The Two Types of Wellbeing

Imam al-Haddad (may Allah benefit us by him) teaches us that there are two types of wellbeing (‘afiyah):

Physical ‘afiyah is for the body to be safe from falling into sin and not to be affected by illness.

Spiritual ‘afiyah is for the heart to be free from doubt and delusion and from concealing hatred for any Muslim.

The one who is blessed with both types of ‘afiyah will be consistent in seeking Allah and obeying Him. This is a manifestation of Allah’s bounty and He gives it to whomever He wishes.

 

Image: the minaret of Masjid al-Fath, the mosque which Imam al-Haddad built at Hawi, near Tarim.

Is Bestowing Abundant Prayers Upon the Prophet ﷺ a Substitute for a Shaykh?

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

If someone bestows abundant prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ it helps them to overcome obstacles on the spiritual path, remove blameworthy qualities and gain noble qualities. Then through the blessing of bestowing those prayers, Allah unites that person with a shaykh who will be a means for them to reach Allah. So bestowing abundant prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ (and also abundant istighfar) is one of the best means to prepare someone for spiritual progress and facilitate their meeting with their shaykh.

What Can I Recite to Make Someone’s Heart Incline Towards Islam?

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

Repeat La ilaha ill’Allah in abundance and recite 100 times a day:

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لي صَدْرِي و يَسِّرْ لي أَمْرِي

Rabbi-shraḥ lī ṣadrī wa yassir lī amrī

“My Lord bring tranquillity to my heart and give me ease in my affair.” (20:25-26)

Perfect Patience

‘But perfect patience (is my state): Allah is the One whose support I seek to bear what you are saying’ (12:18)

When Sayyiduna Ya’qub received the news that Sayyiduna Yusuf had not returned, his response was one of perfect patience (sabr jamil).

The Prophet ﷺ  described perfect patience as being a state in which a person makes no complaint to anyone other than Allah. The one who complains does not have perfect patience. Continue reading Perfect Patience

What is Our Duty Towards the People of Palestine?

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

We must love them for Allah’s sake, feel sadness for what saddens them and feel joy for what gives them joy. We must offer them whatever support we can in whatever form that takes. We must counsel them to hold fast to the truth and to be patient and steadfast. We must pray for them in abundance.

Signs of Acceptance

What are the signs that our actions in Ramadan have been accepted?

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

There are three signs that you notice in your heart:

an increase in love for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ

a strong attachment to good and a desire to spread it

that you have no resentment or animosity towards your fellow Muslims.

How Do We Understand the Suffering of Children?

Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

There are many wisdoms in this. One of the greatest of these is that it makes us conscious of Allah’s grace: had He wished, He could have made the same thing happen to us when we were children. It also allows us to come to know the greatness of Allah’s lordship in that He does whatever He wishes with His creation. We also need to realise that beyond this there are elements of divine mercy which our intellects cannot comprehend and we must recognise that we only partially perceive what is taking place in existence. They also make us realise that this world is a place of calamities so we become more detached from it and prepare for the everlasting abode of the next life.