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

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

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.

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

Muslim scholars - India

Imam Al-Harmayn Al-Juwayni

Imam al-Harmayn al-Juwayni (One of Imam Ghazali's teachers, may Allah show them mercy) was asked,

"Is it conceivable that Allah would allow a non-believer to overcome and oppress the Muslim?"


He said,

"No, the non believer (especially) the enemy of the Muslim, never truly overcomes him but it is conceivable for Allah to abandon the Muslim because of his neglect of responsibly to his Lord.”


When the enemy overcomes you it is not Allah allowing a victory of the non-believer over you.

Imam Juwanyni said, “This is not a victory of the non believer.”


Allah will never let you down as long as you uphold your responsibility to him.


Allah is abandoning the Muslim


Not giving victory to the non-Muslim


Be not deluded, Allah never lets you down never


The sum product of all the character of every single Muslim in the entire world is the Ummatic Khuluq (Character of the Muslim nation)


That’s what we feel in every century, in every time


Allah is just, we transgress


Allah is always in command and everything happens by his decree




Quotes from Gyath Al-Ummam of Imam Juwanyni


Sheikh Abdullah Adhami lecture on the Shamil lecture number seven

Habib Umar ibn hafiz 08-08

Dowra notes Twelve

Awarif al Ma’arif 08-08

On the TV they show what’s happening now or even tomorrow but Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala has shown better to the people of pure hearts

The purpose of the dowra is to get closer to Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala

Listen with your heart

It is said one who is sincere to Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala for forty days wisdom will come from him

A person shouldn't leave the congregation, as many diseases may occur

He shouldn’t listen to many things

Owais al-Qarni (may Allah be pleased with him) used prostrate all night until Fajr

People isolate themselves to get closer to Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala

That person should eat less

Why I am not a salafi

Please click on the link above.

Hymn On The Capture Of Mecca

Fez singers

The Burdah

Sheikh Abdullah Adhami

Understanding your nature

Malcolm X (May Allah show him mercy)

Have things changed?

Muslim scholars - China

Habib Umar ibn Hafiz 07-08

Dowra notes eleven

The birth of a child comes from stage to stage

This is why we teach for period so that a person learns steadily over a period of time

Adam (upon him peace) was clay for 40 days before he came to life

Whoever doesn’t have zhud after 40 days doesn’t have wisdom, then they weren’t sincere

People have preceded us yet we can catch up

Khudafa (May Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet (Peace and blessings upon him) what is sincerity, he asked Gibrail who asked Allah he said, “Its one of the secrets that I place in the heart of my slave.”

If there is no sincerity then the person would want these 40 days to pass quickly

Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) said the Prophet (Peace and blessing upon him) started revelation with a true dream which came to him like true dawn, then he started to love isolation in the cave of hira

Even the Quresh used to say that the Prophet (Peace and blessing upon him) used to love Allah Subhnau wa Ta'ala before revelation

He used to stay from 10 days to 40 days

Until Gibril (upon him peace) came with the revelation

No one loved Allah Subhanu wa Ta'ala like the Prophet (Peace and blessing upon him) loved him, this why he is imam of all people

Owais Qurani said to Ali and Umar (May Allah be pleased with them), “You didn’t know anything about him except his shadow.” They said you are right

The reason that people go into isolation is so they can focus their worship

These affairs have proper foundations and principles

The human soul has a number of wonders, even a non Muslim who fasts and goes into isolation may see the wonders of the soul

It doesn’t mean anything if you can fly or walk on water, this is an illusion and you should not seek this. Our focus should be Allah

A true sign is abstinence and they will pass thru these states quickly

You can attain a high station by being sincere

A hindu challenged a Muslim scholar to contest, to see who could fly the most, the Muslim scholar hit him with a shoe and the man died

He should think about the wondrous meanings of the Quran

Shiekh Hamza Yusuf

Secularism Facing Islam

99 names of Allah subhanu wa ta'ala

To add to the link above, which is a list, this is a naat sung by Kamal-uddin


Another song


99 names in Chinese

al-Khazini - Gravity

Our legacy

Sheikh Hamza yusuf

Making Sense of Our Past

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

Shariah

Habib Ali Al-Jifri

From Protest to Engagement – notes on Habib Ali al-Jifri’s speech, London

(May Allah subhanu wa ta'ala reward the donor)

All praise is due to Allah and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad and upon his family and companions.

To start, Allah subhanu wa ta'ala says in the Quran: “And we wished to shower benefit upon those who have been subjugated or impoverished or made weak/ impotent upon the Earth to make them from the inheritors…”

“Weakness” comes in two forms in the Quran.
(1) In one form it is a weakness that leads people down a slippery slope
(2) In another form it is a weakness that leads people up to the lofty heights

And because God is ‘The Just’, and because the state of weakness and impotence isn’t something that a person just experiences once- the fruit of that state is good because if the fruit of that state was not good then this would take it out of Justice and it would be tyranny.

And the fruit, the end result, of tyranny is not in the hand of the tyrant, but in the hand of the one who tyrannised.

The kind of impotence that leads to loss is an impotence to which a person reacts in a way that takes him out of his obedience to God.
Allah subhanu wa ta'ala mentions in the Quran: “..a place in Hell in which the oppressor and the oppressed meet for dialogue..”
Because the oppressed did not react to the oppression in a way that was befitting-

“They say, those who are oppressed to those who are haughty, ‘Were it not for you we would have been believers.’”
“But they say those who are haughty to those who are oppressed, ‘Was it we who stopped you from following guidance when it came to you? Nay you are people of corruption.’” (Quran)

Because the oppressor can take your rights, beat you, kill you but he can never make you leave the path of the serving of your Maker.

That is why we started by citing the verse which talks about those who rose to lofty heights in spite of their oppression- And Allah says “And we gave a gift to those who were oppressed upon the earth and made them leaders and inheritors.” They rose to heights because of their reaction to their oppression, and became leaders that other people wished to be in the position of.

So, Allah’s subhnau wa ta'ala wish for those people was to make them leaders. And Allah says in another ayah “And we made them leaders for the people when they showed patience and had certainty in Our signs.”

