Jul 2014

Reflection on June’s theme: Beyond desiring attention, become attention.

As I sit with these words, receiving them as though they are a personal decree for me from my Lord, I notice His/Her usage of the word ‘beyond’; it seems to me that I have to journey somewhere, from me to the other, from this small hamlet to a vast galaxy, or maybe another hamlet. I notice that in my travels I’m not leaving myself or my hamlet behind, rather they travel too. With a shift in my consciousness I notice that though I am journeying, and I am, I am also still, where I have always been abiding.

I notice that my need for attention though existent, and permanent in me, seems to be less exacting in my new location. I’m able to see the landscape outward as well as inwards. This new vantage-point affords me the apparel to become attention itself. I sense qualitatively that I am beholding a new trust, call it a responsibility if you like, but I liken it more to my own humanity or servanthood; I realise that this new vantage-point with its expanse, will still have in it its blind spots, but it gives me greater access to attention. I notice from this place where I now abide a slackening for my need to consume, replaced instead with discernment that something greater will be flowering.

In my day-to-day life I embody the role of a healthcare professional for women and children who are fleeing abuse. I am also learning about issues such as masculinity and femininity in our exoteric-gendered-worlds, and how when these are performed without being rooted within the wholeness of spiritual equality or singleness, then we are harbouring conditions that are conducive to injustices and abuse.  I am reminded of a recent event at which my sheikh, Kabir Helminski, requested for my friend and sister in faith, Zeliha Akdan, to call the Adhan. For those who know anything about traditional Islamic practices, you’ll be aware the woman is usually relegated to a back room and her voice is not to be heard. I saw at this event my sheikh using this opportunity, whilst still embodied in his exoteric-gender though very much rooted in spiritual equality, make a public space for her.  For me this was a real life example of what we can do when we become attention. The servanthood that acts as an enabler for others, when activated, brings to fruition something that has been suspended in waiting.

~ Adila Ahmed, London

July’s theme is: Contentment is inexhaustible wealth. ~Imam Ali (r.a.)

We welcome your reflections on this theme. Please email thresholdsociety@yahoo.com.

Ramadan Mubarak!

We wish everyone a month of spiritual awareness, deepening, and solidarity, however you may choose to participate.

Ramadhan Outreach: Principles for Guidance

The essence of Christianity is love, but in Islam the essence is knowledge and its expression in compassionate justice as a product of love.  The concepts of love and knowledge are mentioned in the Qur’an hundreds of times.  They are so important that many different Qur’anic words are needed to express the depth of meaning of these concepts as the root of reality.

The first guiding principle or purpose of Ramadhan is the search for knowledge, because it commemorates the revelation over twenty-two years of the wisdom that every person instinctively knows but must relearn throughout life in order to apply it in practice.  Ramadhan therefore is a process of holistic education.

Read the full article by Dr. Robert Crane.

Ramadan eCourse — Remembrance: The Spiritual Practice of Zhikr

Remembrance: The Spiritual Practice of Zhikr eCourse began on June 29th. It’s not too late to still sign up: www.spiritualityandpractice.com

A Collection of Writings on Fasting

Know that, in the view of the verifiers, fasting has three degrees. The common people fast by refraining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from morning to sunset prayer.

The elect fast by preserving the seven bodily members from sins and acts of disobedience. They prevent the tongue from lying, obscenity and backbiting; the eye from looking with caprice and appetite; the ear from listening to nonsense, obscenity, idle talk and the like; and the hand, foot and other members from acts made unlawful by the Shariah. The divine revelation gives news of this meaning. The hearing, the sight, the heart—all these shall be questioned