At the Question and Answer session of Red Sulfur tazkiya lesson 7 (May 9), a couple of beneficial questions were raised regarding trials and tribulations to which Sayyidi Habib Umar (may Allah preserve him and spread his benefit among us) responded with the following Prophetic prescriptions:

1.       One should read:

“Ya Latif”  129 times in the morning and evening. Increase the number to 133 in times of difficulty.

(Al-Latif is one of Allah ’s names and is sometimes translated as “gentle” or “subtle.” Habib Kadhim as-Saqqaf (may Allah preserve him) said it encompasses all the names of Allah which express His beauty. By reading this name morning and evening one will be constantly in the realm of Allah ’s care and gentleness. The meaning of “lutf” is Allah bringing benefit and deflecting harm from an individual in a manner that that individual is unaware of).

2.       In times of great distress, Ibn `Abbas narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to say:

La ilaha ill-Allah ul-`Azimul-Halim, la ilaha ill-Allahu rabbu’l`arshi-l’`azim, la ilaha ill-Allahu rabbu`ssamawati wa rabbu’l-ardi wa rabbu’l`arshi-l-karim

“There is no god but Allah , the Awesome, the Forbearing, there is no god but Allah , the Lord of the mighty throne, there is no god but Allah the Lord of the heavens and the earth and the noble throne.”

Repeat this until the distress is removed.

topi tip to Akbar Ahmed

Given to me by a dear brother

Al-I’tiraf is a poem of supplication uttered by a slave of Allah by the name of Abu Nawaz. Outwardly, he was a naive jester whose antics drew much laughter from gathered crowds. Inwardly though, he was a sincere and God-fearing believer who was ever-mindful of his tryst with destiny. It was this side of him that penned Al-I’tiraf in the following circumstances:

Once, he was sitting by himself watching the sun set. The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful. The serene blue sky was rent asunder by the dazzling colours spewed by the waltzing rays of the setting sun. As the tremendous beauty of nature’s dance made way for the still darkness of the impending night, tears began rolling down his cheeks.

He felt his heart being pulled apart and his senses becoming spiritually impaired. He became so distressed and filled with sorrow that he started wailing. With a flurry of emotions running wild, coupled with an unintelligible mix of cries and sighs, all knots on his tongue were untied. He raised his hands towards the Heavens and lamented about his state of being. Those powerful words came to be known as Al-I’tiraf

This grief-stricken lament was uttered by a hopeful and fearful heart that was remorseful for a lifetime of heedlessness. Abu Nawaz realized that he was getting older and that his time to meet his Creator was drawing nearer. He was completely terrified about his lack of preparation for this Meeting with his Lord in the Hereafter.

He acknowledges his sinfulness, for which he admits that he does not deserve the Gardens of Paradise. He then recognizes his weakness to withstand the frightening Hellfire. He concedes that he is but a feeble servant who has no power over his looming fate, except through Allah ’s Mercy brought about by entering the gates of repentance and attaining His forgiveness.

Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day,- there are indeed Signs for men of understanding, – men who celebrate the praises of Allah , standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the thought): “Our Lord! not for naught hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the chastisement of the Fire. (3:190-191)

After the above verse was revealed, the Messenger of Allah got up in the middle of the night to pray. When Bilal ibn Rabah came to seek permission to call for the dawn prayers, he saw the Messenger of Allah crying with his beard soaked with tears.

So he asked, “Do you still cry, O Messenger of Allah , when Allah has wiped away all your past and future wrongdoings?” The Messenger of Allah replied, “Should I then not be a thankful slave! Allah has descended on me this verse (3:191). Woe to him who reads it without pondering over it.”

Seldom do we reflect on the Signs of Allah . In the setting sun, Abu Nawaz found a metaphor of life. The beauty that adorns the horizon when the sun is setting is an intoxicating one. If one loses oneself to that fleeting moment forgetting to light the lamp, he will be ill-prepared for the imminent darkness of the night.

Similarly, if one gets deluded and hypnotized by the enticements and frivolous pleasures of this ephemeral world, then damned will be that wretched soul in the Hereafter. How ludicrous for one on a journey to Eternity to find satisfaction and comfort at a transit point called Earth?

