Based upon the Hadith of Jibril (as), we learn that included in the fundamental and foundational components of the religion is knowledge of the signs that pertain to the last days of the current age, traditionally known as Akhir Zaman.

Traditional knowledge transmits that the world will continue to descend into its demise with increasing corruption, tyranny, abuse and oppression, and that a tragic state of affairs will continue to deteriorate until an entity known as the Dajjal, or the anti-Christ, manifests as the embodiment of evil upon the earth.

At this point, the Mahdi (as), or the “Guided One,” will be revealed and revive divinely guided leadership within the nation of believers. This moment will then be immediately followed by the return of the great messenger and prophet of God, Jesus (as), who will then proceed to slay the anti-Christ and re-establish peace and justice within the earth.

Regarding the anti-Christ, or perhaps more accurately the “anti-Messiah,” the Messenger of God ﷺ described the signs as well as the trials and tribulations that would accompany this great deceiver, and admonished the believers to strengthen faith in their hearts so as to not be seduced by the deception this greatest of tests for humanity.

Among the qualities and characteristics that describe the anti-Christ, the following are chief and essential for they who seek truth to be mindful and vigilant of:

1. Materialism.
2. Deception.
3. Corruption.
4. Inversion.

In this post, I share essential traditions related to the trials and tribulations of the anti-Christ, and make the point that there is a strong correlation between the above characteristics that define his methodology with the current trajectory of technological innovation.

As they who seek to prepare ourselves for the inevitable destiny of this world and the conclusion of our own personal lives, we remind ourselves of the vital imperative to strengthen the light of faith within our hearts so as to meet eternity in the best of states and conditions, and to stand upon truth, excellence and beauty in times of both ease and difficulty.

May Allah Almighty grant us the sacred and divine power of discernment through the light of faith within our hearts, and lead us to our best possible destinies in seeking to serve He Most High, Most Sublime, Absolute and Eternal.

Ameen.

To your divine and eternal success.

Teresa Lesher is the author of the new Searching for God, Finding Love, which is an inspirational account of her personal journey deeper into faith upon the quest for truth, and in which she details her personal healing path and realization that God’s divine love and mercy are both imminent and accessible by turning “inwards and upwards.”

The truth is easy to see. The decision is the hard part. I thank God every day for being Muslim. I’m very grateful to be among the Muslims.

Teresa Lesher

In this illuminating conversation, Teresa describes how she came to embrace Islam in the early 1980’s while at college in the United States at a time prior to the internet and when there was remarkably little information about the faith.

She explains the importance of belief in the Day of Accounting, the necessity of balance in faith by deepening one’s spirituality in addition to upholding the formal disciplines of religion, that love must be based in action and in service, the key to authentic self-discovery, and much more.

Teresa also shares the impact of the Course in Spiritual Healing upon her personal spiritual journey and awakening to the power and presence of God, and emphasizes the importance of realizing that the key to connection with our Creator lies in the very breath we are given each living moment.

The best part of the course for me were the meditations and the breathwork. They helped me to still my soul, to feel more centered and to find some balance, and to find some quiet and peace.

Teresa Lesher

We also discuss the importance of recognition of results in the context of discernment, the profound and incomprehensible gift of access to the very speech of God in the form of the Holy Qur’an, how love heals and connects, the impact of technology and the internet on our culture, the importance of unplugging from the world, the difference between information and enlightenment, the power in the emptiness of the desert, and much more.

About Teresa Lesher

Teresa Lesher as of the time of writing lives in Kuwait with her family and is wife, mother, writer and most importantly servant of God. She is the author of Searching for God, Finding Love, and you can learn more about Teresa as well as purchase her book and connect with her directly via her website, Teresa Lesher.

All this time I’ve been searching for God, and I found Him, as close to me as my breath.

And so, before and beyond all my labels, titles, positions, and duties, I remembered my source in God, His breath breathed into my tiny body, and eventually a breath my body will exhale as I make my return journey to my Maker. Now I’m sure of who I am. And now that I know myself, I know everyone. We are all, essentially, a breath from God; we are created by Him, we belong to Him, and we are returning to Him. In the meantime, I will do my best to honor the privilege of my existence and implication of my origin. I will respect myself, and strive to be whole and wholesome, loving and loved, tender and joyful. I will honor all living things, since they, too, house that divine breath. I will stay conscious of my source and my destination and, in between, during this sojourn on earth, I will do my best to stay true to my essence, to always be, first and foremost, a breath of God.

