Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly traveling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walid (Radi Allah ‘anhu’s) maqam has been destroyed  by the bombardment of the Assad-regime and the terror organization “Hezbollah”.

La hawla wala quwatta illa billah.

The Hezbollah support of the Syrian Army are planning to remove the body of Sayidunah Khalid bin Waleed radi’Allahu anhu, in revenge for the success over Persia. They will take it back to Iran and do very bad things to it.

also, The Maqam of Sayyidah Zainab Radiallahu anha, Grand Daughter of Sayyiduna Rasul Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), Daughter of Sayyidah Fatimah Az-Zahraa, Sister of Imam Hasan and Imam Hussaini has been demolished in Damascus, Syria

May Allah have mercy on the innocent population of Syria and remove the oppressors. May Allah protect all the historical and religious sites in Syria from this conflict.

In the Arabic Language:

#سوريا
حمص
تدمير مقام الصحابي الجليل خالد بن الوليد بشكل كامل بعد ان تم إستهدفه من قبل عصابات الأسد ومليشيا حزب الله بشكل كامل

Clearing Misconceptions: The Syrian Uprising

Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad al-Yaqoubi | Harrow, London 6th July 2013

Footage of the Destruction of the Maqam, this was recorded today |  هااام تدمير مقام الصحابي الجليل خالد بن الوليد في مدينة حمص على يد عصابات الأسد وحزب الله 22-7-2013:

Photos of the Destruction to the Maqam of the Blessed Sahabi, Sayyiduna Khalid bin Walids (Radi Allah ‘anhu):

 An Ode in Praise of Shaykh Abu Al-Hasan al-Shadhili Rahimahullah:

The Words and meanings of the Urdu ode in Praise of Shaykh Abu Al-Hasan Al-Shadhili [Allah be pleased with him]. I have taken the liberty to omit a stanza considering appropriateness for the English language and the norms that come with it. The symbol (n) signifies the “noon” without a dot in Urdu and is not pronounced; i.e. it is silent.
Yā Shādhilī

Mahbūb e rabbul ālamī(n)
Koi walī tumsa nahī
Sartāj e jumla asfiyā
Ho muqtadā e awliyā

O Shādhilī!

Beloved of the Lord of the Universe
No saint can match you
King of all the pious
You are the leader of the saints

Tum ho Nabi ke jānashī(n)
he zere farmā ins o jā
hein abr bhi saya kunā
teri galī khuld e barī

You are the vicegerent of the Prophet [peace be upon him]
Man and Jinn are obedient to you
Even their shadows are immersed in obedience
Your valley is Paradise

hein kimiyā teri nazar
chashm e ināyat mujh pe kar
faryād ay sultān e dee(n)
Yā Shādhilī Yā Shādhilī

There is alchemy in your gaze
Cast that benevolent eye on me
This is my plea O you prince of the religion
O Shādhilī O Shādhilī!

imdād ko āwo janāb
furqat mein hein hālat kharāb
tum ho karīm mein hu gharīb
Yā Shādhilī Yā Shādhilī

Master, come to my aid
Separated from you, I am in turmoil
You are generous and I needy
O Shādhilī O Shādhilī!

Ay gul ban e bagh e Hasan
ho dūr sab ranj o mahan
hein hasrat e khadim hazī(n)
Yā Shādhilī Yā Shādhilī

O you flower from Hasan’s garden [peace be upon him]
Remove all worries and sorrows
This is the sentiment of a saddened slave
O Shādhilī O Shādhilī

- This is a translation of the ode [manqabat] posted in the video below it has been translated by Ustadh Adnan al-Shadhili

Chaman e Shadhili by Ustadh Adnan al-Shadhili:

Kisi aur chaman pe nazar nahī Ye chaman to ayn e jamāl hei Na kare sabā ab rukh kahī Yaha hi wo dhūwe nihāl hei

Gulāb e haseen ki bāt kyā Bul Hasan to nūr e kamāl hei Kahi aur nazar ab nā pare Mursī ko dekha yea hāl hei

Rukh e Ata ka jām liyā Wo Jām hi be mithāl hei Darqā ke phūlo ki bāt kyā Dil e Yaqoubi hi dāl hei

Pāte hi buw e Ibrahīm Hei junūb kabhi to shamāl hei Arey ay qamar tujhe kyā huwā Kya ajīb teri ye chāl hei

Khusbū o ankhein mast kare Be nazīr hont o gāl hei Hāl e sukr se howshmand Banu kese ye to suwāl hei

Tīr e gunah dil pe lage Hāfiz na koi dahāl hei Ibn e Mashīsh niqāb uta Dil o jigar mei wabāl hei

Wasf e chaman ka bayā(n) karū Hadd e baya(n) hi muhāl hei Sana e chaman kyā tū kare Adnān yea teri majāl hei

The Passing Of Imam Abul Hasan Shadhili Rahimahullah:

http://seekerofthesacredknowledge.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/the-passing-of-imam-abul-hasan-shadhili-alayhi-rahma/

Ya Shadhili | Imam Abul Hassan al-Shadhili Rahimahullah:

Photos of the Maqam of Qutb al-Aqtab Imam Abul Hassan Shadhili Rahimahullah in Humaythra Valley, Egypt:

Bismillah …

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly traveling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

Shaykh Sayyid Baqir Hussain from Nakyal Sharif, Pakistan has Passed Away at the age of 150, he passed away about an hour ago.  Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May He give him to drink from the Basin of His Prophet (alayhi salat wa salam), that he may never thirst thereafter, and may He enter him into the highest gardens of Paradise! Ameen.

The Shaykh was over 150 years old and he has met the likes of Shaykh Sayyid Mehr Ali Shah Rahimahullah from Golra Sharif, Imam Ahmad Rida Khan al-Hindi al-Qadri Rahimahullah, Shaykh Sayyid Jamat Ali Shah Rahimahullah from Alipur Sharif, Shaykh Mian Muhammad Baksh Rahimahullah from Khari Sharif and many other Awliya Allah, the Shaykh was given Dua by Imam Ahmad Rida Khan al-Hindi al-Qadri Rahimahullah that they will live for 150 years.

Gathering with Shaykh Sayyid Baqir Hussain in Pakistan:

Photos of the Late Shaykh:

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly traveling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Akram Akeel Mazhar has Passed away away. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May He give him to drink from the Basin of His Prophet (alayhi salat wa salam), that he may never thirst thereafter, and may He enter him into the highest gardens of Paradise! Ameen.

The Passing of Ḥabīb Munzir al-Musāwā

Key figure in calling to Allah in Southeast Asia

Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi raji`ūn – Verily to Allah we belong and to Him we return.

We are greatly saddened by the recent death of a very close student of Sayyidi al-Ḥabīb `Umar bin Ḥafīẓ (may Allah preserve him and benefit us by him) and a key figure in calling to Allah in South East Asia, al-Sayyid al-Ḥabīb Munzir bin Fu`ād bin `Abd al-Raḥmān al-Musāwā.

Ḥabīb Munzir was born in Cipanas, West Java, Indonesia on February 23, 1973 / 19^th of Muḥarram 1393H. After completing his elementary Islamic education under the tutelage of Ḥabīb `Abd al-Raḥmān al-Saqqāf (may Allah have mercy on him) in Bukit Duri, Jakarta, he was selected in 1993 to join the first group of Indonesian students to study under Ḥabīb `Umar in Tarīm. This was before Dār al-Muṣṭafā had moved to its current building, and Ḥabib `Umar would teach his students in his house.

Upon completing his studies in 1998, Ḥabīb Munzir returned home and expended his energies calling people to Allah. He established ‘Majlis Rasulullahﷺ,’ a gathering which began with six people but became one of the largest gatherings of remembrance and knowledge in Indonesia today. Prior to his passing, over 30,000 people attended his weekly mawlid gatherings at Al-Munawar Mosque in Jakarta and up to a million people would attend his special mawlid events held at Istiqlal Mosque and the National Monument Complex. Most of them were young people and many came from troubled backgrounds and are often neglected by society. In his early days, he would go from door to door calling people to Allah and would send out hand-written invitations to young people known to be drug users inviting them to attend his gatherings.

From Banten to Bali to the most remote regions of Papua and even neighboring lands such as Singapore and Malaysia, Ḥabīb Munzir would tirelessly reach out and convey the message of our Beloved Prophet ﷺ with complete gentleness and kindness. He is known for his noble disposition and wisdom, and his ability to transcend barriers in his efforts to unite the Ummah.

Ḥabīb Munzir passed away on Sunday 15th of September 2013/ 9th Dhu’l-Qa`dah 1434 at the age of 40, leaving behind his wives and three children. The funeral prayer will be after Zuhr prayer on Monday and he will be laid to rest after at the al-Ḥaddād burial complex in Kalibata, South Jakarta.

“Indeed, a reunion with the Belovedﷺ, is the remedy,” Ḥabīb Munzir once said.

May Allah Most High have mercy on him and grant him the best resting place in His company and that of his Beloved Grandfather, Sayyidunā Muḥammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and may He grant much ease to the loving family and students he left behind.

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly traveling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

The Wali Shaykh Yusuf Utum from Jordan has Passed away today at the age of 124. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May He give him to drink from the Basin of His Prophet (alayhi salat wa salam), that he may never thirst thereafter, and may He enter him into the highest gardens of Paradise! Ameen.

The Shaykh was one of the Last students of Muhaddith al-Akbar Shaykh Sayyid Badruddin al-Hassani Rahimahullah from Damascus, he was around 124 years old and he was one of the students of Muhaddith al-Akbar Shaykh Badruddin al-Hassani Rahimahullah from Damascus and Shaykh Ali al-Dhiqr Rahimahullah from Damascus.

The Man who Symbolised a Century
A eulogy in honour of the Saint Shaykh Yusuf Utum who passed away today in Jordan, aged 124 years.

Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi

We commiserate with the entire Muslim World upon the demise of Shaykh Yusuf Utum – A prominent figure, known for his knowledge, piety and devotion. He was a senior scholar, or rather, the head of senior scholars in Jordan. He lived for nearly 125 years, yet he was always cognisant, always turning to His Lord, occupied with disseminating knowledge and offering guidance to scholars and students.
Without a doubt, he was a man who epitomised a nation; a single man who embodied a century of knowledge, experience and devotion. He lived honourably and passed away revered. With his passing away a great generation of scholars, from Jordan and elsewhere, came to an end. He was a student of Shaykh Badr Al-Din Al-Hasani and Shaykh Ali Al-Daqar.

The noble Shaykh returned to the Mercy of Allah Almighty today. His funeral prayer will be performed tomorrow after Asr prayer. We extend our deepest condolences to his children, grandchildren, relatives, to His Eminence Shaykh Abd Al-Karim Khasawneh – Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan – to all of the Scholars of Jordan and to the Shaykh’s students; praying to Allah that He envelope the Shaykh in His Mercy, His Pleasure and bless all of his family and students.

Verily, to Allah we belong andverily to Him we will return.

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly traveling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

Shaykh Ahmad Doghan from Saudi Arabia has passed away at the age of 102, he was one of the Top Shafi’i scholars in Saudi Arabia. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May He give him to drink from the Basin of His Prophet (alayhi salat wa salam), that he may never thirst thereafter, and may He enter him into the highest gardens of Paradise! Ameen.

Tribute by Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi Hafidahullah:

Shaykh Ahmad Doghan passed away

Today, a great scholar and the top of the shafi’i scholars in al-Ahsaa’, Saudi Arabia passed away. He is one of the pillars of the sacred Knowledge and narration in the Islamic world. He passed away at the age of 102 as he was born in 1332.
We pray that Allah send His infinite Mercy upon him and reward him
with al-Firdaws.
We met the shaykh and took ijaza from him and benefitted from him and found him a ocean of knowledge and an example of practice. With his absence, we have lost a great pillars of the sacred knowledge not only in al-Ahsaa’ but in the whole Middle East.
We offer our condolences to sons and students and to the Doghan
family and the to scholars of al-Ahsaa, praying that they become the best heirs of the best ancestors.

In the Arabic Language:

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly traveling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

The khadim of ar-Rawdah ash-Sharifah – Shaykh Agha Sa’id Adam Passed Away a few days ago.  Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May He give him to drink from the Basin of His Prophet (alayhi salat wa salam), that he may never thirst thereafter, and may He enter him into the highest gardens of Paradise! Ameen.

GONE TO HIS BELOVED; FROM ONE PARADISE TO THE NEXT!

”It is with profound sadness that I share the news of the passing away yesterday of Shaykh Agha Sa’id Adam, the custodian of the Prophetic Shrine and khadim of the Rawdah Sharifah, who was this morning laid to rest in the cemetery of al-Baqi” in Madinah. A man of secrets and illuminations who lived a paradisiacal life distant from this world as he spent more than half a century holding the key to the Prophetic Presence and twice a week entering it and, not cleaning as assumed, but rubbing his hands on the most purest of surroundings. Born on 27/02/1922 and died on the interesting date of 11/12/13, Shaykh Adam witnessed what the world has no real idea about. I had the unique opportunity of meeting him and he blessed me by firmly grasping my sinful hands as he spoke to me in a voice of sincerity and certainty. Among the many brief thoughts he shared with me, one was his statement, “Those outside have no sense of what is inside.”

I asked, “Can you describe to me the inside?” “No, I cannot.” He said. I rudely asked, “Is that because you will not or because you cannot?” His response was given with eyes down, “I walk in with my head down and eyes on the floor due to the sheer majesty of the inside, I dare not look up. I wipe my hands over the blessed grave and whatever touches my hand, I place on my eyes.” One of his associates in the room then spoke out, “When Shaykh Adam walks in, on many occasions, his greeting is responded to with a voice from within.” Another said, “On one occasion, as he walked in, a voice said, “How are you, O my Sa”9id?” And Shaykh Adam fell to the floor and sat crying for a long time.” These statements were made as Shaykh Adam looked down with tearful eyes. There was a lot more shared and I am grateful to Allah for this experience. Shaykh Adam spoke to me with great precision and his glance was filled with power and sharp focus.”

- Sidi BHPirzada

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly traveling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

 In Memoriam: Shaykh Ahmad Habbal al-Rifai Rahimahullah from Damascus

Shaykh Ahmad ibn Muhammad Salih ibn ‘Abd al-Fattah al-Rifai’ al-Habbal Alayhi Rahma was born in 1905 (1323).

He was a scholar known for his immense piety and devotion. He was the person who led The gatherings in praise of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. In fact his contemporaries and other righteous scholars acknowledged his piety and status in front of Allah.

One of the leading scholars of Quran and Tajwid, Shaykh Muhyi al-Din al-Kurdi Alayhi Rahma (d. 2009) used to say that whenever something serious happened he sought Allah’s help Through the rank and position Shaykh Ahmad al-Habbal held.

Shaykh Makki al-Kittani Alayhi Rahma who was the leading authority in the Maliki madhhab and the Leader of the ‘Ulama League of Syria had referred to Shaykh Ahmad as one of the abdaal more than forty years ago.

The Qutb of Madinah Shaykh Zakariya al-Naqshbandi Rahimahullah a in Madinah was another person who acknowledged Shaykh Ahmad’s piety and virtue.

Contrary to what some may think, Shaykh Ahmad Alayhi Rahma as not an illiterate person with a great affection for the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. He was a true zahid, one who truly knew Allah and a Sufi of the first category. He was granted permission in the Sufi order to guide people but instead he preferred to attach himself to the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam until he is said to have reached a state where he saw the Prophet while awake.

The reports of many righteous persons who saw the Prophet with Shaykh Ahmad Alayhi Rahma on his side in their dreams is countless.

He progressed in his spiritual rank until when he was in his seventies he was considered As one of the abdal, then the qutb of Sham and then possibly one of the four awtad. He inherited this honour from the qutb before him who was Shaykh ‘Arif ‘Uthman Alayhi Rahma and prior to him this position as held by Shaykh Badr al-Din al-Hasani Alayhi Rahma.

Shaykh Ahmad Alayhi Rahma may be distinguished in this day and age from others due to his ‘ibada, Devotion, abstinence, love for the Prophet Muhammad, dhikr, humility and servitude of the people.

Shaykh Ahmad Alayhi Rahma was kind and compassionate to the poor and weak and he accepted their invitations. So we can safely say that the persons who had the greatest and most profound influence on him were; his father, Shaykh Salih  Alayhi Rahma  (1961); then the fact that he accompanied the illustrious and devout muhaddith, Shaykh Badr al-Din al-Hasani Alayhi Rahma , the saintly scholar, Shaykh Sharif al-Yaqoubi Alayhi Rahma  and Shaykh Sharif ‘Uthman Alayhi Rahma.

Shaykh Ahmad Alayhi Rahma was a true Prophetic heir in his attachment to the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam. This is in addition to the fact that his genealogy linked him to Shaykh Ahmad al-Rifai’ Alayhi Rahma and ultimately to the Prophet Muhammad. This is supported by the various dreams seen about him herein people were informed that he was the Prophet’s representative in the land of Sham.

The Noble Shaykh said on one occasion:

Return, my son, to the book of Allah; do not abandon it, and you shall be succesful. Read its letters; safeguard its boundaries (that it sets out); stick to its commands; avoid its prohibitions; persevere in it in the paths you take; make constant your recital of it in the depths of the night; for it is the path to your salvation and the means to your victory. A people never left the book of Allah except that they were disgraced; they never held fast to it save that they were given victory.

Shaykh Ahmad Habbal al-Rifa’i  May Allah sanctify his secret, passed away on, Tuesday, 1st of Safar 1430 Hijri (corresponding to January 27, 2009), at an age of nearly 110 years. 

Some photos of the Noble Shaykh:

Dignified Ancestral Tree of Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu)‏

Blessed Genealogy of Sayyiduna Gawth al-Aa’zam

Allamah Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Uyun al-Sud al-Hanafi and Shaykh Nasir al-Din al-Albani‏

Maqam of Shaykh al-Akbar Ibn Arabi Rahimahullah

An interesting discussion between Allamah Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Uyun al-Sud al-Hanafi and al-Albani:

Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah relates the following incident. He writes:

“This precision (in the wording of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) may only be acquired from the narrations of the scholars, or from their notifications regarding the difference of the narrators in their narrations. This is based on (oral) transmission and learning. It cannot be verified by printing accuracy. This is a clear matter about which no student of ‘Ilm (knowledge) needs to be instructed.

“However, I was driven to write a special note on this by the following incident, which causes laughter as well as tears, narrated to me by our Shaykh, the ‘Allamah of Hims, who was one of his kind, the Shaykh of the Qurra and the custodian of fatawa in Hims, the pious Muqri, Mufassir, and Faqih, Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Uyun as-Sud (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) who passed away at the time of Sahar (before dawn) on the 14th of Rajab A.H., (may Allah Ta’ala shower mercy on him). He related to me at my home in Halab some nine years ago as follows:

“A man who was not known to me entered the Masjid just before the Zuhr Adhan. I later came to know who he was. He was Shaykh Nasir Al-Albani! (a leading scholar of the rejection of taqlid) – He sat down waiting for the Adhan. When the Mu’addhin said:

اللّٰهُ أكبرَ اللّٰهُ أكبر

with a fatha vowel on the letter raa, the man exclaimed with a shudder of anger: “This is wrong! This is Bid’ah.” I asked: “What is incorrect and Bid’ah?” He replied: “This is in contradiction to what is in ‘Sahih Muslim’!” So I asked the question: “What is in ‘Sahih Muslim’?” The man said: “In ‘Sahih Muslim’ it is mentioned as follows:

اللّٰهُ أكبرُ اللّٰهُ أكبر

with the dammah vowel on the raa.”

Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Aziz then asked him in his composed and respectful manner that he was known for: “Did you learn ‘Sahih Muslim’ from your Shuyukh (teachers), who learnt it from their Shuyukhb up to Imam Muslim (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) that Imam Muslim narrated it with a dammah on the raa, or are you referring to what the typists have typed?” Our Shaykh said: “He remained silent and so did I. He then performed Salah and went away.”

Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah comments: “The intelligent should take a lesson from this…”

Some of the Students of Allamah Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Uyun al-Sud al-Hanafi Rahimahullah:

Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Bin Alawi al-Maliki Rahimahullah from Makkah

Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Abul Huda al-Yaqoubi Hafidahullah from Damascus

Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Nazim al-Haqqani Hafidahullah from Cyprus

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly traveling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam Shaykh ‘Abd ul Qadir al Jilaani

(may Allah have mercy upon him) by Shaykh ul Qur’an wal Hadith ‘Allamah Mufti Muhammad Afzal al Qadri

(may Allah protect him)

Allah’s name I begin with the most Kind the Merciful.

Sultaan al Awliyaa Qutb al Aqtaab Muhiyy al Din Shaykh al Kul Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam Shaykh ‘Abd al Qadir al Jilani al Baghdadi (May Allah have mercy on him) was born in Ramadaan in 471 al Hijri in the locality of Jeel and passed away on 11^th Rab’i al Awwal 560 al Hijri in Baghdad Sharif. His father Imaam al Atqiya Sayyiduna Abu Salih Sayyid Musa Jangi Dost (May Allah have mercy on him) was from the race of the Prophet’s grandson Sayyiduna Imaam Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) his respected mother Sayyidah Ummat al Jabbar (may Allah be pleased with her) was from the family of Sayyid al Shuhadaa Sayyiduna Imaam Husain (may Allah be pleased with him). Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam (may Allah be pleased with him) was a saint by birth. His Karaamat (miracles) began when he was a baby he refused to take his mother’s milk during the days of Ramadaan.

Education and Spritual training:

He received his early education from Jeel his place of birth. At the age of seventeen or eighteen he went to Baghdad, the centre of knowledge. At the age of twenty-five he completed his education in all the prevalent knowledge of his times. After this, for twenty-five years continuously, he remained busied himself in the most difficult meditations and spiritual practices in isolated caves away from distractions, and accomplished all forms of spiritual achievements.

Sermons, Preaching and Reformation: 

It was in 521 al Hijri that he saw the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and Sayyiduna ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) placed his blessed saliva seven times, and Sayyiduna ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) six times into the mouth of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam, and ordered him to start giving sermons and preaching.  Sayyiduna ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) the centre of sainthood, blessed him with the cloak of Wilaayah (sainthood).

After this, Sayyiduna Al Ghawth al A’azam started preaching, and set up a grand religious school (Madrassah) and boarding house for the students, and arranged huge gatherings (with seventy thousand attendees) and started grand spiritual training of religious students. He prepared a great number of saints, complete scholars, guides of Shari’ah (Islamic law) and Qaris (Experts in recitation of the Holy Quran), as a result of which, those that benefited from him, spread not only in Iraq, but all over the world and hailing a revival of Islam.  He is known as Muhiyy al Din (reviver of the religion)

Karaamaat (miracles):

The proof of the karaamaat miracles of the Awliyaa is present in the Holy Qur’an and authentic Hadiths. The biographers (including great muhaddithin scholars of Hadith, theologists, eminent scholars) write that more karaamaat (miracles) are attributed to Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam than to any other Wali saint of previous nations

Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah (the guide of the Wahhabi sect) has written in his book al-Iqtisaar

“The Karaamaat miracles of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam are numerous and are proven from authentic narrations.

The biographers write that none of his sittings or meetings were without his karaamaat miracles.

Hakim al Ummat of the Deobandis Molvi Ashraf ‘Ali Thanvi in his book al Tazkeer part 3 has written about a karaamah miracle of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam (may Allah be pleased with him). He writes that Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam placed his hand on the bones of a hen and said, “Come to life with my command; and the hen came back to life”

Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam himself says in al Qaseedah al Ghawthiyyah (Poetry of al Ghawth al A’azam)

“All the universe of Allah is under my command, and my time before me was quite clear.

I saw the whole universe of Allah, like I see a small grain before me.”

Scholars of all spiritual circles benefited from him:

Sanad al Muhaddithin Sayyiduna Shaykh ‘Abd al Haq Muhaddith al Dehlawi (may Allah have mercy upon him) declares in Akhbaar al Akhyaar:

Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam is the proof of the path of belief

Verily the great man of Islam and a great religious guide.  He enjoys a unique status among all the saints. As the Holy Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him enjoys a unique status among the Prophets

(In “Nafhaat al Uns” page 357)

Mawlana Jaami has written that when the uncle (Shaykh ‘Abd al Qaahir al Suharwardi) of Shaykh Shihaab al Din ‘Umar al Suharwardi (the chief inheritor of Tariqah al Suharwardiyyah) presented me before al Ghawth al A’azam, and Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam placed his hand on my chest, at that very moment, Allah filled my chest with al‘Ulum al Ladunniyah and I started talking of knowledge and wisdom, and he said to me that I would gain great fame in Baghdad in the end.

In the same way, the chief inheritor of the Chishtiyyah Spiritual Tariqah, Khawajah Shaykh Sayyid Hasan Mu’in al Din al Ajmeri (may Allah have mercy on him) obtained many blessings from Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam, and sought permission to work in Iraq. Sayyiduna al Ghawth al Azam said: I have given Iraq to Shaykh Shihaab al Din al Suharwardi, you go to Hind to work for Islam.”

So Khawajah Shaykh Sayyid Hasan Mu’in al Din al Ajmeri (may Allah have mercy on him) did much work for the Propagation of Islam in Hind, and brought millions of non-believers into the fold of Islam.

It is mentioned in authentic books that while delivering a sermon in Muhallah Halba of Baghdad, Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam said in a condition of spiritual enlightenment:  ”This foot of mine is on the neck of every saint.” Khawajah Shaykh Sayyid Hasan Mu’in al Din al Ajmeri who was at that time busy in meditation in the mountains of Khurasaan) bowed his neck so much that his forehead touched the ground, and he said: “O, al Ghawth al A’azam, both of your feet are on my head and my eyes.” In Baghdad, at the same time, Sayyiduna Al Ghawth al A’azam said “Ghiyaath al Din’s son has excelled in bowing his neck, so, very soon, he would be blessed with the sainthood of Hind.”

Shaykh Sayyid Hasan Mu’in al Din al Ajmeri wrote in an eulogy in praise of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam:

The feet of the Holy Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him are the crown of your head, and your feet are the crowns of the head of the whole world

The great saints of the world are lying at your door, as the beggars before the king.

Sayyiduna Shaykh Shams al Din (may Allah have mercy on him) says: al Ghawth al A’azam said, “This foot of mine is on the neck of every saint” was the command of Allah.

(Anwar al Shamsiyyah page: 7, 9)

In “Khawaariq al Akhbaab fi Ma’arifaat al Aqtaab” Shaykh Abdullah al Balkhi writes that during a meeting Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam said, “After 157 years, one Muhammadi al-Mashrab Muhammad Bahaa al Din Naqshband will be born in Bukhara who will receive a special bounty from us.

When Sayyiduna Khawaja Bahaa al Din Naqshbandi entered the field of wilaayah (sainthood), he went to visit Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam at the beck of Sayyiduna Khidar (peace be upon him) and went to sleep, saying “al-Giyyaath, al Ghiyyath Ya Mahbub al Subhaani” he saw Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam in his dream, and was gifted with many blessings.

It is in Tafreeh al Khatir fi Manaqib al Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir of al Arbili” and other authentic books that when Sayyiduna Shaykh Bahaa al Din Naqshband started his spiritual journey, and at the beck of Sayyiduna Khidar, attended to Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam, he went to sleep saying “al-Ghayyaath, al-Ghayyaath”. He saw Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam in dream and was blessed by him. According to “Tafreehal Khatar Arbli” and other authentic books that when he was asked about Sayyiduna Al Ghawth al A’azam’s saying” This foot of mine is on the neck of all the saints” he said without hesitation:

Your foot is on my eye and heart.

Even today, the following poetic verses of Sayyiduna Khawaja Baha-ud-Din Naqshbandi (Allah bless him) are present in the holy shrine of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam.

Sayyiduna Shaykh Abdal Qadir is the king in both Worlds,

Sayyiduna Shaykh Abdal Qadir is the king of the offspring of Sayyiduna Aadam”.

The sun, the moon, the ’Arsh, Kursi (the chair) and Qalam (The pen)

The light of the heart is because of the light of Sayyiduna Al Ghawth al A’azam

(Bahjaat al Asraar, Qalaaid al Jawaahir)

It is mentioned in Tafseer Ruh al Ma’ani the head of Silsilah Naqshbandiyyah Mujadadiyyah Imaam al Rabbani Mujaddid Alf al Thaani Sayyiduna Shaykh Ahmad al Sirhindi has attributed grand wilaayah sainthood to Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam till the appearance of Sayyiduna Imaam al Mahdi.  Sayyiduna Mujaddid writes in one of his letters “Suns of the earlier people set, but your sun will ever remain high and shall never set.  In this way, all the saints get blessings through him, because nobody enjoys this status except him, that is why, he said, “The suns of the previous ones set, but our sun will ever remain shining in the sky, and will never set”.

al Haaj Muhammad Imdaadullah Muhaajir al Makki, the religious leader of the scholars of Deoband writes the following about al Ghawth al A’azam:

O, Allah! Through the king of Jilaan, and the Qutb (pole saint) of the ages, who is the reviver of Islam, Purge me of all thoughts, except that which is because of you.

Shuyukh (scholars) of all spiritual circles have received blessing from al Ghawth al A’azam directly or indirectly, and the entire world has benefited from the blessings of Sayyiduna Al Ghawth al A’azam. Shaykh al Islam Imam Ahl al Sunnah Mujaddid Imam Ahmed Rida Khan (may Allah have mercy upon him) says:

“You are such a Ghawth that every Ghawth is fond of you

You are that cloud that every cloud quenches its thirst from you

What is the relation of the saints with you!