So, what Allah requests from us (after the way we deal with our oppression) to reach leadership is:
(1) Patience
(2) Certainty

Hence, Patience is described in the Quran- “fa sabrun jameel”- “And beautiful Patience.”
And when your state of patience and adversity becomes heavy to carry, remember you can always turn to Allah subhanu wa ta'ala, the One who assists.
Why have patience? Because of the fruits of patience if you are a person of Certainty in the signs of God- Why do you believe these words? Because they are the words of your Maker-
This is something we have been hearing since the middle of today from the inheritors of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam.

If you take the advice of Sheikh Ali Al Jumuah (who spoke earlier) when he said that we should renew our connection with the seerah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam- You will understand also that all the glad tidings of openings, establishment, firmness and ease, come after the darkest hours.

I’d like to conclude (a) with answering a question that many people repeat to themselves sometimes in their own monologues, (b) and with Glad tidings.
As for the Question, people ask- “Why at this time in particular many people want to talk to us about the moderate discourse? The discourse of the middle way? Is it because we are facing so many adversities that it is being said in some quarters that make the Muslims soft and easy going so we can carry on doing what we are doing?”

I think the answer is in the question itself: If our people are at such a point where they believe that to call them to moderation and good character is to pave the way to their weakness and to add to their weakness and feeling of impotence- the answer is in the question itself- it means we have gone so far away from the teachings of this faith, which calls us to good character.

The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam articulated it when he said: “Truly I came exclusively (only) to perfect good character.” In Arabic, “Innma” – is an exclusive clause.

And how do we reconcile this with what our brother Yusuf Islam has said, that shirk is the greatest enormity and injustice a man can do, greatest injustice to his own soul- how do you reconcile this with what you have just heard about the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam coming only to perfect good character?
It means the affirmation of Divine Unity and the call to Him can only be done with good character.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam did not say he came to “establish” good character, but to “perfect” which tells us that it is something humanity has with them since it’s inception- so the prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam came to invigorate and bring to life the primordial pattern Allah has placed within us.

And if we are from the nation of the Prophet, as his inheritors- how can we call others to the perfection of character unless we recognise traces of goodness in others and show them the way to its perfection.

And another angle to the answer of the Question: Are we talking about engagement today because we feel threatened, because we are scared, and because we fear? Is it because of shifts in perceptions, because we could be kicked out, because of expedients?
No, rather because this is our faith- Part of this faith is engagement, part of our faith is how we deal with others, how we engage with the people around us, how we carry their burdens and feel responsibility towards them.
And if the tables were turned and we were established upon the earth and we thought this was not the message we were to carry to mankind then we would be betraying the trust Allah has given us.

Because it is an act of worship placed next to salah, fasting, being good to your parents, keeping the bonds of kinship etc- next to all this is good character and it is a way that we get closer to our Creator.

I want us to leave this conference with the feeling of glad tidings in our hearts. And the giver of glad tidings is not the speaker, but it is Allah and the bringer of glad tidings is not the speaker before you, but the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam.

Allah subhanu wa ta'ala said to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam: “And give Glad-tidings to My servants.” Who are these servants that Allah commanded glad tidings to be given to? The verse continues “those who hear what is said and follow the best of it.”

And I’d like to ask Fuad Nahdi and all that work with him in this goodness, that what was said on this day be put together in a booklet so others may benefit and it may be carried forth into action. And others including ourselves can help in this. Because when I heard Abdal Hakim Murad who spoke earlier I felt like a divine opening was coming forth from his mouth, as he spoke from within us in a way that was self critical.
And when I was sat before Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayah earlier, listening to his sublime speech, and the state with which he was before us. I felt like I was before the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam speaking to his ummah. “The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophet.”

May Allah reward you all with the best of rewards.

Dua’

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

This one was replaced with sign of the end

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

Sorry this is a different clip because the other one is unavailable.

Sheikh Saad Al-Attas

Seeking sacred knowledge

If all the grains of sand were gathered and one grain was pulled out, the remainder would be the knowledge of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the grain would be the knowledge of mankind

There is knowledge that won’t reach us

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) said he had two containers of knowledge, one he has given and one he had withheld

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) once gave a Khutba (sermon) and explained all the tyrants that had more than 300 followers, he gave their names and their fathers names – this knowledge didn’t reach us

The scholars studied hard to attain knowledge

Imam Shafi (may Allah show him mercy) said, “Whoever gives knowledge everything, knowledge gives little and whoever gives knowledge a little, knowledge give him nothing.”

The scholars inherit knowledge

This is a link to the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him)

Whoever Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala deserves good or he gives him understanding of the Deen

Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala is the one who gives knowledge

Ibn Abbas (may Allah show him mercy) said, “Knowledge comes according the extent of the intention.”

As long as his intentions are pure – this is the first thing that a student should do

We are acquiring knowledge to change ourselves

Imam Shafi and Imam Bahaqi say that the intention hadith is a quarter of the Deen ("Actions are by intentions..." the first hadith in the forty hadith of Imam Nawawi)

The students of knowledge should know it's difficult, be should be raise himself above it

Knowledge is a degree that deserves greatness

Satan will come to you and ask you why you acquire knowledge? Why do you waste your time studying? Why are you doing this?

Hajj is not straightforward, it’s a difficult act of worship

Acquire knowledge of sins

If a person who didn’t ask scholars about Hajj, the Hajj may not be accepted

In Malaysia you have to pass a two-week course before you get married

Ibn Jawzi (may Allah show him mercy) said Many people who do an action without acquiring the knowledge, the person is only being lead astray

There is knowledge of the heart and the action

Seeking knowledge is an act of worship

Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala doesn’t want worship that you don’t know where you are

Knowledge will give you relief

Imam Ghazali (may Allah show him mercy) started the Ihya (revival of religious sciences) with the book of knowledge

There is no limit to knowledge

There is merit to knowledge

Reading the Quran without Tajweed is haram (according to the scholars of Tajweed)

Some people would prefer not to know, if they do, they would become responsible

For this person there is two punishments
1. he didn’t search
2. Ignorance

A person who is weak and asks for forgiveness, will be rewarded

The greatest obstacle, we face is ignorance

Anybody who thinks he has acquired knowledge, has a fault

How many times does this happen, when we have knowledge and ignorance together

Some of the people here know about the afterlife but they don’t know where to get the answers

