Wim Van Ael

Wim Van Ael Shaykh Sulayman Van Ael
Learn-Do-Become
Science and Religion
Text and Context
Tradition and Modernity

I embraced Islam at the age of 18 and have been seeking knowledge ever since around the world for knowledge. From memorizing the Quran in the burning desert of Sudan, to being authorized in the ten qira-at and narrating the Hadeeth-Books in the outskirts of Jordan and attending classes in the luxurious mosques in Saudi , sitting at the knees of literally more than 50 scholars. Meanwhile pursuing m

y academic studies; Theology, Psychosocial Counseling, Islamic Mental Health and Human Rights. Trying to merge text and context, then and now, tradition and science, mosque and university, body and soul, mind and heart. It has been a long journey, but 27 years later - I am 45 now - I dare to say:

Knowledge all comes back to: 'Learn-Do-Connect-Become(c)'. It is all about Transformative knowledge allowing you to become the strongest, purest and most refined version of yourself.

09/01/2025

The heart cannot remain empty—it must be filled. If it is not filled with the love of Allah, it will be overtaken by the love of the world and its fleeting pleasures. The heart is a vessel, and what you choose to pour into it will determine its state. When the love of Allah fills it, the heart finds peace, contentment, and direction. But when the heart becomes attached to the world and its desires, it grows restless, unstable, and deprived of true purpose.

Sulayman Van Ael

06/01/2025

"The child of Adam has never experienced anything more severe since their creation than death. Yet, death is lighter than what comes after it." - Musnad Ahmad

03/01/2025

"O assembly of those who have submitted with their tongues, while faith has not yet entered their hearts: do not harm the Muslims, do not shame them, and do not probe into their flaws or pursue their shortcomings. For whoever seeks out the faults of a Muslim, Allah will seek out his faults; and if Allah seeks out someone’s faults, He will expose him, even if he is within the privacy of his own home."Sahih ibn Hibban

Our Prophet ﷺ held the honour of the believers in the highest regard. Yet, at times, it feels like the way we address one another is harsher than how Allah commanded Moses to speak to Pharaoh. The internet has become a court where spectators play lawyers and the ignorant act as judges. Pause for a moment and ask yourself: why would I harm someone whom Allah has entrusted with the key to the Gardens of Eden?

Sulayman Van Ael

02/01/2025

"The sweetness of this world will be bitter in the Hereafter and the bitterness in this world will be sweet in the Afterlife." - Musnad Ahmad

This profound saying reminds us of life’s ultimate test: pleasures that distract us from Allah may bring regret on the Day of Judgment, while enduring hardship for His sake will lead to eternal joy. True sweetness is found in choosing what lasts over what fades.

Sulayman Van Ael

26/12/2024

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Indeed, my allies on the Day of Resurrection will be the pious, even if there are closer ties of kinship. So beware, lest others come to me with their good deeds, while you bring the burden of this worldly life upon your necks. You will call out to me, 'O Muhammad!' but I will respond, 'No,' turning away from you in both directions." (al Adab al Mufrad, 597)

This hadith reminds us that on the Day of Judgment, what will matter most is not who we are or where we come from, but how we lived. The Prophet (peace be upon him) tells us that his true companions are the pious, those who lived for Allah.

It’s a warning: don’t let others come with their good deeds while we arrive burdened by our love for this world.

Carrying the dunya on our necks isn’t just about wealth; it’s about making the temporary more important than the eternal.

We have to ask ourselves: are we living for what truly lasts, or are we too attached to what we’ll eventually leave behind?

Sulayman Van Ael

25/12/2024

2 For Ghazza: 1. Broken heart,
Torn apart,
nowhere to run,
life is hard!

No more tears,
just fears,
cries fall
on deaf Mans' ears.

Can't smile,
Has been a while,
do not want,
to reconcile.

All alone,
broken bone(s),
the memory of a sun
that once shone.

Depression,
Inflation,
deprived,
nation.

No place for culture,
Uniformity a vulture,
devouring its pray,
man, an emotionless sculpture

Cries from the soul,
start to lose control
can't handle anymore
of wars without a goal.

Blood shed,
Kids without a bed,
sleep on the floor,
The killer; without regret.

Pain, who to blame,
shame, who's game
wild, who will tame
faceless, yet a name
life, never the same

Ya Rabb, you: my aim, you my name, you my word, yours I have heard, on my knees, begging you please, HELP!

2.

O Gaza, cradle of sorrow and flame,
A land carved deep with scars of shame.
Children’s laughter, now whispers in dust,
Dreams shattered, broken, left to rust.

Your skies once kissed by a golden sun,
Now bleed red as the battles are won.
Not by justice, nor mercy’s hand,
But by greed that poisons your sand.

Walls confine your aching breath,
A silent witness to life and death.
Mothers weep where hope once grew,
Fathers crumble, with nothing to do.

The sea sighs softly against your shore,
Its waves reflect tears of the poor.
A song of despair, a hymn of pain,
Echoes of loss in a ceaseless refrain.

What sin so grave have you borne,
To be cradled in hatred, battered and torn?
The world turns blind, its heart turned stone,
And leaves you to grieve, to suffer alone.

O Gaza, your cries haunt the night,
A plea for justice, for truth, for light.
But silence drowns the calls of the meek,
And power silences those who speak.

