Monday, April 03, 2006

Let's Celebrate The Prophet!


Let's Celebrate The Prophet! (upon him be peace)

visit: naqshbandi.asn.au/mawlid.htm

Purple is the colour of the Holy Prophet's (s.a.w.) noble cloak in the Divine Presence.

Position of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on the Last Day

The Last of the Prophets, Sayyidina Muhammad, Peace be Upon Him, is the most humble person of all mankind; no one can attain to his humbleness in the Divine Presence. Humility is the most beloved attribute of mankind in the eyes of Allah Almighty. To whatever extent we can be humble just so much is our Lord raising us higher; as much as a person is proud in front of his Lord, that much his Lord will debase him.

Allah Almighty raised His Beloved Muhammad to the highest ranks in the Divine Presence and entrusted him with the distribution of ranks to all mankind according to their need. The ranks of the various Propphets and Saints have been divided up and bestowed by Muhammad, and also, for believers in general, their ranks of faith (Iman) have been given by him. Allah Almighty has deputized the Prophet Muhammad to judge every creature, but he is never judging beyond that authority - that authority may extend to every creature but Allah Almighty is the Judge of Judges and He holds in His Hand judgment for all creatures including Muhammad. Grandsheikh was saying that Allah Almighty may open up to His Prophet the reality of being judge for all creatures on the Last Day. He will give to him authority to be judge for all people gathering on the Last Day in the Divine Presence. On that day, the Prophet's authority for judgment will appear. To know this is enough to know the honor belonging to our Prophet, who said in a hadith: "On that day Adam and all the Prophets will be under my flag. I am not saying this from pride, but only to inform you so you may believe in what my Lord is giving me on the Last Day; on that day all Prophets will be under my flag by the order of Allah Almighty, and by His command I am informing you so that you may know every one's rank in the Divine Presence."

When Adam's soul was first blown into him, he looked up to the throne of Allah; later, when he sinned in Paradise and Allah Almighty sent him to Earth, he asked his Lord, "Oh my Lord, for the sake of Muhammad, forgive me." Allah Almighty asked him, "Oh Adam, how did you know Muhammad when yet he is not created?" "Oh my Lord, when my soul entered my body and I first opened my eyes, I looked to Your throne, where I saw written, "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger" (La ilaha illallah, Muhammadun Rasulullah), and so I know that he must be the most beloved person to You Almighty and the most honorable of creatures that his name may be thus written alongside Yours. Allah Almighty answered Adam, "Yes, you are right, he is My beloved, and is so respectable in My sight that I created the whole Universe for his sake; if you ask Me for forgiveness for his sake, I shaIl forgive you and shall be merciful with your sons as well."

Allah Almighty will give authority to Muhammad on the Last Day. On that day Allah will judge everyone, and when He is finished with His judgment He will call Muhammad to the most praised station (al-Maqam-ul-Mahmood), which no one else can reach. Allah Almighty shall say, "Ask, and whatever you want shall be granted to you, for these people are now subject to your judgment." This is the meaning of the Qur'anic saying that Muhammad was not sent but as a mercy to the worlds.

- Mawlana Sheikh Nazim Haqqani
(taken from Mercy Oceans Hidden Treasures)

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Maulid's up and running

Alhamdulillah, we've entered a most holy month. The month of the birth of the Blessed Prophet s.a.w. We've greeted it earlier Thursday evening. We made Maulid at Kampung Siglap Mosque, and then rounded it off with Khatm Khwajakan, both led by Shaykh Zakaria Bagharib. As usual, what makes our regular night dhikr is the complimentary food our members brought. We can't do without them! (the food I mean... :D)

And tonight, Friday 31 March, we were at Shaykh Zakaria's flat. The Maulid was at the multi purpose hall the end of the block. His family and relatives came in full force! It went fine and great. And how would it not be? We had Dam Briyani! B'cos of that we didn't sing much.

Tomorrow at Adam Akbar's home. We'll have the big drums coming. So we'll be making waves all over the area...for the sake of spreading the love, there's no problems with that. And hopefully Adam Akbar's friend will come over and sing the Qawwali...that'll be excellent!

See you all there tonight.

Thursday, March 30, 2006

The eclipse - a sign for Allah Almighty’s Power!

Suhbah of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani, evening, 26 March 2006, Lefke, Cyprus. (transcribed by Khairiyah Siegel)

Bismillahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim

...Tomorrow is going to be eclipse. We Arabs are using one word for (the) sun (eclipse) and one (another word) for (the) moon eclipse. For Turkish people tutulmasi- for sun and for moon (same), so easy…

Everything in existence can’t do anything by itself. Everything (is) under (the) Dominion of Heavens. (Dominion is more than Malakut. Allah (is al) Muhaymin ‘ala-l mulk wa-l malakut.) Therefore - it is a big happening through sky, space, that (the) sun (is) going to lose its lights partly or completely and pe ople (are) saying so many things.

And the Seal of Prophets, Sayyidina Muhammad - sallaLahu ´alayhi wa sallam -, he was giving some information for (a) sun eclipse or (a) moon eclipse, but he is not going to give a full and complete tarif or tabir, description or definition about that, because (the) Prophet - sallaLahu ´alayhi wa sallam -, Sayyidina Rasulullah - sallaLahu ´alayhi wa sallam -, he was not ordered or authorized by Allah Almighty to give for everything that is going to happen through details, no. (He was) never authorized to give (a) full description or information how is going to be (an) eclipse for (the) sun or for (the) moon.

