Habib Ali al-Jifri (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) draws our attention to a subtle trap that activists may fall into. They may mistakenly think that spending time in Allah’s remembrance is a waste of time and that people instead should be occupied solving the problems of the Ummah. Such a belief has dangerous consequences. Continue reading The Danger of Belittling Worship and Remembrance
Category: The Path
Which is Better: Witnessing Allah’s Beauty or Allah’s Majesty?
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
What is best is witnessing Allah’s perfection (kamal) in both His majesty and His beauty. His majesty is perfect and His beauty is perfect. The Perfect is majestic and the Perfect is beautiful. Continue reading Which is Better: Witnessing Allah’s Beauty or Allah’s Majesty?
Seeking Allah With Every Breath
Advice from Habib Ali al-Habashi (may Allah have mercy upon him and benefit us by him)
I encourage you to organise your time to prevent a single breath (which is in reality a priceless jewel) from being wasted. Continue reading Seeking Allah With Every Breath
A Comprehensive Prayer
One of the hallmarks of Habib Muhammad al-Haddar’s gatherings was that he would ask Allah for everything on behalf of everyone. No one and nothing was left out of his prayers. The following supplication is a case in point. If you are not sure what to ask for, then recite this comprehensive prayer: Continue reading A Comprehensive Prayer
Imam al-Haddad at Arafat
This is how Imam al-Haddad (may Allah benefit us by him) describes standing at Arafat:
و في عرفاتٍ كلُّ ذنبٍ مُكَفَّرٌ و مُغْتَفَرٌ مِنَّا بِرَحْمَةِ غَافِرِ
وقفنا بها و الحمدلله و الثنا و شكراً له إن المزيد لشاكِرِ
Ta’rif – Gathering on the Day of Arafah in Tarim
Habib Alawi bin Abdullah al-Aydarus explains the practice of ‘Ta’rif’, gathering to remember Allah on the Day of Arafah and shows how it is practised in the blessed city of Tarim.
This footage is precious because present in the gathering are Habib Abdullah bin Shihab, Habib Salim al-Shatiri and Habib Ali al-Mashhur bin Hafiz, all of whom have now departed this world, may Allah have mercy upon them all. Habib Ali al-Mashhur is very hard to spot but his voice can be clearly heard reciting the adhkar.
Imam al-Haddad and the Ka’bah
Imam al-Haddad (may Allah benefit us by him) says:
وشاهدتْ الأرواحُ مِنَّا شعائراً معظمةً قَدْ ضَمَّها البيتُ و الفِنا
مقامٌ و حِجْرٌ و الشَّرابُ وإِنه لَكَوْثَرُ دارِ الخُلْدِ في عَالَمِ الفَنا
و كَمْ مَرَّةٍ عانقتُها و التزمتُها بِمُلْتَزَمِ الخَيْراتِ و الفوزِ و الهَنا
Our souls witnessed the sacred and venerated places in the precincts of Allah’s House: Continue reading Imam al-Haddad and the Ka’bah
Are We Allowed to Attend the Gatherings of Other Tariqahs?
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
Yes, as long as there is benefit in this and they are from Ahl al-Sunnah and that attending does not lead to anything which is forbidden.
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)