Muslims have been given the guidelines, we have been give these – the subtle, the palpable

The Quran is the solution to our problems

The Quran is an explanation of everything

A person came to Imam Shafi saying we just need the Quran, Imam Shafi said that the Quran indicates to the obedience of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)

Muhammad Mubarak was an ocean of knowledge, he was a pious, Salah (righteous) man he moved from Maroc to medina and then to Tarim, all he studied was the way to connect to Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala. He met a scholar who wanted to find out who this man was and wanted to know where he got his knowledge from him

We are in a very serious situation in this country

There are lots of confused issues

We need to prove the people what Islam is

How many times has a small group overcome a large group, by the permission of Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala

People need to go back to the Sunna and the Quran

If we neglect our knowledge then new Muslims will come and take the knowledge

The leaf on the back

If we don’t pick them up then others will come and take it

The straight path is the Quran and the Sunna

Flying through the air? An insect can do that

How will we preserve the knowledge? Choose competent youngsters and send them out to learn the Islam that teaches us patience

The scholars say that practice is knowledge

People take some of the hadith from the hadith that heaven is underneath the shadow of the swords. What the beginning? Don’t wish to meet your enemies on the battlefield, if you are confronted, then be patient.

The hadith has been cut up and misused

If a person doesn’t have patience then he doesn’t obtain knowledge

We ask Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala to guide us to knowledge and correct knowledge

Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala loves honesty and it will show on your limbs

There were hypocrites who saw the face the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) they said that this is not the face of a lair

The inside was on the outside

He meant what he said

This is what we need in our societies

We ask Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala to give us knowledge

Sheikh Ahmad Deedat

Muhammad the Greatest(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
by Ahmad Deedat

Please flick through this book

Habib Umar trans Sidi Yahya Rhodus 06-08

Dowra notes ten

Awarif Al Ma’arif

Worldly pleasures are nothing compared to heavenly pleasures

We must prepare for our eternal life

We must get closer to Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala in this life

We don’t have another opportunity to get closer to him and we must do this now

Don’t desire death because you may live to do good

We are ignorant of the true value of this world, our enemies laugh at us because they have busied us with the worst of things

Many a time, people are watching things that harm them

The people of heaven will not be remorseful

Don’t leave the prayer area unless you have to

The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) gave Fatima (May Allah Ta’ala be pleased with her) invocations instead of a servant because he didn’t want her to turn to anything in the world

Beware of time being stolen from you, said a poet

The sincere a person shouldn’t be somewhere unless he is sure that it will benefit him

If a person who feels a spiritual state shouldn’t move or tear their clothes

Ka’b ibn zuhar (May Allah Ta’ala be pleased with him) was given the cloak of the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) when he recited poetry in praise of him.
Many years later, Muawwiya (May Allah Ta’ala be pleased with him) brought it from Ka’b’s children for 20,000 dirhams.

There was young companions, 16,17 years old, couldn’t sleep because they loved the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) so much, this was the state of Habib Jafar al Andulus (May Allah's Ta'ala mercy be with him)

O’ you who is seeking Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala, be firm and stand at his door.

Sheikh Abdul Hakim Murad

Beauty in Islam

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) dua after Taif

Shaykh Abdal-Karim Yahya

Pride and Humility

(Jakallah khair Hyder Abbasi for donating these notes)

Purifying one’s intention


Imam Haddad’s Intention:

I intend: ‘Learning and teaching

Receiving and giving admonition

Giving and receiving benefit and gain

Encouraging the adherence of Allah’s Book, and the Sunna of the Messenger, sallalaa hu 'alaihi wasallam

Calling to right guidance

And leading to goodness

(This is out of my) desire for Allah’s countenance, His pleasure, nearness to Him, and His reward (Transcendent and Exalted is He).’


Allah loves not the Proud


Allah says:

‘I will turn away from my signs those who unrightfully elevate themselves in the Earth’ (Qur’an 7:146)

‘Like that Allah seals the heart of every proud tyrant’ (Qur’an 40:35)

‘Indeed, Allah loves not those who deem themselves great’ (Qur’an16:23)

Imam Ghazali, Allah be pleased with him, said:

‘The consequences of pride is that one is prevented from realising the Truth; it is a cause of the heart being sealed; it is a cause of being hated by Allah, and understanding Allah’s Book, and (it) prevents one from accepting the Truth.’




Allah Breaks the Proud


The Messenger of Allah, sallalaa hu 'alaihi wasallam, said:

“Allah says: ‘Greatness is my upper garment, and majesty is my lower garment. If someone contends with me for one of them, I throw him into the Fire’”, (Muslim, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majar)


Abdallah bin Amr and Abdallah bin Umar, Allah be pleased with them, met on the mount of Safa and stood together. Then ibn Amr left and ibn Umar remained, crying. They said to him, ‘What makes you cry O father of Abdul-Rahman?’ He said: “This one (meaning ibn Amr) asserts that he heard the Messenger of Allah, sallalaa hu 'alaihi wasallam say: ‘If someone has the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance in his heart, Allah will throw him on his face into the fire.’ (Muslim, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majar)


Arrogance is opposition to Allah


Al Hasan Al-Basri, Allah be pleased with him, said:

‘The son of Adam is amazing. He washes filth from his hand once or twice a day and then challenges the Compeller of the heavens!’

Abu Bakr As-Sidiq, Allah be pleased with him, said:

‘Do not look down on any of the Muslims! Indeed the small Muslim is great with Allah.’

Al-Ahnaf bin Qais said:

‘It is amazing that the son of Adam is arrogant and he has exited from the passage of urine twice!’


Allah raises the Humble


Allah (Most High) says:

‘The slaves of the Merciful, those who walk humbly on the earth.’ (Qur’an 25:63)

The Messenger of Allah, sallalaa hu 'alaihi wasallam, said:

‘No one is humble for Allah, save that Allah elevates him.’ (Muslim)

Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Allah be pleased with him, said:

‘Do you know what humility is? Humility is to leave your home and not meet any Muslim except that you believe him to be better than you.’


