Category: The Path

On Purifying the Lower Self from Arrogance, Ostentation and Envy

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

How can we purify our lower selves from blameworthy traits such as arrogance, ostentation and envy?

We can do this with a combination of knowledge and action. Through knowledge we know the reality of these traits and how a person comes to possess them and the fact that they go against our best interests in this life and the next. Then we act against the dictates of these traits. Continue reading On Purifying the Lower Self from Arrogance, Ostentation and Envy

On the Meaning of Renouncing the Dunya

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

Imam al-Haddad mentions that the dunya (the material world) is an obstacle to wayfarers on their path to Allah. What does it mean to renounce the dunya?

Renouncing the dunya in reality means leaving everything which distracts you from focusing on Allah and leaving everything which may lead to disobeying Him. It means having no reliance on worldly things, having no veneration for them and having no pride in them. It does not mean, as someone may imagine, leaving one’s food, drink and clothing and not making an effort to earn enough to support oneself and assist one’s relatives. Continue reading On the Meaning of Renouncing the Dunya

On Overcoming the Desire to Disobey Allah

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

How can someone overcome the desire of their lower self which strongly calls them to commit acts of disobedience?

Such a person should remind himself of the consequences of wrongdoing. He should remind himself of Allah’s rewards and punishments and reflect upon the return to Allah and upon the fact that he will stand in front of Him to be taken to account. He must cultivate a strong will to leave that which is harmful to his religion, and be firm and determined in this, regardless of the calls of his lower self or the Devil. He must constantly renew his determination to refrain from falling into sin and seek Allah’s assistance in remaining upright. Continue reading On Overcoming the Desire to Disobey Allah

On Attaining Consistency in Spiritual Wayfaring

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

I have recently been experiencing a lot of ups and downs in my spiritual wayfaring. How can I attain consistency?

You must know that you are not divinely protected from error and you must follow up a bad deed with a good deed and be sincere in your return to Allah every time you fall short. If you are consistent in this, recognising your own incapacity, the All-Merciful will bestow His mercy upon you and make your feet firm.

On Accepting Allah’s Decree and Bettering One’s State

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

How does one combine between accepting the decree of Allah and bettering one’s state?

Accepting Allah’s decree means that you do not object to anything that He has decreed while at the same time you do not neglect what you are able to do to improve your own state. There is no contradiction between the two.