And his importance, (the) Prophet’s importance, was calling people to their Lord’s servanthood. As a person that he is looking after Sultan’s Palace, Mudir Tashifaat wa ta’limaat; if he is bringing a person to be on an important point for something through (the) Palace, he is only bringing him and saying: “This is your importanc e“, (he is) not standing and saying: “This building (is) in such a way, this building in such a way“, no…never (he is) getting in(to) details. What he (that person) should do, he is giving its details (about that) only, (he is) not going to make a description about (the) Palace, no.

Now (the) Prophet - sallaLahu ´alayhi wa sallam - he has been ordered to call people to servanthood for their Lord and it is not true to give that importance for a person, that he had been offered to do (something), to leave it and to look around and to ask for understanding.

Now Allah Almighty (is) saying: 7 Heavens and 7 earths. We are going to know it, East and West, Western countries, Eastern countries. Now Shaitan (is) making people to lose their importance - what they have been called and offered and ordered to do this. A servant was cleaning (the) floor and he saw something there and (then he was) putting (away the) broom and (he was) looking and saying: “Ohhh, look!” No, it is not true (to do this)!

Therefore - (the) Prophet was knowing everything about creation - more than anyone; perhaps everyone (else was) taking from him (the) real information. For everything about their reality, he was knowing. Now he was saying: “(Solar) eclipse should be and some eclipse for moon“, but he is not going to bring a full description on it, because it is not necessary. He may only say that: “It is some happening that only Allah Almighty He knows, how it is going on, an eclipse through (the) sun or (an) eclipse through (the) moon.” He was not saying that a shadow from earth (is) coming on (the) moon or (that) a shadow from (the) moon (is) coming on (the) sun and getting that happenings (to be) through space, (to explain an) eclipse. No, he is not saying, not bringing details. He was only informing that (an) eclipse of (the) sun and (an) eclipse of (the) moon (are) from Allah Almighty’s big Signs of His Power Attribute, a big sign that He (is the) only One who is able to m ake this through space: to put on lights darkness for a while (and) then to carry that darkness (away) and light comes.

And (he) was saying that: “When darkness (is) coming, lights where (they are) going? Or”, he was saying, “when lights (are) coming, where darkness (is) going? Only He knows, Allah Almighty“, and (He is) giving (a) special knowledge about (the) creation to His most beloved servant Sayyidina Muhammad - sallaLahu ´alayhi wa sallam - He was saying only: “This is ‘min ayati-llah‘, that is the sign of Allah Almighty’s Greatness and His Mighty Attribute that no one can stop it or no one can move it on.” He said only this and that was more than enough for servants!

You must know that (He) who created (the) sun or (the) moon, only that One (is) going to make His Order to pass freely on (the) sun or (the) moon, only that One who can say: “Darkness come on sun and cover it, darkness come on brightening!” Or He was (the) only One who can say: “Moon, cover (the) br ightness and lights!” No any one else. That is enough for ourselves! We have been never offered to get deeply deeply deeply, asking that reason, that reason, this going in such a way, in such a way, no, it is forbidden! You must use heavenly knowledge for making everything in its real cause, nothing else! But now they are saying so many things and they are forgetting (the) most important thing: that no any thing in existence (is) going to move by itself or to do something by itself.

But shaitanic teaching (is) saying to people: “Don’t ask anything about your knowledge; you must say that (the) moon’s shadow (is) coming on earth or (that the) sun’s shadow (is) coming on (the) moon and getting in existence moon eclipse or sun eclipse.” They are saying so many things as (it is) their understanding and they are giving (their) last decision that it is going to be an eclipse for (the) sun or (an) eclipse for (the) moon, it is (something that is) going to be through creation. They are not saying that it is something that (is) happening and taking effect from outside and (that someone is) making this, everything for eclipse, they are not saying this. They are saying so many reasons, like this coming and becoming eclipse for sun eclipse for moon…

And we are looking and seeing as (the) Prophet (was) saying: “There are some signs; it is not an empty being, can’t be, must be behind it some reasons that Allah Almighty (is) asking to show His endless Power Oceans, to make people to bow to His servanthood and to take their care! That is the main purpose (for the) big signs from Allah Almighty’s endless Power Oceans.”

Now people are expecting that (there) should be an eclipse tomorrow and tomorrow (also is) going to be (the) last Wednesday of Safar al-Khair. And it is not a coincidence, no, (it is happening) for some reasons! “We are sending our Heavenly Signs to make people to come on the level of servanthood“; not try to get up over servant hood; (over servanthood) only there is Lordship. Lordship is only for One and servant hood (is) for everyone (else)! (Allah is) asking to make them to know that that One only can do this and that: “O people, if you are doing something wrong, you must fear from your Lord Almighty Allah for a punishment here or Hereafter!” Must be some warning. This is a warning, warning that people, when they are leaving (the) right path and turning into a wrong way, Allah (is) saying: “I am going to punish My servants!” That is a sign that a punishment (is) approaching to mankind.

And I heard today from my son in law that he was saying: “When this eclipse of sun (is) happening, a second eclipse of sun perhaps (is) never going to happen (except) only after 60 years or 55 years.” That means that it is a punishment or (a) sign of a punishment that (is) approaching for (the) bad actings of mankind on earth. (It is) coming! Then, when it is going to be 55 years, never going to happen this, because the y are all going to be true ones and no need a warning for them that: “You are on (the) wrong way” and: “Correct your steps!” Therefore (for the next) 55 years or 60 years never (is) going to happen another eclipse of sun.

And I am getting good tidings that the time of Imanu Zaman Mehdi Sahibu Zaman (is) just coming, because it is a sign for his Zuhur, (the appearance) of Mehdi - alayhis salam - (He is) coming! That is a big sign, eclipse of sun; (and) also (it is) going to happen (an) eclipse of (the) moon, but much more important from other reasons (is) that Allah Almighty (is) making His servants to wake up and to look after themselves, to say: “What we are making?” and: “Where we are going?”, “What we are doing?” To make them to think on it, as after eclipse of sun it is going (to be), it is as a Heavenly Order to appear something as a punishment - earthquakes or Tsunami may be… and that (eclipse is) signing that (a) punishment (is) approaching.

