End of year / New Year message

End of Year/New Year Message

The following is summarised from a talk given by Habib Umar bin Hafiz (Allah preserve him):[1]

We bid farewell to a to another year of the Hijra of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), a year which contains a number of days and nights which are what makes up your lifespan. If a day passes then a part of you has passed.. You are but a body and spirit existent in a limited time period. When that period comes to an end you come to an end. It is only those of sound intellect who realise the true value of these days and nights that pass. They know that it is He Who made the Night and the Day to follow each other: for the one who wishes to reflect or to show gratitude.[2] Whatever anyone has achieved throughout the days and nights that has not increased them in reflection and gratitude has missed the purpose and fundamental wisdom for which these days and nights were created and for which mankind was created.

We witness the passing of time and the alternation of seasons and changes and events. Things which are agreeable to us; things which are unpleasant – all of which test us. We witness the passing away of those who live alongside, some of it expected, some of it unexpected. All of this is by the decree of the All-Powerful Sovereign.

We welcome likewise a new year. Every individual must look at their level of reflection and gratitude so they may obtain their provision from these days and nights. Amongst the meanings of reflection is removing the veils from the spirit to remember the original covenant which it took with its Lord and clearing away the dust to extend its gaze to its eventual destination. As for gratitude, everything which is of any benefit to creation comes into its sphere. The Master of Creation said (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), “Should I not be a grateful slave?” and he is the most grateful of creation to the Creator, and through his gratitude we show gratitude to the Creator. May Allah bind us to him in this life and the next.

It is He Who made the Night and the Day to follow each other: for the one who wishes to reflect or to show gratitude . What are the signs and the attributes of the people of reflection and gratitude? Read the eleven attributes that follow this verse, beginning with: And the slaves of the Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, "Peace!" Those who spend the night in worship of their Lord prostrate and standing[3]

Reflect upon these attributes and ask yourself what portion you have of them. Do not be content merely to pass over them superficially. Delve into them deeply, hold firm to them and actualise their meanings. Each of these attributes has a residing place in your inner being. If each attribute finds its place you will, in your inner being, be one of the slaves of the Most Gracious and every day and night you will increase in reflection and gratitude, and He will prepare you for an indescribable reward. “I have prepared for my righteous slaves that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and what no man can imagine.”

The majority of the people of Islam and Iman have made no preparation for the vision of the face of the Best of Mankind, accompanying him on the day of Crowding and then in Dar al-Salam, the Abode of Peace. Does this warrant you giving anything less than your all? How much have you put towards this: of your thoughts, your actions, the attributes of your heart, of the hours of your day and night? After the death of the Messenger of Allah Sayyiduna al-Siddiq would spend his nights crying out of his longing for him. Do we allow the ups and downs of this fleeting life and the desires of our enemies to tear these feelings away from us? Will you exchange the better for the worse? All you who believe, accompanying him is greater than anything we can imagine. There is no gift more exquisite that the Lord of the Throne may bless you with than his companionship and the vision of his face and addressing the possessor of that face. He is a man like no other, the Beloved of the Creator.

If these feelings were alive in the hearts of the Umma all causes of evil inward and outward would be blocked and the Umma would be safe from every tribulation. The level of tribulation in which we find ourselves is according to our deficiency in our love for Allah and His Chosen One.

At the end of this year may Allah grant us the ability to please His Beloved through seeking to improve our states and our transactions and what takes places in our houses and what is in our hearts. Nothing should be more beloved to us than Allah and nothing in creation, not even Paradise, should be more beloved to us than Muhammad. No created thing can take precedence over Muhammad, because Allah Himself gave him precedence over all of creation.

For this reason the Companion Salama ibn Rabi`a could think of nothing better to ask from the Messenger of Allah than his companionship in Paradise. The response of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was to order him to make abundant prostration. The closest a slave is to Allah is when he is in prostration. If you desire to be close to the one who is closest to Allah make abundant prostration. One of the meanings of this prostration is to rid our houses of anything which is contravenes his Sunna, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Let this Hijri year finish and with it any contravention of the Sunna. This is prostration. You want to accompany him but you don’t want to live in accordance with his teaching? Let this year finish and you are in a state of preparation to meet the best of Allah’s slaves.

