

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Habib Umar ibn Hafiz

Part four of seven

Fourth Lesson

We spoke about out the outward rulings

The word Faqaha means to understand (the same word used for the Fiqh/Jurisprudence)

Faquha means someone with much understanding

Faqaha means someone who has changed

This is to know the ruling based on sound scholarship

500 verses in the Quran pertain to legal rulings and the verses of the Quran are over 6000

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon) sent Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) to Yemen and asked how he was going to Judge he said with the Book of Allah. He asked if you do not find it, then with the sunna, and if you will not find it then I will endeavour to use my opinion. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “All praise is to Allah who taught the messenger of the Messenger.”

There are things that have been transmitted canonically/tawatur so there was no need for anyone to to make ijtihad (try to find a ruling) on them

The companions would refer to leading companions if they had a question

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would gather the people of Badr to answer a question

Then there was a need for people who could make rulings so Allah (mighty and majestic) sent the Imams including the four Imams (Hanafi, Maliki, Shaf’i and Hanbali)

Then these school spread outside their areas to other lands

The founders of the schools were scrupulous and followed the prophetic example

Owais al-Qarni was good to his mother with a heart present with Allah; this is gave him a great station; he had dishelved hair, two garments but if he would make a prayer it would be accepted; it was said they he would intercede for two large tribes.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told Umar and Ali to seek his supplication

Their station was greater than his but this is manner in which we treat the poius

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) advised that they would find him in the groups that would come for major pilgrimage, from Yeman. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would ask the Yemeni's, if they were all there. They said yes but there was an old man who stayed behind looking after the flock of camels, near arf. They went there and found him praying towards a tree with camels around him; they gave him greetings. He finished his prayer returned the greetings, they asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “The slave of Allah.”
“All of creation is a slave of Allah, what name does your mother call you by?” asked Umar
“Son of Amr?”
“From the tribe of murad?”
“You had a mother and you were kind to her.”
Surprised he said, “Yes.”
“You had leprosy which you were healed from, except a place on your left shoulder.”
“Who explained my condition to you?”
“He is Umar leader of the believers and I am Ali ibn Abu Talib.”
He got up greeted them and said, “May Allah give you the best reward on behalf of the Muhammad nation.” Then he said, “Who informed you about me?”
“Allah and his Messenger.”
“He mentioned me by name?”
“Your name, your fathers and tribes name and all of your description.”
Owais cried and cried. Then he said, “May my father and mother be a ransom for you O’ Messenger of Allah.”
Then they asked, “Show us the spot on your left shoulder.” He showed it to them. They found it as it was described and they asked. “Seek forgiveness for us.”
“How can I seek forgiveness for you, when you are the companions of the Messenger of Allah, I ask you to seek forgiveness for me!”
“The Messenger of Allah ordered us to so.”
So he cried and supplicated for them. “Where do you want to go?”
“Would you like me to write a letter to the governor?”
“No, I love to be unknown.”
“When you reach that place I will send you provision and support.”
“I have tended to the camels for four silver coins. I have these two clothes. I do not need any provision or support. Where will we be at the basin of the Messenger?”
“Before you and I is a difficult ascent. No one will pass it except those who are light.”
Umar cried and hit the ground with a stick, “Who will take this caliphate with everything in it? I wish that I could leave it without anything for it or against it.”

They bade farewell after this

This was Owais Al-Qarni who reached a great station because he was kind to his mother out of faith

Please see other parts

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Habib Umar ibn Hafiz

Part Three of Seven

Third Session

With a broken heart see Allah’s favour upon us

This sphere we take benefit for beneficial knowledge

Knowledge and action need to be combined; a mixture

All knowledge is a blessing by Allah’s will

Anyone opposing to this is contentious; the one who envies is punished and the person who is envied about is raised

Pray for that person and it will removed from your envy

Knowledge in the heart is beneficial knowledge

It was stated that one unit of prayer of a scholar is better than a thousand of ignoramuses because of his knowledge

Three types of scholar:
1. Scholar of people
2. Scholar of refinement of purification
3. Scholar of spiritual opening

Some have more than one level

It is stated that those without a sheikh; have satan as their sheikh (spiritual leader)

Satan tricked a student telling him that he would take him to paradise, he did this a few times and the student was confused and asked his sheikh who said for him to refuse to leave there because if someone goes the paradise then they do not leave. So when this occurred again he refused to leave then when fajr adhan came he realised in was in a rubbish heap. The student returned home ashamed. The Sheikh knew was it was satan but did not tell the student because he knew the students reaction.