Success and guidance is from Allah alone, eminent is His Glory. Choicest salutations, immaculate peace, and infinite blessings be upon the Paragon of creation, his blessed family, noble companions, intimate inheritors, and all who have an atom of love for him in their hearts. Glory be to Allah , Lord of the Worlds.

To read the rest of this beautiful work and the couplet composed by our liege-lord, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (ra), you can download the pdf here

Beautiful mashallah

Download pdf here or go over to book downloads in the sidebar

Below is a specific dua (Ruqyah) (protective and healing supplications) which has been given by the Ulema from Daarul Uloom, Bury (one of the most prestigious Madaaris in the UK). It is an antidote for all illnesses and is particularly apt in this time, due to the spread of Swine Flu.

Some people maybe apprehensive to the method presecribed and might suggest that where is the evidence from the hadith etc… However, although specific prescription may not be mentioned in a hadith, it a formula prescribed by the learned scholars who are the inheritors of the prophets and they would not prescribe anything which is against the Shariah. So the dua is valid as long as it does not contain any shirk (association with Allah ).

InshaAllah the cure and protection is from Allah , and this prescription is just a means to that cure.

(note: when blowing ensure that some saliva goes into the water or honey)

Prayer for protection and cure from all illnesses The same prayer applies for Muslims and Non-Muslims; Allah will inshallah (God willing ) cure/protect them from illnesses including swine flu – Ameen

Procedure

The procedure below should be followed precisely and then one should blow on a glass of water and drink it or blow on a tablespoon of honey and lick it .

(A) Recite three times any Durud Sharif (Salutation) upon Prophet Muhammad   , example below:

Translation: O Allah , bestow your blessings upon the unlettered Prophet and upon his family; and bestow your Mercy upon him and his family

Transliteration: Allahumma Salle ‘Alaa Muhammadinin Nabiyyil Ummiyyi wa-’Alaa Aalehi wa-sallim Tasleeyma

(B) Recite three times Surah Al-FatiHah of the Quran (Surah 1 below):

Translation:

In the Name of Allah , Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
•    Praise be to Allah , Lord of the universe.
•    Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
•    Master of the Day of Judgment.
•    You alone we worship; You alone we ask for help.
•    Guide us in the right path;
•    the path of those whom you blessed, not of those who have deserved your wrath nor those who have gone astray (Ameen)

Transliteration:

Bismillaa-hir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
•    Al-Hamdu-lillaahi Rabbil-`alameen
•    Ar-RaHmaanir-RaHeem
•    Maliki yowmid-deen
•    Iyyaka na`budu wa ‘iyyaaka nasta`iyn
•    Ihdinas-siraatal-mustaqeem
•    Siraatalladheena ‘an `amta `alayhim
•    Ghuyril-maghdubi `alayhim wa lad-dwaalleen (Ameen)

(C) Recite 131 times the following:

Translation: O Giver of Peace!

Transliteration: Yaa Salaamu

(D) Recite 3 times the following:

Translation: O Allah , I seek your refuge from insanity, mutilation, leprosy and from all serious illnesses.

Transliteration: Allahumma Inni Aa-oothu-bika minal jonoo-ni wal-juthami wal-barasi wassayi-il-asqaam.

(E) Recite 78 times the following:

Translation: O The One who encompasses everything!

Transliteration: Yaa MuHeetu

(F) Repeat three times any Durud Sharif (Salutation) upon Prophet Muhammad   , example below:

Translation: O Allah , bestow your blessings upon the unlettered Prophet and upon his family; and bestow your Mercy upon him and his family

Transliteration: Allahumma Salle ‘Alaa Muhammadinin Nabiyyil Ummiyyi wa-’Alaa Aalehi wa-sallim Tasleeyma

The above procedure should be followed precisely and then one should blow on a glass of water and drink it or blow on a tablespoon of honey and lick it .

Inshallah Allah will cure and protect – Ameen

From the Ullema of Bury

I apologize for the lateness of this information

It is with great pleasure that we take the opportunity to inform the Muslim Community of the United Kingdom, of the arrival of :-  Hadhrat Shaikh Bhaijaan Abdul Mueed Saheb Khalifaa of Arif Billah, Shaikh ul-Mashaaikh Hadhrat Nawaab Qaisar Sahab (Khalifa of Hadhrat Masihul Ummat who also had the privilege of sitting in the Majaalis of Hadhrat Hakeemul Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (ra)

All brothers, particularly the Ulamaa, are humbly requested to participate in this programme,

Please inform of this programme in your nearby towns, enabling people to benefit from the blessed Majlis of Hadhrat Shaikh Bhaijaan.

