A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is an article by Ustadz Fakhr ad-Din Uwaysi al-Madani.   Sayyidi Muhammad Mawlud ibn Fal ( r.a. ) of Mauritania was one of the biggest khulafah of the Tijaniyyah in the 19 th century.  Thousands entered the thariqa’ by his hands.  He took the thariqa’ from Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ibn Mukhtar ash-Shinqithi ( q.s. ) who took it directly from Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad at-Tijani ( q.s. ).  He was a great scholar of shari’ah , giving lectures, but one day a well-known majdzubah of the area interrupted his lesson and said to him, “If you want real knowledge, go to Muhammad al-Hafizh.”  So he went and submitted.   Sometime after taking the thariqa’ , he walked all the way to Fas, to ziyarah the grand Sayyidi , reciting Swalawat al-Fatih at every step.  Upon his arrival there, he was told that Shaykh at-Tijani ( q.s. ) had just passed away but had left some things for him, his mus...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is extracted from “Can Women Lead Men in Swalah ?” by Shaykh Nur ad-Din Abu ‘Ubadah ‘Ali ibn Juma’ah.   What is the legal ruling for women leading men in prayers?  The majority of scholars agreed on the impermissibility of a woman leading men in prayers due to the possibility of jeopardizing the woman’s dignity and honour especially because prayer includes prostration.  Therefore, Muslims along the centuries in the East and the West were accustomed to women praying behind men to preserve the high etiquette which Islam establishes between men and women.  It is also important to state that Islam came as a universal message encompassing all people from different cultural backgrounds and this means it is not restricted to a certain culture or confined to a specific country.   Therefore, some scholars have permitted women to lead men in prayers such as Imam Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Jarir ath-Thabari ( r.a. ), an...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   The following is an article by Ustadz Fakhr ad-Din Uwaysi al-Madani in response to an issue of swalah as brought up by a Tijani.   The majority of the Tijaniyyah and their shuyukh follow the Maliki madzha b.   However, Shaykh Ibrahim ibn ‘Abdullah Niyas al-Kawlakhi ( q.s. ) advised all Tijaniyyah to pray with folded arms.   What is issue with not folding the arms in swalah like the rest of the Malikis?   Why should the Tijaniyyah follow Shaykh Ibrahim's ( q.s. ) ijtihad rather than the dominant Maliki position?   What do we say to those who would say the Tijanis are doing the same thing as Salafis who also go against the madzahib , preferring to follow the ijtihad of their scholars such as Muhammad Naswir ad-Din al-Albani, or ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Baz?   In answer, we must differentiate between abandoning the madzahib all together, following some new pseudo- ijtihad that goes against all...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is adapted from “The Difference between an Imam , a Shaykh , a Mufti and a Faqih , ” by Shaykh Nur ad-Din Abu ‘Ubadah ‘Ali ibn Juma’ah.   The term, “ imam ” has various meanings which includes someone who leads others in prayer.  He must be a Muslim, proficient in reading the Qur’an, sane and male if the congregation includes males.  The majority of scholars are of the opinion that a female may only lead other women in prayer.  The imamate of a boy is valid.   In shari’ah , the word, “ imam ” may refer to the ruler of a state depending on the context.  The word likewise refers to a person who has profound religious knowledge or someone who is foremost among the religious community.  There is no minimum to the skills required to qualify a person to this title, but the matter depends upon a scholar’s renown and recognition by other scholars which, in turn, depends upon time and place.   The...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is from Ustadz Fakhr ad-Din Uwaysi al-Madani.   We recall the tragic martyrdom of the grandson of the Messenger of Allah ( s.a.w. ) and his sweet offspring, Sayyidina Husayn ibn ‘Ali ( r.a. ), in the land of difficulty and affliction, karb wa bala’ , Karbala’, in the area of at-Taf in Iraq.   It is well known that among the major principles of the Tijani thariqa’ , as well as its greatest etiquettes, is reverence for the Prophetic Household, Ahl al-Bayt .   Our shaykh , al-Khatm Shaykh Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad at-Tijani ( q.s. ) had extolled their rank.   And he is also from them.   He is a Hasani sharif , whose lineage is authentic, having been verified by the Prophet ( s.a.w. ), with his saying to him, “You are truly my offspring.”   The Prophet ( s.a.w. ) said it thrice.   This is recorded in Jawahir al-Maʼani .   Likewise, it was the custom of Shaykh at-Tijani ( q.s. ), to stan...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   The following is a transcript of a talk by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad.   One of the blessings of praying to the Merciful Lord to, “Guide us on the Straight Path,” is that we should utilise our material blessings and assets to be of benefit to us in this life as well as in the next.   How many people waste their lives and the precious material gifts that the Merciful Lord Bestowed on them?   Many of them became pauper after having much, and they then realised that they wasted their time and resources in things that did not stay with them forever.   They then had to continue the journey of life with very little, or in some case with nothing.   Sometimes the thought may come to the minds of the believers and that is, why is it that Allah ( s.w.t. ) is bestowing so much of material things on the rejecters of His Oneness?   Many of them do not only misuse their wealth, but they also cause harm, hardship and sufferin...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is taken from the transcript of a discourse delivered by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad.   One way Allah ( s.w.t. ) has Selected to give us knowledge is by telling us things in parables.   For example, He talks about a goodly tree.   He Says:   سُوۡرَةُ إبراهیم أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلاً۬ كَلِمَةً۬ طَيِّبَةً۬ كَشَجَرَةٍ۬ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصۡلُهَا ثَابِتٌ۬ وَفَرۡعُهَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ (٢٤) تُؤۡتِىٓ أُڪُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينِۭ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهَا‌ۗ وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَڪَّرُونَ (٢٥)   See you not how Allah Sets Forth a parable? ― a goodly word like a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the heavens ― It brings forth its fruit at all times, by the leave of its Lord.   So Allah Sets Forth parables for men, in order that they may receive Admonition.   (Surah Ibrahim:24-25)   Here Allah ( s.w.t. ) is Alluding that all goo...