Islamic Sufism Spirituality

“You [Ali] are my brother in this world and the next.” (Hadith)
Ali’s Election
After Uthman’s martyrdom, the office of the caliphate remained unfilled for two or three days. Many people insisted that Ali should take up the office, but he was embarrassed by the fact that the people who pressed him [...]

“Every Prophet has an assistant, and my assistant will be Uthman.”(Hadith)
Uthman’s Election
When ‘Umar fell under the assassin’s dagger, before he died the people asked him to nominate his successor. ‘Umar appointed a committee consisting of six of the ten companions of the Prophet (peace be on him) about whom the [...]

“God has placed truth upon Umar’s tongue and heart. (Hadith)”
‘Umar’s Life
During his last illness Abu Bakr had conferred with his people, particularly the more eminent among them. After this meeting they chose ‘Umar as his successor. ‘Umar was born into a respected Quraish family thirteen years after the birth of [...]

“If I were to take a friend other than my Lord, I would take Abu Bakr as a friend.” (Hadith)
Election to the Caliphate
The Prophet’s closest Companion, Abu Bakr, was not present when the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) breathed his last in the apartment of his beloved wife of later [...]

Meaning of the Word ‘Caliph’
The word ‘Caliph’ is the English form of the Arabic word ‘Khalifa,’ which is short for Khalifatu Rasulil-lah. The latter expression means Successor to the Messenger of God, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him). The title ‘Khalifatu Rasulil-lah’. was first used for Abu Bakr, who [...]

We are in the second year of the Hijrah. Madinah the city of the Prophet is buzzing with activity as the Muslims prepare for the long march southwards to Badr.
The noble Prophet made a final inspection of the first army to be mobilized under his leadership to wage Jihad against those who had tormented the [...]

People are made up of basic “metals” or qualities. The best of them in Jahiliyyah are the best of them in Islam, according to a hadith of the Prophet.
Here are two pictures of a noble companion–one during his life in Jahiliyyah and the other after he became a Muslim .
In Jahiliyyah, this Sahabi was known [...]

Umar ibn al-Kattab, the head of the rapidly expanding Muslim State went to bed early just after the Salat al-Isha. He wanted to have a rest and feel refreshed for his nightly tour of inspection of the capital city which he often did incognito. Before he could/all asleep however, the post from the outlying regions [...]

After a long and exhausting journey, the Prophet, peace be on him, is at last on the outskirts of Yathrib. The good people of the city go out to meet him. Many crowd the narrow streets. Some stand on roof-tops chanting La ilaha ilia Allah and Allahu Akbar in sheer joy at meeting the Prophet [...]