The unclear matters in this religion were cleared up by Abu Mansur Al-Maturdi (Hanafi) and Abu Hassan Al-Ashari (Ashari) – after the initial period

They defended the correct path and refuted those incorrect

These creeds are the footing to realise Allah

Please see other parts

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Habib Umar ibn Hafiz

Part two of seven

Session two

This sphere explains the two testification and their necessities

If the word, “There is no deity but Allah” was placed into one scale and the other the heavens and the Earth; these words would outweigh it

Do not let the world cut you off

The two testification of faith comprise all of the affairs of the religion

The tawheed/oneness of Allah is clear

If someone says the two testifications and dies will enter paradise

We learn to water the seed of faith so it can expand

During the battle of Hybar there was a Sheppard asked what would happen to him if he became Muslim? He said paradise the man entered Islam but because of he did not want his first action of faith to be cheating a Jewish man's sheep. So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon) said to throw a stone near the sheep and they will return and they went back into the fortress. He later died during the battle.

There were some spoils apportioned to a companion who took it to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and asked, “What is this?” “Your portion of the spoils.” “I did not follow you for this.” “Then why did you follow me?” “I followed to be struck by an arrow here and enter paradise.” (pointing to his neck) The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “If you are truthful to Allah then Allah is truthful to you.” He went forth to fight again and was struck by an arrow in that place he pointed to. He was found in the ranks and was carried to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked, “Is that him?” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) supplicated for him

If the seed of faith is watered by good works (this is the result)

Allah gives the effect of pious deeds to the one who is angry and blames with himself not one who is happy

Abu Bakr As-Salim said, “Someone who looks at themselves with displeasure; Allah looks at him with pleasure.”

This is first ailment that causes the hearts to be blamed

Directing oneself to creation is the second disease that corrupts the heart

When a person listens to the devil then he becomes devilish

A sign of a pious heart is happy with faith, disliking disbelief, loving the pious, benefiting from admonition, remembrance.

When someone gets attached to dhikr then they ascend the ladder of Islam

Pious deeds are a gift from Allah

Someone attached to pious is like someone knocking on a door; soon they will enter

So one turning away from pious deeds is turning away from the door

Abu Bakr Al-Buwara was a known highway man in Iraq truly repented; heard a man tell his wife to wake him in the night so I can travel early so he can escape Abu Bakr. This affected him and caused people to fear; he heard the wife waking the husband and told her to leave him asleep. He went to a masjid made ghusl and found a gathering of dhikr were the men of Allah where present. He heard what he had to say and they studied various knowledges and remained with the pious people; he stayed with them for three days. Allah sent him a light and he spoke when they were discussing the meaning of knowledge. They asked who spoke they said Abu Bakr Al-Bawara, the highway man? Who was known for wicked deeds. He said I repented to Allah and remained his door then he accepted me.

Please see other parts

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Sheikh Abdul Hakim Murad

Dealing with Extreme Evangelicals Part one to four - copyright please email me and I will remove it from the blog.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Habib Umar ibn Hafiz

The Trodden Path: Spirituality and the Remembrance of God
From the text Fatah Al-Basir Al-Ikhwan fi Sharh Dawir Al-Islam/Opening the brothers insight by explaining the spheres of Islam
October 2008 Bradford

Part one of Seven

This work is sufficient for a traveller to Allah (the exalted)

The author was from the Ahl Al-Bayt (from the blessed Prophetic descent)

