Habib Ali al-Jifri (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) explains that the essence of our transaction with Allah is closeness (qurb). We realise this when we reflect upon what Allah says in the Qur’an.
The essence of acts of worship is closeness: “Prostrate and draw close.” (96:19) Continue reading Our Transaction with Allah is About Closeness
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.
We want to follow your classes and other programmes live but the time difference makes it difficult. What should we do?
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
The desire to follow these programmes is an expression of your heart being connected and this is not governed by time. It is not necessary that you follow these programmes live. You can listen to a recording whenever you have time.
If you sincerely wish to be in a blessed place during Ramadan (or at any other time) like Tarim, Mecca, Madinah, Jerusalem or anywhere else, then your intention will be recorded and you will receive divine gifts according to your intention. Thereafter Allah may facilitate for you to come to that place and perhaps also your children at a later date. Good intentions are a valuable currency which we use in our trade with Allah. The effects of these intentions are amazing. A good intention is the key to every lock.
Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
People tend to go to excess with regard to birthdays. Rather than making a big fuss about them as people around us often do, birthdays should be an opportunity for us to reflect on the passing of our lives and to show gratitude to Allah for His blessings. We should give some charity and take ourselves to account. We should renew our resolve to do good and get closer to Allah. We should make tawbah and resolve to stay away from wrongdoing. The birthdays we should commemorate are the birthdays of the Prophets and those who reached high ranks.
Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him).
The signs that your connection is sound are:
a keenness to follow his teachings and emulate him;
a feeling of ease and contentment when you hear his qualities and instructions being mentioned
witnessing that he is the door to closeness to the Best of Creation ﷺ and to attaining the pleasure of Allah.
Can we benefit from Islamic TV serials?
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
The best and most appropriate thing is for a Muslim to learn Islamic history directly from reliable sources – either books or scholars. These serials vary in terms of their accuracy, quality and presentation of the facts so if we are going to watch them, we should choose the best ones.
They may be beneficial in several ways: they may educate beginners and those who don’t have the desire to read and study; they may cause people to research a particular subject more deeply and someone who is already well-versed in a certain area may also watch them to get a better understanding of the field and may do something better in the future.
Another of them said, ‘Do not kill Yusuf, but, if you must, throw him into the hidden depths of a well where some caravan may pick him up’ (12:10)
One of Yusuf’s brothers dissuaded the others from going as far as killing Yusuf. This was all part of Allah’s plan, as He had decreed that Yusuf would have a long life. Continue reading Who is in Control?
What is the origin of negative thoughts and whisperings and how do we deal with them?
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
They may be either be a type of punishment for disobedience or a test from Allah. Either way, they do not harm the person as long as they dislike and ignore them. Of course, if someone has fallen into disobedience, they must make tawbah. These thoughts may also be the work of the Devil, who out of envy attempts to shake that person’s faith and tranquillity of heart. Allah says: Secret conversation is the work of Satan, designed to cause trouble to the believers, though it cannot harm them in the least unless God permits it. Let the believers put their trust in God (58:10). There is a great reward in remaining steadfast and not allowing yourself to be affected by these thoughts, and if someone is truthful, Allah will remove them.
See also:
Should I give preference to reading Dala’il al-Khayrat or Habib Ali al-Habashi’s Majma al-Lata’if al-Arshiyyah?
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
The best thing would be to recite a portion of both (or any other similar compilation of salawat) daily but if this is not possible then you should alternate between the two. All these books are filled with light. In addition, you should give priority to any salat that your shaykh has instructed you to recite or any salat which you find especially beneficial in connecting your heart to the Prophet ﷺ.
