Category: The Path

Is Bestowing Abundant Prayers Upon the Prophet ﷺ a Substitute for a Shaykh?

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

If someone bestows abundant prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ it helps them to overcome obstacles on the spiritual path, remove blameworthy qualities and gain noble qualities. Then through the blessing of bestowing those prayers, Allah unites that person with a shaykh who will be a means for them to reach Allah. So bestowing abundant prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ (and also abundant istighfar) is one of the best means to prepare someone for spiritual progress and facilitate their meeting with their shaykh.

What Can I Recite to Make Someone’s Heart Incline Towards Islam?

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

Repeat La ilaha ill’Allah in abundance and recite 100 times a day:

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لي صَدْرِي و يَسِّرْ لي أَمْرِي

Rabbi-shraḥ lī ṣadrī wa yassir lī amrī

“My Lord bring tranquillity to my heart and give me ease in my affair.” (20:25-26)

Perfect Patience

‘But perfect patience (is my state): Allah is the One whose support I seek to bear what you are saying’ (12:18)

When Sayyiduna Ya’qub received the news that Sayyiduna Yusuf had not returned, his response was one of perfect patience (sabr jamil).

The Prophet ﷺ  described perfect patience as being a state in which a person makes no complaint to anyone other than Allah. The one who complains does not have perfect patience. Continue reading Perfect Patience

Signs of Acceptance

What are the signs that our actions in Ramadan have been accepted?

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

There are three signs that you notice in your heart:

an increase in love for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ

a strong attachment to good and a desire to spread it

that you have no resentment or animosity towards your fellow Muslims.

Do We Need to Follow Classes Live?

We want to follow your classes and other programmes live but the time difference makes it difficult. What should we do?

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

The desire to follow these programmes is an expression of your heart being connected and this is not governed by time. It is not necessary that you follow these programmes live. You can listen to a recording whenever you have time.

Wishing to be in Blessed Places..

If you sincerely wish to be in a blessed place during Ramadan (or at any other time) like Tarim, Mecca, Madinah, Jerusalem or anywhere else, then your intention will be recorded and you will receive divine gifts according to your intention. Thereafter Allah may facilitate for you to come to that place and perhaps also your children at a later date. Good intentions are a valuable currency which we use in our trade with Allah. The effects of these intentions are amazing. A good intention is the key to every lock.

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

How do we know if our connection with our Shaykh is sound?

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

The signs that your connection is sound are:

a keenness to follow his teachings and emulate him;

a feeling of ease and contentment when you hear his qualities and instructions being mentioned

witnessing that he is the door to closeness to the Best of Creation ﷺ and to attaining the pleasure of Allah.

Bad Decisions and the Lower Self

“Kill Yusuf or banish him to another land, and your father’s attention will be free to turn to you. After that you can be righteous” (12:8).

This was Yusuf’s brothers’ plan but what did they gain? The years passed and they didn’t achieve their goal. Their father was not happy with them. He remained in a state of sadness and their life remained difficult. In fact, they only got what they wanted when they recognised Yusuf’s status and submitted to him decades later. Continue reading Bad Decisions and the Lower Self

No Ordinary Love

“Although we are many, Yusuf and his brother are dearer to our father than we are – our father is clearly in the wrong” (12:8)

We find that the Prophets may love certain individuals more than others. That individual may be a wife or a child or a companion. This is because their love is for Allah’s sake. The more the individual possesses attributes beloved to Allah, the more that prophet will love them. No one would deny that the Prophet ﷺ loved Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali more than other Companions. Continue reading No Ordinary Love