Google

Sunday, November 27, 2011

The end of a year (Message from Ustadha Nagheba)

Asalamu Alaikum my dear sisters

Today is the 30th of Dhul Hijja which represents
the last day of the Islamic calendar. How fast the year has gone and what a
reminder this is to how fast the moments
of life run by us, how true is the statement of the great Imam Shafai’ ‘Life
is but a moment; therefore make it a moment of worship’.

As we enter the year 1433 we are reminded that one thousand
four hundred and thirty three years ago the prophet Muhammad–peace be upon
him-took flight from Mecca to Medina in order to establish what was to become
the first Islamic state. As our beloved messenger –peace be upon him-left Mecca
he stood looking at his city of birth and called out ‘ Oh Mecca you
are the most beloved of God’s earth to me...’
(Tirmidhi). The hijra was indeed an act of love and immense sacrifice,
a migration
not only towards Medina but also towards the Divine, the great men and women of
this migration left that which they dearly loved in order to flee to their
greater love, Allah the most high.

When the prophet
–peace be upon him- arrived in Medina he built a Mosque, opened a market place
and established a brotherhood between the people of the land and the new
migrants of Mecca. Through bringing together the spiritual, the communal and
economically empowering the new Muslim community the prophet –peace be upon
him-produced a community that was healthy and whole; they lived and breathed
Islam in every part of their lives. This flight or the Hijra as it is
known as in Arabic represents a great turning point
in the lives of the first Muslims; in Medina they thrived, practicing Islam
openly gaining the strength to spread this word of truth beyond the
Arabian Peninsula.


Ustadha Munirah al-Junayd- a blessed teacher of mine- once
told me that Hijra should be part of the spiritual development of every
believer upon this path, just as the first community took flight fleeing to
Allah so too should we take flight, she would say, ‘Flee from darkness
to light, from falsehood to truth, from the
temporal to the eternal, from illusion to reality, from the impermissible to
the Halal and lawful; flee from responding to the Nafs to solely seeking the
pleasure of the Divine...’.whilst reading with her Imam al-Hadad’s ‘
Manners of the Wayfarer unto God’ she would
remind me; ‘ Migration, migration our
state should always be in migration’.

As we strive to remind ourselves of the internal hijra the end of the
year has arrived
bringing with it a reminder of how little our effort to take flight
has been. Today
my dear sisters is a day of self reflection; a day of looking back in order to
learn how to move forward, a day of repentance and remorse as well as a day of
new resolve and renewed determination for as we have been given the 30th
of Dhul Hijja to end the year we have also been give the 1st of Muharam
to begin a new year. How blessed we are
to be given another chance to re-align the soul and turn our entire being to
He-the most high.

As the year 1432 comes to a close let us endeavour to bring
a good ending to it in the hope that we are blessed with good deeds being the
last of our actions, The messenger of Allah –peace be upon him-has said; ‘One of
you behaves like the people of The Garden until there is but an arm’s length
between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him, so he
behaves like the people of the fire until he enters it. And one of you behaves
like the people of The Fire until there is but an arm’s length between him and
it, and that which has been written overtakes him, so he behaves like the
people of The Garden until he enters it’ (Bukhari)



It is because of this Hadith that our teachers would call
out in the gatherings of remembrance Oh
Allah bless us with a good ending, a life that ends with good deeds. Habib
Muhammad al-Hadar the late Mufti of Bayda (In Northern Yemen) and father of my
blessed teacher Hababa Nur bint Muhammad would say to his students ‘Do not just
ask for a good ending, but ask for the most excellent of excellent
endings, ‘Kamal husnul, khatimah .

Let us end the last moments of this year in prayer, fast and
charity. Let us raise our hands and call upon our Lord, seeking forgiveness for
the sinful states we find ourselves in; for our inability to exact meaningful
and continuous change in our lives; for our love of the world and how we have
allowed it to consume us.

Let us raise our hands and ask a Most Generous, Most Giving,
Most Merciful Lord to give us the strength and resolve we need to walk this path
unto Him, the path that has been trodden by His beloved prophets and
saints (the awliya), the path of love, longing,
sacrifice and true surrender.

In these last moments of this year let us renew our faith
and call out La ilaha ila Allah from
the depths of our souls asking the almighty that He makes us courageous enough
to live by these words. Let us strive and struggle with all of our strength;
with every last breath and with every beat of our hearts to take flight; a
Hijra that is true and sincere, fleeing unto Him, a Most Gentle and Loving
Lord.






Love and peace always

Ukhtukum nagheba



Below is a supplication that is traditionally recited at the
end of the year as well as the supplication of Imam Ali al- Habashi which
he-may Allah preserve him- would recite on the first day of the year may we all
benefit from it.

End of year supplication:

In
the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful, and God bless our
beloved Messenger
Muhammad and

his family and
companions and grant them peace. O God, whatever actions I have committed this

past year which have not pleased
You, which I may have forgotten though You do not forget,

while You are
forbearing with me though fully capable of punishing me, while You called me to

relent and atone
even after my audaciousness before You — O God, I surely seek Your

forgiveness for
this, thus forgive me. O God, as for my actions that have pleased You and for

which recompense
and forgiveness have been promised, please accept them from me. And do

not dash my hopes
in You, 0 Generous, O Most Merciful of the Merciful. And God, the Exalted,

bless our beloved
Messenger Muhammad and his family and companions and grant them peace. (3
times)



Beginning
of year supplication:

In the Name of Allah the All-Merciful the
All-Compassionate

All
praise is Allah’s, Lord of all creations.

O
Lord, with all beauteous names (Allahuma),bestow blessings and peace upon our
beloved messenger Muhammad, our supreme access to You in the answer to what we
supplicate for,

the
achievement of what we aspire to, and the forgiving of such wrongdoings as we
have committed, and upon members of his household and his companions and those
who

support
him. Indeed, elapsed in
our span of life is a whole year, You have garlanded us in it with Your
bounties for which we are unable to offer gratitude, and You have protected us
in it from evils and unpleasant things from which we could not have protected
ourselves, and we have put into it works of which You are All-Knowing. Such
good deeds which You have enabled us to do in it, may You please accept that
from us, and may You record them in Your presence as virtuous works, and may
You forgive us the blemishes of ostentation, and self-glory, and
self-embellishment,
and other things as have interfered with them, and may You make them a means
through which we
are led to Your good pleasure and drawn near to You,

and
such evil deeds and errors as we have committed. And actions unpleasing in Your
sight. And intentions which are unrighteous [such of these that we may have
committed] with our limbs and our hearts we ask You, Allahuma, by virtue of
Your essence and Your names and Your attributes and by virtue of the sublime
Quran and Your revealed books, and by virtue of our beloved messenger Muhammad,
Allah bless him and bestow peace upon him as well as members of his household,
and by virtue of whosoever has rank before You amongst all Your created beings,
that You will forgive all those wrongdoings and cover all those defects, and
that You will favour us from Your ample, magnificent, generosity with all that
we aspire to, and that You will exchange our evils actions for good ones, and
that You will enable us to attain Your good pleasure at the highest level of
our aspirations and the uppermost limit of our wishes. And we, as You know us,
have our forelocks in Your hands and our entire affair, in all our states, comes
back to You, and whatever good opinion we cherish regarding You, You are well
aware of it, and our absolute dependence upon You, and extreme need of You, are
not concealed from You, and here are our hands stretched out towards You and
our hearts are focused upon You, do not therefore, turn us away empty handed, O,
the Hope of all aspirers! And the Refuge of all refuge seekers! Show mercy unto
he who calls You when he believes that You are his Lord and comes exclusively
to You, when indeed, You are his sufficiency. After the outgoing year a new
year has come upon us while we do not know what has been pre-ordained in Your
knowledge regarding us. And our hope is that You will open for us in this new
year a door of sincere, genuine, repentance from which we shall not renege, and
that You will grace us in it with the ability for virtuous works, acceptable to
You, that will in turn grace us with Your good pleasure towards us, and that
You will employ our limbs in obedience that is well-pleasing in Your sight, and
our hearts with love for You, and love for whomsoever You love, and love for
whatsoever You love, and that You will expand our hearts and grant them the
capacity for Your special knowledge, with which You have ennobled such of Your
servants that are possessed of knowledge about You and virtuous saints, and
that You will sustain us with taqwa with which You have ennobled servants of
Yours who are endowed with taqwa [that You will sustain us] with its
essence, its
fruit, its main roots and its branches and may You lodge us in the highest
stations of rectitude, and raise us to certainty at the highest levels of
certainty, and that You may grant us entry to the path of following,
in words, deeds,
intentions, and works ,Your beloved, the most honoured of created beings in
your presence, namely our beloved messenger Muhammad, may Allah bless him and
bestow peace upon him, as well as his household, and that You may make ample
our share of love for this beloved and of following him in all our states and
that You make us, O our Lord, among the happiest of people by virtue of him, and
those closest to him, and among those who cherish the greatest lasting love for
him, and may You honour us with the vision of his honoured face, Allah bless
him and bestow peace upon him and his household whilst he is well pleased with
us, in sleep and our wakeful moments, in this world,

the
world in between and the hereafter, and may You honour us, O our Lord, with
complete and copious blessing in our works, our intentions, and our
sustenance and
in our movements and stillness, and may You make the coming years of
our lives rotate
around firmness in our religion and dedication to Your service, and may You
protect us in all this from the evil of Satan, and his works, and from the evil
of the evil-commanding soul, and its work, and from the evil of worldly
temptation, and may You protect us from plunging into its gewgaws, and its
decorations, and from such tests as derive from it in the area of wealth and
dependents

and
things other than these, and from yielding to ruinous passions, and may You
protect us from being overwhelmed in the domain of ephemeral desires, and from
evil companions and their companionship, and may You make our renewed spans of
life all employed in what is well pleasing to You, and such bounties as You
have generously bestowed upon us, may You enable us to offer gratitude for
that, and may You make us, O our Lord, among those who hold firm to the firm
handhold of sincerity towards You, in all our pursuits, and may You embrace in
all these supplications, our children and our parents, and our friends and our
brethren in religion, and endow us with an immense strength which will
[further] strengthen us in obedience to You, and in the discharge of Your
obligation upon us, in the manner that You like, and with which You are well
pleased, and may You grant us a plentiful share with which to strive vigorously
in Your service, and in the constancy of such works as will earn Your good
pleasure, and may You open for us, a manifest opening, in the reflection of the
magnificent Quran, and in the access to its secrets, and in the excellent
manners at the time of reciting its verses, and when listening to them, and may
You grant us, O our Lord, the memorisation of its words and the fulfilling of
its obligations, and the response to its call, and the hastening to abide by
its commands and the avoidance of its prohibitions, and may You make us amongst
a people who are loyally wedded to its rights, and may You appoint it for us,
in Your presence, a witness of sincerity through fulfilling what it calls us
to, O Most Merciful of the Merciful, [since every merciful one receives the
gift of mercy from You],

and
may Allah bestow blessings on our beloved messenger Muhammad and his household,

and
upon his companions in their entirety, and the praise is Allah’s, Lord of all

universes

Sunday, November 20, 2011

New Year advice

Bismillah
As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

We pray this message finds you and your loved ones well, in sha Allah.

