Four states a person can be in...
Welcome to Sheikhy Notes, unique website that features, videos, notes given by traditional Muslim scholars. As well my posts/articles on particular subjects. Scroll down for various topics, scholars, links, quotes and monthly archives or use search engine to find posts. Please note that articles are copyright and cannot be copied without express permission. Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala knows best. Est. 2005, ma sha Allah.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Sheikh Hamza Yusuf
Prophet Muhammad's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Example: Return Bad Manners With Good
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Sidi Yahya Rhodus
How to increase love towards the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Establish heart connection with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Read his life story and attributes
Making much prayers upon him
Implement his Sunna
Serve the sacred law: learn, teach
Establish heart connection with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Read his life story and attributes
Making much prayers upon him
Implement his Sunna
Serve the sacred law: learn, teach
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya An-Ninowi
The Awliya of Allah – Part 1
Jakallah khair Arshad Mahmood
Arabic: Alaa Inna Awliyaa Allahi La Hawfun Alaihim Wa’laa Hum Yahzanoon. Aladeena Amanoo Wa kanoo Yataqoon…… [Surah Yunus, Verses 62- 63]
Translation: Truly, the Awliya of Allah (Subhanu wa ta’ala) do not fear nor are they sad. Are those who believe and fear Allah. 62-63
For them is good tidings in the world and the afterlife 64.
The shaykh asks “who are the Awliya of Allah and how does one become one?”
The Quran does not give you a situation, without giving you the key to solving the situation….
So who are they? Those who believe and they have Taqwa.
If you look at society, it is divided into groups, e.g criminals, educated etc…
You see the people with good morals and character, they are also together, in the Masjids, people of knowledge, not only with their bodies but their souls too.
The Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] said, “The souls of human beings are like soldiers, those souls if they like each other are around each other”. Those that do not like each other, are far away from each other.
Luqman [Alaihis Salam] tells his son “You need to find the Awliya of Allah and love them, because maybe Allah looks in the heart of one of them, and sees your name there and forgives you because of them”.
The Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] once comes out to a Halaqa of the Sahaba [Radiallahu Anhum], and asks what are you doing?
They said “We do not sit, except to make Dhikr to Allah, and say Alhamdulilah, Allahu Akbar, Lailaha illalah…”
He [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] said “Only for Allah and nothing else made you sit?” They said, “Our beloved nothing made us sit but that.”
He said, “I have not asked you out of suspicion or anything, but Jibreel came to me and told me that Allah [Subhanahu Wa’taala] is proud of you.
The angels are honourable slaves of Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala, they report what they see.
Another narration says, angels report to Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala, and say, there was a person amongst those who remembered you in a gathering, he just popped by, didn’t come for intention to remember you, and Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala says to them “because of them, I forgive him/her too”.
So look for these kinds of gatherings and people, so that Allah may forgive you for their Suhba [Companionship].
The Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] also mentions about finding good companionship, who is a good companion?
If you are with a good person, then you are like who sells perfume, if you don’t get anything else from them, at least you will smell good, but if you are with bad company then they will make you like them.
So be with those who have love for Allah [Subhanahu Wa’ta’ala], his Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] and his companions and his family.
A Bedouin once came to the Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] and asked about the day of judgement, and he [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] looked at him and asked “What have you prepared for it?”. He was overtaken by the question and said “I have not prepared much for it, except I thing, I love Allah and his Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam]. So he told him, “You are with who you love”.
Awliya is the plural for Wali and Wali comes from Wilaya. Wilaya means “Qurb” which means “closeness”. The opposite is “Aduw” which is enemy, and Aduw means “running away”. So the Aduw is far and Wali is close to Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ala].
It also means, the one who supports and loves or is faithful and loyal..
But the word Wali could mean many things….
As the Quran talks about “protectors of Zalimeen…” and some peoples Wali’s are the Shayateen. Hence you see people with rotten personalities.
Al Quran says, “The Mumineen are the Awliyas of one another…”
What does this Wilaya mean?
The Quran then goes on to say, “They encourage one another to promote good and forbid evil, they perform their salah, and pay their zakah, and obey Allah and his Messenger ….
So people are even a level above, and the Angels are their Awliya, they are loved by the angels…
The Quran says “Those who say, Allah is our lord, and then walk on a straight path”. The angels descend on them, and say “don’t be fearful, don’t be sad, just wait for the Jannah that you were promised. We are your Walis in the duniya and the akhira ….”
Those who are faithful, the angels tell them “this is not from us, but from the Ghafoor Ar-Rahim”.
In the battle of Badr, the Angels were the Awliya of the army of the prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam].
The greatest of the Awliya are the Prophets [Alaihimus Salam] and then “The Sahaba [Radiallahu Anhum Ajma’een] and then the Ahlul Bayt [Radiallahu Anhum Ajma’een] …..
The Mufasireen [Imam Qurtubi/Razi and others] mention regarding some verses in Surah Al Ma’idah the ayahs translate to, “Your wali is Allah and his Prophet and those who believe, those who are praying and give Zakah while they are making rukhu”.
They explain that a man came to the Masjid of the prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] and asked for charity and nobody gave it to him, as all those present were very very poor.
After exhausting his efforts, he makes a dua loudly “Oh Allah, be my witness, that I asked people in the Masjid of your Prophet and nobody gave me anything”.
In these moments, Abu Dhar [Radiallahu Anhu] says “Ali [Radiallahu Anhu] was praying, and when he heard this dua from this man, he took his ring off and threw it to this man as Sadaqa” and then these verses were revealed.
Imam Suytui [Radiallahu Anhu] has a different opinion as to who the Awliya of Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ala] are;
He says, “The Awliya of Allah are those, if you see them, Allah is mentioned, and if they are absent, they are missed and if they come Allah will be mentioned”.
There are 2 kinds of Dhikr;
a) Dhikr of the Khaaliq [Creator].
b) Dhikr of the Khalq [Creation].
The Dhikr of Allah [Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala] is the cure of all diseases.
Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala did not mention anything of much, but Dhikr.. In the Quran he often talks about perform Salah, Hajj, Zakah, but when he talks about Dhikr, he says “do it in abundance [Shaykh gives many references from the Quran]”.
So what kinds of Wilaya are we talking about?
There is 2 kinds;
a) Wilaya A’ama [general, as referred to in the Quran]
b) Wilaya Khaasa [those who are close to Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ala]]
The scholars mention that the “Wali Khasa” is the one whose heart is busy with the Nur of the knowledge of Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ala], so that when he talks, he talks the words of Allah, when he listens, he listens to the Ayahs of Allah, when he walks, he walks with the service of the Deen of Allah, when he talks, he talks about the greatness of Allah, when he thinks, he thinks about the glory of Allah, when he does, he does it for Allah, when he takes, he takes for Allah, when he spends, he spends for Allah…….
He is for Allah, by Allah, with Allah, to Allah…….
