as-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatu Llah,

from ustadh Amin:

We pray that everyone is in the best of states, ready to receive Ramadan and all the goodness that it contains.

Some of the scholars recommend reciting Surat al-Fath on the first night of Ramadan, as it is a means of receiving openings and protection from Allah. It may be read in prayer and divided over four Rakats or it may be read outside of prayer. Sayyidi Habib Umar may read it in Salat al-Tasbih in congregation.

Attached is brief outline of Habib Umar’s schedule for his students in Dar al-Mustafa during the month of Ramadan. If we can stick to even part of this schedule we will gain a great deal from this blessed month.

Download the Schedule

as-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatu Llah,

1) An overview of the night and its significance: http://abdulkarimyahya.com/2012/07/02/note-the-15th-of-shaban/

2) The Dua traditionally recited, along with the three Yasins: http://www.nursacredsciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/The-Blessings-of-the-Night-of-Mid-Shaban.pdf [Ignore the warning]

3) al-Habib ‘Umar, al-Habib ‘Attas and the students at Dar al-Mustafa reciting the relevant duas as well as the speeches of the Haba’ib, recorded a few hours ago: Download Here

Keep me in your duas and forgive us for all our faults,

was-salam

 

as-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatu Llahi wa barakatuh, all!

It has been some time since mawlid  recordings were last published. Here are some recordings which had been produced since then, from Dar al-Mustafa, Tarim:

Recitation of ash-Sharab at-Tahur along with tribal dances (Harahs) on the night of the Grand Mawlid

08/12/2011

01/12/2011

05/01/2012

12/01/2012

31/05/2012

21/06/2012

 

as-salamu ‘alaykum,

Habib Ahmad b. Muhammad al-Mihdar al-Husayni of Quwayrah, Hadramawt, was known for his detachment from the world and its affairs and for his unique love of the righteous, and in particular as-Sayyidah Khadijah and the remainder of the Ahl al-Bayt. Numerous incidents have been related regarding this, such as when he attempted to censure the khatib in Makkah for lengthening the sermon (which is contrary to the sunnah), and was thus chased until he sought refuge in the tomb of as-Sayyidah Khadijah. . . He despaired at the occupation many during his time had with the world and ammassing its riches and sought solace in remembering Allah and His messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wa sallam and his family. His complilation of qasa’id sung on the 11th night of every month at his mosque, known as the “an-Nafhah al-‘Ambariyyah fi ‘l-Laylah al-Ihda ‘Ashariyyah“, also known as the Hadrah of Sayyidah Khadijah can be read here, thanks to as-Sayyid Jamal al-Layl: Download PDF

A rednition of it, recited in the Comoros Islands in the prescence of Habib Muhammad as-Saqqaf of Jeddah can be watched here: Watch

A portion of it relating to the a’immah of the Ahl al-Bayt can be seen here (note: save the file first): Download

was-salam

 

BismiLlahir Rahmanir Rahim

wa salla Llah ‘ala sayyidina Muhammad wa alih wa sallam

We are pleased to bring to your attention that the Dawrah for this year has now begun, as of today (Sunday, 1st July). The rawhah sessions shall be a continuation of the study of Abu Talib al-Makki’s Qut al-Qulub (which Imam ‘Alawi b. ‘Ubaydi Llah b. al-Muhajir al-Husyani, ancestor of the Ba ‘Alawis was said to have studied with its author), in addition to readings of other spirituality-orientated books. This, as is customary, will be supplemented with a reading and explanation of a qasidah; this year, the poem chosen was one in which Imam ‘Abd ar-Rahman (b. ‘Ali b. Abi Bakr as-Sakran b. ‘Abd ar-Rahman as-Saqqaf Ba ‘Alawi) advised his student, ‘Abud. It is considered a succint summary of all that the traveller requires in his journey.

Thanks to ustadh Amin Buxton and his team (jazahum Allah khayran) who have made the Arabic and its translation available to the English-speaking audience: Download PDF

The Arabic recordings are being uploaded at the following link: Arabic Recordings

We shall attempt to make the translations available if possible, bi idhni ‘Llah.

Keep us in your duas. was-salam.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

اللهم صل وسلم على رسولك وآله أجمعين

as-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatu Llah, dear visitors!

We are blessed to have been given access to a recording of a course conducted by al-Habib Kazim as-Saqqaf, in which the essential principles of the Ba ‘Alawi tariqah were outlined and explained, in addition to brief biographies of its key figures. We ask Allah to make this of benefit for those seeking an introduction to the tariqah in English.

Teacher: al-Habib Kazim as-Saqqaf

Translated by: Ustadh Ibrahim Osi-Efa

Text: The way of Bani ‘Alawi – al-Imam ‘Abdu Llah b. ‘Alawi al-‘Attas

Part 1: The House of Prophecy: The Background

Part 2: The Methodology – Manhaj

Part 3: The Path – Tariqah

Part 4: The Spiritual Poles: Key Figures

Part 5: Questions and Answers

Part 6: Closing Dua

Alternatively, one is able to download the 6 parts combined as a ZIP file from here.