Attached we have included Sayyidi Habib Umar's end of the year - new year
message, along with the du'a of Hb. Ali al-Habshi (Allah be pleased with
him), translated by Ustadh Muhammad Ahmad, to be read at the end of the
year, in sha Allah.

May Allah bring great good to the Umma in the coming year, rectify our
affairs and may He bring relief to those who are suffering.

Please benefit and share with others, and include us in your prayers.
BarakAllahufikum
Was-salam,

--
*Wayfarers Coordinator*

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

End of Year/New Year Message

The following is summarised from a talk given by Habib `Umar bin Hafiz (Allah preserve him):#
We bid farewell to a to another year of the Hijra of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), a year which contains a number of days and nights which are what makes up your lifespan. If a day passes then a part of you has passed. You are but a body and spirit existent in a limited time period. When that period comes to an end you come to an end. It is only those of sound intellect who realise the true value of these days and nights that pass. They know that it is He Who made the Night and the Day to follow each other: for the one who wishes to reflect or to show gratitude.# Whatever anyone has achieved throughout the days and nights that has not increased them in reflection and gratitude has missed the purpose and fundamental wisdom for which these days and nights were created and for which mankind was created.
We witness the passing of time and the alternation of seasons and changes and events. Things which are agreeable to us; things which are unpleasant – all of which test us. We witness the passing away of those who live alongside us, some of it expected, some of it unexpected. All of this is by the decree of the All-Powerful Sovereign.
We welcome likewise a new year. Every individual must look at their level of reflection and gratitude so they may obtain their provision from these days and nights. Amongst the meanings of reflection is removing the veils from the spirit to remember the original covenant which it took with its Lord and clearing away the dust to extend its gaze to its eventual destination. As for gratitude, everything which is of any benefit to creation comes into its sphere. The Master of Creation said (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), “Should I not be a grateful slave?” He is the most grateful of creation to the Creator, and through his gratitude we show gratitude to the Creator. May Allah bind us to him in this life and the next.
It is He Who made the Night and the Day to follow each other: for the one who wishes to reflect or to show gratitude. What are the signs and the attributes of the people of reflection and gratitude? Read the eleven attributes that follow this verse, beginning with: The slaves of the Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, "Peace!" (They are) those who spend the night in worship of their Lord prostrate and standing..#
Reflect upon these attributes and ask yourself what portion you have of them. Do not be content merely to pass over them superficially. Delve into them deeply, hold firm to them and embody their meanings. Each of these attributes has a residing place in your inner being. If each attribute finds its place you will, in your inner being, be one of the slaves of the Most Gracious and every day and night you will increase in reflection and gratitude, and He will prepare you for an indescribable reward. “I have prepared for my righteous slaves that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and what no man can imagine.”
The majority of the people of Islam and Iman have made no preparation for the vision of the face of the Best of Mankind, accompanying him on the day of Crowding and then in Dar al-Salam, the Abode of Peace. Does this warrant you giving anything less than your all? How much have you put towards this: of your thoughts, your actions, the attributes of your heart, of the hours of your day and night? After the death of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) Sayyiduna al-Siddiq would spend his nights crying out of his longing for him. Do we allow the ups and downs of this fleeting life and the desires of our enemies to tear these feelings away from us? Will you exchange the better for the worse? All you who believe, accompanying him is greater than anything we can imagine. There is no gift more exquisite that the Lord of the Throne may bless you with than his companionship and the vision of his face and addressing the possessor of that face. He is a man like no other, the Beloved of the Creator.
If these feelings were alive in the hearts of the Ummah all causes of evil inward and outward would be blocked and the Ummah would be safe from every tribulation. The level of tribulation in which we find ourselves is according to our deficiency in our love for Allah and His Chosen One (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).
At the end of this year may Allah grant us the ability to please His Beloved through seeking to improve our states and our transactions and what takes places in our houses and what is in our hearts. Nothing should be more beloved to us than Allah and nothing in creation, not even Paradise, should be more beloved to us than Muhammad. No created thing can take precedence over Muhammad, because Allah Himself gave him precedence over all of creation.
For this reason the Companion Rabi`ah ibn Ka`b could think of nothing better to ask from the Messenger of Allah than his companionship in Paradise. The response of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was to order him to make abundant prostration. The closest a slave is to Allah is when he is in prostration. If you desire to be close to the one who is closest to Allah make abundant prostration. One of the meanings of this prostration is to rid our houses of anything which is contravenes his Sunnah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). Let this Hijri year finish and with it any contravention of the Sunnah. This is prostration. You want to accompany him but you do not want to live in accordance with his teaching? Let this year finish and you are in a state of preparation to meet the best of Allah’s slaves (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).