When I leave my bodily dwelling and return to God, I hope that I am recognized as belonging to Him, deemed worthy of His presence, welcomed home at last.

Teresa Lesher

The fundamental and central tenet of modern Christianity essentially posits that the key to salvation is essentially the acceptance of Jesus Christ (as) into one’s heart as their personal lord and savior, and that it is thus no longer necessary to follow the traditional Judaic Law.

This idea then results in the belief that the criteria for both forgiveness and damnation are but the belief to which one subscribes, relegating one’s deeds and actions to what generally becomes an inconsequential role in the eternal state of the human soul.

In light of what is happening is currently happening in the world today (and in reality what has been happening for centuries), particularly with regards to the ongoing ethnic cleansing and genocide in Palestine, as well as the myriad of other illegitimate wars and conflicts that have been perpetrated by the nominally “Christian” western world, I felt it was time to take a closer look at this basic belief upon which modern Christianity is based, as well as to point to the danger of an ideology the divorces deeds from piety by reducing salvation to but one’s professed identity.

In this post, I share a clear and unambiguous statement by Jesus (as) from the Gospel of Matthew in which he himself invalidates this specific idea, i.e. that those who simply claim to believe in him will be saved.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity

Jesus (as), Matthew 7:21—23

I reiterate in this post that Islam does not require the conversion of Christians, but only that they actually live up to the principles they claim the faith is based upon, and thereby avoid the descent into hypocrisy that results when our deeds and actions are inconsistent with our professed and stated beliefs.

In truth, the Holy Qur’an states clearly that they who do believe and do righteous works in reality from the People of the Book shall have their share of God’s divine mercy and forgiveness in the hereafter.

Verily, they who believe and they of the Jews and Christians and others who believe in God and the Last Day and who act righteously by doing good shall have their reward with their Lord, and no fear shall be upon them nor shall they grieve.

Surah al-Baqarah, 2:62

May Allah Almighty, the Lord of the heavens and the earth, guide us to goodness, to purity, to righteousness and to peace.

Ameen.

To your divine and eternal success.

Jonathan Selwyn also now known as Abdus-Samad since having embraced Islam has spent the bulk of his life upon the spiritual path seeking the way and truth, and has devoted an immense amount of time in mastering meditative and spiritual practice.

Buddhism led me to Islam.

Jonathan Abdus-Samad

As a practicing Buddhist and promising student of his master, he was given the role and responsibility of teaching and leading on behalf of their school and in place of the teacher. Yet his quest and journey for greater levels of development, awakening and connection with the Divine ultimately resulted in profound spiritual vision that then led him directly to Islam, which was the last place he thought to look for truth and spirituality.

Islam was the last religion that I wanted to look into because of the mainstream media bias.

Jonathan Abdus-Samad

In this interview and conversation with brother Abdus-Samad, we discuss his journey and arc towards and into al-Islam, the powerful guiding force of the fitra, or original disposition within, the two fundamental approaches to meditation and meditative practice, the importance of the middle path and way that naturally integrates all aspects of our temporal lives within and into the spiritual path of self-development and awakening, the way of the heart, the human need to seek and appreciate beauty, how Islam uniquely includes encompasses all paths, what to look for in a spiritual guide and mentor, and much more.

In Islam I found the most complete path. Nothing is missing. Islam is the fastest way to peace.

Jonathan Abdus-Samad

May you enjoy and benefit from this conversation, and if you find value herein, please share with family and friends whom you think may also benefit.

To your divine and eternal success.

As human beings we have an innate need for stability that provides the experience of safety and security. We likewise have an innate disposition that finds instability, disorder and chaos unsettling, stressful and difficult. Therefore, we tend to seek control in our lives so as to manage and minimize the stress that we experience as a result of uncertainty.