I’d like to take this as an oppurtunity to bring to everyone’s notice the weekly tazkiyah lessons of Habib ‘Umar, broadcast live every Sunday at 1:30 pm GMT.

Presented to you is a selection of questions and answers, prepared by the Wayfarers to Allah team, taken from some of the recent lessons. I felt these were particularly pertinent to our societies, and thus decided to share it:

Questions from Habib `Umar’s Internet Lessons on Tazkiyah

A Selection of Questions from Recent Lessons

(Rabi` al-Awwal – Rabi` al-Thani 1433/ February – March 2012)

Answered by Sayyidi al-Habib `Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah preserve him and benefit us

by him):

Is friendship between men and women permissible?

If what is meant by friendship is mixing between men and women and them joking with each other and looking at each other then there is no doubt that is impermissible. What is permissible is for them to seek to benefit each other and benefit from each other and for them to love each other for the sake of Allah, without shaking hands, mixing, without a man being alone with a woman and without them looking at each other in a way that is impermissible. Allah says: The Believers, men and women, are protecting friends, one of another. He thus legislates ties of love, friendship and allegiance between male and female believers, without anything prohibited entering. If someone considers friendship to be doing things which are prohibited then his understanding is warped and he has no proof to support his case.

We find some people in the West claiming to be shaykhs who can guidepeople and help them reach Allah. However, they have never studied any ofthe Islamic sciences at the hands of scholars but rather they have read bookson their own. When we try to give them sincere advice they reject it. Howshould we deal with people like this?

These are people who have betrayed the trust of this religion. One of the greatest causes of a bad ending is for someone to claim a spiritual station or a state that he has not attained. We should have sympathy for these people. We should give them sincere advice if they are ready to listen. If not, we should pray for them. We should also advise those who are searching for a shaykh that they choose someone who has received knowledge through a true chain of connection (sanad). One of the calamities which has befallen the Ummah is for people to claim knowledge which they do not possess, whether it be outer knowledge of the Sacred Law or the ability to offer spiritual guidance. This is extremely harmful to the person making this claim and if it leads to him harming someone else then he will bear a sin similar to the sin of that person. If he is able to take true knowledge and does not do so, he will accountable but if he is unaware of his ignorance those who have led him astray will be accountable. The Prophet said about the end of time that when the true scholars die, people will take ignorant people as their leaders. When they are asked, these ignorant people make judgements not based on knowledge, so they go astray and lead others astray.

This should not be confused with the duty of giving sincere advice in affairs of the religion which are clear. This is praiseworthy and everyone should work together in doing this.

How can someone be connected to the people of Allah while living in a country where the majority of people are non-Muslim? How can he prevent himself from being deluded by their worldly possessions?

Remember the reality. Allah says of the disbelievers: Do not be impressed by their wealth an children; Do not strain your eyes in longing for things We have given for enjoyment to groups of them, the splendour of the life of this world, through which We test them; the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring and Let not the movement of the disbelievers in the land deceive you. You should see their worldly possessions as being completely insignificant things which cause them to lose out on their portion in the next world. You should feel sympathy for those who have been deceived by this contemptible world and you should wish that they are given insight. They are like children who are promised sweets and toys in exchange for being slaughtered. Not knowing the meaning of being slaughtered, they happily accept the sweets and toys. So look at these disbelievers with sympathy just as you would look at those poor children. Save them if you are able to. Do not be deceived as they have been deceived but wish that they be guided and have sympathy for them.

You should also focus on your attachment to the Master of the People of Allah, Muhammad and his Family and Companions and the friends of Allah. This connection can be strengthened through reading their books and learning more about them on websites and other means so that you live with them even if you are in a country where the majority of people are non-Muslim. The whole earth was created for the pious and not for the disbelievers, but Allah tests His slaves through the existence of disbelievers: Such days (of varying fortunes) we give to men in turns but the pious Muslims will eventually inherit the earth: We wrote in the Zabur (Psalms), after the Message (given to Musa) that My pious slaves will inherit the earth. Wherever you are on the earth, even if most of the people living there are disbelievers, you are in a place to whose people Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was sent. The land where you are is also a place of prayer and prostration (masjid) because the Messenger of Allah said: “The whole earth was made a place of prostration for me.” So whatever place in the earth you live in you are in the masjid of your Prophet. This is why he said: “If the time for prayer comes and any member of my Ummah is in any place on the earth then he should pray in that place.” The whole earth is his masjid, which has been given to him by Allah. If you are aware of this you will be connected to the people of Allah.

I work in a restaurant which serves alcohol. I run the finances so I do not actually handle the alcohol. I am looking for another job but it is not easy. What should I do?

Try to leave that place as quickly as possible for if someone leaves something for the sake of Allah, Allah replaces that thing with something better. It is obligatory for you to avoid handling the alcohol, as you are doing. However, as the hadith informs us, Allah’s curse falls upon the one carrying the alcohol and the one to whom it is carried, as well as the one buying it and the one selling it. Since you are running the finances you are at risk of being included in that curse. So leave that place as quickly as possible and Allah will open to you a door to obtaining provision. I counsel you to recite Surat al-Waqi`ah every day and to read one hundred times:

La ilaha illa Llah, al-Malik al-Haqq al-Mubin.