The scholars mention, he is disconnected from the creation and connected to the creator.
Then these Awliya have to go through these steps of not seeing their deeds and actions.
Often people go to the Masjid to pray, and their prayer becomes big to them, they feel “Alhamdulilah, I pray, I fast….”. Even if they don’t tell people, they tell themselves and feel proud within themselves. They take for granted that the reward is added to their balance.
The Awliya of Allah have gone beyond this, Al Quran mentions that when these Awliya do deeds, their heart is worried as to whether their deeds will be accepted or not.
Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz mentions “On the day of judgement, if one caller stands and says that everyone is going to Heaven, except one, I would think that person is me.”
You see these people in their dua, salah, siyaam and have the utmost sincerity as to whether their deeds will be accepted or thrown on their faces. They worry when they reach day of judgement, will their book of deeds have anything it in or will it be empty.
Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani [Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhu] mentions 4 steps in the remembrance of Allah swt.
1. There are those who are absent from the Dhikr, their mind is on those things that will perish them.
2. There are those who are absent in Dhikr, they pray , do dhikr, but their mind is elsewhere, worrying about their business etc. Some plan their day in their prayer…..Their Istighfar also needs an Istighfar, the point is not quantity but quality.
[The shaykh never mentioned the other two]
Belief and Taqwa are 2 conditions necessary for becoming a Wali of Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ala].
What is Taqwa?
Scholars mentioned 4 things;
1. Being fearful from Allah.
2. You work with the Quran. In order words, someone who is ignorant, can not have Taqwa as they don’t have a relationship with the Quran, and that is important.
3. That you are pleased with what Allah [Subhanahu Wa tala] gave you.
4. Preparation for the day of departure.
If these are present, you may become amongst the Awliya, but it requires dedication and commitment, as you need to be detached from the duniya and attached to the akhira.
A Sahabi [Radiallahu Anhu] came to the prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] and said “when I am worshipping Allah as though I am seeing him, I see the people of Jannah visiting one another, and the people of Jahanam blaming each other”. So the Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam]. Said, “Now that you know, now stick to it”.
Fear usually happens, for something that may happen in the future, and sadness happens for something that happened in the past or present. So when Allah [Subhanu Wa ta’ ala] says “there is no fear on them, nor will they be sad”. It means that Allah’s [Subhanu Wa ta’ ala] love, protection and mercy is with them”.
Amongst the worst fear of the Awliya is “sinning” and amongst the Miracles of the Awliya is that “Allah protects them from sinning”.
Imam Raazi [Mufasir] mentions in his Tafsir that “Ibrahim Al Hawas went out to the desert with one of his students and they were mentioning Allah and all of a sudden, some vicious animals came close and his student ran to the tree, while his teacher just stayed reciting the Quran, and the animals just sat in front of him listening for hours and hours , and his teacher didn’t even see them.
The next day we are walking and “a mosquito is flying” and the shaykh is scared of it.
So his student asks him “Subhanallah Shaykh, what is this? Yesterday you had animals that eat people, and you were not scared and today a little mosquito scares you?”
The shaykh replied, “yesterday I was in the Dhikr of Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ ala] and my power was given to me by Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ ala], and now I am on my own.
Ibn Katheer mentions on the liberation of Africa, “There was a valley of death, so anyone who crossed it, would be killed by animals, as it is filled with snakes etc”.
The liberator of the Muslim army went and stood at the edge of the valley, and said, “Oh inhabitants of the valley, tomorrow I plan to cross with my soldiers, if you stand in front, I will wipe you all away”. The narrators say, “All the snakes were seen moving out of the way”.
The Ayah continues, they are given good news of this life…
Everyone wants happiness, some have plenty of wealth, but still not happy, why?
Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ ala] says “who does not do my Dhikr, will have a life filled with hardships”.
Imam Junaid [Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhu] said “We have a kind of happiness, that if the kings knew we had, they would fight us for it with their swords”.
A poet says “The true happiness in life is being closeness to the Fuqara [those needy to Allah only, not necessarily poor], they are the actual Sultans, and Ameers and Kings, and therefore, be around them, and have Adaab when you talk to them, and leave your Nafs behind, and watch your heart, and notice that he pleasure of Allah will be revealed to those who are with them”.
Jakallah khair Arshad Mahmood
Arabic: Alaa Inna Awliyaa Allahi La Hawfun Alaihim Wa’laa Hum Yahzanoon. Aladeena Amanoo Wa kanoo Yataqoon…… [Surah Yunus, Verses 62- 63]
Translation: Truly, the Awliya of Allah (Subhanu wa ta’ala) do not fear nor are they sad. Are those who believe and fear Allah. 62-63
For them is good tidings in the world and the afterlife 64.
The shaykh asks “who are the Awliya of Allah and how does one become one?”
The Quran does not give you a situation, without giving you the key to solving the situation….
So who are they? Those who believe and they have Taqwa.
If you look at society, it is divided into groups, e.g criminals, educated etc…
You see the people with good morals and character, they are also together, in the Masjids, people of knowledge, not only with their bodies but their souls too.
The Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] said, “The souls of human beings are like soldiers, those souls if they like each other are around each other”. Those that do not like each other, are far away from each other.
Luqman [Alaihis Salam] tells his son “You need to find the Awliya of Allah and love them, because maybe Allah looks in the heart of one of them, and sees your name there and forgives you because of them”.
The Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] once comes out to a Halaqa of the Sahaba [Radiallahu Anhum], and asks what are you doing?
They said “We do not sit, except to make Dhikr to Allah, and say Alhamdulilah, Allahu Akbar, Lailaha illalah…”
He [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] said “Only for Allah and nothing else made you sit?” They said, “Our beloved nothing made us sit but that.”
He said, “I have not asked you out of suspicion or anything, but Jibreel came to me and told me that Allah [Subhanahu Wa’taala] is proud of you.
The angels are honourable slaves of Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala, they report what they see.
Another narration says, angels report to Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala, and say, there was a person amongst those who remembered you in a gathering, he just popped by, didn’t come for intention to remember you, and Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala says to them “because of them, I forgive him/her too”.
So look for these kinds of gatherings and people, so that Allah may forgive you for their Suhba [Companionship].
The Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] also mentions about finding good companionship, who is a good companion?
If you are with a good person, then you are like who sells perfume, if you don’t get anything else from them, at least you will smell good, but if you are with bad company then they will make you like them.
So be with those who have love for Allah [Subhanahu Wa’ta’ala], his Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] and his companions and his family.
A Bedouin once came to the Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] and asked about the day of judgement, and he [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] looked at him and asked “What have you prepared for it?”. He was overtaken by the question and said “I have not prepared much for it, except I thing, I love Allah and his Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam]. So he told him, “You are with who you love”.
Awliya is the plural for Wali and Wali comes from Wilaya. Wilaya means “Qurb” which means “closeness”. The opposite is “Aduw” which is enemy, and Aduw means “running away”. So the Aduw is far and Wali is close to Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ala].