---

[1] Jalsat al-Ithnayn, Jami` Tarim, the night of 25th Dhu’l-Hijja 1429

[2] Sura al-Furqan, 25.62

[3] Sura al-Furqan, 25.63-74

Du'a awal sanah and akhir sanah

Bismillah
Alhamdulillah we're approaching the New Year. May the arrival of the New Year bring us nearer to Him, may He forgive all our sins and have mercy upon us.

This is the du'a to be read on the 1st of Muharram right after sunset.



(three times)

And this is the du'a for end of the year to be read at the end of Zulhijjah three times.

Burda chapter 4

BismilLah.

فِي مَولِدِ النَّبِيِ صلى الله عليه وسلّم

1. أَبَانَ مَوْلِدَهُ عَنْ طِيْبِ عُنْصُرِهِ يَا طِيْبَ مُبْتَدَإٍ مِّنْهُ وَمُخْتَتَمِ
2. يَوْمٌ تَفَرَّسَ فِيْهِ الْفُرْسُ أَنَّهُمُقَدْ أُنْذِرُوا بِحُلُولِ الْبُؤْسِ وَالنَّقَمِ
3. وَبَاتَ إِيوَانُ كِسْرىٰ وَهْوَ مُنْصَدِعٌكَشَمْلِ أَصْحَابِ كِسْرىٰ غَيْرَ مُلُتَئِمِ
4. وَالنَّارُ خَامِدَةُ الأَنْفَاسِ مِنْ أَسَفٍعَلَيْهِ وَالنَّهْرُ سَاهِي الْعَيْنِ مِنْ سَدَمِ
5. وَسَاءَ سَاوَةَ أَنْ غَاضَتْ بُحَيْرَتُهَا وَرُدَّ وَارِدُهَا بِالْغَيْظِ حِيْنَ ظَمِ
6. كَأَنَّ بِالنَّارِ مَا بِالْمَاءِ مِنْ بَلَلٍ حُزْنًا وَّبِالْمَاءِ مَا بِالنَّارِ مِنْ ضَرَمِ
7. وَالْجِنُّ تَهْتِفُ وَالأَنْوَارُ سَاطِعَةٌوَالْحَقُّ يَظْهَرُ مِنْ مَّعْنىً وَّمِنْ كَلِمِ
8. عَمُّوا وَصَمُّوا فَإِعْلانُ الْبَشَآئِرِ لَمْتُسْمَعْ وَبَارِقَةُ الإِنْذَارِ لَمْ تُشَمِ
9. مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَخْبَرَ الأَقْوَامَ كَاهِنُهُمْبِأَنَّ دِيْنَهُمُ الْمُعَوَّجَ لَمْ يَقُمِ
10. وَبَعْدَ مَا عَايَنُوا في الأُفُقِ مِنْ شُهُبٍمُّنْقَضَّةٍ وَّفْقَ مَا فِي الأَرْضِ مِنْ صَنَمِ
11. حَتَّى غَدَا عَنْ طَرِيْقِ الْوَحْيِ مُنْهَزِمٌمِّنَ الشَّيَاطِيْنِ يَقْفُوا إِثْرَ مُنْهَزِمِ
12. كَأَنَّهُمْ هَرَبًا أَبْطَالُ أَبْرَهَةٍ أَوْ عَسْكَرٌ بِالْحَصٰى مِنْ رَّاحَتَيْهِ رُمِ
13. نَبْذًا بِهِ بَعْدَ تَسْبِيحٍ بِبَطْنِهِمَانَبْذَ الْمُسَبِّحِ مِنْ أَحْشَاءِ مُلْتَقِمِ

Mawlid = birth of RasululLah Salallahu alayhi wassalam or his place of birth
~ 20th of April 571 M, Rabi'ul awal, year of elephant; monday before fajr.
~ the significant of monday: (S. Adam Alayhi salaam was created on a friday). Acc to Mus'ad bin Hambal trees and plants were created on a monday.
~ green: in the middle of colour spectrum.

