Sheikh Hamza Yusuf Series: [Part 38] Purification of The Heart w/ Revamped Audio

Summary

The video script discusses the significance of Ramadan in purifying the heart and implementing spiritual lessons. It reflects on the experience of witnessing the new moon, symbolizing emergence and divine creation. The speaker emphasizes fasting's spiritual benefits, such as controlling desires, avoiding negative behaviors, and deepening one's connection with Allah. The discourse highlights the importance of inward reflection, charity, and spiritual growth during Ramadan, urging believers to purify their hearts from envy, anger, and arrogance, and to remember and praise Allah continuously.

Takeaways

• 🌙 Ramadan is a time to purify the heart and implement what has been learned.
• 👀 Observing the new moon marks the beginning of Ramadan, a significant moment for many.
• 🌜 The moon's emergence symbolizes creation coming into existence by Allah's will.
• 🕋 The lunar calendar emphasizes otherworldly time over worldly time.
• 🔭 Witnessing the new moon is a profound experience, reflecting the concept of emergence.
• 💡 The entire creation is seen as a reflection of Allah's light.
• 🙏 Ramadan is an opportunity to remember and connect with Allah.
• 🤲 Acts of generosity and controlling desires are essential during Ramadan.
• 🌍 Fasting is unique as it's an unseen act of devotion, known only to Allah.
• 💔 Ramadan helps rid the heart of envy and other negative traits.

Q & A

What is the significance of the end of the Makara coinciding with the first day of Ramadan?

The end of the Makara on the first day of Ramadan is significant as it marks the beginning of a month dedicated to purifying the heart, aligning with the lessons learned during the Makara.

Why is the new moon important in the context of Ramadan?

The new moon signifies the start of Ramadan, a period for Muslims to purify their hearts and implement the teachings they've learned. It also represents the emergence of creation and the reflected light from Allah.

What was the personal experience shared about seeing the new moon?

The speaker shared that seeing the new moon for the first time felt like witnessing something coming into existence from nothing, emphasizing the idea of emergence and the reflected light of creation.

How does the Quran explain the new moons?

The Quran explains that new moons are there to help people tell time, specifically for determining the months of Ramadan and Hajj, without delving into the mechanics of how the new moon comes into being.

What philosophical concept does the speaker relate to witnessing the new moon?

The speaker relates the concept of emergence to witnessing the new moon, where something comes into existence from nothing, reflecting the creation process and the existence of Allah.

Why is the lunar calendar significant for Muslims, according to the speaker?

The lunar calendar is significant for Muslims because it focuses on otherworldly benefits rather than worldly benefits, aligning with the spiritual goals of Islam.

What does the speaker say about the act of fasting during Ramadan?

Fasting during Ramadan is unique because it is an invisible act of worship known only to Allah, highlighting the sincerity of the person's devotion and their desire to gain a position with Allah.

How does Ramadan help in controlling the desires of the heart?

Ramadan helps control desires by encouraging fasting, which purifies the heart from envy and other diseases, and by mastering one's desires, making it easier to overcome other negative traits.

What is the 'fast of the heart' mentioned in the script?

The 'fast of the heart' refers to the inward fast during Ramadan, where one refrains from negative thoughts and emotions, focusing on purifying the heart and deepening their spiritual connection with Allah.

Why is it important to avoid excessive talk and empty speech during Ramadan?

Avoiding excessive talk and empty speech during Ramadan is important because it helps maintain focus on spiritual growth, reducing distractions and allowing for deeper reflection and remembrance of Allah.

Outlines

00:00

🌙 Reflecting on the End of Makara and the Start of Ramadan

The speaker expresses gratitude for the end of Makara and the beginning of Ramadan, highlighting the significance of purifying the heart during this holy month. They recount a memorable experience of moon sighting, emphasizing the spiritual reflection on the new moon's emergence and its symbolic meaning. The discussion touches on historical beliefs about the moon and the importance of the lunar calendar for spiritual practices. The speaker reflects on the profound realization that all creation is a reflection of divine light, emphasizing the importance of remembering Allah in every moment.

