Back on the Blog...Finally

Well after a long silence, I've finally managed to find the time to make a blog posting. For the past several weeks, family responsibilities, some big changes at work and a myriad of other things have conspired to keep me all too busy. My busy schedule is unlikely to change much in the near future, so I've enlisted the help of Qadeeb al-Ban Harris in order to keep this blog both relevant and rolling. Insha'llah, he will soon start posting on various topics, but especially on issues related to comparative religion and defending Islam against bigoted attacks. I've given his account full access to this blog, so I hope and pray that under his management postings on this blog will be a bit more regular.

One of the few things that I did have time to do in the past few weeks is update my choices for the Mere Islam Book of the Month. My choice for July 2005 was Al-Ghazali: Letter to a Disciple, which is a short but very powerful text that was written by Imam al-Ghazali near the end of his life. This extremely valuable treatise, which is actually made up of twenty-four brief counsels or advices, is entitled Ayyuha'l-Walad al-Muhib in Arabic and has been translated into English several times under several titles. I selected the version by the Islamic Texts Society as the Book of the Month, since they consistently produce high quality books and accurate translations. However, there is another worthwhile translation entitled Dear Beloved Son, by Awakening USA, that is more affordable than the somewhat pricey ITS version. Regardless of which translation you choose, I highly recommend that you get one of them since book is likely to have a very positive and lasting impact, insha'llah.

For the month of August 2005, I selected the excellent translation of a classic Sufi work by our illustrious Imam al-Qushayri (died 465 A. H.). This translation of al-Qushayri's Risalah is entitled Principles of Sufism, and it's an excellent introductory text on Sufism that covers everything from repentance (tawba) and renunciation (zuhd) to certainty (yaqin) and chivalry (futuwa) in forty-three short chapters. I've heard at least one notable shaykh recommend this book, so I strongly recommend it as one of the most authentic, beneficial and most well translated classical Sufi texts available in English.

It's good to be back...Deen On.