Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
How should we respond to those who claim that the blessed parents of the Prophet are destined for the Fire ﷺ?
The first thing to mention is that we should avoid pointless debate with these types of people. Continue reading The Parents of the Prophet ﷺ
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
What intentions should we make when we play sports?
You should intend to gain strength to worship Allah and obey His commands and to use it to gently call people to Allah. You should remember Allah while taking part.
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
What is the best method of memorising the Qur’an?
You should take between five and ten verses (depending on their length) at a time and repeat them until you have memorised them.
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
Can we work with ‘Salafi’ groups?
If these groups truly follow the Salaf (the Pious Predecessors) in the realm of tenets of faith then we are in agreement with them. If, however, they claim to follow the Salaf but in reality go against their methodology then we should avoid mixing with them so that confusion does not arise regarding how we call people to Allah. It may be possible to work with the moderate elements among them on things on which there is scholarly consensus and which benefit society. We may also work with them on projects which are run in the name of all Muslims in the region, not in the name of a specific group.
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
Which comes first: certainty (yaqin) or knowledge of Allah (ma’rifah)?
‘Ilm al-yaqin (certainty based upon knowledge) opens the door to ma’rifah. ‘Ayn al-yaqin (certainty based upon witnessing) is part of ma’rifah.
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him).
If you are able to do so, it is better to fast every Monday and Thursday because if you do so you will fast eight days in every month, as opposed to only three days if you fast the White Days. One of those Mondays or Thursdays is also likely to coincide with the White Days. If you are able to fast the White Days and another five days in addition to this, this would also be good. We cannot say categorically that one type of fasting is better than another. If someone finds that a certain type of fasting has more effect on their heart and helps him on his path to Allah then this is the best fast for that person.
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
When can someone be said to be an `alim (scholar)?
Linguistically anyone who has even one piece of Islamic knowledge is an `alim (literally someone who knows). Technically speaking there is consensus that an `alim is someone who is qualified to make ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) and issue fatwa (formal legal opinion). Someone who has attained a large amount of knowledge but has not reached this level may also be called an `alim, but there is no consensus on this.
Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) explains the criteria for showing people respect and veneration.
It is praiseworthy to show respect and veneration to someone to who the Sacred Law commands you to show respect, such as a scholar, an elder or your parents. Kissing someone’s hand and standing up for them when they enter is an expression of that respect and veneration. Continue reading Criteria for Showing People Respect and Veneration
Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) emphasises the importance of reflection (tafakkur).
If someone’s reflection is sound and their heart is pure, their reflection increases them in faith, tranquillity, certainty and knowledge of Allah. It leads them to perfect their transaction with Him. They will then receive spiritual assistance (madad) from everything that they gaze at. Continue reading Reflecting on Your Own Self
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
I have some books which contain deviant beliefs and opinions. What should I do with them?
To remove harm from the path of the believers is one of the branches of faith so you should remove these books from the path of the believers by burning them or disposing of them in any other way that is appropriate. Continue reading On Books Containing Deviant Beliefs