It also means, the one who supports and loves or is faithful and loyal..
But the word Wali could mean many things….
As the Quran talks about “protectors of Zalimeen…” and some peoples Wali’s are the Shayateen. Hence you see people with rotten personalities.
Al Quran says, “The Mumineen are the Awliyas of one another…”
What does this Wilaya mean?
The Quran then goes on to say, “They encourage one another to promote good and forbid evil, they perform their salah, and pay their zakah, and obey Allah and his Messenger ….
So people are even a level above, and the Angels are their Awliya, they are loved by the angels…
The Quran says “Those who say, Allah is our lord, and then walk on a straight path”. The angels descend on them, and say “don’t be fearful, don’t be sad, just wait for the Jannah that you were promised. We are your Walis in the duniya and the akhira ….”
Those who are faithful, the angels tell them “this is not from us, but from the Ghafoor Ar-Rahim”.
In the battle of Badr, the Angels were the Awliya of the army of the prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam].
The greatest of the Awliya are the Prophets [Alaihimus Salam] and then “The Sahaba [Radiallahu Anhum Ajma’een] and then the Ahlul Bayt [Radiallahu Anhum Ajma’een] …..
The Mufasireen [Imam Qurtubi/Razi and others] mention regarding some verses in Surah Al Ma’idah the ayahs translate to, “Your wali is Allah and his Prophet and those who believe, those who are praying and give Zakah while they are making rukhu”.
They explain that a man came to the Masjid of the prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] and asked for charity and nobody gave it to him, as all those present were very very poor.
After exhausting his efforts, he makes a dua loudly “Oh Allah, be my witness, that I asked people in the Masjid of your Prophet and nobody gave me anything”.
In these moments, Abu Dhar [Radiallahu Anhu] says “Ali [Radiallahu Anhu] was praying, and when he heard this dua from this man, he took his ring off and threw it to this man as Sadaqa” and then these verses were revealed.
Imam Suytui [Radiallahu Anhu] has a different opinion as to who the Awliya of Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ala] are;
He says, “The Awliya of Allah are those, if you see them, Allah is mentioned, and if they are absent, they are missed and if they come Allah will be mentioned”.
There are 2 kinds of Dhikr;
a) Dhikr of the Khaaliq [Creator].
b) Dhikr of the Khalq [Creation].
The Dhikr of Allah [Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala] is the cure of all diseases.
Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala did not mention anything of much, but Dhikr.. In the Quran he often talks about perform Salah, Hajj, Zakah, but when he talks about Dhikr, he says “do it in abundance [Shaykh gives many references from the Quran]”.
So what kinds of Wilaya are we talking about?
There is 2 kinds;
a) Wilaya A’ama [general, as referred to in the Quran]
b) Wilaya Khaasa [those who are close to Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ala]]
The scholars mention that the “Wali Khasa” is the one whose heart is busy with the Nur of the knowledge of Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ala], so that when he talks, he talks the words of Allah, when he listens, he listens to the Ayahs of Allah, when he walks, he walks with the service of the Deen of Allah, when he talks, he talks about the greatness of Allah, when he thinks, he thinks about the glory of Allah, when he does, he does it for Allah, when he takes, he takes for Allah, when he spends, he spends for Allah…….
He is for Allah, by Allah, with Allah, to Allah…….
The scholars mention, he is disconnected from the creation and connected to the creator.
Then these Awliya have to go through these steps of not seeing their deeds and actions.
Often people go to the Masjid to pray, and their prayer becomes big to them, they feel “Alhamdulilah, I pray, I fast….”. Even if they don’t tell people, they tell themselves and feel proud within themselves. They take for granted that the reward is added to their balance.
The Awliya of Allah have gone beyond this, Al Quran mentions that when these Awliya do deeds, their heart is worried as to whether their deeds will be accepted or not.
Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz mentions “On the day of judgement, if one caller stands and says that everyone is going to Heaven, except one, I would think that person is me.”
You see these people in their dua, salah, siyaam and have the utmost sincerity as to whether their deeds will be accepted or thrown on their faces. They worry when they reach day of judgement, will their book of deeds have anything it in or will it be empty.
Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani [Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhu] mentions 4 steps in the remembrance of Allah swt.
1. There are those who are absent from the Dhikr, their mind is on those things that will perish them.
2. There are those who are absent in Dhikr, they pray , do dhikr, but their mind is elsewhere, worrying about their business etc. Some plan their day in their prayer…..Their Istighfar also needs an Istighfar, the point is not quantity but quality.
[The shaykh never mentioned the other two]
Belief and Taqwa are 2 conditions necessary for becoming a Wali of Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ala].
What is Taqwa?
Scholars mentioned 4 things;
1. Being fearful from Allah.
2. You work with the Quran. In order words, someone who is ignorant, can not have Taqwa as they don’t have a relationship with the Quran, and that is important.
3. That you are pleased with what Allah [Subhanahu Wa tala] gave you.
4. Preparation for the day of departure.
If these are present, you may become amongst the Awliya, but it requires dedication and commitment, as you need to be detached from the duniya and attached to the akhira.
A Sahabi [Radiallahu Anhu] came to the prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam] and said “when I am worshipping Allah as though I am seeing him, I see the people of Jannah visiting one another, and the people of Jahanam blaming each other”. So the Prophet [Sallalalahu Alaihi Wa Alihi Wassalam]. Said, “Now that you know, now stick to it”.
Fear usually happens, for something that may happen in the future, and sadness happens for something that happened in the past or present. So when Allah [Subhanu Wa ta’ ala] says “there is no fear on them, nor will they be sad”. It means that Allah’s [Subhanu Wa ta’ ala] love, protection and mercy is with them”.
Amongst the worst fear of the Awliya is “sinning” and amongst the Miracles of the Awliya is that “Allah protects them from sinning”.
Imam Raazi [Mufasir] mentions in his Tafsir that “Ibrahim Al Hawas went out to the desert with one of his students and they were mentioning Allah and all of a sudden, some vicious animals came close and his student ran to the tree, while his teacher just stayed reciting the Quran, and the animals just sat in front of him listening for hours and hours , and his teacher didn’t even see them.
The next day we are walking and “a mosquito is flying” and the shaykh is scared of it.
So his student asks him “Subhanallah Shaykh, what is this? Yesterday you had animals that eat people, and you were not scared and today a little mosquito scares you?”
The shaykh replied, “yesterday I was in the Dhikr of Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ ala] and my power was given to me by Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ ala], and now I am on my own.
Ibn Katheer mentions on the liberation of Africa, “There was a valley of death, so anyone who crossed it, would be killed by animals, as it is filled with snakes etc”.
