Month: February 2015

Selected Salawat: The Possessor of the Highest Station

Habib Kazim al-Saqqaf (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) recommends reciting the following prayer upon the Prophet ﷺ . It should be recited at least twice in the morning or evening, or ideally ten times. If someone recites it consistently, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will be with them at the time of death and the pains of the throes of death will be reduced. Continue reading Selected Salawat: The Possessor of the Highest Station

Travels of the Soul

Allah created the souls of the Prophets and gave them the ability to travel such that on the night of the Isra and Mi’raj they could be present in Bayt al-Maqdis and also in the high heavens. He also created the souls of the elite of His servants who were not prophets, such as Ja’far bin Abi Talib. His soul had the ability to fly from Jordan to al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, give greetings to the Beloved ﷺ , speak to him and return in the blink of an eye. Continue reading Travels of the Soul

Principles to Follow When Talking About Imam al-Mahdi

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

What principles should be followed when talking about Imam al-Mahdi?

We should restrict ourselves to talking about what is narrated in the hadith about him. We should realise that his coming is a sign of Allah and something that Allah has promised that will come to pass at its appointed time. Our hearts should not be focused on his coming but rather on the obligations we would have to fulfil where he to appear. We should ask ourselves what we are doing to serve the Sacred Law which he will come to serve. Also refer to the section in the book ‘Tawhij al-Nabih’ (page 192) for clarification of our methodology in relation to these affairs.

Sayyiduna Ja’far: A Tale of Love and Sacrifice

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

When Sayyiduna Ja’far’s right hand was cut off, he seized the standard with his left hand until that too was cut off. He then clasped the standard with both arms until he was mortally wounded. His companions took the standard from him and took him to the side. They found that he had been struck eighty times (by swords, spears and arrows) but all these wounds were on the front part of his body, not on his back or his side. This was because he remained firm and did not for a moment turn his back to the enemy. He was offered water but he refused to drink it, saying that he was fasting. Continue reading Sayyiduna Ja’far: A Tale of Love and Sacrifice

Salawat with Allah’s Beautiful Names: Ya Majid (the Magnificent)

This prayer is taken from Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz’s collection of prayers using Allah’s beautiful names in which he calls upon Allah by His beautiful names and then asks Him to bestow prayers upon His Beloved by those names. Finally, he asks Allah for a portion of those attributes which belong to Allah and which He has bestowed upon His Messenger ﷺ. Continue reading Salawat with Allah’s Beautiful Names: Ya Majid (the Magnificent)

Martyrs of Mu’tah

The Battle of Mu’tah, in modern-day Jordan, took place in Jumada al-Ula in the eighth year of the Hijrah. The Prophet ﷺ had sent al-Harith bin ‘Umayr Al-Azdi with a letter for the ruler of Busra in Syria. On his way, however, he was intercepted and killed by Shurahbil bin ‘Amr Al-Ghassani. As a result, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent an army to discipline the transgressors. He appointed Sayyiduna Zayd bin Harithah to lead the army and gave him the standard. Sayyiduna Ja’far bin Abi Talib would replace him if he was killed, and Sayyiduna `Abdullah bin Rawahah would succeed Ja’far in case the latter fell. These were among the greatest of the Companions. Continue reading Martyrs of Mu’tah

Finding Strength in our Weakness

Advice from Habib Kazim al-Saqqaf (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

To be raised by Allah, one needs to lower oneself and realise one’s weakness and one’s slavehood to Allah.

We should repeat this prayer which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught the Companion, Buraydah. He said to him: “Shall I not teach you words that Allah teaches to the one for whom He wants good, and then never allows him to forget them? Continue reading Finding Strength in our Weakness

Insights into Purification: Covering Containers

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught us not to leave containers with food or drink in them uncovered overnight. Even empty containers should not be left uncovered. If they are left uncovered, they should be washed before being used. If they cannot be covered completely, it is enough to put a stick or something similar over the container and to say “bismillah” (in the name of Allah). This will be a means of protection. Continue reading Insights into Purification: Covering Containers

Habib ‘Abdullah bin Husayn’s Prayer for the Removal of Hardships

This is Habib ‘Abdullah bin Husayn bin Tahir’s prayer which has been tried and tested for the removal of hardships:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ و عَلَى آلِ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ صَلاةَ عَبْدٍ قَلَّتْ حِيلَتُهُ و رَسُولُ اللهِ وَسِيلتُهُ  وأَنْتَ لها يا إِلهي و لِكُلِّ كَرْبٍ عَظِيمٍ فَفَرِّجْ ما أَنا فيِهِ بِسِرِّ :بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

O Allah, bestow prayers upon our Master Muhammad and upon the Family of our Master Muhammad, the prayers of a slave who has no way out and the Messenger of Allah is his only intermediary. My Lord, You are here for this and for every great calamity, so remove the hardship that I am in through the secret of: ‘In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.’