25 -Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers- Allah Asks: Why do you despair? – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
Islam is based on optimism. Allah Most High made us so that He could have mercy on us and forgive us, and to despair of Allah’s mercy is a major sin. Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains that our slavehood to Allah Most High is the joyful slavehood of someone is utter need who knows that His Almighty Lord is always there to help him through life’s difficulties, and who created Him to forgive him, have mercy on him, and enter him into Paradise. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
24 -Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers- Allah Asks: Why don’t you ask Me? – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
Allah Most High always answers the prayer of someone who turns to Him in complete distress, having given up hope in everything apart from Him. Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains what this state of complete distress is, and that it is the essence and purpose of turning to Allah Most High in supplication. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
23- Why don’t you have a humble heart? Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
Allah Most High reminds us to have humble hearts and to not be like those who were given revelation before us, whose hearts grew hard with the passage of time (Qur’an, 57:16). Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains the difference between a humble heart and a hardened heart, and how we should renew our relationship with Allah Most High. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
22 – Allah Asks: Why don’t you give Me a loan? Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
Allah Most High urges us to “give him a goodly loan” that He will “repay many times over.” But what does it mean for us to “give a loan” to the One on whom we utterly depend, and the One who needs nothing from us? Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
21- Allah Asks: Why don’t you forgive? Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
Shaykh Hamza Karamali tells the story of the “Great Calumny” in which the wife of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) was falsely accused of adultery and then exonerated by Allah Most High Himself in the Qur’an. When her father then swore an oath to never give financial assistance again to one of the Companions who was responsible for spreading the calumny, Allah Most High urged him to forgive and asked him, “Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you?” For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
20- Allah Asks: Why Don’t You Trust Me? Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
Trust (tawakkul) in Allah Most High is one of the great virtues of the heart. Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains this virtue, along with the related virtue of genuineness (sidq), and shows how each of these virtues shines most brightly when we choose to do what is right in the face of difficulty. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
19- Allah Asks: Why Are You Ungrateful? Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
In Surat al-Rahman--the Chapter of the All-Merciful, God asks us thirty-one times why we are ungrateful to him. Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains what gratitude is and then explains Surat al-Rahman, illustrating how to respond to God with gratitude. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
18- Allah Asks: Why Do You Insist on Going to the Hell- Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
Throughout history, God has sent us messengers to warn us that we will be resurrected after death in order to stand before Him to be judged for our actions. The rational response to this warning is to take steps to be successful after the resurrection. But people often turn away from the warning, not because of a rational reason, but out of stubborn folly, and they then clothe their rejection with flawed arguments, even though they know, deep down inside, that they are making a bad decision. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
17-Allah Asks: Why Don’t You Follow My Messenger? Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
God sent the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) with signs that enable us to discern that he was not an impostor, but a genuine messenger from God. Shaykh Hamza Karamali walks you through a verse of the Qur’an that shows how the ancient Arabians saw those signs, and how we can see them today. He then explains that the consequence of seeing those signs is genuine acceptance of everything that God tells us through His messenger. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
16 – Allah Asks: Why Do You Worship Other Gods? Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
This is the most common question that God asks us in the Qur’an. We sometimes think that idol-worship is a primitive practice of the distant past and that now, in the age of science, we know better than to worship idols. Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains that the idolatry of the scientific age is worse and more prevalent than ever before and that verses of the Qur’an that ask us why we worship other gods apply just as much to us today as they did to the polytheists of ancient Arabia. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
15-What does it mean for God to ask us a question? Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
This episode marks the beginning of the second part of this series. The first part of this series was about asking sincere questions to God; the second part is about listening to the questions that God asks us and answering them sincerely. But before we do that, we have to understand what exactly it means for God to ask us a question and what it means for us to answer Him sincerely. Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains that questions posed by God are not the same as questions posed by human beings, and the answers that we give to God must also be different from the answers that we give to human beings. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