Only that person is a saint who is your servant”

Khatam on the eleventh of every month Giyaarhawin Sharif:

Khatam Giyaarhawin Sharif is a training system with many benefits, consisting of the recitation of the Qur’an, praise of the Prophet sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wasallam, sermons and advice, preaching of Islam, dhikr (rememberance) of Allah, Muraaqabah meditation, purification of the soul, food for the scholars and general people, meeting the pious, iysaal al thawaab (transferring of reward) sending peace and salutations on the prophet sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wasallam , supplications.

Shaykh al Mashaaykh Sayyiduna Shaykh Muhammad Sulayman al Tawnsawi (mayAllah have mercy upon him) says that al Ghawth al A’azam himself used to hold this event on the eleventh of every month. He says that to some scholars the holding of this celebration by Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam, was with regard to the ‘Urs anniversary of the Holy Prophet sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wasallam. (Intikhaab Manaaqib Sulaymani Page: 130)

After the passing away of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam on 11^th of Rabi al Aakhir 560 al Hijri, his successors continued the noble Khatam on the eleventh of every month.

Sanad al Muhaddithin Sayyiduna Shah ‘Abd al ‘Aziz al Dehlawi (may Allah have mercy upon him) in Malfuzaat e ‘Azizi page 62, writes:

The King and the grand personalities of the city would gather at the shrine of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam (may Allah be pleased with him), and recite the Holy Quran after ‘Asr Prayers to Maghrib, read eulogies in praise of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam. After Maghrib the successors, surrounded by their followers, would conduct circles of the rememberence of Allah and their mureed students would sit around them making Dhikr out loud, and in that state some would feel a sense of spritual ecstacy.  After this a sweet dish that was prepared was distributed and after ‘Ishaa Prayers the people would leave.

Sayyiduna Shaykh Abd al Haq Muhaddith al Dehlawi (may Allah have mercy upon him) has mentioned Giyaarhawin Sharif in his book Ma Thabata bi al Sunnah and says that this teacher and spiritual guide Imaam ‘Abd al Wahaab Mutaqi (Allah be pleased with him) and his esteemed Shuyukh also used to hold Khatam on the eleventh of every month.  He writes that Giyaarhawin Sharif was introduced in our country (Hind) by the offspring of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam and the esteemed Shuyukh.

The observation of Shaykh al Mashaaykh Sayyiduna Mirza Mazhar Jan Janaan:

Sanad al Muhaddithin Sayyiduna Shah Wali Allah Muhaddith Dehlawi (may Allah have mercy upon him) in his book Kamaalaat Tayyibaat (in Persian) page: 78, writes:

In his “Maktubaat (letters) Sayyiduna Mirza Mazhar Jaan Janaan (may Allah have mercy upon him) says, “I saw dream in which I saw a wide platform on which there were many Awliyaa of Allah sitting meditating in a circle, with Sayyiduna Shaykh Naqshband sitting among them, and Sayyiduna Shaykh Junaid sitting leaning against a cushion. They were in a state of istighnaa maa siwa Allah and kayfiyaat al fanaa in being free from all but Allah and in states of annihilation. Then all these people stood up and left. I asked him what the matter was. One of them told me that Amir al Muminin Sayyiduna Ali al Murtada the Lion of Allah (may Allah enoble his face) came, accompanied by somebody, wearing a garment made of a goat’s hair, bare-headed, bare-footed, entangled hair. Sayyiduna Ali (Allah be pleased with him) was holding his hand with great respect. I asked who that man is? Sayyiduna Ali replied that this is Khair al Tabi’een the best of the followers Sayyiduna Awais al Qarni (may Allah be pleased with him) Then there appeared a room, that was extremely clean and and light was showering on it. All of the eminent scholars entered it. On my asking about all this, one of them replied:

Today is the ‘Urs anniversary of the eleventh of Sayyiduna Ghawth al Thaqalain and he has gone to attend the ceremony of the‘Urs.

Objections against Giyaarhawin Sharif:

1.         Allah says “With regard to this verse, the prayer or action of a Muslim cannot do any good or benefit to another Muslim”.

2.         The prevalent form of Giyaarhawin Sharif was not in the time of the Prophet sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wasallam or his Companions. Therefore, it is an innovation, misguidance and an addition in the religion.

3.            Neither Allah or His Prophet sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wasallam fixed a date for Giyaarhawin Sharif, so it is an innovation and an addition in the religion.

4.         In Khatm Giyaarhawin Sharif “ Ya Shaykh Abd al Qadir Jilani Shaian liAllah” and statements lie “Imdaad kun, imdaad kun” are words of shirk polytheism. Because asking for help from the deceased or calling someone from the unseen is shirk polytheism.

5.                  It is shirk polytheism to give something in the name of anyone except Allah. Where as it is said that this offering is in the name of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam.

6.                   ‘wa ma uhilla bihi li ghayrillahi’ and the animal that has been slaughtered by calling a name other than Allah Surah Al-Baqara : Ayat 173 So Giyaarhawin Sharif is haraam unlawfal because the name of Sayyiduna al Ghawth al A’azam is called upon.

7.      al Ghawth al A’azam means the greatest helper . This is a statement of shirk because Allah is the greatest helper.

The Khatam of Giyaarhawin Sharif and Answers to objections

First Objection:

Allah says:

” And that the man will not get but what he endeavors.” Surah An-Najm : Ayat 39

The M’utazilah Sect and their followers objected at that time that with regard to the above-mentioned verse, a man can benefit only from his own effort and action. His prayers or rewards cannot do any good to others:

Answer:

It is wrong to take this verse in this sense, because it opposes many Hadiths and verses;

The Holy Quran says:

“ And those who came after them submit, O our Lord! Forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in the faith, and put not into our hearts any rancor towards those who believe. O our Lord! Undoubtedly, you are the Beneficent the Merciful.” Surah Al-Hashr : Ayat 10

The Quran says: “O, Allah! Forgive me, my parents and the believers on the day of Judjement.” Surah Ibrahim Ayat 41 This is the prayer of Sayyiduna Ibrahim Alai Salaam, and all the Muslims say it during the prayers. This proves like the clear day, the prayer of one Muslim for the other.

This is the prayer of Sayyiduna Sayyiduna Ibrahim, and all the Muslims say it during their prayers. This proves that the prayer of a Muslim for another Muslim gives him benefit:

The Hadith goes: – There is no such a Muslim in whose funeral prayer forty people stand who are not infidels, Allah accepts their recommendation for that dead body. Sahih Muslim Kitaab al Janaaiz Bab man Salla ‘alaihi arbaun Hadith 1577

There is another Hadith:

The Holy Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him said, “The deceased in the grave is like a person who is drowning, who cries for help. The deceased waits for the du’aa supplication which his parents, brother or friend make for him. When the deceased receives the supplication, it is more dearer to him than the world and all its blessings and verily Allah due to the the supplications of the people of the earth descends his mercy upon the dead in as mountains. And undoubtedly the gift of the living for the deceased, is their prayers for their forgiveness. Mishkaat al Masaabih Bab al Istighfaar wa al Tawbah al Fasl al Thalith page 206 wa Sh’uab al Imaan Imaam Bayhaqi

There is another Hadith:

Translation:

On the Day of Judgment a man’s good deeds will follow him like the mountains, and he will say where have all of these good deeds come from? He will be told that all this is from your children for your forgiveness. Bukhari fi al Adab al Mufrad page 9 and Mishkaat al Masaabih.

It is clearly proven from these hadith that Du’aa is useful:

A Hadith states that Aas Ibn Waayl (who was an infidel) made a will to set free 100 slaves. His son Hishaam set free 50 slaves. His other son, ‘Amar, intended to set free the other 50 slaves and said that I shall ask the Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him about it. He went to the Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and said, “My father made a will to set free 100 slaves. My brother Hishaam has set free 50 slaves, and there are 50 remaining.  Shall I set them free on my father’s behalf?

The Holy Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him said:

Translation:

“Verily If he was a Muslim, your setting the slaves free, or charity or performing the Hajj on his behalf, would have given him benefit.” Sunan Abu Dawud Kitaab al Wasaayaa Hadith 2497 and Mishkaat al Masaabih.

In another Hadith Sayyiduna Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Holy Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him sacrificed a ram and said:

Translation:

“It is on my behalf and on behalf of every such person from my Ummah (nation) who has not given sacrifice.” Sunan al Tirmidhi Hadith 1425.

In another Hadith, Sayyiduna Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reports “I asked the Holy Prophet peace and blessings be upon him that we pray for the dead, give charity and perform Hajj on their behalf. Do these things reach them (give them any benefit)?” The Holy Prophet replied: Translation: These things definitely reach them and they are delighted, just as anyone of you is delighted on receiving a gift.

Musnad Ahmad Hadith 313

In this Hadith the Holy Prophet peace and blessing of Allah be upon him has given the final decision about the dead receiving the reward (prayers, charity or any other good deed done on their behalf by their living ones). The Holy Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him also said that the deceased are pleased when they receive the reward of prayers, charity and Hajj on their behalf.

It is clear that Ahl al Sunnah wa al Jama’ah send the reward to the Holy Prophet peace and blessings be upon him and all the pious people of Allah in the Khatam Ghiraayhawien Sharif and other Khatams. So according to this Hadith the Holy Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and all the pious people of Allah, are pleased with those who arrange the Khatam for them.

It is narrated that Imam Sha’bi says, when anyone from Ansaar passed away, they used to visit his grave and recite the Holy Quran.”

Tafseer al Mazhari wa Sharh al Sudur by Imam al Suyuti.

The commentator of the Holy Quran Qadi Thanaaullah (may Allah have mercy upon him) says:

Translation:

“Hafiz Shams al Din Ibn ‘Abd ul Wahid says that the Muslims of every city always gather and recite the Holy Quran together for their deceased. And nobody has ever objected to it so it has the Ijmaa consensus of the Muslim Ummah on it.

There are many proofs on prayer for forgiveness and sending of reward (Sending the reward of one’s own good deeds to others) but keeping in view the brevity, we think that the proofs given are adequate for a person seeking the truth.

