Category: Social Issues

The Prophetic Balance: Showing Compassion While Being Firm

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

“We need the Prophetic balance. We need to show our children mercy, compassion and affection. Many people are deficient in this regard. At the same time, we need to be firm and follow our guide, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. No-one can be compared to him in the mercy and affection he showed to children generally and to al-Hasan and al-Husayn specifically. However, when al-Hasan began eating a date that had been given in zakat (and thus was unlawful for the members of the Prophet’s family to eat), the Prophet forcibly removed it from his mouth. He did not say: “He is only a young child and it is only one date”. He showed compassion while at the same time being firm.

 

Helping New Muslims Struggling with Drug Addiction

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

How do we help people who accept Islam but struggle with drug addiction?

We should be overjoyed by the fact that they have accepted Islam. Those who have strong determination will very quickly deal with these addictions, although they are a minority. We should use different means to deal with these addictions such as natural remedies, moving them from bad environments to good environments and developing their love and veneration for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ and the afterlife.

Adkhar for Someone Who Has Not Been Able to Conceive

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

What can someone who has not been able to conceive recite?

Our Shaykh, Habib ‘Attas al-Habashi, used to recommend reciting Surat al-Fatihah 41 times between the Sunnah and Fard of Fajr with the intention of being blessed with a child. Continue reading Adkhar for Someone Who Has Not Been Able to Conceive

Traditional Methods of Raising Children

These are some of the methods of raising children used by our pious predecessors of the Ba `Alawi way, compiled by the grandson of the late Habib Muhammad al-Haddar (may Allah have mercy on him and be well-pleased with him), Sayyid Muhammad Abdullah Muhammad al-Haddar, may Allah preserve and protect him:

  1. Breastfeeding mothers would repeatedly recite Ayat al-Kursi, Surat al-Falaq and Surat al-Nas over their babies.

Continue reading Traditional Methods of Raising Children

On Non Muslim Parents Who Engage in Forbidden Things

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

How do we deal with non-Muslim parents when they engage in things which are forbidden?

You should show mercy to them and wish that Allah guides them and use whatever means are available to enable this. Treat them well at all times but avoid their company when they are doing things which are inappropriate or are disobeying Allah. Give them gifts and assist them in all that is permissible.

On Women Wearing Western Clothing

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

Some Muslim women in the West have taken to wearing a shirt and trousers so as not to stand out too much. What do you say about this?

As a principle, we should be concerned with seeking Allah’s pleasure rather than trying to fit in with society. Our aim should be to follow the example of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the pious. As for the ruling it is permissible for women to wear this as long as it is normal for women to dress in this way in that society. The clothing must not be tight-fitting and must not expose the shape of the body. In general, women must not expose any part of the body which must be covered to strange men.

Playing with your Children

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

Parents should supervise their children playing and play with them at times. One of the pious would always play with his children to make sure they were not affected by bad influences and to make sure they were learning as they played.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was often the ‘camel’ for Sayyiduna al-Hasan and Sayyiduna al-Husayn to ride upon.

Once Hasan and Husayn were wrestling with each other. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was watching and cheering on Hasan. Sayyidatuna Fatimah saw this and asked him why he was supporting Hasan and not Husayn.

He replied: “I am only supporting Hasan because Jibril is supporting Husayn.”

This is the care that Hasan and Husayn received. They were playing under the watchful eye of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Sayyiduna Jibril.

On Women Balancing Between Work and Home

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

How can women perform their duties at home if they also have to go out to work?

They can do this by only going out when it is necessary to do and by wearing modest attire when they do so. They should follow the example of the daughters of the Prophet Shu`ayb, whom Allah mentions in the Qur’an: He (Musa) found at a distance from them two women keeping back (their flocks).[1] They refused to mix with the men but rather waited until they had finished watering their flocks. When their father sent one of them to Musa, Allah describes her as ‘walking shyly.’ When there is no longer a necessity for them to be out, they should return to attend to their duties in the house.

[1] Al-Qasas, 28:23