Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
My lower self has caused me endless problems and prevented me from drawing close to Allah. Whenever I take one step forward, I take several steps backward. How can I purify myself and my heart? Continue reading Persevering in Purifying Your Lower Self
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
It is difficult for me to oppose my nafs (lower self). How do I overcome its excuses? Continue reading On Overcoming the Excuses of Your Lower Self
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.
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.
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
What is the state of a seeker who continues to commit sins while maintaining an attachment to and a longing for the people of Allah? Continue reading On Persisting in Sins but Longing for the People of Allah
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
I find it difficult to act upon the teachings of Imam al-Haddad. What should I do?
You should act on what you have learned gradually and constantly renew your resolve. Place your hopes in Allah and seek to be present with Him.
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
Please explain the statement of Imam al-Qushayri in his Risalah: ‘The Sufi is a man of the moment.’ Continue reading On the Meaning of: ‘The Sufi is a man of the moment.’
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
What are the signs that indicate that a spiritual traveller is progressing? Continue reading On Spiritual Progress, Regress and Stagnancy
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
We hear talk of people ‘reaching Allah.’ What does this actually mean? Continue reading On the Meaning of Reaching Allah
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
What should the seeker focus on at the beginning of the path – rectifying the heart or focusing on etiquette (adab)?
Rectification of the heart is the pinnacle of adab, so the seeker’s concern should be purifying his heart and ridding it of faults and blameworthy qualities.
