On Preparing for Imam al-Mahdi

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

How do we prepare for the coming of Imam al-Mahdi?

The coming of Imam al-Mahdi, may Allah’s peace be upon him and all of the Prophets and pious people, comes into the category of unseen things of which the Messenger of Allah ﷺinformed us. It is similar to the coming of the Dajjal or Ya’jaj and Ma’juj, the return of Sayyiduna `Isa bin Maryam or the Day of Judgement. We must believe in these things just as the Prophet mentioned them. Continue reading On Preparing for Imam al-Mahdi

On Losing Spiritual Aspiration

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

What advice do you have for us if we lose our aspiration for travelling the spiritual path and for performing acts of worship?

You must renew your approach to Allah. Sit for an hour or two or three facing the qiblah imagining that you are in the Blessed Rawdah or in front of the grave of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , seeking a connection to him, closeness to him, and his companionship, while bestowing many prayers upon him. This will be a means of renewing your approach. Continue reading On Losing Spiritual Aspiration

The Understanding of the Salaf

Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) reflects upon the understanding of the early generations.

A person’s caprice is the best type of firewood that can be ignited to stir up divisions between the believers. Caprice leads people to blindly follow a group or to follow their lower selves. It leads people to claim that their way or their group is the way of Allah and His Messenger. The pious scholars of this Ummah would be asked:

“What is Allah’s ruling on such and such a thing?” Continue reading The Understanding of the Salaf

On Women Attaining the Reward for Praying for Forty Days in Congregation

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

The hadith states that if someone prays the five prayers in congregation for forty days consistently catching the opening takbir with the imam they will be safe from the Fire and safe from hypocrisy.[1] How can a woman attain this reward if her monthly cycle prevents her from praying for forty days consistently?

She can attain the reward by praying in congregation consistently up until her cycle starts. Then as soon as it finishes she continues where she left off.

[1] Narrated by al-Tirmidhi

The Effects of Allah’s Remembrance

Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) reflects upon the effects of Allah’s remembrance.

Let us make use of our time, for it passes very quickly. The only regret that the people of Paradise have is over time which passed by in which they did not remember Allah. If the believer remembers Allah with a heart full of veneration, Allah will remember him with mercy and kindness: So remember Me and I will remember you.1 Continue reading The Effects of Allah’s Remembrance

On the Concept of Khilafah and the Reality of Political Power

At a time of political turmoil in the Muslim world, Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) expounds on some of the meanings of khilafah and clarifies the reality of political power. 

There are two types of khilafah. The first is the outward khilafah which relates to political power, which is not noble and honourable in itself. Anyone may attain political power, whether they be pious or corrupt, whether they be a believer or a disbeliever, whether they be a Prophet or a wretched person. Continue reading On the Concept of Khilafah and the Reality of Political Power