It is so nice to hear of shayouk that come from non Muslim backgrounds, so I overjoyed to hear of such a person currently living in Sweden.

Danish brother Said Bak of Bakistan fame (follow him on twitter) informed me this morning of a Swedish convert who has ijazah in the Chishti order of Tasawwuf. Shaykh Mohammad Muslim Eneborg’s silsila includes our tariqa’s grand Shaykh, Hadrat Aqdas Shaykhul Hadith Muhammad Zakariyya (ra) himself.

Brother Said also mentioned that Shaykh Muhammad Muslim was an Imam here in the UK for a while some years ago so I am sure some of you may have heard of him.  I haven’t which is why i’m getting all exited

Here is a quick bio from EducationIslam.org

Shaykh Mohammad Muslim is of Swedish origin but has lived in the UK since 1982 He converted to Islam in 1980 when he was living in the deep forests of northern Sweden.  Presently he works as an Imam and Administrator at one of the local Mosques in London. He also teaches Arabic and Islamic Studies.

Shaykh Mohammad has been active in Inter-Faith dialogue and has been involved in Faith Forums working particularly with Jewish and Christian communities.  He has lectured on Islam in Universities and other institutes and has regularly been invited by Schools and Churches to give lectures on Islam. He has also delivered Islamic Seminars at Mosques on behalf of Schools and other similar institutions. He is the chairman of “Sidratul-Muntaha” an organisation specifically set up to present Islam to the Non-Muslim community in Sweden.

Shaykh Mohammad has previously worked as an Imam in various Mosques in the UK and in Sweden.  He has studied Islamic Theology at several Islamic Institutes and hence within the Muslim community is known as an “Alim” or Islamic Scholar.  He has also studied Arabic at the University of Uppsala in Sweden.

Shaykh Mohammad has travelled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North Africa visiting Muslim communities and has developed good knowledge of the various cultures.  He is married with 4 children.

Shaykh Mohammad has joined the team at Education Islam to deliver the Introduction to Islam and the Muslim Culture course to Non-Muslim professionals in the Public and Private sectors

My Allah protect him

A great lecture by Mufti Taqi Uthmani about Tasawwuf and how to achieve the objective of purification

Very often people just reflect upon the well known 5 pillars of Islam, but in reality there are many, many more.  It is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad said:

‘Iman is over 70 branches. The highest is to say Laa ilaha illallah…and the lowest is to remove harm from street.’ (Muslim)

I thought I would remind myself and others of them, they are:

30 qualities are connected to the heart

1. Belief in Allah
2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah created these things and subsequently they came into existence.
3. To believe in the existence of angels.
4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Qur’an, all other books are not valid anymore.
5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad alone.
6. To believe that Allah Most High as knowledge of everything from before-hand and that only that which He sanctions or wishes will occur.
7. To believe that Resurrection will definitely occur.
8. To believe in the existence of Heaven.
9. To believe in the existence of Hell.
10. To have love for Allah Most High.
11. To have love for the Prophet Muhammad
12. To love or hate someone solely because of Allah .
13. To execute all actions with the intention of religion alone.
14. To regret and express remorse when a sin is committed.
15. To fear Allah Most High.
16. To hope for the mercy of Allah Most High.
17. To be modest.
18. To express gratitude over a bounty or favour.
19. To fulfill promises.
20. To exercise patience.
21. To consider yourself lower than others.
22. To have mercy on the creation.
23. To be pleased with whatever you experience from Allah Most High.
24. To place your trust in Allah Most High.
25. Not to boast or brag over any quality that you possess.
26. Not to have malice or hatred towards anybody.
27. Not to be envious of anyone.
28. Not to become angry.
29. Not to wish harm for anyone.
30. Not to have love for the world.

7 qualities are connected to the tongue

31. To recite the testimony of faith (kalimah) with the tongue.
32. To recite the Quran.
33. To acquire knowledge.
34. To pass on Knowledge.
35. To make dua.
36. To make the zikr of Allah Most High.
37. To abstain from the following: lies, backbiting, vulgar words, cursing, singing that is contrary to the Shariah.