Take your Tauba (repentance)! We are not asking (about that) ‘fine lines that running under continents‘; they are all stories, no reality! May Allah forgive us and protect you from (the) Last Days’ punishments!

We are waiting (for the) good days with Mehdi - alayhi salam, Imamu Zaman, and also to be taken away every false and bad things and (the) coming (of) good days, good works for people; lightened days and lightened nights.

May Allah forgive us! Therefore we are saying: Now people are fearing and running away from their homes, putting tents, but no one (is) knowing the time of that happening or of (an) earthquake. They may expect (it) to be (on the) last day of Safaru-l Khair; if not happening (that day), (it may be) one day after, if not happening, one week after, one month after, one year after… suddenly (it) may appear that punishment.
Therefore we are asking forgiveness and that Allah protects you and shelters us here and Hereafter!

For the honour of the most honoured one in His Divine Presence, Sayyidina Muhamad - sallaLahu ´alayhi wa sallam - Fatiha.

The Tree of Islam: Nurturing Living Islam

With Sheykh Mohd Ibrahim Mohd Kassim

The tree represents wisdom and strength. This comprehensive programme, The Tree of Islam, seeks to help little seedlings fulfill themselves into wise and fruitful Muslims. Starting with the roots, the origin of Islam, and culminating with the leaf in the sun and rain, symbolising the Muslim's daily struggle, this course is designed to uplift the young and old. Join us in the garden of living knowledge.

Module A: From Seedling to Blossom (Starting Next Week!)
Islam: Its Origins and Significance
4 April – 25 April (Tuesdays)
8.30 pm - 10.00 pm
Week 1: History of Islam
Week 2: The Message of Islam
Week 3: Embracing Mankind, The Religion of Love
Week 4: Why Is Islam Relevant Today?

Module B: From Blossom to Fruit
Traditional Theology & The Future of Islam
15 May – 5 June (Mondays)
8.30 pm - 10.00 pm
Week 1: Why `Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamaah'?
Week 2: Who is `Ahlul Sunnah'?
Week 3: What is the `Moderate Community'?
Week 4: The Best Community

Module C: The Leaf in the Sun and Rain
Sacrifices in Our Daily Lives
3 July – 24 July (Mondays)
8.30 pm - 10.00 pm

Week 1: Jihad Within You
Week 2: Jihad Within the Family
Week 3: Jihad at Work
Week 4: Jihad Within a Cosmopolitan Community

About The Teacher
Sheykh Mohd. Ibrahim Mohd. Kassim, is a recognised Islamic religious teacher, fluent in English, Malay, Arabic, Tamil and Urdu. He teaches Fiqh, Tasawuf, Tafsir and Hajj courses at various institutions and mosques in Singapore. He is a MUIS-accredited Imam and Khatib. He is also an Arbitrator at the Shariah Court of Singapore and Naib Qadi or Assistant Registrar of Muslim Marriages. He is the founder and principal of Al-Fathhu Traditional Learning Centre (Singapore).

Information
Venue: Al-Fathhu Traditional Learning Centre, 19a Bali Lane

Registration
Fees: $40 per Module.
10% discount will be given for registrations in groups of three or more, or if you register for all three modules.

Contact
Contact Mu’hsin Kalimiyah: 91380014
E-mail: info@alfathhu.com
Blog: www.alfathhu.com/blog
Website: www.alfathhu.com

Learn the Burdah!

From Al-Fathhu Traditional Learning Centre:

The Classical Islamic Text Series: Learning how to recite in Arabic Qasida Burdah of Imam Al-Busiri

About the Text to be Studied
Qasida Burdah (Poem of The Prophet's Cloak) is one of the most widely recited classical Arabic poems in the traditional Islamic world. The poem was composed by Imam Sharafuddin Muhammad Al-Busiri (608AH-695AH). It is arguably the greatest poem ever written in praise of the Holy Prophet(s.a.w.), eloquently honoring the exalted rank and character of the Beloved Prophet (s.a.w). The verses of The Burdah used to be commonly learned by heart Nevertheless today it is still recited in many parts of the Muslims world to invoke and promote the love that is within oneself for the Holy Prophet (s.a.w). It is also known to have countless benefits and blessings for the reader. The Burdah is in 10 parts and has 160 verses, all of which end with the Arabic letter Meem.This is an opportunity to learn how to recite the Qasida Burdah.

About the Program
This is a 20 week structured program that teaches beginners how to recite Qasida Burdah in Arabic. The program is catered to English speaking audience, where the teaching in Tamil will be translated into English and materials will be provided in English.

Commencing: April 22
Saturday Nights 8 p.m till 9.30 p.m
It is a prerequisite that participants are able to read the Qur'an
All age and gender are welcome.
Venue: Al-Fathhu Traditional Learning Centre
19A Bali Lane (opposite Golden Landmark)
Fees: $125 for 20 lessons. 10% discount will be given registration in groups of 3 or more.
Payment can also be made monthly.

About the Teacher
Maulavi Jafar Sadhiq Deobandi teaches full time at the Al-Madrasahtul Qadiriya at Masjid Hajjah Fatimah. He has spent 14 years in formal Islamic studies training in India where he gained his accreditions for Aalim and Hafsatul Ulama. He is also a graduate from Deobandi University Maulavi Jafar is proficient in teaching the recitation of Qasida Burda.