The liberator of the Muslim army went and stood at the edge of the valley, and said, “Oh inhabitants of the valley, tomorrow I plan to cross with my soldiers, if you stand in front, I will wipe you all away”. The narrators say, “All the snakes were seen moving out of the way”.
The Ayah continues, they are given good news of this life…
Everyone wants happiness, some have plenty of wealth, but still not happy, why?
Allah [Subhanahu Wa ta’ ala] says “who does not do my Dhikr, will have a life filled with hardships”.
Imam Junaid [Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhu] said “We have a kind of happiness, that if the kings knew we had, they would fight us for it with their swords”.
A poet says “The true happiness in life is being closeness to the Fuqara [those needy to Allah only, not necessarily poor], they are the actual Sultans, and Ameers and Kings, and therefore, be around them, and have Adaab when you talk to them, and leave your Nafs behind, and watch your heart, and notice that he pleasure of Allah will be revealed to those who are with them”.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Walou
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
A True Human Being Changes Forty Times a Day
A True Human Being Changes Forty Times a Day
(Mashallah, someone sent me this)
Imam Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) said in his Majmu` Sharh al-Muhadhdhab:
“Abul Qasim al-Junayd (Allah have mercy on him) said, "A sincere person changes forty times a day, while the hypocritical show-off stays as he is forty years."
The meaning of this is that the sincere person moves with what is right, wherever it may lead, such that when prayer is deemed better by the Sacred Law, then he prays, and when it is best to be sitting with the learned, or the righteous, or guests, or his children, or taking care of something a Muslim needs, or mending a broken heart, or whatever else it may be, then he does it, leaving aside what he usually does. And likewise for fasting, reciting the Koran, invoking Allah, eating or drinking, being serious or joking, enjoying the good life or engaging in self-sacrifice, and so on.
Whenever he sees what is preferred by the Sacred Law under the circumstances, he does it, and is not bound by a particular habit or kind of devotion as the show-off is.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) did various things of prayer, fasting, sitting for Koran recital and invocation, eating and drinking, dressing, riding, lovemaking with his wives, seriousness and jest, happiness and wrath, scathing condemnation for blameworthy things, leniency in punishing those who deserved it and excusing them, and so ion, according to what was possible and preferable for the time and circumstances
(al-Majmu' (),1.17- 18, from Shaykh Nuh Keller’s translation of Reliance of the Traveller, c2.6).
(Mashallah, someone sent me this)
Imam Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) said in his Majmu` Sharh al-Muhadhdhab:
“Abul Qasim al-Junayd (Allah have mercy on him) said, "A sincere person changes forty times a day, while the hypocritical show-off stays as he is forty years."
The meaning of this is that the sincere person moves with what is right, wherever it may lead, such that when prayer is deemed better by the Sacred Law, then he prays, and when it is best to be sitting with the learned, or the righteous, or guests, or his children, or taking care of something a Muslim needs, or mending a broken heart, or whatever else it may be, then he does it, leaving aside what he usually does. And likewise for fasting, reciting the Koran, invoking Allah, eating or drinking, being serious or joking, enjoying the good life or engaging in self-sacrifice, and so on.
Whenever he sees what is preferred by the Sacred Law under the circumstances, he does it, and is not bound by a particular habit or kind of devotion as the show-off is.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) did various things of prayer, fasting, sitting for Koran recital and invocation, eating and drinking, dressing, riding, lovemaking with his wives, seriousness and jest, happiness and wrath, scathing condemnation for blameworthy things, leniency in punishing those who deserved it and excusing them, and so ion, according to what was possible and preferable for the time and circumstances
(al-Majmu' (),1.17- 18, from Shaykh Nuh Keller’s translation of Reliance of the Traveller, c2.6).
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Sheikh Ahmed Deedat
Muhammad(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in Bible (response to Swaggart)
Friday, April 13, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Sheikh Gibril Haddad
The Way of the Ulema part two of two
What is dear, can only be obtained, dearly
We should see the rewards, in these times of Fitna
Sayyid Muhammad ibn Jafar al-Kittani, used to give advice to the kings of Morocco, he left twice because they did not listen to him. He went to Medina and then the Sultan came there and asked to be a Murid. He told him to go the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and ask for forgiveness there.
What is Tasawwuf? Except the living embodiment of the Sunna
What is dear, can only be obtained, dearly
We should see the rewards, in these times of Fitna
Sayyid Muhammad ibn Jafar al-Kittani, used to give advice to the kings of Morocco, he left twice because they did not listen to him. He went to Medina and then the Sultan came there and asked to be a Murid. He told him to go the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and ask for forgiveness there.
What is Tasawwuf? Except the living embodiment of the Sunna
Dr Jerald F. Dirks - Abu Yahya
This is the story of Dr. Jerald F. Dirks journey to Islam, a former minister (deacon) of the United Methodist Church. Holds a Master's degree in Divinity from Harvard University & a Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Denver.
Click on the title
Click on the title
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Sidi Yahya Rhodus
Sidi Yahya Rhodus
Miscommunication on the topic so his points will be more general.
Offer a few things in relation to the sacrifice of women in Islam, though time is short, but ultimately there needs to be a forum opened up to tackle the issues that we face criticism about from outside (such as the issue of women): whether this forum is in the media or on a more grassroots level. We need men and women who have the basic academic and Islamic education to tackle these issues one by one publicly.
We wanted to talk about this issue via a metaphysical framework, on how we look at the world. Islam offers a holistic way on how to view the world, but also how to interact and change the world.
In Bradford there were 5 sisters for every brother, so we were expecting fewer brothers, but perhaps more brothers need to understand this.
So we begin with understanding pairs, as Allah talks about creating pairs, and we see this in the Macro- and Micro-molecular level, things are in pairs: time - this life and the next, heaven and hell, night and day, winter and summer, and one of the greatest manifestations of this is males and females and this should cause us to wonder at Allah (Exalted is He) and His Uniqueness, and how He has no pair, no partner.
So when we talk and view the creation from a metaphysical standpoint, we see this dichotomy of humans: if we view the world in this way, we understand the problem of people saying men being better than women, and particularly also in the case of Unity, if we don't allow for difference, not everything is black and white, that there is room. An enlightened understanding is to understand that men and women are two sides of the same thing. Imam Sha'rani mentions that wherever there is difference, one side is going to be more strict and the other more lenient, and this is where you see his understanding, he shows the wisdom of why Allah gave leniency and who this applies too and vice-versa. Thus, the proper understanding is unity in multiplicity.
And so related to men and women, you see pairs, such as things being passive and active in one sense: such as the pen and the tablet: if you have a pen and tablet, what is passive and what is active? In reality everything is active/passive, positive/negative, everything is relative: the pen is active in relation to the tablet but it is passive in relation to the one who is writing with the pen.