Definition of Arrogance (Kibr)


Arrogance is seeing oneself as better than others

The Messenger of Allah, sallalaa hu 'alaihi wasallam, said:

‘Arrogance is rejecting the Truth and despising people.’ (Muslim)

Humility and Pride are qualities of the heart, but they have outward manifestations

Kibr is the inward characteristic, takkabur (haughtiness, condescension) is its outward manifestation


Why are we proud?


If one is arrogant because of something of this world, then know that in Allah’s sight it is lower than that

If one is proud about some religious work, then know that this decreases one’s station with Allah

Allah alone grants you these works

Fear that Allah will take these good works away from you

The Messenger of Allah, sallalaa hu 'alaihi wasallam, said:

‘None of you will be saved by his works’

If religious works produce contempt for others, then they (good works) are flawed. Otherwise they would have produced humility


The Remedy


Its remedy is comprised of knowledge and action

One must know themselves and their Lord

As for ourselves, Allah says:

17 ‘Woe to man! What hath made him reject Allah?’

18 ‘From what stuff hath He created him?’

19 ‘From a sperm drop: He hath created him, and then mouldeth him in due proportions’

20 ‘Then doth He make His path smooth for him’

21 ‘Then He causeth him to die, and putteth him in his grave’

22 ‘Then when it is His will, He will raise him up (again)’

(Qur’an 80:17-22)


As for the active part of the cure, it is to truly humble oneself to Allah and show humility to all of His creatures

The Messenger of Allah, sallalaa hu 'alaihi wasallam, is the Imam of humility

He used to eat on the ground and say: ‘I am only a slave, I eat as a slave eats’

He taught his Companions humility, until they became models of humility


Ridding oneself of arrogance is an obligation


Imam Ghazali, Allah be pleased with him, said in his ‘Ihya ‘ulum ‘ad-din:

‘Know that arrogance is from the lethal sins and no person is free from at least some amount of it. Removing it is a personal obligation. It does not vanish by mere false hopes, rather by treatment and by the use of medicines that overcome it’

Ibn Ata’illah, Allah be pleased with him, said:

‘True humility is that which stems from witnessing His Magnificence and the manifestation of His attribute’

And…

‘You will not be removed from an attribute save by witnessing (His) attribute’

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi

To know him is to love him (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)

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Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

I know its an old lecture but its one of my favourites.

Allah Made Me Funny - concert

One hour plus show

ALLAH MADE ME FUNNY - NZ & OZ Tour Promo - Preacher Moss and Azhar Usman

Comedy clip

The Story of Shuiyb (upon him peace)

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

Give and take for Gods sake

Habib Kadhim As Saqqaf

The concept of Bidah (innovation) in the light of Quran and Sunna by Habib Kadhim As Saqqaf (Hadramaut, Yemen)

(May Allah subhanu wa ta'ala reward the donator)

Bismillah
Assalamu alaykum,

The concept of Bidah has preoccupied many Muslims and it has forced people away from the true etiquettes that Rasulullah S allallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam embodied.

Differences have been there from the time of Rasulullah S allallahu alaihi wa ahlihi and will always be there until end of time.

We should maintain high character and lofty mannerism in approaching differences.
Differences are practised by humankind generally and should not result in negative attitude and disrespect of other people.

Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi said differences within my Ummah community is a blessing.

We cannot assume that there is only one correct way of understanding.

An example from prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wassalam

He Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi instructed a group of sahaba not to pray Asr until they reach Bani Khuraizah.

A group of sahabi’s didn't pray as they understood the literal sense whereas a group prayed on the way as they understood Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wanted them to hasten and not pray it in Madina. When they returned and this was narrated to Prophet S allallahu alaihi wa ahlihi , he did not negate either one of this groups. He ACCEPTED BOTH

Sahabi’s even differed amongst themselves but respected each others differences and didn't despise one group's action from another. Their hearts were together.

Another example

Arabic language- words/phrases have multiple meaning.
One word has more than 1 meaning
One phrase has multiple meanings

Imam Maliki/Shafii/Ahmad each looked and derived different understanding according to how they understood

Each would use evidences from the sunnah Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi to support their understandings

But another scholar would not say the other is misguided/fasiq sect but will work on what he understands.

Scholars accept difference in opinions.

Arabic language opens doors to different understanding.
e.g the word fauq
In the arabic word has 13 meanings

example fauq: above
fauq: greater than (in a parable)
Fauq: extra (verse of inheritance)

Each scholar produces evidences from the Sunna based on understanding and prophetic light.

In the latter day period/now Muslims are preoccupied with innovation in an incorrect manner which results in negativism in their hearts and perspective towards someone else
if we go back to Quran and Sunna of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wassalam and try to understand the word “innovation”,

TRUTH of the matter is clear

In a situation 1) know reality of matter
2) courage to stand on reality

Bidah- innovation
Means new inventions without previous example

Quran..... Badi us sama waliwal ard
Creator without any previous example

Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wassalam , when he warned about innovation, he warned in a general manner
“Beware of every new innovation and is a misguidance”

The word every in Arabic carries the meaning majority and DOES NOT MEAN ALL.

The Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) and his companions understood it as not in an absolute manner.

However people assume that the prophetic meaning is general and start to consider it to be a sinner.

In the Quran and Arabic language, the word every means majority of things

For example in the sirah about punishment of people of Hud the ayat stated .... will destroy everything.....but what was destroyed?

Were the houses only of the disbelievers destroyed or the mountains and surroundings as well?
No, just the houses were destroyed, but the verse of the Quran used the word “Kullu”

Another example

In the story about Queen of Sheeba accepting islam from Sayyidina Sulayman Alaihi salam, the rough meaning of the ayat stated that she was given everything
But Sayyidina Sulayman Alaihi salam had the ability to control jinn and understood the language of animals but she didn't receive such gift,
therefore, the word every here means many many great gift, more than any other would normally receive

Similarly the hadith of Sayyidina Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wassalam means majority

If a person repeatedly listens to this hadith over and over again, he could mistakenly understand that everything that Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wassalam did not do is wrong and will lead to Hell fire, but that is NOT SO.

The Sahaba (Radhi Allahu anhum) took the hadith from the mouth of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wassalam and they also took the understanding of the hadith from him Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wassalam but they also carried out innovations.