For Information and Registration
Contact Mu’hsin Kalimiyah: 91380014
E-mail: info@alfathhu.com
Blog: www.alfathhu.com/blog
Website: www.alfathhu.com

New Qur'an reading class

From Al-Fathhu Traditional Learning Centre:

Al-Fathhu Traditional Learning Centre
New Classes for 2006
LIving Knowledge, Nurturing Living Islam

Qur’an reading within 3 months
This is a helpful bi-weekly class that will guide students from understanding the letters to the basic rules of correct recitation (tajwed) of the Holy Qur’an based on the book Ar-Ruh Al-Amin by (Hj. Muhammad Roihan Hasbullah Nst). The aim of the programme is to guide students to be able to read the Qur’an. Inshallah within 3 months. Register now limited to only 20 students per class.

The Teacher
Brother Abdul Shakur Hadi, studied Arabic and Islamic Studies in Abu Nour Institute in Damascus, Syria for 2 years. He will guide the students through the 3 month programme.

About The Class
Commencing:26 April 2006 Wednesday
Every Wednesdays 8p.m -9.30 p.m and Saturdays 5.30pm - 7 p.m
Venue: Al-Fathhu Traditional Learning Centre 19A Bali Lane (opposite Golden Landmark Hotel)
Fees: $240 for 24 Lessons, fees can also be made in two payments.

For Information and Registration
Contact Mu’hsin Kalimiyah: 91380014
E-mail: info@alfathhu.com
Blog: www.alfathhu.com/blog
Website: www.alfathhu.com

Books for the Maulid month

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

The Coming of the Maulid

All Praises belong to Allah, Who has created us and endowed us with honour and humility, and showered us from His endless shores of Blessings that know no end, and has shined His creation by the light of His Light that brings darkness into light, Who creates all in the heavens and the earth and all that are seen by the eyes of the heart and the unseen by the eyes of the body, and bestows His Glorious Majesty and Beauty as manifestations of every being, with Whom lies all secrets and wisdoms that only in His Knowledge alone we seek, and in His Existence only we desire annihilation!

O Allah, send from us Your greetings of Prayer, Blessings, and Honour to Your Beloved, the Light of Lights, the Servant Most High, the Beloved in Proximity, the one raised within one span of an arrow or closer, the one in whose origin is our collective imitative existence, the Perfect Man, the Most Beautiful Soul, the Opener for what has been shut, the End of what preceded, Helper of Truth with The Truth, the Guide to the Straight Way, the Seal of Prophethood and Messengership, Abu-l Qasim, Sayyidina Mawlana Muhammad ibn 'Abdillah, upon him be absolute Peace and Eternal Blessings, our prayers and salutations be upon him and upon his pure Family and noble Companions, from the beginning of Creation until Hereafter in each day a million repetitions!

Alhamdulillah that we approach the end of Safar al-Khayr and shall greet the blessed month of Rabi' al-Awwal, the month of the Beloved, in which he was born into this earth with light and guidance, and on the same date ended his time in this world where he awaits our return to receive his Intercession before the Lord Most High.


In truth to tradition, the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Singapore reads the Maulid al-Daiba'i for the first twelve nights of Rabi' al-Awwal. Each night this well-known Sufi congregation meets at different homes of its members who delight in hosting a noble celebration that brings light, love, and happiness. Armed with innovative percussionists, singers, and songwriters of the Naqsh Ensemble, the Maulid celebration of our group is famous for our recitation, participation, and emotions which burn with the fire of love that continually move all those who join us. Truly, though may be small, this group of lovers is a sought-after group for Maulid that is also much talked about in many countries.

What makes this month more significant for Naqshbandis is that the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal also marks the birth of our beloved Grandshaykh, Sultan al-Awliya, Wa'iz al-Ummah, Naqib al-Ummah, Hayat al-Ruh, Hayat al-Jud, Sayyidina Shaykh 'Abdillah al-Fa`iz al-Daghistani, may Allah sanctify his secret. Our current guide, Sultan al-Awliya, Sahib al-Waqt, the Shaykh of Shaykhs, the Sultan of Ascetics, the Sultan of the Pious, the Sultan of the People of the Truth, Sayyidina Shaykh Muhammad Nazim al-Haqqani q.s. was born on April 23, the Gregorian date that corresponds to the birthday of the Beloved Rasul s.a.w. In celebrating the birth of the Seal of Prophets, we also commemmorate the birth of Grandshaykh 'Abdullah and Mawlana Shaykh Nazim as well.

The Naqshbandi-Haqqani will mark the celebration beginning Thursday evening, on 30th March 2006 at Masjid Kampung Siglap (off Marine Parade Road), at 9.30pm. It shall be followed with the Khatm al-Khwajakan and Dhikr. And me, the Superdervish, invite you to join in its auspiciousness.

History of The Celebration of Mawlid

The Mawlid in Mecca According to Muslim Historians-Celebration of the Birthplace of the Prophet

Mecca, the Mother of cities, may Allah bless and honor her, is the leader of other Islamic cities in the celebration of Mawlid as in other things. In his book Akhbar Makka, Vol. 2, p. 160, the 3rd-century historian of Mecca, al-Azraqi, mentions as one of the many places in Mecca in which the performance of sala is desirable (mustahabb), the house where the Prophet was born (Mawlid al-Nabi). According to him, the house had previously been turned into a mosque by the mother of the caliphs Musa al-Hadi and Harun ar-Rashid.

The Qur'anic scholar al-Naqqash (266-351) mentions the birthplace of the Prophet as a place where du`a by noon on Mondays is answered. He is quoted in al-Fasi's Shifa' al-gharam Vol. 1, p. 199, and others.

Earliest Mentions of the Public Mawlid
The oldest source that mentions a public commemoration of the Mawlid is in Ibn Jubayr's (540-614) Rihal ("Travels"), p. 114-115:

"This blessed place [the house of the Prophet] is opened, and all men enter it to derive blessing from it (mutabarrikin bihi), on every Monday of the month of Rabi` al-Awwal; for on that day and in that month was born the Prophet."