Knocking at Allah’s door
Habib Ali bin Muhammad al-Habshi’s supplication for the beginning of the
year.
In his book, A Breath of Fragrance, al-Habib Umar bin Ahmad bin Abi Bakr bin
Sumeit refers to Habib Ali in the following terms: ‘He is an Imam about whose
sublime sainthood there is unanimity, as there was universal witness to the fact
he was the rising sun of the horizons, the vicegerent of the master of all Envoys
and the incumbent of an exalted station in the ranks of those drawn nigh to
Allah, the blessing of existence and the ka’ba of munificence’. Come and share
with us the oratory of his soul.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah the All-Merciful the All-Compassionate
ألْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِيْنَ.
All praise is Allah’s, Lord of all creations.
أللَّهُمَّ
O Lord, with all beauteous names (Allahuma),
أللَّهُمَّ صّلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ
bestow blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad,
وَسِيلَتِنَا العُظْمَى إلَيْكَ
our supreme access to You
فِي اسْتِجَابَةِ مَادَعَوْنَاهُ
in the answer to what we supplicate for,
وَتَحْقِيقِ مَارَجَوْناهُ
the achievement of what we aspire to,
وَغَفْرِ مَا جَنَيْنَاهُ
and the forgiving of such wrongdoings as we have committed,
وَعَلَى ألِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَمَنْ وَالاَهُ.
and upon members of his household and his companions and those who
support him.
اللَّهُمَّ إنَّهُ مَضَي عَلَيْنَا مِنْ مُدَّةِ الحَيَاةِ عَامٌ
Indeed, elapsed in our span of life is a whole year,
قَلَّدْتَنَا فِيهِ مِنْ نِعَمِكَ
You have garlanded us in it with Your bounties
مَا لاَ نَسْتَطِيع أدَآءَ الشُكْرِ عَلَيهِ
for which we are unable to offer gratitude,
وَحَفِظْتَنَا فِيْهِ
and You have protected us in it
مِنْ الأسْوَاءِ وَالمَكَارِهِ
from evils and unpleasant things
مَالاَ نَسْتَطِيعُ دَفْعَهُ.
from which we could not have protected ourselves,
وَقَدْ أؤْدَعْنَاهُ مِنَ الأعْمَال
and we have put into it works
مَا أنْتَ عَلِيمٌ بِهِ.
of which You are All-Knowing.
فَمَا وَفَّقْتَنَا فِيْهِ مِنْ حَسَنَاتٍ
Such good deeds which You have enabled us to do in it,
فَتَقَبَّلْ ذَالِكَ مِنَّا
may You please accept that from us,
واآْتُبْهُ لَنَا عِنْدَكَ مِنَ الأعْمَاَل الصَّالِحَاتِ
and may You record them in Your presence as virtuous works,
واغْفِرْ لَنَا مَادَاخَلْنَا فِيهِ مِنْ شَوَائِبِ
and may You forgive us the blemishes
الرِّيَاءِ
of ostentation,
والعُجُبِ
and self-glory,
والتَّصَنُّعِ
and self-embellishment,
وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ
and other things as have interfered with them,
واجْعَلْهُ وَسِيلَةً لَنَا
and may You make them a means through which
إلَى رِضَاكَ عَنَّا وَزُلْفَى لَدَيْكَ.
we are led to Your good pleasure and drawn near to You,
وَمَا قَارَفْنَا فِيْهِ مِنْ سَيِّئاتٍ وَخَطِيََّاتٍ. وَاَفْعَالٍ غَيْرِ مَرْضِيَّاتٍ. وَنِيَّاتٍ غَيْرِ صَالِحَاتٍ.
and such evil deeds and errors as we have committed. And actions unpleasing
in Your sight. And intentions which are unrighteous
بِجَوَارِحَنَا وَقُلُوبِنَا
[such of these that we may have committed] with our limbs and our hearts
فَنَسْأَلُكَ اللَّهُمّ
we ask You, Allahuma,
بِحَقٍّ ذَاتِكَ
by virtue of Your essence
وَأسْمَائِكَ
and Your names
وَصِفَاتِكَ
and Your attributes,
وَبِحقِّ القُرآنِ العَظِيْمِ
and by virtue of the sublime Quran
وَآُتُبِكَ الْمُنْزَلَةِ،
and Your revealed books,
وَبِحَقِّ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ صَلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ
and by virtue of our master Muhammad, Allah bless him and bestow peace
upon him as well as members of his household,
وَبِحَقِّ مَنْ لَهُ وَجَاهَةُ عِنْدَكَ
and by virtue of whosoever has rank before You
مِنْ جَمِيْعِ خَلْقِكَ
amongst all Your created beings,
أنْ تَغْفِرَ الذُنُوبَ آُلَّهَا
that You will forgive all those wrongdoings
وَتَسْتُرَ العُيُوبَ آُلَّهَا،
and cover all those defects,
وَتَتَفَضَّلَ عَلَيْنَا
and that You will favour us
مِنْ وَاسِعِ جُوْدِكَ العَظِيِمْ
from Your ample, magnificent, generosity
بِجَمِيْعِ مَا نُؤَمِّلُ،
with all that we aspire to,
وَأنْ تُبَدِّلَ سَيِّئَاتِنَا حَسَنَاتٍ،
and that You will exchange our evils actions for good ones,
وَتُبَلِّغَنَا مِنْ رِضَاكَ عَنَّا
and that You will enable us to attain Your good pleasure
أقْصَى الأُمْنِيَّاتِ
at the highest level of our aspirations
وَنِهَايَةَ المُرَادَاتِ
and the uppermost limit of our wishes.
وَنَحْنُ آَمَا تَعْلَمُنَا
And we, as You know us,
نَوَاصِيْنَا بِيَدِكَ
have our forelocks in Your hands
وَأمْرُنَا فِي جَمِيْعِ حَالَاتِنَا إلَيْكَ،
and our entire affair, in all our states, come back to You,
وَمَا قَامَ مَعَنَا مِنْ ظَنٍّ جَمِيْلٍ بِكَ أنْتَ تَعْلَمُهُ،
and whatever good opinion we cherish regarding You, You are well aware of
it,
وَاضْطِرَارُنَا إلَيْكَ
and our absolute dependence upon You,
وَافْتِقَارُنَا لَكَ
and extreme need of You,
لاَ يَخْفَى عَلَيْكَ،
are not concealed from You,
وَهَذِهِ أَآُفُّنَا
and here are our hands
مَبْسُوْطَةٌ لَدَيْكَ
stretched out towards You
وَقُلُوبُنَا مُتَوَجِّهَةٌ إلَيْكَ،
and our hearts are focused upon You,
فَلا تُخَيِّبْنَا
do not therefore, turn us away empty handed,
يَا أمَلَ المُؤَمِّلِيْنَ
O, the Hope of all aspirers!
وَيَا مَلاذَ الَّلائِذِيْنَ،
And the Refuge of all refuge seekers!
اِرْحَمْ مَنْ نَادَاكَ
Show mercy unto he who calls You
وَهُوَ يَعْتَقِدُ أنَّكَ رَبَّهُ،
when he believes that You are his Lord
وَقَصَدكَ وَأنْتَ حَسْبُهُ،
and comes exclusively to You, when indeed, You are his sufficiency,
وَقَدْ اسْتَقْبَلَنَا مِنْ بَعْدِ عَاِمَنا المَاضِي
After the outgoing year
عَامٌ جَدِيدٌ
a new year has come upon us
مَا نَدْرِي
while we do not know
مَاذَا سَبَقَ فِي عِلْمِكَ فِيْنَا،
what has been pre-ordained in Your knowledge regarding us.
وَرَجَاؤُنَا
And our hope is
أنْ تَفْتَحَ لَنَا فِي هَذَا العَامِ الجَدِيْدِ
that You will open for us, in this new year,
بَابَ التَّوْبَةِ الصَّادِقَةِ الخَالِصَةِ
a door of sincere, genuine, repentance
الَّتِي لَا يَعْقُبُهَا نَكْثٌ،
from which we shall not renege,
وَأنْ تَرْزُقَنَا فِيْهِ
and that You will grace us in it
مِنَ التَّوْفِيقِ
with the ability
لِلأعْمَالِ الصَّالِحَةِ
for virtuous works,
المَقْبُوْلَةِ عِنْدَكَ
acceptable to You,
مَا يُوجِبُ لَنَا رِضَاكَ عَنَّا،
that will in turn grace us with Your good pleasure towards us,
وَأنْ تَعْمُر جَوَارِحَنَا
and that You will employ our limbs
بِطَاعَتِكَ المَرْضِيَّةِ عِنْدَكَ،
in obedience that is well-pleasing in Your sight,
وَقُلُوبْنَا بِحُبِّكَ
and our hearts with love for You,
وَحُبِّ مَنْ تُحِبُّهُ
and love for whomsoever You love,
وَحُبِّ مَا تُحِبُّهُ،
and love for whatsoever You love,
وَتُوَسِّعَ قُلُوبَنَا
and that You will expand our hearts
وَتُؤَهِّلْهَا
and grant them the capacity
لِمَعْرِفَِتكَ الخَاصَّةِ
for Your special knowledge,
الَّتِي أآْرَمْتَ بِهَا عِبَادَكَ العَارِفِيْنَ
with which You have ennobled such of Your servants that are possessed of
knowledge about You
وَأوْلِيَائَكَ الصَّالِحِيْنَ،
and virtuous saints,
وَتَرْزُقَنَا مَِن التَّقْوَى
and that You will sustain us with taqwa
الَّتِي أآْرَمْتَ بِهَا عِبَادَكَ المُتَّقِيْنَ
with which You have ennobled servants of Yours who are endowed with
taqwa
حَقِيْقَتَهَا
[that You will sustain us] with its essence,
وَثَمَرَتَهَا
its fruit,
وَأُصُولَهَا
its main roots
وَفُرُوعَهَا،
and its branches
وَتُنْزِلَنَا مِنَ الإسْتِقَامَةِ أعْلَى مَنَازِلِهَا،
and may You lodge us in the highest stations of rectitude,
وَمِنَ اليَقِينِ أرْفَعَ مَرَاتِبِهِ،
and raise us to certainty at the highest levels of certainty,
وَتَسْلُكَ بِنَا سَبِيلَ الإتِّبَاعِ
and that You may grant us entry to the path of following,
فِي الأقْوَالِ
in words,
وَالأفْعَالِ
deeds,
وَالنِّيَّاتِ
intentions,
وَالأعْمَالِ
and works,
لِحَبِيبِكَ
Your beloved,
أشْرَفَ خَلْقِكَ عَلَيْكَ
the most honoured of created beings in your presence,
سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّد صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ،
namely our master Muhammad, may Allah bless him and bestow peace upon
him, as well as his household,
وَتُوَفِّرَ حَظَّنَا مِنْ حُبِّ
and that You may make ample our share of love
هَذَا الحَبِيْبِ
for this beloved
وَاتَّبَاعِهِ
and of following him
فِي آُلِّ أحْوَالِنَا،
in all our states
وَتَجْعَلَنَا يَا رَبَّنَا
and that You make us, O our Lord,
مِنْ أسْعَدِ النَّاسِ بِهِ
among the happiest of people by virtue of him,
وَأقْرَبِ النَّاسِ إلَيْهِ
and those closest to him,
وَمِنْ أعْظَمِ الخَلْقِ مَوَدَّةٌ لَهُ،
and among those who cherish the greatest lasting love for him,
وَشَرِّفْنَا بِرُؤْيَةِ وَجْهِهِ الشَّرِيْفِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ
and may You honour us with the vision of his honoured face, Allah bless him
and bestow peace upon him and his household
وَهُوَ رَاضٍ عَنَّا
whilst he is well pleased with us,
فِي المَنَامِ
in sleep
وَاليَقَظَةِ
and our wakeful moments,
وَفِي الدُّنْيَا
in this world,
وَالبَرْزَخِ
the world in between
وَ وَفِي الآخِرَةِ،
and the hereafter,
وَأآْرِمْنَا يَا رَبَّنَا
and may You honour us, O our Lord,
بِالْبَرَآَةِ التَّامَّةِ الوَاسِعَةِ فِي أعْمَالِنَا،
with complete and copious blessing in our works,
وَفِي نِيَّاتِنَا
our intentions,
وَفِي أرْزَاقِنَا
and our sustenance
وَفِي حَرَآَاتِنَا
and in our movements
وَ سَكَنَاتِنَا،
and stillness,
وَاجْعَلِ الأعْوَامَ المُسْتَقْبَلَةِ مِنْ أعْمَارِنَا
and may You make the coming years of our lives
دَائِرَةً عَلَيْنَا بِالثَّبَاتِ عَلى دِينِكَ،
rotate around firmness in our religion
وَالإقْبَالِ عَلَى خِدْمَتِكَ،
and dedication to Your service,
وَاحْفَظْنَا فِي جَمِيْعِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطَانِ
and may You protect us in all this from the evil of Satan,
وّعَمَلِهِ
and his works,
وَشَرِّ النَّفْسِ الأمَّارَةِ بِالسَّوْءِ وَعَمَلِهَا،
and from the evil of the evil-commanding soul, and its work,
وَشَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الدُنْيَا،
and from the evil of worldly temptation,
وَاحْفَظْنَا مِنَ الوُقُوعِ مَعَ زَخَارِفِهَا
and may You protect us from plunging into its gewgaws,
وَزِيْنَتَهَا
and its decorations,
وَمِمَّا اَخْتَبَرْتَنَا بِهِ فِيْهَا مِنْ مَالٍ وَعِيَالٍ
and from such tests as derive from it in the area of wealth and dependents
وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ،
and things other than these,
وَمِنْ مُطَاوَعَةِ الهَوَى المُرْدِيِّ،
and from yielding to ruinous passions,
وَاحْفَظْنَا مِنْ تَغْلِيْبِ جَانِبِ الحُظُوْظِ العَاجِلَةِ،
and may You protect us from being overwhelmed in the domain of ephemeral
desires,
وَمِنْ قُرَنَاءِ السُوْءِ وَمُخَالَطَتَهُمْ ،
and from evil companions and their companionship,
وَاجْعَلْ أوْقَاتَ أعْمَارِنَا المُتَجَدِدَّة
and may You make our renewed spans of life
مَصْرُوْفَةً آُلَّهَا فِيْمَا يُرْضِيْكَ عَنَّا،
all employed in what is well pleasing to You,
وَمَا تَفَضَّلْتَ بِهِ عَلَيْنَا مِنْ نِعَمٍ
and such bounties as You have generously bestowed upon us,
وَفِّقْنَا فِيْهِ لِلشُّكْرِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ،
may You enable us to offer gratitude for that,
وَاجْعَلْنَا يَا رَبَّنَا
and may You make us, O our Lord,
مِنَ المُسْتَمْسِكِيْنَ بِالعُرْوَةِ الوُثْقَى
among those who hold firm to the firm handhold
مِنَ الصِّدْقِ مَعَكَ فِي جَمِيعِ تَوَجُّهَاتِنَا.
of sincerity towards You, in all our pursuits,
وَعُمَّ بِهَذِهِ الدَّعَوَاتِ
and may You embrace in all these supplications
أوْلادَنَا
our children
وَوَالِدِينَا
and our parents,
وَأصْحَابَنَا
and our friends
وَإخْوَانَنَا فِي الدِّيْنِ،
and our brethren in religion,
وَهَبْ لَنَا قُوَّةً
and endow us with an immense strength
نَقْوَى بِهَا عَلى طَاعَتِكَ
which will [further] strengthen us in obedience to You,
وَأدَاءِ حَقِّكَ عَلَى الوَجْهِ الَّذِي تُحِبُّهُ وَتَرْضَاهُ،
and in the discharge of Your obligation upon us, in the manner that You like,
and with which You are well pleased,
وََاجْعَلْ لَنَا حَظًّا وَافِراً مِنَ التَّشْمِيرِ فِي خِدْمَتِكَ
and may You grant us a plentiful share with which to strive vigorously in Your
service,
وَمُوَاصَلَةِ الأعْمَالِ المُوْجِبَةِ لِرِضَاكَ،
and in the constancy of such works as will earn Your good pleasure,
وَافْتَحْ لَنَا فَتْحاً مُبِيناً
and may You open for us, a manifest opening,
فِي تَدَبُّرِ القُرْآنِ العَظِيْمِ
in the reflection of the magnificent Quran,
وَالوُقُوفِ عَلَى أسْرَارِهِ
and in the access to its secrets,
وَحُسْنِ الأدَبِ عِنْدَ تِلاَوَةِ آيَاتِهِ
and in the excellent manners at the time of reciting its verses,
وَسَمَاعِهَا،
and when listening to them,
وَارْزُقْنَا يَا رَبَّنَا
and may You grant us, O our Lord,
حِفْظَ ألْفَاظِهِ
the memorisation of its words
وَحِفْظَ حَقِّهِ
and the fulfilling of its obligations,
وَإجَابَةِ دَاعِيهِ
and the response to its call,
وَالمُبَادَرَةَ إلَى اِمْتِثَالِ أمْرِه
and the hastening to abide by its commands
وَاجْتِنَابِ نَهْيِهِ،
and the avoidance of its prohibitions,
وَاجْعَلْنَا مِنْ أهْلِ الوَفَاءِ بِحَقِّهِ
and may You make us amongst a people who are loyally wedded to its rights,
وَاجْعَلْهُ لَنَا عِنْدَكَ شَاهِداً بِالصِّدْقِ فِي العَمَلِ بِمَا دَعَانَا إلَيْهِ يَا أرْحَمَ الرَّاحمِيْنَ.
and may You appoint it for us, in Your presence, a witness of sincerity through
fulfilling what it calls us to, O Most Merciful of the Merciful, [since every
merciful one receives the gift of mercy from You],
وَصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أجْمَعِينَ وَالحَمْدُلِلّهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ.
and may Allah bestow blessings on our master Muhammad and his household,
and upon his companions in their entirety, and the praise is Allah’s, Lord of all
universes.
-------------------------------------------------------
Credits:
Those deserving our warm gratitude for their help in this work are quite a few. They include Sayyidina al-Habib
Abd al-Qadir bin A’bd ar-Rahman bin U’mar al-Junayd for his guidance, Bibi Zainab Ali Foum, Shaikh Nassor
bin Maalim Abdalla bin Maalim Mohammed Abu Bakr, Mohammed Ahmed bin Himid Mbaye, Rashid A. Saleh,
Maalim Ibrahim Ahmad Musa, Ali & Arif S. Dahoma, Fatima Issa Kara, Ahmad Ibrahim Khalid, A.R., Nuru
Adam, Shaikh Abdalla Miraja Othman, Alawi bin Shams az-Zaman al-Haddad – they all look forward to duas for
their various connections to this modest contribution.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

