Role of the Scripture in Spiritual Growth

1
Roleof the Scripture in Spiritual Growth

• Mahmoud Haddara
• May 2008

2
Spirituality and Humans

• When I have fashioned him and breathed My spirit
  into him, bow down before him, and the angels all
  did so.1529-30

3
Importance of Spirituality

• The one who purifies his soul succeeds and the
  one who corrupts it fails.919-10
• God has been gracious to the believers in
  sending them a Messenger from among their own, to
  recite His revelations to them, to make them grow
  in purity, and to teach the Scripture and wisdom
  3164

4
Spirituality

• Preparation of the heart for seeking forgiveness
  and guidance
• And those who when they commit an indecency or
  do injustice to their souls remember Allah and
  ask forgiveness for their faults 3135

5
Spirituality

• A source of peace of the mind and heart
• "Those who believe, and whose hearts find
  satisfaction in the remembrance of God for
  without doubt in the remembrance of God do hearts
  find satisfaction 1328

6
Spirituality

• A tool for reflection and thinking
• Most surely in the creation of the heavens and
  the earth and the alternation of the night and
  the day there are signs for those who understand.
  Those who remember God standing and sitting and
  lying on their sides and reflect on the creation
  of the heavens and the earth Our Lord! Thou hast
  not created this in vain! Glory be to Thee save
  us then from the chastisement of the fire
  3190-191

7
Importance of Remembering God

• He it is Who sends blessings on you, as do His
  angels, that He may bring you out from the depths
  of Darkness into Light and He is Full of Mercy
  to the Believers 3343
• Their salutation on the day that they meet Him
  shall be, Peace, and He has prepared for them an
  honorable reward 3344

8
Remembering God

• At all times
• The depth of the night and before sunrise are
  specially recommended
• And celebrate the name of thy Lord (in the)
  morning and evening. And part of the night,
  prostrate thyself to Him and glorify Him a long
  night through 76 25-26

9
Manners

• Humbly
• Without raising the voice
• Without disturbing others
• And do thou (O reader!) Bring thy Lord to
  remembrance in thy (very) soul, with humility and
  in reverence, without loudness in words, in the
  mornings and evenings and be not thou of those
  who are unheedful 7 205

10
Rituals

• Prayers, charity and fasting are tools for
  promoting spirituality
• "Verily, I am God There is no god but I So
  serve Me and keep up prayer for My remembrance
  2014
• Recite that which has been revealed to you of
  the Book and keep up prayer surely prayer keeps
  (one) away from indecency and evil, and certainly
  the remembrance of God is the greatest, and God
  knows what you do 2945

11
Rituals

• Who gives away his wealth, that he may purify
  himself 9218
• O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for
  you, as it was prescribed for those before you,
  so that you may guard against evil 2183

12
The Power of Supplication

• David 3820
• Joseph 1293-96
• Marys mother 335-37
• Zachariah 338-40.

13
The Model

• The belief in the oneness of God
• Performing the rituals
• Adopting a holistic approach
• Continuity
• Flexibility
• Moderation