Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Burdah Night on 24 dec 08 at Malabar Mosque

Salaam everyone,

To the lovers of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. we hope and dua you are in the state of good health in this blessed month. In the Colleberation between Malabar Muslim Jama-ath Mosque, Simply Islam and Sout Ilaahi, we would like to invite you to Burdah Night "The Love for Prophet s.a.w. with Shaykh Fakhruddin Owaisi al Madani al Tijani from South Africa. The event will commence after the Solat Maghrib on 24 Dec 08 at Malabar Mosque 471 Victoria Street , Singapore

Insha'Allah shaykh Fakhrudin who is himself a master of reading burdah will be leading this noble majlis. We hope you are able to attend this Burdah event. All are welcome, man and woman. Its an opportunity not to be miss.

Biography
Shaykh Fakhruddin Owaisi al-Madani,is the descendant of Sayyidina Owais al-Qarni, is a muqaddam of the Tijaniyya in Cape Town, South Africa. He was born in the USA but grew up and studied in Medina al-Munawwara for 18 years. He has an MA in Islamic Studies from the University of Cape Town and is the Imam of the Hout Bay Mosque in Capetown. He is also the Head of the Sunni `Ulema Council of Cape Town. Shaykh Fakhruddin studied with Sayyid Muhammad `Alawi al-Maliki of Mecca and also has ijazah in Hadith from Sayyid Muhammad al-Yaqubi. He took the Tariqa from the great Sufi master Shaykh Hassan Cisse of Senegal.

What is Burdah?
"Historians look at the Burdah, we very soon realize that what we are dealing with is very probably the most influential and the most popular single poem in the history of any language. there simply is no other text from ancient or recent times that has been done in so many languages, not just for some rarefied literary elite but for the people..." -

Timothy J. Winter (Abdal Hakim Murad), Cambridge University, UK


Qasida Burdah as a poem has had a unique history. Even in the poet's lifetime it was already regarded as sacred. Over 90 commentaries have been written on this poem by many of the foremost scholars and imams of Islam, including Ibn Hajar, Mulla Ali al-Qari, Ibn Allan, Bajuri, and others. It has been translated into Persian, Urdu, Turkish, Berber, Punjabi, English, French, German, Sindhi, Dutch and other languages. It is recited across the world in sacred ceremonies, mosques, on blessed days even in social gatherings such as marriage etc. The poem is memorized and recited in congregations, and its verses decorate the walls of public buildings and mosques.

From coasts of Senegal to the Philippines, from Russia to South Africa, everywhere Qasida Burdah is recited as a token of love for the Prophet and to ask for blessings. In some circles it is a major and regular practice to recite the Burdah. In Indonesia for example, its a normal routine for the students of religious training to read Burdah on the Friday morning after sunrise or Saturday afternoon. Some having it thrice a week while others may have it the whole week in the early morning. In Java, Burdah is one of their Spiritual Culture.

Melodies of Medina by Shaykh Fakhrudin


This CD produced by Sout Ilaahi is available at Wardah Bookstore and Toko Warisan
You can listen to the samples at www.soutilaahi.com

Track titles of the CD:

1) Tala al badru alayna
2) Allahu Adkhulul Madinah
3) As Salatu Alal Muzallal
4) Bushra Lana
5) Hubb un nabiyyi wal ali
6) Ya Imama Rusli
7) Allahu Ataynaka Bil Faqri
8) Allahu Ma Madda
9) Khayr Al Bariyyah
10) Sal Allahu ala Taha
11) Sal Allahu Alayk Ya nur
12) Al Burdah

photo: CD cover, below: Shaykh Fakhrudin Owaisi

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Sout Ilaahi Website

Salaam and Hellooo everyone, We are thankful to Allah swt and his beloved Prophet Muhammd s.a.w for the reality of Sout Ilaahi new website at www.soutilaahi.com Thanks for your support since the beginning. We hope to continue our effort in producing Qasidah, mawlid, Nasheeds and many more other projects which will bring benefit to our society. may Allah bless you and your families and friends.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Qurban (Thanks for your participation)

786m

Salaam bro and sis,

I hope and dua you are in the state of good health in this blessed month. I would like to thanks those who have been participating the Qurban project which me and few friends have been organizing for the past few years till today.This year the number of people participating the Qurban increase tremendously despite the economic turmoil. Alhamdulilah. We are glad that we are able to help the poor people in Solo, Jogjarkarta and Aceh. We hope you are able to support our future projects. May Allah bless you.

In Solo, there were 350 poor families and many orphans which hadbenefit from this Qurban project. The Qurban meat was distributed to them. The Qurban was handled by Kiyai Sholeh Masrur and supervised by Habib Noh al Haddad who is the direct descendant of Habib Abdullah al haddad and a prince of Solo.The Qurban was done at the villa of Habib Nuh al Haddad. There was a video taken during the Qurban there. Those who participated will be able to get the vcd soon. Habib Noh and Kiyai Sholeh express their sincerest love and thanks to you whom had participated in this Qurban

While in Aceh, the Qurban was handled by Shaykh Jamhuri bin Ramli al Hafiz. There was photo and video taken during the Qurban, those who participated Qurban in Aceh can get the Vcd and photos from me soon. There were many poor people, orphans and broken families from the tsunami tragedy benefited from this Qurban as meat of the Qurban were distributed among them.They came from many parts of Aceh estimated more than 300 people. They were overwhelmed and happy to receive such gifts from our brothers and sisters in Singapore. Shaykh Jamhuri and the Governor of Banda Aceh would like to thanks those who participate in this Qurban and hope to continue this noble effort.

In Jogjakarta, the Qurban is handled by bro Joko together with the Keraton, Royal family and workers. Alhamdulilah, the king and his family including his secretary was very happy with the contributions of Qurban from Singaporeans.They were also looking forward to continue this noble project in the coming future, inshaAllah.

The success of this noble Qurban project is due to the baraqah of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w and Awliyah Allah including our beloved Murshid Mawlana Shaykh Nazim and his deputies Mawlana Shaykh Hisham and Mawlana Shaykh Adnan. may Allah bless them and lengthen their life in this world to guide us and the rest of humanities.

may Allah bless you and forgive me.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Available of our products


















Alhamdulilah, some of our CDs such as Recitation Of The Beloved "Mawlid Daibai" by Shaykh Zakaria Bahgarib, Qasidah Burdah by Habib Hassan al kaff, Celebration of the beloved, Melodies of Medina by Shaykh Fakhrudin Owaisi, Mawlid berzanji is available at Toko Warisan.

address of Toko Warisan
1 Joo Chiat Road, #02-1017 JOO CHIAT COMPLEX,

Blk 201E Tampines St 23 #01-96 Singapore 527201

Also available at al Khidmah
http://www.alkhidmah.com/
only certain CDs such as Habib Syech vol 01, Mawlid Daibai by Shaykh Zakaria, Melodies of Medinah by Shaykh Fakhrudin Owaisi