ADVICE: The Gifts of Hajj are Available to All

Bismillah



Sayyidi al-Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah preserve him) reminds us that the linguistic meaning of Hajj is seeking or intending. Thus the people of Allah are constantly performing Hajj because they are constantly seeking Allah. Just as their whole year is Ramadan, likewise their whole year is Hajj. Just as those performing Hajj respond to the call of Allah by saying “labbayk” they are swift to respond to the call of Allah. They take themselves to account and leave that which is disliked and dubious in all their states and actions. They reject the desires of their lower selves and they are the furthest of people from that which is prohibited. They constantly receive new blessings from their Lord so they constantly renew their ihram.[1] Day and night they make tawaf around the House of their Lord, the One to Whom they turn themselves with absolute sincerity until nothing remains in them which is directed to other than Allah.



The bounty of Allah is available at all times of the day and night. This is why Allah swears by the morning light (duha) and by the night that He has not forsaken His Beloved (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), nor is He displeased with him.



If the Hajj has not been made possible for you, join with those making Hajj and share in their reward: by spending your wealth for the sake of Allah on your relatives, on the needy, by turning to Allah with your whole being. Make numerous your footsteps to good places, especially at the time of Fajr, and you will receive glad tidings from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): “Give glad tidings of complete light on the Day of Judgement to those who walk constantly to the mosque in the darkness.”[2] Those whose light is complete will no doubt be in his company (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) on the day on which Allah does not disgrace the Prophet and those who believe along with him. Their light stretches out in front of them and upon their right sides.[3]



Ask to be present with them, and thank Allah for allowing our spirits to be with them. So many hearts in the far East or the far West receive the gifts of `Arafat and Mina because of their truthfulness with Allah.

Actions that carry the reward of Hajj



Nothing of course can equal actually performing the Hajj and worshipping Allah in those blessed places. However, since Allah knows that many people long to make Hajj every year but are unable to do so out of His generosity He made the reward for certain actions similar to the reward of a supererogatory Hajj.

Remembering Allah from Fajr until Ishraq. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Whoever who prays Subh (Fajr) in congregation and then sits in the place where he prayed remembering Allah until the sun rises and then prays two rakats has the reward of a complete Hajj and `Umrah.” He repeated “complete” three times.[4]
Attending a gathering of knowledge. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “The one who goes out to the mosque wanting only to learn good or teach it has the reward of a complete Hajj.”[5]
Going to the mosque for the congregational prayer. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “Whoever performs ablution in his house and then goes out to perform the obligatory prayer in the mosque has a reward similar to the reward of a Hajj pilgrim. Whoever goes out to perform the mid-morning prayer (Duha) has a reward similar to the reward of the one performing `Umrah.”[6]
Performing the Friday Prayer. Sa`id bin al-Musayyib said performing the Friday Prayer is “more beloved to me than a supererogatory Hajj.”
Performing the Eid Prayer. One of the Companions said: “Going out to pray Eid al-Fitr is equal to performing `Umrah and going out to pray Eid al-Adha is equal to performing Hajj.”
Fulfilling the needs of your brother or sister. Hasan al-Basri said: “Going to fulfil the need of your brother is better for you than performing Hajj after Hajj.”
Being good to your parents. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) commanded one of the Companions to be good to his mother. If you do so, he said: “You are a Hajj pilgrim, a person performing `Umrah and someone striving for the sake of Allah (mujahid).”
Performing obligatory actions. The slave can only draw near to Allah by performing supererogatory actions after first having performed that which is obligatory. This includes purifying one’s heart from forbidden attributes and guarding one’s tongue and limbs from committing forbidden actions. All of this is much harder on the lower self than many supererogatory acts of worship.


Finally there is no action more beloved to Allah on the Day of Eid than making a sacrifice. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) told his beloved daughter Sayyida Fatima al-Zahra that she would be forgiven for her previous wrongdoings with the first drop of blood to be shed from the sacrificed animal. She asked if this reward was specifically for the household of the Prophet and he replied: “For us and for all the Muslims.” If anyone wants to make a sacrifice (qurbaani/udhia) here in Tarim please write to info-eng@alrafh.org for more information as soon as possible.

[1] The state of sanctity in which the pilgrim approaches Allah

[2] Narrated by Abu Daud

[3]Al-Tahrim, 66.8

[4] Narrated by al-Tirmidhi

[5] Narrated by al-Tabarani

[6] Narrated by Abu Daud




--

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Chapter 2 (Intention)

CHAPTER 2 (on intention) 17.02.07, 18.09.11

The intention of study (Imam Haddad) ~ tazakur wa tazakir: sometimes we can hear the same thing, but something struck for example Syeikh Talal said about salatul awwabin (those who return when people forget). Twice mentioned: solat duha and solatul awwabin (baynal isya'ain - not necessary after maghrib, maybe before isya') rewards: 12 years of solah
~dalalata 'alal khayr - dalil = indicate, sign

Intention: general, niyaat synonym with a few words
- mayl: inclination, leaning on something
- qasad: direction and intention, direct yourself (general, for eg. I want to go to Mekah, not the legal niyah when you put the ihram on)
- himmah: inspiration, something that drive you, passion, desire, eg, if I have money, I’ll spend it on charity (key word = if)
- himmah daniyah:
- azam: firm conviction, determination
- iradah: want, desire, will (think every single time what RasuluLlahi sallaLLahu 'alayhi wasallam inclined to, what he wants)
- hajiz is concern, something enters the heart (habib ahmad b zayn al-habsyi - hajiz huwa asal, origin, beginning of inetntion) the seeds that were thrown in heart which grow

- an-niyah ruhul ‘amal kal ruh lil jasad. like the rain to the earth

- measure of intention: depends on the aspiration whether it’s high or low. The hadith innamal a’mal... the measure of any intention whether it’s good or bad is by checking whether it is towards the next world or this world. Even when people exercise, outwardly it is the same but the intention is what make the act gets rewards.
- Ibnu Hajar said boxing is haram because the purpose is to hit people's face. He forbids watching and involving oneself in boxing.

- islah: virtuous, correct, to repair

- ikhlas: make it pure, directed towards

- ‘ innama a’mal..’ Imam Syafi’e: ⅓ of deen. (1/3 is intention, ⅓ is vocal and ⅓ physical action). Imam Ahmad bin Hambal: knowledge is based on 3 hadith
Abu Dawood read 500,000 hadith and collected 4800 hadith for his Sunan, he can compiled it to 4 hadith.
Innama: lil hasyr = only limited to; nothing else important
another narration, didn’t have innama

- wherever your journey to Allah is, you will find Him

- will an act be counted if it has no intention; it can be laghwi, waste or play. However, the time will be take into account.
- If one pray asar with the intention of Asar, but he said Zohor, it is valid because the intention is what is in the heart.
- If you become lazy in your ibadah, think of the reward: this will take you forward
- If your eyes started wandering and looking at haraam thing: have fear of Allah.

- Hadith: intention of a believer is better than his action (niyatul mu'min khayrun min 'amalihi). Someone asked about sadaqah jariyah. He knew of a well that muslim pass by. He indicated for people to buy. A muslim went to buy it but a jewish person has already bought it and sold the water to people. He came back to tell RasuliLlah salaLlahu 'alayhi wasallam and he said the above hadith.

- Syeikh Ali Bin Abu Bakr As-Sakran before going out of his house, always write down all his intentions.

- According to Syhrul ‘ainiyah, Habib Ahmad bin Zain Al-habsyi.. and of the good intention, have many of them, be sincere and beware be vigilant and have fear

- Salim bin Abdullah bin Umar wrote a letter to S. Umar bin Abdul Aziz saying ‘the assistance of Allah to slave depends on his intention. Whoever perfects his intention, Allah perfects His assistance to him.’ (Allah fi 'auni abdi ma tamat niyatahu). - He is the son of AbdulLah ibnu Umar, who's when he's 11 years old knew the answer for RasuliLlah salaLlahu 'alayhi wasallam's question: Once Allah's Apostle said, "Amongst the trees there is a tree, the leaves of which do not fall and is like a Muslim, tell me the name of that tree." Everybody started thinking about the trees of the desert areas and I thought of the date-palm tree but felt shy (to answer). The others asked, "O Allah's Apostle! inform us of it." He replied, "it is the date-palm tree." I told my father what had come to my mind and on that he said, "Had you said it I would have preferred it to such and such a thing that I might possess." (Sahih Bukhari)

- The sunnah is when we are travelling to somewhere important, he will take the shortest route and the quickest mean.
- The intention can be measured to our response on a situation eg. if someone make us angry on the road and we swear - it becomes fasida (spoiled, corrupt, not true intention)
saliha (pure intention) is when we smile and not angry even we are facing difficult situation. When he salaLlahu 'alayhi wasallam been treated badly, zadahu bil hilmi

- Imam Haddad: all the foundation is in the first paragraph like Riyadatul Saliheen - easier to understand. For eg zakat in Sahih Bukhari on camel and gold but not gold. In Riyadul saliheen, zakat is on one hadith on camel..