In Islam , any good practise which is followed, the innovator will receive reward for the practise and from all those who practise it after him without diminishing the rewards of those who do good (Hadith).

Therefore
(1) A person with an act of goodness even if Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wassalam didn't do is considered praise worthy.

The Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wassalam and the Quran encourage in general all act of goodness

The Sahaba (May Allah be pleased with them) took the understanding and hadith from Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wassalam and continued doing good and they themselves did praiseworthy innovations, examples will be given later.


What are blame worthy innovations?

It is when a normal practise either daily or cultural is being incorporated to make it a religious practise.

Example from Imam Bukhari hadith

Abu Israil (R.A) A companion wanted to please Allah by way of an act of worship by not standing under a shade and vowed never to sit.

When Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam knew about this, he told the companions to tell this particular sahabi to stand in the shade and to sit down.
This is normal everyday recurrence that was tried to incorporated into a religious practise. This is a blameworthy innovation

Allah in Al-Quran instructed act of goodness and the Sahaba and the later generations did many acts of goodness that Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam never did.

An example

Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam sent a group of sahaba under the leadership of one companion. Through out their journey and stay this particular leader lead the prayers and always recited Surah Ikhlas in Every Salah. Yet there was NO instruction from The Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam .

When they returned this was conveyed to Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam who questioned him why he did this. The sahabi said that it was because the Surah was about the description of the attributes of Allah Ar-Rahman The Most Merciful and the sahabah loved the surah because of this.

Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam said "Tell him his love will lead him to Jannah". Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam never said that this was blameworthy innovation but encouraged such act of goodness for the love of Allah.
This companion knew what was Biddah but he also knew this was an act of goodness.

Likewise it is recorded in Imam Bukhari's collection of hadith that one companion prayed behind the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam. Each time the Prophet came out of rukuh this sahabi would say "Hamdan Toyyiban Mubarakan Fi".
After the prayer the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam asked 3 times before the sahabi answered it was him who did the zikr.
Rasulullah said I only asked because I saw 30 angels competing to write down the reward of your Zikr.

If it was blameworthy innovation / bidah, Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam would have reprimanded it. But instead he did not and told about the rewards recorded by the angels.

Another example

One companion was going to be crucified, He asked if he could pray 2 rakaat sunnah before that. He said he did it short because he didn't want the enemy to think he was afraid, otherwise he would have made a longer prayer.

When this was revealed to the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam, he said that the companion had done a good practise and encouraged such prayer. He did not say that the companion did Biddah.



So we see that the sahabah who took the hadith and the understanding of the hadith from the mouth of the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam always did goodness within the Prophetic revelation.

But we don't see them doing extra rakaat of zuhr prayer, or fasting in Ramadhan for 32 days. They knew what the hadith meant.

During the reign of Sayyidina Abu Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu many huffaz died during the battle of Yammamah. Sayyidina Umar Radhi Allahu Anhu was afraid that the Quran would be lost from the Ummah.
Sayyidina Umar Radhi Allahu Anhu and said that there is a need to compile the Quran into a book. Sayyidina Abu Bakr responded that Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam did not do that. Sayyidina Umar said, it is as act of goodness,

Similar incident and response with Sayyidina Uthman and Ubayy bin Kabb Radhi Allahu Anhum.
All the time Sayyidina Umar Radhi Allahu Anhu stressed that this was act of goodness.

Allah opened the heart of Sayyidina Abu Bakr Radhi Allahu Anhu to compile the Quran for future Ummah. It did not contradict the religion, but it facilitated people to worship Allah.

Masjid Nabawi originally was made of pebbles, palm leaves, bark of palm tree and the pulpit was from the palm tree. We have changed the Masjid but it is not a blameworthy innovation, but a good one.

Likewise the use of microphones during this lecture, Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam never used it. But it is an act of goodness that facilitates worship of Allah and conveyance of the message of the Deen.

The beauty of this Deen is that there are many general goodness in the Light of Islam.

Example

If a person decides to read Surah Ahl Imran after Fajr everyday, someone hears about it and ask why he is doing it when Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam never did it.

Actually there is no basis to object because Al-Quran is an intercessor for the person during yaumul Qiyamah. It is good to read Al-Quran. Maybe this person is not free to read Al-Quran at other times. The person who asks should facilitate act of goodness and active worship

Al-Quran, “Whatever the prophet (pbuh) gives you take it, whatever he forbid from doing, avoid it”.


The verse said whatever he forbid, it did not say whatever RasulullahSallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam did not do

Maybe sometimes what rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam did not do is not a practise of his people for example eating lizard. When he Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam was asked why he did not eat Lizard ,he said it is not a practise of my people, but he never stopped other people from doing it, he just didn’t desire it for himself.

Sayyidina Uthman bin Affan Radhi Allahu anhu, when he was the Amirul mu'minin he introduced 2 Azaans for Jumah prayers so that there is benefit for more time when he saw that there are many people who had to come for Friday Prayers.

Sayyidina Uthman Radhi Allahu Anhu also introduced Labbaika wa sa'daika instead of labbaik Allah only. What he did were act of goodness.

Any good action that is not done by Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam
if anyone say it is bid'ah and he means good innovation, he is correct.

If he means linguistically from the point of view of language, he is correct
If he says it is astray, for certain he himself is mistaken and should go back to understanding the Al-Quran and the Sunna

By the statement of Al-Quran and Sunna of Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam the person who thinks one is astray is wrong to make that statement.

Be reminded that a person who introduces good action will be rewarded for his action and will receive the reward of those who follow his good action without minimising the reward each individual receives.

The Imams of this Ummah were inspired by Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala to gather various Zikr’s and Dua’s of a certain amount and at certain times, and they noticed certain benefits and gather people to recite these Duas and Adkaar. These Imams were not contradicting the religion of Allah Subhanu wa Ta’ala.

For example

Sahih Bukhari, contains gatherings of sayings of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam. It puts things into order. From them derived book of knowledge, book of fasting, book of Hajj etc
Now we say it is authentic, but what is it?
It is the narration of Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam to facilitate the religion.

If Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam did an action only once, it is enough to instruct people to do that.

For example Abdullah bin Abbas said he knew the congregation prayers had finished when he hears zikr in a loud manner on his way to the masjid.


