313_Waiter

Islamic Perspective On Prophethood and the Buddha - Mindfulness - Shaykh Hamza Yusuf - Approximately 15 minutes 
 

I wonder:
What if we treated serving in government as similar to jury duty? I think randomly selecting ordinary people would produce much better results than being assigned candidates by corrupt political parties. While serving, the individual would have all their living expenses paid, and after completing their term of service, they would get a small stipend for the rest of their lives. 
No re-elections. One term only. It would be a job and civic obligation, not a career. 

@Abu Nur, science/technology is magic simply disguised in a different vocabulary 

The advantage of a multipolar world does not depend on Russia and China being good. Rather the advantages of a multipolar world exist even where Russia and China are very bad.
The point about multipolarity, as I understand it, is that it gives hegemonic powers who would otherwise be very very bad an incentive to be better.
By the same measure, a belief in multipolarity would hold that America and Europe are needed to keep China and Russia honest.

Joe Rogan Experience #2254 ‐ w/ Mel Gibson - 2 hours 21 minutes 
 

Assalamualaikum,
إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُ بَعِيدًا
6. They see it as something distant.
وَنَرَاهُ قَرِيبًا
7. But We see it as near.
(From Surah Al-Ma‘arij, verses 6–7)
You can find this verse beautifully echoed toward the end of Du‘a Ahad. It reminds us that what many perceive as far, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) and His chosen ones (عليه السلام) see as near.
Let us not neglect the daily recitation of Du‘a Ahad — it is our covenant and promise to our beloved Imam al-Mahdi  (عليه السلام) .
Spiritually, the Imam (عليه السلام) must first manifest within the souls of those who truly await him. When the heart becomes his resting place, the world will soon witness his physical reappearance.
Even if we leave this world before that blessed moment, our souls — by Allah’s permission — will return to stand beside him, to serve in his cause of truth and justice.
Wallāhu a‘lam.

My final message:
Revive the Sunnah of our Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa salam.
Preach Islam boldly, even in the face of hatred, mockery, and hostility.
Gather for remembrance, for Zikr, it will gather the angels upon you and their wings.
Gather to read and study the Koran, it will gather the angels upon and sublime tranquility.
Feed the poor and needy, Zakat and Sadaqah, provide them shade in the Masjid and sustenance.
Struggle in the cause of Allah, do not fear stubborn tyrants, with Allah you can overcome the oppressor.
Remember the rights of the orphan, remember the displaced and the hungry, never forget them or their cause.
Peace and blessings of Allah upon all of you. His infinite mercy and grace upon all of you.
May He grant a generous provision in Paradise for you and for us all. Ameen.

قَالَ لَا تَخَافَآ ۖ إِنَّنِى مَعَكُمَآ أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ ٤٦
Allah reassured: Have no fear! I am with you, hearing and seeing.
Surah Taha 46
Keep the prayers and engage in the remembrance of Allah, hold fast to your Deen and never give it up.
Peace and mercy of Allah upon all of you. May Allah have mercy on all of us and grant us a space in His Gardens.
Believers! Trust in Allah. He has prepared Gardens for you. Fear Allah and obey Him, abundant prayer will strengthen you.
Do not fear your tyrants, do not fear anything but Allah, and He will bless you with secure confidence in eternity.
May Allah bless you all abundantly, peace and security, mercy and success on you and your homes.

Final prayers and Ayahs to leave you with, I am overcome with zeal and must share them before parting.
I will share them here to promote this means of revival of the Sunnah and Islam and the message of unity.
Am overcome with the need to send blessings and assurance in the rare company of Muslims.
Please forgive this outpouring of messages, my soul is overflowing with love for Allah.
I know it is many messages in a row at once, I must pour out my soul to you.
For the sake of Allah, for all righteousness, I will pour out my soul.