With what appears to be escalating chaos on the global stage, and with who are clearly incompetent in temporal positions of power, it is only natural for us to be feeling anxious and uncertain with regards to the future.

Yet this state of affairs also provides us a valuable opportunity to practice patience and perseverance through which we can learn how to deepen and strengthen faith in our hearts, and so grow and develop our spirituality which reduces stress and suffering based on the changing circumstances and conditions of the world.

It is important to remember that safety, security and stability originate with and are qualities and attributes of God, and the more connected and attached we are with the Divine Presence of Allah Almighty, the greater the sense of peace we will experience.

Verily, in the remembrance of God do hearts find serenity.

Surah ar-Ra’d, 13:28

By increasingly immersing ourselves in sacred worship such as prayer, meditation, remembrance and supplication, we strengthen our connection with the Divine Presence of God and progressively experience the stability, safety and security that we seek and that can only be found in the presence of our Lord and Creator, He Who is in control.

In this conversation with Shaykh Fadhlallah Haeri, the beloved guide and teacher of faith-based spirituality shares his thoughts and insights regarding the current spiritual crisis that plagues humanity in the modern world, and advocates for a return to the spirit within as the key to reconnecting with the timeless and transcendent source of peace and security.

Shaykh Fadhlallah call for an awakening to the present moment and describes the now as the door and bridge to eternity, and also as the key to experiencing freedom from the fear and grief that otherwise dominates modern man who is typically trapped in an intermediate state of consciousness localized in the mind, which is the seat of the ego.

Shaykh Fadhlallah Haeri explains that the ego will continue to cause discontent and suffering in our lives until we reconnect with the spirit within, making possible a shift in awareness that leads to increasing expansion in our lives.

Additional topics discussed include the importance of spiritual companionship and environments, the necessity of taking personal responsibility upon the path of self-development and spiritual growth, the importance of balance both internally and externally in our lives, and much more.

About Shaykh Fadhlallah Haeri

The moment is eternal. The moment is divine.

Shaykh Fadhlallah Haeri

Shaykh Fadhlallah Haeris it the author of numerous books and works, and although based in South Africa, receives the love and admiration of students and seekers throughout the world.

To learn more about Shaykh Fadhlallah, please visit his website at shaykhfadhlallahaeri.com.

The son of Jewish Holocaust survivors, David Sterling, now also known as Hajji Mustafa, embraced Islam in 1976 in Monterrey, California. A seeker of truth, he has since continued in the quest and search for knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment, leading him to the company of some of the noble and notable servants of God.

He details his adventures and experiences in great detail in his recently published book, Journey in Grace: Gems Gathered from a Life on the Path. Having sought out guidance initially through numerous faith practices, he ultimately found truth in Islam, and Journey in Grace is a remarkable account of spectacular experiences upon the spiritual path.

I recently had the opportunity to meet and discuss with Hajji Mustafa about what led him to Islam, the importance of the way of the heart, the preeminence of meditative spiritual practice in Islam, how suffering, hardships and difficulties are in reality gifts from God, and much more.

I pray you enjoy and benefit from this most recent episode of Soul of Islam Radio, and that you may take guidance, wisdom and inspiration from this illuminating conversation with Sidi Mustafa David (Daud) Sterling.

About David Sterling

To learn more about Hajji Mustafa David Sterling, we highly recommend getting and reading a copy of his book, Journey in Grace: Gems Gathered from a Life on the Path. You can also reach out directly to Sidi Mustafa and email him directly.

Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman is the founder and director of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, which has grown to become the largest non-profit humanitarian relief organization on the African continent.

Originally a medical doctor, Dr. Sooliman gave up his career in the field following inspired spiritual guidance to make an even bigger impact in the world and in the lives of human beings.

In this illuminating conversation, we discuss the incredible origin story of The Gift of the Givers Foundation, the importance of seeking to pair internal spiritual development with meaningful and purposeful work in the world, how to truly experience happiness as human beings through service to others, and much more.

About Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman and Gift of the Givers Foundation

To learn more about the incredible work and projects Dr. Sooliman is involved in through the Gift of the Givers Foundation and to support their invaluable work, please visit them at Gift of the Givers Foundation.

