Tafsir of Short Surahs: Surat al-Qadr

A summary of Habib Umar’s commentary on Surat al-Qadr, Ramadan 1436.

Allah says:

Indeed, We sent it down in the Night of Power

There are two meanings to Allah sending down the Qur’an. The first meaning is the first revelation which was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ in the Cave of Hira on Sunday night on the eve of the 17th Ramadan. That night was also Laylat al-Qadr. Continue reading Tafsir of Short Surahs: Surat al-Qadr

Intentions for Accepting an Invitation

What should our intentions be in accepting an invitation to someone’s house?

Imam Abu Talib al-Makki tells us in his masterpiece, Qut al-Qulub, explained by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz.

Accepting an invitation is an act of worship. If you have a good intention you will be rewarded for it. If you accept the invitation for some worldly end, however, you will not be rewarded.

You should have seven intentions: Continue reading Intentions for Accepting an Invitation

Pleading for Inward and Outward Victory on the Night of Badr

“We wish for people to make a strong resolve to seek Allah’s victory over their lower selves and to seek victory for the Ummah on the night of Badr specifically. We should plead with Allah for this and repeat:

يا حَيُّ يا قَيُّومُ

‘Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum’

(O Living, O Sustainer)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ spent the night before Badr calling upon Allah with these names. Continue reading Pleading for Inward and Outward Victory on the Night of Badr

The Hadrah Badriyyah

The Hadrah Badriyyah is composed by Sayyidi Habib Umar and read on the night of Badr and also before fajr on the last Friday of every month in Dar al-Mustafa. Below is a recording of the Qasaid in the second half of the Hadrah. It includes poems by Shaykh Umar al-Mihdar, Imam al-Adani, Shaykh Abu Bakr bin Salim, Imam al-Haddad and Habib Abdullah bin Husayn bin Tahir. Continue reading The Hadrah Badriyyah

Feeding Non-Muslims in Ramadan During the Day

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

Is it permissible to feed non-Muslims in Ramadan during the day?

Non-Muslims are not required to fast, so it is permissible to feed them during the day in Ramadan. It is our duty to invite them to Islam. Once they have entered Islam they are required to fast. We should not, however, give them food if they will then eat it in front of Muslims who are fasting. In a country in which the majority of people are Muslim, non-Muslims should not eat and drink openly, for this may encourage Muslims to do the same. Continue reading Feeding Non-Muslims in Ramadan During the Day

Increasing our Love and Yearning for the Prophet ﷺ through Fasting

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

How can we increase in our love and yearning for the Prophet ﷺ  through fasting?

We do this by:

  1. Being aware that we are following him in our fasting
  2. Applying the sunnahs pertaining to fasting which he taught us
  3. Being aware that this act of worship and the great reward that it entails came to us by means of him. Because of him, Allah concealed for us in this act of worship a reward which only He knows. Allah says in the hadith Qudsi that every action has a fixed reward – “except for fasting – it is for Me and I reward accordingly”
  4. Reading the supplications which he taught us and bestowing prayers and peace upon him throughout our fast.