In the same way, the performing of Hajj by heirs for the deceased or paying the debts by the heirs. That the actions of one Muslim can benefit the deceased Muslims.  The companion of the Holy Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas has declared this verse as abrogated (Tafseer al Baghawi) and many mufassirun commentators have said that “Sa’aa” (effort) in this verse means faith, and it means that a man can get benefit only from his own faith. Meaning if he is a kaafir he will not be able to benefit from another’s imaan. In the same way the commentators have made other interpretations to abolish the apparent outward objection of the verses.

Continued.

Muhammad Qasim al Qadri al Ridwi ghufira lahu

Motivation | Shaykh Sayyid Habib Ali al-Jifri

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly traveling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

When I was young man I used to sit and listen to our elders, once I heard one of the elders saying something about the electricity that had entered into our village. He said this is a bad innovation and I remembered at the time, the other young children I was with laughed at this old man and thought he was silly, that he couldn’t see the progress that this would bring. Because I had heard similar comments from several of our elders; I approached Habib Abdul Qadir as-Saqqaf Rahimahullah and asked them, why some of the elders were against the electricity coming into our village, when it is a means to something very good and positive?

At the time he said something that I wrote down because I didn’t fully understand the meaning but knew it was of importance. He said they are not upset with the thing in of itself, but what troubles them is what it might be used for and how there using it now. When I was a lot older I reflected on how this technology was used throughout the world and realised there was an immense amount of wisdom in what our elders said. If you look at human beings and our purpose, this is something that often people don’t contemplate on. Why are we doing this thing? Why are we using it and what’s its purpose?

If you look at your own experiences of the schools you went to in primary, middle and high school. The differences are that the basic structure from society to society; however the basic principles of modern education are all the same, you move along this route and progress to higher levels and stages of education until you find that you reach university. How many of you are doing this with a understanding that the reason I’m doing this is in order that I might acquire knowledge that is going to be beneficial in this world, that it is going to actually benefit other people as well.

So many people in their schools are in fact thinking nothing other than how can I get a job? How can I find my personal gratification? And this becomes the purpose of their studies, for their endeavours that they strive for this and so there entire processes are actually moving towards indulgence and exploitation, because this is ultimately their goal in search for worldly desires.

They ask how can I use these things around me in order to serve me, to facilitate my enjoyment in the world, and because of that they begin to oppress others and we like to look at the oppression committed around the world. We look at political oppression and how these political structures are behaving and working; but very few of us are willing to reflect on our own actions, purposes and our intentions and do not realise that those things we see around the world hat are so odious are driven by the very same thing that is driving us in our own little world, that it is only a reflection of the same thing that is driving us as individuals. These same drivers exist in people that are carrying out these terrible acts around the world.

What we have to realise is that this increasing acceleration of destruction and the disintegration of humanity is nothing other than a testimony to the fact that we are in a mode of complete societal failure, in essence a failed project, and if we think hard about this you may find an alternative to this
situation.

I’m talking about a system that actually cared for the needy, established water wells all around the desert for travellers as an act of charity. With the aim not to make money but only to draw closer to their Lord in service of his creation. I’m talking about the trust that we were given for taking care of the birds. I’m talking about the dogs and cats in our cities being looked after. I’m talking about societies that when a ruler became the head of it, in two years he achieved something unprecedented, that there was not one person that could be found in need, and that the needs of the impoverished were actually being fulfilled by society because of a governor serving the people and utilising everything in his power to achieve that end.

When we see this type of motivation in human beings, in a society, one can truly stand up and feel a sense of pride that he can actually call him or herself a human being. This is the religion that Sayidna Bilal al Habashi who was a slave and in the time of slavery, the Arabs would put there sandals on his face because he was a black Ethiopian slave, and that this is the man who went onto actually place his sandals on the holiest of holy places which is the roof of the Ka’abah itself in order to make the Azaan by the order of the Arabian Prophet Sallah alayhi Wasalam. Because the one being stepped on when ignorance ruled was now the one-stepping on the holiest of holy places in Islam.

I’m talking about Al Khatab who struck his sister because she was reciting the Quran, a man who buried his daughter alive because he considered her a shame and a possible blemish on his own honour. This is the man who actually became one of the rulers of the Muslims, he was a man who carried a jug of water and flour on his back to the elderly and needy, and when he was asked why he said I looked at the roman rulers and saw how arrogant they had become and I was fearful anything like that would enter into my heart so I wanted to do this as a reminder to keep me humbled in this position. And would say I have been instructed by my Lord, and he made this his practice. This was a man of breaking his own ego and protecting himself of what he feared power might make
him. This is a man when Sayidina Abu Bakr freed Sayidna Bilal said Abu baker is my master and freed another of my masters Bilal the Ethiopian. This is something we know has existed in human history and there are numerous examples of human beings that were not driven by merely material concerns, by desires to exploit, by desires to get all they could for their own self-gratification. But human beings that we’re motivated by higher principles, by Devine principles and this is something that if you go back and examine the book of Allah you will find these meanings embodied in that book, you will find in that book are the very principles that are so sorely needed by the current humanity in order to prevent continual disintegration and disillusion, until nothing is left of our humanity. May god grant us success in achieving what we will need in order to change our condition. Ameen

- Notes by Sidi Billal Ba’Alawi Taken from a Class with Shaykh Sayyid Habib Ali al-Jifri Hafidahullah from Yemen

The Grave of the Mother of Believers | Khadijatul Kubra Radiallahu anha

In a Friday Khutba delivered at the New York Islamic Center (USA), Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad al-Yaqoubi discussed the role of women in Islam.

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. [49:13]

The best amongst you in front of Allah is not a certain race, is not a specific gender, it is not a specific human being, it is not male over female, or female over male, it is not that males are the best in society nor are females the worst in society, it is not a certain people, tribe, certain country or certain area in the world, it is the most righteous before Allah.
And righteousness does not stem from a void it comes from difference, the divine laws are the only rules for mankind, for humanity to follow and seek righteousness and survival in this life and the other.

So in order to know who is the best and most righteous we need to refer to a certain verdict.

It is not man made law, it is not a ideology, it is not a philosophy, it is not a declaration of human rights, constitution of a certain state, nor a book that any human being has ever written, there is no reference to humanity in other than the word of Allah, the word of God, that is the supply, reference and the supreme power over all texts and all laws on earth.
We find that Allah put certain laws to limit the freedom of certain people in certain times. We believe that man and women are equal before Allah. Equality is one principle that Allah stated in Quran.

And the conjunction here, does not give preference to one gender over other, because the particular used here is used for both male and female, So no one is mentioned specific over the other.
Yet equality nowadays means something different, man and women are equal indeed before Allah, in responsibility and in rights. Yet they are not identical, not even 2 people are created identical in the world, they have similar rights, equal rights, yet they do not have identical rights, not 2 human beings could ever be identical on earth.

Not in way of behavior, thinking, intellectual or any other social way of behavior. What modern societies are seeking is not equality between men and women, but giving women identical rights, exactly like the rights of men, which is completely wrong, because it’s against the very nature of human being, against the very nature of man and women together.

Islam elevated women, Islam honored women. These societies nowadays humiliate, exploit and abuse women.

The woman that carries human beings, in her womb, for 9 months, and offers human beings, offers man care love and tender, should not be his shoe shiner. Islam does not say so.
A woman that carries man 9 months in her womb, and cares for him for 2 years, nursing him, should not be a dish washer in a restaurant.
A woman that raises up the man and makes of a man something to be mentioned on earth, should not be in these societies a truck driver.

Looking at these societies now, see the change of functions, between a mother that is a queen in her monarchy, with a job that has been given to her, to raise up generations, to take care of her babies, to educate them, to cultivate their character, look at how Islam did not ask mothers to be dish washers as home, Islam does not ask wife’s to be house maids, Islam does not ask wife’s to do housework for the man, she does not have to do this work, she does not have to serve and cook for the man, she does not have to clean the kitchen and make up the bed, she does not even have to change the kids diaper, she does not even have to nurse the babies, if the husband is able to provide someone else.

Is there any better society that has given women, housewife’s, mothers and wife’s a better status than this one?

If the wife tells that she is not going to nurse her baby, then the father has to provide a milk mother for the baby, if he is able to.
The man has to bring someone to do the housework if he is able to, his wife is not his servant, his wife is his life partner.

And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought. [30:21]

This verse does not talk about a specific gender, it denotes both male and female. The female and male, both were created to comfort each other, the man to comfort his wife, and the wife to comfort her husband.

The love that Allah has put in the hearts between mates is different from the love that modern cultures speak about. Allah did not use the word Love, he used a different word which in Arabic denotes a permanent love that never moves or changes or shakes in the hearts.

This love is accompanied with compassion for each other, in every moment of their life, so the wife is not the man’s housemaid, his wife is his life partner, she’s equal to him, and he has no authority to command her or to force her to do the housework or wake her up in the middle of the night to cook for him.

A man cannot ask this of his wife, if she does it out of love she will be rewarded but she is not obliged to do so.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

‘’The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family.”

And also:

‘’He is the best amongst you who is the kindest towards his wives and I am the kindest amongst you towards my wives.’’

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to sow his own garments, clean his home, was the dishes, and even though he was the best of humanity, the most perfect man on earth, it never prevented him from doing those things even while he was the leader of the Muslim community, the Prophet, the Messenger, the ruler and the judge, it did not prevent him from helping out his wife’s at home and doing simple housework.

Islam does discriminate man against woman or woman against man, there is nothing about gender discrimination in Islam. It happens that the masculine pronoun is the common pronoun in the Arabic language as it is in most other languages, yet there is something different in the Arabic language from the English language.

Allah is neither masculine nor feminine, we refer to Allah by a neutral pronoun, not a masculine pronoun, the name of Allah, ALLAH, does not come in a feminine form, it does not come in a plural form, it is Allah as it is a proper noun for Him, Almighty Allah.

Yet compare this to the English language, you have the word God, you say goddess and you have a feminine god, like Venus, because this is the impact of the Greek mythology on Christianity and European cultures, then you have gods masculine plural form and goddesses feminine plural form.

