The Inner Meaning of Friendship with Allah

Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri

This Discourse recollects the life of the great patriarch of middle eastern spirituality: The Prophet Abraham. Shaykh Fadhlalla presents the historical narrative and arc of the defining moments that marked the life Abraham ‘Ebrahim’ in Arabic, in tandem with overviewing there meanings and value to seekers today. The historical – cultural dynamics of the period he lived in, the way of life and behaviours of the peoples and the interplay of classical language descriptions are thoroughly explored in presenting his path, discovery and immersion into the primordial way of being, culminating in his maturation and complete orientation towards Universal Oneness. This talk explores the essential sameness of the Abrahamic message, in all the prophetic teachings emphasizing the key features of the prophetic profile and the meaning of perfecting the purpose of human life. The evolution of the path as per the Abrahamic lineage and the other Prophetic figures of the ancient near and middle east is briefly shared. There are several essential themes reflecting universal spiritual dynamics born from the Abrahamic inheritance and message that are fundamental and refined in the Muhammadi teachings. These are: Hijrah- Turning away from the darkness of ignorance; Islam, Iman and Ihsan - Submission to the Truth at all its different levels and yielding to the transformative resonance of higher inspiration and revealed knowledge; Fitna and Bala - Trials and suffering as the agents of purification towards alignment and dependence on The Reality; Ubudiiyah – perfection of worship and the meaning of servanthood. With reference to a multitude of Qur’anic verses, this presentation is a rich resource celebrating the unveilings of divine perfection, mercy and the keys to arrival as per the essential way of the revealed prophetic paths.