05:02

🌠 The Emergence of the New Moon and Philosophical Reflections

The speaker delves deeper into the philosophical concept of emergence, using the new moon as a metaphor for the creation of existence from nothing. They discuss how the new moon's appearance symbolizes the reflection of divine light, drawing a parallel to the creation reflecting Allah's essence. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding and decoding these spiritual meanings, viewing the new moon's birth as a divine gift and a reminder of Allah's presence in all things. They reflect on the significance of observing the new moon as a means of remembering Allah and the spiritual lessons it imparts.

10:03

🕌 Ramadan: A Time for Spiritual Reflection and Purification

The speaker discusses Ramadan as a period for intense spiritual reflection and purification, focusing on controlling desires and purifying the heart. They highlight the Prophet Muhammad's generosity during Ramadan and the importance of fasting as a secret act of worship known only to Allah. The speaker emphasizes that Ramadan is a time to detach from worldly desires, reflect on one's actions, and recognize the need for spiritual growth. They stress the importance of mastering desires, particularly envy, and cultivating humility and sincerity in worship.

15:04

🌟 Embracing Spiritual Lessons and Controlling Desires

The speaker continues to discuss the spiritual lessons of Ramadan, focusing on recognizing Allah's provisions and controlling desires. They highlight the significance of praising Allah when breaking the fast and removing the desire for external validation. The speaker advises against empty and excessive talk, suspicion, cheating, vanity, and anger, emphasizing the importance of controlling these negative traits during Ramadan. They stress the importance of remembering Allah, especially during this holy month, and cultivating positive qualities such as humility and mindfulness.

20:04

🕋 Reflecting on Allah's Blessings and Heart Purification

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of remembering Allah's blessings and avoiding harmful behaviors such as mocking and making fun of others. They summarize the diseases of the heart and the need to purify the heart from these ailments during Ramadan. The speaker encourages self-reflection and gratitude for Allah's blessings, urging listeners to focus on spiritual growth and purification during this sacred month.

Keywords

💡Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. In the video, it is described as the 'greatest practical month for implementing all the things that we've learned over the last 12 weeks about the heart,' emphasizing its role in purifying the heart and practicing self-discipline.

💡New Moon

The new moon marks the beginning of the lunar month in the Islamic calendar, used to determine the start of Ramadan and other significant events. The speaker discusses witnessing the new moon, explaining its spiritual significance and how it symbolizes emergence and creation, reflecting Allah's power in bringing things into existence.

💡Heart

The heart is a central theme in the video, symbolizing the core of a person's spiritual and moral life. The speaker talks about purifying the heart during Ramadan by controlling desires, envy, and anger, and by focusing on spiritual growth and connection with Allah.

💡Purification

Purification refers to the process of cleansing oneself from spiritual impurities. In the context of Ramadan, it involves fasting, prayer, and reflection to purify the heart and soul. The video emphasizes that the purpose of Ramadan is to purify the heart from negative traits like envy and anger.

💡Fasting

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, involving abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn until sunset. The speaker highlights that fasting is not just a physical act but also a means to spiritual growth, as it is a secret act of worship known only to Allah.

💡Reflected Light

Reflected light is used metaphorically to describe the creation and existence of the universe as a reflection of Allah's light. The speaker explains that just as the new moon is visible due to the reflected light of the sun, all of creation reflects Allah's existence and power.

💡Emergence

Emergence is the process of something coming into existence. The speaker uses the concept of emergence to describe the appearance of the new moon and relates it to the philosophical idea of creation, where something comes into existence from nothing, highlighting Allah's role in creation.

💡Generosity

Generosity is highlighted as a key virtue to be practiced during Ramadan. The speaker mentions that the Prophet Muhammad was the most generous during Ramadan, likening his generosity to a wind bringing good. This encourages Muslims to be generous and charitable during the holy month.

💡Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is the ability to control one's impulses and desires. During Ramadan, self-discipline is exercised through fasting, prayer, and avoiding negative behaviors. The speaker discusses how Ramadan helps individuals develop self-discipline by controlling their bodily desires and focusing on spiritual goals.

💡Reflection

Reflection involves thinking deeply about one's actions, intentions, and the blessings of Allah. The speaker encourages reflection during Ramadan as a means to recognize one's shortcomings, seek forgiveness, and improve spiritually. It is a time to assess the past year and make positive changes.

Highlights

The significance of Ramadan as a month to purify the heart.

Witnessing the new moon as a spiritual and philosophical experience.