One who does not know should hold back and not condemn
Condemnation opens door to Shaytan.
One should Hold back even if he feels strongly he is right
Don't go against the mannerism of the Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa ahlihi wa salam. Condemnation is not the right way to correct any practise

Generations after generation for 600 to 700 years from East to West Muslims have done various kinds of practises. After generations and generations of people doing a particular practise, some people of the present time try to stop such practises. Centuries after centuries from east to West people including learned scholars have good practises. Only one scholar disagreed and thought people went astray and people nowadays start to take one scholar's opinion and behave in a certain manner.

Example

For centuries from the 13th Hijra Muslims used to pray 20 rakaah of taraweeh prayers, from Masjid Nabawi to Masjid ul-Haram and so on….

Suddenly now people are saying we should go back to do 8 Rakaah of Taraweeh.

Are they trying to imply that the Fuqaha/Muhadittin/Ulama of present days are misguided and hence people are also misguided.

Adorn one's self in Prophetic characteristics
Make dua that Allah show us the truth as it is
and Allah shows falsehood as false.


Any mistakes are from me and Habib Kadhim delivered a good speech and free from my mistakes. Forgive this effort of sharing the light towards a better understanding true Islam. May we all be guided.

wassalam

Uniting for the Prophet (Peace and blessings of God be upon him)

Wembley Conference Centre 2005


Jakallah Khair Ghalib Hussain (I have other notes on this blog, scroll halfway down in January 06 http://sheikhynotes.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html )


Shaykh Jihad Brown

The ocean of Muhammad, peace be upon him, is an ocean of unlimited muhabba. It is okay if you find yourself drowning in that ocean…as long as you don’t emerge from it…

Shaykh Babikr Ahmed Babikr

How can Muslims come into this country and live here, benefit from being here, and then curse this country and its people? Where is our thankfulness?

Are we being good neighbours, good citizens as Islam asks of us?

Commended the scholars and Muslim intellectuals in the West for their efforts including Sidi Yusuf Islam, Shaykh Hamza, Dr Lings, and Sidi Hasan le Gai Eaton.


Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada

Highlighted some of the miracles of the Prophet, peace be upon him, including the Palaces of Sham that his blessed mother, Sayyida Amina, saw upon his birth.

There was once a Christian man who read the hadith, 'Beware of the insight of the mu'min for he sees with the light of God'. On reading this, he pondered heavily upon its meaning and as he thought himself a man of God, he wondered how it was that this was the case. So one day he got up and was determined to find out more about the meaning of the hadith. He put on a cloak and turban and dressed exactly like a Muslim. Underneath his garments, he wore his cross. As a 'muslim', he then went to a Shaykh and asked him what the hadith meant, the Shaykh replied, 'I don’t know'. He then went to an Imam and asked the same question, the Imam said, 'I don’t know', the seeker then went to a Mufti, and asked him about the hadith and received the same reply. Finally, he made his way to Junaid al-Baghdadi, who said, 'I will explain to you what the hadith means, but first, you will have to remove the cross you are wearing from beneath your garments. The Christian was astounded. (He had received the answer to his question). The man said the Shahada and became Muslim. He turned to Imam Junaid, ra, and said I have one more question to ask you. ‘I asked the Shaykh, the Imam, and the Mufti the exact same question; why were they not able to tell me?’ To which Imam Junaid replied, ‘all three of them knew exactly what I knew. They could see your cross. The reason they didn’t tell you was because they also knew that I would be the one who would have the honour of making you Muslim.’ The Shaykh concluded by saying if these people were the result of the teachings of the Messenger of God, peace be upon him, then what about the teacher?


Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

It is chivalrous to listen to your brother speak without interrupting him. [Hadith]

What destroys a people is arrogance – Greek Proverb

To those who say we (Muslims) should leave Europe, we say: England became a Christian country in the 8th century. We were already in Europe by then.

Everywhere Islam went it attracted a huge following. Many people, including many Christians, accepted the new religion. Examples are North Africa and the Visidos of Spain.

Everywhere Islam spread to it revived the people and brought them to life. They expressed this in their songs. Islam never came to take away a peoples’ culture.

Deal with others in the best of way. When the Prophet, peace be upon him, was verbally insulted by the Jews, he would reply with greetings. The Sahaba said, ‘O Messenger of God, they revile you and you greet them?’ To which he replied, ‘Vessels can only pour forth that which they contain.’

A great Shaykh gave a talk at a masjid and was greeted by the congregation afterwards. Outside the masjid, more and more people gathered to shake hands with him, and he continued to shake hands with the people until he had shook the hands of the entire village. One of his students later suggested that he needn’t have shook hands with everybody and it would have sufficed to shake hands with a few people and they would have been happy. The Shaykh replied “these people had a good opinion of me and considered it worthwhile to wait for me, should I not have a good opinion of them and wait for them too?”

We are not people of hatred. We are people of compassion.

Have compassion towards those who have no hope in the Meeting with God.

Everything that we are comes from light. In plants the green chlorophyll works in photosynthesis to create food from light. Everything, including the meat that we eat, therefore receives its energy from the visible light that God gives to the plants first. Is the Quran and Sunna not another light from Allah ta’ala? If the light needed to make our energy is important for our bodies to function then how much more important is the light of this deen for our spirits to function and prosper.

Green was the Messengers’ favourite colour, peace be upon him. Green is the first colour our eyes can see in the morning and the last colour our eyes can detect before the sun sets. He was the first and the last Prophet, peace be upon him.


Sidi Hassan le Gai Eaton

Two Shia’s were discussing Islam and one said to the other, ‘Sunni’s are wrong and we are in divided into two groups. The other group is wrong too, and most of the followers in our group cannot really be trusted in their views, which pretty much leaves the two of us and, frankly speaking, I’m not too sure about you either!’

We need to rise above this mentality, we have in the Messenger, peace be upon him, a wonderful example.


Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller

When we talk about being Muslim, what does it mean?

Islam should be manifest on our body; Iman on our intellect; and Ihsan on our soul.

The Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe.

If your knowledge doesn’t work forever – leave it.


Shaykh Muhammad al Yaqoubi

On being introduced with great praises – he cried with humility saying that it hurt him to be praised with such lofty titles, as he was not worthy of any praise especially when he was there to speak about the best of creation, peace be upon him.