Please, listen to this Zikr from our brothers in South Africa. It is so beautiful, it is very calming. This is the real power of the circles of remembrance.
I must return to this forum for one more post, important Hadith that confirm the value of this tradition, multiple of them and graded authentic.
This is the clear Sunnah, adhere to the Sunnah.
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وعنه وعن أبي سعيد رضي الله عنهما قالا‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏ "‏لا يقعد قوم يذكرون الله عز وجل إلا حفتهم الملائكة، وغشيتهم الرحمة ونزلت عليهم السكينة، وذكرهم الله فيمن عنده‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏   The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When a group of people assemble for the remembrance of Allah, the angels surround them (with their wings), (Allah's) mercy envelops them, Sakinah, or tranquillity descends upon them and Allah makes a mention of them before those who are near Him."   Riyad as Salihin 1448   2   عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَلَائِكَةً سَيَّارَةً فُضُلًا يَتَتَبَّعُونَ مَجَالِسَ الذِّكْرِ فَإِذَا وَجَدُوا مَجْلِسًا فِيهِ ذِكْرٌ قَعَدُوا مَعَهُمْ وَحَفَّ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا بِأَجْنِحَتِهِمْ حَتَّى يَمْلَئُوا مَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَإِذَا تَفَرَّقُوا عَرَجُوا وَصَعِدُوا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ قَالَ فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ مِنْ أَيْنَ جِئْتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ جِئْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ عِبَادٍ لَكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يُسَبِّحُونَكَ وَيُكَبِّرُونَكَ وَيُهَلِّلُونَكَ وَيَحْمَدُونَكَ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ قَالَ وَمَاذَا يَسْأَلُونِي قَالُوا يَسْأَلُونَكَ جَنَّتَكَ قَالَ وَهَلْ رَأَوْا جَنَّتِي قَالُوا لَا أَيْ رَبِّ قَالَ فَكَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْا جَنَّتِي قَالُوا وَيَسْتَجِيرُونَكَ قَالَ وَمِمَّ يَسْتَجِيرُونَنِي قَالُوا مِنْ نَارِكَ يَا رَبِّ قَالَ وَهَلْ رَأَوْا نَارِي قَالُوا لَا قَالَ فَكَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْا نَارِي قَالُوا وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَكَ قَالَ فَيَقُولُ قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَهُمْ فَأَعْطَيْتُهُمْ مَا سَأَلُوا وَأَجَرْتُهُمْ مِمَّا اسْتَجَارُوا قَالَ فَيَقُولُونَ رَبِّ فِيهِمْ فُلَانٌ عَبْدٌ خَطَّاءٌ إِنَّمَا مَرَّ فَجَلَسَ مَعَهُمْ قَالَ فَيَقُولُ وَلَهُ غَفَرْتُ هُمْ الْقَوْمُ لَا يَشْقَى بِهِمْ جَلِيسُهُمْ   Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, Allah Almighty has caravans of angels who have no other work but to follow gatherings of remembrance. When they find such gatherings in which there is remembrance, they sit with them and some of them surround the others with their wings until the space between them and the heavens is covered. When they disperse, they ascend to the heavens and Allah Almighty asks them, although He knows better than them: From where have you come? They say: We came from Your servants on earth who were glorifying You, declaring Your greatness and oneness, praising You and asking from You. Allah says: What do they ask from Me? They say: They ask for Your Paradise. Allah says: Have they seen My Paradise? They say no. Allah says: What if they were to see My Paradise? They say: They seek Your protection. Allah says: From what do they seek My protection? They say: From Your Hellfire, our Lord. Allah says: Have they seen My Hellfire? They say no. Allah says: What if they were to see My Hellfire? They say: They ask for Your forgiveness. Allah says: I will pardon them, give them what they request, and grant them protection. They say: Our Lord, there is one among them, a simple servant who happened to pass by and sit there alongside them. Allah says: I will also grant him pardon, for whoever sits with these fellows will not suffer misery.”
Sahih al Bukhari 2689
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حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، سَمِعْتُ أَبَا صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي، وَأَنَا مَعَهُ إِذَا ذَكَرَنِي، فَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي نَفْسِهِ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي نَفْسِي، وَإِنْ ذَكَرَنِي فِي مَلأٍ ذَكَرْتُهُ فِي مَلأٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْهُمْ، وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَىَّ بِشِبْرٍ تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ذِرَاعًا، وَإِنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَىَّ ذِرَاعًا تَقَرَّبْتُ إِلَيْهِ بَاعًا، وَإِنْ أَتَانِي يَمْشِي أَتَيْتُهُ هَرْوَلَةً ‏"‏‏.‏   The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah says: 'I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' " Sahih al-Bukhari 7405
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عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِذَا مَرَرْتُمْ بِرِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ فَارْتَعُوا قَالُوا وَمَا رِيَاضُ الْجَنَّةِ قَالَ حِلَقُ الذِّكْرِ
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When you pass by the meadows of Paradise, graze as you like.” They said, “What are the meadows of Paradise?” The Prophet said, “Circles of remembrance.”
Sunan al Tirmidhi 3510
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The group Zikr is the clear Sunnah and recommendation of Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam. This Hadith on this subject are numerous and beyond doubt.
When a group gathers for Zikr, caravans of angels gather among them. The circles of remembrance are the meadows of Paradise on Earth.
Notice as well this portion from the second Hadith:
"They say: Our Lord, there is one among them, a simple servant who happened to pass by and sit there alongside them. Allah says: I will also grant him pardon, for whoever sits with these fellows will not suffer misery."
People who simply happen to pass by may join this gathering, and they are granted pardon and benefit from Allah. So if someone is not particularly religious, the gatherings of remembrance are a way to bring people to Islam and to revive Islam. Say someone who does not keep Salah, maybe they come upon the Zikr and it leads them to Allah and to deeper faith. We know from the Hadith that such gatherings bring people to Islam.
I recommend as well to study the Hadith on Al Suffah, and that a Shia will enjoy reading these Hadith. Read Sahih al-Bukhari 6452, a poor and hungry man asks Abu Bakr and Omar for some assistance and both pass him by! Then Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam, listens to him and brings him inside to shelter him in a gathering of Al Suffah and something special happens. The hungry man is sleeping on his stomach and waiting outside and Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam, brings him in to Al Suffah. By the Sunnah, there should be a little place like Al Suffah in every Masjid in the world.
To leave on a positive note and not a negative note:
May Allah bless all of you, peace and blessings of Allah upon all of you reading this, and thank for your guidance and knowledge both direct and indirect. Please accept the knowledge of this lowly slave of Allah and take from me no animosity or malice, only knowledge and passionate admonition. For if I did not love and care about you I would not admonish you, and I would not thank you or give a kind word to you. If, in my zeal, I have offended you or hurt your feelings, I apologize deeply and sincerely.
Please, for the sake of Allah, stop the sectarianism and preach Islamic unity instead. Do not deny the Sunnah of the gatherings of remembrance, of sheltering and feeding the poor Muslims in the Masjid, and of making bold Dawah without fear. These are the Sunnah, and the Sunnah is Islam. The Sunnah is how we revive our religion. We need to take care of each other, not backbite each other. We need to preach Islam boldly to non-Muslims, and we benefit greatly from gatherings of remembrance, the Zikr.
All of these things work together. Charity works with Dawah, combining acts of Sadaqah with Dawah, charity and preaching, work together to spread Islam. Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam, brought Islam to the poor and destitute. Once someone is a Muslim and is keeping Halal, they can find refuge in the Masjid, shelter and food and water, and be brought back on their feet. In the midst of this, all the believers, rich and poor, can find refuge in the circles of remembrance.
If we do these things, Islam will come alive. Revival. Emaan will deepen and our religion will expand and grow rapidly. Because we will be feeding the poor in the street, feeding the poor in the Masjid, boldly preaching the message of Islam out in the open, and bringing our Deen alive in circles of remembrance which attract both the caravans of angels and many people to Islam.
I recommend soup, because soup is cheap to make in bulk and can be made into a complete meal with the right ingredients. Chicken and rice with veggies is also a good choice. Monthly, weekly, daily, we can feed Muslims and non-Muslims in the Masjid and in the streets while preaching our religion and gathering to remember Allah.
These are words, not actions, I will do this here in my community once we have built our Masjid, an effort blessed by an esteemed brother who is a Sayyid in Iraq.
Barakallah.