All our CD products are available at Wardah Books (www.wardahbooks.com)

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Poverty and meat

I cant forget those days I spent in Java especially in Solo. It was something which I will never forget for the rest of my life. The images of poverty remain in my mind which I always try to force myself to be thankful to live in Singapore. One cant imagine how tough their life could be. Living at home with no tiles and proper renovation, rats running around, mosquitoes attacking them in the middle of the night. Yet they are contend with life and remain faithful to God. Its something precious and valuable that I learn. Some have sheep, goats and cows but cant consume meat because of their poverty. Usually, they had meat meal once in a year or during the Haul of some habaaib. Otherwise their routine meal would be beans, rice and some vegetable. No doubt its the healthy lifestyle but if we can help them to have the experience of eating meat would make them happy. Even the poor people in Singapore does get this sort of luxury meal. Therefore, I have decided to have this Qurban Project in Solo and Aceh, sorely the purpose is to help these poor families having the experience of eating meat. may Allah forgive me by being with them.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The significant and wisdom of Qurban

Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil Haqqani

O people! Islam is haqq, it is the true religion; if it was batil/vain no one would be here. Fifteen hundred years ago this command was given: go to hajj. And if you cannot go, the ones that don't go: go and celebrate the eid prayers and celebrations, and look, many people are running to do it. There are many people saying 'Islam is backwards, it is from the dark ages.' But no! Islam is like a sun, shining like a sun from day one until the Last Day.

Keep your iman/faith and make it stronger. And how do you make it stronger? With your prayers and good deeds. And Allah will ask:

'Didn't you have two minutes to make two rakaats/cycles of prayer For Me? I have given you many different things and you haven't thought of Me even once in 24 hours, to pray two rakaats to Me -something which takes only two minutes?' In the morning, wash your hands and face, wash your feet as well, and pray two rakaats.

They come to me saying 'Sheykh Efendi, our job is going bad!' How is your relationship with Allah Almighty? 'It is not good.' If you are betraying yourself and Allah Almighty, it is bad, it is not good. That means that everything is going bad. 'Sheykh Efendi, pray Allah to give us!' And Allah says 'Why should I give him, is he remembering me? No. Then, why should I give him? If I give him more, he will loose His head more.'

So, you pray! Don't let a day pass without sajdah/prostration. When we are praying before going out in the morning, it is more barakah/blessing coming into that day. The one whose rizq/provision is finished, will die.

But if you're alive, your rizq will come, and there is an angel especially bringing barakah. And the angel is looking if someone is praying or not. If he is praying, the angel will give the blessings, if not, he will take it away.. the angel will take the barakah away. If you don't want your business to go bad, you must have good relations with Allah Almighty subhanahu wa ta'ala.

May Allah give us the right tawbah/repentance to ask in a right way
for forgiveness. Today is the day that you put your sacrifices in the direction of the qiblah and say 'Bismillah, Allahu Akbar', and then you slaughter your sacrificial animal. And after that you pray two rakaat thanksgiving /shukr for it. As soon as you cut the animal's air pipe and blood vessels, you must leave the animal. Don't cut deeper. And you must leave the animal for two or three minutes, it is its right to move, and all the blood to come out. If you cut the wrong place and the animal doesn't move much, then all the blood remains in the body which is not good for people. You have the right to keep one third, and then give one third to poor people. And for that Allah will protect you and your kids and your household, because of that. And Allah will put trouble away from you. If you don't sacrifice on Eid day, trouble will come and then you pay ten times more than the money you should have paid that day to slaughter one animal. Allah will make you pay ten times more! Maybe someone touches your car, an accident happens, you pay too much money. Don't think because of this sacrifice your money will decrease, or if you give sadaqa/alms your money will decrease. Give, and don't allow your hand to shake when you give! Many troubles Allah is keeping away from you. So give generously! And today we all gather here to pray the Eid prayer. And we make intention how to do the prayer. Whatever we say in khutbah/preach, I say it here so we don't have to keep the people, I make it short in khutbah.

May Allah increase the rank of the holy Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam peace be upon him. The ones that are trying to bring the Prophet's name down, don't allow them, O our Lord! Make them away and protect us from enemies, and enemies of Islam and protect, O our Lord, our families also and don't allow us to be with evildoers, let us be with good ones.

Be careful with your kids, with the young ones, because this young age is important. Don't allow them in these days with these bad doings. There are many bad things people are doing today: drugs, alcohol and other things, all the worst dirt the west brought here. When you come to them with your customs, they look 'what did you bring here?' What did they bring? Only bad things, to make people lose their good ways and learn these evil and bad things. We must pray Allah not to put us with bad ones but to write our names with good ones. Live clean, and when you leave this world, leave clean. Allahumma salli ala sayyidina

Muhammadin Nabeyyil ummi wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa sallim.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Ibadah Korban 2008 at Aceh and Solo


InshaAllah, this year, I will be helping Yayasan Nurul Ummah and Zawiyah Haqqani Aceh for Ibadah Korban. Per sheep for Solo is $190 while Aceh is $200.

Kiyai Sholeh Mashruh is the principal of Yayasan Nurul ummah. Hes the famous teacher who teach and guide students who are going to study in Egypt, Yemen (Darul Mustafa) and many more while Shaykh Jamhuri is handling the Zawiyah Haqqani Aceh. He is one of the Imam of Baitur Rahman Mosque in Aceh. Alhamdulilah,we have been working together for many years.

For those who are keen, you may send the money to me. The money currency is in Singapore dollars. For more information and enquiries please email me. Thanks. wasalam. may Allah bless you

Khalid Ajmain

Downpour

The economic turmoil has return. The number of depression are rapidly increasing day by day. People are losing their savings, business , jobs and family. You can imagine few years back when we were hit with the same situation, Indonesia were in the state of chaos. People are hinging on to their thin hopes. Today, Thailand is facing bloodshed on their political front while Malaysia is heading towards another political twist. We are lucky to be living in Singapore despite the slump of our economy, we are still living in peace and harmony. We don't know what is going to happen in the near future but we hope for the best for our beloved country and the people.

Everything begins with speculation and thus created so much fuss that people were becoming insane and banks are completely haywire. Shares and stock all of a sudden plunge, like a mission of suicide. There goes the million of dollars. I remembered back then when we were having the same situation, everyone was stress. Here it comes again. My former boss used to joke, he said" What goes up must come down in life". Whatever hes trying to refer or saying, I am sure in life there is up and down.

Monday, September 29, 2008

layla oh layla

Its weird to know many people have been asking me about laylatur Qadr. Was it on 25th night? I was wondering why so many people came to me and shared their experience on that particular night. I received sms from Abdul Rauf Jakarta saying tonight is the Laylatur Qadr. Then I asked him where he got the news. He replied from Ahmad Nazim (KL) and he got the message from Cyprus. Wallahu Walam. There are people who doubt about it but I couldn't care less because to me, whether it is or not, its not my problem . All I need to do is to search for it almost every night. I have to work it out from home. But our beloved Shaykh said when your guide said on certain date, we have to be certainty. No doubt about it, I have my certainty. And I know on 27th is laylatur Qadr because Shaykh Hisham said so. Shaykh Zakaria told me on the 25th was the laylatur Qadr for Awliyah.