Don’t you wish you were the dust that he, peace be upon him, stood on; the vessel he drank from; the water that exited his body as this was not only pure but a cure?

Don’t you miss him?

The only way to Allah is through love of the Prophet, peace be upon him, there is no other way.


Shaykh Habib Ali al-Jifri

Even though the Prophet, peace be upon him, suffered much at the hands of the people of Taif, he, peace be upon, never complained about the people. They shouted abuse and obscenities at him and eventually took to throwing stones at him so much so that his blessed feet started to bleed. It got so bad that he, peace be upon him, couldn’t walk any longer and sat down. At this point some of them started to push him in the back in order to get him to stand up and keep walking. Habib Ali said that this would be a cruel thing to do to anybody, but to do it to a man that had come to bring you nothing but salvation is worse. Still, the blessed prophet, peace be upon him, never complained to God about anything save his own weakness and shortcomings. In this the Shaykh said were tremendous lessons for us, if we reflected.

When God sent angels to destroy the city on the Prophet’s command, he, peace be upon him, said he did not want this as he hoped that from amongst their descendents there would be people who would worship the One God.

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf - Intention

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

Scattered Dust

Habib Kadhim As-Saqqaf

'In the footsteps of the chosen one'

(May Allah reward the donator, Ummu Alwi.)

RasululLah (peace and blessings be upon him) is perfect in his attributes.. kareem, raheem, manaan

All the Rasool are the role model for us.. for eg Nabi Musa(AS) in
his perfection that he reached, he can cure people from sickness; and
Nabi Isa (AS) raise people from dead.. as if Allah is saying that this
is my people whom I give the power (as a manifestation of My power)

If we follow these role model, we'll gain eternal happiness.

Whatever area we're in.. we can follow the example from RasululLah (peace and blessings be upon him).. ie if we're leader or a teacher or parents.. we can alaways follow him (peace and blessings be upon him)

All the recent discovery is a confirmation of Allah.. 'sanurihim ayatina fil afaqi wa anfusihim'.. al-afaq is what they can see in RasululLah's (peace and blessings be upon him) time.. but in our time it means the universe because we have the knowledge beyond what we can see (in term of the universe).. and the 'sin' in sanurihim it means the future ~ ie Allah will continue to show the signs in the universe and in ourselves..

Eternal happiness (felicity).. the secret lies in our souls.. it will continued to be renewed from time to time.. in death, after death and hereafter..

We can get the nafahat through attending gathering, through prayer and the qur'an.

Mankind will always be tested with 1. intellect 2. feelings

RasululLah (peace and blessings be upon him) is always in the state of happiness and radha with Allah even at Uhud when blood pouring from his face..

Sayidina Bilal.. even one day before his death.. he was very happy..because he was going to meet RasululLah (peace and blessings be upon him)

Allah places strength in certain things.. for eg Zamazam water.. RasululLah (peace and blessings be upon him) said.. we get what we intend for when we drink Zamzam..

Sayidinna Umar made the intention when he drinks Zamzam to release the thirst in Day of Resurrection..

Abu Quhafah.. when he was in the prison far away from his homeland..everyday his father went to the edge of the city every prayer time and said 'al-salat'.. he heard it every time, and he prayed.. after three years they were gathered together.. it is because of the connection of their hearts.. And we have the ability to do the same.. but most of us switch it off.. like a person who have mobile phones.. he switched it
off.. even though people gave him sms and called him.. he will never get it.

The best thing to follow RasululLah (peace and blessings be upon him) is his akhlaq.. A man used to insult RasululLah (peace and blessings be upon him).. he even covered his face with cloth when he saw RasululLah (peace and blessings be upon him).. but when he died, his son came to RasululLah (peace and blessings be upon him)
to pray over his deceased father.. Sayidina Umar protested saying that
this man alaways insult RasululLah (peace and blessings be upon him)... but it didn't affect RasululLah (peace and blessings be upon him). the son even asked for RasuluLah's cloth to cover his father.. RasululLah (peace and blessings be upon him) gave his rida' and even lead the prayer..

There's lots of hidden secrets and treasures in Rasul's adkaar, like 'La Hawla wa la quwwata illa bilLah'..

Inshallah may all these benefit everyone of us. May Allah forgive me for my mistakes in transmitting these.

Refutation of the Quranites/Koranites and Tolu e Islam groups

http://sectarianrefutations.blogspot.com/

Azhar Usman - Islam spread by the sword (short clip)

Middle east ...

Shaykh Al-Arabi Darqawi

Shaykh Al-Arabi Darqawi said,

“If you want to treat your enemy with what is duly deserving for him,

preoccupy yourself with the love of the beloved,

for if you preoccupy yourself with hate and enmity

then the enemy gets from you what he wanted

and you have the lost opportunity

to love the beloved.”


From his Epistles.


As quoted by Sheikh Abdullah ibn Adhami's talk on Islamic civilisation
http://www.sakeenah.org/lr_lectures.php

Adam's world

Muslims in China
Episode one

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi

Belief in Allah, Its Reality and Its Sweetness


(May Allah subhanu wa ta'ala reward the donator of these notes.)

(You can view the video here on http://sheikhynotes.blogspot.com/2007/05/sheikh-muhammad-al-yaqoubi.html )

We should 'taste' Iman (Faith). We can read a description of Iman from a book, but can we taste it?

Is Iman something physical that you can see or taste?

'if you want to see Iman, then look towards the Sahaba of the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, for they are the models of Iman.

He gave an analogy of somebody reading a cooking book with beautiful dishes etc, but can they taste those dishes from merely reading?

Even if they were to get all the ingredients, they can't become a chef in a day.

It takes training and practise, the same with a shaykh.

Therefore, you can only taste Iman by being in a gathering of remembrance in the Presence of the Shuyukh.

The Shaykh went through a beautiful hadith of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam, which describes the sweetness of Iman. He went through in detail.

The gist of it as follows:
The Prophet, sallallahu alaihi wasallam, said: 'There are three things, only the one who has them will taste the sweetness of Iman: first, that he loves Allah and His Messenger more than any other thing'.

