Hawl at the Maqam of Habib Nuh ibn Muhammad al-Habshi (q.s.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

We were at the Maqam of Habib Nuh ibn Muhammad al-Habshi (q.s.) for the hawl and Mawlid.  It was beautiful.  Many people were there.  Habib Nuh (q.s.) himself was there for some time before he left to visit a friend.  The Mawlid is a place of reflection and a recollection of the sirah as they went through the readings. 

We stood in valley during the prohibition against Banu Hashim, in the Year of Sorrows.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) lost both his beloved wife, Sayyidatina Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (r.a.) and uncle, Sayyidina Abu Thalib ibn ‘Abd al-Muththalib (r.a.).  This was a year of losses.  What are our losses compared to the Prophet (s.a.w.)?  For we undergo is nothing but dust in the eye of a storm compared to the tests of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.). 

We were at Tha’if, where the angels of death and destruction came with Jibril (a.s.).  The Prophet (s.a.w.) was bleeding from cuts.  But the pain of rejection was in the heart.  Has anyone amongst us known such rejection?  And yet with the option of destruction and revenge, he prayed for their forgiveness.  He was sent to be a Mercy.  And the next generation will be better, insha’Allah.  The superiority of Madina over Makkah is that one accepted the Prophet (s.a.w.), whilst the other drove him away.  But both did not reject him to the extent of Tha’if.  Madina became the city of the Prophet (s.a.w.), Makkah’s idols bowed before the Truth, but Tha’if pleaded to keep its idol even after Fath al-Makkah. 

We were at Badr, at the wells, facing the Quraysh.  And behind the ranks of the Believers, came the Armies of Allah (s.w.t.).  There were mala’ikat on white horses and flowing turbans.  And they came like the wind.  As ever have they come in many places where the ummah have fought in the name of Allah (s.w.t.), though most men see them not.  Because the Promise of Allah (s.w.t.) is True. 

We were at Uhud, where the Prophet (s.a.w.) was bleeding from a wound in the cheek.  And yet he never let the blood fall to the ground.  Any people who have shed the blood of their Prophet (s.a.w.) and that blood touched the ground were doomed by the Wrath of Allah (s.w.t.).  Such was his love for those who opposed him that he never let that blood fall.  How great is this Prophet (s.w.t.)?  This is why Allah (s.w.t.) Exalts him and why all Creation gives him salutations.  And this despite seeing the bodies of the Believers mutilated.  Sayyidatina Umm Salamah Hind bint Suhayl (a.s.) cut open the body of Sayyidina Hamzah ibn ‘Abd al-Muththalib (r.a.), uncle of the Prophet (s.a.w.), and ate a part of his liver.  They made anklets out of the noses and ears of some of them.  And he forgave them.  Can we know forgiveness such as this? 

We were at Madina, the Battle of Khandaq, facing the Ahzab.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) was stripped to the waist in the Trench.  In the time of overwhelming despair, he saw the conquests of Constantinople and Mada’in.  Where many quailed, there were those who saw and had their faith increased.  This is Allah’s (s.w.t.) Promise come to Pass.  At every level, there will be tests.  There will be open adversaries, there will be hypocrites and there will be friends who kiss your hand and doubt you in their heart. 

We were on the rock next to Abu Sufyan Sakhr ibn Harb and Sayyidina ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muththalib (r.a.).  The armies of Islam were marching into Makkah in rank.  And in the lead, was Sayyidina Abu Sulayman Khalid ibn al-Walid (r.a.) who shouted ‘Allahu Akbar!’ three times.    And then came the rest of the ten thousand saints into the new Jerusalem, as mentioned in the Bible.  And the Words of the Qur’an, in which Allah (s.w.t.) promised a Glorious Victory.  Indeed, He is the Keeper of Promises. 

And there were many scenes besides.  Places, times, faces, smells…  So, real and yet not.  And how can we not feel?  This was the part where they welcomed the Prophet (s.a.w.), as if they welcomed him into Yatsrib.  And we were crying.  The tears were like a river.  And of course, the Prophet (s.a.w.) was there.  And he came with friends.  The air was electric, the scent was the smell of heavenly musk. 

Later that evening, we were at Arab Street.  After supper, were walking in the direction towards the Sultan Mosque.  There were children in the masjid singing Thala'a al-Badru ‘Alayna.  They were singing with the enthusiasm that only children and the truly innocent have.  And that is the state of true ikhlasw.  And what an exalted station that is.  As we were passing by a table at a coffeeshop, the people, who were all Muslims, were making fun of the song.  How much at loss, they were.  Sometimes, it is difficult to decide whether to be angry or sad.  As we got closer to the masjid, we gave salaam to the masjid for there are always mala’ikat and other beings of the ghayb there and then as if by inspiration, we gave salaam to Rasulullah (s.a.w.).  After all, there was a Mawlid and surely, he is present.  And of course, he replied.