In Arabic you don’t have any of that. And we need to understand that the English language was not used as a channel of revelation at all, it is not a sacred language.
I don’t consider any language that makes the name of god, when its reversed, turn into Dog, a sacred language.

In Arabic you have Allah the name of God, Arabic is the sacred language. Yes, indeed Allah revealed the gospel but in Aramaic, the language of Jesus, Allah revealed Torah in Hebrew, the language of Moses.
Allah chose the Arabic language to be language of His divine message and word, and made of it a sacred channel, purified it, exactly as Allah purified the virgin Mary.

We find in the Quran marvellous stories of women either mentioned by name or by reference to their stories. Mary is not the only one, you have the wife of pharaoh, mother of Moses, wife of the prophet, Aisha, and there are over 20 women specifically mentioned in the Quran, and Allah relates the stories of these women, he dignifies women.

Allah mentions two examples of women who were believers and righteous, and two women who were disbelievers and unrighteous.

God sets forth an example to those who disbelieve: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot, they were both under two of Our righteous servants, but they acted treacherously towards them so they availed them naught against God, and it was said: Enter both the fire with those who enter. [66:10]

And right after that He says:

And Allâh has set forth an example for those who believe; the wife of Fir’aun (Pharaoh), when she said: “My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and his work, and save me from the people who are Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers in Allah’’ [66:11]

“Mary the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (servants).” [66:12]

llah makes here a parable, a gives the likeness of two women, two disbelievers and two believers, and gives to us two women to be followed as the best examples for all of humanity!
There is no gender preference in Islam or in the Quranic text to a certain race over another or a certain gender over another.

Allah says in the Quran:

The Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward. [33:35]

When the Quran speaks of males and females, there is nothing that portrays women as the origin of sin, Allah tells us in the Quran the story of Adam, and He did not lay the responsibility of sin on Eve, or on the female race.

Allah says:

And Adam disobeyed his Lord and erred. [20:121]

It is not Eve, it is not the Islamic culture that makes of women the worst in the society. It is the western culture that says women are evil, because it was believed that the woman is the source of evil, women were a curse in the Middle ages, now compare this to how Islam treats women and how Islam looks upon women.

When talking about Islam many questions are raised about the veil the laws of inheritance, polygamy and so forth. To answer these questions one has to have one basic rule, it is that we as human beings have to follow the laws of Allah and not the laws of human beings.

Because human beings make errors, may turn away from the truth, may not find the best solutions for themselves. The laws of human beings are relative, what is good today might be bad the next day, what is the actual norm of societies nowadays might become a source of embarrassment the next day.

And you can see how the laws developed in western societies and how social behaviour developed in western societies. What was shameful a few decades ago causes no shame nowadays. People can even walk naked in the streets and demonstrate, without any embarrassment, but if you ask how the elderly people feel about this they will say that such things were not possible a few decades ago.
So relativity is one of the signs of modern society while the laws of Allah are consistent with the needs of human beings and permanent and ever lasting, and this is why Allah made the final revelation the last and ever remaining revelation, the only valid message till the day of judgement.

People ask about Polygamy while in Sweden people can marry their own half-siblings, and it is not the only unique law within that respect within European laws.

This law of incest is still present TODAY! And then they come talking about Polygamy, where is their shame? They can marry their own sisters and brothers and then they come criticize polygamy in Islamic societies which is one of the marvellous features of the laws of Allah.

I’m not talking about the unjust polygamous marriages created by some unjust males, but I am talking about the principal itself, which Allah revealed to solve the problems of societies.
They talk about laws of inheritance, between man and woman, saying that women get only half of what male gets, but they never mention that women don’t have to spend any money on themselves, wife’s are guaranteed the top and best level of sustenance of the wealth of their husbands, if the wife gets half of what the man gets and she invests her money in business, in few decades the husband has to spend to finance her, to finance his kids, and to pay for other social responsibilities while the wife has just to use up her wealth and take care of her business.
This is all she has to do and nothing else, is this not the best way for a woman to invest in her business? She is getting half but getting equal, not same amount, but equal amount. Because you have to look at the other side, duties and rights on the one hand and responsibilities on the other hand.

Aa’ishah reported that a girl came to her and said, “My father married me to his brother’s son in order to raise his social standing, and I did not want this marriage [I was forced into it].” Aa’ishah said, “Sit here until the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) comes. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came and she told him about the girl. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent for her father, then he gave the girl the choice of what to do. She said, “O Messenger of Allaah, I have accepted what my father did, but I wanted to prove something to other women.” (Reported by al-Nisaa’i, 3217).

This happened 14 centuries ago, not in 2012 in some village in a Islamic country, No, 14 centuries ago Islam already created justice for women!

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged all sorts of education for women and encouraged them to participate in society. One example of this is the scholarship of women and their contribution to the establishment of Islamic civilization, this contribution is beyond any imagination.

Pick up any book now on who is who in America and look at the level of ‘’important’’ men and women. Do the same for the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and look at who was important during his life.

You will find that there were over 15.000 companions, of those 1.500 women contributed to the Islamic society during the life of the Prophet, their biographies are documented, these women contributed to cultural, social, economical, and intellectual life of the Islamic society.

You will find thousands of female scholars who were even teachers of great male scholars.

There was a woman by the name of Maryam bint Abdul Kadir, her life has been forgotten now, but she was remembered for one thing, she left behind six volume manuscript written with her right hand. This book has survived and is available in the Public libraries of the Islamic world.

At the end of her book she says that if anyone comes across a error to please pray for her forgiveness because when she was writing the manuscript with her right hand, she was rocking the cradle of her baby to put him to sleep with her left hand.

Isn’t this a wonderful example of a housewife, a mother and a scholar who contributed to the establishment of Islamic civilization, and the fact that she was a housewife or a mother did not prevent her from writing this manuscript with her right hand while putting her baby to sleep with her left hand.

Yes indeed, Islam is the religion that dignified and elevated women.

A Link to the Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYslNPLHlns‎

Via Invitation to Islam

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly traveling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

Join us for a special 3-day course on the Miracles of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Taught by Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi

April 19th-21st (Bank Holiday Weekend) 2014

Ghamkol Sharif Mosque, Birmingham

http://www.MiraclesoftheProphet.com

Join us on April 19th for a special 3-day course on the Miracles of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), taught by the erudite scholar of Islam from Syria, Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi.

The course will take you on a journey describing the beautiful characteristics of the most influential person to have ever walked the face of the Earth, with particular focus on events and miracles which took place at his blessed hands.

We kindly invite people from all walks of life to attend this event, young and old, male and female, Muslim and Non-Muslim. This is an opportunity for all to witness a true representation of Islam, a way of life embodied by knowledge, wisdom, and mercy.

Who is Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi?

Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi is one of the most influential scholars in the world today, having been included in the Royal Aal al-Bayt’s publication of the 500 most influential Muslims several years running. He is a popular figure amongst young Muslims in the West, especially the UK and USA, thousands having embraced Islam after listening to and attending his lectures.

The Shaykh descends from a scholarly family that traces its roots back to Morocco, and lineage to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He studied the various sciences of Shari’a and Arabic, as well as logic and philosophy, under his father, the late Shaykh Sayyid Ibrahim al-Yaqoubi (may Allah show him mercy), who also trained him in the Shadhili way and granted him several ijaza’s to qualify him as a scholar, with authority to teach, relate hadith, issue fatwas, and as a Master of Tasawwuf able to guide people to Allah. He also received several ijazas from prominent scholars in Syria, including Mufti Abul Yusr ‘Abidin and Shaykh Makki al-Kittani (may Allah show them mercy) which places him in one of the shortest chains of transmission of hadith in the world today. He has trained hundreds of scholars and imams in Syria and in the West. He has travelled the world extensively and participated in conferences, lectures and taught several intensive programmes from Finland to South Africa, and Indonesia to the west coast of the USA.

He was the first from amongst the ulema to speak out against the use of excessive force against the populace in Syria at the start of the uprising in 2011, subsequently being forced into exile. Shortly after, he became the patron of the UK-based charity, SKT Welfare, one of the leading organisations delivering humanitarian aid inside Syria.

Foreign ministers, dignitaries and political think-tanks from around the globe have sought his advice and guidance.

Shaykh Muhammad is a father to 4 children and currently resides in Morocco, where he continues to teach, and impart guidance to people around the world.

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly traveling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

al-Arif Billah Shaykh Muhammad Abdul Qadir al-Maini al-Qadri from Halab (Aleppo) has passed away at the age of 94. He compiled his own Diwan and he was one of the teachers of Shaykh Samir al-Nass. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May He give him to drink from the Basin of His Prophet (alayhi salat wa salam), that he may never thirst thereafter, and may He enter him into the highest gardens of Paradise! Ameen.

إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون اختارت العناية الإلهية شيخنا الشيخ محمد عبد القادر معيني القادري لينتقل إلى رحمته تعالى ليل الاثنين 7 جمادى الاخرة 1434 الموافق 7 ابريل / نيسان 2014 في القاهرة

وسيصلى عليه في جامع سيدنا الحسين بعد صلاة ظهر الثلاثاء .

ولا حول ولا قوة الا بالله العلي العظيم

ولا حول ولا قوة الا بالله العلي العظيم

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly travelling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Burhani from Damascus has Passed away at the age of 82, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Burhani was a leading senior scholar of Damascus who came from a prominent family of scholars, he was the son of the Late Waliy Shaykh Muhammad Sa’id Burhani al-Shadhili Rahimahullah. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May He give him to drink from the Basin of His Prophet (alayhi salat wa salam), that he may never thirst thereafter, and may He enter him into the highest gardens of Paradise! Ameen.

إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون
ننعي إلى الأمة الإسلامية وفاة شيخنا العلامة المربي العارف بالله بقية السلف الصالح سيدنا الإمام الشيخ محمد هشام نجل مولانا العارف بالله محمد سعيد البرهاني

A miracle takes place today in Damascus

Today is the day that Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Burhani passed away, when the grave of his father the late Waliy Shaykh Muhammad Sa’id Burhani al-Shadhili RadiAllahu Anhu [The Khalifa of the Qutb Shaykh Muhammad al-Hashimi RadiAllahu Anhu] was dug up to bury him they found the blessed body of Shaykh Muhammad Sa’id Burhani Rahimahullah and it was as though Shaykh Sa’id had just been buried and everything was intact [His blessed body and and his coffin]

Shaykh Sa’id Burhani Rahimahullah passed away in 1967 and he was found in his grave today, it has been 47 years since he passed away and the earth didn’t consume his body, the earth doesn’t consume the bodies of the Prophets, Sahaba, Martyrs, the Ahlul Bayt and the ‘Awliya.

Gathering with the Late Shaykh Hisham Burhani Rahimahullah:

Photos of the Late Shaykh:

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly travelling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Nazim al-Haqqani from Cyprus has Passed today away at the age of 92. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May He give him to drink from the Basin of His Prophet (alayhi salat wa salam), that he may never thirst thereafter, and may He enter him into the highest gardens of Paradise! Ameen.

The Janaza prayers will be at Salamiya Mosque in LEFKOŞA after asr the. To Lefke InshaAllah. Please spread word. 5pm Cyprus time today.

إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون

وفاة العالم الرباني العارف بالله تعالى الشيخ محمد ناظم الحقاني القبرصى

انتقل إلى رحمة الله تعالى وجوار الأنبياء والصديقين والشهداء والصالحين اليوم الأربعاء في قبرص شيخ الطريقة النقشبندية العارف بالله تعالى القطب الشيخ محمد ناظم الحقاني عن اثنين وتسعين سنة (ويقال إن عمره يزيد على المائة).

وهو أحد كبار أولياء هذه الأمة وأعلام المسلمين الذين أحيا الله تعالى بهم الدين في القرن العشرين. نشر الإسلام في بلاد الغرب والشرق وأسلم على يديه الآلاف من الناس، وكان سببا لهداية أعداد لا تحصى من المسلمين.

إنه خطب جلل ومصاب عظيم حل بالأمة في هذا الوقت العصيب الذي تعاني فيه الأمة من التمزق والضعف وموت العلماء وذهاب الصالحين.

نسأل الله تعالى أن يتغمد بالرحمة والرضوان هذا العالم الجليل والإمام الكبير، وأن يجعل في أبنائه وتلاميذه الخير والبركة، وأن يعوض الأمة الإسلامية خيرا. إنه سميع مجيب. ونقدم تعازينا لأخليفة الفقيد وسائر أبنائه وتلاميذه.
وإنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون.

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It is a sad day when such a great man of Allah leaves this world. With a lot of grief and sadness we announce the passing away of the great Qutb and Murshid, shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Nazim Al-Haqqani, who passed away today Wednesday and was buried in Cyprus at Asr time.

We offer our condolences to his Khalifa and son, shaykh Mehmet and to his family and students around the world.

It is a big loss to the Muslim Ummah, so we pray that Allah compensate this Ummah.

We request all our brothers and sisters and students to recite Fatiha for his blessed pure soul and do as many khatem of al-Qur’an as possible.

- Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Abul Huda al-Yaqoubi from Damascus

Update -

Many scholars have offered their condolences including:

Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Abul Huda al-Yaqoubi from Damascus
Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Bin Yahya al-Ninowy from Aleppo
Shaykh Sayyid Afeefuddin al-Gaylani from Baghdad
Shaykh Sayyid Hashimuddin al-Gaylani from Baghdad
Shaykh Muhammad Zahid Sultani from Kashmir

Including many other scholars from Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Makkah, Madinah, Jordan, Lebanon, Dubai, Kuwait, Egypt, Turkey, Abu Dhabi, Palestine, Morocco, Spain, Ghana, Somalia, Iran, Kurdistan and several countries in the East and west such as the UK, USA and so on ..

As well as this many custodians from Maqams of ‘Awliya in India and Pakistan such as Ghamkol Sharif, Golra Sharif, Nerian Sharif, Gulhar Sharif, Balawara Sharif, Mohra Sharif and so on…

Miracles on the Passing of Shaykh Sayyid Nazim al-Haqqani

As the Prophet ﷺ said in an authentic Hadith, “Mention the good tidings of your deceased” so we wanted to share with you all the Karama [e.g. miracles] Mawlana Shaykh Sayyid Nazim al-Haqqani showed us after his passing:

1- In Cyprus the last time it rained in May was 42 years ago and similarly in the Middle East. Yet the day of Mawlana’s passing, there was powerful thunder and flashes of lightning that woke people from their sleep. It rained heavily, non-stop, for two days. The ocean, after 2 or 3 days of big waves, became suddenly calm. 

Even in Makkah al-Mukarramah and al-Madīnah al-Munawwarah, Damascus, India and the UK rain was falling at the time that coincided with Mawlana’s soul leaving his body. Later that afternoon, everyone realized that even the sky was weeping for the loss of the world’s great saint. It is a mercy [rahmah] from Allah that these rains were falling to show how much love Allah has for His saint. 

2 – Many people witnessed an amazing incident during the burial of Mawlana Shaykh in his Masjid in Lefke. Men had dug a very large grave approximately 4 meters [12 feet] in length. Four people stood in the grave to place Mawlana Shaykh´s holy body inside. As they carried his beloved body down into the grave it was weightless, as if carrying a feather. When they laid his holy body down, miraculously his body had become long enough to fill the grave from one end to the other! His head was touching one end and his feet touching the other, which measured over 4 meters. This was to show all of those present that Mawlana was inheriting from the prophetic tradition of being a stature and size exceeding normal human beings. Never has anyone seen during a burial that a body would stretch so his grave is almost insufficient. Perhaps if we were to expand his grave to 10 meters Mawlana´s body might stretch to fill it. That was a tremendous indication that he truly was the inheritor of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

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In Memoriam of Shaykh Sayyid Nazim al-Haqqani RadiAllahu Anhu from Cyprus

In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. Peace and Salutations be upon His Messenger

His full name is Muhammad Nazim ‘Adil ibn al-Sayyid Ahmad ibn Hasan Yashil Bash al-Haqqani al-Qubrusi al-Hanafi, may Allah sanctify his soul and preserve his secret. His kunya is Abu Muhammad – after his oldest son – and he is also the father of Baha’ al-Din, Naziha, and Ruqayya.

He is the Grand Mufti of Turkish Cyprus. He was born in 1341 (1922) in the city of Larnaca, Cyprus (Qubrus) to a family of Arab origin with Tatar roots. His father descended from the Cardinal Saint of Islam, Sultan al Awliya Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani; who declared “My foot is on the necks of all Saints”. His mother descends from Mawlana Jalal al-Din al-Rumi.

He grew up in Cyprus, as a top student in all of his classes and he also showed great signs of Wiliyat throughout his youth. As a youth, he was initiated and trained in both the Qadri and Mevlavi Paths. He excelled in both of these to the extent that elders would come to visit him and ask him to make istakharah for them regarding various matters concerning their personal lives.

His Educational Background

After finishing school in Cyprus, young Shaykh Nazim went to university in Istanbul and graduated in Chemical Engineering. While in Istanbul, he also studied Arabic and fiqh under Shaykh Jamal al-Din al-Alsuni (d. 1375/1955) and received ijaza from him. He also took initiation into the Naqshbandi Tariqa from Shaykh Sulayman Arzarumi (d. 1368/1948) who eventually sent him to Syria in search of the renowned Wali of the epoch, Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Daghestani, who held the secrets of the Naqshbandiyya.

Shaykh Nazim then left his homeland and headed towards the Middle East, where he sought the company of Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Daghestani. He spen five years looking for his Shaykh. During these intense five years, he continued his Shari’a studies in Halab (Aleppo), Hama, and Hims. He studied at the shrine and madrassah of Khalid ibn al-Walid (radi allahu anhu) in Hims under its great Ulema and obtained ijaza in Hanafi fiqh from Shaykh Muhammad ‘Ali ‘Uyun al-Sud and Shaykh ‘Abd al-Jalil Murad, and ijaza in hadith from the Muhaddith Shaykh ‘Abd al-’Aziz ibn Muhammad ‘Ali ‘Uyun al-Sud al-Hanafi.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-’Aziz ibn Muhammad ‘Ali ‘Uyun al-Sud al-Hanafi is one of the ten great hadith teachers of the late Rifa’i Hafiz of Aleppo, Shaykh al-Islam ‘Abd Allah Siraj al-Din (1924- 2002 CE) who met Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Daghestani in 1959 and gave bay’a to Mawlana Shaykh Nazim during the latter’s last visit to him in Aleppo in 2001.

Shaykh Nazim also studied under Shaykh Sa’id al-Siba’i who sent him to Damascus after receiving a sign related to the coming of Mawlana Shaykh ‘Abd Allah al-Daghistani to Syria. After his initial arrival in Syria from Daghistan in the late thirties, Mawlana Shaykh ‘Abd Allah lived mostly in Damascus but often visited Aleppo and Hims. In the latter city he got to know Shaykh Sa’id al-Siba’i who was director of the Khalid ibn Walid madrassah. Shaykh Sa’id wrote to him, “We have a remarkable student from Turkey studying with us.” Mawlana Shaykh ‘Abd Allah replied to him, “That student belongs to us; send him over!” That student was Mawlana Shaykh Nazim who came to Damascus and gave his bay’a to Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Daghestani between 1941 and 1943.