The shaykh mentioned here that the words mentioned here are 'min+ma' not 'min+man' which would mean 'more than anyone'. Rather, it is 'more than any thing' - (ma, used for ghair-aakil), therefore, this means that Allah and His Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam should be MORE beloved than anyTHING! (materialism)...

The shaykh mentioned another hadith of Haarith Ibn Malik. He passed by the Prophet who asked him: "How are you this morning O Haritha ?" He replied:
"This morning I am a real believer." The Prophet said: "Take care of what you say: what is the reality of your belief?" He said: "I have turned myself away from this world by keeping awake at night and by keeping myself thirsty by day; and I can almost see the Throne of my Lord in full sight; and It is as though the people of the Garden of Paradise visiting each other; and the people of the Fire wailing to each other in it." The Prophet said: "O Haritha, enough, you know". The shaykh said that Haarith Ibn Malik said 'kazalika' - which means 'its as though...' --- for only the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam has seen Heaven and Hell in reality!

He talked about Sleep. He mentioned that it’s a sin if you intend to sleep.

Rather, you should let sleep overwhelm you. The Shaykh also mentioned how people take extreme measures in order to go to sleep, for example, they lie down staring at the ceiling, counting sheep and counting backwards, (very funny).

The Shaykh mentioned a story of the great Imam Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him. He was once walking in the street, when he heard two people talking (can't remember if they were men or women). One of them said to the other, 'this is the man who never sleeps', pointing at the Imam.

When the Imam heard this, he vowed to never sleep again.

Thus it was, the great Imam never slept whilst lying down. He would let sleep overcome him and would rest for an hour or two whilst in a seated position.

The shaykh talked about how we should observe silence.

He said when a person speaks, he exposes himself, i.e. he/she exposes their nature, their behaviour, level of knowledge etc etc.

And a person of insight can immediately tell what kind of person he/she is. Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah ennoble his face, said 'A man is hidden under his tongue, not under his garment'.

There is a science called 'Firasa' (spritual insight) and the west also has this science, the study of human behaviour (possibly psychology???)....Therefore, one should remain silent as much as possible.

The shaykh mentioned that it is very difficult for an Aalim to judge a person who is silent.

Imam Abu Hanifa, when he was in his old age, was giving a private dars to his students. He would often stretch out his leg when he would get tired.

The students were aware of the pain that the Imam was going through so didn't believe that the Imam was lacking adab.

However, a stranger walked into the dars. He was of old age also, with beard etc. So the Imam folded up his leg for the dars and continued. He endured much pain but regardless of this, he continued with the dars in this position because he was afraid this person may be a learned scholar/Aalim and didn't want to show bad adab by stretching out his leg.

It continued like this for a number of days until one day, this man asked the Imam a question.

The moment this man opened his mouth to ask a question, the great Imam said O Abu Hanifa, it is time you stretch out your leg!!!

In other words, when he asked the Question, the Imam was able to identify the very nature of the man, his level of knowledge, and virtually everything about him!!

The shaykh then talked about presenting Islam to others but we must be strong in Iman ourselves.

He said we must save ourselves before we can save others. And we must not compromise things in our religion in order to make it appear 'good' or 'beautiful'. I.e. we should present the real Islam without compromise or fear that the people will reject it.

It is not our job to guide, this is from Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala.

Its becoming a modern trend nowadays that people are trying to compromise things in Islam for others, e.g. if a woman reverts to Islam, then it is haram for her to live with her husband who is non-Muslim. You cannot give her the fatwa that it’s ok in order to make her feel good, which is so common in today’s society.

We cannot know for sure, if we will die upon Islam or Kufr.

The shaykh reminded us of the hadith where the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said 'a man/woman who is religious and pious his entire life until there is between him and death an arms length and he commits kufr and ends up in the fire'.... something along these lines...'and the man who lived in kufr his entire life until there is an arms length between him and his death and he chooses the path of the people of Jannah and thus attains paradise.

You cannot guarantee how your death will be.

Therefore, struggle now for the attainment of this sweetness of Iman.

The shaykh also talked about Zuhd, the process of divorcing yourself from the dunya, and this doesn't mean that you leave the dunya, leave your job, family etc.

You continue to work with your hands but your heart is in the presence of Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala.

Sheikh Abdul aziz Fredricks

Sura Muminoon

“Truly, successful are the believers.” “Qad aFalah amuminoon (23.1) said Heaven after Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala commanded to speak, after it was created

The next few ayahs explain 1-10

The next few ayahs explain the way to Heaven

“Qad” means surely, definitely

In the Athan we say, “Qad Qamiti Salat” Indeed prayer has been established

Allah planted the trees in Heaven

Falah – means to cut something, to break it down (A farmer is called Fallah)

Soil needs to be ploughed

That means effort

Falah is a means to get to the fruit

The fruit that is planted by Allah

In the Athan we say, “Haya Al-Falah” come to success – he is saying come to what Adam (upon him peace) left you in Heaven (fruits of heaven?)

This place is already prepared for the believers

The Quran is the book that will show you how to get to home, read the 1st line of Sura Baqarah

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would sow his clothes like anyone else but he was not anyone else

Heaven is required to expand, by the means of saying Salat on the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) – his Umma increases

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would say to Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him), “Give us comfort, O’ Bilal.”

In the prayer you have to turn to the Qibla before it turns to you

When you do Takbir Tahrima (opening Takbir of the prayer), throw the world out of your hands

In the prayer you have to focus your heart

He turns to you even when you don’t turn to him

It’s our hearts that Allah Subhanu wa ta’ala looks at (our hearts need to be focused)

Satan is the embezzler, he waits until you are in the prayer. Then he comes and presses F2? He waits until you have a lot, then he tries to steal it.

We should attain a stillness of heart, if nothing else

Act with dignity, when you are threatened

Zakat is everything that purifies

If you have desires, other than what is halal for you, you have transgressed

We have contracts with everyone, neighbours, Muslims, bosses.

“Am I not your Lord?” said Allah, we said, “Yes.” This covenant is in the black stone, we renew the covenant every time we pray.

We have two houses, one in heaven and one in hell. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “There is not one of you, except that he has two houses. One in heaven and one in hell.” (Ibn Majah)

We will get to see the houses in heaven and hell.