On Forgetting the Number of Adhkar you have Recited

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

What do you do if you have a certain number of adhkar to read and you forget the number that you have read?

You should estimate the number you are certain you have read. If you are unsure whether you read 3,000 or 4,000 for example, you should always go with the lesser amount.

Reflections upon the Function of Mosques

Habib Ali al-Jifri (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) reflects upon the function of mosques. 

Mosques are essentially established for the worship and remembrance of Allah. Some people say: “Is that all they are for?” We should beware of saying this because one of the root causes of our problems is the absence of Allah’s remembrance in our lives. Continue reading Reflections upon the Function of Mosques

On Taking a Wage for Teaching the Islamic Sciences and the Qur’an

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

Should someone take money for teaching the Islamic Sciences?

Earning money should not be the intention and objective of the one teaching. Teaching the Islamic sciences should not be turned into a business. Rather, the teacher should be concerned about conveying the Sacred Law to people. Continue reading On Taking a Wage for Teaching the Islamic Sciences and the Qur’an

On Balancing Awrad and Household Duties

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

A lot of my time is spent raising my children and doing the housework. How can I be consistent in reading my awrad?

Try to read the awrad while doing the housework. Perhaps the children will then memorise these awrad. A young child memorised Surah Ya Sin before knowing how to read and write just by hearing his mother reciting it while cleaning the house every day.

On Giving Zakat to Non Muslims

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

Is it permissible to give zakat money to non-Muslims?

One of the categories of people who qualify to receive zakat is ‘those whose hearts are to be reconciled’ (al-mu’allafah qulubuhum). This term has two meanings. The first is those who have recently embraced Islam but are still weak in their resolve and in their faith. The second is those who it is hoped will embrace Islam, especially if they are given some zakat. Some scholars follow the second interpretation. So if all the needy Muslims in the community have been given some zakat then it is permissible to follow the second opinion and give to those who are close to Islam. It is better, however, that they be given money which is not zakat.

 

On Ridding Ourselves of Harshness and Arrogance

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

How can we rid ourselves of harshness and arrogance?

The sicknesses of the heart must be treated with a combination of knowledge and action. We thus treat harshness by continuously reading what has been narrated in the Qur’an and the Sunnah about the blameworthiness of harshness and what has been narrated about the praiseworthiness of being gentle and merciful. We must then strive to be gentle and merciful. Continue reading On Ridding Ourselves of Harshness and Arrogance

Making Our Houses Places of Worship

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

Just as we pray the two units of prayer when we enter the mosque, we should likewise perform the two cycles of prayer when we enter our house following the action of our Beloved Prophet ﷺ. Make sure that the worship you perform in the mosque is replicated in your house so that your house is filled with the light of Allah.

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