A Muslim Convert Once More

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ In the year 555 AH, Imam Ahmad ibn ‘Ali ar-Rifa’i ( q.s. ) journeyed to Makkah for the haj .   During his visit to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina, he offered his prayers at the Rawdhah.   In a loud voice, he addressed the Prophet ( s.a.w. ), “ as-Salaamu’Alaykum , my ancestor.” Then, a voice replied, “ Wa ‘Alaykum as-Salaam , my descendant.” On hearing this voice, Imam Ahmad ar-Rifa’i ( q.s. ) was overcome with ecstasy.   Many others in attendance heard the voice of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) at the same time.   With tears in his eyes, Imam Ahmad ar-Rifa’i ( q.s. ) disclosed to those present, that when he was away from the sacred resting place of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ), his spirit used to visit, and kiss the blessed shrine of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ). He pleaded with the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) for physical touch, and requested that the hands be extended to enable the lips of the devotee to kiss them.   The Prophet ( s.a....

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ I once had some reservations about a certain “ shaykh ”, so I did my istikharah , and left it at that.  I had a long, vivid dream.  I dreamt I was lying down in a shallow grave.  I sat up and I was surrounded by a centre group of people who all belonged to the same majlis .  I saw Shaykh Zakariya ibn ‘Umar Bagharib ( q.s. ) there, and I saw a particular shaykh .  I could see right through them to the chair they sat on.  They did not look too pleased.  In the background, there were people.  They were indistinct; although they had turbans and wore the traditional dress of the shuyukh of the thariqa’ .  There were many of them.  I was told that this shaykh whom I could see through, had passed away and I felt great loss in my heart.  This is strange since I never really thought I had a close relationship with him.   I saw this “ shaykh ” of whom I had doubts and he was smiling broadly. ...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is extracted from Habib Nuh ibn Muhammad al-Habshy ( q.s. ) .   It is based on the recollections of Shaykh Hasan ‘Abdullah al-Khathib ( r.a. ), the then caretaker of Habib Nuh’s ( q.s. ) mausoleum.   Habib Nuh ibn Muhammad al-Habshy ( q.s. ) came from Kedah, Malaysia.   Not much was known about his early life.   He came from a family of four brothers.   His other three brothers were ‘Arifin and Zayn, both of whom passed away in Penang; and the youngest, Salikin, who passed away in Daik, Indonesia.   From his marriage with Anchik Hamidah who came from Wellesley Province, Penang, they were blessed with only one daughter, Sharifah Badaniah.   Sharifah Badaniah later married Sayyid Muhammad ibn Hasan ash-Shathri at Jelutong, Penang.   The couple then gave Habib Nuh ( q.s. ) his only grandchild, a girl named Sharifah Ruqayyah ash-Shathri ( q.s. ).   She married Sayyid Alwi ibn ‘Ali al-Junayd ...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   The following is extracted from Qala’id al-Jawahir , and translated by Ustadz Muhtar Holland.   When Shaykh Muhyi ad-Din Abu Muhammad ibn Abu Swalih ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani ( q.s. ) emerged from his seclusion, Shaykh Abu ar-Ridha’ ( q.s. ), the servant, asked Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir ( q.s. ) what was his experience during his period of seclusion.   Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir ( q.s. ) turned around and gave him a look of annoyance, and then he uttered these:   “The Beloved Revealed Himself to me from the darkness of the veils, So, I witnessed things too marvellous for mere words to describe. The universe was radiant with the light of His Countenance, And I feared that my fate would be sealed by the awe He Inspired. I called to Him in secret, in honour of His Majesty and Glory, And I did not seek the Vision of Him, for fear of Stern Rebuke; Except that I did beseech Him: ‘Grant just a single Glimpse, For You will there...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   The following is a qaswidah , in praise of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ), attributed to Sayyidina Hasan ibn Tsabit ( r.a. ).   “When I saw his light shining forth, In fear I covered my eyes with my palms, Afraid for my sight because of the beauty of his form. So, I was scarcely able to look at him at all.   The lights from his light are drowned in his light, And his faces shines out like the Sun and Moon in one. A spirit of light lodged in a body like the Moon, A mantle made up of brilliant shining stars.   I bore it until I could bear it no longer. I found the taste of patience to be like bitter aloes. I could find no remedy to bring me relief, Other than delighting in the sight of the one I love.   Even if he had not brought any clear signs with him, The sight of him would dispense with the need for them. Muhammad is a human being but not like other human beings.   Rather he is a flawless diamond...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ To most Muslims, du’a means supplication.   Du’a is much more than that.   It is everything that is said, every passing thought.   That is why we are accountable for what we think.   So we must guard the tongue and guard the passing thoughts.   D u’a can change our life and our outlook.   It is the most potent weapon of a mu’min .   Once, Prophet Muhammad ( s.a.w. ) passed by a people who were suffering from some affliction.   “Why do they not make ud’iyyah to Allah for Protection?” he asked.   The practice of du’a has become ritual for many Muslims.   It is considered when all efforts have failed.   It is an act of last resort.   It is belittled through actions and sometimes even with words.   For some, it conveys the idea of hopelessness.   They have not recognised the Generosity of Allah ( s.w.t. ).   D u’a is the essence of ‘ibadah .   We can never fai...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Malik ibn Anas ( r.a. ), the Shaykh of Islam, the Proof of the Community, and Imam of the Abode of Emigration.   He was one of the most highly respected scholars of fiqh .   Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi’i ( r.a. ), who was one of Imam Malik’s ( r.a. ) students for nine years, and a scholarly giant in his own right, stated, “When scholars are mentioned, Imam Malik is the star.”   The Maliki madzhab named after him.   It is one of the four major schools of jurisprudence.   His full name was Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Malik ibn Anas ibn Malik ibn Abu ‘Amir ibn ‘Amr ibn al-Harits ibn Ghayman ibn Khuthayl ibn ‘Amr ibn al-Harits al-Aswbahi.   His lineage was from al-Aswbahi, a royal tribe, a branch of Himyar, in Yemen.   Imam Abu al-Fadhl ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuthi ( q.s. ) said that Imam Malik’s ( r.a. ) lineage goes to Ya’rab ibn Yashjab ibn Qahth...