1. Praying in a Group
Muslims, including Shias, pray together for Salah, for Dua, and for Zikr. As referenced above, Shias are praying Dua in unison after Isha on Thursdays. If a Muslim is praying to Allah in the Masjid alone, it is a good deed. If he brings people together to pray to Allah, he is also doing a good deed. This is not an innovation, this is a good deed for Allah. Zikr, alone or in a group, is not an innovation. It is a righteous deed and a tool for reviving Islam, which is a very important task.
2. Asceticism
Defending the lifestyles of the rich goes against the Sunnah of the Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa salam, who we know by Hadith lived without any signs of luxury in his home. The rights of the poor are more important than the luxury of the world. The rights of the orphan, the oppressed, are more important than living like a rich person.
Choosing asceticism over materialism is the Sunnah of the Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa salam. This is the position of the Sayyid of the Shias, including the martyred Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr. Not the opinions of Muslims on an internet forum, but the ruling of our Ayatollahs and Sayyid in real life.
Imam Khomeini also criticized this "Americanized Islam" where the oppression of Muslims worldwide is ignored and shunned in favor of the pursuit of comfort and material wealth. Hypocrisy in the face of the global oppression of Muslims and the persecution in the Holy Land. Furthermore, our Marjas adopt lifestyles of simplicity and humility which is the Sunnah. This is to be admired from Shias, the lifestyles of humility.
How can we live like rich people when our Ummah is starving to death in tents on the sand? Not just the Sunnis of Gaza, the Shias of Yemen and their starving orphans as well. It is hypocritical and it is not the Sunnah. Even though the Prophet, salallahu alayhi wa salam, succeeded in his business and conquest, he still chose to live in humility and give his surplus to the Faqir of Al Suffah. To prioritize the basic material needs of the absolute poorest Muslims over living like some rich king.
3. Lodging of Ascetics
Monasticism is explicitly forbidden by the Koran and Muslims do not have monasticism. Yes, the people of Al Suffah were assisted, some even became Emirs and rulers. I do not advocate monasticism, but instead the Sunnah of Al Suffah in Madinah which is to lodge the poor in the Masjid and to feed them. To priotitize the needs of the poor over the comforts of the Dunya is the clear and undeniable Sunnah.
Additionally, ascetics in Zawiyahs engage in work and productive activity, such as maintainence of the Masjid and Madrasa, working as educators, even engaging in agriculture as in the example of Shaykh Amadou Bamba or Zawiya Ibrahim in Johannesburg today. A member of the Sayyid in Iraq has given the blessing for us to build a Masjid, Madrasa, and Zawiya here in the USA. A Khanqah, in Persian, a corner or lodge.
Members of such lodges tend to gardens, to animals, and engage in productive work. Additionally, all Muslims are encouraged to marry, and yes, it is the responsibility of a Muslim leader to help Muslims in all ways. This leads to building houses for the houseless, to affording marriage, and to providing for the economic success of Muslims. Look at Touba, it was once a hamlet and now it is a holy city with a beautiful Masjid because of this principle.
Here is a big problem in the Muslim world: Young men who are unemployed and/or unable to afford marriage. The Sunnah of Al Suffah not only solves this problem, it is the Shariah and the solution to all poverty and homelessness in the world. Shariah is the blueprint of the perfect society, Jannah al Dunya, the Law of God on Earth. It is not simply a system of legal punishment, it is an obligation to provide for the poor as in the time of Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa salam.
To truly live as a tribe of people who take care of each others most basic needs, as was the Sunnah of Nabi Muhammad, salallahu alyhi wa salam, when he was alive and with his people.
4. Sectarianism
Imam Kohemeini was very clear on sectarianism. This business of slandering your fellow Muslims and disparaging sects is the work of the enemies of Islam, whether you realize it or not. All Muslims are brothers. To quote our Sunni brother in Gaza, a refugee of zionist imperialism: The Ummah is about hearts and not labels.
If a brother or a group of brothers is deviating, then guide them! Admonish them with compassion, correct them kindly. Do not hide behind closed doors and draft prideful insults and denouncements at each other. This is backbiting, it is a sin, do not backbite your brothers in Islam. Have the courage, the bravery, to talk to them and help them in their Deen.
Our love for each other as Muslim brothers should be stronger than sectarian theological differences. Otherwise, we are weak, we will not rise up together against our oppressors, and we will be subjugated and exploited, slaughtered and conquered, suppressed and humiliated. We must prioritize Islamic unity over our ego and our pride, over useless sectarian preaching, over status and title.
We must unite, we must be brothers, the Mujahideen of Shias in Hizb Allah do not have a problem with this. Hizb Allah literally has Sunni and Christian volunteers in their army. A successful, highly sophisticated, and well-equipped army which has repelled the zionist imperialists from South Lebanon multiple times. The Koran teaches us to make peace between brothers and that the People of the Book are believers. The Koran teaches that all companions of Jihad are granted Paradise. These Mujahideen fight in the way of Jihad for the glory of Allah according to the Koran and succeed because they obey Allah and have faith in Allah.
To promote sectarianism goes against the Koran and is only for the benefit of the enemies of Islam, to echo Imam Khomeini. The martyred Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah, an honorable cleric and scholar along with his cousin Sayyid Hashem Safieddine, stood with his Sunni brothers in Gaza and the Sunnis of Gaza honor him to this day. He fought for the Ummah, not fighting against the Ummah by preaching sectarianism.
In Summary:
I believe that the two of you are very misguided, and that religion has become something dim and legalistic in your heart. A series of rituals and titles, of obscure rulings and sectarian debate. Ego, pride, division, vanity. This is not how the Prophet, the Ahl al-Bayt, and the Sahaba lived, peace be upon them. I am trying to wake up your Emaan and bring your religion to life. It is on life support, it has become a passive routine and not an active spiritual Jihad.
Wake up! We are in a horrible crisis. Genocide, starvation, occupation, oppression, invasion. People are dying! We are being ruled over by genocidal zionists. We must make Dawah to increase support against our oppressors, here in America and abroad. We must revive faith and love for Allah in our Ummah where it has grown complacent and dead. We do this by increasing prayer, alone and in a group, and by service to the poor and needy, which is an opportunity to preach Islam. Sadaqah amplifies our Dawah when done together. Dawah is our Jihad and we must preach boldly, not hide behind closed doors.
Let our Masjids resonate with the sound of prayer, let them overflow beyond capacity with believers, let them become houses where the sounds of prayer are overflowing and the poor and needy are being fed and brought into Islam. Where the Deen is alive! Something active and visible that draws in people to participate.
There are places like Senegal where so many people come to pray that they have to pray outside because the building is beyond capacity and needs to be expanded, that is what is possible. Let us go out from the Masjid and from our comfortable space to openly preach Islam to the poorest in our communities.
You will not find a lack of people in desperate need to preach Islam to in Detroit, and I do not find a lack of people in need to preach to here in the Deep South. In every corner of this country, in every corner of the world, there are people that NEED Islam desperately, especially those living in addiction and destitution.