Unsurihi: Ibnu Hajar had explained on syarf usulihi

Ya tiba: pure from beginning to the end.

Mohamed ibnu Ahmad Marzuq have compiled 20 arguments that laylatul qadar is on the laylatul mawlid.

Furus: from firasan (persian)
- 20 from 40 of the pillars of iwan in persia split at the night of mawlid.
- There was 3 kisra and the third one (Arwis bin Harmus) a leader at the time of RasululLlahi sallallahu alayhi wassalam, torn up the letter that was sent to him.

Sawa: in Iran between Hamdan and Tehran ~ the whole lake dried up on the night of mawlid

Sabr (Fortitude) Chapter 28

1) Submission
2) Awareness
3) Understanding

- moves under tribulation but firm

- control the nafs wa qaharaha (and supress it)

- placing the deen above what you want is syukr

- stay strong and good natured

- H Ali Al-Habsyi 'Perhaps what you want have delays, perhaps the delay is what you want'

- preserverance - persistent determination
zikr is like honey, when you keep on doing zikr with tongue, perhaps the honey will go to the heart.'
continuance in the state of grace (afiya) until you have the state of glory (fath)

- Battle of Khandaq is the longest battle until - 'when will Allah's help come to us' Nasrum minnaLlahi wa fathun qarib' - masjid on top of hill in Madinah: Masjid Fath

- Sabiru - interact, strive for sabr

1) Tark syahawat
2) redha towards qadha - zahidin
3) love whatever Allah does for you, mahhabah - darajatul siddiqin

- sabr connected to khulq

steadfastness - loyalty in the face of trouble and difficulty
sabr is adhering to AlQur'an and sunnah (AlMahawi?)
Abu Usman: to abide with trial as one towards well-being
Zun-Nun: isti'ana biLlah
Ruwaya: taraka syaqwa (not complaining)

sabr fi - persistence in
ala taat - consistent with
an - from, an syadaid wal bala eg 7 under the shade: 1) woman beautiful and noble came...
'assyaddu naas bala anbiya' = RasuluLlah sallaLlahu alayhi wasallam buried all his children except Sayidatina Fatimah RadhiyaAllahu anha wa radhu anh

sa'ada - abadia (eternal felicity); mawqufi sul (closeness to Allah) ittiba halq and stay away from falsehood eternally

wird -like gargling in honey

7x alikhlas, alfalaq, annas, alfatiha - rewards: protection till next Jum'ah

one of the sign that one is relying on one action is when you slip up, you are sad.

the first meaning of zanb is starting from thoughts that come from heart

al-qusairi: 2 types of sabr
1) work at
2) ma laysa bi mu'tasib gahiri i'tisad

jazu'a - turmoil, masa'ul khayr manu'a (do not want to share),
jaz'an - opposite sabr

different hawa different hadas (control)

iffa - chastity
syuja'a - courage
hilm - clemency
zuhd - doing without world

animal has no choice wether to drink

third stage: Allah choose for you, it's up to you to respond

level of iman:
1) al-ma'aruf (understanding)
2) haal (state)
3) firm in your heart ~ amal

hadith riwayat Tirmidhi: Jabir narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:

"Indeed the most beloved among you to me, and the nearest to sit with me on the Day of Judgment is the best of you in character. And indeed, the most disliked among you to me, and the one sitting furthest from me on the Day of Judgement are the Thartharun, and the Mutashaddiqun  and the Muthafaihiqun." They said: "O Messenger of Allah! We know about the Thartharun (talk a lot), and the Mutashaddiqun (boast a lot, boss people), but what about the Muthafaihiqun?"' He said:"The arrogant (showing off)."

