A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu al-Faraj ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Jawzy ( r.a. ) wrote, in  Thib ar-Ruhani , “The earnings of a wise person should be more than what he actually needs, and he should keep some savings aside to recompense for his loss lest a misfortune occur.  Further, in the event that he is unable to work and earn a living, due to some problem preventing him from doing so, his savings should be enough for him to use for the rest of his life.  That said, if his wife gives birth to a child, or if he wants to marry another wife, or if he needs a servant, or if his child requires money, then his earnings should suffice him.   In general, expenditure should be less than earnings, so that one can set aside wealth for any misfortune that might occur, for this is what the mind; that reflects on consequences, commands, and what hawa’ that observes only the present state, is not concerned with.   It has been reported that Abu Dar...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ When Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abu Thalib ( k.w. ) used to pray, his hair would stand on end.   He would tremble and say, “The hour has come to fulfill a trust which the heavens and the earth were unable to bear.” Sayyidina Abu Darda’ Uwaymir ibn Zayd ( r.a. ) an eminent companion of the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) said, “None in this world has excelled ‘Ali in prayer.” While praying, so great was the intensity of his emotions that he would fall into a swoon.   It is related that on one occasion, Sayyidina Abu Darda’ ( r.a. ) found Sayyidina ‘Ali ( k.w. ) lying rigid on the prayer mat, and touching his cold body thought that Sayyidina ‘Ali ( k.w. ) had breathed his last.   When he broke this news to Sayyiditina Fathimah ( r.a. ), she said that Sayyidina ‘Ali ( k.w. ) often became unconscious while praying.   Sayyidina Abu Darda’ ( r.a. ) wept profusely, and then sprinkled some water on Sayyidina ‘Ali’s ( k.w. ) face and he regained con...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Sayyidina Abu Darda’ Uwaymir ibn Zayd ( r.a. ) said, “Were it not for three things, the people would have been rectified: Greed which is obeyed, desires which are followed, and people being pleased and amazed at their own opinions.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Sayyidina Abu Darda’ Uwaymir ibn Zayd ( r.a. ) said, “If you knew what I know, you would go out to the jungle, weeping and crying and leave your property unguarded.  But your hearts are heedless of the requirements of the Hereafter and you have, before you, worldly hopes and aspirations.  That is why the world has become your master and all your activities are directed towards it; you have reduced yourself to a condition of stark ignorance.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Sayyidina Abu Darda’ Uwaymir ibn Zayd ( r.a. ) said, “Fast the hot days in anticipation of the Day of Resurrection, and pray in the dark night in anticipation of the dark grave.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following du’a was taught by one of my shuyukh , Shaykh Ahmad ‘Arif.  I normally recite it after every swalah as part of my wirid and dzikr .  However, I end the du’a with the recitation of swalawat .   أَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّيْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَ أَنْتَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيْمِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ كَانَ وَ مَا لَمْ يَشَأْ لَمْ يَكُنْ، وَ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيْمِ، أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ، وَ أَنَّ اللّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا، أَللّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِيْ وَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ دَابَّةٍ أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَا، إِنَّ رَبِّيْ عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيْمٍ   Allahumma anta Rabbii laa ilaha illaa anta ‘alayka tawakkaltu wa anta Rabbu al-‘Arsh al-Kariim.  Mashaa’Allahu kaan wa maa lam yashaa’ lam yakun, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa bi Allaahi al-‘Aliyyi al-‘Azhiim.  A’alamu ...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Sayyidina Abu ‘Abdullah Salman al-Farisi, ( r.a. ) is second in line in the Golden Chain of the Naqshbandi Haqqani, after Sayyidina Abu Bakr ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Utsman asw-Swiddiq ( r.a. ).  His behaviour is the exemplar of the hadits on the authority of Sayyidina Anas ibn Malik ( r.a. ) where the Prophet ( s.a.w. ) said, “No one truly believes until he loves for the people what he loves for himself.”  This was recorded in Musnad Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal .   There was a time when Salman al-Farisi ( r.a. ) was considering marrying a pious and noble lady of the answar with whom he knew, and had fallen in love with.  He was new to Madinah, a stranger in a strange land and unfamiliar with the customs as he sought the hand of the local lady.  And so he turned to his answar brother, Sayyidina Abu Darda’ Uwaymir ibn Zayd ( r.a. ) and expressed his wish.   “ Subhanallah wa al-Hamdulillah !” cried Abu Darda’ ( r.a. ).  He ...