Salamun 'alaykum, 
reading Surat al-Kahf can be a mean for protection from the tribulations of the end of times. This means that according to both Shi'a and Sunnis it's connected to the end of times. 
 
So let us look at the three main stories of Surat al-Kahf:
1) The story of Ashab al-Kahf (peace be upon them): A group of pious servants of Allah who fled from oppression holding on to monotheism and the truth. They remained hidden for hundreds of years sleeping in a cave until Allah ta'ala let them wake up again.
2) The story of Musa with al-Khidr (peace be upon them): A pious servant of Allah who has been blessed by Allah ta'ala with a great amount of knowledge. He uses this knowledge to help the believers and the oppressed in mysterious ways and only few people from the creation have met him. 
3) The story of Dhul Qarnayn (peace be upon him): A pious servant of Allah whom Allah ta'ala gave the means to rule over vast territories and to fight the oppressors and implement justice. 
 
If you think about it: How are the above stories connected to the end of times? Now think about Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him) and you will know the answer. 
 
If someone says "how is it possible that a person remains alive for hundreds of years", then tell him to look at the Ashab al-Kahf (peace be upon them). 
And if someone says "what is the benefit of a hidden savior", then tell him about the example of al-Khidr (peace be upon him). 
And if some says "how is it possible that one person establishes justice on such a grand scale", then tell him about the example of Dhul Qarnayn (peace be upon him). 
 
I first realized the above connection when I listened to a lecture of the Shaykh Ahmad al-Salman, who mentioned similar points. 

Salam. Most Shias read Dua Kumayl on Thursday nights after Isha. 

Salaam alaykum dear sister,
Here’s my two cents:
I see a common trend with all of these issues… whether it’s slavery, the hudūd punishments or so called wife-“beating” (whether you go with the moving away interpretation or the light hitting with miswak interpretation), there seems to have been a massive shift in morality in modern society.
What was immoral years ago is now moral (clear example in homosexuality), what was moral years ago is now immoral. This is true for all sacred traditions. No modern secular, feminist worldview can ever be compatible with traditional religion.
The idea is that we accept and submit to whatever Allah has said.
But if we leave tradition and become atheists (nauzubillah), where does morality come from? Morality would be subjective and based on pure opinion. Nothing would have any objective value or meaning.
I try not to worry myself with all of these issues and think about why I believe in Islam, whether it’s irfan or the Quran miracles. The next step that would follow from this is that naturally, whatever Allah has ordained must be correct.

Salam
but always remember one has to study general theology Ilm ul aqaid speculative theology Ilm ul Kalam logic Ilm ul mantiq Arabic grammar and possibly Persian grammar sarf nawh Farsi ethics Ilm ul akhalaq some basic jurisprudence Ilm ulsul wa Fiqh wa qawid  some basic commentary of Quran and commentary of peak of eloquence the science of narrations and narrators Ilm ul tasfir Ilm ul rijal ilm ul dariyat to have the basis to dive into a decent study of Islamic mysticism and it’s proper form as you mentioned Ilm ul Ifran
I’m doing a lot of worship can be done if you’re disciplined, but understanding the deeper meanings behind worship and reasons as much harder I’ll give one of the not often
The standing position of Salah Qiyam is Alif For Allah we stand for him first and foremost
the genuflecting position is Mim for Muhammad we acknowledge his authority because Allah who proceeds him commanded us
The bowing position Sajda is Ayn for Ali and his successor who you have submitted to after submitting to Muhammad in Allah, which fulfills the verse chapter 555 in the verse chapter 449
The other meaning is you start from a high state and go to a low state, but the lowest state is the highest state because bowing before a law is better than standing before a wall when you reflect the greatness of all
These discussions require knowledge of Arabic knowledge of traditions, knowledge of how reliable their traditions are basic and more specific theological principles. Knowledge of auto evaluate tax and read and understand them in the language they’re written.
I thought I understood mysticism when I first started studying and by doing a lot of worship, though mine is the most ratchet of the ratchet and lowest of the low some things were opened up by the divine mercy for me, but after studying additional subjects for a number of years a lot of the mystical knowledge makes much more
My father-in-law was a minor scholar. He used to teach the first and second level of the seminary, mostly specialized in ritual, cleanliness and washing the bodies, but he would sometimes teach the manners of the prayer by the late spiritual master. Sayyid Khumanyi he had a student who insisted on studying it without any preliminaries. He came back after attending the classes for a couple weeks and reading and studying the tax on his own and said he wished it had been written in Chinese then at least he wouldn’t feel bad.
So it’s good to study mysticism but really you should do the first half of the first level of seminary 23 years to get a foundation to delve into it
I mean if someone’s married or religious scholar or their family has religious scholars they can get some basics but really to really really understand it. You need all the sciences and even sometimes I wish I have bothered to learn Persian  better and stayed practicing it and listening to it in interacting with it  instead of just Arabic because there are so many good teachers who primarily teach in Persian
May we all benefit and be guided to the right path
Anybody who likes practical mysticism, I would recommend the methodology of Shaikh Bahjat Ra is the most efficient method because he focuses on both performing good deeds and eliminated in since whereas the methods of the other two prominent scholars who are not also political leaders focus on either not doing sins and just doing mandatory or doing good deeds and desirable relax he has the best combined method in his method is very similar to the author of self building and the leader of the revolution All rest his soul, but he had some more comprehensive and easy to understand me methodology 
May we all complete the four journeys in this life and meet the Lord understanding our true self