The 7th-century historians Abul `Abbas al-`Azafi and his son Abul Qasim al-`Azafi wrote in their unpublished Kitab ad-durr al-munazzam:

"Pious pilgrims and prominent travellers testified that, on the day of the mawlid in Mecca, no activities are undertaken, and nothing is sold or bought, except by the people who are busy visiting his noble birthplace, and rush to it. On this day the Ka`ba is opened and visited."

Ibn Battuta's Account of the Mawlid
The famous 8th-century historian Ibn Battuta relates in his Rihla, Vol. 1, p. 309 and 347, that on every Friday, after the salah, and on the birthday of the Prophet, the door of Ka`ba is opened by the head of the Banu Shayba, the doorkeepers of the Ka`ba, and that on the Mawlid, the Shafi`i qadi (head judge) of Mecca, Najmuddin Muhammad Ibn al-Imam Muhyiddin al-Tabari, distributes food to the shurafa' (descendants of the Prophet and to all the other people of Mecca.

Three Tenth-Century Accounts of the Mawlid
The following description consolidates eyewitness accounts by three 10th-century authorities: the historian Ibn huhayra from his al-Jami` al-latif fi fasl Makka wa ahliha, p. 326; the hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Haytami from his Kitab al-Mawlid ash-Sharif al-Mu`azzam, and the historian al-Nahrawali from al-I`lam bi-a`lam Bayt Allah al-haram, p. 205.

Each year on the 12th of Rabi` al-Awwal, after the salat al-Maghrib, the four qadis of Mecca (representing the Four Schools) and large groups of people including the fuqaha' (scholars) and fudala' (notables) of Mecca, shaykhs, zawiya teachers and their students, ru'asa' (magistrates), and muta`ammamin (scholars) leave the mosque and set out collectively for a visit to the birthplace of the Prophet, shouting out dhikr and tahlil (LA ILAHA ILLALLAH). The houses on the route are illuminated with numerous lanterns and large candles, and a great many people are out and about. They all wear special clothes and they take their children with them. Having reachethe birthplace, inside a special sermon for the occasion of the birthday of the Prophet is delivered, mentioning the miracles (karamat) that took place on that occasion. Hereafter the du`a' for the Sultan (i.e. the Caliph), the Emir of Mecca, and the Shafi`i qadi is performed and all pray humbly. Shortly before the salat al-`Isha', the whole party returns from the birthplace of the Prophet to the Great Mosque, which is almost overcrowded, and all sit down in rows at the foot of the Maqam Ibrahim. In the mosque, a preacher first mentions the tahmid (AL HAMDULILLAH) and the tahlil, and once again the du`a' for the Sultan, the Emir, and the Shafi`i qadi is performed. After this the call for the Salat al-`Isha' is made. After the salat, the crowd breaks up. A similar description is given by al-Diyarbakri (d. 960) in his Ta'rikh al-Khamis.

from http://islamicsupremecouncil.com/milad-un-nabi.htm

In Honor of Our Beloved Prophet (s)

Every year at this time, Muslims around the globe commemorate with profound love and abounding joy the birthday of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (s) . In keeping with Allah’s (swt) Way, His Sunna of recollecting the birthdays of the prophets as special events in the history of mankind, Muslims have found unique Islamic forms of worship to express their joy, their gratitude and their connection to the birth of the Master of Humankind and Jinn, Sayiddina Muhammad al-Mustafa.

His greatness reflects the Greatness of His Creator, and his purity outshone that of angels, mankind and spiritual beings. His advent on this earthly sphere was accompanied by extraordinary signs and miraculous occurrences, harbingers of the inestimable effect our perfect leader, the Prophet of Islam r, the Guide of the believers, was to have on history.

Mawlid: Independence Day of the Muslim Nation

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and on his family and companions, is our hero, nay––our superhero! The people of each Muslim country rejoice in having achieved freedom from the colonialists who once held them in chains, considering their independence day the birth of their nation––a national holiday. In any Muslim country the emphasis on this is so strong, that every child has memorized the date of independence and the events associated with it. The anniversary of that day represents their liberation from imperialism and having assumed their new identity as a young nation.

On that holiday, flags fly on every street, the portrait of the "Father of the Nation" is prominently displayed everywhere, names of founding heroes and their stories are broadcast throughout the month, week and day. Everywhere the birth of a nation is commemorated by means of dazzling displays, parades, lights, decorations, fireworks, and military processions, as in America on the 4th of July. Subhanallah, no objections are made to the commemoration of Muslim national holidays.

Therefore, does it not behoove the Muslims to commemorate the one who brought us independence from other than Allah (swt), who took us from unbelief to faith, from idolatry to monotheism, founded our Nation and gave us our identity as Muslims? He gave us more than a nation––he gave us an ummah!

Why not rejoice in that event—remember his greatness, his courage, his leadership—and thank Allah (swt) for that day He favored and honored us to be of the Nation of Muhammad (s) ? As the Best Nation on earth, will we not enter Paradise first for the greatness of our prophet?

read the complete article on http://www.sunnah.org/ibadaat/three_frameset.htm

The News about Mahdi a.s.

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim... S. Mahdi’s first appearance was in Hijjaz, in Makka, on Mount Arafat. That was around 1960. It was a private appearance, only for Saints. 12,000 Awliya came and put their hands on his hand, taking Bayat with him.