“There is no god but Allah, the King, the Real, the One Who makes things manifest.”

I also counsel you to read one hundred times:

Subhan Llahi wa bihhamdihi, subhan Llahil ‘Azim, astaghfiru Llah.

“Transcendent is Allah, and praise be to Him; transcendent is Allah the Almighty; I seek the

forgiveness of Allah.”

The best time to read this is before praying the two sunnah rakats of Fajr. These are some of the best means of attaining provision. Having taqwa is another means. Allah says: If someone has taqwaof Allah, He gives him a way out and provides for him from (sources) he could never expect.

The manager of a hotel which served alcohol once met Shaykh al-Sha`rawi. The Shaykh advised him to leave the hotel immediately but the manager complained that he had debts to pay back. The Shaykh mentioned this verse: If someone has taqwa of Allah, He gives him a way out and providesfor him from (sources) he could never expect.

Then he said: “Did Allah mention taqwa first or the way out first?”

He said: “He mentioned taqwa first.”

“You want a way out before having taqwa. You have to have taqwa first, and then Allah will give you a way out.”

The Shaykh’s words had a profound effect on the man, and he duly left the hotel. After a short time he was asked to manage a hotel in Medina. To this day, thirty years later he is managing that hotel next to the Noble Sanctuary. His affairs were taken care of due to his taqwa.

was-salam

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

وصلى الله وسلم على الرؤوف الرحيم

وآله الاطهار، وصحبه والتابعين … وبعد

Habib ‘Umar, as of recently, has been travelling the world calling to Allah. One such stop was Tunisia, where he intended for the rich Islamic tradition (that had been hitherto, buried for the most part) to be revived. He expressed his feelings at the current turn of events by saying:

“You were tried, and you displayed patience at adversity; now, Allah blessed you with victory. You must now have patience with victory!”

At one stop in the trip, Habib stopped to deliver a short reflection, wherein he recounted some characteristics of mutual visitation and brotherly love. This led him on, in turn, to discuss some of the meanings of the Qur’anic and Prophetic supplication: “Our Lord, grant us the good of this world and the next, and save us from the punishment of the fire.”

I decided to pen down a concise summary of certain points which stood out for me, with the tawfiq of Allah.

Sayyidi al-Habib narrates from Imam al-Haddad that he said: “I was given 40 meanings from the verse “Our Lord, grant us the good of this world and the next, and save us from the punishment of the fire.”

Many of the Qur’anic exegetes explained the ‘good of the world’ to be a righteous wife, knowledge, well-being etc, and the ‘good of the next’ to be Jannah. Habib ‘Abd al-Bari’ al-‘Aydarus had a specific understanding of the verse, taking into account the fact that we are composed of 1) a body 2) a soul and 3) a ‘sirr’ (the inner of the inner).

As for the ‘good of this world’, the body’s portion from it pertains to a pious wife; the soul’s portion if it pertains to mutual brotherhood and visitation for Allah’s sake; the portion of the ‘sirr’ is gnosis (ma’rifah) of Allah! This is all with regards to the world.

As for the ‘good of the next world’, the body’s portion of it shall be the outward realities of Jannah; the soul’s portion shall be as the ayah describes: “And We remove whatever rancour may be in their breasts. As brethren, face to face, (they rest) on couches raised”. The portion of the ‘sirr’ from it shall be gazing at the Countenance of Allah!

Habib ‘Umar expressed his gratitude at the books gifted to him, particularly those related to the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wa sallam. He praised Imam Yusuf an-Nabhani and his sincere attachment to the Messenger, and the subsequent visions and blessings he and his family enjoyed.

He concluded by making a beautiful dua for the people of Tunisia. . .

Keep me in your duas,

was-salam

Bismi Llah…

On 19th Rabi` al-Thani we commemorate the life of the great Imam, Habib `Abdulqadir al-Saqqaf, the shaykh of all our shuyukh. It is two years since he passed away but his memory lives on.

We present two short videos with English subtitles filmed on a visit he made to Oman in 1988. In “Learning How to Ask Allah”, Habib `Abdulqadir gives us some valuable advice on how to approach our Lord. While the second video was filmed during a visit he made to his ancestor, Imam Muhammad bin `Ali “Sahib Mirbat”, the grandfather of al-Faqih al-Muqaddam and the ancestor of all the great Ba `Alawi scholars. In it he discusses the importance of attending the gatherings of the pious and attaching one’s heart to them:

Learning How to Ask Allah:

Keeping the Company of the Pious:

May Allah reward al-Ustadh Amin Buxton for his hard work in preparing the videos.

 

bismi Llah…

as-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatu Llahi wa barakatuh, I hope this finds you all in a state of love of for the Beloved salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wa sallam in this blessed month in which he was born! wa ba’du:

Made available to us all by Ustadh Amin Buxton is Habib ‘Umar’s shorter Mawlid, entitled ‘ash-Sharab at-Tahur’, recited before Fajr on the 7th Rabi’ al-Awwal at Dar al-Mustafa salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa alihi wa sallam:

Download

was-salam