Ratabahu = applied to Him, assigned

Monday, July 25, 2011

How to prepare for Ramadhan

Bism Allah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem

How to Prepare for Ramadan

By Ustadha Eiman Sidky

*A Translation from Arabic



1. Tawba/Repentance: Sincerely repent by remembering each sin and making tawba for it.

· A reminder that tawba erases all that precedes it, and that Allah loves those who make tawba.

2. Purification of the heart and entering the month to Allah with humility and broken-ness (inkisar)

3. Pray 2 rak’at (units), asking Allah in sujood (prostration) all that you desire, for He can select you and abundantly show His generosity upon you. (Huwa yistifeeki wu yikrimik)

· A reminder that the servant is the most near to his/her Lord is during prostration.

4. Free yourself and the family for the time of witnessing the Hilal/Crescent, be from amongst the first who see it, and when you do see it, recite the following Dua:

“ALLAAHUMMA AHILLAHOO A'LAYNAA BIL-AMNI WAL EEMAANI WAS SALAAMATI WAL ISLAAM. RABBEE WA RABBUKALLAAHU”
“O Allah! Let this month be a period of peace, faith safety and total submission to your will. My Lord and your Lord is Allah”

5. Purify your home from all that will displease or anger Allah (anything that contains haram/impermissibility).

6. Return the trusts to their owners, and reconcile/end any quarrels.

7. Congregate the pure and sincere intentions and prepare the duas/supplications that you will implore on Allah during Ramadan.

8. Prepare your charity box, for Rasool Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to give charity abundantly during Ramadan. Also prepare a worship/ibada timetable for yourself and the family.

9. Seek to please and give to your family out of sheer joy as a sign of happiness with Ramadan.

10. Prepare to be freed from the Hell-fire; however you must first free yourself from sins, small or great, such as usury, looking at haram, listening to haram, etc.

· A reminder that the one who is freed/protected from the Hell-fire is the best of worshipers and best in manners.

11. Talk to your children to prepare them for suhoor, for this is the time during which Al-Rahman will gaze upon His servants, and Allah and His Angels send blessings upon those who get up for suhoor.

12. Making a plan such that if someone in the family gets lazy in a form of worship, then the rest of the family should encourage them with it.

13. Try to prepare your food before Ramadan (store it in the freezer) so you are not burdened with the length of time to cook during Ramadan. Try to buy the Eid clothes early to be free during the last ten days for worship and not shopping. Do not forget to revive the night before Eid in worship for Allah frees from the Hell-fire servants as many as those He freed one each day from the beginning to the end of the month of Ramadan. Go to the Masjid/Mosque during the night before Eid using one route and returning from another route.



Dua/Supplication When Ramadan Enters:
“Allahumma sallimni bi Ramadan wa sallim Ramadan wa sallimhu minni mutaqabbala”

“Oh Allah! Protect and give me peace with Ramadan, and protect and give peace to Ramadan, and protect and give peace to Ramdan and accept it from me”

Friday, July 08, 2011

Sha'ban

Bismillah

We will shortly be entering Shaban. Allah give us the best ending to the month of Rajab and the best entry to Shaban.


Merits of Sha`ban
The scholars say that the linguistic root of the word Sha`ban is a branch, because the month of Sha`ban “branches off” and leads on to many good things. It acts as a bridge between the two blessed months of Rajab and Ramadan. In spite of this, it is often neglected. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) alerted us to this fact when he was asked why he was fasting so much in Sha`ban. He replied: “It is a month that people neglect, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which actions are raised to the Lord of the Worlds and I love for my actions to be raised while I am fasting.”[1]

What is meant by actions being raised? The scholars say it is a symbolic displaying of our actions to Allah. Of course Allah is All-Seeing, All-Knowing and does not need for our actions to be displayed to him as He is constantly aware of them. However if the slave is not aware of Allah’s constant vigilance then he should at least strive to do good actions at times when his actions are displayed to Allah. If he is able to gain Allah’s pleasure at these times then he hopes that Allah will overlook his wrongdoings and shortcomings at other times. There is a daily display after Fajr and `Asr, and a weekly display on Monday and Thursday, and a yearly display which takes place in the month of Sha`ban. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was keen to do good works at all these times and was keen for his Ummah to do the same.


One of the greatest works we can do in Sha`ban is fasting, and this is what the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) loved to be doing when his actions were raised, on Monday and Thursday and also during Sha`ban. Sayyida `A’isha said of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): “I did not see him fasting in any month more than Sha`ban.”[2] She also said: “The month which he loved to fast the most was Sha`ban.”[3] Both hadith of course refer to voluntary fasting outside of Ramadan. Some hadith suggest that he would fast the whole of Sha`ban, although there is perhaps more evidence to suggest that he would fast most of the month and leave a few days. In another hadith he said (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), in response once again to a question about his fasting in Sha`ban: “In this month those who are destined to die are recorded for the Angel of Death. I love for my name to be recorded when I am fasting.”[4]

One of the wisdoms behind the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) fasting abundantly in Sha`ban is mentioned by Sayyida `A’isha, who said that in Sha`ban he would make up any voluntary fasts that he had missed during the course of the year.[5] At this time she would fast with him to make up any of the fasts that she had missed in Ramadan.[6] From this we learn the importance of making up supererogatory actions which we are accustomed to performing and also the necessity of making up any days of Ramadan which we have missed before Ramadan comes round again. The scholars also mention that fasting in Sha`ban before Ramadan resembles praying the supererogatory prayers before the obligatory prayer, while fasting in Shawwal after Ramadan resembles praying the supererogatory prayers after the obligatory prayer. Performing supererogatory actions makes up for any deficiencies in the obligatory actions that we have performed.

In spite of all this the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) also said: “When the first half of Sha`ban is finished do not fast.”[7] The scholars of the Shafi`i school understood that this hadith prohibits voluntary fasting in the second half of Sha’ban, except in certain circumstances.[8] The other schools, however, say that there is no prohibition on fasting in the second half of the month but say that it is disliked to fast a day or two before Ramadan.
We have mentioned much detail on fasting and this is due to the sheer number of narrations on the subject. Even if we can just fast the “White Days”[9] or any three days this would have a great effect.

Other than fasting, it is recommended to send abundant blessings and peace upon the Beloved of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). It was in this month that Allah revealed:

﴿ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَـتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِيِّ يٰأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً ﴾
Allah and His angels send their blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe send blessings and peace upon him in abundance![10]

Perhaps this is why the Prophet called Sha`ban “my month,” when he said in the hadith: “Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha`bān is my month, and Ramadan is the month of my Ummah.”[11] Sending blessings upon him is one of the greatest means of strengthening our connection to him in this life and also the next, as he informed us (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): “The closest people to me on the Day of Rising will be those who send the most blessings upon me.”[12]

It was also the habit of some of the early Muslims to recite the Qur’an in abundance during Sha`ban. This along with fasting gives us the best preparation for Ramadan, as it takes time for the self (nafs) to become accustomed to doing these things in abundance. If we are already accustomed to doing them before Ramadan it will enable us to do more when the month begins. Perhaps this is why Imam Abu Bakr al-Warraq said: “in Rajab you sow the seeds, in Sha`ban you irrigate them and in Ramadan you reap the harvest.”

Two momentous events occurred in Sha`ban. The scholars of Sira say that it was the month in which the moon was split in half for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). It was also the month in which the Qibla (direction of prayer) was changed from Bayt al-Maqdis in Jerusalem to the Ka`ba in Mecca . While these events have now passed there is one momentous event which comes around every year, and that is the Fifteenth Night of Sha`ban, one of the greatest nights of the year. We intend to deal with it in detail closer to the time.

We end by asking, as the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked:

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا في رَجَبٍ وَ شَعْبَانَ وَ بَلِّغْنا رَمَضَانَ
“O Allah bless us in Rajab and Sha`bān and enable us to reach Ramadan!”[13]



[1] Narrated by Ahmad and al-Nasa’i
[2] Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim
[3] Narrated by al-Nasa’i
[4] Narrated by al-Haythami
[5] Such as fasting Monday and Thursday and three days in every month, which he may have been unable to perform due to expeditions and illness
[6] Narrated by al-Tabarani
[7] Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, al-Hakim and Ibn Hibban
[8] Such as if someone begins fasting in the first half of the month and continues his fast into the second half or if someone regularly fasted on a Monday throughout the year. In these situations it is permissible to fast in the second half of the month. A make up fast (qada’) is of course permissible, as this discussion only revolves around voluntary fasting.
[9] The “White Days” are the days which follow nights in which the moon is full, namely the 13th, 14th and 15th days of each lunar month. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) encouraged his Companions to fast three days in every month and to fast these days specifically. The 15th day is regarded as being in the first half of the month and thus there is no prohibition in the Shafi`i school on fasting it in Sha`ban.
[10] Al-Ahzab 33.56
[11] Narrated by al-Suyuti
[12] Narrated by al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Hibban
[13] Narrated by Ahmad

--

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Preparation for Ramadhan

Special talk - Thursday: 30 June 2011
Preparation for Ramadhan
By: Ustazah Nagheba Hayel


Ustazah begins by reciting the intention of Imam Al-Haddad.
Intention = very important
Small action with great intention is much better than big action with small intention
Ta’lam wa ta’leem: We are all teachers as mothers, wife, sister, friend and through any knowledge we gain from Quran & Sunnah, what is good & disseminate it.
The story of miskina: A lady called miskina (not even her real name as she was really insignificant that people didn’t even know her name. She carries water to the people and at the night when she passed away, a scholar in the town dreamed of her. He saw her in green silk and looking glorious. He called ‘Miskina’ and she replied ‘hayhata, hayhata’ (things of the past). She said that at night time, she listened to dars and daytime she brought water to people with the intention of disseminating knowledge.
Tazdkir: to remind each other as we are insaan. Root of 'Insan' - nasia --- means forget that's why we remind each other
Ibtigha’ wajhiLlah: hope to reach the countenance of Allah.

