Category: Worship

Seeking Allah’s Forgiveness After Hajj

One of the first things Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) did when he returned to Tarim after performing hajj was to seek Allah’s forgiveness. The Prophet said ﷺ : “O Allah, forgive the one who has made hajj and the one for whom he seeks forgiveness.” This is the prayer he made:

O Allah, as Your Prophet ﷺ taught us, we seek Your forgiveness for ourselves and those present and our families and our children and those in our homes and our neighbours and our companions and our students and all Muslims and believers male and female. Continue reading Seeking Allah’s Forgiveness After Hajj

What is Meant by Hajj Mabrur?

Habib Ali al-Jifri (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him) asks: what is meant by the term ‘hajj mabrur’?

All praise is for Allah.

Our Master Muhammad ﷺ said: “The performance of `umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the previous `umrah; and the reward of hajj mabrur is nothing less than Paradise.”[1]

The Mother of the Believers, Sayyidatuna Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “O Messenger of Allah, us women consider jihad to be the best of actions. Should we not perform jihad?” Continue reading What is Meant by Hajj Mabrur?

The Best Method of Memorising the Qur’an

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

What is the best method of memorising the Qur’an?

You should take between five and ten verses (depending on their length) at a time and repeat them until you have memorised them.

Is it better to fast Monday and Thursday or the White Days?

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

If you are able to do so, it is better to fast every Monday and Thursday because if you do so you will fast eight days in every month, as opposed to only three days if you fast the White Days. One of those Mondays or Thursdays is also likely to coincide with the White Days. If you are able to fast the White Days and another five days in addition to this, this would also be good. We cannot say categorically that one type of fasting is better than another. If someone finds that a certain type of fasting has more effect on their heart and helps him on his path to Allah then this is the best fast for that person.

 

Finding Qur’an Recitation Difficult

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

I find it difficult to recite the Qur’an, so during Ramadan I read a translation of the Qur’an. Will I be rewarded for this?

You will receive the reward of seeking knowledge and the reward for this is great. You should continue this but also recite even a small portion of the Qur’an, even if it is repeating Surat al-Ikhlas, Surat al-Falaq and Surat al-Nas. You should also say ‘la ilaha ill’Allah’ in abundance and intend by doing so reciting the Qur’an.

(Note: words of remembrance such as alhamdulillah and la ilaha ill’Allah are contained in the Qur’an so when saying them one can intend reciting the Qur’an and gain extra reward)

 

On Preparing for Hajj

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

How do I prepare for hajj?

You prepare for Hajj by purifying your heart, making sincere tawbah and giving people the rights that are due to them. You need to learn the rulings of Hajj and Umrah and etiquettes of Ziyarah. You must have veneration for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ and the Sacred House. Also read about how the pious performed Hajj and visited the Prophet ﷺ .

Gaining Acceptance through the Prayers of the Pious | Wisdoms of Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad

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

In al-Salat al-Ibrahimiyyah we say: “O Allah, bestow prayers upon our Master Muhammad just as You bestowed prayers upon our Master Ibrahim.”

In the dua of qunut we say: “O Allah, guide us among those You have guided.” Continue reading Gaining Acceptance through the Prayers of the Pious | Wisdoms of Habib Ahmad Mashhur al-Haddad

Balancing Between Consistency in Performing Good Deeds and Seizing Opportunities to Do More

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

The pious say that the seeker should perform good deeds whenever the opportunity arises. How can we balance between this and the hadith that the most beloved of actions are those that are consistent even if they are a little?

You need to set yourself a minimum amount of good deeds which you never leave. It should be small enough for you to be consistent in performing it while not preventing you from performing other good deeds when the opportunity arises. As Imam al-Haddad said: “Appoint for yourself a fixed amount which you are able to perform consistently. When you feel energetic you can do more but when you feel lazy you do not permit yourself to do less.”