He was a master in one hundred disciplines

Sheikh Abdurraham ibn Abdullah ibn Ahmed Al-Faqih Muhammad Ba’alawi

Lived in 12th Islamic century

He studied other knowledge after he studied the knowledge of the religion

There will be a realisation with it’s study

Let us direct ourselves

Bismillah is important to mention when beginning actions

The devil is unable is change this

A pious woman became persistent in saying Bismillah in all her affairs. A foolish man gave her some silver coins to look after. She took the coins saying bismillah, stood up, sat down, took the key, opened the safe and placed the coins in the safe, then closed the safe then put the key into its place and she had said bismillah upon every movement. The man sneaked into the house, opened the safe and threw the coins into a well then he went to her and asked her to return the money. She went as she did saying bismillah upon every movement and when she opened the safe, the coins were where she left them wet with water. She gave them back to him, he reflected and wept

Receiving counsel is the way of the successful

The inward cannot be reached without the outward

The companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are the best of this nation, their station is unattainable

Some are better than others: oath of content, those at Badr and Uhud, Oath of happiness, those Muslims before the opening of Mecca.

The religion is one but the levels are various

This depends on sincerity

Entrance is the testification of faith

The people of mercy say there is no reality except Allah (mighty and majestic)

The first level is that there is no deity other than Allah

There are three hundred degrees:
100 no deity
200 no aim
300 no existence
360 No vision

Khalid ibn Al-Walid and some companions came to a place where some Christians said if the message of Islam was true then which of you will drink from this poison. Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) drank poison of the Christians, when he said nothing but Allah (mighty and majestic) would harm him. He said, “Nothing with his name harms; in the Earth and the heavens; he is the All-hearing, All -Knowing.” When he did not die this shock their hearts and they became Muslims.

He said this in a state of realisation

There was a lady who asked a scholar to write bismillah on a glass vessel but every time he wrote this the glass would break. Then he said I wrote this in a state of realisation and if you were bring all the glass vessels of the town they would break. Get someone whose heart is headless to write it.

Please see other parts

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Thursday, October 15, 2009

The Ending of Those Who Torment Muslims

We have been reading about history frequently recently. In particular events surrounding the killing and massacre of Muslims in different geographical regions, which is something that is happening as we write and as you read.

This matter weighs heavy on my heart and whenever I read anything along these lines then it is as if another weight is placed on it. At times it makes me feel powerless, although I have no strength, and I would like to see some recognition from the living. The events that lead to fall of the Ottoman Empire are rarely read or related. There was a terrible loss of life during the time leading up the collapse and there remains a terrible loss of Muslim life, ever since.

Although this is not our only problem we have many problems in the Muslim world that need to be overcome before we can re-assert our Muslim identity on a political level.

We were reading the Quran and fell upon this verse:

“Say: “O Allah, O Lord of the Kingdom, You give kingdom to whom You will, and take kingdom away from whom You will; and You bestow honour on whom You will, and bring disgrace to whom You will.” The Family Imran 3:26

Everything is up to Allah (Exalted and Mighty) and it is up to Him how he decides to carry out affairs not us.

Although the Quranic passage that we really wanted to highlight was this one:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَتَنُواْ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُواْ فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ ٱلْحَرِيقِ

“Surely, those who persecuted the believing men and the believing women, then did not repent, for them there is the torment of Hell, and for them there is the torment of burning.”
Sura Baruj 85:10

This verse is enough solace for any Muslim who has lost a loved one and has yet to see justice manifest on Earth. Know that justice will be done, if not on Earth then on the Day of Judgement.

Nations who have attacked Muslims for Islam have been brought to destruction and then ceased to be powerful. People who think that they are above the law and can do as they like should know that they will be brought into justice, if not now then later. You can be sure of that the promise of Allah is true and you can rest assured that those who have caused great corruption on the Earth will see their punishment on the Day of Judgement.

In reality, we are a means for their torture because the more they hurt us the more they will be tortured on the Day of Judgement and after. They will feel and taste everlasting torture for harming Muslims. Believers of previous nations have suffered great loss as we have, but the punishment for harming a Muslim is much worse. And if you read the Quranic passage carefully it is double the 'normal' punishment.