Salam all
I have plans to take learning about Islam more seriously, i want to go to an Islamic college/University somewhere else in the future inshallah but for now i have to stick to online learning since i haven't graduated yet.
What are some good YouTube/Websites for learning about Islam, id like to learn slightly more advanced topics since i know most of the basics and also because my non Muslim parents give me questions about Islam, and if im responding to a question i want to make sure its not wrong. 
Thx 

From a previous post:
"One of the signs of the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (عليه السلام) [1] is the coming of the “Dajjal”. According to Arabic literature experts, any liar and trickster can be called a dajjal.
Different unusual traits have been related to him in hadiths (in which are mostly found in Sunni sources), namely: he falsely claims his lordship [2], is high in age [3], along with him is fire and water [4], he cures the blind and those suffering from leprosy [5].
The commander of the faithful, Imam Ali (عليه السلام) was busy delivering a sermon when he repeated three times: “Ask me (all that you need) before you lose me.” A righteous individual by the name of Sa’sa’ah ibn Sawhan stood up and asked: “Oh commander of the faithful! Who is the Dajjal?”
In response to this question, Imam Ali (عليه السلام) replied: “Be aware that the (name) of the dajjal is Sa’ed ibnul-Sa’ed. The unfortunate one is he who acknowledges and accepts him, and the fortunate being the one who rejects him. He will emerge from a place called “Isbahan”, from an area which is known to be the area of the Jews. His right eye is shut, bearing no eyeball.
His other eye is in his forehead, shining so brightly that it resembles the morning star in brightness. In his eye there is a piece of meat that seems to have mixed with some blood and on his forehead, in between the two eyes, it has been written “Kafir” in a way that every literate and illiterate person can read. He travels over the oceans and the sun accompanies him. In front of him, there is a mountain of smoke and behind him there is a white one that people perceive to be food. He will appear during a very hard drought. He will be riding a dark or green donkey. Every step this donkey takes is equal to one mil (mile). He will travel and go here and there on earth. Every water source or spring that he crosses will turn and remain dry till the Day of Judgment. He will shout with a voice heard by all in the East and the West saying: “Come to me, Oh friends and followers of mine!” I (am a God) who has created, who has created the faces, has measured every persons portion (of sustenance), and is your guide. I am the exalted Lord!” He is a liar! He is Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) enemy...and in the end he will eventually be killed by the one Isa ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) prays behind (Imam Mahdi (as))”. [6]
As for who the dajjal really is, one can't reach a definite conclusion, but in a nutshell, it can be said there are several possibilities regarding this matter:
1) The dajjal is a true person that does extraordinary things using witchcraft and magic that will appear at the end of time. He will be the head of a great trouble-making that will take place for all of mankind. As the literal meaning of dajjal suggests, he is a user of witchcraft and a trouble-making individual with many materialistic facilities and capabilities. Some hadiths name him “the messiah of misguidance” which is the opposite of “the messiah of guidance”, meaning Prophet Isa ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)).
During the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (عليه السلام), he will begin to work against him. He is of those who have long lives and is and will remain alive until the day he appears. He will take over the whole world expect for Makkah and Madinah. [7]"
2) Iblis or Satan is the dajjal.
3) The Sufyani  is the dajjal.
4) The dajjal has a symbolic and secret side to it (and isn't a true person):
“The dajjal symbolizes the highest levels of civilization, culture and Western technology that are in conflict with Islam and its principles; a culture that tries to conquer and enslave all. We can clearly see today how the West’s materialist culture and technology has taken over all societies today, even Muslim ones…” [8]
For further reading:
Dajjal, Dorughguye Faribandeh, Maw’ud Magazine, no.4.
 
[1] Of course this sign has been counted as one of the signs of the Day of Judgement (Sunan Tirmidi, vol.4, pp.507-519; Sunan Abi-Dawud, vol.4, pg.115; Sahih Muslim, vol.18, pp.46 and 81), yet in Shia hadith sources it has been counted as one of the signs of the nearness of the Day of Judgment (Biharul-Anwar, vol.6, pg.296, chapter 1 (The signs of the hour (Day of Judgment) and the story of Ya’juj) and also the signs of the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (عليه السلام). There is no problem in this sign being both the sign of the Day of Judgment and the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (عليه السلام), because his reappearance is one of the signs of the end of time and the Day of Judgment.
[2] Sunan Ibn Majah, vol.2, pg. 1360.
[3] Sahih Muslim, vol.8, pg. 205.
[4] Sahih Bukhari, vol.8, pg. 103.
[5] Musnad Ahmad, vol.5, pg. 13.
[6] Lotfollah Safi, Muntakhabul-Athar, Chapter 3, pg. 532, hadith 8.
In some hadiths it has been stated that he will eventually be killed by Prophet Isa ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) (Biharul-Anwar, vol.14, pg.348, chapter 24) or it has been stated that he will be killed by Prophet Isa ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) at a gate in Sham. For further information, see: Biharul-Anwar, vol.52, pp. 193 and 209; Kamaluddin, 525 and 526; Kashful-Ghummah, vol.3, pg.281; Al-Masa’ilul-Ashr, printed in the works of Sheikh Tusi, vol.3, pg. 122; Irshad, vol.2, pg. 371; Kanzul-Ummal, vol.14, pp. 198-200.
Of course, there is no conflict between these two statements that Prophet Isa ((صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)) is one of those who takes orders from Imam Mahdi (عليه السلام) and one can relate the doing of a soldier to his commander.
[7] Al-Faqih, vol.2, pg. 564, the chapter on the respect and virtue of Medinah; Tahdhib, vol.6, pg. 12, chapter 5, The respect and virtue of Medinah.
[8] Seyyid Muhammad Sadiq, Tarikh ma badal-Dhuhur, pp. 141 and 142. Quoted and obtained from: Ali Asghar Rizvani, Maw’ud Shenasi, pg. 533.