I have to admit this year Ramadhan have been very bad for me. Somehow, I cant pray at the mosque because I have to take my medication and also I feel very tired and lethargic. Anyway, I was really shocked to hear a friend of mine always tasting the sea water on the odd night and until today he didn't taste any sweetness in the water but somehow he told me he witness something extraordinary on the 25 night. I don't know what to say to him because I am not in the authority to say if on that particular day is laylatur qadr. We doa each one of us got the Power of night, laylatur Qadr. may Allah bless you and forgive me.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Those who come begging from you are God's Gift


Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani
09-21-2008
Michigan Zawiya

Audhu billah min ash-shaytan ir-rajeem
Bismillahi 'r-Rahmani 'r-Raheem

Nawaytu'l-arba`een, nawaytu'l-`itikaaf, nawaytu'l-khalwah, nawaytu'l-riyaada, nawaytu's-salook, nawaytu'l-`uzlah lillahi ta`ala fee hadha'l-masjid

Ati` Allah wa ati` ar-rasula wa uli 'l-amri minkum

As we said in the previous session that we need a ticket to paradise. And that ticket means you need a validated passport when you are traveling. You cannot have a passport which has no validation. They will not let you to come into any country. No, go, fix it and come. So our passport to paradise is very simple: it is to obey Allah swt. So that passport is la ilaha illa-Allah muhammadun Rasulullah. But la ilaha illa-Allah muhammadun Rasulullah will get you the passport but if you don’t … they don’t give you the passport unit they make clearance for you that you have no crimes, no problems, no mistakes. Then they give you 5 years or ten years or whatever and then you can travel. O kid! You need a passport you can have it, but you need to validate it.

Like you go to park a car in a parking lot and you go to the parking of that mall, and they say if you buy something in any store then you can have a validated ticket that you can go free, you don’t pay anything.

You have the car to go in but in order to go out you need a validated ticket.
la ilaha illa-Allah muhammadun Rasulullah. is your ticket to paradise but you have to validate it with the good `amal. If you are not doing what Allah wants from you to do, then as we said in previous session you will enter paradise but you will not be in the highest level of paradise sitting with the Prophet (s) –
فِي مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَمَلِيكٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ
fee maq`adi sidqin `inda maleekin muqtadir - In an Assembly of Truth, in the Presence of a Sovereign Omnipotent [54:55].

If you want to be there then you have to prove yourself.

He said, "don’t claim that you said la ilaha illa-Allah muhammadun Rasulullah. That you achieved higher levels, no. Like when you say ashhadu an la ilaha illa-Allah wa ashhadu anna muhammadun Rasulullah. You are saying it by tongue, but you are not acting on it. When you reach higher levels then you are seeing. You are bearing witness that Allah is your Lord, that means you have to see something.”

If there is no action there is no movie. The director is saying “action” and everyone is moving. If they don’t say “action” no one moves. So you have to have an action and that is the good `amal. To submit to the order, imtithaal al-amr. In the army you have to submit to the order. What do you say? “Yessir!” if you want to object, object later, with shaytan. You are ordered to make sajda, do it. You want to object, go over there, shaytan is there, there object as much as you like.
You have to pray, you have to pray, say, “Yessir! I am praying.” But might be your prayer is a habit, an exercise, a custom, an exercise. That you learned from childhood, you don’t know if it is accepted. You have to make sure it is accepted.

That is why the Prophet (s) said, " the one who is bankrupted is the one who has no `amal.” Said, "Even if he prayed and fasted?” He said, "Even if he prayed and fasted.”

So that is the one who prays for exercise or …on the other side he is cheating and deceiving. That one has no `amal. So you need `amal. You admit that Allah Is creator. If you admit how can you disobey. But we are weak servants. You disobey, you repent.

He said, "that, O my son, Ya ghulam.” Changing now. “You have to be patient on afflictions. You have to submit to Allah swt. Don’t create a monster to yourself. Submit, you overcome any problem. If you don’t submit, your problems will increase. You see anything coming to you is by Allah’s swt Will.

وَلاَ رَطْبٍ وَلاَ يَابِسٍ إِلاَّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ
Wa la ratbin wa la yabisin illa fee kitabin mubeen – nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is (inscribed) in a record clear (to those who can read). [6:59]

Living and non-living. Ratbin is wet, has water in it, it is living and yabis is dry, non-living. Everything is in the Book. Which book? The Holy Qur'an. Allah is saying everything is in the Holy Qur'an. And the Holy Qur'an is what? It is Allah swt’s ancient words. His words to His Prophet. He sent it to the Prophet (s).

You think that someone who doesn’t know Arabic cannot read the Qur’an? How? [Allah makes him. They learn] How he read its? They are translating now. Only if you have the Qur’an in front of you the light of the secret of the letters of the Qur’an will be jumping on your heart, guiding you even if you don’t know the language. Every language is in the Holy Qur'an. There is not even a parasite that moves without it having been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an. Not an electron can move it if it’s not mentioned in the Holy Qur'an. That secret you think the light… the Light you cannot cover it. Can you cover the light of the sun? No way. How you can cover the light of the Qur’an? It is always shining. That is why you have a Qur’an in your house baraka comes in your house. Now Allah made everyone to have a Qur’an in their house, Muslims and non-Muslims. Because some people want to see what is in it, and it is coming baraka in it [to them].

So when you submit to Allah swt, you submit to everything. Don’t be nagging. Nagger. New word? Don’t be a nagger. Don’t nag too much.

You cannot see except people nagging, nagging, nagging, day and night, wife to husband, husband to wife. Parents, children, people everyone.

He said, "O my son be patient. When you say la ilaha illa-Allah muhammadun Rasulullah, you are saying He is the Creator.”

Creator of what? When you say that it is not just by tongue but you have to accept what is coming and what is going. You have to accept every movement from you and from others.
From where, where? These are wooden beads [holds up tasbih], no? Imagine these beads coming from which tree in a forest, in a jungle, coming and it is in your hands. How you can imagine this is possible? Your name is written on that tree from the day of Alastu bi-rabbbikum that you are going to get that tree in the jungle in the picture of beads. Whose decision is that? It is Allah’s. Allah wrote for that tree to make dhikr on your behalf. You think this wood is dry and dead. No, when you count on them they are continuously making dhikr. How it comes.

Everything. This, the paper of the book. Form what? Which tree? In Canada, in Africa, in Far East that these papers are coming from which tree. It was living and Allah said “all that is living and non-living is in the Holy Qur'an.” So that paper is mentioned in Holy Qur'an, that is going to be page 37 in that book. And how many books there are, millions, trillions? “Trillions” now we are remembering that name too much now, this economic crisis.

