Category: Methodology

On Conflicting Interests in Dawah

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

If you feel that the members of the organisation that you are involved with no longer call to Allah but rather call to the organisation, is it better to leave that organisation?

If you can continue truly calling to Allah within the organisation and you are able to attain some correct objectives then remain with it. If, however, you are being used as a tool by the organisation and you cannot truly call to Allah then it is better to look for another organisation.

On the Relationship between Scholars and Callers to Allah

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

How should the relationship between the scholars and the callers to Allah be?

If the scholar’s knowledge is true and the caller’s call is true then their relationship is loftier than we can describe. In it is the highest manifestation of love and co-operation for the sake of Allāh on the Earth. Each of them sees the other as being more virtuous. Continue reading On the Relationship between Scholars and Callers to Allah

On Envying the Dawah Successes of Others

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

How can we remove the desire to outdo our brothers and our envy for them, especially when we see their success in da’wah?

The cure for this is to look at the reality. The reality is that nothing happens except by the will of Allah, so how can we wish for other than what our Lord wills? The reality is that if our brothers succeed in da’wah or in any other realm of the religion, then this is a source of assistance, goodness, blessings and strength for all of us. So how can we dislike this strength, harbour envy towards the one who has been given it and desire for it to be removed? Continue reading On Envying the Dawah Successes of Others

On Permission to Call People to Allah

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

Do we need permission to call people to Allah?

We have been given general permission by Allah and His Messenger ﷺ to call people to Allah. This is understood from the following hadiths: “Convey (the message) on my behalf even if it is only one verse”; “The one who calls people to guidance will have a reward like the reward of all those who follow him”; “Let the one present among you convey (the message) to those absent”; “May Allah illuminate the face of a person who hears my words and understands them and then conveys them to others exactly as he heard them.” Continue reading On Permission to Call People to Allah

Calling people to Allah from the Platform of the Sacred Law

Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) explains the basis upon which we call to Allah.

If you wish to follow this path you must know that you call people to Allah from the platform of the Sacred Law, meaning that you try to bring them to Allah by reminding them of Allah’s orders and prohibitions, by teaching them to venerate Allah and His Messenger and by reminding them to prepare for the Hereafter. Continue reading Calling people to Allah from the Platform of the Sacred Law

On Dealing With Those Who Backbite Us

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

How do we deal with those who backbite us, particularly if it has negative consequences on our dawah efforts?

You should ask Allah that He allows such people to repent. You should rely upon Allah’s bounty and generosity in attaining success in dawah and do not be concerned by these perceived negative consequences. All the Prophets and Messengers suffered backbiting and mockery but this did not prevent them from being successful in their dawah. The Devil often deceives people into making perceived negative consequences an excuse not to pardon and forgive the person who has wronged them. Rather you should follow the Prophet ﷺ and the pious in swiftly forgiving such people. If you are truthful in this, Allah will aid your dawah efforts.

Insights into Bestowing Prayers Upon the Prophet ﷺ

Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) provides some valuable insights into bestowing prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ. 

The Reality of Bestowing Prayers upon Him

Allah ordered us to bestow prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ but we are certain that we are unable to do anything of our own accord, so instead of attempting to do so we request that Allah Himself bestows prayers on the Prophet. He called this request of ours prayers from us and said: Bestow prayers and peace upon him in abundance. (Al-Ahzab, 33:56) In reality, however, these prayers are from Him as we are incapable of bestowing them ourselves. That is why if we wish to bestow prayers upon the Prophet we say ‘O Allah,’ or ‘O Lord, bestow prayers upon him.’ Continue reading Insights into Bestowing Prayers Upon the Prophet ﷺ