"Infinite is the native land from whence Allah has created the soul"
The saying above, from a scholar, jannah =the infinite land where our soul is created, created to worship Allah.
Jannah is surrounded by what human usually dislike; like not to do or say or see or hear bad things, not to backbite, to perform solah on time, read the Qur'an etc... It is a "forever land" and the soul will feel tranquil because it is where it actually belongs to. Therefore, we must work and focus to reach Jannah
Always concentrate on the main goal, the world is like a bridge to pass through to reach the real world = Jannah
World is just a passing place

Man is created to worship Allah - az Zariyyat verse 56 (And I did not create the Jin or mankind except to worship Me) = mankind is the slave to Allah
What is the good in worship? It's not just a routine but connection between you & the divine
Eg: surah al Fatihah, we say 'iyya ka na'budu..." = direct communication with Allah
With citing "bismillah" - it is accompanied with goodness & barakah (fr Hadith)
"there is no good in worship that is not understood" by Imam Ali
We must understand the significance of prayer, fasting / Ramadhan

How do we prepare ourselves for Ramadhan?

"May Allah bless us in Rejab & Syaaban and allows us to reach Ramadhan" - Musnad Imam Ahmad

"Rajab is the month of Allah, Shaaban is my month & Ramadhan is the month of my nation " narrated by Imam Al-Suyuti in Al-Jami
Rajab is the month of repentance and cleanser for our hearts.
During Syaaban, send as much salutation to the prophet Muhammad saw

Ramadhan - is a special month coz - based on the wisdom of the following sayings:

The scholars said that:

Rajab : the Month of repentance (cleansing your soul... And your heart. To glorify Allah so your heart is glossed and cleansed. Getting ones heart ready for Ramadhan

Repentance is cleansing yourself with istighfar - with determination not to repeat the same sin. If it is repeated, repent again! Also by doing loads of zikir

To clean ones heart so it is cleansed & the shine & nur from Allah will shine

Syaaban : the month of sending salutation upon the prophet

Believing in your heart - persevere with the thought of love to Rasulullah

It is also said that those who send Salawat to rasulullah Allah will send the same to that person

To get the barakah & follow the sunnah. We are indebt to Rasool ‘alayhi salatu wassalam.

Connecting the sunnah acts (not just the fard) with the Prophet

Remind ourselves as much as possible to practice sunnah deeds

Ramadhan : the month of Al-Quran. Sayidina Jibril Alayhi Salaam came and read the Qur’an with Rasool ‘alayhi salatu wassalam

Imam Abu Bakra al-Warraq : Rajab is d month of planting seeds, Syaaban is the month of irrigating the crop & Ramadhan is the month for harvesting

‘Rajab is like the wind, Syaaban is like a cloud, Ramadhan is like the rain’

According to Imam Ghazali, there are three different type of mu’min anticipating the month 1) prepared a hugh tank so that they can collect water to be used for the whole year 2) prepared a bucket and it lasted a few months 3) those who are busy and he forgets, when the rain came, they took a cup to get the water. Ramadhan is like the rain - mercy and blessings. Preparation should be way before Ramadhan.

Surah al baqarah: 183 - "fasting had been prescribed for you, as it was prescribed upon those before you, so that you may become God conscious" . Fasting was prescribed to every nation. Taqwa - fear of Allah, Feeling the presence of Allah

"All of the deeds of man are for himself except for fasting which is for Me & I shall reward it Myself" - Bukhari. Unknown amount of rewards.

"In paradise there is a gate called al-Rayyan through which those who fast will enter and no one will enter it except them, when they have entered it will be locked and no one else will enter through it ... " - Bukhari

The du'a of d fasting one will not be refused - al Bayhaqi

My du'a is the witness of my slave state

Musnad Imam Ahmad: "ones fast will intercede for one on the Day of Judgment saying 'O Lord I prevented him from his food & physical desires during the day so let me intercede for him"

Everyone will pass on the bridge and they will cross it according to the way they walk in this dunya. Five different type of crossings 1) faster than lightning 2) riding upon a beast 3) running 4) walking 5) crawling

So that is why Muslims are allowed to cry for the prophet - rasulullah may intercede for his nation

Crossing the 'sirat' to jannah - this is helped with all our deeds & all our prayers, Salawat

Luqman once said to his son: "oh my son, when the stomach is full then the intellect sleeps, wisdom is silenced & d limbs are too lazy to perform any act of worship "

Ibrahim al-Adham: those that came before us were ruined because of 3 things- their excessive talking, excessive sleeping & excessive eating "

(all he needs is simplicity - look out for his story)

Hadith from Muslim: the smell of mouth of the fasting one is better with Allah than scent of musk

When the month of Ramadhan enters, the gates of heaven opened, the gates of hell are closed, the devils are chained (Bukhari) - this is more metaphorical because what must be 'chained' is our nafs

Jannah beautifies itself in Ramadhan (more beautiful, more sweet smelling)

On the first night of Ramadhan, a very light wind under the Throne, touching every single leaves. Angels said ‘tonight is the first night of Ramadhan

Bukhari: whoever fast during Ramadhan out of faith will have all his previous sins forgiven

Saying of d Salaf:[during the month of] ramadhan, 1st part is mercy, middle of it is forgiveness, the last of it is freedom from the fire

(forgiveness - seeking Allah's forgiveness to cleanse all the previous sins)

Degrees of the fast

1. Layman - Awwam

2. Elite - to abstain from sin by guarding the hearing, eye, sight, Tongue & limbs from evil acts

3. Elect from the Elite - awlia , to abstain

Ibn ata'illah - kitab al Hikam: actions are erect forms & their soul is the existence of sincerity within them

Many of those take nothing from their fasting except hunger & thirst - by Ahmad & Ibn Majah

The wisdom of fasting

- protect the senses from all that is haram from saying bad things, sight, hearing

- teaches one patienc / fortitude

- Increase generosity - zakah & Sadaqah
- Increase gratitude
- helps one to experience poverty
- increase your humility
- teaches you about yourself - ones ability to submit
- ability to conquer / discipline nafs - ones carnal desire

5 things that breaks fast - lying, backbiting, slander, lying under oath, covertness & lustful eyes - related by Anas bin Malik (break the reward of fasting)

Guarding the senses & limbs

Tongue
Eyes

Ramadhan an increase of good deeds
- recite Quran, make du'a
Iktikaf
Umrah in the last 10 days
Priority in 5 pillars in Ramadhan especially solat

Recommended (fasting) / sunnah
Yearly : 1st & 10th Muharram, Day of Arafat, 1st Rajab, 15 Syaaban, 6 days in shawwal, 9th Zulhijjah, 1 to 9 th Zulhijjah

Monthly
White days-13 14 15,
Black 28 29 30
Weekly -Thursday & Mondays

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Repentance

Repentance

Imam Ash-Shaafi`ee

Diwaan ash-Shaafi`ee
From "Three Forgotten Prayers" by `Adnaan Aali `Uroor
© Call to Islam Da`wah Center, UK 1997







Al-Muzni who is Aboo lbraaheem Isma`eel ibn Yahya said:

"I entered upon ash-Shaafi'ee during his illness which resulted in his death, so I said to him: 'What is your condition?' He replied: "I am journeying from this world, and departing from my brothers, drinking from the cup of death, and upon Allaah - Exalted is His remembrance - arriving. And no! By Allaah, I do not know if my soul is travelling towards Paradise or the Fire!" Then he started to weep, and he said:

'In You, the Creator, I raise my longing, And even if I am, O possessor of kindness and generosity, an evildoer, a criminal,

When my heart became constricted and my paths became narrow,

I took my hope in your pardon and forgiveness as an opening and an escape,

My sins seemed very great to me but when I compared them to Your forgiveness,

I found Your forgiveness to be greater,

You are and still remain the only One, who can forgive sins,

You grant and forgive out of your benevolence and generosity,

Perhaps the One who is the source of all goodness will forgive and overlook my mistakes,

And will hide the sins and burden that I accumulated,

My sins seemed very great to me, so I turned (to you) in humility,

Were it not for my contentment in you, I wouldn't, O my Lord, have seen any comfort at all,

So if You forgive me, You would have forgiven a sinner, A rebellious, oppressive tyrant still sinning,

So my crime is very great, past and present, But Your forgiveness that embraces Your servant is greater and higher,

So whomsoever holds fast to Allaah is truly saved from mankind, And whomsoever's hopes are in Him, will be far removed from any regrets.'

In translating these lines of poetry I have exercised a certain degree of freedom in order to preserve the emotive content as well as making it readable in the English language. [Translator Note]

We ask Allah to accept our worship and our repentance. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Monday, April 25, 2011

Habib Umar's advice to his students

Bismillah
MashaALLAH.
May ALLAH reward the sisters that send me this Advice and hope that we all benefit..
*****************************************************Fwd**********************************************


Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah preserve him) was asked: ‘what advice do you have for your students and what hopes do you have for them for the future?’[1] He replied:
‘We counsel our students specifically and students of the Sacred Law generally to check their intention and the thoughts which enter their minds, which cause them either to act sincerely for the sake of Allah or to seek other than Allah. We counsel them to reject every thought originating from caprice (hawa), from the lower self (nafs) and from the Devil which calls them to seek other than Allah and to desire anything other than attaining His nearness and pleasure. The knowledge of the Sacred Law is a trust which was borne by the Prophets and Messengers and was delivered to us by the Master of the Prophets and Messengers, the Seal of the Prophets (Allah bless him and grant him peace). This knowledge is not mere information or the ability to speak with fluency and clarity, rather it is light which Allah casts into a person’s heart. Its reality is expressed in purity of the heart, truthfulness with the All-Compassionate and elements of Islam and Iman which allow someone to be elevated to the station of Ihsan and thereby attain direct knowledge (ma`rifa) of Allah. As for mere information and the ability to speak with fluency and clarity, these are possessed by both the righteous and the corrupt alike but the reality of knowledge is only possessed by someone who is truthful, sincere and has been purified. We thus counsel them to take note of this affair.
‘We also counsel them to pay attention to their transaction with Allah in acting upon their knowledge, teaching it and spreading it, seeking in doing so the countenance of Allah Almighty. We warn them against being captured by the allurement of wealth or status from whatever direction or faction that allurement comes. We wish for them to be constantly aware that Allah is the One to be sought, that Allah makes wealth subordinate to someone who has sincerity with Him and that a person’s provision has already been apportioned and he will certainly receive it. Allah has legislated and made permissible certain means for a person to earn his provision, so if he needs to do so, he does it in the way that has been prescribed. He does not use the deen as a means of earning,[2] nor does he earn by outwardly manifesting something which he does not possess. He does not earn a living nor attempt to attain some worldly objective by saying something which is not the most correct and beloved thing in the sight of Allah’s Sacred Law.
‘Finally they should consider themselves as absolute servants of everything in creation for the sake of the Lord of Creation. With this we counsel them, and we wish that Allah, according to people’s response to this call and to their truthfulness with Allah, will bring about great good in the world, and that through this He will renew the deen of this Umma as He has promised on the tongue of His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) , and that He will unite its ranks and deflect from it many tribulations. We hope that in the future that they will spread this goodness with courtesy, piety and taqwa.’