So it is written that it is going to be page 37. Who made that to happen. Allah swt. So why to nag? Surrender. What comes, comes. If we submit Allah swt will give us a peaceful life.

So what you need to do? To act. When you say “action!” what happens. Everything moves. But if the battery is not charged, if you say action, action, action, nothing moves. What you need ot make the `amal to make it to move. `amal is an action. But to make the car to move you need what you need a battery. That battery is Ikhlaas - sincerity. That energy is to keep sincerity towards Allah swt in every action you do. You blend it with sincerity. If you do it without sincerity, because you have to do it, then that is not accepted. That is why the Prophet (s) said, "you pray and you fast but it is not accepted.” It is done out of laziness. Or they pray out of fear. In some countries they make adhan and if you don’t close your shop there are people who say “go!”, and they beat you. Sincerity is to do by yourself. Not by force.

So that is like Rabi`a, said, "I am worshipping you Ya Rabbee, for Your love. I am not interested in your heaven and I am not afraid of your hell. You put me where You want.”

To show sincerity it means you have to give from what Allah is giving you.

That is why he said, "wa as al-fuqara bi shayin min amwalikum” make poor people happy with some of your wealth. That is sincerity. You can pray hundreds of times but to come to someone and say pay $100 it is very difficult. Which is more important to you, your prayer or your money.

“I can pray 100 rakaats, no problem but don’t ask me donation at the end.” donation that is out of question. You can give one dollar, 2 dollars. They pass the box on Friday, they put 1, 2 dollars. We never saw 1,000 dollars. Why not 1,000 dollar to the one who can put it?

Because there is no sincerity. May Allah give us sincerity. When someone comes to you asking, give them. Allah is sending those who are asking as a gift ot you. They are being made by Allah to move to fid out if you are sincere to Allah or not. Don’t reject anyone who is asking. If you are able to give, give, don’t reject him.

Give as much as you can. Allah, be … look at how much Allah is giving. So sincerity means you have to follow the way of sincere people. Allah made Sayyidina Muhammad sincere. That is why he said, " if you want to love Allah follow the sincerity of the Prophet (s).” that is the guest of Allah coming, don’t reject him. That is why I tell story of Grandshaykh that he used to always keep money in his pocket. Whoever asks he gives. Keep a little in your pocket. You see the homeless in the street, if he asks, give. Muslim or non-Muslim. He might be a wali in dress of homeless. At least he might say, “thank you, god bless you.” That might be enough on Judgment Day, you think Allah will not be happy with you for that one praying for you.

Woe. That one is the gift of Allah to you, coming and asking you. If that one went to someone else and asked that one he would have that letter on Judgment Day. Prefer that guest and you don’t know by what you can reach Allah’s mercy, buy what you reach Allah’s love.

Small `amal might make you reach Allah’s love. Don’t try to minimize a good `amal. La tuhaqiru ma`ruf even if it is small you do it. “You are in my presence,” he is telling his students, “listening to me and you are crying.”

That means his words have reflected in their hearts and they have made them to feel that sincerity in their hearts and they begin to cry in the presence of their teachers. Many students in presence of their teachers they cry. They know they are helpless. “Don’t cry in front of me and then when you leave you become hard-hearted.”

“In my presence you listen and you cry and when the poor one, the guest of Allah is coming to you, your heart becomes hard and you cannot open your hand. It becomes like a frozen hand. Crippled hand and mind. Finished, you cannot give. Sincerity is gone.”

This shows that your sincerity was not really for Allah swt. You don’t know, "O my student, O ghulam, that I can read your secrets. I can read your hearts. You cannot hide yourself from me. That is why I am addressing to you, to tell you that I know what is going on thru your hearts and I know this is a sickness going thru the hearts of my students and I am trying to bring it up in order to correct you.”

“When you come to me come, come with no dress. Remove the dress of arrogance. Come to me naked, not naked from clothes, but naked of your own ego’s pride. Leave it behind and come submitting to Allah swt. Then I can fill you with knowledge. Then I can give you. Then I can validate your passport until you can begin your journey to the Divine Presence. Your passport has no dates on it, you need to renew it. Send your application. When you send your application you send what with it? A fee. A check. You cannot send it and say, “work on it.”

There are angels that work on your `amal, and you have to pay. Don’t think you can get something free. That is for some people, that is a grant from Allah swt. Not everyone gets a grant. Everyone has to work for something. Those who get grants are very few. There are people who get grants in dunya for nonsense. For garbage. But the real grant is to get it from Allah swt.

How much money has been wasted on grants? What do they do ? they do a conference. And bring 10-15 speakers from overseas and spending $5-10 thousand on every speaker. And the tickets are 5-10 thousand. They bring them to say what? Of no benefit.

What is of benefit is when you make a conference with your ego. Teleconference, speaking to your ego. If you want to know how to speak with your ego, take your turban and put it [in front of you].

This is my ego. “You were not good today. What have you done today?” So you have some one to speak to.

This is what awliyaullah do, this [turban] is a sign of iman. How much iman you have you carry it. How much these women Allah is giving them more and more, especially those women that are covered. How much they get heat from the communities? Men, they already have no mind. Because when you cover you keep your mind inside. When no cover, your mind evaporates. Women they cover. How much Allah is rewarding them every moment for their cover. That is why the Sunnah of the Prophet (s) is for men to cover. But they don’t cover.

Men have to cover first. Then women will look and say, “O my husband is covered” and they will cover. Can you see someone with a turban and his wife is not covered. He feels shy to walk with her, “I am wearing a turban and my wife has no ‘turban’.”

So you have to be role model for sincerity. So He knows the hearts. You cannot hide yourself. He knows what you are doing and he gives you the ticket to validate your passport. You can move forward now, from one obstacle to another. Then He takes you from one place to the next until you reach the shore of safety.

“You have to come to me naked,” that means you must have no interest in dunya. You have to take all dunya love out of your heart. “Then I will dress you with heavenly dresses and with that you can go to the presence of the Prophet (s) and from the presence of the Prophet (s) to the presence of Allah. If you want that, come to me; if not don’t waste my time. I am not going to give you candies if you come to me, but I am going to give you hardship. Hardship teaches discipline.”

The Prophet (s) said, akhshawshanoo fa inn an-ni`m lam tadoom. Try to train to live hard life. Train yourself to sleep on the earth, flat. Don’t say, “I want a mattress.” What kind of mattresses. I am surprised to see now mattresses for $5000. hah? [they make massage for you]
You sleep on the floor. Try to teach yourself the hard ways.

Now they are giving you everything the easy way so when the hard way comes you cannot take it. Be a village man, as we said previously, don’t be a city man. A village man can sleep anywhere he can accommodate himself anywhere. He goes to city it is good for him. He goes to village it is good for him. But city man can go to village, live without electricity. Can he live without TV? No. village man can live without TV, because he is not interested in politics. He has soft heart and he wants to live for presence of Prophet. What is happening outside is not my business. If you come to me like village man I give you light in my heart. So that is why the Prophet (s) said, “ittaqoo firasat ilmumin fa innahu yandhuru bi nurillah - fear the vision of the believer for verily he can see your hearts as Allah gave him light in his heart from Divine Light.” At that time you will be able to get that status.