The importance of the lunar calendar in Islam for marking time for religious events.

The concept of emergence and the philosophical question of how things come into existence.

Reflected light as a metaphor for creation and the divine.

The secret of fasting: an act only known by Allah.

Fasting as a means to gain a position with Allah, not with people.

Ramadan as a time to control desires and purify the heart from envy.

The significance of actions during Ramadan to make up for neglected deeds throughout the year.

The importance of humility and avoiding arrogance, especially during Ramadan.

Ramadan as a time for heightened remembrance of Allah.

The inward fast of the heart, not just the outward fast.

Recognizing and appreciating Allah's provisions when breaking the fast.

Avoiding excessive talk and maintaining good opinions of others during Ramadan.

Controlling anger and practicing patience during Ramadan.

Reflecting on Allah's blessings and avoiding mocking or making fun of others.

Transcripts

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foreign

[Music]

[Laughter]

yeah

I think it's a blessing that we came to

an end of the Makara on for most of us I

think it's the first day of Ramadan

which Ramadan was the month of matara

so it's feeling that we should end the

study of the map on the beginning of the

month which is is really the greatest

practical month for implementing all of

the things that we've learned over the

last 12 weeks about the heart because

the purpose of Ramadan is to purify the

heart

foreign

how many people saw the moon last night

how many people went out to look for it

without the same number so uh I mean for

the people that were here last night I I

think all of us had a very wonderful

experience

um William

who was here

I mean it wasn't that wasn't that a

great experience yeah and I

I was thinking also like this morning

about uh this yesterday and

[Music]

and one of the things that came to me

and struck me about it and I actually

think it's it's very interesting

perspective and that is that

what he saw the Iran last night for the

first time what was happening was for me

when I first saw it uh I didn't know if

it was there or not and I actually

thought my eyes might be playing tricks

on me because it was it was coming into

existence and then disappearing it was

it was coming in and out like

and I realized when we first went out

there there was nothing there but the

light of the Sun and we have to wait and

then Venus showed up and then after that

it took some time before we could

actually see the small sliver

and what I realized is uh Allah says

but they asked you about the new moons

and Allah responded to the message of

Allah to tell them that really they're

there just to tell time but the the

festivals say that the reason they asked

about is they were trying to understand

the mechanism

how is it that this new moon came into

being

and and the reason for that is that the

the uh the Ancients actually believed

that every room was a new moon but it

wasn't the same Moon that was

it was literally a new moon that it

disappeared and then it started again

and they wanted to understand how that

was happening and what I realized is

Allah didn't tell them in other words he

didn't negate their belief he just

explained why the Moon is there

it's just a way of telling time the

people will ask to tell the time of the

Ramadan and Hajj and one of the things

that probably

said in his taxi here is that the secret

of this ummah using a lunar calendar as

opposed to a solar counter is that the

sun is used for worldly benefits but the

Moon is used for other worldly benefits

so the focus of time of this ummah is

about other will be time not about this

world

and and what I realized is that if you

look at it from a a completely

non-abstract perspective what you're

seeing when you actually witness the the

new moon is you are seeing what's known

in philosophy as emergence

and this is what this is the real

problem in for these people is how

things come out into existence out of

nothing

how does that happen this is their

problem in other words why is there

something as opposed to nothing and what

you do if you sit there you're looking

at the sky and suddenly this thing

landed out of out of nothing right

before your eyes because you can't see

it initially and the reason you can't

see it is because of the Sun the

sunlight is too strong and the reason is

able to see it is because the Sun's

light has doomed

and what emerges is reflected light so

that you can see it is a reflected light

of the moon

is the entire creation is reflected

light is our law I mean it's a Allah is

the entire creation is reflected light

from Allah the only reason we can see it

is because Allah allows it to exist and

he's the one that brought it into

existence and he's the one that takes it

out of existence and so really what

you're witnessing is this incredible

event which is Allah is letting you see

reflected light come into existence

of reflected light which is that his

creation because it's all reflecting

Allah the whole thing is reflecting

Allah

and even stranger that people can

disbelieve in Allah when for Allah in

every movement and Stillness there is a

clear sign and in everything itself

there's a sign right so the creation of

these meanings right set up in these

images and and what we're doing is we're

there to decode what these meanings are

and and it's a real gift type so see the

birth of the new moon as a real it's a

gift right I think people felt that last

night because one you have instead of an

animal you have the Quran says

and then he said if you go and actually

touch it that's

it so you actually so it's an amazing

thing the the new moon and and that's

you know but how come I've been like

that

was important to yourself

are those who are Vigilant about new

moons and shadows for the prayer times

as a way of remembering Allah

and and I think for us last night that

the natural impulse when you saw it was

to remember Allah okay

[Music]

