On Making Tawassul by Your Shaykh

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

How can someone make tawassul by their shaykh in times of difficulty?

You do this by asking Allah by the status (‘jah’ or ‘haqq’) of the shaykh as the Prophet ﷺ taught us:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ و أَتَوَجَّهُ إِلَيْكَ بِنَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدٍ

Allāhumma inni as’aluka wa atawajjawahu ilayka bi nabiyyika Muhammad

O Allah, I ask You and I turn to You through Your Prophet Muhammad..

Criteria for Benefiting from Other Shuyukh

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

There is a shaykh teaching in our area. Can we benefit from him?

He must be someone of truthfulness (sidq) and taqwa. A sign of his truthfulness is that he praises the pious scholars of the Ummah and does not attack any of them. His taqwa can be gauged by looking at his dealings with women and with electronic devices.

Will the Student be with his Shaykh in Paradise?

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

Will the Student be with his Shaykh in Paradise?

The members of a family who lived in faith and obedience to Allah in this life will be reunited in Paradise. Allah says: “those who believe and are followed in faith by their descendants – We cause their descendants to join them.” [1]

Continue reading Will the Student be with his Shaykh in Paradise?

How Does a Seeker Study his Shaykh?

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

How does a seeker study his Shaykh?

The seeker studies his shaykh by reflecting upon his states and what they signify and upon the directions that he gives (isharat), his wayfaring and his Prophetic inheritance. He then seeks to benefit from this and become illuminated by it.

On the Statement of Imam al-Haddad: “We will not leave them, even if they leave us.”

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

Please explain the statement of Imam al-Haddad: “We will not leave them, even if they leave us.”

The Shuyukh honour their covenants with those who are attached to them even if those people do not treat them well. As far as they are able, they continue to give good advice to them, pray for them and intercede on their behalf with Allah.

 

Say: ‘This is My Path’ | Wisdoms of Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad

Words of wisdom from Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad (may Allah have mercy on him and benefit us by him). 

Allah says to His Prophet  : “Say: ‘This is my path..’”[1]

With this command Allah honours the Prophet and affirms his station. The command also contains the meaning of granting permission (ijazah). The ijazah is one of the foundations of the religion and is especially important in the science of hadith. Scholars traditionally give each other ijazah and shaykhs give their students ijazah. The ijazah is an affirmation of what is contained in the heart of the person receiving it and is a means for the pious to exchange secrets with one another. Continue reading Say: ‘This is My Path’ | Wisdoms of Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad

On Permission to Read the Books of Imam al-Ghazali

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

Do we need permission to read the books of Imam al-Ghazali?

The books of Imam al-Ghazali are extremely beneficial and are quick to rectify and illuminate the heart. It is said that the early Ba `Alawi Imams praised two things to a great extent: the books of Imam al-Ghazali and the visit of the Prophet Hud (peace be upon him). This shows that there is a general permission to read the books and there is nothing to stop the person reading it.