40 qualities are connected to the entire body

38. To make wudu, ghusl, and keep one’s clothing clean.
39. To be steadfast in offering salaat.
40. To pay zakaat and sadaqatul fitr.
41. To fast.
42. To perform the Hajj.
43. To make i’tikaaf.
44. To move away or migrate from that place which is harmful for one’s deen.
45. To fulfill the vows that have been made to Allah .
46. To fulfill the oaths that are not sinful.
47. To pay the kaffarah for unfulfilled oaths.
48. To cover those parts of the body that are fard to cover.
49. To perform the ritual slaughter.
50. To enshroud and bury the deceased.
51. To fulfill your debts.
52. To abstain from prohibited things when undertaking monetary transactions.
53. Not to conceal something true which you may have witnessed.
54. To get married when the nafs desires to do so.
55. To fulfill the rights of those who are under you.
56. To provide comfort to one’s parents.
57. To rear children in the proper manner.
58. Not to sever relations with one’s friends and relatives.
59. To obey one’s master.
60. To be just.
61. Not to initiate any way that is contrary to that of the generality of the Muslims.
62. To obey the ruler, provided what he orders is not contrary to the Shariah.
63. To make peace between two warring groups or individuals.
64. To assist in noble tasks.
65. To command the good and prohibit the evil.
66. If it is the government. it should mete out punishments according to the Shariah.
67. To fight the enemies of deen whenever such an occasion presents itself.
68. To fulfill one’s trusts (amana).
69. To give loans to those who are in need .
70. To see to the needs of one’s neighbour.
71. To ensure that one’s income is pure.
72. To spend according to the Shariah.
73. To reply to one who has greeted you.
74. To say Yarhamukallah (‘May Allah have mercy on you’) when anyone says Alhamdulillah (‘All praise to Allah ’) after sneezing.
75. Not to cause harm to anyone unjustly.
76. To abstain from games and amusements contrary to the Shariah.
77. To remove pebbles, stones, thorns, sticks, and the like from the road

Taken from the book Shariat and Tasawwuf by Hadhrat Maseehul Ummat, Maulana Mohammed Maseehullah Khan (ra) wherein they narrate a few statements of the pious sufiya of the past about adhering to the sunnah.

In this regard Bayazid Bistami (ra) says:

“Do not be deceived if you see a performer of supernatural fears flying in the air. Measure him on the Standard of the Shariat – how he adheres to the limits of the Commands of the Shariat.”

Hadhrat Junaid (ra) says:

“All avenues besides the strict following of Rasulullah (saws) are closed to mankind.”

Hadhrat Nuri (ra) says:

“Do not venture near to one who lays claim to a condition which brings about transgression of the limits of the Shariat.”

Hadhrat Khwajah Naseeruddin Chiraghe Dehlawi (ra) says:

“Obedience to Rasulullah (saw) is imperative.   Such obedience is essential in word, act and intention because Love for Allah Ta’ala is not possible without obedience to Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (saws).”

Khwajah Mueenuddin Chishti (ra) says:

“He who adheres to the Shariat, executing its commands and refrains from transgression, progresses in spiritual rank, i.e. all progress is dependant on adherence to the Shariat.”

Hadhrat Hakimul Ummat (ra) says in Ta’limuddin:

“Whoever acquires the wealth of Wusul (Attainment, having attained the Love of Allah ) has acquired it by virtue of following the Sunnat.”

You can download this book from the ebook widget if you wish.

Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, reported that the Prophet Muhammad said:

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” The people asked: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah ?” He replied: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah , except for the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause – and returned with nothing.” (Bukhari).

Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father also reported that our beloved Prophet Muhammad said:

“There is no deed more precious in the sight of Allah , nor greater in reward, than a good deed done during the ten days of Sacrifice.” He was asked, “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah ?” He replied: “Not even jihad for the sake of Allah , except for the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause – and returned with nothing.” (Ad-Darimi).

These texts and others indicate that these ten days are better than all the other days of the year, without exception, not even the last ten days of Ramadhan. But the last ten nights of Ramadan are better than the first ten nights of Dhul Hijjah, because they include Laylatul-Qadr (“the Night of Power”), which is better than a thousand months. Thus the various reports may be reconciled.  (Tafsir Ibn Katheer).

May Allah give us the ability to utilise our time correctly in these ten days and perform increased acts of worship and devotion to Him.  Amin