14 – Why didn’t Muslims make the modern world? – Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers- Shaykh Hamza Karamali
Shaykh Hamza Karamali analyzes this question to reveal its underlying assumptions and their error, showing that the goal of true religion is not material prosperity in this life, but moral prosperity in this life and eternal prosperity in the life to come, and that is the greatest need of the modern world. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
13 – Why did the Prophet Muhammad fight so many wars? – Why, Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers- Shaykh Hamza Karamali
Shaykh Hamza Karamali walks you through a detailed analysis of the number of battles (not wars!) that the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) fought during his lifetime, along with an analysis of the number of casualties, revealing an astounding result. He then explains why the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) fought battles and shows that his life sets an unsurpassable moral example for nations and armies forever after. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
12 – Why do Muslims hate disbelievers? – Why? Sincere Questions. Sincere Answers- Shaykh Hamza Karamali
The brief answer, Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains, is that they don’t. He illustrates this with the example of Abu Talib, the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) who loved the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) more than his own children, protected him from harm, and supported his mission, even though he never became Muslim. Abu Talib was an example of a good person who made a bad choice. Islam teaches Muslims to love everyone and to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) by trying to protect those who they love from making a bad choice. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
12-Why did God create Hellfire? Why? Sincere Questions. Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains that God created the Hellfire to manifest His majesty. God is loving and merciful, but He is also majestic, and when we love Him, we love someone who is majestic. Without majesty, there can be no worship, and without worship, we are unable to fulfill the purpose of our existence. This is part of the series presented by SeekersGuidance in Ramadan 2019, "Why? Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers." We often wonder, “Why?” Why does God want us to worship Him? Why does He send people to the Hellfire? Why can’t Muslims eat pork? Why is life so miserable? Why did the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) fight so many wars? Shaykh Hamza Karamali teaches us the etiquette of asking such questions, carefully analyzes what exactly each question means, highlights common logical fallacies, and then shows us how God answers these questions in the Qur’an. He then shows us how God, too, asks us, “Why?”, sometimes explicitly, sometimes implicitly--Why don’t you believe? Why don’t you worship Me? Why are you ungrateful? Why don’t you ask me? Why do you despair? He explains what such questions mean, shows us where in the Qur’an God asks us these questions, and helps us reflect and find honest answers to these questions. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
10 – Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?- Why? Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers- Shaykh Hamza Karamali
When we are in difficulties, we turn to turn to God in prayer, asking him to give us relief. When we don’t see an immediate response, we wonder why God doesn’t answer our prayers. Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains that God does, in fact, answer all of our prayers, but the only way for us to see that is if we understand that the purpose of our prayer and supplication is to cling to God, not to the thing that we are asking for. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
09-Why is life so miserable? Why? Sincere- Questions, Sincere Answers- Shaykh Hamza Karamali
Sadness, depression, and anxiety are more common today than they ever have been in the past. Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains that the cause of this crisis is our distance from God. He describes how cultivating a relationship with God eliminates depression, and how seeking relief from depression in the pleasures of this world is a temporary distraction. The sadness that we experience in our lives is a reminder from God that we should turn back to Him. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
08- Why can’t Muslims have fun?- Why? Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
We often wonder, “Why?”–Why does God want us to worship Him? Why does He send people to the Hellfire? Why can’t Muslims eat pork? Why is life so miserable? Why did the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) fight so many wars? In this series of lessons, Shaykh Hamza Karamali teaches us the etiquette of asking such questions, carefully analyzes what exactly each question means, highlights common logical fallacies, and then shows us how God answers these questions in the Qur’an The is the third and final episode related to the do’s and don’t’s of Islam. The previous two episodes focussed on the iman-driven life; this episode focusses on the entertainment-driven life. Hamza Karamali explains that the mark of an entertainment-driven life is its focus on this life while ignoring the afterlife. He then goes on to explain that while an iman-driven life sets its sights on the afterlife, it neither requires nor encourages living an austere and boring life in this world. Muslims can and should have fun. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
07- Why do Muslim women have to wear hijab? Why? Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers- Shaykh Hamza Karamali
This episode follows from the previous one (“Why can’t Muslims eat pork?”). Hamza Karamali begins by explaining that this question is not about the restriction of human freedom, but about the acceptance of human responsibility. He then unpacks what exactly is meant by this human responsibility, how to pose the question of this episode in light of this responsibility, and how this responsibility relates to the rationale of divine commands and prohibitions. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