May Allah guide us. And give us sincerity in our hearts for sake and baraka of his Prophet Muhammad. And His awliya, bi-hurmatil habib bi hurmatil Fatiha.

So whenever you make a tasbih on your beads remember from where that beads are coming. if you have plastic ones, sometimes they have plastic ones, from which oil file are they coming? From where? South America, North America, Siberia and now Alaska. Or from the Gulf countries, Middle Eastern countries. Coming from underground. Or on rocks, from which mountain they are coming, these pebbles you are doing Tasbih. Remember that Allah has sent them for you to bear witness on you on Judgment Day. The will bear witness that servant was making tasbih on these wood. Everything is praising Allah, and everything will witness for you if you are doing something good.

And if you have Holy Qur'an in the house it will bear witness, “I was in that house,” and all those lights of Allah’s Ancient Word are coming in that house; even the house of a non-Muslim, “because that person raised me on his shelf.” That is why he said, “la tahjar al-Qur'an - don’t abandon the Holy Qur'an.” For example if you have ten mashafs, when you read in one, don’t read form the same one because everyone has to have its share. Every page and every letter will bear witness. Even if they are the same, and of course they are same, they will come and bear witness, the ten copies. Each will bear witness. Try to read the Arabic even if you don’t know Arabic. The light will come to your eyes.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

The Dance Of God

"Love is the cure,
for your pain will keep
giving birth to more pain
until your eyes constantly exhale
love as effortlessly as your body
yields its scent.”

Mawlana Rumi
taken from Love of Poems

Monday, September 8, 2008

Ramadhan Mubarak


Sout Ilaahi wishes you Ramadhan Mubarak. May Allah bless you and your family. Thanks for supporting us all this while. We hope to rejuvenate the spirit of love and compassion within our society through music, poetry and arts. Please doa for us. thanks

Narrow society

I find it weird to know our Muslim society is very emotional and narrow minded on various issues and tend to jump to conclusion which I seriously find it disturbing . I am not here to judge but base on my daily experience, I discovered we have the 'Holier than thou' mentality. For example, some malay family saw a whirling video, quickly they label it as deviation or different sect of Islam. What is happening to our society? Just because we don't have the knowledge to understand, doesn't mean it should be consider as heretic. This show how much we are left behind and we lack of exposure as we became a society of dry wood. It reminds me back 10 years ago, I have an American friend who came to Singapore. Hes a Maliki mazhab therefore whenever he pray he used to put his hand on the side. I don't know if i were to consider it humor or disgust when some of my friends said he might not be on the same Islam as us. And I was like dumbfounded about it. I was like 'What?' There you go, people tend to judge something which they don't even know about.

I am not belittling anyone neither am I saying I know everything but at least put on our thinking caps and be rational before we judge anyone. Most of the people I know didn't have any clue on whirling and therefore most of the fatwa you get from them make you feel more afraid to say, how narrow we could be. The best thing is, non Muslims probably understand our knowledge and appreciate it sincerely.

Ramadhan

The month of Ramadhan is not only about abstaining from food and drink during the daytime, it's more than what we think of when we were young. It's a month of mercy where we begin our contemplation and reflection of our deeds and actions. Although its a month where most of us are obsessed with each ritual nevertheless our piety towards the poor, homeless and the needed ones are not completely forgotten. I remembered Mawlana Shaykh Nazim always emphasis on us to be generous and give many sadaqa and Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani always said give food to the poor. There are groups of people who always think that people who are confined to their rituals ignore the humanitarian actions. Well, let us not be judgmental when there are those who choose to contribute but they hide their identities.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Friends and birthday

I didn't realize it will be my birthday on this sunday until Nash brought it up to me last thursday during zikir and asked the congregation to recite fatiha for me. Alhamdulilah, it was such a unique feeling on this occasion as I celebrate my 32th birthday. I received many birthday wishes from new brothers and also many old friends. From sms, email and facebook. It touches me alot as I about to shed some tears reading their messages. A birthday wish through sms from london, Australia, Germany, Glasgow, Cyprus, Istanbul, Jakarta, Jawa, KL, Kedah and my lovely wife makes my day happy.

It feels good to be remember but I didn't expect such overflow messages. However, I should be thankful when others remember me. This made me realize each friends that i met along my journey play a role in my life. Be it good or bad, the wisdom of the reality remain unseen only time will allow me to understand the whole issue. Facebook brought me to old memories as I met most of my old friends. When you meet them again, its sort of different feeling, you are more keen to be together, appreciating one another. Perhaps we have grown older in trying to understand life better or you have been looking at yourself more often and finding your own faults. By the way, thanks for the lovely messages and friendship. Love you all. may Allah bless you and your family.

Friday, September 5, 2008

A New Life: The journey of my heart and soul

Life have been so different for me lately. I am not too sure how to describe it to you. Its a soothing feeling that paint my colorful life and at the same time it taste bitter. Whatever it could be, I accept it with an open heart. I am sure its good for my heart, soul and ego. Learning the hardest way, i hope will make me sober in realizing whatever i do in my daily life although I am forgetful with so many things on my mind. But I try to learn from my mistakes and swallow every bits and pieces of my arrogance, ignorance and recklessness, hoping to be a better person. I am positively sure with the person I love so much by my side, any obstacles we will be able to overcome it.

I am fortunate to have such person in my life. Well life is not always about happiness, its about contentment. It depend on how you see things in life. Though Its easier said than done. All we need is to be patience and learning our mistakes from time to time. Whenever we did our best, whatever is going to happen Allah will make it the best for us. There is no such perfect solution to many issues we are facing today. When we solve one problem, another will appear. What we can do is to understand life and the role of mankind in this world. Nothing is perfect, everything is illusion. When we see the mistakes of others, we realize the sign of God perfection. God is love, Love is God. There will be a time when God send someone to you, don't reject them, it could be the greatest gift you ever have in your life. If you are choosy, don't blame God, question yourself.

may Allah bless you and forgive me.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Our Mission.

By Hazrat Khwaja Moinudeen Hassan Chishti Ajmeri(ra)

Love all and hate none.
Mere talk of peace will avail you naught.
Mere talk of God and religion will not take you far.
Bring out all of the latent powers of your being
And reveal the full magnificence of your immortal self.
Be surcharged with peace and joy,
And scatter them wherever you are and wherever you go.
Be a blazing fire of truth,
Be a beauteous blossom of love and a soothing balm of peace.
With your spiritual light dispel the darkness of ignorance;
Dissolve the clouds of discord and war.
Spread the message of goodwill,
peace and harmony among the people.
Never seek any help,
charity or favours from anybody except God.
Never go to the courts of Kings,
But never refuse to bless and help the needy and the poor,
the widow and the orphan when they come to your door.
This is your mission, to serve the people

pic of Maqam Hazrat Khawaja Moinudin Chisti

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Losing tooth

Yesterday, I lost a tooth after battling for so long against the bleed in my mouth which I have been having for many months. I realize there is nothing I can do about it. It hurts but I don't have a choice. Doctor said its becoming worst and its link with cancer and other sort of sickness. I was very sad about it. I was in daze thinking how it can happen to me. But I hope and search for a miracle. It remind me of my late dad. He had dialysis since I was 12 years old. My dad survived for 14 years. He knew when he was on such condition, he's going to died and he said in tears with me, to look after my mom. I didn't know how the pain feel like. Each time he had dialysis he will be weak and in the state of semi concisenesses. Its true, you never know how it feels like going through some pain until you experience it yourself. But one thing my dad taught me, not to give up and continue to strive. He used to say for anything to happen, there is a blessing in disguise.