Commentating on this verse Imam Qurtubi said the torment of burning is extra punishment upon the disbelievers for their actions. The Quran is a hopeful book and this is a message of hope, so be hopeful.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "My nation has Allah's mercy and will not be punished in the afterlife. However, they will face trails, mischief, killings and corruption upon the Earth." (Abu Dawood)

Be hopeful because our day is coming and the pain that we felt in this life will be recompensed and their punishment will be everlasting. Do not worry about the oppressors of the Earth they will not get away with punishing Muslims. They will be brought to a court where everything will be clarified and no one will be wronged, as for those who did great wrong they will taste everlasting pain for what they have done.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) knew of the punishments that Yasir and his family faced and he said, "Be patient, O' Family of Yasir, your appointment is with Paradise." Shortly, after this, Yasir's mother and father were butchered by Abu Jahl.

So be patient, O' believers in tribulation your appointment, in sha Allah, is with Paradise. Muslims are hopeful not hopeless because we know that this world is not the be all and end all, as Shakespeare may have said!

Qurtabi source

Please see links below for further hope.

Life is better...

How to understand tribulations

Allah knows - a song of hope

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Hijab in the modern world

Hijab in the modern context
This is a picture of Lady Anne of Denmark, wife of the James of Scotland 1589. She was Christian and the crucifix proves that point but notice that this type of clothing was acceptable in Europe at this time.


“O’ Prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies (when outdoors). That is most convenient that they should be known and not molested.” (Quran 33:59)

One of the strongest attacks that Muslim women are facing, in the West, is the assault on the Hijab. Unfortunately, a Muslim woman who lives in the West is faced with lots of problems. Though any woman wearing provocative clothing has no problems??! Where have standards of decency gone?


The average woman, from Indo-pak culture, do not wear Hijab nor do they wear clothes to suit this purpose. They wear clothes that are traditionally from that area but are now more ‘modern’ and as a result are completely inappropriate. For a Muslim sister, to wear Hijab, she has to look at the clothes, the tightness, if they are see through and if they protect her modesty. Just because the majority of people wear certain clothing does not mean it is acceptable. Culture also encourages women to wear see through scarfs that move. So you can see hair underneath the scarf.

New Muslim women have to think about their clothes and slowly examine the way they have dressed all their lives, up until the point they became Muslim. Born Muslims have to really examine what Hijab is and then proceed; looking at the average practice of the Muslim women in their areas may not be enough. They have to look deeply into their styles and mode of dress, thus consider all the factors that would make their clothes appropriate. This is not easy for sisters who has started to wear the Hijab or are about to wear the Hijab who are new Muslims or confused by their culture. There might be considerable time spent amending their wardrobes.

Any woman who begins to wear the Hijab, in the current climate, must be a special lady because it is really difficult. I am not just talking about the weather. I am also talking about the external circumstances that are beyond our control. Muslim women have to face all those typical stereotypes about the Hijab. For example a common stereotype is that they have been compelled into wearing it by male relative. Most women who wear the Hijab do so out of choice, is this so hard to believe? Islam cannot be forced and obedience must stem from the heart and not the limbs. Although there are some men who tell their women folk to wear the hijab but it is rare. It does happen because we are dealing with real life. Women do know its an obligation and its ultimately their choice. Like other good actions are ultimately the choice of the individual. There is nothing wrong with a gentle reminder but it should not include force because that causes resentment and that should be avoided.

We also have modernists who attack the Hijab who claim they it is not necessary in these times which is a complete lie. The Hijab has been handed down to us by the means of mass transmission from generation to generation from the prophetic period until now, therefore cannot be rejected.

Aisha reports that when her sister Asma came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and he said to her, "O' Asma, when a girl reaches puberty it is not proper that anything on her should remain exposed except this and this." And he pointed to her face (or head) and the palms of her hands. (Abu Dawud)

I remember listening to a filmmaker who said there are many reasons not to make a film but one reason to make it and that one reason would outweigh the others. Similarly, there are many reasons not to wear it and one true reason to wear it, obedience to the one who created you. Allah (the Exalted) has commanded you to cover your beauty from every man except your wedded partner or direct relatives.