Monday, March 14, 2011

Feeling your 'Ibadah

Feeling your ibadah - Syeikh Kamaluddin Ahmed (14th of March 2011)

- The purpose of our life is ‘Ibadah: وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
(51:56), ‘Ibadah or ‘Ubudiyyah means submission.

- The Al-Qur’an stresses the importance of ladies who are ‘zakiraat, Sabiraat, Sadiqaat : إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
(33:35)

- The whole purpose of ‘Ibadah is to feel Allah, and if we don’t feel Him then it is a big problem. Because of our Qalb is empty from Allah, we don’t have the love for Him.
- If we enjoy doing ‘Ibadah, we will not be delaying it.
- Allah is feeding us in the worship.

- One practical way to fix our salah is to fix one letter in the salah. By fixing this letter, it will perfect the solah. We have to know the meaning of this letter.
- Al-Qur’an has three parts: wordings (tajweed, qira’ah), meanings (mufasiroon) and feelings. For example, saying Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Rajio’un.. All of us knew the words and the meanings, but we did not have the feelings. This is one of the link to Allah.
- When we prostrate (in Sajda), we said ‘Subhana’: Allah beyond any imagination, …, flawless, …, beyond any hypothetical arguments, … , above and beyond..
Al-A’la : Highest, High Most, Most Exalted ~ we have to feel the lowest at that moment, the lowest most.
Rabbi: Made up of two words, Rabb and the letter ‘Ya’
Rabb - many du’a using the word Rabb. It signifies His Rububiyah, His Tarbiyah, nourishing us, caretaking, His loving, kind and gentle.
The letter ‘Ya’ attached to Rabb = My Rabb

- All the components in solat need to be learn outside solat:
1) know to read Qur’an properly (minimum al-fatiha) with tajweed
2) legal rulings sorrounding solat
3) zikr: وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي
(20: 14) The more we remember Him outside solat, the more we will remember Him in the solat.

- In one summer night, Sayidatina Fatima RadhiyaAllahu ‘anha prayed tahajjud prayer after ‘Isya’. She saw fajar coming and she said “what happened to the night that it is not long enough for two raka’ah of prayer”.
The companions enjoyed solah so much and the syeikh compared it to us enjoying ice-cream.
كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ
(55:29) In means every single day, Allah manifest Himself in different way. Every single day, there is new pleasure in feeling Allah.

- يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا
(33:41) In Al-Qur’an, the word ‘kathiran’ is just for zikir.

- In Islam, gender equality is in knowledge and spirituality. Two women (as opposed to one man) were needed to be a witness for monetary matter as a protection for woman.
In hadith transmission, which is a real testimony and we based our religion upon it, only one woman transmitting it is enough.

- How do we increase our zikir? Two simple ways to increase zikir from Al-Qur’an:

a) Zikir ‘am: while doing other things, we remember Allah
الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىَ جُنُوبِهِمْ
(3:191) “Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides,”
We can remember Allah while doing daily tasks and while waiting for appointments etc. رِجَالٌ لَّا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ
(24:37) By men whom neither traffic nor merchandise can divert from the Remembrance of Allah,
The zikir uses Qalb, our spiritual heart.
الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
(13:28) "Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah. for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.
The example is like a mum saying “O Muhammad, I remembered you the whole day” when talking to her son. She still did all that was required from her, but she remembered the son all the time.
It began by taking three minutes in between doing things.
We should view it as ‘sprinkling our day with doing zikir”. We should try to remember Him in any way.
The second way is to check our heart before doing any activity ‘have you forgotten Allah?’

b) Zikir ‘khas: not along with other activities. We have to cut off from the world and sit down on the prayer mat. We have to think deep inside us:
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ
(7:205) ‘And do thou (O reader!) Bring thy Lord to remembrance in thy (very) soul,...’
Listen to our heart saying Allah
وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ
(76:25) And keep in remembrance the name of thy Lord..
We listen to our heart saying Allah just like in the middle of the night we listen to the darkness of the night or in the middle of the ocean, we listen to the silence of the sea.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Tafsir of surah Al-Fatiha 1

BISMILILAHI RAHMANI RAHIM

Allahuma salli ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa ‘aali Muhammadin, kamaa sallayta ‘alaa ‘Ibraheema wa ‘alaa ‘aali ‘Ibraheema, ‘innaka Hameedun Majeed. Allahumma baarik ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa ‘aali Muhammadin, kamaa baarakta ‘alaa ‘Ibraheema wa ‘alaa ‘aali ‘Ibraheema, ‘innaka Hameedun Majeed.


Tafsir Juz Ammah and Fatiha


Adab (manners) of Studying the Quran :

Ask Allah for Iklhas (sincerity)/have the right niyah (intention)
Doing Wudu before reciting Quran
Facing the Qiblah
Use miswak
Say A’oothoubillah minashaytaneer rajeeb before reciting the Quran
And then start with Bismillah Rahmani Raheem
Think about the Ayat and try to understand it
When you hear an Ayat about punishments and people being punished say « A’oothoubillah »
Ask Allah for Jannah when you hear about Jannah. When you hear the words of Allah, depending on what you are hearing, you respond. (this is from the adab)
Can’t hear the Quran while being distracted. Have your heart present and alive because Allah is talking to us. Presence of the heart and have the words of the Quran touch you. (if cant cry act as if you are crying).
Recite Quran in a beautiful voice/tone (decorate Quran with a beautiful voice as if you are decorating it).
Respect the Quran. Do not stop in the middle of the Ayat. No intteruptions. Give your time with the Quran.
Take time with the Quran. Do not rush.
Read in a peaceful and quiet place so this will bring Khushoo (humility) in your heart.
Recite the Ayat 2-3 times, repeat over until Allah guides you to understand it Insha Allah. Read as if it is directed to you and not anyone else.


Benefits of reading the Quran :
It Purifies the heart,
Intercesssion on Day of Judgement,
You will be among the best of mankind
Defeat your shaitan
Recite/Read Quran and follow it
Quran can be a witness for you or against you
Do not envy anyone except in 2 cases : the first is a man that memorize the Quran, meaning Allah has taught him the Quran and recites the Quran day and night



Sayyiduna ibn Mas'ud [radhiallaahu anhu] narrates that Rasulullah [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] said, 'There are only two people who are worthy of being imitated; a person to whom Allah gives wealth and guides to spend it in that which pleases Allah, and a person to whom Allah gives wisdom, thereafter he passes judgmment according to it and teaches it (to all of mankind).' (Sahih Bukhari Hadith 73; Sahih Muslim 1896)

Allah will elevate you in Dunya and Akhira
Allah will take us from darkness to lightness
It will bring the Angels (around you)
Ten hassanat will be written for each letter
Will be raised up high in Jannah
Allah will protect you from the worst Fitnah (memorize 10 Ayat’s from Surah Kahf it is a protection from the trial of Ad-Dajjal)
Those who know the meaning, those who strive to know Allah will reward them
Quran will be a protector for you (for anything), such as Ayatul Kursi. Allah will protect you from Fitnah.
Those who follow the Quran will have Kiram ( ?)
Quran will protect you from anything (ex : First 10 ayats of Surah Kahf and Ayatul Kursi)
Quran will give you sakinah
Iman will increase

-


Levels of Hajr Quran (leaving the Quran, abandoning the Quran)
Read an Ayat and believe it, do not doubt it. Every Ayat you recite, you should believe.
Read often (We do not want to be from the people who do not read and recite the Quran)
Follow the teachings of the Qur’an
The Quran is our Judge
We want to understand the Quran. Read and understand the tafsir of the Quran.
When we are sick, the great/best medicine is the Quran





Adab Al Quran

We should first have iklhas and good intention before we read the quran. We read only for Allah’s sake.

Reciting Surat Al Ikhlas will give you rewards as if reading the entire quran. Reaching level of ikhlas is first asking Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala to give you sincerity – we need to beg and cry for it. Always ask that Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala makes us of the ikhlas – allahumma irzikna minal ikhlas fee killee haal.

Always make wudu before tafseer and be seated in a taahir place. Wudu is your weapon against the shaytaan and sins. Die with wudu in order to rise with wudu. Always walk on wudu such as sayyidina Bilal Radianlahu Anhu allahumma irziqnaa min Firdaws al a’alaa. Always walk in purity and cleanliness. Wudu rids one of sins – always make that intention and dua that Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala washes away our sins.

Face the Qiblaa when reading Quran.

Use your miswaak before reading. Can you use Allah’s words if you have leftover food between your teeth? Especially garlic and onions. Think about your wedding day everytime you hold the Quraan.

Using the Miswaak is a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam.

Before we recite we should say : A’ootho billahi minal shaytaan al rajeem (Al Nahl:98) then we say Bismillah Al Rahmaan al Raheem.

Thinking and pondering and understanding the Ayat then whatever you understand, you change yourself. Be with the people of the haqq (truth), the muttaqeen (the pious).

Jaheem: one of the names of the Fire. When we hear an Ayah like this we say ‘A’ootho billah’ and make dua Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala. protect us from naar jahannam. These Ayat of Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala punishment need to make us shake and make us make dua that Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala protects us from His Subhanahu wa-ta'ala punishment. And say Allahumma make us amongst the people of Jannah. Whatever you hear from Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala words we respond back by saying ‘SubhanAllah’ and Alhamdulillah.

Hearing the Quran without distractions at all – not doing other things at the same time. It should make us cry and shake. When our beloved Rasul Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam made Ibn Masood read the Quran, Rasululah Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam couldn’t take it anymore and cried. If you don’t cry, act as if you are crying (Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihu WaSalaam).

When you recite, recite it in a beautiful tone and voice. It is an order from Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala in a hadith. Decorate the Quran with your beautiful voices because beautiful voices adds beauty to the Quran (Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam). A Sahabah was reading Quran with beautiful voice Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam told him he had the voice of Sayyidina Dawood Alaihi Salaam. Recite it in a nice tone to touch your and others hearts.

When reciting, and something comes up in the middle, do not just stop in middle then come back and finish unless emergency. Don’t allow interruptions and make dua for no interruptions. Teach this to kids – no disruptions when reciting. If children disrupt, continue then teach them the adab.

Don’t rush recitation at all. Why are we rushing? This is dunya compared to recitation. We need to read it with understanding. Even in salah don’t rush recitation. Allahumma make us of those who ponder the meanings of the Quran. Ameen. Allahumma remove these locks in our hearts. Ameen. When reciting, find a quiet place without disruptions. Remove all interruptions from eyes and ears to bring khushoo’ (humility) to the heart.

Recite/repeat the ayat several times until Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala Guides you to the meaning of it. Remember ayah about what would happen if Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala sent down Quran to the mountain. Repeat it until it affects the heart.

Recite Quran as if it was sent down to you – that the messages are to you. Every Ayah is directly sent down to you.

