On Using Interest Payments

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

What should I do with interest payments that have accumulated in my bank account?

You should give the money to the poor and needy or some public project such as repairing roads, providing medication for the sick or feeding the poor. You cannot use it yourself or consider it your property. When you give it, it cannot be considered charity but you will have the reward of preserving it and using it in a way that pleases Allah.

On Preventing Nightmares

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

What can we read to stop our children having nightmares?

You should teach them to read Ayat al-Kursi before they sleep if they are able to read it. If not, it should be read over them. If they are old enough, they should also read Ayat al-Kursi and Surat al-Inshirah after every prayer.

 

On Becoming One of Those Who are Drawn Near

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

How can we become among those who are drawn near?

Allah says in the hadith qudsi: “My slave draws near to Me with nothing more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him, and then he continues to draw nearer to Me with supererogatory devotions until I love him.” Continue reading On Becoming One of Those Who are Drawn Near

Attaining Allah’s Love

Habib Ahmad bin Abu Bakr bin Sumayt, the father of Habib Umar bin Sumayt (may Allah have mercy on them and sanctify their secret) discusses the means of attaining Allah’s love. 

It is inconceivable that Allah’s love be in any way similar to human love, which may be defined as tenderness in the heart. Some scholars say Allah’s love is expressed in His actions such as showing His favour and bounty to His slave, or showing His slave special care by protecting him and drawing him close. Continue reading Attaining Allah’s Love

On Helping New Muslims at the Mosque

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

What can we do to help new Muslims at our mosque?

You should be cheerful in your dealings with them, you should invite them to your homes and help and serve them. You should discuss with them the attributes of Allah, the Prophets and the pious and talk to them about the next life.

Balancing Seeking Knowledge and Remembrance of Allah

A Tunisian scholar asked Sayyidi Habib `Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him):

How does one balance between seeking knowledge and spending time in the remembrance of Allah (reading awrad or litanies)?

Habib Umar replied:

“The key to seeking knowledge is the soundness of one’s intention. If one’s intention is sound and pure, then seeking knowledge is one of the best acts of worship and one of the best forms of remembrance. Continue reading Balancing Seeking Knowledge and Remembrance of Allah

On Free Will

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

Does man have free will or not?

Man’s Creator requests things from him and decrees things to occur by him. Man has a choice in that which is requested from him but he has no choice in that which is decreed to occur by him. Our role in life is thus to perform that which has been requested from us as well as we can using the strength and ability which we have been given. Continue reading On Free Will