Julien Drolon in a quest for truth, wisdom, guidance and understanding took a spiritual journey on foot in what was essentially a walk towards God that covered the distance of a thousand kilometers in Spain. His seeking ultimately led him to Islam, and later throughout the Muslims world.

Julien met his wife Zara Shafie in Malaysia, and together they founded Halis Media, which is a film and media production company that produces leading-edge documentaries on faith, religion and spirituality. Their most recent film, Freedom has been received with universal praise by both Muslims and non, and features some fifty converts to the religion from across the globe who share their personal experiences and journey to the faith and to spiritual freedom.

In this episode of Soul of Islam Radio, I had the opportunity to discuss with both Julien and his wife about his incredible journey to Islam, how they met and married, the vital importance of media in the world today, the absolute necessity of supporting such faith-based production and content, the role of spirituality in the religion, the importance of proper mentorship and leadership in the faith, the axial age in which we live, the awakening and consciousness of the heart, the two types of knowledge, the necessity of taking Satan seriously, and much more.

May you enjoy and benefit from this illuminating conversation.

To your divine and eternal success.

About Julien Drolon and Zara Shafie of Halis Media

Julien Drolon together with his wife Zara Shafie are the founders of Halis Media. The Freedom film is their most recent release, and The Last Hope is scheduled to be released later this year—please support them in bringing these invaluable contributions to light. To offer help as a volunteer, please reach out to Julien and Zara via [email protected].

The unique healing benefits of black seed, also known as nigella sativa, kalonji, black cumin and others, have been known for over fourteen hundred years due to the statement of the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who stated that these little black powerhouses can cure every disease with the exception of death itself. Yet the miraculous healing power of black seed is only recently being discovered by the western world as one of the most incredible foods for healing the human being.

The black seed is a cure for all diseases with the exception of death.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ [Bukhari]

The Blessed Black Seed with Abdullah Naki

In this illuminating and entertaining conversation, I sit down with Abdullah Naki of The Blessed Seed, one of the first companies making high quality black seed oil available to the general public.

We discuss his special spiritual journey into Islam, the importance of proper guidance and tutelage in the religion, the necessity of transcending the ego, the origin story of The Blessed Seed, the healing benefits of black seed oil, how the blessed black seed becomes a means for the awakening of faith in others, the extensive modern research with regards to the remarkable healing potentials for black seed, and much more.

We hope you enjoy this episode of Soul of Islam Radio.

To your divine and eternal success.

About Abdullah Naki and The Blessed Seed

Abdulah Naki is the founder and CEO of The Blessed Seed, one of the eariest and original companies specializing in producing and making available high quailty black seed oil. To learn more and order some of the best black seed oil available anywhere, please visit www.theblessedseed.com.

Crowdfunding, also referred to as crowdsourcing, is an ingenious method of sourcing funding for all types of projects and causes by facilitating direct relationships between campaigns and a global audience via the internet, and over the last decade or so has become a key method of making possible programs and initiatives that otherwise would have been impossible to undertake to fruition. Chris Blauvelt was inspired with the idea of creating a crowdfunding platform primarily designed and intended to support Islamic projects and communities early on when crowdsourcing first became a thing. Guided by both faith and persistence, he was able to successfully launch Launchgood, which to date has funded nearly a billion dollars worth of causes and projects. In this episode of Soul of Islam Radio, I sit down and discuss with Chris, also known by his Muslim name as Abdul-Rahman, about the remarkable success of Launchgood as we near its ten year anniversary. We discuss topics of spiritual excellence and identity, principles of success and entrepreneurship, the importance of giving and generosity, the great variety of campaigns that can utilize crowdfunding, the unique role of Launchgood in supporting Islamic and faith-based campaigns, and much more. As we near the holy and blessed month of Ramadan, which is often a time of unity, solidarity, generosity and giving, I pray you enjoy, benefit and are inspired to take action either by supporting a worthy cause, or by initiating one. To your divine and eternal success. Chris Blauvelt and Launchgood To learn more about Launchgood and discover how you can create or support a valuable project, campaign, cause or initiative, please visit www.launchgood.com. To connect with Chris Blauvelt and stay abreast of his latest updates, follow him on Twitter @arblauvelt.