Benefits of Al Quran Al Kareem

Make dua that Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala gives us taqwaa. If we teach our hearts adab, we will be successful. The Quran was sent to Jibril Alaihi Salaam then to the Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam.

Make dua that Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala makes us people of knowledge and adab. Ameen Ya Mujib.

Shaytaan ran away from Sayyidna Umar Radianlahu Anhu because of his toughness. But when he (Umar Radianlahu Anhu) heard the Quraan, he couldn’t control himself and broke down and cried. Abdullah ibn shaddad prayed behind Umar Radianlahu Anhu, in the last line during Fajr, and he used to recite Surat Yusuf – (ashqoo hiznee wa bathe illa allah’ surah) then Umar Radianlahu Anhu repeated this Ayah and he was crying loudly. Sayyidna Umar Radianlahu Anhu cried so much that the last person heard him crying.

Umar Radianlahu Anhu also heard someone in Tahajjud reading Surat At-Toor. Then when he came to that Ayah about torture, Umar Radianlahu Anhu fainted, and was carried back, and then he was sick for a whole month because of one Ayah he heard.

So let’s change ourselves when we hear the Quran, have adab and teach it to others and our kids. Our beloved Rasul, Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam had adab and he learnt this from Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala from the Quran. The best dhikr (remembrance) is Quran – studying it will give us a sound heart (tama’neenah). If you want a pure heart, have this intention first then recite the Quran.

When reciting, make dua that the Quran and Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam will be a shifaa’ah on the Day of Judgement. Try to know the meaning of the Quran.

The best among you are the ones that learn the quran and teach it (Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam).

If you want the shaytaan to shrink as small as an ant, recite Al Falaq, An-Naas, Ayatul Kursi, last ayat of Al Baqarah. We need to squash him and make him at the bottom by reciting the Quran.

We learn the Quran through the Sunnah, the Sahabah.

Everyone will benefit from reading the Quran. The one that recites has a good smell and a good taste. Even the munaffiq will benefit. We need to read it AND practice it. What type of people are we and where are we? The Quran could either help you towards Jannah, a light in your grave, make your scale heavy or it could be the opposite leading people to naar if he teaches it, learning it just for showing off (riyya’). Make dua it’s not for riyya’(showing off to others).

If you feel like your misguided recite Surat Al Fatihah (ihdinaa sirat al mustaqeem) several times.

Do not wish for anything but to memorise the Quran like the haafithoon (Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam (not in exact words) ). Envy and desire a person who recites the Quran day and night.

Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said, "Envy is permitted only in two cases: A man whom Alah gives wealth, and he disposes of it rightfully, and a man to whom Allah gives knowledge which he applies and teaches it.’’· [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala said to Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam in Al Isra: 79, to recite at night as an extra. Our beloved Rasul Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam used to recite it so much at night it made his legs swell (as He Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam did in prayer)–

Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala will take us from darkness to light (Quran Ibrahim:1). Reading the Quran will guide us towards the light, it will bring down the Angels (hadith by Muslim). A man explained to the Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam what happened when he read the Quran – the Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam said it was the Angels listening to you (Muslim).

Each letter = 10 hasanat (tirmidhi hadith).

In Jannah you will be very high = the people of the Quran. Recite in order to climb higher and higher. (rattil al quranaa tarteela ?)

Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala will protect from all fitna – of Massih Ad-Dajjal. This is the time of fitna. Blood on streets, muslims against muslim. Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam opposes this in his ummah – this is the fitna he warned us of. When he Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam saw two men arguing loud, he Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam was shocked because they were doing this in front of him.

Read surat Al Kahf to protect us from the fitna of Ad- Dajjal (fitna of today – memorise the 10 Ayat)

Those who know the meaning of the Quran, practice, follow it and have adab of Quran and struggle with it– Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala will reward them double.

Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala will protect you, if you feel down, lazy, sick - read the Quran for shifaa.

Recite, know the tafseer and make dua for sakeenah

Make the dua that Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala gives you Jannah, shows you His Glorious face and protects your from jahannam. Ameen Ya Rabb.

One’s imaan should increase – i twill make the imaan stronger with more knowledge and recitation. Al Anfaal:2 and Al Furqaan: 32 this Surah talks about increase of imaan.

Quran gives us shifaa and mercy (Rahmah).

Ask Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala to cure our hearts from all diseases, shower us with His Mercy, to make us all enter Jannah behind our beloved Rasul Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam shoulders and the sahabah, that we be amongst these noble people. Ameen Ya Mujib. That He Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala accept our dua, make us have adab. Ameen Ya Mujib.


Levels of hajr Al Quran :

Do not question any Ayah– believe it.

Don’t be of those who d not recite or listen to the Quran – this should be our lives

Practice what you learn and read in the Quran

The Quran is our judge

Reading – we need to understand tafseer and meaning

Make dua for taqwaa through the Quran – when you recite you will understand Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala message

The medicine is (The Quran) when we are sick


Summary once again :

1) Ikhlas
2) wudhu
3) facing Qibla
4) miswak
5) Say A’oothoubillah minashaytaneer rajeeb before reciting the Quran
6) Basmala
7) think and try to practise
8) say istiadza (A’oothoubillah) when reading about punishment and say Allahumma j’alna minhum when reading about Jannah - respond to Ayaat
9) istihdaril qalb (presence of the heart) that make you cry but if youu can’t cry, act as if you crying
10) recite in beautiful voice
11) do not stop in the middle of Ayaat
12) do not rush
13) find somewhere quite and no distraction in front of eyes
14) repeat words a few times until the meaning gets in your heart
15) Recite and feel every Ayah as if it is meant for you, be it good or bad
16) cover your hair

Study Qur’an
1- tatma’ina qulub (rest/peace in the heart)
2- syafa’a (intercession) in Day of Judgement
3- Will be among the best
4- find all the answers in Qur’an and defeat syaitan
5- smell of misk, even munafiq smell like rihana (a plant that produce nice smell but rotten)
6- special group
7- The Quran can be a witness for or against you
8 - beg for Allah using His ayaat
9- (la hasd illa) no envy except for two.. someone who Allah teaches Qur’an and recites it day and night
10- elevation in this world and the next
11- take from zulm to noor (darkness to light)
12 - brings angels
13. every letter has 10 hasanah
14, high level in jannah
15, protect from fitnah especially from dajjal
16. maqam bil kiram albararah (A place with Al-Kiram - kiram is Saidatina Fatimah and Sayidina Ali RadhiyaAllahu ‘anhuma and al-bararah means those who do goodness) in the Day of Judgemnet
17. protection and sakinah (tranquility)
18. make our iman stronger
29. syifa and rahmah (healing and mercy)

Levels of Hajr Quran (leaving the Quran, abandoning the Quran)
Read an Ayat and believe it, do not doubt it. Every Ayat you recite, you should believe.
Read often (We do not want to be from the people who do not read and recite the Quran)
Follow the teachings of the Qur’an
The Quran is our Judge
We want to understand the Quran. Read and understand the tafsir of the Quran.
When we are sick, the great/best medicine is the Quran

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Story of a fisherman

Bismillah,

There once lived a fisherman who took his job very seriously.

He only caught one fish at a time, and only went to fish for another one when the the one he had at home finished.

One day, as his wife was chopping up the fish that her husband had brought home, she discovered something amazing. She found a pearl inside the fish.

She was astonished, a pearl inside a fish?? SubhanAllah. "Husband, Husband!" she exclaimed, "look what I have found!"
"What have you found?" he asked?
"A pearl, I have found a pearl inside the fish!" she answered.
"What an amazing wife you are! Bring me the pearl, pehaps we will benefit from it and eat food other than fish!"

The fisherman took the pearl to a pearl trader. The trader took a look at the pearl "This pearl is so precious, but unortunately I cannot afford it even if I were to sell my shop and my house! Go to the vendor in the nearby town, perhaps he can buy it off you."

The fisherman took the pearl to the great seller in the nearby town and showed him the pearl.

"Allah..by Allah, O my brother what a priceless possession! I cannot buy it off you, but I have a solution for you; go to the governor of this town, as only he his able to buy this pearl."

At the door of the governor's palace the fisherman awaited permission to enter.

"Oh God..it is a pearl like this that I have been searching for! I do not know how to value it for you, but I will allow you entry into my private treasure chamber. You have six hours to remain in it and take what you please, and this is the value of your pearl."

"Sir, can you just give me two hours, as six hours is far too long for a fisherman like me."

"No, six hours is what is fair for you take from the chamber what you like"

The fisherman entered the governor's treasure chamber to behold a tremendous sight. It was a very large room divided into to three sections. The first section was filled with jewels, gold and pearls.
The second section had a huge and very comfortable bed, if one were to lay eyes on it could sleep from comfort.
The third section was filled with all the delicious food and drink that one can imagine.

"What will I do in six hours? Six hours is such a long time for a simple fisherman like me" the fisherman asked himself. "Ok, I guess I should start with the food in the third section" "I will eat until my stomach is full so that I will gain the necessary energy required to accummulate as much gold as possible."

The fisherman went to the food and spent a whole two hours eating. He then made his way to the first section, but on his way there he saw the very comfortable looking bed.

"I ate until I became full, so why not sleep for a bit and wake up fresh so that I can carry the greatest amount of gold?" he asked himself. "This is a once in a life time opportunity, and what supidity will prevent me from wasting it"

The fisherman went to the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

After a while the fisherman was awoken by these words "Wake up, wake up oh ignorant fisherman, your time is up"

"Huh..what?"

"yes, come on get out!"

"Please I did not get the chance.."

"Huh..huh. You have been in here for six hours and only now you have woken up from your sleep, yet you still want to take some gems?" "you had the time and opportunity to take away all of this treasure and then you could have bought with it the best food and you could have made yourself the most comfortable bed! But you are an ignorant fool and can only think in the context which you are in. Take him outside!"

"No, no, please noooooooo"

))The End((

The story has ended, however the lesson does not end here.

The pearl in the story represents your soul, a priceless treasure, and you do not no the true value of your soul.

The treasure chamber represents the dunya (the life of this world), look how great it is, yet we exploit it.

The jewels in the chamber represent our good deeds and the comfortble bed represents our negligence.

The food and drink represent our desires.

And now, my brother fisherman, you should decide; should you wake up and get out of the comfortable bed and collect as many jewels available to you before your appointed time is up, and this time is your lifetime. Otherwise you will feel great regret when leaving this world.

Allah swt says in His book "Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allâh), he says: "My Lord! Send me back, So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!" No! It is but a word that he speaks, and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected." (Surah Al-Mu'minun 99-100)

Al-hikam 24, 25, 26

  Ramai boleh dakwa tetapi tiada bukti ‘Bukti pd yang mendakwa, sumpah pd yang mengingkari’ hadith Pengakuan perlu ada bukti.. Muslim, apa b...