Understanding the Hijab

The Hijab is not just the clothing on top of your head; it is the clothing that is on the entire body and in the heart. Hijab is a sign of strength, because now you are woman who has to be accepted for who she is, not for what she looks like. How many women wear clothes just to feel attractive and gain attention from the opposite gender? It is as if people are dying to be looked upon by the passionate glances of strangers. Is that really the point of clothes, to get attention from the opposite gender? The more glances the better? The more glances that you cause, because of your clothing, the more sins. If you are wearing Hijab then you are freeing yourself from this sin and the sin is on he who looks not you.

Hijab removes this by making the man look at the woman as a person and not an object. Flesh that is on display is a reason that men look at women, now this is removed and they are forced to look at what the woman is, not what they are wearing. This is something that the people of the West have to understand. Hijab is about protecting the woman from the eyes of strangers and removing her from the jungle of this world where women are seen as objects that are used to sell everything that you can think of.


Almost every advert in the media shows women with revealing clothes. This causes many women into feeling that they have to dress a certain way and even act a certain way. They are faced with temptation to follow their peers because they have to fit into society. They cannot be seen to be wearing clothing that makes them stick out, in the wrong way! In other words clothes that conceal and not reveal. This is something that they do when they wear Hijab. It is easy not to wear the Hijab and to wear clothes everyone else wears on or even imitate it. Look at any advert and invariably a woman is used. There is the old saying (please forgive me for using this), “Sex sells.” Just about every advert, on the television or in any newspaper, uses attractive women to try to entice males to buy their products. Is this a honouring of a woman in a society? Look at car trade fairs and ponder if the men going there for the cars or the women? Is it using women as an object to sell something? I feel that the female form is exploited for profit, particularly in the field of advertising and of course films. I consider this to be dishonouring and exploitation of the female form. Ponder this, if the product was that good would it need a scantly clad woman drapped over it?

If you look at any film invariably you will find the lead male actor with a younger female actor, in some cases much younger. Many older women do not get parts in big budget movies in lead roles like their male peers, they do not re-appear except in movies of lesser importance. As for a man, it is perfectly acceptable for him to grow old and still keep working on big budget movies with his female co-star being constantly changed for another female of a similar age. How many times have you seen an older female actor with a younger male actor? Is this what they mean by equality?

Who are you dressing for?

Women who wear clothes that attract other men, are not wearing clothes that they are choosing but are wearing clothes that other men would like to see them in! In other words, clothes that are too tight, revealing etc. In essence, women are cleverly fooled by the media into thinking that the need to dress in a certain manner in order to be liked or be respected. ‘Power suits’ are something that business women are encouraged to wear, so they can get that deal and entice buyers into purchasing their products or services.

This is all about exploiting the female form so that it can be used as a product, or a tool which is discarded after it has served its function. The female form is used in servitude to creation by inflaming their desires and fantasies. I cannot find the correct quote but I remember hearing someone say if you want to see how the society is then look at the status of women. Let’s be fair women in the West have rights that others do not but this clever brainwashing from the media means that they are trapped, at least women in other societies can see the jail bars!

Freedom of Islam

Islam was sent to free people from the chains of servitude of creation to the servitude of the creator, because of this, true freedom of the soul is realised. This frees you from being another faceless person in the world. What can be higher than serving your Creator? Why does modern society want everyone to be the same? Is this akin to communism who want societies that are homogeneous? Was not capitalism the antithesis of communism? Were are all not meant to be the same brainwashed robot, are we?

A Sign of Oppression?

Since when has clothes been seen as a sign of oppression? Removing someone’s clothes is a sign of disrespect and a sign that you do not care about that individual. This is one of the methods used to humiliate the tortured. So when the modern world tells us to wear revealing clothes this is calling us to humiliate ourselves. The wearing of clothes in Islam is part of the honour that it holds women in because they are dressing with dignity and honour. Oppression is described as putting something in its wrongful place this is something that is done to women in the media.