Muhammad ibnu Habib: what is a wali? when he is in shade, he does not want to be in sun, when he is in sun, he does not want to be in shade.'

salaamun

Shakespeare : Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow

Macbeth:
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

hadith 41 Of Imam Nawawi Part 2

Bismillah



As mentioned in the first part....

Hadith: "None of you (truly) believe until his inclincation is in accordance with what I have brought"



Hawa: 2 implications - emotion - love to incline towards what you love

- a push towards something

linguistic meaning : wind/blows by



Our attitude should be like the blessed companions (radhi Allahu Anhu)

for example Saydina Anas radhi Allahu anhu liked courgette, but when he saw Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa aalihi wa salam eating courgette, he then LOVED them.

hadith 41 Of Imam Nawawi

Bismillah




From the authority of Abu Muhammad Abdullah bin Amr Bin AlAas (radhi Allahu anhu).

Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam had said" None of you (truly) believe until his inclination is in accordance with what I have brought"

About the narrator of the hadith:

Born and named AlAas after his grandfather and his name meant disobedience.
His named was changed by Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam to Abdullah.
He is exceptionally intelligent.He was one of the companions who could read and write and he was the only companion that was allowed to write ahadith.
He studied the Injil (bible ) and Taurat (Torah)
His father was also a companion Amr bin AlAas who brought Islam to Egypt.
The age difference between them was only 12 years old, i.e. Amr bin Al Aas married early.

At year 7 Hijrah, Abdullah bin Amr went to Madinah and embraced Islam.
Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam paid a lot of attention to him and taught him AlQuran. He memorised the AlQuran very early in his life and also the whole text from other books.
According to Ahmad bin Hambal, Abdullah dreamt that he held the moon and the sun. He enquired to Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam who told him that it represented the AlQuran and the Injil and Taurah and told not to drop them. (Some scholars said this was fabricated evidence).
He was allowed by Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam at his enquiry to write down what Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam said in all circumstances and therefore he had very earlier on wrote down the hadith.

Abu Hurairah narrated 5,874 hadith while Abdullah bin Amr narrated 700 hadith.
Yet Abu Hurairah had said that no one knew more hadith than me except Abdullah bin Amr.
Why was this is despite the differences in number of narrations?
1. Abdullah bin Amr wrote down the hadith
2. Abdullah bin Amr taught in Egypt which was not centre of knowledge while Abu Hurairah was in Madinah and had the company of the likes of Saydatina Aishah Radhi Allahu anha. Hence Abu Hurairah could exceed in the number narrated and transmitted to the later generation.

He understood the quoted hadith number 40 too well.
He took very little of the world
He used to fast for many days without breaking and was adviced against that by Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam.Some days he would fast continuously for a whole week.

His father was concerned about his lack of inclination for any worldly matter married him to an honorable woman. Many days later he asked the bride about his son and she replied that she had married a very good and honorable man but he never knew where the bed was.

Amr bin AlAas then went to complain about his son to Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam.
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As: Allah's Apostle said to me, "O 'Abdullah! Have I not been informed that you fast during the day and offer prayers all the night." 'Abdullah replied, "Yes, O Allah's Apostle!" The Prophet said, "Don't do that; fast for few days and then give it up for few days, offer prayers and also sleep at night, as your body has a right on you, and your wife has a right on you, and your guest has a right on you. And it is sufficient for you to fast three days in a month, as the reward of a good deed is multiplied ten times, so it will be like fasting throughout the year." I insisted (on fasting) and so I was given a hard instruction. I said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have power." The Prophet said, "fast like the fasting of the Prophet David and do not fast more than that." I said, "How was the fasting of the Prophet of Allah, David?" He said, "Half of the year," (i.e. he used to fast on every alternate day). Afterwards when 'Abdullah became old, he used to say, "It would have been better for me if I had accepted the permission of the Prophet (which he gave me i.e. to fast only three days a month)." (Sahih Bukhari Book #31, Hadith #196)

He used to loved reading the AlQuran so much and read the Alquran from beginning to end .