you know there was like we're in the

shop of Ramadan came into my heart just

of a feeling you know a lot of energy

because

of the heart

we looked at mochan first of all we

looked at the uh who talked about

Baghdad and the importance of Adam and

then we talked about the outcome of

knowledge

and the treatment Court which he said

according

and then he went through alphabetical

the diseases of the heart and he

obviously gave us the most uh these are

really the most important ones

actually narrow them down to about four

or five ones if you can control those

all the other ones actually are removed

easily but he began with a bottle and

Ramadan is a month to uh to really uh to

kill your body because they said the

prophet saws

he is the most generous of human beings

and he was more generous than ever in

Ramadan and they described

like a win that brings

Goods second building rooms

to be happy with your the Dunya or the

livelihood foreign

foreign

oppressing people this is a time when

you can't do any any it's you're fasting

and the politicalization told us that if

somebody tries

if somebody's fighting you you say I'm

fasting in other words massively don't

fight with them saying fast and tell

them you don't want to do that

love of position right Ramadan is about

gaining a position with Allah because

the reason the secret of fasting is it's

the only activity that nobody can tell

you're doing it when you're doing it

you see like if you do charity it's it's

an act right it's an act if you declare

it's an act if you make ads you can act

all of the Revival that Allah has given

us are things that can visibly receive

fasting alone is is you can be standing

next to a person who's not faster than a

person who's faster and the only one

that knows is a law so react here with

all these non-muslim basically they

don't have your faster you look like

everybody else right so the point is is

that President

you want is with our lives not with

people

that Ramadan is also reading yourself

from Dunya right unless you're captivity

is like a child but if you neglect it it

grows up nothing to suck meaning love

but if you mean it then it becomes wound

so Ramadan is the time of meaning the

soul from foreign

he wants to be friends for things that

you don't do that Ramadan is a time when

you feel to witness the shortcomings of

your actions and to really to recognize

that you've wasted the whole year and

now it's time to catch up that is

time to catch up in this month uh all of

the things that you neglected all those

things so what you're trying to do is do

actions so that you won't close okay so

it's a cure for that and I said right in

here to purify the heart from envy that

if you can conquer uh the Envy comes

from uh desire right if you can conquer

desires then you can remove Envy from

your heart and desire is based according

to destroying the two the thoughts and

the button if you can destroy those who

desires conquering not disturbing but

Master them then all the other desires

become easy and then

uh saying that's not uh praiseworthy

this is a time to have hayabus

right so yeah for people

without seeing Allah is is blameable

right so this is the time

one of the secrets of Ramadan that I'm

going to go into foreign

part of the highest cost in Ramadan is

the fast of the heart not just the the

outward fast but the inward fast

this is also a time to uh want to

recognize provisions and not to leave

without your provision and to give up

your anxieties and recognize that food

is not something that you should be

under the control of but in fact you

should recognize it for what it is

Allah when you break your fast you

praise Allah

and recognizing that's coming from him

and so that's uh another important thing

is to remove that desire to be seen by

others and desire to be only soon by

Allah

foreign

that is

is uh empty talk and and excessive talk

there's no benefit in it huh

a scene alone

the ad

the thing that

alignments courageous

foreign

which is suspicion

you shouldn't have bad opinions of other

people

especially in Ramadan and then arrest

which is cheating same but I object we

will cross with the self vanity and have

that anger one of the things of Ramadan

is to learn how to control anger but

that's not heedlessness Ron abundance at

monk to remember Allah we should

remember them all the time but now

particularly in this time

towards other Muslims one of the worst

diseases

which is arrogance

this life of being blind or censor

of death again foreign

[Music]

this is a month also to remember the

name of Allah

[Music]

and this is a time really where we

should be really reflecting on all the

blessings our last given usually making

fun of people mocking these type things

Haram and more importantly so those are

all the diseases of the heart