A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Once, an Arab merchant invited Habib Nuh ibn Muhammad al-Habshy ( q.s. ) to his home for a supplication of safety during a journey, what the Malays call “ du’a selamat ”.  The trader was going back to Yemen on some business. His planned to leave immediately after the du’a selamat , and would head to Keppel where a ship was awaiting.  At that time, there would only a few ships which set sail to Yemen every week.   When Habib Nuh ( q.s. ) arrived, he sat on the merchant's luggage while making du’a .  Habib Nuh ( q.s. ) made an extremely long du’a , until even the merchant became restless; he was going to miss his ship.  Out of respect for Habib Nuh ( q.s. ), nobody said anything.  By the time Habib Nuh ( q.s. ) ended his supplication, the ship had departed.  The guests started eating, but nobody said anything or questioned Habib Nuh ( q.s. ).   A week later, they heard the news that the ship on which the me...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Habib Nuh ibn Muhammad al-Habshy ( q.s. ) is remembered for his powerful and accurate premonitions.  He seemed to know if people were in need, or were sick, or had intentions meant for him.  Once, there was an Indian Muslim man who travelled back, by sea, to India, to visit his family.  He made a sacred pact, with Allah ( s.w.t .), that if he were to return to Singapore safely, he would present Habib Nuh ( q.s. ) with a gift.  Upon returning, he was shocked when Habib Nuh ( q.s. ) was already waiting for him at the shore.  Habib Nuh ( q.s. ) called out to him, “I believe you have made a promise to give something to me.”   Surprised, the man said, “Speak, O wise one, what you wish for, and I will gladly present it to you.”   Habib Nuh ( q.s. ) replied, “I would like to have rolls of yellow cloth to donate to the poor, the destitute, and children.”   Hugging Habib Nuh ( q.s .), the man cried, “By Allah, I...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Habib Nuh ibn Muhammad al-Habshy ( q.s. ), the wali of Singapore, was well known as a great healer, especially for children, whom he loved very much.  There was one occasion when he healed a child with an injured leg, by simply putting his hands over the wound and reciting some prayers.  Within moments, the child could run again as though nothing had happened to him.  The father of the child was so happy; he donated shillings to Habib Nuh ( q.s. ), who, in turn, gave the money away to the needy.   Habib Nuh ( q.s. ) would brave even thunderstorms to tend to any sick child.  He once walked to Paya Lebar, from his home at Telok Blangah, in heavy rain to heal a child.  When he arrived at the child’s home, to the astonishment of the parents, Habib Nuh ( q.s. ) was not wet.   In another incident, Habib Nuh ( q.s. ) was awakened by the continuous crying of his neighbour’s child.  When he went over, he found th...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The dead are not so dead.   Perhaps, they are more alive.   We are the dead.   We are the sleeping.   We are the heedless.   We are the ones immersed in dunya , heedless of what comes after.   We live as if this world is forever.   This world is a dream.   It is but a mere moment in time.   For even if we lived a thousand years, it would still end.   There is no life.   There is only the interval between waking.   Before we were born, we have been in the Presence.   And then, there was the Day of Promises.   We affirmed that He is One.   And that we will come back to Him.   سُوۡرَةُ الاٴعرَاف وَإِذۡ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمۡ ذُرِّيَّتَہُمۡ وَأَشۡہَدَهُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِہِمۡ أَلَسۡتُ بِرَبِّكُمۡ‌ۖ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ‌ۛ شَهِدۡنَآ‌ۛ أَن تَقُولُواْ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ إِنَّا ڪُنَّا عَنۡ هَـٰذَا غَـٰفِلِينَ (١٧٢)   When thy Lord Drew forth...

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...

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 ...