So with men and women, you find expressions of both of Allah's subhanu wa ta'ala attributes, but with Allah subhanu wa ta'ala you have Majestic attributes, which are manifest more in the man, and He(Exalted is He), also has Beautiful attributes, which are more manifest in the women. So with regard to passive/active, you find in Shariah, that women may be more passive when the husband makes a decision, but the children are more passive in relation to the mother, and the husband may be more passive with regards to his parents. So what is passive in one sense, and more active in another. Thus, you see this is the way in which Allah subhanu wa ta'ala has created the universe.
Even in terms of approaching the relevant issues of our time, you need to bring this type of approach. So what we need is not a reformation, but rather a renewal, as is in the understanding of those who have studied Sacred Law. So there is no need to eliminate the Shariah, nor reform it, but rather, what is needed is an application of the traditional understanding and approach of all issues with proper research within the Islamic legacy.
In relation with women in general, instead of focussing on the negative, we will focus on the positive: fundamental duty of women is the same duty as the man: to worship their Lord. A lot of misunderstanding is a lack of understanding of the purpose of our creation and this might seem like a no brainer, but there is a difference between intellectually understanding and from living it as a reality.
It is very difficult to understand aspects of Islam if we remove the Afterlife: such as the penal punishments in Islam. e.g. removing the hand. There is a hadith about the person who is stealing does not do the stealing while he is a believer, i.e. there is a problem in the Iman, but it doesn't necessarily mean (there is disagreement) he will die as an unbeliever in this state, but it is still a danger. So if we look at the punishment that Allah subhanu wa ta'ala will bring to these people in the next life, the penal punishment is actually a mercy. Similarly, the trials the Ummah is facing today, if we remove the Afterlife from our understanding, it won't make sense. So we need the balance: to do what is required to change our condition, and to trust in Allah subhanu wa ta'ala. Need to balance of seeing it is from Allah subhanu wa ta'ala and doing something to change our condition. So we need to work within the Shariah to change our surroundings, with the understanding that we need to rely on Allah. This might seem subtle, but this is at the heart of our relation with Allah subhanu wa ta'ala.
Thus, we need to love all of creation as it is from Allah subhanu wa ta'ala, and we need to hate the disobedience as Allah subhanu wa ta'ala has forbidden it: so there is this dual approach when we see a believer sinning, you hate the action, not the essence of the person. Even with a non-Muslim, unless you are completely certain that they died in unbelief, you can't hate their essence.
In reality there is no success, unless we go back to revealed principles: the whole point of fitna is that you don't think there is another way out: the way out will only be revealed with a person having taqwa in the difficulty, and Allah subhanu wa ta'ala will reveal the way out. For example women in domestic situations where there is violence need to act to change their condition but also understand that everything is from Allah subhanu wa ta'ala.
What we need to see in the upcoming times, is initiative and activity of the sisters within the realm of Shariah. I have been blessed to see many places, such as in Yemen, there are almost no interactions between men and women. I would recommend how you look at how women were treated historically before Islam, and you compare it what Islam gave women, and even if you compare it to how women were treated in the West historically: such as inheritance, property, etc.
Sidi Abdul Hakim Murad has two articles on gender and they illustrate how the beginning of the feminist movement demanded things that Islamically they should already have: and from these initial demands the movement went beyond that which we Muslims would consider required.
So we need to see the male and the female as complimentary: if our wives are ignorant, how are we going to have successful children. I've met people who want to have women in the kitchen so that they don't talk back to the men. Proof against this is found in the life of the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him): how Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was one of the seven who have related over 1,000 hadith; also, an Imam had 68 ijazas from women: the biographical dictionaries had entries filled with women scholars. But 300 years ago it dropped off, and study needs to be done on why this occurred.
Women need to make contributions in 3 areas:
o Knowledge
o The spiritual path, inward path to Allah.
o Da'wa
There need to be institutions built.
I often hear from the second generation of how the uncles are holding them back…why aren't the second generation there? Why aren't they involved? So the issue is two-fold, for the youth and the uncles to engage: people also need to engage in creatively making institutions.
Finally, it's an important discussion in terms of viewing the world, what we term Muslims in being normative. From the greatness of our deen is that it doesn't allow us to be content with mediocrity, what people are doing on the street. The Hadith of, 'When you ask Allah, ask Him for Firdaus' so not just Paradise, but the Highest level. The norm for Muslims, practically, is the Sunna, not just what people are doing on the streets. And this is not merely theoretical, but a living reality such as was found in the time of Medina. And though there is an expected watering down of the faith from that time, the Muslims are unique in that we have the Qur'an unchanged.
The youth have to make their contribution as they have time to study their knowledge. It's like a relay race, the gun shoots, the first one is running hard, passes the baton on the second one, and he cheers the second person on: the second passes it to the third, and everyone cheers on the third. Time is like that baton, we now have the baton, which has been passed down from the greatest generation and nations which were established in the decree of Allah subhanu wa ta'ala.
So what will we do with this baton now that it is in our hands?
Q+A. [To Sidi Yahya]
Should the participation of women in the 3 areas (above) be in isolation from the men?
A. The answer is balance, and is dependent on the place where one is. E.g. Yemen, the separation may be viewed as extreme, but I have never seen or met people that are happier: they see it as a way to get close to Allah.
For us today in the West, it's important to be realistic and realise the vastness of our Sacred Law. If we completely isolate the sisters, they will still be sitting with non-Muslim boys, and listening to male professors, so complete segregation is not realistic: we do need separation and etiquette which is important, but also a balance within the Sacred Law.
It wasn't strange to learn from a woman, it happened in Madinah, with Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), so why do we find it strange to have a female teacher these days? This is not something that we should see as strange. In most events, the sisters double the brothers in number, so we can't just curtail their participation.
What is necessary an equal opportunity of access for learning.
The men just need to be humble if they view the women as a threat. No one was more of a man than Umar (ra) when a woman corrected him in the middle of Juma'. Can you imagine that today? But he (ra) admitted that he was wrong and she was right, and he mentioned her name before his. So it is a case of purifying our hearts and it isn't about correction coming from a man or woman, but wrong is wrong and right is right.
NB The articles by Abdul Hakim Murad that Sidi Yahya recommended are available here:
http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/ahm/boys.htm
http://www.islamamerica.org/articles.cfm/article_id/33/
Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi
The Way of the Ulema Part one of two
We have a long night ahead of us
The Quran states, Are those who have knowledge equal to those who don’t?
There is no way that a person with knowledge is equal to those without
What does it mean when we have knowledge?
Orientalists (people who study Islam so they can misrepresent it or worse) know a lot about Islam, they even teach Usul Al-Fiqh, this does not make them equal to our scholars
Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala praised knowledge and teachers, read the Ihya
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is the first teacher of this Deen and he is the source of this heavenly knowledge
In his lifetime (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Islam reached the fours corners of the Arabian Peninsula
What qualifies the companions (may Allah ta’ala be pleased with them all) to be teachers, in Kufa, Baghdad
Did they have PhDs, degrees??
