The book ‘Secrets to Divine Love’ by A Helwa is a spiritual journey into the heart of Islam. Published by ILQA (Readings), the 300-page book focuses on the goodness of Allah- your most intimate friend. Friends leave you in the lurch, but Allah will always be by your side.
In a changing world, the only relief is that God is constant. What is the difference between God and science? Any guesses? I won’t keep you in suspense. Science tells us how things work in the universe, while God addresses why things exist.
What is EGO: Edging God Out! The ego is a veil between our consciousness and our spirit. Love cannot be created by force. For love to flourish, free will must exist.
What is Jihad? There are 2 types: the lesser jihad and greater jihad. I leave it for you to read the book and find out the difference! Now, coming to the concept of reward and punishment is it’s at the heart of the Quran. Our heart will connect with God only when it transcends the human mind. And so God has a plan. God only breaks you to remake you because breakdowns come before breakthroughs. Often, people find it difficult to understand Islam. The fear of Islam seeping into their mind and heart scares them! They believe ignorance is bliss, and so don’t bother to find out about their religion. They are afraid of change. But Islam isn’t about outward obedience to divine law; it is about inner faith. And till it comes from the heart, one cannot change!
What is Taubah or repentance? No matter how far astray we have gone, God’s mercy is infinite. A bad deed that you regret in your heart is a thousand times better than a good deed that makes you feel proud.
When a person becomes a Muslim by reciting shahadah, he is testifying to the oneness of God, which means he breaks all idols related to the heart, such as beliefs, desires, and attachments. The second part is testifying to the prophethood of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the last prophet who was given Allah’s final guidance, making it the intention to follow in the Prophet’s footsteps. ‘If we do good deeds but have a rotten heart, we are in a state of hypocrisy. If we have a good heart but do not do good actions, then we are in a state of illusion.’
A kaafir as opposed to a believer is someone ‘who covers the truth.’ It means he spreads falsehood. What is Prayer? It is an integral part of Islam. Before prayer, a Muslim performs wudhu, which prepares him to shift his awareness from worldly matters and enter the spiritual realm. Prayer protects against immorality. Always watch your tongue! It can inflict pain and anguish or heal. Once we learn to fast and abstain from our physical desires, that is when we learn how to break free from the tyranny of the mind. The Holy Quran says, ‘Whatever reaches to you of good is from Allah, but whatever befalls you of evil is from yourself.’
God did not promise you that the path of goodness would always be easy, but the Holy Quran did say: ‘Allah is with those who patiently persevere.’ You will be tempted, troubled, and tested with trials, but with Allah by your side, you will be triumphant.
A mystic said, ‘Every single person you love in this world will either bury you or you will bury them. There is no other way.’ Absolutely true! A great book that deserves to be read at least once in a lifetime. 
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