Category: The Path

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

Etiquette is Ihsan | 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). 

Etiquettes (adab) are what beautify one’s actions. One’s actions are not complete without etiquette. Etiquette is ihsan and ihsan is one of the three foundations of the religion mentioned in the hadith of Jibril. Ihsan is to perform one’s actions with etiquette and this is a means for those actions to be accepted. Continue reading Etiquette is Ihsan | Wisdoms of Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad

Know Your Enemy

After telling us the story of Adam, Hawa and Iblis, Allah calls upon us to learn a lesson from the story. He says:

O Children of Adam, do not allow the Devil to seduce you.[1]

We should thus be wary of the Devil and take measures to protect ourselves from him. When thoughts enter our minds, we should ask whether they are of satanic origin or angelic origin. When you remember Allah, promptings of angelic origin are strengthened, whereas promptings of satanic origin are weakened. Continue reading Know Your Enemy

Fasting on 27th Rajab

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

Is it recommended to fast on the day after the night of the Isra and Mi’raj (27th Rajab)?

Generally speaking fasting in the sacred months is better than fasting in the other months. There is a sound hadith in which Ibn Umar was asked whether the Prophet ﷺ used to fast in Rajab. He said: “Yes, and he would ennoble it (meaning the month of Rajab).” Some of the pious recommend fasting on the day of the Isra and Mi’raj but it is not something that has been directly narrated on the authority of the Prophet ﷺ . Above all, we should seek a true connection with the Prophet, the one who was taken on the Isra and Mi`raj.

On Giving Advice to Shia Friends and Relatives

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

How do we give advice to relatives or friends who follow the Shia branch of Islam?

If you see that they are ready to listen you should try to explain to them in the most appropriate way that the Qur’an praises the Companions, the Prophet ﷺ praised them and so too did Sayyiduna Ali and his children and grandchildren. The example we should follow is the example of the Prophet and the elect of the Prophetic Household (Ahl al-Bayt). Continue reading On Giving Advice to Shia Friends and Relatives

Can Driving be a Form of Khalwah?

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

Can someone who is driving alone to work be considered to be in a form of khalwah (spiritual seclusion)?

Yes, this could be a lesser khalwah when one isolates oneself to be with Allah. It is like when someone wraps a shawl around their head so they can only see what is in front of them and not what is around them.

Principles to Follow When Talking About Imam al-Mahdi

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

What principles should be followed when talking about Imam al-Mahdi?

We should restrict ourselves to talking about what is narrated in the hadith about him. We should realise that his coming is a sign of Allah and something that Allah has promised that will come to pass at its appointed time. Our hearts should not be focused on his coming but rather on the obligations we would have to fulfil where he to appear. We should ask ourselves what we are doing to serve the Sacred Law which he will come to serve. Also refer to the section in the book ‘Tawhij al-Nabih’ (page 192) for clarification of our methodology in relation to these affairs.

Finding Strength in our Weakness

Advice from Habib Kazim al-Saqqaf (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)

To be raised by Allah, one needs to lower oneself and realise one’s weakness and one’s slavehood to Allah.

We should repeat this prayer which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught the Companion, Buraydah. He said to him: “Shall I not teach you words that Allah teaches to the one for whom He wants good, and then never allows him to forget them? Continue reading Finding Strength in our Weakness