Chapter 47: Narration regarding Dajjal (anti-Christ)
1 - Narrated to us Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq ((رضي الله عنه).) that he said: Narrated to us Abdul Aziz bin Yahya Jaludi in Basra: Narrated to us Husain bin Maaz: Narrated to us Qais bin Hafs: Narrated to us Yunus bin Arqam from Abi Yasar Shaibani from Zahhak bin Muzahim from Nazaal bin Sabra that he said:
“Amirul Momineen Ali Ibne Abi Talib ((عليه السلام).) delivered us a sermon; he praised Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, invoked blessings on the Holy Prophet and his progeny ((عليه السلام).). Then he said thrice:
‘Ask me, O people, before you lose me.’
Sa’sa bin Sauhan arose and asked with respect, ‘O Amirul Momineen, when will Dajjal appear?’ Imam ((عليه السلام).) said, ‘Sit down as the Almighty Allah has heard you and He knows your intention. By Allah, one who is asked is not more knowledgeable than the questioner. But there are some signs and aspects for it, which come one after another, like one step falls after another. If you want I can inform you about it. “Yes, please do, O Amirul Momineen ((عليه السلام).),” said the narrator.
The Imam ((عليه السلام).) said, “Know that those signs are as follows:
When people would forget the prayers, trusts will be betrayed. Lying would be considered lawful. Usury will become common. Bribes would be rampant. Tall buildings would be constructed. Religion will be sold in exchange of worldly gains. Fools will be in power. Advice will be sought from women.
Relationships will be broken off. Carnal desires will be widely followed. Bloodshed will be considered a minor matter. Forbearance will be looked upon as weakness and oppression will be considered a matter of pride. Kings and rulers will be sinners and transgressors. Ministers shall be liars.
The general public shall be dishonest. The reciters of Quran will be transgressors. False testimony will be acceptable. Sins would be committed openly. Laying false allegations will be a common thing. Sinfulness and rebellion will be rife. The Quran will be looked down upon. Mosques will be decorated. Minarets will be elevated.
Evil people would be accorded honor. Rows, instead of displaying unity would present a scenario of strife. Hearts of the people will be distant from each other. Oaths and promises will be readily broken.
That which has been promised will come near. Greed for wealth will impel people to take women as partners in business. Voices of the singers will rise up high and they shall find much audience. The lowly people shall become the leaders of the community. Male and female singers shall be procured on payment. The people of this age will curse the people of the past. Women will ride (horses).
Women will resemble men and men will resemble women. Witnesses will testify without being asked to do so and other people without recognizing the truth and in other than religion they will give deep thought and give testimony. World would be given precedence over the hereafter. Apparently they would be like wolves but their hearts will be more rotten than carrion.
They shall be stinking and more bitter than aloe. At that time all would say, ‘Hurry up, hurry up. At that time the Baitul Maqdas will be the best place to live in. And a time will come upon the people that everyone will wish to reside in the Baitul Maqdas.”
Asbagh bin Nubatah stood up and said: O Maula! Who would be the Dajjal? He replied, ‘The name of Dajjal is Saeed bin Saeed. Thus one who supports him is unfortunate. And are fortunate who deny him. He shall emerge from Yahoodiya village of Isfahan. He shall be blind in the right eye. The left would be on the forehead like a bloody piece, which would be glinting like the morning star. On his forehead would be inscribed: ‘Kafir’ (disbeliever) which would readable to the literate as well as the illiterate.
He shall jump into the seas. The Sun will follow him. A mountain of smoke will precede him and a white mountain will follow him, which in times of famine will be mistaken to be a mountain of food (bread). He shall be mounted on a white ass.
One step of that ass will be of one mile. Whichever spring or well he reaches, will dry up forever. He will call out aloud which shall be audible to all in the east and the west from the Jinns, humans and satans. He would tell his friends: I am the one who created then shaped. And I estimated and guided. I am your High Lord.
That enemy of Allah will be a liar. He shall be a one-eyed man having human needs, who walks about while your Lord is neither one-eyed nor in need of food. He neither walks nor is there decline for him. He is above all things.
Know that the majority of his followers will be persons of illegitimate birth and they shall be wearing green caps. The Almighty Allah will have him eliminated on a Friday after three hours have passed in the evening on the Uqbah Afeeq at the hands of one behind whom Prophet Isa ((عليه السلام).) would pray. Know that! After this will come to pass the Great event.”
Thus we asked: O Amirul Momineen ((عليه السلام).), what would that be? He replied, “Daabbatul Arz will emerge from Mt. Safa. He shall be having the seal ring of Prophet Sulaiman ((عليه السلام).). When that ring would be touched on the face of a believer, it would brand him to be a true believer. And when it is touched on the face of an infidel it would clearly mark that he is really a disbeliever. So much so that the believer will say to the infidel, “Hell is ordained for you, O infidel.” And the disbeliever will say to the believer, “Tooba is ordained for you, O believer. Alas! If I were also successful and delighted with you this day.”
Thus when the Daabba raises his head he would, by the permission of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime be able to see whatever is present between the east and the west. And it would be at a time when the Sun will rise from the west. At that time the time for repentance would be over and no repentance would be accepted from anyone. Neither would any deed rise up to the heavens as mentioned:…its faith shall not profit a soul which did not believe before, or earn good through its faith…”
Then Amirul Momineen ((عليه السلام).) said: “Do not ask me about the conditions following this. This is a covenant that I have made with my dearest one that I would not inform about this to anyone except my descendants.”
Nazaal bin Sabra says that I asked Sa’sa bin Sauhan what Amirul Momineen ((عليه السلام).) meant by this? He replied, “O Ibne Sabra, he is the same behind whom Prophet Isa ((عليه السلام).) would pray. He shall be the twelfth descendant and he would be the ninth descendant of Husain bin Ali ((عليه السلام).). He would be the one for whom the Sun would rise from the west and he shall reappear between the Rukn and Maqaam. Then he would purify the earth and establish the scales of justice. Then no one would be able to oppress another.
Thus the dearest one of Amirul Momineen ((عليه السلام).), the Messenger of Allah (S) had taken an oath from the latter that he must not inform anyone about the events after this except his purified descendants, Allah’s blessings be on them all.”
And narrated to us Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Umar bin Uthman bin Fadl Uqaili Faqih that: Narrated to us Abu Amr Muhammad bin Ja’far bin Muzaffar; and Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Abdur Rahman ar-Raazi, and Abu Saeed Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Musa bin Kaab Saidani; and Abul Hasan Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Subaih Jauhari, they said: Narrated to us Abu Yaala bin Ahmad bin Muthanna Mausili from Abdul Aala bin Hammad Narsi from Ayyub from Nafe from Ibne Umar from the Messenger of Allah (S) that he mentioned the same tradition.
2 - Narrated to us Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Umar bin Uthman bin Fadl Uqaili Faqih through this chain of narrators from his Mashayakhs from Abi Yala Musili from Abdul Alaa bin Hammad Narsi from Ayyub from Nafe from Ibne Umar that he said:
“One day the Messenger of Allah (S) prayed the Morning Prayer with his companions. After that he arose and accompanied by his companions reached to a house in Medina and knocked the door. A lady emerged and asked: What do you want, Abul Qasim? The Messenger of Allah (S) said: O Abdullah’s mother allow me to go to Abdullah. She said: O Abul Qasim, what do you want from Abdullah? By Allah, he has lost his mind and he speaks to himself. He is disputing with me in a very important matter. The Holy Prophet (S) said: Let me see him. She said: Are you prepared to meet him at your own risk? He replied in the positive. She said: Come.
So he entered the house to find him covered with a shawl and shivering and muttering to himself. She told him to keep quiet and to sit up. This is Muhammad. He has come to you. So he fell silent and sat up. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: What is wrong with him? May Allah’s curse be upon him. If he leaves me I can tell you if he is that same one. After that the Holy Prophet (S) said: What can you see. He replied: I can see truth and falsehood and I can see a throne on the water. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: Will you testify the oneness of Allah and my messengership? He replied: Rather you testify the oneness of Allah and my messengership! Because Allah has not made you worthier than me for it.
On the next day again the Messenger of Allah (S) prayed the Morning Prayer with his companions. After that he arose and they came to that house and knocked the door. A lady emerged and said: Please come in.