I felt his hope and strength whenever I feel the pain in my mouth or in abdomen. He used to say be happy even in pain because, there is Allah who knows what you are going through. Therefore, Allah is teaching us to be patience, humble and contented. Nobody knows what you are going through until they face the same situation as you. Its easier said than done. Another strength I gain is to remember what my mom went through. She had a coma for 3 months. Doctor claimed, all hope is gone but in the end she revive and survive until today. Alhamdulilah. Anything can happen to us in life but we should face any problems and challenges with an open heart. I felt difficult to explain to people whats on my mind and heart, its takes a very long time. I am sure it hurts many people. Its my weakness to open my mouth and say whats in my heart. I dont know whats going to happen tomorrow but like my dad said, there are people who wont understand you, cause it takes long time for people who have no experience of going through something, the same for you, having difficulties in understanding others. Time heals the pain and surrow.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Friends

Friends are very important in our life. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w is our greatest example. He's always with his beloved Sahaba r.a. Usually they will gathered around him or to be with him by his side. He shared his love with them and treated them special in every ways. At times, he will also listen to their advices or views in many aspect to show not only his pure humbleness but to inform us the importance of having friends whose hearts are together binding for the sake of Allah. If we are unite, we will be stronger to progress in life. We are weak servant therefore Allah send friends to us each moment whenever we seek one. Every friends have its role in our life, somehow they make an impact in the development of our journey to Allah. There are many reason and wisdom why they came into our life, its a matter of time, if we contemplate on ourselves, we begin to find the answer.

They said if you have many friends then you would probably be getting many enemies. I dont know if it is so much true. I have many friends along the journey of my life which I appreciate them so much. From the school days to soccer, music, voluntarism and now embarking spiritual path also widen my network of friends. Of course there will be criticism being said but then again I often ignore it because I know whatever goes around comes around. I am fortunate to be with many friends who embrace Islam and deep inside me I said " Ya Allah I am thankful to you for opening the door of my heart to know you better through these people who outwardly we may think they are new to you but spiritually they are in your divine presence". Learning from the trade of being a new Muslim is something special to me. The challenges they face each day would probably lift up their spirit to love Allah and his beloved Messenger Muhammad s.a.w. I remembered once I met a young Chinese Muslim bro name Abdullah. He often confide with me whatever problems he is facing. He ever said to me " I dont know if there is any God but if i found sincerity, I would probably met God". I remain silence for that moment.

When we were at Maqam Habib Noh, there was a mawlid. When the door of the Maqam was open. He was so happy and excited. He said to me" Bro is this heaven"? pointing to the direction of the Maqam. I was dumb and speechless not too sure what to say but i felt the experience of having the enlightenment with him by my side. During the reading of Mawlid, he cried and I still holding on to myself. He shed tears so much that, one habib came and hugged me and him. It was amazing, he didn't understand the arabic words and yet he was in tears meaning he would probably understood what was read in the mawlid. Then I realized, its about love and sincerity. When you obtain that such noble feelings within yourself, definitely, you will understand everything. A moment of divine reality grasp you, in a way you begin to overcome your imagination and seeks the ocean of reality.

I also learnt another vital lesson from a Chinese Muslim bro name Firdaus Poon. His generosity in always treating me and others on lunch and dinners always amaze me. It makes me wonder how noble he is in treating others in a way hes not culculative and stingy. I should be like him, insha'Allah. Shaykh Zakaria said The reward of treating others for meals after friday prayer is abundance in nobility. He also said if you are generous, Allah will reward you and also ensure your rezeki will be more. As a born Muslims, I discover how arrogance and ignorance I am all this while. We as born Muslims often took things for granted, thinking we know everything and look down on others who we think no nothing about our religion. If not for my friendship with these people, I would probably trapped in the arrogance for very long time. Praise Be To Allah for his mercy and guidance.

Our friends are unique in their own ways. However, we've to realize, we are not the people of coincidence. Allah has written who we meet in our daily life's. Perhaps the wisdom of being a friend, we would comprehend one day along our journey in this world. may Allah bless all our friends and families.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Selamat Pengantin Baru


Shaykh Jamhuri Finally nikah his beloved wife Rifki Amalia. May Allah bless them and protect them. Amiin.

A Friend indeed is a friend who is there for you

The past 2 days i spent with Ashaari made me realize how much I miss him as a friend. He didnt change even though he started a new life with his own family. He was the same guy when i've known for the past 14 years. I grew up wif him in the music scene. Back then, we were always jamming, playing gigs, moshing, finger pointing, stage diving and hanging out. Music and soccer was our religion. Somehow along the way, I needed a change for my life and Allah sent me Ashaari as he embraced Islam. I was his witness. I was there to listen to his shahadah at that particular moment, the atmosphere was dead silent but in my heart, i was in tears. I didn't know I was going to be part of someone's journey to Allah.

There are times when he and I went through troubled periods after he became a Muslim. Although it's tough, Ashaari kept on striving forward and often smiled even when he was in difficulties. I learnt a lot from him. He is the sort of friend who doesn't pick and choose who he wants to be with in his life. He embraces everyone. And I know because whenever i need him, he's there for me. I never heard him backbiting or get against any of his friends.He was not the kind of friend who goes against another friend behind the back. Even in disagreement with anyone of us, he will discuss in an adab way. It's rare to find such a friend. However, we acknowledge each one of us have strengths and weaknesses. This is what i realize when I contemplate the moment I spent with Ashaari. He often looks at your positive than negative side cause he knows he himself is not perfect. Khawajah Shah Naqshband said "If you look at the faults of your friends, you will be friendless." True friends are the ones who will be there for you in the times you need them.

I also remembered the time he introduced me to Shaykh Zakaria. He said to me, there is a tauhid class at darul, the ustaz is good and i decided to join him. I was attracted to Shaykh Zakaria's humbleness and sincerity in teaching. There was a huge crowd attending the class and everyone enjoyed the session. There was once when Shaykh Zakaria came late for the class, everyone was eagerly waiting for him when he came into the class, he smiled and laughed and everyone started to laugh wif him. It was such a miraculous moment for me.