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As: My father got me married to a lady of a noble family, and often used to ask my wife about me, and she used to reply, "What a wonderful man he is! He never comes to my bed, nor has he approached me since he married me." When this state continued for a long period, my father told the story to the Prophet who said to my father, "Let me meet him." Then I met him and he asked me, "How do you fast?" I replied, "I fast daily," He asked, "How long does it take you to finish the recitation of the whole quran?" I replied, "I finish it every night." On that he said, "Fast for three days every month and recite the Qur'an (and finish it) in one month." I said, "But I have power to do more than that." He said, "Then fast for three days per week." I said, "I have the power to do more than that." He said, "Therefore, fast the most superior type of fasting, (that is, the fasting of (prophet) David who used to fast every alternate day; and finish the recitation of the whole Qur'an In seven days." I wish I had accepted the permission of Allah's Apostle as I have become a weak old man. It is said that 'Abdullah used to recite one-seventh of the Qur'an during the day-time to some of his family members, for he used to check his memorization of what he would recite at night during the daytime so that it would be easier for him to read at night. And whenever he wanted to gain some strength, he used to give up fasting for some days and count those days to fast for a similar period, for he disliked to leave those things which he used to do during the lifetime of the Prophet. (Sahih Bukhari Book #61, Hadith #572)

He was present in battle of Siffin but he said he never threw a stone nor an arrow.
When asked why, he said that his father asked him to go to the battle and he obeyed. He was not asked to fight in the battle and he never had any interest for politics.

After his father's death, he went to Syria/Madinah.
There are many narrations as to where his grave is.
Some said he died in Madinah, others said Makkah, others said Taif, while other opinions were Egypt and Syria, hence there are 5 places which is linked to his burial ground.

In the hadith, Hawa means heart at peace and prefers

Hadith 40

Bismillah




On the authority of Abdullah Ibn Umar Radhi Allahu Anhu " He Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam took me by my shoulder and said " Be in this world as though you are a stranger or a wayfearer.
When the evening come do not expect (to live till) morning and at morning do not expect ( to live till) evening. Take from your health for your illness and from your life for your death".

Recap on the narrator of Hadith:
* son of Sayyidina Umar AlKhattab Radhi Allahu anhu... young sahabi
Attended in the first battle but was sent home by Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salamto take care of his mum as he was too young to fight.
*intense following of Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam
It has been reported that once on the way to Mecca, he lead his camel in a circle before continuing the journey. When asked why, he replied once he followed Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam to Mecca and at that spot there used to be a tree. Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam let his camel run free and the camel circled the tree before continuing and thus he imitated the same for the likeness of behaviour to Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam
Also once when he was walking he suddenly ducked
When enquired why he said that there use to be a branch of a tree there once and when Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam walked pass, he ducked under the branch and thus he imitated the same manner
*most learned in matters of Hajj and was called Shaykhul Hajj by the companions
The companions used to resort to his opinion on matters of Hajj
He performed 60 Hajj and 1000 umrah in his lifetime

In the hadith it is mentioned that Rasulullah Sallallahu alayhi wa aalihi wa salam took him by the shoulders.
This entails
* getting his attention
* loving relationship between them
* what is to be said is of importance
* to gather focus on the next subject matter

Stranger means not known . In fact it means to say that we are here because we have to be here

Wayfearer means we are here but we are just stopping a shortwhile, not even leaving our station but we are not meant to be here long.

Attitude: You are going to die
Do not get attached to duniya and do not accumulate
Live your life well with dignity
Hadith is about cutting off from the temporary world and finding out who you are

Allah created Adam and Hawa (Eve) Alaihi Salam in and they lived in Jannatul Adan
(This is their true nationality . We came from Adam and thus that is our nationality. Everything else about the nationality in this temporary world does not cause us distress as we are at peace with ourselves with this knowledge and understanding)
Adam Alaihi Salam when he was sent down was narrated to have arrived in a big island near India
Therefore you came from the Garden of Eden and you aspire to go back there

Also refer to hadith that narrates...."This religion began amongst strangers and it will return as it began."