They saw that he was atop a date palm, singing a song. His mother said: Shut up! And come down. This is Muhammad and he has come to meet you. That man fell silent. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: What has happened to him? Allah’s curse be on him! If he leaves me I can tell that he is the same one.
On the third day again the Messenger of Allah (S) prayed the Morning Prayer with his companions. After that he arose and they came to that house and saw that he was baaing with a sheep. His mother said: Keep quiet. This is Muhammad and he has come to meet you. He became quiet and sat down.
On that day some verses of Surah Dukhan had been revealed and the Prophet has recited them in the daily prayer that day. The Prophet again asked him: Do you testify that there is no god except Allah and that I am the messenger of Allah? He said: Rather you should testify to the oneness of Allah and that I am the messenger of Allah because Allah has not made you more rightful than me for it.
The Messenger of Allah (S) said: I have concealed something from you. Tell me what it is? He replied: Smoke. Smoke. The Holy Prophet (S) said: Keep quiet, and remember that you will not proceed before your appointed period and you will not reach to your aim. And you will get only as much as is decreed for you.
Then he told his companions: O people, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime did not send any prophet but that he warned his nation of Dajjal and Allah, the Mighty and Sublime has kept him alive till your time. When you fall in doubt about him you should remember that your Lord cannot be one-eyed. Indeed the Dajjal would be astride an ass and the distance between the two ears of the ass will be one mile. He will be accompanied with Paradise and Hell and a mountain of bread and a stream of water. Most of his followers will be Jews, women and ignorant ones. He will roam through the whole earth except for the Holy Kaaba in Mecca, and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.”
The author says: People of malice and denial accept all such reports and they consider, correct reports about Dajjal, his occultation, long age and his advent in the last period of time. But they are not prepared to accept that the Qaim is present, that he will remain in occultation for a long time and then finally reappear and fill the earth with justice and equity as it would be fraught with injustice and tyranny.
This is despite the fact that we have traditions from the Prophet and the Imams regarding the Imam’s name, lineage and occultation. And there are traditional reports on prolongation of occultation. The aim of their denial is to put out the light of Allah and invalidate the matter of the Wali of Allah. But Allah will perfect His light even though polytheists may find it distasteful. Our opponents say that the reason of their denial is that the traditions regarding the Imam and his occultation that are present in our collections are not in their books of traditional reports.
This is the same argument that apostates, Hindus, Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians give for denying the prophethood of the Holy Prophet (S). They also say that the reports you quote with regard to his miracles and evidences, are not found in our books. Through this we prove the falsity of those reports. If we accept the objection of our opponents to be true, what would be done with the objection of those who deny the Holy Prophet (S) who are more than the deniers of the Imam? In the same way our opponents also object that they also cannot understand how the age of a person can exceed the age of the people of his time like it is thought about our Imam.
Thus we shall tell them: You agree that it is possible for the age of Dajjal in occultation to exceed the age of other people, and in the same way you admit to the longevity of the accursed Iblees; yet you don’t accept this could be possible with regard to the Qaim, inspite of the fact that there are traditional reports with regard to his occultation, long lifespan and his reappearance and advent after the divine command. Such traditions have also been presented in this book. This is further supported the tradition of the Holy Prophet (S) that says: Whatever had passed in the previous nations, the same will come to pass in this, exactly.
And it has been mentioned that many prophets and Divine Proofs had long lifespans. Like Prophet Nuh ((عليه السلام).) who lived for 2500 years. And the Quran say that he lived in his nation for 950 years.
We have also presented the tradition whose chain of narrators is mentioned in this book that it says: In the Qaim there is resemblance to Prophet Nuh ((عليه السلام).) and that is having a long lifespan. Then what is the reason that you cannot understand this and that you consider it impossible? You should in fact accept it because the existence of the Imam is proved by the traditions of the Holy Prophet (S).
Accepting the existence of the Qaim is necessary just as it is necessary to accept that the People of the Cave slept in their cave for 309 years. If the latter report can be accepted then the former is also worthy of acceptance. How are the reports of Wahhab bin Munabba and Kaab bin Ahbar accepted when there is no statement of the Messenger of Allah (S) vouchsafing their truthfulness? Their traditions do not fit any logic. While people are in doubt and they deny whatever has been related by the Holy Prophet (S) with regard to Qaim, about his occultation and his reappearance, even though it is about a true fact. Is it anything other than a willful denial of truth?
How can the opponents say that a person cannot exceed the age of the people of his time while the statement of the Messenger of Allah (S) is true that all the practices of the past nations will be repeated in this Ummah, especially in well known aspects. Now which aspect is more well known than that of the Qaim? Who is it that is mentioned by the people of the east and the west? Who is it that is mentioned by those who believe in him as well as those who deny him?
Thus if the occultation of the Qaim has been proved invalid even though there are authentic traditions of the Holy Prophet (S) it would in fact prove the invalidity of the prophethood of the Holy Prophet (S) because he has informed about the occultation of the Qaim. Thus in this way the prophethood of the Prophet will be proved false. Although the opponents accept that the Prophet said regarding Ammar Yasir that he would be killed by a rebellious group, and that the beard of Amirul Momineen ((عليه السلام).) would be dyed in the blood of his head, he said regarding Imam Hasan ((عليه السلام).) that he would be martyred through poison, and that Imam Husain ((عليه السلام).) would be martyred through the sword.
Then why don’t the opponents deny his sayings stating the occultation of the Qaim and his name and lineage etc? Indeed the Prophet was true in all his statements and held particular views. No one can have perfect faith till one does not accept the decisions of the Prophet and submits to all his commands without there being the slightest doubt. This is what Islam is. Islam means submission and obedience and one who brings a religion other than Islam, it would not be accepted and such a person will be a loser in the hereafter.
The most surprising fact is that our opponents narrate that Prophet Isa ((عليه السلام).) passed through Kerbala and saw a herd of deers. When he moved closer he saw that they were weeping. Seeing this Prophet Isa ((عليه السلام).) sat down and his disciples sat around him. Thus Isa ((عليه السلام).) cried and his disciples also cried even though they did not know why he had sat down and why he was crying. They asked: O spirit of Allah and His word, why did you cry?
He asked: Do you know this land? They said: No, we don’t. He said: It is the land where the son of Ahmad, the prophet of the last period of time and son of the Purified Batool (s.a.) who is an image of my respected mother, Maryam will be martyred and buried. The dust of this land is purer than musk because it is the burial ground of this oppressed martyr. And the essence of the prophets and his progeny is such.
These deers talk me to me and they say that they graze on this land in devotion to the oppressed Imam as a result of which they feel secure over here. After that Isa ((عليه السلام).) split their droppings and smelt them and said: O Lord, preserve these dropping in this state so that the father of the martyr may smell them and obtain comfort. Thus those droppings remained till the time of Ali ((عليه السلام).). When Amirul Momineen ((عليه السلام).) passed from there he smelt those droppings, cried and informed about the impending tragedy of Kerbala.
Our opponents accept the veracity of this incident and agree that those droppings remained for more than five hundred years and there was no difference in their freshness and smell. The passage of time did not affect them in any way. But they don’t accept that the Qaim of Aale Muhammad, the Imam of the Age is alive. And that he will rise with the sword, eliminate the enemies of Allah make the religion of Allah dominant while there are authentic traditions of the Prophet and Imams in this regard which mention his name, lineage, his long occultation and which also state that the practice of the previous nations with regard to long lifespans has been decreed for this Imam. This denial is only due to malice, bigotry and obstinacy against acceptance of truth. [We seek Allah’s refuge from humiliation]."

