A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh said, “The sign that your knowledge is sound is that it increases you in cognisance of Allah ( s.w.t. ).   The sign that your action has been Accepted is an increase in humility.   The sign that your action has been rejected is an increase in arrogance and pride.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh said, “Farmers plant seeds and out of Allah’s ( s.w.t. ) Generosity, they then grow into crops.   When callers to Allah ( s.w.t. ) plant the seeds of guidance in people’s hearts, do you think Allah ( s.w.t. ) is not Generous enough to allow those seeds to bear fruit?”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh said, “When light engages the heart, it causes an illumination of the path, a purification of the consciousness, an enlightenment of the intellect, and an establishment of the foundations of dzikr and shukr and of beautiful worship.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh said, “The one who asks, ‘Why did Allah Do this,’ or ‘Why did Allah Do that,’ does not know the meaning of ‘Allah’.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh said, “On the Day of Judgement, the light of the Sun will be extinguished, but the light of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) will only increase.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh said, “If we drink from the Prophet’s ( s.a.w. ) teachings in this life, we will drink from his river in the next life.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh, said, “The one who gives, takes, does, loves, hates for Allah’s Sake: his faith is complete.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh said, about Rabi’ al-Awwal, the month of the Prophet’s (s .a.w. ) birth, “Receive the month of his birth with actions that will draw your Lord’s Felicity and Assistance, such that you enter into the circles of those whom He Loves, and are Gathered under his banner.  Receive this month well, with truthful turning to Allah ( s.w.t. ), and with increase in faith, love, and certainty.  Let mention of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ), his birth, his life, his news, fill your homes.  Raise your voices in invocations of blessings upon him.  Illuminate your hearts and your homes by them.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh said, “If we look at the full Moon, we realise that the reason for its fullness is because it is fully facing the Sun.  The degree of the Moon’s completion is according to its facing the source of light.  Likewise, if a believer fully faces the Prophet ( s.a.w. ), the source of human perfection, then he will achieve perfection.  For this reason, the first group of believers to enter Paradise are described by the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) as being like the full Moon in their illumination.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh said, “O people who weep in yearning for the Prophet ( s.a.w. ), a tree wept for him, and he walked down from his minbar whilst he was delivering a khuthbah , just to comfort the tree and make it happy!  Do you not think that for his blessed human followers who weep for him, he would come down from the Heavens to comfort you?”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   The following is taken from Dzikr to Remove Disturbing Images from the Mind .   When asked what dzikr can be read to remove disturbing images from the mind, Habib ‘Umar ibn al-Hafizh advised us to read regularly, the following:   اللهُ مَعِيْ، اللهُ شَاهِدِيْ، اللهُ حَاضِرِيْ، اللهُ قَرِيْبٌ مِنِّيْ، اللهُ نَاظِرٌ إلَيَّ   Allahu ma’ii, Allahu shaahidii, Allaahu haadhirii, Allahu qariibun minnii, Allah naazhirun ilayya.   Allah is with me, Allah Witnesses me, Allah is Present with me, Allah is Near me, Allah is Watching me.   We are also advised to read 100 times daily, the following:   سُوۡرَةُ الحَشر هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۖ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ‌ۖ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (٢٢)   Huwa Allahu al-ladzii laa ilaha illa Huw ‘Aalimu al-ghaybi wa ash-shahaadah, Huwa ar-Rahmanu ar-Rahiim.   Allah is He, other than whom, there is no other god ― W...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is adapted from On Correcting Belief about the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) , and was answered by Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh.   A student said that when he first learnt about Islam, he was taught that the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) was merely a man and that we should not be excessive in praising him.   He asked, “How do I correct this belief?”   Habib ‘Umar replied, “You should heal yourself with the Qur’an, as this is one of the best sources of healing.   You should read and reflect upon the verses which praise the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) and mention his greatness and also read the commentaries on these verses.”   He was told to reflect, for example, upon Allah’s (s.a.w.) Statement:   سُوۡرَةُ الطُّور وَٱصۡبِرۡ لِحُكۡمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعۡيُنِنَا‌ۖ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ (٤٨)   So, wait patiently (O Muhammad) for your Lord’s Decree, for surely, you are in Our Sight; and hymn ...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Every year in Rabi’ al-Awwal,  Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh  ( q.s. ) gives a prayer upon the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) to be read by anyone who wishes.   This year he has given us the following prayer to be read 7,000 times if possible, in this blessed month:   اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَدْعُوكَ بِأَسْمَائِكَ الحُسْنى وكَلِمَاتِكَ التَّامَّاتِ أَنْ تُصَلَّيَ وتُسَلِّمَ على شَرِيفِ الذَّات، كَريمِ الصِّفات، عَبْدِكَ وَحَبِيبِكَ سَيِّدِنا مُحَمِّدٍ وعلى آلِهِ وصَحْبِهِ القادَات، وإِخْوَانِهِ مِنْ النَّبِيِّينَ وآلِهِم . وصَحْبِهِمْ والتَّابِعِين وأَنْ تُغِيثَ المُسْلِمين، وتَلْطُفَ بِهِم فِيما تَجْري بِهِ المَقادِير، يا نِعْمَ المَوْلى و نِعْمَ النَّصِير، وأَنْ تُفَرِّجَ كُرُوبَهُم، وتَكْشِفَ السُّوءَ والضُرَّ عَنْهُمْ يا قادِرُ يا قَوِيُّ يا مَتِينُ يا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمين آمين   Allaahumma innā nad’uuka bi asmaa’ik’al-husnaa wa kalimaatik at-taammaati an tuswalliya wa tusallima ‘alaa shariif adz-dzaat kariim asw-swifaa...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   At a time of political turmoil in the Muslim world, Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh ( q.s. ) expounded on some of the meanings of khilafah and clarified the reality of political power.  This is an extract from a rawhah in Imam Abu Thalib Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Makki’s ( r.a. ) book, Qut al-Qulub fi Mu’amalat al-Mahbub wa Waswf Thariq al-Murid ila Maqam at-Tawhid , with some additions for extra clarity.  The lesson took place in Dar al-Muswthafa on 21 st Ramadhan 1434 / 30 th July 2013.   There are two types of khilafah .   The first is the outward khilafah which relates to political power, which is not noble and honourable in itself.   Anyone may attain political power, whether they be pious or corrupt, whether they be a believer or a disbeliever, whether they be a prophet or a wretched person.   The Messenger of Allah ( s.a.w. ) said, “Had this dunya weighed even the wing of a gnat in Allah’s Est...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is from a swuhbah by Habib ‘Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hafizh ( q.s. ) from the Mawlid at Darul Mustafa on the night of 28 th Sha’ban 1432, the 28 th July 2011.   When someone turns themselves in full obedience to Allah ( s.w.t. ), realising he has turned himself to the One Who Created the heavens and the earth, Allah ( s.w.t. ) then Makes His Creation subservient to him.   Even the angels of the highest gatherings compete to be with such a person and to pray behind him.   This is the reward of those that respond to His Call and make their only desire calling to Him and serving Him.   سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنعَام إِنِّى وَجَّهۡتُ وَجۡهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ حَنِيفً۬ا‌ۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۟ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ (٧٩)   “For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, toward Him Who Created the Heavens and the Earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah.” (Surah al-An’am:79)   To us was ...