Ashaari also invited me when Mawalana Shaykh Nazim visited Singapore.I never had such spiritual experience before. Although I was searching for a path for almost 2 years, never did I know I will meet mawlana. It's amazing to discover spirituality after being in such a void state for so long. The zikir at Maqam Habib noh was indeed an unforgettable episode in my life. I realize mawlana sent both of us to be together, in a way if we find a way to appreciate our friends, it will benefit us, that is the main purpose of servanthood. There is a hadith, if i remember clearly based on a friend who brings you to heaven and hell. Therefore, friendship is vital in many ways, it makes you strong to seek the path to Allah.

Until today I would seek his opinions or advice because after seeing what he went through in his life and marriage. I have no doubt learning from someone experience will make you a better person. No doubt our friendship being tested from time to time, perhaps a little of patience and understanding one another, make us realize we need each other. We doa and hope with the blessing of Awliyah, Prophet s.a.w and Allah, we remain as friends till our last breath and we together will be under the dome of our beloved Mashaykh and Prophet s.a.w

Monday, June 16, 2008

Mawlid: The joy and love for Prophet s.a.w

Last Saturday's mawlid for "Cukur Rambut" was indeed a significant moment for most of us. I wanted to cancel it because I wanted to send Mamu and Firdaus jr to the airport but someone told me - someone had a dream, we should continue the mawlid as it is a good practice to have a mawlid for those who are going for umrah too. After all, we are seeking the guidance and love from our Beloved Prophet s.a.w as he is the door to Allah. Then I decided to continue, amazingly the attendance was more than what I expected, alhamdulilah. Most Sufi Shaykhs said "Invitation to the Mawlid is sent by the Prophet s.a.w. If you miss it, it means you are not invited". Somehow most of us are fortunate to be able to attend mawlids from time to time. Praise be only to Allah.

I told Shaykh Zakaria about the mawlid as it's an adab as a student to inform him of the majlis. He replied saying he felt like going, so I arranged with Uncle Husin to fetch him. On the day itself, a few people were looking for him to invite him to their place but they can't get him. In the end he still managed to attend the Mawlid .Perhaps Allah had arranged it this way. It was the first time Shaykh Zakaria was leading the mawlid after a few sessions without his presence. We missed his reading and passion while reading the Qasidah. I felt Shaykh Zakaria was very happy throughout the Majlis. We also discovered Uncle Husin can play the drums, with a bit of adjusting and practicing, he will probably be able to play well. He combined excellently with bro Adnan. The best part is the Qasidah with the "Rongeng" rhythm even Shaykh Zakaria was shaking his body enjoying the session.

The mother of the host enjoyed our mawlid and Qasidah session which made her invite us to her son house in the coming months for mawlid. Alhamdulilah, Praise be only to Allah. We are happy and enjoying ourselves in this Majlis together with Allah, Prophet s.a.w and the awliyah. Its the biggest nikmah we ever had and dream of in our daily life. may Allah bless you and forgive me.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Visiting my dad

Yesterday I ziyarah the grave of my late father. As usual with Firdaus Jr. Our routine would be visiting Mami Ruqiyah first followed by his bro then to my dad and last is the Maqam Of Shaykh Umar al Khatib on friday morning. However yesterday was special, we managed to visit the maqam of Shaykh Umar bin Abdullah Bagharib, the father of our beloved Shaykh Zakaria Bagharib. It was like 3 months ago I visited the grave of my dad. I was feeling very down when i visited him. Memories of being with him is still in my mind even though he had left us for nearly 7 years. Somehow, whenever I visited him, I always going through the difficult period. It was the same yesterday, my heart was heavy with many anxiety and sadness. I felt relief after reading fateha and few more surahs for him. Perhaps it was the baraqah of the Quranic verses.

When we arrived, we really thought it was raining because of the few drops of water from the sky. We continue our routine despite worrying about the downfall. Alhamdulilah its stop. When we are on the way to my father's grave, the sun begin to rise and shine. I quickly remembered it was the same condition on weather when the last time I visited the grave with Firdaus jr. And I remembered after our last Maqam which is Shaykh Umar al Khatib, the downfall began, it was the same yesterday. While walking to Shaykh Umar maqam, it began to drizzling. But we said to each other no matter what happened, we will still go to the Maqam of Shaykh Umar. And Alhamdulilah, we did. After finished the routine, the rain started to pour. We walked to the shelter. After half an hour the rain stop, so we walked out of the cemetery area, along the way, someone driving a van picked up and send us to the boon lay mrt station. may Allah bless him. I have always wanting to visit my dad each week but due to transport and time, I wasnt able to do so. But thanks to firdaus jr for his companionship in accompany me to do this ziyarah routine. may Allah bless his kindness and effort.


Friday, June 13, 2008

White Flag

by Dido

I know you think that I shouldn't still love you,
Or tell you that.
But if I didn't say it, well I'd still have felt it
where's the sense in that?

I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder
Or return to where we were

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

I know I left too much mess and
destruction to come back again
And I caused nothing but trouble
I understand if you can't talk to me again
And if you live by the rules of "it's over"
then I'm sure that that makes sense

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

And when we meet
Which I'm sure we will
All that was there
Will be there still
I'll let it pass
And hold my tongue
And you will think
That I've moved on....

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Everybody Hurts

When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When youre sure youve had enough of this life, well hang on.
Dont let yourself go, everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.

Sometimes everything is wrong. now its time to sing along.
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think youve had too much of this life, well hang on.

Everybody hurts. take comfort in your friends.
Everybody hurts. dont throw your hand. oh, no. dont throw your hand.
If you feel like youre alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If youre on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think youve had too much of this life to hang on.

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. and everybody hurts sometimes.
And everybody hurts sometimes. so, hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on. hold on, hold on. hold on, hold on. (repeat & fade)
(everybody hurts. you are not alone.)

Lyrics REM

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Selawat Nariyah


For those who wants to read Selawat Nariyah (above)

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Tahajud: The moment of Self Realization

Alhamdulilah, we had tahajud this morning. There are few of us but you can feel the presence of tranquility, its nikmah . Its been a very long time since we had tahajud together. The last was with Shaykh Hisham last year. We used to have it few years back once in a few months. This tahajud came at the right time when most of us need to rejuvenate our souls. It reminds me the ramadhan days where I spend the night with few friends, visiting Maqam of Awliyah and then performing the Sunnah Prayers. Its simply amazing for most of us who need such activities and we agreed to have this occasion once a month. It should be great as we inject our spiritual strength to our hearts and souls, Insha'Allah. One of the moment that triggered my heart during the tahajud was the time we did the istigfar together. Astagfirullah Azeem Wa tu bu illay (hope correct transliteration spelling). Somehow, my heart feel the pain of the sins I committed lately and the feeling of regret filled my heart.