Hadith..."He is to this world like a rider under the shade of a tree..."
which means world is simply something you pass through, not the focus of life

This hadith makes you think of death
It brings about 3 qualities
(i) live and want to worship your Creator
Worship Him with passion, sincerity and love

(ii) stop you from wasting time and delaying
You may not be here tomorrow to do what you plan, so take action NOW

(iii) give softness to ones heart and satisfaction
someone who has 100 pounds and says alhamdulillah and is satisfied is richer than someone who has 1000 pounds but craves for 2000 pounds

AlQuran: "Race... go quickly /dont delay towards magfir/forgiveness and race towards the Gardens for those who do good"

AlHadith:
Take 5 before 5
Your youth before old
Your health before illness
Your wealth before becoming poor
Your spare time before you have no spare time
Your life before death.


NOTE: You dont know what it is like to live hour to hour.....

Salawat badariah

SubhanaAllah. A very good article in Indonesian language regarding ahlil badar at majelis Rasulullah

Etiquette of studying sacred knowledge

The audio recording of is in multiply. May Allah grant us the proper intention and adaab in learning sacred knowledge. Ameen

Basyir fuadaka

Hizb al-Bahr

selawat dan burdah

Ad-diya' al lami' 1

Ad-diya' al lami' 2

Lineage of RasuluLlah sallaLlahu alayhi wassalam

"And memorise the lineage of the Chosen One,
until you reach in his lineage Adnan.
At that point stop and realise!
The lineage is traced back to Ismail who was a helper to his father"
(Habib Umar Bin-Hafidz: Ad-diya' Al-Lami')

Muhammad Rasulullah sallaLlahu alayhi wassallam Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Mutallib Bin Hashim Bin Abdul Manaf Bin Qusay Bin Kilab Bin Murrah Bin Ka’ab Bin Lu'ay Bin Ghalib Bin Fihir Bin Malik Bin Nadr Bin Kinanah Bin Khuzaymah Bin Mudrikah Bin Ilyas Bin Mudar Bin Nizar Bin Ma’ad Bin Adnan

Imam Sayuti on Prophet's parents

Bismillah
Assalamu alaykum,

Insha Allah we will benefit. Ameen.
http://www.marifah.net/articles/prophetsparentssaved-jalaluddinalsuyuti.pdf

Sheikh Nuh on Motherhood

From Sheikh Nuh,

When she has her first baby, she must manage for another life even more dependent on her personal sacrifices. By the second, third, or fourth child, her days and nights belong almost entirely to others. Whether she has a spiritual path or not, such a mother can seldom resist a glance at the past, when there were more prayers, more meanings, more spiritual company, and more serenity. When Allah opens her understanding, she will see that she is engaged in one of the highest forms of worship, that of producing new believers who love and worship Allah. She is effectively worshipping Allah for as many lifetimes she has children, for the reward of every spiritual work her children do will be hers, without this diminishing anything of their own rewards: every ablution, every prayer, every Ramadan, every hajj, and even the works her children will in turn pass on to their offspring, and, so on till the end of time. Even if her children do not turn out as she wishes, she shall be requited in paradise forever according to her intention in raising them, which was that they should be godly.

Aside from the tremendous reward, within the path itself it is noticeable that many of those who benefit most from khalwa or "solitary retreat of dhikr" are women who have raised children. With only a little daily dhikr and worship over the years, but much toil and sacrifice for others, they surpass many a younger person who has had more free time, effort, and "spiritual works." What they find is greater because their state with Allah is greater; namely, the awe, hope, and love of the Divine they have realized by years of sincerity to Him.

du'a birr walidayn

Book of assistance 20.01.08

du'a pregnancy

Awal muharram

BismilLah

A message from Habib Umar (HafidzulLah) for Muharram: http://www.guidancemedia.com/upcoming/AL-Muharram1.pdf
There's a du'a for the new year in there as well.

BarakalLahu fih.ا