What was their secret?
It was their relationship with Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala
Zaid ibn Thabit was the most knowledge in Halal Haram
Ali was the best judge
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “I am happy with what Abdullah ibn Masud chooses for this Umma.”
Abu Hanifa studied with his teacher Hammad, for seventeen years
These ways are better than a degree, they boast about the universities that they have been to
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave the companions the best qualifications
Ibn Abbas (may Allah show him mercy) was the most learned in the Quran, due to the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
No recruitment, no exams
Sidi Ahmed Al-Zarruq (may Allah show him mercy) said, “A Jurist Sufi is better than a Sufi Jurist.”
If you don’t know how to do Dhikr, how do you know when to stop
A teacher sits and students gather
Some students accompany their teachers for forty years, one of Anis ibn Maliks students did this
Sheikh Abdul-Khaib Al-Hazdi (a scholar in Damascus) was asked, “Who shall we see if we cannot find you?” He said go see Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Yaqoubi (Sheikh Muhammad’s father)
The way of the Ulema is versus to the way of the many, modernists, radicals. Its the way of the Ahl Sunna wa Ja’ma
There are ten principles of the scholar
Sometimes you get a scholar, who shakes hands with women, wearing suits
Who represents the Deen?
Ulema is an English word because those where leaders for 1400 years
Not modernists, not radicals
The Ulema are silenced versus the Selifi movement paid for by oil money
The Ikhwan are pulling the knowledge
Its time for the Ulema now
The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets and they did not leave Dirham or Dinar
Abu Huraira (may Allah show him mercy) was at the market and protesting to the people that the inheritance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was being disturbed in the Masjid, they went their and saw two groups of people. One remembering Allah and another studying Halal and Haram
That’s the inheritance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
The virtue of the scholar over the worshipper is like the sun over the stars
What do we look for in a scholar?
He had meeting with some sisters (behind a veil) and they didn’t know the title of the Bukhari. (Al-Jami' Al-Musnad Al-Sahih Al-Mukhtasar min Umoori Rasulillahi wa Sunanihi wa Ayyamihi" a possible translation, ‘The concise, comprehensive, authentic and uninterruptedly chained collection of the accounts, traditions and expeditions of the Prophet of God.’)
She said her speciality was Usul udeen, You should know a broad range of subjects.
Sheikh Hamza Yusuf asked him if he had a specialty he said that he didn’t
Study the Deen for twenty years then specialise
Start with Tajweed, 5 books in Aqida, Arabic sciences, Mantiq – logic.
You need to study 10 sciences for ten years
Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Yaqoubi knew 20 sciences and could write about them from memory (He studied Astronomy and Algebra)
You should know the chains of the Hadith, so if they miss out a narrator then you know
Hasan Al-Banna never studied the hadith sciences not even Bukhari, he used to edit books and find the source. When he became very famous, he was handed an Ijaza without being tested
Sheikh Badr udeen Al-Hassani (may Allah show him mercy) was the last Hadith scholar in Damascus, Every top scholar was his student, he was the last one to memorize the six books of hadith
Any subject you would discuss, he should know something about it
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Banna (Hasan Al-Banna’s father) used to make Dua (supplication) against him due to his ingratitude and prayed that his sons harm did not reach the Umma
Sheikh Ibrahim (may Allah show him mercy) studied Algerba and astronomy from Shiekh Nur (father of Nasirddun)
If you’re not a scholar with encyclopedic knowledge, you will not be able to do your job
Knowledge of the state (Ilim Al-Hal) is the science of time
If you don’t know how people cheat then you wont know where the gap is
There are PHD holders in Islamic universities who can only teach one subject
Knowledge has no limits
Do you want to go to college? You are going to get a set of papers
There’s no real relationship between you and the professor, you want to pass your exams - there’s no spiritual connection
The way of the Ulema is established, started with knowledge of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and then moving onto worldly matters
Any of our students who deviate from the four Madhabs, his Ijaza may be pulled back from him, This happened in Damascus
Students need to recognise that: with every drop of knowledge, a ton of wisdom is needed
Most of the people who have high IQ’s go into faculties of medicine, if you don’t have a good level of intelligence then you don’t
Question: If a husband says to his wife, if you eat the date you are divorced and if you don’t eat it your divorced. What does she do?
Answer: She eats half.
Question: if his wife is on a ladder and the Husband says if you stay on the ladder you are divorced and if you jump down you are divorced?
Answer: bring another ladder.
It’s a quiz
(someone asked for a car to be moved, he said, “We haven’t started have we?” and Tala Al-Badr was recited.)
Acting upon knowledge makes the difference between satan and the scholars
What's the point of learning when you don’t practice
Practicing is part of learning
Knowledge looks for practice, if it finds it then it stays
When you look at the scholar, you look for practice
We have people give Khutaba in the Umayyad Masjid wearing ties
Abu Iyad As-Sakhtyani (may Allah ta’ala show him mercy) was a great scholar, Imam Malik considered studying with him until he saw him shake and shiver at the mention of the name Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). After he saw this, then he started to study with him
The most dangerous institution against the west, is the institutes of the Ulema and they cannot be outsmarted, they won't give their pride over
Look at the Ulema who practice the Deen
His earliest memory is the 6th June 1967, the Hammadi market was closed as there was glass on the ground, it had been bombed. Shiekh Muhammad was being taken by his father to a Masjid close by to deliver a lesson, Sheikh Ibrahim walked fast and when he arrived at the Masjid no one was there, he delivered the lesson.
The morning of his wedding Sheikh Ibrahim went to give his class. Someone said was the class cancelled. He said who told you? The class goes on
On the day of the death of his brother, who was a day old. Sheikh Ibrahim took the body to the lesson, delivered a three-hour lesson and then asked if anyone wanted to help him bury the baby. If the students knew they would’ve cancelled the lesson, they thought the baby was sleeping
The scholars don’t turn their backs on any students, not even one
A scholar once refused to drink water from one of his students
If you give a gift to an Alim make it cheap, he has to give it back
No student should pay for lessons
Most scholars don’t have salaries – they never charge the student - the students would sometimes give gifts and the scholar would refuse
Adab is for the scholars, He was walking with his father and another scholar, a close friend. Sheikh Ibrahim pushed him forward. You are not supposed to walk in the shadow of the sheikh
Sacred knowledge is known for its Adab
Remember how Jibril (upon him peace) sat when he was with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Knee to knee, tell me about Islam, he came to teach you, your Deen.