After Subuh prayer and the Wirid, Bro Razib gave us few counsel of advice which I was thinking about it. Perhaps its the work of our beloved Murshid, spiritual guide Mawlana Shaykh Nazim. Bro Razib told us the secrets and important of tahajud. Another important note he mentioned was the test given to us by Mawlana. At that point, my heart was in the state of realization to understand the problems and difficulties I am facing lately. It should be the vital sins and mistakes I committed lately. I found the solution today through the congregration of those who wants to attain closeness with Allah swt, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and Mawlana. I was finding it difficult to explain to someone what i was going through and today every enquiries found it crucial solution. And Bro Razib continue, mentioning by today, we should write down in a book about our bad characteristic and sinful acts. This is to make us know what are our weaknesses and the Awliyah will support us knowing we are trying our best to eliminate our weaknesses. There are 17 bad characteristic traits, perhaps more for me.

If the Shaykh wrote more than what we can imagine on their bad Characteristic and our Beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w always said to Allah, don't leave me in a blink of an eye. How about us who are so weak and arrogance? We always claimed to be perfect, alim and better than everyone. The most dangerous is the bad characteristic hidden within ourselves. I have learn this through Shaykh Zakaria during his tassawuf class based on the kitab Tanwir ul Qulub. He mentioned each of the bad characters. There are so many hidden arrogance. This is what we are afraid of cause we don't realize about it. Even anger is part of it.

The act of anger make you Shirik because you are always saying you are right and the rest are wrong. If we are able to continue for 40 days writing, insha'Allah every bad characteristic in us will be eliminate through the spiritual support of our spiritual guide. It's not easy but this is the biggest jihad we should perform for ourselves as we try to benefit our family, children, friends, and enemy. I have to learn to be patience and endure the difficulties part of life. I know Allah is teaching us to be humble and to discover we are nothing without him. To love someone who is your staunch enemy and those who giving you hard time is not easy but if you can do it then it shows you are following the footstep of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. The Beloved Prophet s.a.w showed us many example of his humanity towards everyone including those who always hurt him. He forgave them.

I remembered one of the Mawlana Shaykh Nazim lectures, he said during the time of Prophet s.a.w, there is this man who our Beloved Prophet s.a.w said he is a man of Paradise. So out of curiosity, the sahaba r.a went to check on this man. They want to know what is the secret he have been doing since the Prophet s.a.w said hes the man of paradize. So they went early morning hours to see what hes doing. The first day they found him not doing tahajud except for subuh. The same goes on 2nd day. By the 3rd day, the sahaba r.a became too anxious and they confronted him asking him why did the Beloved Prophet s.a.w said hes the man of paradise. He then asnwered, before I go to sleep, I will forgive all those people who have hurt me or causing trouble for me. May Allah bless you and forgive me.

(The Mawlana suhbah was summarized by me, forgive me if there are any mistakes)




Friday, June 6, 2008

To lose your love one

Last week, I lost an old friend after so long he battled against the odds with his cancer, in the end, he left this world with meaningful meaning of friendship for me. This year, I lost 2 friends. At our age, we didn't expect the tragedy. However, my growing up days is about knowing death itself. I had lost almost 10 friends either through accident or illness. Its a painful memories but this is life, the wisdom behind it, we shall know after we experiencing the pain and sorrow. I know there are people around me whom also received the same fate in experiencing the lost of their love ones.

Most of the time, I pray to God to make those who love and care for me to be happy when the day I have to leave them. I don't know when it will be but I pray so hard the people I love wont leave till I close my eyes. I am not perfect to everyone but they are perfect to me. My uncle used to tell me You wont know how to appreciate someone till he or she is no longer around that reminded me of my dad. I was lucky to spend 14 days with him before his last breath. I get to know him better and it repair our damage relationship. The last day of his life when I was with him was the moment I will never forget in my entire life.

Its painful to lose someone in your life. You wont feel until the time the person is no longer with you. The yearn to be together will make you suffer. You will only know love when the moment of broken hearts hurt you so much, it makes you helpless. I experience it many times and yet I am not immune to it. No one wants to be hurt and no one wants to lose their love ones but Allah know what is the best for us. We plan but Allah is the best planner of all. At times, I close my eyes and cried. I am so weak and hopeless. And I hope my love ones will be with me till my last breath. May Allah bless those who had left us in this world and may Allah forgive me.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Perfume of Attraction

Everyone should strive to become a friend of God, for the Lord never rebuffs the seeker of His intimacy. The main reason for attending a center such as this is to prepare yourself to attain that intimacy. No one can become a friend of God without also becoming a friend of His servants. The attainment of that familiarity and sympathy with the souls of His servants is proof of one's approach to sainthood, for it is easy to claim that one is a friend of God, but not so easy to be in harmony with people.

Perhaps now, during your time here at this center, you may feel closeness with your fellow seekers of truth, but when you return to your countries you will certainly find this harder to realize. When you truly attain the station of friend of God, everyone will be your friend. To succeed in attaining this closeness with people is a sign of one's admittance to the Divine Presence. I don't mean that you become physically attractive or attracted to them, this is not a physical attraction we are talking about but an attraction through the hearts.

Our Grandsheikh once told me a tale about a flower of India that grows only in the most inaccessible places and is, furthermore, always surrounded by snakes. That flower has such an overpoweringly beautiful fragrance that whoever wears it will be loved by one and all. I said to my Grandsheikh: "Oh my Master let me go in search of that flower". He replied, "Oh Nazim Efendi, there is no need for you to go there, for as long as you are vigilant with your Lord after midnight even for a short time Allah Almighty will adorn you with an attraction seventy times more powerful than the attraction of that perfume. Even if you just arise during the last watch of the night when every one is asleep, and even if you don't pray, this miracle will occur and you will become as attractive as that perfume.

Whoever arises at that hour will certainly gain the good graces of his Lord, for that is the time when the Lord looks for the repentance of His servants. Therefore, I advise you all to awaken sometime during the last third of the night: even for five minutes. You must, however, be in a state of ritual purity. Then you must address your Lord: "Oh my lord, come to me, as I cannot come to You". That prayer is enough to give you full protection for that day and makes you a friend of God.

People pass their days coming and going, but in the evening everyone returns to his or her darling. The Lord asks you to be with Him Alone, even for just five minutes in an intimate time of the late night. Who turns to his Lord in the night will find Him near, and will be able to rely upon him even in the midst of great and terrible events.

Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil Haqqani

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Remembrance of Allah


"They are the most wise who remember Allah, standing sitting and lying down"
Quran (Surah 4: Verse 190)

"Their skins and their hearts soften to the remembrance of Allah"
Quran (Surah 39: Verse 23)

"Those men and women who engage much in Allah's praise. for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a Great Reward"
Quran (Surah 33: Verse 35)

Ibn `Umar reported that the Prophet said: "When you pass by the gardens of Paradise, avail yourselves of them." The Companions asked: "What are the gardens of Paradise, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied: "The circles of dhikr. There are roaming angels of Allah who go about looking for the circles of dhikr, and when they find them they surround them closely." Tirmidhi narrated it (hasan gharib) and Ahmad.

Pic: Mawlana Shaykh Nazim performing Hadrah (zikir standing) in Lefke, Cyprus