In the introduction of this book, he details an amazing story of who the book is dedicated to.

The Story:

Dr. Imad met Terence Sidney Casey, a 62 year old priest, through his work- the priest needed some quick, medical advice.  The quick encounter became a friendship-as they exchanged ideas, thoughts and beliefs.  The priest admitted to Dr.Imad that in his 41 years of work, he never once taught the idea of the “Trinity”–simply because he didn’t believe in it.  Terence also admitted that he was “haneef” upon the religion of Abraham.

They exchanged books.  Dr. Imad presented Terence with a book about the signs of the prophethood of Mohammad (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) from earlier holy books.  Terence gave Dr.Imad a Bible with both Arabic and English with a special request:
Terence had suspicions that the holy books had been tampered with and changed, he said, “I’ve always hoped I would meet an Arab who could share their point of view to tell me if the translation of the book has been manipulated in some part.”

They continued their discussions on religion and prophet and the whole time Terence agreed with everything Islam had to offer. Over the next two months Dr. Imad and Terence’s friendship grew stronger and it was definitely a friendship to last for years to come!

Except–Terence was diagnosed with cancer. With only four months to live.

The day that the pair met to discuss their books was one filled with tension.

Dr.Imad: “After what you read, what is your stance on the Prophet Mohammad?”

Terence was silent for what seemed like an eternity, especially as the cancer had now spread through his body, leaving it fragile and weak.  His days were drawing to an end and there wasn’t much time left.

Terence: “Truthfully brother I’ve been searching my entire life for the final Prophet, and I’ve found him now on my deathbed!”

Dr.Imad then shared with Terence the ayahs from the Qur’an:

وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُم مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّا نَصَارَىٰ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ

وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ ۖ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

“…..and you will certainly find the nearest in friendship to those who believe are those who say: ‘ We are Christians.’ That is because there are among them priests and monks and because they do not behave proudly. And when they hear what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they recognize of the Truth. They say: ‘ Our Lord! we believe, so write us down with the witnesses (of truth).  And what (reason) have we that we should not believe in Allah and in the truth that has come to us, while we long for our Lord should cause us to enter Heaven with the righteous ones.’ So Allah has rewarded them for what they said ِ Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein shall they abide forever, and that is the reward of the doers of good.” (AlMaidah 82-85)

By Allah, the priest’s eyes overflowed with tears from what he learned from the Truth! What did Terrance say?  “And what reason do I have not to believe in Allah with what has come to me from the truth, and long that my Lord allows me to enter Heaven with righteous ones!”

Only weeks later, Terence died and left this world.  And the tears did not leave Dr.Imad’s eyes; Terence had left without praying one prayer or fasting one day, but he left with true Iman and belief.

In his will, Terence surprised his family with his reversion to Islam.  The family thus had nobody to pray ‘janazah’ over him, for he was a Muslim! So, they asked the only Muslim they knew, Dr.Imad, to pray over him.  And so, in a small village in West London, Dr.Imad prayed a One-Man-Janazah over Terence, with over 300 people witnessing.  Terence left the book that Dr.Imad had given him and wrote on it: “To my brother and friend Imad, I ask the lord of Ibrahim to bless you and aid you in your work, and to increase your knowledge, and inspire you to write a book that will benefit all people.”

And that is the story of The-One-Man-Janazah.

Source:  http://myummah.co.za/site/2009/10/15/the-one-man-janazah/

www.tasawwuf.org

2:214 Or do you think that you shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity and were so shaken in spirit that even the Apostle and those of faith who were with him cried: “When (will come) the help of Allah?” Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!

(My heart is quickly pacing)

Burying the past may sound a simple thing but in reality it is a big spiritual struggle (mujahidah) with many benefits.

For all of us it is a common event to slip and commit mistakes. These mistakes may be in exoteric (dhahiri) or esoteric (batini) works. Sometimes we are cognizant of our mistakes and at others oblivious. However, a true seeker is very much disturbed by these mistakes. He is ashamed infront of Allah, disheartened on his ability to control his desires, disillusioned by the effectiveness of the path in preventing this disaster and anxious about the future similar mishaps.

These are the moments when the need of a perfect spiritual mentor – the Shaykh-e-kamil, is essential to save the seeker from falling further in to the trap of Satan and lower self (nafs).  It is he who guides the murid out of this depressive and self-destructive attitude and puts him back on the path towards Allah.

He does so by,

a.  Giving the seeker hope. That is, it is human to err and Allah is Most Merciful to those who acknowledge their short comings.

b. Instruction to forget the past. Bury it. If this is not done, its dead body will rot and the stench emanating from it will spoil the best aroma of sincere good acts done in future. Also, remembering the sins after sincere repentance is wrong and leads to decreasing relationship with Allah.

c. To be concerned with improving the present condition right now. For this today will tomorrow become yesterday. A thing of past.

If handled in this way each and every mistake and fall of the sincere seeker results in increasing relationship with Allah, enhanced humility and complete dependence on His kindness and mercy.

A seeker should remember that these falling episodes are not uncommon and continue until a permanent spiritual serenity (tamkeen) is achieved (which usually happens after years of sincere effort by method described above). Until then he/she has to bury the past with sincere repentance and move forwards on the path with renewed vigor.

And its facilitation is surely from Allah, Most High.

Source: Ashrafiya

Part 1 – 9/12/09

Part 2 – 9/13/09

Part 3 – 9/14/09

Part 4 – 9/16/09

Part 5 – 9/18/09

Part 6 – 9/19/09

Source: Sacred Learning All recordings above are copyright of Sacred Learning