For a man, this has a lesser importance but I guarantee if I walk around in shorts no one is going to notice and most people will fall about laughing! But that does not mean that I should walk around dressed in tight clothing or see through shirts! The Muslim male has to tone himself down without looking like a mess! Muslim men must also look at their culture and their dress code, they are also not permitted to wear see through clothes, tight clothes and or dress to impress women. Muslim men also have to realise just because they see a sister in a Hijab does not give them the right to stare at them. Keep your eyes down out of respect boys! Muslim women find it hard enough to wear the Hijab without you staring at them!

Fear of the Hijab in the West

The fear in the West may stem from the injunction of the Injeel: Corinthians 11.6 "but every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head." It’s about the only injunction left in there and this may be the reason why they see it as negative because they deem it as following the Bible.

Most of Europe has left practicing religion to their private domains and the only ones who are visibly different are the Muslims. Although there are other traditions of modesty but not to the same extent. So the practicing Muslim is a threat to 'traditions' of the public space, are they afraid it will catch on?

How is it that European countries are perfectly fine about a woman wearing the least amount of clothing out of her choice but if a Muslim woman covers herself up, out of her own choice, this is wrong! Where is the equality? Why is one okay and the other one not?

When a Muslim woman wears a Hijab she is following in the footsteps of the most righteous women in history. Women like Maryam mother of Isa/Jesus (upon them peace) and in our nation women like Aisha, Fatima and Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with them). Look at the life of Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) she was one of Qureysh's leading merchants during her lifetime. In fact search for images for Mary mother of Jesus and you will find pictures of her with her head covered. Look at the body parts covered by nuns.

Attacks on women

To abuse a Hijab wearing woman is something that only a coward can do. There have been a few horror stories and this really is sickening. Attacking a woman is bad enough but to attack her for her modest dress is something that is really despicable. As men we have to know that women are gentler than we (men) are and they are more affected by this nonsense then we are because a Muslim man can hide himself but a Muslim woman cannot. So this makes her a target. I would like to say to all those men who attacked Muslim women, why did you it? If you thought she was oppressed then why did you make her oppression worse? If that is your logic, if you can call that logic! I call it cowardice.

Leave women alone! We all have women in our families and we would not want them to be harmed by barking humans! Even if you do not agree with her mode of dress this does not mean you can attack them. I may not like the mode of dress of woman who is scantily clad but that does not give me the right to throw a blanket over her and order her to cover up! What she is wearing is her choice and not mine; I have to respect her choice even if I do not agree with it. Likewise, when a woman chooses to wear hijab you should respect it even if you do not like it.

Reward of Hijab

Know that Hijab is an act of worship and as an act of worship it will be rewarded for, as long as you wear it. What a great reward those women who observe Hijab correctly will attain. If they wear it all day how much a reward is waiting for them? Let’s say she goes out to work and is out of the house for ten hours, ten hours of worship! Think about the reward that a Muslim woman is adding up because of her efforts.

What I mean by correctly is: the Hijab that covers the head and that the other parts of the body are not exposed, that the Hijab is not see through, that it is fixed in place on the head, the hair does not show, nor the ears and neck.

The Hijab is essentially an additional piece of cloth on the head but it is more than that; the Hijab is a covering that covers her body. Somehow the whole issue of Hijab gets blown up out of all proportion; this is understood, by some, to reject the way of life in the West. What a lady is doing when she wears Hijab is obeying her Creator and it is as simple as that. If you look back into Western history you will find women wearing modest clothing that covered their whole body and this included wearing hats. In fact modest clothing is part of all traditional cultures across the world that is up until now. Because modest clothing that promotes traditional values is seen as backwards!

Women that wear the Hijab, in the current political environment, have my admiration and esteem. They are showing courage that is beyond many of us men who can conceal our religiousness; women do not have this luxury. Women are adopting the age old practice of concealing themselves as many previous nations have practiced.