06- Why can’t Muslims eat pork? -Why? Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers- Shaykh Hamza Karamali
This is the first in a series of episodes in which Hamza Karamali examines questions related to the do's and don't's of Islam. He begins by explaining what faith (iman) is and then explains that the do's and don't's of Islam are rooted in a faith-driven view of human life, whereas questions like this come from an entertainment-driven view of human life. The two different views lead to misunderstandings, and he explains how to answer this question by bringing the questioner into the world of an iman-driven life. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
05 – Why doesn’t God let me do whatever I want? -Why? Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers- Shaykh Hamza Karamali
Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains that God has, in fact, allowed us to do whatever we want--almost! He has placed restrictions, but they are few compared to the tremendous freedoms that He has given us, and the few restrictions that are there are for our own benefit. He then explains that the reason why this question comes to our minds is because of our own immaturity and that the purpose of religion is to raise us from a state of childish immaturity to a state of perfection, like the exalted state of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace). For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
04 – Why does God create people and then send them to the Hellfire? Why? Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers- Shaykh Hamza Karamali
We often wonder, “Why?”–Why does God want us to worship Him? Why does He send people to the Hellfire? Why can’t Muslims eat pork? Why is life so miserable? Why did the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) fight so many wars? In this series of lessons, Shaykh Hamza Karamali teaches us the etiquette of asking such questions, carefully analyzes what exactly each question means, highlights common logical fallacies, and then shows us how God answers these questions in the Qur’an. This is the fourth episode of the series, "Why? Sincere Questions. Sincere Answers." This is another question that comes to our minds because we hear them posed by “New Atheists” who want to sow doubts in the minds of religious believers. Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains that this is a misleading question because God doesn’t just send people to the Hellfire; He also sends people to Paradise. He explains how the purpose of our creation is, in fact, to send us to Paradise, and that when people are sent to the Hellfire, the blame lies with them, not with God. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
03 – Why Does God Want Us To Worship Him?- Why? Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
We often wonder, “Why?”–Why does God want us to worship Him? Why does He send people to the Hellfire? Why can’t Muslims eat pork? Why is life so miserable? Why did the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) fight so many wars? In this series of lessons, Shaykh Hamza Karamali teaches us the etiquette of asking such questions, carefully analyzes what exactly each question means, highlights common logical fallacies, and then shows us how God answers these questions in the Qur’an. This is the third episode of the series, "Why? Sincere Questions. Sincere Answers." Shaykh Hamza Karamali answers this question using the famous Qur'anic verse in which Allah Most High says, “I have only created jinn and humans so that they might worship Me.” (Qur’an, 51.56) He explains that the question arises from a misunderstanding of who God is--He is not a human being who acts in order to fulfill needs, but the Creator and Sustainer of every atom in the universe who needs nothing. Reading the verse in light of this understanding then reveals the answer to this question. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
02 – If God exists, then why doesn’t He show Himself to us? Why? Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers – Shaykh Hamza Karamali
We often wonder, “Why?”–Why does God want us to worship Him? Why does He send people to the Hellfire? Why can’t Muslims eat pork? Why is life so miserable? Why did the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) fight so many wars? In this series of lessons, Shaykh Hamza Karamali teaches us the etiquette of asking such questions, carefully analyzes what exactly each question means, highlights common logical fallacies, and then shows us how God answers these questions in the Qur’an. This is the second episode of the series, "Why? Sincere Questions. Sincere Answers." Questions like this come to our minds because we hear them posed by the “New Atheists”, who want to sow doubts in the minds of religious believers. He begins by explaining why such questions are incompatible with our slavehood to God, and then goes on to unpack and refute the logical argument that lies hidden behind this question. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
01 – “Can we ask God, “Why? – Why? Sincere Questions, Sincere Answers-Shaykh Hamza Karamali
We often wonder, “Why?”--Why does God want us to worship Him? Why does He send people to the Hellfire? Why can’t Muslims eat pork? Why is life so miserable? Why did the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) fight so many wars? In this series of lessons, Shaykh Hamza Karamali teaches us the etiquette of asking such questions, carefully analyzes what exactly each question means, highlights common logical fallacies, and then shows us how God answers these questions in the Qur’an. In the first part of the series, “Why?”, we will be asking a number of “Why?” questions about Allah Most High and His religion. Before we do that, we need to understand whether we are even allowed to ask God, “Why?” -- Should we resist the urge to ask “Why?” Or should we go ahead and ask? Shaykh Hamza Karamali explains that the issue is not the question that you ask, but the way in which you ask it. For more SeekersGuidance podcast shows, visit seekersguidance.org/podcasts. Help SeekersGuidance reach millions around the world through reliable knowledge and guidance from qualified scholars, completely free: become a monthly supporter – www.seekersguidance.org/donate
