In the Early Hours – Reflections on Spiritual and Self development

Khurram Murad

Paperback, 168 Pages, Black & White
6 x 9 Inches
Qadeem Press

‘Let us live for Allah. Let us love what He loves and like what He likes; let us dislike what He dislikes and hate what He hates. Let there be no territories carved up and no frontiers set up in serving Him. Let us passionately involve ourselves in our society to do His will, but still passionately let our hearts yearn for His pleasure. Similarly, let the life of the Prophet live again in our lives. Let his Message, his conduct, his goals, be our Message, our conduct and our goals. So, also, let nothing motivate us but an intense longing to please our Lord in the Next World, and let that expectation give a decisive shape to our life here. The hope of a meaningful future must lead us to confront the risks and overcome the tribulations that lie in living by His will in the totality of our existence. We, as Muslims, have but one option: to strive to change the world according to the model given to mankind by the Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be on him.’ – Ustadh Khurram Murad (1932-1996)

In the Early Hours is a collection of inspirational advice by a dear and beloved teacher, Ustadh Khurram Murad on the subject of spiritual and self-development. In it he sets out the goal of the Believer – the single-minded desire to seek the good pleasure of God. He then outlines the methods and instruments which must be used in the attainment of that ultimate goal. This book, we hope, will serve as a useful companion on your journey towards meeting with your Lord.

Table of Contents:

Chapter One – THE PROCESS OF SELF DEVELOPMENT

The goal in life

The first step to Paradise

Your mission

Prerequisites of tazkiya

Blessings and benefits

Summary

Chapter Two – A LIFE OF REMEMBRANCE

The significance of dhikr

The meaning of dhikr

The methods of dhikr

Organising your dhikr

Summary

Chapter Three – RELATING TO ALLAH

Characteristics of ‘holding onto Allah’

• Thankfulness to Allah

• Worshipping Allah

• Love of Allah

• Becoming hanif

• Jihad – striving in the path of Allah

Impediments in ‘holding onto Allah’

• Pride

• Hypocrisy

• Pessimism

• Uncontrollable anger

• Abuse of the tongue

• Lustful sexual passions

Summary

Chapter Four – RELATING TO ALLAH’S MESSENGER

The position of the Sunna in a Believer’s life

The Prophet’s mission

Guidelines in studying the Sunna

The Sunna in the context of Western society

The real meaning of the term ‘Sienna’

Your mission

Summary

Chapter Five – SPENDING IN THE WAY OF ALLAH

Spending on fellow human beings

Spending for the cause of Islam

The small charity

Modes of living

Love of this world

Forgiving others

Summary

Chapter Six – RELATING TO ALLAH’S CREATION

The registers of deeds

Obligations to your family

Obligations to your children

Obligations to your parents

Obligations to your fellow Muslims

Obligations of employers and employees

Obligations to your neighbors

The rights of animals

Summary

Chapter Seven – MEETING ALLAH

The objective of life

The reality of the Hereafter

The certainty of death

Man’s forgetfulness

Seeking Allah’s mercy

Seeking Allah’s forgiveness

Self-evaluation

Conquering the fear of death