Once, when I was passing through Beirut, on my way to Cyprus, I met a Sheikh from Lebanon, and I was a guest in his house. He asked me: "What news is your Sheikh giving about Mahdi a.s.?" I told him, that so and so many years ago we were on Arafat with Mahdi a.s. and 12,000 Rijalu’llah, Awliya, and that we all took Bayat with Mahdi a.s. I was with Grandsheikh at that time. He took me with him, like a hunter keeps his dog with him. When I said this, the Sheikh from Lebanon said: "You are right. I was in Makka Mukarrama the same year with my Sheikh, and we met a person from the Sudan. We asked him: "From where are you coming?", and he told us that he had come from Central Africa: "One year ago I was ordered by the Holy Prophet sws to be here this year to take Bayat with Mehdi a.s. I have been walking on foot for one year, and I have reached here..."

So the Awliya have already taken Bayat with Mahdi a.s. in that year. There is a second kind of Bayat, in dreams, for people who are not prepared to meet Mahdi a.s. physically. And now he is waiting for the order, and then common people will take Bayat with him.

He will appear for all people, according to the Lord’s command, in the Great War, Armageddon... There are one hundred and one hindrances which he must overcome, before he can appear. Ninety-nine of those hindrances have passed. Now only two are remaining...

‘Red coloured people’ have come to Afghanistan. They must also come to Pakistan, and then to Turkey. That is the first sign: Russians coming to Turkey... Huge Russian powers will be at the West of Aleppo. They will come up to the plain of Yarmuq(?) near Aleppo. At the same time the American powers will be in Turkey, in Adana, near the sea. There will be a great slaughter in that plain. The War will last three months and during that War, Mahdi a.s. will appear. It will be in a year of the Hajj-ul-Akbar.

Mahdi a.s. will appear on Hajj, where people will take Bayat from him... From there he goes to Damascus. He will make Takbir 3 times: "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar!" With those Takbirs the problem of technology is going to be finished, and it is going to be the signal for all Muslims to attack the devils...

There are 40 stations on S. Mahdi's way between Mekka and Damascus... He will come to the gates of Damascus, firstly to a place where the foot-prints of the Prophet Muhammad and his camel are on a stone... He will enter Damascus, and there the people will take Bayat with him.

Then there are 7 stations on his way from Damascus to Istanbul - Homs, Hama, Trablus, Halab, Konya, Bursa - and in Istanbul he will take out the flag of the Prophet from the Topkapi-Palace... But before that, the Padishah will appear and they will meet in Konya, where Mahdi a.s. will put on the sword of the Prophet and his coat, the Amanats...

After Mahdi has taken out the flag in Istanbul, the Anti Christ will come quickly through Khorasan in Iran, and run to Jerusalem, to go around the whole world from there for 40 days. He is now in chains- imprisoned on an unknown island that no one can approach - because he is saying: "I am your Lord", claiming to be the Lord of mankind, not just a prophet, but the Lord... He cannot move from there. He is Shaitan, the father of all devils. He is giving orders, and he has 30 deputies who are preparing people for his coming... And he is one-eyed...

Muslims are expecting S. Mahdi a.s. and they are waiting also for S. 'Isa a.s. to come from the Heavens. Christians are expecting Jesus Christ to come back from the Heavens, too. But the Jews, because they do not believe in S. 'Isa and S. Muhammad sws are still waiting for a Prophet from among themselves to appear...

There will be a heavenly announcement: "The enemy of Allah, Dajjal, has appeared. Whoever wants to save himself from him must go to Damascus, Makka or Madina". So believers will run because Dajjal will be after them. They will run like streams to Damascus, and all believers must be there for 40 days... Dajjal will go around the whole world, but 700 Angels, 700 Jinn, and 700 Awliya from Budala, Nujaba, Nuqaba, Autad and Akhyar will protect Damascus, so he won’t be able to enter.

Damascus is a holy area, the place of the Judgement Day, where twice a day come Nur, Divine Lights, and Mercy. This area covers all that a man can see from the minaret of the Umayyad Mosque, and its Baraka spreads for a distance of six or seven days’ camel ride in all directions.

After 40 days, Jesus will come down from the Heavens. It will be the time of the Fajr prayer, when he comes down in the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. He is coming down to a minaret of that Dome in the East, under which S. Yahya a.s., John the Baptist, is buried. Two Angels will protect him with their wings, and bring him down to earth. He will be wearing a green turban, and he will be shining. He has the most beautiful face, rosy and white. His beard is red, and he is sweating. And he has a sword. When he was on earth, he never touched a sword, but now he is coming as a Saviour, to save people from the hands of the Anti-Christ. His sword is a miraculous sword, a heavenly sword. It can reach any point to where he sends it. The Lord gave it to him...

He is not coming as a Prophet anymore, but as a member of the Ummah of S. Muhammad sws, following his Shariat. S. Mahdi a.s. will offer the place to Jesus to be Imam, but Jesus will refuse. S. Mahdi will lead the prayer once, and after that Jesus will be Imam... And S. Mehdi a.s. will be with him for 7 years...

Jesus will kill the Anti-Christ, break the crosses, and make clear the truth about himself and his mother S. Maryam... He will govern the Heavenly Kingdom on earth for 40 years. In his time, all technology will be destroyed, and everyone will be given miraculous powers, so that when you look somewhere and you say: "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim, by Your Divine Permission, oh My Lord, You honoured me to be Your deputy, I ask of You", and if He gives permission, you may put your step from here to there.

After Jesus has killed the Anti-Christ, there will be no more devils and evil in his time...people will live a life like in Paradise, Paradise appearances, Tajallis, will come on them... At that time, the purpose of Allah’s creation will appear.

'Isa a.s. will marry and have children. When he is going to die, he will be buried in Madina, in the fourth tomb next to the Holy Prophet, S. Abu Bakr r.a. and S. 'Umar r.a., that is empty now.

