Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl reminds us of a prayer of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that the Prophet regularly recited asking God to grant him the love of God, the love of those who love God and the love for those deeds that God loved, and how the theme of love was central to being Muslim. He discusses the vast difference between seeking the love of God and building a loving relationship with God versus the act of coping with being Muslim and meeting requirements only to avoid punishment or earn...
In this month of Shaban, preceding Ramadan, Dr. Abou El Fadl reminds us of the preparations of the Prophet Muhammad for the month of Ramadan. He discusses the deeper meaning of the word "ibadat," often translated as "worship" but which is much more than just ritual worship. He explains what it means to be in a state of ibadat, which goes much farther and deeper than simply the physical acts, but which encompasses love, knowing the other, knowing the Creator, knowing the truth of oneself: pure...