When you mention the name Allah add Subhanu wa ta’ala or Azz a-wjal
When you mention Muhammad put (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
Don’t leave a pen on the floor, carry your book on the right side
You should inherit mercy, without it you cannot be a scholar and the first people who are need of it are your enemies
People who don’t know Islam – you should have mercy in order to pull people to heaven
We don’t have a secret agenda, nothing is secret
The way of the Ulema is the truth
We want Christians to be Muslims because that’s what they want for us
I know many of you, I have seen you many times, next time can everyone bring someone from the outside, who need to come inside
Hasan Khabri and Sheikh Hassan changed the choice of Hasan Khabri, in marriage. When they came to ask for the younger daughter, the father said you have come for the younger one, who will marry the older one? So Sheikh Hassan married him to the older one and they lived happily for forty years
A scholar can’t be on television
He has done 25 tours of America and over 1000 people have taken shahada with him
Jest with your non-muslim friends, you’re smart, you should become Muslim
You don’t say should become Muslim or else boom, boom
Sultan Muhammad ali Pasha sent his son Ibrahim Pasha to stay in Damascus, he met Sheikh Al-Halibi. His knees used to hurt and he used to stretch out his legs in front of his students. Ibrahim Pasha left him some gold, when Sheikh Al-Halibi sent one of his students to return the gold to Ibrahim, he sent the message, “The one who stretches out his legs, doesn’t stretch out his hands.”
The government has nothing but money, after they get the Fatwa, they silence the scholars, and you can’t criticize them
Work, knowledge, practice, Adab, mercy, strength
Jamal udeen Nasir (former Egyptian president) introduced socialism and nationalism to the Middle East, when he wanted a Fatwa from Abu Yusuf al-Abideen, he refused, Jamal sacked him. Abu Yusuf protected the Izza (pride) of the deen
I pray that we can learn from the Ulema and become Ulema, Ameen.
We have a long night ahead of us
The Quran states, Are those who have knowledge equal to those who don’t?
There is no way that a person with knowledge is equal to those without
What does it mean when we have knowledge?
Orientalists (people who study Islam so they can misrepresent it or worse) know a lot about Islam, they even teach Usul Al-Fiqh, this does not make them equal to our scholars
Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala praised knowledge and teachers, read the Ihya
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is the first teacher of this Deen and he is the source of this heavenly knowledge
In his lifetime (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Islam reached the fours corners of the Arabian Peninsula
What qualifies the companions (may Allah ta’ala be pleased with them all) to be teachers, in Kufa, Baghdad
Did they have PhDs, degrees??
What was their secret?
It was their relationship with Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala
Zaid ibn Thabit was the most knowledge in Halal Haram
Ali was the best judge
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “I am happy with what Abdullah ibn Masud chooses for this Umma.”
Abu Hanifa studied with his teacher Hammad, for seventeen years
These ways are better than a degree, they boast about the universities that they have been to
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave the companions the best qualifications
Ibn Abbas (may Allah show him mercy) was the most learned in the Quran, due to the prayer of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
No recruitment, no exams
Sidi Ahmed Al-Zarruq (may Allah show him mercy) said, “A Jurist Sufi is better than a Sufi Jurist.”
If you don’t know how to do Dhikr, how do you know when to stop
A teacher sits and students gather
Some students accompany their teachers for forty years, one of Anis ibn Maliks students did this
Sheikh Abdul-Khaib Al-Hazdi (a scholar in Damascus) was asked, “Who shall we see if we cannot find you?” He said go see Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Yaqoubi (Sheikh Muhammad’s father)
The way of the Ulema is versus to the way of the many, modernists, radicals. Its the way of the Ahl Sunna wa Ja’ma
There are ten principles of the scholar
Sometimes you get a scholar, who shakes hands with women, wearing suits
Who represents the Deen?
Ulema is an English word because those where leaders for 1400 years
Not modernists, not radicals
The Ulema are silenced versus the Selifi movement paid for by oil money
The Ikhwan are pulling the knowledge
Its time for the Ulema now
The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets and they did not leave Dirham or Dinar
Abu Huraira (may Allah show him mercy) was at the market and protesting to the people that the inheritance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was being disturbed in the Masjid, they went their and saw two groups of people. One remembering Allah and another studying Halal and Haram
That’s the inheritance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
The virtue of the scholar over the worshipper is like the sun over the stars
What do we look for in a scholar?
He had meeting with some sisters (behind a veil) and they didn’t know the title of the Bukhari. (Al-Jami' Al-Musnad Al-Sahih Al-Mukhtasar min Umoori Rasulillahi wa Sunanihi wa Ayyamihi" a possible translation, ‘The concise, comprehensive, authentic and uninterruptedly chained collection of the accounts, traditions and expeditions of the Prophet of God.’)
She said her speciality was Usul udeen, You should know a broad range of subjects.
Sheikh Hamza Yusuf asked him if he had a specialty he said that he didn’t
Study the Deen for twenty years then specialise
Start with Tajweed, 5 books in Aqida, Arabic sciences, Mantiq – logic.
You need to study 10 sciences for ten years
Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Yaqoubi knew 20 sciences and could write about them from memory (He studied Astronomy and Algebra)
You should know the chains of the Hadith, so if they miss out a narrator then you know
Hasan Al-Banna never studied the hadith sciences not even Bukhari, he used to edit books and find the source. When he became very famous, he was handed an Ijaza without being tested
Sheikh Badr udeen Al-Hassani (may Allah show him mercy) was the last Hadith scholar in Damascus, Every top scholar was his student, he was the last one to memorize the six books of hadith
Any subject you would discuss, he should know something about it
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Banna (Hasan Al-Banna’s father) used to make Dua (supplication) against him due to his ingratitude and prayed that his sons harm did not reach the Umma
Sheikh Ibrahim (may Allah show him mercy) studied Algerba and astronomy from Shiekh Nur (father of Nasirddun)
If you’re not a scholar with encyclopedic knowledge, you will not be able to do your job
Knowledge of the state (Ilim Al-Hal) is the science of time
If you don’t know how people cheat then you wont know where the gap is
There are PHD holders in Islamic universities who can only teach one subject
Knowledge has no limits
Do you want to go to college? You are going to get a set of papers
There’s no real relationship between you and the professor, you want to pass your exams - there’s no spiritual connection
The way of the Ulema is established, started with knowledge of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and then moving onto worldly matters
Any of our students who deviate from the four Madhabs, his Ijaza may be pulled back from him, This happened in Damascus
Students need to recognise that: with every drop of knowledge, a ton of wisdom is needed
Most of the people who have high IQ’s go into faculties of medicine, if you don’t have a good level of intelligence then you don’t
Question: If a husband says to his wife, if you eat the date you are divorced and if you don’t eat it your divorced. What does she do?
Answer: She eats half.
Question: if his wife is on a ladder and the Husband says if you stay on the ladder you are divorced and if you jump down you are divorced?
Answer: bring another ladder.
It’s a quiz
(someone asked for a car to be moved, he said, “We haven’t started have we?” and Tala Al-Badr was recited.)
