Category: Methodology

Forbidding Evil, Maintaining a Good Opinion and Leaving What Does Not Concern Us

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

How do we combine between forbidding evil, maintaning a good opinion of others and leaving that which does not concern us?

When we forbid someone from doing something wrong we do not believe that they will have a bad ending or that they will be punished. Rather we believe that Allah will forgive them and replace their bad deeds with good deeds and perhaps they will intercede for us on the Day of Judgement. At the same time we do not spy on them or pry into their private affairs. If we do this we have left that which does not concern us. If we do see someone committing an act of disobedience then it concerns us to stop them from them doing it as far as we are able. The Prophet ﷺ said that if someone falls into an act of disobedience they should seek Allah’s concealment but only if they expose themselves we carry out the hadd punishment.

How Anyone Can Call to Allah

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

If someone is not a good speaker and does not have a lot of knowledge what can he do to call people to Allah?

Someone can be engaged in calling people to Allah through reflection and then giving advice to people based upon what he has reflected upon. He can spend his time and wealth, he can practically assist those engaged in dawah and he can make dua. He can distribute books and recordings to those who will benefit. He can call people to Allah on an individual basis and he can do so by showing good character to people generally.

Dealing With Those Who are Reluctant to Work With Us

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

What can we do if we find our brothers are reluctant to work together on dawah projects?

We should ask Allah to rectify the situation, maintain ties with them and ask other people to encourage them to co-operate. We should also invite them to attend meetings or gatherings from time to time.

 

Say: ‘This is My Path’ | Wisdoms of Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad

Words of wisdom from Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad (may Allah have mercy on him and benefit us by him). 

Allah says to His Prophet  ﷺ: “Say: ‘This is my path..’”[1]

With this command Allah honours the Prophet ﷺ and affirms his station. The command also contains the meaning of granting permission (ijazah). The ijazah is one of the foundations of the religion and is especially important in the science of hadith. Scholars traditionally give each other ijazah and shaykhs give their students ijazah. The ijazah is an affirmation of what is contained in the heart of the person receiving it and is a means for the pious to exchange secrets with one another. Continue reading Say: ‘This is My Path’ | Wisdoms of Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad

On Taking a Wage for Teaching the Islamic Sciences and the Qur’an

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

Should someone take money for teaching the Islamic Sciences?

Earning money should not be the intention and objective of the one teaching. Teaching the Islamic sciences should not be turned into a business. Rather, the teacher should be concerned about conveying the Sacred Law to people. Continue reading On Taking a Wage for Teaching the Islamic Sciences and the Qur’an

On Giving Advice to People Involved in Dawah

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

Sometimes the behaviour of certain people involved in dawah or spreading knowledge appears to be inconsistent with Prophetic teachings. Should we maintain a good opinion of them and make excuses for them or should we apply different criteria to them?

We should maintain a good opinion of all people. This does not prevent us, however, from giving sincere advice and counsel to such people. Our counsel should be appropriate to their station and personality.

On Being Distracted While Making Dhikr

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

I find myself thinking about calling to Allah when I am making dhikr. Is this blameworthy?

You should focus on the meaning of the dhikr that you are reading. Everything has an appointed time and you should focus on the thing you are doing while you are doing it. An exception to this is an urgent issue relating to calling to Allah which needs to be addressed immediately.