Still, your spirit refuses to die,
Beneath the ash, your hopes still lie.
For every tear that carves your face,
A seed of resilience takes its place.

So hold fast, O land of the brave,
Even when storms the strongest cave.
Though shadows loom and times are grim,
The sun will rise beyond the rim.

Sulayman Van Ael

"Shaykh, I strive to stay engaged with my faith and I read the words of the Prophetﷺ often, but I still feel distant fro...
23/12/2024

"Shaykh, I strive to stay engaged with my faith and I read the words of the Prophetﷺ often, but I still feel distant from Allah. I have not seen the Prophet ﷺ in my dreams, am I failing?"

My beloved student,

The feeling of being distant from Allah is a trial of the heart, and it
is natural for such thoughts to enter your soul. This struggle is
familiar to anyone who longs for nearness to Allah, especially when
deeply engaged with the words of the Messenger ﷺ.

However, proximity to Allah is not always something we physically
or even emotionally perceive; rather, it is something that takes root
deep within our hearts, often without our conscious awareness.
As for dreams, know that seeing the Prophet ﷺ in a dream is indeed a great honour.

Yet, not having such a dream does not mean you
have failed in your pursuit of him or Allah. While sins can place a
veil between us and our Creator, remember that every human being falters, and Allah is the Most Merciful, the One who veils our sins with His forgiveness when we sincerely return to Him.

Do not let the thought that your sins are keeping you from Allah
discourage you. The door to repentance is always open, and every
step you take toward Allah is met with His infinite grace. The
Prophet ﷺ taught us that Allah is more joyous over the repentance
of His servant than a lost traveller who suddenly finds his way again.

Your efforts to engage with the words of the Prophet ﷺ are seen,
and your sincere intention to follow him and draw closer to Allah is
of immense value. Remember, true nearness to Allah is not confined to dreams or outward signs but resides in the sincerity of your heart, your determination to improve, and your ongoing quest for His pleasure.

Continue to repent, continue to strive, and be patient with yourself.
Allah sees your efforts and is closer to you than you can imagine.

Sulayman Van Ael

From my Book: Answering Spiritual Questions

23/12/2024

When you realise that all is His', you conclude that nothing you give away is yours. Why then, do you want people to thank you instead of Him?

22/12/2024

Death is near, our path is clear, the angel of death is almost here. Reasons to cry, even more to fear, like too much salt on food is our foolish cheer. A beating heart, torn apart,,, by Devils in disguise, meaningless; no guidance of the wise; spiritual death the price. What can we say, what can I do, where do they go? Life a show, some do glow, in the darkness where nobody wants to go, where rivers of blood flow; an orphan a widow, looking through a window, at what once was but left, a misery of deep heartache and theft, of lands and people, moral and ethic, where one is killed because of reasons: ethnic, sick, just a click ... away and I see what goes beyond what I can bare, would like to give my everything, but no channels allow me to share, to be helpful, to care ... ya Rabb, be there! For them, who were left alone, hungry, afraid skinny to the bone. You crushed the Farao and demolished Great Rome. Let ahl Gazza return home!!!

Many of us tirelessly pursue personal goals—career, family, success—yet we often lose sight of the fact that these aspir...
22/12/2024

Many of us tirelessly pursue personal goals—career, family, success—yet we often lose sight of the fact that these aspirations are meaningless without the right intention, without grounding them in the greater plan that Allah has ordained for us. Life in Islam is not merely a series of rituals; it is a journey of profound awareness and purpose.

Our faith teaches us that every individual is created with a unique mission, and that our true aim in life is not self-imposed but divinely revealed. Purposeful living begins with the realization that our desires and ambitions are not the end goal but reflections of a higher, divine purpose. Only by understanding and embracing this can we fully appreciate the depth and beauty of Islam. Islam is not just a way of life; it is a transformative path that leads to self-awareness and a deeper connection with Allah and His creation.

I am writing this book not merely to share knowledge but to ignite hearts and minds. It is my hope that we, as a community, begin to ask ourselves: What is my purpose? What does Allah ask of me in this life? This quest is the heartbeat of faith; it is what gives meaning to our actions, aligns our hearts with Allah’s plan, and transforms ordinary life into extraordinary devotion.

From my book: The Conscious Muslim – A Blueprint for Purposeful Living

Coming soon.

Before the earth was formed, before the stars lit up the night sky, He knew you. Not as a distant thought or an abstract...
22/12/2024

Before the earth was formed, before the stars lit up the night sky, He knew you. Not as a distant thought or an abstract idea, but as you—fully known, fully loved. In His infinite wisdom and care, He chose you. Your existence is not a random accident but a purposeful act of a God who creates with intention and love.

You were invited into this world, not just to exist, but to live a life that reflects His goodness and to find your way back to Him. Every breath you take, every step you walk, is a part of that invitation. Knowing this changes everything. It gives you a joy that isn’t rooted in your circumstances but in the unshakable truth that Allah's love for you is deeper and older than the world itself. Sulayman Van Ael

You have no claim to a personal goal if that goal strays from the reason you were created for, and your aspirations lose...
21/12/2024

You have no claim to a personal goal if that goal strays from the reason you were created for, and your aspirations lose their meaning if they conflict with His eternal purpose. Sulayman Van Ael

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