According to the Ulema

The director of Dar al-Ifta’ in Beirut, Lebanon, Shaykh Salah al-Din Fakhri wrote by hand: “On the morning of al-Ahad 20 Rabi’ al-Akhir 1386 corresponding to Sunday 7 August, 1966, we were granted the privilege of visiting Shaykh ‘Abd Allah al-Daghistani – Allah have mercy on him – in Mount Qasyun in Damascus on the initiative and in the company of Mawlana al-Shaykh Mukhtar al-’Alayli – Allah have mercy on him – the Mufti of the Republic of Lebanon at the time; Shaykh Husayn Khalid the imam of Nawqara Mosque; Hajj Khalid Bashir – may Allah have mercy on both of them; Shaykh Husayn Sa’biyya [the present director of Dar al-Hadith al-Ashrafiyya in Damascus]; Shaykh Mahmud Sa’d; Shaykh Zakariyya Sha’r; and Hajj Mahmud Sha’r. The Shaykh received us most kindly, with a warm welcome full of happiness and mirth. This was in the presence of Shaykh Nazim al-Qubrusi – Allah save and keep him! We sat from nine o’clock in the morning until the zuhr call to prayer while the Shaykh – Allah have mercy on him – explained and spoke about Sham, its excellence, its extraordinary merits, and the fact that it is the site of the Resurrection and that Allah will gather all human beings in it for the final Reckoning. He mentioned things that moved our hearts and minds, imbued with the glorious spirit of the Salihiyya district, and he spoke about the indissoluble link – in practice as well as discourse – between tasawwuf and the Shari’a….”

Reverence From the Pious Ulema

There are many more prestigious names of the Ulema and Awliya’ of Syria who loved and associated with both Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Daghestani and Shaykh Nazim Al Haqqani during the golden thirty-year period of their association such as Shaykh Muhammad Bahjat al-Baytar (1311-1396), Shaykh Sulayman Ghawji al-Albani (d. 1378) the father of Shaykh Wahbi, Shaykh Tawfiq al-Hibri, Shaykh Muhammad al-’Arabi al-’Azzuzi (1308-1382) the Mufti of Lebanon and principal Shaykh of Shaykh Husayn ‘Usayran, al-’Arif Shaykh Shahid al-Halabi, al-’Arif Shaykh Rajab al-Ta’i, Shaykh al-Qurra’ Shaykh Najib Khayyata al-Farazi al-Halabi, al-’Arif Shaykh Muhammad al-Nabhan, Shaykh Ahmad ‘Izz al-Din al-Bayanuni, al-’Arif Shaykh Ahmad al-Harun (1315-1382), Shaykh Muhammad Zayn al-’Abidin al-Jadhba, and others – Allah have mercy on all of them!

Thus has it been noted that in every encounter with the Awliya’ and righteous Ulema of this Ummah, they invariably show the highest respect and most fearsome humbleness to Mawlana and his silsila even when they are ostensibly on a different path such as al-Habib ‘Ali al-’Aydarus in Malaysia; Sayyid Muhammad ibn ‘Alawi al-Maliki in Makka; al-Habib ‘Umar ibn Hafiz of Tarim; Sayyid Yusuf al-Rifa’i of Kuwait; Shaykh ‘Isa al-Himyari in Dubai; Sayyid ‘Afif al-Din al-Jilani and Shaykh Bakr al- Samarra’i of Baghdad; al-Sharif Mustafa ibn al-Sayyid Ibrahim al-Basir in central Morocco; the Grandmufti of Syria Shaykh Ahmad Kuftaro ibn Mawlana al-Shaykh Amin and his friends Shaykh Bashir al-Bani, Shaykh Rajab Dib, and Shaykh Ramazan Dib; the Kattani Shuyukh of Damascus; the late Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Siraj al-Din and his nephew Dr. Nur al-Din ‘Itr; Mawlana al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Shaghuri; Dr. Samer al- Nass; Shaykh Osman Sirajuddin from Kurdistan, Shaykh Abdul Karim Mudarris from Baghdad, Shaykh Mahmud Efendi from Istanbul, Shaykh Abdul Baki from Turkey, Shaykh Muhammad Sadiq from Kashmir, Shaykh Ahmad Habbal, Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyya al-Bukhari from Madina, Shaykh Muhammad Alauddin Siddiqui from Kashmir, Shaykh Faqir Rehmat Karim from NWFP, Pakistan, Shaykh Babikir Ahmed Babikir from Sudan, Shaykh Muhammad Iqbal Abbasi from Madinah, Shaykh Habib Abdul Qadir as-Saqqaf from Jeddah, Shaykh Muhammad Amin al-Hasanat Shah from Punjab, Shaykh Sufi Muhammad Aslam from Jhelum, Shaykh Muhammad Tahir from Jhang, Shaykh Shukri al-Luhafi from Damascus,  Shaykh Sayyid Shah Turab ul-Haq Qadri from Pakistan, Shaykh Murabit al-Hajj from Mauritania, Shaykh Sayyid Hashmi Miyan from India, Shaykh Sayyid Shabir Ali Shah from Attock, Shaykh Sayyid Naseer ud din Naseer from Islamabad, Shaykh Muhammad Naqib-ur-Rehman from Rawalpindi, Shaykh Hazim Abu Ghazala from Amman, Shaykh Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahi from Madinah, Shaykh Abdul Ghani al-Jafari from Egypt and more- may Allah have mercy on them! Each of the above-named Ulema all invoke tarazzi on Mawlana al-Shaykh Nazim, expressing belief in the loftiness of his wilaya and asking for his du’a. “And Allah suffices as Witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” (48:28-29).

His Seclusions

During his thirty years of intense training under Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Daghestani, Shaykh Nazim was placed in numerous seclusions. When he was only 33 years old, he was ordered into seclusion by Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Daghestani who told him, “I have received an order from the Prophet for you to make seclusion in the mosque of Shaykh ‘Abd al Qadir Jilani in Baghdad. You go there and make seclusion for six months.”

About this same seclusion Shaykh Nazim himself states, “I only emerged from my room for the five prayers. Other than that I spent my whole time in that room. I was able to reach such a state that I was reciting the whole Qur’an in nine hours. In addition to that I was reciting 124,000 times the Dhikr ‘Laa ilaha ill-Allah’ and 124,000 prayers on the Prophet (salawat) and I was reading the entire Dalail al-Khayrat [book of devotions]. Added to that I was regularly reciting 313,000 ‘Allah Allah’ every day, in addition to all the prayers that were assigned to me. Vision after vision was appearing to me every day. They used to take me from one state to another and give me a state of complete Annihilation in the Divine Presence.”

Inheritor of the Masters

Before his passing from this temporary abode, Shaykh ‘Abd Allah Daghestani made a will and appointed Shaykh Nazim Adil Al Haqqani as his Caliph and Sucessor. He granted to him his office and the secrets of the Naqshbandi Tariqa. He ordered that Shaykh Nazim’s name be included in the Silsila of the Naqshbandi Tariqat and that people take Shaykh Nazim as their Murshid in his place, who would now connect them to the Naqshbandi Masters. Since then, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim in addition to his travels towards the East, he began frequenting the West regularly, conveying to Europeans and Americans the spiritual and peaceful message of Islam and its mystical teaching as taught by the Naqshbandi Masters.

Mashallah, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Al Haqqani  dedicated his entire life to Defending Truth and constant ascetic worship of his Lord. His spirituality has attracted hundreds of thousands of Seekers to the Path from all walks of life and from all over the world, including internationally acclaimed musicians, artists, businessmen and even Monarchs and Heads of States such as the Sultans of Malaysia and the Sultans of the UAE. His miracles (Karamah) are countless, from literally disappearing into thin air and later reappearing while in presence of numerous witnesses to appearing countless times in dreams and visions with the Messenger of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to guide his Murids to their heavenly destinations. Mawlana’s efforts to spread Islam in the West have resulted in more than 100,000 persons having taken the Naqshbandi Order through him both directly and indirectly and more than 10,000 people having embraced Islam through him.

Grand Mufti of Syria the late Shaykh Yaseen Ahmed Kuftaro calls Mawlana al-Shaykh Nazim “Our greatest Shaykh”

Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad al-Yaqoubi from Damascus never mentions Shaykh Nazim except with awe and respect.

Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jili of Madina the son of Sidi Muhammad Mahi al-Bukhari when he visited the shiekhs house in Damascus shook from head to toe and was saying Allah, Allah the whole visit.
The Grand Shaykh of the Shadhili Tariqa, Shaykh Sayyid Abdul Rahman Shaghouri Rahimahullah, Shaykh Nuh Keller’s Shaykh, when he sees a Murid of Sheikh Nazim always says to them: “Remember us in your Du`a.”

Sheikh Sayyid Alawi al Malaiki who is considered by millions to be one of the main supreme knowledgeable ulema of this century took bayat with the sheikh Nazim al Haqqani and said; “If you follow Shaykh Nazim then you must be Haqqani.” he also added Sheikh Nazim Is the ‘sheikh of sheikhs’ perhaps some of you don’t know Syedina Nazim al Haqqani holds many of the most fascinating hadith sharif’s along with there entire chains which have been narrated over period of time, which ulema such as Sheikh Syed Alawi al Malaiki have been presented with, which many sub continental ulema continue to translate even today.

Habib Ali al-Jifri visits Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani:

Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Speaks About Visiting the Maqam of Imam Ali Hajveri Rahimahullah in Lahore:

Shaykh Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf And Habib Ja’far Visit Mawlana Shaykh Nazim:

Conversation between Grand Shaykh Abdullah Faiz Daghestani And Shaykh Nazim:

Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh , We pray this finds everyone well, wrapped in Allah’s mercy and steadfastly travelling the path to eternal felicity, in sha Allah.

Shaykh Muhammad Sa’ad ad-Din al-Murad al-Hamwi al-Hanafi ash-Shadhili has passed away, he passed away shortly after Fajr, he was the first khalifa of Shaykh ‘Abdal Qadir ‘Isa al-Halabi Rahimahullah,  Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. May He give him to drink from the Basin of His Prophet (alayhi salat wa salam), that he may never thirst thereafter, and may He enter him into the highest gardens of Paradise! Ameen.

The Janaza of Shaykh Muhammad Sa’ad ad-Din al-Murad al-Hamwi al-Hanafi ash-Shadhili Rahimahullah was held in Masjid al-Nabawi and he was laid to rest in Jannatul Baqi, a large group of scholars attended the Janazah amongst them was Shaykh Dr. Khalil Mulla May Allah preserve him