Salam. There is a Study Quran. See this topic where it is discussed:
https://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/235036275-the-study-quran-this-will-revolutionize-the-study-of-the-quran/

A good, old barfi. That one that melts right into your hand. Or one of those wedding laddoos.
Ah.

Chocolate (kinder bueno, ferrero rocher) , barfi, gulab jamun, channe ki daal ka halwa 

How would you proceed tho Akhi? Teach us the ways 

Agreed. It shouldn’t just be about feelings or experience, which is not enough to convince anyone.  As Schuon says:
However, there is a modern tendency to reduce philosophy to skepticism or rationalism, part of it due to Rene Descartes. Characteristic of modern philosophy is this “excessive doubting” without paying any attention to the intuitive ‘aql (inclusive of, but going beyond, pure reason). German philosopher Hermann Türck, a 19th-Century critic of Nietzsche calls this “misosophy”, the hatred of wisdom rather than the love of it. Naturally, this has led to sacred knowledge becoming largely inaccessible.
Philosophy, theology and gnosis must be integrated and must go together to prevent extremes:
 
 
“To be truly human is to transcend the human. To be satisfied with the merely human is to fall ultimately below the human state.” - Nasr.
Essentially what is being said is that the modern world has placed in the centre of the scheme of things earthly man, whereas the centre or the heart is where Allah alone resides.
The ‘aql can steer a sincere seeker towards the right direction.  But it is a means and not an end.
 
It relates to His Infinitude.
 
The forms are “ayāt” (signs) pointing to something beyond themselves. The wasilah (means) that we use to approach Allah must necessarily be one of form or conceptualisation, as that which is beyond form and conceptualisation is Allah. If these were “irrelevant”, then Allah would never breathe them into existence. 
 
The forms as being mazāhir contain traces of the Real, and so are not irrelevant. But they are a means and not an end.
 
Not quite, under Mulla Sadra’s tashkik al wujud philosophy the false or incorrect forms would represent privations of the Real, whilst the more Tawheedi forms would be closer to the One.
Wsalam.