥubbik. Translation: “O Allah, I ask You for Your love, and the love of those who love You, and the love of actions that bring me closer to Your love.”

Faith helps us see past the superficiality of this worldly life and recognize divine truths. When your faith is strengthened and nurtured, it becomes certitude. In this episode, we will cover: • The strong believer • Being heart-blind • Ways to strengthen your imān

In light of the tragedies taking place in the world, we decided to share an episode from Season 5 on tribulations. We ask for the restoration of peace and justice for all those facing oppression in the world. --- In the face of tribulations one experiences in this world, patience is the best response. In this episode, we will cover: • Difficulties on the spiritual path • The great rewards for patience • The way to exhibit patience Intro and outro music by Sidi Ibrahim Nass Additional Resource: • The Prayer of Need (Ṣalatul Ḥāja): http://seekershub.org/ans-blog/2009/07/24/how-does-one-perform-the-prayer-of-need-salat-al-haja/