Then all believers will die by a sweet scent from Paradise. Everything terrible after that will come to the unbelievers, who will have started to re-appear during Jesus’ time... And the world will come to its end.

from 'Bridge to Eternity' by Shaykh Muhammad Nazim al-Haqqani, compiled by Khairiyah Siegel.

Meditating the weekend....what a weekend!

Alhamdulillah...what a weekend!

We had time with As-Sayed Nurjan and Ali Al-Sayyid from Naqshbandi USA for a historic weekend. The webmaster of www.nurmuhammad.com was here explaining Sufi meditation techniques, and everyone here certainly learnt a lot.

As-Sayed's Nurjan's presentation especially caught me off guard. I've always known him - in fact all of us here - as the quiet man who followed Shaykh Hisham in his tours around the region for years. His speech and confidence during the whole sessions impressed me-he definitely wasn't talking from himself.

I think he's made this process of Sufi meditation one that is simple and straight-forward. He cleared misconceptions about Sufi meditation vis-a-vis other forms of such practice. Of course when you go to his string of sites the whole thing look confusing. But that also explains that such things as these cannot be fully learnt and understood by simply reading them off-hand; we need someone to show us and to explain it to us. Nurjan did just that.

From the breathing techniques, to even the seating positions, the secrets and wisdoms of our body, mind, spirit, and all of the cosmos became much clearer for most people with his explanations. I cannot possibly elaborate everything that he has spoken: you have to visit the website or read his book "The Healing Power of Sufi Meditation", which should be available at Wardah Books.

What I can say though is the dhikr. For three nights the Naqshbandis here were given a rousing dhikr that knocked the roofs off! Ali Al-Sayyid's angelic voice humming away the qasaid during the dhikr brought everyone together. Ahmad Krambo's whirling was slow but steady and focused. And we had Fedly, Yasin, and Sharfudin doing the whirling too! Well, they collapsed after that, except for (surprisingly!) Yasin! Overall it was powerful, physical, and quite "violent".

To top it off, we had our first Hadrah on Sunday evening. You could say it just got out of hand. I was standing and clapping my way thru the dhikr when I looked at some brothers (who actually hinted at me to whirl: I can whirl but chose not to do it) that I moved forward (and they were thinking I was going to whirl), grabbed a couple of guys and started the standing Hadrah. In a matter of seconds everyone was standing up, holding hands and making the same movements! It was unbelievable! I released myself, pulled everyone up (including Shaykh Zakaria and Dr. Tahir) and led them. Ali Al-Sayyid and Sayed Nurjan joined in with their qasidah and the night ended spectacularly. No one believed that they've made the Hadrah; an experience they will want to repeat. We even had one brother who literally dived to the floor during the hadrah, b'cos he said he saw beautiful flowers and a puddle of water in front of him. I believe he saw Jannah.

They're going to Indonesia next. So hope to catch up with them when they return here for the transit to the States. Masha Allah, it was a great experience for everyone-we loved it. Thank you Naqshbandi-Haqqani Singapore. Thank you Mawlana Shaykh Nazim!

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Why So Many Asians and Muslims Support LFC?

Featured article by Mohammed Bhana, Sport Editor for Emel magazine (www.emelmagazine.com), on the Liverpool Football Club's website. The magazine is available at Wardah Books.

"British Muslims have a special affinity to the city of Liverpool. Not many people actually know that in 1889 Liverpool solicitor and Muslim convert William "Abdullah" Quilliam opened the doors of what is England's first mosque - a little room in Liverpool's record Office which is still in existence. His granddaughter Patricia Gordon, I have been told, is actually a Liverpool fan."

Read the complete article at

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/NG151853060327-1537.htm

YNWA!

Rebuilt

Alhamdulillah. I did something on my blog a few days ago and ruined it real bad. I had to rebuild it from scratch and to upload all previous posts again.

Insha Allah, from time to time there shall be more posting from my personal thoughts and inspirations. Of course also more suhbah of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim q.s., Shaykh Hisham q.s., and Shaykh 'Adnan q.s. I shall also translate relevant information from Shaykh 'Adnan's book Al-Futuhat al-Haqqaniyyah, especially with regards practices for certain months (I've made them for Muharram and Safar).

Thank you for supporting this little blog of mine. I appreciate your comments, criticisms, and suggestions.

Sufi Talk Saturday

There shall be a Sufi session with As-Sayed Nurjan Mirahmadi from Naqshbandi-Haqqani USA, the webmaster of www.nurmuhammad.com

Topic:
Mystical Sufi Chants – The Power of Sound Therapy
Date:
Saturday 25 March 2006
Time:
8.00pm
Venue:
Al-Wehdah Arab Association
11 Lorong 37 Geylang
(opp. Madrasah Wak Tanjong. Nearest MRT about 500 metres away.)

All are welcome. No registration required.

New and updated links

Alhamdulillah, I've updated the Links on the side of the blog. They are much wider and more systematic, if I could say it.

I've put all Naqshbandi-Haqqani links under one banner, divided under their respective regions. I've also expanded the Sufi links and there's more to come as well.

Also under Learning is additional information about other places where you can find traditional Islamic learning.

I've also added the Blog Top Sides banner. Do click it and help refer this blog to the world. If you have any comments and suggestions to the links, or if you find any of them broken or updated, do tell me. And of course, the Liverpool FC is still there...hehe.

YNWA!

Naqshbandi Podcast

How to Listen to the Naqshbandi Podcast:

1. Download iTunes from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
(Both Mac and PCs can run iTunes)
Install software. If you're running a PC, you need to restart for the changes to take effect.
2. Copy and paste the following url to your internet browser (MS Explorer, Firefox or Safari)
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=122184941
3. iTunes should launch automatically.
4. Hit the 'subscribe' button
5. Wait for the downloads.
6. Sync with your digital player or listen from your computer.