Acting upon knowledge makes the difference between satan and the scholars
What's the point of learning when you don’t practice
Practicing is part of learning
Knowledge looks for practice, if it finds it then it stays
When you look at the scholar, you look for practice
We have people give Khutaba in the Umayyad Masjid wearing ties
Abu Iyad As-Sakhtyani (may Allah ta’ala show him mercy) was a great scholar, Imam Malik considered studying with him until he saw him shake and shiver at the mention of the name Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). After he saw this, then he started to study with him
The most dangerous institution against the west, is the institutes of the Ulema and they cannot be outsmarted, they won't give their pride over
Look at the Ulema who practice the Deen
His earliest memory is the 6th June 1967, the Hammadi market was closed as there was glass on the ground, it had been bombed. Shiekh Muhammad was being taken by his father to a Masjid close by to deliver a lesson, Sheikh Ibrahim walked fast and when he arrived at the Masjid no one was there, he delivered the lesson.
The morning of his wedding Sheikh Ibrahim went to give his class. Someone said was the class cancelled. He said who told you? The class goes on
On the day of the death of his brother, who was a day old. Sheikh Ibrahim took the body to the lesson, delivered a three-hour lesson and then asked if anyone wanted to help him bury the baby. If the students knew they would’ve cancelled the lesson, they thought the baby was sleeping
The scholars don’t turn their backs on any students, not even one
A scholar once refused to drink water from one of his students
If you give a gift to an Alim make it cheap, he has to give it back
No student should pay for lessons
Most scholars don’t have salaries – they never charge the student - the students would sometimes give gifts and the scholar would refuse
Adab is for the scholars, He was walking with his father and another scholar, a close friend. Sheikh Ibrahim pushed him forward. You are not supposed to walk in the shadow of the sheikh
Sacred knowledge is known for its Adab
Remember how Jibril (upon him peace) sat when he was with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Knee to knee, tell me about Islam, he came to teach you, your Deen.
When you mention the name Allah add Subhanu wa ta’ala or Azz a-wjal
When you mention Muhammad put (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
Don’t leave a pen on the floor, carry your book on the right side
You should inherit mercy, without it you cannot be a scholar and the first people who are need of it are your enemies
People who don’t know Islam – you should have mercy in order to pull people to heaven
We don’t have a secret agenda, nothing is secret
The way of the Ulema is the truth
We want Christians to be Muslims because that’s what they want for us
I know many of you, I have seen you many times, next time can everyone bring someone from the outside, who need to come inside
Hasan Khabri and Sheikh Hassan changed the choice of Hasan Khabri, in marriage. When they came to ask for the younger daughter, the father said you have come for the younger one, who will marry the older one? So Sheikh Hassan married him to the older one and they lived happily for forty years
A scholar can’t be on television
He has done 25 tours of America and over 1000 people have taken shahada with him
Jest with your non-muslim friends, you’re smart, you should become Muslim
You don’t say should become Muslim or else boom, boom
Sultan Muhammad ali Pasha sent his son Ibrahim Pasha to stay in Damascus, he met Sheikh Al-Halibi. His knees used to hurt and he used to stretch out his legs in front of his students. Ibrahim Pasha left him some gold, when Sheikh Al-Halibi sent one of his students to return the gold to Ibrahim, he sent the message, “The one who stretches out his legs, doesn’t stretch out his hands.”
The government has nothing but money, after they get the Fatwa, they silence the scholars, and you can’t criticize them
Work, knowledge, practice, Adab, mercy, strength
Jamal udeen Nasir (former Egyptian president) introduced socialism and nationalism to the Middle East, when he wanted a Fatwa from Abu Yusuf al-Abideen, he refused, Jamal sacked him. Abu Yusuf protected the Izza (pride) of the deen
I pray that we can learn from the Ulema and become Ulema, Ameen.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Habib Umar ibn hafiz 0908
Dowra notes thirteen
Dowra 09-08
A Sufi was so hungry that one day he got an apple and when he opened it he saw one of the Hur al ein (maidens of paradise). His hunger left him.
Look at the world around you
If Allah gave permission for a bird to fly why can’t he give it to anything else
The purpose of a Sufi is to follow the Prophet (Peace and blessings upon him) and to internalise the Sunna
Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala has praised the character of the Prophet (Peace and blessings upon him) for that reason he is the best creation
The Prophet (Peace and blessings upon him) told the people to take half of your deen from Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her)
Junaid Al Bagdadi said that tassawuf is good character and the one with better character has the best tassawaf
The first thing he said was Allah u akbar and he prostrated
During his childhood if he put his hand on a person that person would be healed
Halima (May Allah be pleased with her) said he used to talk to her in the womb and when he came out the first thing he did was sajood, prostration
When the Prophet (Peace and blessings upon him) would do to kiss the black stone, the stone would come to him and then return to its place
As the Prophet (Peace and blessings upon him) grew older his dominant characteristic was (is) forgiveness
Be sincere in following him
May Allah bless us with the ability to look at his face
Jafar Al Sadiq (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Why did Allah call his character great? Because he wasn’t concerned with anything other than Allah.”
True Tassawuf is good character
Someone said that he was called great because he is exemplar of good character
Some traits of good character: True speech, doesn’t fill himself of food, give charity, honours kinship ties, guest and modesty.
Having sorrow about loss of the worldly things, brings people to the fire
When the heart becomes filled with the light of remembrance of Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala, he will attain a something of characteristics like great
Dowra 09-08
A Sufi was so hungry that one day he got an apple and when he opened it he saw one of the Hur al ein (maidens of paradise). His hunger left him.
Look at the world around you
If Allah gave permission for a bird to fly why can’t he give it to anything else
The purpose of a Sufi is to follow the Prophet (Peace and blessings upon him) and to internalise the Sunna
Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala has praised the character of the Prophet (Peace and blessings upon him) for that reason he is the best creation
The Prophet (Peace and blessings upon him) told the people to take half of your deen from Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her)
Junaid Al Bagdadi said that tassawuf is good character and the one with better character has the best tassawaf
The first thing he said was Allah u akbar and he prostrated
During his childhood if he put his hand on a person that person would be healed
Halima (May Allah be pleased with her) said he used to talk to her in the womb and when he came out the first thing he did was sajood, prostration
When the Prophet (Peace and blessings upon him) would do to kiss the black stone, the stone would come to him and then return to its place
As the Prophet (Peace and blessings upon him) grew older his dominant characteristic was (is) forgiveness
Be sincere in following him
May Allah bless us with the ability to look at his face
Jafar Al Sadiq (May Allah be pleased with him) said, “Why did Allah call his character great? Because he wasn’t concerned with anything other than Allah.”
True Tassawuf is good character
Someone said that he was called great because he is exemplar of good character
Some traits of good character: True speech, doesn’t fill himself of food, give charity, honours kinship ties, guest and modesty.
Having sorrow about loss of the worldly things, brings people to the fire
When the heart becomes filled with the light of remembrance of Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala, he will attain a something of characteristics like great
Monday, April 02, 2007
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