Tarek Kareem Harris – S7E11 The Meaning of Muslim. The word itself can set forth a lifetime of contemplation.

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			The Arabic word salam, meaning peace originates from the same root as the word Islam, meaning peace
and submission.
		

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			The Islamic outlook is that individual personal peace is attained by utterly submitting to Allah.
		

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			In the ideal world, it's hard to imagine why anyone who calls themselves peaceful would be
otherwise. We do live in the real world, though. So it's not a surprise that Muslims and every other
religion for that matter, have sometimes got caught up in some quite unpeaceful things.
		

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			Individual peace doesn't always translate into peace in the external world. In fact, true personal
peace exists in spite of the noise and mayhem of the outside world.
		

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			The Muslim accepts that no matter how much peace he might find in himself, he will not be able to
change the parts of the world outside his control.
		

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			What concrete things can we actually do to become inwardly peaceful?
		

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			Trying to see how to live like the definition of a Muslim is an interesting question.
		

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			The root of a wise life is not just in saying something, but actually doing stuff to live by those
values.
		

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			If your mind is a noisy and unsettled place, and you want to become more like those very calm,
serene kind of people who seem unruffled by life, then you need to do things to settle your mind.
		

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			Considering the makeup of the Muslim mind, again, the triangle at the top of which is your heart or
your true character. And on one side at the bottom is the nuts with the ego and emotions. And at the
other corner, the intellect for knowledge and problem solving.
		

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			Each one of those parts is busy trying to appraise the world around you. So you see things in
different angles, often conflicting ones.
		

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			You scramble around trying to make sense of it. But this just makes you feel more confused.
		

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			But sensible thing to do, would be to become more accepting of this state of being.
		

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			Once this happens, you can see things more clearly.
		

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			Anxiety diminishes, and you can take situations in your stride.
		

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			Salah is one of the most powerful ways of separating yourself from the noise of the world.
		

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			It is your time to commune with Allah alone.
		

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			This is the first and original way of calm.
		

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			Another way is by meditating.
		

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			Islamic meditation has got a tradition of many hundreds of years. The Prophet peace be upon him
meditated for many years, both before and after his prophethood.
		

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			Many of the revelations of the Quran itself came to the Prophet whilst he was meditating in the cave
of Hira.
		

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			So we must take it that meditation is an important source of personal inner contentment.
		

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			The next exercise is therefore focused on Islamic meditation.
		

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			There are many different ways in which you can meditate islamically Sufism in particular, had some
very beautiful, complex and deep ways of meditation.
		

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			If you wanted to do so formally, you could find a shake or a guide who could help you through that.
		

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			However, here's a simple method to try on your own. You only need to do it for around 15 to 20
minutes a day for it to have enormous benefits on the mind. This is a very short seven minute walk
through. Find yourself a quiet space and I will talk you through it.
		

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			Are you ready?
		

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			Let's begin.
		

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			Firstly, choose a quiet place to sit away from distractions. sit on the floor or on a chair.
whatever is comfortable
		

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			with your back straight.
		

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			Then
		

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			stare ahead at a fixed point in the middle distance
		

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			looking slightly beyond it or alternatively, close your eyes.
		

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			Now take slow deep breaths in an apt
		

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			use your full chest
		

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			and
		

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			out
		

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			and
		

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			out
		

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			Keep doing this.
		

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			Concentrate on your breathing.
		

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			focus purely on your breathing as much as you can
		

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			take time to enjoy getting this part right.
		

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			You can repeat the process for a total of 10 full breath cycles.
		

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			Now,
		

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			imagine the word Allah,
		

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			slowly sounding, at the pace of your heart beating.
		

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			Allah. Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah. Alternatively say Allahu, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah,
Allah.
		

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			It might help if you want to say it out loud, softly, just under your breath. If it helps you to
focus,
		

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			you might get intrusion from distractions. It's perfectly fine to feel distracted.
		

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			Accept it. And just invite your attention back to the inner rhythmic voice of Allah, Allah, Allah.
		

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			As you do this,
		

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			you should find that the inside of your mind becomes a little bit quieter.
		

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			Your mind can wander if it wants to.
		

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			In order to focus it, if it does wander.
		

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			focus it on the sensations you're getting from your body.
		

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			Start perhaps by focusing on what you can feel in your feet
		

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			and move slowly upwards.
		

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			You can feel what's going on in your shins and in your knees
		

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			and in your thighs.
		

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			Moving up to your belly and your lower back.
		

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			Keep moving that consciousness upwards
		

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			until you feel it in your chest.
		

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			And you can feel it in your shoulders
		

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			and down your arms.
		

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			You're still breathing slowly.
		

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			And you're still hearing the words Allah. Allah, Allah, Allah.
		

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			If it helps, you could imagine the word Allah as a softly glowing light, which is inhabiting your
body. pulsating as you say the word Allah, Allah
		

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			when you're in this state, invite your thankfulness to thank Allah for the opportunity to experience
your mind and body in this way.
		

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			Hola.
		

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			Hola.
		

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			Allah,
		

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			whatever noises and whatever distractions are in your mind, are perfectly fine.
		

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			Let them come and go as they please.
		

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			And just exist.
		

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			Feeling what's going on around you.
		

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			And hearing your own inner voice, Allah,
		

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			Allah,
		

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			Allah.
		

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			You can end this process at any time.
		

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			You just count down from 10 breaths to zero
		

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			slowly feel yourself
		

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			coming out
		

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			and your consciousness returning
		

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			to this space where you are in,
		

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			shift your gaze or open your eyes
		

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			and awake
		

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			and you should feel more energized
		

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			and you should feel grounded to the space around you
		

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			and there in the exercise
		

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			inshallah, you will have felt a sense of calm and a sense of accepting whatever is going on in your
mind. You don't have to judge what goes on in your mind. You simply accept it and let it be.
		

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			You are simply in a state of receiving