Note: The podcast comprises mainly sohba from Shaykh Hisham Kabbani. Its updated often, so its a good idea to subscribe to the podcast.

Courtesy of Ibrahim "Wardah" and Faizal Ashraf

The Month of Safar

It is a month from the Sunnah months. The Prophet s.a.w. named it Safar al-Khair. It is also a month Allah brings down His Wrath and Punishment to this world. Many of the past communities that disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger perished in this month. I remember Shaykh 'Adnan refraining travel on this month; he advised us not to leave our homes unless necessary. It is prescribed to keep to the following practices for protection in every day of this month. From Al-Futuhat al-Haqqaniyyah by Shaykh 'Adnan Kabbani:

1. Shahadatain (3 times).
2. Astaghfirullah (300 times).
3. Give Sadaqah daily for the sake of Allah Almighty with the intention to lift away afflictions and misfortunes. It is a good practice, as done by Grandshaykh 'Abdullah q.s., to make Qurban on the 27th day of Safar for the sake of Allah Almighty.
4. Recite each day Surah Al-Fil (7 times) and Ayat al-Kursi (7 times).

On the final Wednesday of
Safar, keep to the following Adab:

1. Shahadatain (3 times).
2. Astaghfirullah (300 times).
3. Ayat al-Kursi (7 times).
4. Surah Al-Fil (7 times), reading them all upon oneself and for one's family.

It is most desired to refrain from going out of one's house on that day. If one should go out, keep to the Adab and make haste to return home when one's needs are met. Grandshaykh q.s. said: "On the final Wednesday of the month of Safar, 70,000 afflictions (bala') befall the world. The one who keeps to this Adab that we mentioned, he will be protected by Allah Almighty."

Arrival of Sayedena Mahdi [AS]

Shaykh Muhammad (s) Hisham Kabbani from NurMir
2-22-2006
Oakland

Sayyidina al-Mahdi has been described in over 40-50 hadith of Prophet and all of them authentic, for Sunni and for Shi'a. I am speaking for Sunni side. And no one can deny these hadith because they are authentic and in 1980, when the false Mahdi appeared in Makkah and they took al-Haram, the Hijazi people began to ask about al-Mahdi and said to the Saudi government "you never told us about Mahdi." If you go to Sahih Muslim you find a lot hadith about Mahdi in ibn Majah and in Abu Dawud but not in Sahih Bukhari.

So Muhammad (s) Ali Sabouni put all the hadith of Mahdi, I have that in Michigan. I put many in Approach of Armageddon, at the end. But in any case, Prophet said yakhruju waladin min awlaadi, yamla 'l-ardu qistan wa `adlan kama muliya dhulman wa jura. That is one hadith and prophet gave signs about appearance of Sayyidina Al Mahdi that he will appear before Masih al-Dajjal will appear. And he gave signs and most of these signs that prophets mentioned have appeared and you can see them in that book.

There is the biggest sign now, one of the signs is that I give you quick, sawfa tudeeu naar min ardi Najd yashra'ibu laha `anaaqu 'l-ibli bi-Basra. And he pointed to the east and said hahuna tazhar al-zalaazilu wal fitan - over there will come forth earthquakes and confusion. East of Madina is Iraq and Najd, Basra. And when they asked prophet to bless Najd and he said, O Allah bless us in our sham and in our Yemen and they asked in our Najd and he said, "from there will come two horns of shaytan and in it will be earthquakes and confusion."

And one of the signs of the Last Days is to see the barefooted naked Bedouin competing in high rises. And now the biggest high rises are where? In Riyadh. They are bigger than the World Trade Center, bigger than the 2 towers in Malaysia. And he said yatataawaloona fil bunyaan. And that is why you see between these 2 princes, each one trying to say my building is higher. All this is happening and in the midst of that Sayyidina Mahdi will appear. And when he appears, he first moves from Makkah to Madina. First they make baya in Makkah and then from Madina he makes takbir and everyone will hear and with bismillahi he moves to Sham, as Prophet said, kayfa antum idha nazala ibn Maryam wa imaamukum minkum. "How will you be when `Isa (as) ibn Maryam descends and your imam is among you?"

The Imam is Sayyidina Mahdi, not those imams who wear jeans and are filling each mosque. He is from that line of 12 imams, and he will appear in minaratun bayda at masjid al-Umawi. He will make takbir from there and that takbir will stop the huge war that is going around the world. That is according to the hadith sawfa taqtilu fi'ataan `adheemataaan... Two great groups will fight in a huge fight.

If you take Samuel Huntington, clash of civilizations that is a clash of ideas and we don't know what will end up. He will come in the middle of that fire and pull that secret out and everything stop with his pronouncing: Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar. Then 2nd takbir, with Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar, every believer will find himself in Damascus with Mahdi. Then 3rd time Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar, he will declare we have to go to get Amanaat of Prophet (s) in Istanbul and to get them. Then he will declare that the Dajjal has appeared in an area a big mountain that is near Sham and called Douma and that is hadd that Dajjal cannot pass that Sayyidina Jibreel will put his wing and he cannot pass that limit.

Mrs. Maimoona Ahmed: I was in India, and I saw dream in which you made a very important announcement and it was like looking at TV screen and the announcer was saying that such and such happened.

MSH: this is what Mawlana Shaykh is announcing something and at that time the announcement will come and they informed you ahead of time. But I want to emphasize we are people who don't carry weapon, don't carry knife, Sayyidina Mahdi does not come with anything, he does not carry weapon, he only uses Allahu Akbar, that cuts everything. So make sure you don't carry a knife. Never I carried a knife, though it is a Sunnah to carry a knife, but to be sure that my ego does not carry. Mawlana Shaykh Nazim carries a knife but now he does not. But his knife is something small like this.