I pray that Allah (the Exalted) blesses all those women who wear Hijab and makes any trial that they face, because of it, easy and minor. Respecting yourself can only done by covering up and not by uncovering oneself. Men have to learn to respect their hijab wearing sisters and lower their gaze.

We hope that we have not come across as a preacher when we clearly are not a good Muslim by any stretch of the imagination. We hope this may benefit someone and they supplicate for the Muslim women and the writer. This post is dedicated to those who have suffered because of wearing the Hijab. May Allah (the Exalted) bless you all.

All praise is for Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and may endless salutations be upon the final Messenger of Allah Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

Niqab and our way of life (click here)

How the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) treated women click here

And now for something completely different

Thursday, October 08, 2009

The Supplication of fire/completeness/relief

صلاة النارية
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ صَلاة كَامِلَة وَسَلِّم سلاماً تَامّاً عَلَى سَيِّدِنا مُحَمَّدٍ الَّذِي تَنحَلُّ بهِ العُقدُ وَتَنفرِجُ بهِ الكُرَبُ وَتُقضَى بهِ الحَوَائِجُ وَتُنَالُ بهِ الرَّغَائِبُ وَحُسنَ الخَوَاتِم وَيُستَسقَى الغمَامُ بوَجهِهِ الكَريم وعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحبهِ فِي كُلِّ لَمحَةٍ
وَنفسٍ بعَدَدِ كُلِّ مَعلُومٍ لكَ

The Supplication of fire

O’ Allah convey complete supplications and perfect salutations upon our master Muhammad who, by him, bounds are unravelled; by him, calamities are dispelled; by him, necessities are fulfilled; by him, wishes are attained as is the best end (dying Muslim); by his generosity clouds quench thirsts; and upon his family, his companions; in every moment, with every breath of everything that you know the number of.

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Sheikh Atabek gave the following explanation of the Prophetic narration.

الدُّنيَا سِجنُ المُؤمِنِ وَ جَنَّة الكَافِرِ

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The world is the prison of the believer and the paradise of the disbeliever.”
(Tirmidhi and Muslim 4 no 7058)

Here are possible explanations:

1. The world is a place where the Muslim has difficulty and rules to follow. Whilst the disbeliever feels as if he is free to do whatever he wants.

2. Muslims will have problems and struggle in the world.

3. This world, compared to paradise, is a jail

The place of a Muslims freedom is in paradise.

Abu Laith As-Samarqandi (may Allah be pleased with him) in "Informing the heedless/Tanbih Al-Ghafeleen" (p.138) said, "The believer is in vast blessings and if he examines the blessings of Allah in paradise then it is as if he is in jail because when death comes he is shown paradise. When he gazes to what Allah has prepared for him of blessings then he will know he was in jail. When death comes to the disbeliever the fire is shown to him so when he looks to what Allah has prepared for him of various punishments then he will know that he was in paradise."

The famous hadith scholar Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani met a Jewish man. The Iron monger knew this hadith and he reflected on his state and the sheikh’s state. He was covered in dirt and the Sheikh had the best clothes with his entourage and he asked him about this hadith then said, “What paradise am I in and what prison are you in?” The Sheikh reflected on his state and explained if he considered what he would receive in paradise then this is a prison for him and if the Jewish man considered what is awaiting him then he would realise that he was in paradise. The Jewish man became Muslim.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

The instruments of learning

Chapter nineteen

Respect your books, pens, paper and anything you use to in order to learn because this will help you attain a greater level. A person who respects his book will get knowledge that is not written in his book. It was said that a Indian scholar used to memorise any page of a book he saw. When asked about this he said that he never touched a piece paper without being in a state of ablution.

If you see a pen on the floor pick it up and put it somewhere safe. Do not throw pens across the room and try not to forget them when you leave a teaching space.

When carrying book try to carry it with your right hand. If you have are carrying bag with books in them then try not to place them on the floor, either put them on a table, another seat or in another place.

Do not raise your feet about any books that you have in your house or elsewhere. Books that you have at home should be kept in a respectable place and not in a place where they can be torn by children.